Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson

Mikos Thiokonos

The Emperor's Voice, Imperial Chamberlain

Gloranthan Folk Tales

Gloranthan Songbook

Moonie Madness

• Life of Moonson

Carmanian Sources

Malkioni Scriptures

You are the Emperor's Voice, the Imperial Chamberlain who attends to Moonson's every need and slightest whim. This intimate proximity to the apex of temporal authority in the Empire makes you one of its most powerful citizens, even though you entered the palace gates as the son of a freedman, nearly 60 years ago.

Born into a family of poor but respectable weavers, you were something of a child prodigy, with quick wits, a prodigious memory, agile tongue and fair face. Unfortunately these skills were unlikely to get someone born in the mean back streets very far, even in the egalitarian world of the Lunar capital. So, your parents saved hard for the operation, castrated you and bonded you into service in the City of Dreams. You have served in a variety of challenging roles that culminated in your appointment 25 years ago as the Emperor's Voice.

Though one need not be a eunuch to serve as Chamberlain, many of the positions you held before this certainly were, including Bed-Warmer for the Red Infantas, Steward of the Grand Seraglio and Towel Rack at the Groinal Baths. However, you have compelling proof that you are no real eunuch at all; the surgeon must have slipped up because many years ago you fathered a son - Count Julan.

Julan's mother is Yolanela, now the feared Taloned Countess of Spol, then, a young, painted but extraordinarily attractive Carmanian noblewoman. You had been sent to give her the glad tidings that she was to marry the Count of Spol, and in Carmanian fashion where it is the custom to reward the bearer of good news (and punish the bringer of bad), she seduced you, slept with you and, no doubt to her surprise as well as yours, conceived a son.

The child was born 46 years ago, just before Yolanela's wedding date. Shortly afterward, you received a mysterious knock at the door. On the step was a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and a note "This is your son". Staring into the beautiful child's eyes, it was obvious this was true, but as a Court Eunuch, you could scarcely acknowledge the fact. You hurried the baby off to a Teelo Norri orphanage, and have secretly supported him ever since. Julan grew up into a splendid figure of a man, truly the embodiment of Lunar virtue.

Much as you have yearned to reveal yourself to Julan over the years, you have never summoned up enough resolve.

Twenty-five years ago, you used your position of Warden of the City of Dreams to assist a young and charismatic officer in his struggle to assume the new Mask of the Red Emperor. He returned from the Moon as Argenteus, to find that you had already quietly rounded up any rivals and quelled any discordant voices. He rewarded your initiative by making you Imperial Chamberlain. You have remained by his side ever since, his most trusted and loyal servant.

Sadly, in a reign that began with such promise, you have watched the splendid figure of a man that Argenteus was degenerate into a dissolute, bloated wreck. At first, you urged Moonson to resist the lures and temptations that absolute power offers, but now, following your conversion to the way of the White Moon, you actively encourage the Emperor to indulge his basest whims! This will surely hasten the end of the Empire and bring about the Era of Transformation, when the White Moon shall rise and bring about a new age of peace and harmony.

You began to see the true White Light gradually, over your weekly game of dominoes with your one true friend, the Examiner of the Moon, Hasperat. When it finally came, you realised that the Empire is a shackle that impedes to final liberation, and that White Moon will not rise until the Red Moon is pulled down. Such thoughts are dangerously heretical, and Grand Master Orsorkhon of the Black Army has set up his feared Truth Commission to purge the empire of White Moon sympathisers.

You have virtually no contact with the White Moon movement yourself, though you now know Hasperat is the last surviving Keeper of the White Moon, the rest having fallen into the clutches of the Black Army. You also know that Gul-Taran, the Sultan of First Blessed, continues to run a "freedom road" helping fugitive White Moonies to escape the Heartlands. This was set up by his late wife Gerra, sister of Prince Pardidas, the Satrap of Sylila. She was killed by assassins last year, and though not a White Moonie himself, Gul-Taran has continued to run the freedom road in her memory. You wonder why he does not rely on the official resettlement program?

Background

Silver Shadow Sultanate

You were born within the mystical Silver Shadow cast by the Red Moon herself. Silver Shadow Sultanate is at the centre of the Lunar Heartlands, and its ruling families are descended from the Imperial House, through consorts and concubines of bygone Masks of Moonson.

