Heortland - draft

[Jeff]

Some notes on Heortland:

Heortland

This plateau occupies most of the eastern part of the land around the Mirrorsea Bay. There is a narrow coastal strip which quickly gives way to thousand foot high cliffs ending at the plateau. Five rivers have cut gorges from the plateau top to the sea and these fjords form the only access from shore to the upland farms. Only in the northern part, around the Marzeel River, does the land sink into Volsaxiland. Little remains of the once great woodlands that once covered most of this plateau in the First and Second Ages. 
 

East of the farmlands rise low wooded hills, then a steep, snow-covered mountain range called the Storm Mountains, inhabited by Wind Children and other beings of the Air. Most prominent among them is Stormwalk, where Storm Bull resides at times. The rugged nature of the land prevents easy passage between Heortland and Prax, which lies on the far side of the Storm Mountains.

 

Short History

When Belintar defeated the king of the Hendrikings in 1317, he broke that ancient tribe and bound its spirit to his service. As long as the God-King ruled, the Hendriking tribe did not exist. Instead, the God-King appointed a governor to rule the Heortland region. The clans loyal to the God-King were called the Vandari ("loyalists"); in the north of Heortland, the Volsaxi tribe of the lands between the Shadow Plateau and the Marzeel River (the heart of the old Hendriking tribal lands) refused to acknowledge the authority of the God-King. In the 15th century, as the southern third of Heortland came under the domination of Aeolings, that region became known as Esvular.

 

In Vandarland, the threat of Chaos from the Footprint resulted in a peculiar institution. Bands of chariot-riding (and sometimes horse-riding) armoured warriors are supported by nobles who are in turn chosen from within certain families and approved by all free members of the community. As a result, central Heortland become known as Gardufar ("People of the Watch"). 

 

In Esvular (also called Bandori after the Aeoling tribe), the Aeolians are divided into three hereditary castes: free, noble, and wizard. These castes are hereditary and endogamous: the free and noble castes use Rune and spirit magic; the wizard caste uses sorcery.

 

For nearly three hundred years, the God-King kept peace in Heortland, broken only by the occasional rebellion among the northern hill tribes and the rarer Chaotic eruptions from the Footprint. When the God-King disappeared in 1616 and did not return, the land quickly fell into disorder.In the north, an Orlanthi holy man proclaimed himself the High King and resurrected the long-dead Hendriking tribe. In Vandarland, a Western adventurer seized power with the support of his Esvular allies, calling himself the King of Malkonwal.

 

In 1619, the Lunar Empire invaded Heortland, capturing Karse. The following year, they conquered Malkonwal, while the Hendrikings held out at Whitewall, defeating everything the Lunars threw at it, including the Crimson Bat. Whitewall finally fell in 1621, at a terrible cost, but the Lunar triumph was short-lived. In 1622, Broyan reappeared with a new army and raised the hill clans in rebellion. He defeated the Lunar army at the Battle of Auroch Hills. Scorpion Men erupted from the Footprint, forming the Queendom of Jab in Gardufar. After forcing the Scorpion Men back into the Footprint, in 1623 Broyan left for Nochet with a small army. The High King returned to Whitewall late the following year with a new army of adventurers, mercenaries, pirates, and devotees, preparing to invade Dragon Pass, but in 1625 the High King was assassinated by Lunar sorcery.

 

Heortland is now in turmoil. Although much of Broyan's army has drifted away, the core of it is still there, dominating the local temples, claiming land and herds. Without Broyan, they have no single established leader. Some look to Kallyr, some to Harrek, others to Argrath, and still others think about making themselves kings or warlords in their own right. Meanwhile, Scorpion Men reemerge from the Footprint, raiding ever deeper into the former Vandarland and Bandori.

 

Stereotype

Bronze-armored clans of Orlanth-worshipers, herders famous for their quarrels and feuds. Men are emotional, often violently passionate, with swiftly shifting opinions and feelings. Women are cunning, practical and vengeful. The Vandari are mostly loyal to the God-King, while the Volsaxi are inveterate rebels. In comparison to the Vandari and Volsaxi, the Esvular are seen as comparatively prudent and less adventurous. They all hate Chaos. 

 

Common Attitudes

Heortlanders are loyal to their clan above all, and are devoted to their gods. They are open to foreigners and foreign ideas, particular from Esrolia, whom they have much contact with through cult, trade, and marriage.

