Hero Wars
Glorantha
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Hero Wars

Table of Contents

Preface	8
Picture: A Dragonewt	9
1. Getting Started	10
Picture: Untitled	15
2. Characters	16
Heroes	16
Opening Questions	16
What Magnitude is This?	16
What Range of Openness Is This?	17
Getting Started	17
Using the Narrative Method	17
Backstory	18
Using the List Method	19
Using the Quick Start Method	20
Assigning Ability Ratings	20
Format for Abilities	21
Common Characteristics	21
Name	21
Culture	21
Keywords	21
Goals	22
Additional Traits	22
Mundane Abilities	22
Combat Abilities	23
Magical Abilities	23
Personality	23
Picture: Dwarf	24
Relationships	25
Communities	25
Supporting Characters	25
Supporting Character Abilities	25
Describing Your Supporting Character	26
Gods, Spirits, or Saints	26
Special Items	26
Flaws	26
Wealth	26
Finishing Your Character	27
Reading Your Narrative	27
Sample: Character Sheet	28
Character Tips and Hints	29
Sympathy	29
Indispensability	29
Ambiguous References	29
Hero Points	30
Growing and Improving	30
Gaining Hero Points	30
Using Hero Points	31
Improvement Relation to Game Play	31
Table: Character Development Costs	31
Improving Abilities	32
Gaining Levels of Mastery	32
New Abilities	32
Learning a New Magical Ability	32
Capture or Integrate a Spirit	33
Supporting Characters	33
Replacement Followers	33
Other Supporting Characters	33
Table: Supporting Character Ability Table	33
Changing a Supporting Character's Role	34
Cementing Benefits	34
Gaining New Flaws	35
Buying Down Flaws	35
Assigned Hero Points	35
Wealth	35
Standards of Living	36
Minimal	36
Common	36
Prosperous	36
Rich	36
Very Rich	37
Sumptuous	37
Regal, Opulent	37
Beyond Wealth	37
Money	37
Price Lists	37
Table: Price List	38
Picture: Two Merfolk	40
3. Character Keywords	41
Keyword Layout	41
Cultural Keyword	41
Occupation Keyword	41
Magic Keyword	42
Ability Notes	42
Berserk Attacks	42
Healing Affinities	43
Gifts and Geases	43
Picture:Orlanthi Warriors	44
The Heortlings	45
Heortling Cultural Keyword	45
Heortling Occupational Keywords	45
God-talker	46
Healer	46
Hunter	46
Lawspeaker	47
Merchant	47
Spirit Talker	47
Warrior	48
Heortling Magical Keywords	48
Babeester Gor	48
Bevera	49
Chalana Arroy	50
Ernalda	51
Major Aspects of Ernalda	51
Ernalda the Healer	52
Ernalda the Leader	52
Ernalda the Mother	53
Hedkoranth	53
Humakt	54
Picture: Orlanth	53
Humakt's Gifts and Geases	56
Issaries	57
Kolat	58
Lankhor Mhy	59
Odalya	59
Orlanth	60
Major Aspects of Orlanth	61
Orlanth Adventurous	61
Orlanth Rex	62
Orlanth Thunderous	62
Vangath	63
Flying	64
Orlanthi Flying	64
Solar Flight	64
Spirit Flight	64
Sorcerous Flight	64
Mystic Flight	65
Vinga	65
Yinkin	65
Orlanthi Mythology Notes	66
The Thunder Brothers	66
The Lightbringers	66
Heortling Advanced Experience	67
Clan or Tribal Council Member	67
Priest	67
Picture: Three Faces of the Moon	68
Warband leader	69
The Lunar Empire	69
Dara Happan Cultural keyword	70
Special Cultural Keyword: Imperial Citizen	70
Lunar Occupation Keywords	70
Dilettante	71
Petty Nobleman	71
Scholar	71
Scount or Hunter	72
Trader	72
Special Occupation Keywords	72
Missionary	73
Soldier	73
Lunar Empire Magical Keywords	74
Buserian	74
Deezola	75
Durbadath	76
Etyries	77
Irippi Ontor	77
Jakaleel	78
Kenstrata	79
Lokarnos	80
Makabaeus	81
Sedenya	82
Natha	82
Aspects of Natha	83
Picture: A Whirling Blades Martial Artist	82
Rufelza	85
Taraltara	86
Seven Mothers Collective	87
