Skip to content
The Well of Daliath
Menu
Menu

Notes on Harrek the Berserk I

Posted on December 30, 2021

We’ve talked a lot about Argrath, Jar-eel, the Red Goddess and the Red Emperor, the God Learners, and the Empire of the Wyrms Friends. Let’s move on to the most iconic and controversial hero of the Third Age – Harrek the Berserk.

Separating the stories of Harrek from the truth of his life is nearly impossible – certainly Irrippi Ontor has so far failed to do so. Harrek was, as far as any can tell, initially a normal Rathori warrior. There are rumors that Syndic’s Ban was somehow connected to his adulthood initiation but those are but rumors. What is known is that after he awakened in 1594, he was extraordinary. For over a decade, Harrek wandered the world without – both the mundane world AND the mythic realms. Stories of him as a penniless mercenary, a slave, a Lunar gladiator, etc., are often associated with this time. In 1605 he received training as a Dart Warrior. In 1607, as part of a Dart War, Harrek killed the Red Emperor and fled through the wilds of Dorastor to escape. Harrek is known to hate the Red Emperor and the Red Goddess with an overwhelming passion – it is thought this hatred originates from those experiences. And then in 1609, Harrek slew and bound the White Bear God – and now always wears its skin and claws. After this, Harrek was no longer merely extraordinary – he was a superhero, a shaman with a god as a fetch, a demigod of destruction and disorder. Constantly wandering through this world and the Mythic Realm, Harrek is constantly seeking treasures, weapons, and fame. But his goals are erratic. He’s thrown away fortunes and even kingdoms for further adventure, traveled all the way around the world, and quested along unknown paths. Harrek is said to be loyal only to Gunda, his Shield Maiden. His relationship with Argrath is more complicated; Argrath is the closest thing Harrek has to a true friend, but they also come to blows on several occasions. Harrek has an intense and inflexible hatred for the Lunar Empire and everything in it.

WiP by Anna Orlova.

Harrek can be thought of as a great random factor throughout the Hero Wars. And one who does not fit easily within anyone’s models or frameworks. Within the overall setting, I think that may be his most important overall role.

Harrek is savage and uncivilised, but he’s also been trained by the Lunars, been to Dorastor, plundered cities in Fronela, Teshnos, Fonrit, and Seshnela. He’s definitely no fool and has bestial cunning.

One theory is that Harrek’s hatred is very personal (and focused on the Red Goddess, Red Emperor, and the demigods around them) and he didn’t appreciate that Gimgim the Grim or whoever brokered the deal was an agent of the distant Red Emperor.

As an aside, I think Anna Orlova is doing a great job of capturing his dangerous brutality, and I love that bloody white bear skin.

Harrek’s combination of power – both physical and spiritual – with his unpredictability makes him perhaps the most dangerous protagonist in the Hero Wars.

I personally find the idea of a self-initiated shaman terrifying.

Jeff Richard

Next
Previous
1594 ST, 1605 ST, 1607 ST, 1609 ST, Anna Orlova (artist), Bear, Gunda, Harrek, Superhero

Sections

  • Search Tips
  • Current RuneQuest Glorantha Publications
  • RuneQuest Glorantha Corrections and Q&A
  • Catalogue
  • References for Glorantha
    • Gloranthan Canon
  • Gloranthan Documents
  • RPG Systems & Versions
  • Gallery
  • Role-playing in Glorantha
  • About This Site
  • Get involved!

Latest Posts

  • Notes on Maniria III

    Between the Holy County and Ralios is the land of …
  • Slaves amongst the Orlanthi

    Orlanth, as the God of Freedom, finds slavery objectionable. His …
  • Lunar Empire Seventh Wane

    This map from the Glorantha sourcebook is very useful for …
  • Worshiping Deities

    Now being an initiate is not the only way to …
  • Lunar Empire events 1625

    With the Lunar Book getting close, it is perhaps worth …
  • The thirteen main cults in Sartar

    There are thirteen main cults in Sartar, which collectively are …
  • Orlanthi clans around the Quivin Mountains

    I particularly love this map of Old Sartar, showing most …
  • The Hill of Orlanth Victorious (Redux)

    Repost.
  • Dundealos and Pol-Joni

    Among my favorite Sartarite tribes are the Dundealos and their …

Links

  • Chaosium
  • Glorantha on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest Glorantha on MeWe
  • Glorantha Wiki on Fandom
  • Prince of Sartar Webcomic
  • Glorantha G+ Archives on Tapatalk
  • Search mailing list archive

Latest from BRP Central

  • Becoming a shaman of Daka Fal
  • Feedback from the BRP/Runequest community on creating a RQ Pbp (TOM?)
  • Tomb of Yurmonis
  • Runequest Starter Set player folio comments
  • POW, Rune magic and regaining stats
  • New on the JC: "Tiny Treasures" by Smol Snek
  • Munchkin Learners
  • Running Six Seasons in Sartar
  • zzaburi perspective of the invisible god
  • Volcanoes in Pamaltela

Popular Tags

Avalon Hill Boldhome (large city) Chaosium Cult demographics Cults of Runequest (preview) Ernalda Esrolia (homeland) Fonritian pantheon FR G+ post Greg Stafford Guide to Glorantha (preview) Humakt Issaries Jar-eel Kralorelan pantheon Lhankor Mhy Lunar Empire Lunar Pantheon Magazine Malkioni pantheon Map Maps Michael O’Brien Mongoose Nochet (metropolis) Nomad Gods Orlanth Orlanthi pantheon Photo reference Population demographics Prax (homeland) Praxian pantheon RQ3 RQG Sandy Petersen Sartar (homeland) Spirit Cult Subcult Tales of the Reaching Moon Troll Pantheon Yelm Yelmalio Yelm Pantheon Youtube

Recently added or updated

  • Slaves amongst the Orlanthi

  • History of Kethaela – The Third Age

  • Notes on Maniria III

  • Notes on Maniria II

  • Notes on Maniria I

  • Comparable Manirian technology/historical level (2012)

  • CHA4042 The Prosopaedia – Contents

  • Oropum

  • Orxili

  • Oorduren

  • Oread

  • Oorsu Sara

  • Nymphs

  • Nralar

  • North War Wind

  • Negalla

  • Nomiama

  • Naveria

  • New Gods

  • New Hrestolism

©2023 The Well of Daliath | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme