M Helsdon

1 hour ago, g33k said:

I'd also consider making the ram another wolf, instead of a bear... or maybe not (because Harrek)?

It's sort of a wolf-bear...

1 hour ago, g33k said:

I think the wolf-head is pretty good, actually!  Maybe shrink the nose a little, and make the canines a bit bigger?

I redrew it....

Reworked.

Wolf Pirate prow with cutwater ram.

Hmm, I don't like the wolf head on the stem post. Will redo it....

Will just leave this here.

Esrolian trireme with wooden ludoch figurehead and ram.

10 hours ago, dumuzid said:

I seem to recall I first encountered the idea in one of the older threads here involving the Hsunchen of western Genertela, either @scott-martin's or @M Helsdon's posts. 

Am not sure if this was one of my posts.

I do know that there were different Beast People, one group being the Face Guards who fought the Thunder Brothers when they recovered their herds in the Plundering of Aron during the Storm Age. The Face Guards had the bodies of domesticated animals and the heads of humans. I believe this is referred to in the Book of Heortling Mythology.

Then there are the rare Sedrali Dog People of Ralios who are native to the northern Aldryami forests of Ralios. They display the intelligence of humans and the instincts of dogs; the males have human bodies but the heads of dogs, the females have canine bodies and human heads.

10 hours ago, Kargzant said:

I was wondering if anyone on this board knows about how a group of warriors holed up in a tower or keep would fight against a siege. I assume that bows and javelins are a given, but what about boiling oil or trapped moats? Is all of that stuff too Medieval? I only know so much about siege warfare and I'm wondering what would be appropriate for a relatively Classical world.

There's a chapter on fortifications and siege warfare in The Armies & Enemies of Dragon Pass.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/296535/The-Armies-and-Enemies-of-Dragon-Pass?src=hottest_filtered

7 hours ago, Qizilbashwoman said:

damn that's seseine? 

Blue with horns. The Vadeli in Nochet have a shrine or temple.

7 hours ago, Qizilbashwoman said:

who is the weeping Light figure on the other side of the Monster Woman?

I believe that's Serelaloon.

All the deities in the picture have worshippers in Nochet. The depictions here are seen through an Esrolian lens, or at least that of the Esrolian artist.

Some of the art direction:

Now the complicated part – the marketplace is full of figures, a crowd not of mortals but gods and goddesses. I doubt you can show them all, but these will include some of Ernalda’s daughters and relatives, some of her husbands (not Orlanth), some of the Noble Brothers, and other deities, Veskarthan, Issaries, Lhankor Mhy, Chalana Arroy, Arkat, Calyz, Rich Twins, Okeria, Serelaloon, Argan Argar, Bendalazu, Seseine, Uleria, the Red Goddess…. Maybe some behind others…

There were subsequent discussions about the gods to be shown, some added. some removed.

The book now has over a dozen, approaching two dozen illustrations like this - though this is one of the most ornate. I have shared portions of others on FaceBook. There is a great deal in them.

7 hours ago, Qizilbashwoman said:

sir which one

The Red Goddess, standing by the Moon Cat and being tempted by Seseine. This is an in-world illustration, and the person in-world painting the wall mural knows very little of Lunar theology.

In terrestrial ancient Near Eastern art, red is often used to denote a skin tone, especially male, especially readily apparent in Egyptian tombs, and probably very widely spread. For example, the name Adam denotes 'red' and particularly red clay. In Esrolia, there's at least one red-skinned Earth Goddess, and probably many more.

In Glorantha, as I understand it, red was a colour associated with Orlanth, and particularly with thanes? Its appropriation by the Lunars is perhaps another reason why Orlanthi detest the Lunars. I would expect many statues and figurines to have reddish faces.

Here's a  Romano-Egyptian mummy mask. I'm sure if we could wander the ancient world, especially Greece, we would be astonished by the use of colour.

And a non-canonical image by Katrin Dirim for my current Jonstown Compendium project showing a number of deities at Nochet - only one is Lunar.

If there are Lunar merchants somewhere, there will be the worship of Etyries, though in a very restricted, minor way. There won't be any temples, or any shrines, save perhaps those carried by an Etyries merchant caravan.

5 hours ago, Brian Duguid said:

Perhaps @M Helsdon can comment on where the idea of Hiia using a turtleshell cuirass comes from, to see if that sheds any light on a relevant legend?

Sorry, I can't, but would guess that it is perhaps related to Hiia's geases; perhaps he was forbidden metal armour, and turtle shell was a locally available alternative?

