Rhaffa Khan: Sable Khan, Satrap of Kostaddi

	Reaching Moon Megacorp's Life of Moonson Rhaffa Khan Sable Khan, Satrap of Kostaddi	Age: 53 Career: Khan and Sultan Religion: Moonson Imperator Culture: Sable Rider Disposition: Haughty, possessive, ambitious
Return to Home Page Gloranthan Folk Tales Gloranthan Songbook Moonie Madness Life of Moonson Carmanian Sources Malkioni Scriptures	Although you were born in the royal chambers of the Two Towers, son of Uzban Khan and the Queen of the Sables, your adoptive father was Mokar Moon-Horn. In youth, you followed his clan across the bleak and desolate highlands of the Hungry Plateau, not knowing the inheritance that was your birth-right. His clan lived by the ancient ways, surviving amidst scarcity by cultivating harshness and a cruelly practical approach to life. Its riders made their way across the barren lands on sable-back, following the cyclical rotation of the Red Moon. When you were made a man, your foster-father led you to the Two Towers to greet your true parents. The palace of your father - the first building you had ever entered - was a treasure-house of marvels undreamed-of: gold and silk, jewels and steel, firewater and rich red wine. He greeted you as his son and explained that your fostering was now over: you had grown to be a man of the Sable Tribe, and could now learn of your inheritance. The Hungry Plateau overlooks the fertile green basin of Peloria, and is inaccessible from the outside world: no travellers from foreign lands can journey there without climbing the narrow pass controlled by the Fortress of Two Towers. For two centuries, the Khans of the Sable Tribe have ruled over the lowlands, their Two Towers dominating both Kostaddi and the Plateau. They have followed a consistent policy of preventing riches and luxuries from flowing to the highlands and softening the harshness of tribal life, at the same time stopping your people from leaving the plateau to taste the delights of life without wants. The strength of the Sable Tribe is the guarantee of your continued power. Only your most loyal followers are permitted to pass between the Two Towers out into the world, after they have been toughened and seasoned by their life atop the plateau. The Red Emperor sends the brave Antelope Lancers to conquer foreign lands, and in return he sends you a share of the booty that they bring in. Your personal ambitions lie beyond the limiting confirms of the Hungry Plateau or even the Satrapy of Kostaddi. You know that with the Sable Tribe behind you there is no limit to the glory you can bring the Lunar Empire: rolling back the defeats suffered in Dragon Pass, adding new provinces in the West and in the East. It is all there within your grasp if you have patience and guile to play a political game, and work hard to win powerful allies. You have begun within the Court of the Silver Gate by creating dissension between Gul-Taran and Prince Pardidas. Divide and conquer is the best strategy here.	Background The Sable Riders of the Hungry Plateau In the First Age, the braves of the Sable Tribe came from distant Prax to throw out the evil Horse Nomads who ruled Peloria. Your ancestors had the wisdom to settle atop the Hungry Plateau and preserve their ancient ways of survival amidst the hardships of this bleak land. Other tribes had less forethought: living in the lush lowlands of Peloria, they became soft and succumbed to the tides of history. Only the Sable Riders have endured. Following their conversion to the Lunar Way, the Sable Tribe has been a firm and loyal ally of the Empire. The regiment of Antelope Lancers is ever foremost in the conquests of the Empire, and has served with distinction in the Redlands, Prax and Arrolia. You are the Khan of the Sable Tribe and Lord of the Two Towers, ruling as Satrap over lowland Kostaddi. You are First Consort of the Queen of the Sables: you command in all matters to do with war and scarcity, whereas the Queen rules over peace and plenty. The Cult of Moonson Imperator 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. Satrap of Kostaddi Yours is one of the nine full satrapies 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 satrapy and commands a large private army. However, you must always be on your guard since your family only 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 satrap of the Empire you are eligible to sit on the Court of the Silver Gate.
