From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RQ Digest Maintainer) To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (Daily automated RQ-Digest) Reply-To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RuneQuest Daily) Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Tue, 14 Jun 1994, part 4 Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM Content-Return: Prohibited Precedence: junk --------------------- From: john.hughes@anu.edu.au (John P Hughes) Subject: Aldachur Festival 3 of 3 Message-ID: <9406140241.AA01308@cscgpo.anu.edu.au> Date: 14 Jun 94 22:37:04 GMT X-RQ-ID: 4561 PART THREE: THE NEW FLAME FERTILITY FESTIVAL Here are my campaign notes for the Festival. I hope one day to turn it into a scenario or short story, possibly as a tie-in to a 'Holiday Glorantha' article. Additional ideas and feedback most welcome! Be sure to have a look at MOB's Garhound Harvest Festival in Sun County for more ideas and inspiration, and for rules for races and contests. THE NEW FLAME FERTILITY FESTIVAL The New Flame Festival begins on Freezeday, Fertility Week, Earth Season and lasts seven days. It is a celebration of the harvest dedicated to Ernalda, and a powerful ritual to ensure the Land's fertility in the coming year. Lodril has become increasingly prominent in recent years, doubtless as a result of the stronger Pelorian presence. The festival originated as a joint celebration between the Vantaros and Tovtaros tribes. It has always been strongly influenced by Tarshite practice and belief. More recently, it has become a barely-restrained 'ritual' battleground between the Solar and Lunar-inclined Vantaros and the more traditional Tovtaros Orlanthi; a heady mix of family and cult intrigue against a background of tribal, cultural & religious clash. As you can imagine, the tumult and disorder of the festival provide a perfect opportunity for murder, vengeance, intrigue... and possible rebellion. The festival was cancelled for three years in the wake of the Righteous Wind (1611). The resulting bad harvests led to its reinstatement, though Harvar Ironfist looks every year for an excuse to change the festival to a more 'sedate' Solar Tarsh-style harvest festival. Tribesmen from all over Far Point and Alone pack the city. Merchants and shysters also flood into the town. Mreli Axe Maidens rub shoulders with Furthest society matrons and Argan Argar merchants. Lunar spies observe Orlanthi rebels. Wild bush shamans and kolating come together to engage in magical contests. Extra troops are always on duty for the festival. For the most part they are Lunar irregulars from Tarsh, easily caught up in the spirit of celebration. However, there is also an elite all- female cavalry squad from Thrice Blessed (whose sole weakness is the participation of their champion in the horse race), and a largish squad of Sun County mercenaries who do their uttermost to intervene and spoil the 'filthy decadence'. Of course, their are always plenty of off-duty Lunars from the Cow Burn Camp and the Quarter-master General's warehouses. The Lunars will turn a blind eye to all but the worst offences, relying on the crowds themselves to administer 'justice'. However, rebel-inspired activity is dealt with swiftly and harshly. Of course, some spilt blood is expected during any festival, and this becomes sacred to the Earth. As it aids in the continuing fertility of the land, anyone who has blood spilt is considered lucky (if they survive). In addition to Runes and statues, several Goddess symbols have a special significance during the festival, and feature conspicuously in display and ornamentation. These are the triangle, breast, vulture- breast, vulture, bull, bee, boar, sow, butterfly and axe. They are largely Tarshite in origin. The TRIANGLE represents the Goddess' pubic area, the regenerative womb. The BREAST represents her life- and nourishment- or wealth- giving aspect. The VULTURE- BREAST, a pair of breasts in which red vulture beaks emerge from the open nipples, symbolise the connection between life and death - regeneration, the eternal cycle. The VULTURE is an epiphany of the Goddess in her Death and Regeneration aspect. The BULL is a sacrificial animal associated with fertility and life energy. In particular the symbol of the BULL'S HEAD or BUCRANIUM closely resembles the female uterus and fallopian tubes, and hence is strongly associated with the Goddess. The BEE is believed to generate from the corpse of a bull, and is seen with the bull as a symbol of regeneration. The BOAR is a scavenger of corpses, and so associated with death and regeneration, while the SOW is fruitful, the sacred animal of the Pregnant Goddess (Earth Mother). The BUTTERFLY is a symbol of transformation, death into life, and its symbol is the same as that of the DOUBLE-HEADED AXE, sacred weapon of the earth powers (a double triangle). THE FESTIVAL Alda-chur is a sprawling, ramshackle city with more recently constructed, well-designed walls and temples. There are large differences between the haves and the have-nots. It is seriously overcrowded during the festival - tents and campfires spring up everywhere! Money and commercial exchange play only a very small part in festival proceedings. Elite events cost dearly, but this is just a way of keeping stickpickers