Introduction to Glorantha

Chaos in Glorantha

The Nature of Chaos

Chaos tends to reestablish itself. This tendency threatens the existence of Glorantha and its deities. Though chaos is in itself formless and structureless, mutual corruption of chaos and order occurs at the weakened seams of the world where chaos leaks in. This corruption, like all of Glorantha, is personalized -- embedded and manifested in disgusting, cruel, and evil living things.

The living manifestations of chaos naturally parody the kinds of life of Glorantha, since they represent corruptions, perversions, or reorganizations of it.

Chaos comes therefore in many forms -- broos, gorps, disease spirits, walktapi, scorpion men, succubi, and so on. Some aspects of chaos steal life force, other aspects break down ways of organizing (such as government and religion), and yet other aspects simply destroy everything possible.

Intelligent mortal beings naturally fear obvious forms of chaos. Atrocities against nature are easily recognized. But chaos also includes good, at least according to those who embrace the Lunar religion. Through Illumination they can overcome fear and resist the soul-blasting temptations which their attitude risks. Most Gloranthans do not believe this, however.

The battle against chaos is integral to the mythology of Glorantha; without it, the world as it exists is not understandable.

For more information on human opinions of Chaos, see:

Ogres: Ogres look very human, generally passing for men in all walks of human civilization. They are thought to have originated as a human tribe which took the side of chaos during the Great Darkness. Their teeth are very sharp, and they are known to eat humans and other intelligent creatures. They are also very strong, and often are handsome or beautiful.

Scorpion Men: More scorpion than man, they are similar to centaurs, with the chest, arms, and head of a human or other creature, but the abdomen, tail, and rear six legs of a scorpion. They are left over from the Great Darkness, and live in small villages in the high mountains, the Wastes, and chaos pits like Dorastor.
Scorpion Men are relatively unintelligent, and so their warbands show a consequent lack of organization. Often the grouping is no more than a dominant mother and her children. They make their living raiding and hiring out to optimistic employers who forget their essentially chaotic nature.

For more information on Broos and other Chaotic Creatures, see:

An Array of Evil Gods

For more information on the Deities of Chaos, see: