Gonn Orta

[jajagappa]

4 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

I have been looking at my early 80's Griffin Mountain book so much the last few months the binding gave way.

Only now???  Mine gave way many, many years ago (it and the original Gods of Glorantha Cults book are by far in the worst shape of all my RQ material).

[Erol of Backford]

I used heavy tape on the cults book. The heavy tape and glue on the Griffin M. book got really bad more recently... I ended up putting clear thick packing tape on most booklet edges... Having a lot of the older stuff in PDF has saved a good bit of wear but I still like to read an actual book/booklet as I am older and grew up holding a book. LOL.

[Rick Meints]

On 10/6/2022 at 6:44 PM, Erol of Backford said:

I used heavy tape on the cults book. The heavy tape and glue on the Griffin M. book got really bad more recently... I ended up putting clear thick packing tape on most booklet edges... Having a lot of the older stuff in PDF has saved a good bit of wear but I still like to read an actual book/booklet as I am older and grew up holding a book. LOL.

Cults of Prax, Cults of Terror and Griffin Mountain are all available as solid POD softcover books on chaosium.com. Spare those originals!

[Erol of Backford]

So what would Gonn Orta desire as trade goods from the East/Vormain? Mostly magic items I assume. (Mummy dust - what is it used for!?)

On another note how many herd-men would the giants of Orta's Pass eat in lieu of eating herd-beasts?

How would Morokanth establish a monopoly with Gonn to supply meat? Can't help going back to this Goya painting.

Do giants eat raw meat? Do they like it crunchy or do they also eat the stinky bits?

Edited November 21, 2022 by Erol of Backford

[Joerg]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:58 PM, Erol of Backford said:

Do giants eat raw meat? Do they like it crunchy or do they also eat the stinky bits?

There is no indication that Boshbisil uses cooking utensils or skills for the mountain of meat traded with the Praxian beast riders east of the Pass.

[Erol of Backford]

LOL so like Goya's painting, heardman tartare. I imagine with a pinch of squirrel dung seasoning to improve the flavor as Bert would say?

[Erol of Backford]

So we assume Gonn and his companion giants speak Trade Tongue.

What other languages do they speak, Dark Tongue, Balazaring, Praxian?

I assume trollkin don't speak anything but Dark Tongue so some of the giants also speak that or do a few smarter trollkin there speak Trade and act as boos/interpreter?

Thinking on it, Gonn is really old and likely had a long time to learn languages especially when he travelled... or did he forget over the decades?

On the same note say a giant in the Rubble or the Snake Pipe Hollow is speaking with broo, scorpionmen, etc. are they all using Chaospeech if there is such a thing?

Does the Red Cow smith speak Theyalan or would they communicate in Trade as well?

[AndrewTBP]

See Griffin Mountain pp. 180 for all the languages spoken by the important folks at Gonn Orta’s Castle. 

Edited September 3, 2023 by AndrewTBP

[Darius West]

I trust the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert is old news?

[jajagappa]

4 hours ago, Darius West said:

I trust the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert is old news?

For me, yes; for others...???

[Darius West]

17 hours ago, jajagappa said:

For me, yes; for others...???

Well it does pose some interesting questions.  Could Gonn Orta actually become a new Genert?  And what will that Cradle Baby turn into down the track?

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, Darius West said:

Could Gonn Orta actually become a new Genert? 

And what would he have to give up or sacrifice in order to become such???

3 hours ago, Darius West said:

what will that Cradle Baby turn into down the track?

It would be interesting to have a scenario encountering her where her future lies in the balance - the adventurers actions nudge her towards alliance or towards Chaos.

[Erol of Backford]

On 9/3/2023 at 5:28 AM, Darius West said:

I trust the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert is old news?

If discussed before 04/21 then I have no idea. Is there a link to the discussion?

[Erol of Backford]

1 hour ago, jajagappa said:

It would be interesting to have a scenario encountering her where her future lies in the balance - the adventurers actions nudge her towards alliance or towards Chaos.

After running the Cradle she is the PC's friend (can show her a recreate LM spell that shows her the devotion the PC's had to saving her life) and even use the ring from Balazar to create an even stronger bond of friendship, maybe they tell her that they want to bond her as a most dear friend before using the ring and explain what the ring does before bonding her if she agrees? If I am explaining correctly but it would like them closely.

Added if the PC's are on the Quest to the Wounding of Arroin (they will be in the Backford Campaign) when Spinning wheel is brought back... somehow tie that into it all somehow...

[Zit]

On 9/3/2023 at 12:28 PM, Darius West said:

I trust the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert is old news?

never thought about this, but it opens new perspectives.

[jajagappa]

2 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

After running the Cradle she is the PC's friend

Well, she is an infant during the Cradle, and she is being raised in Hell subsequently. Unless the PC's stay, there is a lot of time for her to develop in her own way and with whatever Mentor is at hand, and the PC's will be unknown figures. There will be other Friends to her - perhaps they lead her astray, perhaps they are slain and she is consumed by Hatred and Rage, perhaps they betray her and she swears an oath to destroy them. Maybe she sees what the Burning Sun does to her friends in the Darkness and seeks to bring it down. Maybe she is in love with the Prince of Darkness or Monster Man and will do anything to see him succeed. Lots of possibilities here. Aiding her birth is not a strong link, though (that is a much stronger link to Gonn Orta). She has the opportunity to be a complex character and I wouldn't make it simple to come waltzing in exclaiming "look what we did! we're your long-lost friends, trust us now." 

