From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RQ Digest Maintainer)
To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (Daily automated RQ-Digest)
Reply-To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RuneQuest Daily)
Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Sat, 17 Sep 1994, part 2
Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM
Content-Return: Prohibited
Precedence: junk
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From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: Carmanians.
Message-ID: <9409162339.AA01943@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 16 Sep 94 13:39:29 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6250
No matter how hard I try, I just can't see Carmanians as Persians. I
don't care if they are "dualists". They are NOT "dualists" in the
Zoroastorian sense. Zoroastorian dualism emphatically classed the "dark"
as evil and something to be avoided at all costs. It did not worship both
sides of the duality. The reason that the West got all horrified and scared
at it was that it posited that the active good god was equal in power with
the active evil god. Thus, the term "dualism". It did NOT mean that the
Persians worshipped both sides equally.
I get the impression from what I've seen that Carmania is truly dualistic
in its ancient religion. They worshipped deities who united dualistic
opposites into one thing. This would make them very much unlike the Persians
in religious philosophy.
Anyway, I've always seen the Carmanians as Slavs. The aristocracy are
tsarist Russian and the peasantry are Polish.
Some Carmanian Peasant proverbs:
Don't worry about your misfortunes, you'll be dead soon enough.
All shit smells, even the Emperor's.
Things always look darkest before you are jumped upon and robbed.
All men are honest, and I have teeth of gold.
Smile, you won't live forever.
No matter how bad things get, somebody else is happy.
"Hope for the best.
Expect the worst.
The rich are blessed.
The poor are cursed.
You're out of luck, here.
In fact, you're stuck here.
Hope for the best, expect the worst.
I knew a man who'd made a fortune that was splendid,
And he died the very day he planned to spend it,
Shouting, "Live while you're alive!
No one will survive!"
Hope for the best, expect the worst."
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From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: The Basmol Story
Message-ID: <9409170028.AA02774@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 16 Sep 94 14:28:44 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6251
>
>The Death of Basmol
>(as told by a Basmoli woman of Prax)
This story is strange. What is your Pride?
> In the beginning Basmol lived far away from here. He was the
>child of his mother Mikyh, daughter of Yanmorla, and his father
>Yelm, son of Cronisper. He was chosen to be chieftain of all
>the animals in the world. After his father was killed, Basmol
>kept the world alive by separating the weak and dying from the
>strong and healthy. This was how Basmol fought the Bad Ones,
>by killing those who could not be healed. This is who Basmol
>was. The chieftain who kills the sick and weak to keep the
>world strong.
Who are your grandsires, child, to tell you such things? It is almost right,
young one, but I think that something has been mixed up.
Basmol came from far away, it is true, but who is this Mikyh? She sounds
like a foreigner from her name. Basmol's mother was Mfolosa, daughter of
the Light of the Sky. His father was Pamalt, chief and father of many.
Pamalt gave him the place of the war-leader for animals and people, not
just animals. Yes, he is to kill, because warriors kill, but only when it
it righteous to kill. When we are surrounded by enemies, then we kill
everyone around us, because we must. Only a monster kills to keep things
strong. Has the hollow mask been talking to your grandsires?
The rest of the story is strange, too. It sounds like a foreigner's story.
Where is the formula? Where are the cries and laments?
Who are your grandsires, child?
I will sing of Basmol for you, child, so that your Pride may hear my song.
Pamalt is our chieftain.
Pamalt is our leader.
Pamalt is the bringer of babies.
Pamalt is the one who sits when others stand.
Basmol is his son.
Basmol is our leader.
Basmol is the bringer of glory.
Basmol is the one who kills when others flee.
In the long-ago.
In the far-away.
There was war.
There was rumbling of war.
There was death.
There was stench of death.
Lying things walked the land.
Filthy things walked the land.
Brother lay with sister.
Son lay with mother.
Pamalt came and taught the truth.
Pamalt came and burned the filth.
Pamalt took brother from sister.
Pamalt took son from mother.
The laws were made then.
The good land was civilized then.
But not all was good.
Not all was civilized.
The Filth that Walks had family.
The Family had an army.
The army had a land.
The land was in agony.
Basmol spoke at the council.
Basmol called for justice.
Basmol said something was not right.
Pamalt spoke at the council.
Pamalt asked for a reason.
Pamalt asked what was not right.
Is it right for evil to live?
No, sir, no.
Is it right for filth to spread?
No, sir, no.
Is it right to help your neighbors?
Yes, sir, yes.
Is it right to give them a hand?
Yes, sir, yes.
Basmol spoke of the Filth in the other land.
Basmol spoke of the pain in that land.
Basmol spoke of the chieftain sore-pressed.
Basmol asked for permission to fight the Filth.
Pamalt said the Filth was evil.
Pamalt said the pain was sorrow.
Pamalt said the chief was his brother.
