Vaneekara

The Hurler, the Slinger of Boulders, the Adventuress, the Slayer-From-Afar

This is no way an official long-cult write up, although it draws heavily on existing official material. Material is
drawn from information from Sandy Pedersen and Greg Stafford’s write-up in Trollpak and Trollgods, as well
as material used for Uz: the Trolls of Glorantha. It seems very doubtful that many long form cults will be
written up for Hero Wars / Hero Quest, so this is something to fill part of that gap — but this is a fan
production only, and will likely be contradicted by official material when it makes it to print!
Since some of the material here is in print, I am not replicating it here – after all, you should pay lots of
money to the Unspoken Word to buy UTTOG!
This is in many ways a very tentative document – almost nothing has been written on Vaneekara, and I’m
“feeling my way” through discovering more about her. Thus, I particularly welcome comments and
suggestions!

Mythology of Vaneekara
When Kyger Litor birthed the ancient ancestors, the most adventurous of them was Vaneekara,
one of the Seven Sacred Ancestors. While other uz were content with Wonderhome, Vaneekara
was a rogue and a wanderer with insatiable curiosity, and explored every cranny of the Darkness.
She was the first uz to find a way out of the Darkness,
The Rightful Daughter?
and was the first uz to encounter a stranger. It was
Vaneekara and her children that first explored and One of the ancient uz disputes
mapped out the ancient paths by which the uz explored concerns which of the daughters of
the worlds outside the Darkness. When Kyger Litor first Kyger Litor was the Rightful
ventured to the Spike, for example, it was Vaneekara Daughter. Most uz know that it was
who led her down a path the Hurler had previously Korasting, but some argue that it
discovered. was instead Vaneekara.
Vaneekara was a hero on many
In the Perfect Age, Vaneekara was not discontent – for levels, they argue, and proved
no uz were, then – but she reveled in the adventures to herself many times, while Korasting
be had outside the peace of Wonderhome. All uz know did relatively little in the ancient
stories of her adventures at this time. It was Vaneekara days.
that smashed the Castle of Delicacy of the Mostali, This argument holds little weight for
delighting in the feud between Mostali and Aldryami most uz. Although Vaneekara is
that resulted. She knocked down the White-Feathered powerful, her power largely stems
Storm from the sky and captured it, and almost spirited from her combat prowess. Korasting,
it off to the Underworld. On another occasion the Mother of Many, has her power
Vaneekara hurled a sea deity over the Spike when it stemming from her fertility – and for
annoyed her, and was later imprisoned for a time in the most uz, this is a much greater
sea because of this. She took part in the raids and power indeed.
counter-raids against the denizens of the Other Worlds,
and was a great and powerful warleader. Moreover, Vaneekara is an
adventuress – an admirable trait, but
When Komosha came to Wonderhome, spreading not one that is particularly admirable
Death on his fiery rays, Vaneekara led her warriors in a leader.
against him at Hanroo Field, and sling bullets clattered
off his terrible face like rain on a cliff face. As with all who struggled there against the Butcher
Sun, Vaneekara’s army was broken by the Painmaster, and she and her followers fled
Wonderhome in the Exodus. Over the many generations in which uz clambered upwards to
Komor Vaneekara traveled from band to band of uz, helping each in their time of need. When the
uz burst forth into Komor, her training served them well. Uz rained destruction and confusion on
their foes from afar, shattering all who stood before them.
In the Age of Conquest Vaneekara herself fought many powerful enemies and slew no few of
them. She led armies in many battles as well, and won more times than she was defeated,
helping to found the great Uz Queendoms that dominated the Age of Conquest. She fought
Orlanth, and helped drive that windy deity from Halikiv
“Kill the foe so far away! forever. She fought the Steaming Stars when they invaded
Lift! Heave! Cock! Hurl! Betakang’s Land, and buried them under avalanches deep
From a distance we will slay! under the Glacier. She knocked the Little Sun from the sky,
Lift! Heave! Cock! Hurl!” and would have killed him if an army of Aldryami had not
—part of a Vaneekara intervened to save him. Later, she led her armies through the
hurler’s chant forests of the Fire Elves, destroying many of these terrible
foes from afar, until at last she founded her own Great
Queendom on the northern slopes of the Spike. From there, it is said, she could hurl a boulder
against any foe in the world, and did so on many occasions to help uz fighting in far distant
battles.

When the armies of Chaos first slithered into the Age of Conquest, Vaneekara marched out to
fight them. She led one of the armies that fought Wakboth the Devil at the battles for the Spike,
and helped to drive his tentacle foot off of that mountain, and hurled one of his armies out of the
cosmos. She led her army north to help fight at the great battle that hurled the chaos hordes
away from Dagori Inkarth, and wounded Krarsht there. Many uz say that because she ventured
forth, she was unable to see that the Devil found a new way to assault the Spike, and destroy it –
along with Vaneekara’s Land – and that this helps show that Korasting was indeed Kyger Litor’s
Rightful Daughter.

With the beginning of Time, Vaneekara’s followers were numerous and powerful, and her armies
of slingers and hurlers fought alongside Karrgs’ Sons and Death Lords as the uz helped spread
the order of the Councils. Later, when the uz turned against the council when it became the
Wrong Council, and then the Council of the Wombbiter, her armies suffered terribly in the fighting.
Worse, however, was to come: when the Curse of Kin struck into the very heart of that which was
uz, the female warriors in Vaneekara’s armies were forced to put aside sling and bullet in order to
help Korasting fight to preserve the uz as a people. Her armies never recovered from that
disaster, and since the time of Arkat her cult in Komor
has slowly declined. Siblings of the Thrown Stones
There are many uz tales of Vaneekara
As the Hero Wars approach, some uz feel Vaneekara’s and Bozktang in the Age of Conquest.
call once more, and armies of Hurlers are slowly From Vaneekara, it is said, Bozkatang
forming once more. Scholars of ancient history among learned the secret of missile weapons.
humans and the Elder Races see the signs of this Bozkatang used this secret to shape
among the uz, and wonder what terrors the the Stones-to-Kill-Chaos. To repay her
worshippers of the Slayer From Afar may once more generosity he gifted her with many of
unleash on the surface of Glorantha. the stones.

In Hero Wars, Vaneekara worshippers

Manifestations are usually able to obtain Stones-to-
For uz, Vaneekara is present when they sling a bullet, Kill-Chaos from Bozkatang shamans,
hurl a stone or toss a javelin. She is the deity of all either as one-use items or as “re-
missile weapons, having taught these secrets to the uz usable fetishes.”
long ago. All uz know that her favor will guide a missile
a bit faster, stronger and truer to a target. She has many other manifestations that some uz
revere: as an adventurer, a maker of mischief and as a patron of warriors. She is not the patron of
the hunt – that is the role of her son, Zong – but she is the patron of the bullet, the spear, the rock
itself, even when used within the hunt, and all hunters revere the Hunter’s Mother.
Great Hurlers, disciples of Vaneekara, are incarnations of the deity that walk among the folk,
manifesting her divinity amongst the mundane. Great Hurlers embrace Vaneekara’s nature both
as a fierce wielder of missile weapons, and as an explorer and adventuress. Both her devotees
and disciples are usually considered to be a bit too relaxed about uz tradition and uz customs, but
they are always respected and many are greatly loved by their families. Others are feared or
resented for their violation of both uz custom, and of the dominance enjoyed by Karrg and Zorak
Zoran in matters of warfare.

Statues and Images

Vaneekara is carved by uz as a great, muscular female uzuz (very rarely, as an uzko) hefting a
stone or boulder in one hand. She may be depicted with a sling in her belt or in her other hand, or
with a javelin or other missile weapon favored by the clan in question. Enlo depictions of
Vaneekara are more likely to depict her as an uzko, or as
“No matter how tough the uzko an undefined uz-like shape. In regions where a proper
or uzdo, a well-skilled bullet temple or large shrine exists, bas-reliefs of her famous acts
puts paid to them like anyone in the Age of Conquest are carved upon the walls.
else.”
— Hijjik Slinger-ab, Often, worshippers chisel her rough shape or image into a
Vaneekara-worshipping enlo boulder or stone. More sophisticated clans sometimes cast
lead sling bullets in her rough shape, and such sling bullets
are considered lucky and more accurate by the cult. These “Vaneekara bullets” are treated by the
cult as equal to value to bolgs. Divine companions are often embodied in slings, or in flying
insects. A few Vaneekara hurlers have divine companions embodied in birds, for she captured a
few species of bird from Komosha’s Clan in the Age of Conquest and passed this secret to some
of her followers.

Other World Home and Life After Death

Vaneekara resides in the great Ranging Tower, which Gadblad built for her near Kyger Litor’s
Throne in Wonderhome; this is one of the Three Great Towers of Kyger Litor. From there,
Vaneekara and her followers can see all that transpires in Wonderhome, and reign down Death
and Destruction upon any foolish enough to earn her wrath. There are other windows in the
Ranging Tower that look out upon other worlds, and Vaneekara sometimes slings her wrath there
as well. Vaneekara’s followers live around the Tower, but their ranging and adventurous nature
often leads them to wander through Wonderhome. Many of them drink from the Pools of Rebirth,
and return to Komor for another life.

Nature of the Cult

Vaneekara is the patron of missile weapons, and also of Wandering Daughters
adventurers and explorers. She is a bender of tradition When the Curse of Kin struck the
but not a breaker of it; a wandering daughter, but not a uz, it forever changed the lives of
rogue or an unrightful daughter. She provides an young fertile females. Although
acceptable alternative both to the warrior ethos of Karrg, childbirth was always considered
and to the female lifestyle created by the Korasting the most important of powers, it
tradition. was never the only power, and
females often took other paths.
Most uz warriors who use the sling, the javelin or the With the Curse, however, the
thrown rock respect and revere her, although many very survival of the folk depended
worship her children (such as Zong) rather than on keeping females as safe as
Vaneekara directly. Her cult once commanded vast possible and isolated from the
armies of missile weapon warriors, but her worship has world of Komor/
declined since the First Age and these once mighty
bands are now rare. Where they still exist, they are Despite this, daughters
greatly feared by the foes of uz. Today, most units of uz sometimes grow restless and
slingers are hunters in the militia or poorly trained enlo, seek to adventure for a time as
although most uz lands have at least one Vaneekara warriors. This is sometimes
band. permitted by Great Mothers, as
long as the young females take
The cult in uz society provides a catalyst for adventurers, the Oath of the Wandering
particularly among the cloistered ranks of young female Daughter – to adventure for no
uzko. Vaneekara was, in the Age of Conquest and the more than Eight Years, and then
First Age, the patron of female warriors. When the Curse to return to a life
of Kin beset the uz, the number of female warriors
declined sharply and the cult diminished somewhat in A few daughters evade this
importance. Yet it remains a powerful focus for uz restriction to become life-long
possessed by curiosity, a wandering spirit, or an worshippers of Vaneekara; and
exploratory nature. on occasion a grizzled uz
matriarch whose fertility is lost
Attitude and Relationships may return to a youthful worship
Vaneekara, as one of the Seven Sacred Ancestors, has of the Hurler.
friendly relations with the other cults and traditions of
Korasting. Her myths say she was particularly close to Bozkatang, and he was her husband for a
time. Accordingly, their followers are usually friendly, and it is considered lucky for a Vaneekara
follower to take a Bozkatang chaos-hunter to husband.

Followers of her favorite son, Zong, are usually friendly as well, and many worshippers of Zong
also revere her. In times of war, Zong worshippers may muster under a Vaneekara leader to form
“regular” troops of slingers and hurlers. By tradition, the sons of Vaneekara worshippers are
always accepted into the Zong cult if they wish to join it.

Relations with the followers of her brother, Karrg, are more complex. Both are patrons of warriors,
and were great rivals at times in the Age of
“Deathgod, Vaneekara, Karrg Good Son; Conquest. The decline of her cult has meant a
Went to war when the peace was done. rise in the status of Karrg’s worshippers.
Bezerker stymied by the walls so high; Worshippers of Vaneekara sometimes bitterly
Son couldn’t stray from his mother’s side. resent this, and in rare cases even contest for
Hurler tossed the foe so far, power within a clan with the Karrgs’ Sons. Even
Others had to say she won the war.” more rarely, the Vaneekara cult has managed to
— uz children’s chant in the hurling game displace that of Karrg and the clan warleader will
be a Vaneekara worshipper. Relations with Zorak
Zoran worshippers are usually similarly strained,
although in most cases the Karrg and Vaneekara cults will close ranks against that of the
Deathwielder.

