Rob Darvall

On 3/22/2021 at 4:06 AM, GMKen said:

Don't wimp out... Glorantha has all kinds of adventures tucked here and there across the landscape, both big and small.  GMs need access to as many of all kinds as they can get.

I love Andrew's stuff but my two most used and looted JC scenarios are Rocks Fall & Stone and Bone.

Little adventures I can slot in quickly.

On 2/25/2021 at 3:41 AM, French Desperate WindChild said:

yes but it means somewhere the ritual obtains the ancestor agreement. Do the ancestors accept a "bird" as a part of "their" clan ?

A "bird" from a race cursed because of their support for Orlanth? A good lawspeaker could make a case.

But then:

On 2/25/2021 at 4:42 AM, Joerg said:

I really wonder whether the ancestors will tolerate one of the beastmen who fought them a few generations ago

A good lawspeaker could make a case.

You could have both, with an argument between ancestors thrown in for more MGF.

Opponents in the Hill of Gold?

33 minutes ago, Gallowglass said:

Thinking about the merfolk now. I'm not sure who their main gods are, but I would think most men initiate to Magasta, and most women to Triolina. I would also think that most merfolk would have a third gender option, because the primal water gods had three sexes and genders (Framanthe, Daliath, Sramak). That isn't mentioned anywhere though, just my own musing.

I think it would make sense for young merfolk to reenact the stories of their tribe's founders. Not sure if this would be male/female/etc sort of thing. Maybe the implied gender fluidity of the Water Rune applies itself here, and the young'uns experience the heroquest as both male and female versions of their founder. For other tribes like the Malasp, this could also explain why they're so nasty and unpleasant if they all experience the trauma of their founder's experience with the air gods. 

Or the heroquest they experience could determine their gender (or their initial gender at least). Much as environmental factors determine the sex of many aquatic creatures (crocodiles, clown fish etc) in the RW.

Muppy.

1 hour ago, coffeemancer said:

I have a theory that the lack of Osman heirs had something to do with the heirs killing all potential rivals once they ascended to the throne

Isn't that Afadjann? During the Fortunate Strangulations?

3 hours ago, lordabdul said:

Well if you want, you can make your baboon be part of the Sartarite culture, having grown up in the same tribe as the other PCs for some reason or other. Culture is different from race/species.

Overheard in at a village cidersup in Sartar:

"Yeah, 'e's a monkey, what of it?

'e's a dab 'and wiv a sling, gets the crop in, and mucks in wiv the rest of us. You got a problem wiv 'im; you got a problem wiv us."

Seperate thought:

I don't see Gloranthans understanding racism as we see it. Their bigotries are based on religious and tribal/clan/city affiliations. IMG Mello Yello would be refused entry to Yelmalio, esp. in Sun County, because he'd make a crap spearman and weaken the shieldwall, not because he's a baboon. Prejudice against Praxians in Pavis is because they tried to burn the place down, not because they're viewed as some sort of sub-human. Gloranthan bigotry is founded in actions, either godtime or historical, not in a theory based on bastardised science.

16 hours ago, Jeff said:

There are inns throughout Sartar - these are caravanserai that cater to travellers, particularly the caravans that ply Sartar's fine roads. These are part of the setting since WBRM. If you have no kin in the city, that's where you go for lodging, food, etc. 

Speculating out loud:
Would this mean this mean that Pavis is, as it is so often, the oddball in that its Geo's is NOT a caravanserai but a dodgy pub in a back alley?

It seems logical that they've been forced out of plusher quarters by the Lunar occupation and can no longer offer stabling and storage. Is there still a connection with their old premises? All Riders (O4) looks like a good candidate.

On 12/23/2020 at 6:31 PM, soltakss said:

Geo's Inns are run by the Geo cult, as they are temples to Geo.

And are an inovation of Sartar's as part of his harmony work in building his kingdom.

On 12/23/2020 at 6:31 PM, soltakss said:

None of the inns in New Pavis, for example, are Geo's

O-25 in P:GTA and P&BR.

On 7/15/2020 at 3:41 AM, Ali the Helering said:

Dunno about elves screwing mongoo.... 

No. An image nobody needs

But which we now all have.

One of my groups consists of two dodgy farmers from the Garhound/Sun County border running hazia up to Pavis. 

