Chris Bell

The Wisdom of Sedenya

Sedenyic Philosophy and Lunar Illumination in Mongoose RQ2

For fans who want the classic RuneQuest experience with the terrific updated rules from Mongoose’ Glorantha: The 2nd Age, it’s very easy to convert much of the cultural details from Glorantha: the 2nd Age. Most of the extant cults detailed in Cults of Glorantha have not changed by the 3rd Age, with the notable absence of the God Learner sects and EWF cults. The biggest change in the cultural and magical landscape is the rise of the Lunar Empire, and the unique way that Lunar Magic works. Lunar Magic is unique in that it blends aspects of all three Otherworlds. Likewise, veneration of Lunar Immortals works like Theistic Worship, but not exactly. The Lunar Way is inclusive, and Lunar magicians have access to a wide array of powers that normal Theistic magicians do not. This unprecedented flexibility has contributed to the meteoric rise of the Lunar Empire, echoing in many ways the rise of the Dragonspeaker and God Learner empires of the prior age.

This first article covers Lunar Illumination: “Sevening” and Sedenyic Philosophy

Sevening

The name for the distinct practice of Lunar Illumination, Sevening is the practice of awakening the 7th Soul of a Lunar practitioner, guided by the Lunar Examiners. This variant of Illumination is normally only open to members of Lunar Cults. It normally has the following requirements:

During the Sevening rite, the supplicant is subjected to trials, rituals and riddles in which the All is pitted against the Self, and the subject is challenged to acknowledge that the self is also the greater Self, the 7th part of the soul which is Taraltara, the cosmic Self. The supplicant makes an opposed roll of their Sedenyic Philosophy, versus her POW times 5 or her Persistence, whichever is higher. On a critical success, he or she is Sevened. A supplicant can prepare for this by conducting appropriate Lunar Heroquests, studying under renowned teachers and other methods. This can be done as an in-world Heroquest on its own, with each station adding bonuses to the supplicant’s Sedenyic Philosophy. Reenactments of the Heroquests of various Lunar Gods and Immortals can provide bonuses for the purposes of the Sevening challenge, such as the mythology of Gerra, the teachings of various of the 7 Mothers or Valare Addi, as the GM determines. Acolyte Rank in a Lunar cult grants +10%, Rune Priest rank grants +20% and Rune Lord or the equivalent rank in a lunar cult grants +30%.

Successfully finishing the Sevening rites grants the Lunar several special abilities to that are used in conjunction with Sedenyic Philosophy:

Note that Sedenyic Philosophy can only be substituted for a Grimoire skill, Common Magic, Spirit Walking and Spirit Binding or Manipulation for Lunar cults. While the Lunar Way does not forbid membership in “unhealed” cults, separate magic skills need to be developed normally. This is another impetus for having cults and people convert to the Lunar Way.

Lunars take a penalty of 20% to their Sedenyic Philosophy tests for each non-Lunar cult that they hold Believer rank in or higher, in all tests, including any Challenges of the All. This is a major impetus for the Lunar crusade to heal the cosmos, and to have all Pantheons come under the embrace of the Lunar Way. Only Lunar versions of local cults count as Healed for this definition. One of the drives to attain Immortal status for many Lunars is to provide their brethren with an ever widening array of magic. So far, this has been a success.

If a Lunar follower wants to be a member of Unhealed cults (such as local deities or practices, ancestral cults, and so on) they are certainly allowed by the Empire, as long as they are not hostile to the Lunar Way. For example, if Avarius the Hoplite wants to continue his traditional worship of Sagittus while also worshipping Yanafal Tarnils, he may. He uses Lore (Sagittus) and the normal Common Magic skill to use his Sagittus Divine magic and non-Lunar Common Magic, which is unaffected by the Lunar Cycle, while using Sedenyic Philosophy for his Lunar Common Magic and his Yanafal Tarnils Divine Magic. This is the case with the bulk of Lunars in the Empire.

Sedenyic Philosophy

Sedenyic Philosophy is the wisdom and teachings of Sedenya, the Red Goddess in her all inclusive form. Sedenyic Philosophy serves as the Lore (Deity) skill for all Lunar cults and healed entities, and can also be used in place of many magic skills by individuals who are Sevened. Otherwise, Sedenyic Philosophy acts as Lore (Deity) and Common Magic when used with Lunar Cults and Lunar Common Magic.

However, Lunar Shamans still need to learn Spirit Walking and Spirit Binding normally unless Sevened, and Lunar Sorcerers still need to learn normal Sorcery skills unless Sevened. This represents the Theist bias of the Lunar Way. Sedenyic Philosophy requires two improvement rolls to advance, not one. Sedenyic Philosophy counts as an advanced skill, and can be added to the advanced skill list for any culture that’s part of the Lunar Empire.

Lunar Magic and the Glowline

Outside of the Glowline, all forms of Lunar magic are subject to the Lunar Cycle. The Moon normally shifts from fully red to black and then back to fully red again over a 7 day period. Any Lunar Common Magic and all spells from Lunar Divine cults and Lunar Sorcery are affected by this cycle:
Moon Phase Magnitude
Multiplier
Black Moon X0.5
Crescent Moon X0.8
Empty Half X1.0
Full Moon X1.3
Full Half X1.0
Crescent Moon X0.8
Dying Moon X0.5
The magnitude of all Lunar magic is multiplied by the above multiplier on the day of the particular moon phase. This counts for all Lunar Common Magic, Lunar Divine Magic and Sorcery from Lunar Sorcery schools. Within the Glowline, all Lunar Magic is treated as if the Red Moon were in its Full Moon phase.

Why Go Lunar?

Even outside of the Glowline, there are compelling reasons to study Lunar magic. First, since Sedenyic Philosophy governs the use of Lunar Common and Divine Magic, advancement in the unified Lunar magical teachings is often faster. Secondly, for individuals who decide to undergo the harrowing path of Sevening, Lunar Illumination gives a unified understanding of the All which aids in the practice of Lunar magic, enabling ease of attaining and understanding all Healed powers, making Lunars versatile and powerful magicians. This can also be very powerful in Heroquesting, as Lunar magic always counts as native to whatever Otherworld the Lunar is visiting. This is the case for Sevened and non-Illuminated Lunar Magicians.