From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM Subject: RuneQuest Digest Volume 8, Issue 7, Supplement 2 To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM Precedence: bulk [Tom Zunder's Sun County interpretation. Part 2, the contest] From: Tom Zunder Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 20:49 GMT Subject: Sun County Campaign 1992 [part 2] The Garhound Contest 1621 ST As recounted by Brother Ravel of the Grey Sages Price 5L This year's contest was a remarkable feat of man's struggle to assert his mythic role in the world against the depredations of Darkness. The competitors were Darth Jophayn, Sun Dome, Yelmalio Hallgrim Ironfist, Pol Joni, Storm Bull Carylon Squally, Garhound, Orlanth Myryhyn Calmstorm, Pavis, Orlanth Vathmar Allweather, Sun Dome, Yelmalio Jarst Daro, ??, Argan Argar This last contestant raised great consternation but was ruled eligible as Argan Argar, troll god of Surface Darkness was indeed one of Ernalda's Husband-Protectors. Melisande, the beautiful Harvest Queen, elected Carylon, the local lad, as her favourite, a boon which was not to stand him in good stead. The Horse Race In this exciting race the Sun Domer Darth Jophayn picked the best of the horses and made a good fast race, beating Hallgrim Ironfist at the post by a horseneck. Vathmar, the independent Yelmalio, came a bad third and was disqualified for deliberately running down Myrrhyn Calmstorm when the Orlanthi had fallen. Carylon Squally trailed in last and Jarst Daro didn't finish at all, having almost drowned in the river crossing. The Joust This event was fought to dismounting this year, and the contest proved fast and furious. In the first event Calmstorm faced off to Daro, both casting many magics at first and Calmstorm firmly lifting Daro from his seat on the second pass. Darth Jophayn unseated Squally on the second ride by, leaving Ironfist to face Allweather. Allweather resorted to mind magic which the Storm Kahn shook off valiantly and in a final clash of lances Allweather unseated Ironfist, whilst the Pol Joni accidentally brought his opponent's horse down with a cruel gash to the forequarters. As Vathmar and many other Yelmalio rushed to aid this horse in needless suffering, the Pol Joni lay on his back cursing the arena. Both having fallen it was decreed that the final should be between Jophayn and Calmstorm. Victory here went to the official Sun Dome candidate and the odds were shortening on the plucky lad from Dragon Pass. The Wrestling Jarst Daro won this event most successfully, revealing a powerful and attractive body which won the eyes of many ladies. Darth Jophayn came third with Ironfist third. The Intelligence Test Calmstorm drunk the others under the table, followed by Allweather and Jophayn. Jophayn by now had an impressive lead. The Wall of Death Nimbly won by Jophayn, now looking unstoppable, Squally, Calmstorm and Daro came joint second. The Pain Test This event which involves holding pans of hot water for as long a possible was again won by Jophayn, followed by Daro and Myrrhyn. The Ladies Choice In this event, Myrrhyn Calmstorm proved to be a cheat and also the Lunar collaborator that many had suspected. Sor-Eel's jester cast deception magic upon Calmstorm to aid the telling of his tale. It did not, however, fail to prevent Darth Jophayn winning with a touching tale of love and chaos, a tale which subtly insulted the Lunars and left the crowd buoyant. Indeed at the end of the tear jerking tale Sor-Eel and the Lunar contingent left. Carylon Squally came second, having followed Jophayn with a rousing rendition of the banned ballad "Cold Wind over Sartar". The Consummation Melisande, the Harvest Queen, let it be known that she was greatly taken with the winner Darth Jophayn and, after the giving of prizes, they departed to the Champion's House. It was sad that three days later Jophayn had to leave with the Count of Sun County on a mission to rescue his uncle whose village had been struck by some disaster. He did, however, vow to return, and the people of Garhound seem pleased to welcome him back. A most propitious and popular Champion of Garhound! Postscript As detailed in my other document "Foul Murthers in Garhound", the competitor Jarst Daro proved to be an ogre who slew three girls during the contest, purchase a full report from your local Grey Sage. Brother Ravel The Trek To Rabbit Hat Farm After the exhilaration of the Contest and Darth Jophayn's superb victory, the news of the disappearance of a militia file in Rabbit Hat is somewhat depressing. Buoyed up by his success and the fact that his uncle lives in Rabbit Hat. With the main Sun Dome party you return to the Temple, and Skeanthi spends an awe-struck morning admiring the wonder and glory of the Dome, it's wondrous gold and the rich light which fills the temple. Unfortunately you must away and dragging Ravel from the temple library and the sage Hector and his renowned Yellow Book, you set off for Rabbit Hat. It will take you two days; Day One Travelling across Sun County to Eiskolli, you come across a huge pile of stinking dung on the side of the trail. Whilst the sight is unpleasant enough what worries both Darth and Hallgrim is that they recognises it as Tusker dung, meaning that Tusk Riders must be loose in the area.. You discover this about two hours from Eiskolli. Eiskolli Having arrived in Eiskolli you are met by Sir Glow Eiskolli, the current lord of the Eiskolli estates. After some strange looks at Hallgrim, he offers you accommodation for the night and to detail the situation. Before he starts you quickly tell him of the Tusker dung found near the trail. He commands his templar captain to put out a scouting patrol and then continues with his tale. The Refugees About 35 refugees from Rabbit Hat are gathered in Eiskolli, mainly women, children and old men. Amongst them is Rogar Jophayn, Darth's uncle, who was returning from the Sun Dome as the refugees arrived at Eiskolli. Some eight days ago Bison Riders attacked Rabbit Hat, always vulnerable at the borders with Vulture Country. They killed Dawning BowMaster, the local lord, and his bodyguard. They then set about herding the fit men of the village away into slavery and after satisfying various unsavoury lusts upon some of the women, allowed the mothers, children and infirm to set out for Eiskolli. Several young girls were taken by the raiders, presumably as concubines and slaves. The refugees, having watched the Bison Riders depart and having sent some of their number to Eiskolli, made to return to Rabbit Hat the next day. To their horror they saw that the village was now occupied with Broo, burning houses, setting disease in the wells and committing hideous acts with the remaining livestock. Sickened to their hearts the villagers set out for Eiskolli. At Eiskolli the refugees recounted their ordeal to Glow Eiskolli who dispatched half of the local militia file to Rabbit Hat to investigate and clear out the Broo if necessary. They went under the command of Coriander Yellowman and with them went a local Chalana Arroy acolyte, Minima Calmhands. They have not returned and are long overdue. Sir Glow decided that the best policy was to report the matter to the Sun Dome as soon as possible and await further help. No-one is at threat in Rabbit Hat and no Broo or Riders have threatened the other settlements so it is a question of investigating what has occurred and the size and nature of force required to clear things up. The local militia file is dispersed amongst the local villages, organising the farmers in training and preparation should another raid occur, but Sir Glow does have two militia men available to accompany you should you require. As Yelm sets you eat a hearty meal and go to bed early. The Events of Rabbit Hat Farm are recounted elsewhere.. Life Calms Down and the Cradle Comes Down After the grisly chaos nest at Rabbit Hat Farm was cleansed of burrowing Krarshti scum our Heroes are greatly feted by the Count of Sun County, Solanthos Ironpike. The discovery of the legendary Crown of Yasmur in the possession of the Chaos fiends, and its return to the Sun Dome by Darth Jophayn has virtually guaranteed his elevation to Rune Lord when he is competent to the post. Skeanthi, once viewed as a bumpkin by the Sun Domers, is welcomed into the Sun Templars and accorded great respect and much training. His unwillingness to wear full armour lest it inteferes with his hunting is now met with kind hearted admonishment to "wear it, sunny Jim, you're in the Templars NOW!" Ravel, healed from his almost terminal case of Creeping Chills by the beneficence of the Grey Sage himself, is tended to by the Chalana Arroy Healers and a spell of growth is cast upon his lost arm. In the meantime he makes a good friendship with Hector the Sage, Yelmalio priest and scholar of the Sun Dome. The extensive library and the eclectic volume commonly known as "Hector's Yellow Book" prove a delight to the young student so awfully introduced to the horrors of Chaos. Hallgrim, overpowering and rude as ever rapidly loses grace with the moralistic and civilised Yelamalians. Insulting Solanthos' receding hairline once too often, Hallgrim is reminded that his Pol Joni tribe have been reported only a few weeks away in the Wastelands. He sets off to visit his family and recruit some young Pol Joni to the cause of the Bull. After a joyful re-union with Melisande and Rogar Jophayn at the SunDome, Darth decides to head back to Garhound to fulfil his duties as Champion. Rogar decides to join him, particularly since the Sun Dome investigations into the hazia trade in Rabbit Hat have led to the blinding of three and the ritual strangulation of two more. Rogar pleads his innocence but decides that Pavis County might be safer than Sun County for him right now. Dark Season 1621 ST is a brooding and cold season, the news from Heortland is that the Lunars still besiege Whitewall, having brought up hideous Chaos regiments of twisted monsters to storm the walls. Storm Bulls and other anti chaotics have rallied to the cause and Lunar supply lines have been harried by Zorak Zorani trolls from the Shadow Plateau and Orlanthi rebels from Hendriki and Sartar. In the Wastes rumours abound of a new army of chaos emerging from the Tunnelled Hills and Cwim, the three bodied monster of Chaos wipes out a sizeable number of the Circling Zebra tribe. In Corflu the Lunars are reputed to be mounting an expedition to the Far Eastern lands of Kralori and many Orlanthi are convinced they'll be sucked into Magasta's Pool. It is in Storm Season that one of the most epic events of the past decades occurs. In the first week of Storm Season a giant cradle, bearing a giant baby, is sighted floating down the Zola Fel River. These cradles are legendary from the days of Old Pavis but have not been seen in living memory. The Lunars, always hungry for magic and power, seek to capture the cradle. The locals, Pavic citizens, Sartar exiles, newtlings, even Sun Domers, swell forward in an upsurge of resentment and aid Prince Argrath of Boldhome, outlaw and claimant to the throne of Sartar, in protecting and defeating the Lunars. Sor-Eel, many centuries of peltasts, a unit of Lunar College Magicians are all humiliated by Argrath's band of motley adventurers, some of whom stay with the cradle and float into the sea with Argrath. Will he be seen again? Darth Jophayn, visiting old colleagues in Pavis, is drawn into the Cradle and fights valiantly alongside Argrath, at all times hoping not to be identified by the Lunars. Returning to Garhound incognito he is confident he has escaped detection given the lack of response from the local Lunar Commissioner and troops. Of Baboons and Politics.. As the ceremonies and rituals of Sacred Time pass, with a joyful reunion between Darth and Ravel, returning to the Sun Dome after attending the Lhankor Mhy High Holy Day at New Pavis, Sea Season begins with fresh rain and the watering of the Earth which will lead to the re-awakening of the Earth Season. It is in the second week of Sea Season that scouts of the Garhound militia report a sizeable body of intelligent baboons heading to Garhound, accompanied by Pol Joni outriders. This transpires to be the Bristleback clan, who have come to seek permission to settle on the lands near Garhound, aiding the Orlanthi as scouts. With them is Hallgrim Ironfist, friend of both the Champion of Garhound and Um-rath-ral shaman of the baboons. The matter is brought before the Town Council wherein the usually tolerant Lunars argue against the idea and the intolerant Pol Joni makes an impassioned plea for cultures to "get along under the Red Moon". Obviously power politics is afoot and neither the Champion nor Sir Davis Garhound can reach a decision. It is as the discussion ensues that the Champion's housekeeper breaks in... Abduction! Melisande Jophayn, 20 week pregnant wife of Darth, and Lady Yolga Garhound, daughter of Sir Davis have been abducted through a shimmering portal of magic. On the floor lie two knitting needles stained with blue blood. Never thinking for a moment Darth grabs his weapons and leaps through the portal. Hallgrim Ironfist, Skeanthi the White and Um-rath-ral all follow before the darkness shaped "hole" disappears. Once Upon a Blue Moon It is on a desolate, cold and raining moor that Jophayn and his comrades appear. The strange blue-black landscape pitted and unlike anyplace seen by these dwellers of Prax. Behind them, in the wrong part of the sky, glows the full Red Moon. Before them a strange circular valley is filled with bizarre fungi, many metres tall, and giant insects and creatures which flit from mushroom to bulbous toadstool. From the four rune carved stones surrounding them arise four spirits, one screaming hysterically, one moaning and bleeding, two silent shapes of utter black. Our heroes gird their loins and do physical and spiritual battle with these creatures.. Hallgrim falls, his soul possessed by a screaming spirit, but the others defeat their foes with the aid of magic and blade. Hallgrim, having recovered consciousness urges that they should proceed and enter the fungi forest. It is a strange journey, wherein strange dark elves are met and trollkin ambush in vain. It ends at the entrance to a dark cavern around which two hooded figures can be seen to lurk. Above the cavern are the runes of Darkness, Moon and Water. As they enter the cavern Ironfist leads the group in. Many traps, pits, ambushes and spirit traps are set against Melisande and Yolga's rescuers but eventually they win through to a huge cave, bitten from the rock into a Darkness Rune, bisected by a stream to make both a Lunar Rune and the Water Rune. Faced with many trolls, spirits, great trolls and two troll priestesses much magic is spent, Um-rath-ral loses his life valiantly aiding his barely known comrades, Hallgrim is possessed with fear and takes no useful part in the battle and Darth Jophayn, hero, slays many trolls and both priestesses with his mighty spear. Having found another portal shimmering behind a Lunar Rune Skeanthi the White leads the way back through strange dark tunnels to Garhound, appearing through another shimmering hole outside the town. In Conclusion The Bristleback clan, horrified at the death of their shaman, start to argue and chafe at their presence in Garhound. Sir Davis, always suspicious of their intentions, decides to propose that no land be granted to the tribe. The Lunars agree but also suggest that Um-rath-ral be resurrected in thanks for his great help. Hallgrim, deeply ashamed of his fear, and unable to contemplate exorcism, given the power that his possessor has over him, rides from the town without a word to his colleagues or his Pol Joni friends. Darth and Skeanthi, deeply suspicious of the troll abduction and suspecting Lunar involvement are left wondering to what purpose the abduction was aimed, and was it Yolga or Melisande that the trolls wanted, or both? All three spend much time in close counsel with Sir Davis. Magic Items: Tear of Hippoiii Skeanthi picked up a crystal of magic which a priest of Ernalda recognises as a "Tear of Hippoiii", a yellowish crystal flecked with blue. As he touches it Skeanthi knows it to be alive and realises that with some sacrifice of his spirit he can attune it to his senses and use its powers for his own. Hippoiii is a goddess of horses, a scion of King Griffin, brother of Yelm. She is widely worshipped by the Pure Horse Tribe and Grazelanders. Crystals are said to be the blood and tears of deities and this is said to be the tears of Hippoiii when her wings were torn from her back in the Gods Wars. {This is a 3 POW crystal, one point of POW sacrificed and a ceremony roll and it will be attuned to Skeanthi. Then he will be able to use its magic points a his own, altho not in MP vs MP contests. It will regenerate its own power as a living being.} Dagger of Darkness Darth picked up this dagger from the body of a troll priestess. Adorned with Darkness, Lunar and Water Runes it is a curved stiletto like blade. As he touches it he knows it to have bound within it a darkness spirit and engraved on the hilt a matrix for casting spells of combat. The spirit struggles to resist Darth's will and he knows that to force the spirit to cast the magics will always involve a battle of wills. He is also not sure of the rightness of owning such a weapon of Darkness and seeks the advice of his local priest. This advice is ambivalent. On one hand initiates of the Sun Warrior shouldn't dabble with Darkness. One the other hand subjugation of the powers of Darkness is good. The dagger is an assassin's weapon, on the other hand it can be used to power the glory of the spear. The signs are not clear, Darth must decided himself or pay for a Divination. {This dagger has a Bladesharp 3 matrix enchanted in it and a 10 POW spirit of Darkness. Darth will have to overcome the Darkness spirit on a MP vs MP contest every time he wishes to force it to use it's POW to cast the Bladesharp. He may, however, decide to power the Bladesharp himself. The Bladesharp may be cast on any weapon that Darth touches at the same time as touching the dagger.}