Blood of Orlanth Question

[cerebrolator]

I'm thinking about running the Blood of Orlanth campaign. I'm wondering if the campaign book has enough information in it to make characters who are followers of the Storm Tribe Cult. (I'm thinking of buying the book from DriveThruRPG. Their website's authentication certificate seems to have expired. Is anyone else having this problem? Is this something that I should worry about?)

Glorantha the Second Age does not contain the spell lists for this cult and I'm completely new to Glorantha so I have no idea what the spells should be.

Any information on this topic or any help on the cults would be appreciated.

 

[cerebrolator]

Nevermind on the drivethrurpg question. It is working now.

I would still love some advice on the Storm Tribe Cult.

 

[kintire]

I'm not sure there is such a thing as the "Storm Tribe Cult". The Storm Tribe is a pantheon of deities each of which has their own cults. In fact Orlanth maintains many cults by himself: I can't see anyone worshipping the whole group at once

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

No, I am also pretty sure no Orlanthi worships the entire pantheon as a group.

 

[PhilHibbs]

No, I am also pretty sure no Orlanthi worships the entire pantheon as a group.

As a lay member, they would.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Well, that's only really going to be kids...

The answer is that really adults are initiated into one (or possibly two—but that's quite uncommon) individual cults of members of the pantheon (in this case the Storm Tribe). It's likely to be typically the cult of the most job appropriate god/goddess. For most Orlanthi that means one of the many aspects of Orlanth or Ernalda.

Other different members of the pantheon will only likely be worshipped communally at the larger cultural festivals (this is when lay membership might come in for adults), but it might be sporadic and/or "cultural".

So, if you are looking for Storm Tribe spells, look under the individual gods.

 

[kintire]

As a lay member, they would.

They wouldn't, not in that sense. they would count as a lay member of each of the gods IN the Storm tribe, but they wouldn't be a lay member OF the Storm Tribe itself

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Sorry, that's what I was implying... came out poorly.

 

[cerebrolator]

Thanks for the clarification. I understand the Storm Tribe Cult (as it is called in Glorantha the Second Age) is a pantheon. So you're right, I'm after the individual cults. However, I can't find spell information for Orlanth, Ernalda, Issaries, etc. If anyone could help me with that, I would be grateful.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Another question.

Are you talking Draconised Orlanthi, or Traditionalist Orlanthi?

 

[cerebrolator]

Traditionalist. The core rule book has an example of one draconic orlanthi cult but no examples of traditionalists. If I could get info on Orlanth, Ernalda, and Issaries, I think I would have enough to get my campaign going. When cults comes out I will get that so I have more details.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

I imagine as regards Orlanth and Ernalda you might need to be more specific—they each have many cults dedicated to them.

 

[cerebrolator]

I can't be more specific. I'm completely new to Glorantha so I don't know anything more than what is in the second age book. There isn't too much in there on the cults (for Orlanthi) -- only a little bit of lore regarding the gods.

You seem to know a lot about them, Lord High Munchkin. Perhaps you could list a few of the popular cults and their spells for me. I would be very grateful to have even a little bit to get me started.

 

[xdy]

I can't be more specific. I'm completely new to Glorantha so I don't know anything more than what is in the second age book. There isn't too much in there on the cults (for Orlanthi) -- only a little bit of lore regarding the gods.

You seem to know a lot about them, Lord High Munchkin. Perhaps you could list a few of the popular cults and their spells for me. I would be very grateful to have even a little bit to get me started.

I'm not Lord High Munchkin, but...

As for Orlanth, the Draconized Orlanth works pretty well as a general Orlanth cult, just file off the serial marks and exchange the two myths with, say:

The Lightbringers Quest (see http://www.glorantha.com/library/religions/cop-lightbringers.html) resonance 75%
Behaviours: Right the wrong you have done; Violence is always an option; There is always an other way
Example Rewards: Skill bonus when working with a group, Heroic Ability: Heroic Aura

Orlanth and Aroka (see http://www.herowars.com/new/myth/somemyths.html) resonance 55%
Behaviours: Fight evil dragons; Rescue the oppressed
Example Rewards: Bonus when fighting dragons; Never thirsty

Or, for a deeper look, this writeup is for an earlier version of Runequest (set in the Third Age of Glorantha), so it's decidedly unofficial and some conversion will be required, but it should do as a guideline.
http://www.poppyware.com/dunham/storm.html

As well, playing the mac/pc computer game King of Dragon Pass is a good general introduction to Orlanthi life (as well as an absorbing and fun game. I've spent ridiculous amounts of time playing that game. It's set several hundred years into the future, but for an insular clan not much would really be different. (Other than the 'evil empire' being the Lunars rather than either of the EWF and the God Learners.) The game is probably still available here:
http://a-sharp.com/kodp/

A more official, if less crunchy, writeup (but again, for the third age) can be found at the official Glorantha website (well worth looking around on this site for general gloranthan info. Not much 2nd age specific stuff though.)
http://www.glorantha.com/library/religions/cult-orlanth.html

Hope this helps!

/Jonas

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Ah, that's the rub... my books are unfortunately in transit.

While I know a bit, 'Cults of Glorantha' is sadly going to be what you really need.

Otherwise, as those are major cults (less so Issaries), just make it up—pick what seem appropriately stormy manly and good-earthy womanly spells (trade spells for Issaries). Orlanth and Ernalda have access to many spells via sub-cults, so you can easily fudge it until 'Cults' comes out.

Have you come across the Glorantha Index? http://www.glorantha.com/tools/buserian/buserian.php

It's written from a late 3rd Age perspective, but there is lots of historical 2nd Age material. Type in 'Orlanth' (or whatever) to get you started.

 

[cerebrolator]

Thanks XDY and LHM! I was unaware of the resources that you sent links for. I will look into both of them.

 

[soltakss]

I'm thinking about running the Blood of Orlanth campaign. I'm wondering if the campaign book has enough information in it to make characters who are followers of the Storm Tribe Cult. (I'm thinking of buying the book from DriveThruRPG.

I'd definitely buy Blood of Orlanth. I've just been to a RPG Convention and met an old friend who is an Old-School RuneQuest fan and he reckons that Blood of Orlanth and Dara Happa Stirs are better than any of the old RQ2/RQ3 scenario packs, so if he is impressed they must be good. I found them clear and easy to read, but have never played/run them.

I think there's enough information to roll up a starting character, but I've never done it.

Glorantha the Second Age does not contain the spell lists for this cult and I'm completely new to Glorantha so I have no idea what the spells should be.

As has been mentioned, The Storm Tribe is a collection of deities who act as a Tribe of Gods. It is possible to worship the pantheon as a whole, in which case you'd get some Common Magic, but most characters concentrate on the worship of individual deities in cults. Cults of Glorantha has information on many cults and looks as though it will be an excellent supplement. In fact, with the RuneQuest II Rulebook, Glorantha the Third Age and Cults of Glorantha you should be able to run a scenario in any major area of Glorantha.

 

[cerebrolator]

In fact, with the RuneQuest II Rulebook, Glorantha the Third Age and Cults of Glorantha you should be able to run a scenario in any major area of Glorantha.

Glorantha the Third Age? Isn't this from an older version of RuneQuest?

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

I imagine a slip of the tongue.

However, a great many people use the MRQII rules for playing in the "traditional" late 3rd Age (the "Hero Age" portrayed in previous editions of RQ).

One reason is the ability to use the vast array of older information, and 'Hero Wars'/'HeroQuest' material. Another is that it's far more apocalyptic in tone.

 

[cerebrolator]

I'd definitely buy Blood of Orlanth.

I went ahead and bought it. It is incredibly good -- at least the parts that I've read so far.

I think there's enough information to roll up a starting character, but I've never done it.

I think that I can extrapolate enough information from the character write-ups to come close to making the characters. It will do until I can get a copy of Cults of Glorantha.