Poonin
Trollkin Liberation Cult
History
Before Time
Poonin did not exist then!
Since Time
Trollkin came into existence as a result of a curse on the Trolls by their victims for refusing to fight Chaos at the end of the Second Darkness. For a while the Trollkin were subjected to ruthless persecution by Stygia and Zorak Zoran in an attempt to eliminate the symptoms of the curse. When this failed, Trollkin were used as menials and as cannon-fodder in battles, always kept firmly subjugated by their larger kin.
Then, 250 years after the curse, was born a Trollkin of a different mould. His name was Poonin and has gone down in history as an heroic liberator of the Trollkin of razor-sharp intelligence. He strove to form the nucleus of a cult that would fight to liberate the Trollkin from their oppressive kin. He made several Heroquests before finally achieving deification. Since then the Trollkin have fought their war virtually unaided.
Life After Death
Poonin teaches that the spirits of the Trollkin cannot rest until Troll oppression is ended. Until then all Trollkin will immediately return to the world as newborn Trollkin. Under this philosophy, Trollkin can be resurrected (if they can get it!) and can use death divints.
Runic Associations
Poonin expresses the plight of the Trollkin as Darkness-Man (Troll) acted upon and acting through Fate.
Nature Of The Cult
The cult exists purely to liberate Trollkin - as long as anyone oppresses the Trollkin, then Poonin has a purpose and a reason to exist.
Socio-Political Position And Power
Very little of either!
Particular Likes And Dislikes
The cult is hampered by the fact that all Troll-haters view Trollkin as Trolls, and that Trolls view Trollkin as a perversion. The cult hates Zorak Zoran and is hostile towards Stygia. Only Xenoiré has shown any friendship to the Trollkin. Moonbeak is feared as are most anti-darkness cults. Poonin is neutral to all other cults and races but individuals are always most distrustful of any strangers. Chaos is not distrusted any more than the lawful cults.
Organization
Poonin is organized into small, nomadic guerrilla bands living a hard existence away from civilization and frequently near their lesser brethren who miss no opportunity to hunt them down. All bands have at least one Runelord and Runepriest, but beyond this, organization just does not exist. The only centres of power are the persons of the Runelevels, the only holy places are the tribal hearths which are erected wherever a band camps for the day. Life is squalid in these camps, there are no luxuries and very few necessities. Occasionally some humans with more social conscience than sense join the cult, but these are rare and usually not much help. The trollkin in any case feel that they must win by themselves - which is just as well!
Holy Days And High Holy Days
Holy days are celebrated as per the Tribal cults, i.e. the priests take the omens at nightfall and declare whether the day should be considered unusual. Also, each nightfall every cultist offers up a point of power in thanksgiving for the end of another day. There is a POW×5% chance that this is reflected back to them. The High Holy Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Poonin's deification on Freezeday, Truth week, Storm season.
Lay Membership
Any Trollkin may join who can find a Poonin band to join. For Trollkin this is not difficult as any Trollkin who runs away will probably run into a band before long. Roll D100 per season - (POW+INT)×3% to succeed. Failure means another season wandering lost, alone and starving causing a permanent loss of 1 CON point per season. Fumble causes death by misadventure. Humans, Baboons, Goatmen and Ogres are all allowed to join, but at CHA−10 on a test of (INT+CHA)×5⁄2%. Lay members will be taught the weapon skills of 1h spear, 1 or 2h battle axe, javelin, sling, medium shield, one to 50% plus bonuses and all others to 30% plus bonuses for free. They also learn 3 of camouflage, move quietly, hide in cover, listen and spot hidden to 50% plus bonuses and all the others to 30%+. They are taught the battle magic spell of disruption. Lay members can gain no further training due to the demands upon the other cultists.
Initiate Membership
When a lay member has attained 50% in two weapon attacks and parries they may initiate. They must have proved themselves in fighting for the band. They are initiated in a special ceremony by the Runepriest, during which the Trollkin gains the gifts of +1d6 INT and racial maximum of 24, and the racial maximum for POW rises to 21.
Initiates can get ½-price training in cult weapons and free training in move quietly and hide in cover, ½-price training in other cult skills and normal price training in all other weapons. The battle magic is very limited and is confined to free speedart and ½-price bladesharp and healing. Full price is charged for darkwall, detection blank, harmonize, mobility, multimissile and protection, but not all of these may be available in every band as the Runelevels may not know them. However, cultists are expected to seek training in other bands and frequently visit civilization in search of further training and spells. Due to the paucity of amenities, Poonin is probably more dedicated to Questing than any other cult. Even lay members have been known to quest after spells and abilities - to help them do this initiates are allowed access to reusable cult Runemagic including summon small and medium elemental and the reusable spell Pass-spell on a non-reusable basis.
Runelord Membership
To become a Runelord of Poonin the candidate must have 90% attack and parry in two cult weapons and three cult skills. All other cult weapons and skills must be at least 75%. The candidate must also have at least 15 POW. They must swear never to allow any Trollkin to bear the yoke of Zorak Zorani oppression. They are under obligation both to carry the fight for liberation to the enemy and to procure new skills and spells for their band. They have access to all the usual benefits of being a Runelord save that, like any Troll, they cannot use iron. It is practically impossible for a Trollkin to get his hands on the customary lead armour as even if he defeats a Zorak Zoran or Stygia Runelord, he probably could not get it made to fit him! Poonin Runelords are regarded as a bit of a joke by other cults, but as they can have access to some very exotic Runemagic via the cult spells and in combat, they can be as skilled as any other Runelord.
