Rainman

[Niall]

So still in the Wastes and our Bison Clan has found itself in the Bison Khan and Rainman grazing, early Sea Season. They have decided to hold a ritual to Rainman thus hopefully bringing them plenty of rain for the rest of the year.

Who would make appropriate mythic foes too turn up and wreck this?

They have kept far away from the Lunars since Moonbroth.

[Joerg Baumgartner]

One serious obstacle (though no mythic foe – of the clan, at least) would be Storm Bull jealously keeping his domain free from other storms. The unpredictable Storm Bull winds are the main reason why the Wastes aren’t lush.

In Praxian myth, there is always Death or Chaos when you need it least.

Dragons are notorious for swallowing the good rain.

[Harald Smith]

Storm Bull and his allies, as Joerg notes, seems very likely.
Mistress Calm could be another ‘foe’ who comes and demands to be appeased.
Sun Hawk seems like a good foe, perhaps arriving with Impala folk intent on taking the grazing grounds for themselves.
Or perhaps Raven spots some item that is key to the ritual and decides to take for himself?
Creatures of Chaos could well be attracted to the rain and its fertility powers whether broos, some great disease spirits, or even Parts of the Devil.
There could simply be Bad Omens from the Spirit World – hostile spirits of various types come in response or there is no response at all and investigating shamans find only Dead Spirit lands or the Dry Plains or the even a portion of the Underworld nearby.

[Niall]

Nice ideas all.

There is an unfriendly Impala tribe already harassing them, but I like the idea of Storm Bull coming along. I’d already had all the Storm Bull worshippers not at home when the party returned, for no other reason than “just because”.

Rain Man is Orlanth isn’t he?

[David Scott]

Here’s what the Guide says about the area:

Quote:

Bison Khan and Rainman Grasslands: Here the Bison Riders aid Waha in his fight with the Wicked Writher. Many travel here to prove themselves khans.

The main mythic conflict here is Waha and Water. The Wicked Writher is an uncommon event, what is much more common are flash floods caused by the rain coming in from the sea, 90 miles due south. Flash flooding is deadly sweeping everything away, scouring the land, feeding Dead Bottom. Once the floods are gone, the land dries quickly leaving little moisture behind and much destruction. Waha fights the Serpents here trying to break them, stopping the flash flooding and watering the land in a more gentle way. The serpents hate Waha for he compelled and enslaved the Sounders river. This is a khan making place as well, those who defeat the Wicked Writher (a flash flood in reverse) or the Serpents has proved themselves a khan. Having subdued the waters they are called Rainmen as they can subdue the rains and stop the serpents arising. Orlanth is not here, Orlanth has no rain powers in the Wastelands or Prax.

Other foes in the area are of course Gagarth the Wild Hunter, he’s always trouble. Chaos Box pops stuff out every Stormbull holy day – some get away (75 miles away). Daka’s Creek, an Oasis is 70 miles south west. It’s an entrance to the Underworld, bad stuff often comes out of it.

[Niall]

Ah cheers for that. I shall have to adapt it somewhat but it fits rather well.

Who worships Gargath out in the Wastes?

What powers would Orlanth have out here then? I have a small bunch of Orlanthi Rhino Riders….

Daka’s creek….never heard of it until now. Sounds just the place I need!

[David Scott]

From the Praxian play test:

Quote:

The Wild Hunter is spirit of senseless violence, a banished outcast who commands raging, sterile storms of the Wastelands. His followers, the Storm Wolves are those who have turned their back on the Way of Waha, renegade shamans and tribesmen, outlaws, murders and thieves.

(storm)(disorder) The Wild Hunter. Orlanth banished the Wild Hunter to the Wastes in the Great Darkness for his crimes. Although he mostly hindered those caught in the war against Chaos, he did help a small band of outlaws survive. They were granted eternal safety as his Storm Wolves, riding with their master on his demon steed. He spirit is powerful even among the gods and spirits of the Upper and Middle Airs, for he is the gross and physical bully who commands the raging, sterile storms of Prax. Many of his worshipers believe their souls will go to him after death, to ride the winds and hunt savage Star Bears, or to wreak immortal vengeance against the hapless living in the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunter is the deity of senseless violence, as opposed to Storm Bull, whose brutal destruction is never without purpose. His followers are outlaws, cast from their own tribes, renegade shamans and tribesmen, who cannot or will not obey Waha’s laws. The Wild Hunter provides charms that relate to Storm (storm) (typically violence and bullying) and of Disorder (disorder) (typically destructive and cruel including the creation of whirlvishes, see Pavis: Gateway to Adventure page 140).

For a basic outline: http://www.glorantha.com/docs/gagarth/

Orlanth only has the movement aspect out here. No Storm, and Mastery is fulfilled by Waha. He also has a small number of spirits attached to his society.

From the Guide:

Quote:

Daka’s Creek (oasis): This ancient place has long been used as a path by shamans to visit the Underworld. Avoided otherwise by Oasis People and nomads alike, this oasis is said to be haunted by ghosts from the Gods War.

[Niall]

Lovely.

[Niall]

Well in the end a Gagarthi band turned up intent on disrupting the ritual, with the Wicked Writher being a monstrous water spout. The clan’s Khan won through, but only just….

Thanks for all the help and suggestions 🙂

[Author]

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