The Cult of Svarog cultural setting...in progress

[sanjwise]

Following my character creation process on this thread http://burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3508

I reconfigured the Cult of Svarog lifepaths accorning to Johnstone, Sydney, Luke and Thor's proposals,

Here's what I got.

So far we have. Highlander Culture set in Eastern Europe, Bohemian Highlands. An oppressed peasantry who have turned to worship of the Old Gods for strength and determination. This cult is dedicated to the God, Svarog, Lord of Fires, the Forge, Creator of the Sun, Iron and Earth. They have a network throughout the highlands with several scattered temples hidden away amidst the regions many caves and grottos. The temples are actually Forges, and it is within these temples that 'priests' of the cult learn the art of Blacksmithing. The cult is not so rigid. Peasants can also join the groups footsoldiers (Spearbearers - the region is famous for is tall and straight Stout Wood), scouts, informants etc.

My character's path leads him towards being an Honoured bannerman. He Fights alongside his brothers but must also keep and protect the temple's sacred flag - a Green Field, Yellow Sunburst, with an Anvil at center.

During my campaign, the Bohemians are harrassing the flanks of the Silenese Army as they engage the armoured might of the Pelorian Union. There has been much fighting in the past ten years, but it was only a year ago that the Pelorians stopped their squabbling and decided to make their first move against the Black Emperor.

Damek (means Earth in czech) Twyrjik
Born Peasant 8yrs 3res
Skills 2pts: General
Traits 2pts: -

Outcast Setting
Acolyte of the Forge 7yrs 7res +1P lead to peasant, servitude, professional soldier
Skills 8pts: Mending, Blacksmithing, Cult Doctrine, Singing (Bohemians are famous for their lusty ballads and love fur culture), Prayer, Running
Traits 2pts: Back-Breaking-Labour, Faithful (I'm thinking of changing this to Gifted and using the Spirit Binding rules...how cool is that?)

Keeper of the Forge 5yrs 15res +1M/+1P lead to peasant, servitude, religious, professional soldier
Skills 7pts: Appraisal, Instruction (my karate teacher always used to say, you can only learn if you teach), Weaponsmithing (or Amourer, players choice), Spear, Stealthy, Observation (I chose the last two because as Keepers there duties also require them to act as lookouts and defenders of the Cult's temples)
Traits 2pts: Zealot, Blacksmith (you are known by the title Blacksmith and other cultist give you that respect +1D for circles amidst the Cult)

Professional Soldier
Spearbearer 3yrs 6res +1p lead to peasant, servitude, outcast
Skills 6pts: Soldiering, Sword, Brawling, Firebuilding, Foraging
Traits 1pts: -

Bannerman 5yrs 7res +1m,+1P lead to peasant, servitude, outcast
Skills 6pts: Folklore, Oratory, Conspicuous, Armour Training
Traits 2pts: Honoured, Brutal, Aggressive

yeah man!

Is this cool?

Well...I think so, but the unlike in the previous example where I used the Lifepaths as is, this guy has a lot of skills but isn't that amazing in any of them. Which is cool too.

So I've got.

Skills: 27pts 3ptsgeneral
Mending B2, Appraisal B2, Soldiering B2, Folklore B3, Blacksmithing B2, Cult Doctrine B2, Singing B3, Prayer B2, Running B2, Instruction B2, Weaponsmithing B3, Spear B4, Stealthy B2, Observation B2, Brawling B3, Sword B2, Firebuilding, Foraging, Oratory B3, Conspicuous B2, Armour Training.

Traits: 9points
Required: Back-Breaking-Labour, Zealot, Honoured,
From my list: Blacksmith
Purchased: Fearless 3pts, Inspirational 2pts.

Resource Allocation:

Possessions: Sword, Tralling Gear, Shoes, Clothing, Scroll (he cannot read but it is a treasured item to his people.
Relationship: Matrim, a young soldier who is called a Shield - they are supposed to protect the Bannerman. 5pts
Ingen Jenger: bastard Silenese patrol-captain who destroyed his unit! 8pts
Affiliation: +1D Cult of Svarog, 15pts
Reputaion: +1D as a Blacksmith, free with the trait

Circles: B2

That is it. What do you think?

Sanj

[alexmegelas]

Hey Sanj - great job on burning Damek and the cult of Svarog! We should reserve a bit of time before the burning shackles game on friday to look this over and talk a bit but this is very good and is a great help in fleshing out a culture of resistence to Ivid's forces in the Duchies of Karpa - which was something I was still struggling with. The only thing I'll want to talk to you about is your take on the single-mindedness of zealotry. Maybe you can tell me a bit more about your character when we get together but I'd like to make this a newbie friendly scenario while allowing a lot of room for exploring multiple outcomes / ways to resolve conflicts. What are your thoughts on this?