out, and the funds go into temple coffers. The festival is ritual and social rather than commercial in motivation. The dirty streets of Alda-chur are transformed by decorations and torches. Beggars are forced to clean and weed the worst of the ruins and tenements. Tiny clay human figurines adorn windows and walls. Trays of grain are placed out to attract birds ('spirits'). Family and temple tapestries are hung from balconies. Cultic & clan statues are taken from their temples and placed on the street. The Goddess symbols mentioned above are everywhere prominent. Many Lunar statues are also displayed. The latter may be defaced as the festival progresses, though some have spirits inside. Fertility bundles are placed over every doorway - 'a kiss for luck'. Rough stalls and tables crowd the market square. Anyone attending the festival must bring an apple and a dyed red egg in their pockets. They must enter the city by crawling on hands and knees through the vulvic eastern gate. 'A gift for the Goddess A tumble for luck Lodril with his fire The whole earth gives suck.' The noise is incredible. Boys blowing into trumpets and shells, street minstrels, snakepipers, bagpipers (walkti-pipers!), whistlers, hawkers, a cacophony of impromptu recitals and concerts. So many people - more than some villagers have seen in their entire lives! And so few of them kin! Everyone wears some sort of mask or hood: from silver and gold temple pieces to stinking oddments of discarded cloth. The less said about the smell the better. Thanes push through the crowds on horseback, while priestesses, priests and local beauties parade on rough carts, some of them transformed into 'floats' and drawn by sacred oxen or giant sows. Recently, incredibly ornate 'Goddess carts' sponsored by the Lunar temples have begun to appear. The procession of Goddess carts between the temples have become increasingly violent, for desperate Orlanthi seek to spoil the ritual. Some will even attempt to 'desecrate' the cart carrying the Moon-sickle with their own blood by jumping under its wheels. There is no denying that everyone must be careful in what they do and say. A casual 'By Elmal's loyal spear' will get you arrested or mobbed in certain parts of the city. However, an equally casual 'Yelmalio's Cold Light!' will get you a knife in the back in other parts, especially after dark. Beware! As the festival progresses, ghosts and spirits begin to walk the streets. Temple statues will animate - some for brief moments, some to immerse themselves completely (if a little stiffly) into the celebrations. Each day at midday, a bell announces that festivities have begun, and that participants are free to engage in full license. This lasts until the following dawn. During this time, most normal modes of behaviour are ignored or reversed. Each evening the formal activities are closed by a parade of horses in main market, and public rituals outside the temples. This is usually interpreted as a sign for the serious partying to begin. The normal greeting becomes "to death", or "Death to you soon". The meaning is related to the death/rebirth cycle of the earth. Death means new life to come. (Humakt alone knows what the sword-brothers say to each other.) Women may bother and even attack men, harass them, boldly and publicly initiate seductions etc. Bad husbands, known adulterers, drunkards etc. can expect a rough time from the women of the city. Most people try and reverse their appearance in some way - men dress as women, rich as poor, warriors as merchants etc. Masks are worn by nearly everyone. The normally decorous and conservative Orlanthi dress codes are overturned - certainly after the children are put to bed. Outrageous phallic codpieces are favoured by women, and are sacred to the Goddess. Both men and women dress 'indecently' or wear only a cloak or 'bear sark', or dress as hermaphrodites (what's the Gloranthan equivalent? Ulerals?). Not too lightly though - it's getting damned cold! Many people 'beg' - for a sweet, a kiss, or something more personal. Professional beggars become tax collectors, and to refuse the tax demon is very bad luck! All meals should begin with eggs and end with apples. Beans should be included in every meal because of their links with regeneration. The drink of the festival is a honeyed sweet red wine called 'haoma' or 'Blood of the Goddess'. Liberal libations should be sprinkled upon the ground when drinking. ENTERTAINMENT For the most part, people do not attend to be passively entertained but to participate and let off steam. PCs should do their share of performing and entertaining! Most of the Sartarite games mentioned in my first games post will be in evidence. Raucous and hysterical 'battles' are incessantly fought with buckets of water, mock agricultural tools, 'axes' of sugared pasteboard, or (most commonly) 'missiles' of congealed beet sugar and almonds. The sweet sellers make a fortune! (And of course, occasionally something heavier or deadlier gets thrown). The crowded streets play host to impromptu dramatic farces related to fertility - 'women' giving birth, couples being married and having sex, 'ploughing the street', ale dances etc. Other forms of street theatre relate to mythological events and political satires. These are mainly to do with the Yelmalio warlord Prince Harvar Ironfist: Fazzur Wideread and his alleged affair with Helena Truespear: Truespear's Yana Ararnis faction: and the subscriptions and delayed construction of the Lunar war temple as Ironfist attempts to have some of the money diverted to his own Yelm temple project. Trickster-inspired mock murders and robberies entertain the crowds with hilarious chase scenes - and doubtless some real ones as well! Spontaneous dancing, including fertility dances with Hurling sticks (a dangerous weapon) are common. Wind dancing is illegal but popular - it's cheaper than alcohol! 