All posts by Jon Hunter

Ristarl the Searcher

This post is a sample character from Rubble Runners Vol 2 which can be found here .

Relic Hunter & Wildsage, Rune Priest of Lhankor Mhy Male, 43, From Nochet Resident in Pavis  

Ristarl

Clever, Intense, Creative. Lighthearted

Ristarl is a travelling Wildsage who has come to Pavis.  He believes the Rubble has opened now the Lunars have left and that there is opportunity from profit, knowledge, and fame. He seeks to exploit this opportunity with his wife and business partner Tarelis a follower of Issaries.

A charismatic man. He has ragged features, long hair and unkept beard. But what stands out about him is his restlessness, intensity, and personal energy. Both a trained sage and rugged adventurer he has told himself that this is his one last expedition before he settles down to a more subdued life. However, he is also aware has said that before.

A scholar and expert on the Empire of Wyrms Friends and is very keen to experience of the buildings, relics and artifacts of the EWF in which can be found in the Rubble.

The local Lhankor Myh priests and the sages at the Pavis temple are very frustrated at his presence, believing that he is encroaching within their territory. Neither will publicly act against him, but also neither see the need to make his stay in Pavis a comfortable experience.

He has developed a strange understanding of the world through an understanding of the dragon rune, he has become Left-handed in the process, but tries to hide it with strangers.

Has developed a way of using the find air spell to locate previous unfound rooms and chambers in ruins and complexes which is novel and has made him a good treasure seeker with the ability to find chambers previously undisturbed for centuries.

Characteristics

STR 11       CON  14    SIZ 12      INT 17     DEX 15 CHA 14     POW 18    

Hit Points: 14               Move: 8

DEX SR:  2                    SIZ SR: 2

Runes: Water 60%, Truth 95%, Harmony 67%, Man 78%, Dragon 24%

Rune Points: 8

Rune Spells:  Analyze Magic, Knowledge, Mind Read, Translate, Truespeak, Clever Tounge, Restore Health, Find Air

Traded Runespells: Path Watch, Lock

Spirit Magic: Farsee, Detect Magic, Detect Life, Detect Undead, Detect Trap, Extinguish, Fireblade, Befuddle, Demoralise

Magic Points:  43 (18 + 11 + 14)

Passions: Devotion Lhankor Mhy 87%, Loyalty Temple 69%, Hate Authority 68%

Reputation: 31%

Spirit Combat Damage: 1D6+1

LocationD20AP/HP
Right Leg1-46/5
Left Leg5-86/5
Abdomen9-115/5
Chest125/6
Right Arm13-156/4
Left Arm16-186/4
Head19-206/5
Weapon%DamageSRPts
Klanth771D10+1612
Large Shield721D6724
Staff561D8510

Armor: Heavy Scale Hauberk, Plate Greaves & Vambraces, Closed Helm

Skills: Evaluate 67%, Cult Lore Lhankor Mhy 94%, Dodge 65%, Draconic Lore 78%, Homeland Lore Pavis 71%, Homeland Lore Esrolia 93%, Celestial Lore 38%, Read Write Esrolian 93%, Read Write Old Pavic 45%, Read/Write Auld Wyrmish 54%, Dodge 65%, Jump 74%, Charm 56%, Customs Esrolian 67%, Customs Pavis 54%, Library Use 54%, Insight Human 65%, Spirit Combat 65%, Listen 58%, Scan 63%, Search 89%,

Languages: Esrolian 87%, Tradetalk 48%, Heortling 67%, Old Pavic 46%, Auld Wyrmish23%

Magic Items: Large Iron shield, POW Storage Crystal 11pt

Treasures: 45L carried with him, Letters of Credit worth 2400L with the Issaries Temple, 650 L of jewelry.

Ransom: 800L from Tarelis or 1250 from Nochet Lhankor Mhy temple

Seeker –Allied Spirit,

INT:  15 POW:  14 CHA: 13

Spirit Magic: Heal 4, Shimmer 4

Associates & Contacts

  • Tarelis – (Rubble Runners 2 pg 19) Is both his lover and his business partner. He loves her deeply but worries about the age difference and how much she will love him when he no longer turns her a healthy profit.
  • Hoftakt IronBeard – A quiet polite, reserved, educated and discrete individual. Hoftakt makes the perfect bodyguard for man of Ristarls Tastes. An esrolian yelmalian warrior who never served with the Sun Dome Templars, has looked after his master’s safety for the last 7 years.
  • Kalste the Beardless – This young man works as Ristarls apprentice and personal servant. Embarrassed by his inability grow a proper beard, he is forced to wear a leather beard like a female sage. He is a somewhat lazy and dishonest individual out to line his own pockets at his master’s expense.
  • Kenyr Quickstep – A charming and pleasant young lady who Ristarl employs to gather information about the rubble from local bars, adventurers, and other miscreants. A native of Nochete she is finding Pavis more difficult to navigate than she expected.
  • Broosta – Responsible for exploring, retrieving, and recording the history of the rubble for the Pavis and Lhankor Myh temples. She finds Ristarls presence an affront and will find a way to be offended and upset by anything that he does.
  • Wind Whistler – A Yelm worshipping venerable Wyrm that hunts the Zola Fell Valley and vultures’ country. Ristral has conversed with him numerous times over the years, but now goes out of his way to meet with him every season.

Plot Hooks & Encounters

  • The players are hired to guard Ristral on one of his rubble expeditions the rubble. pay is good but loot shares are poor.
  • The players are hired by Taleris to protect Ristral from a similar group of hired thugs employed by rivals in either the Pavis or Lhankor Myh temple.
  • Vega Goldbreath wants the players to find everything they can out about Ristral, as she sees him as a draconic threat.
  • Vega Goldbreath wants Ristral kidnapped and taken to Sun County for questioning.
  • Priest from either Pavis/Lhankor Myh temple want him Ristral to leave town. The players are hired to help him decide to leave. A similar group will be hired to protect him from the PC’s.
  • Players are sold a scroll by Ristral, which outlines a long forgotten Heroquest that will give a Yelmalain worshipper a magical advantage over the draconic.

    It is a fake created to draw Vega Goldbreath into a vulnerable position, where Wind whistler can attack her.  It is believed with good reason that Vega will do all within he power to Gain access to the scroll, and she will attempt the ‘ritual’ at which point she will be vulnerable.

    If the players have been the source of the scroll for Vega they will be in the firing line whatever transpires.

Miniature Review: Runequest Glorantha Pregen Characters by Mad Knight

We have a quality set of Runequest specific PC character figures available for the first time since the Citadel box sets of the 1980’s years. Currently available on Kickstarter for £30.00 from Mad Knight Castings are a great set of 9 figures modelled on the pregens characters from Runequest Glorantha and there animal sidekicks.

I have set of the Runequest these figures provided for review, and will do my best to do give them the positive description they rightly deserve.

All the  pregens are available as a complete set comprising of  Yanioth, Sorala, Nathem with shadow cat, Vasana, Vishi Dunn with baboon sidekick, Vostor and Harmast, and the representations are directly based upon the artwork that can be found in the Runequest Glorantha rulebook.

The figures are great sculpts, cast in metal and in most cases reflect the delicate nature of the characters as depicted in the original artwork. Vostor is a more robust figure that reflects how the character has been drawn.

Sculpts are clear and the figures come well defined with either no or very little flash and no visible mold lines. The level of detail is excellent and I definitely feel that time has been taken to create miniatures that are interesting and challenging to paint.

The gender split with 3 female characters out of 7 is good, and the mix of priestess, sage and  warrior giving the figures good scope of usage. The 4 males figures with Lunar and Orlanthi warriors hunter and shaman cover a good range of uses but are themes that have been well worked before.

One of the infesting things for a guys who usually buys plastic figures mainly is the size difference between the figures, it is obvious the design team put thought and time in sizing these figures to reflect the stats in RQG books.

Vostor is a wide, solid and  chunky figure ( strangely reminding me of the first citadel paladin figure I bought in 1983.) Yanioth this tall and elegant, but a surprisingly weighty miniature. Vasana, Solara and Vishi Dunn are slighter, smaller more delicate figurers as befits their characters. Nathem is tall sculpt and Harmast is a slight but mid sized figure.

Vishis baboon and Nathems shadow cat are welcome additions to the set

I find the set of 9 very reminiscent of the Citadel figures boxes of the 1980’s. As well as being direct representations of the pregens they also are a nice cross section of character figures that can be found in Glorantha and I think can have a much wider usage.

If I was to have one criticism it would be that the face details isn’t as consistently of the same standard i’d expect from the plastic miniatures I usally buy, but I think the expectation that it would be in is unrealistic.  The standard and feel is very similar to or a slight improvement from the Mad knight Babeester Gor warriors I picked up in a kick starter last year.  

I’ve had a lot of fun trying to get these guys painted but seeing as they are works in progress. I will leave it with the excellent Mad Knight pics at the moment.

Also as part of this Kick starter are Humakti Ducks. Agimori Hunters and Pikemen, and the Lunar Standfast Regiment both mounted and on foot.

Also available of those backing the kick starter are many of mad knights previous releases including Lunar Assasins, Many varieties of Lunar Troops, Babeester Gor warriors,  Trollkin, Trolls, Troll Caravans and much much more.

The kick starter ends on the 22nd of April and can be found here. I would heartily recommend getting on board.

Dykene Timeline 1617 – 1625

Part 3 of the series of bringing he Balazar timeline up to 1625.

The aim was to create a citadel with a different flavour which was a religious dictatorship, with a capable religious king who had got so ill and paranoid he no longer knew friend or foe.

The old PC’s should be easy to spot but go with it, but I have hopefully stepped away from aren’t the old PC’s great vibe, and rewritten them as potential agent provocateurs, mentors, employers and antagonists to make other peoples games great.

So the 4th of this series will be the history of the Redrock clan.

1617

  • Balazar as presented in the Griffin Mountain book
  • Remnant of the Redrock  clan of  Votanki Tribesmen arrive in Dykene
  • King Skilfuls Kamara son is kidnapped by Ghondol Holst
  • Son is rescued by Redrock Tribe

1618

  • Increased raiding by broos in Northern Dykene lands
  • Redrock Tribe claim to have abated it by cleansing festering isle

1619

  • Increase raiding by trolls in Bear Woods. Some clans leave traditional hunting grounds
  • Many Griffin allies of King Skillful murder by Redrock clan. Redrock clan outlawed in Dykene lands and flee to Trilus

1620 

  • Taklong Woodheart and the other priests move the main Yelmalio Temple in Balazar to Dykene
  • Praxinia the kings concubines murdered by poisoning.
  • Blueface’s death is reported amongst the clans, Dykene clans in mourning.
  • A former apprentice  of Blueface, Namara starts to gain popularity in some southern Clans, is declared outlaw in Dykene lands

1621

  • Great winter reaches southern Balazar, Many southern Dykene clans migrate north away from traditional hunting grounds.
  • Dykene Citadel Warriors push into Dangerground to make it safer hunting territory
  • King Skillfull holds tribal conclave traditional hunting grounds suspended, clan hunting rights expanded into Dangerground.
  • Last visit of Joh Mith to Dykene.
  • Slyvanthi Brighteyes , Priest of Yelmalio disappears.
  • King of Imther pays Dykene to attack Trilus
  • Highbridge standoff where forces of Trilus and Dykene faced off. Trilus agrees to pay Dykene tribute

1622 

  • Worshippers of all Lightbringer cults are banned in Dykene
  • Great winter, Dykene Clans continue to  Migrate North.
  • Blueface the shaman reappears, in Dykene lands.

1623

  • End of Great winter Dykene Clans revert to southern hunting grounds
  • Death of Tayclon Woodheart his follower, Kararni Twelvespear, New High priest of Yelmalio
  • King Skillful calls on all hunters to worship Yelmalio instead of Foundchild
  • Lan of Redrock clan set up permanent camp and fortification at swim here, with Praxian Bison Riders and Orlanthi refugees from Pavis area. Start to patrol and pacify Dangerground area
  • Zorack Zoran war parties raiding in Bear woods, Clans in Bear woods supported by Citadel Warriors and war parties from Swim Here at different times.

1624

  • Dwarven Masons start to rebuild lower Bailey of Dykene
  • Redrock war band travels to from Swim Here to Trilus and back through Dykene lands. More Lightbringers gather at Swim Here including Eucleua Stromfollower .
  • King Skillfull sends large party of citadel warriors under Starnia to clear Redrock Clan from swim here. They met by mixed group of Orlanthi Warriors and Bison Riders. They retreat when realise they are outnumbered and would be overpowered.
  • Starnia exiled from Dykene for Treason.
  • Namara closes the Southwood to all but her followers, declaring the worshipping of foreign Gods(including Yelmalio and Balazar), use of metal , farming,  animal husbandry and sleeping in permanent building Taboo in Balazar. Kind Skillful puts price on her head
  • Battle of Shamans,  Namara casts Blueface down and spiritually binds him.

