Re: Ralios Questions; Weaponthanes and Housecarls; KoDP fails 486 test

From: David Dunham <dunham_at_pensee.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 15:33:42 -0800


David Fiorito wrote

> Now the Ralios questions. I was thinking of starting a campaign in the
> Eastern Wilds of Ralios. I have read the section in the Genertella Book on
> Ralios and have a few questions (I have just read it once so I may have
> missed something).

I assume you've also checked my web site... I play the East Ralians as somewhat different from the Dragon Pass Orlanthi. They've been separated for many years, and the initial contact was largely with Lokamayadon's people.

Do you have the Tradetalk issues about East Ralios?

> 1. I get no real sense of relations between the Orlanthi in the Hills and
> the civilized folks in the City States. Does anyone have some insight into
> this?

It's none too friendly. The Orlanthi hate the Arkati in the lowlands, and the Malkioni think the Orlanthi are barbarians.

> 2. There does not seem to be a real "enemy" in the region like the Lunars
> for Prax/Dragon Pass or the Kingdom of War for the Janube river cities.
> Does Ralios have anyone that fits that niche?

 From what context? Depending on where in East Ralios your game is, the Naskori, the Telmori, or the Uz would be bitter enemies. (Not to mention other Orlanthi clans and tribes.)

> 3. Do the Orlanthi of Ralios have any contact with Orlanthi outside their
> region?

Very little, given the difficulty of travelling. The most contact would be with Vesmonstran.

> 4. Is there any Malkioni influence in the East Wilds Orlanthi culture?

I don't think so.

> In Strangers in Prax it says that the Sorcerer Arlatern (or something like
> that) is probably the first sorcerer the players have ever seen. If
> Malkioni influence ends in the Herotland wouldn't it stand to reason that
> most Sartarites and many Praxians would have encountered sorcery?

No. Given that many Sartarites hate sorcerers, any sorcerers in Heortland would be sure to keep their religious leanings quiet (besides being heretical henotheists).

And few if any Praxians get to Heortland.

Tadaaki Kakegawa wrote

> Thank you very much for teaching the meanings of orlanthi cultural
> words. I have understood most of these words come from Norse (or German?)
> and their customs are based on it.

Many of the terms are (though Greg made some of them up), and the customs are based on (but not identical) Norse/Celtic cultures.

> I plan to run a game next month and would like to explain players these
> words and orlanthi social structure but I feel some difficulty about it
> (for we have imagined Sartar would be much more civilized /
> centralized culture because of lack of information, and played as such).
> If anyone have idea how to explain "ORLANTHI IS LIKE THIS" to players
> who have no idea about Norse culture simply , please kindly teach me....

I presume you have the Glorantha box (the Players Book has a reasonable introduction). The Report on the Orlanthi in King of Sartar is the classic source. Enclosure 1 also has a fair amount of info, including in the PenDragon Pass section. King of Dragon Pass tries to bring the Orlanthi of the 1300s to life.

I understand what you mean about the civilized people -- the RQ2 map showing cities was very misleading. The bottom line is, what is the most fun for you and your players? Sartar was probably about as civilized as Charlemagne, though things have gone downhill since the Lunars arived.

Michael Cule wrote

> Not to discourage anyone else from trying, but when Tony at NOT JUST
> STAMPS in High Wycombe (Advert) let me try KoDP before buying, it
> wouldn't run on my aging 486.

It's known to run on some 486s, though we didn't test on anything less than a Pentium. Feel free to e-mail me the details.

David Dunham <mailto:dunham_at_pensee.com> Glorantha/RQ page: <http://www.pensee.com/dunham/glorantha.html> Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein


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