Urvairinus	88
Yanafal Tarnils	89
Yelm	90
Major Aspects of Yelm	91
Dara Happan Advanced Experience	91
Army Officer	91
Imperial Bureaucrat	92
Priest	92
Picture: A Praxian Nomad	93
Black Horse County	94
Black Horse County Cultural Keyword	95
Curelan (Peasant) Caste Occupation Keywords	95
Camp Servant	95
Liturgist of the Atroxic Church	95
Merchant	96
Ridderan (Warrior) Caste Occupation Keywords	96
Footman	97
Liturgist of the Black Horse Order	97
Rider	97
Steed	98
Zoberan (Magician) Caste Occupation Keywords	98
Zoberan Liturgist	98
Wizard	99
Black Horse County Magic keywords	99
The Black Horse Order	99
Order of Black Iron	100
Order of Damnation	101
The Atroxic Church	102
Black Horse County Advanced Experience	102
Bishop	102
Knight	103
Senior Steed	105
Picture:Centaur	104
The Black Horses	105
The Grazers	106
Grazer Cultural keyword	107
Grazer Occupational Keywords	107
Herdsman, Rider	107
Shaman	108
Warrior	108
Grazer Magic Keywords	109
Yu-kargzant Tradition	109
Great Spirits of the Yu-kargazant Tradition	110
Dastal the Hunter	110
Jardan the Warrior	110
Henird the Leader<	111
Josad the Elder	111
Special Spirits of the Yu-kargzant Tradition	111
La-ungariant Tradition	112
Great Spirits of the La-ungariant Tradition	113
Arandayla	113
Special Spirits of the La-ungariant Tradition	113
Grazer Advanced Experience	113
Clan Chief	113
War Captain	114
4. Playing Hero Wars	115
Die Rolling	115
Critical Success	115
Success	115
Failure	116
Fumble	116
Target Number 1	116
Target Number 20	116
Victory and Defeat Levels	116
Marginal	116
Minor	116
Major	116
Complete	116
Picture: A Debate	117
Abilities	118
Target Numbers	118
Default target Numbers	118
Mastery	118
Mastery Results	118
Table: Sample Resistances	119
Cancelling out Mastery	121
Special Case	121
Modifiers	121
Improvisation Modifier	121
Picture: An Elf	122
Gaining or Losing Mastery	123
Modifiers from Previous Contests	123
Bumping	123
Bumping with Hero Points	123
Bumping with Mastery	123
Resistance	124
Tests	124
Table: Test Type	124
Ordinary Consequence Chart	125
Table: Ordinary Consequence Chart	125
Automatic Success	125
Ability Test	126
No Repeated Attempts	126
Simple Contests	126
Table: Simple Contest Chart	127
Results:	127
Group Simple Contests	128
Extended Contests	128
Action Points (AP)	129
Starting Action Points	129
Desperation Stake	129
How Much Do I Stake?	130
Table: Extended Contest Chart	130
Results:	131
Subsequent Exchanges	131
AP Knowledge	131
Ending an Extended Contest	131
Table: Ordinary AP Consequences Chart	132
Group Extended Contests	132
Rounds	132
Order of Action	132
Going before Your Turn	133
Waiting to Act	133
Exchanges in Group Contests	133
Tactics and Options for Extended and Group Contests	133
Enhancements	133
Augmentation	133
Table: Augmentation Resistance Chart	134
Table: Augmentation Results Chart	134
Edges and Handicaps	134
Picture: A Troll	135
Lending APs	136
Switching Abilities	137
Trading APs for Penalties	138
Unrelated Actions	138
Withdrawing from a Contest	138
Positioning	138
Free-for-alls	139
Followers in Extended Contests	139
Tracking followers	139
Followers and Unrelated Actions	140
Followers and Defeat	140
Defending against Multiple Attachers	140
Attacking Multiple Targets	140
Taken Out	141
Parting Shots	141
Coup de Grâce	141
Final Action	141
Ending the Contest	142
Concurrent Contests	144
Combat	144
Movement	144
Equipment	144
Melee Weapons	145
Weapon Ranks	145
