In message <4A7EA96A.2050204_at_UDU5rxf93XwzOROSxqJTqIoAihk5gyBs30PvE3cy6NwfhrF7K5h9ST9oPaZYDATGVoyzbtZoJSOKGzPYRT6JNs1v2YL6IA-RvA.yahoo.invalid> Benedict Adamson writes:
>A spell is a technical procedure, and clearly must be taught by a
>knowledgeable "wizard". A charm is a thing that must be provided by a
>spirit society. I don't see how a normal person could acquire those
>kinds of magics without assistance.
>
>I guess similarly, that (theistic) cults can teach people how to use
>affinities. But can normal people acquire affinity magic on their own,
>without assistance from magical specialists? An affinity is part of you,
>almost part of your personality. Do a significant selfish people
>spontaneously acquire the Disorder Affinity? I'm asking whether
>spontaneous acquisition of affinity magic is at all common, I'm not
>asking if there have been a handful of magically blessed people who
>have done this.
>
>I believe so, but it is not so clear to me. Otherwise, how could anyone
>have an "evil" affinity, such as Moon or Chaos for Orlanthi?
I think how common such things are is very much a YGWV. In my
Glorantha lots of people are marked by the gods, adopted by
spirits, etc. Sometimes at birth, sometimes later in life,
sometimes by intent and sometimes by accident. Generally it's
a source of stories - the conflict between what the character
wants, what their society expects and what the otherworld being
wants.
However what you may be thinking of is common magic talents.
They are magic the character is born with but are unconnected
with the otherworlds. They may be mistaken for an affinity by
other Gloranthans particularly if the talent is chaotic.
--
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/