Cloud64

This post contains minor spoilers for The Dragon of Thunder Hills scenario, and for any of my players, so if you see this Gareth & co, stop reading 😉 I’d be grateful of some help from the glorious depths of the forum hive mind. I'm after creative suggestions to how a PC can resolve an in-game task. tldr: A PC has taken some skin from a dream dragon they slew. They want to tun it into armour. Is there a precedent for this? They know it is horn-like and needs softening and moulding. How might this be done, what might they need to do this? My PCs successfully slew Yerezum Storn, the dream dragon of Thunder Hills, and performed utuma on it, as requested by the dragonewts. Having a blade that can easily cut through dragon skin, one of them decided to do some skinning with the intent of getting themselves made a suit of dragon armour. A fine idea that I won’t deny them, but not one that I’m going to make easy – it provides too many good story opportunities that are not to be wasted. The Bestiary describes dream dragon skin as ‘horny skin’, so basically hard but workable with the right technique. Some historical research tells me that antler was often softened before being worked, by boiling or possibly application of mild acid. This gives us something to run with as technique. Thus far the PC has spoken to a couple of armourers and one has taken the job on, admitting he doesn’t know how to work dragon skin and it’s on condition the PC finds out how he can do so – he’s a busy man, what with the Battle of the Queen’s being imminent. I’m treating this knowledge as long lost, perhaps known back in the days of the Empire of the Wyrms Friends. Research at Jonstown library has found some notes saying dragon scales can be softened first and then moulded to a shape, but they don’t state what will soften it or the exact technique. The head of Yerezum Storn has been taken to the dragonewts, so they are in the PC’s debt. Perhaps they know the answers, though it may be a sensitive and tactless question to ask of them. So, to be determined is What will soften dream dragon skin? How exactly does one work the skin or scales? My thoughts are that the method will likely need Hard to obtain material(s) Some specialised magic – possibly some alchemic sorcery provided by a Lhankor Mhy sage Some tricky technique that may be hard to master All suggestions gratefully received.

My grandad was a blacksmith at the local gasworks. I'm told that on Sundays the local bikers would come up and affix the custom parts he'd made for them. This was the 1920s and 30s. Also built his own garage out of decommissioned kiln bricks from the gasworks (still in use today), and the family wireless sets too. I'm told I take after him, but practical I am not, though I did get the motorbike bug. Sadly, never got to meet him as the big C got him first. Want to do 100s of miles on a motorbike, then you'll want decent cushioning. There's a solid market for after-market motorbike seats with extra padding to this day. Trust me, as someone who's done plenty of bike miles, often 5 days a week 10+hrs a day in my dispatchy days, or when touring, a little bit of extra padding is worth its weight in gold.

Thanks for this thread, folks. I have just hit this point in my campaign and have been scratching my head over where to take the cult of Orgorvale Summer. The Dragon of Thunder Hills, in which she appears, proved to be a very enjoyable scenario, and one which has considerably more to it than appears at first glance: It's kept us going for five 2hr sessions and has been useful in introducing the new players to many elements of Glorantha in a meaningful way. It has also given them some great rewards that make them feel like they're achieving something, as well as integrating them into the milieu. I can heartily recommend it. We have been playing with the characters from the Starter Set, and what a disparate bunch they are, seemingly only held together by their hatred for Lunars and their shared experience of fighting at the battle of Dangerford. Why doesn't Vishi just pootle off back to Prax when he's meant to spend 90% of his time with his mentor shaman? But that question, and others similar relating to the rest of the PCs, belongs in another thread. So, to get back on topic, though the above comment is relevant, and though the relationship with Orgovale Summer has just begun, here's where our group is: Aranda of Nochet, axe maiden of Babeester Gore, has taken on the role of priestess at Orgorvale's request, having the strongest relationship to Earth of all the PCs. Vishi Dunn, with his high Man rune, has become an initiate. In both above cases, from a campaign point of view, this strengthens their roots in Sartar and starts to answer some of the questions about what they are still doing here. Aranda's player was feeling that she was bit of a one-trick pony (good with axe), so this has given her more depth and a purpose that will be expressed in play. They have cleared all evidence of the dragon and it's worship from the tomb, respecting the spirits loyal to Orgorvale that were already there. She granted some treasure to Arranda. They left Orgorvale sitting atop the mound, it sprouting with the wild flowers of spring (for it is sea season) wherever she treads. Leika has given them suitable rewards, as per the scenario. Also, I note this on p22 of the GM Screen Adventure Book (GMSAB): Legends hold that Orgorvale, daughter of the demigod Vingkot, built [Clearwine's] cyclopean walls in the Lesser Darkness to house her treasures. This gives Leika and the Colymar extra reason to become involved with the Orgorvale's cult. Having had Sorala the Lhankor Mhy scribe just join the party, this gives the new player a role in passing this fact on to Leika and the Colymar ring. Given the grand Earth temple of Clearwine, there is a natural relationship to develop here. Other thoughts: An earth goddess next to the forest of Tarndisi seems like a natural fit, Aldrya being friendly to Eiritha (Cults of Prax) and presumably other Earth related deities. This could resolve the difference between the Colymar and Tarndisi, apparently beacause, as Leika says, "I doubt the Dryad has any love for us after our support of the Temple of the Wooden Sword," (GMSAB p109). If anyone can enlighten me as to what that's all about, please, go ahead. I've not found anything that sheds any useful light on it. Those who accept and join in worship of Orgrvale Summer will have a harvest bonus this year. Relevant to the PCs, who have been granted land in Nymie Vale as their reward. Whilst roleplaying Orgorvale, I got in the habit of calling her people (those she once had) 'people of the vale.' This seems a reasonable fit, from both her name and the fact that there are a number of areas described as vales around Queen's Tomb. She will expect worship from and will support her people of the vale. I didn't find the description of her area of influence very useful, from the River to Prax. What River? That took a bit of hunting down – it's the one heading N out of Upland Marsh. Please, scenario writers, not everyone has your knowledge of Glorantha, be explicit in such things, even, you know, put in a little map if necessary. I'll look at the maps and mark out what seems appropriate – all those vales maybe. It is no longer Queen's Tomb, she is alive and well, so it shall become Queen's Temple. Temples to her will be modelled on Queen's Temple, though no need for such a scale. For casual worship a mound of fertile earth over stones will be adequate. She can be worshipped at Ernalda temples also, being part of her pantheon. Aranda will be expected to recruit cult members and carry out rituals at the Queen's Temple on High Holy and Seasonal holy days, whenever the latter shall be. I'll leave it at that, and confess I've been using this thread to think out loud and get down some of the ideas that have been nebulously floating around my head since our Thursday session.

