RHW

FWIW, I'd define housecarl using its most basic meaning: "house freeman," a free man (or woman) who's part of the personal retinue/household of a noble. So that could include his or her personal scribe, healer, rainmaker, as well as the tribal champion, personal bodyguards, a hunter or two, a few full-time troubleshooters, etc. Meanwhile, a weaponthane is a skilled, high-ranking warrior. Essentially a professional soldier. They might live with the noble; they might not. So while some weaponthanes are also housecarls, not all housecarls are weaponthanes. YGMV

I figure a Ulerian is to sex as a Sword of Humakt is to war. They're the best, they aspire to a very elevated code of conduct, and if you want them, you pay a lot for their services. Sadly, despite the existence of Humakt, there are still conscripts, slave soldiers, soulless mercenaries, professional soldiers, opportunistic killers, those amateurs in the fyrd who play soldier every Windsday, and everything in between. Some of them may even pray to Humakt from time to time, for all the good it does them. And of course there's one twisted Lunar version that let's you be a lot more flexible with the code of conduct and another that can force you to fight for the Empire whether you want to or not. Same for sex.

Elusu carves a wooden marionette while Argrath watches. ELUSU: Wa, Boss, I’m working on a new puppet show. What’s the funniest way to die? Violence or poison? ARGRATH: Depends. I like the one where Hon-eel chops up Pyjeemsab. But Euglyptus dying is pretty funny, too. All those farts. ELUSU: Can’t go wrong with farts. ARGRATH: Who’s this one about then? ELUSU: It’s the bloody tale of a self-important, morally ambiguous Orlanthi heroquester. ARGRATH (studies the puppet): I thought he looked familiar. Before Elusu can respond, Argrath chops off her head. ARGRATH: Violence is always an option. Elusu’s body fumbles around, finds her head, and puts it back on her neck. ELUSU: Good point. Guess I'll go with poison. Elusu returns to her carving. _________________________________ The middle of the night. Elusu squats astride a sleeping Argrath, wearing an Eurmal mask. She leans over him as he wakes. ELUSU: Wake up, Chief! Guess who’s beneath the mask! Argrath looks up at the mask. ARGRATH: Right now? Me. ELUSU: Wa. Hadn’t thought about it like that. Elusu takes off her mask, revealing Argrath’s own face. ELUSU: But when you're right, you're right.

Argrath and Elusu leave a meeting with fellow rebels in Heortland. ELUSU: Wa. What was the name of that Humakti fellow again? The big one wearing all the skulls? ARGRATH: Sargarath. ELUSU: And the Kitori? ARGRATH: Gar Darkspear. ELUSU: Wa, Gar is a nickname for Argrath too, right? Like that Rath bully and the Arry prick. And Kallyr is called The Argrath and her representative was another Argrath and that Kat girl is really named Arkatha. ARGRATH: Get to the point, Fool. ELUSU: The pointy bit is, seems like we got a surplus of Argraths. After all, there are only four Elusus. Plain old Elusu, Elusu the Liar, Elusu Sit Here, and Elusu the Polite. ARGRATH: Those are all you. And it's four too many if you ask me. ELUSU: Wa. So all them other Argraths are all you, too? ARGRATH: It's not the same thing. ELUSU: Whatever you say, Chief. Argrath thinks about that for a while. ARGRATH: Fuck. ELUSU: Aye. Let's get a beer.

Argrath and Elusu walk through Founders Market. Merchants and customers alike eye Elusu warily. Many of them have been wronged by her before. ELUSU: Wa, Chief. What’s the sound of one hand clapping? ARGRATH: This? Argrath slaps Elusu across the face. ELUSU: No. Bystanders applaud. ELUSU: That.

A lot of the military cults would probably have collections of instruction manuals, troop rosters, battle accounts, etc, connected to temples and standing units. Humakti would have all of the above written in Swordspeech. Pelorian and Dara Happan units should have enough literate members to have scribes and secretaries to compile such things and officers who would want to read them. Likewise Chalanan hospitals probably have their own archives on medical treatments, records of major plagues, etc.

I feel like that's still too formal for friends who see each other every day or husband and wife or close family. I like something along the lines of "Good wind" or "Orlanth bless you" to men and "Ernalda bless you" to women. Could be shortened some way in Sartarite: Or'var: Orlanth bless you. Said to a man or a Vingan. Er'var: Ernalda bless you. Said to a woman or a Nandan. Vor'var: Voriof or Voria bless you. Said to a child not yet initiated. Works as both a greeting and a farewell. During the occupation, when in a trusted setting, could substitute "Free Sartar" or "Come the Hurricane."

RAGI MOVESLIKECAT: Dunno, boss. Couldn’t tell if all them four sides were equal or whatnot, but it definitely had all right angles, if you know what I’m saying. ARGRY HARDBLOW: Good enough for me. Let’s get ‘em, lads! For Orlanth!

Isn’t “both Chaos and Moonson” redundant? Signed, Every Orlanthi

Yep, like I said, my money is on Ralzakark the Monster Emperor fully apotheosizing as Wakboth some time in the late 1600s. But I figure the Devil isn’t officially “born” until he manifests. I don’t think either Nysalor or Arkat was Wakboth at first any more than Rufelza is (or Moonson or even RalzakarK cica 1620).

I guess I like the idea that the cycle repeats as a ticking clock for campaigns set near the close of each age and a way to add truly epic scope to the story. "Tick tick tick. You idiots need to get your shit together soon because... WAKBOTH COMIN'!" CUT TO: Wakboth taking a drag on his cigarette and striding down the street with his shotgun.

Arrrrkat, Harrrrmast, Arrrrringol, Arrrrrgrath, Jarrrrr-eel. I rest my case. If Kallyr had just spelled her name Kallarrrrr, she would have probably won out.

Also Aringor's name has an "Ar" in it, which seems necessary.

"Who banishes the Western Devil?" Since Aringor completes the LBQ and defeats both the "God Learners" (including maybe Zzabur?) and the Autocracy (including maybe Arkat/Gbaji), he seems like a legit candidate, at least from the Orlanthi POV.

One thing I've never really been able to figure out about Glorantha, assuming every age ends with a reappearance of the Devil (according to KoS) and that Devil is opposed by some mortal hero... how'd that work out at the end of the Second Age? Assuming that: Dawn/Wakboth Original Recipe/Orlanth (but maybe Heort?) 1st Age/Gbaji/Harmast 2nd Age/????/???? 3rd Age/The Dark Emperor (looks a lot like Ralzakark on GoGII 786)/Argrath So who nearly destroyed the world in 1042 (or whenever the SA really ended?) Who was the face of the Devil? Who defeated him? Possibility 1. The official end of the age is the fall of the EWF, but who was Wakboth? Some unnamed EWF ruler? Maybe Ingolf? Peranal? Was Alakoring the Hero of the Age? Possibility 2. Or was it Zistor? Zazistor? The Machine God is destroyed in 917 but seems to fit the role of the Devil better than the EWF. Orlanth himself is credited with the destruction of the Machine God, but presumably this was actually achieved by some Orlanthi hero or collection thereof. Possibility 3. Was the Devil a product of the God Learners? Certainly Aringor is the best candidate for the Hero of the Age, since he performed the LBQ to defeat the God Learners. So who took the role of Wakboth? Thoughts?

So much ungood oldthink. Peloria is one. Diversity is unity. There has always been an Emperor, and we have always served Him happily. Hail the Red King! He protects us from Tyrants by ruling us with perfect, unquestioned authority. While it is true that we have once again built a new god to unify us and return the Golden Age, it's really an old god that was always there. So that makes it okay. There has always been a Moon. There is only one Sun. The Light of Illumination has never been extinguished. The apparent Chaos of so many cultures is an illusion, since we all exist under the Law of the Glow Above. Everything is changing exactly according to schedule. Change is just a path to Stasis. Remain Calm, Citizen! Oops. Sorry. Be assured that I only killed you to advance the cause of life. Congratulations on your ascension. We are all Us. We have always been at war with Rebellus Terminus.

I pictured something more like this:

Q. O Storm Voice, tell me, what are dreams? A. Ah, my brave young warrior, most dreams are the sendings of Eurmal. They are illusions and lies he whispers to you as you sleep, to amuse, seduce, and horrify you. That is why they seem like nonsense, because nonsense is the language of the Trickster. His illusions have no order. They are a jumble of impressions that can be confusing and troubling, as are all the Trickster's jokes. You can enjoy them when they please you, or ignore them when they don't, as with all the workings of Eurmal. But beware, because sometimes the Trickster mixes truths with his lies, because otherwise you would never believe him. And sometimes other gods send messages to you in your sleep as well. They may be prophecies or warnings, promises or threats. When a god other than Eurmal whispers to you in your sleep, your dreams will become much more coherent and memorable, though still often symbolic and obscure. Those dreams may repeat, and if you have one, you should come to me so we can discuss it and I can try to help you understand which god is speaking to you and what their message means. But do not be too eager to act on the messages from your dreams. Because the Trickster knows how the dreams of other gods look and feel, so sometimes he will send dreams indistinguishable from theirs. Or he will interrupt their messages with his own nonsense and lies. So be cautious with dreams and seek the guidance of the wise if they trouble you overmuch. And lastly, if you are dreaming of Ongara Touchfire, know she dreams of you too and this is a different kind of message from the gods. One you two should talk about by the hearth of her parents' home one night soon. Ah... That is a nice leg of mutton. My thanks, young warrior. Blessings of Orlanth to you and may all your dreams be pleasant and true.

A group of bad guys in my house Lunar campaign was a popular band in Glamour called the Ill Wind. Their gimmick was that they dressed up like savage Sartarite barbarians and sang songs that celebrated the enemies of the Empire. Very punk! Very sexy! Very trendy with the young folks. Except that their concerts were effectively worship ceremonies for the Storm Gods and their lead singer was a hero of Eurmal and his bandmates were unknowingly heroforming Orlanth, Storm Bull, and Babestor Gor right in the middle of the Lunar Empire. So that was a problem. And when the band found out the PCs were trying to get them banned from all the best venues in the city things got very stormy. Popular entertainment in Glorantha is a weapon.

No printing press, no novels. Without mass production of books, they're too rare and too expensive to be a source of private entertainment. The only books you'd get lots of copies of are religious scriptures, and even then, you might have only a few per town, in the possession of the ruling family and at the main religious site. I certainly think there are plays (and written records thereof) performed in places like Peloria, Esrolia, and Safelster. Skalds in Orlanthi lands would recite sagas, some of which might be written down, but doubt there are more than a few dozen copies of each, mostly under lock and key in some Lhankor Mhy library. All would be potentially useful magically, since they'd be about "historical" figures. They'd also have lots of differences, depending on who wrote them down and who was reciting. Having adventurers seeking just the right copy of the Harmastsaga could be fun. I figure there are bards in Loskalm, and their lays are also written down from time to time. Rokari probably don't allow such frivolities, so while there are probably stories told among the lower castes, they're not written anywhere and there aren't professional performers, unless they exist for the amusement of the noble caste. The only place there might be printing presses and thus novels would be Kralorela. Tang dynasty had wood block printing, but before that, documents were reproduced by doing ink rubbings from stone blocks. Most written or oral entertainment would be based on historical figures, and of course, in Glorantha, even if you make something up, if enough people believe a character is real, he or she could still manifest in the Other World. I remember reading once that some Chinese gods started out as fictional characters , but gathered enough believers to receive worship. So if there are any authors out there in Glorantha, they're potentially very dangerous people. Perhaps the state requires their removal? But of course, trying to get rid of them might mean defeating their fictional constructs. Good luck with that.

MORE LUNAR ARMY SLANG: Floggers: Soldiers from the Danfive Xaron punishment brigades. "Don't let the Floggers catch you out of the Red Zone without a pass or you'll end up one of them." Smoothhead: Devotee of the Red Moon. Also Smooth. "Oi, Centurion says we let anything happen to the Smooth we're escorting, and he'll cluding ascend us himself." Yan-tar: An all expression of enthusiasm, alertness, and general luno. Also sometimes a battle cry. From Yanafal Tarnils. "Yan-tar, Centurion! We have the greatest enthusiasm for the mission. We Are All Us!" Luno: The hard-charging, motivated, spit-and-polish attitude of the ideal Lunar soldier. The mark of a true believer. "That centurion has so much cluding luno he pisses moonjuice." Blue Moon Party: A completely inexplicable, high risk mission that seems to serve no tactical or strategic purpose. Probably magical in nature. "So we're supposed to sneak some Smooths into the Troll Ruins on Zorak Zoran High Holy Day. Cluding Blue Moon Party you ask me. Well, We Are All Us, I suppose." Sunny: Tatius the Bright, Governor-General of Dragon Pass. "Sunny's got such a hard-on for that Argy down in Whitewall. I wish they'd just fuck and cluding leave us out of it." Himself: General Fazzur Wideread, former Governor-General of Dragon Pass. "I miss Himself. He had brains and luno, he did." Herself: Kallyr Starbrow, leader of the Sartarite rebels. "I saw Herself with my own eyes at Aurochs. The snow melted under her feet and even the Boomies couldn't touch her." Corflued: Screwed over by the Army. Given a crappy assignment, sent to a punishment detail. Short for Sent to Corflu. "Oi, lads. We clude this one up, we'll all end up either ascended or Corflued." Blooms and Pests: Rhyming slang for "Plumes and Crests." The officer corps. The people who give the orders. Also Blooms or Pests alone. "Rumor is Blooms and Pests are planning something big. So be ready to march at a moment's notice. We Are All Us, right lads?" The It: The Crimson Bat. Using Its full name aloud is considered bad luck. Also sometime just "It." "I hear The It is headed to the Blow. Them Blues are fucked now." It Shit: Sacrifices for the Bat. "Orders are to capture as many Blue Meanies alive as possible. Sounds like the Pests need some It Shit."

Some Lunar military slang: Past the Line: South of the Deathline. Dragon Pass. "You been past the line, Bing? No? Then you don't know nothing." Bing: A new recruit. Blessed New Guy. Also, a nice ripe cherry. Cherry: A new recruit. See Bing. The Glow: The Lunar Empire proper. "I can't wait to get back to the Glow." Argy Reb: Sartarite rebels. A combination of Rebellus Terminus and the common Sartarite name/honorific "Argrath." Varients: Argybargy, Argy Boys, A-Reb. "Alright, you mob. Let's show Argy Reb what's for." Shinies: The Silver Shields. "Oi, thank the Moon. The Shinies are here." The Blow: Sartar. The counterinsurgency and the Southern Front in general. "Welcome to the Blow, Cherry. You watch me, you follow orders, or you're gonna cluding ascend before you know it." Also "Embrace the Blow." Accept your role in the counterinsurgency. Blue Meanies: Sartarite Rebels. Sometimes just the Blues. "What's the matter, Yonus, love? Blue Meanies got you down?" Blue on Blue: Sartarites killing other Sartarites. More generally, something that's not a big deal. "Centurion says we're supposed to shave, but you ask me, that're blue on blue down here in the Blow." Thaddeus: The (hopefully imaginary) guy who's sleeping with your girl back home. "You still writing to your girl, Bing? I'm sure Thaddeus is keeping her nice and warm." Apple: Local prostitute. "I sure could use a nice bite of Apple right now." Poison Apple: Local prostitute in league with the rebellion. "Didn't you hear? Septimus took a bite from a Poison Apple. Argies left him hanging in an oak tree with his staff cut off." Boomies: Lunar Magic College in general, the Crater Makers more specifically. "Clude the entire Blow. I say let the Boomies level the entire cluding place." Cluded: Occluded. Messed up. A ubiquitous Lunar curse. "'Clude the cluding Army. We're all cluded, you ask me." Purple Urple: A Sartarite convert to the Lunar Way. Red plus blue = Purple. Variant: Purple, Purp. "Can't trust the Purple Urples, I say. Scratch 'em hard enough and most bleed blue." Purp on Red: Attacks on the Lunars by supposed allied tribes. "I hear the second cohort got ambushed by the Mangies. Purp on Red, you're still dead." Mangies: Telmori Wolf People. "You sleep with a Mangie girl, you're gonna get fleas." Ascend: To die. "Moment of silence for Validus. He ascended last night from the Shakes. Remember to wash your cluding hands before you eat and stay away from the cluding Apples or you'll join him right quick. Memorial service is at Seventh Hour." Provies: Units from the Provincial Army. Tarshites in general. "Provies are about as reliable as the weather down here. Blow this way and that and never where you need them." We Are All Us: A Lunar religious saying. Used sarcastically to mean "We're doomed" or "This is messed up" or "Here we go again." "We're outnumbered, they know the terrain, it's cluding pissing rain, their gods hate us, we're twenty leagues from the Red Zone, and it's getting dark. We Are All Us, right lads?"

Hey, glad people liked this. Credit where credit is due, the beer bubble and gold wheel riddles come from sigilbear's post on the rpg.net forums: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/glorantha-nysalor-riddles.587230/ I just dressed them up in new clothes. He in turn got them from elsewhere, but he's not sure where.

Broobiter: An especially dumb and/or fanatical Uroxi. Any Uroxi, really. Kot's Balls: Hendreiki curse (canonical) The Reds or the Redcloaks: Lunar Occupation Forces in Sartar. The Red Zone: The Lunar District of Boldhome Trollpokers: Sun Dome Templars Vinga's Prick: Sartarite curse. Heler's Mouth: Sartarite curse Go to Apple Lane: Have sex. Chase the Wind: Run off the join the rebellion. 'Newts or 'Newty: Crazy. A trollkin's chance: Nearly impossible. No chance at all, really. Off to the West: Dead

A FRAGMENT FOUND IN THE NEW PAVIS LIBRARY (Date and author unknown) Argrath and Elusu prepare for a battle: ELUSU: Wa, Chief. What is the sound of a sword? ARGRATH: A metallic ping. A whoosh of wind as it swings through the air. A meaty crunch as it slices flesh and bone. Elusu shakes her head. No. Later, after the battle, women weep and the wounded scream in pain. ARGRATH: That is the sound of a sword. ELUSU: Ain’t it beautiful? ____________________________ Elusu and Argrath are deep in their cups: ELUSU: Look into the ale, Boss. Watch that bubble, rising. What do you see? ARGRATH: The World. ELUSU: Pop. Now it’s gone. ARGRATH: But look, another rises to take its place. Elusu chugs the beer then burps loudly. ELUSU: So die a thousand worlds. (Calls to the barkeep) More beer! ____________________________ Elusu and Argrath walk down a dusty road on a beautiful day. ELUSU: I am the blow that cannot be parried. I strike you dead, but you’re alone. What am I? ARGRATH: Suicide. ____________________________ Elusu takes a hit of hazia. Passes the pipe to Argrath. ELUSU: Imagine perfect Law. Perfect Order. Everything is the same. All is at rest. Nothing changes. As it was before creation. What else do we call this? ARGRATH: Primal Chaos. ELUSU: And what then causes creation? ARGRATH: More Chaos. ELUSU: Wa! Stop hogging the pipe! ____________________________ Argrath and Elusu ride a boat downstream on the River of Cradles. ELUSU: What color is the sky? ARGRATH: Today? Blue. ELUSU: What color would the sky be if I scooped out your eyes? ARGRATH: If you put out my eyes, I won’t be able to see it. ELUSU: But I'll still see it. ARGARTH: No. Because if you put out my eyes, you’ll be dead. ELUSU: Wa, if I’m dead and you’re blind, then what color is the sky? ARGRATH: There is no sky. ____________________________ Elusu and Argrath are at a tavern. ELUSU: Wa, Chief, what is this gold coin worth? ARGRATH: Twenty silvers. So… 200 horns of beer? Elusu and Argrath are lost and dying of thirst in the Wastelands. ELUSU: Wa, what is this gold coin worth now? ARGRATH: Nothing. Nearly dead, Elusu and Argrath reach an oasis. There are several Rhino Riders there. ELUSU: Now what is that gold coin worth? ARGRATH: If we’re lucky, both our lives. Argrath and Elusu loot the dead bodies of the Rhino Riders. Elusu finds another gold coin. ELUSU: Wa, no wonder. They already had a gold coin. What do you think it’s worth? ARGRATH: Everything. And nothing. ELUSU: Right now, I would trade it for a beer. ____________________________ Argrath and Elusu reach a fork in the road. ELUSU: We're lost. We don’t even have a destination. Which is the correct way? Argrath continues straight, taking neither road. Elusu follows. ELUSU: At the end of this road, there'd better be beer.