 

[Erol of Backford]

2 hours ago, jajagappa said:

perhaps they are slain and she is consumed by Hatred and Rage, perhaps they betray her and she swears an oath to destroy them

Really dark, we'll go with something lighter I am guessing.

2 hours ago, jajagappa said:

look what we did! we're your long-lost friends, trust us now

No, not so simple but would be part of a long term relationship, as you stated better with Gonn.

What is the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert?

[jajagappa]

37 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

What is the similarity of Gonn Orta's name with that of Genert?

Well, quite similar don't you think? 😉 

Is he a son or grandson? A seed of Genert brought forth in the Dawn? A last piece or part of Genert that survived (possibly so that you can't rebuild Genert without building upon Gonn Orta)? Or perhaps it is just coincidence? Or perhaps named in memory of the land that was lost?

It might be that his giant daughter is destined to be the new Land Goddess of Prax or part of the Wastes, if she survives that long?

[JRE]

I am quite late to this, but I think it is an interesting point, considering how many PCs have fought and probably will in the future.

We know Argrath is Giant-friend and that is based on his succesful efforts with the cradle, which included sailing down to hell on it.

For me, the reason the Giants send their kids to hell is that there are not enough Giants in the mundane world, and those that remain have forgotten too much. So they go to hell to learn from the dead giants there. Even dead, they are beings on a divine scale, so once she makes it to hell, the kid is mostly safe, unlike normal mortals. However Argrath managed to be recognized as the midwife and that will be good for him later. So I would play it that unless you go all the way to hell and meet the teachers, you will not be recognized as a giant-friend, just a mortal mercenary or Lunar enemy. Argrath may remember you, however, and that may allow some Giant contact to be developed later, but the tolerance will be built on Argrath's.

As for the Giant child, I expect her history lies beyond the Third Age, though her friends can visit her, and possibly get a "shortcut out of hell" through the giants.

I do think Gonn Orta expects her to bring Genert's fertility back, but he may be wrong, or she may do even more. Something to work for, when the Godtime is broken and what happened in the past does not determine the future, and she can break new ground.

[Joerg]

7 minutes ago, JRE said:

Argrath managed to be recognized as the midwife and that will be good for him later.

Argrath may have been the bringer of viagra with his Giant's Drinking Cauldron quest.

There is no canonical crew roster for the departing Cradle, and neither do we know how many of the human and/or troll  (duck, newtling, baboon) crew (would have) remained with the Cradle rather than join Harrek's Circumnavigation or be killed by the White Bear or other attackers.

As far as I am concerned, the young giantess was last seen sailing the Boat Planet during its Third Age maiden voyage alongside Dormal's remaining crew and various other questers.

[Erol of Backford]

4 hours ago, JRE said:

Argrath managed to be recognized as the midwife

I always assumed Spinning Wheel was the midwife and would likely go with that, Mr. Swordsharp is just along for the ride as a protector.

If we ever make it to the Cradle or Barran's Vomitter (we are starting in 1600) the PC's may Hero Quest in both scenarios. Who knows one of the PC's may be a descendant of Spinning Wheel and so will have a nice bond with the Giants already.

Possibly Orta will communicate directly with said PC when on the Rone Sword Quest and ask that they help with Cradle's protection when it comes.

We have already set it up that the PC's meet Three Chop, Urrrggh and the rest of the Wooden Sword Gang so they may even be with them on the Wounding of Arroin Quest...

4 hours ago, JRE said:

I do think Gonn Orta expects her to bring Genert's fertility back, but he may be wrong, or she may do even more. Something to work for, when the Godtime is broken and what happened in the past does not determine the future, and she can break new ground.

New idea, She'll come back from hell and take on Cacodemon from the Eternal Battle with the PC's and dissolve it as part of the cure - healing of the Wastes. We didn't sort that out yet and it'll be years away...

Maybe her name is Naijo-ta or something a combo of Gonn and Naajia (saved, liberated - got this on line).

[Erol of Backford]

I was reading in the KOS that in 1636 Orta and Argrath shared a bottle of wine and they became good friends. Is this when Orta found out Argrath helped save Otra's child? Also if Orta's 300' tall is that particular bottle about 40'?

[Darius West]

On 10/7/2022 at 12:44 PM, Erol of Backford said:

I used heavy tape on the cults book. The heavy tape and glue on the Griffin M. book got really bad more recently... I ended up putting clear thick packing tape on most booklet edges... Having a lot of the older stuff in PDF has saved a good bit of wear but I still like to read an actual book/booklet as I am older and grew up holding a book. LOL.

My copy is still holding in there, but then I covered it with perspex to stop it being destroyed in my schoolbag back in highschool.  I can't believe how long ago that was. 😆

[mfbrandi]

17 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

I was reading in the KOS that in 1636 Orta and Argrath shared a bottle of wine and they became good friends … Also if Orta's 300' tall is that particular bottle about 40'?

My rattly old brain seems to remember that Orlanth drank the Well of Daliath dry to get at Mastakos (who was at its bottom) — but I cannot remember where I read that — so perhaps Argrath used that bit of magic to impress GO by drinking half of a 40-foot bottle of wine. I dunno.

[Erol of Backford]

5 hours ago, mfbrandi said:

perhaps Argrath used that bit of magic to impress GO by drinking half of a 40-foot bottle of wine

Maybe Argrath was also a trickster?