1625

  • 2 clans of Elmswood Hunters migrate to Dangergound area
  • 2 Dykene dangerground clans start to seek protection Redrock Clan
  • Dykene increases size of Citadel Guard significantly
  • The Sundome temple at Ever-Victorious Glory agrees to exchange military aid to Dykene for 2 breeding pairs of Vrock Hawks
  • King Skillfil taken ill, ruling from sickbed, aids will not call for Chalana Arroy healers from Trilus

Citadel of Dykene in 1625

  • King Skillful is seriously ill.
  • His son Karazar is just turned 17,a young a studious devout man, but no warrior or leader is not ready to rule in his stead.
  • The Yelmalio cult is dominate within the citadel. High priest Kararni Twelvespear is one of the most powerful men in the tribe, especially in the citadel.
  • The citadel is subdued and fearful, ruled over with a strict Yelmalio moral code, with some zealots and some highly resentful.
  • Lower Bailey is still partially built, but the dwarves are making good progress

Tribe of Dykene in 1625

  • The tribe is fractured
  • With a larger group of very loyal Yelmalio worshipping clans, with high loyalty and are very supportive of the King and the priesthood.
  • Most non Yelmalian tribes are slowly and subtlety becoming more distant from the citadel.
  • A few  conservative south wood clans have moved to support Namara
  • A handful of clans in the dangerground have started to support the Redrock clan

Trilus Timeline 1617 – 1625

To Supplement the Elkoi timeline I published a few months ago. Here is a draft of Trilus timeline to bring us up to 1625.

The aim is to create a citadel with a very different feel to Elkoi. So Trilus is strong, prosperous, stable and well run. It makes a good place for a storyteller/ref/gm to base the players if they want them to have a safe stable base from which to explore the rest of Balazar.

Characters from Old campaigns start to make an appearance in this timeline now. I hope thy add flavour rather than dominate the background, enjoy and feel free to comment. This is a draft version so comments may get amalgamated into a final version.


1617

  • Balazar as presented in the Griffin Mountain book
  • Remnant of the Redrock  clan of  Votanki Tribesmen settle in Trilus and convert to Worship of Orlanth.

1618

  • Rhegus Whitehair killed by Trilus by Redrock Clan stating he was tainted with chaos. Tensions rise between Trilius  and Elkoi and Lunar occupation forces as a result. Torath Manover speaks for the Redrock clan. However the most radical members Redrock clan leave the citadel for a number of seasons.
  • Lunar patrols sent across Trilus lands. Yalaring ordered them left alone. One patrol is found slaughtered further increased tensions with Lunars.

1619

  • Spring Season; – Raids on Lunar Convoys from Soldier Ferry, Elkoi & Trilus Elmwood Clans aided by Redrock Clan. Metal weapons and armour much more common in Trilus.
  • Yalaring send delegation to Eryptus declaring had no part in the raid, and promises to apprehend the ringleaders.
  • Dark Season – Redrock Clan claim to have discovered the Windsword in the Elder Wilds.  Retuning to a cold reception from most in Trilus.
  • 3 Elmswood clans break away from Elkoi and pay allegiance to Trilus instead. King Yalaring forgets promise to apprehend ringleaders of Elmswood raids. Representatives from Eryptus and Glyptus politely received but ignored.

1620 

  • Redrock Clan fight local clan and Lunar garrison at Tarshford. Most taken prisoner but later to escape, believed to have headed south into Dragon Pass.
  • Blueface’s death is reported amongst the clans, Trilus clans in mourning.
  • A former apprentice  of Blueface, Namara starts to gain popularity in some southern Clans

1621

  • Great winter reaches southern Balazar, Many southern Trilus migrate north away from traditional hunting grounds. King Yalaring holds tribal conclave traditional hunting grounds suspended and hunting rights reassigned. Minor clan squabbles over hunting rights continue through the year.
  • Last visit of Joh Mith to Trilus marked with extended stay throughout great winter.
  • Tusk rider raid into Trilus Hunting grounds , met by Citadel warriors South of Split Hills and driven off back into Elkio territory
  • Trilus clans hunt into Imther territory, Imther clans object and starts  the Imther war, which is a series of skirmishes running over 3 seasons.
  • Elkoi citadel warriors raid southern Trilus clans as part of the Imther Trilus war, slaves taken and sold to the Lunar Empire.
  • Citadel warriors and Orlanthi allies launch punitive raid into Elkoi lands, defeat Elkoi citadel warriors at the Battle of Burning Tree.
  • Highbridge standoff where forces of Trilus and Dykene faced off. Matter resolved by an honour duel of champions on the bridge. Trilus won and the Dykene forces agreed to stay on their side of bridge.

1622 

  • Great winter, Clans continue to  Migrate North.
  • Truce with King of Imther. Imther agrees to pay Trilus tribute in metal goods, grains, textiles and exotic goats cheese for next 5 years
  • Lunar sage and petty noble Quintas Von Ortlas buys and sets up residence in the former Red Bear inn. Re-establishing a permanent Lunar presence in Trilus.
  • Blueface reappears, reportedly in Dykene lands
  • Elkoi descends into Civil war. Trilus supports and continues to court the Elmswood clans.

1623

  • Elmwoods clans raid citadel Elkoi supported by Orlanthi, Hunters from Trilus and maybe the odd citadel guard, defeating the Elkoi loyalist faction.
  • Trilus allies driven out of Elkoi and back to their  traditional lands.
  • Elements of Redock Clan re-appear in Trilus now as Windlords and Priests. Take residence in Lightbringers hall.
  • Dushi Sone declares that Quintas Von Ortlas is under her protection.
  • The shaman Namara leads many of the southern balazaring clans in rejecting the kings, the citadels, metalwork and foreign Gods. Declaring themselves Votanki not Balazarings
  • Namara is outlawed in Trilus lands

1624

  • Ongoing skirmishes between northern Elkoi clans and Elmswood clans. Elmswood clans have support from Trilus Orlanthi.
  • Lan of the Redrock clan arrives a Trilus with escort of 20 Bison riders, is refused access. He leaves to the east with the Redrock clan already in Trilus and an a number of other Lightbingers heading towards Dykene.
  • Namara closes the Southwood to all but her followers, declaring the worshipping of foreign Gods(including Yelmalio and Balazar), use of metal , farming,  animal husbandry and sleeping in permanent building Taboo in Balazar. King Yalaring puts price on Namaras head. 
  • Battle of Shamans,  Namara casts Blueface down and spiritually binds him.

1625

  • Peace made with Cyriels Elkio & Trade relations opened. Agreement that no retribution be made towards the Elmwood clans that changed allegiance. Agreement that Trilus would not seek to influence any remaining Elkoi clans to change allegiance.

Citadel of Trilus in 1625

  • The citadel of Trilus stands strong, the pigs are still outside the walls, and Trilus outside the walls grows.
  • Well run by King Yalaring looking to protect the Hunting clans
  • Tradesmen have prospered under yalaring and now the citadel can boast a redsmith, weaver, potters, brew master, butchers, lamp maker, leatherworkers, boywer and fletcher.
  • The rule of law stands and is mostly fair
  • Lightbringers have a stronger permanent presence with many more local converts within the citadel than 1617
  • Quintas Von Ortlas is a well respected and liked lunar presence within the citadel, with his own retinue, under the protection of both King Yalaring  & Dushi Sone.
  • The Redrock clan though occasional allies are not welcome as permanent residents of Trilus
  • The citadel is stable, prosperous and well run.

Tribe of Trilus in 1625

  • Significantly  strongest tribe in Balazar gaining all of the Elmswood tribes and other tribes from Dykene and Elkoi
  • 2 Southwood clans have renounced the tribe and are following Namara
  • Tribal shamans are worried about the influence of Namara with local spirits
  • Trilus is still receiving Tribute from Imther

Elkoi Timeline 1617 to 1625

I am looking to write a timeline for Balazar 1617 to 1625. This is a first draft  of the Elkoi. ( There will be more drafts). I’m just putting it out there in an embryonic form for thoughts, comments, inspiration and sheer kicks.

More linked Balazar timelines will come. If I get good feedback and I can work out how to pull my material into a sensible cohesive whole without infringing on Chaosium’s IP, I will pull something significant together for the Johnstown compendium.

Just a note this Citadel has by far the most turbulent timeline, the rest of Balazar will have seen nowhere near as much change and trouble.  This is a first draft, additions and revisions will be made.