 

Religion

They worship the Lightbringer gods and Esrolian goddesses. Storm Bull is an important war god, and the bull god resides atop Stormwalk Mountain. The Invisible God is revered as the Creator by the Aeolians of Esvular.

 

Climate

Heortland is wetter than either Esrolia or the Shadow Plateau and is the only part of the Holy Country that regular gets snowfalls in winter. 

 

Durengard Temperature and Precipitation 

Season	Temp (low/high)	Rainfall (cm/days)	Prevailing Winds	Snow (cm)
Sea-Early	6/22	15/20	Southwesterly	—
Sea-Late	11/23	15/18	Southwesterly	—
Fire-Early	16/26	8/8	Southwesterly	—
Fire-Late	22/32	5/6	Southwesterly	—
Earth-Early	13/26	2/3	Southwesterly	—
Earth-Late	9/19	3/4	Southwesterly	—
Dark-Early	2/13	6/6	Northerly	—
Dark-Late	–4/6	12/11	Northerly	40
Storm-Early	-3/7	15/18	Northerly	45
Storm-Late	-2/13	7/18	Northerly	1
Sacred Time	3/22	6/9	Southwesterly	—

Total Precipitation: 94 cm rain, with 86 cm snow.

REGIONS 

Esvular

Culture/Religion: Esvularing/Aeolian

 

Bandori: This Esvularing tribe has an ancient alliance with the sorcerers who rule the city of Refuge. The Lunar conquest of Heortland did not extend to the Bandori, who maintain a tenuous independence from the Empire.

Duchamp (small city): This city, surrounded by fertile countryside, sits along the main road down from the Heortland Plateau. It is governed by a council of guilds and temples. Duchamp is the location of the Jelenkev School, famous for its copying of manuscripts from all over Glorantha.

Mount Passant (large city):The largest settlement of the Esvularing people was built with the aid of Belintar after the old capital, Bensval, was razed. It has the largest Aeolian temple in the Holy Country. The actual name of the city is Demthal, but everyone calls it Mount Passant after the hill that stride forward to defend this area in the God Time.

 

Vizel (small city): This city is squeezed between the Vizel Inlet and the high cliffs of the Heortland Plateau. The inhabitants are mostly Aeolian fishermen, who nonetheless offer sacrifices to Pelaskos and Choralinthor, and a surprising number of scholars and sages have been attracted to the city by its protection of Free Inquiry. 

 

Gardufar

Culture/Religion: Heortling/Orlanthi

Backford (small city):This fortified city is the safest crossing of the cursed Syphon River. Backford was the center of the God-King’s cult in Heortland, and was connected to the City of Wonders by a magical bridge. The magical Fish Road still stops here on its run from Deeper up the Syphon River.

 

Durengard (large city): This was once the tribal center of the Hurlant tribe, and later the capital of the Sixth of Heortland. Located on the Bullflood River, Durengard is the main port for Heortland and its political center. The massive fortress-palace was built in the Nochet style by Belintar for the rulers of the Sixth of Heortland after the Volsaxi rebellion. 

 

Jab Hills: These wooded hills are currently infested with scorpion men from the Footprint. The Chaos Queen claims this area as part of her “Queendom of Jab”.

Jansholm (large city): This fortified river island was the tribal center for the Jondalaring tribe and is now the capital of Karhend Province. The Lunar army took this city by treachery in 1620; it was reclaimed by rebels in 1622.

Karse (small city):Karse is the most important port for offloading goods destined for Sartar, or through Sartar to Prax and Tarsh. The locals are expert boat makers. Temples to Diros, Pelaskos, Poverri, and Choralinthor stand near the harbor. Despite its strong fortifications, the city fell to the Lunars in 1619 after a dramatic assault by land and sea. Since the collapse of Lunar rule, the city now alternates between Esrolian and Wolf Pirate rule.

Larnste’s Footprint: This large, unnatural, Chaos-tainted valley is surrounded by steep cliffs. The unnatural Syphon River flows up backwards into the Footprint. Larnste the Changer once saw the squirming thing Krarsht and sought to eliminate that Chaos evil from the world. When Larnste tried to step on the foulness, Krarsht sprang to bite the god. Where Larnste bled, there rose up a foul and evil forest, a perfect nesting place for all things chaotic. A forest made entirely of stone trees grows at the edge of the Foulblood Woods and halts the spread of the Chaos within. 

