Glorantha

Glorantha is a fantasy world created by Greg Stafford in the late 20th century. It serves as the setting for Chaosium's RuneQuest and related games and has been developed into a detailed mythic history spanning thousands of years. The setting emphasizes the interaction of living cultures with a richly described pantheon and planetary cycles, in which gods and heroes influence the world through myth and ritual.

Geography and societies: The core region is Dragon Pass, a land of plains, hills, and kingdoms such as Sartar and the Lunar Empire. Humans, Trolls, Dwarves, and other beings cohabit with nomadic tribes and city-states. Orlanthi are the dominant human culture among many tribes; other cultures include the Esrolan Confederation and the Pelorian city-states; The political landscape has legacy of ancient dynasties and prophetic cycles.

Religion and magic: Glorantha's religion is polytheistic and myth-driven. Orlanth, the storm god, is central to many cultures; the Sun Goddess Yelm, the Earth goddess, and trade gods like Issaries figure prominently. Magic is organized around runes that encode magical power: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and more, and there are spirit magic and sorcery; Clergy, shamans, and rune-priests practice different forms.

Publication and influence: Greg Stafford began publishing material in 1978 with RuneQuest; Glorantha developed as a self-contained setting with multiple sourcebooks, campaign boxes such as Sartar, the God Learners, and the Dragon Pass; It has influenced modern fantasy RPG design and world-building; It has inspired fan works, and later editions by Chaosium and other publishers.

In-universe: Glorantha spans eras like the Dark Ages, the Hero Wars, with mythic storytelling shaping politics and events; The setting is known for its detailed lore, cultural diversity, and the integration of myth and history, standing out among fantasy settings for its depth.