The aim is to create a citadel which is lawless, cutthroat and den of thieves of villainy, giving it a significantly different feel from the other two.

1617

  • Balazar as presented in the Griffin Mountain book

1618

  • Lunar citizen murdered in Trilus, tension rise between the two citadels
  • Lunar patrols sent deep into hunt the murders, one never returned

1619

  • Crimson Bat passes over Elkoi, Engenders panic amongst the populace.
  • Raids on Lunar Convoys from Soldier Ferry, Elmwood Clans aided by Orlanthi warriors. Food and supplies scarce in Elkoi for 2 seasons.
  • 3 Elmswood clans break away from Elkoi and pay allegiance to Trilus instead

1620 

  • Balazaring based Orlanthi raiders attack Tarshford, attack repulsed. Prisoners taken, but later to escape, believed to have headed South.
  • Murder of Lunar Electora Kindtounge, Marusa the Shrew accused and goes into hiding.
  • Yelmalio Priesthood moves the main Yelmalio temple to Dykene.
  • Blueface’s death is reported amongst the clans.
  • A former apprentice  of Blueface, Namara starts to gain Popularity in the Clans

1621

  • Great winter reaches southern Balazar, Many southern clans migrate north away from traditional hunting grounds, significant inter clan fighting, King Glyptus uninterested and ineffective in dealing with issues arising  or brokering a peace
  • Elkoi citadel warriors raid southern Trilus clans as part of the Imther Trilus war, slaves taken and sold to the Lunar Empire.
  • Elkoi and Trilus citadel warriors clash at the Battle of Burning tree, both retreat to there citadels after.
  • Tusk riders under Raddek Bloodtooth raid north into southern Balazar  deepening the problems, Citadel warriors remain in Elkoi.
  • Namara starts to preach that the Great Winter and tusk rider raids are punishment from the spirits for leaving the old ways and worshipping foreign Gods.
  • Halycon leaves in Storm season

.1622 

  • Great winter, Clans continue to  Migrate North.
  • Royal family leave Elkoi, Glyptus the Good poisoned by his  own family on route to Empire. No one really cares. Body left by roadside.
  • Lunar army and settlers Caravan back to Holay starving , much suffering on route.
  • Blueface reappears, reportedly in eastern Balazar
  • Many inhabitants of Elkoi starve, becomes a mostly deserted ruin.
  • Namara gathers her supporters  into a war party to that drives to tusk riders from the south woods, Tusk Riders were defeated at  battle of pure hearth, which was 3 day running skirmish through the woods, with the Balazarings aided significantly by nature spirits.
  • Elkoi Civil war factions major factions are Lunar Loyalsts, Northern Clans, Elmwood Clans, Migrating clans
  • Marusa comes out of hiding, dwells in the ruins of Elkoi

1623

  • Ravella the Greedy, Glyptus steward is killed as Elkoi citadel is burned as Elmwood clans raid Elkoi, defeating the loyalist faction.
  • Craggect Bloodspear leads the Nothern clans to drive the Elmswood clans out of citadel and back their traditional lands.
  • The shaman Namara leads many of the southern balazaring clans in rejecting the kings, the citadels, metalwork and foreign Gods. Declaring themselves Votanki not Balazarings
  • Desecration Of Lunar Temple at Elkoi by raiding Orlanthi
  • Elkoi temple becomes coven to Jakeel the witch ran by Marusa

1624

  • Ongoing skirmishes between northern Elkoi clans and Elmswood clans. Elmswood clans have support from Trilus Orlanthi.
  • Marusa allies with Cragget Bloodspear and the Nothern Elkoi tribes
  • Namara closes the Southwood to all but her followers, declaring the worshipping of foreign Gods(including Yelmalio and Balazar), use of metal , farming,  animal husbandry and sleeping in permanent building Taboo in Balazar 
  • Battle of Shamans,  Namara casts Blueface down and spiritually binds him.

1625

  • Craggect Bloodspear leads war party intro Elmswood to raid the  
  • Cryriel returns to Elkoi with about 50 Lunar  mercenaries to declare himself King of Elkoi.
  • Craggect Bloodspear returns to Elkoi repulse Cryriel, Marusa offers him a secret way into Elkoi, but leads him into an ambush. Craggect Bloodspear and all his warriors slaughtered.  Nothern Elkoi clans are leaderless.
  • Cyriel marries Marusa and declares her Queen of Elkoi and his joint ruler.
  • Accompanying priests reopen the Lunar temple as  full temple to the Seven mothers, the coven of Jakeel moves to the Royal Palace.
  • Slavers appear from heartlands looking to turn a tidy profit
  • Namara declares holy war against Cryiels Lunars.

