Cadbroch is the main jumping off point and base for my players in my game of Runequest. I made it up and placed it within the Empire of the Wyrms’ Friends near the border, just off a trade route and in Orlanthi cultural lands. Because I made it up and I don’t want to fall foul of those who know where all the settlements are in the Empire I am going to leave it up to you where you want to place it. Perhaps one of the luminaries in the world of Gloranthan gaming will one day tell me where they think it ought to be.

I’ve played quite a few games set here but never really wrote it down: I’m one of those "wing it" type GMs. But it has developed and now I know quite a lot about it. I hope it may be of interest to you.

Obviously My Game May Vary from the official line. This site does not intend to challenge orthodoxy, but in some cases it obviously will. For example, I have used what little we know about the development of towns during and after the iron age in Europe to describe the change in society from a tribal one to a commercial, fledgling state. As far as I know not a lot has been written about the socio-political environment of Orlanthi towns in the EWF so I hope I’m not going to tread on anyone’s toes. As for the Gloranthan history we do know, I’m going to use the excellent Glorantha the Second Age and History of the Heortling Peoples as reference material.

Because I haven’t actually written anything down I’m going to write stuff about it bit by bit, much like a blog.

Posted 29 Mar 2008

Introduction:

Cadbroch is a town in the Empire of the Wyrms’ Friends and its name means Round Tower of the Cadinga Clan. It was once a clan stead that grew so much in importance in trade and crafts it eclipsed its entire clan and gained a kind of independent life that was very different than that of a clan or stead. It rapidly grew and became important to the economy of the region. Several roads lead to the town and all of them are often busy with traffic.

Its economy is based on manufacturing: the mining and working of bronze, soapstone crafts, leatherworking, sagecraft (often divination) and on trade. It has two markets a week and several shops.

It is governed by its two Town Rieves (mayor) who are elected by the Town’s Ring (council). The Town Rieves are meant to obey their Town’s Ring but they must increasingly obey the Draconic Priesthood who, under the aegis of the Empire, attempt to transform the town into one more pleasing to the Dragon-Yet-To-Come. The priesthood is also attempting to gain seats on the Ring and have its priesthood preside over common justice. The results of these attempts are leading to social unrest.

Social organisation very often comes down to: who do you go to for instructions in an emergency?. For the average Cadbroch inhabitant that means his priest, a member of the Ring (who are often well known figures), a Town Rieve (who are well known), to a Cottar Band Hall (which I will describe next), to your kin or to one of the "military units" in the town (of which there are three).

Hero Bands are the correct term for what in Cadbroch is called a Cottar Band because they are made up almost exclusively of people in the cottar class. Migrant labour drawn to the growing workshops of Cadbroch found themselves without access to even basic justice because they were strangers in another clan. Cottar Bands existed elsewhere so they were relatively easy to establish. By joining a Cottar Band you establish a relationship to the town: effectively in law the Cottar Band is a bloodline of the town’s clan. Joining a Cottar Band is the main method for a stranger to be allowed to live in the town, itinerants who cannot establish a relationship or are not there to spend lots of money are driven out.

The Cottar Band is an association of people who work in a particular craft who use the organisation to better their situation, to lobby for concessions for their craft and generally protect and represent themselves. Because of their importance in the creation of the town’s wealth they have seats on the Town’s Ring. In the north they are called guilds.

There is no police force or watch in the town, such things are too expensive. If you are abused by your neighbour you don’t call the police you sort it out yourself or sue them in court. If there is a fire or a murder takes place, by law you must raise a "hue and cry". The nearest thing to a police force in the town are the three armed units which protect the town walls, its Ring and the Temple Enclosure. The Apprentice Boys or Nightwatch, armed with shield and spear, man the walls at night and are levied by the Cottar Bands from amongst their young men. They also look out for fires in the town. Any arsonists or other dangerous maniacs they come across get locked in the gatehouse shed until the morning. There are no prisons at all only back rooms with locked doors where criminals are held until they are taken to someone in authority the next day.

During the day the walls are protected by the Iron Housecarls who are well trained and well armed with chainmail byrnies and long axes. They swear to defend the Town’s Ring and the town itself. They are an elite unit which has a fierce rivalry with the Zorse Thanes who guard the Temple Enclosure and priesthood. Increased political skullduggery has led to the odd duel of honour behind inns and small "misunderstandings" involving missing teeth and sliced off limbs. The Ring and the priesthood are vying for political control and this tension is increasingly being played out by these two armed units.

Such tensions may remind the GM of the vying of Old Ways Traditionalist against the EWF. In many ways the Town’s Ring represents the old ways of justice and decision making but that’s where the similarity ends. Nearly everyone pays at least lip service to the dragon religion, this is about politics not religion.

Posted 31 Mar 2008

Justice

Committing crimes against religion (blasphemy) will bring you before the Temple Court. Committing a crime against the town (treason, arson) will bring you before the Town Court. Only these two have corporate or capital punishment. Petty theft in the market will bring you to the attention of the Market Court where you can expect a fine. Should your name be pinned to the wall of the inn within which the court meets you may be tried and sent to the Town Court to have your hand cut off or to be branded.

These courts deal with crimes against society. Should you have a personal dispute with someone then you must complain to the association or bloodline of which that person is a member. A Cottar Band (guild) may hold a tribunal and may offer compensation to the aggrieved party (fining the defendant). If that is not accepted both parties must appear before the town moot and appeal to the rieves. Should both parties belong to the same bloodline or Cottar Band then the decision of that group is binding on both parties.

The sort of complaint that this process involves include: property disputes, libel, harassment, petty theft, reneging on a deal, neighbours livestock eating your washing, etc.

Oh God, Cadbroch doesn’t have lawyers does it?

It has jurors or oathsmiths who are well respected people who hold the position formally through their association or by local acclaim. There is one or two on every street. They have the power to bully people to attend their own inquests to hear and give evidence should a complaint be made. If they come to the conclusion that a complaint is a genuine complaint then they will go to the association of the defendant and demand compensation. If it is a "crime against society" or religion then the juror will demand the defendant be handed over to the town court or to the temple court, respectively. If a juror refuses to help he who is complaining then it will be very hard for him to continue in his complaint. If his own people don’t believe him why should anyone else.

The Orlanthi believe that "violence is always an option" don’t they?

The closer the relationship between the parties the closer violence becomes kinstrife. Kinstrife causes a curse to fall on the whole community big or small. Cottar Bands are legally bloodlines in the town’s "clan". Families that reside in the town that have no established link to the town (ie, migrant workers) are not legally bloodlines of the town. They will however have a "kin relationship" (and therefore access to justice) by joining a cottar band, being servants or guests of someone who is a member of the town’s "clan" or by being residing priests or functionaries of the temples. Notable personalities and those who have been useful to the town are adopted into one of the town’s real bloodlines.

Violence between a cottar band member of long and good standing, and a man related by blood to the town will be kinstrife and cause a curse to fall on the town. A new cottar band member and a town thane fighting will cause a lesser curse. A town thane attacking the servant of a new cottar band member will cause only a minor curse. A new cottar band member fighting a new temple acolyte is hardly going to stir the otherworld’s natural order.

In all ways you should look at a town as a type of clan whose integral nature is disturbed by so many residents who are not related by birth. So yes, violence between those who have yet to establish a strong link with the community is possible without bringing calamity upon the community. These people at any time in any legal proceedings may demand the right of trial by combat. Both sides may choose a willing champion to represent them.

A list of capital offences in Cadbroch:

1.Practising the old religion in public is punishable by crucifixion.

2.Opening the gates of the town to an enemy is punishable by beheading and exposure on the walls.

3.Worship of the town wyter, now banished, is old religion punishable by crucifixion.

4.Setting a fire with the purpose of harming persons or property is punishable by being burnt alive.

5.Tarnishing the reputation of good religion is punishable by being buried alive.

6.Secret murder is also an attack on the town’s peace and is punishable by crucifixion.