YGWV! My Glorantha Will Almost Certainly Vary from what eventually gets published in Heroes of Malkion.
> "Concentration" might be the flavourless term used in mechanical
> descriptions, but what do Gloranthans use to describe this process
> that grants them unparalleled access to magical powers?
It's called Consecration in the Castle Coast.
> but some more examples of what processes and metaphors
> Gloranthans use to describe concentration would be very useful to me.
The postulant is first quizzed on his knowledge of Doctrine and proper Veneration. Should the Zzaburi decide he is ready, he is bathed in pure Essence water, washing away the filth of gods and spirits from his outside. He gives up his charms, which are smashed, and ritually renounces those gods which gave him feats. Then, as nude as a newborn, he drinks a powerful narcotic, often kvass or strong tea, and is led to a chamber, geometrically aligned with ancient Kadeniti principles, marked with the power runes on its walls, and told to pray.
During his prayers, a god will come to him. It will tempt him. Give me sacrifice, and I will make you as <strong/fast/smart/sexy/fiery> as me. The postulant must refuse, and drive the god away with a rebuke from the Abiding Book. Then a spirit will come to him, and it too will tempt him. Dance my dances, and sing my songs, it will say, and I will loan you my powers. The postulant must again refuse, making warding gestures originally taught by Malkion.
The night will be long, and the postulant will be tired at this point. His mind may wander; he must resist this! At some point, he will have a vision - for some it is one of the prophets, for others their patron saint, some even claim Malkion himself appeared to them. This last may be considered heresy by some Zzaburi. And this great being, this Chosen of the Invisible God, will question the postulant. He will be asked if refuses all things that come from sacrifice and all things that come from spirits and all those who have souls and spirits. He will be asked if he accepts only those things that descend from the Great Mind, the Unknown Mover, the Invisible God itself.
And if the postulant answers, truthfully, "yes" to these queries, their magical guide will reach into them, and separate out those parts that are Theist and those parts that are Animist, and cast them out and away. The postulant will feel Joy, know Joy, for a brief moment before drifting into a deep sleep. He will awaken, bearing only an Essence, and putting on a pure white robe, he will exit the room into the dawn, Consecrated to the True World.
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