Shiningbrow

Ironically, this is basically what happens when Lunars board some sort of giant boat/cradle type thing heading down a river/canal.

Sounds like what's going through my head... A couple of number changes, but essentially another C&P from... 40 years ago? However, I do get that there's the need to introduce this to the new fanbase, and so old grognards aren't the main priority to write for.

I don't*. Runequest has one HUGE problem when it comes to official publications - basically, for the most part, every publication MUST HAVE ONE person always as an author - other than Greg (there are rare exceptions). Without that person's name on it, it's not allowed to become official/canon. That means, every delay starts, at the very least, with that one problem. As the JC shows, there could have already been dozens (or scores) more of official, canonical publications from Chaosium - had we not had to wait on just one person. Is this one person's contribution necessary for something to be considered official? It's not a hereditary title that can only be bestowed on only one great leader at a time - one King of Runequest & Glorantha. And so, every release of any title (even before proofing) has to wait until this one person has the time to get to it... and that, by definition, means waiting for other things further up the line to get addressed (which, right now, means working over a few more of the cults books). And, thus, considering everything else that this one person is supposed to be working on, I can easily see how that's (GM's Book that's been teased for about about 6 years now) sitting somewhere in a huge pile of other stuff that's put on the backburner for other priorities. That, I believe, is the main bottleneck... everything else waits upon this one aspect. (So, I figure, it might come out maybe after another year or two...) (Obviously, I don't know the actual percentage inputs of any individual author - but typically, the order of authors is generally the amount of contribution they have given. Also obviously, this may not be the only bottleneck, and other people may have delayed things... but, it is one clear one. Also, it may be suspected that this leads to other issues which others have addressed regarding the actual quality of work - issues with C&P, lack of clarity, etc...) Does it *need* to be just one person's vision? Hell no! There are many lovers of RQ and Glorantha who share the same vision. And, can write just as well (if not better). They're just not trusted to. (*Should* it be just one person's vision? I thing Greg would most definitely say a very emphatic "no") (I accept that there's a price tag attached to having other authors in publishing official material - however, it would greatly increase output if the badge of officialdom was shared around a bit more, and greater output means higher profits (obviously, if it's selling). Please note - I'm not attacking the quality of the work. Just making a fairly obvious observation with regards quantity of official publications I suspect that this is, although a great love, also a great burden. Spreading the burden around a little more (taking a bit of a backward step) would actually improve the situation for everyone! In management, one of the most important skills to learn is the art of delegation. (* I know I'm referring back to an older post, but since @Wheel Shield has brought it back up, I think it fits in fairly well). Just my 2bolgs worth. (attack away...)

I would think that only the first had the nice armour - all the others were in linen tunic and sandals, hoping to acquire the first lot... (hopefully, after all these years, the thing they were fighting has died of old age). Just a thought... why wouldn't the nice new Humakti Sword just DI (1D10 RPs) to get the big H (or D - Death) to transport the armour to them???

I would have gone further to say that for both Humakt and Stormbull, the life expectancy for the average Rune Lord (or even initiate) isn't all that long... Besides which, Rune Lords of those cults truly epitomise what RLs are about - and their respective cults - Death. For Wind Lords, that's less obvious, and there's quite a few other important aspects to the god/cult - like singing, bragging, dancing (probably playing bagpipes... telling outrageous stories, stealing stuff, farming.... etc etc)

While generically there's no restrictions on numbers in most cults, on p27 of Lightbringers is "There must be a need for a new Wind Lord". I don't see this for the others though (eg, Humakt, Stormbull, etc)

It's obviously going to depend on which cult we're talking about. I imagine any Humakti who fulfils the requirements pretty much automatically gets made a Sword. Any Lhankor Mhy sage who fills the requirements gets made a priest. However, the books do say that Wind Lords only get the position when one is required (meaning, the last one died... or somehow you create an opening). Same with Axe Maidens. Obviously, different tables will have different numbers of Wind Lords (and Voices), and I'd expect some handwavium in that regard. Same with Ernaldan priestesses. part of this comes down to logistics - Rune Lords and Priests an priestesses are expensive to maintain! ("Thank you for your interest in this position. We'll keep your application on file should a place become available") But, what about a Sun Lord? Or Storm Khan? I'd think any candidate would have already proven themselves in such a way before they get the promotion... and, then get told to go and do yet another heroic quest (with their new-found powers).

Yeah, well... it was his second fight ever in RQ, so I was lenient. I might change it afterwards... (You have pointed out one aspect that's relevant though... "a few extra RPs".. by this time, he had only 1 left... So, that's going to be a thing! Never using up that last RP in case they need to use it later... could make things interesting!)

Except, they don't get to understand just how powerful and useful it really is in-game later. (sort of like a reverse 'you never know what you've got til you've lost it' type of thing) Imagine a 14 year old having to limp home bleeding down the leg to mummy & daddy because a dog bit them... and they haven't learnt any heal spells yet... "This, Little Johnny, is why you don't want to always be the class clown and disown society... Now, be more respectful of your teachers in the future."

I allow a PC to get off a Rune Spell at the moment of death, as they have a sufficient connection to the god for that to happen, and the god's energies swiftly (instantly) move in to keep the soul there, and to heal the body. Of course, they still need to make the Rune roll for that connection to be invoked. Remembering that Rune Magic normally takes place on SR 1 - meaning, as soon as it's thought of, and thus, can be called upon and used at any time (such as as a reaction)... although, SoI still rules, as I wouldn't allow popping a Shield just because damage is too much... (or would I??? hmmmmmm)) I recall something sort of similar in the thread about Humakti and healing/resurrection (which they can't get, but can heal in that instant between life and death). Effectively, they haven't crossed the line just yet... (which is good for my Befuddled Humakti player who copped a nice hit to the head! From a tusk-rider on a charging tusker.... about 20 pts of damage :p)

AS for the first bit - being considered worthy, I'd figure that a Divination would normally be cast (certainly for a Rune Lord - unless that's the only Rune level), because they're acting as the emissary of the god - and so the god's approval would be needed. (In that vein, I'd also suggest that the 'requirements' would only be 'typical', not binding. If the god wants your player to be their voice in the area, what priest is going to deny it?) For the Priest (and GodTalker) levels, there should be some personal connection to the temple - because it's much more of a community welfare position than merely a new rank (for powergamers). Becoming a Priest or Godtalker to a complete stranger - even if of the same cult - should be a very rare thing, as the PC hasn't actually done much for said local temple. And, yes, it should be a BIG DEAL when PCs get the rank... even as a GT. I wouldn't just handwavium it... (same with doing what it takes to achieve that rank). Sorry - not answering the question... The ceremony should be pretty grandiose (less so for Godtalker), and needs to be done in a very important space related to the main element of the cult - mountain tops, under the earth, at sea, on the edge of a volcano. Lots of people should be around to witness it (well, at least part of it). The god should make themselves felt. A minor Heroquest should be involved. And, just for fun, the newly ranked PC should have to go on some sort of quest shortly after!

Would a dwarf soul go to the underworld and meet up with Daka Fal? If not, I don't see how there could be anything identical to Resurrection. (especially if, as asked above, dwarfs don't have souls (as humans consider them). Why?? Dwarfs practice a type of sorcery, and there's no real good reason (actually, there is**... :p) for them not to be able to repair it using Maker Magic. (**however, there's the issue of 'growing' a new arm, which should be frowned upon, as going against makers... but, I suggest, there'd be similar magics that could attach an arm - but won't need to be from a fresh corpse - they could just make/shape one out of other substances - clay?? In Bestiary, it says that Jolanti get repaired the same way that weapons and armour are, so it wouldn't surprise me if the same is true for the dwarfs - ie, some sort of Repair spell... (which makes me wonder, since dwarfs don't use spirit magic, would a Repair spell work on them? Can they heal naturally??)

Oh, I had a thought to ask... What's the (normal, non-YGMV) situation with the children of Grazer & Vendref? Do they follow the father's line? The mother's? Do they have the freedom to choose? (does it matter, except for certain clans?)

Well, yes.. however, I need details on what they can get from those cults - and we don't really have much (so, need to houserule). Personally, I had thought of a Bless Foaling spell - combined Bless Horse with Bless Pregnancy (so, one can drop RPs into increasing horse stats). Would a male be likely to join Arandayla?? (well, yes, ok - a few.. .but I would imagine not a very high percentage... no doubt single figure (as Initiates - most would be Lay Members). Same with La-Ungariant (although, as I asked above, is there any differences given the FHQ - I presume she's worshipped directly, and would have different spells/skills. An Ernalda the Queen aspect (one part of the RQG write-ups that I and others are disappointed about - less emphasis on sub-cults... I'll look more at HQ/HW for those). Cool on the HQ Voices... Do you have any thoughts on what skills/spells each would give? As I mentioned above, I think I'll allow Shooting Stars (probably as an Associate spell from Pole Star) - although, that would normally mean it's rather pointless for a cult to give away its best spell... Also, does Kargzant (Yelmalio) have the same restriction on fire spells?

I presume those spirits are coming via Golden Sun shamans.... or, perhaps, Kolati or Earthwitch for the Vendref, not the actual YK worshipping horse riders.