Re: Chaos-taints (SPOILER WARNING)

From: Jeff <jeff.kyer_at_...>
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 19:26:17 -0000

> [Philippe asked about people becoming ogres, broos, etc.]
> [Greg pretty definitively answered those questions.]
> The discussion leads me to a question of my own. I ran Glorantha in
> the Bad Old Days of RuneQuest, and started my players out on the 3rd
> Edition Apple Lane and Snakepipe Hollow adventures. Unfortunately,
at
> that time I had just had several other campaigns die out from under
> me due to lack of interest, so I just ran RQ out of the book,
without
> trying to fit the scenarios into any greater whole. In the Snakepipe
> Hollow adventure, the group's archer Speedarted himself into low
> magical power, then became chaotic when shown the horned skull of
> Termain Osberopo. I had a great problems later, justifying this to
> myself; the character was a model Orlanthi.
>
> Roland

Chaos happens, unfortunately. Its like a disease: You can get it through no fault of your own. In stories of the Chaos Age, there are mention of just THINKING about some of the powerful chaos-gods would turn you into one of their minions (Cults of Terror, KOS, G:ITHW). Armies and kingdoms were casually expunged or transformed. Exposure to a chunk of a major chaos thing like that skull would qualify.

Chaos Is Bad Mojo. And, from time to time, this should be illustrated. Mind you, I usually use an NPC that all the heroes like, rather than a hero -- unless there's been a recent spate of stupidity on the part of the Heroes.

Any heroes that are wandering that far into dangerous territory in Snakepipe Hollow are asking for trouble. Its a very, very bad place. Everyone in Dragon Pass is rightfully terrified of the place. Of course, there are ways to get rid of the chaos taint (at least in HW there are) if the hero's brave, tough and has good friends.

Jeff
P.S. I've never gotten an expedition to return from Giniji in KODP. Ever.