From: Reldekar
Date: Thu 07 May 1992 - 09:56:33 EEST
To: Scholar Wyrm
Since your last instructions of Sea Season, Truth Week, Godsday
(our last conversation), I have travelled the Pass, studying in
various libraries, looking to catalogue unusual and rare
creatures. Currently, my research has brought me to the Ormsgone
Valley. I could spend my entire life researching dragons, but I
know I could never begin to understand them. Therefore, I have
looked for simpler creatures while here.
Obviously, there is a wealth of theories and information here on
Dragons, Hydra's, and other creatures specific to this area. The
information they have gathered that you have not already surmised
is small, but what there is I have already sent you. Hopefully,
that information along with the studies done regarding the
Grotarons have arrived (they were sent in Dark Season) and you
have gone through them.
I have also sought out information from more current, and
unreliable, sources. Local adventures are usually the first to
find something new, though this can be a dangerous form of
research in many ways. There are always liars, fibbers, and
story-tellers ready to pull the leg of the unsuspecting, truth
can be very hard to find when your source is looking through
glasses better designed to hold mead. However, once in a
while you do find a reliable source. Most often, it is a Humakti
who swears before his God that s/he is speaking the Truth.
During a conversation with one Sterling Deathblade, I stumbled
upon something entirely foreign, uncharted, in my research.
While Deathblade was travelling through the Kingdom of Aggar, he
happened upon a most terrifying creature. Deathblade, and
retinue of 10 Humakti, were tracking a rather large cat.
Deathblade allowed the retinue to take the lead and search the
beast out. This was to be an exercise for his less skilled
followers to gain some practical experience in the field, it
quickly turned bad. When Deathblade assisted the last of his
retinue to the battlesite, the scene was horrific. A bull-sized
creature with three heads (goat, lion and dragon) and wings
spanning twenty feet stood over the disemboweled bodies of two of
his followers.
Concerned for the safety of the rest of his crew, Deatblade
charged. Before he could close with the enraged creature it
unleashed a powerful shimmering flame, which downed three more
men.
Deathblade, a sword of Humakt, held his own against the monster,
but made very little apparent headway. It would claw, or one of
the heads would bite, the goat head attempted to butt him several
times, and then there was the flame breath. After absorbing
one blast, Deathblade knew that remaining there would mean the
massacre of everyone under his leadership, and a most
dishonourable end for all. For these reasons he called upon
Humakt to take everyone back to the Temple and safety.
Other adventurers have told stories of similar monsters, and
equally horrifying results. Deathblade's account, due in part to
correlating sources, appears to be the most reliable. Other
claims of the beast's abilities include a shimmering teleport,
coming and going, the ability to will people to fight for it
against even old friends, and others too bizarre to mention.
However, due to the shimmering breath, and the shimmerimg
"teleport", the name I would suggest for it would be a Chimera.
Reldekar.
=============================================
RuneQuest Chaos Monster
CHIMERA (with apologies to Jamie O'Shaughnessey)
STR 5D6+12 29-30 Move 2m/sr on ground 6m/sr flying (3/8 for RQ2)
CON 4D6 14 HP 28 - 29
SIZ 4D6+24 38
INT 4 (fixed)
POW 3D6 10-11
DEX 4D6 14
Location Melee Missile Armour Hit Points (x Factor)
RHLeg 1 1 4 7 .25
LHLeg 2 2 4 7 .25
HindQ. 3-5 3-6 5 11 .40
ForeQ. 6-8 7-11 5 11 .40
RWing 9 12-13 4 7 .25
LWing 10 14-15 4 7 .25
RFLeg 11-12 16 4 7 .25
LFLeg 13-14 17 4 7 .25
Goat Head 15-16 18 6 9 .33
Lion Head 17-18 19 4 9 .33
Dragon Head 19-20 20 8 9 .33
Attacks SR % Damage
Claw 5 50 1D6+4D6
Butt 5 50 1D4+4D6
Lion Bite 5 50 1D10+4D6
Dragon Bite 5 50 1D8+4D6
Breath (1) 1 Fire Damage equal to current hits
(1) Can use breath weapon once every 3 rounds, flame extends 10
metres in a conical shape. At the end, damage is 1/2, flames
expand out to a 1.5 metre radius. Damage is done to total hits,
a POW vs POW roll to save for half damage.
The Chimera is capable of using 2 attacks each round, 3 if there
are sufficient targets in range on the appropriate SR. Using the
Butt would negate the possibility of two attacks in the same SR
(would run by the target, or over).
CHAOTIC FEATURES: POW*4 chance of having chaotic features.
Since it is a creation of chaos, it may have multiple features,
use the following formula to determine how many. Roll is: (1) a
"normal" success, 1 feature; (2) a "special", 2 features; (3) a
"critical", 3 features. ***Note: if there are multiple
features, there is a 40% chance that one of the features will be
a "confusing" glance (Additional attack, once per round, as
per Jack-O-Bear harmonize glance, useable by any head), if only 1
feature, then a 15% chance.
NOTE: For a description of the confusing glance see the new
Eurmal rune spell, "Confusion".
==============================================
New Rune Spell (For Eurmal only)
CONFUSION 3 Points
Ranged (160 metres), temporal, non-stackable, 1 use only
Intended victim of this spell must be in sight, and in range.
For the spell to come into effect the magic points of the target
must be overcome (POW vs POW), if successfully cast, the victim
becomes completely disoriented. To the victim this
disorientation takes the manifestation of having a sudden insight
to the current situation. (It would motivate my friends if I
attack them in this fight, what I actually want to do is this,
etc.) The actual effect of the spell appears to all viewers as a
series of intentional fumbles. Only Dismiss Magic, Dispell
Magic, or a critical oratory can counter-act the effects of
this spell. This spell is only available to worshippers of
Eurmal (the Trickster) at selected shrines throughout Genertela.
@1992 Richard Fenner
=============================================
This is intended as an addition to the Gloranthan mythos, a
potential addition to the HeroQuest path, and essentially as GM
information only. Perhaps an inventive HeroQuester could re-
enact a shadow of this event to gain this knowledge.
=================================================
The sun had seemed strangely hot and bright when it had set
earlier. At the time Denmar had been too caught up in the
adrenalin rush that accompanied a successful crossing to notice.
Now though, as the world slipped through the endless grey of a
pre-natural twilight, his attention sharpened.
The further that the party moved away from the window, the
more pronounced the changes became. Colour, Denmar mused, bending
to look at a flower. Colour was brighter here. More vivid than in
the mortal plane and here it also conveyed a sense of texture.
He looked at the forest around him. The trees seemed to be
pulling away from him slightly. As though they sensed his
presence and found it to be a violation. It could be his
imagination, but one didn't reach Lord-Priest status in the
service of Eurmal by ignoring one's imagination.
A light grey mist started to roll down into their ravine.
Reaching the bottom it began to pool around Denmar's feet. He
turned to Gelmon the Grey Sage and asked quietly, "When will the
moon come up sage?"
Gelmon glanced up at the sky. "Events unfold differently on
the plane of heroes; Time, Light, Dark, all of these are closer
to the gods from which they spring. Consequently they tend to
share the cycle. I would expect that there are three equal
periods of light, twilight and darkness."
Denmar stared at him in disbelief, fog writhing about his
knees." I don't believe you Lhankor Mhy. Do you ever give a
straight answer, or do you forever beat about the bush?"
Gelmon matched his stare for a moment and then turned away.
>From over his shoulder he said in a low voice, "The Red Goddess
does as she wills."
The fog had really started to roll in. Denmar signalled the
guards to move in closer. In rapid handspeech he said, "tighten
the perimeter, maintain contact with the others."
He turned and walked to the center of the camp, fingers
tapping lightly against his ruck sack. Safely ensconced within
the sack was the cloth that was white and black back to back.
Also inside the cloth was the duck that flew backwards and the
mirror of enchanted gold.
His quest was to bypass Baugi and gain a sip of Kvasir's
Blood. Then with the items in his sack and a wee bit of luck he
would convince Yelm that night had already passed. He tapped
his fingers on the canvas and mouthed a silent invocation to
Asrelia.
Unseen in the air above him, the fog eddied about a form.
Cloaked in silence it sat in the fork of the branch. White fur
blending perfectly with the fog it watched the camp with burning
red eyes. Scanning over the camp it fixed its gaze on Gelmon. The
scent of Rune-magic was strong there. Muscles slid under its fur
as it gathered itself and then cloaked in the fog it lept.
Denmar sensed something move behind him and turned. Half
expecting to see the Lhankor Mhy priest he began, "Gelmon,
Wha..." The creature towered above him. A solid wall of fur
covered death. It leaned towards him, tusks gleaming in the muted
light from the fire. Its burning eyes focused over his shoulder
towards Gelmon.
"Get lost !" It bellowed in his face. The blast of
force from the scream of rage literally picked him up and sent
him spinning through the air and into the darkness. Mind numbed
by the force of the creatures aura he wandered off oblivious to
the sounds of tearing flesh and rending bone.
Hours later Denmar found himself alone in the middle of the
wilderness. A few scattered remnants of the fog still clung to
the odd bush like abandoned fleece. Seating himself on the ground
he pondered on the events that had left him sitting there alone.
A short time later he experienced a brilliant insight.
Suddenly he knew how the creature had overcome him in a test of
wills. The resulting period in which he had wandered aimlessly
was not the brilliant idea that he thought it was. Forging ahead
on his quest, and finding his party became his goals.
His knew understanding into the nature of this "confusion"
had gifted him with an ability to cause it in others and
strengthened his ties to the Rune of Disorder. Acting quickly he
invested his understanding with power, that his brothers might
also learn it.
Satisfied he turned from his meditation and in turning saw a
glimpse of light from the woods to his left. As he had nothing
better to do, and was hopelessly lost, he went to investigate.
The glade was small, barely twenty feet across. In the
center a small spring reflected the stars overhead. Light from
the newly risen moon ran a crescent of fire of along its horns
and outlined its body against the forest backdrop. On a low
table before it there sat six cups. Each cup was perhaps eight
inches tall and each was carved from a single unflawed ruby. Held
within each of the cups there sat an egg of mottled blue and
green.
Denmar watched from the edge of the forest in fascination.
In the clearing before him a man with the head of a goat was
preforming a ritual ceremony. Determined to learn more he wormed
his way through the grass, putting to use all of his skills in
stealth. Soon he had crept within a dozen feet of the creature
and was able to make out the details that darkness and distance
had previously conspired to hide from him.
The creature before him was none other than Ralzakark, King
of the Broos. As Denmar watched the creature lanced his wrist and
with the darkly welling blood he sketched a six pointed star
about the ruby cups.
Tonight would be the culmination of years of hopes and
dreams, perfecting this ceremony, and tonight would see its
success. Ralzakark drew a prism from his pack under the table.
Fashioned of living crystal it literally pulsed with power.
Uttering an invocation to Thed he left it to float a meter above
the cups.
Contained within the ruby cups was the future of the Broo.
He had after much research and untold difficulty managed to
combine the basic essence of three magnificent creatures.
Combined they would be a leap forward for his race.
First he had taken from the Broo. This essence he had given
himself, as he could think of none other that was better
qualified to be the father of the new race. Second he had taken
from a captured Dragonewt scout. This would give them innate
magic. Last, from the gambling pits of Kalderia he had imported
a champion war lion. This would supply the ferocity and hunting
instincts that would be needed in a race of warriors.
By combining the intelligence of his own mighty intellect
with the greater size, strength and innate magic of the Dragon,
and the ferocity and instincts of the Lion he would have fathered
a new generation of Broo. As a race they would ride out of
Dorastor and sweep across Genertela, leaving behind nothing but
burning shells and grieving widows.
Denmar, hidden by nothing but tall grass, watched as
Ralzakark began his ceremony. The glowing crystal exploded into
life, sending blazing beams of tricoloured light to each of the
ruby cups. Ralzakark's eyes were gleaming with fiendish delight
and spittle was marking a passage off of his chin.
Denmar could resist no longer. A new toy simply must be
played with, concentrating on his ties with the Rune of Disorder
he focused his will and released his recently gained ability. He
felt the Rune fill him with and leave him in a long concentrated
push towards Ralzakark and he saw Ralzakark hesitate.
Ralzakark had just finished tying the threads of reality
around the combined essences contained within the shells.
Suddenly an intuition twigged for his attention. Pausing briefly
to follow the idea he realized a masterful plan. Whirling back
to the eggs he put the plan into motion. Calling upon Primal
Chaos to link his creation with the Spirit Plane he sought to
advance the essences to a higher spiritual level.
Finally a short time later he was finished. The crystal,
spent now, exploded before it dropped to the table. The eggs
within the cups of ruby warmed slightly and pulsed with life.
Ralzakark trembling in anticipation took a plate of glass, imbued
it with power and looked through it into the eggs. His breath
caught in horror and then a scream of fury tore through the
heavens. His new race was a mash, a twisted joke of his
intentions. Rather than fathering a race of super-Broos, he had
created a monstrosity that mocked his original intentions.
Inside the shell nestled the embryo of a creature too
horrible to consider. Rather than the single form of a Broo with
expanded magical, intellectual and, combat abilities there was a
creature that bore three heads. Indeed Ralzakark could see that
the heads had taken an evolutionary step backwards, rather than
the step forward that he had planned.
The head of the lion would be massive and its body would
predominate. The essence of Broo was shown in the Goat head that
would develop truly magnificent horns. Strangest of all however
was the essence of Dragonewt. Somehow in taking a step backwards
a true dragon head complete with appropriate magical flame. The
only form of success was the taint of chaos.
In the grass to one side Denmar could no longer contain
himself. The sight of this huge creature dancing about in fury
was too much. Despite himself a chuckle crept out of his throat.
Beside the table Ralzakark heard and spun to face the sound.
Keen eyes now alerted he quickly spotted the hidden form.
"Eurmal!" he cried out in sudden comprehension. His
nostrils flared with bloodlust and he charged after the rapidly
fleeing form.
Behind him on the table, forgotten in his rage, the ruby
cups continued to provide warmth to the rapidly hardening
eggs....
By Bill Thompson
& Richard Fenner
======================================================================
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