Darius West

34 minutes ago, Ynneadwraith said:

True, though I like to view the Cults book (and pretty much all official works) through the lens of The Unreliable Narrator. Whoever it is who is telling us the information in the Cults books is going to be from a point in time, and from a particular place (and that place is very unlikely to be Gagarthi). A Lightbringers Cult Book will give a Lightbringers-centric worldview. Of course they're going to say that Gagarth has no friends (though that doesn't necessarily make them wrong).

Perhaps he does. Perhaps he doesn't. But Lightbringery folk are unlikely to give you an accurate answer either way. YGWV.

Gagarth doesn't seem like the type to have many friends.  Probably Vadrus was his only associated cult, but Vadrus is dead now.

At least we now have the info to hand.  All our questions answered on pages 91-94 of Cults of Glorantha; The Lightbringers.  Nobody likes Gagarth enough to be an associated cult.

On 1/25/2024 at 10:46 AM, Erol of Backford said:

Barbarians and Civilized Initiates in RQ3 all had a read write languages skill. Seems to me nearly every Orlanthi is literate?

Sartarite literacy probably amounts to being able to spell one's own name and P-U-B, which is the main place where a Sartarite at their leisure can discuss the minutiae of the various lores of the world and gain an education for free imo.

On 1/23/2024 at 3:45 AM, Erol of Backford said:

Will need to find this, is there a source?

It is mentioned in Issaries write-ups but not developed.

On 1/23/2024 at 3:45 AM, Erol of Backford said:

Also LM sages would need paper of course, lots of it? Possibly special ingredients are needed for "special" paper which the wasps would make and LM Sages pay for?

Wasp paper is definitely inferior to parchment and to vellum.  I get the feeling it is low quality, but somewhat plentiful, as a by-product of wasp nesting practices.

On 1/23/2024 at 3:45 AM, Erol of Backford said:

What would be the equivalent to a Gloranthaian Hallmark store?

Lhankor Mhy Temples have considerable portions of their complex devoted to the production of stationery.   The free market may supplement this in larger settlements.

On 1/23/2024 at 3:45 AM, Erol of Backford said:

Most old temples that I've been to have little souvenirs, knickknacks and or pray items, symbols, etc. I assume each larger shiring and or temple in Glorantha would also have a small gift store? Thinking on the paper prayer knots tied to trees at some Buddhist temples I have been to?

Prayer knots would presuppose a literate society., or a full time scribe devoted to writing out prayer wishes for the illiterate to tie to idols etc.

On 1/23/2024 at 3:45 AM, Erol of Backford said:

What amount of paper could the Wasps Nest produce each year and of course what season would the majority be created assuming their paper is desired?

Well, the paper comes from the walls of giant wasp nests.  It then has to be soaked, stirred, bleached, flattened, pressed, dried, and packaged.  Potentially as much as 10 tons per year I'd estimate, assuming peacetime and hence an available workforce, perhaps more.  Aldryami may not like giant wasps eating their trees.

15 hours ago, GoldShogun said:

Due to such centralisation I have questions such as how much control does a temple have over its own affairs? Does a promotion to rune lord or priest require approval from a central leader of the cult or can it be up to the temple alone.

In my opinion, much would depend on the wealth of the temple in question, as well as who were its financial/aristocratic patrons (if any).  If the temple has the wealth to support a Rune Lord, and the need for one, and a suitable candidate then the current head priest will have the right to appoint someone who fits the requirements.  If the temple lacks funds but they have an enthusiastic candidate for Rune Lord, they may look to the central administration to find a temple that needs a Rune Lord.  Remember that there are many parts of the Empire where Rune Lords aren't required, as they are civilized and peaceful places.  In the case of a temple that is beholden to an aristocratic family, then it may well be the case that Rune Lord status is reserved for members of that aristocratic family, should they qualify, and any appointed non-family Rune Lord may become the family's hired goon, but with potential perks for loyal service.  There is also the continuous demand of the Lunar Army for Rune Lords.  This is a huge advantage for any Seven Mothers member.  The Empire will pay for your iron if you fight their wars for them.

18 hours ago, GoldShogun said:

Can they have disagreements with other temples or even go against the central hierarchy. Can each temple develop its own myths similar to other cults or is it all decided by those up top.