Maybe one way to address this would be to assume that the cult has largely fallen to Ivid's conquest and that what remains is mostly disorganised and scattered... How would Damek react to being a "survivor" without a cohesive support structure to go back to? Perhaps by needing to adapt/change and/or making new allies, developing an alternative cause? Let me know what you think of this!

[johnstone]

Sanj

Shouldn't the Spear skill go under Spearbearer? (cause you got it under keeper).

And you don't need the Gifted trait to use Spirit Binding - just the skill, but some traits listed in the PDF make it easier.

Looks good man!

[Sydney Freedberg]

I like this.

What I'd advise now is more self-contradiction, both in the cult and in the character. Characters who are all about one thing, who will always make a clearly predictable choice in any given situation, are in my experience less fun to play (and less realistic) than characters who care about two things and must struggle with not always having them both.

For the cult, I remember you mentioning that there were some dark notes to the Svarog mythology: "Serbian folklore, however, presents a far darker picture of him; he is remembered as a frightful deity guarding the doors of the underworld, associated with mining and precious metals." I'd try to weave that in -- make the secret knowledge of the cult include not only iron-working but also rites about the passage of the dead to the next world, which fits in well with the warrior aspects anyway. Make the devotees of Svarog be not only respected amongst the people, but somewhat feared, because they go into dark places (literally and figuratively) that most people would rather not think about.

For the character, what are your Beliefs? Obvious places to complicate his life are to give him a Belief about preserving the cult and a Belief about vengeance on Ingen Jenger -- when pursuing his enemy means risking his friends, which does he choose? And I'd use the third belief to do something totally unrelated, like "I love my kids" or "I like butterflies," which gives you something to play to when the heavy-duty Svarog stuff isn't happening and gives the GM something else to threaten: Do you pursue your enemy, preserve the cult, or protect your family? Fun stuff.

[sanjwise]

The only thing I'll want to talk to you about is your take on the single-mindedness of zealotry. Maybe you can tell me a bit more about your character when we get together but I'd like to make this a newbie friendly scenario while allowing a lot of room for exploring multiple outcomes / ways to resolve conflicts. What are your thoughts on this?

Maybe one way to address this would be to assume that the cult has largely fallen to Ivid's conquest and that what remains is mostly disorganised and scattered... How would Damek react to being a "survivor" without a cohesive support structure to go back to? Perhaps by needing to adapt/change and/or making new allies, developing an alternative cause? Let me know what you think of this!

This is awesome Alex, it is was basically where I wanted to go. I'd like to see my zealotry trait voted off - provided that I get some love from you and the rest of the gang! My precious cult virtually destroyed, only a few Forge/Temples scattered throughout the hills, the Black Emperor's hated troops all freaking over the place! Bring it on man! But the cause shall always live on with Damek! He will carry the battle standard proudly until Bohemia is Free or he is has walked the Through the Gates of Svarog. So you can kiss the 'developing an alternative cause' slant goodbye!

Ha!
Sanj

[sanjwise]

Hey Johnstone - Sydney,

thanks for you comments.

I think that I have to focus the Keeper Lifepath a little further. I'm going to get rid of Spear, Stealthy, and Observation Training (save that for the Spearbearers and Scouts) and add a couple more social skills - Persuasion, Intimidation, and maybe an opening Spirit Binding Trait - to call up Svarog for aid in smithing.

I think Luke's awesome looking Temple of Cley seems perfect for ideas and form.

Thanks
Sanj

[sanjwise]

For the cult, I remember you mentioning that there were some dark notes to the Svarog mythology: "Serbian folklore, however, presents a far darker picture of him; he is remembered as a frightful deity guarding the doors of the underworld, associated with mining and precious metals." I'd try to weave that in -- make the secret knowledge of the cult include not only iron-working but also rites about the passage of the dead to the next world, which fits in well with the warrior aspects anyway. Make the devotees of Svarog be not only respected amongst the people, but somewhat feared, because they go into dark places (literally and figuratively) that most people would rather not think about.


This is the bomb! I can't believe I forgot these aspects of the Cult.

Maybe a trait to fit with the feared aspect, and perhaps that initial touch with the Spirit world is the begining of that darker more dangerous path...

Freakin awesome.

Sanj

[Sydney Freedberg]

Glad you like it. Based on my absolute zero historical knowledge of the Svarog mythos, and on having run a religion-focused Shadow of Yesterday game earlier this year, I offer for your consideration a small prayer:

from the dark below comes the gift of iron
with the gift of iron we plow the land
from the land by iron comes grain and life
with the curse of iron we pierce the flesh
from the hand by iron comes war and death
and all go back to the dark below
we all go back to the dark below