Leskos (small city): This seaside city lies at the mouth of a steep ravine leading up to the Heortland Plateau and is surrounded by thousand foot high cliffs. It is defended by an ancient fortification; most of the inhabitants are Esvularing. It serves as the port for Durengard and is ruled by a ring of local merchants. 

Lylket (ruin): These are the ruins of a port city founded by the God Learners near the mouth of the Marzeel River. It grew rich off trade between the Middle Sea Empire and Dragon Pass, and contained a major Lhankor Mhy Temple, famed for its troll lore. The city was destroyed when trolls entered in by secret tunnels known only to them.  

Malkonwal, Kingdom of: The southern half of the Heortland Plateau is divided by several fast-moving rivers that flow down from the snow-capped Storm Mountains. It is a hilly land of farms and woods. The farmers are mostly Orlanthi, but the southernmost area is Esvularing, as are most of the city folk. When the governor of Heortland died in 1617, the Western adventurer Rikard the Tiger-Hearted seized power in Gardufar and Esvular as the “King of Malkonwal”. However, he was defeated by the Lunar Empire in 1620. 

Stonewood: A forest made entirely of stone trees “grows” in the Footprint, halting the spread of Chaos from the Foulblood Woods. Everything here is made of living stone, even the animals (which move incredibly slowly).
 

Sklar (small city): This city is squeezed between the mouth of the Solthi River and the cliffs of the Heortland Plateau. The people are fishermen and boatwrights, best known for their colorful houses. The city boasts shrines to Orlanth, Pelaskos, and Poverri.

 

Storm Mountains:These formidable crags rise abruptly from the Heortland Plateau, separating it from Prax. Forests cover their upper slopes. Several clans of Wind Children live in aeries which cluster about the steep peaks and cliff faces of these mountains.

Stormwalk Mountain:The largest peak of the Storm Mountains, Stormwalk is one of the Great Sacred Mountains of the Orlanthi. Urox the Storm Bull took a mountain god and twisted its head off, and the mountain is the body. It has a discernable spiral pathway rising around its sides, seven times around to reach the ice-covered top. Some say that the temple there can call winds which lead upward to the inner temple of Orlanth and beyond, to other celestial realms. Like many geographic features of the Holy Country it is colossal: some 10,000 feet in height. Herds of sky bulls can always be found nearby. 

Syphon River: This evil river flows backward from Choralinthor Bay some 80 miles uphill into Larnste’s Footprint, and then down a deep hole into the Underworld. The Syphon River has always flowed into this hole, for it alone of all the waters of the world refused the call of Magasta.

Volsaxar

Culture/Religion: Heortling/Orlanthi

Tribes: Volsaxi, Kultain, Sylangi, Bacofi

 

Derensev: This Great Library of Lhankor Mhy is located in the tribal lands of the Kultain, who are sworn to defend it. The sages are famed for their oratorical prowess.

Hendrikiland:This rugged land between the Storm Mountains and the Shadow Plateau is the ancient homeland of the Hendriking tribe. Whitewall is its capital. It is populated largely by herders and their livestock of cattle and sheep. The Hendrikings were famed as fierce bandits and magicians, and that reputation continues with their Volsaxing heirs. Ancient tombs of kings and heroes litter the landscape.

Marzeel River: This river flows 140 miles from its headwaters in the Storm Mountains to Choralinthor Bay. Its upper reaches are fierce and rushing, but the lower river is wide and slow near its mouth. The Marzeel used to join the Creek-Stream River before Belintar diverted that great river’s course.

Sen Senrenen: This is the ancient homeland of the Hendrikings, a rugged land of hills and valleys populated by herders of sheep and cattle. The locals have a reputation as fierce bandits and powerful magicians. The tombs of ancient kings litter the landscape.

Smithstone (small city): This city is wealthy from its abundant bronze and from its many redsmiths, considered the finest in the Holy Country. The Redsmith Guild dominates the city’s affairs. The city was built around the anvil stone of the smithing god Gustbran.

Volsaxiland: This rich valley is home to a stubbornly proud people who harvest barley and raise dairy cattle. Bronze is very common here. The Volsaxi successfully rebelled against Belintar in 1340 and established an independent kingdom here that on occasion ruled most of Heortland. After over a century of rebellion, Belintar aided the Kitori to defeat the Volsaxi and they imposed a harsh tribute on the tribe. In 1550, Tarkalor of the Royal House of Sartar defeated the Kitori with his Yelmalio allies and forced the half-trolls back to the Troll Woods. In 1617, King Broyan of the Volsaxi magically resurrected the Hendriking kingdom and proved himself heir to the demigod Vingkot who once ruled all of Dragon Pass and Kethaela.

Whitewall (small city):Capital city of the Volsaxi and ancient religious center for the Hendrikings. An impregnable fortress built atop solid rock, it is surrounded by high gleaming white stone walls some 50 feet high and 30 feet thick, and the city is well-provided with granaries and wells. Within the walls are temples to Orlanth and Ernalda, and their pantheon. A star god has defended the city since the Darkness. 

[Jeff]

And it is worth getting a feel for how much has happened in this area in the last decade:

About a season ago (1625), the Lunar Army in Dragon Pass was destroyed by the Dragonrise. One of Broyan's lieutenants (Kallyr) makes herself ruler of Sartar.

About two seasons ago (1625), the High King and many of his companions and followers were killed by a demon summoned by the Lunar College of Magic. He left no heir or successor. 

About four or five seasons ago (late 1624), the High King returned to Whitewall with adventurers, mercenaries, Wolf Pirates, Esrolians, Sartarites, etc., after an absence of over a year and a half.

More than two years ago (1623), the High King left for Esrolia. He defeated the Feathered Horse Queen, defended Nochet from the Lunars, and defeated the Lunars (with the aid of Harrek the Berserk) at the Battle of Pennel Ford.

Three years ago (1622), the High King returned from hiding, gathered an army, and defeated the Lunar Army at the Battle of Auroch Hills. The Lunars were forced out of the area.

Four years ago (1621) Whitewall fell to the Lunar Army at terrible cost.

Six years ago (1619), the siege of Whitewall began. The Lunars reorganised the local tribes, and started an unexpectedly long stay in force.

Nine years ago (1616), Broyan became High King and reforged the Hendriki Tribe.

[Jeff]

The site of Whitewall goes back to before the Dawn, and it includes cyclopean walls that are variously claimed to have been built by demigods before Time, by dwarfs in the Unity Council days. or laid by Hendrik the Rebel (although most of these claims are likely false, as most of the wall circuit dates no earlier than the late Second Age). Most of the fortification are much more recent, being rebuilt in the 1570s with Sartarite masons (paid for by Belintar). Whitewall has been an important center of the Orlanth cult since the Dawn, and was independent of Lokamayadon, the EWF, and Belintar the God-King. 

 

The city is divided into an Upper City and a Lower City. It rests atop a flattish rock hill with two "peaks." The higher peak is the Upper City. The entire hill top is surrounded by huge stone walls, up to 10 meters high and 3.5 to 5 meters thick. Both the Upper and Lower City have water sources. A fissure in the Upper City rock was created in 1050 when the Vent in Caladraland had a huge eruption, and much of Kethaelan was shook by huge earthquakes. Although this badly damaged the old walls, it exposed springs within the rock, which meant that Whitewall had an independent water supply.

 

A. North Gate. This is the gate that leads to the Gaven River. Although I labeled it as the Main Gate, it isn't. It is significantly smaller than the South Gate. It was rebuilt in the 1590s with Sartarite masons.

B. Upper Gate. This is the gate between the Lower City and the Upper City (or acropolis). It badly damaged by the Crimson Bat in 1619.

C. Great Temple of Orlanth. This is the great temple of the Hendrikings, a sacred place dating back to the Dawn. It has many shrines to Orlanth and the Lightbringer deities. The main temple was rebuilt during the reigns of Tarkalor and Terasarin with Sartarite masons.

D. Palace. This is the Upper City of Whitewall, and home to its priest-king, and his companions, bodyguards, scribes, and priests. It is built in the same Esrolian style as Clearwine.

E. Assembly Grounds. This small rocky hill is where the tribe assembly meets. It is sacred to the Orlanth cult. Broyan brought it the Orlanth Rex statue with the Sword and Helm and it is the center of that cult in Heortland.

F. Market. The market was extensively 

G. Town. This is the Lower City of Whitewall, and traditionally home to most of its population of crafters, labourers, and traders.

H. Village. This is village on the Gaven River and where many visitors and pilgrims stay.

I. South Gate. This is the main gate into Whitewall from the North Vale and connects to the Royal Road between Sartar and the Holy Country. It is an imposing stone fortification, originally built around 1400-1420 and then extensively improved in the 1570s with Sartarite masons. 