The Seven Mothers has two types of internal conflict.  The first is the banal bureaucratic/financial/ political conflict, which is invariably the most closely and ruthlessly fought.  The second is a doctrinal conflict.  This is far less of a problem as doctrinal issues are hard to argue about when the philosophy of the religion is as proudly insane as the Lunar Philosophy, that actively uses magic to drive people crazy.  Freedom is Slavery,  Prosperity is Poverty,  War is Peace, and Mind Blast isn't an attack spell, it is a revelation of Nysalorean philosophy as parsed by the Red Goddess  This blithe acceptance of  contradiction is central to the Lunar way, and that makes heresy almost impossible, unless you disobey Big Moonson.  Most people realize that all they need to do is shut up and love Big Moonson and they will be left alone.  It is said that then the pacifistic White Moon cultists started killing for peace, that this caused a philosophical paralysis in the Empire because of the implicit contradiction.  This was not the case at all.  Documents reveal that in fact the Ministry of the Lunar Truth was having issues with spinning the White Moon Uprising as criminal when it fitted perfectly within the Lunar Philosophy of reconciling contradictions, and so could be defended as an Illumination riddle sent to enlighten the people.  Big Moonson didn't know which way to jump on the issue, as a crackdown may have undermined the illuminated moral conviction all the Lunar soldiers fighting for peace at the Empire's borders.  THAT was the paralysis, not the alleged confusion of ordinary people.  They weren't confused at all.  Ordinary people had long since determined to accept 12 impossible things before breakfast.

19 hours ago, GoldShogun said:

The Seven Mothers cult however seems to be much more centralised having a supreme priest: the Red Emperor and other cult leaders.

I have a single word for you: Bureaucracy.  Lunar Bureaucracy is arranged as a Nysalor Riddle with multiple internal contradictions you will need to reconcile. 

On 3/14/2023 at 3:24 AM, Erol of Backford said:

So this goes along with the idea that they could easily engaged as courier if the price was right...

Anyone have an opinion if their original nesting location moved or is it just a map translation thing?

Yes, absolutely.  I think they should have connections with the Herald Goodword cult, and act as couriers and neutral parties.  The creation of paper would also serve this situation well. 

14 hours ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

Potatoes were there in 1615 ST, gone in 1625.

Perhaps the potato was eliminated. or at least made less productive, by an anti Lunar Heroquest.  Perhaps in retaliation for the Windstop. 

During the Windstop and the Great Winter, Mallia holds the whip hand.  She could release the potato blight via her Mee Vorala subordinates.  No more potato bread for Teelo Norri.  Why would Mallians do that?  Malice, pure and simple.

6 hours ago, Yazurkial said:

We know of no grain goddess of the Garden.

There are the 48 Old Ones, worshipped by Eiritha Cultists in the Paps.

Is the song Ramona a lewd song ?  Is that why its funny?

There is the issue that Orlanthi get cremated.  Are their ashes kept?  I can see other cults getting buried or even put in tombs.  it is a bit hard to have a royal tomb when the the Kings can be stored in a large ash tray.

12 hours ago, Ian A. Thomson said:

PMing is also a valid option 🙂

Is it cleared for release?

8 minutes ago, ChrisWentWhere said:

Thanks for everyone’s input in the end they just let him go with a promise not to tell anyone…he seemed pretty honourable. Players eh…

This was quite likely the best outcome for all concerned.  The Carmanian doesn't want the opprobrium of a defeat, and the Humakti doesn't want to be crucified.  A promise among honorable warriors is pretty binding, especially if everyone's face is saved.

I have things to contribute, but I think I should PM them for "clearance" first. 😬

Adelaide, Alberta, Alexandria, Annapolis (Maryland), Augusta, Athens, Aurora, Beatrice, British Virgin Islands, Cape Ann, Carolina, Catalina, Charlotte, the list goes on.  There are loads of places named after women IRL, even Spanish names.  Why is Ramona so funny?🤔

Wheat means bread.  Jungles generally means high biodiversity, and that means spices, as well as plenty of fruit and mushrooms.  You mention squash and beans, and I agree, but would add sweet potato, coconuts, and maybe ordinary potato too (likely introduced via Godlearners). There is the possibility of other grains too.  Caladraland also has a long coast which means fish in abundance, traded from the merfolk in those regions, but that would not go inland.  What I don't see much evidence of is lamb and cattle.  I would imagine that Caladraland cuisine would be something like Mexican, Thai or Vietnamese cuisines, but where the rice or maize starch component is replaced with wheat, bread, and potentially potatoes.   I would expect a lot of highly spiced dishes which are good for warding off internal parasites, and as medicines.  Hot foods go with hot climates.  I would expect potentially expect thick goulash-like noodles, a variety of breads, and likely meat and vegies in wraps.  Hot weather makes food storage difficult, so the problem will likely be solved by animals being slaughtered, butchered, cooked and distributed on the same day across a whole village.  The main preservative will be salt, but potentially common spices can be substituted, when they could work in that role.  If you have a bean culture, you may well have soybeans, and soy sauce, or something equivalent.  There is also the potential to cook by wrapping the meal in large leaves and burying it in hot volcanic ground.