Equipment Modifiers	145
Missile Weapons	145
Missile Ranks	145
Picture: Selar Darom	146
Range	147
Armor	147
Armor Ranks	147
Equipment Modifiers	148
Comparing Equipment	148
Nonlethal Combat	148
Script Protection	149
Killing Helpless Opponents	149
Describing Combat	150
Grievous Wounds: An Option	151
Warfare	151
Injuries and Health	152
Healthy	152
Dazed	153
Unconscious	154
Hurt	155
Penalties to Hurt Characters	153
Recovery from Hurt	153
Injured	153
Penaties to Injured Characters	153
Recovering from Injury	154
Dying	154
Dead	154
Healing	154
Healing in Midcontest	154
Postcontest Healing	155
First Aid and Minor Magical healing	155
Major Healing	155
Poison	155
Onset	156
Instant	156
Lingering	156
Effect	156
Lethal	156
Paralyzing	156
Sleeping	156
Passion	156
Curing Poisons	156
Healing Otherworldly Entities	157
5. Basic Magic	158
Magic is Everywhere	158
The Other Side	158
The Importance of Myth	159
Magical Abilities	159
Box: The Runes	160
Describing Magic	163
The Four Forms of Magic	163
Theism	164
Sorcery	164
Animism	164
Mysticism	164
Picture: A Kraloreli Scribe	165
Secrets	166
Magical Abilities in Common	167
Gaining Magical Abilities	167
Narrator Characters and Magical Abilities	167
Types of Worship	167
Theism - Sacrifice	168
Sorcery - Veneration	168
Animism - Ecstatic Worship	168
Mysticism - Asceticism	169
Personal Devotion	169
Propitiatory Worship	169
Universal Magical Rules	169
Magic Use Requirements	170
Magical Resistance	170
Personal Resistance	170
Natural Resistance	170
Resolving Magical Resistance	170
Describing Magical Resistance	171
Theist	171
Sorceror	172
Animist	172
Mystic	172
Magic in Combat	172
Difficult Magics (D+x)	172
Table: Difficult Task Table	173
Other Side Magics	173
Magic and Consequences	173
6. Theistic Magic	174
The God Plane	174
Pantheons	175
Great Gods	175
Gods	175
Picture: A Lunar Priest	176
Enemy Gods	177
Peeking into the God's Houses	177
Rules for Theism	177
Gods' Runes	178
Theistic Magic	178
Affinities	178
Feats	178
Piety	178
Rituals and Myths	179
Communal Worship	179
Divine Aid	179
Narrating Divine Aid	180
Initiation	180
Multiple Initiation	181
Devotion	181
Subcults	181
Changing Initiation or Devotion within the Pantheon	182
Changing Pantheon	182
Theistic Character Creation	182
Communal Worshipper	182
During Play	183
Benefits	183
Obligations	183
Initiate	183
During Play	183
Benefits	183
Obligations	183
Initiation to a Great God	184
Devotee	184
During Play	184
Benefits	184
Cult Secrets	184
Subcult Secrets	184
Obligations	185
Devotion to a Great God	185
7. Sorcerous Magic	186
The Magic World	186
A Peek into the Laws	187
The One God	187
The First Prophets	187
The Abiding Book	187
Later Prophets	188
Saints	188
Orders	188
Picture: A Sorceress	189
Sorcerous Orders	190
Low Orders	190
High Orders	190
Liturgists	191
Wizards	191
Sorcerers	191
Magic	191
Blessings and Curses	192
Praying for Blessings or Curses	192
Grimoires	192
Creating a Portal of Power	193
Connecting to Spells	194
Casting a Spell	194
Tapping	194
Miracles	194
Sorcerous Character Creation	196
Lay Church Membership	196
During Play	197
Benefits	197
Obligations	197
Credo of Malkion	197
Natural Piety	197
During Play	197
Benefits	198
Obligations	198
Saintly Veneration	198
During Play	198
Fighting Orders and Guilds	198
Benefits	198
Obligations	198
Liturgists	198
During Play	199
Benefits	199
The Abiding Book	199
Obligations	199
Apprenticeship	200
During Play	200
Benefits	200
