From: ROBERTSON@sc.intel.com
Date: Mon 21 Jan 1991 - 09:56:33 EET
> The main query is why does the writeup of SB in CoP, when taken with
> the other cults and in the Companion, make SB look like one of the
> major Gods, when this seems to conflict with the actual mechanics
Storm Bull is not even politically important in Prax. In Wyrms Footnotes 6, it mentions that though he is worshiped as a major god in Prax, outside of that area he is only a Spirit of Orlanth. A major problem is the bad PR that his worshipers have. The main use of the cult is for berserk elite frontline chaos fighters. In areas with a large Chaotic problem, their anti-social behaviour can be overlooked because of the need for their skills and spells. In areas of little chaos, Storm Bull worship is practically nil.
Have you checked on the size/political power of Prax recently? (According to Glorantha: etc. total population of prax is approximately 500,000) Prax is considered pretty small potatoes (or nearest Gloranthan equivalent) compared even to Sartar. It is made up of nomadic herders, whose favorite sport is chasing each other into the wastes and capturing various weird herd animals. There is no lasting political unity, and no cities (except Pavis, and it is mostly in ruins and overrun with Lunar bureaucrats.) The inhabitants have some larger organizations (cults), but the cults do not dictate policy. The Khan of the Bison folk will want his priests to aid him in *all* his fights, even when the enemy has similar priests on their side (As they have to when fighting other praxians). The entire area is at about the level of the Great Plains Indian cultures circa 1870 (think of the lunars as the U.S. Cavalry). The Political/Religious significance of a bunch of unwashed, boorish chaos killers is just not that large.
> eg. Priests can only learn 1 and some 2pt spells. Although "The SB
> is one of the oldest manifestations of Umath the god [Primal Aer]";
> SB beat up Lodril (not hard, I will admit :-)); SB beat up the Devil;
> "...finally there are the awesome powers of SB..."; SB is one of
> the (relatively) few cults with enchant iron; etc.
> eg. priests can only summon small sylphs. This is ridiculous. SB
> emphasizes both beast and storm/air as its major runes. See Umath quote
> above; numerous quotations about the strength of the desert wind
> in all seasons but especially Storm season; Even Orlanth Adventurous,
> who emphasises mobility above storm/air, can summon medium sylphs.
I agree that larger Sylphs would be logical for Storm Bull, Of course, I would make them a bit 'wilder' than your normal sylph. (Give 'em a nice hot, gritty, dusty form, for that desert duststorm feeling. Some minor advantages *might* accrue (choking, visibility) or this could just be special effects) You could also make size of sylph dependent on season. It would be easier to get Large+ sylphs in Storm season, not so good in Sea.
> eg. the strength characteristic of SB, such a large part of most of
> the tales of him (it? Just kidding SB!!!) is not reflected in the
> cult except for a spirit available to very few priests. "SB
> contained ...raw unthinking strength, guided by instinct and the
> sensitivities of a god."
Through his ties with Zorak Zoran, Storm Bull has access to the BERSERKER rune spell (the emphasis is on unthinking and instinctual) also, give them strength training (great, now we have a bunch of unwashed, boorish weightlifters :-)) at reduced cost. (Ortak One-tooth will now throw that bison at those Broos over there...) Just think of these guys as viking berserkers (most nordic-style fantasy stories have 'em as bad guys), who play catch-the-scorpionman for fun. Also remember, that the Bull's heart spirit is hanging out there looking for a good priest.
> eg. SB members should have some affinity with truestone (besides
> hoarding it at the Block and what they've learn't over the years).
> SB drew the Block from the edge of the world to munge the devil. This
> is (loyal SB here) the most important happening in history or pre-history
> as nothing else could have stopped the devil, so everything after this
> is nothing compared to it, and there was nothing before to even come
> close. (No bunch of 5 [ notice they were too wimpy to do it alone]
> pieces of gorp-bait are going to overthrow *THAT* deed!)
Excuse me, but he was severely beaten before that happened, and Eiritha gave him power (and created the Dead Place in prax)
And yet, the Lightbringers are well-known and loved the world over. (Good PR maybe? :-) )
I would not give Storm Bull-ers an affinity for the stuff, because the Block was only a piece of the Spike, the original God's Home. If anyone should have an affinity for it, it would be those of poor dead ACOS, who made the spike in the first place. After all, Storm Bull already owns the biggest chunk of Truestone. If they were specially attuned to it, they *would* be more powerful & wider ranging.
> Basically, I feel that a number of changes should be made to SB in
> CoP to reflect the statements. Firstly, SB priests can learn all common
> rune spells. Secondly, SB priests can summon all sizes of sylphs.
> Strength made 1/2 price to lay, free to initiates (double time to
> learn, 1/2 cost = normal time).
In RQIII Gods of Glorantha, they get all common divine spells, plus specials, plus 'loaned' spells.
> I haven't worked out anything about truestone yet.
Don't. They already have the corner on the market (All truestone collected at the Block is owned by the Cult, and they scour the areas around for more.)
> I don't think the above really changes much outside the cult. There
> really has to be a reason why SB worshipers haven't been munged before
> and pretty much wiped out (they are pretty anti-social and must have
> really upset the gentile EoTWF). They have always been a small bunch
> interested in one thing and so these changes won't, I feel, overbalance
> the cult while making the mechanics at least look somewhat like the
> Gloranthan background.
The Empire of the Wyrms Friends didn't go into Prax, and Stormbull was only really strong in Prax.
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