Rorn, the Wanderer

Rorn the Wanderer was the moon god, who watched against the coming of the Ice when men dwelt in the East. His distraction from his task by a mortal woman led to the fall of man, and his guilt led him to lead as many as he could to safety, eventually bringing his followers to the fertile lands of Tarvallah. He was a watcher, though beset by wander lust. He was killed by Haltan in single combat.

Interests and Worshippers

Rorn was god of the Moon and stars, of travel, adventure and of Man.

Rorn is dead, slain by his half-brother Haltan. No-one worships him.

Myths and Legends

The Head of Rorn

After his death, Rorn's head was taken by his sister Neya, and set upon a mountain top in Tarvallah. From there, it is said that it still watches the northern glaciers, guarding against their return.

Theft of Helvanger

Asabeth, who is jealous of Rorn's influence over the other gods, persuades her husband, Haltan, to retrieve for himself the sword Helvanger, saying that it would bring him great status.

She knows that Haltan would not go on any adventure without his brother, and indeed he invites Rorn to go with him. Before they reach the Brokki's castle however, they are seperated. The brothers meet a beautiful woman called Cusyppe whilst on the road. Rorn, as always, is attracted to her, but she is attracted to Haltan. Pleased at finally beating his brother in competition for a woman, Haltan goes off with Cusyppe, leaving Rorn to wait alone.

So Rorn is found by Tharos, the Night Walker, who has been sent by Asabeth along with Cusyppe to split the brothers, and ensure that it is only Rorn who tries to retrieve the sword.

Tharos claims to know a secret way into the mountain of Brokki, which would enable Rorn to grab the sword without being seen. Annoyed with his brother, Rorn decides to go alone, and take all the credit for himself, just as Asabeth planned.

Led by Tharos, Rorn finds a way into the mountain, but is sighted just as he grabs the sword Helvanger. With Tharos now nowhere to be seen, Rorn fights his way out alone, and flees southward back to his hall, clutching the dread sword by his side.

Slaying of Rorn

After Rorn steals Helvanger from the Ice Giants, he returns to his Hall to find his sister in law, Asabeth, waiting for the return of Haltan. She is surprised to see Rorn return, for she had expected him to be slain by the Ice Giants whilst trying to retrieve the sword, therefore enabling her to set up her husband as king of the gods.

Annoyed with Haltan's incompetence for being waylaid (even though it had been her plan to waylay him), and for Rorn's competence at achieving the impossible, she decides finally to switch her loyalties to Rorn. She seduces him - a task none too difficult - and they sleep in her husband's bed.

In the morning, Haltan returns and finds the two in each other's arms. Furious with both of them for betraying him, he grabs the nearest thing at hand - the sword Helvanger, and with a single blow severs his brother's head from his body.

Suddenly realising what he has done, he flees into night with the sword, whilst Rorn lays dead at Asabeth's feet.

Head of Rorn

After his death, Neya places the head of Rorn on the highest peak of the Withrican Mountains, looking north to the Ice.

It is said that his head is still there, and will somebody give warning if the Ice is ever to return.