The World of Glorantha
Glorantha is not a globe, but instead is a slightly bulging, squarish lozenge, like the Earth Rune’s shape. It floats upon Sramak’s River, the Primeval Ocean that encircles the world. The Sky overhead is an off-center bowl, rotating about the Pole Star which marks its center and is the only stable point in the celestial dome. Between the Earth and Sky is the turbulent realm of the Air gods. Underneath both Earth and Water is the dark, silent Underworld.
Beneath the Sky and the Air, and sitting on top of the Earth, is the Middle World—the realm of mortals. It has a northern and southern continent, and many islands.
Beyond the Middle World are the lands of immensely powerful supernatural races, such as Altinela (North), Vithela (East), Sakumi (South), and Luathela (West). The beings of these lands occasionally come to the world of men, but few men ever travel to them. Some are areas of myth, like the Sea of Fire where the Sky fell to Earth and set everything burning, or the Lands of Dawn and Dusk where the Sun rises and sets each day. Only Heroes can travel to such realms and survive, and from there they can find their way to the very worlds of the gods.
Genertela is the northernmost continent. It is colder than the southern continent, and the northern-most regions are uninhabited except by ice demons and snow trolls. The White Sea separates the permanent winter from the northern lands of mortals. The continent is temperate in climate, and in the south the seasons are moderate.
The great central oceans of Glorantha are mild and almost balmy, though seasons affect them. The many islands are pleasant places, semitropical in nature. Magasta’s Pool, at the center of the world, is a gigantic whirlpool which draws all the waters of the world to it and drops them to the dark primordial sea below.
The inhabited lands of the southern continent developed independently from the north, though both cultures came into violent conflict during the Second Age. The northern coastal regions are extremely pleasant, but the temperature increases the further south one travels. Beyond the lands that men know are dense jungles and, finally, the arid and unlivable Burning Wastes.
Inhabitants
Humans are a very young species on Glorantha. The world has known other inhabitants throughout its rich history, including beings of great magical power, such as gods, demigods, and monstrous Chaos entities. Humans gained dominance in Glorantha only recently, in the early Second Age (about a thousand years ago). Before this, they were only one species among many.
The majority of the sentient beings of Glorantha are humans, but many other creatures and entities of ancient origin still exist and interact with humanity. The sentient nonhuman inhabitants of Glorantha are known collectively as the Elder Races. Scholars have argued for centuries as to what constitutes a 'race' and how to categorize the myriad denizens of Glorantha. As of the 1600s the following list and 'orientation' has gained a large following:
| Dark/Chaos | Elemental | Light/Order | Neutral | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broo | Dragon | Aldryami | Mostali | Ludoch |
| Huan-To | Dragonewt | Human | Timinit | Cephalopi |
| Illithid | --- | Morokanth | --- | --- |
| Scorpion Man | --- | Newtling | --- | --- |
| Tusk Rider | --- | Troll | --- | --- |
Physical Nature
In general, the continents and islands of Glorantha are similar to those of Earth. Many odd, magical places or objects exist, such as the Block, a city-sized mass of magical material that sits amidst the plains of Prax, visible for many miles in any direction.
The surface geology of Glorantha is much like Earth’s. Mountains, canyons, and volcanoes are similar in size and distribution, although a few stupendous mountains, such as Kero Fin in Dragon's Pass, were formed by magical events. Certain other ranges of mountains greatly predate mankind, and have been dramatically weathered away by aeons of erosion. Glorantha’s other natural surface features are almost identical to those of Earth. Salt seas, freshwater rivers, lakes, various kinds of forests, deserts, swamps, and marshes are all present and in normal distribution.
Manifestations of advanced cultures such as cities, roads, and planted fields are far less common than in Earth's modern world. In most areas, the world presents an unsullied, natural appearance to the viewer.
Minerals occur underground in Glorantha, and can be mined in a normal fashion, although these minerals are different from Earth’s. Oil and natural gas are not valuable to humans in their current stage of development, but may be present in certain areas, unknown to most disinterested surface dwellers.
Geological activity is significant and dramatic in Glorantha. Continental drift has occurred over the ages. Sudden magical shifts or the submerging of entire continents are not unknown. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters are common, and usually attributed to the actions of the gods or their worshipers.
The average surface temperature of Glorantha is similar to Earth’s, as is air density. Gravity is the same, and flight is possible. Air and water currents, however, are stronger than those on our world, and are influenced by magical factors.