Runepriesthood
Nowhere does the poverty of the cult show more clearly than in its Runepriests. They lack almost all the standard Runespells and have to trade their own Cult Special and Associate Runespells for the spells of other cults. Poonin Runepriests are not proud and will trade with virtually any other cult, even those rooted in the Chaos rune.
To qualify, an applicant must have 18+ POW, there are no other requirements. They are expected to gain as much varied Runemagic and battle magic as possible. In particular they must get healing 6 within one year of qualifying or else they are expelled from the cult.
Runespell Compatibility
Runepriests can summon small shades and can sacrifice for Dismiss Elemental 1, 2 & 3, Divination, Divine Intervention and Spell Teaching. These are supplemented by the following Cult Special Runespells:
Cult Special Runespells
One Point Spells
Create Skeleton Range touch; Duration permanent; Non-stackable; Reusable.
Used to animate the bones of a dead body with a limit of competence of DEX×5% or the victims skill level, whichever is the less.
Darksee Range 160m; Duration 15mins; Non-stackable; Reusable.
Allows creatures used to daylight to see in darkness and vice versa. It negates the effects of the Blinding spell and the effect of sunlight on
Trollkin and Cave Trolls.
Pass-spell: Range touch; Duration instant; Stackable (no limit); Reusable.
Allows instant passing of battle magic between caster and one person. One spell may be passed each (or only one way), with points not exceeding the
stacking of the spell. The battle magic spells are lost to their donors. Both sides must be willing to cast the spells, but the Trollkin are not
averse to coercing a captive into giving a spell free in return for his life. Roll d100 for each spell - 96-100 means the spell is not transferred.
Spell Trading 1 Range touch; Duration instant; Non-stackable; Reusable.
As for Pass-spell, but works for Runespells. All spells traded must be reusable.
Two Point Spells
Create Zombie Range touch; Duration permanent; Non-stackable; Reusable.
Can be used to create a zombie out of a newly slain corpse. The zombie operates at DEX×5% or at the victim's skill level, whichever is the lower.
Face Fear Range 160m; Duration 15mins; Non-stackable; Reusable.
Confers immunity to any morale attack (e.g. Demoralize, Shade fear shock etc.)
Spell Trading 2 Range touch; Duration instant; Non-stackable; Reusable.
As Spell Trading 1 except 1 and 2 point spells may be traded.
Three Point Spells
Initiate Range consecrated area; Duration instant; Non-stackable; Reusable.
This spell is cast on the cults High Holy Day to initiate the new members. All prospective initiates must be within a 10m by 10m area in front of the
Hearth. For each candidate roll d100: for Trollkin acceptance occurs on 1-95, for non-trollkin on a 1-25. Trollkin may reapply, non-Trollkin may not.
All Runepriests are expected to sacrifice for this Runespell with their first 3 point raise.
Subservient Cults
Spirit of Reprisal
Poonin has no set spirit of reprisal, but all Runemagics will become non-reusable and Poonins gifts will be withdrawn. Thus all initiates (even non-Trollkin) will lose 1d6 INT and their racial maximum POW will fall to 14. Ex-members can reinitiate unless they are adjudged unworthy in which case they are killed.
Associate Cults
Xenoiré
The only cult to offer Poonin any aid, the gentle healer goddess has always tended the trollkin with love and affection. She alone of all the Troll cults is not hated by Poonin. She disagrees with his methods, but out of sympathy for his ideal she offers the following Runespell:
Regeneration: range touch; Duration instant; Non-stackable; Reusable. 2pts.
Causes the recipient to begin healing any damage short of a dismembered limb by regenerating at the rate of 1 hit point per turn. It can be used to
regenerate limbs, but only at the cost of the spells reusability. This is a very common spell to be used in trading.
No Xenoiré cultist will ever refuse healing to a Trollkin though no cultist will trade spells with a Poonin cultist.
Miscellaneous Notes
Poonin believes that its initiates and Runelevels should wander far and wide in search of spells to trade for and Trolls to kill. Their favourite tactic is ambush as most Trollkin cannot face Trolls on equal terms. Trollkin, it must be remembered, still act very Trollish and much of their behaviour civilization finds execrable.
Allied spirits are (unusually) placed in a form of giant spider found in some dark forests where few sentient creatures save Trollkin ever venture. These have the following characteristics:
| STR | CON | SIZ | POW | DEX | Bite | Damage | Move |
| d4+2 | 3d6 | 2d3 | 3d6 | 2d6+6 | DEX×5% | d4 | 2 (leap 1m) |
If the bite penetrates the victims armour, then a systemic venom of potency equal to the spiders CON is injected. These spiders are large, jumping spiders that actively hunt small animals as prey. They have the skills of move quietly, hide in cover and camouflage at DEX×5%. They do not spin webs.