Re: Runes of the Oronin Valley

From: Benedict Adamson <yahoo_at_lnHFSovdjqCfYxx8DxXgPznPPcwNtyGVTkuDnqUzAUWau2LYYSUJFrr-EmQnixhuCBI5sp>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:25:11 +0100


Kevin McDonald wrote:
> Here is my first lazy take at runes for deities of the Oronin Valley.

The significant differences with my current choices being...

...
> Akrolar: Harmony

Bisos: Earth, Mastery
- Akrolar: Bisos sub cult, + Life + Mastery (more)

Akrolar is "The Bull Horn", and seems rather specialised to be a standalone cult for the miserable Carmanians ;-)

Our Harmony/Life difference must be down to the difficulty of fitting music into the Core Runes schema. IMG (currently), Akrolar provides Life rune magic, limited to bringing cheer using unsophisticated music.

...
> Bentus: Fertility, Disorder

Bentus: Harmony, Life

Bentus is a very difficult case. I believe all the High Gods must have Harmony, otherwise they would not contribute to the Jerontian goal of pure Harmony. Yet Bentus seems disorderly. My (flimsy) justification is that Bentus has a bad press among the Dara Happans. IMG (currently), Bentus provides the usual Harmony rune magic of The Jerontian Way, He also provides magic pertaining to communal recreation that restores mood and brings people together.

> Bisos: Beast (Bull), Movement or Magic? (Man-Divine communication)

Bisos: Earth, Mastery

Bisos should be a major deity, proving 3 runes, not only my 2. Form runes are now deprecated, except for cults that provide shape-changing magic.

More pondering required.

...
> Daak the Stranger: Movement, Disorder

Daak: Disorder

I'd previously considered Illusion too. IMG (currently) The Jerontian Way is all about Harmony, so Daak as its evil god is pure Disorder.

> Daxdarius: Death, Mastery

Daxdarius: Death, Harmony

Daxdarius was an Emperor, hence your Mastery choice. He doesn't warrant 3 runes, and I think the Harmony of hoplite formations is more important than the mythical past of a Pelandan empire. ...
> DonKivis: Harmony

Donkivis: Illusion, Magic

IMG (currently), He is the the origin of theatre, "which can transport people to the past, future and other lands", hence the Magic rune.

> Durbadath/Karndarsal: Beast (Lion), Light

Durbadath: Hunting, Light

Lion: another (deprecated) Form rune.

> Entekos (Dendara): Air, Sky

Entekos: Air, Change, Harmony

I hadn't consider Sky. It could make sense. Worth further investigation.

IMG (currently), Entekos provides Change magic, limited to gentle beautification, modelled on Her own rainbow, and including painting, dyeing, etc.

Harmony: for "virtue".

...
> Idomon the Prophet: Truth, Law

Idomon: Harmony, Truth

I'm coming to believe that very few gods have Law, because it is more about Cosmos than written laws.

IMG (currently), Idomon provides the usual Harmony magic of The Jerontian Way. He provides additional magic for mutually beneficial interaction with deities, including piety and encouraging the deities to fulfil their obligations to those who honour them with sacrifice.

> Idovanus: (probably beyond runes) Sky, Truth, Law (Cosmos)

Idovanus: Harmony, Light, Truth

All seem good. Restricting to 3 runes is hard.

> JagaNatha: Moon, Disorder (Disorder *and* Harmony would be interesting)

Natha (pre Teelo Estara): Moon, Death

I believe that JagaNatha is Her Naverian name, and plain Natha is her Pelandan name. Non Pelandan avatars of Natha could have Disorder. I think her clear mythic opposition to the High Gods is more subtle than simply being Disorder against their Harmony.

IMG (currently), Natha provides Moon rune magic, limited to sudden, ruthless or revolutionary changes that justly transform something into its opposite. She also provides Moon rune magic for contrariness and autonomy that is nevertheless not socially destructive (that is, is neither Harmony not Disorder).

> Jernotia(us) - Harmony, Movement (all is change, all is balance) + one more?

Jerontia/Jerontius: Harmony

IMG, Jerontia/Jerontius is a mythic practice that approaches the All through the Harmony rune. Jerontia has only the one rune for the same reasons Sedenya Herself has only one: one is enough!

> Kenstrata: Harmony, Death

 > Orogeria - Harmony, Death

Kenstrata and Orogeria: Hunting, Magic

Magic: for the ability to chase prey into Other-Worlds

...
> Lendarsh: Fire/Sky; Mastery

Lendarsh: Harmony, Movement

Fire/Sky for the Kargzant connection. His mythical actions are more about cooperation than conquest or rule.

IMG (currently), Lendarsh provides Change rune magic, limited to horse riding.

...
> Ratakar the Murderer: Death, Disorder

Ratakar: Darkness(Shadow), Death, Harmony

IMG, Ratakar is a cult of sacred assassins killing for Balance, rather than random murderers, hence my choice of Harmony rather than Disorder.

> Turos: Fire Within Earth, Movement?, Harmony?, Fertility?

Turos: Change, Harmony, Heat

As per out earlier messages, not easy to pin down within the God Learner scheme.

> Uleria: Fertility (x3)

Uleria: Life(Love)

This needs more discussion. There are clues that the general view of Uleria is wrong (stay tuned).            

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