Three sides of Karrg
A myth, a sub cult and a heroband associated with Karrg, by
Russell Cole
Web Adaptation by Nick Eden
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Note! This is a fan contribution. The information may be
contradicted by official material.
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Karrg Unfettered
Subcult of Karrg
Karrg Unfettered is inspired by Stephen Martin's article in Book of Drastic
Resolutions, volume Darkness
Karrg unfettered is a sub-cult of Karrg, which believes that males deserve
better recognition within Uz society. Centred around Sentry Mountain in
Dagori Inkarth, cult members will be found in small numbers in many clans
throughout the region. Although disliked by the Great Mothers this cult is
hard to suppress as Karrgs Sons in Dagori Inkarth are obliged to make pilgrimages
to Sentry Mountain where the Priests of Lead who tend Karrg's petrified army
welcome new members. The cult recognises Karrg's prowess as warrior and warleader.
Devotees are able to ignore normal restrictions placed upon Karrg's Sons, but will
usually be seen to uphold them at least in public. They still recognise Kyger
Litor's ultimate authority, but believe that Karrg as War God has a place to play
independently as Uz champion and leader of her warriors.
| Entry Requirements: |
Convince Priests of Lead of suitability
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| Mundane Abilities: |
Close Combat (Maul or Mace), Leadership, Recognise Enemy's Weakness
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| Virtues: |
Strong Willed, Adventurous, Independent (No longer has 'Dutiful' or 'Self-Sacrificing' as virtues)
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Affinity: |
Warrior (Stand Ground, True Maul, Terrifying Roar, Inspire Followers, Overpower Foe, Furious Blows)
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| Secret: |
Combat Trance. 1/4 of the secrets rating can be added to relevant abilities when facing foes in battle. Although not a berserk state he is not able to retreat when using the cult secret.
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True Sons
"Fight the Foes of Kyger Litor."
| Common Names: |
True Sons, Shadow Warriors. |
| Form: |
A band of Uz followers of Karrg. |
| Cultural Context: |
Warriors of Karrg who seek out and destroy foes of Uzdom. |
| Ideology: |
"We will maker Komor as safe as it can be." |
| Look and Feel: |
Tough and dedicated Uz warriors, well versed in silent and deadly guerrilla warfare. |
| Purpose: |
To protect the Uz lands of Dagori Inkarth from Uz enemies, with emphasis on assisting clans harassed by the Humans of Dragon Pass. |
| Reactions: |
Respected by most Uz of the land, although relationships with Zorak Zoran warbands are frosty. Many Great Mothers feel uncomfortable with the independence of this group of Karrg's Sons, but accept that they play their part in fighting their enemies. |
Resources
| Leader: |
Jorzax Lead Tusk, a renowned heroquester and warleader, famous for slaying the king of the Bachad tribe of Northern Sartar in his own tula as revenge for raids on Dagori
Inkarth.
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| Renowned Members: |
Torang Windeater, who collects the skulls of Windlords. Hitxarc Tarkaka, who has defeated death and Hirtag Gash who can lead his warriors through hidden shadow deep into his enemy's lands.
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| Membership: |
Around 150 Uzko warriors with perhaps a score of purchased Uzdo and some 100 or so Enlo scouts and skirmishers. In times of war numbers will increase as ex-members from across the land travel to Sentry Mountain to join the
wargang.
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| Other Contacts: |
The True Sons have many contacts throughout Dagori Inkarth, and can call upon significant aid from clans either helped in the past or those thinking they may need help in future. The True Sons never ask payment for going to the assistance of clans under attack from Humans or other foes, but the expectation is that repayment will be made when required. Magical support is provided by the Priests of Lead at Sentry Mountain, who although not leading the band directly are influential within the leadership. Many of the True Sons' members come from the Indigo Mountain tribe and they maintain a good relationship with the tribe's Queen, sometimes doing favours for her and in return receiving gifts and support.
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Organization
The True Sons are based at Sentry Mountain although some will always be away patrolling or on raids. The warband is divided into a number of smaller bands, each lead by a Karrg's Son. Some bands have individual character, such as one that uses beetle 'shock troops' or another that makes great use of allied Dehori. At times the whole Warband will act together, but other times one or two Karrg's Sons will undertake specific missions. The True Sons specialise in ambushing raiders in Uz lands or in performing lightning attacks on villages identified as being home to enemies of Uzdom. The strategy is to use surprise and to only fight set piece battles where either the odds are strongly in their favour or where retreat is not possible.
