I seem to remember stories of Celts, dying their skin blue in efforts
to affect the enemy in combat. Anyone know if this is true.
Dan
> Gareth:
> >
> > Why do Vinga worshippers wear a skirt over their trousers?
>
> Practicality? Badge of honour? Obscure tradition? Mark of their
unique
> status? My wife tells me skirt and leggings can be very practical.
>
> > Whats with the hair dying? Don't seem to be other gods with this
level of
> > appearance concern.
>
> There's almost certainly a mythological reason for this, relating
to what
> happened when Vinga's hair first turned red.
>
> Isn't it funny that such sterotypical concern with
> > dress is associated with a female deity?
>
> Tats, runes, hairstyles, bands of dye etc. are associated with lots
of
> deities and I believe there may be additional details in ST. I
believe
> concern with dress and appearance is shared equally between men and
women in
> heortling society. Its a status culture - like the ancient Irish.
Is it
> possible some humakti don't wear black? :)
>
> >
> > So what we are saying here is that Vinga-worshippers are clearly
of
> > secondary stature to male combatants, perform auxiliary and
defensive
> rather
> > than aggressive functions.
>
> Secondary stature according to whom? All the cults have different
value
> systems and emphases. Vingans do what they do best, for reasons
that are
> important to them. And I believe 'all' vingans begin their training
in the
> shield wall like the other Orlanthi warriors.
>
> While men battle horrible foes for "the tribe",
> > Vingans specifically protect the weak and helpless - presumably
men are
> too
> > rough and tough to need the protection of ladies.
>
> Ever heard of Kallyr Starbrow? Vingans do lots of different things,
> including full-on battles when necessary. The 'helpless' includes
lots of
> men as well - the old, boys, the infirm, certain farmers, crafters,
> Lhankors, etc. Elmal also has special duties in protecting the
stead.
>
> Could it be just possible that the men in the shield war and war
band also
> care about their kin being murdered, their steads being burned and
laid
> waste, their children being taken into slavery or worse?
>
> >
> > Frankly I'm surprised the disadvantages did not include mandatory
> celibacy;
> > the usual response to women taking such a proactive role is to
make sure
> > they cannot also be reproductive.
>
> Celibacy, marriage and reproduction are all different things. In an
Ernaldan
> culture, all women will have access to a variety of contraceptive
devices,
> and certain women may be able to 'surrender' their fertility to the
keeping
> of a priestess through ceremony. Some vingans may be celibate. Some
may be
> carousing Thunder Brother types. Many will enjoy whatever short or
long-term
> relationships their duties allow. However, I don't think vingans
marry
> unless for some (rare) higher political or ritual purpose.
>
> All IMG of course.
>
> Cheers
>
>
> John
> _____________________________________________
> nysalor_at_p... John Hughes
> johnp.hughes_at_d...
>
> For every thing that lives is holy, life delights in life;
> Because the soul of sweet delight can never be defil'd.
>
> - William Blake.