Elric question, the Dharzi
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With thei ancietn and corrupted knowledge they were able to ignore the rules!! (and so was the author)
Is there a particular reason - ie are you trying to make up the possibility of someone following in their footsteps - recreating their knowledge.
I can't recall (if its stated) who were their patrons - presume one or more Lords of Chaos............who can of course break the rules themselves :wink:
With thei ancietn and corrupted knowledge they were able to ignore the rules!! (and so was the author)
Is there a particular reason - ie are you trying to make up the possibility of someone following in their footsteps - recreating their knowledge.
I can't recall (if its stated) who were their patrons - presume one or more Lords of Chaos............who can of course break the rules themselves :wink:
mmm not sure but I thought not the Beast Lords as they were corrupting their creatures - I thought the Melnibonean pacts with the Beast lords were one of the reasons they defeated the Dhazi?
One or more Lords of Chaos seem more likely patrons? Unless its actually technological genetic manipulation but IIRC its Sorcery?
To be honest the Dhazi have very little written about them
by MM or in the varied rpgs.
One or more Lords of Chaos seem more likely patrons? Unless its actually technological genetic manipulation but IIRC its Sorcery?
To be honest the Dhazi have very little written about them
by MM or in the varied rpgs.havercake lad
Banded Mongoose
The whole hybrid critter/Dhazi theme comes purely from the hunting dogs in the Dead Gods Book episode.
If Dhazi theme in most RPG canon is kept, Vulture-lions are perhaps a guideline to the origin of monsterous and established strains of hybrids ?
A Melniboneaqn seems to have created the race of vulture lions from 'the stuff of unformed madness'... a 'brew' of chaos matter presumably being a key component ?
If Dhazi theme in most RPG canon is kept, Vulture-lions are perhaps a guideline to the origin of monsterous and established strains of hybrids ?
A Melniboneaqn seems to have created the race of vulture lions from 'the stuff of unformed madness'... a 'brew' of chaos matter presumably being a key component ?
I'm reasonably confident the Dharzi worshiped the Beast Lords. The Melniboneans relied on Matik, their dragons and their pacts with Chaos to finally destroy them.
To answer the question though, Builder, to "create" your own hybrids you would need to know the Rune of Melding (pg82 EOM Core book) and the Beast rune for each creature to be melded. All you need then is sufficient MP to make it happen.
You could possibly use Language (Opish) in lieu of Language (High Speech) for determining the maximum rune casting skill for these particular runes.
I would assume, though it's not written, that the Dharzi would have sacrificed slaves or whatever to increase the MP for the castings in a similar fashion to that used for summoning.
Have fun in the YK!
To answer the question though, Builder, to "create" your own hybrids you would need to know the Rune of Melding (pg82 EOM Core book) and the Beast rune for each creature to be melded. All you need then is sufficient MP to make it happen.
You could possibly use Language (Opish) in lieu of Language (High Speech) for determining the maximum rune casting skill for these particular runes.
I would assume, though it's not written, that the Dharzi would have sacrificed slaves or whatever to increase the MP for the castings in a similar fashion to that used for summoning.
Have fun in the YK!
Psuedosirus
Mongoose
My recollection as well. The Dharzi had power over beasts and the Melnboneans added that portfolio after their victory.
But the Dharzi are a basically blank slate for you to invent as you wish.
But the Dharzi are a basically blank slate for you to invent as you wish.
havercake lad
Banded Mongoose
Whole Dharzi/Beastlord slant came from First Edition of 'Stormbringer' RPG game by Chaosium.
'A millenium before Elric's tinme. the Silent Lands were the great homeland of the Lords of the Dharzi, a non-human race who worshipped and partially controlled the Beast.'
There was no canon for the Beast Lord link and indeed this location flew in the face of the source novels continuity .
In 'The Dead Gods Book' Elric whilst in the Silent Lands , on facing Dharzi Lords and their hunting dogs summoned by the forces of Chaos, noted "'What are they doing in these parts? There was never contact between the Dharzi and the dwellers of this land ? ".
Subsequent scenarios like 'Black Sword' , 'Stolen Moments' and 'Four Seasons' entrenched the Chaosium version.
'A millenium before Elric's tinme. the Silent Lands were the great homeland of the Lords of the Dharzi, a non-human race who worshipped and partially controlled the Beast.'
There was no canon for the Beast Lord link and indeed this location flew in the face of the source novels continuity .
In 'The Dead Gods Book' Elric whilst in the Silent Lands , on facing Dharzi Lords and their hunting dogs summoned by the forces of Chaos, noted "'What are they doing in these parts? There was never contact between the Dharzi and the dwellers of this land ? ".
Subsequent scenarios like 'Black Sword' , 'Stolen Moments' and 'Four Seasons' entrenched the Chaosium version.
Psuedosirus said:
Not sure either way - I do know that the Melniboneans relationship with many of the Beast Lords is as old as the Dreaming City.
It could be that the Dhazi had enslaved some of the Beast Lords - that seems to ring a vague bell.............
On the other hand Chaos Lords can meld and change creatures fairly easily and the dead Lords seem to be serving them when they appear in the Silent Lands?
havercake lad
Banded Mongoose
Da Boss said:
I agree with last paragraph. I think the Dharzi Lords are certainly being resurrected or plucked from limbo by Chaos when Elric encounters them. This suggests that the Dharzi are pacted to the Lords of Chaos.
Re Beast Pacts. Certainly Elric/White Crow seems to be enjoy friendly and helpful relationships with various animals before the site of the Merni encampment becomes the proto-city of his race. I can't really see the Beast Lords taking kindly to the Dharzi given their experiments., but co-ercion might have been possible..after all the Karasim were aided by the Spirits of Air through their possession of a valuable hostage.
Game mechanics from 'Magic of the Young Kingdoms' (later repeated in RQ2 version of Elric core rule book) utilize a Melding rune which can be used to create temporary hybrid creatures. Provisionally a more permenant version might be used if POW sacrifice is made.
The Sleeping Sorceress talks about the bargin with Fileet being struck centuries before so that might fit with the aftermath of the Dhazi wars
Bright Shadows (RQ1) talks about the "early Melniboneans forging pacts with the Beast Lords for mutual aid and portection."
The Bane of the Black Sword talks about the vows of freindship with Meerclar being 10,000 years old.
The new RQ2 Elric talks about "The Dhazi had the knowledge to summon the Beast Lords, though now only Melnibone has that knowledge."
Given the level of power of the Dhazi, enough to challenge the Bright Empire, I think the compulsion of one of more Beast Lords would not be beyond their power? Then again the same book also states - "the Dhazi, described as Beast Men may have held them in some form of reverence". Not convinced as I can't see the Beast Lords wanting to have their subject twisted and melded?
Unless of course the Dhazi only later resorted to that as the war grew worse?
Bright Shadows (RQ1) talks about the "early Melniboneans forging pacts with the Beast Lords for mutual aid and portection."
The Bane of the Black Sword talks about the vows of freindship with Meerclar being 10,000 years old.
The new RQ2 Elric talks about "The Dhazi had the knowledge to summon the Beast Lords, though now only Melnibone has that knowledge."
Given the level of power of the Dhazi, enough to challenge the Bright Empire, I think the compulsion of one of more Beast Lords would not be beyond their power? Then again the same book also states - "the Dhazi, described as Beast Men may have held them in some form of reverence". Not convinced as I can't see the Beast Lords wanting to have their subject twisted and melded?
Unless of course the Dhazi only later resorted to that as the war grew worse?
Loz
Mongoose
'The Making of a Sorcerer' comic book establishes that Melnibone forged its alliances with the Beast Lords during its earliest years. Elric undergoes several dreamquests where such pacts are formed, so its clear that Imrryr's pacts are ancient and privileged.
I think its important to remember though, that there are myriad beast lords and Melnibone probably doesn't enjoy pacts with all of them. A beast lord is the archetype of the beasts within its particular realm, and I don't think its necessarily beyond reason that a beast lord might create a hybrid, or allow a hybrid to be created, to serve a particular purpose. So the Dharzi might enjoy certain pacts with those beast lords that are essentially predatory and might also have little objection to their beasts being used in the pursuit of war.
Its also possible that an entire, corrupt, pantheon of beast lords exists that have been tainted by Chaos and these are the beast lords the Dharzi serve - which would then lend some interesting plot possibilities with the YK beast lords aiding Melnibone whilst the corrupt, tainted travesties aid the Dharzi.
I think its important to remember though, that there are myriad beast lords and Melnibone probably doesn't enjoy pacts with all of them. A beast lord is the archetype of the beasts within its particular realm, and I don't think its necessarily beyond reason that a beast lord might create a hybrid, or allow a hybrid to be created, to serve a particular purpose. So the Dharzi might enjoy certain pacts with those beast lords that are essentially predatory and might also have little objection to their beasts being used in the pursuit of war.
Its also possible that an entire, corrupt, pantheon of beast lords exists that have been tainted by Chaos and these are the beast lords the Dharzi serve - which would then lend some interesting plot possibilities with the YK beast lords aiding Melnibone whilst the corrupt, tainted travesties aid the Dharzi.
