Overview of Heortland

I translated my Japanese article about Heortland, as far as I can pick up from the official line, as I said, it is not wise to write such thing before Greg's Kerofinela reveals (December 2002) I hope it will not disturb Tradetalk Fanzine work or someone's. Please check it if you can, for I tried to cross out enough unofficial sources from my weak knowledge about the area aside from the debate between digesters.

2004 June, Hero Quest and Hero Quest Voices: Esvular, Dragon Pass: Land of Thunder, Heortland Map of Wesley Quadros all released. Slightly changed about New and Old Wind Temple (2004 / June / 13)

Japanese Version is here.

Topography

 See first the part called "Kethaela" in the map of Glorantha, the area
south of Dragon Pass is strong in commerce and trade facing Mirror Sea bay.
Around there, direct your attention to the east side area High Plateau 300
meters above sea level. The area is separated from Prax area by the
Stormwalk Mountains. This area is called Heortland. (Once, more wider area
was named by it.) Most of the inhabitants of it are almost all Storm
Worshippers and named after their important hero, King Heort. Moreover, this
highland is divided to several sub-areas like peninsulas by Five Rivers that
keep gaps into the bay. In this area, 500,000 people live. (For a reference,
the population of Sartar is 180,000 and that of Tarsh is 360,000 in the
Early 1620th.)

 The Five Rivers are from north to south, Marzeel, Solthi, Evil Syphon,
Bullflood, and Minthos River joined with Minthof River. Western Malkionism
has taken long influential role to native orlanthi culture. The people ruled
by Brithini and atheists of south God Forgot, the influence from God
Learners in Imperial Age, recent Manirian Merchant Princes and Seshenelan
Quinpolic Alliance activity have made complicated situation in the land. The
way of farming (Western-style plow, etc) and Caste System cannot be found in
other Theyalan Cultures. And in the south area, Aeolian Church which mixes
Monotheistic Wizardly culture and that Orlanthi Theism thrives.

 Complicating the matter, the Great Political Cataclysm when Pharaoh killed
Only Old One and turned his Kingdom of Night into Holy Country, Glorantha
Experts and authors don't agree about other's opinion about it. But at least
I can write some of  their consent here, from Ancient Time, the Land has
been ruled by One Sacred King who was selected from wandering priests called
Larnsti Brotherhood, (though I don't know whether the position was a sort of
mere religious figurehead or held control.) and he ruled tribes or clans
under him.

And Pharaoh reformed the system into Four Earldoms and many
Baronies. From North, these Earldoms are Volsaxi, Jondalar, Hurlant and
Esvular. (Confusing, these Earldoms were called "Tribes" in Thunder Rebels,
if you literally grasp its meaning, the composition of Barbarian Adventure
makes that there are Volsaxi "clans" and Volsaxi "tribes" within the Volsaxi
"tribe". It seems that Sartari mistakely called Earldoms "tribes" in the
text!)


 The area most focused on point in the book "Orlanth is Dead", north Volsaxi
"Earldom" I should mention here which (most?) part of it rebelled against
Pharaoh's rule and allied with Sartar Kingdom for it. East of their domain
under the foot of Stormwalk Mountain, the Trollwood spread, and there was a
community of trolls and humans called Kitori living peacefully together
since ancient times, and have long opposed with neighbor Orlanthi. And
recently, it is more confusing that a Sartar King Tarkalor permitted
Yelmalion Monrogh who converted from Elmali built his own Sun Dome Temple
and independence. King Bryan insists his right to rule as the High King of
All Heortland, but it is not accepted except his own domain around Volsaxi.

 It seems that Volsaxi think that other area Orlanthi as heretics, and
believe they have most traditional Orlanthi Worship. Thus, recently, as
Lunars conquered Heortland as the Palangio's Army of Light in the 1st Age,
though I don't know enough about the style of Orlanth worship goes generally
in surrounding area, at least Lunars thinks that they can damage greatly the
worship of Orlanth by conquering Whitewall and hidden Old Wind Temple as the
center of the Worshio since Ancient Time. Currently, King Bryan and his
small number of Larnsti Brotherhood are besieged in Whitewall, and Baron
Sanuel, the manirian adventurer grasped the authority of the area under the
permission of Lunars.

 In the middle area of the Syphon River valley, Chaotic Goddess Krashit
bitting  the foot of elder god Larnste in Gods Age, which created Foulblood
Tree forest, and Void Hall. Syphon is a river still going to upper reaches
as other rivers did in Gods Age, and as other water gods, preventing Chaos
from engulfing the World. In this area, there has always been conflict with
Chaos from Foulblood Tree, and in Modern Age, Scorpion Queen Gagax Twobarbs
united many nests of Bagogi Scorpions, and damaged greatly surrounding areas
of Jondalar and Hurlant Earldom. In lowland part of the Forest, Stonewood
shows weird stoned animals and plants by Ancient Battle against Chaos.
Recently, the area was conquered by Seshnelan Adventurer named Richard
(Rikard) Tigerhearted and he temporally insisted the whole of the Heortland
as his liege domain.


 The buffer area against the power of South God Forgot, Lefthand Isles has
stronger Aeolianism Influence since Ancient Times, and many Knight Forts and
Border March Baronies are founded for the defence against Praxians ravaging
beyond the border and "Evil" Sorcerers. There King Richard temporally built
his domain and called it "New Malkonwal" Kingdom with the support of his
Seshnelan Mercenaries. In Esvular Earldom, there are many Aeolians and the
center of it, Mt. Passant is the capital where High King Andrin following
Pharaoh came here as his capital.

Places of Interest

*Foulblood Forest
The Chaos Forest inside Larnste Footprint. There are many huge Scorpion man Nests.

*Karse, the City of Vice
The city of the mouth of Marjeel River on the Mirror Sea bay. In the Second Age, already it was called "the City of Vice", greatest city of Heortland. I suppose the change of river flow course that was made by Pharaoh killing the Darkness Monster of Only Old One has influenced the rivalry against Nochet of Esrolia.

*Larnste Footprint
Literally, the Gigantic "Footprint" of Ancient God Larnste, by the Attack of Krashit, the Void Hole and Foulblood Tree was made.

*Mt. Passant
The Center of Aeolian Worship in the south of Heortland. There Arch Bishopric exists. (In old Unofficial Setting, it exists in Durengard, the setting might be also changed.)

*New Wind Temple
The Great Sanctuary of Orlanthi Worship at the border of Heortland and Kingdom of Sartar. With great magic invisible buildings are, and wind daimons rage and its barrier to Gods World is thin. And disciples of Orlanth Thunderous, Storm Lords live here only. Lunars intend to build Reaching Moon Temple here.


*Old Wind Temple
 The inside valley of Stormwalk Mountains, Wind spins Great Windmill that symbolizes the Power of Movement of Orlanth. (According to Japanese Dragon Atlas illustration.) Even Lunars don't dare to intervene that spinning until "the Wind should stop." Once Dundealos Tribe occupies the open of the valley east. Currently, pro-Lunar tribe Enstalos possess this land.

*Salt Point
Default Place for Esvulari as chosen as an example of Hero Quest Voices, so most standard place in Esvularland.

*Stormwalk Mountain
 The Sacred Place of the Brutal God Urox. There he killed Giant. Over the Mountain, the son of the god Baskelos shepherd the herds of Sky Bulls, there is a legend that if someone can share it, it means Great Magical Power and authority.

*Troll Wood
Kitori (Mix tribes of Human and Troll) live in the east side Forest of Volsaxar, it rivalled with Sun Dome Templers.

*Vaantar, Sun Dome Temple
 Independent Domain of Yelmalio Cult which was founded by Monrogh under the permission of King Tarkalor, the inhabitants live as a band of mercenary. The land was once a Battle field of Gbaji War.

*Wasp's Nest
The Weird community of small humans riding over Hugh Wasps to the northwest of Stormwalk Mountain.