Citadel of Elkoi in 1625

  • The citadel of Elkoi is a  shell of what it once was, most buildings burned and few repaired. The stonework stands but is scorched in many places.
  • Run by Lunar merchants, mercenaries and freebooters – A hive of scum and villainy
  • Cyriel is bringing in tradesmen to repair, and is setting about ‘running the citadel properly’
  • A lawless place, with no law beyond the word of the king and queen
  • Cyriels Lunars are complemented with refugees from the conflicts
  • Thematically Elkoi in 1625 has the feel which is not very far removed from Deadwood.

Tribe of Elkoi in 1625

  • Vastly reduced and fragmented
  • Southwood tribes have renounced the clan and are following Namara
  • Elmwood tribes have broke away and formed their own group and are talking with Trilus
  • The clans that migrated from the south and the Northern clans have found an uneasy truce and are to exhausted to do anything but attach to whoever owns the citadel.

Irish Blood Oaths by Wargames Atlantic – Miniature Review

Box Art

Note; This review has be concluded by building one sprue, and extrapolating results from there. Also the review will be slanted to using these figures for Runequest and Glorantha RPG’s and war games.

Synopsis:

I just really love these figures and they have exceeded expectation in most departments. The design and build quality on them is outstanding. They have a great range of parts and some really neat design features.  

They complement my other plastic miniatures perfectly in terms of build and introducing new, interesting  and different components for my collection of parts.

What you get:

In each box you get 5 sprues, each with.

  • 6 Irish warriors 2, with leather jerkins, 4 not armoured. 2 with trousers, 4 with skirts.
  • 10 heads
  • 6 large shields
  • 9 small shields
  • 3 decorative shields( 3 variants)
  • 2 Cloaks
  • 6 arms with spears
  • 3 arms with swords
  • 2 with shelleighs
  • 4 more arms ( rock, sling, pointing & horn )
  • Rams head standard
  • 3 Assorted scabbards
  • 2 Irish Wolf hounds
Sprue

So in total that 10 Dogs, 30 Bodies, 90 shields, 50 heads, 10 cloaks, 75 right arms and more stuff as well.  Excellent value.

What I love about the box

  • The quality of the sculpts and figures are excellent
  • The miniature designs are interesting and dynamic
  • A shoulder join  and full arm rather than an elbow join on the right arm means we have more variations of figures and better options for conversions imho.
  • The sheer number of options is great for bits box, and as the designs are very different they add variation to parts I have available.
  • The heads, I was worried about the heads when looked at photos of the sprue but in real life they are awesome on the figures, also very different to standard Victrix/Gripping beast fair, again adding great parts for future conversions
  • Wolfhounds – What’s not to love about 10 plastic wolfhounds? I’ve been looking for dogs for my Balazarings for  ages, but haven’t been willing to pay metal prices for an add on, a perfect solution.
  • Loads of shields all varied, nicely designed, even the Viking round shields are a nicer large size to make them non standard.
    • One beautifully designed round shield is a piece that would grace an hero figure.
  • I always get unnaturally excited about cloaks for mini’s, but one  of the two design strikes me as the best I have seen yet on plastic miniatures.
  • Great design feature that means the arms for clothed figures have a different attachment to those designed for naked torsos, so  it much harder to attach the wrong arms to the wrong mini ( not that I would ever be that stupid. )
  • These miniatures can be readily modified by exchanging parts with Victrix, Gripping Beast and Fireforge miniatures.
This shows that awesome shield of to perfection

What frustrates me

  • Left arms as part of the body and thus locked in place means we have much more limited variations of figures that can be made. Thus from a full box of 5 spues, as a RPG player this worries me on how I can use all 30 effectively. However not a worry if you are a war gamer
  • Delivery time on my full box , minis ordered online May 6th and still haven’t arrived on May 27th. ( review was written from working with one sprue purchased from ebay). Hopefully things will get better after initial surge post launch and after Covid stops messing with delivery.
We need paint them in Bronze though don’t we

Using them for Glorantha and Runequest

However envisioning these in Glorantha we have a few uses for these guys;

  • The wolfhound are immediately useful for use with Balazarings and I feel the two figures with trousers also can be painted up to look right for that culture. I’m unsure on the skirted figures, but will try one or two painted to make it look leather not cloth.
  • All of the figures will work very well for Orlanthi Fyrdmen and skirmishes but the lack of heavy armour suggest they would not make great figures for Orlanthi warriors.
  • However with a relevant paint job these guys could look like bronze age street hoodlums from the wrong end of any town, or informal skirmishes and peasant militia from most areas of Glorantha.
  • Useful versatile figures but I already have many that fulfill these roles ( except the dogs ).

