pilgrimages and misc

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From: Joerg Baumgartner (joe@sartar.toppoint.de)
Date: Fri 03 Jun 1994 - 17:05:13 EEST


Bill Robertson in X-RQ-ID: 4314

> I agree whole heartedly. I like the idea that a skilled sorcercer
> using his sleight skill can cast a spell while talking to you. I
> think it makes for better role playing opportunities. Brings more
> flavor and danger into interaction with a sorcerer.

Not to forget tricksters. What use is a lie spell everyone can see?

> Here's the way I envision it working. While engaged in conversation,
> the sorcerer would begin casting his spell normally. If you encourage
> note passing in your game (I do) (s)he should inform you in this manner.
> This keeps the other players on edge because their characters (probably)
> wouldn't know it either. Then, include sleight into the skill mix
> of sorcery manipulation skills. i.e. You have to roll lower than your
> lowest skill.

I'd rather have the magician make two (or even three) rolls: one to determine is success in sleight, an independent one to see whether the spell goes off. Involved spells could require a concentration roll as well if they are to be cast during conversation.

This would also be usable for the current AiG draft sorcery rules.

> My ideas are still incomplete. How can the targets notice? Scan?
> Seems reasonable to use the normal skill v.s. skill rules.

I rule that the target notices being enspelled when it has to make its resistance roll. If the spell was cast without the target noticing it, it will have no idea by what or where from it was hit.

Blatant spell effects (like lightning) won't keep the caster unnoticed for long, of course, but small thingies like Hotfoot would.

If my sorcerer had to cast a spell unnoticed, I'd prepare a sight projection, and cast from around a corner...

> Is the difference between pilgrimage and Heroquest physical and
> metaphysical?

I am currently running a scenario with a pilgrimage softly being mucked up because the wrong people take part.

It's a "soft" reenactment of the victorious march of a band of Hendriki against the minions of Gabji's lieutenant Palangio the Iron Vrok, who held the populace of Heortland in thrall until Arkat landed and the Hendriki left their mountain refuges to join his forces.

On their way north through Heortland they fought an army of illuminates at the "first battle of Milran", whence they drove the Gbajians to the edge of the white cliffs of Heortland, and then over the edge. (Since they were already illuminated, this wasn't too hard <g>... pardon the pun.)

The pilgrims in Third Age Holy Country take part to gain an additional chance to recover or sacrifice for divine magic (I rule that one can try to recover one point of initiate divine magic each High Holy Day, or upon completion of a pilgrimage). Most of their acts are symbolic, like carrying a standard showing a Vrok from Milran to the cliff edge and throwing it down, all the while brandishing their weapons. Through a number of coincidences there are illuminates among the pursuers...

The spectres of the past, who accompany the pilgrims on this reenactments, get confused because of the mixing of good guys and bad guys among the pilgrims. When a flock of sheep comes into the way of the pilgrims, some of the enemy spectres break out along with the sheep.

A PC shamanic character perceived this, and together with the other PCs tried to redeem the situation without chasing a village's weregeld worth of sheep down the cliff. They managed to lose only a few sheep...

IMO this isn't a fully fledged heroquest, although in the critical moment a heroquest-like situation came up. Pilgrimages, like worship services, are reenactments of myths. They are first of all symbolic. Only when the symbols get mucked up, the reenactment doesn't confirm the myth, but opens for new possibilities.

For an official Glorantha version of such an reenactment, read the consecration rite of the Sartar temple of the Reaching Moon. By introducing a related, but wrongly timed effect into the ceremony, the Dragon's Head (the central star in Orlanth's Ring) was brought into the ceremony. Clever, isn't it?

> There's not just a word for uncle. There are words for your fathers
> older brothers and words for your father's younger brothers. [...]

> This makes me wonder about the importance of the clan in Orlanthi society.
> I don't think the Orlanthi have this sort of mode of address because
> of their, "freedom lovin' nature." I wonder what cultures in Glorantha
> might address their family members like this? Any suggestions?

The Dara Happans, of course. They are so enmeshed in formalities that this is the very stuff they live upon.

> I'd imagine that any sort of death sentence would have be quick. Hate to
> see those thugs using DI to get out of their fate. Although it COULD
> be a great plot device.

There is no way to DI out if the execution is performed on Sacred Ground of a deity not of the character's creed. This might be a reason to make initiation into Danfive Xaron's cult a somewhat popular choice, since I imagine his holy sites to be the sites of execution...

--
-- Joerg Baumgartner joe@sartar.toppoint.de

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