We can thank Youtube for sticking this cheerful chappie on my home page. Seems he's a London tour guide (an award winning one at that) and his channel is full of vids showing various areas of London with buckets of interesting historical info. They give a really nice sense of what modern RoL London is like, plenty of ideas and buckets of nostalgia for me. I think starting in the Old Covent (as we used to call it to differentiate it from the New Covent Garden in Vauxhall Nine Elms) is appropriate:

Sounds like a good idea, sharing creations. Pamphlet length stuff is ideal as it's easy to plug-n-play into our own campaigns. At some point I'll get round to working on some local rivers – the a River Piddle should prove entertaining!

Ben Aaronovitch's website has the full chronology, including everything: novels, novellas, comics, short stories (from Tales from the Folly). The only thing missing is the audio-only short, but there's no spoilers in that. https://www.benaaronovitch.com/chronology/

I shall warn you that you are developing an addiction. The books are terribly moreish. I started last Yule and have now read everything there is, and the audio-only short story. Oh, and I've revisited all the novels as audio books, which are quite brilliantly read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. To sate your new craving in the cheapest way you can find bundles of the novels on Amazon and eBay. Just looked, and you can pick up the first 8 (of the 9) for 19.99gbp on Amz UK. For Brits, you may be able to get the audio books for free through your local library – there's an app so you can just download them. They have a limited number of licences though, so you will likely have to reserve them and wait a bit, but easily done through the app. I have a spare copy of the first volume that is pretty much permanently loaned out. So far everyone has liked it. I do, of course, have an ulterior motive – training up potential players.

I expect that's where I got my interpretation (above) from. Nice to know something sticks in my ageing head, even if I don't remember where from.

And I imagine the licensing will be complicated. Already with CoC there’s a lot we can’t use because it’s still in copyright, even though Chaosium has the rights. And that’s IP that’s no longer being developed, some of dead authors. Given Rivers content is still being actively written, well, much as I want to see fan work for the game, I’m pessimistic. Speculation of course, and I’d love to be proven wrong.

There's not many out there, AFAIK. The ones I've seen, after a simple YouTube search for 'rivers of london rpg', are on the Chaosium channel or the Rookery's.

DreadDomain said: What I am most surprised about is the that social interactions were also de-emphasized (no CHA/APP characteristics and only one skill - Social) [*£€@ quote failure] This is a lose-lose for skill based game designers. One of the complaints about CoC is there are too many social skills, they eat up valuable skill spend points and imply the PC can only intimidate and not charm, for instance, even though they may want to. Fewer social skills, and now the complaint is reversed. My take is that in the first case, multiple social skills, it defines the character's general style of interaction – they're a thug, they'll intimidate. The latter case, there's now the option to interact as seems appropriate to the situation - thug meets bigger thug, now they can try to fast talk their way past them. I don't expect rule books to tell me why certain decisions were made, that's for designers' notes, if they choose to include them. But let's think about this case and see if we can get 5 from 2+2. 2 What does Luck do? It helps the character get their own way, tweak the vagaries of the world (the dice) so that it gives them what they want. + 2 What is notable about the demi-monde? They do seem to have an easier path through life, things fall into their hands, the world complies to their needs, whether they are aware of it or not. Hell, we all know people like that, who wander through a charmed life somewhat oblivious of the fact. I can't think of any examples from the books off the top of my head, but Beverly certainly has the toast land butter-side up more often than not. (That may actually be an example from the books.) = 5 How do you emulate that in a game? Give them plenty of Luck points to spend to change results in their favour and have those points refresh far faster than normal folk. That's what's been done.

