Darius West Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 I was scratching my head about this. What counts as vermin in Glorantha, i.e. what fills the role of rats, mice, cockroaches, pantry moths, ants, weevils, moles, gophers, and other assorted pests (yes, I mean apart from Ducks and trollkin)? I ask this because apart from things like rubble runners there isn't a lot of vermin style species, and while we can assume that there are smaller versions of Gorakiki's immense troll insects, you just don't hear about annoying small furry mammals and pest species of bugs, and other swarmers. Now admittedly the rules normally devote themselves to critters that can actually inflict reasonable damage, but swarms can. I am also interested if people think there are stray dogs and cats in Gloranthan urban areas that feed on the vermin and human scraps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 These pests do exist, in sizes we would recognize as normal, too. You don't hear much about them because it isn't very heroic to fight single-hit-kill small beasts, unless you happen to be a feline predator only a few times their size. The existence of trash pandas in Peloria is well established, and they will have infiltrated the civilized lands around Vanch, both human and furred thieves. Stray dogs in poor urban environments are a type of food, and cats had better be wary, too. There will be rat-catchers. Feeding on scraps is a role for the urban pigs. These omnivores reduce the food options for vermin quite a bit. (Trollkin are another such option.) Urban fowl will take an interest in wiggly stuff. Small furry beasts have to face alynxes, snakes of all calibres, and probably ferret-like exterminators, too. There is a good reason why the Rubble Runners gained size and ferocity. Some small furry beasts will have become more or less domesticated, like guinea pigs or Polynesian rats, and serve as poor folk's meat. Quote Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltakss Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 There are rats and mice, because Orlanthi use Shadowcats to keep grain stores free of them. Trolls have giant ants and cockroaches, so there could well be smaller versions. Gophers exist in Pent, the Gord'Un are Gopher Hsunchen. Weevils were associated with the navy, but Gloranthan navies are not very well formed. perhaps they are waiting for more ships to take to the waters. I can't think of any evidence for moles, but why not? I can see a PC on a chair with a crossbow, Jasper Carrott-style, waiting for a mole to appear one night. RQ3 had Insect Swarms, so presumably RQG has the same. I haven't checked the Bestiary in detail yet. Quote Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. www.soltakss.com/index.html Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjerwin Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Sartar turned some people into termites, so they must exist also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The God Learner Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 I have heard rumours of Rodents of Unusual Size. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atgxtg Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, The God Learner said: I have heard rumours of Rodents of Unusual Size. ROUSes, I don't think they actually exist. Sadly, on a related note William Goldman passed away yesterday. Edited November 17, 2018 by Atgxtg 1 Quote Chaos stalks my world, but she's a big girl and can take of herself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The God Learner Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 2 minutes ago, Atgxtg said: Sadly, on a related note William Goldman passed away yesterday. What a pity, and what a coincidence. Apart from his movies he also wrote a number of books on Hollywood that I thoroughly enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltakss Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 1 hour ago, jeffjerwin said: Sartar turned some people into termites, so they must exist also. Forgot that one, yes, obvious now. Quote Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. www.soltakss.com/index.html Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltakss Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 16 minutes ago, The God Learner said: What a pity, and what a coincidence. Apart from his movies he also wrote a number of books on Hollywood that I thoroughly enjoyed. Looking at his Wikipedia Page, he wrote an awful lot of good stuff, outside of his films. Anyone who could write the book and screenplay for both Marathon Man and Princess Bride deserves a lot of praise. Quote Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. www.soltakss.com/index.html Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir_Godspeed Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 This made me think of the potential of Rat Hsunchen, and the potential for an urban-preferring Hsunchen group, which would be an interesting reversal of tropes, and which might require some creative explanation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 The Bat Hsunchen might fit your proposal well, and at least some of them like the vampire bat variety fit the description of vermin. There are a few rodent hsunchen - the gopher pygmies of northern Pent, and the beaver folk of Ralios, and porcupines in Fronela and Teshnos. These seem to be the lower edge of the size range that produces hsunchen humanoids (although the above-mentioned bat hsunchen may undercut this significantly). The non-Hsunchen Siwafu army ant people are possibly another form of vermin folk, but living in the Errinoru jungle, they are unlikely to thrive in cities. Quote Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Are there any equivalents in Glorantha of the "D'ivers" from Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series? Basically, shapeshifters whose shifted shape is a 'swarm' of (usually) small creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metcalph Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 26 minutes ago, womble said: Are there any equivalents in Glorantha of the "D'ivers" from Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series? Basically, shapeshifters whose shifted shape is a 'swarm' of (usually) small creatures. The Siwafu (Guide p544) who can transform themselves into Army Ants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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