From: David Hall (100116.2616@compuserve.com)
Date: Mon 10 Oct 1994 - 23:27:54 EET
Reaching Moon Megacorp:
Just thought I'd better let you know that I no longer have any copies of
the Sog City
Guide left. The last copies just went to France and Sweden.
I still have plenty of copies of Tales #11 & #12, The RQ-Con Compendium, &
Jar-Eel
T-shirts (though I've not got many XL's left).
Also, Martin Crim is correct concerning the Book of Emperors.
Unfortunately, Chaosium
have changed their plans since issue #12 was put together. It is now
expected to be
re-released at RQ-Con. I hope to bring back some masters so that I can sell
it from the
UK.
God Learners and stuff:
I never got my chance to reply on this - but that's my fault. It will no
doubt come around
again one day...
However, in the process of putting together a posting I came up with some
ideas
around the Hill of Gold.
Hill of Gold ideas:
I think this is an example of heroquesting and of the linking of two
separate myths to
create a new mythical truth.
I think the first myth is where Elmal, the loyal thane, pays homage to
Orlanth, his
Chieftain, and is armed by Orlanth. However, in the Yelmalion version
Yelmalio shows
off his new fire powers, fights Orlanth, loses his spear, but cannot be
cowed or forced
into submission by Orlanth.
The second myth is a Yelmic myth where the loyal son goes to seek
acceptance from
his father, Yelm, and is tested along the way. In the Yelmalio version
things go a bit
awry (with Zorak Zoran and Inora), but Yelmalio eventually makes it to the
Hill of Gold
and is accepted by Yelm as his son.
This would have first been accomplished by some heroic type, probably at
the behest
of his clan, with clan support, and IMO with the co-operation of Yelmic
missionaries. It
would have been a very dangerous quest, partially into the unknown and
requiring
various preparations and rituals to gather items and weapons to help him
along his
journey (including fire powers). On completion of the quest the heroic type
would then
form a hero cult to teach others how he accomplished the quest. In this way
the new
truth is spread and converts gained.
What is the real truth of this? I don't know! Maybe the Yelmalions are
really
resurrecting the original myth split into two when Elmal was constructed by
evil Orlanthi
heroquesters. Or maybe they are just resurrecting the previously
resurrected
construction... or even a... no, never mind. Unless the truth has been
written down
somewhere, like in the Blue Book of Zzabur or on the God's Wall, or if
someone like
Ralzakark or Farang Farosh remembers then we'll never know! And all they'll
tell us is
what the truth was at that point in time.
I could post my Vantaros Yelmalio story from HotB if anyone is interested.
Humakti in the Lismelder tribe (from way, way, back - at least two weeks):
This is down to my peculiar view of the Humakti. I can't quite accept the
idea of people
being initiated one day into Humakt and then returning to clan life the
next. I also find
it hard to accept solitary Humakti who only have to turn up to a temple
three or four
times a year in order to remain attuned to the inner mysteries and truths
of Death.
I think being initiated should mean a bit more. So in my campaign when you
are
initiated into Humakt you join a temple of Swordbrothers - your new kith
and kin.
Previous ties are formally cut (but not informally - it's only a
ceremony). The duties of
the temple include protecting the tribe from enemies and from the denizens
of the
Upland Marsh. However, individuals are also hired out as housecarls to
Chieftains, and
this is the way I get PC Indrodari back into the campaign!
Esrolia:
I believe that Esrolia is ruled by women. Robert Graves has written some
interesting
stuff on how this might work - see the opening chapter of The Golden
Fleece. Im sure
that women command the armies, surrounded by their Babeester Gor Axe
Maidens.
However, the majority of the army is probably male: foreign mercenaries;
effete Esrolian
Humakti; and lots of peasant militia.
Karse. I only have a little information on the city. I think that the city
is actually New
Karse, a new port was built under the auspices of Tarkalor Trollkiller
(KoS, p43 & what
I remember from when I visited Chaosium - I may be wrong). The population
is 6K.
During the siege in 1619 there were at least four unsuccessful assaults on
the city
before it fell. However, after the final assault the city was spared and by
the next spring the port was active.
Apparently, Fazzur launched a winter raid on the City of Wonders in which
up to 3,000
Lunar discorporate or dreaming spirits were involved. The Pharoah seems to
have
beaten the attack off but at some cost.
Aeolians:
In actual fact the Htwwo Aeolians are my fault, though Nick had some input
into them. I
made them very Orlanthi-ish to allow standard Orlanthi worship to co-exist
with Aeolian
worship.
Would anyone like me to post the write-up onto the daily?
Joerg:
>David Hall wouldn't have allowed you to reenact the test of Ehilm's
Flame...
Ahem! Kevin had the flamethower and the hydrochloric acid in the car!
You can try anything in a freeform.
Kitori tribe:
From some notes I took at Chaosium (90% accurate):
Founded by human Argan Argar refugees from the Kingdom of the Only Old One
and the
Trolls of the Troll Woods who sheltered them. They are said to have twin
kings, both said to be married to the Kitori mother, a Kyger Litor
ancestress, who is the founder of a
Daka Fal dynasty which settled the region and took over from the elves in
the 2nd Age.
So I dont think theyre Henotheist.
Porthomeka:
IMHO Porthomeka isn't Western. I think that that aspect is already covered
by God
Forgot. Total population is 161K (150K rural. On the map I have Rhigos is
not part of Porthomeka, instead being part of Esrolia... hmm... didnt
notice that before...
Earth Esrolia Fire Caladraland Storm Heortland Darkness Shadowlands Water The Islands Logic God Forgot
I wonder if Heortland being taken over by the Malkioni might have upset the
elemental
balance, thus weakening the Pharaoh?
Porthomeka has the largest population of all of the Caladraland provinces.
Id maybe
go for a Yelmic culture? It might give some interesting friction with the
Esrolians to the
north?
That's all for now.
Cheers,
David
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