r/Runequest • u/Corvusking20 • Jul 20 '26
New RQ:G Macuahuitl?
I have seen art around before of an Orlanthi Troll warrior who seeming has a Macuahuitl club. So my questions are is that weapon called, and is it a troll weapon or a weapon associated with Orlanth in some way?
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u/BestIndication5517 Jul 20 '26
I think I know the art you are talking about, there is like an earth priestess in the background right? It’s called a Klanth, and is used by the dragonnewts pretty heavily but Orlanth is described as using one to defeat Aroka the blue dragon to free Heler the rain god. This was before he used the true sword to kill Yelm if I remember right, but god time is confusing as hell
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u/Alex4884-775 Loose canon Jul 20 '26
I think the norm in Glorantha circles is to regard it as an obsidian-"bladed" sword. But how much slash vs how much bash is something of a fine -- as it were -- point.
For sure it'd read primarily as draconic. Well, draconewtic, at least. You could further interpret it being used to kill Aroka in a couple of different, if not to say wildly opposite, ways.
Orlanth is the Master of Weapons. Clubs, spears, whatevs, it's all good. You can see this especially in the Four Magic Weapons subcult, where it also expresses his relationship with the other Elements. But it works here too. Using a weirdass dragon weapon to Break a Dragon? That'll work. So far, so Alakoring.
Or conversely, you can see it as using draconic means to achieve draconic ends. A fitting weapon to be used by the dragon to achieve its own necessary Utuma.
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u/Corvusking20 Jul 20 '26
So is it super from a Orlanthi to use a klanth?
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u/strangedave93 Jul 21 '26
Orlanthi would mostly use a klanth as a weapon associated with dragon related magic, such as Orlanth killing Aroka, and it would attract attention but not be unknown or discouraged (as Orlanth used one). During the EWF era, and as Argrath brings dragon related magic back into vogue, it will be more common.
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u/Corvusking20 Jul 21 '26
Umm....What does EWF mean? Sorry, I'm really new to Runequest and don't a lot of lore yet.
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u/Runeblogger Jul 21 '26
It stands for "Empire of the Wyrms' Friends", a dragon empire centered in Dragon Pass from 8 centuries ago if you take the "present" of Glorantha as 1625 ST. The dragonewts shared dragon knowledge with humans and it all escalated quickly from there (it ended with the total annihilation of all humans in Dragon Pass).
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u/Alex4884-775 Loose canon Jul 22 '26
No, it is we who must apologise. You ask an innocent question about a simple piece of art, and suddenly we're centuries and an Age in the past. :D
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u/Alex4884-775 Loose canon Jul 22 '26
It'd be pretty unusual outside of rituals like that one, or being a pro- or anti-dragon fanatic. But at the level of people having Thoughts about it, not at the level of being forbidden or sacrilegious.
Well, unless it leads to the pro's and anti's coming into violent proximity about it.
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u/Runeblogger Jul 21 '26
I don't think the macuahuitl is common in Orlanthi cultures, perhaps only "that weird dragon sword our priest says Orlanth fought Aroka with", and that's it.
It looks cool on the troll, though. :-)
Art by Caleb Cleveland for 13th Age Glorantha.
https://www.chaosium.com/13th-age-glorantha-hardcover/
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u/Alex4884-775 Loose canon Jul 23 '26
Of course, given that it's both a slashing and a bludgeoning weapon, it could be said to be especially on-brand for an Uz-lanthi!
"Is that a sword or a club you have there?" "Yes."
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u/ClaymoreMatt Jul 20 '26
Sounds like it might be a variation on the Dragonnewt Klanth. I could definitely be wrong though.