Vaneekara took a great part in the ancient feuds against Mostali and Aldryami, and her cult is
noted for this. Aside from the normal bitterness between the Elder Races, however, there is no
particular enmity towards elves or dwarves, and her cult as occasionally formed coalitions with
one or the other when it suited the needs of an uz land. The reverse is not strictly true, since both
Aldryami and Mostali deeply dislike the fact that her cult helps undermine their typical superiority
vis-à-vis uz in terms of missile combat.
Mode of Worship and Sacrifices
Vaneekara is part of the Kyger Litor pantheon, and she The Siege Stone Ritual
receives worship from all uz through this. Worship by One common Vaneekara ritual
dedicated initiates, devotees and disciples is relatively rare in is known as the Siege Stone
the time of the Hero Wars, although there are usually great ritual, and aids Vaneekara
worship ceremonies to her before battles. cultists in smashing down the
fortifications and buildings of
Vaneekara ceremonies consist of recitations of her many their foes.
deeds in the Age of Conquest; the assembled worshippers In the Siege Stone ritual,
then recall the many deeds performed by her worshippers cultists spend long periods of
among their ancestors, and the deeds they themselves have time enchanting and preparing
performed in her name. Interspaced between these are often boulders to hurl or sling
athletic contests of various types, as worshippers vie to see against specific foes.
who can sling the furthest or the fastest, who can heft or hurl Vaneekara conquered many
the largest boulder, who can run the fastest, who can climb a castles, walls, cities and
sheer wall, and similar feats. Great contests of boasting are magical citadels in the Age of
often part of worship ceremonies as well. Conquest and learned the
secret weakness of each.
Sacrifices to Vaneekara are usually mundane matters of
offers of food, items and missile weapons. The greatest Accordingly, worshippers
sacrifices, however, are feats of daring – especially in those prepare stones for use against
areas of concern to the cult. During worship ceremonies a specific target, and enact
worshippers may pledge to perform a specific feat during the great rituals which call down
new year, such as stealing a Wind from Boldhome, slinging a Vaneekara’s blessings. The
bullet to the Red Moon, or throwing a foe into the Other boulders are carved with
World. secret symbols of the cult,
polished and shaped just so,
and finally hurled in a precise
Holy nights
fashion.
Movement week of each season is considered a special time
for Vaneekara’s cult, and this is the favored week in which to For each week that a
fight battles, commit great feats of daring, and seek out new worshipper works fulltime on a
experiences. Week-long contests are sometimes held, when stone, it grants the hurler a +1
worshippers train in the skills of the cult. augment when it is used. This
bonus is doubled when the
Seasonal holy nights commemorate the great achievements worshipper is a devotee or
of Vaneekara in the Age of Conquest, and worshippers often disciple. Multiple worshippers
seek to strengthen this by fighting the appropriate traditional may work on a single stone at
foes. The more unusual or incredible a feat of daring a the same time. The ritual must
worshipper undertakes, the greater the glory to Vaneekara. be continuous, although the
Humiliating foes through feats of daring is considered an once finished the prepared
especially bold and valuable tribute in the eyes of some of the stone may wait for years until it
devotees and disciples of the cult. is used.
Such stones were used in
Fling Sea Night
many sieges in history, and
Waternight, Movement Week, Sea Season
periodically cultists unleash
On this night, Vaneekara cultists commemorate their many
great and powerful stones
victories over the deities of water and the seas. On this night,
crafted millennia ago to use
Vaneekara cultists like to attempt impossible feats, such as
against their foes – as long, of
throwing streams and creeks from one place to another. This
course, as the ancient
is considered a good night to fight against creatures and
fortifications they were built to
worshippers of water, and a good night for battles next to
assault are still standing!
lakes or running water.
 Shoot Star Night
Boasting Battles
Painnight, Movement Week, Pain Season
One feature of Vaneekara worship On this night, Vaneekara worshippers celebrate her
ceremonies are the “boasting battles,” battles against the Star Warriors in the Age of
when worshippers challenge each other Conquest, and her great Invasion of the Sky. This
by boasting of their past exploits. Such night, when the forces of Sky and Fire are among
challenges are often used to resolve their strongest, Vaneekara cultists show their
conflicts between worshippers. Losers in bravery and adventurousness by battling Komosha
these challenges are often inspired to and his minions. This is not a lucky night to battle
perform new deeds and exploits, and re- Fire and Sky, but battling on this night is a sign of
challenge those that defeated them in power and courage.
the past.
Sling Stone Night
Earthnight, Movement Week, Earth Season
On this night, long ago, Vaneekara smashed the Combined Armies of Vengeance, when Mostali
and Aldryami attempted to unite against her during the Age of Conquest. This is considered to be
a good night for raids against the other Elder Races, and worshippers often try to at least
bombard dwarves and elves from afar to celebrate her past victories. This is also a good night for
feats of hurling, and many worshippers hold contests on this week to demonstrate their skills.

