metcalph

I don't see what the problem is. Shargash *killed* Umath whereas Kargan Tor was alive until he abandoned his post shortly before the Spike disintegrated. A God of Battle from a pantheon that didn't obey the Emperor.

Storm Bull also has Death without being loaned it by Orlanth or beating up Humakt. It's possible that he acquired it from Ragnaglar who stole it from a sleeping Zorak Zoran (KoS p58)

Cults of Terror p51-52

Shargash who is associated with strength repeatedly in Dara Happan mythology

I suppose a key spark is the residents of the places that were razed for the forthcoming Lunar temple. Hnedira orders it as a sign of strength but the Lunar architects don't show up. When it becomes apparent they are due "next year", Hendira looks foolish and there are daily homeless protests. Erstwhile supporters who had been impressed by her now realize that she's always been a bit useless and soon plot her demise.

The thing about the Umathelans is that they've been under Elven thumb. The strongest Elf influence would be Gods worshipped by them so Babeester and Ehilm would have greater roles in Umathelan society. Pamalt has a image problem in that the Elves dislike Pamalt. So even if there's some Earth Goddess acknowledgement of him, that's not going to a very major part. The last Umathelan that we know of to give Pamalt any attention was the Lord of the World's Knowledge (cults of RuneQuest: The Earth Goddesses p116) and the Elves killed him. Could there a local version of Pamalt like Elmal to Yelmalio? I had thought for a time this would be called Talpam (based on a list of Elf names in the old Elder Secrets Book). But this cult would be intentionally constrained as the Elves would be well aware of who he is (they have a different view of the gods than humans do). Most of the Umathelans are aware of their history as God Learners and have avoided the Wizards ever since their fall. There might be a stronger avoidance of sorcery as being Evil Magic that Almost Destroyed Our World than there would be in Genertela. Such an attitude would still be around - some clans might be intentionally illiterate - but has largely receded as a result of the havocs wrought by the Cult of Silence and the Fonritans. The Orlanthi would know of a predecessor Storm God, Baraku, who would also be a God of Bandits in Fonrit. He could be a Waha analog as his chief hero was the Lord of Beasts who warred against the Artmali.

FWIW, Engr - the God behind the term Engrioni - might be a technical term/snappy Brithini insult to describe the Malkion made Flesh ("Malkion [...] came forth to descend into the material world and bind himself within its limitations. As a result, Zzabur [...] rejected Malkion [...]" Cults of RuneQuest: Mythology p100).

If I were to make Brithos a politically turbulent place, I would take a fragment from Cults of Terror which speaks of city states (in Arolanit) and rework it thus. Although Brithos had a King, the City Talars were supreme in their own cities. The Engrioni changed all that. Rather than travel to a city of a recalcitrant Talar to make him do his bidding, the King could send his Engrioni around instead. In response, the Talars hired their own Engrioni to impede those of the King. Before long, the stronger Talars soon discovered they could use their own Engrioni to coerce weaker Talars into becoming their vassals, additionally weakening the Kingdom. The demand for foreign troops explains why the Brithini would tolerate Arkat's Father running around on the Island and also a background to their civil war.

The chief interesting point is the apparent idea that after breaking Brithini strictures, one could begin anew. That said, Hrestol should have known better than to carry around a sword even if he didn't plan on using it. I don't find the idea of Brithini Engroni compelling and even if the King felt there was some merit to the idea (which *is* a plausible reaction), it's difficult to see how he could get past any Zzaburi veto. I suspect the idea of Brtihini immortality being central to their conservatism wasn't thought about at the time. If I were to bring this up to date, I would say that King Erltof decided to hire Seshnegi Men-of-All Bodyguards* to protect himself and his Kingdom. That is something a dissatisfied King could do without breaking caste *and* it also provides grounds for the Rebellion of Kaldes. *I was thinking of the Numerus Batavorum to give you an idea of how the Brithini may have appreciated them.

Given that Mostal teaches Diamond Edge (but not to the Mostali), I really don't have a problem with Flintnail being a Rune Cult for humans or Rockheart Veinseeker casting rune spells. Whether the Dwarfs of Pavis know rune magic or not (Ginkizzie probably does while the others might not) isn't that much of a big deal - they are apostates or merely strange and weird. Dwarfs casting rune magics isn't that much of a concern to the Decamony in the way Openhandists are. If Pavis was a sorcerer in his lifetime, he's almost certainly a demigod worshipped for his rune magics now. A big problem with the cult of Pavis being a sorcery cult in RQ:G is the literacy requirement for effective sorcery. So if either his priesthood were competent sorcerers protecting their flock or the average Pavisite during the Troll Occupation was literate. Neither works for me. The Priesthood may know some sorcery but it's probably obscure ritual magic rather than being anything handy like City Harmony.

Possibilities: The Colymar being wealthy can afford to raise more troops than poorer tribes. The Jonstown Tribes have additional troops that do not make up part of the City Militia. The Culbrea for example have the Headhunters and the Malani Tworidge. The Jonstown Treasurer is pilfering monies given to him by the tribes to raise troops for the City Militia.

