Re: Human sacrifice in backstory?

From: jeffrichard68 <richj_at_...>
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 16:23:42 -0000

> > Ummm, the way I read it, there was no implied chaos connection.
She
> > is a goddess far more feared and hated than loved, but not at
all
> > chaotic. In fact, amongst the Orlanthi quite a few ways of
killing
> > people could be seen as chaotic, but I think Ana Gor is quite
clearly
> > not chaotic.
> >
> > Which is not to say people don't see sacrifices to her as
evil....
>
> This remains one of the things I like. There is evil, and there is
Chaos, and its not a 1-1
> correlation.

This is an important point to keep in mind when trying to understand the Orlanthi. The Orlanthi recognize lots of things that they view as pretty malevolent but not Chaotic. Yelm (the original Evil Emperor), Magasta, Vadrus and his kin, Babeester and the rest of the Gors, Bad King Ugrain (and other bad kings and tyrants), Eurmal, Jagrekriand and other Sky Tribe tyrants, spirits, sorcerors and so on. One might even include often-malevolent deities such as Humakt and Urox. However, all of these malevolent entities have their place in the Cosmos. Some are accepted parts of Orlanth's Storm Tribe (the Gors, the Vadrudings, Humakt, Urox, etc), others are essential parts of the Cosmos even though they are irredeemably hostile to Orlanthi and his kin. For example, Yelm is a bad god, but a necessary part of the restored world. Yelm threatens Orlanthi, his kin, and much that is good in the world, but he does not threaten existence itself.

Chaos is outside of this system altogether. To the Orlanthi, Chaos is an intrusion of the Predark that cannot coexist with the Cosmos. It doesn't just threaten Orlanth, his kin and that which is good in the world, it threatens everything. This is why Wakboth (and not Yelm or any other one of the host of Orlanth's foes) is Orlanth's one truly personal enemy.

Jeff