Stones-To-Kill-Chaos Night
Godsnight, Disorder Week, Dark Season
Many Vaneekara worshippers celebrate Bozkatang’s high holy night and join in his worship
ceremonies. This is a good night for Vaneekara worshippers to hurl stones-to-kill-chaos at their
foes, when such magics are at their strongest. Because of favors their deity rendered Vaneekara
in the Age of Conquest, Vaneekara worshippers must do any reasonable favor asked of them by
a Bozkatang chaos-hunter.

Hurl Darkness Night

Freezenight, Movement Week, Dark Season
This is the high holy night of the cult, when Vaneekara’s
The Lucky Daughter
many victories are celebrated and the deity revered by all
Vaneekara is a notorious
uz. This is the best night to initiate new worshippers, and
gambler, and there are many
the week is often celebrated by contests of skill and
tales of the bets she made in the
daring. Such contests are the opportunity for betting and
Perfect Age, the Exodus and the
celebration by all uz, and it is not unheard of for cultists to
Age of Conquest. Vaneekara
accept challenges from non-worshippers during this
cultists often gamble and bet for
week. This is also best week in which to fight battles, and
just this reason, and there are
cultists sometimes delight in seeking out traditional foes.
many grumbled stories that they
This night is also a celebration of Vaneekara’s many
are unusually lucky.
victories over Chaos, including her great battles against
Wakboth. On this night, Vaneekara worshippers delight in One beloved bet is always held
smashing open chaos nests from afar, reveling in the on Hurl Darkness Night. This is
disorder and confusion that always results. Vaneekara’s Bet, and it is always
made against Karrg and Zorak
Throw Wind Night Zoran worshippers. The bet
Windnight, Movement Week, Storm Season always involves a combat feat; if
On this night, when the powers of Storm are at their the Vaneekari wins, the loser
height, Vaneekara worshippers revel in challenging storm must use only missile weapons
by hurling great objects into the air, and seeing how far for the following season. If she
they can throw in the face of the Wind God’s fierce gusts. loses, she may only use melee
On this night, brave Vaneekara cultists revel in weapons during that season.
challenging storm foes, and beating them when they are
at the peak of their power. Batteries, companies and gangs
Vaneekara gangs are sometimes known
Organization by other names; this is part of the
The Vaneekara cult is organized, like Karrg’s and influence of the council in the First Age,
Zorak Zoran’s, into war gangs. Each gang is and of the Jrusteli in the Second.
centered around a disciple or devotee of the
Among uz, Vaneekara warbands were
goddess, although as there are few of either these
known as gangs. But during the time of
days gangs are often centered around a powerful
the Council, some bands attached to
and senior initiate. A temple might serve one gang
Council armies were called companies,
or several, depending on their size and strength;
and some Hurlers adopted these
the most powerful and senior disciple (or devotee,
designations themselves as points of
if no disciple is present) serves as the temple
pride.
leader. Most temples retain the old trappings and
styles of the cult’s heyday in the First Age, and it is The Jrusteli, following their own
not unusual to see minor temples of perhaps 20 conventions, referred to the gangs of
worshippers referred to as a company, for Vaneekari who fought on the battlefield
example. as batteries, a designation which is still
sometimes used by some humans,
The organization of the cult itself varies widely, though the uz never favored it.
since different groups emulate different aspects of
Vaneekara. Some groups seek adventure and personal challenge, and such groups are usually
loosely organized around a devotee or disciple; initiates might leave on their own personal quests
for seasons or years, and none think the worse of them for it. Most temples, however, have more
organization, and regularly drill and fight together. Where possible, Great Mothers of clans and
tribes will favor the later over the former.