The land is the throbbing, pulsating heart of Imperial power, glory and decadence. From your earliest youth, you have been observing the potentates of the Court, avoiding - or profiting from - entanglement in their intrigues, equally at home in the grand avenues of Glamour and the luxurious villas beneath the Crater's lofty crags.

There is no Sultan of Silver Shadow: this sultanate is ruled by Moonson himself.

White Moon Illumination

The secret doctrine of the Lunar Way holds that the Red Moon is but the current manifestation of the goddess Sedenya. She has existed since the Golden Age before time, and seeks to heal the damaged universe. As Rashorana, she was the power of Illumination manifest in Nysalor the Bright One. As Rufelza, she conquered the Carmanians and rose to the air in her Red Moon body. Her mission will be completed when, as Zaytenera, she shines white across the unity of a healed Glorantha.

The White Moonies know that her transformation is almost complete - the Eight Wane will be the Full Wane of the White Moon!

The Imperial Bureaucracy

You have followed a career in the Imperial Bureaucracy. Young men of good family study to pass the exams which will win them appointment to junior secretarial posts. Success brings promotion, at first to roving assignments, then to the Imperial Senate, and finally to a position in the Imperial Household as one of Moonson's trusted confidants. It is in the corridors of power that the fate of the Empire is determined.

You are the Chamberlain of the Imperial Household and therefore head of the bureaucracy.

Objectives

Personal

1. Assist your son in his career and in all of his aspirations. You fear to reveal yourself to him since this is likely lead to scandal and disgrace for both of you.
   
   
2. Yolanela must not get anywhere near the Emperor, or any messages from her. Her information might lead to your disgrace, and Julan's!
   
   
3. Seek out a suitable wife for Julan. He is betrothed to Ul-Rika, the Still Voice of Molanni, but you are not sure if she is a wholly suitable match.

Career

1. Provide Moonson with his every wish and whim.
   
   
2. Tightly control access to Moonson, organising his appointments, parties, and official events. Only those with his favour or his ear should be allowed into his presence immediately, others should be obstructed for as long as possible.
   
   
3. Outwardly ensure that Moonson is respected and revered throughout the city and by the Presidium and the Senate.
   
   
4. Collect 330 influence in Taxation from Ivex Devouring Dog by the end of Freezeday and then give it to the Red Dancer of Power.
   
   
5. Put forward Moonson's budget requirements to the Presidium. He will require at least 50 influence, plus 20 for each Grand Pavanne that he wants during the year (normally one or two).
   
   
6. Recently Moonson has mentioned in passing his wish to wear a diamond-studded suit at the New Year celebrations. Drop a heavy hint to the Sultans of the Silver Gate that they should provide this for him.

Religious

1. The Era of Transformation looms, when the White Moon shall rise, heralding a new age of peace and harmony. You hope you will still be alive to welcome her. Encourage Moonson in his basest and most corrupt indulgences to hasten her arrival.
   
   
2. Keep Hasperat and, if possible, other White Moon sympathisers from the clutches of Grand Master Orsorkhon's Truth Commission.
   
   
3. Ensure Gul-Taran's "freedom road" continues.
   

Who You Know

Personal Acquaintances

Count Julan, Captain of the Imperial Bodyguard: Your beautiful son. These days he looks so striking, and so... well... Imperial when compared to Moonson. He reminds you greatly of the young Argenteus.

Hasperat, Examiner of the Moon: You look to Hasperat for his spiritual guidance, while offering him unofficial and unconditional protection, influence and help in keeping him safe and furthering the White Moon's grand design.

Ivex Devouring Dog, Imperial Tax collector: he is an old friend at court. Though normally dour and rather humourless he brightens up a lot when drunk. One drunken night he divulged his love for Jar-eel the Razoress, while you foolishly told him that Julan was your son! He is a friend, but even so you must remind him again to keep that a secret!

Ul-Rika the Still Voice of Molanni: Your beautiful son's irritating and rather shallow girl friend. She is known colloquially as 'The Weathergirl'.

Yolanela, Countess of Spol: you believe that she wishes to seduce Moonson to somehow control him with her Spolite witchery. Several months you sent Julan to Spol to deliver a message to the Taloned Countess, forbidding her presence at the Sacred Time celebration. It would be fascinating to know what Julan thought of her...

Moonson's Regular Party-Goers: the following are regulars at Moonson's parties (and should therefore be encouraged): Orgrol the Fat, King of the Char-un; Commodus the Fair (current favourite of Moonson); Didius Copernicus, Dean of the Field School of Magic.