In addition, the Seven Mothers can serve as a stepping stone to more demanding cults. Take for example Irrippi Ontor. The requirements to become an initiate are pretty high. But join the Seven Mothers and you can study towards becoming a fully fledged Red Sage while not being so tied to the desk. Of course we you do make it via such a route, you might have to put up with snobbery about getting your degree from the Empire's equivalent of the University of American Samoa.

The 850k figure includes individual cults to the Seven Mothers and not the Seven Mothers as a whole as presented in RQ:G. Irrippi is a knowledge cult. Yanafal is a warrior cult. Deezola is an earth cult. That's a large chunk of useful cults right there.

Pretty much in the guide and bestiary would be known to the scholars of Lhankor Mhy. The more removed people are from those academic sources the more outlandish their beliefs about Dragonewts become. Since Dragonewts are pretty much weird, it might be just possible but that outlandish superstitions are closer to the Truth than the scholarly lore.

I am generally happy with the editorial decisions and output that Jeff has made and doubt that anybody else in the same position would have been substantially better. You are free to disagree but to phrase your opinions in the form of personal attacks is just wasting people's time.

Sir, this is dumbest theories, not cheap abuse.

The Dara Happans may think that but the nearby cultures have a different view. The Entekosiad (p30-31) tells the story of Brightface who was supposedly a loyal servant of the White Queen. He conquered the whole world (or the lands surrounding Pelanda) for the White Queen before overthrowing her in a coup. So their Empire was built but they chose to believe it was divinely ordained.

I once had the idea that the Quicksilver Dwarves used jerked syrup as an additive for their canned food.

Bundle of Holding and Humble Bundle are different entities.

If he travels to New Pavis with Lunar prisoners in tow then any Lunar troops are just going to relieve them of their captives without paying any ransom. I'm sorry but the Lunar Empire makes the rules. The wisest bet would be to remain with the captives at Horngate and send a messenger to New Pavis to give instructions on where the ransom can be paid. You might have to pay the local Praxian temple a small cut of the ransom but not even Halcyon Vor Enkorth is going to be stupid enough to... okay, he might be. Sending the captives to Pimpers Block runs the risk of meeting the Sable tribe which considering you have their allies is not going to end well. By all means, encouage them on this path.

Or that Argrath killed him and took his identity to hide from the Lunars.

Conquest of the Theyalans at the battle of Night and Day. Lasted several decades before the Orlanthi hired Trolls and Malkioni to do their dirty work for them. Expulsion of Orlanth Dragonfriend from their lands. Defeat of Jannisor. Defeat of the Kynnelfings. Conquest of Tarsh. I don't recognize this version of events. The Empire came into being after the Second Council defeated the last of the horse riders. The Council then became split over the God Project whereupon the Dara Happans invaded. The Second Council made peace and became part of the Dara Happan Empire. In what sense is this a stalemate? You are using an sweeping definition of Orlanthi and a restrictive definition of Pelorians here. At least compare apples with apples. What is the Sun Dome temple if not Pelorian culture? What is Illumination which came from Yelm and has an enduring presence in Ralios? What is the Lunar Way which sprang from Yelm and has worshippers in Fronela, Peloria and the Wastelands even *after* the fall of the Lunar Empire? Seven Mothers worshippers in Prax (as per Cults of Runequest: Mythology) Bison Trbe: 1% High Llama: 1% Impala: 3% Morokanth: 6% Pol Joni: lusers Rhino: 1% Sable: 10% Unicorn: 10% Zebra: lusers. In free Dragon Pass: Grazelands: 5% Old Tarsh: 5% Sartar: 5% To portray this as a defeat is like calling the Roman Empire a failure.

Get the feeling that Irrippi Ontor is really a subcult of Buserian rather than providing all rune magics in his own right. Think the same might apply to the other Seven Mothers and Lunar Gods. For example: Yanafal/Humakt, Deezola/(Dendara/Ernalda), Etyries/Issaries, Jakaleel/Horned Man.

The mythology cult distributions are interesting. In the Lunar Heartlands, Buserian is not listed but Lhankhor Mhy is. For example: cults as per the footnote. Doblian 1% Karasal 1% First Blessed 2% Kostaddi 1% Oraya 1% Oronin 1% Silver Shadow 1% [Sylila - 0%] [Western Reaches - 1%] Now I had thought this was Buserian listed under Lhankor Mhy but the statement that Buserian has been subsumed into Irrippi Ontor makes this quite curious. It wouldn't be Irrippi Ontor as those people are listed under the Seven Mothers cults as per the footnote. The absence of any Lhankorings in Sylila suggests that it's not spillover from the Lunar Provinces. So the following possibilities arise: The footnote was not intended to apply to the cult of the knowing god. The figures represent a Carmanian (or some other) version of the knowing god. Doubful for it would demote the Ontorits to a minority sect of the knowing god which would be silly for the Lunar Empire.

I have not described them as "another troll queendom" and would highly appreciate it if you confined your musings to you think they are like instead of patronizing dismissals of my thoughts.