Glorantha: The Hsunchen Religions 
The Hsunchen Religions
originally presented as "The Cult of Hykim & Mikyh" in Heroes #4


This document is Copyright © 1998 Issaries, Inc. It may be freely linked to, and 
one copy may be printed for personal use, but any other reproduction by 
photographic, electronic, or other methods of retrieval, is prohibited.
Table of Contents
  Mythos and History 
  Sample Hsunchen Religions 
Mythos and History
Hykim and Mikyh are the ancestors of all beasts. They are usually said to be 
dragons. Hykim is male and Mikyh female, though they never appear together in 
tales, and the God-Learners hypothesized that they represent a single 
hermaphroditic being, in normal draconic fashion.
The genealogy of these deities resembles a taxonomic classification of 
Gloranthan animals. There is, for instance, a Mammal Mother whose children are 
the cat-god, bear-god, sheep-god, and so on. Then the cat-god is parent to the 
lion-spirit, the lynx-spirit, the tiger-spirit, and so forth. Some animals are 
also accounted another origin elsewhere. One example is Vrimak -- the paramount 
bird-ancestor, but who is said to have been created by Dayzatar, the sky god.
Most animals are closely associated with another deity, and Hykim or Mikyh are 
used as explanatory links. For instance, Mikyh is the mother of King Griffin by 
Yelm, and of Storm Bull by Umath.
The primitive but widespread Hsunchen folk are divided into many different 
tribes, each devoting worship to its own beast-totem. Intelligent animals, such 
as the magical baboons of the Wastelands, may also worship their own favored 
animal-god.
The Hsunchen believe that after death their souls are reborn into their own 
tribe, failing to distinguish between the human and animal members. Death 
rituals reflect this belief, but vary greatly from tribe to tribe.
Hsunchen worship always includes the Beast Rune. Particular animals include 
other Runes, modifying the basic Hykimi stock. Gorakiki (the insect god), for 
instance, has the Runes of Beast and Darkness.
Sample Hsunchen Religions
The following are three typical Hsunchen cultures/religions, each based on a 
distinct type of animal. Use these as models for the fashioning of additional 
Hsunchen cults.
The Basmoli Berserkers (Basmol, the Lion God)
The Basmoli Berserkers live in the Wastelands as well as on the Pamaltelan 
veldt. Their lion god was defeated by the natives of the Wastelands, and the 
Basmoli there hire themselves out as mercenaries, always glad to fight the folk 
who slew their god. In Pamaltela, the Basmoli only know that their god marched 
northward with a horde of followers, and they still await a triumphant return.
The Sofals (Sofal, Grandfather Turtle)
The Sofals eke out an existence along the coasts of Dinal and northern 
Sozganjio. Sea turtle eggs are a major part of their diet, though they guard and 
protect the adults and never eat all the eggs in any single batch. They are 
peaceful, but are often raided by fierce swamp humans.
The Wolfrunners (Telmor, the Father of Wolves)
The Wolfrunners are a tribe of nomadic hunters who worship Telmor, Father of 
Wolves. Each Wolfrunner has his own companion wolf, and wolves and men fight 
together. Werewolves are often born into Telmori families. They sided with Gbaji 
in the Chaos Wars, and so were cursed. Their transformation spells vary with the 
Moon's phases.
They live in Ralios and western and southern Peloria.
 
See also:
A Personal View of Hsunchen Culture
Cult of Gorakiki
Cult of Telmor
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