Re: Vithelan Otherside and Heroquesting?

From: Greg Stafford <Greg_at_...>
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:57:30 -0700

YGWV
> In campaign, one of my new players is playing a Vithelan Hero, a
> Haragalan War Holy of Karki who has been sent to Teshnos to protect
> the interests of the Commonwealth against the raiding Pirates. He has
> since discovered that some of these pirates are in league with darker
> forces, namely aquatic Antigods,

Oooh, like Magasta and Heler, perhaps? :) Or myabe the Blue Dragon of Khhar's sea?

> and wishes to gain some new magics
> against them by performing a HeroQuest.
>
> I have several questions regarding the Vithelan Otherside:
> First off, does the Vithelan Pantheon have an Other Side?

Yes, of course.
But HeroQuesting would be in the Hero Planes anyway, so he'd be advised to go there, where he might have a chance of success.

> My
> understanding is that Mysticism generally does not, but we haven't
> heard much on the issue since Hero Wars.

I hear the masses groaning already, "More mysticism?" :)

> Do the Vithelans use HeroQuesting in a similar fashion to most
> Gloranthans? Or do they only do Ceremony and Everything World Quests,
> as Mysticism lacks an Other Side?

Some cults, or some parts of some cults, will go to the Hero Planes. Not the mystics, of course. Not the REAL mystics, anyway

> Mashusan says the various Cosmic Wars of Vithelan mythology are in
> fact lessons about levels of consciousness. I could see this same
> principle being used by East Islanders when performing Everything
> World Quests.

Cerainly it is possible to maneuver things to use an Everything World quest to raise or alter one's own consciousness. But the conquest of sea demons is not about raising consciousness, so the mechanics would be much the same as other HeroQuests.

---

Sincerely,
Greg Stafford

Issaries, Inc.
c/o Greg Stafford
1942 Shattuck AVe, #204
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA