Godlearnerized heroquests

[PhilHibbs]

I'm going to be running some God Learner HeroQuests in my game. The characters have been sent to Zistorwal to return some Zistorite treasures and receive rewards for helping liberate them. They will be allowed to do one or more HeroQuests to gain powers or loot. I've decided that Zistorwal is a centre for quest expeditions as it is in a central location and has huge matrixes of extended-range Hero Gates, which may or may not be large rotating rings with runes carved in them that need to be rotated into place and locked in turn.

Ideas are welcome!

The Orlanthi Weapon Subcult quests are good starters - Shield of Arran, Scarf of Mists, Sandals of Darkness and Lightning Spear.

 

[Richard]

Just sketching out a rough idea I was thinking of evolving in the unikely chance I ever get to to run an extended Gloranthan 2nd Age Campaign - God Learnerism as a double edged sword.

Others steal/learn/adapt God Learner magics and techniques. They then use these to destroy the God Learners (I know that canonically they are due for their come uppance). The appearance of the Abiding Book has achieved mythic status. A band of these God Learner Learners pay the story a visit. Evidence is uncovered/planted showing that the book is a Brithini construct and not the word of God at all! Schism and self-destructive mayhem ensue. God Learner sorcery is negated or compromised, the Middle Sea Empire devours itself etc.

Seems to have a certain philosophical resonance in tune with some of Glorantha's themes. It also allowed for the coming together of quite disparate adventures. Obviously Old World traditionalists and Wyrmfriends but treacherous/disaffected/enlightened Sorcerers would probably be key to pulling the whole scheme off. It would be nice to have something like this written up as a setting/campaign/adventure as it is not as culturally dependent or specific as either Blood of Orlanth or Dara Happa Stirs and has a very Gloranthan core idea.

 

[PhilHibbs]

The appearance of the Abiding Book has achieved mythic status. A band of these God Learner Learners pay the story a visit. Evidence is uncovered/planted showing that the book is a Brithini construct and not the word of God at all! Schism and self-destructive mayhem ensue.

A historical event has a fixed truth. Mythic events are more malleable - you can "prove" it one way or the other by doing the quest and successfully doing it your way. If the Abiding Book has become a myth, and it is "true" that it was a Brithini construct, then that could mean that the Brithini have been HeroQuesting it that way. There is, however, a prohibition on mythic engineering and exploitation of Malkioni myths, so this would indeed present a dilemma.

 

[Richard]

Well the dilemma would be part of the fun. In addition such metaphysical dilemmas and rule breaking are central to Gloranthan history with the likes of Arkat/Gbaji and, later the Red Goddess appearing as the result of such mucking about with reality. A 'prohibition' also invites an underground challenge to its authority whether social (The 1920's US alcohol ban of the same name) or religious (The monopoly of the Catholic Church in the Christianised west).

If adventuring groups from the real world can visit or storm the world of legends it doesn't seem that big a step for immensely important real world events to become part of the fabric of myth. In fact are not many myths the possible consequence of the retelling and embellishment of real world events? For non-Christians the resurrection of Christ would serve as a good example. For Christians the 'magical' events of the other religions would fit the same bill.

As a potential story arc hoisting the God Learners with their own petard also has a very satisfying poetic feel to it!

 

[Ultor]

Riffing off the quests in KoDP:

I would have thought Humakt the Champion would be a pretty good one - perhaps it's the source of all those magic swords Zistorwal's supposed to churn out.

Orlanth and Aroka might be good too, to gain dragon-fighting powers - perhaps that's a requirement for agents infiltrating the EWF?

Issaries the Conciliator is probably a good source of treasures. The God Learners probably kill the Long Tooths and the Big Noses both to take their treasures.

Lhankor Mhy Finds the Truth is probably a favorite for gaining knowledge about the Old Ways Traditionalists and, to an extent, the Draconized Orlanthi.

Not sure what use they'd find in the "female" quests (Ernalda, Uralda and Chalanna Arroy), but these God Learners could find something useful anywhere. Perhaps a God Learner stretcher party just takes a severely injured God Learner through the Chalanna Arroy quest rather than wasting healing magic...? [PS I'm not serious there]

I'd love to hear what you come up with.

 

[PhilHibbs]

Not sure what use they'd find in the "female" quests (Ernalda, Uralda and Chalanna Arroy), but these God Learners could find something useful anywhere.

A female character could do the "scarf of mists" from the female side and gain the ability to call on a protector.