Vol. 6 — Fear & Loathing in Old Pavis

RuneQuest / Glorantha Supplement by Jonstown Compendium / Chaosium

CONTENTS

The Eye of the Hurricane

After their epic voyage from the Rockwoods on the Cradle (at the end of Vol. 05), the Adventurers disembark in Pavis County and return to Pavis through the hills. That evening they witness the giant vessel now grounded at Saltford – then later freed by Orlanth’s great storm. Due to his failure to halt the Cradle, Governor Sor-Eel is soon relieved of his post, and to everyone’s surprise Duke Raus is appointed Administrator of Pavis & the County. Also to the surprise of many, the Grey Company (the Adventurers) are instated as his local Advisors and Liaison Officers.

Sacred Time in Old Pavis

While working for Acting Governor Raus, the Company take part in two powerful quests to assist revitalize the Old City during Sacred Time 1621-1622. This section includes fuller details (and maps) on: The Garden, the Aldryami of Old Pavis, Yelmalio Hill & Angle Fort.

The Trip to Glamour

New Governor of Prax, Halcyon Var-Enkorth arrives via Moon Boat, and tells Raus his help is no longer needed. Along with his trusted Advisors – the Grey Company – Raus joins Sor-Eel aboard the Moon Boat for a trip to the Lunar capital. His goal is to appeal to the Emperor for reinstatement as Administrator of Pavis. Numerous unusual role-playing experiences are available in the City of Glamour. [A copy of the ‘Rough Guide to Glamour’ is needed to run this fully. Plus a copy of the ‘Rough Guide to Boldhome’ will also expand the experiences in their few days in the capital of Sartar on the way back.] Back at Pavis, the Company’s services are no longer required by Raus, and they are now simply a mercenary band of Old Pavis once again.

Fear & Loathing in Old Pavis

Pavis is in turmoil after Halcyon Var-Enkorth bans the worship of Orlanth. The Grey Company are hired to find a missing Donandar acolyte, and uncover a horrible Lunar conspiracy to support the marriage of Pavis into the Lunar Pantheon. The satisfaction of disrupting these plans is short-lived – Whitewall finally falls to the Lunars, and the savage effects of the Windstop cover Pavis County. The Lunars take advantage of the weakness of the Storm Pantheon (to which Pavis belongs) and announce the Wedding of Pavis for only two weeks’ time! The Company take part in a secret quest – hoping to strengthen the myths of the ancient city and thwart the Wedding Plans finally and forever. Only to find themselves thrown off course and fighting to save their souls.

Return of the Champion

As the grip of this unnatural winter grows, Pavis and the County are shielded from the worst of it by old and new magic, but Darkness Season grows closer and things are looking grim. Again operating without authorization from the Cult of Pavis, the Grey Company explore a massive and forgotten underground complex – seeking a sacred artifact that is prophesied to be part of the restoration of Pavis City.

PAVIS EXPERT 

For about 18 months around the year 2000, Ian had detailed correspondence with Greg Stafford (creator of Glorantha and head of Issaries Inc. at that time) about the secrets of Old Pavis and the long-rumored ‘Pavis Grand Plan’. In two consecutive years Ian was official Issaries Inc, ‘Pavis Expert’; in 2002 he won the Issaries Inc. award for best Gloranthan short story; and he was also one of the writers for Storm Tribe: The Cults of Sartar & Masters of Luck & Death.

An official Pavis Grand Plan adventure arc of three books was planned with Greg. Agreements were made on what could be in the fanzines, and what should be held back for Issaries Inc. publications. This book (Vol. 06) continues to slowly reveal major elements in the Grand Plan that were developed with Greg’s direct involvement.

THE DIRECTOR’S CUT

While “Pavis Expert”, Ian was collaborating with Fabian of Tentacles Press, to publish his extensive 5-year (real-time) Pavis & Big Rubble campaign. This resulted in eight books:

– An intro section in an issue of Ye Booke of Tentacles (YBoT),

– Five stand-alone volumes, and

– Two Tradetalk special editions.

(Most of which has been out of print for quite some time.)

This new series is a massive expansion on those original releases. There will be a total of nine books — including two special editions

As with the original series, the Director’s Cut is designed as an extension on the primary official Pavis & Big Rubble sourcebooks. You will need a version of each of those as the backdrop to this campaign, as well as ideally the RQ:G rulebook and Bestiary.

THIS BOOK, AND THE WHOLE SERIES, IS A COLLABORATION!

The work required to get this series revised, expanded and back out there, has proved staggeringly beyond the original estimate. HUGE gratitude to the volunteers assisting with proofing, stats, practical advice, formatting, and other helpful bits and pieces. Plus of course, those who collaborated originally and gave permission to use their articles and art once again.

This book absolutely wouldn’t exist without all these wonderful people!

VOL. 06A — THE ROUGH GUIDE TO PAVIS CITY [894 S.T.] Inspired by the excellent Rough Guide to Glamour & Rough Guide to Boldhome, the (much shorter) original version of the Pavis City Guide was the fastest book written in that first series. By the time the idea emerged, many pages of notes based on discussions with Greg and personal theories already existed and just had to be ordered and laid out. This time round it took chronologically the longest — as huge chunks written at the start of the new series when it was being considered as first cab off the rank. Plus, it has also been massively expanded as a full and independent Second Age sourcebook. The new material includes richer elements of the politics of the Second Age (better understood now than they were back then), much more on local cults and their magic, scenario seeds, RQ:G Stats, Grand Plan reveals, and detailed guides and maps of Adari, Feroda, Sog’s Ruins & The Paps. (With the last two written to be equally usable in a 1620s campaign.) This Guide also serves as a backdrop for a major scenario found at the start of Vol. 07, in which the Adventurers spend time in Pavis City in the late 800s. (Either in an echo of the past as part of a quest, or via a unique experience of time travel – whichever the GM prefers.)

Vol. 6 — Fear & Loathing in Old Pavis is available through DriveThruRPG in PDF.

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