Meritus: Examiner of the Red Moon & Jakaleeli Witch

	Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson Meritus Examiner of the Red Moon & Jakaleeli Witch	Age: 34 Career: Examiner Religion: Jakaleel the Witch Culture: Orayan Disposition: Ambitious, ruthless
Return to Home Page Gloranthan Folk Tales Gloranthan Songbook Moonie Madness Life of Moonson Carmanian Sources Malkioni Scriptures	You were born, one of twins, within sight of the Temple of Unknown Predecessors in the capital city of the Satrap of Oraya, Palbar. You are distantly related to the ruling Molari-sor clan. If you had followed in your father's footsteps, you would be now probably be an overseer of one the family's iron smelters in nearby Yelmfoot. However, when you were eight you were discovered to be 'touched by the Goddess' - sacrificing one's twin and drinking the blood at a home-made altar being the last in a long line of incidents. You felt this was perfectly normal behaviour (and the voices in your head agreed), but your parents called in the local Jakaleel witch and you were declared insane. For the next nineteen years you lived in a Jakaleel asylum. The time you spent there were the happiest days of your life. Here your madness was encouraged and your babblings carefully recorded. You were on the very edges of chaos and madness, of divinity and illumination. During your babblings (you were later told) you successfully predicted many things: the rebellion in Sartar, the Brolian betrayal, the death of Barakos (Grand Master of the Xaroni Cenobites), and finally the destruction of the Temple of the Reaching Moon in Sartar and Tatius the Bright's death. Such was your prescience that you were moved to the Arkat Asylum in Glamour and Moonson's messengers were always on hand to report on anything untoward. Then the madness ended. The voices were still. Sanity prevailed. You were horrified, your mind suddenly empty, and for two years you were almost inconsolable. Why had you become sane? Was the Goddess angry with you? Had you done some terrible thing? You longed to become insane again. Finally, the witches of Jakaleel coaxed you out of your lethargy and taught you the mysterious ways of their cult. In time you too became a witch. Because of your previous notoriety you rose quickly through the ranks and became the cult's choice for Examiner of the Moon when a position became available. You were honoured and pleased to become an Examiner of the Moon. it allowed you to try and become closer to the Red Goddess and discover why she had removed your gift from you. It also provided you with the opportunity to seek out others who have been "touched" and help them - and perhaps through them regain the gift of insanity.	Background Oraya You come from the Satrapy of Oraya. This Satrapy was settled in 5/23 and ruled by Hon-eel and her loyal followers. However, the ruling clan was mostly killed off during the Nights of Horror and the Molari-sor clan now rules the satrapy, while the descendants of Hon-eel control her cult. The satrapy is bordered on the east by the Redlands and has suffered many depredations over the years from raiding nomads. Most of its cities are heavily fortified as a result. There are Mostali in the nearby Palasper mountains leading to a strong iron trade and local smelting industry. The Satrapy of Oraya is ruled by Queen Penelori. Jakaleel the Witch Jakaleel the Witch is worshipped in the Lunar Empire as the Goddess of Primal Madness and Insanity. She is privy to the diverse horrors and solaces that lie within the darkness. The mad, crazy and insane are all accepted as lay members in her cult and offered free board and lodging in the cult's temples, or Asylums as they are commonly known. While the worship of Jakaleel the Witch is not large it is widespread throughout Peloria: major temples or Asylums are rare and remain places of mystery and horror, shunned by the sane and circumspect. Priestesses of the cult are known as Witches and make no secret of it. Red Moon Illumination Illumination is a state of inner enlightenment which it is necessary to attain before one can worship the Red Goddess fully. It was first taught by the Nysalor, who spread the teaching by seemingly contradictory riddles which provided spiritual insights. In the Lunar Empire, Riddlers are honoured and encouraged. An Illuminate sees cult strictures and taboos as veils to be drawn aside to reveal the truth. Even Chaos is seen as what it really is, just part of an all embracing cosmos with which the Illuminate is at one. A select few illuminated Priests of the Red Goddess are called Examiners. They examine likely candidates for illumination, interpret the Goddess's wishes, and examine the faith of others.
	Objectives Personal Bring back the voices and the madness that once gave you so much joy and peace. Close down the blasphemous Moonrock Cafés. How can this sacrilege be allowed? Inform for the Spoken Word and the Blue Army. Enemies of the Lunar Empire (internal of external, religious or otherwise) must be rooted out! Career Identify likely Red Moon illuminates and show them the light of Red Moon illumination. Provide guidance on the Red Goddess's views on all of the current secular and spiritual issues. If necessary make it up! You are her conduit! Test the faith of others. Take action if you feel they are wanting. The corrupting Finger of Sedition can strike anywhere at any time. Religious Identify those who have been touched by the Goddess and who are foolishly trying to mask or deny their madness. Find the followers of the White Moon, refute their arguments, and inform on them if you regard them to be dangerous. Help to nominate a new Examiner of the Moon. You must carefully investigate any likely candidate to ensure they are safe. Have the Over the Moon of Madness manuscript published.	Who You Know Personal Acquaintances Hasperat of Rinliddi: Examiner of the Moon. You work closely with him to provide guidance to worshippers of the Red Goddess and test for illuminates. You must be careful that he does not suspect that you are also seeking to encourage madness in your subjects! Icilius Overholy, General Guide for the Lunar Spirit: Head of the Provincial Church and fellow Examiner of the Red Moon. There are rumours that the recent set-backs in Dragon Pass have caused her distress. Through your Career Beatpot Aelwrin, famous cook and General: his use of the word Moonrock for the name of his cafés, and his decoration of those establishments with images of the divine Jar-eel is blasphemous in the extreme! The Goddess concurs with this view and he must be stopped! Didius Copernicus, Director of the Field School of Magic: he directs the use of magic by the military. Unfortunately, you have been told that he is promoting Beatpot's Moonrock Café chain! Is this really something that someone in his position should be doing? Fyodr Volkhovos, Marshal of the Blue Army (military intelligence): his affiliation to Annilla, Goddess of the Blue Moon and Keeper of Secrets, means that you also help him by informing for him. Can Annilla help you discover why you are no longer mad? Jubba the Hood, Head of Lunar Intelligence: and actually chief of the Emperor's Spoken Word. The Spoken Word is not supposed to investigate lunar religion so you help him by informing on anyone you believe is acting seditiously. Queen Penelori of Oraya: your Satrap and a distant relation since she rules the Molari-sor clan. It is sometime since you last met her and the ties of blood demand that you present yourself to her and give her your respects. She may prove to be a useful ally in glamour - blood is thicker than water. The Red Dancer of Power, demi-deity and Directress of the Seven Year Plan: she heads the Provincial Church and is the nearest thing the Examiners have to a superior.
