Common questions about Glorantha

Short answers, pulled from the story.

Who created the fantasy world Glorantha and when did he start working on it?

Greg Stafford created the fantasy world Glorantha in 1966 while he was a college student at Beloit College. He began developing the setting as a personal intellectual exercise to understand the nature of myth rather than to sell a product.

What is the physical structure of the world Glorantha and how do the gods shape it?

The world Glorantha is flat with a dome-like sky that has been shaped by the mythic actions of the gods during the Godtime. The continents of Genertela and Pamaltela exist within this structure where the gods are active participants in reality rather than distant figures.

What are the unique characteristics of the Mostali and Aldryami races in Glorantha?

The Mostali are stone-dwelling miners who are literally made of stone and invented iron which has extraordinary magical properties. The Aldryami are intelligent mobile plants who worship nature and the sun and are physically alien to what they call meat men.

What is the central conflict between the Storm God Orlanth and the Lunar Empire in Glorantha?

The central conflict of Glorantha is a complex geopolitical and mythological war between the Storm God Orlanth and the Lunar Empire led by the imperial Sun God and the devious Moon Goddess. This struggle plays out across the northern continent of Genertela and defines the history of the setting.

When was the first game set in Glorantha released and what was its original name?

The first game set in Glorantha was White Bear and Red Moon which arrived in 1975. It did not name the world it inhabited and instead hid its true identity behind a map of Dragon Pass and a story of constant war between Sartar and the Lunar Empire.

How has the Glorantha community contributed to the development of the setting since the 1990s?

The Glorantha community has produced numerous media including magazines like Tales of the Reaching Moon and video games such as King of Dragon Pass released in 1999. Fan creations and unofficial business ventures like Reaching Moon Megacorp have kept the setting vibrant even during periods of corporate uncertainty.