Membership Requirements
Vaneekara welcomes any uz who wishes to sling, heave or hurl. Since the Curse of Kin, her cult
has also been relatively open to enlo, although the formal requirements for initiation (let alone
devotion) means that such enlo as worship her cult either do such in lay fashion, or are such
exceptional enlo that they are clearly uz instead. The Yanga subcult is usually an exception to
this.

As part of Kyger Litor, she does not fully trust non-uz, but in the First Age her cult did accept such
as worshippers, although few ever progressed far in the cult. Non-humans are sometimes, if
rarely, accepted – usually they must first prove that they are uz, not uzger to the satisfaction of a
Great Mother, but such standards are sometimes looser in the rare adventuring bands of
Vaneekara.

Members are expected to show a preference for the sling or the hurled rock (or other acceptable
missile weapon). There is no punishment for the use of melee weapons, although there may be
stigma from other members of the cult.

Worshippers of Vaneekara never use the bow or crossbows; this is an ancient prohibition, for
these were the weapons used by Komosha on Hanroo Field, and are cursed and uzger. Missile
weapons used by worshippers should always be weapons that are thrown in some fashion.
Extremely conservative worshippers may go so far as to distain any weapon but the rock and the
sling.

Initiate
An initiate must be sponsored by a Vaneekara worshipper; this may include former worshippers.
If an initiate’s mother was a Vaneekara worshipper, than acceptance is usually automatic. An
initiate must know the skill of Thrown Rock or Sling before joining, and must display their skills
with either weapon to their initiating devotee or disciple.

Initiates may learn the affinities of Vaneekara, as noted in Uz: the Trolls of Glorantha, page 43.
Mental and physical skills are also listed. Initiates sometimes receive training in cult skills. They
must follow the commands of their gang leader, so far as these are reasonable; and if they are
not reasonable, they have the right to demand to leave for another gang, although their gang
leader may set them a test before they do so.

Most war bands are generalists, and emulate Vaneekara in all her ways; in the First Age, it was
not uncommon to see temples that specialized in fighting certain foes, such as the Bow-Breaker
Company, or the Counter-Cannon Daughters.

Vaneekara initiates are often considered to be rather eccentric by uz standards, particularly

female worshippers who forsake (even if only temporarily) the greater and more secure power of
Korasting for the power of their cunning and the strength of their sling-arm. Moreover, since in
most uz clans the followers of either Karrg or Zorak Zoran are much better organized and more
powerful, following Vaneekara is usually either a mark of dissatisfaction with the clan’s war-
leader, a sign that neither cult will accept them, or the desire to follow a different path.

Hurlers (Devotees) Hurlers and Great Hurlers

Devotees are known as “Hurlers,” and are prominent and Originally, the cult of Vaneekara
famed heroes of Vaneekara. Devotees serve as the leaders termed its devotees as Heavers
of most warbands as well as solitary heroes emulating and its disciples as Hurlers.
Vaneekara’s many deeds. Hurlers are usually grizzled When disciples grew rare,
veterans of many combats, and are considered to be wily however, it became common
and fierce foes by many uz. Vaneekara devotees have an usage to refer to devotees as
unenviable reputation as difficult foes who slay their Hurlers. Accordingly, the (rare)
enemies from far away, often without warning, and most uz disciple became known as a
are extremely polite around them. “Great Hurler.”

Devotees who have enough influence and power within an uz clan will form the Vaneekara
initiates of a clan into a warband in times of conflict. However, in many clans the cult is week, and
in such cases the initiates may serve instead as champions or leaders of squads.

Entry Requirements: Must be initiated as a devotee by a disciple of the cult; as disciples are now
somewhat rare, this often requires traveling a considerable distance and convincing a
strange disciple of one’s worthiness. A devotee must have proved herself a notable
warrior (must have both Hurl Boulder/Throw Rock and Sling at 7w), and must have
committed a worthwhile feat of distinction (such as slaying a prominent foe from afar,
carried out an adventuresome deed, etc.)
Mental Abilities: Initiate to Vaneekara, Pray to Vaneekara, Sacrifice to Vaneekara, Warband
Missile Tactics
Affinities and Feats: As per Uz: The Trolls of Glorantha, page 43.

