The Lost Willow and the Last Blade

Issaries is the Talking God, the god of all Communication. He is the god of trade, language and exploration. He is the Equal Exchange that allows people to find solutions to their problem that benefit all parties. He is the psychopomp who knows the secret ways into the Underworld. He is one of the Lightbringers, and he is worshipped throughout Glorantha by travellers, merchants and artists alike.

Issaries is the First Created, one of the oldest gods in Glorantha. The son of Larnste and Harana Ilor, the gods of Glorantha as we know them would not exist without Issaries. Issaries was the first to name the Runes and give them meaning. He was the one that allowed gods to speak to and understand one another. When mortals became unable to speak the god language, Issaries gifted them with the Language of People so they could understand each other. Then when they separated into different tribes, he gifted them with the Tradetalk that allows foreigners to understand each other regardless of origin.

Issaries travelled far from his home in the Spike, creating connections between people wherever he went. He became extremely wealthy and was blessed with a large family. But one day, he returned from his travels to find the Spike destroyed, his golden treasury gone and his kin missing. He grieved dearly for all of these thing, but more than anything he mourned the loss of his beloved, the Light of Communication. He swore that he would find her and restore the fallen world.

Soon after he set out, he met Lhankhor Mhy, the selfish Know-It-All god. Issaries and Lhankhor Mhy had worked against each other in the past, since the Sage wanted to keep everything he found for himself instead of sharing it with the world. But both gods had suffered terrible grief, and they found common cause in that. In spite of their bickering, the two gods travelled together and helped each other whenever they could.

Issaries pledged himself to Orlanth and became one of the Lightbringers. He was Orlanth’s voice, negotiating the peace after every victory, and Orlanth’s eyes, finding the right way through the ruins of the cosmos. He negotiated with Sofala the Turtle Queen and defeated Hu of the Nine Silences. He found a way through the Underworld to the Halls of the Slain, and without him the Lightbringers would be lost. When the world was made anew, Issaries’ sons journeyed far and wide, giving the gifts of trade and language to all who would receive them.

The cult of Issaries is one of the most widespread in Glorantha. His cultists are merchants and his temples are marketplaces. Issaries is the Equal Exchange, so it is the duty of his priests to ensure fair trade so that everyone can walk away happy. The temples of Issaries are neutral grounds where violence is forbidden, and Issaries’ cultists are always ready to help strangers communicate and resolve their differences.

Issaries had four children and one grandchild of note, all of whom carry on his profession. They are Harst, Garzeen, Goldentongue, Etyries and Thereltoro. Harst is the trader who invented barter. Garzeen the Middleman invented currency. Goldentongue is the speaker and the wanderer. Thereltoro is the Herald who carries words instead of goods. Etyries is Issaries’ daughter who became corrupted and now serves the wicked Red Goddess.

Issaries is the god of all languages. His gift to mortals is Tradetalk, the most common second language in Glorantha. Every culture knows Tradetalk, and every race in Glorantha can speak it. It is a simple and efficient language, easily learned and understood, specialised for trade and negotiations.