	Other Knowledge The Examiners of the Red Moon only number seven individuals. In theory they are not affiliated to any particular religion except that of the Red Goddess and all of her pantheon. The primary duty of the Examiners is to interpret the thoughts and wishes of the Red Goddess and provide guidance to her worshippers on her attitude and stance on spiritual and secular issues. They are the conduit through which her commandments are made. Examiners also have an innate ability to sense the core essence of a being: that is to know if they have the potential to be illuminated by the teachings of the Red Goddess - this is a state of illumination higher than that offered by Nysalor. Those who have a high potential are destined for great things in their chosen career path. Use your normal Examination card (with a Nysalor riddle) to test for those with a high potential. Use your other Examination card to test for those who are susceptible to divine madness. The Seven Year Plan is the mechanism by which the major food and raw material requirements of the Empire are centrally planned and provided for. At the beginning of each seven year period every sultanate and province agrees to quotas of important foodstuffs and other raw materials and goods which they must achieve over a seven year period. A seven year plan has just ended and each of the sultanates and provinces will be audited this a sacred time on their results. Success is usually the route to promotion and Imperial favour, while failure is a sure road to political humiliation. You have held the Imperial Gin monopoly for the past seven year plan. You will be offered first refusal to buy it for the next plan, for twelve influence. You know that it will produce 5 cards of Gin, which can be traded to the Red Dancer of Power for twenty influence. The White Moon is a teaching which has grown up from nowhere in recent years. It holds that it was never the intention of the Red Goddess to create an enduring Empire. The Empire was a means to an end, to confront those states which violently opposed the Lunar Way to allow the liberation of their peoples. Since the days of the First Wane, the Empire has become a self-serving structure, its expansion never matching the speed at which the Lunar Way first spread. The White Moon Cult holds that the Red Moon is not yet perfect. The Empire must wither away. Then, and only then, will the Lunar Way be able to spread throughout Glorantha and the Moon shine White in the Air. From a fringe, harmless teaching, the cult has spread. Its devotees refuse to pay taxes or serve in the militia. They have now taken to attacks on Imperial Monopolies, tax collectors and so forth. Beatpot's Moonrock Café is a chain of fashionable eating houses based upon the culinary genius of Beatpot Aelwrin, the notorious rebel slave turned loyal soldier of the Empire. These establishments are noted for their garish decor (usually celebrating Jar-eel the Razoress) and ostentatious exteriors (complete with a glowing and revolving Red Moon). They have spread from the original restaurant in Dragon Pass (now closed) into the Empire. The flagship restaurant is in Glamour, and often boasts the presence of Beatpot Aelwrin himself in it's kitchens. Unfortunately, the restaurants have recently come under attack from some elements of the religious establishment who regard the restaurant's concept and execution as blasphemous and disrespectful to Rufelza. In addition, close supporters of Great Sister have also questioned the culinary and nourishment value of many of the dishes served. The Emperor's Spoken Word functions as an internal security organisation, essentially operating within the political and military spheres of the Lunar Empire. The basic aim of the Spoken Word is to enhance the security of the Emperor. However, within the current organisation, the definition of what must be done to protect the Emperor allows a wide scope which includes internal and external espionage and investigation. The Spoken Word is forbidden to investigate the State Church. Also, there is great rivalry, and some degree of overlap, with the Blue Army (military intelligence) and the Danfive Xaron cult (the religious and social watchdog of the Empire). The Silver Quill is a prestigious literary award, worth 10 influence to the winner. No categories are prescribed: past prizes have gone to poetry, fiction, historical and scientific works. It is administered by Fod-Ariam, the Red Sage of Glamour. You have entered Over the Moon of Madness into the competition.	Secrets Meritus is an agent in the pay of Jubba the Hood, head of the Emperor's Spoken Word. Meritus is an informer for the Blue Army. Meritus is seeking to have Beatpot Aelwrin's chain of Moonrock Cafés closed down. Meritus was once an insane prophet. Meritus wants to be insane again. Special Items Over the Moon of Madness: a manuscript of Jakaleeli religious texts written recently by the leader of the cult, Keisha Eye of the Blind. You wish to have it published so that others can enjoy the sheer insanity of the concepts and prophesies it describes.
	Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson was written by Nick Brooke, Chris Gidlow,David Hall and Kevin Jacklin, with Rick Meints and MOB. The lead author for Meritus was David Hall. Glorantha, HeroQuest, Hero Wars, and Issaries are trademarks of Issaries, Inc. The contents of this page are copyright by David Hall, 2001; any material derived from Greg Stafford's world of Glorantha is also copyright by Greg Stafford. Glorantha is the creation of Greg Stafford, and is used with his permission.