<< Can Someone tell me more about the animal societies of Ralios,>>
The source is the Genertela Book, p69. The Ancient Beasts Societies are descendants of the hsunchen peoples of Ralios, who have now been absorbed to varying degrees by the more 'advanced' Orlanthi and Safelestran cultures.
<< I seem to remember something about Loons, what other societies are there? Sheep, Wolves, Bears, Hares>>
The members of the Societies are said to be called 'Loons' because Grandfather Loon is one of the principal figures they venerate. Thus, there were once Loon Hsunchen in Ralios (IMO, they do not survive in the 17th C, but see Martin Crim's page for a dissenting view) but their descendants took up the plough, and lost their hsunchen connections. Clearly, Loons are particularly important to the modern ABSs, which would imply they were once a relatively numerous people. But they were not, so far as I can see, the only Ralian race to have suffered this fate. Thus, IMO the ABSs include descendants of many other hsunchen races too. Sheep and hares both seem quite plausible, but the Telmori are still numerous in Ralios to make me doubt that wolves are included. The Rathori are numerous in Fronela, and may once have been more widespread, but personally, I'd tend to go for races with few if any surviving members elsewhere in Glorantha.
<< & what sort of purpose do they have? >>
The purpose is evidently religious from the description; the members of the Societies presumably want to return to nature, get in touch with their inner animal and generally reconnect with what they perceive as a purer and less complicated past. I would imagine they have limited shamanic magic, and some powers resembling those of the hsunchen which they seek to emulate, but that they remain too civilised to access the full range of ancient Loon powers or the like.
<< Is it like the First Fleeter/ Mayflower descendents or is there something
more sinister.>>
Certainly few, if any, people perceive the ABSs as sinister, since they are not persecuted and don't generally have to keep themselves secret. But that doesn't mean they're right! Among at least some members of the Societies, I'm sure there is a strong desire to turn the world back to the way they think it used to be, and that may ultimately involve destroying a lot of existing civilisation to create an imagined hsunchen utopia (it might not resemble what the *real* hsunchen would want, of course). How they intend to do this is another matter - they might be prepared to use violence but it could equally be that they expect to acheive this through some magical route which would simply restore a harmonious world and make everyone happy. Those who benefit from the trappings of civilisation might be less keen on the idea...
How large this movement is within the ABSs and how organised and proactive they are is a matter for the GM - at least until a Ralios Book comes out and tells whether its supposed to be a big plot or not (and even then you could ignore it if your idea suits your campaign better).
Forward the glorious Red Army!
Trotsky
Cheers Adam B >>
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