Concepts

Myth plays an important part in shaping the reality of Glorantha. Understanding the myths of your culture allow you to practice magic related to these myths. This isn't just magic in the sense that you can produce "magic spells" or enchant objects. Everyone in the world practices magic in order to fit into natural processes of the world and turn them to survival and civilization. Key concepts that exist in the design of this world may be challenging to understand initially, but having a general grasp of these ideas can illuminate the otherwise dry facts that make up the invented histories and cultures of Glorantha.

Perspective is as important as Truth
The viewpoint of the viewer depends on certain expectations and certain pre-existing knowledge. The "truth" of a situation or existing feature of the world depends on this viewpoint in order to reveal itself.

Example of perspective
There is a great radiant entity that crosses the sky every day. Those that look at this warm and bright object (after taking the right preparations to avoid blindness) see a different entity.
 * Worshipers of the solar pantheon see as much as they can see and call this intense radiant being "Yelm".
 * Worshippers of the storm pantheon see as much as they can see and call this intense radiant being "Elmal".
 * Practitioners of Pentian spirit practices see as much as they can see and call this intense radiant being "Kargzant". Other practitioners see "The Great Bright Treasure", or "Hendrenos".
 * Wizards and Sorcerers see as much as they can see and call this intense radiant source of energy "The Sun". Others that follow this tradition of magic might see The Solar Disc Ehilm although Carmanians see the glowing firestick of Idovanus.
 * When seen in the Heroplane, they all see the Ultimate Mask of the Sun, which has a name by which they already understand this mask, although at times one of these other "aspects" or ways of understanding the mask of the sun may be stronger, allowing them to see the sun as, for example, Kargzant instead of their expected perception. Even at this time, they would still understand it as the intense radiant being they are familiar with.

Mythology is Real
The myths that people tell in the temples, churches, shrines and hearths allow a real understanding of the world. They illustrate how the world works and how it was created.

Mythology contradicts other Mythology
The myths of one group explain the creation of the world and define the other mythologies as corruptions or through ignorance. But in the game design, all of these myths are true, even though they contradict. Essentially, the world is made of a combination of separate otherworlds, making all of these myths true despite their contradictions.

Mythology can change
The Middle World, which is the realm of humans, time and constant change, touches and influences the otherwise static worlds of the Gods, Saints and Spirits. Through holy day rituals secrets of the myths may be revealed and during Heroquests powerful members of the community may work to "change" the myths. This change can be through new revelation of hidden parts of the story, or through a reinterpretation of the processes and interactions that create the details of the story. However this change is performed or discovered, the change is real and alters both the landscape of the Otherworld where this myth derives and influences the power of the myth on the real world. When the new understanding of the myth brings new powers, the heroquesters (and often the community) can use these powers for their benefit in the world.