Bell Digest vol08sup01.txt

Contemporary messages : [ by volume ] [ by digest ] [ by Topic ] [ Supplements ] [ List all ]
Other mail archives: !!!!!!> Visit the Search Engine of Lhankor Mhy <!!!!!!

From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM Subject: RuneQuest Digest Volume 8, Supplement 1 To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM Precedence: bulk [Tom Zunder's Sun County interpretation. Part 1, introduction] From: Tom Zunder Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 20:49 GMT Subject: My Sun County Campaign 1992 So here we go, much of the following is copyright Mike O'Brien, Chaosium or myself. Please do not distribute for commercial gain or otherwise without permission of all copyright holders. Sun County Campaign 1992 Players Introduction: Hello and welcome to Glorantha. This world of mystery, action, adventure and the absurd is yours to explore and, hopefully, to enjoy. For the next four weeks I will be refereeing RuneQuest 3 on Tuesday evenings at my house. I thank you for agreeing to play and hope that you will have an enjoyable and exciting time. The game will start at 8pm (children permitting) and will run until 10.30-11. If people wish to take up the opportunity to play more sessions then we can discuss that en route.. This Players Pack gives some basic information about Sun County, around which the games will revolve, including information personal to your character. Many of the rumours, tips or articles will be unique to you and you may wish to offer this information to others in or out of play. Although I have a fascination with Gloranthan arcana and mythology I want the game to run primarily on interaction and excitement, with the mass of knowledge about the world percolating through rather than over emphasised. This will be a powerful set of games, the player characters are on the while quite well equipped and experienced and I would expect some vigorous action. In addition the players have a long experience of role-playing and a wealth of knowledge of Glorantha itself, so I would hope that active role-playing and enjoyment of a sociable nature will be enjoyed. On a final note I would like to remind you that many of you will know far more about certain aspects of Glorantha than I do, as such I would hope that we can jointly enjoy telling a story about Greg Stafford's world... What to bring Yourself Your character Your dice Your pencil Your music Your imagination! What not to bring A rubber band ball Two rusty nails Three binbags A big dish of small peanuts The Bagblatter Beast of Trall Any of the very sad people we met at University (or is that us?) The Dungeon Master's Guide The Background The Year is 1621 ST, the day Wildday/Illusion Week/Earth Season. The world of Glorantha spirals towards the Hero Wars. The Volsaxi in Maniria still fight for their survival, the siege of Whitewall continues, last year's desperation has lifted slightly, as the Lunar forces seem to be losing momentum in their progress into the Holy Country. The Hendriki, defeated last year are experiencing the pleasures of Pax Lunar. Sartar still suffers under the heel of Fazzur Wideread's occupation and Prax is awash with rumours about the future of Governor Sor-Eel after the escape of the Sartar outlaw, Jinlyn Gusty, from detention in Pavis earlier this year, she is still on the run. Balazaar was occupied by Lunar forces two years ago and the fighting there has ended. It has been a hot year and their have been several vicious raids on the Morocanth by the Impala riders, making the plains particularly hairy for unprotected travellers. Chaos has been as invidious as ever, particularly disbanded Tusk Rider units who having left Lunar service have remained on the chaparral wreaking havoc on the nomads and any farming communities unfortunate enough to border. You are in the town of Garhound, for reasons about to be elucidated, and are enjoying the warm weather of this interesting year. Rumours "The hazia trade from Sun County has undergone a major explosion, addiction in Peloria is rising at a fast rate and the prices are falling. Cynics say that either Lunar criminals are exploiting the spread of the Red Moon or the Orlanthi are growing the stuff as revenge." "Sun County will be annexed into the Empire this year, Sor-Eel will be replaced for having failed to incorporate this into the Glowline." "The Bilberry harvest