[Jeff]

Prior to 1621, Whitewall was the cult center and assembly place for at least four tribes - the Volsaxar, Bacon, Curtali, Sylangi - as well as an important Great Temple for the other Heortland Orlanth and the Kitori. Since 1570 or so, it has been under the rule of the Volsaxar, but from about 1540 to 1570 it was under the rule of the Kitori (who took it from the Volsaxi). The politics of this region is a mess. I know that Broyan is the first king who managed to be more than "first among equals" since the demise of the Hendriki kingdom in 1317, and managed to make himself the High King, or King of the Four Winds, or whatever weird title he had. Even those who opposed him recognised his uniquely magical authority. But Broyan died earlier in 1625, killed by the Lunar College of Magic and his short-lived realm has no heirs. I doubt he left any institutions, or even traditions of rule, as the timeline below shows.

 

A quick timeline

1615-1616 - Volsaxi raid Lunar Sartar.

1617 - Broyan returns from Dragon Pass with the Sword and Helm of Vingkot. Broyan acclaimed as King of Hendrikings.

1618 - Civil War in Heortland between Broyan and Richard Tiger-Hearted.

1619 - Lunars invade Heortland. Siege of Whitewall.

1620 - Lunars conquer Malkonwal. Siege of Whitewall.

1621 - Siege continues. Whitewall falls to Lunar Empire and is "destroyed". Broyan in hiding. Great Winter.

1622 - Broyan returns from hiding. Lunars defeated at Battle of Auroch Hills.

1623 - Broyan fights Jab. Broyan goes to Esrolia. Siege of Nochet.

1624 - Lunars routed at Battle of Pennel Ford. Broyan returns to Whitewall.

1625 - Lunars kill Broyan. Dragonrise destroys Lunar domination of Dragon Pass. Kallyr Starbrow becomes Prince of Sartar. Kallyr fails LBQ.

1626 - Kallyr killed at Battle of Queens (rules only three seasons). 

1627 - Argrath becomes Prince of Sartar. Wolf Pirates in Heortland. Wolf Pirates sack Whitewall (?).

1628 - Argrath fights Wolf Pirates. Argrath allies with Wolf Pirates and is acclaimed "King of Kethaela". Battle of Heroes.

 

By 1625, the tribal structure around Whitewall is pretty much broken. In the previous five years, there's been:

1618-1621: somewhere between 5,000 and 20,000 Lunar soldiers have been camped out in the North Vale and the Markdale, building camps, making walls, launching assaults and magical attacks, etc. This likely did tremendous damage to the Sylangi, Bacon, and Volsaxi tribes.

1622-1624: Hendriking rebellion. Clans and temples look directly to the High King for support and loyalty, rather than to tribal intermediaries. Many warriors, volunteers, and devotees travel to Esrolia to follow the High King and fight the Empire.

1625: Broyan gathers a small (maybe 1,500 to 5,000) army of adventurers, volunteers, mercenaries, and devotees from Heortland, Sartar, Esrolia, and the Wolf Pirates. Instead, Broyan is killed by Lunar sorcery. 

 

Although much of Broyan's army likely drifts away, the core of it probably still there, dominating the local temples, claiming land and herds. I'd assume the head of the Orlanth temple is a Storm Voice with the support of many of these adventurers. This situation is like very fluid and unstable. Without Broyan, they have no single established leader. Some look to Kallyr, some to Harrek, others to Argrath, and still others think about making themselves kings or warlords in their own right.

[Sumath]

@Jeff What should the entry for Whitewall's market say? That sentence is unfinished in the post above.

[Joerg]

I am a bit astonished to read that Belintar paid for the repair/expansion of the Whitewall fortifications (done by Sartarite masons).

Was this something of a peace offering to the Volsaxi? Or did he feel the need to balance the influence of High King Tarkalor?

 

And I really really really hate the "cursed river" drivel about the Syphon, the first of the Chaos-fighting rivers which never ever turned away from his duty - not during the Flood Age, not in the subsequent dry period, not when the Spike imploded. People fighting the Chaos from the Foulblood Forest ought to fortify themselves with its waters.

[M Helsdon]

4 hours ago, Jeff said:

The site of Whitewall goes back to before the Dawn, and it includes cyclopean walls that are variously claimed to have been built by demigods before Time, by dwarfs in the Unity Council days. or laid by Hendrik the Rebel (although most of these claims are likely false, as most of the wall circuit dates no earlier than the late Second Age). Most of the fortification are much more recent, being rebuilt in the 1570s with Sartarite masons (paid for by Belintar). Whitewall has been an important center of the Orlanth cult since the Dawn, and was independent of Lokamayadon, the EWF, and Belintar the God-King. 