Recommendations –

  • Bought By the spru 9 out of 10,
  • Bought By the box  8 out of 10

If you are using plastic miniatures for Runequest or any Glornathan RPG, buy at least a couple of sprues of these; good figures and the range of parts you get is well worth it.

If you want to put together an Orlanthi clan or warband, i’d recommend mixing a box of these with other figures ( Gripping Beast, Victrix & Fireforge ) to get a nice varied warband.

Note imagery is from Wargames Atlantic. I will add some shots of my less glorious attempts in a little while.

Rubble Runners – Vol 2 Preview 1

Orvost the Brave

Adventuring Healer, Initiate of Chalana Arroy

Male, 26 Satarite in New Pavis

Orvost presents himself as the traditional Orlanthi Hero – strong, boisterous, boastful, amorous, and full of life. And he really likes a drink or three!

An initiate of Chalana Arroy, Orvost claims that he emphasises the Lightbringer aspect of the goddess, the quester who risked all to bring healing into the dark and dangerous places of the world. He is  recent arrival from Sartar following the liberation of Pavis, he regularly joins and assists the various expeditions into the Big Rubble.

On these expeditions he always wears a stylized version of the healer’s white robes over metal armor and carries a large shield. He has never worn or used an offensive weapon, but has a reputation for bravery to the point of foolhardiness. Often wadding into midst of combat to heal comrades and defending the fallen with his armored body. Many think this behavior unbecoming of a follower of Chalana Arroy.

Continue reading Rubble Runners – Vol 2 Preview 1

Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 4 – Lunar Collaborator

Busara Ingilli

Lunar Collaborator, Ex Noble, Now Beggar, Initiate of the Seven Mothers

Female, Age 23, Pavis

Busara is a thin and gaunt woman, with badly shaved head and large beautiful if sorrowful Brown eyes. She lives on the streets of Pavis. Her dirty but previously quality clothes suggesting a previous life of wealth and opulence.

If you would have met Busara a year ago, you would have a bright, easygoing, pretty, vivacious young noble lady, hanging off the arm of young, attractive, rich and well connected Lunar Office.

Now people see  a scared, bruised and battered homeless girl, with the shaved head of a Lunar collaborator. She is nervous, defensive, subdued and more than slightly bitter.

She was the niece of the leader of the Ingilli family, who had asked her to help him court favour with Lunar Power. As such she became good friend of Jessica Raus, A regular at Moonlighters and became the lover of a well connected young nobler serving as an officer in the Antelope Lancers.

Continue reading Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 4 – Lunar Collaborator

Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 3 – Backstreet Evaluator

OK this is a character which I initially wrote up for Pavis in 1621 last year, mainly using the STG rules. So I thought id update for RQG and bring up to the 1625 time period.

Tulina

Senior Apprentice & Initiate of Lhankor Mhy

Human Female, Aged 20,  Senior Apprentice of Lhankor Mhy

First impressions of Tulina depend upon where she is met. If about official temple business she comes over a diligent slightly stressed apprentice with many things to do and neither the time or the organisational ability to fulfil them all.

If met in the evening at Gimpy’s she looks like one  of a small number of Griselda wannabes.  With no sign of her grey robes or leather beard,  she sports leather amour a short sword.  Holding a cocky attitude, but a softer easier manner.

Continue reading Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 3 – Backstreet Evaluator

Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 2 – Lunar Deserter

‘Sarro’, Farhad A Yanafal

Lunar Deserter, Initiate of Seven Mothers.

Male, Age 27, Lunar Empire

Farhad was a mercenary serving in a smaller company for  the Lunar Empire in Pavis. Had served for 10 years, being a street kid in Mrins Cross before joining up.

He survived the fall of Pavis, and has got separated from his company, and has no intention of returning to the Lunar Empire.

Continue reading Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 2 – Lunar Deserter