As the books repeatedly say, the backdrop for RuneQuest is the Hero Wars. But what the heck is that?
The Hero Wars has at its core the conflict between Orlanth and the Red Goddess – between Sartar and the Lunar Empire. Dragon Pass is the main battlefield of the Hero Wars, although it affects many other lands.
These groups are locked in conflict, and the struggle not only produces more Rune masters than normal, but encourages them to seek new magic and power. The Hero Wars creates opportunities for your adventurers to not only advance in their cult but to go beyond the cult. Among those fighting the Lunar Empire, the Orlanth cult leads this process, but many others join in.
The Hero Wars have caused some of the greatest heroes in Glorantha to gather as participants, hence its name. Harrek the Berserk, Jar-eel the Razoress, Androgeus, Prince Argrath, Gunda the Guilty, Beat-Pot Aelwrin, the Red Emperor, Jaldon Goldentooth, Sir Ethilrist, Keener Than, the Feathered Horse Queen, the Shaker Priestess, Cragspider the Fire Witch, etc. All of these individuals walk on the Hero Plane, in both the Gods Realm and the mundane world. It is entirely possible YOUR adventurers will join this roster of heroes, the greatest in Gloranthan history.
This conflict has really just begun at the start of the game with the Dragonrise. Your adventurers can join this conflict and be among those who contribute to the legend. They can join the pantheon of heroes, creating their own place in the myths.
Alternatively, their story can be that of ordinary mortals trying to survive in this conflagration, joining the stories as an anti-hero. That’s fine to.
But like the reign of King Arthur in Pendragon, the Hero Wars provides structure and can help frame your RuneQuest campaign. The trick is to make use of it!
So think of the Hero Wars as a 30 year period where pretty much every hero in Glorantha manages to get involved somehow. At least a score of demigods end up fighting in Dragon Pass. It’s like the Aegean Sea in the Greek Age of Heroes with Heracles, Theseus, Perseus, Jason, and then joined by all the heroes of the Trojan War. It goes on for some 30 years, and only peters out after the Red Moon changes (some say it falls, others say it is destroyed, others say it is purified, etc.).
The Hero Wars give us a reason for our adventurers to be striving outside of their cult’s traditional comfort zones. There is a need for heroes – and adventurers are the likely supply.
Are there any major Mostali or Duck figures of note? The Dwarf of Dwarf Run. Not so much a hero as one of the ancient Mostali.