'Dancers' spin themselves round and round till giddy . It is frowned upon not only for its Orlanthi connection but also because it often leads to ecstatic trances and 'prophecies' of a seditious nature. Rope dancing and Antic Heys also occur. 'Hey nonny nonny, hey derry down'. Street 'moots' occur where 'Grey Sages' and 'lawspeakers' charge and condemn all and sundry for bizarre crimes (much of it seditious and politically charged, though highly humorous). Men are charged for impotence, young women for the number of their lovers. Some highly charged political and personal accusations are also delivered 'in jest'. Exotic or magical beasts may be publically displayed. Animal fighting occurs in certain parts of the town - rubble runners, red vultures, cockerels, and occasional bear or Uz baiting. Bear baiting is technically illegal, for the animal is the sacred emblem of the Tovtaros tribe. However, Tovtaros tribespeople attempting to stop such activities have themselves been thrown to the dogs. FORMAL EVENTS DAY ONE - FREEZEDAY City Gods parade the boundaries and 'seal' the city. Criminals (preferably high-ranking Orlanthi) are executed/sacrificed at each of the city gates on burning wheels. The cry goes up 'Out with hunger, in with health and wealth. Goddess take us, evil is no more.' A marriage ceremony is enacted between Yelmalio (as god of the city) and Ernalda. The High Earth Priestess publicly takes the sacred bath that restores her youth and virginity. Cherries (normally taboo) are distributed to onlookers. At sunset, race horses parade through the streets, which are carpeted in sheaves of grain. The Grand Temple Rituals begin in the market square. At midnight, the Trickster King and Queen are crowned (King may be female etc.). Spirits begin to appear. DAY TWO - WATERDAY The Dark Man is harried from the city after a ritual combat, and a wooden statue in his likeness is up-ended and burned. Combats occur to select the new City Champion (who may be a female from the fighting earth cults). Public Divination to select Earth Queen (a godi role). (Surprisingly, if the Champion is female, the Earth Queen selected is usually male). "This woman is the altar of Heaven." At sunset, there is the annual horse race through the twisting and crowded streets of the city. This sacred event is very dangerous for horse, rider & spectators. Afterwards, there is the Grand Parade of temple images and sacred objects, including the Sacred Phallus taken from its place beneath the altar of the Earth Temple. The parade is led by statues of the Earth Goddesses and their spouses. This is followed by the Love Feast. Following the Grand Parade, by ancient law the entire temple quarter is sealed off to males on pain of death. Doors and windows of that quarter are sealed with sacred knots. Armed Babeester Gor Axe-Sisters patrol the streets, assisted by female Lunar cavalry. In the Sacred Grove by the Earth Temple, selected female virgins of a certain age perform a secret and holy ritual. It is said that they descend a hole in the earth wearing white flaxen tunics and cloaks, and carrying on their heads something given them by the Earth Priestess. It is whispered that neither the virgins nor the Priestess know what it is they carry, for it is covered. It is also whispered that the mysteries revealed there are of great power and profoundly erotic, but who can tell? Certainly no woman of the city will talk of it. In the hours before dawn, the virgins robe public statues of the Goddess in specially- knitted robes of many colours. Anyone who sees them in this duty should avert their eyes. On occasion, male corpses will be found on the Earth Temple steps - perhaps sacrilegious fools who have attempted to spy on the mysteries. DAY THREE - CLAYDAY Crowning of City Champion. Triumph of Prize Rider, followed by auction of horses. Harvest sacrifices. 'Receive Oh Mother what was taken from your body'. The Feast of Thanks - householders traditionally invite a stranger. Parade of new Earth Queen, and her ritual 'marriage' with City Champion. 