Through your Career

Amora, Princess of Free Love: She is daughter of the notorious Queen of the Kiss, ruler of the distant Fronela city of Zoria. She comes to Glamour as Ambassador of the city of Free Love. She has written to you, ardently desiring a meeting a Moonson. You have not yet broached the news to the emperor himself yet, though no doubt he would be very excited to meet her. For proper decorum her meeting should not be before the middle of Godsday.

Alehandro, Count of Spol and Captain of the Queen's Regiment: As one of the many sons of Yolanela and her dead husband, this makes Alehandro the half-brother of your own son Julan. It pleases you to see that they are friends. Yolanela rules Spol in his name while he is away
fighting for the Empire in the south.

Haroun al-Rastari, Sultan of Karasal: A shrewd and manipulative operator, this man's vanity is only matched by his ambition. Watch him.

Appius Luxius, the Provincial Overseer: Father of Moonson before his accession, Appius governs the provinces. Although he regularly protests that he never lets family ties interfere with good government, the truth of the matter is that Appius has almost the same influence over the Emperor as you do.

Artaphaestos, "Satrap" of the Arrolian Colonies: In an unguarded moment during one of Moonson's palace orgies, this young upstart got the Emperor's ear and somehow had himself appointed Ambassador to the Arrolian colonies in the west. Now, he styles himself "Satrap of Arrolia".

Gul-Taran, Sultan of First Blessed: he maintains the White Moonie "freedom road" in memory of his slain wife. You are aware he does not share her religious sentiments, and that he is currently experiencing financial difficulties. Hasperat is worried that Gul-Taran's money worries will jeopardise the future of the "freedom road". Can you help?

Jubba the Hood, Head of the Emperor's Spoken Word: he heads one of the Empire's internal security agencies, and is supposed to report directly to you. However, you suspect that this devious fellow might not be completely forthright at times (and his agents may even be following you); certainly his investigation into the destruction of the Reaching Moon temple in Sartar seven years ago left many questions unanswered.

Varnaro of Riverjoin: The religious leader of the Arrolian colonies, Varnaro has written to say she is coming to the Sacred Time celebrations, and seeks an audience with Moonson to discuss her current difficulties with. In a secret message, she also said she wishes to speak to you privately about the 'coming of the White Moon child'!!

Through your Religion

Icilius Overholy, General Guide for the Lunar Spirit: she has nearly completed her second seven year term as General Guide, following the death of her chosen successor at the disastrous consecration of Temple of the Reaching Moon in Sartar. It would be a great coup if you suggest a replacement who is sympathetic to your cause: why not Hasperat?

The Red Dancer of Power, Chief Missionary of the Lunar Way: is Icilius's superior and will put forward the recommendation to Moonson for her successor. You have no idea who the Red Dancer or Icilius might have in mind.

Through your Culture

Geilbonus the Sycophant, Speaker of the Senate: this ex-judge (and uncle of Paulis Longvale) leads the senate. You suspect he has silly notions of the senate becoming a real political force.

Paulis Longvale, Senator: This wealthy playboy is in fact the Chief Feeder of the Bat, high priest of the Cult of the Crimson Bat. This knowledge is a state secret and you should not divulge it.

Sor-eel the Short, Retired General: An outspoken critic of Moonson's policies, Sor-eel failed as governor of Prax and has never been trusted with a new commission since. He carefully veils bitter attacks in the Senate by ridiculing you rather than the Emperor directly, and so has thus far avoided the finger of sedition. Sor-eel's father is Var-eel, the powerful ruler of the Oronin Sultanate. His cousin is none other than Jar-eel herself.

Other Knowledge

The Seven Year Plan is the mechanism by which the major food and raw material requirements of the Empire are centrally planned and provided for. At the beginning of each seven year period every sultanate and province agrees to quotas of important foodstuffs and other raw materials and goods which they must achieve over a seven year period.

The Moonson Imperator cult worships the Red Emperor as the perfect embodiment of the Lunar Citizen. It does so by enforcing his Justice, supervising the actions of all other governing institutions in the Empire, and providing structures for all citizens to aspire to and achieve the highest rank. As such, it determines the basic social structure of the Empire, overlying the Empire's disparate cultures. The Red Emperor leads his cult personally.

