Prince Pardidas: Sultan of Sylila

	Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson Prince Pardidas Sultan of Sylila	Age: 44 Career: Sultan Religion: Red Emperor Culture: Sylilan Disposition: Gentlemanly, haughty
Return to Home Page Gloranthan Folk Tales Gloranthan Songbook Moonie Madness Life of Moonson Carmanian Sources Malkioni Scriptures	You are the Sultan of Sylila - although you prefer to call it the Confederacy. The Confederacy is made up of what were originally a number of old Orlanthi clans. To the west is Ryst, famous for its wide fields of flowers, the heartlands of Erinflarth (or Dara Ni) which produce grain in prodigious quantity; and the southern steppes near Cafol. Born into the Errio-unit clan, which has ruled in Sylila since 6/44 (some 70 years), you can trace your ancestry back to both the native Sylilan Orlanthi hill-people and the Imperial family. From your palace in the capital Jillaro (a city noted for its beauty) you can see the start of the Heroquest Road cross the Oslir river (it goes to Mirin's Cross). Another road runs from Cafol to Hilltown (Imther). Thus Sylila is both the bread-basket of the Empire, as well the gateway to the provinces in the south and east. You still fondly remember your character-building five years as a Junior Triarch in the Beryl Phalanx under the watchful eye of Lergius Cassius, before your father died and passed the Sultanate on to your shoulders. Nowadays, between the duties of the sultanate, there is nothing you enjoy more than to go on 'safari' expeditions into the Autumn Hills (which lie on your southern borders) to bag a few exotic animals for your trophy room. As Sultan you are responsible for ensuring that Sylila's quotas are met (preferably exceeded). However this is by no means guaranteed, and it is likely that the harvests in the southern areas will be short. You have had reports of bad grain yields, and of many fish mysteriously dying in the tributaries of the Oslir river. On your last hunting expedition to the Autumn mountains many of the game animals you caught were stunted or malformed. One mountain lion even had a tentacle! If your revenues are short, quotas can be renegotiated if necessary, but this will be difficult to persuade the other Satraps, although you are hoping to trade favours to lower those for Sylila. More prosperity would accrue to Sylila if she can buy one of the more lucrative Imperial Monopolies which will be auctioned soon. On a personal level, there is unfinished family business that you now have the opportunity to take care of while in Glamour. You had a favourite younger sister, Gerra, some 20 years your junior, who you swore to your father you would look after. Gerra was always a very pious and compassionate girl, even looking after and helping complete strangers! You can't claim to have always understood her, but she did not object when Gul-Taran, the Satrap of First Blessed, came to court her. Thus the ties between Sylila and First Blessed were strengthened when they married, and recently a daughter Kira was born. You doted on your niece as if she were your own daughter. Last year, however, tragedy struck. Apparently, assassins entered the sultan's palace in Torang and murdered Gerra. Reports at the time suggested Gul-Taran was also seriously injured in the attack, although thankfully baby Kira was unharmed. However, Raffha Khan (the Satrap of Kostaddi) then divulged to you that Gul-Taran had in fact murdered Gerra himself, being motivated by the thought of getting another dowry from a suitable heiress to cover his debts (he suffered badly in the East Isles Bubble scam). You are incensed by this, but you cannot act overtly in case baby Kira is hurt. Instead, with the help of Raffha, you have sought to covertly obstruct Gul-Taran at every turn. Vengeance will be yours soon!	Background The Sylilan Confederation The sultanate of Sylila is made up of a confederation of clans, ex-colonies such as Dara Ni, and large noble-owned plantations. The Sylilan drawl is widely recognised throughout the Empire and to the south. Sylilans treat women with a flirtatious respect. Most noblemen sport moustaches or beards and the richer women wear long flowing clothes that use bright fabrics. The main produce of the sultanate is grain. In addition, racehorses of the highest quality are raised here and the yearly quota of flowers sent from Rist is a joy to behold. Deep in the hills there is a cottage industry around illegal gin stills. The Cult of the Red Emperor You are a devotee of the Red Emperor. Your right to rule comes from worshipping the founders of your family clan as a subcult of Moonson Imperator. The cult worships the Red Emperor as the perfect embodiment of the Lunar Citizen. It does so by enforcing his Justice, supervising the actions of all other governing institutions in the Empire, and providing structures for all citizens to aspire to and achieve the highest rank. As such, it determines the basic social structure of the Empire, overlying the Empire's disparate cultures. The Red Emperor leads his cult personally. Sultan of Sylila Yours is one of the nine full sultanates of the Lunar Empire. Each is governed by a powerful ruling family responsible for extracting the Emperor's taxes, protecting the people, assuring respect for the Red Goddess, and enforcing the Emperor's personal commands. Your family holds large estates across the sultanate and commands a large private army. However, you must always be on your guard since your family holds this sultanate for as long as you have the power. You have many noble family rivals who wish to remove you in a Dart War and take your place. As a sultan of the Empire you are eligible to sit on the Court of the Silver Gate.