They both have whole households in the background keeping the farms marginally solvent in the good years. As Bill says, the NPC's and community are vital but don't have to be foregrounded in the narrative

Thanks Peter.

In the way back when there was an article about Humakti sacrificing their "hearts" eg. such-and-such a Humakt tradition emphasised sacrificing the Heart of Joy. Does anyone remember where and who wrote this?

Already covered.

10 hours ago, Scorus said:

Good point, and these are all just my opinions!

Yes. Not attacking you. Just looking at it from another perspective. I apologise if it came off as agressive.

10 hours ago, Scorus said:

More conservative people, which I think many Orlanthi would be, would believe that unusual=wrong. Most Orlanthi non-shaman parents would wonder what curse was on them that THEIR kid was born to be a *gasp* shaman!

While I agree that the Orlanthi are conservative my take is that 15% of the population going to "unusual" cults is usual enough that their conservatism can encompass it. Even as recently as my parents' generation space was made in normal, VERY conservative, society for folk we now call mentally ill. My narcoleptic grandfather and schizophrenic great uncle both had ordinary space in a conservative community. It's a case of "different but kin". In a preindustrial society, particularly one where kinship imposes enforcable religious obligations, this will be exacerbated.

Additionally the conditions aren't medicalised in Orlanthi society. They're not something to be cured, but a calling from the gods. The way you are born or initiated is what you are. I don't see the Orlanthi looking to "cure" these. Individual parents may be disappointed (as my mother was in apologising for my not having a "real" job some 25 years into my theatrical career) but I don't see it as being systemic. Add to that Orlanthi are "conservative" about very different things to RW conservatives.

PTSD, Lunar madness, and spirit possession (IE things that are imposed by the world) are different. These are disturbances to the essential nature of the person and may (or may not. Cf. Relife sickness*) require remediation.

10 hours ago, Scorus said:

In general, people who were born with something like schizophrenia would not be viewed as sick, only different. They would not be blamed though their parents or clan leaders might, depending on what the difference ends up being blamed on/caused by. I would expect divinations to be cast to discover what ancestral wrongs need to be righted. And if I had someone like that in my campaign I would not seek to cure them so much as figure out where they fit into the extremely diverse, and honestly wacky, world that is Glorantha.

As above, I don't see blame being cast at all. It's the will of the gods (a very conservative position). Somebody changing radically I can see as a catalyst for inquiry. 

* Uleria as the treater of Relife Sickness? 

21 hours ago, g33k said:

Elsewhere, I've seen it argued persuasively that Uleria may be the primary deity for healing of emotional & mental issues, relationship-counselling, etc...

3 hours ago, Scorus said:

For someone that was born with or developed something like schizophrenia from a young age, it would be considered how they were supposed to be. It could be attributed to a curse on their parents, being born under the wrong star, etc. and would mechanically be represented through their runes and passions. Probably a high Disorder rune, most obviously, and some screwed up passions. The more severe cases would be assumed to either be Eurmal or a taint of chaos, bringing shame on their family.

Or it could be that they were chosen early to a form of Shamanhood, Odayla, or other esoteric calling. It does not have to be a negative. The star can just be unusual instead of wrong. That said anything that drives a person to Eurmal is pushing the boundaries. Though I do use it for cases like the village idiot, where someone who is kin still needs a place in the clan. #notalltricksters

2 hours ago, Rodney Dangerduck said:

I find a straight up Chalana Arroy terribly boring.  YMMV.

Give them a fascinating backstory, and at least on other distinctive skill or role.  Amazing fiddler.  Used to race horses.  Her brother is wanted for murder.

STILL races horses!!

5 hours ago, Baron Wulfraed said:

Even for Humakt, if one interprets is overly strictly, it means the cult has to solicit for new members from outsiders -- since if cult members don't have children, there won't be any brought up following their parents and hence already leaning to Humakt.

I don't know if it's still (or ever was) canon, but Ressurection gives you a chance at the "relife sickness" which I take to be an increase to your death rune in RQG. Sufferers of the sickness tend toward converting to Humakt. I'm fond of it as it increases the penalties for getting your character killed without losing the character altogether. It's also another source of Humakti.