Fair enough, it's not like I won't buy the US book - how could I not? It sounds very promising then, for a scenario book to be with us soon. I'm assuming a video of the launch will be released in the next week or so, as has been done for other such events. Rather than pester you here, I'm happy to wait for that to find out about future goodness.

And if you want thematic damage dice, we'll, I've got some of these on the way https://www.thediceshoponline.com/tdso-red-blood-splatter-percentile-dice

Very pleased to hear that. My only reservation so far was just having one short scenario in the core book. Personally, I'd love to see something like Doors of Darkness (CoC), aimed partly at newer GMs (which hopefully this will bring in) with boxed out advice, and that shows us a variety of ways of doing Rivers scenarios. And if they have elements that string together into a little campaign, that'd be lovely. One great advantage of Rivers is that the scenario hook is easy – the next case lands on your desk. For me, this is a priority over the US book - surely cousins over the pond, you want to play in the streets of London for change 🙂

Bit puzzled. The greyscale char sheets are on a blank bg. I've printed them and there's no sign of greyscale on the bg, unlike the blue ones, where you get blue speckling. With recent Chaosium products you can turn the background off in Adobe Acrobat (free version). Very handy for those of us who like to print out scenarios and scribble all over them. The Rivers PDFs are no exceptions.

Rather enjoying it so far and it's hitting the right notes for me. I can't not read it in Lynne's voice, though the solo case did turn into Kobna's droll tones – the human brain is a weird and wonderful thing.

OK, you got me, those Asterix style 'toons are adorable - I'm a sucker for good cartoon art. They're begging to be in a comic. Airunix and… I'll leave the name of the definitely-not-obese one who fell into a cauldron of magic potion when he was a baby to someone else.

I must confess a little disappointment that I won't have a nice hard copy of this waiting under the tree for me on the 25th. Boo! But then again I won't have to avoid spoiling the surprise, so now I can read the PDF on Wednesday. Hurrah! I'm also surprised that you've not gone with simultaneous book and PDF release as I got the impression that was the new Chaosium policy. Not that I'm complaining, mind. Which can we expect in future: PDF first or PDF with book? A lot of interest and keen anticipation in this from my players and at a club I attend – I suspect sales will go well.

Given that I've only seen positive feedback about the course, I've signed up for this cohort and am suitably impressed so far. The prep is proving useful and has been keeping me busy even though the course proper hasn't started yet. Looking at the syllabus, there's a much that I'm familiar with from reading and listening to a lot of info about writing scenarios. There's stuff that I've used, mind maps for example, and much that I've not. I've probably looked at too much, and as such it's easy to wonder what is the best way to go. I can already see that the course will give me a structure to work to that has been demonstrated to work. I can modify it to suit myself later. What I'm really hoping is that it will be a procrastination buster and get at least one of my many scenario ideas completed, whether I publish or not. And a month of lessons for a mere £35 is a bargain. It should pay for itself, maybe financially, but certainly at the table.

If you want a better understanding of UK constitutional matters, with clarity and from a legal eagle who's worked in government on these matters, I highly recommend David Alan Green's (DAG) Law and Policy blog. This entry may help non-Brits (and, indeed, Brits as well) understand what the post of Prime Minister means or, rather, doesn't… https://davidallengreen.com/2022/10/a-prime-minister-in-name-only/ Truss was forced to step down because she had lost the confidence of parliament, and not only parliament, even of her own party. Our PM is not like the US President, though at a casual glance it may seem like it. They act as representative and leader for the government of the day, but they are not the head of state, as the US President is. Charley III is, and about that we have no choice (but let's be careful what we wish for.) One's vote is for the party, not the PM, though personality clearly has a great influence on many people. One of the arguments for a General Election being called now is that without one the UK will end up with a PM that the people have not voted for, a PM that only party members (not just MPs, anyone paying their party dues) have voted for. That is irrelevant, as much as a general election feels the right way to do things. As DAG often points out, "…every Prime Minister since 1974 has either gained or left office between general elections.

Not seen the magazine, but if you want to check them out they have a podcast. Search for Ancient Warfare Podcast. Over 200 eps to keep you going for a while, and give a good idea of what the mag might be like.

Well, one suspects if PXR5 were released now a trigger warning would be demanded for High Rise. Mine was merely the traditional usage of the word, as in kicked off/started. And a pleasant evening it was too, even if the music was not quite as, ahem, 'enhanced' as it would have been in my misspent youth.

Damn! That's an evening of nostalgic music triggered for me.

I know a army lad who has had to cancel his wedding, which should be next Thursday, because of this. Leave cancelled. 'It's what you signed up for,' he was told. Thankfully they were prudent enough to take out wedding insurance, otherwise that would have ruined them, given his paltry military wage as he's still low ranks. Edit. Have been told a little more. He's Royal Engineers and will be on bomb squad support. It's easy to see the need for him in that case.

Very few ideas are truly original, our inspiration is usually triggered by someone else's work, even if we aren't conscious of it when the light strikes. Why not write it anyway, who knows, you might do a better job. Says the man who's also sitting on a couple of ideas that have got little further than brainstorming. One day, one day.