Pamalt told Basmol to clean the other land.
Pack your things, children.
Our chief is going travelling.
Pack your things, children.
Our chief is going travelling.
Let us follow him on his worthy quest.
Let us follow him on his worthy quest.
We travelled with Basmol to the other land.
We walked over land now dead.
We travelled with Basmol to the other land.
We walked from the land now dead.
Here was the Filth.
Here was the Lie.
Here was the Wrong.
Here was the Evil.
We fought the Filth.
It dirtied us.
We fought the Lie.
It misled us.
We fought the Wrong.
It corrupted us.
We fought the Evil.
It made us weak.
Cry and weep! Ia! Ia! Ia!
Our children are monsters!
Cry and weep! Ia! Ia! Ia!
Our mothers are monsters!
Cry and weep! Ia! Ia! Ia!
Our fathers are weaklings!
Basmol stood by himself.
No one fought with him.
Basmol stood by himself.
All things fought against him.
In the end, there came the Filth.
In the end, there came the Lie.
In the end, there came the Wrong.
In the end, there came the Evil.
Basmol cut off its head.
Basmol cut off its arms.
Basmol cut off its legs.
Basmol cut off its penis.
Basmol killed the Filth.
Basmol killed the Lie.
Basmol killed the Wrong.
Basmol killed the Evil.
This is what is true.
Do not believe lies.
This is what is true.
Do not believe lies.
There, child, do you now understand where Basmol came from?
On another day, I will tell you how he was sore hurt, but now I am done
singing.
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From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: A less "in-character" commentary to the Basmol story.
Message-ID: <9409170039.AA02869@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 16 Sep 94 14:39:26 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6252
The Basmoli women's story reveals many things about Basmoli culture.
1: We already know from the Songs of the Basmoli (Pavis Knowledge Collectiana
#17/BM/8-15) that the Basmoli maintain that they were all male in their
beginnings on Prax. Furthermore, the Basmoli songs state that Basmol
came to Genertela from "Pamalt's Land" as a war chieftain with a war
party. Thus, it stands to reason to speculate that any woment they
had probably were stolen from other Prax tribes.
2: Basmoli practice religious segregation of the sexes. This is apparent
from the enormous contradictions between the women's story and Basmoli
men's songs. Basmoli men's songs do not mention deities such as Yelm
or Mykih. Instead, they use Pamalt, Mfolusa, Bolongo, and other names
that do no appear elsewhere in Prax. Evidently, over the generations the
Basmoli women developed a new religious synthesis based upon both their
own Prax-based religions and Basmol worship.
This religious synthesis may explain why the women's stories feel the need
to explain Basmol's bloodthirsty and predatory nature. Men's songs simply
state that Basmol feeds upon others without bothering to justify it in
terms of "necessity" or "right". It is simply accepted as the way things
are. It would prove most instructive to be able to interrogate both male
and female Basmoli shamans to get more information on these differences.
Anyone who is able to deliver one of each to the Pavis Knowledge Temple
should ask for Attaphraxes the Hungry. A substantial reward will be tendered.
(Price depends upon state and cooperativeness of the Basmoli so delivered.)
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From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney)
Subject: Elmal and Yelmalio
Message-ID: <9409170048.AA02923@sonata.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 16 Sep 94 14:48:56 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6253
I was going to wait until I had gotten my entire theory of the Origins of
Orlanth and Orlanthi society on paper before I commented on this, but I
really need to get this out:
According to Yelmalions, Elmal is Yelmalio. He is just Yelmalio worshipped in
an incorrect manner. Monrogh cult founder discovered the correct way to
worship the god (as well as his complete name--Elmal is just an abbreviation,
after all) in his heroquesting during the reign of Jarasor (ca 1565 ST).
Tarkalor took advantage of this discovery, by the way, to get the throne of
Sartar. He permitted the "corrected" Elmali to set up a separate religion
and political division upon his ascension in 1569 ST.
Now, the Sun County south of Pavis County was, of course, settled by those
who had "seen the light" regarding Elmal's true name and status.
This, Yelmalions say that Elmal is just a misunderstood Yelmalio. The
fact that Yelmalio is friendly to Dara Happan solar cults has made this
religion popular with Lunar authorities, and they are trying to spread the
"corrections" among Tarshite Elmali.
Orlanthi, who include Elmali for these purposes, say that Yelmalio is either
some Fire Tribe god--probably Elmal's disgruntled little brother--who is
using the Lunars to steal away Elmal's people by lies or that Yelmalio is,
shudders and terrors, another Zistor-like creature--an artificial being
that has begun to act like a god from the worship it has been given. You
never can be sure about those Gbaji-kissing Fire Tribe worshippers, after
all.
