Charlie Dunwoody (CD): Thanks for speaking to me, Hannu. This fifth quantity completes a complete work on the East Isles. How did you resolve on this space of Glorantha to discover in such element: did it spring from marketing campaign play or in another means?
Hannu Rytövuori (HR): I hadn’t really performed a marketing campaign in that specific area, however one NPC—who additionally seems in The Information to Glorantha, Queen Vele Unnikanan—was a part of a marketing campaign we performed. This Pirate Queen of the Jap Isles saved our participant group from a shipwreck within the aftermath of the basic journey The Cradle (Charlie: from Pavis & Large Rubble). Aboard her ship, we performed via numerous adventures alongside the coast of Genertela and in Nochet. At the moment, although, our model of Vele was extra like Bêlit from the Conan tales than how she seems in our present books. Even then, I had the concept it will be enjoyable to finally take the adventures to the Queen’s homeland, however again then I felt that there wasn’t sufficient details about the East Isles, and that an excessive amount of analysis can be required for me to run adventures there. Nonetheless, the will remained to create materials for the Jonstown Compendium to make this fascinating a part of Glorantha extra accessible and simpler for others to make use of in their very own video games. So, after I started to discover which area impressed me essentially the most to create adventures, the Korolan Islands turned my private favourite. Once I requested for opinions concerning the space’s magic on a Glorantha-related web site, each David Cake and Nils Weinander turned so considering the concept they needed to affix the mission. It quickly turned out that the Korolan Islands—in addition to a number of different creations for the East Isles—had really been invented by Nils Weinander, and that he had run a RuneQuest marketing campaign there again within the Nineteen Eighties. He supplied invaluable, inspiring outdated materials that’s now a part of our books. Initially, this Bezarngay Boil journey was meant to be included in our very first journey assortment. However many elements led us to divide the fabric into 5 separate books, and this ten-adventure marketing campaign lastly reaches its conclusion on this fifth e book. For this dungeon crawl journey in Vol 5, I needed to make one thing impressed by the basic RuneQuest journey, Snake Pipe Hole. I feel we succeeded fairly effectively with that aim. However, after all, we additionally wanted new tips to be added there so don’t anticipate to run into an enormous chaos worm!
CD: There may be an everlasting battle between the pantheons of creation, reality, and better consciousness and the forces of destruction, phantasm, and base intuition. How do you envision the PCs turning into embroiled in these themes and the way would they grow to be concerned with the cults who’re on opposing facet?
HR: Good query. It requires some thought. We do have upcoming adventures that strategy these antigod cults from a barely totally different angle. However in our present adventures, they largely fall right into a extra conventional good vs. evil framework. The Eresteens—hunger-driven monsters like vampires, manananggals, sirens, and so forth—are clearly enemies. Nonetheless, even within the journey itself, issues aren’t utterly black and white. I’ve at all times tried to incorporate human traits in them as effectively, even in these “enemies.” They worship their very own gods to realize advantages they want—a lot in the identical means many individuals worship good gods. The Andins, as an example, worship their very own god, Bandan, who’s the chief of that various individuals. Whereas each teams are antagonists from the adventurers’ viewpoint, they aren’t allies with one another. Within the myths, Bandan and Arlu—the Mom of the Eresteens—are already bitter enemies. Many-Mouthed Arlu devoured Bandan earlier than, and desires to do it once more. That claims one thing, I feel. I’m undecided if that solutions the query, however these are a few of my ideas.
CD: Included is the ship the Sanguine Maiden and a number of other pattern crew members. How will this crew work together with the PCs and who’s your favourite crew member?
HR: My thought was to supply the gamemaster with a solid of fascinating characters to briefly introduce throughout the sea journey. They’re meant to be current in an issue to be solved, however extra importantly, they assist set up a way of grandeur and significance—as if the adventurers are within the firm of really necessary figures. I’ve aimed for one thing much like what’s performed within the Six Seasons in Sartar Jonstown Compendium e book, the place the adventurers work together with a strong character, Kallyr Starbrow. That’s the type of environment I’ve been aiming for, and one thing I additionally hope the adventures themselves can evoke—that the highly effective figures of the marketing campaign are current not solely within the background lore, however proper there on the sport desk. Personally, I might use the characters—past the occasions immediately outlined within the e book—within the following means: I’d take one of many sailors and have him be part of the adventuring occasion. Maybe additionally the Keets, the seabird-folk, as they finest serve the plot. I’d use this atypical sailor to assist tempo, evoke, and roleplay the environment of the dungeon. This character is also the one who “gossips” concerning the backgrounds of the extra important ship characters—in any other case, it may be difficult to naturally convey these fascinating bits of lore to the gamers. Observe: within the journey, the participant characters aren’t speculated to comply with the identical path via the dungeon as Queen Vele’s group. Vele’s occasion ought to be despatched alongside a distinct route. Nonetheless, these teams ought to encounter one another later within the dungeon with a story twist. Equally, a few of the different written NPCs have story-related impacts on what they’re doing within the dungeon. My private favourite is both Vele Unnikanan herself—who was the unique inspiration for even starting to write down these books—or the Keets, who’re at all times a riot to introduce and embrace in adventures. One of the crucial enjoyable twists comes with the queen’s bodyguard, Boarman: his bravery and self-sacrifice aren’t simply innate qualities, however are additionally formed by his cultural disgrace over previous cowardice. That’s an incredible angle to discover with gamers—together with the truth that he’s afraid of water, but travels by ship.
