M Helsdon

Thanks for that. Will update my file. Note that I've changed bows to javelins (as it seems a better guess) and one unit have round shields because of their Solar/Air origins. Esrolia Prior to 1624 Sir Narib’s Company of mercenaries was also present in Esrolia. Green Horse Type Light Cavalry Armor Leather Weapons Spear, square shield, javelin Morale Militia 2 Patron Deity Irillo Notes Horse Archers Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 1 Melee Factor 3 One of the militia Hundreds of Nochet. Golden Racers Type Light Cavalry Armor Leather Weapons Spear, round shield, javelin Morale Militia 2 Patron Deity Irillo, Nolerianmar Notes Horse Archers Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 1 Melee Factor 3 One of the militia Hundreds of Nochet. Noble Brothers Type Heavy Infantry Armor Bronze Weapons Spear, shield, axe or sword Morale Veteran 5 Patron Deity Varies Magic Factor Low 3 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 5 A regiment of the Kimantorings. Axe Maidens Type Heavy Infantry Armor Leather Weapons Axe, square shield Morale Elite 6 Patron Deity Babeester Gor Notes All female Magic Factor Medium 5 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 5 A regiment drawn from the defenders of numerous Earth Temples. These are regiments of brutal berserkers who terrify most male-dominated units. They have significant powers against oath-breakers – and are the most feared regiments in all Esrolia. Axe Maidens Type Heavy Cavalry Armor Leather Weapons Sagaris, axe, square shield Morale Elite 6 Patron Deity Babeester Gor Notes All female Magic Factor Medium 5 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 5 A regiment drawn from the defenders of numerous Earth Temples. Humakti Battalion Type Heavy Cavalry Armor Bronze Weapons Broadsword, shield, javelin Morale Elite 6 Patron Deity Humakt Notes Mercenaries Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 1 Melee Factor 4 This is the Humakt Battalion of Esrolia.

That's why I've included him for these two Nochet militia units. Nolerianmar was an option, but with only Harald's unit names to go by, these are all basically placeholders. So this was posted for any comments from Harald. The Magic Factor, Missile Factor, Melee Factor are inspired by the unit capabilities in Dragon Pass.

My guesses as to their capabilities: Green Horse Type Light Cavalry Armor Leather Weapons Spear, shield, bow Morale Militia 2 Patron Deity Irillo Notes Horse Archers Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 3 One of the militia Hundreds of Nochet. Golden Racers Type Light Cavalry Armor Leather Weapons Spear, shield, bow Morale Militia 2 Patron Deity Irillo Notes Horse Archers Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 3 One of the militia Hundreds of Nochet. Noble Brothers Type Heavy Infantry Armor Bronze Weapons Spear, shield, axe or sword Morale Veteran 5 Patron Deity Varies Magic Factor Low 3 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 5 A regiment of the Kimantorings. Axe Maidens Type Light Infantry Armor Leather Weapons Axe, square shield Morale Regular 4 Patron Deity Babeester Gor Magic Factor Medium 5 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 4 A regiment drawn from the defenders of numerous Earth Temples. Humakti Battalion Type Heavy Cavalry Armor Bronze Weapons Broadsword, shield, javelin Morale Elite 6 Patron Deity Humakt Notes Mercenaries Magic Factor Low 1 Missile Factor 1 Melee Factor 4 This is the Humakt Battalion of Esrolia. Sir Narib’s Company Type Magical Heavy Cavalry Armor Bronze Weapons Spear, broadsword, shield Morale Veteran 5 Patron Deity Various Notes Esrolian/Western Ritual Magic Factor 5 Ritual Magic They use a huge adamant nail to summon their wyter in the form of a demonic entity wielding a flaming sword and riding a blue lion. Magic Factor Medium 5 Missile Factor 0 Melee Factor 4 Narib is a sorcerer from Pithdaros, who aided the adventurer Rikard the Tiger-Hearted to conquer his kingdom of Malkonwal. When his employer fled from the Lunar Army in 1620, Narib formed a ‘company’ with his fellow surviving sorcerers and found their way into Esrolian service.

That explains why a Search didn't find it... The map shows Broyan's forces passing under the Shadow Plateau. Sometimes in Glorantha a small force with potent magic can defeat a larger force. At the time, the Grazelanders were in the middle of their own civil war, and some stories say that Mirinia was cursed by the Earth priestesses of Esrolia and later killed by her own bodyguard. Her sister Vistera became Feathered Horse Queen in 1623, after leading the rebellion. She took the title “With Bitter Heart” and ruthlessly avenged the deaths of her grandmother, mother, and sisters. She had pro-Lunar chiefs and priestesses murdered, allied with monsters and Tricksters, and made a terrible pact to awaken the Dragons. She died during the Dragonrise, upon witnesses her schemes reaching fruition. So Mirinia was in severe trouble before the battle: her own source of magic weakened by her sister's rebellion (who was obviously favored by the goddess), possibly cursed by Ernaldan priestesses in the land she was fighting in; fighting against a High King with all the magical resources he would have. The battle probably was a little like the outcome of the Charge of the Light Brigade...