Think I may have to redo this...

Edited April 4, 2019 by M Helsdon

[Julian Lord]

We were writing something not unconnected to Heortland, east and west of it both, but it never reached anything near a publishable state -- and overall, this looks good.

Though I'd tend to agree with Joerg on the particular he suggests concerning the Syphon River -- I actually had a bit of a to-and-fro with Greg about it, and he tended to support my view that it's a reverse tributary of the sub-sea portion of the Creekstream River system (winding its way along a wide valley on the seabed), but he also said that too many details provided about the Syphon in particular could potentially hinder the creativity of individual GMs and players.

FWIW in the HW/HQ 3 otherworlds cosmology, Greg described Syphon as a god, not a spirit.

Greg's map of Whitewall is rather helpful !!

Edited April 4, 2019 by Julian Lord

[Lysus]

4 hours ago, Jeff said:

Prior to 1621, Whitewall was the cult center and assembly place for at least four tribes - the Volsaxar, Bacon, Curtali, Sylangi - as well as an important Great Temple for the other Heortland Orlanth and the Kitori. Since 1570 or so, it has been under the rule of the Volsaxar, but from about 1540 to 1570 it was under the rule of the Kitori (who took it from the Volsaxi). The politics of this region is a mess. I know that Broyan is the first king who managed to be more than "first among equals" since the demise of the Hendriki kingdom in 1317, and managed to make himself the High King, or King of the Four Winds, or whatever weird title he had. Even those who opposed him recognised his uniquely magical authority. But Broyan died earlier in 1625, killed by the Lunar College of Magic and his short-lived realm has no heirs. I doubt he left any institutions, or even traditions of rule, as the timeline below shows.

I think the Bacon tribe is my new favorite group of Orlanthi. 😂

[Christoph Kohring]

On 4/4/2019 at 5:06 PM, Jeff said:

By 1625, the tribal structure around Whitewall is pretty much broken. In the previous five years, there's been:

1618-1621: somewhere between 5,000 and 20,000 Lunar soldiers have been camped out in the North Vale and the Markdale, building camps, making walls, launching assaults and magical attacks, etc. This likely did tremendous damage to the Sylangi, [Bacofi], and Volsaxi tribes.

 

Including, of course, the coming & staying of the Crimson Bat until it was repelled/ killed by Broyan the Argrath. 

Oh & this whole thread properly belongs in the Glorantha part of the forum & not in the RQ part, but that goes without saying!?!

Edited April 11, 2019 by Christoph Kohring

[Steve3742]

On 4/10/2019 at 9:12 PM, Christoph Kohring said:

Oh & this whole thread properly belongs in the Glorantha part of the forum & not in the RQ part, but that goes without saying!?!

I dunno, the opening post by Jeff read very much like a Homeland section from the RQG book. Could do with some more details - I'm interested in the Esvular as it would be interesting to see how RQG handles characters from part-Malkioni background. I noticed RQG had no opportunities to create a wizard or even sorcery-using character during character generation, despite have Esrolia as a homeland (as we know there are wizards in Esrolia - there's a whole section of Nochet called Meldektown, albeit outside the main walls). I'd like to read more about the Aeolian church and how it combines Malkioni sorcery with Orlanthi theism.

Edited April 12, 2019 by Steve3742
Spelling/Punctuation

[Prinz Slasar]

Nice, to see RQG-Glorantha grows step by step.

[jajagappa]

If I recall correctly, the Whitewall map had been posted to the G+ group before that went down, but since folks in the Facebook forum are looking for Whitewall in 1618, I'm posting here for reference.

 

[Julian Lord]

Leskos : I'd suggest "coastal" instead of "seaside".

Larnste’s Footprint : "unnatural" repeated ; use "backwards" or "reverse" or "contrary" or "invasive" for the Syphon maybe ?

[Polaris]

This is pretty interesting thread, expecially details around Whitewall. I’ve been wondering why there is no decent map available of that city nor any pictures?  It’s anyway quite important scenery in Gloranthan history.

[jajagappa]

22 minutes ago, Polaris said:

This is pretty interesting thread, expecially details around Whitewall. I’ve been wondering why there is no decent map available of that city nor any pictures?

