All posts by Jon Hunter

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

Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 1 – Veteran Templar

Harkar is one a number of NPC’s I am developing to fit in 1625 Pavis. He is one that fits well to be an hireling, companion, drop in or pregen character for an existing game.

Harkar Goldbeard

Mercenary, Initiate of Yelmalio.
Male, Age 48. Pavis

Born in Sun Town, New Pavis and served his 21 year term with the Sun Dome Templars with some distinction.

Harkar spent many years as file leader, fought at the first battle of  Moonbroth and was one of the few Sundomers who fought his way onto the deck of the cradle and survived.

Harkar has left the farm he got for his service in Sun County and come back to Pavis to work as a mercenary.  He claims he is a bad farmer but the  real reason  is he was left by his younger wife, and now feels shamed and his honour challenged. This has lead to a dislike and even hatred of women

Continue reading Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 1 – Veteran Templar

The Art of being a Better Runequest Player

The Art of being a Better RQ Player

Unlike most people who write about RPGs I would consider myself much more of player than a GM, and after nearly 40 years playing RPGs on and off I think I’m starting to get the hang of becoming a better player.

The majority of the following advice comes from me at my most reflective and self-critical, examining times when I could have been a better player, companion and friend. So if elements of this may make you feel a little uncomfortable, be assured than lots of this make me feel much more uncomfortable. The best advice comes from people who understand and can reflect on their own mistakes, plenty of mine can be found detailed below.

What makes a great RQ player?

Before we can progress we need to define what makes a great player.

Which, in my opinion, is someone who adds the maximum enjoyment to the gaming experience of everyone else at the table.

Continue reading The Art of being a Better Runequest Player

Pavis 1618 – 1621 Rumors

I’m back to gaming with my guys so, inspired by MOB’s Casino Town rumours I created a list of rumours/plot list and silly fun for my guys as they explore Pavis again. I hope you enjoy.

Key

  • (t) – True
  • (f) or (u) – False or Untrue, unless you think it makes a nice plot hook
  • (b) – Broadly True, but has untrue, embellished or imprecise elements
  • (p) – Possibly true if it makes you game more fun
  • (a) – To awful to even contemplate
  • (m) – so vague its meaningless

General

  • Bobs Bison Burgers contain unsavoury meat which is more Bob than bison (a)
  • The Blood Knives of Badside are feuding with the Fine Fellows, from rich hill (t)
  • Fist fights have broken out between elderly Lankhor Myh and Irripi Ontor scholars about access to the library(b)
  • Anti Lunar Graffiti has been appearing round town in badly written New Pelorian (t)
  • The ‘Magic Needle’ is a hidden reference to Byrgga Scissortongues elicit but very talented lover……. *insert name here* (f)
  • 2 promising Pavis Initiates have recently died whilst searching Near the Balistors Barracks for his Axe (t)
  • The Lanbril guild has infiltrated a number of city cults (p)
  • A trickster has been publicly flogged, after assaulting lunar guards with 2 bananas and a finely pointed mango (p)
  • The free Pavis faction has split into 3 rival factions which are fighting amongst themselves (f)
  • Moonlighters keeps an ice demon in its cellar to chill the wine (b)
  • Benderri, Son of Pavis is pro lunar because they provide for his many various vices (f)
  • Pavis will return to point out to his priests that he doesn’t want to marry the Red Goddess (a)
  • There is an ancient alliance between trolls and the giants (t)
  • Cyrilius Harmonious is an assassination target for radical Orlanthi factions of the Free Pavis Movement (p)
  • Fleeter Nemm will pay well for any incriminating information of Hargan the Dirty (t)
  • The Blonde Pipers songs have mystical meaning and she is performing a very long trickster ritual (f)
  • Sakuro the Conjurer is a God learner Come to find the secrets of RobCradle (b)
  • Many of the robberies in the city are being performed by a family of intelligent raccoons from Dragon Pass (p)

Continue reading Pavis 1618 – 1621 Rumors

Why do we expect that a Gloranthan “Bronze Age” to be so similar to our own?

Within the RQ and Glorantha community, posts, forums and online discussions are often full of experts(many genuinely well informed and reasonably intentioned individuals) informing us that because it wasn’t like that in earths bronze age, Glorantha can’t be like that.

  • “2 handed swords didn’t exist in the bronze age”
  • “Stirrups were not invented till much later”
  • “The hilt on the sword wielded by the two-headed great troll didn’t exist until the late Roman period, so breaks my suspension of disbelief and Glorantha is forever ruined for me.”

OK, I may have exaggerated the last point.

I find the lengths that many would have us go to tie Glorantha directly with a period in our worlds bronze age history to be questionable, both in understanding the function of Glorantha and also as an exercise in believable fantasy world building.

Continue reading Why do we expect that a Gloranthan “Bronze Age” to be so similar to our own?

Using Plastic 28mm Figures In Runequest – Manufacturer Reviews.

These reviews are looking at the relevance of different manufacturers of ancient historic and fantasy plastic 28mm miniatures in how they can be used for role-playing miniatures in a Glorantha game.

Warlord Games Woodland Indian Conversion by Roy Duffy
Warlord Games Woodland Indian Converted to Orlanthi Warrior by Roy Duffy

Our requirements are slightly different than those of historic tabletop wargamers, and what makes a great set for a war-gamer will not always be a great set for a role-player.

Will be looking at the following attributes to judge how relevant are the figures to use for role-playing in Glorantha.

  • Relevance – How relevant are the figures to use role-playing and for Glorantha in particular, or how easy is it to make the models relevant, with simple modifications.
  • Range – How wide a range of figures do they have which could be relevant to Glorantha
  • Pose – How engaging and interesting are the poses the figures which can be constructed
  • Model Variations – How great a variety of models can be created from the boxes or sprues
  • Ease – How easy is it to build the miniatures
  • Quality – The general quality of the model in terms of design and execution
  • Price – How good is the per model price
  • Overall – How all the above combine to give us great ranges of well-priced quality figures which can easily be used in role-playing games set in Glorantha.

So starting with the most important providers and working down.

Continue reading Using Plastic 28mm Figures In Runequest – Manufacturer Reviews.

Moonlighters Inn – New Pavis – Write Up

Write up is during the Lunar occupation of Pavis as that is when my game is set.  Who knows what it will be after they leave, so usable from 1613 to 1624.

Introduction

Moonlighters Inn has been established a few years after the Lunar occupation of Pavis It has been significantly rebuilt to model a more lunar design, as it caters for Lunar officers, bureaucrats and civilians of tastes with a less formal and more relaxed approach than either  Erigio’s or the Silk & Plume.

It is owned by a lunar merchant who visits the city only rarely but is managed by Cleopae a former Lunar soldier. She was a formerly an officer of the Silver Shields who now runs a safe establishment which is very hospitable to the right kind of clientele.

Moonlighters works as informal officers mess for all of the Lunar regiments in Pavis. The common soldiers are not welcome and encouraged to frequent to Hoplites home.  Due to the nature of its core clientele Moonlighters is one of the very few establishments not affected by the Pavis curfew.

Moonlights is renowned for its white wine which is kept magically chilled by means which are a mystery to most.

Continue reading Moonlighters Inn – New Pavis – Write Up

Elmal – The Warrior Sun – Cult Write Up for Runequest Glorantha

By Dave Butler & Michael Dalzen

Runes: Fire & Truth

Elmal is the sun. He is a weapon companion of Orlanth and a member of the Storm Tribe. He unblinkingly executes any deed needed for the tribe. During the Darkness, he defended the stead from all foes while Orlanth was on his Lightbringers Quest, and so Elmal helped keep the world together so that Orlanth could recreate it at the  Dawn.

Holy Days

Every Fireday is a holy day, and in addition, there is one seasonal holy day per season other than Sea Season, as follows:

  • Victorious Sun Day(Fire / Fertility / Fire)
  • Husband Day(Fire / Mobility / Earth)
  • Truth Day (Fire / Truth / Darkness)
  • Thane Day (Fire / Harmony / Storm)
  • The Long Night (Freeze / Luck to Gods / Fate)
  • Survival Day (Fire / Luck)

Continue reading Elmal – The Warrior Sun – Cult Write Up for Runequest Glorantha