Is the Issaries described in GoG a true picture of the Speaking God of=20
the orlanthi? Or more specifically, the orlanthi of Dragon Pass? I think=20
not (GoG is a foul God Learner document). Among the more or less=20
rural orlanthi in DP there is no great need of a specific merchant god. It=
=20
is but a minor aspect of the Speaking God. In more urbanized areas,=20
with lots of trading going on, there definitely is a greater demand for the=
=20
merchant aspect. But that does not change the fact (aarrgh! I said the=20
forbidden word) that Issaries Merchant is a secondary to Issaries=20
Traveller and Speaker.=20
The development of the masks of Issaries as I see it should go=20
something like this:=20
Speaker (Poet, Skald) - Herald (Messenger) - Traveller - Trader.=20
The Speaker is known for his way with words and wit, which is way=20
Orlanth sends him to act as his messenger and herald. And Issaries, the=20
Messenger, learns the paths and ways of the world on his many errands=20
as Traveller. Of course he meets lots of people on his travels, with=20
which he exchanges information and/or goods. As he is the God of=20
Words and Wit he usually gets a good price on his tradings.
=20
The development could be read backwards and still be somewhat valid,=20
but it doesn't make much sense to me if Issaries is an original god of=20
the storm pantheon. If he was an import it would be more acceptable,=20
but in my eyes he isn't.
There is also the possibility that there is an aspect of Issaries as=20 Psychopomp, who guides the departed souls to their place in the=20 afterlife and acts as their Herald to the Keeper of the Dead. This would=20 mean that Issaries has knowledge of the pathways of the spirit worlds=20 as well.=20
I don't think the rural orlanthi have much use of the merchant aspect of=20
the Speaking God, except in the big cities. Trading is a spinoff from=20
travelling (this statement is arguable, I know), and thus secondary=20
(even if very important in the major trading centres). Rurally he has=20
IMO a much more important position as Skald, Herald, Psychopomp=20
and Traveller.=20
In our campaign (based in Far Point) his most important mask is that of=20
Skald. I have always seen orlanthi culture as oral, which makes the=20
skalds important, as they can immortalise a man's name and make it=20
part of the clan myth/history. Prestige and renown in orlanthi society is=
=20
worth as much as wealth, and to have one=D5s name immortalized in a=20
skaldasong that extols your virtues is what many orlanthi strive after; it=
=20
always feels good to be a legend in your own lifetime.=20
The songs of the skalds' can be a powerful weapon too in the form of the Ni=
d=20
(pronounced as need), which is a satire song meant to ridicule some=20
person or group. A wellcomposed Nid will be spread far and wide, making the=
=20
Niding (person marked in the Nid) known as a dishonourable and/or=20
ridiculous person. The Skalds are highly respected, and their art much=20
appreciated.=20
Any comments on this version of Issaries? Be nice though; this is my=20 first posting on the digest. I've got musings on Lhankor Mhy, Odayla=20 and Asrelia and other gods who stand in the shadow of Ernalda and=20 Orlanth to be posted if any one is interested.
Is anyone interested in ceremonies and cult practices of the orlanthi, or=
=20
have some material on it that they want to post? I'm getting a bit tired on=
=20
reading about ploughs and rotten fish, which is one of the reasons i'm=20
posting this.
Some Trivia: I'm a soon-to-be 24 years old student in the cold-stricken=20
university town of Uppsala, Sweden. I've dabbled in comparative=20
linguistics and mythology, latin and history, enjoying myself=20
massively. I am also a finnish caffeine-addict and a bowler-hat fetishist=
=20
slapping away on an electric bass.
Roleplaying has been a favorite pastime for about 8 years. I started with=
=20
Glorantha and fell in love with all the weirdness. Unfortunately i got=20
tied up with lots of other games, but i have recently rediscovered=20
Glorantha, and we are running a pendragonish campaign in Far Point=20
just before the Lunar invasion. I'm not the gamemaster, but I'm the one=20
with the internet connection.
Salvete,
Michael Raaterova.
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