The White Moon is a teaching which has grown up from nowhere in recent years. It holds that it was never the intention of the Red Goddess to create an enduring Empire. The Empire was a means to an end, to confront those states which violently opposed the Lunar Way to allow the liberation of their peoples. Since the days of the First Wane, the Empire has become a self-serving structure, its expansion never matching the speed at which the Lunar Way first spread. The White Moon Cult holds that the Red Moon is not yet perfect. The Empire must wither away. Then, and only then, will the Lunar Way be able to spread throughout Glorantha and the Moon shine White in the Air. From a fringe, harmless teaching, the cult has spread. Its devotees refuse to pay taxes or serve in the militia. They have now taken to attacks on Imperial Monopolies, tax collectors and so forth.

The Icebreakers are enchanted vessels which carry the Kalikos Icebreaker missions across the White Sea to face the ice demons of Valind's Glacier and keep the Lunar Heartlands fertile and free of bad weather.

The East Isles Bubble is the name given to a failed commercial and trading venture which was to be launched from the frontier port of Corflu. The East Isles company was set up to manage the venture and collected investments from Lunar citizens, promising them large returns. Unfortunately, the venture collapsed and Lunar trading vessels never left Corflu for the East Isles. None of the investors money has ever been recovered or the perpetrator's behind the scam arrested.

The Red Dancer of Power was a major supporter of the venture, though her losses were minor.

The Moonboats are magical aerial craft, propelled by the moonlight. Within the Empire, they are used for rapid transport of troops and supplies. Their use beyond the Glowline is more limited, as the cyclical phases of the Moon and the untamed forces of Storm can leave them grounded or even damaged.

The Emperor's Spoken Word functions as an internal security organisation, essentially operating within the political and military spheres of the Lunar Empire. The basic aim of the Spoken Word is to enhance the security of the Emperor. However, within the current organisation, the definition of what must be done to protect the Emperor allows a wide scope which includes internal and external espionage and investigation.

The Spoken Word is forbidden to investigate the State Church. Also, there is great rivalry, and some degree of overlap, with the Blue Army (military intelligence) and the Danfive Xaron cult (the religious and social watchdog of the Empire.

Bellex Maximus is the name given to the Imperial Warlord, commander of all of the Empire's military forces. This rank was once preserved for the Red Emperor himself.

The first Bellex Maximus was General Parg Ilisi in 2/30. However, his brutal and demented actions against Twice Blessed cause him to be removed from the post when the Emperor learned of his actions. The position did not exist again until the time of the mask Reclusus, when it was held by the Steel Proxy, whose face was hidden by a steel mask.

With the ascension of the mask Ignifer the Steel Proxy retired for a time, only returning after Ignifer was wounded during the siege of Boldhome.

The Steel Proxy has continued to hold the position of Bellex Maximus up to the present day.

This is the "official" story.

Unofficially, insiders in the government know that the original Steel Proxy was Ignifer himself, before he became Emperor. When he became Emperor he took personal command of the Empire's military and no longer needed a proxy. Thus the Steel Proxy "retired".

However, after Ignifer was wounded at Boldhome a strong military leader was required while he recovered. Therefore, General Fatalius Victor took over the role of the Steel Proxy and donned his Steel mask.

Secrets

• Mikos helped the Mask Argenteus to ascend to the Pearl Throne.
  
  
• Mikos is happy to provide Moonson with anything he wants, even items that encourage his basest and most morally corrupt vices.
  
  
• Mikos is the real father of Count Julan.
  
  
• Mikos was seduced by Yolanela, the Taloned Countess of Spol 46 years ago.
  
  
• Mikos is a secret White Moon sympathiser.
  
  
• Mikos has an unusual blemish on his left buttock: a purple birthmark shaped liked a sickle.
  
  
• Mikos is not a eunuch.
  
  
• The Citadel of Halfway is the key to holding Glamour.
  
  

Special Items

• The Emperor's Silver Piss Pot is a holy item, as are its contents. It is an honour to be allowed to carry it.
  
  
• The Great Imperial Seal is used for all of Moonson's Imperial decrees.
  

Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson was written by Nick Brooke, Chris Gidlow,David Hall and Kevin Jacklin, with Rick Meints and MOB. The lead author for Mikos Thiokonos was MOB.

Glorantha, HeroQuest, Hero Wars, and Issaries are trademarks of Issaries, Inc. The contents of this page are copyright by Michael O'Brien, 2001; any material derived from Greg Stafford's world of Glorantha is also copyright by Greg Stafford. Glorantha is the creation of Greg Stafford, and is used with his permission.