I would imagine there would be plenty of hot spicy soups with meat, eggs, mushrooms, fresh herbs and noodles.  While the Caladralanders likely have beans that could provide cooking oil, this is likely something they will trade for, as they won't have the technology to extract it.  Daily lunch will likely be something akin to a burrito. Breakfast is likely to be a porridge with fruit. They will likely have some potent local hooches, based on fermenting local fruit and even beans.  Bean alcohol would be like a whisky that makes you fart like a bugle.  Given the high spice foods, the taco bell effect may find foreigners "disgracing" themselves with this in combination with bean whiskey.  Invariably, Caladraland's wealthiest cuisine will be influenced by Esrolian cuisine.  It is possible that reusable cans have been purchased from the dwarves, that can be boiled and filled for longer storage.  

On 1/15/2024 at 7:24 PM, Ian_W said:

9 Elmal Hosefriend was a thing when the city was founded, but by 1600 the Monrogh Debate - and the relative proximity of Barbarian Town to the Sun Domers of Prax probably means there isnt a shrine to Elmal Horsefiend.

I disagree with this point.  The Sun Domers are on the opposite side of Prax, and are the stay-at-home hoplite kind of Yelmalios.  Do they even have a mobile cavalry force?   In fact the Sun Domers of Sartar are closer.  

Are Wolf Pirates the Sea People of the Bronze Age Collapse for Glorantha?

On 1/13/2024 at 6:38 PM, Nick Brooke said:

“Moon Cat is the daughter of the Red Goddess and Yinkin, the Alynx God.

It's still bestiality. Ask Paula Abdul and the song that killed her career.

Good answers.  As to the other issue.  What do people think about the Death that Trickster and Humakt found in the Underworld?  After a fashion it is part of Kargan Tor.  Did he put it there, to protect the world from the excesses of his power perhaps?  What are the origins of this "new toy"?  Is anything written about that? Opinions?

Does anyone else find Kargan Tor to be a confusing deity?  I mean, he was the god of Death before Humakt.  The problem was, he was a god of death when there sort-of was no death.  I mean, people fought, and I suppose they were knocked out if they were defeated, but got up again after a bit of a sleep or something.  Does that mean Kargan Tor was a god of violence, pain, and sleeping?  What form did death take during the age when Kargan Tor held/was the death rune?  Also, was Kargan Tor the death rune, or was he somehow responsible for hiding the item in the underworld somehow?  At first I thought the whole idea of a Death God in a world without death was somewhat comical.  It is a little hard to reconcile.  If anyone else has had any thoughts on the matter of this obscure piece of Gloranthan lore I'd love to hear about it.  

I recognize this is a very valid question.  Especially with consideration to mounts.  I'm not sure that a mount that loses the use of its legs will do anything other than fall over and scream in pain.  

3 hours ago, David Scott said:

As a story hook yes. The adventure to the Dwarf to get a mechanical leg for your x.

Or alternately go to your Chalana Arroy Healer and get a regrow limb spell cast on you.

22 hours ago, Ynneadwraith said:

Now that I love!

Mostali: Bring me moon crescents.

Human: ...huh?

Mostali: Moon crescents. Digital shields. Ten of them, departed from the whole periodically. Or twenty, I suppose, if you can reach them from your height. You rarely need them once departed. The trade is beneficial for us both.

Human: ...that's made it worse not better...

Mostali: This is the translated version. It is comprehensive. You should comprehend.

I love this too, especially the last line. 😂

As to what Mostali will trade.  I think Mostali WILL trade for human food.  They will then take that lovely produce and grind it into a nutritious gray paste, then inject it in calorie measured doses into cans.  It tastes something like vomit, because they add "digestive accelerators" and  preservatives to it.  Humans CAN eat it, they just don't want to.

I think Mostali will trade for livestock and beasts of burden.  For all their technical achievements, I don't see many trains, so all those animals will be needed for carrying things around.

Mostali will happily trade for scrap metal, provided the price is right i.e. lower than their own finished goods.

Mostali will trade for timber, even if they don't need it due to their hatred for all things Aldryami.

Mostali will trade for trollish weapons and armour, in order to coax humans to kill trolls.

Mostali will trade for regulation sized barrels, sacks, crates and other storage containers, depending on quality.

Mostali don't make much rope.  It's not that they can't, they just don't.  They need it and will trade for it.  Similarly Mostali don't make much fabric and will trade for that too.

Mostali like to trade for alcohol.  They refine, concentrate and remove the alcohol for alchemical purposes, and drink the remaining juice.

Mostali don't have great carpenters, and so offering to create furniture for them is a good bet, provided they are clear about their specifications in human terms.

Just now, Ali the Helering said:

Personally I have always gone with the Borg.

I have always assumed Mostali were really Flat Effect deadpan, technical, numerical, monotone.