First off, RELAX. I may not have adressed your ideas precisely and spefically but I engaged in general discussion of the idea of Issaries skalds. If I talked about ideas that you did not specifically mention, it is because you used a term like skald that is open to some interpretation. So allegations that I am obviously someone who has made a complete misinterpretation of your post are a bit extreme.
>> Orlanth Rex is mentioned as being a god of poets, as well as
>>chieftains (perhaps indicating some special social status for poets - like
>>the status of skald).
>
>I agree that skalds may indeed be associated with Orlanth Goodvoice or
>Orlanth Rex instead of Issaries, but that's pretty much up to individual
>preferences. I just like the idea of Issaries Skald.
The idea of Orlanth as skald seems to be already there, while Issaries as skald is almost completely different to Issaries as we know it. I rather like the idea that poets are in some ways on a par with chieftains, which gives the skalds a special social status, while Issaries worshippers would be less highly regarded.
I agree that Issaries is important also as Herald (defined in the strict sense of 'carrier of news', rather than the medieval herald, who announces and practices heraldry, etc.), but I feel that Issaries association with commerce (which would make his role as skald rather cheapened) works against him as 'sacred poet'. Gossip is more his style, while skalds give the news (the edited official version, in many cases I'm sure). And Eurmal gives slander, lies, and rumour, and Lhankor Mhy the facts of the matter.
>About skalds and
>music, though, you're wrong (at least when talking of norse or germanic
>skalds). Skalds are not particularily associated with music at all -
>that's for singers and musicians and other low entertainers. The art of
>the skald is words. A skald's poems are not sung, they are spoken.
>
If I am wrong, I am certainly not the only one. RQ3 Vikings for example, specifically mentions skalds as singing, and gives them Sing x 3. While not having any detailed references on Viking society at hand, I suspect that the line between singing and chanting is thin enough that it was historically very often crossed. I also try to get away from making Orlanthi too Viking by borrowing from Celtic tradition as well where possible, so I was also talking about bards, with many similarities to skalds socially, but with music. Orlanthi are not Vikings, so there skalds need not be Viking skalds.
I do not think that Orlanthi regard music as simply 'low entertainment'. In fact, judging by the number of myths of music that involve the most important deities of Sartar and Dara Happa directly (Orlanth and Yelm), I think both regard music as being fairly sacred. So there is a reasonable case that even important poems may be performed accompanied, so they may have bards rather than skalds. Orlanth does seem to concentrate on war music, but a lot of Viking poetry was directly concerned with war as well (the famous simile of swords slicing through flesh and blood being like boats through water springs to mind).
Of course, if you agree with me that Orlanthi skalds may perform accompanied, it much strengthens the case for them being primarily connected with Orlanth rather than Issaries.
Cheers
David
PS The full Donandar writeup is something that I would very much like to have. The same goes for the other long form write ups that were published in both Heroes and early White Wolf magazines, both of which are impossible to get back issues of. If anyone could post them, or make them available in some way, I am sure that the gratitude of the list would have no bounds. They are copyrighted, of course, but we could always ask Chaosium (maybe they could be reprinted in TOTRM?).
>Salvete,
>
>Michael Raaterova.
>
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