In this turn-based strategy game, based on the role-playing game Rune Quest, you take control of a clan of Orlanthi (somewhat resembling iron age Scandinavians) in the magical world of Glorantha. Yours and many other clans have recently migrated to Dragon Pass, a rich and fertile yet vastly unexplored valley. You try to survive and thrive in this environment however you can, your basic means being crops, livestock, hunting, trade, war and exploration. You can raid or fight the other Orlanthi clans, trade and ally with them and explore the wilderness around you. As resources you have the land you live on, goods your craftsmen create, rare commodities that can be found via exploration as well as horses, cattle, sheep and pigs. Your clan consists of trained warriors, artisans and farmers.
The game is split into five seasons each generally allowing the player two actions, but also restricting them: Exploration during the dark season is not advisable and your clan will usually refuse to wage war during harvest time. Additionally you will be presented with many random events which will force you to make decisions. Every decision has its consequences and even the most trivial choice will have repercussions over time.
The clan is ruled by a Council of seven that advises the player on most decisions. The council is chosen from a group of potential candidates (basically your nobility); Picking your councilmen and -women according to their abilities and the gods they worship is crucial. Just as crucial is determining who to listen to in a given situation. A great warrior may not be a good advisor on trade and diplomacy, just as a healer may not be adept at matters of war. If a council member causes too much trouble you may have to remove or even outlaw him or her. There are other reasons for reorganizing the council, the most obvious one being the death of a member.
Goals of the game, other than mere survival and building a strong, rich clan, are relearning and reenacting all the myths of your gods (called performing a heroquest), forming a tribe from several clans and eventually uniting all tribes into a Kingdom under your leadership.
The game consists entirely of still images and selection screens, with a considerable amount of storytelling, requiring the player to read quite a bit. Player interaction is mostly limited to choosing by point and click.
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