[Glorantha] Cult distribution

[Jeff Richard]

Donald writes:

>>In my list, Erantha Gor is one of the minor minor goddesses.  Amongst
>>the Colymar, they'd all be at the Clearwine Earth Temple.
>So the vast majority of Ernaldan temples - those used by the
>thousands of women who don't go the Clearwine regularly - don't
>have any guardians?

The vast majority of Sartarite clans have - IMO - no Erantha Gor
initiates. They rely upon their wyter and upon the general power of
Erantha or Babeester Gor to protect the clan rituals, not upon the
initiates of those goddesses.

There are probably a few Babeester or Erantha Gor initaties at the
Clearwine Earth Temple.

FWIW, I think the cult is more popular in Tarsh and Esrolia.  Around
Wintertop, I suspect the cult distribution for women is significantly
different from Sartar.

>Even if we assume clan temples catering to congregations of five
>to six hundred that's a couple of dozen assuming they are required
>purely for ritual purposes, with more at Clearwine.

Why a couple of dozen?  In most cases, the two Door Guards will be
carved stone pillars, not people.  In all of Sartar, I doubt there are
more than 150 Erantha Gor initiates.

>I rather suspect there are more Earth temples than that with one
>for every hundred or two initiates. Small groups of steads sharing
>a temple within easy travelling distance. Now there may not be
>enough Erantha Gori to go round but I'd still expect there to be
>more than there are Vingans. Simply because they represent an
>essential part of Ernaldan society rather than a rebellous offshoot.

Again, I think very few Sartarite women are called to Erantha Gor.  In
Sartar, she is largely a proprieted goddess rather than actually
worshipped.

>Incidently has anyone done much on the earth cults side of
>Heortling society? I've a few ideas but there's no point in
>developing them completely independently of what others have
>done.

Pam Carlson and I have done a fair amount over the years.

>>Some other
>>interesting implications - assume that 1 in 10 initiates become
>>devotees and 1 in 1000 become disciples.  You can begin figuring out
>>how many devotees and disciples are in Sartar within the specific
>>cults.
>I'm surprised at one in ten becoming devotees, certainly in the
>main subcults. I'd have put it at nearer one in a hundred, that
>level of commitment is unusual and there are plenty of reasons,
>even for those inclinded that way, not to do so.

I've used one in ten as a general rule.  One in a hundred means your
player characters are usually all the devotees of a clan.:)

Jeff