Glorantha: Spirit Cults in Glorantha Spirit Cults in Glorantha by Greg Stafford originally published in Tales of the Reaching Moon #14 Drifting about the spirit plane of Glorantha are lost spirits of great power: exiled gods, the ghosts of heroes, and similar beings. A shaman can sometimes contact one of these spirits, and form an alliance of mutual benefit. Such alliances are called spirit cults. Spirit cults are not an uncommon Gloranthan phenomenon. Though spirit cults have similarities to ordinary cults, temporary membership in most spirit cults is rarely frowned on by any religion. Thus, the storm-worshipers of Enkloso frequently call upon the darkness demon Revillo without offending Orlanth. Everywhere that spirit magic is popular, people can contact one or more special spirits and provide it with worship in return for knowledge of special magic. Spirit cults are less common in civilized areas, for the spirits themselves are weaker here. Many spirits, especially malignant ones, have been driven into the wilderness. Magic lands such as Kimos or Prax have many powerful spirit cults. The shaman must first contact the spirit. Usually a shaman must cast a special summon spell specific to the spirit (hence Summon Frog Woman, Summon Snake-Eater, etc.). These spirits are usually local, and can only be contacted in their own native area. The spirit of Raven, for instance, may only be summoned in the Wastelands and Pent. The Traveling Stone must be contacted at the stone itself in Dragon Pass. The Snake-Eater's minions can only be obtained at the Wheeled Tower in Kimos. Sometimes a focus of power (an idol, relic, or holy object) is also required. In most lands, such holy objects are often held by long-established pseudo-cults or shamanic traditions. Thus, it is rare that an independent shaman in Prax can contact Oakfed, for the pieces of charred wood required to contact him are monopolized by the shamans who run his semi-permanent cult. Once the spirit is contacted, it manifests itself at the site, where the shaman should have assembled his followers. All present now participate in a special worship ceremony, which sets up a link between the spirit and its new worshipers. Some spirits may require additional restrictions of its worshipers -- for instance, Frog Woman requires her worshipers to follow special rituals when killing amphibians! The spirit can grant no benefits to its followers until it has been worshiped. At least once a season, a worship service must be held in which each of the spirit's vowed worshipers dedicate themselves to it. Otherwise, the link with the spirit is broken, and the whole process must be begun again. As long as the spirit is being successfully worshiped once a season, the shaman and worshipers can sacrifice for the spirit's single spell, thus gaining divine magic. The spell learned is specific to the spirit. It is sometimes unique such as Frog Woman's Leap spell, but sometimes is a more common spell, such as the Ruby Tree's Warding. A rare spirit knows more than one Rune spell. Even these spirits can normally grant only their main Rune spell to worshipers. During some seasons, the worshipers can sacrifice for the spirit's other special spells. In Prax, these Great Spirits include only Malia, Oakfed, Wild Hunter, and Zola Fel. Sometimes a shaman can contact an actual minor deity, who possesses the common Rune spells. During rare seasons, the worshipers will be able to sacrifice for the spirit's common Rune spells. Such spirits are minor gods, and probably worshiped as true deities somewhere on Glorantha. Almost all such spirits require special actions on the part of their worshipers. When a shaman contacts a god using this method, the god acts as does any other spirit. Such worship is usually considered false and heretical by the god's "true" initiates. In Prax most shamans are members of the Waha cult. Thus, most shamans who contact the spirits will have access to the common Divine spells of Extension and Spellteaching (for Waha spells), in addition to some special Waha magics.