So it seems that the Safelstran states are, at least for a short time, unified to take parts of Seshnela. Then, I assume they probably degenerate back into civil war - probably over the ownership rights of the lands just taken. I think I'll probably put this at around 1628 ST, just long enough for a few wars to break out, followed by a unification of the states, a few years to conqueor parts of Sehsnela and then back into civil war.
As for Arkat, I have my own ideas and have taken note of those I've seen in the digest over the last few volumes. I like the idea of Argrath = Liberator, but what point does Argrath make the Westfaring? Isn't his first attempt into the 1670's? I could be wrong... If it is, then it might be a little too late to be of use, I can't imagine my campaign running that far ahead into the future.
Personally, I think that the trolls, shortly before 1625 ST, reopen the pathways to Statham Well only to discover the Well deserted except for one creature of unknown race that is meek, mild and very scared. A sort of "cleaner" for the Well, which can tell the trolls that the Well has been deserted for a long long time, so long it can't even remember much about who used to be there. Think Zathras from Babylon 5...
As for the actual incarnations, I think some are people in Ralios who realize they are Arkat come again, some are people that just appear from nowhere and claim to be Arkat returned and some are people who have been around for ages and suddenly declare that they are, in fact, Arkat. For MGF I conceive of lots and lots of people claiming to be Arkat (I've already done an adventure where my PC's met an Arkati claimant only to discover him to be a shapechanged troll - it worked very well), although I think there are five which are the "real deal", so to speak. The PC's of course have to decide which are the real incarnations, and as there is no real way to find out other than their own subjective opinion, this should be lots of fun. I even think that there are people who look exactly as you'd expect Arkat to look, and act like you'd expect him to look (such as Sword wielding the Unbreakable Sword) but call themselves "George" (obviously that name is only for comic effect...) and end up having huge followings of people thinking they're Arkat, no matter how hard the person tries to get rid of them aka "The Life of Brian".
I don't think that it would be good for every incarnation to fit nicely into the stereotypes of Arkat provided. So there will not be an Arkati Incarnation that is instantly recognisable as the Destroyer or Peacemaker come again. I think most Incarnations will find the cults of Arkat quite a disturbing thing, and will try and keep their distance from most of them.
In case you wanted to know I think that the Incarnations will appear as a troll that will emerge around 1628 ST, and will lead the trolls of Ralios. There will be a female (I think it was Dave Dunham who put that idea forwards) who I think will be the most Illuminated of them all (if indeed there can be such a thing) and will be quite tempered in her attitude, perhaps quietly allying herself with a Duke - I think Arkat Peacemaker cults will look for guidance from her, although I doubt she is completley anti-militant (just quiet about how she does things - a bad assassination is cleaner than a good war would be a good motto). If I can get Argrath in I will. Plus, I think there is one incarnation that will appear around 1627 in a blast of light or what have you, wiedling an enormous sword, wearing a crown, wailing about the destruction of chaos and Gbaji, white skinned etc... and generally appearing to be everything that a human in the Safelster would expect Arkat to be if he ever came back. I also think this Incarnation will be a war mongering psycho causing havoc everywhere he goes trying to route out the Deceiver. Basically he is the Destroyer. He will cite Ralzakark as the Chaotic Monster incarnation of Arkat and say he needs to be destroyed. Likewise, Ralzakark will come forwards claiming to be Arkat, claiming that the other Arkat is the Chaos Monster and _he_ needs to be destroyed. I'll also give Ralzakark the nicest, happiest, cleanest ways of solving all problems without using mass warfare or bloodbaths to achieve his aims. This would be to try and convince the PCs to join his cause - so they are left with the dilema that Ralzakark is the only sane one, not trying to conqueor the universe or anything, but after all he is still a broo...
Just a few random thoughts that are slowly coming together.
As for Aryindar Kochalongsson, he doesn't appear until the end of the Hero Wars so I can safely leave him alone. I always thought he was Garundyer with a misspelt name. I could be wrong, and don't really care as I'm more concerned with the immediate effects of the Hero Wars in my game.
Any more thoughts?
All IMHO,
Nikk E.
Nikk Effingham
eng7nje_at_leeds.ac.uk
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/7556/
"If absolute power corrupts absolutely
Where does that leave God?"
-- George Daacon
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End of The Glorantha Digest V6 #387
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