I include the construction of, and illustrate turtle shell armour in The Armies and Enemies of Dragon Pass.

1 hour ago, Nicochan said:

So we can see in the sky both the Blue and the Red Moon?

The Red Moon is a constant presence as it goes through its phases. The Blue Moon can only be seen now as that fragment called the Blue Streak, and then briefly, as it falls from the top of the Sky Dome down into Magasta's Pool and into the Underworld. It is called the Blue Streak because it falls very quickly.

9 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

The Lunar, Red Earth Faction has been put down in a civil war by now.

Not outside the city where there is a besieging Lunar Army at that time.

9 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Esrolia would still be tense; nothing like a round of brother-against-brother bloodletting to leave resentment. 

And there are two other opposing factions in Esrolia. They aren't friends....

9 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

And then, add a Lunar occupying army fielding troops from, among other places, LUNAR TARSH, where this NPC is from.

Who will look pretty much like everyone else from Dragon Pass. There isn't a Tarshite ethnic identity. Tarshites look and sound like people from Old Tarsh, the Far Place, and are very closely related to the Sartarites, having only been divided from them during the Inhuman Occupation. Dragon Pass simply isn't that large and contains a significant variety of appearances.

Your NPC will probably have a Northern Theyalan accent, but so do people from Old Tarsh and the Far Place.

9 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Is this really your position, or is something else going on?

Yes: you seem unfamiliar with the setting.

I refer you to the images of Sartarites shared earlier: Dragon Pass is a real mixing place of peoples and cultures.

As I noted in my first response: As in our ancient world, culture, status, and at times, cult, would be more important than any construction such as race. 

So if your Tarshite is wearing Lunar Heartland costume they will be recognised as a Lunar, but most Tarshites wear clothes the same or similar to Sartarites. Are they wearing red? More of a flag, but red is also the color of Orlanthi thanes. Are they carrying a Lunar sword? A kopis is widely used by cavalry; a Moonsword is a flag, but may have been taken as booty. Are they displaying Moon Runes as tattoos or jewelery? More of an issue. Are they calling loudly upon the Red Goddess? A problem.

21 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Do Lunars present a different ethnicity and/or race from the native inhabitants of Dragon Pass?

Not significantly, I suspect, if you mean appearance.

 There is no Lunar ethnicity, as 'We are all Us' and Lunars include people from all across the Pelorian basin and beyond. There may be more people who are blond or have light brown hair, and have light skin but such won't be unknown in Dragon Pass.

People in Dragon Pass are descended from northerners and southerners and will display a wide variety of hair, skin, and eye colors. The Orlanthi, if you go back far enough, are descended from a mixture of peoples. Even pale blue or green skin might be seen.

21 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Would Lunar Tarsh present as a sort of "Mestizo" ethnicity/race?

No.

21 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Do Praxians share the same race as Heortlanders? Esrolians? Grazelanders?

Praxians vary between tribes in appearance.

21 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

Why not tackling racism in my game? I've always looked for trouble. 

As in our ancient world, culture, status, and at times, cult, would be more important than any construction such as race.

6 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

It is a question I needed to ask because I have a Lunar Tarsh NPC in Dragon Pass, 1624, travelling with Tarshites / Heortlanders / Praxians / Esrolians, and I need to gauge how much trouble she'll attract just by existing with the rebels.

Since it is what I want, I want her ethnicity to be something others have to detect with an Insite (Human) roll.

Most people display their cultic affiliations by tattoos. I suspect the Lunars don't do this as much, but may be wrong, but whilst a Heortlander/Praxian/Esrolian without tattoos may be uncommon, they won't be rare. So your NPC is unlikely to gain much attention unless they are displaying obvious Lunar symbols as jewellery.

5 hours ago, Storm Khan said:

This question revolves, for me, around a Lunar Tarsh NPC. The time is early 1624. Memory of the Great Winter is fresh in people's minds and Notchet is still under siege. If she is readily identifiable as Lunar, how much danger is she in of being lynched by a furious crowd in Esrolia?  

Esrolia at this time is divided into three major factions, one Lunar friendly. Is she armed and armored as a Lunar soldier? If not, I doubt anyone will do anything. After all, she could be a trader, or have some other innocent occupation.

Here are some pictures of Sartarites Jeff has shared. The green and blue skin here is probably dyed. 

5 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

4. When thinking on the proximity to Jab Hills and that scorpionmen are able to climb near vertical walls or even move across ceilings how does one keep the out? Wuld you place a strengthened trellis over your village or even a strong netting? Can they swim and if not are they able to hold their breath for a long time and basically walk on the bottom across any moat?

