There is nothing “beginner” about The Smoking Ruin & Other Tales (2020). This book offers, the sort of BIG adventures I associate with classic RuneQuest. That isn’t to say they all shake the earth, but rather that they make you feel connected to a larger, more mysterious tapestry of existence, even if you are just poking around a cave or helping some traders. Much of that comes, in play, from preparation, so be prepared to prepare here.

The scenarios all involve the South Wilds of Sartar, a largely unsettled region now in flux as various parties take interest in it. The adventures act as a sort of playable sourcebook — by the end, players will feel like this is their backyard. The source material supports three adventures. The titular one is the longest and most elaborate, involving some important facets of Glorantha’s history (the initial goal is to find a lost temple that was the site of the wedding between the storm god Orlanth and the earth goddess Ernalda) but also gives the players the chance to right a long uncorrected wrong. The climax is a tricky one, requiring players to decide where they stand on a sensitive issue, with time, lives and the fulfillment of their initial quest all on the line. I think this quandary, which hearkens to a long-established theme in Glorantha of the self vs. the collective is super interesting and makes for an unusually emotional ending. On the other hand, I think it pulls against a lot of player expectation and might leave folks at the table feeling raw.

The other two adventures are equally great and probably less divisive. One involves rooting out raiders and saving one of the most otherworldly-seeming mages I’ve encountered in a long while — it also gives players a taste of HeroQuesting. The other is an unusual scenario in which they help elves establish a sanctuary, and it requires the characters return every season to defend it. This is such a unique premise, I’ll gladly forgive it for being so combat-heavy.