Elric Cults etc

[DamonJynx]

Hi, I'm new to RQII and Elric and I'm running a campaign in the New Year. One of the guys wants to play a Warrior Priest (Chardros) and I want to check if what I told him re Pacts Skill, Compulsions and Gifts etc is correct. Below is the the email I sent:

As a Warrior Priest you must dedicate at least 5 points of POW to Chardros (EoM pg50), of course you can dedicate more.

As a beginning Adventurer you are a Warrior Priest and Initiate of Chardros' cult, The Death Bringers, known as a Stealer of Life. You have 1 Gift and 1 Compulsion from your pact (your Pact (Chardros) skill = CHA + Dedicated POW + 15 (POW of first kill dedicated to Chardros) + whatever you add from your 250 free skill points). You can choose for your gift either; 2 of the sorcery gifts from the Warrior Priest entry in EoM, or 1 of the gifts from the Chardros cult entry in CotYK pg35. You also choose 1 compulsion from the Warrior Priest entry and 1 from the cult entry. Your background event simply determines why you are a member of Chardros' cult and has no further significance. To progress in the cult you will need to improve your Pact skill, rather than dedicate POW as your rank determines the number of gifts and compulsions available, they aren't bought with dedicated POW like other Cults.

For a passion, I would suggest Hate Law. But that's up to you.

Is this right?

 

[Loz]

Just about.

You must still have enough dedicated POW to buy a further gift when you advance in rank, but as Death Bringers dedicate 5 anyway that shouldn't be an issue. Gaining a rank always attracts a new compulsion.

You can also continue dedicating POW when advancing a rank as this increases available gifts and shows dedication to the cult; but killing opponents and dedicating those kills also enhances the Pact skill as each kill advances it by 1% (irrespective of the POW of the opponent killed).

Good luck with you campaign!

 

[DamonJynx]

Thanks for that Loz. I mustn't have read the cult entry properly.

I'm going to need luck with my campaign. I asked the guys for a sketch of their characters so I could work out some initial scenarios and so far I have:

A Mrrhhyn physician, a Human Warrior Priest and a Pukwadji Hunter/Wanderer of the Time Streams who gets flung around to return "The Tear of Lashaar" - whatever that is (can't wait to figure that out), to Grome and punish those who misuse it.

It'll be interesting to see what the other guys come up with. I hope that none of the others play a PC with a dedication to Law. I'd hate to see the Warrior Priest and the other guy fight to the death before the campaign even starts!

I'm thinking initially, they'll be captured and used as oar slaves or some such and then develop the story from there.

 

[Loz]

It'll be interesting to see what the other guys come up with. I hope that none of the others play a PC with a dedication to Law. I'd hate to see the Warrior Priest and the other guy fight to the death before the campaign even starts!

There's actually no reason why Chaos and Law characters should begin as enemies - Chaos and Law are as much general outlooks as they are cosmic forces and there are many examples in the Elric saga where characters from different allegiances join forces and work together. Of course, the patron Lords might frown upon it and make life difficult, but that just gives you more plot hooks to be devious with!

And I love the idea of a Pukwadji Timestream Nomad and the Tear of Lashar. Where has he ventured before (primitive cultures in other realms, or perhaps a primitive in some super-civilized plane)? Is the Tear lost to him? Who else is chasing it? All great stuff for stories and scenarios.

It sounds like you have the makings of a great, very Moorcockian campaign at your fingertips and do keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[DamonJynx]

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Loz. I'm really looking forward to it. I've wanted to adventure in the Young Kingdoms since I bought the D20 Dragon Lords of Melnibone when it first came out years ago. But, now we're all a bit over D&D, the time is ripe for some real role-playing.

I used to read comic books when I was a teenager and one of my mates suggested a read Micheal's stories. That was way back in the early eighties. They were my introduction to fantasy literature and I've been hooked ever since. I've read the Elric, Hawkmoon, Erekose and Corum series several times over and enjoy them every time.

My immediate reaction to Chris' email about the Pukwadji was: I like it.
It was exactly what I was looking for as far as hooks etc for the campaign. Just enough detail to be interesting, with plenty of room to move.

Once we get started I'll post a link to the Google Site for the campaign. Should I post it here (on the forums), or is there a more appropriate site?