Re: How many Argraths?

From: Michael Hitchens <michaelh_at_UK5aTjLrkxy-n-rwyEMeLLE5d7YiJMzKOxOeSvvZX95Q2B-iOwXdOVWSQHR8XZetoRg>
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:21:13 +1100 (EST)


On Sat, 24 Mar 2007, Peter Metcalfe wrote:

> At 06:26 a.m. 24/03/2007, you wrote:
>
>> However the CHoDP does put an Argrath in the Holy Country in 1624 with
>> Harrek:
>>
>> 'Argrath went back to Prax, and with the White Bull brothers and some
>> others took the city of Corflu from lunar hands'.
>
> I really like to inject a note of caution into all these theories about
> Argrath. The CHDP is an unreliable document that ascribes many
> things to Argrath which we know was done by somebody else.
> That the many Argrath events described therein have mostly been
> done by one Argrath is IMO an illusion created by the compiler in
> order to further glorify Argrath.
>
> Garrath - A pavic hero whose most famous act was defending
> the cradle. However after it left Corflu, he was killed while
> defending it. Harreksaga does mention various things that
> Argrath said or did on his circumnavigation epic but these are
> all things said or done by Arkati shipmates of whom there
> are a few.
>
> Argrath WhiteBull is a howling mad beserk who unifies the
> tribes of Prax to oust the Lunars. He sacks New Pavis
> and later seeks to sack Dragon Pass but is killed in
> doing so.
>
> Argrath of Pavis is a minor figure who is chiefly famous
> for turning New Pavis over to the Praxians. He may or
> may not have married Kallyr but after her death, he
> disappears from the record.
>
> Argrath of Saird is a hero who fights against the Lunars
> there. One or two of his epic feats have become conflated
> into the Argrath saga.
>
> Argrath of Sartar is the Argrath that succeeds Kallyr
> as King of Sartar. He is little known before then and
> is ashamed of his lack of glory in the early years of
> the war against the Lunar Empire. Although a brave
> and resourceful heroquester, his principal flaw is
> pathological boasting about doing things most people
> know that he never did.

Possible, but a bit drastic. I doubt he would have had much success as king if he got a repuation for purloiing other people's deeds. Boasts are one thing in Orlanthi society, lies another.

I suspect the situation in the Argrath campaign won't be much different to that in OiD - a number of Argraths to choose from, with the decision for each campaign left up to the players/GM.

Remember there was a time when Garrath was *the* Argrath, no doubts, no hedging. But Greg moved significantly away from that, really starting with KoS, I think. A good idea too IMO - give the people playing the game some significant freedom to move. And the way that that was achieved was by writing a document (KoS) which, by itself is incapable of providing a definitive answer. Isn't the whole presentation of the book, as a collection of contradictory fragments intended to produce a mystery? The books says it is investigating the mystery of Argrath. It's a rather nifty device for presenting inconclusive information - I don't personally believe that the situation protrayed in it is the definitive future for Glorantha. It was described at one time as the default if the player characters can't influence events for the better. And as other things as well. At bottom there's a very careful balancing of information and freedom going on, which I rather like.

As Jane said a few days ago, all you can really do in picking any Argrath is work out which bits you are contradicting when you make your choice - there is no contradiction free choice.

I'd be surprised if we go back to a situation with a definitive Argrath for everyone.

But for me, with the current material, my games will likely stick with Garrath.

Michael



Dr. Michael Hitchens
Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Macquarie University
michaelh_at_5T7HaVvnoljvb_rlXkpobkMStcNJzv1CjgmQECs02S4FWv9KyUpkh5FkmAcpyyQIuSkAzBOK56uA0p6jHFs.yahoo.invalid            

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