Yes. All lunar cults are subject to the lunar cycle unless specifically stated otherwise are. We are adding this into the ILH as a single statement to save space on every cult (why say 50 times that they are subject to the cycle when it is a norm that they are? That's 50 lines we can use to add in another cult or more background information!)
>The disandvantages says simply "None special", that the fact
>that he is said to have converted to the Lunar way would seem to
>conradict this.
I suspect the disadvantages section was cut down due to space limitations. In the fuller cult write up we had the additional information:
History:
Aronius Joranthir was a Carmanoi from Bindle who commanded a detachment of
heavy cavalry sent to battle the rebels in Twice Blessed in 2/29 (1330 ST).
His command was ambushed and Aronius himself barely survived the encounter.
In 2/34 Aronius led his house's Hazar-knights against the marauding Char-Un
nomads. In several close battles he rallied the Carmanian knighthood with
his sterling example and drove the rampaging horde back into their bleak
lands. After the war Aronius organised the resettlement of the devastated
Western Reaches and converted his followers to the Lunar Way. His family was
not part of the powerful and ruling house so they never ruled the region; but
their popularity with the Hazars made them a potent political faction in the
Reaches.
Aronius was reborn in 4/50 in the time of the Empire's greatest need. The nomads of Pent ravaged the land and eastern demons had been loosed on the people. He undertook a great hero-journey into the mists of Sheng Seleris' past to find a weakness that would topple the warlord. Aronius retrieved that weapon from the eastern dragon-lands and delivered it to his Shah at Kitor in 4/52. He played a game of ravenkaaz with his friend the Son of the Moon while they waited for the barbarians to arrive. The Shah allowed Aronius to win the game and rewarded his victory handsomely.
In the battle that followed, Aronius' discovery allowed the Shah to defeat Sheng and cast him into a Lunar hell. Aronius hewed down several of Sheng's warband and led the pursuit across the Empire that destroyed the Pentan terror and finally brought peace back to the Heartlands.
Seeing that his duty had been done, Aronius apotheosised and the Shah did him the honour of appointing Aronius to the council of Egi on the Moon.
Worshippers: Aronius is worshiped by his descendants and is venerated as the epitome of Lunar Carmanian chivalry. There are about 4,000 initiates and devotees; most of whom are family. His family takes great pains to remain true to his ideal as he could do as he did at his second birth where he inhabited the body of a descendant. Many of these Hazars belong to the Lances of Joranthir, an elite of Lunar chivalry.
Other Connections: Aronius Joranthir is an Egi and personal friend of the Shah of Carmania (aka the Red Emperor). This gives his family and cult tremendous political power that they use to keep the more powerful houses off balance.
Disadvantages: The ruling houses in Carmania hold a special dislike for Aronius' family and the Lances of Joranthir due to their popularity with the Hazars and his close relationship to the Shah. This is exacerbated by the Shah using their political clout to counterbalance the strengths of the other great houses. Aronius is also hated by the Pelandan peasantry for keeping their kin in serfdom.
This info may show up in the ILH 2 version, depends on space there too.
Martin Laurie
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