Re: A lot of Kralorela questions

From: David <millians.david_at_c1Z-AeoOpSfH8DqNOHDUWCq6bVtrbG-1SkbmnmaNjAmV6Ce5RfSQ2wNKhhpNQ>
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:20:28 -0000

I'm running a game set in Third Age Kralorela. My comments come from my own material, based on publications and speculations.

> 1) Most of the terrain starts of "flat" with various sinkings and mountain raisings appearing as a result of various events.

Kralorela seems to operate in a highly cyclical time, which may account for the difficulty in sorting out their myths and history.

Mountains seem to rise more than once. The Blue Dragon and its waters come and go. Sekever comes and goes. I think that many events repeat themselves in every emperor's reign in some way, though Kralori scholars still struggle to sort out the details and implications. "History," as Orlanthi among others call it, may have complicated this process, but in all likelihood these cycles are part of "time" and recur. The most important Kralori rituals exist to magnify the positive elements and diminish the harmful ones.

> I wanted to include the Mountain of Light Animals and the Mountain of Dark Animals (seen in maps from Arcane Lore) I am tempted to make the Mountain of Light Animals the mountain range on the island of Fanzai, and the Mountain of Dark Animals to be in roughly the spot of the Plateau of Statues (ie the Plateau comes later). Am I miles off with these locations.

Not all Vithelan terms came into Kralori traditions, at least not in clear forms. I think, however, that mountains with names like these do exist in the Shan Shan. They are potent with something like the powers implied by the names. The "real" mountains or their remains may lie elsewhere according to others, but that does not affect their placement within the Kralori cosmos, as almost nothing beyond the mountains to the west and the seas to the east matters mythically and culturally for the Kralori.

> 2) I've split the Kralori into 4 groups, primarily so each player in a 4 player game controls one. I've called these groups the Shiyang, Vaska Long, Hum Chang, and Boshan, essentially after the regions that they should end up in. Although these peoples all appear similar they can see differences between Boshani from the south and the Shiyang in the cold north. Whether these are descended from Dragon People or are converted from Hsunchen by HeenMaroun is not important to the game. I'm assuming this is a reasonable thing to do, but it is a bit arbitrary. These 4 peoples and the Ignorants, appear in HeenMarouns' reign (Round 2) .

        There is a great deal of diversity in Kralorela. It's bigger than the Lunar Empire and more populous as well. This variety ranges from Hsunchen in most districts to "outside" influences from Vithela, Vormain, Teshnos, and beyond. Unity exists in devotion to emperor and imperial governance and tradition and rejection of other influences. This has created some overall conformity, but practices and institutions vary widely.

> 3) I have trolls ("Dozaki") appearing in Metsylas' reign (Round 3) in North Pent. I am not sure what to call the Mountains north of Jankley Bore and am tempted to make these the Thrown Mountains that were thrown at the Dozaki by Aldryami - from Uz Lore. The maps make them look a bit further west but I wanted a name for the Mountains next to Ignorance and didn't want to call them the Stupid Mountains or the Mountains of Madness.

        These are fun names, but basic history has the Jankley Bore as a break in the Shan Shan, so they are an extension of same at root.

> Then Kahar's sea appears, the Rozgali Sea is created, and the area that becomes the Sofali Isles is shattered by Sshorg.
>
> 4) Sekeverans - I see these as all manner of demons, hopping vampires, Huan To, Scorpion men, broos, Cwim, criminal gangs, evil cultists etc, and want to have them as one group, representing evil (anti-Kralori) forces. Can the forces of Sekever that attack Shavaya, are driven away by Daruda, fight Vayobi, and do some dodgy deals with Immanent Masters all be included in one group of nasties (I'm thinking the Legion of Red Bones, the Demon beneath Tzu Lung, the Lobster Demon of the Suam Chow, are all Sekeverans)

        Sekever appears as herself in some eras, while in others, it is merely her agents. She is omnipresent in Kralori society in innumerable ways, from criminals to women's cults, but takes many forms. One common folk tradition has Sekever as an integrated force in the person of Halisayan, the beneficent wife of Emperor Thalurzni.

> 5) How far up the coast is it possible to grow rice. Shiyang seems to go a long way if it reaches all the way to Tzu Lung. I'm tempted to think that rice is only grown as far north as the valley of the Emerald Fish Lord.

        I don't think rice grows well in the north and is mostly imported from the more southerly regions, as it is a necessary aspect of Kralori life. It doesn't grow at all in Ignorance, which reflects their vice-ridden nature as much as it does any local ecology.

> 6) The Suam Chow sinks at the arrival of Daruda, driving the Sekeverans away. I'm interpreting this as the Suam Chow becoming Islands. I then think that they remain as Islands until the Dragon Awakening Shudder, during which time they are flooded by the Sea Dragon, but then they return to being Islands. The map of Kralorela in Mongooses' Second Age seems to have solid land there (as well as a few unlikely looking rivers) but I think this must be in error.

        The sea has risen and fallen many times in Kralorela. A few examples: - The sea rose against Metsyla, then fell back into its former bed.

> 7) The Tunnelled Hills are described somewhere as the ruins of a city from the Godtime. Would this be a Genert city, or could it be part of Sechkaul/Teshnos.

        The lands beyond the Shan Shan have always, always been demon lands and wilderness.

> 8) I am wondering if the Shaytunn (from Glorantha: Introduction to the HeroWars) and the Two Headed Demons cleared by Imolo Wen are actually both 2 headed demons, or actually Pentan style horse riders (ie, they have a horse head, and a human head)

        The Two-Headed Demons are unreconstructed Pentans in my game. Godunya did gain the allegiance of the Six Banners during the final collapse of ArgatuSay's forces.

> 9) Zabdamar - have they always fought the Kralori, ever since the sea of Fog was created, or did they fall out later?

        The Zabdamar and their leaders mostly serve the Blue Dragon of the Deep and have been sometime allies of Kralori heroes, but in the modern age they can be as dangerous as any non-Kralori.

> 10) Can I assume Warring Ford (as in the Battle of Warring Ford, between the Elder Races and Emperor Yanoor) is some place between Shiyang and Ignorance?

        That's where I have it.            

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