In the BatBlat, The defenders must defeat a monsterous foe. Fortunately, Orlanth mythology holds a suitable story: the Aroka myth. If they can identify The Bat with Aroka, they gain magical assistance.
Mythic Parallels
- Aroka = The Bat
- Aroka's mind destroying eyes = The Bats chaos spitting eyes
- Aroka's tongue = The Bat's maw
- Aroka's breath = The Bat's scream
- Orlanth kills Aroka = The Heortlings defeat the bat
Does the Bat Die? In the myth, Aroka is killed, but the defenders need not be as successful.
Additional Benefits
On one level, the Aroka myth is about freeing a swallowed being (Heler), which becomes a new friend. Defeating The Bat could free the souls swalloed at the battle of Runegate.
<Joerg> I wanted to protest that souls swallowed by the Bat are lost to the Void, but taking a closer look I'm not so sure this should be the case. First off, already as the Rinliddi Death God it was the Bat's office to swallow souls - a way to bring them to the Underworld. This service was interrupted by Shargash sending the Bat down the same path, minus its skin. (Must have made flying interesting, or did he spare the wings?)
http://glorantha.temppeli.org/digest/gd2/1996.06/3836.html
During the Dawn Age, a skinned, demonical scarlet bat was summoned by the Bright Empire to deal with Arkat, and got dealt with. Somehow Nysalor's priests managed to control it beyond Underworld manifesting in Rinliddi. No Chaos association necessary, since Arkat slew it (and its priests) before the final chaotic battle in Dorastor.
The Red Goddess then healed the Scarlet Bat, turning it Crimson, and gave it its new exterior, eyes of illumination (or chaos, whichever you prefer), and its chaotic scream. Therefore, not all Bat powers need to be considered chaotic. No more than a brew beheading someone. </Joerg>
On another level, the Aroka myth is about the unleasing of Ohorlanth, Crushing Noise, The Great Storm.