John Biles

Human sacrifice for grain is traditionally a corn-king. Hon-Eel's rite came from the Naverians, who helped Orlanth kill Yelm. Clearly the proper sacrifice for the Hon-Eel rites is to kill Yelm each year. Who stands for Yelm? The Moonson, that's who, thanks to being Emperor of Dara Happa. So the fullest development of Hon-Eel's rite would be to ritually sacrifice the Moonson each year. It's not hard to see why the Moonson would not like that. (One might wonder if the killing of Orlanth could serve the same purpose and bring new fertility and life to Dragon Pass once he returns from the Windstop.)

Yeah, it's pretty cool. Well, I accidentally deleted ALL my work, so the next post is somewhat delayed. (All the new post)

It's a lot easier to accept the size of Nochet because it's a port on a major bay and now on the ocean, so bringing food by water makes it viable. That's how Rome could have a million people.

Kingdom of Sartar has Sartar as 183,000 people. I see the Guide trimmed that down. If you assume that yields are higher in Glorantha than the real world thanks to fertility magic, I think it's not a huge problem. They're within a short distance of the biggest Ernalda temple in Sartar. Perhaps it massively boosts productivity of agriculture. But also, Boldhome is the capital and taxes on trade probably boost the city's economy. And it being the center for money being poured into the province to support the military. (During the Civil War, Richmond tripled in size to 110,000 people from 40,000, becoming one of the largest cities in the US)

Satrapy of Oronin This land has been fought over by Dara Happans, Carmanians, Pelandans, and others for centuries. It was laid waste by Sheng Seleris' insane, murderous followers. Now it is a peaceful place... well, the farm regions are peaceful. The Hsunchen are getting overpopulated and constantly feud with each other. The tension levels are gradually rising. As with much of the empire, the area near the rivers is farm territory, a mixture of rice and corn. The interiror and wilder areas are home to Hsunchen - Deer, Horse, Dog, and Cat are most common. Satrap Anders (Water, Death, Truth) is one of the Dog People of Holay. He is an initiate of Yanafal Tarnils, a long term military veteran rewarded with this job in his old age. He's not so sure it's a reward. After years of service in war tribes, he's struggling to deal with both peace and the petty feuding. Knocking heads together doesn't work, so what will? He doesn't know. Dendeno: This flourishing trade city is at the intersection of two rivers and has trade with Fronela down one of them as Fronela opens up. Dominated by Pelandans, this city is run on a loose caste system, which is allegedly the traditional one but is not. Masters, Soldiers, Journeymen, Apprentices, and Servants form the five castes. Each has petty magics which assist their work. The Empire's religion is given lip service here, but the absolute minimum is done. They avoid open defiance and Satrap Anders knows nothing of theology, anyway. He's glad the city causes no trouble and pays its taxes. Harijj: This is an unusual city, dedicated to vegetarianism. This is due to an ancient alliance with the local elves, who bring flourishing crops in return for avoidance of meat consumption. They saved the city's founders during the Great Darkness. No Hsunchen may enter the city's territory by imperial decree, save the tax collectors. This aggravates the local Hsunchen, who cause the city trouble. Mount Jernotius: Mount Jernotius is the center of Pelandan religion; those who have not adopted the Changing Way look to the Priests and Priestesses of the Seven High Gods. Here, Jernotian mysticism, which releases you from the fear of failure, is taught. This enables you to take joy in life in even the worst situations. Here, the Blue Moon Goddess visits during Sacred Time, communing with the Seven High Gods and reaffirming their relationship. Karantes, the Red City: In the Godtime, this city rose, built by the worshippers of the River Goddess, who manifested as a great many-headed hydra to defend the city against all evils. When the Bull People came against the city, the goddess gave birth to the great hero ArLenish, who grew to adulthood in a single season and destroyed the Bull People. This rite is enacted each year by the city, to the great anger of all Bull Worshippers. But since they all become weak if they come within 30 miles of the city, too bad for them. Until the rise of the Empire, the city was an independent city state, a holy place revered by all... except Bull People. Then the Bull Shahs came, slew the River goddess, and instituted the custom of crowning a high priestess of the River Goddess to rule under the Bull Shah, then hacking her into kibble at the end of the year. This continued until the Blue Moon Goddess replaced the chosen one with herself, then killed those sent to kill her. This freed the River goddess from hell and now each year a fake Bull Shah is crowned; he is treated like a king but has no power, and when his reign ends, the River Goddess rips him into bits. When Sheng Seleris sent an army after the city, the land flooded and his army drowned or was eaten. Katchpidi: This small city is home to bitter Dara Happans who dream of now long gone glory days. Once it fielded the Quartz Phalanx, which conquered Rinliddi for Emperor Urvairinus. Now the city is home to an annual re-enactment of how the arrival of the Loper Hsunchen led to the destruction of the Quartz Phalanx when it foolishly betrayed the Empire during a Dara Happan uprising. This is a gloomy city, largely controlled by a Lanbril gang controlled by Rat Hsunchen. Riddled with crime, it is in slow decline.] Kendesos: All that remains of the original version of this city is the repurposed blue marble from when YarGan the Blue King and his Blue People ruled over the land. Through secret, hideous rites, he blocked the powers of the High Gods and oppressed the Pelandans. His people commanded vast powers of sorcery based on a system of logic. Jernotius eventually defeated him by finding the contradictions in his system of thought. This caused contradictory energies to surge through his body and he died, and then his shield collapsed and the Pelandans rose up and drove the Blue People into Lake Oronin. In later years, the Carmanians conquered the city and built a great legal school which teaches those who still hold to the old ways. But with that declining, the school has seen better days. The city is now primarily a market town and a place of pilgrimage for those serving the Pelandan gods and goddesses. Kevrinth: This city is noted for its production of copper coins, known as Navars for the goddess Naveria. The cults of Argan Argar and Naveria run the town; trolls bring in large amounts of copper and get lead from local mines. The town has periodic problems with Ernalda cultists stealing the copper for their unholy rites. Mesavos: This city of Dara Happans continues to worship Yelm and the old war gods of Dara Happa as much as they are allowed. The Marble Phalanx has its headquarters here and faithfully serves the Empire. They were rewarded for their valiant defense of the city against Sheng Seleris (which ended with almost everyone dead and the city in flames) with the rebuilding of the city and freedom to worship their own way. The Temple of Polaris is made of the finest materials and dominates the city. Standards captured at Moonbroth hang proudly in the temple and the bulk of the force, all save the training group, now serve in New Pavis. Natha's Well: This unholy, filthy bog lies in a crater and has long been a center for worship of Navar, goddess of Human Sacrifice. Hon-Eel defeated her in a duel and gained her secrets. Pelandan priestesses live here with snake and alligator Hsunchen. Pelandre: This holy city at the base of Mount Jernotius is where many pilgrims stop and rest before climbing it; it functions as a market town, but has an unusually high amount of inns and shrines to the Seven High Gods. Daxdarius, who founded the Pelandan Empire, was born here, and is worshipped here as the God of War. Many Hsunchen tribes in Orinin worship Daxdarius still despite taking up the Changing Way, so the city has many Hsunchen pilgrims and warriors as well. Petela: This city of Pelandan artists is home to a great Museum of Historical Art, gathered from across Pelanda and administered by an alliance of Irippi Ontor and Jernotius worshippers. The city is well noted for its mosaics and fresco painters, who are in high demand across the empire. The city also has the Art Recovery Agency, whose job it is to recover all the city's art when it is stolen for the 20th time by the Lanbril gangs who keep targeting the city. Ulawar: This city survived the Great Darkness by having Uleria, the goddess of Love, present in the city. Her greatest Pelorian Temple still stands here and the city is basically one giant brothel/tourist trap/garden/brothel. Many nobles keep an estate here if possible. Violence is basically impossible within the city, except for those who can overcome a lot of magical power. The city is notorious for how its houses of love can provide basically any service you can imagine, including sex with abstract ideas, being serenaded by a song incarnated as a person, and changing your body or enabling you to sleep with someone who resembles anyone you want. Uteneos: This city is dedicated to the Star Hero Lendarsh, who saved the Pelandans from the Great Darkness. At least according to the inhabitants of Utenos. They dress like Lendarsh - blue jackets, tight black shorts, blue boots, and a black blouse under the jacket. Like Lendarsh, the inhabitants of the city tend to look androgynous and do not seem very concerned with gender. Asking someone's gender is an insult. Uleria is also worshipped here but on a smaller scale, more like her worship elsewhere.

