Jonstown Jottings #25: Dolorous Edd

Much like the Miskatonic Repository for Call of Cthulhu, Seventh Edition, the Jonstown Compendium is a curated platform for user-made content, but for material set in Greg Stafford’s mythic universe of Glorantha. It enables creators to sell their own original content for RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha and HeroQuest Glorantha (Questworlds). This can include original scenarios, background material, cults, mythology, details of NPCs and monsters, and so on, but none of this content should be considered to be ‘canon’, but rather fall under ‘Your Glorantha Will Vary’. This means that there is still scope for the authors to create interesting and useful content that others can bring to their Glorantha-set campaigns.

—oOo—

What is it?
Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd presents an odd, even whimsical creature for use with RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha.

It is a thirteen-page, full colour, 1.49 MB PDF.

Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd is well presented and decently written.

Where is it set?
Dolorous Edd, the subject of Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd,  can be encountered anywhere in Dragon Pass, or even in Glorantha.

Who do you play?
Anyone can encounter Dolorous Edd. Hunters might want to track him, Lhankor Mhy might want to clarify know facts about him, and a Shaman might want to dedicate a cult to him!

What do you need?
Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd requires RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha, but RuneQuest – Glorantha Bestiary might be useful. 

What do you get?
Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd details ‘Dolorous Edd’, a singularly strange creature who wanders Dragon Pass seemingly at random and is known to a multitude of different people across the region. He is a tall and looming  beast, long, but with skin wrinkled into folds, tiny feet, and constantly weeping eyes. He is seen watching folk and tends to run—or leap—away if encountered. There are lots of rumours and tales about him, the likelihood being that the Player Characters will know something about him, such that if they do encounter him, they will not be completely unaware of his existence.

As well as providing the full stats and personality of this beast, Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd a rumours table suggesting what both Player Characters and NPCs might know about him (there is much to be learned over a pint), three scenario seeds, a complete description of the cult dedicated to Dolorous Edd, and the folklore about him. Actually, there is no cult devoted to Dolorous Edd—at least not yet. Instead it is up to the Player Characters to do so, especially if one of them is a Shaman. Full details of such a cult is given should a Player Character decide to establish one, including appropriate Rune spells. A good third of Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd is devoted to the folklore surrounding his appearances and activities. If there is an issue with this, it is that it is not really designed to be read by the players, so the Game Master may want to adapt it so should the Player Characters want to do a little more research into Dolorous Edd. That said, the folklore will instead work as inspiration for the Game Master in presenting the rumours related to him and perhaps in creating further encounters with this great, fantastically quaint creature.

Is it worth your time?
Yes—Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd epitomises ‘Your Glorantha Will Vary’ in presenting a “Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie” who may be simply encountered, hunted, be made friends with, a mystery to be uncovered, or even worshiped!
No—Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd is perhaps ‘Your Glorantha Will Vary’ a step too far, a silly creature more Douglas Addams than Greg Stafford.
Maybe—Monster of the Month #7: Dolorous Edd is strange and whimsical, but its weirdness is easy enough to bring to your Glorantha with relatively little preparation.