OK, straighten me out on this: Isn't Yelm what most cultures (at least in central Genertela) call the ball of light and flame that travels across the sky every day? Don't most Orlanthi believe that this ball is Yelm? I realize there are many groups who are not very aware of anything much beyond their own valley or hunting grounds; but for the more powerful, possibly for urban people or the nobility, the few who run caravans long distances and those who have some learning, don't these Theyelans know the competing myths about god time that give rise to the Lightbringers?? Doesn't the major difference consist of whether the Lightbringers saved Yelm or whether Yelm saved himself? Many people might not worship Yelm but they are at least vaguely aware that there is a different mythic story that is in competition with there own. Or is the Sun called by a different name and Yelm is merely a term used in Darra Happa? If this is so, to refer to this entity as the sun is not good enough. What is the Orlanthi word for the mythical charioteer that crosses the sky since the great comprimise?
>
> In message <h7cl4v+heq9_at_...> "chrphrgrv" writes:
> >--- In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, Peter Metcalfe <metcalph@> wrote:
>
> >John Hughes describes them exceedingly well for me with the following:
> >
> >The original Far Walkers are typical pioneers - religious minorities,
> >small family groups and bandit/adventuring gangs fleeing vengeance or
> >tribal war, or seeking new lands and opportunity. Most are farmers and
> >sheep herders. (Cattle are more romantic, but sheep travel better). For
> >the most part, they are Alakoring Orlanthi from Saird, Aggar, Bilini
> >and Holay, together with Lodrilites and worshippers of other solar
> >tribal gods, some of whom bear titles that include 'yelmalos', the
> >Brightness, Spear or Courage of Yelm.
>
> That pretty much excludes any followers of Yelm who is a god of the
> nobility. I think the requirements of a pioneer lifestyle would
> quickly force a follower of Yelm to switch to some more practical
> god. The solar followers would therefore need a new cult of leadership
> and a war leader with a god like yelmalos would be the obvious choice.
>
> --
> Donald Oddy
> http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/
>