*Whitewall
A Fortress City. Another Orlanth Sacred Place. It was worshipped as a rebellus place against evil authority oppressive to rightful Orlanth worship since Ancient Time. Once it supposed to be the place of Hendreiki against the General of Light, Iron Vrok Palangio. For the inconvenience of the traffic, the capital of Highking moved from here. It was also the place of King Hardrard Green Resistance against Pharaoh, later it became the capital of Volsaxar. Today (1621), King Bryan defends the city as the last fort against the Invasion of Lunar.

If you want to know more about Joerg Baumgartner's Heortland Old Setting, visit here.
Unofficial Essays about Orlanthi
http://www.toppoint.de/%7Ejoe/toc.html
Heortland Old Setting
http://www.toppoint.de/%7Ejoe/heortmain.html

Current System of Heortland
Tradetalk #4 p. 17, Thunder Rebels p.52-53, Orlanth is Dead! p.18 Question21,
(Volsaxi Land) Barbarian Adventures p.8-9
Karse: Tradecenter　Capratis of Pasos & Du Tumerine of Nolos

*Marzeel River
　Volsaxar Earldom (TR) : (Whitewall: Anti-Pharaoh Marzeel R.) (Smithstone: Pro-, Marzeel R.)
*Solthi River
Jondalar Earldom, Karhend Area (TR): Jansholm (Solthi R.)
*Syphon River
Hurlant Earldom, Gardufar Area (TR): Durengard (Bullflood R.)
*Bullflood River
*Minthof River & Minthos River
Esvular Earldom (TR): Mt Passant (New), Bensval (Old, Minthos R.)
Mt Passant & Border March (Unofficial Setting of Gwandorling Saga: Land of Argrath Dragonfriend)
*Bandori River
God Forgot Refuge, Casino Town & Machine Ruin


　Volsaxi Tribe (Confederation of Whitewall?): Volsaxi Clan (Anti Lunar),
Sylangi Clan (Pro-), Curtali Clan (Anti-), Bacofi Clan (Pro-)

Important Heroes of Heortland in Past and Modern 17th Century Age

Past Heroes

*Hendreik the Freeman
In Gbaji War, he was one of the heroic Leaders who were on the refugee bands exiling from the oppression of Empire of the Light. He got somehow the magic of Elder God Larnste's Power of Change and Movement in Larnste's Footprint and used it for his guerilla acitivity. His power was successed by Larnsti Brotherhood, wandering holy men, and from them, each of all Hendreiki Land (high-?) kings were selected from them by themselves.

*Vargast Redhand or Two Rings
One hero of Gbaji War, he killed the Defiler Lokamayadon in the Battle of Varge, but he was also killed by Palangio Iron Vrok, Hero of Dayseneras, Alkoth and Rinliddi (?) He helped Harmast to initiate Forbidden Orlanth Worship under the Empire of Light. Read Harmast's Saga for the detail. (Harmast's Saga, Storm Tribe)

*Harmast Barefoot
Born of Cursed Family of Vanak Spear in Berenething Tribe, he was the Other and Enemy of Palangio Iron Vrok, Great General of Empire of Light, Killer of Arkat. He wandered many Theyalan countries and gathered lost mythologies of Orlanth, and managed to succeed Lightbringer's Quest as a mortal hero, (Its abridged version became heortling Sacred Time Ritual for Annual Cycle.) and brought back Arkat from the Hell. He killed Palangio and guided Talor to enter Dorastor through Kartolin, and returned to Farming field and broke the Doom of his Bloodline. (Storm Tribe, Wyrm's Footprint, etc....)

*Gorangi Vak Bulltamer
A Heroic King of Heort(Hendreiki?)land of 1st Age or 2nd Age. He firstly climbed up to the Stormwalk Mountain for subjugating unruly Uroxies and defeated the Guardian of Sky Bulls with only stick and rope. He offers the Feat to defeat Uroxi. (Tales #18, Storm Tribe)

*Renvald Meldeksbane
He was the most famous heortling hero that attacked Locsil, the notorious Godlearner City of cursed God Forgot Isles. He armed with Azure Shield and Viridian Spear and firstly managed to invade the City and destroyed the Flesh Machine, but betrayed by Mostali and died. His Orlanth subcult offers the feat Block Sorcery Spell.

