Rat's Nest 1/ratsnest1.iso/incoming/rqkamaa.arj/VOL08SUP.001

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[Tom Zunder's Sun County interpretation.  Part 1, introduction]

From: Tom Zunder <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 20:49 GMT
Subject: My Sun County Campaign 1992

So here we go, much of the following is copyright Mike
O'Brien, Chaosium or myself. Please do not distribute for
commercial gain or otherwise without permission of all
copyright holders.

Sun County Campaign 1992

Players Introduction:

Hello and welcome to Glorantha. This world of mystery, action,
adventure and the absurd is yours to explore and, hopefully,
to enjoy.

For the next four weeks I will be refereeing RuneQuest 3 on
Tuesday evenings at my house. I thank you for agreeing to play
and hope that you will have an enjoyable and exciting time.
The game will start at 8pm (children permitting) and will run
until 10.30-11. If people wish to take up the opportunity to
play more sessions then we can discuss that en route..

This Players Pack gives some basic information about Sun
County, around which the games will revolve, including
information personal to your character. Many of the rumours,
tips or articles will be unique to you and you may wish to
offer this information to others in or out of play.

Although I have a fascination with Gloranthan arcana and
mythology I want the game to run primarily on interaction and
excitement, with the mass of knowledge about the world
percolating through rather than over emphasised. This will be
a powerful set of games, the player characters are on the
while quite well equipped and experienced and I would expect
some vigorous action. In addition the players have a long
experience of role-playing and a wealth of knowledge of
Glorantha itself, so I would hope that active role-playing and
enjoyment of a sociable nature will be enjoyed.

On a final note I would like to remind you that many of you
will know far more about certain aspects of Glorantha than I
do, as such I would hope that we can jointly enjoy telling a
story about Greg Stafford's world...



What to bring

        Yourself
        Your character
        Your dice
        Your pencil
        Your music
        Your imagination!

What not to bring

        A rubber band ball
        Two rusty nails
        Three binbags
        A big dish of small peanuts
        The Bagblatter Beast of Trall
        Any of the very sad people we met at University (or is that us?)
    The Dungeon Master's Guide

The Background

The Year is 1621 ST, the day Wildday/Illusion Week/Earth
Season. The world of Glorantha spirals towards the Hero Wars.
The Volsaxi in Maniria still fight for their survival, the
siege of Whitewall continues, last year's desperation has
lifted slightly, as the Lunar forces seem to be losing
momentum in their progress into the Holy Country. The
Hendriki, defeated last year are experiencing the pleasures of
Pax Lunar. Sartar still suffers under the heel of Fazzur
Wideread's occupation and Prax is awash with rumours about the
future of Governor Sor-Eel after the escape of the Sartar
outlaw, Jinlyn Gusty, from detention in Pavis earlier this
year, she is still on the run.

Balazaar was occupied by Lunar forces two years ago and the
fighting there has ended. It has been a hot year and their
have been several vicious raids on the Morocanth by the Impala
riders, making the plains particularly hairy for unprotected
travellers. Chaos has been as invidious as ever, particularly
disbanded Tusk Rider units who having left Lunar service have
remained on the chaparral wreaking havoc on the nomads and any
farming communities unfortunate enough to border.

You are in the town of Garhound, for reasons about to be
elucidated, and are enjoying the warm weather of this
interesting year.

Rumours

"The hazia trade from Sun County has undergone a major explosion,
addiction in Peloria is rising at a fast rate and the prices are
falling. Cynics say that either Lunar criminals are exploiting the
spread of the Red Moon or the Orlanthi are growing the stuff as
revenge."

"Sun County will be annexed into the Empire this year, Sor-Eel will be
replaced for having failed to incorporate this into the Glowline."

"The Bilberry harvest was ruddy awful this year."


The Garhound Contest

What You Know After A Night

In your mead muddled past you have sometimes heard of the Contest of
Garhound. A small town of ex Sartar Orlanthi in Pavis County, it is a
unique event taking place in the week before the town's annual Harvest
Festival (Godday / Truth Week / Earth Season). The farmers of this
region are descendants of Sir Declan Garhound and still follow the
traditions of their homeland. Custom dictates that each year a Harvest
Queen, representative of Ernalda, be selected from amongst the local
maidens and a contest is held to choose the male warrior to play the
role of HusbandProtector in the forthcoming rituals.