was ruddy awful this year." The Garhound Contest What You Know After A Night In your mead muddled past you have sometimes heard of the Contest of Garhound. A small town of ex Sartar Orlanthi in Pavis County, it is a unique event taking place in the week before the town's annual Harvest Festival (Godday / Truth Week / Earth Season). The farmers of this region are descendants of Sir Declan Garhound and still follow the traditions of their homeland. Custom dictates that each year a Harvest Queen, representative of Ernalda, be selected from amongst the local maidens and a contest is held to choose the male warrior to play the role of HusbandProtector in the forthcoming rituals. Whilst a city dweller might be cynical of the belief that the worthier the warrior the greater Ernalda's bounty in the coming year, the local lawspeaker can recount such prrof as the marvellous harvest of 1604ST when young Garreth Sharpsword won the crown and (in a low whisper) the terrible blight of '99 when Squatbrow Broo-bane, a Pol Joni, won but already had three other wives. Rumours "Kings Head Ale is brewed in a Sartar clan homeland by a hare spirit and a troll" "Griselda has retired from adventuring and has taken up with a man" {{see TOTRM 7}} {{I inserted my write-up of the Garhound contest here, this was largely from Sun County and it would not be fair on MOB to reproduce that here.}} The Dreams of Storm Bull Hallgrim Ironfist's Intro (Hallgrim Ironfist is a monstrously skilled Storm Kahn of the Pol Joni, (I inherited him from another campaign) and has only 1 POW following a run in with a Seven Mothers RuneLord, who now has 2 POW!!) Following your adventures during the siege of Whitewall you are encouraged by Storm Bull to return to the Block for the High Holy Day of the cult. At that ceremony, in recognition of your services to the cause against Chaos Storm Bull grants you an ally, the spirit of the hero Grazil GorpBurner. Bound into the ornately horned helmet of a Storm Kahn, Grazil will aid you at all times. Grazil GorpBurner allied spirit POW 17 INT 13 Spirit Magic 85% Fanaticism 1, Heal 2, Bladesharp 2, Protection 2 Divine Magic 95% (all reusable) Face Chaos 1, Impede Chaos 1 Having received the blessing of Storm Bull you receive a dream whilst guarding the Block one night. The dream is of a beautiful girl, her long black hair garlanded with flowers, sitting proud on a throne on which the Earth and Life runes are proudly carved. Her hair is rippled by the gentle wind and behind her you can see the blazing sun. Overhead a hawk swoops low. To your growing concern you feel that the visage of Yelm is changing. With growing fear you see the bright sun shift red and the surface to break up into the craters and eerie marks of the Red Moon! As you reach for your axe you wake up. Remembering (from where you are not sure) the Garhound Contest you mount your horse and, bidding your colleagues farewell, begin the trek across the chaparral to Pavis County.... Darth Jophayn's Intro (Darth is an almost Yelamlio RuneLord converted from RQ2 in which he played in nearly all scenarios including the Cradle, hence fudge later in document.) As a loyal follow of the Sun you have adventured far and wide in the furtherance of the glory of Yelmalio. You have endured many trials, visited many strange places and fought beasts and men of great number. You do, however, realise that you must offer up service to the Temple of your Lord and as such you offer your services to the Sun Dome Temple in Sun County. Your maternal uncle is a retired soldier-farmer in Sun County in a small village called Rabbit Hat Farm. Whilst meeting him at Sun Dome your presence is noted by various authorities and you are summoned before Solanthos IronPike, Count of all Sun County and Ruling Light Son. You have heard of this epic hero of the Sun, spearman extraordinaire, slayer of several Orlanthi and Lunar heroes in duels of his younger days. Standing before him now you can still see the authority and dominance with which he was known, but now the years are stealing the looks and adding pounds to his weight. With the Sceptre and Globe of Authority in his hands Solanthos lectures you lengthily on the importance of young fellows setting a proper example to the youth of today. He switches between praising your exploits and implying that perhaps you should do more for the cult directly. You can see he is