King Broyan had some very potent forces under his command, including what would become the core of the Egglord Warlocks (heavy cavalry), and much of the surviving garrison of Whitewall. Broyan drove off the Crimson Bat there, so he has considerable magical power at his disposal. [In effect, he would have heavy artillery backing him up, against cavalry.] I am uncertain which battle you are referring to, as I can't find any source for a Battle of Willford. Mirinia was killed fighting in Esrolia in 1623, while her sister Vistera led a rebellion against her. Some stories say that she was cursed by the Earth priestesses of Esrolia and later killed by her own bodyguard.

My guesses... Rune Weapon Shield Color Darkness Club, mace, maul Round Black Water Whip, flail Round Blue Earth Axe Square Green Sky Spear, bow Round Yellow, gold Fire Spear, bow Round Red Light Spear, bow Round Yellow Air Sword Round Blue, orange, white Moon Curved blade: Kopis, sickle-sword Round, crescent Red, silver Rune Metal Darkness Lead Water Aluminum/Quicksilver Earth Copper Fire/Sky Gold, Tin Air Bronze Moon Silver Death Iron Law Adamant

I am reminded of a joke told to me by someone from southern India: Two men are discussing their marriages. First man: My mother-in-law is a goddess! Second man: You are so lucky! Mine is still alive...

Lunar gateway at Raibanth, featuring a 'moon gate' flanked by a Lunar and Solar guardian. The wall consists of stone on the lower courses, brick above, covered with a layer of painted plaster. A balcony with three entrances lies above the gateway. Note the lack of crenellations at the top of the wall. [Guardian figures derived from artwork by Dan Barker.]

It's a comprehensive introduction, covering primarily Mycenaean weapons and armour, but also Egypt and the Near East, with brief descriptions of chariot warfare. If you want atmospheric (and sometimes very speculative) pictures, then the various Osprey titles are worth looking at. Early Aegean Warrior 5000-1450 BC Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age Mediterranean c.1400 BC-1000 BC Bronze Age Greek Warrior 1600-1100 BC Early Iron Age Greek Warrior 1100-700 BC

I imagine the main entrances as being much grander. This is a minor side entrance. Or I may have been mistaken, or misunderstood my guide, and drawn an entirely different temple gateway. In a big city like Nochet, you can never be certain that the guide you pay to show you around knows as much as they say they do. [In the real world, on occasion, I've overheard tour guides in museums or ancient sites telling their groups completely fictitious things...]

They are female trolls. The largest Heortling urban center in Glorantha, Sarli is dominated by the Grace Temple and Orlanth’s Hill. This district has grown enormously since the Lunar conquest of Dragon Pass and has received thousands of new refugees in recent years from Heortland and Sartar. Dozens of temples and shrines to the gods of Dragon Pass can be found here. The Grace Temple is one of the greatest temples to the Earth Goddess in Glorantha. (See map of Nochet.) The Grace Temple dates back at least as far as Darkness Era Nochet (see Esrolia: TLoTTG maps). Was there in Harmast's time and doubtless has been rebuilt and repaired throughout Time. The trolls are (painted) carven reliefs decorating the entrance.

Left: the city gate of an Esrolian city. Right: a side entrance to the precincts of the Great Temple of Ernalda in the Sarli district of Nochet. Two towers of glazed green brick, each depicting a goddess, are supported by stone bases depicting female trolls frame the copper-clad gate, which depicts two priestesses. The presence of the guardian trolls suggests this gate predates the era of the God-King.

The relic of the Blue Moon, the Blue Streak, has a tidal effect on water. The Red Moon does not.

They don't. There are four human races in Glorantha, according to the Guide. Race Skin Colours Agimori Dark skinned Veldang: Blue skinned Vithelan Tan to pale brown Wareran Fair to olive-skinned However, this isn't the entire variation, as in any 'race' people can have blue ancestors, and other skin tones are likely. Orlanthi can have green, grey and brown eyes, which sounds very terrestrial, but they can also have orange eyes...

