Glorantha The Second Age:: The Blood of Orlanth:: Act III The Calm Before the Storm

(Act I:: Act II: Act IV: Act V.)

Windsday Disorder Storm

The morning after the rebellion the night before.  There's a wild mood throughout Solthmouth. Aslander is off to the west fighting alongside Maralis to throw out a stubborn detachment of EWF elites. The rest of the party have Jezat hooded and chained in a dark basement. Cormalin is all for inflicting a lingering death but Larad wants to know the truth and Keldo likewise. So Jezat is interrogated. He claims that he is working alone; he saw the chance to make enough money to set himself up for life. When pressed some more, it becomes clear that he is terrified of someone called Rsadi; a God Learner sorceress. Rsadi, it seems, is a God Learner interested in Orlanthi myths and who has bases up and down the Solthi river. Her enforcer is Cadamil: that name again. Jezat also believes there is a link between Rsadi and Delecti but doesn't know what.  Jezat buys his freedom with 39 Gold Wheels and gets a promise to be put on a ship leaving as soon as possible to somewhere as far away as possible. Cormalin points out, reasonably, that he said nothing about cutting off both his hands but Larad decides that isn't in the spirit of the agreement. So Jezat finds himself on a ship bound for the Togaro Islands.

Fireday Disorder Storm

The party sans meet with Maralis and her advisor Hilda. Maralis is back from the front line but Aslander is an company of men harrowing the EWF in the farmlands east of Solthmouth. Now at last Maralis has a chance to consider this strange group and its odd appearance right at the moment she was about to commit the valley to a potentially bloody uprising. They trot out the usual line about a chaos sorcerer but Maralis is sceptical that this chaos sorcerer exists and pushes them for more information. They say as much as they can. After some tension Maralis appears to accept their explanation and offers them a deal. She'll give them a detachment of men to take up north if they'll argue for a treaty between The Laughing River and Howling Wolves to oppose the EWF. Maralis's plan is simple: start an insurgency during Storm Season while Orlanth's magic is strongest and make occupation so painful that the EWF will pull back to Dragon Pass. So the characters set out for Sky End Stead with Hilda in tow. 

Freezeday Harmony Week

They pass within a few miles of Sunvale and see signs of a siege as well as rumours that are clearly distorted accounts of their activities there just a few days ago.

Windsday Harmony Week

After the long trip they arrive at Sky End Stead only to discover that the theft of the bowl is known and Orlgard's rule has been called into question. Vinya, through Theorl has called a moot to replace Orlgard as chieftain while Orlgard has bowed to the inevitable and agreed not to stand. The party are appalled at this. They bring news of the rebellion in Solthmouth and the return of the Bowl. Inspired by this, Orlgard shakes off his disappear and declares that he will stand. Despite the shortage of food, Orlgard throws a thanksgiving feast.

Hilda takes the chance to talk with Vinya and tell her that Maralis is having second thoughts about her betrothal. Hilda also talks with Larad about his past and Larad suddenly remembers Maralis's brother in Deepwell who had mentioned that there was a scandal around Maralis and a Humakti who was said to be her lover. Larad had met the man in Karse but didn't remember much about him. After some heavy hints Larad finally gets what Hilda is on about. 

Fireday Harmony Week

After Thanksgiving and Keldo and Cormalin state that they wish to be initiated in Orlanth Martyred. Cormalin seems to be quite a spiritual nomad and Keldo is becoming increasingly obsessed with Death. Orlgard declares that this shows the clan being revitalised from both within and without.

Wildday Harmony Week

So on a cold, breezy day the boat sets out for the Skyfall Island. Cormalin and Keldo are prepared and then take the infusion. The potion takes effect quickly but word quickly goes around that Keldo has become shrouded. This something that even Forgo hasn't seen before but Keldo has gone deep into the otherworld. 

Freezeday Death Week

After three days between life and death, Keldo and Cormalin are reborn as initiates. It is obvious that something very profound has happened to Keldo. He has awoken shaken and disturbed yet exhilarated. He can't remember much of what he experienced but all can see that he is changed.

Waterday Death Week

And so to the moot. The clan is clearly divided between the way of peace proposed by Theorl and the old ways proposed by Orlgard. Eventually Keldo sways the issue who speaks passionately of the EWF as a new type of chaos and alludes to his experiences. The vote is close and some bad-feeling lingers but Orlgard is reaffirmed as chieftain. Now he must persuade them not just to endure but to fight.

Clayday Death Week

There obligations met, the party head to Granny Hickory (aka the Witch of the Ten Pines) to fulfill their obligations to her. They arrive to find evidence of a struggle. Hilda casts Reconstruction and sees a confrontation between Hickory and a party of sorcerers one of whom Hickory calls "Rsadi". Another is some sort of steam-powered sorcerous being. It's clear that all parties know each other and that Hickory is over-matched. The reconstruction ends before the denouement can be seen. With a sense of foreboding the party head back to Sky End Stead. They may have retrieved the Bowl and helped reunite the clan under Orlgard's leadership but they seem now to be caught up in a far wider struggle.

Continued in Act IV: Ashbringer's War