>
> ttrotsky2 wrote in answer to me:
>
> >> For me, the question among the Rokari is whether or not they adjust for
> >> personal ability, or if you are just stuck.
>
>
> >In Lords of the West, I took the view that it's more complicated than
> that. Quite a lot more complicated.
>
> Lovely. I adore complicated. Could you give an example? Certainly the
> Rokari as presented have been "born in, die there".
In my Gloantha, that is the rule
The bits I can glean from Jrusteli from the 2nd Age stuff shows a
> conflict in the Middle Sea Empire with various versions of this idea. It
> seems the Jrusteli adopted a more flexible approach due to necessity,
> but the implication is that the old way was extremely inheritance-based.
The AB acknowledges difference is social classes. Interpretation of hat passage varies among practitioners.
> I'm also certain somewhere there is a group that does it by assignation
> at birth/adolescence.
Adolescence probably. Children are so flexible and changeable.
> You get tested magically/religiously/however and
> then are assigned a caste. This can be divorced entirely from your
> heritage, but you are also expected not to break it ever once assigned.
Sounds like one of the minor sects.
> In fact, I like that as an idea for a small area cut off during the ban.
> It's closed, a bit paranoid and oppressive, but it ensures all the roles
> are filled. It could be a divine lottery instead of a prayed-upon
> inspiration...
>
> Oh wait.
>
> A leftover Zistorite machine. A prayer-wheel computer of some kind. It
> assesses the needs of the community and assigns the adults coming up
> accordingly, while also assessing their magic. No one dares question
> whether it is broken - or admits its probable origins.
Such a gimmick could be, but someplace obscure. No one in the mainstream would place their destiny in the hands of a Zistorite machine.
I actually would say it exists a few places, and is one of the things
> the Rokari are trying to bring back in line with the whole "One Church,
> One King" thing.
If "it" means non-standard Rokari practices, then yes. They have the One True Way, and it works--look how old our spiritual leader is!
> Isn't a reclamation of the various noble priviliges and
> territories part of their deal? Getting rid of this sloppy and
> inappropriately holy approach to things would be in line with that.
somewhere, sure, but not a mainstream core belief.
> >Actually, the great majority of members of the saintly and priestly
>
It is impossible to make one statement about what Orders do, or how they are run. It differs from religion to religion.
> orders are not members of the wizard caste in most parts of the West.
> >Although there are several wizards in the priestly orders (and
> generally, they're the senior members), most wizards join wizardry
> schools instead, and very few join saintly orders.
> >The knights of Saint Gerlant, for example, aren't wizards - they're
> knights.
>
> orders to consider themselves knights in the caste system. They are
> outside the 4 castes, they do jobs according to their calling.
> And since they combine castes, the fact that the high members of the
> order cast spells like Wizards doesn't change the fact they're knights.
Among the Rokari, no one is outside the 4 castes.
I like that. In fact, I can see orders of Dormal or Xemela also being
> knights in some places - at least legally. Other places might view
> Priestly orders as simply made up of many different castes doing their
> job for one goal.
Some place this, some place that. Surel, there is a liklihood of any possible variant SOMEwhere.
> Quick question. In your view, are saintly orders more similar across
> malkioni sect lines, or different? i.e. - The Order of Gerlant -
> something that transcends Fronelan/Ralian/Seshnelan differences or
> noticeably different orders in each place, united by similarities in
> outlook?
Different.
--
Greg Stafford
Game Designer
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