'The black Earth for my wife I took'. DAY FOUR - WINDSDAY A day of relative calm, though great tension. The public Orlanthi rituals that once dominated this day are no longer held. Orlanthi will secretly enact the 'Wooing of Ernalda' ritual in their households, and attempt to bring a storm. Spirits are at their strongest today, and commonly appear 'in the flesh' to mix with the crowds. DAY FIVE - FIREDAY Lighting of Lodril's Fires. Worker's Festival of Games, sponsored by the city Guilds. The Ale Blessing and Opening of the Jars. Thanes meet for Solar Ceremonies of Leadership. Family activities during day, festivities and gift-giving at sundown, Ulerian excess as the night progresses. DAY SIX - WILDDAY Minor earthquake at dawn. Fighting earth priestesses (Maran and Babeester) defend the land in ritual combats. The Sacred Bull (adorned with sacred symbols and objects) and some giant boars (Tuskers) are released to run wild through the city streets. The Tuskers must be killed; the bull is shepherded to the main square by unarmed bull- runners. There, after bull-dancer rituals, it is sacrificed in combat with the City Champion. (Sometimes the bull wins). The Bull (or the Champion) is then elaborately entombed. DAY SEVEN - GODDAY In the Earth Temple, the Great Sow gives miraculous birth to the totems of the year - a sow, a bull-calf, and the egg of either a hawk (Solar) or a thunderbird (Wind). The sow and bull will partake in future festivals: the bird, which will hatch in sacred time, will be released. Lodril's Banquet of Red Meats. Mock Battle in main square. Ritual combats between city champion and 'enemy' gods (including Orlanth). Blessing by the various priestesses and closing boundary parade. FINIS - COMMENTS WELCOME! --------------------- From: DevinC@aol.com Subject: Re: RuneQuest Daily, Mon, 13 Jun 1994, part 2 Message-ID: <9406130423.tn1122353@aol.com> Date: 13 Jun 94 08:23:24 GMT X-RQ-ID: 4531 Devin Cutler here: " Certainly it's nice if characters are played to have the beliefs they "`historically'" should have. " My point has often been that "historical" comparisons are bunk, since Glorantha is so different from Earth. " But it's been done, what, three times? in Time, none of which were to resurrect some long-dead individual. (I think? Or was Talor a dead chap?)" Resurrection is done every day in Glorantha, implying that, at the very least, one's soul does not fall into oblivion as an Atheist might believe on Earth. The mere fact that there is some sort of provable afterlife is enough to separate Gloranthan belief from Terran faith. "It's a sign that Babeester Gor temple guards have Sharp Axes." Obviously, but even were the guards to be gone, the man off of the street still could not kneel down and say "Hey, I want an Axe Trance". Babs has something (nay, everything) to say about it. Regards Devin Cutler devinc@aol.com --------------------- From: davidc@cs.uwa.edu.au (David Cake) Subject: Hrestoli Theology Message-ID: <199406130903.RAA02678@quenda.cs.uwa.oz.au> Date: 13 Jun 94 09:04:39 GMT X-RQ-ID: 4532 For a synergy between the current discussions about the beginnings of Malkionism, and the earlier discussions about the differences in various Malkioni creeds, how does this appeal (God-Learner version): In the beginning, the Brithini who inhabited the Kingdom of Logic did everything perfectly and lived for ever. Then Chaos came. Because Chaos was not part of the world, some of the Brithini had to behave in ways that where not perfect in order to fight it, and became flawed and no longer lived forever (the spell forbidden by Urostio is cast). The Brithini say that all who are not Brithini are flawed. Then came the prophet Hrestol - he claimed that there is a way to return to the perfection of the Kingdom of Logic, by striving for personal perfection, and sometimes this even leads to Immortality again (or rather, skilled wizards can learn to cast the immortality spell). How do people feel about this basic scenario? Of course the various schisms would interpret things differently. The Hrestoli feel that we strive for individual perfection, the Rokari for perfection as a society, the Galvosti feel that we strive for perfection as a race (ie wipe out the imperfect humans), etc. Essentially the various Malkioni churches are striving to be like the Brithini. However they also feel that the Brithini, by not being willing to give their all to fight chaos, and save the world, are guilty of moral weakness, so the Brithini are not given any great reverence. Any comments? I quite like the idea of a Malkioni version of the myth of the Fall from Grace, but one that is quite different from the earthly version. Cheers Dave Cake --------------------- From: henkl@aft-ms (Henk Langeveld - Sun Nederland) Subject: Re: Pictures Message-ID: <9406130909.AA09343@yelm.Holland.Sun.COM> Date: 13 Jun 94 10:09:17 GMT X-RQ-ID: 4533 Ana@fenix.fipnet.fi (Antti_Heiskanen): >p.s. Henk, how many subscribers Daily/Digest has? Around four hundred. In Feb/March we passed the 400 boundary, but around Easter, a lot of people unsubscribed. The Digest list consists of about 40 people (in addition to the Daily distribution...) -- Henk | Henk.Langeveld@Sun.COM - Disclaimer: I don't speak for Sun. oK[] | My first law of computing: "NEVER make assumptions" --------------------- From: davidc@cs.uwa.edu.au (David Cake) Subject: Barely restrained laughter Message-ID: <199406130913.RAA02693@quenda.cs.uwa.oz.au> Date: 13 Jun 94 09:14:41 GMT X-RQ-ID: 4534 MOB writes > Despite his obvious talent in the medium, the artist, Rogan > Josh, has vowed never to work in vivisculpture again. Didn't notice that one when I read it in Tales the first time, but since then someone else has used the identical joke (the comic Rogan Gosh by Pete Milligan - well worth reading, an absurdist metaphysical journey through the Vale of Maia, and down to the local curry-house). Rogan Josh is a type of curry! Cheers Dave Cake