It is likely that the defences will be similar to the Steadfasts built by the tribes living near the Telmori, detailed in Ian Cooper's The Coming Storm?

These are fortified villages with a circular wooden palisade with ramparts 3.6 meters high. A pair of strong doors bar access. The houses of the local farmers, byres and stables are crowded within the walls. 

There's a limit to how extensive the fortifications that villagers can afford to build and maintain can be. You might add sharp pointed stakes around the palisade, and some leaning outwards to make it more difficult to climb the wall. 

2 hours ago, Bren said:

I already have my copy and I am very pleased with it. This quote from p. 19 very nicely states why I think the current rule that ignores the skill of the chariot rider is lacking when the chariot is used for combat rather than just for transport.

As noted above, anyone riding and fighting from a chariot is going to be experienced in doing it - if a noble has a chariot then doing so will be an innate ability. I wasn't writing a rules system, which is a very different proposition.

2 hours ago, Bren said:

I'd be interested in any thoughts you might have and whether you've created any house rules to better model fighting from a chariot in RQ.

No, in part because I believe it isn't really necessary.

Chariot fighting isn't really a focus of the game system, as they will often be used as battle taxis, and it's so minor an aspect, that if you detailed chariot fighting, then many other things would deserve more detail. For example, shiphandling. There comes a point where you'd end up with volumes of rules, and I believe there's a point where the GM has to moderate between the rules as written, and what they and their players want to do.

At most, I would rule that if someone who had never trained and fought from a chariot stepped into one and attempted to do so, their skills might be unchanged, but they might need a DEX roll to do so successfully, the multiplier depending on conditions, and a fumble sees them tumbling out of the back of the chariot.

Would I add that to the RQ rules? No. Keep things simple.

I'll also take this opportunity for blatant advertising - lots about chariots and using weapons mounted in Armies & Enemies of Dragon Pass.... 

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/296535/The-Armies-and-Enemies-of-Dragon-Pass?src=hottest_filtered

4 hours ago, David Scott said:

Also remember that chariots are spell and missile platforms, so the three people are the driver, and like the missile/spell caster and a bodyguard (page 211). I can't really see shields being used except in a defensive move then dropped. For me, I view the occupants as all standing on a large skateboard, well balanced and well able to do crazy stuff like shoot arrows and spells. Perhaps @M Helsdon could comment on chariot occupant tactics.

Historically, there were two basic types of chariot: one carrying the driver and fighter, and a heavier version carrying a driver, fighter, and one, rarely two shield-bearers whose job would be to defend the driver and fighter. The fighter was often an archer, sometimes a javelineer, rarely equipped with a long spear. Whilst some chariots had basic suspension, in the form of a base of woven leather straps, they were very prone to the effects of terrain. Where a mounted archer or javelin-thrower is familiar with the pace of their mount, and times their shot accordingly, anyone using weapons from a chariot is very susceptible to the unpredictable ride of the chariot over the terrain - they are reliant upon the driver keeping the ride as smooth as possible and their skill in avoiding rough ground. This is why in some cases, whilst the missile user often shot from the vehicle, there were instances when they dismounted to most effectively use their bow or throw their javelin. There's also some evidence from India of the archer having two bows - a smaller one employed as a passenger, and a larger one when dismounted.

So whilst the missile user would have trained to shoot from a chariot in motion, they were reliant upon the skill of the driver, and in a very different situation to a mounted fighter. In most armies, the driver and the missile user were a team who trained and fought together. The missile user may know how to drive a chariot but that only becomes relevant if the driver is dead or disabled, and they have to take the reins; it doesn't help them use their weapons. The missile user is familiar with shooting or throwing from the chariot. If a noble has a chariot, they will be used to being a fighting passenger.

So historically, horse archers had numerous advantages to the chariot archer - for one potentially double the number of fighters, but most importantly, when the regular motion of the horse is taken into account, a much more stable and predictable 'fighting platform'. 

A further matter to bear in mind is that as missile platforms, chariots were used in two ways: as massed missile platforms where accuracy wasn't as important; as single vehicles used in hunting, often lions.

Magic - well, casting magic is very different to using a bow or throwing a javelin, and the targeting would be very different.

I've only ever ridden in a vehicle resembling a chariot once, and even over smooth ground it wasn't a smooth ride. My feeling is that the existing rules are a sufficient emulation... Adding two skill scores to reflect ordinary use of the weapon, and its use on a chariot seems overly complex as anyone fighting from one is used to doing so.

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