In the past, most devotees served under disciples of the cult in the great missile companies, but
the decline of the cult has made that rather rare. Only a few warbands are today of such size as
to justify this, so when an initiate is raised to a devotee, a new warband is usually formed for
them. Since there are few Vaneekara worshippers, this often means that new devotees are not
raised until there is a space for them. In other cases, a devotee may go “bandless,” choosing to
rely on her own strength and cunning rather than lead a band of others. This sometimes fits the
temperament of a worshipper better; in other cases, it is a practical decision, which allows an
initiate to become a devotee when there would not otherwise be a place for them.
Great Hurlers (Disciples)
Disciples of Vaneekara are rare in Third Age, with no more than one or two in most given uz
lands. Disciples are accordingly revered even more as heroes and as incarnations of Vaneekara
herself. Disciples are known as Great Hurlers, and usually dominate the cult where they are
present (although Vaneekara does not expect blind Independent Daughters
obedience from her followers). They are always great
While some Great Hurlers
warriors, but are renowned more for their headstrong nature
manage to displace Karrg and
and eccentricity.
Zorak Zoran and dominate
their clan’s (or even tribe’s)
Great Hurlers are always drawn from the ranks of devotees,
warriors, others chose to flaunt
and must have not only proven their personal skill as a
their independence. Such
warrior, but their worth as a warleader: generally, a Great
“independent daughters” are
Hurler must have at least a 10w2 in a suitable missile
usually loyal to their Great
weapon, and 1w2 in each of Vaneekara’s affinities. More
Mothers, but choose their own
importantly, those aspiring to be disciples undertake strange
way in which to be loyal. This
and terrible tasks, merely to prove that they are able to
often creates friction, since
perform them – just as Vaneekara did in the Perfect Age. The
Great Hurlers delight in
ritual of becoming a disciple, in fact, usually begins with a
ignoring the specific
great feat – for example, when Kalaj Akthankad became a
instructions given them but
disciple in 1552, she spent two years walking through Peloria
fulfilling the spirit of the
unseen, until she was able to sneak into the Red Emperor’s
instruction.
own throne room in Glamour and stole his sweater of the
back of his couch.

Subcults and Herocults

Vaneekara has many sub-cults and hero cults, of which a small sample is given here.

Shinga Bowbane
Yolp
Shinga was an ancient hero of Vaneekara that fought the Pain Empires, and taught their archers
to respect and fear the sling and the thrown rock. She hated archers above all else, and hunted
Golden Bow through the Other World. Temples to Vaneekara in Yolp revere her.

Membership Requirements: Worshipper must be a full-time warrior, or a frequent raider against

bow-wielding foes. Usually, the worshipper must kill an archer in combat.
Mundane Abilities: Archer-Fighting Tactics, Dodge
Virtues: Passionate
Affinity:
Bowbane (Crush Bow, Hate Archer, Sling-and-Run)
Notes: Shinga delights in the sacrifice of bows, especially the magical Aldryami bows that are
living creatures themselves.

Vaneekara Nose-Twister
All uz lands
Vaneekara was famed for her mischief, and some uz say that she birthed some of the aspects of
the Great Imp himself. Some uz revere her for her mischief and delight in the stories of her deeds
in the Perfect Age. This adventuresome aspect of the deity is called “nose-twister” in her myths,
and she is sometimes worshipped in this form.

Membership Requirements: A prospective worshipper must “count coup” against a specified foe,
humiliating them. Such “coups” are not intended to be feats of combat as much as they
 clever tricks or stratagems that make their enemy a figure of mockery. There is no
prohibition against injuring or killing the opponent in question.
Mundane Abilities: Obnoxious Banter, Set Trap
Virtues: Adventurous, Clever, Mischievous
Affinity:
Nose-Twister (Blame Another, Let’s You and Him Fight, Shame Foe)
Notes: Nose-twister is not so much a trickster aspect as she is an adventuress aspect;
Vaneekara does not break rules, and a worshipper would
likely not act against members of her family or clan, only “Stone-daughter,
outsiders and enemies. Rock-daughter,
Sling-daughter, three.
Comes the day
I’ildas Arrowthrower
when you come to me.
Blue Moon Plateau Mothers weep
I’ildas was a Vaneekara hero of the second age, who when the three walk by,
delighted in raiding Pelorians and Pentians alike. She stole for they know
part of Komosha’s Bow, and delighted most in turning the that the clan will die.”
weapons of her hated enemies against them. — Part of an ancient Halikiv
prophesy by Vaneekara disciple
Membership Requirements: Worshippers must be expert Gachak Nanj’ang
slingers, with a n ability of approximately 10w.
Mundane Abilities: Nimble, Sling
Virtues: Cruel
Affinity:
Arrow (Barb Flesh, Catch Arrow in Teeth, Sling Arrow, Spit Arrow Back)
Notes: This hero-cult is a favorite of raiders and outlaws living on the fringe of society, and of
certain of the uz clans that live on the Plateau. However, most Vaneekara cultists among the uz
here– particularly those worshipping aspects of the Plateau – do not worship her, or favor her
worship.