angling for something and after several minutes you decide to cut through the waffle. "My Lord, you say, "I have indeed been blessed to adventure in the name of the Son of the Sun and I thank him with all my heart. How can I offer to the rightful authorities my services so as to aid the Sun?" "My Son!" exclaims Solanthos, "I am so overcome by your offer, so bold and like myself at your age. I do have an opportunity for a brave lad in the Contest at Garhound...." Yelm having risen, as the proverb goes, Solanthos explains to you that Sun County wishes to sponsor a Champion to compete in the Garhound Contest. Whilst Yelmalio have often competed before it is only in recent years that a formal Sun County Champion has been chosen and sponsored. "Your prowess will represent us well in the contest, the Orlanthi will be mettled by good Sun stock and the Lunars, well, if you were to be a member of the town council for a year.." he pauses, "I have heard that the girl, Melisande, is a bonny lass. She'd do you well for a wife and mother.." With that Yelm has reached full height and with Solanthos you pass out onto the roof to dine on dates and beverages. It is clear that great honour will be yours if you enter for the Count, but do you wish to enter the political arena he is proposing? The Revised Temple of Lhankor Mhy at New Pavis Tutor's Report Brother Ravel's Intro (Brother Ravel is a Sartar Lhankor Mhy sage, straight from the rules with enough fluffing to get initiated. The player is young and new to Glorantha but has role-palyed for years. Plays "soft" characters and not good in fights. Big mistake I think, stioll nice characters.) Brother Ransitt's student having studied hard in the Temple for over a year has reached initiate status in a good manner. Having spent much time in Sartar as a young man he has specialised in the philology and verbal literature of the language and in my opinion shows a great mastery of the tongue. I would suggest that further studies should be pursued in the field of society, of the way in which people interact in the ebb and flow of life, an area which I have felt fit to name "Socialgistics". To that end I bid you to travel Pavis and Sun Counties and develop a thesis to be presented in one year's time on the integration of two disparate Sartarite cultures into Prax, giving particular note to the interaction between the nomadic cultures of the indigenous cultures, the Air and Sun cultures transplanted from Sartar and the influx of Pelorians in recent years. I would recommend the Contest at Garhound as the prime point to begin this study, giving as it does an example of all three cultures in close proximity and contest. Your Brother in Truth Sanipodix Rites of Passage Skeanthi the White's Intro (Skeanthi is a Balazaring, a Yelmalio for two years and very wet behind the ears. The player is a RQ player of long standing and reknowned Griffin Mountain ref!) It was a great privilege to be chosen to carry the package for the Temple. To travel South and see the world, to see the majesty of the Sun Dome Temple in Sun County. Already you have been astonished in your travels, the diversity of life in Pavis, the tales told in Pavis of the Rubble. How you wished you could have stayed longer. But you have a duty and you must fulfil it, to deliver a sealed package into the personal hands of the Count of Sun County, Solanthos IronPike. That you know your Captain has requested that you be granted permission to dwell in Sun County serving the Count for a year has added to your haste. To serve at the Temple and see the exciting world of Prax! It is good that you have spent so many years as a scout, your small size is an advantage here allowing to flit thorugh hostile and friendly territory without notice. You have travelled South from Pavis and reached the market town of Garhound. From the maps provided to you at the temple you know this to be close to the border with Sun County and the end of Lunar territory. To your delight the town is buzzing with people, here for the Harvest Festival and a contest. To your surprise you also hear that Count Solanthos will be arriving tomorrow. Will you get to see the fabled Sun Dome after all? Praxian Religions Prax is an area with a wide range of religions and deities, here is a look at the major ones; Deities There are four major pantheons in the Praxian area that you need to be aware of; Nomads