An Overview of the Baklunish Pantheon

Inspirobot knows that the most important gods are the ones everyone else is worshipping.

Hello, dungeon friends!  Today, an overview and quick reference guide to the Baklunish pantheon for explorers in the West.  These are 'major' cults of note that are unique to the heritage of the western Flanaess. 

It should be noted that these are not the only cults that will show up, as other deities and cults from the Flanaess are shared throughout.  That said, it can be observed that the Baklunish do not readily take on foreign cults.  This probably stems from their cultural distinctions and how they view their own pantheon.

The Baklunish folk of the West are a separate people from the folk of the rest of the Flanaess.  They have many practices that might cause foreigners to balk.  Their society is ancient, and their culture has had many centuries to develop.

The universe to these people is a constant clashing of opposed forces.  In life, one can either ally themselves with such forces or seek peace and attempt to be totally apart from the world.  The world is one of dualities, and each has their conflict.  This is reflected even in their practice of magic, which is rooted in arcane principles and manipulation of fundamental forces.  The elements are seen as the domain of genies, and to seek allegiance with such is to seek conflict.

And so it goes that their gods tend to be impersonal, representing clashing forces.  They are more akin to ideas rather than personified characters.   These more powerful beings do have dedicated worshippers and temples, but they are not always so prevalent in people's lives.

Rather, the Prophets of the Baklunish people have a more direct role in day to day life.  These mortal champions each achieved a divine wisdom, and now provide and direct a path to divinity for others to follow.  The Prophets are powerful demigods and hero-deities, subservient to the more powerful gods but more prevalent in the culture of the West.

The Baklunish Deities

• Istus
• The primary and most powerful deity of the Baklunish West.
• Geshtai
• Daughter of Istus, Protector of Waters.  Represents conservation and fertility. Opposes Sevelkhar.
• Sevelkhar
• Son of Istus, Bringer of Waste.  Represents drought and loss.  Opposes Geshtai.
• Al-Zarad
• Alias of Boccob the Uncaring.  Represents understanding and planning.  Opposes Ralishaz.
• Ralishaz
• Master of Misfortune and Chaos.  Represents bad luck and all things F.U.B.A.R.  Opposes Al-Zarad.
• Al-Asran
• Alias of Pelor the Sun-Father.  Represents life and light.  Opposes Tharoth.
• Tharoth the Reaper
• Alias of the Death God Nerull.  Represents darkness and death.  Opposes Al-Asran.

The Baklunish Prophets

• Al'Akbar
• How to be the best lawful good cleric or paladin.
• The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar are powerful and famous artifacts.
• Azor'alq
• How to be the best lawful good warrior. 
• Dwells on the Prime Material Plane at the Pinnacles of Azor'alq.
• Daoud
• How to best maintain humility and also get with the understanding.
• Mouqol
• How to be the best merchant and trade the best goods.
• Xan Yae
• How to be the best rogue, ninja or psychic.
• Dwells in the ACTUAL Tower of Iron Will.
• Zuoken
• How to be the best kung-fu monk.
• Disappeared? (As of 505 C.Y. / 3165 hegira)

To the Moon! [Finale]

The following is from GameDoc's session summary posted in our private social media.  Traveller has been super fun, and I have to say that Dr. Mondocane (if that is his real name!) has been one of my favorite characters of all time to play.  This was a fun adventure with a great group and I (for one) am looking forward to his future Travels through space...

* Welcome, Traveller... Campaign Page *

The crew descend to the lowest level of the facility and discover the command center, manned by a new version of the cyber-organic Essersy creatures, these with low-grade telekinetic abilities. 

Sally May is seriously injured in the firefight, but the crew emerges victorious. Klaes is able to restore the manual flight controls for the Esseray transport so that the human prisoners can reruns to Tinath. The other sabotage the drone fighter craft being assembled at the facility before boarding the Kingfisher and departing the moon.

FOMO Has Got to Go

Inspirobot will analyze and select the best market strategy for your collapsing integrity.

So, just a while after I spoke about Blackstone Fortress and the market strategy, Games Workshop seems to have taken everything I said to heart. 

Warhammer Quest: Cursed City was open for pre-order April 3 of this year.  As of April 28, it is completely gone and is never coming back.  It's not on the GW webstore, and all records of it ever existing have been expunged.

Recently it's been determined that Cursed City will not ever get a reprint.  It wasn't ever mentioned that this was a limited release, and essentially if you don't have one you won't get one unless you pay scalper prices.  Based on what we've come to expect from Warhammer Quest games, this is definitely a step up on the FOMO game as GW has shown us the don't care what anyone thinks about anything they do, or don't do, or how they do (or don't) do it.

No reprint?  What?  Why would they develop an entirely new game system only to be done after one print run?  Again, this is a Warhammer Quest game and it came with certain expectations, such as support from the parent company.  Expansions and you know - remaining in print long enough for people to buy it. 

The pre-order itself was sold out in around 2 hours, so what bean-counter at GW was responsible for the decision to halt reprint manufacturing ALTOGETHER?  Not a delay, simply no reprints.  Cursed City is gone forever.

Is GW's capital down?  Are there manufacturing issues?  They haven't said anything about it, so one is left to assume that this is all on purpose and GW will be catering to the FOMO market from here on out.  I don't blame them really.  

With 3d printing getting better and better, as a company they are going to have to start offering something other than hastily written and janky rules and overpriced plastic.  The answer, they seem to believe, is making the plastic even more limited.  Probably so they can all scalp on the secondary market.

The FOMO Market Creation was something I only thought existed when I spoke about GW's practices, but it appears that it is not only very real, but that's what all of these will be targeted at from now on.  It's official.  Games Workshop games are only for scalpers and collector fanboys only.

...but mostly scalpers.

Fanboys will gawk at limited edition releases more and more as GW attempts to regain relevance.  It's hard to watch, but instead of leading the pack of game companies as the renowned rules and model makers they were, GW has decided to become the ultra niche-market of the already niche-market.

I wasn't going to buy Cursed City anyway.

I hate anything Age of Sigmar related with an irrationality that could only be born of the oldest neckbeardia.  It's just not gonna happen.  Call me when the Old World drops.  Maybe.  Honestly we don't NEED GW anymore and other gamers are starting to figure that out, mostly due to their questionable practices and policies.  Plus there's just better stuff out there.

...but I'm gonna scalp the hell out of the next boxed set, baby.  Pre-order 10 of the next set and wait 3 weeks.  Then double the price and stick it on Ebay.  After 6 months and every 6 months thereafter, add the boxed set's price.  Once it's gone too big and you need to lose the stock, break the remaining ones open and sell the components at a huge markup.

You can't lose with that strategy now that GW is a non-trusted entity.  Invest!  Buy!  Sell!

Capitalism!