Re: "What ifs" for "This World" Heroquests

From: Richard Hayes <richard_hayes29_at_LcEK1r-gGSNKvU88r37NPiGN8ohhbuZ-OL2KV_fK2hRe5lcJXiLMsbxVMih5>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:28:12 +0100 (BST)


I didn't think anyone was suggesting that the Isssaries character (NPC?) could use fire magic (though if he had traded other magic for it, or if he was using a staff called Scorch, then maybe it would be okay, as these things would not be inimical to myths about Issaries).
 

I thought the question was whether the Priest's retainers (at least one of whom had access to Solar magic) could use out-of-pantheon magic on an Issaries quest.
 

My preferred answer to the question would be to take a step back and look at the myth the Heroquester is re-enacting-- in order to respect the myth, what sort of retainers should the Issaries have?
 

Is it acceptable that they are 'swords for hire' from another pantheon? It depends on your myth, but surely most of the time most people's heroquests would in some way be too sacred to allow foreign mercenaries to play a key role (or could they be used, subject to a penalty for being less than ideal support?) Secondly it is less hard to see an Issaries heroquest featuring a bunch of mercenaries in a supporting role than, say, an Orlanthi heroquest because Issaries is probably more willing/able to look outside the tribe for supporters
 

Then one needs to look at the specifics of the stations of the quest -- are these stations resolved through the actions of the caravan guard? If so, is the way in which they overcome the challenge important too? If it is, and fire magic would not be apropriate, then it would have to be peanlised in some way -- either the magic is less likely to work, or it has the usual chance of working but using it will store up trouble for later in the quest
 

That said you want the myth behind the heroquest to serve your campaign, not the other way round. Why not make it part of the myth that Issaries' caravan guard on this occasion were from outside the Storm Tribe for some reason-- maybe the Issaries needed a particular kind of 'sword for hire' to serve as his caravan gaurd for the quest so as better to reflect the myth?
 

Likewise if it is important to your campaign for the guard to be rewarded for what he/she does, why not make it part of the myth that the guard could be rewarded for his deeds. Exchange doesn't seem at all inappropriate  in an Issaries quest. Or why not have the guard on his own heroquest in which his god serves Issaries in exchange for reward?
 

Richard Hayes
 

To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Cc: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 11 September 2011, 17:34
Subject: Re: "What ifs" for "This World" Heroquests

This conversation is getting too godlearnerish. In attempting a quest, even weirdoes like PCs know and respect the power of Myth. Noone, except the accursed godlearners (may Hyena gnaw their bones) would attempt to use Lodril's Fire Sypon in an "Issaries the Conciliator" re-enactment ! The Uroxi / Storm Bull would have to physically beat sakkar out of its senses (not killing it), then romance (read "mate with") the praxian clan queen - to which her husband might object.

An orlanthi standing in for Storm Bull : no problem. A humakti : still possible, but the Power of Death might jam a peaceful quest A lodrili : not possible, and no righteous lodrili would go for such a quest - except maybe a praxian agimori who has a stake in stopping the feud ?

Hervé

Hi all,

I'm on the look for bad things that could happen in a "This World" heroquest. Let's say this is an Issaries heroquest, and the PCs (none of them Issaries initiates) have been recruited by the Issaries priest/merchant to accompany him in the quest and act as his guard.

What if the Issaries priest NPC dies during the quest? Would the quest automatically fail and end at that point or would the PCs still be able to go on to try and finish the quest without him?

What if one of the PCs is an initiate of the Solar pantheon, for example, could he be able to use his solar magic normally during the Issaries quest or would that be more difficult for him as it is not appropriate for the quest?

If the heroquest ends well and the Issaries priest achieves his goal, would his "guard" get another (smaller) benefit?


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