Confusion alert: are there two different locations in Glorantha named Bullford? One on the RIver of Cradles and the other in Heortland?
This is not unusual; for example, in the UK and Ireland, there are at least 3 different locations named Newcastle, and likely several more that I am unaware of.
I have a map of the Zola Fel valley and it’s there, don’t worry. This Bullford probably isn’t on a lot of other maps, because….well, look at it! It’s not exactly a busy metropolis, is it?
Sorry, I meant there is no Bullford in the Heortland maps I have, There is definately a Bullford on the Zola Fel river in many of maps I have, the most detailed one being the pullout map from the RQ3 River of Cradles supplement. It is also in the maps for Pavis/Big Rubble supplements to RQ2.
The reason that I ask starts with a quote from GtG vol2 p731 “King Broyan had anticipated the Lunar assault, and the Hero and his companions had magically fled Whitewall prior to its fall. On Orlanth’s high holy day, 1621, eleven weeks after the fall of Whitewall, Broyan appeared at Bullford with a household of heroic companions.”
It has never made sense to me that Broyan would appear on the Zola Fel, so far from his followers and powerbase. Given the many real world repetitions of place names, I always assumed that there is another Bullford in Heortland.
In the Draft Glorantha Sourcebook recently made available to 13th Age in Glorantha backers, they reappeared at Bullflood – whether this is a misprint in one or other source or a Gregging is another matter!
KoS 2nd ed. p. 123 (KoS 1st ed. p. 149): “At Orlanth’s High Holy Day, 1621, while the Lunar party was only eleven weeks old, trouble began. King Broyan of the Volsaxi, who had driven off the Crimson Bat and tricked the Lunar priesthood at Whitewall, appeared at the city of Bullflood with a household of heroic companions. They told their tale at the tribal moot there, and at other places throughout the winter. Assassins, troops, and traitors who were sent to dispatch Broyan all failed.”
Just wait for TGtG’s errata, Charles, and it will be corrected!
Kidding aside, there is the Bullflood River in Heortland but no city of Bullflood. However, there is Backford city on the Syphon River as a likelier prospect.
Considering the etymology… bull and ford… the place where the cows and bulls cross the river to get from one side to another. (sounds slightly better than Cowford :p). And, as the tech level is somewhat like our older earth, peoples from different regions didn’t talk to each other a lot (cos, you know, it’s a fair way off…). So, it makes sense to have multiple Bullfords around – as well as many other similar names.
Granted, there’s also the possibility that the ‘Bull’ has a different meaning… and thus, Bullflood may not mean what it might otherwise suggest – especially since there is the StormBull who was prominent in local mythology… the place where the great chaos-killer brought down the waters to wipe out a band of evil chaotic creatures???
Red flare! Lunar magic incoming?
It is fun watching this scenario play by the numbers.
You continue to blow my mind! Thanks.
RAMMING SPEED!
Confusion alert: are there two different locations in Glorantha named Bullford? One on the RIver of Cradles and the other in Heortland?
This is not unusual; for example, in the UK and Ireland, there are at least 3 different locations named Newcastle, and likely several more that I am unaware of.
There is a Backford in the Heortland, I don’t see a Bullford on any of the Glorantha materials I have in that area.
I have a map of the Zola Fel valley and it’s there, don’t worry. This Bullford probably isn’t on a lot of other maps, because….well, look at it! It’s not exactly a busy metropolis, is it?
Sorry, I meant there is no Bullford in the Heortland maps I have, There is definately a Bullford on the Zola Fel river in many of maps I have, the most detailed one being the pullout map from the RQ3 River of Cradles supplement. It is also in the maps for Pavis/Big Rubble supplements to RQ2.
The reason that I ask starts with a quote from GtG vol2 p731 “King Broyan had anticipated the Lunar assault, and the Hero and his companions had magically fled Whitewall prior to its fall. On Orlanth’s high holy day, 1621, eleven weeks after the fall of Whitewall, Broyan appeared at Bullford with a household of heroic companions.”
It has never made sense to me that Broyan would appear on the Zola Fel, so far from his followers and powerbase. Given the many real world repetitions of place names, I always assumed that there is another Bullford in Heortland.
In the Draft Glorantha Sourcebook recently made available to 13th Age in Glorantha backers, they reappeared at Bullflood – whether this is a misprint in one or other source or a Gregging is another matter!
Tim, great spot!
Charles – It may be that Bullford in Heortland is somewhere along the Bullflood River.
KoS 2nd ed. p. 123 (KoS 1st ed. p. 149): “At Orlanth’s High Holy Day, 1621, while the Lunar party was only eleven weeks old, trouble began. King Broyan of the Volsaxi, who had driven off the Crimson Bat and tricked the Lunar priesthood at Whitewall, appeared at the city of Bullflood with a household of heroic companions. They told their tale at the tribal moot there, and at other places throughout the winter. Assassins, troops, and traitors who were sent to dispatch Broyan all failed.”
Just wait for TGtG’s errata, Charles, and it will be corrected!
Kidding aside, there is the Bullflood River in Heortland but no city of Bullflood. However, there is Backford city on the Syphon River as a likelier prospect.
Considering the etymology… bull and ford… the place where the cows and bulls cross the river to get from one side to another. (sounds slightly better than Cowford :p). And, as the tech level is somewhat like our older earth, peoples from different regions didn’t talk to each other a lot (cos, you know, it’s a fair way off…). So, it makes sense to have multiple Bullfords around – as well as many other similar names.
Granted, there’s also the possibility that the ‘Bull’ has a different meaning… and thus, Bullflood may not mean what it might otherwise suggest – especially since there is the StormBull who was prominent in local mythology… the place where the great chaos-killer brought down the waters to wipe out a band of evil chaotic creatures???
Sounds like a good place to put a university.