When I relinquished my role as GM, one of the players decided that he would like to try a different character. New to Heroquest and Glorantha he had chosen to be an entertainer, but rather fancied trying his hand at playing some sort of warrior. Thus with new character generated the GM said that he had something interesting for the next session.
We were passing through Crab Town on the way to seek for Griffin Mountain when it became apparent that [conveniently] Rand Wenchbane fitted a prophecy the trolls had about the hooman known as the 'bane of the womenfolk'. Wenchbane seemed to fit well enough the sobriquet and the Uz priest sent to Cragspiders castle with the omen. The 'hooman' was invited to become the husband to the Troll demon!!!
Curiously moved by forces hither to unknown to him, the Wenchbane said yes.
As we left our friend behind, to what fate we could only guess, I volunteered to write a short piece on the Wenchbane's inititation. Truth be told we never did find out what the prophecy was, but the trolls seemed well pleased. We could only shudder at the tales we each had heard whilst children, told by the menfolk at the camp fire on our intiation rites, about trolls and their dark customs.
Disclaimer: This is of course based on the work of others, a prize for those who guess the publication and the page numbers! :^)
Ritual of Adoption – The Wenchbane Becomes a troll
Thus it was that the Wenchbane found himself a candidate for
adoption amongst the Uz. The priest, under the watchful gaze of the
firewitch on her dark throne, asked,
`Who is your closest kin here?'
`No one,' replied the Wenchbane, a terrified knot in his stomach.
Neither, the Uz nor Cragspider had not revealed any details of what
was to follow.
`How can this be?' Asked the priest. He raised his hoary staff and
pointed at Wenchbane, but asked aloud to the assembled Uz, who eyed
the handsome young Donandari, `Who is that there?'
Of course, he had tutored the Wenchbane in his responses, and that
at least put Rand at ease, for the moment. The priest launched into
a raft of questions,
`Are you sure you want to be here?'
`Do you think you can find your ancestors in the dark?'
`Is someone here willing to give her family to you?'
Once this part of the ritual had been completed, the priest raised his staff and bade that the temple be sealed with lead. So was it done, by a thousand great trolls heaving with sinewy muscle. Then was Rand seized by many hands, an passed amongst the trolls, and they clawed him, tearing away his human clothes until he was left bloody, scratched and naked, cowering in front of the assembled trolls. The firewitch looked on. Then they dragged him to the sacred altar. The Rand sang a song to Kyger Litor, his voice shrill and broken in the dark silence of Cragspiders temple, accompanied by the soft murmurings and shuffling of the assembled Uz. In his song Rand prayed for mercy and a quick initiation.
When he was finished, there was a brief pause then many strong hands grabbed him. His ears and nose were ripped off, blood filling his eyes. His head was held down whilst each of his canines were knocked out by some blunt instrument. Rand was dizzy and sick with agony, chocking on thick clots of blood. When they tore open his torso and ripped out his innards he lost consciousness and wandered far in a dream of utter blackness. There, on that altar, he died.
When they cut him free from the cocoon, he was treated reverently. He was dressed in robes and intricate lead armour. He no longer required light. He could sense shape, texture and his surroundings with his enhanced hearing. He could smell the shape of something with his nose. Thus he was brought before Cragspider and in a hideous rite were troth plighted before the assembled mass. Thus was the prophecy fulfilled.
Regards
Rob
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