The Blood Monsoon

[joshua neff]

as far as I'm concerned, anyone who finds the canonical differences enough of an issue to interfere with their being able to use any ideas, well, I don't care about them.  

While I understand that Glorantha occupies a rather unique community based setting and fandom, I don't see a point really in engaging too deep into dialogue regarding:

1) Information that is out of print, and unrealistic to expect a new person to just "know" or pick up
2) Arguing the "reality" of a fantasy setting
3) The geekery pecking order of "I know more about X" than you

That's pretty much my attitude towards Glorantha & HeroQuest, too, Chris. I'm planning on posting notes on my own Lunar Empire game & I know some of my minor & major details will doubtlessly deviate from "canonical" Glorantha. Which I really don't care about.

[Ron Edwards]

Hello,

Perhaps that's a good place to say ...

... enough talk about canonical vs. non-canonical. I think we all know Chris (bankuei) and Peter well enough, in this forum, to know that neither dogma nor utter disdain regarding Gloranthan background is in action here.

Back to discussing monsoons, please.

Best,
Ron

[Bankuei]

Hi folks,

Here's some preliminary write ups of the Narrator Characters...I haven't finished all the traits or giving them stats, but you can get a good idea of what's going on. :)

First,  I have scribbled a rather large, and nasty E-map of the characters, and looked for places to set up as many cross conflicts as possible, so you could say the map and the conflict were constructed together.

Second, I've used a simple trick, which is that each political group gets a figurehead, plus at least 2 followers, usually with differing opinions(although not always in conflict).  I think it was Jesse  who pointed out to me the role that Spock and Bones played as opposing viewpoints to Capt Kirk, and here each group has around 3 major figures who give a "rounded" view to the politics and views of the group.

Not all of these characters will be introduced, or used, right away, or necessarily at all.  I expect to introduce 3-5 characters, and slowly add more as necessary(as the conflict expands/overlaps with other conflicts in play).

The Night Talons

The Night Talons, in particular, each have a "Soul" rating in accordance with my Immanent Mastery rules.  Next to their Immanent Mastery rating, and the Soul rating, is the AP totals in parentheses.

General Dusk Sword

Dusk Sword has led the Night Talons for over 10 years now, although he still appears to be a solid, vigourous man in his early 30's.  He is a man of few words, but strong convictions.  

Dusk Sword is part of any action undertaken by the Talons, and although the mission comes first, his men are never sacrificed nor uncared for.  His plans are always brilliant and failure is simply not an option for him.  

With the years of abusing his soul for the price of power under the Immanent Mastery magics, he knows his time is near.  He hopes to do as much good as possible before losing it, and hopes that maybe his men might find release in retirement or death before their souls are burned into the void.

Si Chao will put the Talons under the command of Jiu Lu, a corrupt official who will utilize the Talons to eliminate the rivals of his friends in the Horizons, mostly the Ghostkeepers.  Dusk Sword will follow orders, but is also willing to investigate on his own and bend the rules a bit to see that "what is right" is done first and foremost.

Dusk Sword stats:
General of the Night Talons
Espionage/Intelligence
Immanent Mastery
Soul
Politics   
Leadership
Loyalty to the Emperor and the Empire
Loyalty to the Talons
Loyalty to Starfaced Di
Loyalty to Hammer Lu
Dislikes Jiu Lu


Starfaced Di

Starfaced Di is the Talons master strategist.  A cool and quiet man, with the inner strength of a mountain.  No detail slips by him, and he can deduce from the simplest of clues.

Strategy         
Cool and Levelheaded
Perceptive         
Read Personality      
Immanent Mastery
Counter Magic      
Loyal to Emperor      
Loyal to Talons      
Loyal to Dusk Sword   
Brotherhood with Hammer Lu

Hammer Lu

Hammer Lu is the passionate, brute force lieutenant of the Talons.  While not as clever as either Dusk Sword or Starfaced Li, he doesn't make stupid mistakes nor rush into things blindly.  Hammer Lu understands his limitations, and is an expert in dealing with conventional warfare.  For the other stuff, he leaves that to the other two to do the thinking.  On the other hand, his bravery and attitude is a great boon to the morale of the Talons.

Bravery, Heart of a Lion   
Strength         
Words to Live By, Words to Die by      
Axe of Justice      
Likes a good fight      
Immanent Mastery
Dragon of Fire      
Soul             
Loyalty to the Emperor   
Loyalty to Talons      
Loyalty to Dusk Sword   
Brotherhood with Starfaced Lu
Hates Cowards and the Corrupt


The Society without Horizon(the Horizons)

The Society has members throughout all areas of Bai Dao, from the lowest to the highest members, therefore, its pretty hard to nail down an "aveage member".  But leaders and general thugs are presented, create any other member as you see fit.

Elder Jin Tse

Jin Tse appears to be a robust man in his 50's, always reclining in luxurious robes.  In fact, the robes hide his lower body, which has become completely sepentine, as Jin Tse is a  200 year old Huan To.  

His human features are in fact human skin which he wears like a mask, and has several skins to choose from, in order to change his appearance.  Jin Tse takes particular pleasure in masquerading as close friends and loved ones, and then revealing the sham before destroying his most hated foes.

Aside from that particular cruel game, Jin Tse is otherwise very smart and cautious, paranoid even.  He has gained power through careful moves over the last 200 years, and now has influence throughout the entire city.  He hopes to continue the corruption and build power until he can completely upset the Kralori empire.  It will probably take another 800 years, given his methods.

Jin Tse is the classic shadowy kingpin, and is unlikely to take direct action, but instead manipulate others into doing things for him.  He always appears to be a "righteous" man, full of ideals and offering help.  

Cruelty
Inhuman Strength
Appear Righteous
Read Personality
Manipulate Ideals
Information Network
Influence throughout the City
Impersonate
Inhuman Strength

Black Mouth
Black Mouth is Jin Tse's closest servant and one of the foulest humans to walk earth.  Black Mouth will never ascend to being anything more than what he is, a servant to a monster, but he has become a monster in his own right.

Black Mouth earned his name by vowing to never speak the secrets revealed to him, and then bit off his own tongue.  

Black Mouth is less of a character, and more of a cruel guard dog and assassin for Jin Tse than anything else.  You could say he is Jin Tse's "hands" per se, except he takes even more delight in the cruelty he metes out upon victims.

Black Mouth often appears as Jin Tse's personal attendant, and rickshaw puller.

Mute- No rating
Loyalty to Jin Tse
Cruelty
Stealthy
Knife fighting
Strangling
Talent- Make not a sound
Talent- Fade into shadows
Enjoys desecrating beauty

Uncle Lao

Uncle Lao is one of the elder members of the Horizons, at the age of 40.  He has served for almost 10 years now, and is one of the most righteous leaders within the group.  He commands the respect of many members, and goes out of his way to look out for as many of them as he can.  

Where the Dragons and Mandarins have failed, the Horizons succeed.  He sees the brotherhood as being true to Kralori values, even as it violates their traditions.

Uncle Lao is aware of, and condones things such as theft, bribery, vigilantism and other things as "necessary" evils, but is completely unaware of how far the Horizons go in their pursuit of power.  Jin Tse is always smart enough to pawn those jobs off to Viper Di and his men instead.

Lao looks to Viper Di as a strong, older "brother" who handles the day to day affairs while he handles the "spirit" of the Horizons.  Jin Tse is like an older father to him, who speaks of a day when all men can reach to the heavens.  

The recent split of the Ghostkeepers has left Lao with a lot of resentment and mixed feelings.  He feels that Sun Tan has gotten arrogant, rejected the family of the Horizons, and then misled the others.  The biggest source of confusion for him is White Flower, who serves Sun Tan loyally, but Lao has had romantic longings for since he met her.  

Finally, Lao has a friendly rivalry with Guardsman Bao Tien, the two have helped each other and also "let each other go" at various points in the past.  They recognize each other as kindred spirits, who just don't happen to agree on methods.  Lao has helped out Tien by hunting down and turning over criminals who have done truly evil acts, and Tien has chosen to act a bit slowly in "capturing" Lao at times.

Loyalty to Jin Tse
Loyalty to the Horizons
Compassion for the underdog
Righteous Speech
Brawling
Staff Fighting
Great Strength
Bravery
Angry with Sun Tan
Loves White Flower
Friendly with Bao Tien
Loyal Followers
Shipwright Business
Magic-

Viper Di

Viper Di is a professional criminal, simple as that.  Ambitious, ruthless, and clever, he lacks the raw cruelty which would have catapulted him into being a successor for Jin Tse, but that lack of cruelty has also kept him from making stupid mistakes in the name of sadistic pleasure.  

A young looking man in his early 40's, Viper moves with the mannerisms of a panther, stalking his prey.

Viper Di has formed an alliance with Jiu Lu, and has carefully been working the situation into escalation, hoping to pull a coup with Jin Tse while helping Jiu Lu oust Si Chao.  To this end, Di has selected the most capable, loyal, ruthless, but not stupid, followers possible.

The recent split of the Ghostkeepers has been a perfect opportunity for Di to go about eliminiating "traitors" and installing his own men wherever possible.  

He sees Uncle Lao as an idealistic fool, easily manipulated, and Jin Tse as an old man who has grown soft in the years.  Watching Lao's ideals shatter and Jin Tse's shock at defeat will bemuse him, but he's not dumb enough to gloat.  Jiu Lu happens to be ambitious, and a tool at the moment, a threat in the future.

Ambitious
Quiet, Collected
Sardonic
Loyal Followers
Network of Influence
Ruthless
Bitter Humor
Swordfighting
Import Merchant

Average Thug

The average Thug typically has physical traits from 17-5W, and usually is unarmored, armed with sticks, knives, or choppers, nothing militarygrade though.  Some members are part of martial arts schools or the Guards, and may have better weapons or training (usually about 5 more points).

The Sisterhood of Midnight Justice

Another underground organization which has members from all walks of society, there is no "average" member.

Treasure Li

Owner of "Fashion House" which is an upscale brothel in the 4 Vices District.  Treasure Li is the leader and head of Bodkartu worship in Bai Dao.  Li is neither a cold nor overly passionate about her chosen path, simply pracitical.  She is level headed, but will do anything possible to see that wrongs are righted for women.  

She doesn't believe that the work of the vigilante is anything more than a stopgap measure, and honestly believes the role of reforming the society lies in the hands of hte Halisayan followers to restore the balance between men and women in Kralori society.  

Treasure appears to be in her 30's, though she's a decade older than that.  She has a refined beauty about her.

Loyalty to Sisterhood
Priestess of  Bodkartu
Madam of Fashion House
Judge Character
Detect Deception
Deduce Events
Decieve
Detect Flaws
Information Network

Winter Tang

Winter is the Sisterhood's number one assassin.  She holds in her heart a deep anger and need for vengeance, for the sister she couldn't protect.  While this has made her a ruthless vigilante, she is terrible at playing undercover roles.  

Winter has been shadowing Guardsman Bao Tien, hoping to let hiim lead the way and kill the murderer herself. Treasure Li assigned this task knowing that Winter would need something to occupy her mind while the killer was being tracked down.

During this whole affair, Winter has seen Bao Tien's tireless efforts, even breaking the Guard's code in pursuit of justice.  She's almost, almost beginning to respect him, but that would mean having to dislodge her resentment towards all men, and she's not ready to do that, just yet.

True to her name, Winter is pale and has a cold demeanor about her.  She is all business and is in her mid-20's.

Loyalty to Treasure Li
Anger and Bitterness towards Men
Love for Sister
Feelings of Guilt
Ruthlessness
Swordsmanship
Grudging respect for Bao Tien

Brook Nu

Brook is probably the least "expected" member of the Sisterhood, as she is the most popular follower of Halisayan in Bai Dao.  Brook Nu is a youthful 19, the niece of Governor Si Chao, who is raising her away from her family who live further north.  Si Chao has put out an unofficial challenge that a "true hero" should marry his niece.

Brook is a radiant beauty, charming and fitting all of the Kralori desires in a wife.  She also leads members of the Sisterhood who also worship Halisayan or are involved in high society.

She is kind and compassionate, and in public, leads works to assist the populace, including healing, food and medicine.  In private, she provides healing and hears the pain of the abused.

Though seeming to be the "softest" of the group, she is also the most merciless when it comes to being present and witnessing a woman being abused.  

Brook is utterly intrigued by Dusk Sword, and will try to woo him.

Loyalty to Treasure Li
Loyalty to Sisterhood
Protective of Women
Vengeful
Compassionate
Beautiful
Popular
Halisayan
Uncle Si Chao
Crushing on Dusk Sword

The Guards of the Peace

A good majority of the group comes from the lower ranks of society, they are underpaid, barely educated, and rather rude. The leadership often comes from higher ranks, and is supposed to impart "correct ways" of righteousness upon the lower ones...

Governor Si Chao

A weak willed governor, who received his position through the workings of the Horizons, though never knowing it.  Si Chao really just wants to keep his job and save face, though he doesn't know what he's doing at all.  

Somewhat chubby, in his late 30's, Si Chao has lived a fairly spoiled life, and would like to keep it that way.  He has run everything by leaving it in the hands of his subordinates,which has contributed to the levels of corruption and inefficiency in general.  

The Emperor hasn't been pleased with the Red Swords activity, nor the general loss in revenue due to mismanagement.  Si Chao has tried stomping down on the little gangs in the hopes of appearing to do his job.

Cowardly, spineless
Afraid of losing job
Spoiled
Protective of Brook Nu
Governor of Bai Dao

Jiu Lu

In his late 20's, Jiu Lu has the sort of magnetism that only the arrogant can carry.  Ambitious and to the point, Jiu Lu has total conflidence in his abilities as a magistrate, or more importantly as a power in Bai Dao.

Jiu Lu has accepted the power of the Triads, and instead of capitulating to them completely, runs his Guards much like a Triad unto itself.  In this way, his men come to the Triads as "equals", at least in the "We're all violent thugs and willing to rob you" mentality.

Jiu Lu sees the incompetence of Si Chao, and knows that Chao doesn't deserve his power.  Power belongs to the capable, who will use it, and Lu happens to be that person.

He sees Viper Di as a dangerous ally, but one that is useful for the moment.  Hopefully he will be able to aim the Night Talons at Di after consolidating his power better.

Information Network
Ambitious
Confident
Magnetic, Attractive
Willing to use people

Guardsman Bao Tien

One of the few totally honest Guards in Bai Dao, Tien is in his early 30's, with a fierce determination in his eyes.  Bao Tien's father, Bao Zi, had died at the hands of a Triad member during the upheavals 10 years ago, and he has never forgiven them.

Tien is aware that corruption runs through the ranks of the Guards, although he isn't aware of how high and deep it runs.  He still has faith in the overall Kralori system, and believes the corruption lies at the lower levels, not the higher ones...

Tien relentlessly seeks out his targets, and has captured many outlaws, although he is starting to realize that he has been kept of the cases that matter...

Bao Tien keeps a friendly rivalry going with Uncle Lao.  He knows Lao to be a good man, and believes he can be redeemed.

Tien has recently been assigned to track down Sun Tan, whom he believes to be starting a popular cult/gang, along the lines of the Horizons.  Tien has a pretty good idea of how fast a popular idea can spread, and seeks to stop him as soon as possible.

Love of Father, Bao Zi
Compassionate
Fierce
Relentless
Staff fighting
Wrestling
Unbreakable Will
The average Guardsman

Physical abilities usually in the 17-3W area, with a good rating in Connections and Intimidation.  You should expect them to be at least 3-5 points lower than any other organized group in their abilities.  

The Ghost keepers

Breakaways from the Horizons, the Ghost keepers tend to be either Triad Members, Hungry Ghost cultlists, or civilians who want to help their ancestors.

Ghostmaster Sun Tan

Sun Tan has diligently served the Horizons for 12 years.  A rather young man for his ability, in his early 30's, Tan has always sought the deepest mysteries of his art.

He has been on several heroquests, seeking information on the care and magic involving the Hungry Ghosts, and has discovered a way to bring them back to life, to reincarnate and free them from their suffering.  

Tan cares more for the suffering dead than anyone in the world.

Leader of the Ghostkeepers
Compassionate
Cool headed
Determined in belliefs
Deep mystical knowledge

White Flower Mei

Tan's right hand, and the woman in charge of the organization and day to day affairs, she usually deals directly with the living followers, allowing Tan to focus on the magic  and ghost side of the cult.  

Mei holds no illusions about the situation, it looks like its going to be a bloody struggle and its going to take everything from everyone just to survive.  She has been playing things smart, outwitting the Horizons, laying snares and ambushes, striking key supplies and going on the offensive, hoping to cripple them and go for the jugular before the Horizons corner them and smash everything.

She follows Tan because she has seen his vision and his grand design.  She looks forward to the day when the people will never have to rely on the Dragons, hear the tormented cries of ghosts, or fear Hell in the afterlife again.  

Mei has been a bit torn between duty and love, as Uncle Lao has been sent to destroy the Ghostkeepers.  The feeling is mutual, but she is utterly dedicated to her cause...

Loyal to Sun Tan
Leadership
Organization
Rally the people
Sensible
Strategist
Swordfighter

Little Dog

A large foreigner, maybe around his 30's, with massive muscles and a rather ugly face, Dog has served Tan since he helped Dog's deceased mother find her way back to her appropriate afterworld, instead of having to wander Kralorela as a ghost.  Dog is big, mean, and pretty simpleminded.

Loyal to Sun Tan
Mighty
Throw heavy object
Throw Person
Smash Object
Intimidate

Bao Zi

Father of Bao Tien, Bao Zi died under the Corrupted Blade 10 years ago, leaving him a Ghost to wander Bai Dao.  He has joined the Ghostkeepers after speaking with Sun Tan, and believes him to be a good man.  Bao Zi sees Tan as helping the dead, much as he was helping the living.  

Knows Guard procedures
Loves Bao Tien
Repsects Sun Tan

Chris

[Bankuei]

Hi folks,

Here's a Heroquest for the Blood Monsoon.  I haven't assigned ratings for the challenges just yet, but you get the idea...

The Hidden Door

The Ghostkeepers have recently split from the Society without Horizon, after discovering this heroquest.  This ritual allows them to see the Hungry Ghosts through the spirit world, back into our world, reincarnating as newborn infants.  The Ghosts bypass Draconic judgement, as well as the purifying punishments of the Draconic Hells.  This means that unlike normal children, who are born as clean slates, these babies are born with  all of their memories of their previous life...

This heroquest only exists as a set of simple instructions along with ritual instructions.  Although the founder of the Ghostkeepers is Sun Tan, he hasn't been elevated to "mythic" status in the eyes of his followers yet.  As far as the results, the Hungry Ghosts are reborn as babies, but it will probably take them a few months to gain motor control again, and maybe a year or two to do complex things such as speak.  Also, the Ghosts do NOT remember what happened to them after they died...so awakening as a baby is a rather scary and unsettling process...

Practice Ritual

The practice ritual involves traveling to a cemetary, a crossroads, a temple, and a gate(could be any gate, but the more magically infused, the better) and praying for each of the Ghosts to be reincarnated.  The more powerful the locations visited, the better the bonus.  So traveling to all of the places in a city may only take a day, but would also garner less of a bonus, while traveling across the Kralori Empire to the Graveyard of the Wise to the Heavenly Gate of Truth may take years, but would be blessed by the Cosmic Dragon itself...

The Crossing

Crossing over requires that all of the Hungry Ghosts to be reincarnated be present along with the spirit worker.  The leader of the ritual must have a relationship with each and every Ghost involved, rated at least 17.  Bonuses are granted for having close possessions of the Ghosts, or even parts of their remains.  Other bonuses are based on the "feng shui" of the area, particularly in regards to being a gateway between life and death.  Therefore, the area between a farm and a cemetary would be a perfect spot.

After Crossing, all Ghosts involved lose their memory of everything that happened since they died.

The Funeral

The group arrives at a cemetary, in the process of a funeral.  The funeral procession is led by Death itself(or at least an agent strong enough to work in Death's place).  

The living amongst the group must perform grieving services to the satisfaction of the Ghosts.   What exactly must happen depends on the Ghosts themselves.  Some will only be satisfied by tears and wailing, others by song and dance, sacrifices, incense, money, wine, or what have you.  Personal knowledge of the ghosts involved makes this easier.  

The point of this is in convincing the Ghosts to follow the living back to the Gate of Life, for reincarnation.  On a complete failure, at least one of the ghosts refuses to follow the party on its journey back to life...

The One who is Left Behind

A little girl will also be present at the funeral.  She is lost, a bit scared, and definitely lonely.  She knows where anything and everything is in the Spirit World(yeah, everything), and someone needs to befriend her to recieve her guidance.  Otherwise, it's going to be a lot of Spirit World lore type rolls to find your way around.  No one knows who she is, not even herself.  

The Crossroads

At the Crossroads, you will find more of the Ghosts who entered the heroquest with the living.  They are lost, and despondent, trapped here, either out of fear, indecision or having given up on themselves.  Whatever the reason, the goal of the living is to convince them to join them, or drag them to the Gate of Life.

The Temple

The Temple appears to be a wonderous place, bright, filled with holy song, and an energy that simply...feels right.  Outside, mandarins are deciding who to allow through the temple gates, either to be admitted for the Heavenly palace, or to work off their sins in Hell.  The last few Hungry Ghosts will be found here, waiting, perhaps pleading with the Mandarins.  No matter what, they will be told to "Wait until called for", and probably will never be let in.

These Ghosts will be the hardest to win over, as they believe they are on the edge of redemption.  Only the most dedicated and faithful Kralori Hungry Ghosts make it to the Temple, and the living must overcome the faith of the dead to convince them that they will never be admitted.  If there was anyplace where Ghosts are lost, this would be it.

The Guardian of Life

A young woman, in scholar's cloths sits atop a dais in front of the Gate of Life.  She is bored beyond time.  She is the Guardian of Life, and determines who is, and is not suitable to travel through the Gate.

The Ghostkeepers typically bribe the Guardian of Life with incense, wine, and money.  Although the bribes are based on sacrifices to the dead, in fact, what the Guardian seeks is things based on living life...hence wine, music, food, sex, etc, are what would win her over.  She has sent people on to Life for all time, yet hasn't had a chance to experience it for herself.

The One who refuses to Leave

Finally, after all that, a nameless Ghost, who happens to come along for the journey, refuses to leave and forcibly blocks the gate.  The Living and the Dead must fight him to get to Life again.  

The Return

The living return, and all the Dead who come along are reincarnated.  The little girl, though, must be left behind.  No one has figured out how to reincarnate her, as she refuses to go through the Gate, and, in fact, are afraid of what would happen if she did.  But she is always sad to be left alone, as always.

Interference

This heroquest is new, and won't suffer interference the first few times its used.  But, by the time the scenario is underway, the Horizons will try to cross over and interfere with the ritual.  Beyond that, the Kralori mandarins will begin sending spirits to hunt down those who try to circumnavigate the cycle of life, death and judgement.

Chris