*Varanorlath, Last Highking of Kerofinela
He is the High King of All Heortling just before the night of Dragonkill. He led the refugees avoiding the True Golden Horde and the Massacre and reached the Hendreiki Land from Dragonpass. (Thunder Rebels)

*Andrin Lawmaker
He was the High King of Heortland who was killed during the War between Only Old One and Belintar the Pharaoh. After his death, civic war split Heortland and regretfully, Pharaoh ressurected Andrin. After that, he became a supporter of Pharaoh and accepted many Western Influence and reformed Heortland. He has another person of King Heort's Lawspeaker though he has same name. (Glorantha: Introduction to HW and Storm Tribe)

*Gustin Hammer
Once a loyal thane of King Andrin, but he rebelled against his former lord for he was revived as a servant of Pharaoh and Gustin called him Zombie King. His sub cult offers the Feat against Pharaoh, the Demigod of Kethaela.

*Hardrard the Green
Founder of Volsaxar. He chose Whitewall the ancient Stronghold against Evil Authority as his capital, and defied Andrin who chose to obey Pharaoh Belintar. (Barbarian Adventures)

*Saint Aeol
A Saint and Founder who came the Highland in the Darkness Age. He founded mixed combination Worship of Malkion teaching and Storm Worship. (Some says he is a gneral of Arkat's army or an incarnate of Orlanth in unofficial line.) (Hero Wars 1st Edition Rulebook and Issaries Homepage)

*Varzor Kitor, Darklord of Zolan Zubar
In the Second Council of Dawn Age, they began to choose Warlords to defeat horse nomads which ruled Peloria basin. He was the first by the support of Only Old One, he is a member of Enigmatic Kitori Tribe and a worshipper of Enigmatic Wind God Zolan Zubar.

*Sestarto, the Artist
He was a cultural heortling hero of Silver Age. He rivalled with Penaxles the Artist of Esrolia, and he built Needle, Penaxles killed him for jealousy to his skill and commited suicide afte that. (Tradetalk #4)

Modern 17C Heroes

*Baron Sanuel
He was born from one of Manirian trader king cities and a mercenary captain. While King Bryan is seiged in the last stronghold, Whitewall. He administrates Volsaxar under permission of Lunars.

*King Bryan, Last Highking of Heortland
Last Highking of Volsaxar and a hero of Hero Wars. In Joerg Baumgartner's setting, he once worked as a mercenary captain in the South of Heortland. He is an ultratraditionalist. See Thunder Rebels and Orlanth is Dead for the detail of his profile and ability, etc....

*Gagax, Twobarbs
Strongest Queen of Bagogi Scorpionfolk. She has managed to kill and eat other four queens hosting nest, and became greatest threat to neighborhood human community.

*Mularik, Ironeye
A Mercenary Warrior from Tanisor Seshnela and a member of Wolf Pirate. Read King of Sartar if you want to the process of his rule in Tarsh and relation with Argrath.

*Richard, Tigerhearted
An Adventurer who temporally ruledas King of All Heortland. He once founded New Malkonwall Kingdom in the southern area, but he was defeated by the invasion of Lunar, chose to crush his own crown and hid himself. Unknown of his current location.

*Bandal Tigerbane
He got his power when he drove Rikard (Richard) out from Esvular. Today, he claims South Heortland.

*Lukus, Count of Sundome Temple
Today, he is the successor of Monro (Monrogh)'s Sun Dome Templars of Vaantar. Currently, he maintains Good connection with Lunar Duke of Far Point, Harvar Ironfist.

*Harrek, the Berserk
Rebel Rathori, slayer of God. Wearer of Whitrebear God hide. One of Three Superheroes in Hero Wars, he stormed all around the Homeward Ocean and later became King of Laskal in Pamaltela. (Dragonpass Boardgame, etc...)

See also Siege of Whitewall Mailing List

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