Sadly, what you are collecting isn't modern Theyalan (north or south) but names dating to different periods. 'Modern' names (such as Jonstown, Wilmskirk etc.) which are only a century or two old are recognizable, whilst older names such as Garhound are a little more antiquated, but still understandable. Older names are relics of earlier times. Throughout, modern names are as understandable to us as they would be to the 'current inhabitants', but older names are far less accessible. English and Old English are used to denote this (huh, some Dara Happan gods have Latin names, but again that's because whilst they are old, they aren't ancient). We know that mortal languages drift in Glorantha but without knowing the age of terminology, you cannot reconstruct a single language from names.

Many 'Theyalan' words and names have Old English roots: Garhound for example, means 'spear dog'.

You need to filter out the real world Old English terms: for example, Huscarl, wergild, carl, -ing, Hus... Many Old English words are used in canon material, such as thane. Carl means '(free) man', and entered Old English from Old Norse; Karl was a son of Rig and considered the progenitor of peasants.

I know. A carl's household isn't very wealthy. Dragon Pass and the Wilds, Stafford and Friends, Chaosium. King of Sartar, Stafford, Moon Design. I know the former is out-of-date, but for a Royal Army (as compared with a Tribal or Clan army) intermediate officers with royal authority would be required. As the term is in canon, in KoS, I used it instead of making something up from scratch.

A few more thoughts... Favored Weapons Preferred Formations Group Primary Secondary Tertiary Dark Orlanthi Club or Mace Sling Javelin Shield-wall Skirmishers Earth Tarsh Spear Axe Bow Shield-wall Skirmishers Light Orlanthi1 Bow Sword Spear Skirmishers Shield-wall Old Hendriki Spear Sword Javelin or Sling Shield-wall Skirmishers Sword Orlanthi Spear Sword Javelin Shield-wall Skirmishers Tarshite Spear Short Sword Bow Shield-wall Skirmishers Yelmalion2 Bow Long Spear Javelin Skirmishers Phalanx 1. So named for their weapons, not any Solar associations. 2. In Sun Dome County the militia form the auxiliaries of a Templar regiment. In this context, primary denotes the weapons most commonly carried by members of the fyrd. Swords and axes are more expensive than spears or clubs and are usually the preserve of weaponthanes and housecarls. Shield-walls in which spears predominate are effectively proto-phalanxes. The Orlanthi of Dragon Pass Class Equipment Fights in… Wergild Wealth High King Metal armor and helmet, shield, favored weapons, horses or chariots. Shield-wall 2000 50+ Eorl 600 30 Tribal King or Queen 200 30+ Chieftain Metal armor and helmet, shield, favored weapons, sometimes a horse. 100 15+ Thane 50 5 Housecarl 50 5 Carl Leather armor, leather or metal helmet, shield, often only the cheapest favored weapons. Shield-wall rear ranks 25 1 Cottar Skirmishing weapons. Skirmisher 10 Thralls Servants and bearers. Orlanthi Social Class and Warfare

My memory was faulty: Episodes for the Gamemaster, page 39: These particular ladders may have been brought to assault Pavis, but never used, or perhaps they were purchased by the Lunars from the Pavis dwarves.

Oh I agree. Distortion is not an accurate term. It would be like claiming that someone's DNA means they aren't human. Heroes are on the route to potentially becoming demigods.

You'll find that in terrestrial warfare spears have been more widely used in war than swords. As far as Light Orlanthi are concerned, as hunters they mostly use the bow, with swords being prestige weapons, with spears coming a third. To some extent they appear to reverse the usual pattern, in that most of their potential fighters appear to be skirmishers, not fyrdmen but given that they are not wealthy, that isn't surprising. In Orlanthi clan and tribal fyrds, professionals are in the minority, unless the chief or king hires mercenaries. It's a way of classifying the different groups of settlers in Dragon Pass. Light Orlanthi are so named because they are mostly lightly armed skirmishers; Sword Orlanthi are mostly from Heortland, and relatively wealthy. You'll have to buy the magazine (PDF available) for the full details.

If I recall correctly, they were purchased at great cost for use in the assault on Boldhome, but were not used. Obviously, a quartermaster recalled them being in stores and... A while ago I attempted to systematically categorize the helmets appearing in canonical illustrations...

In Glorantha, humans are composed of Runes. The Orlanthi believe that people have five souls, one for each element; eight Temperaments, one for each Power; and Seven Attributes. The Lunars believe that ordinary humans have six souls, with their Way permitting the acquiring a seventh soul; the mystical self. These are all Rune related, and to remove Runes from a Gloranthan human would be like removing all the atoms from a terrestrial human. So in Glorantha, Runes define a person's humanity, not distort it.

WF#15 was published in 2012. Not exactly old...