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Hate (Lunar Empire)

Posted on August 11, 2020

It is worth contemplating that Hate (Lunar Empire) is not one of Orlanth’s Passions. But Honor is valued over all other passions by Orlanth – even Devotion, Love, and Loyalty.

Most Orlanthi do hate the Lunar Empire. But that’s because of their experience with the Empire, and not because their god demands it. Their god demands Honor.

You Hate the Lunar Empire. Whatever that is. It is definitely the Red Emperor and his court. Probably the symbols of empire, its officials, etc. But really it the Empire as a spiritual thing, that oppressive crimson glow that crushes all before it. But Mavorena the Cornbread Woman? No way – I mean we LOVE cornbread and tamales.

The bigger point is that Orlanth is a God of Honor. Hating the Lunar Empire is a hobby.

Honor is his key passion. I find pretty much every Wind Lord considers that 90% Honor a freebie towards their five abilities.

And as an aside, Humakt holds that War Has Rules. And even Orlanth generally follows them. And you would too, if that means you get access to warriors with Sword Trance, True Sword, and Shield. Not to mention Morale. But you have to follow the rules or they won’t fight for you. Honor is Honor. Humakt strongly holds to there being rules to combat and warfare that apply in all cases. The Humakti kill according to the rules. That’s why they get cool spells like Sword Trance while Orlanth and Yanafal Tarnils do not.

As an aside, Humakt demands that Death be wielded with honor and his cult upholds the code of honor in combat and war. This code is strictly adhered to by Humakti, but also generally followed by other honorable war gods such as Orlanth, Polaris, Yanafal Tarnils, Yelm, Yelmalio, and Yelorna.Honorable combat is not fought for gain or selfish reasons. Although Humakti often serve as mercenaries for pay, that payment is not supposed to be dependent on the outcome of the battle.In battle, two warriors may duel or engage in prolonged personal combat. Both combatants must be armed and may use Rune or spirit magic, allied and other spirits, elementals, etc. Groups of warriors may fight approximately equal numbers of foes. However, multiple warriors or magicians must not gang up on a single warrior.A warrior who surrenders becomes a prisoner of his capture and is under their protection. At the same time, a surrendered warrior must not flee his captor until ransomed or released.Honor also dictates how warriors were to deal with noncombatants. No one should attack an enemy who has temporarily lost or dropped their weapon. The lives of noncombatants, prisoners of war, and farmers are also sacred. Pillaging the land is forbidden.

Failure to follow the rules of honor can trigger a test of a combatant’s Honor Passion or even result in immediate reduction to that Passion (as per RUNEQUEST, page 234). Failure to act honorably may also result in a visit from the Spirit of Retribution of the offender’s cult.

Despite all of the above, Glorantha songs and stories are filled with examples of where a hero chose to act less than honorably where some other Passion (Loyalty, Love, Hate, etc.) dictates behavior instead of honor. Such conflicts are at the root of many a tragic hero.

Honour being what it is, if they offered surrender or terms and he refused, then killing him like an animal is not dishonourable.

But the Humakti in that group should still find that very distasteful at the least. Humakt is not pragmatic. He is inevitable.

And always remember, the gods don’t care about THIS fight. They uphold the Compromise, and are the way they eternally are. Humakt doesn’t care that this fight decides the fate of your kin. He cares that you follow Honor and your geases.

“But Jeff! What if I pretend to believe all Pelorians are tainted by Chaos so the rules of war don’t apply to them any more?” Humakt doesn’t care. But Storm Bull would buy that reasoning. But that means having an army of Storm Bull cultists. And if there isn’t Chaos to fight, they might get mighty pissed at you. “You had us come from Prax to fight Chaos. We came at great cost. But now we are here and there are only men, not Chaos to fight. The Bull does not lie to us. Bladger my axe does not lie to you.”

Hate is a common passion. Athenians hate Sparta and vice versa. That means interactions will be typically be difficult and fraught with problems, although they can be overcome if there is a more pressing issue.What I am pushing strong back against is the idea that Hate equals desire for genocide of the hate. Maybe in our sad age that is the case, but that’s not the case here. Vasana has a 90% Hate Lunar Empire. Still doesn’t mean she wants to murder every Lunar she sees.

And you might Hate the Lunar Empire and still willingly work with individual Lunars you find honourable. That’s what Vasana and Vostor illustrate.

Jeff Richard

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Hate (Lunar Empire), Honor, Humakt, Orlanth, Passions, RQG, Storm Bull

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