The Blood Monsoon

[Bankuei]

Hi folks,

I'm prepping for a Kralori game, and here's the background:

The Blood Monsoon

A Kralori Campaign Scenario for HeroQuest

Even in a land of perfection, there are outlaws.
Even amongst outlaws, there are rules.
All rules are off.

A gang war threatens to rip Bai Dao, city by the water, as factions rise and battle for power, honor, and a forbidden artifact that may determine the fate of the Hero Wars.

The Attitude

Blood Monsoon is all about style.  Take film noir, blood opera, and gangster movies, shake it and throw it on the rocks, and there you go.  Both the players and the Narrator need to be in on this attitude.  Go watch some gangster movies, from the Godfather to A Better Tommorrow to Brother.   The world is moody and dark, sensuous, and foreboding. Intersperse contemplating life with fighting for it, betrayal, loyalty, honor, revenge, and freedom.  Break empty rules, honor what matters most, and make your own rules where the world fails you.  Live without regret, death is coming.

Life between Laws

Kralorela is often presented as an orderly, and monolithic society.  That is certainly what they'd like to believe, but factions arise in all peoples, and the Kralori are no different.  The Blood Monsoon focuses on the groups who live between the rules of Kralorela, those who reject the laws and ways of Dragons, those who want more for their lives, for right or wrong reasons.

The City of Bai Dao

Bai Dao sits very south in the Suam Chow Sea, a natural harbor that takes advantage of the warm southern currents bringing ships to it every. Bai Dao is a fairly large port city, enough to "dock half the boats in the water!".  The city has been a haven for criminal and underground groups since its inception, being an excellent staging point to smuggle things between the mainland, the islands, and foreign nations.  

Almost a decade ago, the newly formed "Society without Horizons" won over members by the droves and a few well placed assassinations and underground power plays left it in control, with the other gangs being marginalized, barely holding on to what little power they had left.  With the reduction in visible violence and conflict, Bai Dao appeared to have become a rather well managed city, and the governor quietly died to apparently "natural causes", allowing his less capable nephew to fall into power.  Which was exactly what the Horizons' needed to further entrench themselves into the local government.

General attitudes are relaxed compared to the rest of Kralorela.  Almost everyone knows a criminal or less than savory sort, and its usually "not a big deal" to bend small rules.  This doesn't mean that its a lawless place, just that the moral strictures are looser, particularly amongst the lower classes, sailors, or the merchants.  The attitude might best be described as lusty, hendonistic, and disrespectful.  Needless to say, the 4 Vices District is sprawling and probably the most profitable area next to the port itself.  Given the appearance of an improved city compared to the situation a decade ago, most people have overlooked the cultural shift for the time being.

The general population are hardworking folks just trying to live their lives, ranging from a host of laborers and sailors to the upper class merchants.  Bai Dao has a higher ratio of accursed foreigners, and those of impure blood than the rest of Kralorela, although there is also greater tolerance for that sort of thing than elsewhere.  

The weather is almost always balmy, with warm nights to humid days.  The wind coming off the sea is called the "Dragon's Blessing"(as in the Western Dragon of the Sea).  Everyone carries a fan, the well off carry parasols.  Clothing is typically loose with short sleeve shirts and short trousers.  Some islander fashion has also taken hold here, with the sarong having become popular, if a bit risque trend.

A wide variety of temples may be found here, although most prominent are Thrunhin Da, dragon of the waters, Tun Dai of merchants, and a oceanic variant of the Ebe and Okario peasant relgiion.  The other major deities are also here in force, although the simple folk have caused most of the local clergy to simply rituals and teachings to the crude folk.

The monsoon season is a strange one, as many daily routines are put off schedule, since the rain is usually bad enough to flood the streets up to a foot of water, and rains last from a few minutes to a few hours.  Restaurants, gambling dens, inns, theatres, and temples rake in money as everybody scrambles for cover.  

Monsoon season is seen as a sensual time of passionate love, where many people begin and end love affairs in a stormy fashion mirroring the weather.  It's not uncommon to find yourself trapped in a shed, stable, or other out of the way area, sopping wet in hot weather with someone you might be attracted to.  Other folks take the effor t to take advantage of rain, knowing they won't be caught as long as the water falls.  Surely enough, the flood of water from the sky preludes the time 3 seasons later, when babies flood the city.  

Occassionally Bai Dao faces tropical storms, usually one or two a year, with a full fledged typhoon hitting once every 3 or  4 years, and hurricanes pehaps every 6-8.  Storms inflict some damage, but things are usually back to normal in a couple of days.  Typhoons usually stop things for about a week, and hurricanes take at least a few months to fully recover from.  Luckily, Bai Dao has been through enough of these to have a fairly standard plan of action and organization to dealing with these things.  

The merchants always make a killing, usually loading up the few remaining boats and traveling up and down the coast, and the islands who were also hit, selling supplies at inflated prices.  Some merchants construct extra strong warehouses, and make nearly all their profit this way.  The warehouses are known as "Storm Houses" and the whole business as "the Storm Economy".  Of course, since the weather doesn't always hit, and the damages can range from minor to devestating, its rather like a primitive version of the stock market, with the merchants gambling on the next storm season.  

The major players of Bai Dao

-The Guards of the Peace
A fairly ineffectual and corrupt police force for the city of Bai Dao.  Most of the guards serve the Horizons, one of the merchant associations, or family clans.  As the pressure mounts from the mandarins and the mandarin-governor, Si Chao, they may find themselves forced to take drastic measures.

•The Red Swords
A merciless pirate band, who have become increasingly more and more bold, and more powerful each day.  They raid anything, even other pirates, taking them over and absorbing their members, burn villages to the earth, and have even captured a couple of navy ships.  The Red Swords are the most ruthless and monstrous sea bandits to appear in centuries.

•The Society without Horizon
The major Triad in Bai Dao, run by the merciless Jin Tse, who has been manipulating his underlings against each other, testing to see who is the most ruthless and capable lieutenant to promote in the ranks.  Unfortunately, most of the Hungry Ghosts in thier service left with several of their members to join the Ghostwalkers.

•The Ghostwalkers
A heretical cult that broke away from the Horizons.  The Ghostwalkers eschew both the way of the Dragons, and the Triad, instead focusing on utilzing, working with, and reincarnating, the spirits of the Hungry Dead.  This new sect has managed to pick up members both alive and dead, and the Horizons are far from happy about that.

•The Night Talons
An elite troop of soldiers, lead by Dusk Sword, a semi-retired general who follows the path of Immanent Mastery, known for corrupting the very souls of its adherents.  The Night Talons have been sent to put down the Red Swords, and any other insurgents, bandits, or violators of the law.

•The Sisterhood of Midnight Justice
An illegal cult of Bodkartu worshippers, who have members from all walks of life, from rich to poor, who operate out of the 4 Vices district of Bai Dao.  The Sisterhood has been seeking out a serial killer who has been killing the working girls of the 4 Vices district for almost a month now.

The Myth of the Blood Monsoon

No one talks of this, it is a secret.  But I tell you now, because I just want to make sure you are ready in case it does.

Long ago, during a full moon, a monsoon hit.  It was a time of troubles, when more blood was on the ground than in the sky.  People thought the water was red from the moon, but it was the blood from the fighting.  It was bad times.

But, the rain turned red, and blood rained from the sky, and everyone was gripped with fear.  Good citizens turned to barbarians, cannibals and monsters.  Even more blood was shed, as family turned against family, people murdered, looted and raped, and the city burned.

By the time the rain had ended, the city was in ruins.  So filled with shame were the people, they struck it from the records, and tried to forget it.

The Blood Monsoon and Kralori Society

"When there is more blood on the earth than rain in the sky...the Blood Monsoon has begun."

Kralori believe that they are the ultimate perfection, a people without flaw.  Anything negative gets attributed to the barbarians and foreigners, because it simply isn't "possible" for Kralori to be wrong or bad.

The Blood Monsoon threatens that in every fashion.  It is a time of chaos, where no rules apply, and every negative quality "hidden" in the average citizen comes forth.  In other words, all pretense is thrown out, along with inhibition or reason.

The Blood Monsoon is a rare event, but comes about when there is much bloodshed throughout the city in open fighting during a full moon and a monsoon.  When it occurs, all negative personality traits(hate, anger, envy, lust, etc.) are doubled!  

Also, people believe that it is the Blood Monsoon that is at fault, so they feel no responsibility for anything they do during this time, and take advantage of it to do everything taboo they've ever wanted to.  

I'm currently doing write ups for all of the Narrator characters, and have a basic E-map established.  

The attitude is effectively HK gangster flicks + Frank Miller's Sin City.

More to come,

Chris
edited for formatting

[joshua neff]

Wow! That sounds really, really cool.

What magic are you using in Kralorela?

[Bankuei]

Hi Josh,

Well, between the info from HQ Voices and the Kralori Homeland write up on Pyramid, Kralorela has all types of magic available, and the neat fact that the Draconic magic covers all three, limited only by social class/Dharma.  That's the "standard" magic floating about.

I'm also writing up rules for Immanent Mastery, which I'm running as an extended contest of Soul vs. Immanent Mastery, with the caveat that you can never truly "win" the contest, as long as you keep using it.  To add to the corruption factor, I'm ruling that Immanent Mastery augments any and all rolls, just because. :)

Finally, I remember seeing somewhere that Sekeverian magic also uses Tap magic, which I'm also writing up rules for as well.

Chris

[Peter Nordstrand]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for posting this. It is very inspiring, as always. Are you looking for any kind of response in particular?

All the best,

/Peter N

[RaconteurX]

Delve into Paul Mason's "Outlaws of the Water Margin" for further inspiration, if you have not already... a great reminder that even the most enduring and monolithic of cultures has (and sometimes needs!) its outlaws.

[joshua neff]

Chris, I have another question. How focused is this? That is, are you going into this with a relationship map written up? Have you given the players any limits in character creation? How many sessions are you planning to run this?

[Bankuei]

Hi guys,

Peter-

I'm sharing this for anyone's use or inspiration, although questions and comments are welcome.  I will probably put this whole thing into a pdf when all is said and done, along with instructions on "how to" make and use E-maps.

Michael-

Yes, I've actually read the novels, along with quite a few other chinese epic stories.  Another couple of inspirations are the comics, Blade of the Immortal and Naruto, both manga which take the "modern" punk attitude and port it into the past, sort of like what A Knight's Tale did.

Josh-

Character creation is open as long as the heroes will be involved in the political struggles of the underworld, in some fashion.  Players are given the information I've shared, and the E-map(my version of R-maps, based on emotional ties instead of blood and sex) is partially revealed based on their "entry point".

I'm looking at 5-6 sessions for a story arc, with the option of moving to the next conflict and continuing.  The set up has several conflicts, and the central conflict is dependant on how the heroes are involved.

As it stands now, I have one confirmed player, and potentially 2 more, although I'm willing to run with just one player, as I'm impatient for play.

Chris

[Brand_Robins]

I'm sharing this for anyone's use or inspiration, although questions and comments are welcome.  I will probably put this whole thing into a pdf when all is said and done, along with instructions on "how to" make and use E-maps.

Excellent.

Not to make a worthless post, but I'd love this. I just got done (well, yesterday) running a one-shot with Well of Souls, and more play-aids in that style would be a wonderful thing.

[Peter Nordstrand]

Hi Chris,

Here are some thoughts. Bear in mind that I don't claim to be improving your game or anything with these comments. It is just things that I would do if I were going to run this as a narrator.

The City of Bai Dao

In my humble opinion, you are describing the city of Lur Nop, in the province of Wanzow on the island of Fanzai. It is south of the Suam Chow all right.

Wanzow
Province where foreigners are allowed freely. A foreigner must live here for at least a year before traveling to anyplace else in the Empire of Kralorela.

Lur Nop
This large city (RuneQuest term for a city of 6,000-25,000 permanent residents—PN) in Wanzow is the only port open to foreign shipping. Traders from Vormain, the East Isles, Teshnos, Teleos, and Kethaela meet here.

EDIT—Source: Genertela Book in the out of print RQ boxed supplement Glorantha: Genertela, Crucible of the Hero Wars.

and the governor quietly died to apparently "natural causes", allowing his less capable nephew to fall into power

If the causes were not natural, and in fact one brother killed the other, it would mean that the Cosmic Order was broken, allowing Chaos to enter the world. From a purely philosophical perspective, this may not necessarily be a bad thing, as it will allow the city to die and be reborn again. Perhaps that is what the Blood Monsoon is really about.

The Cult of Immanent Mastery

In my opinion, this cult is a pyramid scheme. Lay members are tought empty cult secrets and progress through the ranks to become a member of the inner circle. Their secret (and very expensive) magic allows a person to turn into a roughly human-sized draconic-looking yet humanoid creature. The ignorant believe that the cult have indeed found a short-cut to dragonhood. Wise people know that the dragon form only lasts for a little while, and that the draconic exterior is a mere empty shell: When the cultists die, their cursed souls are not allowed to enter the Excellent Palace of Pleasant Reward.

Sample Talents—Transform Head into the Head of a Dragon, Transform Hands into the Talons of a Dragon, Transform Arms into the Arms of a Dragon, Transform (well, you get it, it goes on and on), Become Larger, Breathe Fire, Harden Skin.

Secret—Secret? There is no secret worth mentioning, except perhaps the ability to make the learned feats last longer. Or perhaps the secret's rating can be added to the rating of any of the feats.

Note—Don't forget the penalty for difficult magics when transforming.

Cheers,

/Peter N

[Bankuei]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I'm going to stick with Bai Dao, as I'm going from the main HQ book and Glorantha: Intro to the Hero Wars.  Pretty much if its not described there, I'm running free reign on it.

If the causes were not natural, and in fact one brother killed the other, it would mean that the Cosmic Order was broken, allowing Chaos to enter the world.

Exactly. (Grins evilly).  A major theme is playing off of how much Kralorela emphasizes the Cosmic Order, yet how much it breaks down on the lower levels.  A perfect society...really?

As far as the Cult of Immanent Mastery, my personal take is that it does indeed produce power.  While I can see popularity based on the "ooh, look, I'm draconic", being one thing, the fact that some of the military still uses it to the current times means that it probably has some effectiveness, otherwise it would have fallen by the wayside.

The catch is, it uses your very soul as fuel for your power.  If you do it a little bit, you only permanently stunt or cripple your ability to ever achieve enlightenment and oneness with the cosmic dragon.  If you do it a lot, you burn your very soul out of existance, and disappear in a flash of light...and people probably have a hard time remembering you existed.  Of course, for those who witnessed it, it was clearly your enlightenment and ascension.  Oops.

In this way, the Cult provides a very Sorcerer-esque situation...what is worth your soul?  Much like "diet pills", it certainly works, although the costs are far higher than most could fathom.

Chris

[Peter Nordstrand]

Hi Chris,

I'm going to stick with Bai Dao, as I'm going from the main HQ book and Glorantha: Intro to the Hero Wars.  Pretty much if its not described there, I'm running free reign on it.

Sounds like you have a great thing going. I can't wait to hear more. In fact, spending too much time chasing elusive Gloranthan trivia has probably killed more potentially good campaigns than anything else. I wish I could be a player in this game.

All the best,

/Peter

[Valamir]

I'm sharing this for anyone's use or inspiration, although questions and comments are welcome. I will probably put this whole thing into a pdf when all is said and done, along with instructions on "how to" make and use E-maps.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to stick with Bai Dao, as I'm going from the main HQ book and Glorantha: Intro to the Hero Wars. Pretty much if its not described there, I'm running free reign on it.

If you do write it up, I'd suggest putting Peter's notes in a text box in the introduction.  That will appeal to those who prefer their Glorantha more canonically pure and save you from getting a deluge of emails about it.

[Bankuei]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the input, although 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

Back onto topic, here's keywords for some of the groups:

The Night Talons

Membership Requirements:

An act demonstrating loyalty to the empire, intelligence, and great capability, recommendation by one of Dusk Sword's contacts, and a series of tests challenging intelligence, judgement, loyalty, and military capability.  Must have Loyal to Kralori Empire, Intelligent, Perceptive, and Brave(or equivalent personality traits)

Mundane Abilities taught:

Perceive Ambush, Ambush, Perceive Deception, Read Personality, Tactics, Strategy, Read Hidden Intentions

Typical Personality Traits

(as required)- Loyal to Kralori Empire, Intelligent, Perceptive, Brave

Magic

Path of Immanent Mastery- War related, any other magic is also accepted, although not taught.

Black Eagle (Guardian)

The Black Eagle is the standard and guardian for the Night Talons.  It is an archetype, although its image is reflected in the crests and clothing of the Talons.  The Black Eagle either manifests as the shadow of an eagle, sometimes normal sized, sometimes huge, covering entire battlefields.  It communicates telepathically, the members "just know" things.  It requires that one be loyal to the Talons, in spirit if not to the letter of the orders, those who betray the Talons, and their purpose, are forever banned from receiving its protection.

Awareness- Sense Betrayal  6W
Blessing- Fight for the Empire  6W
Defense- Your magic cannot harm me  6W

The Red Swords

A ranging band of pirates and pillagers, who terrorize Kralorela and its islands.  Reknown for being the most ruthless and outright evil raiders about, they have managed to not only evade the Kralori navy, but also sink or steal a couple of their ships, even!

Requirements
Almost anyone can join, provided that they are a heartless, mean, and violent raider/bandit/pirate and earn the respect of the Red Swords without getting killed.  The actual requirements are Bloodthirsty, at least one lethal combat skill, and Outlaw.

Mundane Abilities Taught

Use [Weapon], Intimidate and Terrify, Charge!, Survive Unhealthy Conditions

Typical Personality

Bloodthiristy(required), OutlawI(required), Violent, Cruel, Angry, Crazed

Magic:

None taught.  Each member is free to use whatever magic they can pick up, although major devotion to any religion is pretty hard to commit to, given the outlaw lifestyle.  Not only that, but Heart's Cross tries to keep the other religious influences to a minimum, unless it happens to be one of the unholy trio.

Heart's Cross (Guardian)

In the same way a phantom is an "echo" of a soul departed, Heart's Cross is a "premonition" of evil to come, Wakboth the Devil.  As a future echo of evil to come, Heart's Cross pushes the Red Swords further into acts of atrocity and barbarism, in the hopes of bringing Wakboth into existance.  Slowly the Red Swords have been manipulated into actions which actively support the Unholy Trio that gave birth to Wakboth.

The Heart's Cross is an archetype that communicates as a voice over the right shoulder of any member it communicates to.  it speaks Kralori, although it knows any and all languages.  Each member must receive two cuts crossing the heart, which bleed whenever the Heart's Cross uses magic upon them.  It requires that the members promote cruelty and suffering, causing unnecessary harm without concern for life or mercy.  Those who hesitate, are withheld from magic until commiting appropriate atrocities.

Awareness- Sense Helpless Victim   11W
Blessing- Berserker Rampage      16W
Defense- Resist Disease         6W


The Ghost Keepers

The Ghost Keepers are a new tradition, an offshoot of the Hungry Ghost cults of the Triads.  Instead of simply feeding and using the Hungry Dead, the Ghost Keepers actively seek to assist the Ghosts, and help them on their path of reincarnation.  Ghosts can always augment any practictioner, but with possession, their skills can be used instead of the hero's.

Entry Requirements:

Either be a former Triad member, or else have an ancestor, family member, or friend who is now a Hungry ghost.

Abilities:

Ghost Keeper Practice knowledge, Speak with Dead, Feed Dead, Invite Possession, Spirit Face

Virtues:

Compassion, relationships with Hungry Ghosts

Practice Spirits:

•Elder Spirits- Long dead spirits who have maintained their identity and sanity
(Wise 10W, Iron Will 10W, Appropriate Skill 5W)

•Mystery Spirits- Hungry Dead who have long since lost their memory, face, name, or identity.  (Appropriate Trait 10W, Uncontrolled forgetfulness 17)

•Vengeful Spirits- Those who died suffering in anger and fear, looking to lash out
(Hateful 5W, Soulrake 17, Vengeful towards [specific person, or type of person] 5W)

•Lost Spirits- A spirit who has sanity, memory, identity, and once was a normal person.  (17 Appropriate Skill, 3W relationship to living friends/family, 17 Willing to cooperate with the living)

Practice Secret Requirements:

Ghost Keeper Practice knowledge 1W2, Relationship with ghosts to be sent 17 or higher, Speak with the Dead 1W2, Feed the Dead 1W2

Secret:

Send  the Dead(While in the Spirit World, one must make an Open Spirit World contest to allow all spirits present with whom you have a relationship rating of at least 17 to reincarnate into human bodies, complete with all of their memories.  This works on any type of ghost regardless of soul, spirit, or essense nature.  Any degree of success allows them to reincarnate.)

Sisterhood of Midnight Justice

The Sisterhood is an old group, loosely organized into a network of cells, who are united in the worship of Bodkartu and the desire to bring justice to those who harm women.  

Membership Requirements:

Female, must have come to one of the members seeking aid, must have completed an order without knowing the reasons(who it assisted, or why), must never reveal the Sisterhood to men.

Mundane Abilities Taught:

Feign weakness and incompetence, Hide Emotions, Casually draw out information, Utilize Poison, Create Poison

Virtues:

Protective of women, Vigilante

Affinities

Poison(Bad Food/Drink, Kiss of Death, Bite/Sting of Justice)
Disappearance(Drowning, Off a cliff, Lose your way)
Accident(Bad Fall, Something Sharp, It fell on you)

Secret:

Eternal Suffering  (A victim can be ritually subjected to a form of death which leaves their soul as a wandering Hungry Ghost for eternity, never to pass on to the next world, nor reincarnate without outside assistance.  This is reserved for the most heinous of villains.)

Other Side:

Bodkartu lives in the woods and dark areas just outside of Halisayan's home and palace, although sometimes the followers sneak into the palace as well.  There they protect the souls of women from any who would threaten them, and waiit for the day when they can walk into the Palace, and no longer need to stand guard.

Disadvantages:

Worshippers of Bodkartu, outside of the 8 proscribed temples, are outlaws and stand against the Emperor's orders.  They will be tried and executed for Wrong Action if ever discovered.

Chris

[Josh Barnett]

Hey whats up bro! Been forever. I heard about all that had happened up here in Seattle and heard that you had changed locals. Drop me a line bro as I would love to hear how you're doing.

bigpoppa7_1@hotmail.com

Peace

Josh

[Peter Nordstrand]

Hi,

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

It was not my intention to do any of the above. As I said, I think you are doing great. It is very inspirational, and very helpful. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Sorry if I miscommunicated.

/Peter