Waha Saviour of the Nomads, Killer of the Devil, the major nomad god. Eirithra Mother of Beasts, Herd Mother, major female deity. Storm Bull Beserker God dedicated to cleansing Chaos. Daka Fal Ancestor Worship cult, separate and yet complementary to the above three. Orlanthi Orlanth Lord of the Wind, King, Rebel against Yelm, Rescuer of Yelm Ernalda Earth Mother, Wife to many, the following are related Earth cults: Voria Spring Maiden, cult of young girls and virgins Asrelia The Crone, cult of the wealth hidden in the Earth Ty Kora Tek The Hag, goddess of Death, of return to the Earth Babeestor Gor The Avenging Axe, goddess of amazon defenders of the Earth Eirithra Herd Mother ( as above ) Sun Yelm The Sun, King, deposed by Orlanth, not directly worshipped in Prax Yelmalio Son of the Sun, Warrior/mercenary god, the main god of Sun County Dendara The Good Wife, Fertility Mother of the Sun Cults Lokarnos Merchant God of the Sun Lunar The Red Goddess She who was brought into being by the Seven Mothers, who claims the Middle Sky and rules from the Red Moon. Embraces chaos and all who are willing to accept her rule. Very few (1%) of Lunars are actually initiates of the Red Goddess herself. The Seven Mothers This is the cult of the seven figures who brought about the creation of the Red Goddess. Each figure has a separate cult but the Seven Mothers is very much a frontier cult, introducing newcomers to the Lunar faiths. Yelm Many Lunars are in fact Sun worshippers, Yelm was the major deity in Peloria and Darra Happa before the Red Goddess. Thus many other gods in the Solar pantheon will be common amongst Lunars. Similarly other cults within the Lunar pantheon are in fact subsumed from earlier faiths, the Lunars absorb, not replace. Their war with Orlanth, however, is fairly deadly. Others There are other gods who are often associated with the dominant cult of an area but which are prevalent in many cultures. Humakt God of Truth and Death, honourable soldiers cult Eurmal The Trickster, worshipped by a few, the jesters and thieves of society Chalana Arroy The Healer, worshipped widely by dedicated healers Issaries The Trader, god of markets and commerce Lankhor Mhy The Grey Sage, seeker after Truth, the scholar's god Chaos Chaos is a prevalent and evil force in Glorantha, although the Lunar empire says otherwise. The mad, insane and twisted deities of chaos are many but here are those that someone in Prax would be very aware of, those that are no longer actively worshipped in Prax are marked with an asterisk; *Ralzakark The Mad God, Father of the Broos, now dead and gone.. Thed Mother of the Broos, Goddess of Rape and Violation, Broo Deity Malia Goddess of Disease, major Broo deity, Mistress of Ralzakark Thanatar God of the Severed Head, Stealer of Knowledge and Souls Cacodemon Ogre God, Master of Deception and Cannibalism Primal Chaos The Ooze, the slime of primeval and uncharacteristic Chaos Krarsht The Maw Beneath, cult of hideous burrowing and tunnelling creatures. Spirit Cults There are many small spirit cults in Glorantha, spirits on the path to godhead, with a few spells to offer and small congregations, often members of greater cults. Spirit Cults are worth knowing of and often worth joining for their small benefits, with small duties. River Gods The river of Prax is Zola Fel and indeed Zola Fel is a deity worshipped by boaters and other water folk. City Gods Most cities have a deity of some import associated with them. In Prax the cult of Pavis is widely worshipped in the city itself, alongside other cults. Such cults allow transient membership as well as permanent attachment. Non Human Gods There are non-humans in Prax, the two most numerous are the morocanth and the newtling. Trolls do sometimes stray from the Big Rubble (near Pavis) and elves have been known to visit the Sun Dome. Here are some non-human gods; Morocanth Worship the nomad pantheon, they are the only beasts who won the right to intelligence, they herd non-intelligent humans. Trolls Kyger Litor Troll Mother Zorak Zoran Beserk War Lord, Chaos Foe, Foe of Yelmalio Xiola Umbar Troll Goddess of Healing Argan Argar Troll God of Commerce of Surface Darkness Elves Aldrya Elf Mother Babeestor Gor As above Flamal Plant Father Dwarves Mostal Not so much a god as a machine production plan Newtling The God of Five Thousand Eyes unknown and misunderstood by humans Zola Fel As above