Obligations	200
Chapter or School Membership	200
During Play	200
Benefits	201
Obligations	201
8. Animist Magic	202
The Spirit Plane	202
Picture: A Shaman	203
Peeking Past the Shamanic Circle	204
Animistic Traditions	204
Ancestor Worship	205
Local Tradition	205
Functional Tradition	205
Hsunchen Peoples	205
Tradition Secrets	205
Spirits	206
Shamans	206
Rules for Animism	207
Shamanic Abilities	207
Tradition Knowledge	207
Fetch	208
Spirit Sight	208
Spirit World Travel	208
Shamanic Escape	208
Spirit Combat	208
Defeated Spirits	209
Spirits from Inside the Tradition	209
Spirits from Outside the Tradition	209
Fetishes	210
Integration of Spirits	211
Spirit Possession	211
Spirit Cults	212
Animist Character Creation	213
Member	213
During Play	213
Benefits	213
Obligations	213
Holy Person, Sacred Chief, Family Head	213
During Play	214
Benefits	214
Obligations	214
Shaman	214
During Play	214
Benefits	215
Obligations	215
Secondary Traditions	215
Hsunchen Tribesman	215
During Play	216
Benefits	216
Shapechange	216
Obligations	216
9. Mystic Magic	217
The Other Side	217
Mysticism in the World	218
Non-Eastern Mystics	218
Picture: Two Mystics	219
Mystical Disciplines	220
Mystic Philosophies	220
Enlighten Masters	220
Paths	220
Dojos	221
Illumination	221
Rules for Mysticism	222
Disciplines	222
Physical Training	222
Mental Training	222
Spiritual Training	223
Powers	223
Balance	223
Counters	223
Refute	223
Reflect	224
Other Counters	224
Countering the World	224
Strikes	225
Mystic Character Creation	226
Orthodox Mystic	226
Manifest Mystic Student	226
During Play	226
Benefits	227
Obligations	227
10. Advanced Magic	227
Temples	227
Sanctuaries	228
Shrines	228
Magical Home Defences	228
Theist Towns	228
Sorcerous Towns	229
Animistic Villages	229
Mystics	229
Extending Magic	230
Targets	230
Table: Number of Targets Chart	230
Distance	230
Targeting	230
Optional Physical Contact	231
Mandatory Physical Contact	231
Table: Base Distance Chart	231
Duration	231
Instantaneous Magics	231
Ongoing Magics	232
Increased Duration	232
Table: Duration Chart	232
Permanent Enchantments	232
Effects of Enchantment	233
Enchantment Resistance	233
Iron and Runic Metals	233
Table: Material Enchantment Resistance Chart	234
Delayed Magic	234
Cancel Ongoing Magic	235
Rituals	236
Elements of a Ritual	236
Creating Rituals	236
Table: Ritual Bonus Table	237
Lunar Magical Cycles	238
Lunar Power by Day	238
The Glowline	239
The Elemental Progression	239
Picture: A Duck	240
Enacting a Ritual	241
Time Needed	241
Benefits	242
Community Participation	243
Levels of Support	243
Mixed Support	243
Table: Community Participation Table	244
Heroic Consequences Chart	245
Table: Heroic Consequences Chart	245
Divine Mechanics	245
Change as a Divinity	245
Slow Death of a Divinity	245
Growth of a Divinity	246
Misapplied Worship	245
Costs of Misapplied Worship	247
Misapplied Sacrifice	247
Sacrificing to Sorcerous Entities	247
Sacrificing to Spirit Entities	247
Travel on the Other Side	248
Otherworld Safety	248
Misapplied Veneration	248
Venerating Gods	248
Venerating Spirit Entities	249
Travel on the Other Side	249
Otherworld Safety	249
Misapplied Ecstatic Worship	249
Ecstatic Worship of Gods	249
Ecstatic Worship of Sorcerous Entities	250
Travel on the Other Side	250
Otherworld Safety	250
Misapplied Mysticism	250
Combined Worship	251
Secrets and Subcults	251
Classifying Otherworld Entities	251
Charlatans and False Belief	252