Whilst a city dweller might be cynical of the belief that the worthier
the warrior the greater Ernalda's bounty in the coming year, the local
lawspeaker can recount such prrof as the marvellous harvest of 1604ST
when young Garreth Sharpsword won the crown and (in a low whisper) the
terrible blight of '99 when Squatbrow Broo-bane, a Pol Joni, won but
already had three other wives.


Rumours

"Kings Head Ale is brewed in a Sartar clan homeland by a hare
spirit and a troll"

"Griselda has retired from adventuring and has taken up with a
man" {{see TOTRM 7}}


{{I inserted my write-up of the Garhound contest here, this
was largely from Sun County and it would not be fair on MOB
to reproduce that here.}}


The Dreams of Storm Bull
Hallgrim Ironfist's Intro

(Hallgrim Ironfist is a monstrously skilled Storm Kahn of the
Pol Joni, (I inherited him from another campaign) and has
only 1 POW following a run in with a Seven Mothers RuneLord,
who now has 2 POW!!)

Following your adventures during the siege of Whitewall you
are encouraged by Storm Bull to return to the Block for the
High Holy Day of the cult.

At that ceremony, in recognition of your services to the
cause against Chaos Storm Bull grants you an ally, the spirit
of the hero Grazil GorpBurner. Bound into the ornately horned
helmet of a Storm Kahn, Grazil will aid you at all times.

Grazil GorpBurner allied spirit

POW             17
INT             13

Spirit Magic    85%

Fanaticism 1, Heal 2, Bladesharp 2, Protection 2

Divine Magic    95% (all reusable)

Face Chaos 1, Impede Chaos 1

Having received the blessing of Storm Bull you receive a dream
whilst guarding the Block one night. The dream is of a
beautiful girl, her long black hair garlanded with flowers,
sitting proud on a throne on which the Earth and Life runes
are proudly carved. Her hair is rippled by the gentle wind
and behind her you can see the blazing sun. Overhead a hawk
swoops low.


To your growing concern you feel that the visage of Yelm is
changing. With growing fear you see the bright sun shift red
and the surface to break up into the craters and eerie marks
of the Red Moon! As you reach for your axe you wake up.


Remembering (from where you are not sure) the Garhound Contest
you mount your horse and, bidding your colleagues farewell,
begin the trek across the chaparral to Pavis County....


Darth Jophayn's Intro


(Darth is an almost Yelamlio RuneLord converted from RQ2 in
which he played in nearly all scenarios including the Cradle,
hence fudge later in document.)


As a loyal follow of the Sun you have adventured far and wide
in the furtherance of the glory of Yelmalio. You have endured
many trials, visited many strange places and fought beasts and
men of great number. You do, however, realise that you must
offer up service to the Temple of your Lord and as such you
offer your services to the Sun Dome Temple in Sun County. Your
maternal uncle is a retired soldier-farmer in Sun County in a
small village called Rabbit Hat Farm. Whilst meeting him at
Sun Dome your presence is noted by various authorities and you
are summoned before Solanthos IronPike, Count of all Sun
County and Ruling Light Son.


You have heard of this epic hero of the Sun, spearman
extraordinaire, slayer of several Orlanthi and Lunar heroes in
duels of his younger days. Standing before him now you can
still see the authority and dominance with which he was known,
but now the years are stealing the looks and adding pounds to
his weight.


With the Sceptre and Globe of Authority in his hands Solanthos
lectures you lengthily on the importance of young fellows
setting a proper example to the youth of today. He switches
between praising your exploits and implying that perhaps you
should do more for the cult directly. You can see he is
angling for something and after several minutes you decide to
cut through the waffle.


"My Lord, you say, "I have indeed been blessed to adventure in
the name of the Son of the Sun and I thank him with all my
heart. How can I offer to the rightful authorities my services
so as to aid the Sun?"


"My Son!" exclaims Solanthos, "I am so overcome by your offer,
so bold and like myself at your age. I do have an opportunity
for a brave lad in the Contest at Garhound...."