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From: Argrath@aol.com
Subject: various animals & riders; elves
Message-ID: <9409162155.tn10592@aol.com>
Date: 17 Sep 94 01:55:59 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6254
Peter Metcalfe says, not a moment too soon:
>I suspect by now, the others are getting a wee bit tired of
>hearing all about Yelmalio so if anybody wishes to take issue
>with my interpretation of the facts of the formation of the
>cult, would they please take it offline?
Please. This dead horse has been flogged into subatomic
particles.
I was trying to figure out what the Aldryami call their sun god,
as it seems likely that they have their own name whether it's
really old what's-his-name or not that they worship. But the
list of Aldryami names in Elder Secrets has a Sunshine (Lowin)
and a Sun Follower (Seomale) that seem to have no linguistic
connection. I considered and rejected the idea that one might be
derived from the word for sun and the other for the name of the
sun, as that seems unnecessarily de-spiritualizing even for
humans, much less for the spiritual elves.
Finally got ToTRM #12. And I got the Friday daily on time!
Yeah, there must be a star conjunction or something.
Re: White Buffalo
Saw this on TV tonight. World peace? When our species is
dead, maybe, but I hope that doesn't happen soon. Some people
make the mistake of seeing the Goddess's art as practical.
Re: Tim Minas's comments on Praxian census
The figures in G:CHW are pre-Jaxarte (yeah, that's the ticket).
However, I accept the 5,000 figure for the Pol Joni and reject
the Nomad Gods 6 counters, on the principal that later
publications trump earlier ones. I propose the following:
Who Description How Many
Agimori Pamaltelans 3,000
Basmoli Berserkers mercenaries 2,800
Bolo Lizard Riders odd Praxians 3,400
Ostrich Riders boomerangers 2,400
Rhino Riders big berserkers 2,900
Unicorn Riders amazons 3,250
Zebra Riders friends of Pavis 3,850
Total Independents 25,000
Oasis People: downtrodden farmers
where How Many
Adari 200 [+100 others]
Agape 300
Barbarian Town 1200
Biggle Stone 500
Bull Ford 700 [+100 others]
Cam's Well 600
Cliff Edge 300
Day's Rest 150
Horn Gate 1000
Indagos 500
Moonbroth 400 [+100 lunar garrison]
Pairing Stone 200
Paps 2500
Rory's Well 100
Tourney Altar 100
total Oasis People 8,750
Non-humans how many
Broos 10,000+
Newtlings 2,500
Scorpion Men 5,000
Unicorns 800
Zola Fel Valley Dwellers (in 1611, before the Lunar settlements)
Who Where How Many
Aldryami The Garden 1,000
Broos & chaos Rubble, marshes 2,000
Ducks along river 1,500
Dragonewts Big Rubble 150
Flintnail Dwarves Pavis, Rubble 200
mixture Corflu 1,000
Mru fishermen along river 8,000
Pavisites Pavis, old & new 6,000
Sartar refugees Pavis environs 16,000
Sun-Dome Templars Sun Dome County 13,000
Trolls & trollkin Big Rubble 2,500
Additional Zola Fel Valley Dwellers (in 1618, at the tail end of
the Lunar colonization):
Who Where How Many
Carmanians Helmbold & Rory's Well 5,000
between Helmbold & Chomoro 6,000
near Lokazzi 4,500
Redlanders Duchy of Raus 9,000
Helmbold & Rory's Well 2,000
near Lokazzi 3,000
Sun County 1,000
(Mostly Sun Dome cultists, a/k/a Yelmalio).
Talastari Stormwater Creek 1,200
Amid Garhound lands 1,000
W bank, between Pavis & New Bog 4,000
--Martin
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From: QFF00036@niftyserve.or.jp (QFF00036@niftyse)
Subject: Spells in a truestone
Message-ID: <199409170644.PAA19692@inetnif.niftyserve.or.jp>
Date: 17 Sep 94 06:44:00 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6255
Kuri here.
Thank you for yor respenses.
I somehow missed Cults of Prax.
So I have read Trunstone section in Appendix of CoP.
Hum... If CoP says true: as long as the spell held by the Truestone
cannot be regainable, Truestone is useless. as someone said.
Issaries' Spell Trading spell allows priest to regain his spells
traded (CoP P.62).
I will use this revised trunestone rule in my campaign.
1. Regaining spells
Spell held by a truestone is regainable if the spell is reusable and
the owner makes POWx3 in a ceremony in his temple or alter.
If the spell is non-reusable, he must make POWx1 roll.
If he rolls 96-00 the spell is lost.
This ceremony is allowed once per week and only one spell per week.
2. Recharging spells
Truestone is recharged if the owner cast the same rune spell into it.
If he cannot cast, he must sacrifice as many POW as the Rune Point of
the spell recharged, so he can gain the spell his cult does not have.
Any commnets?
Regards.
// Kuri (QFF00036@niftyserve.or.jp) //
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