Nandan

| Sub-Cult of Ernalda

Author: Lord Monbodo

Nandan was one of the many children of Ernalda and Orlanth, but never achieved the glories of his brothers or sisters. He remained nameless and unknown while others became famed in battle or crafting, one of the myriad godlings who lived among the Storm Tribe. Once, when Orlanth was exiled, enemy gods raided the Storm Tribe and abducted Ernalda. The War Goddesses held a great muster of all the women of the Storm Tribe, and took them to liberate the Allmother. While the women were gone, the men discovered just how much they needed them. They were ignorant of the women’s crafts and secrets, and were helpless to feed the children, or mend the clothing, or divine the stars. The Storm Tribe suffered famine and ruin, and would have been completely ruined, if not for Nandan. Nandan heard a voice, acknowledging his power, the voice told him of what he would need to do, and Nandan followed it. He took up the apron dress and pinned it to his shoulders, and he carried the bronze keys to Orlanth’s stead at his side. With the knowledge the voice shared, he comforted the children and healed their wounds. He baked bread and brewed beer to feed the clan. He mended tempers, settled arguments, and organized others. When the women returned with the liberated Ernalda, she revealed herself to be the voice that had guided Nandan, and helped him discover who he was. Nandan, finally knowing his place in the Tribe, joined the Weaving Women. During the Great Darkness, when Ernalda was asleep and in the Underworld, Nandan’s clan was beset by a curse of infertility. The clan would have died out in a single generation, if not for Nandan who travelled deep into the Underworld to find his mother, and returned with the power to bear children. He shared this with his kin, enabling them to become pregnant, and since then he has also been known as Nandan the Birthing Man.

Creation Notes

Official, from The Six Paths.