Vanjinan Hatesky
All uz lands
Vanjinan was one of Vaneekara’s daughters, and in the Age of Conquest led her mother’s armies
on many occasions. When Gash and Gore snuffed out the stars that were caught in Xentha’s
net, Vanjinan decided to outdo them and hunted through the sky. She slew many celestial beings,
and almost killed a planet, once. Her daughter was later killed by an angel, and Vanjinan swore to
never make peace with the sky.

Membership Requirements: Worshippers must hate the sky, and all sky worshippers.
Worshippers are often raiders or outlaws, and are bitter foes of the Solar pantheon – and,
more recently, most of the Lunar pantheon as well.
Mundane Abilities: Acute Darksense, Darksense Far Away
Geas: Cannot Fly 20
Virtues: Hate Sky
Affinity:
Slayer of the Sky (Hate Sky, Knock Down, Sling High, Target Flying Foe)
Notes: Vanjinan worshippers may never fly, and hate flight. This even extends to flying insects
and enlo pilots, and conflicts between jabug pilots and Vanjinan worshippers are
common.
Yanga the Slingkin
Dagori Inkarth, Halikiv, Shadow Plateau, Guhan, Pavis
Yanga was the first enlo allowed to join the cult of Vaneekara, and quickly proved the worth and
utility of enlo as slingers and skirmishers. He slew a chaos horror with a stone before he was
grown, and killed a god on a heroquest when he was grown. Many enlo skirmishers revere
Vaneekara above other aspects of Kyger Litor, and she receives much lay worship from them.
Yanga is the patron of enlo slingers.

Membership Requirements: Must be an enlo. Uz might be able to join, but none has ever tried
and the social stigma would be great.
Mundane Abilities: Sling.
Virtues: Brave, Loyal
Affinity:
Slingkin (All Aim Together, Keeneye, Reload Quickly, Stun with Bullet)
Notes: nearly all Enlo who initate (or devote) to Vaneekara in these lands learn the Slingkin
affinity instead of the Hurl affinity, since few enlo are able to hurl a boulder— even with magical
assistance.

In many uz lands, enlo are only allowed to worship this subcult, not the greater Vaneekara cult as
a whole.

Divine Retribution
Vaneekara takes retribution on her followers through the Eight Thousand Stones of Retribution.
These were ancient darkness spirits that Vaneekara saved, loved or conquered in the Age of
Conquest, and each has a unique and distinct form of retribution that they take. Mythically, the
Eight Thousand Stones are slung by Vaneekara from the Ranging Tower in Wonderhome, and
are her personal wrath against an offender.

For lesser crimes, one of the Stones may strike the offender, doing a small amount of pain or
damage. Greater crimes might involve huge tones, or a horde of lesser Stones. Other Stones
may strike those slung by the offender, knocking them off target and ruining aim; striking near
targets to warn them; etc. Others may circle an offender as a distraction, whistling or making
other noises. Often, such stones serve as a signal for worshippers of Vaneekara to punish or
stigmatize the offender themselves.

Vaneekara Warfare
The Vaneekara cult are not only masters in missile combat, but are masters in waging their own
form of organized missile warfare as well. Like the Zong cult, they are superb slingers that make
use of cover rather than fighting in an exposed, open formation. Unlike Zong, they are well trained
in fighting together on the battlefield.
Vaneekara companies usually are lightly armored and do not fight as skirmishers, but rather as
“tactical assassins.” They excel at attacking enemy archer and missile formations, and eliminating
individual enemy heroes and leaders, and in disrupting magical rituals and formations. At the
same time, they use mobility and trickery to attempt to avoid most of the counter-fire that ensues.
While useful, this hardly endears them to all of their fellow uz warriors, since Vaneekara
warbands are notorious for triggering counter-attacks which end up targeting neighboring uz
units.