Membership Keyword
| Membership Requirements: |
To join, one must be a follower of Karrg, with Karrg's Sons being devotees of Karrg Unfettered. |
| Mental Abilities taught: |
Understand Human Tactics, Comfortable in Surface World. |
| Physical Abilities taught: |
Cover Tracks, Track Enemy, Ambush. |
| Typical Personality Traits: |
Dedicated, Patient, Cunning. |
| Magic: |
Members are all followers of Karrg with the majority following Karrg Unfettered. |
Guardian Being
Hiptaq Gronaz who was a Disciple of Karrg famous for the defence of a small Uz clan against a large bandit gang of Orlanthi. Although only seven in number he and his followers beat of repeated attacks by over one hundred of the foe who eventually withdrew after loosing most of their number. After Death his spirit returned to act as guardian for his followers who formed the True Sons Warband in his
honour.
| Method: |
Emanation |
| Form: |
Hiptaq's spirit inhabits his lead skeleton, which is located at his shrine under sentry mountain. Trusted warleaders are given a fragment of bone through which he exerts his influence. |
| Membership Requirements: |
Members must pledge to serve for at least ten seasons, although many never leave. Even those members who return to their clans pledge to return if summoned. |
| Awareness Function: |
Sense Enemy 20W |
| Blessing Function: |
Bless Warband 20W (Unstoppable Charge, Chilling Mace Blows) |
| Defence Function: |
Hide Warband 20W |
Karrg & Erantha Gor
Long ago in the age of conquest there lived a race of great lumbering creatures called Gatorgarings. Children of Maran Gor, they would eat anything that grew of the earth and were much hated by the Aldryami for their destruction of many forests. Over time they were hunted and killed by Elf, Beastman and Hooman until only a few remained.
Maran Gor loved her children and wrought terrible revenge on their attackers. She decided to protect her last children by moving them away from their enemies to new grazing grounds North of her home at Kero Fin.
Now this was around the time when Karrg was in trouble with his mother for spending too much time with Zorak Zoran. To avoid another beating he had decided to travel and see his cousin Valind in the Rockwood Mountains. They spent long hours boasting of their powers and fame. Karrg talked of his many victories over gods of storm and sky, each in turn defeated through his prowess with weapons. He particularly enjoyed recounting the times he had given Windyboy a beating, such as when he knocked out his front teeth after catching him skulking around the castle of lead (Karrg was always proud of the tooth necklace he wore, which is why Orlanth can't whistle in tune!). Valind boasted of all the Fire people's villages he had claimed for his own, using ice and snow and of the winter winds that he had stolen from the storm gods.
As they sat on top of the highest mountain swapping stories they spied a herd of massive and strange creatures grazing on grass and bushes on the plains below. Karrg was by this time feeling very cold and fancied a bit of exercise and so challenged Valind to a competition to see who could kill the most of these strange animals.
As Karrg charged in with mace whirling, Valind summoned demons of ice and spirits of cold. By the time they paused to take breath they realised that none of the creatures remained and that they had each dispatched a similar number. With this amount of food laying about Karrg called upon his sister Vaneekara to throw the biggest creatures straight into Dagori Inkarth where the tribes fed well for many seasons (although it took a while from some of the creatures to defrost!).
Karrg thought this a good time to return home and although still unhappy with him, his mother did appreciate the food he had brought for her people and so ignored his wanderings on this occasion.
Now it wasn't long before Maran Gor discovered that her children had been killed and a great rage fell upon her. She renamed herself Erantha Gor and strode into the Rockwood Mountains where she smashed Valind's summer ice palace and cut up many of his people before they could escape North. Next she turned to Dagori Inkarth killing any Uz she met even beheading one of Kyger Litor's grandchildren with her massive copper axe. Kyger Litor was angry to hear of this as well as being concerned about how to stop this vengeful earth goddess causing more harm. She summoned Karrg and ordered him to go out and sort out this problem he had caused, and then to come straight home afterwards!
Karrg eventually came across Erantha Gor at Battle Valley where she was resting next to a heap of defeated Uz champions. At the sight of him she charged yelling a terrifying scream, which nearly knocked Karrg from his feet. They fought long and hard with Karrg only barely able to defend himself againts her furious blows. She did not even stop when day came and so they carried on fighting for a further two nights. Eventually they both drew back exhausted and collapsed to the ground. Karrg spoke to Erantha Gor who he could see was readying herself for another attack and asked what it would take for her to stop attacking his people? She said that there were peoples who had angered her even more than the Uz and that if he could bring her the head of a god of each she would leave the Uz to enact her vengeance elsewhere.
Karrg knew that he should go back and check with his mother, but also knew that he must act now or risk further harm to his people. So off he went on his quest to make peace with Erantha
Gor.
First he went to the Greatwood where he killed the High King of the willow people. Next he went to Hellgate where he smashed down the door of the stead of Henggat Skyglow and crushed him in front of his clan. Finally he travelled to Dogwood where he slew Elvanol Longshank leader of the
Beastpeople.
Eventually he returned to Erantha Gor who was much please with his sack of heads and agreed to leave the Uz alone as long as they showed her the respect she disserved. Karrg forever remembered Maran Gor's fury and understood the power and terror of the dark earth.
Karrg now had to return home where Kyger Litor would be waiting. She started to berate him for his time away from home, but Karrg for the first time in his life stood his ground and persuaded her of the rightness of his actions. Kyger Litor did not beat her son on this occasion even though he had dared to interrupt her and Karrg learned that mother doesn't always know best!
And this is the story of how Karrg served his mother by not obeying her, and this is exactly how I heard this from my uncle, who heard it from his uncle, back to our ancestral uncle, who heard it from Karrg himself, so we know it must be true (but don't repeat this story to your mother!).
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