Wolf Pirates and the Holy Country 1621-25

[jajagappa]

There were a few questions raised on Wolf Pirates and the Holy Country during this time period on FB, so thought I'd add my thoughts here:

Quote

 

A question regarding filling in the blanks of Gloranthan history (1621 to 1625): how extensive was Wolf Pirate Raiding? Did it raid Karse? Nochet? If they plundered the City of Wonders, what else, where else did they plunder?

...

The death of Belintar. It's kinda glossed over in the events - as it's a relatively 'local' event, but I'm assuming that for those in The Holy Country (all constituent parts) that this would have been really apocalyptic & shocking. Also the sacking & destruction of The City of Wonders. Apart from hating the Lunars & Wolf Pirates, what else should be/could be considered as part of character development/back story?

 

Something to remember about the Wolf Pirates between 1621-24 is that many accompanied Harrek and Argrath on the circumnavigation of the Homeward Ocean.  Presumably many did not survive the journey, and presumably they gained new Wolf Pirates during the journey.  But without Harrek and Gunda's presence, the Wolf Pirate raids likely diminished in the Mirrorsea up until 1624.  Then Harrek returns (with Argrath).  And they join Samastina and Broyan in relieving the Siege of Nochet and then defeating the Lunars at the Battle of Pennel in Seaseason.  The Wolf Pirates gain a lot of plunder from the fallen Lunars (including gold).  They don't sack Nochet - instead they are invited in to spend their plunder. 

What they also gained from Broyan was a promise of plunder from his greatest city, the City of Wonders (remember that this is after Broyan was named Hegemon of Kethaela).  So, once they were finished spending wealth in Nochet (and likely creating a lot of trouble), they go on to sack and destroy the City of Wonders.  With much booty, they get time to go rest at the Three Step Isles, see their families, etc.  Perhaps they stop at Casino Town. 

Some likely stay in the Mirrorsea.  Some join Broyan's army in the Liberation of Heortland and gain loot as the army advances from Milran north.  Some helped "liberate" Karse, and take advantage of the Lunar withdrawal - some may have even positioned themselves as "rulers" of Karse, or at least position themselves to receive tribute from those bringing trade through the port.  Some followed Argrath on his venture to take Pavis.  Some likely were promised loot from Boldhome or the new Lunar Temple if they joined Broyan's march into Sartar.  Most of the latter likely were killed when the "demon" killed Broyan and slaughtered part of his army. 

As of the Dragonrise (a season+ after Broyan's death), I'd likely have some small contingent of Wolf Pirates (a ship's worth) still hanging around Whitewall trying to decide if there's opportunity still to raid Sartar or not.  Others still hanging around Karse, possibly getting used to the luxuries taken from Nochet, the City of Wonders, and what they can glean from Esrolian merchants.  The majority are probably with Harrek and Gunda out on Three Step Isles and trying to determine where to raid next - perhaps Dosakayo or Handra, or even Nolos (though many refugees fleeing there). 

...

As for the Disappearance of Belintar (and remember that all presume him dead, but no one knows for sure), yes, this and more specifically the failure of the Tournament of Luck and Death to produce a new Belintar is a profound shock to the entire Holy Country.  When Belintar lived, all the Sixths were in close proximity to the God's World - that is a core reason it is named the "Holy" Country.  Then Belintar, and all the magic and closeness to the gods, is suddenly gone.  Barbarians invade Esrolia and Caladraland, Wolf Pirates raid the coasts, civil war divides Heortland.  Then the Lunars invade Heortland.  And then the Great Winter comes and lasts for a year.  It's like the Great Darkness has returned, and there's few gods to even answer the prayers.  No wonder the Wolf Pirates leave - it's become a dark and dead place, and there's better pickings elsewhere.

 

 

[M Helsdon]

And then the Waertagi come back...

[jajagappa]

5 hours ago, M Helsdon said:

And then the Waertagi come back...

Their first reappearance per the Guide p.424 comes in 1622-3 with the defeat of Nolos in Seshnela and some conflicts with the Wolf Pirates.

I think they must be involved in the rise of the Boat Planet while also searching for Brithos.

It's not clear when the Dragonships come back - I expect after the Boat Planet's rise.

[dumuzid]

My question is: where does the other famous Wolf Pirate leader we know of, Mularik, go when Argrath and Harrek go their separate ways?  The answer I found for My Glorantha is Rhis on the Castle Coast, recruiting residue from the Quinpolic League into a Hrestoli/Navigationalist army-in-exile to take to Dragon Pass for the war against Tarsh, with the promised goal of returning home enriched with Lunar plunder and supported by eastern mercenaries to drive Guilmarn and the Estaurenids from the former Quinpolic principalities, but that answer is tailored to the needs of my campaign.

[Joerg]

1 hour ago, jajagappa said:

Their first reappearance per the Guide p.424 comes in 1622-3 with the defeat of Nolos in Seshnela and some conflicts with the Wolf Pirates.

I think they must be involved in the rise of the Boat Planet while also searching for Brithos.

It's not clear when the Dragonships come back - I expect after the Boat Planet's rise.

From the description of the conflict in Seshnela 1622-1623 in the Guide, it looks like their return to the Surface Seas was one of the requirements to get the Boat Planet afloat again.

Outside of Dragon Pass and possibly the Lunar Empire, there isn't really a point to starting in 1625 when so much juicy action is triggered by the 1621 events. Not participating in these events, or only as character background story, feels about as bad as leaving all the cool stuff to Argrath.

But then my current sandbox description project does start when the City of Wonders gets plundered, and one rather "disappointed" Wolf Pirate leader needs to keep distance from Harrek, ending up at the County of the isles.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Joerg