From: boris (mabeyke@batman.b11.ingr.com)
Date: Tue 24 May 1994 - 18:27:58 EEST
Submitted for your approval...
From the early days of RuneQuest, secret societies and shadowy groups have been talked about. Argrath is said to be a member of several such, and the "Cold Wind Movement" is mentioned in RQAG. However, I have never seen any information describing such a society, or anything that would help a GM use one in a game. So, I made up my own, the Temple of the Black Wind. Any comments, criticisms, or suggestions for improvement are definately welcome; I am certainly not an expert on masonic orders or mystery cults, and my research may be faulty.
The Temple of the Black Wind is a secret society first formed among the Kitori tribes of the Heortland. It is somewhat similar to the masonic societies of our world, or the ancient mystery cults, with layered initiation and much ritual and mysticism.
Very few people outside of the society know of it. It has reasonable relations with the Cold Wind Movement in Sartar. Most of it's members are initiates of one or more of the various Heortland cults, including Orlanth, Vinga, Humakt, Arkat, Issaries, Argan Argar, and Kyger Litor.
First Circle: The Evening Breeze
Member Title: Scouts
Description: Initiates of this circle are probationary, and will be
scrupulously checked before elevation to higher circles is allowed.
The only purpose of the Temple revealed to these initiates is to
promote better relations between humans and trolls. Not even the fact
that higher circles exist is revealed to these. Sometimes, if a
person is trusted well, this level of initiation is skipped, though
the lore must then be learned at the next level.
Requirements for Initiation: An interest in trolls, and an adventurous
nature.
Second Circle: The Night Wind
Member Title: Templars
Description: Initiates of this level are true initiates, though still
watched carefully. They are told that the organization has ties to
the Cult of Arkat, it's goal is to explore Trollish and Orlanthi
magics, and it is militant in nature. It is revealed that the Order
has both troll and human members, and that there are four Circles of
initiation in the Temple.
Requirements for Initiation: No obvious pro-Lunar feelings, and knowledge
(30%+) of the First Circle lore.
Second Circle Lores: Read/Write Darktongue, Kite Flying (Manip, Easy),
Troll Lore, Storm Lore, Speak Stormspeach, Read/Write Stormspeach
Third Circle: The Midnight Gale
Member Title: Scholars
Description: Initiates of this level must sacrifice POW to the Spirit of
the Temple (which seems to be an Umbroli, or storm demon). It is
revealed to them that the Temple is an anti-lunar movement. They
learn that the Temple has shamans, priests, and sorcerors as members,
and combines elements of all three. Sorcery teaching is offered to
any who wish to learn, as are divine and spirit magics, bound spirits,
and arcane lores, such as alchemy.
Requirements for Initiation: Must take an active anti-Lunar stance, which
will be found from missions taken as a Templar. Must sacrifice 1 POW
to the spirit of the Temple. Must have knowledge of (30%) two Second
Circle lores and be an expert (60%) in the First Circle lores.
Third Circle Lores: Blind Fighting (Per, Hard), Orienteering (Per, Hard),
Kite Piloting (Agi, Medium), Temple Cant (Com, Easy), Play Drums,
Play Bullroarer.
Fourth Circle: The Black Storm
Member Title: Masters
Description: All of the leaders of the Temple appear to be of this Cirlce
to all lower initiates; the existance of higher circles is concealed
from them. Learn of many secret, hidden, and magical paths and trails;
*must* learn Darkwalk *and* Mistcloud. It is revealed that the spirit
of the Temple is a powerful Demon crossbreed of Darkness and Storm
named Dehumbrol, bred by heroquest and directly descended from Kolat
and Dehore. Must learn the ritual to summon the spirit.
Requirements for Initiation: Good performance on as a Scholar, and be an
expert in five second or third circle lores. Must face Dehumbrol and
be accepted by it (the Master may be granted an allied spirit if this
goes well). Most are usually either a shaman, rune lord, acolyte,
priest, or magus.
Fourth Circle Lores: Summon Dehumbrol, Command Darksylph, FearShout,
Various Rituals, Temple Lore, Temple Script.
Fifth Cirlce: HellStorm
Member Title: The Questers
Description: At this Circle are taught Arkati secrets that have been
recovered, including some heroquesting skills. Secrets of saint's
blessings are taught, specifically those of Arkat, Talor, and Himile
(Saint Himile blessing is a variation on Gerlant's; Iceblade).
Secrets of illumination are tought, though actual illumination is
discouraged. Learn that Arkat was an illuminate; learn some more
heroquesting rituals.
Requirements for Initiation: Must have participated in a particular
heroquest with the Temple Examiners. Must have mastered five skills
of the lower Circles.
Sixth Circle: The Sunbane
Member Title: The Chosen
Description: This is the inner circle, the ones who have proven most
trustworthy and worthy to the Temple. All members of the Sixth and
Seventh circles have taken mighty oaths to prevent betrayal, and most
have minor demons, spawn of Dehumbrol, as allies and helpers. These
are the teachers and keepers of the secrets of the Temple. Most are
illuminated (know your enemy). There are currently seven members.
All are heroquesters and they currently train with the Seventh Circle
for a mighty quest to gain power to use against the Lunars.
Requirements for Initiation: Must be chosen by the High Priest for
advancement to this level. Must have expertise in all lower lores and
mastery of seven of them.
Seventh Circle: Skystormer
Member Title: High Priest of the Black Storm
Description: There is only one Grand Master at any given time; the
current one founded the Temple after she heroquested to breed
Dehumbrol. If she ever retires or is killed, her replacement will be
voted on by all members of fifth and sixth circles. Only the inner
circle know the identity of the Grand Master, who is Chieftain Melrode
of one of the Kitori clans, kinswoman of the Kitori King.
In my game, I have a PC and an NPC who are members, and have been sent to Pavis to see if there's fertile ground for the Temple there; given the close proximity of trolls and humans, this is regarded as a good place to recruit. Both are Third Circle members; I expect the PC will approach most of the other PCs about joining. Of course, he can raise them to no higher than Second Circle level himself, so will either have to return to Heortland to get elevated to Fourth Circle (and learn the summoning ritual for Dehumbrol) or send for a Fourth Circle Master when time comes for them to advance. Such should provide a few adventure seeds.
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