	Objectives Personal Gain vengeance on the murderer of your beloved sister Gerra! Vengeance can be in many forms, and disfavour, disgrace and penury are a good start! Rescue your young niece Kira, ensuring that she is healthy and well cared for. Beware the Assiday clan. They are your clan's old Dart War enemies and cannot be trusted. If you seek to foil their every political move then they won't be able to move against you. Seek more political power. Perhaps by increasing the power and prestige of the Court of the Silver Gate and reducing the influence of the Presidium. Win the Cup of the Goddess at the annual chariot race. Your racing team is unequalled Career Ensure that you meet or exceed your quota in Flowers and Grain for the Red Dancer of Power. Renegotiate (if necessary) your quota down to a more reasonable level so that you can easily meet it. Purchase at least one of the most lucrative Imperial Monopolies when they are offered for auction by the Red Dancer of Power's auctioneers. Find out what is causing the strange occurrences in and around the Autumn mountains. Are other provinces suffering too? Be on your guard against the Assiday clan. Ensure they are not favoured by Moonson. Religious Persuade Moonson to declare next year a Red (Full) Moon Year. there is no cause for alarm in the Empire. Everything is as it should be. Seek Great Sister's Blessing. Petition Jar-eel and Beatpot Aelwrin to become a member of the Moonsword cult.	Who You Know Personal Acquaintances Phirgia, Queen of Holay: the Southern belle! You are eager for her to join her Queendom with your sultanate! You hope to use this Sacred Time opportunity to court her. Lergius Cassius, Provincial General: an old friend and comrade, under whom you served a number of years ago. He saved your life on at least two occasions. You have not seen him for some time, and look forward to remembering old times. Moonson Argenteus, the Red Emperor: you must ensure that he comes to know and trust you. Through your Career Commodus the Fair, Governor of the Redlands: a member of the Assiday family, who have in the past murdered members of your family in their attempts to take the sultanate through Dart Wars. Do not be taken in by his handsome looks and charming manner. Makkrit-oor, Sultan of Darjiin: a hunting partner. You were shocked recently when, instead of going after the usual big game and wild animals, he insisted on hunting for human slaves! It was disgusting! Raffha Khan, Satrap of Kostaddi: A true friend on the Court of the Silver Gate. The two of you hope to make the Court a far more potent force in the governing of the Empire. Gul-Taran, Sultan of First Blessed: until recently your brother-in-law. A treacherous wife-killer who holds your niece hostage. Rascius, King of Aggar: Your dealings with Aggar are generally cordial, if a little perfunctory for the head of state of the kingdom directly to the south of Sylila. It is rumoured that all he cares about is hoarding money! Var-Eel, Satrap of Oronin: an old has-been who tries to lecture you (and the other sultans). You are now the leading sultan of the empire and he must be made to realise this!
	Other Knowledge The Lunar Provinces. There are four major kingdoms making up the Lunar Provinces: Tarsh, Holay, Vanch and Aggar. Each provides valuable resources to the Empire, in terms of taxes, trade and manpower. Additionally, they serve as a buffer against the primitive barbarian cultures further afield. Each province has its own political structure, but always leaning towards the Empire. The Provincial Government's home is at Mirin's Cross. The Provincial Government. Members of the Provincial Government enjoy the reputation of independent people of action. In times of crisis. there is often no time to wait for the decision of the high command in the Heartland. It must be taken on the spot, and in the heat of the moment. The most successful in the Provincial Lunar Government have learned to temper the demands of the local kingdoms with the wisdom of the Empire to forge a strong alliance of the two. The Court of the Silver Gate is a council of Satraps of the Empire. It meets infrequently, and can have great influence in determining the course of the Empire's destiny. The members of the Court of the Silver Gate are: · Gul-Taran, Satrap of First Blessed · Haroun al-Rastari, Satrap of Karasal · Moonson, Satrap of Silver Shadow · Makkrit-Oor, Satrap of Darjiin · Raffha Khan, Satrap of Kostaddi · Var-Eel, Satrap of Oronin · Prince Pardidas, Satrap of Sylila · Queen Penelori, Satrap of Oraya The Satrap of Doblian will have a place on the council, when one is appointed. 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. The East Isles Bubble is the name given to a failed commercial and trading venture which was to be launched from the frontier port of Corflu. The East Isles company was set up to manage the venture and collected investments from Lunar citizens, promising them large returns. Unfortunately, the venture collapsed and Lunar trading vessels never left Corflu for the East Isles. None of the investors money has ever been recovered or the perpetrator's behind the scam arrested. The Red Dancer of Power was a major supporter of the venture, though her losses were minor. 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.	Secrets Prince Pardidas has underpaid his taxes for this year, and is concealing this from the authorities. Pardidas' sister was foully murdered last year! Pardidas has a little niece called Kira who he dotes upon. The animals in the Autumn Mountains are becoming stunted and deformed. Some have even grown tentacles. Lergius Cassius saved the life of Pardidas on two occasions. Special Item Excellent Chariot Racing Team. These are the best horses that Sylila can produce. Costuming Tips Sylilan gentlemen always dress in pressed white outfits or immaculate uniform. Hats are common. A southern USA drawl is essential in developing the correct characterisation - remember to pronounce Sylila as S.Y.Lila!
	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 Pardidas was Rick Meints. Glorantha, HeroQuest, Hero Wars, and Issaries are trademarks of Issaries, Inc. The contents of this page are copyright by Rick Meints, 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.