There hasn't previously been any content/scenarios for Whitewall (despite varied plans over the years). But you can certainly work with the above map in the interim until the Whitewall book advances in the queue.

[10baseT]

If i'm looking at southern Heortland, small towns, villages, etc where the Aeolians are in charge (think Vizel, Mt Pasant area), what would their leader be called? A chief, talar, thane, lord? I'm guessing talar and how would he be addressed, something like Talar Joe? Would all Aeolian nobles be referred to as this.

This also leads me to the sorcerors or priest. How is an Aeolian priest called... if he was an advisor as well, maybe Councilor or Advisor? And would his skin be blueish? Maybe his lineage is watered down from true blue Zzaburi so he only has a tint of blue?

[Joerg]

I think that talar is the collective name for people of the talar caste rather than a specific office. A bit like "thane" is in the old-fashioned naming of Heortlings (nowadays we are going to see the blander and IMO with misleadingly medieval or even absolutism era overtones) "noble".

An Aeolian priest is most likely called a priest if he serves a deity in a priestly role. If they are rolled up using ordinary RQG rules, more than a quarter of the zzabur caste among the Aeolians have no chance at all to learn sorcery. Half again that many will have at best a rudimentary selection of magic available. It isn't clear what spells or rituals would be used by a sorcerer holding a Malkioni service, but it is likely that part of those marginally able sorcerers may be recruited to do so in remote villages where Aeolians have no access to one of their greater temples.

Judging from the population numbers, about half the people in Esvular are regular Heortlings, outside of the marriage market of the endogamous three castes of the Aeolians, and there will be Pelaskites as well. It isn't clear whether they share villages or even clans with Aeolians, but at least in larger towns there will be people from both origins co-existing and mingling at least in day-to-day life.

Endogamous groups aren't that rare in Heortling society - triaties basically are an endogamous group with well-described pools of husbands and brides, and (in case of population imbalances) with hard times for the excess sex in some of the clans when it comes to monogamous marriages.

It isn't quite clear whether Aeolian endogamy is about marriages or about sex in general.

 

The neighboring Ingareen sorcerers come in hues of blue, with at least the powerful sorcerers among them enjoying superhuman life spans. The Aeolians with endogamous breeding for their sorcerer caste would have as good a chance to preserve the blue tint as the Ingareens (whose specific marriage rites aren't known to me), provided their colony started out with a blue-skinned zzabur caste at (or before) the Dawn.

[Sir_Godspeed]

There might be a specific title, like "Talar of All Esvulari" or "Talar of Mt.Passant/Demthal" that denotes someone as the overall ruler of the Esvulari. 

If talar is purely a collective caste name (like Kshatriya in hinduism), then some other, specific title might be used instead, ie. King, Duke, etc.

[jajagappa]

9 hours ago, Sir_Godspeed said:

"Talar of All Esvulari" or "Talar of Mt.Passant/Demthal" that denotes someone as the overall ruler of the Esvulari.

There is no current overall ruler. Rikard Tiger-hearted took the title of King of New Malkonwal, but with his capture and subsequent disappearance, the area was briefly under Lunar military governors (outside of Bandori). Once the Lunars left, it's fallen largely onto local rulers.  There will be a Talar of Mount Passant, a Talar of Refuge, but no one coordinating the whole area.  And now the scorpionmen are coming...

[Joerg]

2 hours ago, jajagappa said:

There is no current overall ruler. Rikard Tiger-hearted took the title of King of New Malkonwal, but with his capture and subsequent disappearance, the area was briefly under Lunar military governors (outside of Bandori). Once the Lunars left, it's fallen largely onto local rulers.  There will be a Talar of Mount Passant, a Talar of Refuge, but no one coordinating the whole area.  And now the scorpionmen are coming...

I'd make that "Ruling Talar of ..." rather than just "Talar of ...", as you can also be the "Talar of road maintenance" (with Talar more or less being synonymous to the Dara Happan "Overseer") or "Talar of silk commerce" (a silk merchant, probably of the Garzeen variety, and likely an initiate of Issaries, as the Talar and Worker castes of the Esvulari doesn't use sorcery).

The Esvulari are shielded from the Scorpionman outbreak for the time being. While there may be a certain number in Durengard (which becomes a frontier city after Backford falls) and Vizel (similar), Duchamp and Mt Passant are rear echelon postings, and the lands of rural Esvulari start only south of that line.

