From: garydj@ditard.dit.gov.au
Date: Thu 14 Apr 1994 - 17:55:27 EEST
Hi!
As a recent Initiate to the RuneQuest Daily, I've noticed
quite a few comments on the difficulty of initiating fifteen
year olds into cults given the tough (for starting
characters) skill tests required.
[I'm sorry about the vague reference, but I haven't worked
out how to do the natty copy and paste from other messages.]
I consider the skill tests are requirements for a
stranger to join the cult. I think the tests would be
treated differently for an adolescent who is presumably well
known to the cult hierarchy (generally the
clan/village/tribal elders).
I ran a campaign for fifteen year olds some years ago. One
of the tests to join Orlanth involved lining up all the
aspiring initiates on the bank of a stream. The stream was
wide, but not deep. The soon to be adults had to jump from
one bank to the other. If they failed, they could try again
or simply wade across. As the candidates were all well
known to the clan, it was not essential they successfully
jump across the stream on their first attempt. What was
more important was the chance to demonstrate their mettle in
front of the whole clan. Thus, the candidates could
repeatedly attempt the jump to show off their courage and
determination. One player decided to dive into the stream
and then try to swim (read: flounder) across. Another got
a tree branch and tried to vault across. For the clan, it
was a chance to take pride in their sons and daughters
as well as the opportunity to enjoy a laugh at their
expense.
In contrast, the Healer would initiate anyone into Chalana
Arroy who would take the cult's vows of pacifism and non
violence. The test to enter Storm Bull/Urox required the
candidate to stand before the Storm Kahn who would swing his
greatsword at the candidate's head. If the candidate
didn't flinch, they were in. The Humakti required a
demonstration of the youngster's ability with the sword. If
a candidate showed aptitude but lacked skill, they would be
taken on as lay members and given the opportunity to develop
their sword fighting prowess.
The point I am trying to make is I don't think it would be
difficult to join a cult within one's own community provided
the candidate is acceptable to the cult. I see rigorous
application of tests being used where the candidate is
unfamiliar to the cult. In this context, I think sponsors
would have an important role to play and may have
responsibility for a new cult member until they become well
known in the community.
On broos...
I find the argument there are no female broos difficult to
swallow. Considering the nature of chaos, I think any
gender would be possible for a broo. I read somewhere, it
may have been in Cults of Terror, that broos are the
offspring of Thed and Ragnaglar and like them, they were not
originally associated with chaos. If so, it would seem
plausible they would retain those features common to all
humanoid races as a basic pattern. The overlay provided by
chaos is likely to change many common features, but unlikely
to completely eliminate whole characteristics such as a
gender. After all, chaos revels in variety.
It's an interesting proposition whether broos can mate with
each other. I agree with the points made by Paul Reilly and
others about the implications of a race who WORSHIP the
Goddess of Rape. It would seem likely they practice rape as
part of their normal "social interaction".
Given they can produce viable "offspring" by parasitizing
stoves and trees [I think impregnating is the wrong word
when talking about broos], I think they would have no
problems parasitizing each other.
Does this mean most of the broos in any plague are carrying
larvae? Can a broo parasitize itself?
Gary James
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