CD: An intensive dungeon awaits adventurers. Why may PCs enterprise inside and what’s your favourite location?
HR: The journey isn’t nearly discovering a dungeon. There’s a transparent overarching mission—one which Vele particularly asks the adventurers to assist her with. Vele is obsessive about discovering the Ship of the Gods, which, based on legends, is meant to be hidden on this place. Her obsession is deeply private: her father vanished whereas looking for this exact same ship. The adventurers are invited alongside as a result of, as revealed within the journey from Vol. 3, they’re those who found the island hidden among the many scalding steam clouds. Vele wants them—she can not discover it on her personal. In fact, enjoying the adventures from Vol. 3 is just not required to take pleasure in this one, however the thought is that this plotline has been slowly growing over the earlier books. Nonetheless, even with none of the sooner volumes, this journey can stand by itself. The e book presents motivations to get on this journey for the pre-generated characters—why this journey issues to them personally. There are additionally a number of attainable causes for eager to go on this expedition. Not least amongst them, after all, are the legendary treasures mentioned to be hidden there. My private favourite areas within the dungeon are the sections the place intersections aren’t simply tunnels—but in addition water routes that run via the caves. I’m particularly keen on the lair of the dungeon’s principal antagonist: an historic, ever-hungry siren. Her underwater cave pool and her motivations are, for my part, a few of the most compelling materials within the journey. There are additionally sure story-relevant areas I’m fairly pleased with—however I’d relatively not spoil these right here.
CD: Do you’ve gotten any tales from playtesting the setting to share and/or suggestions for GMs eager to run a marketing campaign within the East Isles who’re searching for some recommendation on the place to get began?
HR: We did numerous playtesting—9 playthroughs in whole, and with 4 totally different GMs. One surprising final result got here from a bunch that determined to discover the island outdoors the caves first. That led me to create extra fascinating particulars for the island floor, in addition to an encounter desk for the world outdoors the dungeon. It wasn’t one thing I had initially thought of when writing the journey. One other stunning playtest second was when the gamers found a technique for progressing via the dungeon that was far too simple. I responded by tweaking sure parts to forestall that shortcut. I gained’t reveal what it was—since that may spoil an necessary a part of the journey. Recreation Masters who wish to run adventures within the East Isles can comply with a really approachable path by progressing e book by e book via our clearly structured marketing campaign. With ten ready-to-play adventures, there’s greater than sufficient materials for a protracted marketing campaign, and the sandbox content material—particularly in Vol 4—makes it simple to customise and construct out your personal distinctive model of the setting. The one expectation is that GMs have entry to the RuneQuest – Roleplaying in Glorantha core rulebook and The Purple E-book of Magic.. Aside from that, the setting of the area is launched in digestible parts all through our books, so deep information of Glorantha is just not required.
CD: Many readers of EN World play Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. In the event that they requested you why they could wish to attempt to operating RuneQuest – Roleplaying in Glorantha within the East Isles and finally Bezarngay Boil what would you inform them?
HR: I’d say—completely dive into our books! You’ll get a novel setting stuffed with wealthy magic and marvel. We’ve made it simple to strategy, with ready-to-run adventures included. And for many who want to construct their very own tales, there is a wealth of extremely usable sandbox materials that includes 5 islands—certainly one of them massive sufficient to assist a whole marketing campaign stuffed with intrigue, fascinating areas, memorable characters, and discoveries. I really imagine that the vary of our adventures can enchantment to every kind of gamers—anybody who enjoys roleplaying and fantasy will discover one thing to like right here.
CD: Any remaining ideas you wish to share with the readers of EN World?
Hannu Rytövuori: I want you all many superb gaming moments—it doesn’t matter what video games you like to play. Everybody has their very own favorites, and that’s the way it ought to be. However I can warmly advocate giving our collection a strive as effectively. Thanks for having me, Charlie. It’s been a pleasure.
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