	Objectives Personal Increase your personal power and prestige. You could go to the very top if you have the vision and ambition! Build political alliances with those in the Presidium. This is the centre of power in Glamour. Build a power block in the Court of the Silver Gate. Already Prince Pardidas is on your side and Makkrit-oor is a likely supporter. Amass influence in any way that you can, whether via the purchase of lucrative monopolies or otherwise. Influence is the key to power. Win the Chariot Race and the magical Cup of the Goddess! Career Keep Kostaddi strong by keeping the Sable tribe strong and confined to the Hungry Plateau. Do not allow any civilising influences on to the Plateau, or anything that might soften them. Remain as Satrap of Kostaddi. Fulfil your quota amounts or have the level changed at the Court of the Silver Gate. Marry a wealthy or well-connected noblewoman. Someone who would increase your political power. She might also help remove the common perception that you are a nomadic barbarian. Religious Organise a religious crusade against the Brolian barbarians. They are an easy target and if you can get a high profile victory then it will win you many political friends and more influence. Gain Great Sister's blessing. Do whatever it takes. Join the Moonsword cult by getting Jar-eel or Beatpot Aelwrin to nominate you.	Who You Know Personal Acquaintances Didius Copernicus, Director of the Field School of Magic: a showy but entertaining man. He is regularly invited to Moonson's party's and you have asked him to get you an invite too. In return he has been discussing opening up some sort of Café in The City of Two Towers - you need to name a price for this concession (perhaps five influence?) Prince Pardidas, Satrap of Sylila: you have convinced him that the death of his sister, Gerra (wife of Gul-Taran), was set up by Gul-Taran so that he could remarry and get another dowry. Pardidas believes you implicitly, and you must ensure this continues since he is a good political ally. Sitzmag Redmoon, Captain of the Antelope Lancers: your loyal right-hand man has just returned from serving in Arrolia and before that in the Redlands. He is a good, solid brave. Thalia Springtime, Colonel of Guides: years ago, when she was a Blue Moon assassin, she did a freelance hit for you on Gul-Taran's brother. It was very professional and no one suspected that he had been pushed from a high tower, rather than fallen off while drunk. Through your Career Gul-Taran, Sultan of First Blessed: you tried to take over his sultanate by launching an assassination attempt on him. Unfortunately, he was only wounded and survived and his wife, Gerra (sister to Prince Pardidas), died protecting their infant daughter, Kira. You used knowledge gained from your informants that Gul-Taran had lost money in the East Isles Bubble crisis to push the blame on to him while he convalesced from his wounds. However, if Pardidas and Gul-Taran ever suspect the truth then you can try and point the finger to Commodus the Fair and the Assiday family, who are Dart War rivals of Prince Pardidas (you can say they were after his sister, of course!). Count Julan, agent of the Spoken Word: perhaps you can inform for this agency and spread rumours that will confound your enemies. Makkrit-oor, Satrap of Darjiin: a young wastrel who enjoys only women and hunting. He should be easy to control if you can supply him with both. Miriros Conradin, Colonel of the Grim Soldiers: he is a member of the Danfive Xaron cult (the Black Army). They use the Char-un a great deal to put down popular unrest. Surely the Sable Tribe is more trustworthy? Orgrol the Fat, King of the Char-un: an incredibly fat and dissolute old man. His time has passed! Through your Religion Queen Penelori, Satrap of Oraya: Sitzmag tells you that she is worried about the Pentans in the Redlands and seeks to employ horse mercenaries to help fight them off.
	Other Knowledge 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 Moonsword Cult is a special sub-cult of Yanafal Tarnils for military heroes of the Empire. Candidates must be recommended by Jar-eel. Those who are accepted are given their steel Moonsword by Moonson himself.	Secrets Raffha Khan leads the Sable Tribe as well as being the Satrap of Kostaddi. Rhaffa Khan is involved in a Dart War against the Sultan of First Blessed. The Sable Tribe are kept hardy and tough by denying them all conceivable trappings of civilisation, including medicines, surplus food, and any manufactured goods. Rhaffa Khan is very ambitious. The Imperial Treasury is a very strategic location in the city of Glamour. He who controls the money... Special Items Sable Rider Mercenaries: you have available one regiment of mercenaries which you can hire out to the highest bidder.
	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 authors for Rhaffa Khan were Nick Brooke and David Hall. Glorantha, HeroQuest, Hero Wars, and Issaries are trademarks of Issaries, Inc. The contents of this page are copyright by Nick Brooke and 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.