Yelm having risen, as the proverb goes, Solanthos explains to
you that Sun County wishes to sponsor a Champion to compete in
the Garhound Contest. Whilst Yelmalio have often competed
before it is only in recent years that a formal Sun County
Champion has been chosen and sponsored.


"Your prowess will represent us well in the contest, the
Orlanthi will be mettled by good Sun stock and the Lunars,
well, if you were to be a member of the town council for a
year.." he pauses, "I have heard that the girl, Melisande, is
a bonny lass. She'd do you well for a wife and mother.."


With that Yelm has reached full height and with Solanthos you
pass out onto the roof to dine on dates and beverages. It is
clear that great honour will be yours if you enter for the
Count, but do you wish to enter the political arena he is
proposing?



The Revised Temple of Lhankor Mhy at New Pavis
Tutor's Report
Brother Ravel's Intro

(Brother Ravel is a Sartar Lhankor Mhy sage, straight from the
rules with enough fluffing to get initiated. The player is
young and new to Glorantha but has role-palyed for years.
Plays "soft" characters and not good in fights. Big mistake I
think, stioll nice characters.)

Brother Ransitt's student having studied hard in the Temple
for over a year has reached initiate status in a good manner.
Having spent much time in Sartar as a young man he has
specialised in the philology and verbal literature of the
language and in my opinion shows a great mastery of the
tongue.

I would suggest that further studies should be pursued in the
field of society, of the way in which people interact in the
ebb and flow of life, an area which I have felt fit to name
"Socialgistics". To that end I bid you to travel Pavis and Sun
Counties and develop a thesis to be presented in one year's
time on the integration of two disparate Sartarite cultures
into Prax, giving particular note to the interaction between
the nomadic cultures of the indigenous cultures, the Air and
Sun cultures transplanted from Sartar and the influx of
Pelorians in recent years.

I would recommend the Contest at Garhound as the prime point
to begin this study, giving as it does an example of all three
cultures in close proximity and contest.

Your Brother in Truth

Sanipodix


Rites of Passage
Skeanthi the White's Intro

(Skeanthi is a Balazaring, a Yelmalio for two years and very
wet behind the ears. The player is a RQ player of long
standing and reknowned Griffin Mountain ref!)

It was a great privilege to be chosen to carry the package for
the Temple. To travel South and see the world, to see the
majesty of the Sun Dome Temple in Sun County. Already you have
been astonished in your travels, the diversity of life in
Pavis, the tales told in Pavis of the Rubble. How you wished
you could have stayed longer. But you have a duty and you must
fulfil it, to deliver a sealed package into the personal hands
of the Count of Sun County, Solanthos IronPike. That you know
your Captain has requested that you be granted permission to
dwell in Sun County serving the Count for a year has added to
your haste. To serve at the Temple and see the exciting world
of Prax!

It is good that you have spent so many years as a scout, your
small size is an advantage here allowing to flit thorugh
hostile and friendly territory without notice. You have
travelled South from Pavis and reached the market town of
Garhound. From the maps provided to you at the temple you know
this to be close to the border with Sun County and the end of
Lunar territory. To your delight the town is buzzing with
people, here for the Harvest Festival and a contest. To your
surprise you also hear that Count Solanthos will be arriving
tomorrow. Will you get to see the fabled Sun Dome after all?


Praxian Religions

Prax is an area with a wide range of religions and deities,
here is a look at the major ones;

Deities

There are four major pantheons in the Praxian area that you
need to be aware of;

Nomads

Waha                    Saviour of the Nomads, Killer of the
            Devil, the major nomad god.
Eirithra                Mother of Beasts, Herd Mother, major
            female deity.
Storm Bull              Beserker God dedicated to cleansing
            Chaos.
Daka Fal                Ancestor Worship cult, separate and yet
            complementary to the above three.

