Orlanthi women?

From: Jane Williams <janewill_at_mail.nildram.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 20:21:13 +0000


Jeff Richard said:
> I personally am uncertain whether women can directly initiate
>into the cult of Orlanth the Thunderer.

One bit of evidence in favour: I don't like it, but it exists. The Sartar High Council scenario in Wyrms Footprints shows the various "faces" of Orlanth represented, and has Kallyr Starbrow in the Thunderous slot. No, not Adventurous (=Vinga). Thunderous. I think we can conclude from this that she is at least a Thunderous initate, more likely considerably higher rank. (Stated as priest, in fact). And since she's female, it must be possible for women to join Thunderous. Unusual, yes, but possible.

Persoanlly I think the whole question of which aspects of Orlanth women can join has to depend on how you divide the cult up to start with, and that in itself will vary with location and date.

As a very general principle, I'd say that there are only gender restrictions on a cult when the main purpose of the cult is somehow tied to either male potency or female fertility. So Orlanth the Father, the ultimate clan ancestor, the main-stream cult: no. But if Thunderous is separate from this, then sure, why not? Similarly if you look at the adventures of Orlanth Adventurous and conclude that many of them are about attempting to seduce every goddess in reach, then women can't join Adventurous either. (But they can join Vinga: same powers, but without the Seducer aspect and with a few "protecting women" additions).

Does this make any sense? I have problems going from this theory to the position of Yelmalio in Sun County, and the undoubted presence of a Light Lady: my get-out is that she is a Light Lady, not a Light Priest, and Yelmalio still has two aspects. (Also, she seems to be barren, which would fit).

Jane Williams                        jane_at_williams.nildram.co.uk
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~janewill/index.shtml

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