Some ancestors do 'ave 'em Grogmeetish 2020 Play Report

 A one-shot play report for Runequest written by Andrew Jones.  Runequest is available from Chaosium

There is also a fantastic map of Nochet, home of the Queens of Esrolia available here.

...Here Be Spoilers (and a slight amount of artistic licence)...

After all Granny knows best!

Nochet, the greatest city in all of Glorantha.  Nochet with the greatest library, hospital and market in the world. Ruled by the Grandmothers, Nochet is proof of the wisdom of a matriarchal society. After all Granny knows best!

Each year in Dark Season — the Dead walk to the Gate of Life and Death to be fed and to share their wisdom and blessings with their decedents. It is a day of joy and order.

Varanis is a warrior, a Vinga cultist and a female guard part of the retinue of Queen Samastina, she fought with valour at the siege of Nochet and received a blessing from the Queen for her acts, since then she has never left her side.  Always by her side is Tweetie, a sparrow imbued with magic, that forms a bond of communication between the two of them.

Varanis is eyeing the funeral procession, the dead walk towards them and through the Gate of Life and Death lead by Derandela, Keeper of the Dead, a high priestess of great renown,  She also spies Mira "no-nose" near the head of the procession, a fearsome Babeestor Gor cultist, someone not to be trifled with, also in the crowd is Hendria, a philosopher and known to have an interest in the dead and trolls.  Standing next to Varanis is Aranda, an assistant priestess and also loyal to the queen. 

The low murmur of conversation and religious chanting is broken when a voice from the crowd cries out and someone falls, blood pouring from a wound in their head, more stones rain down and the crowd panic surging into the narrow streets, people fall and more cries are heard.  The Priestess calls for calm, Hendria sees a group of holy people fall, an ancient relic, a tapestry they are carrying, falls into the path of the crowd, Hendria places her self in front of it, "Careful, take hold of your senses!".

Varanis, at the Queen's request ventures into the crowd to discover what is causing the disturbance, she sees near the gate Mira, bellowing at those around her, her battle axe drawn and ready.  As she looks beyond the crowd, she sees two trollkin, they are winding up for another volley of stones from their slings.  Varanis pushes through the crowd, just as the trollkin spot her and turn tail and run.  Varanis unleashes a javelin, which skewers the first trollkin, pinning it to the floor, dead.  The second makes the mistake of looking back and another Javelin, cuts through it's hide and it too collapses to the floor, rough gasps escaping it's mouth as it bleeds into the ground.  

Trollkin

Varanis sends Tweetie up above the crowd, the bird notices there is some element of magic being cast from a tower, Faladan's Eye - she cannot see in, there is a magical screen or defence in place.  She shouts above the crowd to Mira and Aranda - "Make for the tower, more danger lies there!"

At this point, can be seen Babeestor Gor Berserkers, running towards the crowd from the Axe Temple, this could easily end in much innocent bloodshed.  Mira and Derandela, implore the berserker hoard to avoid the crowd and head to the tower, luckily the berserkers heed them and charge into the tower, after moments they bring out the remains of another trollkin, depositing him at the feet of the Queen.  The trollkin Varanis injured is taken away for questioning.

The goddesses Maran Gor and Babeester Gor

With the battle over and order being restored, the Queen is displeased, she wants answers and requests Mira, Derandela, Aranda, Hendria and Varanis to oversee the questioning personally, to not rest until it is understood the meaning behind this atrocity.  The group bow and follow the guards and the remaining trollkin to the royal palace.

Deep within the bowels of the palace lie the dungeons, the trollkin has been healed and is now chained in a cell, surrounded by the group.  Hendria casts True Speak, and the questioning begins, threats and the force of the spell gradually get some sense out of the unpleasant creature, it talks of Fut, a trollkin agitator and Fut's master a more sinister Dark Troll.  There is more meaningless babble from the creature, but within it is understood the meddlings of a dark god Zorak Zoran, god of hatred and destruction and worshipped by many trolls across Glorantha, and that means no good for everyone.  Lastly, there could be a link with the Day of the Dead and what Fut and his entourage are up to it, but it is not clear.

To the left, Zorak Zoran fights a solar god

The discussion continues on how to progress the investigation, it is not clear who is behind this, or at least clear evidence, the group decides to head to the Dark Warrens, an area of Nochet given over to the trolls by the Queen.  They will need to tread carefully, requesting formal entrance and probably a guide, otherwise at best they will make no progress and at worst they will create further diplomatic problems and city unrest.

After intense negotiations, including handing over tithes for the next caravans into Nochet, the group are lead through the Warrens.  We learn more of Fut's deeds, some see him as a hero, others are afraid he will bring violence to the Warren.  They discover the tunnels below the Warrens are connected to many entrances and key sites in the city and Fut and his followers use this regularly, there are grim rumours that Fut has an interest in the dead, is he trying to gain followers from the other side?  Is he raising an army of the dead, this certainly explains Zorak Zoran's involvement?!

Eventually, we follow a lead, travelling through the tunnels and sewers below Nochet and arriving beneath the Esrola temple - not too far from the Gate of Life and Death; The guards are asleep, a magical sleep, the group wakes and shouts at them for not fulfilling their sacred duty.  The guards seem confused, they ask why no one has come to help them, they sent for aid many moons ago?

It is at this point that Fut is spotted, a group of the dead trailing behind him, he is with a number of heavily armed trolls and the group charges them.  Varanis is in the lead, she gets in a few blows on Fut but then is dealt a serious blow, the leg crushed and blood flowing, she calls to her friends for aid.  Mira manages to get in a blow and the Priestess and others cast spells, including a vital Healing from Aranda for Varanis.  Varanis continues the fight, but is dealt a series of crushing attacks by Fut, the death blow though misses and Varanis rallies and with a final flow of energy is able to pierce Fut's armour, dealing him a fatal blow.  His followers disperse in distress.

Varanis, always in the thick of battle

Everyone returns to the Queen outlining the plot and of course their bravery in defeating it but they must also prepare for more intrigue, more battles and more dark deeds, for where Zorak Zoran is involved, they must always be on their guard.