13 hours ago, Mythforger said:

Nice ideas, but not what i am looking for. I want to build a game about children in Glorantha for children. I need to simplify the rules, because i want it to be playable for ages six and up.

My youngest player started at 7yo. Plays with the full ruleset and I just run Lines and Veils where his cousins (ranging from 8 to 21) and middle aged uncles engage in narrative stuff beyond him. One of his cousins is my daughter, another my neice. Neither have had a problem with the full ruleset. If anything it's the middle aged uncles who avoid the combat. My then-15yo neice plays a BG who ritually eats the livers of evil-doers (this will have repercussions later in the campaign). It is a game of make-believe and kids are very good at those. The rules are not too complex, it's the narrative where things may become challenging.

My adult-aimed child campaign based in the Far Place does exactly as you do in befriending lesser spirits, having local "spirit quests" which don't have world shaking consequences but do get the kids questing. Then too, they all have work to do around the stead which improves skills. EVERYONE learns sling. It keeps wolves off the sheep, it give you something to do while watching wool grow, it lets you have contests with other kids, it helps teach them hunting skills, and it's cheap.

And the nasties can still lurk around the edges. The kids become the early warning system. As one long time Gloranthaphile once said "...their job is ... to run ... yelling 'Poss' at the tops of their shrill little voices." That way the adults come and do adult stuff, away from the view of the players if needed, and your players get involved in the wider clan business and have 'serious' adventures.

And it really is worth investing in Valley of Plenty.

Certainly 

Rob Darvall

4 hours ago, g33k said:

ALSO -- windchildren tactics.  Missile weapons -- arrows, darts, etc.  From overhead, they effectively have unlimited range (shooting straight down).  Massed bowfire from half a kilometer away?  Easy-peasy!!!  Fold their wings tight (like a stooping raptor), draw & release bow in a few seconds, and then lower bow, open wings, & swoop out of the dive, never coming in range of return-fire (which would have to be straight upwards).  Ordinary hand-thrown darts, too -- no bow needed, but half a km (or more, if desired!  Full km?  even more?  yep, and yep-yep!) to accelerate downward... BAM!

Darts. WW1 dart bombing tactics might be more appropriate.

11 hours ago, lordabdul said:

(still, my point is that this kind of maniac is just one type of Axe Maiden... players should be able to come up with other takes on it)

Or this can be ALL axe maidens, just not all (or even most) of the time.

This look is reserved for those moments when there's an urgent need to increase the "wang to hand ratio" (thank you Ian).

Just the idea that any Axe Maiden CAN look like this if she chooses is a factor in preventing the need for that choice. And it means they get the chair they want at Lilina's.

13 hours ago, Bill the barbarian said:

I played a BG in Melisande’s Hand, and I played her cold and methodical in her dealings in this wonderful adventure, but I will not say more to prevent spoilers! I

do not think I played her incorrectly but I see a lot of folk by the postings here, seem to indicate I should haver been death incarnate. Seems to me it was the results that mattered.

I'm enjoying my niece's characterisation.

Much as you did she plays cold & methodical. Right up until she coldly & methodically releases death incarnate. But that's a religious thing. She doesn't do it on a whim. Eating peoples' livers is reserved for those moments when the cosmic order is in danger.

Her character has an outstandingly high intimidate skill.

4 hours ago, Akhôrahil said:

Agree, this makes sense - it's an unusual time. If you're already committed to revenging yourself on the Six-Fingered Man, then BG is the obvious choice. 

(Or possibly Vinga - I see the difference here as being "revenge at any cost, no matter what" and "revenge with honorable conduct".)

My take is that Vinga is seeking personal vengance, Babeester Gor is seeking vengance for the Earth. The impersonal nature of their unleashing a horrific berserker rage is part of what makes them so terrifying. The Vingan sees her target as a person to be slain. The Gori sees them as a blot to be cleansed. Hence Vigan revenge is "honorable battle" while Gorite vengance is a very messy  cleaning chore. Something that just has to be done, making the target's honour irrelevant.

6 hours ago, rykemasters said:

For "shacking up", I imagine that might be impossible or a serious problem if a cult member is required to live on temple lands (or even in a temple building) with other initiates, which may be the case in a cult like Babeester's. Then again, problems are part of why it's interesting. The drama!

Sneaking in to see the significant other becomes a REAL commitment.