Skip to content
The Well of Daliath
Menu
Menu

The Glowline

Posted on December 15, 2021

Normally, Lunar Rune magic and Lunar magical techniques are only at full effectiveness three days out of the week. The other four days a week, Lunar magic is either underpowered or not available at all. During the wars of the Zero, First, and Second Wanes, this was not that great of a disadvantage. Few of the Empire’s foes really understood the Lunar Cycle, and the Lunar magicians were a minority within the army. Most soldiers belonged to non-Lunar cults – Lodril, Yelm, Humakt, whatever – and were usually just lay members of the Seven Mothers. Lunar commanders would manouever so that battle would occur on Empty or Full Half days, or even better during the Full Moon, so that the Lunar magicians could play a decisive role in the battle.As the Lunar religion grew, more and more soldiers were members of Lunar cults, and the Lunar magicians grew in importance.In the Third Wane, this proved disastrous. Sheng Seleris and his nomads quickly learned (if they did not already know) that the Lunars were weak on the days of the Crescent Moon, and magically defenseless on the Dark Moon days. Sheng Seleris could use the superior mobility of his nomads to force battle on those days and use his magicians to overwhelm his foes. Lunar military history in the Third Wane was a depressing litany of defeats, routs, and massacres. The few successes the Lunars had were lucky coincidences, quickly reversed by the presence of Sheng Seleris.Yara Aranis was created to resolve this weakness. Her temples provided centers for magical defense, and the Glowline which they created eliminated the weakness of Dark and Crescent Moon days. Within the Glowline, it is always effectively Half Moon day. Lunar magic is fully effective, and the superior resources and training of the Lunar magicians mean that they are usually a match for any comparable number of opposing magicians. And since the Lunar empire has not foe capable of mustering a comparable number of opposing magicians, this means that within the Glowline there is almost no foe that can stand against the Lunar College of Magic.Outside of the Glowline is another story. Four days out of the weak, the decisive arm of Lunar victory is denied to the Lunar Army. The Lunar Army tends to be tentative, hesitant, and easily routed outside of the Glowline, unless led by the Red Emperor, accompanied by the Crimson Bat, or led by a first tier leader like Fazzur Wideread.

Has anyone tried to create a response to the threat / power of Yara Aranis? Few people have ever dared to wander into the experimental lands of Lunar mythology.

So if anyone thinks that giving up one day of extra full power in order get rid of four days of weakness each weak, well I’d love them to play the Lunars against me next time I play WBRM.

When they created the Glowline they were definitely NOT an imperialistic expansionist culture. They were a barely holding on, trying to survive being conquered by a World Conquerer.

Jeff Richard

Next
Previous
Glowline, Moon Phases

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

  • Sartar’s Transformation of the Economy

    One of the most remarkable transformations that Sartar made is …
  • The View From Boldhome, circa 1627

    Argrath was acclaimed Prince on Day 88 of 1627. Several …
  • Wolf Pirates 1625-1627

    Harrek the Berserk and his Wolf Pirates cast a looming …
  • Interacting with the Hero Plane

    Most cults limit their interaction with the Hero Plane to …
  • Notes on the Hero Wars

    As we think about the RuneQuest setting for 1621-1655, there’s …
  • Dragon Pass Dragonewt population

    A rough breakdown of the dragonewt population in Dragon Pass, …
  • Notes on King Blackmoor

    From 1615-1625, the Colymar tribe was ruled by Kangharl son …
  • Genertelan Worldview

    The first set of Cults books – Mythology, Lightbringers, Earth …
  • Spirit Cult Example

    Here’s an example of a strange little spirit cult (or …

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

  • Sorcerer Stats
  • Time required to learn spirit magic
  • Disadvantages of Becoming a Shaman- Obligations to Tribe/Cult
  • Ancestor Worship and Daka Fal
  • Telmori wolf brother/fireblade clarification
  • Glorantha game Six Ages 2 nominated for three Pocket Gamer Awards, including Mobile Game of the Year
  • Any Info on Twilight/Nightlight?
  • Visions of Myth
  • The God Learners Episode 28: Gloranthan Freeforms, with David Hall & Kevin Jacklin
  • Monty Python Pestilence - Exodus Plagues

Popular Tags

2008 Bestiary Boldhome (large city) Chaosium Cult demographics Cults of Runequest (preview) Doraddi pantheon Ernalda Esrolia (homeland) Fonritian pantheon FR G+ post Greg Stafford Guide to Glorantha (preview) Hsunchen pantheon Humakt Issaries Jar-eel Kralorelan pantheon 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 Troll Pantheon Yelm Yelmalio Yelm Pantheon

Recently added or updated

  • CHA4028 RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha – Chapter 16 Sorcery Q&A

  • Sartar’s Transformation of the Economy

  • Wolf Pirates 1625-1627

  • CHA4038 The Pegasus Plateau & Other Stories (2020)

  • The View From Boldhome, circa 1627

  • CHA4036 RuneQuest Weapons and Equipment Q&A

  • What is the Third Age History of the Sun Dome Temple in Sartar (2008)

  • Breakout #34 (1989)(AU)

  • AH8574 Human Adventurer Sheets (Box 2 – 1985)

  • AH8575 Non-human Adventurer Sheets (Box 3 – 1985)

  • AH8573 Monster Coliseum (Box 1 – 1985)

  • Wolf Pirates

  • Le Maître des Runes (1988)(FR)

  • CHA4028 RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha – Chapter 12 Rune Cults Q&A

  • CHA4029 RuneQuest Gamemaster Screen Pack – Q&A

  • CHA4039 The Smoking Ruin and other Stories – Q&A

  • CHA4038 The Pegasus Plateau & Other Stories – Q&A

  • CHA4034 Red Book of Magic – Chapter 03 Spirit Magic Spells Q&A

  • Interacting with the Hero Plane

  • Petersen Games

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