Orlanthi

Orlanth             Lord of the Wind, King, Rebel against Yelm,
            Rescuer of Yelm
Ernalda                 Earth Mother, Wife to many, the following are
            related Earth cults:

Voria                   Spring Maiden, cult of young girls and virgins
Asrelia                 The Crone, cult of the wealth hidden in the Earth
Ty Kora Tek             The Hag, goddess of Death, of return to the Earth
Babeestor Gor           The Avenging Axe, goddess of amazon defenders of
            the Earth
Eirithra                Herd Mother ( as above )

Sun

Yelm                    The Sun, King, deposed by Orlanth, not directly
            worshipped in Prax
Yelmalio                Son of the Sun, Warrior/mercenary god, the main
            god of Sun County
Dendara             The Good Wife, Fertility Mother of the Sun Cults
Lokarnos                Merchant God of the Sun

Lunar

The Red Goddess         She who was brought into being by the Seven
            Mothers, who claims the Middle Sky and rules
            from the Red Moon.  Embraces chaos and all who
            are willing to accept her rule. Very few (1%)
            of Lunars are actually initiates of the Red
            Goddess herself.

The Seven Mothers       This is the cult of the seven figures who
            brought about the creation of the Red Goddess.
            Each figure has a separate cult but the Seven
            Mothers is very much a frontier cult,
            introducing newcomers to the Lunar faiths.

Yelm                    Many Lunars are in fact Sun worshippers, Yelm
            was the major deity in Peloria and Darra Happa
            before the Red Goddess.  Thus many other gods
            in the Solar pantheon will be common amongst
            Lunars.

Similarly other cults within the Lunar pantheon are in fact
subsumed from earlier faiths, the Lunars absorb, not replace.
Their war with Orlanth, however, is fairly deadly.

Others

There are other gods who are often associated with the
dominant cult of an area but which are prevalent in many
cultures.

Humakt              God of Truth and Death, honourable soldiers cult

Eurmal                  The Trickster, worshipped by a few,
            the jesters and thieves of society

Chalana Arroy           The Healer, worshipped widely by
            dedicated healers

Issaries            The Trader, god of markets and commerce
Lankhor Mhy             The Grey Sage, seeker after Truth, the
            scholar's god

Chaos

Chaos is a prevalent and evil force in Glorantha, although the
Lunar empire says otherwise. The mad, insane and twisted
deities of chaos are many but here are those that someone in
Prax would be very aware of, those that are no longer actively
worshipped in Prax are marked with an asterisk;

*Ralzakark              The Mad God, Father of the Broos, now
            dead and gone..
Thed                    Mother of the Broos, Goddess of Rape
            and Violation, Broo Deity
Malia                   Goddess of Disease, major Broo deity,
                        Mistress of Ralzakark
Thanatar                God of the Severed Head, Stealer of
            Knowledge and Souls
Cacodemon               Ogre God, Master of Deception and
            Cannibalism
Primal Chaos        The Ooze, the slime of primeval
            and uncharacteristic Chaos
Krarsht             The Maw Beneath, cult of hideous burrowing and
                        tunnelling creatures.


Spirit Cults

There are many small spirit cults in Glorantha, spirits on the
path to godhead, with a few spells to offer and small
congregations, often members of greater cults. Spirit Cults
are worth knowing of and often worth joining for their small
benefits, with small duties.

River Gods

The river of Prax is Zola Fel and indeed Zola Fel is a deity
worshipped by boaters and other water folk.

City Gods

Most cities have a deity of some import associated with them.
In Prax the cult of Pavis is widely worshipped in the city
itself, alongside other cults. Such cults allow transient
membership as well as permanent attachment.

Non Human Gods

There are non-humans in Prax, the two most numerous are the
morocanth and the newtling. Trolls do sometimes stray from
the Big Rubble (near Pavis) and elves have been known to
visit the Sun Dome. Here are some non-human gods;

Morocanth       Worship the nomad pantheon, they are the only
        beasts who won the right to intelligence, they herd
        non-intelligent humans.

Trolls

Kyger Litor     Troll Mother
Zorak Zoran     Beserk War Lord, Chaos Foe, Foe of Yelmalio
Xiola Umbar     Troll Goddess of Healing
Argan Argar     Troll God of Commerce of Surface Darkness

Elves

Aldrya          Elf Mother
Babeestor Gor   As above
Flamal          Plant Father

Dwarves

Mostal          Not so much a god as a machine production plan

Newtling        The God of Five Thousand Eyes   unknown and
        misunderstood by humans

Zola Fel        As above