Satrapy of Oraya Oraya is a new addition to the Empire. After the defeat of Sheng Seleris, Hon-Eel led expansion of the empire into this area, which is mainly inhabited by Hsunchen, some of them former Pentans. Hon-Eel challenged the local Pentan King, Shayserius, into a duel. He chased her into the Arcost River, then her Eel relatives mobbed him and ate him alive while he was channeling Kargazant. This wrecked the power of their god and triggered a massive flood in which many Pentan horses drowned. Only those willing to adopt the Changing Way and serve the Empire survived in what is now Oraya. She then brought in other Hsunchen to settle the area; there are farmers along the rivers and a few towns but the population is mostly Hsunchen, some of them former Pentans. Corn is the dominant crop, thanks to Hon-Eel; Pentans are sometimes sacrificed to help the Corn grow but mostly Corn Dolls are made, sanctified, and then sacrificed instead. Macall the Venerator introduced this practice, which led to much greater Corn cultivation (but lower individual yields). Fire magic remains weak in Oraya; few Dara Happans move here, but other urbanized folk are here in small numbers. While Hon-Eel ascended long ago, her killing of the Pentan King is carried out every year to renew this effect. This tends to provoke Pentans to raid... making them suitable to use for the rite. And of course, Pentans who are fire-oriented and raid Oraya (as 80% of Pentans are) then suffer the penalty. Those Hsunchen who most wish all the empire was pasture tend to move here, then fight Pentans every year, making them both militarily skilled and *not causing trouble elsewhere*. But it also means the Red Claws are strong here. An Eel Hsunchen is always appointed Satrap here; Jar-Eel will serve in this role at one point in the Hero Wars to come. Satrap Vaase-Eel (Water, Fertility, Motion) is a priestess of the River Goddess Arcos and many of her kin are part of The Ancient and Honorable Society of Tubular Magi. She enjoys being in the water more than land and actually governs from a potent fortified boat, though there is an administrative center. She is quite cunning and tends to play her cards close to her chest, preferring to surprise foes with an inevitability they can't escape and not show off what she's planning. However, she faces a prophecy that she will die within the next ten years and is trying hard to find a way around it. Edasus: This city predates the arrival of the Blue Moon Empire; it has always been protected by Denegoria, the Goddess of Savage Freedom. Her priestesses get drunk on blood beer and kill everything that moves whenever the Pentans attack. She is said to have watched Shayserius get eaten alive and pledged herself to Hon-Eel; she acts now as Hon-Eel's regent over the goddesses of Oraya. Edasus is governed by the High Priestess of the cult. Haar Zaal: A group of folk from Holay were moved here in the 1500s as a punishment, but they have turned their settlement into a flourishing market city for the surrounding farms. They're also allied with several clans of Jajalaring Dog People who seized the chance to accompany them to repay old debts. The city is like a little piece of Holay dumped into Oraya. Hylokoth: Home to Tarshite immigrants who saw omens of future disaster in the South and fled them here; the city is home to urbanized Orlanthi, who worship Orlanth and his kin, but in an urbanized way; they have a ring, chosen by the city's inhabitants, which chooses a 'Mayor' who then is blessed by the Orlanth cult. They grow wheat, oats, and barley and raise pigs and sheep and cattle. There is a Hon-Eel shrine, whose priestess holds a Ring seat, but she does not dominate the city. Iriya: Home to many sorts of folk, this city is dominated by Imperial administrators who collect tribute and taxes from the surrounding area. Argan Argar and Hon-Eel are the predominant local cults and many local folk claim they are married. There is an undercity, home to a substantial troll community. The Kashis pay their tribute and collect tribute due them here, but are not allowed to charge tribute to the city itself. Kashis: The Kashis are Pentans who have dwelt here since the Dawn. After the destruction of Shayserius, they submitted to the Blue Moon and became part of the Changing Way as Horse Hsunchen. But they remain bloody-minded raiders who only know how to kill and rob outsiders, though they treat each other with respect. Most of their men initiate to Yanafil Tarnils and most of their women initiate to Deezola, though there is a group of older women who serve Jakeel and use her secrets to strengthen the clans. They obey the satrap but outsiders risk enslavement on their lands. Palapser: Upon Hon-Eel's defeat of Shayserius, this Dwarven city confused everyone by suddenly appearing. It is assumed that it was hidden before and they chose to show themselves once the Pentans were driven off. There is a walkway over the gates; whenever a statue of Hon-Eel holding Shayserius' head comes out (driven by clockwork), the gates open and any Imperial citizen may enter and trade with the Mostali. Mind you, they're still Mostali. They sell a variety of metal goods at high prices. They are known to be seeking the parts needed for a giant engine they are building but what it will do, no one is sure. A small human town outside their fortress is protected by a Mostali-built wall and provides shelter for travellers and a market for goat and sheep herders in the mountains. Palbar: This city rose during the Godtime and then was destroyed in the Great Darkness. It looked like a Kralorelan city, far from Kralorela. Here it was that Hon-Eel battled Shayserius and that he was devoured. She rebuilt the city and had its surviving temple rebuilt as a shrine to the Gods of Kralorela. The city has a large number of Kralorelans in exile who dwell here and the bi-annual Eastern Expeditions depart from here to pass through Pent and trade with Kralorela. And as the Pentans have discovered, if you try to raid the city, dragons come forth and eat you. It now serves as the administrative capital of the Satrapy. Von Mountains: Home to Mostali underground and Goat and Sheep Hsunchen and their flocks on the surface. Certain caves are marked as okay for non-Mostali to use as shelters. Unauthorized caving will probably mean you are never seen again. The Mostali city of Palapser and its human counterpart serve as a place to buy Dwarven goods. Yelm's New Foot: Dara Happans who annoy the Moonson are exiled to this city. They then are forced to initiate to Yelm Aluminiumfoot, which involves having one of their feet cut off and replaced with one made of Aluminium. This gives them the Water Rune instead of the Fire Rune. The city is a strange place as it induces personality and aptitude shifts. The biggest one is that the city's culture centers around shared meals which have been heavily spiced in complex ways. This is a city of people who love to eat and want fancy food. Adventure Hooks: The Mostali of Palapser are seeking parts for a giant engine they are building; they are willing to supply fancy items, weapons, and armor of iron to anyone who can bring them what they want. These engine parts are ancient Mostali crafts made by the now dying out forms of Mostali. Anyone who can find them can profit greatly by the trade as they are useless without the rest of the engine. Pentan captives are needed for the annual re-enactment of the death of Shayserius. The Empire will pay you well. The Expedition to Kralorela always needs guards who can be trusted not to screw up in Kralorela and get everyone eaten by dragons. A Kralorelan Sage has arrived to write a book about your barbarian lands and is looking for guards who can help him navigate the Empire and ensure the locals don't kill him over his prejudices. One of the dragons of Palbar is demanding some weird thing; please get it before it causes trouble. My friend stupidly went to the Kashi lands; please liberate him from slavery.

It's the central Illumination for Peloria and Dragon Pass; it's rather less important in the East, West, or South, which have their own illumination. And don't have the same understanding of / issues with Chaos.

Thanks! It works weirdly well. **************** Endless Tea Parties: Most Tea Parties last a few months and one side or the other wins or just dies. But a few legendary feuds have dragged on forever. Some are barely noticed and others are basically publically known and bet on. Wilden vs Theophilus Wilden is a Cat Hsunchen initiate of Yanafal Tarnils; Theophilus is an Canary Hsunchen Initiate of the Blue Moon and priest of Lanbril. Twenty years ago, Theophilus used his powers to assume his bird form, infiltrate a house guarded by Wilden, and then steal everything, including Wilden's underwear. They've been trying to murder each other ever since; Wilden now leads a powerful Cat Hsunchen tribe in Doblian and Theophilus has a powerful Lanbril gang in South Raibanth and their struggle has gone on and on and on, sucking in more and more people. Catticus is known to have openly bet on Wilden to win. Little Sister would hang herself rather than gamble, but is known to assume Theophilus will win. Donovan vs Yan Chiko Donovan was a former Centurion in the Legions, a Vulture Hsunchen who started out as a scout and then became the leader of a group of scouts. But he was pretty corrupt and took bribes from the Empire's enemies. The unfortunate Kralorelan traveller, Yan Chiko, who had come to the Empire and become a Pigeon Hsunchen, was betrayed by Donovan and his closest friend, a Dog Hsunchen named Motley. She managed to turn the tables and he was thrown out of the army. The two of them have been trying to kill her ever since, but have a remarkable talent for evading imperial justice. (And for failing to kill her.) Any Adventurers who brought them to justice would be well rewarded by the military. The Boom Boys vs. Inspector Sharandelle The Boom Boys belong to an obscure Yelm Cult which basically believes in setting everything on fire. Especially trolls. The Cult of Yelm Incenerator (Fire Disorder) is not allied to the Red Moon Cultists, but like them, thinks the Blue Moon has to go. They want to burn it. Inspector Sharandelle of the BRT has been trying to bring them down for over a decade and will do anything, including hiriing adventurers, to bring them to justice before they burn more things.

The song Sound of Silence could easily be redone as a prophecy for that group.

I developed a set of rules for Mysticism for Heroquest which are grounded in the idea of Negation. When a Mystic has a rune, they can Negate that rune - this sometimes may produce things which seem like having a positive relationship to the opposing rune. They also had to take a series of strictures as their rating went up; if they break them, it can damage their relationship to the rune. Using the powers too blatantly could also mess you up. They also had certain duties - using the rune in pursuit of those duties protected you from messing up the relationship and could justify blatant power use. So Sakurando Rin has renounced the Motion Rune - this lets her produce effects similar to the Stasis rune and defend against the Motion Rune, but if she produces blatant magic, she's in trouble, unless it's line with her Duty to Maintain the Imperial Government. (She has two Strictures - Always Walk everywhere you go, You can never take the lead in a group). (Blatant = obvious magical effects. Lots of people in Kralorela were Disciples of a Negation and could use it to boost things appropriately. Masters could produce smaller-scale blatant effects like paralyzing someone, Sages do crazy things like forcing a dragon to sit and meditate by negating its Motion.)

Once again, if anyone has any suggested topics, I can address them; otherwise, I'll keep working on the alternate Satrapies.

Satrapy of Karasal Most of this satrapy was long part of the Kingdom of Karasal, which defied the Dara Happans in favor of a pantheon of goddesses who saw Yelm as a usurper. But they submitted to the Blue Moon when she came. The easternmost part of the Satrapy is part of the old Dara Happan Empire; the rest was the kingdom. Karasal acknowledges the power of the Blue Moon but Hsunchen are mostly found in the Darasen Hills; much of the land is endless farmland and pasture tended by Pelorians and Lodrilli peasants. The Satrap of this Satrapy is always a woman and always not a Dara Happan. Beyond that, anything goes. The current Satrap is Satrap Dushasa of Boldhome, from the fractious southern land of Sartar. She is a priestess of Lankhor Mhy, Her appointment stunned everyone but the Moonson said it was done to show Sartar was part of the Empire and that its gods now served the Empire. Satrap Dushasa of Boldhome (Water, Truth, Law) wears a fake beard, as does her entire cult, which she has tried to promote in Karasal with limited success. (Those inclined that way either sign up with the local goddess of wisdom or go Irrippi Ontor). She is a staunch supporter of the Imperial University and briefly taught there before the Moonson saw her sing and decided she should be a Satrap. Initiated into the Changing Way, she is a Cat Hsunchen. She is the youngest satrap but acts like a grumpy old intellectual. Arirvalves: Normally, Dendara is worshipped as the wife of Yelm in shrines linked to Yelm's temples. Here, she is the dominant figure and Yelm is basically treated as a well-meaning idiot, as the male gods of Karasal usually are. Arirvalves is visited by Little Sister each year during Sea Season for special rites. The town is otherwise a fairly normal market town, though it does produce high quality cloth. Darsen Hills: This area is heavily forested and gently rolling in long ridges. Deer and Boar Hsunchen dominate the area. But it's also home to many ancient Karasal shrines, including the sacred cave where the gods returned from the Underworld when the Great Darkness ended. Graclodont: This city is the capital of the Karasal Satrapy; the Satrap has built a huge library and temple of Lhankor Mhy, but she's had to import scholars. The temple has an ongoing feud with the Irripi Ontor temple and the city is in the middle of a large Tea Party as a result, making it dangerous for visitors. Joranit: This substantial port town is home to the White Sea Fleet. A temple of Yanafal Tarnils dominates the city, though the temples of the river goddess and the White Sea goddess are nearly as large; trade with Thrice Blessed flows through this city and a grand fishing fleet is based here; the city is notable for its heavy seafood and rice diet. Katchari: Katchari is a city of Dog Hsunchen; it's unusual for Dog Hsunchen to form a city but the cult of Dalastan the Star Captain and his True Dog Celestial Companion Laran drew Dog Hsunchen when Karasal joined the Empire. A light forest of fruit trees surrounds the city, which is carved into the local hills instead of having buildings; you might not even realize it is a city from the sky, save for the one formal building - The Temple of Dalastan and Laran. Keravero: This substantial port city controls where the Portalistor River flows into the White Sea. As a result, it's a huge, prosperous trade center. It's also home to a great temple, the temple of Kalikos - the Ice Breaker Expeditions set off from here. The city also has many Thrice Blessed visitors; many will never see any other city of the Empire. Perkos: This city is devoted to Yelm Brightface, the version of Yelm in the mythology of Karasal. This Yelm is basically an arrogant tyrant who has to be thrown down the stairs to learn some humility. His own wife set him up to die at Orlanth's hands because he was that lousy. But, in the end, he is the Sun and he's needed but he has to be kept in his place. Dara Happan criminals are sent here to embody Yelm when it's time for his punishment each year. Red Fish: This city is largely underwater, a center for Fish Hsunchen of various kinds and their True Animal companions. There is a small dry area on the shore where business is done with surface-dwellers. The city was founded by a Red Snapper Hsunchen, Ilia Yllarnos, who is one of the lesser-known daughters of the Moonson. Thardenero: This holy city has shrines to the 100 Goddesses of Karasal; most of them are normally pretty low-key, though they do get a lot of pilgrimages since in some cases, the only major shrine of that goddess is here. But once every 23 years, all the goddesses embody in their shrines and the city transforms into a glorious, heavenly place as they meet in a council in the great Temple of the Blue Moon in the heart of the city. Little Sister attends the council but only votes to break ties. When the council goes well, Karasal flourishes. One of the effects of this is that Sheng Seleris' forces were unable to conquer this city. Yukorvikoth: This city is dominated by Dara Happans, though they are harrassed by the bat and bird Hsunchen who dwell in the upper levels of the city and by the rat Hsunchen who lurk below. While it serves as a market town, it also is the major administrative center in the southern part of the Satrapy, collecting taxes and tribute and sending them by river to the Osilir and thus to other points. The Fish Hsunchen who control the shipments are on good terms with the city's Dara Happans, in an old relationship of mutual benefit.

The Cursed Satrapy (Satrapy of the Crater) In canon, this is known as Silver Shadow. The Empire is wounded and this wound must be healed before the Empire dies. Until the invasion of Sheng Seleris, this Satrapy was called the Satrapy of Raibanth and traditionally administered by a Rinliddi. But when the Moonson was slain, Ernalda tried to break into the Empire and destroy it; the ground burst open and it's only gotten worse. Post-restoration, the Crater was ringed with forts and a holy city to contain it and stopped growing. But everyone fears one day their vigilance will lapse and the maw will open wide enough to swallow the Empire. The crater is capped with an illusion of normality which prevents people gazing into Ernalda's face and going mad. A Troll High Priestess serves always as Satrap now, ruling over the area and using its resources to maintain the Gauntlet which keeps the crater under control. Trolls run the Satrapy, which means administration is lousy and threats and intimidation are high. Satrap Shazkarak (Darkness, Stasis, Law) - Mistress race trolls are rare and get a bigger font. Satrap Shazkarak has devoted her life to containing the Crater and expects her descendents to do the same. She blames the Curse of Kin for their inability to close this abyss and is deeply involved with the ongoing hunt for Nysalor's bodyparts, in hopes of ending it. She makes heavy use of adventurers to deal with the earth threats which escape and to hunt down needed items. The most trusted ones get sent looking for Nysalor bits. The Crater: Ringed by mountains which suspiciously resemble Ernalda's crown if it was made of rock. Because Glorantha is flat, you can see the Crater from much of the Empire, since the peaks are three miles high and the Crater is 25 miles across. No one knows where it leads to, though the usual belief is you tumble right into Ernalda's ever-hungry maw and she eats you. An illusion, maintained by the City of Glamour, makes it look like a dry, boring valley if you fly over it. Mind you, flying over it is considered Treason Supreme and the punishment is to be locked in a Hell Prison forever. Glamour: The City That Doesn't Exist. This city simultaneously maintains the illusion that binds the Crater and generates itself by the endless rites which take place in the Seven Temples of the Seven Sailors and the Temple of the Blue Moon at the center. If disrupted, the city would evaporate. It is a place of endless, but imaginary pleasures. They are real while you stay but anything you take out of Glamour dissolves. Stay too long and you can never leave because your entire body is now made of illusion. Only the Satrap and a few other people, like the Moonson, are immune to this. (There is a general rumor that anyone with enough Stasis magic won't experience the pleasures of the city but also won't be consumed by it.) Gods Wall: An ancient monument, allegedly carved by Lodril. It depicts the coronation of the first Emperor of Dara Happa, being crowned by the Blue Moon. A hundred gods stand in attendance, including the Seven Sailors (even though they were not yet born during the Golden Age). Certain texts claim the Gods Wall once showed all the gods submitting to Yelm. The BRT offers rewards for anyone turning in such texts and will not ask where you found them. Please report any such malicious lies. Good Shore: Good Shore is connected to Glamour via a canal. Supplies are sent to Glamour via the canal, and a touch of Glamour's power leaks down the canal into the city. This makes the city a blessed place and a place of good luck. Yara Aranis was born here, child of the Moonson in his first incarnation, the Goddess of Good Tidings. When the Moonson wants to make a proclamation, her power manifests here and makes the announcement and in all her temples across the land. Iothaka: The cult of Ernalda tempted the Basalt Phalanx to betray the Dara Happans in the Second Age, and the whole city had to be destroyed. But the Empire has to periodically root out Ernalda cultists plotting against the empire and their monsters. This city lays in dangerous ruins. Joy Rest: Destroyed by Sheng Seleris, the city was eventually rebuilt in the late 1400s as a resort town around the hot springs which sprang up when the city was completed. It is well known for its theaters, spas, brothels, clubs, and the resort estates of some of the wealthiest Imperials. It's also noted for an underground *Troll Spa* favored by the Satrap. Non-Trolls probably cannot survive visiting it unless they are as tough as a troll. This doesn't stop macho idiots from trying. Kalvostos: Only traders and fools go to Kalvostos. In older times, the Jasper Phalanx came from this city, noted for defeating Rinliddi. The city is now ruled by Bird Hsunchen of various kinds who torment the locals, watching them for even the tiniest legal infraction, then turning them in or harrassing them for bribes and worse. Because the Rinliddi were among the first Hsunchen to rally to the Blue Moon Goddess, the Imperial authorities do nothing about this. Moon Wall: Levelled by Sheng Seleris, it was rebuilt in the 1470s with an outer wall which resembles the Blue Moon's surface; it is essentially a map of part of the Blue Moon. At the center of town is the Temple of the Steel Sword, which empowers the Steel Sword Legion, which is headquartered here. The temple's power helps to make swords forged in this city exceptionally strong and sharp. It is rumored the temple contains doors which connect to Merinta Reborn, both on Glorantha and on the Blue Moon. The Temple is itself made from a rock which fell from the sky and the 'steel' of the Steel Sword is made from melding a strange metal found within with charcoal, producing weapons which are both strong and flexible. It is known that rites of the cult enable the rock to regenerate, producing more 'steel stock'. Plain of Jars: This area is full of huge stone jars the size of houses. Many are marked with runes of known grains, fruits and vegetables; others have mystery runes. It is strongly suspected this has something to do with Ernalda worship but there is a small temple here of Irripi Ontor, whose priests are studying this mystery. Northern Raibanth: Ever since the Dara Happans revolted in the late 1200s, this city has been in three parts. East and South Raibanth have both been allowed to turn into slums, but Northern Raibanth is still beautiful and prosperous. The streets are lit at night, the Dara Happan estates prosper and even the poor live in clean, tidy neighborhoods. The local Dara Happans cling to the past and can just barely afford to keep the city in good shape. This ensures they'll never have the money to challenge the Empire again. Dara Happans claim the city overlaps with the magical city of Yuthubars; while it is the subject of much sarcasm by non Dara Happans, it is real and it overlaps with the physical reality of the city. The city centers around a giant ziggurat - the Footstool of Yelm. This is where Emperors theoretically reside and where the Ten Tests are administered to each Emperor. It is said that the Moonson has somehow bent the world such that his quarters in New Merinta are *also* inside the Footstool of Yelm. The city has the usual temples of the Blue Moon pantheon, but the locals put more effort into the various solar temples. Of particular note is the Temple of Raibamus, son of Emperor Murharzarm; Raibamus is the patron god of the city now and there are two giant statues of him in front of his temple. One shows him kneeling to the Blue Moon. The other shows him ripping a dragon in half, with each piece in one of his hands. Dragonewts who see this statue become ill and retreat. It is said to date back to the overthrow of the Dragon Emperor in the Second Age. A few Hsunchen dwell here, but they're under strict limits, enforced as they are in few other places. This remains a city for Dara Happans, though a city struggling to keep up the facade of greatness. There is a great arena on the edge of the city where the Moonson sometimes performs (in his current incarnation, Catticus.) Vistur: At first glance, Vistur is a normal market town, peaceful and quiet. At second glance, it is a hotbed of Red Moon cultist activity. Imperial Agents vanish here regularly and there seems to somehow be an *eighth* day of the week, Moonday. Moonday slips in between Freezeday and Waterday; if you leave the city during it, you jump forwards to the start of Waterday. Only by being in the city on Freezeday can you enter Moonday. During Moonday, a red moon hangs in the sky and everything is as the Red Moonies dream it will become. Debate rages on what and how to deal with this. Volthena: This city was rebuilt several times before being abandoned. It was allegedly sacked by Arkat but the geography of the war doesn't line up. It was sacked by Mostali who came out of the ground and trashed everything, then took exactly 1/4 of the stone. A Dara Happan Emperor got confused and had it sacked, thinking it was a different city. A lunatic mage claimed the city could form together into a giant war machine and just trashed it. Finally, Sheng Seleris sacked it on general principles. Freakish celestial creatures roam the ruins, killing people and anyone who stays too long is cursed. The survivors moved to Joy Rest.

Satrapy of Darjiin This prosperous, thickly populated satrapy is home to rice, rice farmers, wetlands, and Heron Hsunchen. Other Hsunchen do exist here, but the dominant group by far are the Herons, who worship SurEnslib the Heron Goddess, Yestendos, the God of Reed Boats, and Manimat the Sun God. (In Darjiin, Yelm is officially dead and anyone who defies this is in trouble. Elsewhere in the Empire, Yelm worship is snubbed but not illegal and persecuted.) The Heron People of Darjiin build reed boats where they dwell, migrating through the endless waterways of the wetlands of Darjiin to hunt fish and small birds. They are basically house-barges, very mobile in the swamp and providing a dry place to live. Most such boats have one or more spirits bound to them, giving them unpredictable powers. Some are mobile shrines. A handful can fly but the vast majority cannot. True Herons nest on the roofs of these boats. Dara Happans who live in this satrapy simply worship Antirius the way they would worship Yelm elsewhere but are understandably pissy about having to do this. Satrap YumYum of Darjiin - The Satrap is a Horse Hsunchen from Oraya of mixed Imperial and Pentan descent. She is also a noted fire sorceress and she changed her name to avoid having it used against her when she became one. The spirits saddled her with a name she hates but which protects her against hostile magic aimed at her. She doesn't like Darjiin at all; it's too wet and full of freaks, but she tries to do her duty. She has strong war magic from her office, but her fire magic doesn't work at its peak here, to her aggravation. She has tried to overcome this by promoting Elmal Horsefriend, who she came to serve in a Heroquest, but has not had much luck. Amuli: In many ways, this is a fairly standard market town in Darjiin - a huge plaza for market days, canals through the streets connected to the river, heron boats on the water, a lot of brothels which are theoretically shrines of SurEnslib and other related gods, a Temple of the Blue Moon which only really matters for major festivals, an arena for games, and a bunch of craft shops. Back in the 1520s, though, Vendermain the Voracious (the third Steed of the Moonson) came here every Earth Season for PARTY TIME and stories still circulate of the lunacy unleashed at that time. Half the town claims descent from one of his illegitimate kids. Arirtikoth: This town grew around the fertile soil of a long extinct volcano. Local legend claims Lodril created it to slay some beast of Chaos. It is now home to spirits who want to flood the entire satrapy and have to be appeased with seasonal rites or the whole satrapy floods. (Local tradition holds they were summoned to keep the Volcano from doing the same stunt... with magma.) Rents are high to meet the ritual needs but yields are huge, though the land in this area is cultivated with drier crops. Darokon: These ruins were once home to the Manimat-worshipping Kings of Darjiin in the Great Darkness, until the mountain fell on them. Some holy rites still happen here. There are constant rumors of Yelm worshippers being sacrificed here, but the BRT has never been able to prove it. Dorkath: This city has long been home to one of the main temples of SurEnslib, where the traditional competition to marry her for a year happens every year. Vendermain the Voracious is known to have been the winner during his drive to become the Mount of Moonson and came back for a second round. Macall the Venerator lost *five times* before giving up. Given one in five contestants die, he got lucky. This city has many 'shrines' to the goddess and her family and is sometimes called the City of Inquity by jealous Dara Happans. Haranshold: This is the capital of Darjiin. This city looks weird compared to other Darjiini cities because it is so dry. The Alkothi destroyed the city long ago... several times.... whenever the land tried to rise again. The Bull Shahs rebuilt the city, filled in the canals with dirt and dung and turned them into flower beds and trees. This makes the city a beautiful place. Surrounded by wetlands it rises above. (The Bull Shahs also elevated the city). There is a river here and a dock area, but the city rises above it. A great temple to Manimat dominates the city; There is also the temple of 'Shargash Dung-Eater', a sort of anti-temple which basically weakens anyone from Alkoth who comes near the city. The current Satrap has promoted worship of Elmal Horsefriend here, having been led to his service during a Heroquest. She is quite frustrated that people only come because she makes them. Haranhold is a major center of Wind Boat production. Massos: Massos never was and probably never will be one of the greatest of Dara Happan cities. It's best known for its cheeses and its cheesy rice dishes. Rice and cows are at the heart of the economy. The city is centered around the temple of the obscure solar diety Massala, who is normally left to Lodrilli peasants to worship - the goddess of Milk Cows. But here, she has a grand temple and the city produces high quality cheeses which keep the local noble Dara Happan clans afloat. Their big goal - get a *monopoly* on cheese! South Raibanth: Once part of a glorious Dara Happan city, it is now kept afloat by two things - being at a good trade location, and being where Dara Happans go to get freaky and pretend they didn't do it. The city looks run-down and dingy except in the dock area. Bat and Bird Hsunchen nest in the high towers and their True Animal companions leave guano everywhere and like to dive bomb people. Desperate Dara Happan clans cling to trade revenue and some have just gone full crime family. Rat Hsunchen are everywhere. Ulifilias: Imagine if you were so repulsed by the world that you went off to the edge of a swamp, built a monastery with strict rules where people only had sex once per season, and spent your time praying and meditating and calling upon Dayzatar for wisdom. So then people gave you huge piles of wealth trying to buy your spiritual favor and then tons of peasants flocked to the area because your holiness kept evil away and you put some of them to work doing all the menial tasks so you could focus on holy things. But all of these peasants are tainted by the religions of Darjiin, so they constantly violate all your rules and there's constant conflict and temptation. That's Ulifilias. Vaskoli: The Blue Moon and Argan Argar temples rule this town, where humans trade with the Blue Moon worshipping Trolls of the Yolp Mountains. Half the city is underground, including the market, which is connected by elevators to the 'day market' above. Many humans here have some Troll ancestry and vice-versa. Yunirtos: There are recurring rumors that Dara Happan rebels against the Moonson hid all their treasure in the nearby swamp; this city is constantly flooded with adventurers who think they have the secret, go to the swamp, and die. Or find something and sell it, then blow all the money on entertainment. Just as planned. Yushargos: This city is noted for two things - the Temple of Everina, the Rice Goddess, who is allegedly married to Shargash and makes him flood the land so her crops will flourish, and the Forbidden Word; anyone who speaks it is taken by the priestesses of Everina and sacrificed to Shargash, who devours them in the form of a crocodile. No one knows what the word is, save the Priestesses, but it's been this way since the Second Age.

Definitely songs from the Catticus play list. In the Grotto As the snow flies On a cold and gray Charg mornin' Another sad little trollkin is born In the grotto And his mama cries 'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need It's another hungry mouth to feed In the grotto People, don't you understand Trollkin need a helping hand Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day Take a look at you and me, Are we too blind to see, Do we simply turn our heads And look the other way Well the world turns And a hungry little troll with a runny nose Plays in the stream as the cold wind blows In the grotto And his hunger burns So he starts to roam the fields at night And he learns how to steal And he learns how to fight In the grotto Then one night in desperation The young man breaks the rules He makes a club, eats a horse, Tries to run, but he don't get far And his mama cries As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young troll Face down in a field with a club in his hand In the grotto As her young man dies, On a cold and gray Charg mornin', Another little baby child is born In the ghetto And his mama cries

The Mounts of Moonson: Until the rise of Sheng Seleris, the Moonson was simply immortal and ageless. During Sacred Time, he aged, died, turned into a baby and aged back to normal, but otherwise, he appeared as a mature man in hit mid-thirties. But after he was killed by Sheng Seleris and fed to his own cattle, he called one of his desendents to become his steed who he would ride. Now, each time he dies, he calls upon one of his descendents to become his steed. They must undergo eleven tests; this annoys the Dara Happans, who see it as mocking their ten tests. (Which the new Moonson has to undergo once he passes the eleven so he can also be Dara Happan Emperor.) Because the new Moonson is a blending of the original and his steed, there are now changes of personality, goals, and methods each time. The Moonson now becomes whatever kind of Hsunchen his steed is, though he retains the bond to every kind of animal that the Moonson originally had. A fair number of would be Moonsons have died trying to pass the tests. The Mounts of Moonson: Whittington (1460-1506) - A poor boy from the streets of the Imperial Capital, who met a talking cat who helped him to pass the Eleven Tests, claim the throne of the Empire, and eventually defeat and imprison Sheng Seleris. He perished defeating the Pentans at the Battle of Fallen Stars in 1506. Artemus the Artificer (1506-1522)- Fascinated by Mostali machines, this Cow Hsunchen Mount suppressed a Dara Happan revolt and then focused on inventing the Wonder Engines. This roused fears he'd somehow been tainted by God-Learners and this would be Zistor come again. This led General Maximinius to feed him into his own Wonder Engine, which then blew up, killing them both. Vendermain the Voracious (1523-1529) - A Boar Hsunchen who passed the Eleven Tests after two previous would-be Mounts failed the tests. How he passed the tests remains unclear because his reign was focused on two things - eating and party time. He claimed to have slept with Uleria herself and that he had found a way to gain immortality and illumination through sheer physical excess. Whether he ate too much, took too many drugs, or was slaughtered by disease spirits remains debated. But he quickly self-destructed. Macall the Venerator (1529-1546) - Macall the Venerator was the most devout steed of the Moonson. He had been the Parrot Hsunchen second in command of the Cult of Deezola, and he especially showered it with favors. He strove to expand the Lunar Way to new lands and poured a lot of imperial money into the War on Ernalda. He had a great deal of success, but one day, the ground cracked open, a giant snake came out, bit him and dragged him into the ground never to be seen again. Robanal the Robust (1546-1556) - Robanal was the much-loved son of a Horse Hsunchen clan from Carmania. He roved the Empire having adventures and is noted for passing one of the Eleven Tests by invading Dorasor, ripping off the arms of the Broo Overlord of Carnaxia, and then beating him to death with them. Robanal spent his time crusading, until his effort to kill off Ralkazark ended with Ralkazark ripping his arms off and beating him to death with them. Miletus the Celestial Watcher (1546-1574) - Born a minor member of a traditionalist Dara Happan Clan, his initiation into the priesthood of Buserian warned him of a future plot to reunite Nysalor to destroy the Empire. He devoted his whole life to preparing for the Eleven Tests and once he became the Steed of Moonson, he summoned twelve Celestial Eagles who tore apart the twelve Traitors. He then realized that he did not actually have any further purpose in life. He guided the rest of his reign by watching the stars. This led him to organize the Celestial Games in 1574. After a grand celebration of the best of the Empire, he was mistakenly killed by an Assassin during a Tea Party who mistook him for someone else. Annabal the Militant (1574-1586) - Annabal the Militant (bear Hsunchen) was born a slave and became a gladiator. At the Celestial Games, the Emperor watched her win and declared him free on the spot; when his master complained, Miletus had him enslaved. Shortly thereafter Miletus was murdered and Annabal tracked down and killed his killer. He then took the Elven Tests, became Emperor, and had a huge commemorative statue of Miletus made. He devoted the rest of his reign to war; he was good at winning battles, but often wasn't good at exploiting victory. He killed Tarkalor Trollkiller in single combat at the Battle of Troll Vengeance, handing his body over to his troll allies to eat. He allowed himself to be taunted into taking on the Crimson Slaughter, a gladiator of note, at the 1586 Games in the Capital and died at his hands. Shalin the Reclusive (1586-1589) - No one expected a Rat Hsunchen to become *Emperor*. It's thought he had been an Imperial spy before his ascension. His first act was to have the Crimson Slaughter chopped into pieces, enough to send to every Province. He then basically retreated into his palace and used a set of Brass Walking Statues made for him by the Brass Mountain Mostali as his agents to carry out his will. The Brass Agents of Shalin were feared throughout the Empire. While it is known that his plots were very deep and complex, the folk tale that he plotted against and murdered himself seems unlikely to most scholars. Igneous the Bull (1592-1607) - It wasn't clear when or how Shalin died, but in 1589, people began jockeying to replace him. Igeneous, an officer in the military, succeeded in 1592. He reorganized the military and pushed the war in the South. He crushed the Kingdom of Sartar, but suffered injuries which never healed while taking Boldhome in 1602. Igneous was murdered at a Games in 1607 by Harrek the Berserk. Catticus - Described elsewhere.

I would kind of expect some degree of egg laying after the Dragonkill. Replacing any damage done by the anti-Dragon hordes.

Inspector Boraka (Water, Law, Illusion) Inspector Boraka is one of the most dreaded agents of the Bureau of Righteous Thought, using her illusion powers to join groups of heretics, document their treason, then have them arrested. No one ever suspects her until it is too late. This is because she is a chicken. She is a True Chicken, but everyone perceives her as something like themselves. She can't actually shapechange but people see her as something they will trust. This generally works pretty well, but sometimes she gets caught because she doesn't have any hands and it makes her illusion falter. When not enforcing the law, Inspector Boraka spends a lot of time studying Kralorelan Philosophy and Culture; she feels everyone needs a hobby. The Inspector mostly relies on the BRT's resources, but she does sometimes employ adventurers, especially when an infiltration is particularly dangerous. ********* Danger Duck (Water, Life, Movement) Danger Duck is one of the greatest entertainers of the Empire. His real name is unknown but he dresses in a fancy blue and white ouffit which is probably some sort of magical silk armor. It covers everything save his hands (which are gloved) and his beak and eyes. Danger Duck does things like fill an arena with raging bears, then cross the arena, jumjping bear head to bear head. Or jumping a chariot over twelve thunder lizards. Ot letting himself be locked in a barrel, dropped into a tank full of hungry flesh-eating fish, while chained up, and then escape. His act is very popular at Games and gives him enough money to hire adventurers to help round up things for his latest crazy stunt. Just to be clear, he is a duck. Discord Duck (Illusion, Disorder, Movement) This had to be said because Discord Duck is not actually a Duck. Or maybe he is. No one is sure. Sometimes he is obviously a man in a duck costume, sometimes he is a Duck, and at least once, he looked exactly like the Moonson. It's generally assumed he is a priest of some god of Tricksters, but he roams the Empire, spreading havooc, and the BRT can't ever manage to hunt him down. They once locked him in a cask of acid and he was back on the streets in two days. He spreads small-c chaos wherever he goes and has a trick where he just asks you one question and you throw away everything you ever worked for and go on a rampage of increasing small-c chaos. The BRT suspects he has something to do with the growth of belief in Invisible Orlanth, only adding to their reasons to bust him.

I do have to note that the Trade Rune (the Issaries rune) exists in the Guide to Glorantha, which is in theory, meant to be relied on for Canon. (Page 149)

Hospitality in the Blue Moon Empire The Cult of Argan Argar maintains a set of caravanaseries and inns across the Empire for travellers and traders, especially traders, found in every city and also at periodic points along major trade routes. Those who head to the backwoods or south of Tarsh willh have to pursue other options. Argarhouses always have a combination of stables, a yard, a shrine, a dining area, a common room for the less wealthy to sleep in, and some number of smaller rooms for wealthier travelers. Some have a blacksmith, accommodations for insect mounts and aeries for birds, and more, fancier rooms for wealthy travelers. Any initiate of the cult can stay for free. Bigger cities also have inns where you can sleep cheaply in a common room or in a personal room; smaller cities, you will need a guild or personal connection or find someone who still holds to the rural rites of hospitality. Dara Happans will put up guests who are clients or allies for up to a week and help people find a longer home if necessary; doing so brings honor to your clan. In the countryside, there is a strong tradition of hospitality; unless you are doing business with the village, you shouldn't stay more than three days but travelling merchants and the like are welcome longer. The local mayor / chief / headman usually puts up guests. South of Tarsh, Orlanthi hospitality rules predominate and it's pretty dangerous for travellers, unfortunately, though the major cities do have Argarhouses.

Lanbril probably spread across the whole EWF zone during their era. When there were lots of cities in Dragon Pass.

I have long had a theory the Flame of Sartar was stolen/copied from the sacred flames of Teshnos and that it involves some trick or initiation that Sartar passed down but which was lost with the last king and rediscovered by Argath.

The Satrapy of First Blessed It was here that the Blue Moon Goddess was reborn and began the war on the Bull Shahs. During the wars with Sheng Seleris, this area was mostly ruled by Sheng's Pentan forces and turned into endless grassland with everyone being put to the blade. Some folk (human and Hsunchen) fled into the forests around the Blue Moon Plateau and held out. But once he was crushed, the Pentans were laid waste and since then, the lands have been reclaimed. This is the ancestral home of the Rinliddi Bird Riders, and they are the main form of Hsunchen found in First Blessed today. The river valleys are farmland, while the rest of the satrapy remains grassland for herding; the cities are dominated by Dara Happan folk; the grasslands by the Rinliddi. Rice is the dominant crop in the west, replaced by corn as you go eastwards. Dara Happans have Vrimak, an aspect of Yelm, as their chief god - He is seen as the Messenger of Heaven and the High Flyer and his cult has been modified - once it bragged of his defeat of the Blue Moon, but now it emphasizes his submission to the Blue Moon. One of the effects of this cult is that virtually all of his priests can talk to birds and command birds; this has reduced the stress levels between the Bird Hsunchen who rule the Satrapy and the local Dara Happans. In most places. Satrap Bilastra is one of the Jajagappa Dog People; she's a classic example of the Empire appointing people from outside a region to govern it. She is extremely devout and spends most of her time in worship ceremonies; she has huge magical power (Water, Beast, Stasis), but rarely uses it outside ceremonies. She has been on many Heroquests and uses this to strengthen her Satrapy. Vizier Asaherus Marano is her second-in-command, a Dara Happan from Yuthuppa. He is a former soldier and an initiate of Polaris who is basically paranoid about Pentan recovery; he views Oraya as a shield but not a very good one. He hires a lot of adventurers to stage raids into the Pentan lands to keep them weak. This aggravates Oraya's government. Diavizzi: In the Great Darkness, the Star Captain Kurantis came down and saved this city from destruction, bringing the message of Vrimakus the Eagle God. He brought the war birds of the Rinliddi and taught them to ride them into battle, enabling them to drive back Chaos. Temples to him and Vrimakus dominate this city. Here it was that the Blue Moon Goddess brought Kurantis back to live and he fought alongside her during her first wars before returning to the heavens. Elz Ast: This is an ancient Dara Happan City, long hugely prosperous due to its easy access to the major rivers of Peloria and it's ability to dominate trade between the river systems. Today, the cult of Argan Argar dominates the city. The city is torn between the culture of the Empire and those who try to hold to the old Dara Happan ways - in this city, the new has clearly won; it is their control of ship building which keeps the old Dara Happan clans afloat in the city. People from all over the Empire walk its streets. First Victory: This city was founded to celebrate the Blue Goddess' first victory over the Carmanians. A clan of Zaranistangi guards the city, which was destroyed by Sheng Seleris but *rebuilt itself* when he died. At the center is the Temple of Victory, guarded by loperbeasts and their riders. There is a great fountain here, which creates a stream that flows into the Athil River and from there, into the Arcos. Water from it is taken for ceremonies used at the start of any military campaign and at the Coronation of each new Moonson. The Moonson comes and bathes in the fountain once a year, unless on campaign, early in Sea Season. Ganbarri: "This city was once the capital of Rinliddi and today, it is awash with birds, both True and nromal. The city is centered round the high temple-tower to Tholim, High Flyer and God of Falconry. Many Falcon Hsunchen live around or in the city which is full of many tall aeries. The city has a problem - Nyslorean infection. Riddlers strike the city every few years, bringing their unholy 'illumination'. No one is sure what is causing this, though some fear one of Nysalor's body parts is hidden somewhere in the city. Herele: One of the first cities to declare for the Blue Goddess. During Sheng Seleris' invasion, the city flooded and vanished. It hid underwater and it remains there - only those initiated into the ways of the Blue Moon or who can otherwise breathe water can dive into the river and visit the city. Heron Hsunchen dwell in the wetlands around the city. Jarabuli: This area confuses many visitors. It is surrounded by carefully maintained light forest, scrub brush, and wild pastures. That is because this city is sacred to Avarnia the Quail Goddess and many True Quail and their Hsunchen friends live around the city, guarding it. The city itself is a tree city of connected elevated platforms, with quail going about their business among the low plants below. The one exception is the great stone docks which contain devices to elevate goods up to the platforms. Karvisti: This market town is at the junction between the agritultural belt along the Arcos and the forested areas in the south dominated by Hsunchen. The town sells grain and vegetables to the Hsunchen, along with tools and metals, while getting timber, hides, and other crafts from the Hsunchen. A small colony of trolls lives here, in the river, and they dominate local trade, acting as middletrolls. Kesium: This city was once the capital of a past Rinliddi Kingdom which took over the Dara Happan Empire under the Bright Eagle Lords. Vrimakus the Eagle God has a magnificent temple here, and Eagle Hsunchen rule over Dara Happans in this city. There is an annual festival where one of them is chosen to play the role of Emperor Lukarius of Dara Happa, who is crowned at the Temple of Antirius, then ceremonially stripped of office for his destruction of Merinta, then eaten alive by a Troll Priestess of Anilla. This is usually a criminal, though one past Satrap of First Blessed erred so badly that he was used instead of a Dara Happan. Memkoth: This small city of Dara Happans is sacred to Denegaria, daughter of Yelm, who he rescued from the forces of Darkness here. The re-enacting of his rescue imbues the city with potent anti-Darkness magic which keeps out Trolls, who constantly complain but the Moonson seems unsympathetic. The city must pay tribute to local Rinliddi bird-rider clans, but only those who bear the Fire Rune are allowed inside the city. As a result, everyone here tries to pretend it's still the good old days. The annual festival also protects a roughly thirty mile radius from plant blights, making the farming of rice here super-abundant. Two God-learners are impaled on a spear driven into the wall of the Temple of Yelm Liberator here; their bodies have not rotted but they are dead; it is said catastrophe will ensue if they are ever released. Shushz: This city was once the capital of the Althil Kingdom, a thousand years ago. Now it is a place for worship of the many Bird gods and spirits. The city is awash with birds and has huge problems with bird dung as a result. The city is noted for its Bird Messengers, trained True Animals who memorize and carry messages across all of First Blessed. Torang: Torang is the capital of the Satrapy and a major market town. Hsunchen come from the south, farmers from the north. But it is much bigger than it would normally be, and the reason is pilgrims and shrines. There are temples to the Blue Moon, each of the Seven Sailors, Argan Argar, and other gods as well; pilgrims can visit the inn room where the rite of Embodiment took place and every year the rite is re-enacted. This is a very holy city. Yuthuppa: This Dara Happan City is one of the three greatest Dara Happan cities and is in much better shape than Raibanth. This is because the cult of Buserian, which dominates the city, has been a great deal of help to the Empire through its magical and celestial knowledge. Anaxial the Sailor (claimed by many Blue Moon worshippers to have been reincarnated as one of the Seven Sailors) founded this city and the Yuthmesha family, hereditary leaders of the Cult of Buserian, claim descent from him. Yuthuppa is designed to resemble the night sky with its Star Towers placed where stars can be found. Some of the towers *move* around the city in imitation of the stars. Those who know the right rituals can pass into the Sky World from the peaks of these towers. The most sacred to the Empire of these is the Tower of the Blue Moon, home to shrines to every member of the Blue Moon Pantheon; from the top you can pass to the Imperial City on the Blue Moon and the Moonson visits Yuthuppa by the route at least once a year. One Tower is the Tower of Star Captain Kurantis, who is worshipped here and in the city of Diavizzi; once a year, a group of priests and pilgrims come to do special rites. There are persisting rumors one of Nysalor's remains is hidden in the city but if so, no one knows where or which one. There is a shattered tower, the Tower of Nysalor, crafted during the Bright Empire; it toppled when he died. A group of watchers monitor it, because if he ever rises again, it will repair itself.

You trick him. Of course, inevitably, this blows up in your face.

The Satrapy of Doblian Doblian was once a lush and green agricultural land but most of it was laid waste by Sheng Seleris; indeed, virtually every location has some story about the man, usually insulting like 'Sheng Seleris tripped and ate dirt here' or 'Sheng Seleris horse refused to sleep with him here'. Some have been turned into full blown Heroquests centering around humiliating him. Ironically, his war turned most of this satrapy into the kind of open pasture and grassland that Sheng tried to turn the entire empire into. Orogeria the Divine Moon Huntress (daughter of the Blue Moon Goddess) and her husband Kenstrata are worshipped by many of the locals, who are now deer, cow, and bear hsunchen. Doblian is noted for its honey production, due to an alliance of Troll Beekeepers and Bear Hsunchen. There are Lodrilli style farmers, but much of the area is now home to herds of cattle or bands of deer or other animals, True and asleep. Satrap Kineladan Muranu: A long line of Bear Hsunchen acted as Satrap until a few years ago when Alexander the Blue became so insulted by the caperings of the Imperial Fool that he somehow fell on 42 knives. House Muranu secured the job for Kineladan; his brother Aguragus is the head of the Imperial War College. The Muranu are Falcon Hsunchen of Dara Happan descent. He is trying to promote the revival of the Satrapy's towns to build the wealth of the Satrapy. He is unusually focused on administration for a Satrap. Maybe too focused. He often misses the forest for the trees. Caral is a popular sport in this satrapy grounded in old religious customs. It evolved out of ancient rituals of the Orogeria cult. Every team has eight men and eight women. It is played in a square area divided into two rectangles with a basket of melons on each side at the far end of that team's rectangle. The men try to raid the other team's area and steal their melons, while the women defend it by touching them; any man they touch long enough becomes a prisoner. If you get a melon back to your own side, you can release one of your prisoners or take a foe prisoner if none of your team are prisoners. Only men can enter the other team's zone. Play continues until either time runs out or one team gets all the melons. Many Hsunchen tribes use it as a physical, but non-fatal way to settle disputes and conflicts. Doblian City: The Capital of the Satrapy, which has seen better days, though it is finally recovering from past damage. Still, at times, you find buildings fallen into ruins and abandoned, where people haven't even been willing to risk stealing the building blocks. The Six Righteous Fists ruled this city in the name of Sheng Seleris at the height of his empire. Hon-Eel the Artress entered the city, seduced one of them, helped him kill the others, then sacrificed him to the Blue Moon and presented the city to her father, the Moonson. However, in the process, some areas were wrecked and strange things still dwell there. High walls protect the city from without but many worry about threats from within. Durnvok: This fortified frontier city is dominated by the cult of Jesedret, the Egret Goddess, daughter of SurEnslib the Heron Goddess. During Darkness, Storm, and Sea Season, the land around the city floods and egrets migrate to here, then leave in the hotter seasons. Quests welcome them and send them forth; the departure quest is all about Jesedret's quest for her missing lover and her return with a child he gave her when she found him in the underworld. Ebon City: This city is built around a sacred cave which leads down into the underworld; it is said to be guarded by Monster Man. Only Heroes dare to find out the truth but every few years, some band of heroes emerges from the cave who no one saw go in, so there is *something* down there. The Satrap of Spol claims this is a secret base of the Witches of Spol, but the Darkness priestesses (both human and troll) insist they have nothing to do with those lunatics and just want to use Darkness to defend the area from Chaos. Whatever the truth of this, Sheng was unable to crack the defenses of Ebon City, though no one listens to the Priestesses when they try to claim Monster Man has Sheng trapped in a box and beats him daily. Hurvisos: Bisos the Bull is a popular god for both Pelandan farmers and Cow Hsunchen. This is his city in Doblian and it tries to claim it's the *center* of his worship. Tynops in Worion would*loudly* dispute this and each year, there is a ceremonial 'battle' between the two cities. The 'battle' is a giant game of Caral with hundreds of players instead of just a few. The winners reaps strong magic for the year. This event is the centerpiece of the annual Hurvisos Games, largely replacing the normal gladiatorial combat. Keselia: This is a strongly Pelandan city, largely spared the damage done by Sheng Seleris; it controls the trade through Lake Oronin from the Oronin River and thus is rich and prosperous. The city has a strongly intellectual bent and is full of schools and libraries and is constantly rent by deep philosophical debates. Even the muggers may well challenge you to prove you exist and that robbing you would be wrong if you wish to avoid it, and they expect logic. Oarz-upon-Joat: Long ago, this city's core was built into the ravine through which the Joat river passes. Here survived a Pelandan clan through the Great Darkness. Most of the city is now on top of the gorge as normal buildings, but there is a large layer of underground shops, homes, and storehouses still built into the gorge face. The Temple of the Blue Moon here controls an invisible bridge across the gorge at the level of the old city to hidden chambers on the other side which connect to ancient caverns. This is a refuge in time of war. Meglardinth: This city is home to foundries and blacksmiths; Little Sister has put it on a war footing in anticipation of the war with Charg and it churns out equipment for soldiers. It also serves as a market for local agriculture and herding. Mephos: This city has lain half in ruins since 1607, when Emperor Igneous was killed by Harrek the Berserk, who then trashed the city; further, the death of the Moonson somehow set the city on fire. The dead roam the streets at night and ghosts eat souls. Only the need for a marketplace prevents it being abandoned. Pillini: During the Great Darkness, the earth thrust up a great pillar here and the heart of the city is on top of it; spiralling staircases climb from the top to the lower city. The Handsome Horseman saved this city during the Darkness by turning its enemies into stone; these statues are still found through the city. He is the god of the city and many Horse Hsunchen come to worship here. Seskos: This ancient temple to Sakkar, God of Fear and Hunter of Men is located in a deep forest. Neither dogs nor normal humans are welcome here, but deer Hsunchen and snake Hsunchen pay tribute to their hunting god. Further, an unusual clan of Hsunchen staffs the temple - Sabertooth Tiger Hsunchen. The Temple raises and supports one of the most famous Battles in the Imperial Army - the Doblian Dogeaters. During their biggest festival, normal humans are turned loose in the woods and hunted; most die, bringing blessing to the temple. Anyone who survives is said to gain the Illumination of Sakkar and will never know fear again. Tawenos: Who doesn't love pigs? Hated by Boar Hsunchen around the Empire, who periodically come here and try to trash the place, this city is one of the premiere sources of high quality pork in the Empire. The city is ruled by Cattle Hsunchen who love to eat Pork and have put up giant 'EAT MORE PORK' signs around the city, even though most of the city can't read. The annual Pork Festival worships Pork Boy, who let himself be eaten to save everyone in the Great Darkness, then was reborn as a piglet the next year. Long Pork jokes in this city are a good way to ensure they never find your body. Valkenth: Found in the highlands of Doblian, this city benefits from the main trade road from Doblian to old Carmania and is wealthy and prosperous. Orogeria the Divine Moon Huntress is worshipped here, along with her husband Kenstrata the Bear. Kenstrata's Copper-Bear Axe which he used to battle Monster Man is kept here, along with a bow used by Orogeria to fend off Yelm's unwanted advances (this is the source of sunspots). Xarkarsh: This is a city of Trolls in the Yolp Mountains. It has a very important duty - guarding one of Nysalor's body parts. There is a huge lake inside the mountain and most of the city is in the lake with some fortifications on the surface. The hunk of Nysalor is hidden in deep flooded tunnels under the lake and ferociously guarded. Xarkarsh also extracts a lot of copper from the mountain for trade to the humans living in the foothills of the Yolp Mountains.