The really bad news is that the capture of Backford means that all the Storm Bull defenders at the mouth of the Footprint will have fallen valiantly and futilely. Without those specialists, it would take a strong leader with a bunch of magician units under his banner to deal with the threat.

King of Sartar has an entry in Minaryth Blue's memoirs for 1628 (the year Argrath fought Harrek to a stand-still in a duel beneath the Guardian Cranes of the Rightarm Islands) (p.182):

Quote

1628  Jarang Bladesong leads us against Wolf Pirates in Hendrikiland. No combat.
Nice place, but too flat. ...

Hendrikiland would be all the way down to the Heortland Plateau, at least Jansholm, probably further south.

No combat means that the scorpionman threat appears to have been dealt with by someone else already.

Would Harrek have hired out his services to whoever had an interest and the financial means to make going to Backford worth his while? There isn't that much that would attract the Wolf Pirates to Backford even if they get to plunder it dry - the scorpionmen will not have cared much about portable wealth, and way more for food and victims (to increase their standing with their queen(s). The queens may have collected some obvious treasure, though, and possibly spent some, too, but with the Lunars gone, there wouldn't be many people willing to trade with them. (Except maybe the odd wolf pirate, finding the scorpion queens ready buyers for captives from the coasts.)

KoS p.18 has this encounter in Argrath's Saga:

Quote

Argrath and Harrek engaged in a grim battle upon the marsh strands of Kethaela, but neither  was  able  to  defeat  the  other. 
[Not  even  onrushing  tides  slowed  them,  not  even  a hurricane, not even the guardian cranes (footnote 71: Thirty‑foot tall birds which guarded the islands of Kethaela.)  stopped them.]

The rectangular brackets indicate additional material from Harrek's Saga, used by the southern version of the Saga.

Esvular has a sufficient amount of marsh strands, but the Guardian Cranes are described only for the Rightarm Isles. There may be some east of the Troll Strait, but if so, hitherto not really documented there. (The cranes in the RQG Bestiary p.145 appear to be smaller specimen - while a 1.3 meter tall crane weighs about 3 to 6 kg, a specimen about 8 times that tall would weigh about 500 times as much (8 by the power of 3 is 512). 1.5 to 3 metric tons is heavier than even the larger sky bulls.)

 

Anyway, it looks like Backford wasn't yet taken over by the scorpionfolk in early 1628. The sourcebook doesn't really give a date, only has it after the Dragonrise (and outside of Tatius' responsibility). Argrath Saga has it as part of the Battle of Heroes, parallel to the chaos outbreak from Snake Pipe Hollow (KoS p.19), naming them "half shapeless things".

 

There is another species of dangerous stelting birds of those beaches are the bloodbirds, possibly a reason why there is only limited grazing on the tidal flats even where these could feed on the common glasswort (a main vegetable gathering crop for the Pelaskites, Ducks and Newtlings of Choralinthor Bay).

[Jeff]

On 3/11/2020 at 5:01 PM, 10baseT said:

If i'm looking at southern Heortland, small towns, villages, etc where the Aeolians are in charge (think Vizel, Mt Pasant area), what would their leader be called? A chief, talar, thane, lord? I'm guessing talar and how would he be addressed, something like Talar Joe? Would all Aeolian nobles be referred to as this.

This also leads me to the sorcerors or priest. How is an Aeolian priest called... if he was an advisor as well, maybe Councilor or Advisor? And would his skin be blueish? Maybe his lineage is watered down from true blue Zzaburi so he only has a tint of blue?

Depends on local custom - and whether this is an old Bandori/Esvulari territory or whether this is an area where the rulers are Aeolian but most of the population are Orlanthi. In the former, the ruler is probably called "talar". In the latter, the ruler is probably chief or king.

[dumuzid]

Is there any more detail to be had on how Broyan died?

[10baseT]

5 hours ago, Joerg said:

common glasswort (a main vegetable gathering crop for the Pelaskites, Ducks and Newtlings of Choralinthor Bay).

Is glasswort a tuber, like taro? (Salt Point, Great Brackmarsh, Vulari Peninsula area)

[Sir_Godspeed]

1 hour ago, 10baseT said:

Is glasswort a tuber, like taro? (Salt Point, Great Brackmarsh, Vulari Peninsula area)

If it's based on the RW glasswort, then it's actually a kind of succulent weed, as it were. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasswort