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, 13th Age 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.
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It is a sixteen page, full colour, 2.14 MB PDF.
The layout is clean and tidy. Both artwork and cartography are decent.
Where is it set?
A Lamp for Esrola is set in the Holy Country, beginning in Nochet and taking the Player Characters to the Shadow Plateau and back again.
Who do you play?
There are no requirements or suggestions for the Player Characters to play A Lamp for Esrola, but an Issaries worshipper or a Player Character with good interaction skills will be useful. Player Characters with the Passion, Hate (Trolls) may be at a disadvantage.
What do you get?A Lamp for Esrola is a simple ‘fetch and carry’ mission. It begins in Nochet with the Player Characters tasked with retrieving a set of the Tears of the Only Old One which hold the secrets of Light and Darkness and are the source of eternal light. These are required as part of the rebuilding and rededication ceremony for the new Temple of Esrola, the old one having been destroyed during the Siege of Nochet. This requires them to travel to the Shadow Plateau, home to the Trolls in the region. Several routes to the Shadow Plateau are given, as are several means of obtaining the Tears of the Only Old One, including theft, violence, and negotiation. The Player Characters can use any method that they want. The most likely methods will cost the Player Characters a great deal of money, but with careful bargaining the price can be brought down. The Player Characters and the Temple of Esrola are not the only ones interested in the Tears of the Only Old One and they are likely to have a fight on their hands.
If the scenario is played as written, the Player Characters will be able to bring the Tears of the Only Old One back to the temple and participate in the ceremony. They will be very well rewarded, including with a magical sword!
In addition to describing the magical sword, the scenario includes the details of Fufluns, the grandson of Esrola, the Jolly Fat Man known as a reveller, brewer, and host. His cult is also detailed enabling the Player Characters to become members if necessary. Also given is the Courtesan skill.
Is it worth your time?
Yes—A Lamp for Esrola is an entertaining scenario suitable for a campaign set in Esrolia which gets the Player Characters involved with the Trolls.
No—A Lamp for Esrola is too location specific and the Game Master’s campaign may not have yet reached Esrolia.
Maybe—A Lamp for Esrola can be adjusted to anywhere where there may be Trolls and the Cult of Esrola wants to establish a new temple.
Thank you. I chose Nochet because the horizons of players can only be helped by exploring new areas and cultures. Glorantha is a fascinating world that needs more exploration. You are quite correct though that it can be moved to any location with an Ernalda temple.. I honestly appreciate your review.
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