Re: How much do gods know?

From: Kevin Rose <vladt_at_interaccess.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 12:21:46 -0600 (CST)

Gazza asked about this. The best answer I have seen was in a wyrm's footprints acticle by Greg. I would find it, but it is now hidden somewhere in "Kevin's house of boxes and dropcloths". Basically it said that a god does not have a really solid link to the mind of an initiate. A Rune Level is another matter,and he does have a permenent link. But Gods don't understand humans, so the only thing that they can really tell is if a Rune level has lost faith in him or has comiited some sort of major violation of the rules (which is also a faith based thing.)

This is the mechanic that allows the Orlanthi 1st age pyramid scheme to occur. The Priest, whose name I can't remember was worshiping Orlanth faithfully and loyaly. It just wasn't the way it used to work, which Harmast eneded up having to resolve himself.

This mechanic also allows organizations that have single leading people (Humakt, Sturm Bull, Yelorna) who are rune levels to pretty much run the show in any way that they want. They just have to respect the basic ideas of the god, modification to non-core activities are fine. To quote Greg: "If you are a Humakti you have to be willing to kill and you have to be willing to die. Everything else is cultural."

Kevin

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End of The Glorantha Digest V7 #163

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