Lore Auction Questions from Alex Ferguson on 1995-01-24 (Glorantha Digest Vol 01)

From: Alex Ferguson <alex_at_dcs.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 23:20:47 GMT

Peter Michaels mulled over his likely Lore Auction questions:
> 1.) You (Greg) have written that the Trickster aspect worshipped by the
> trolls is the Glutton. Is the Black Eater a manifestation of this aspect
> (perhaps without the trolls knowing this)? (I believe so.)

I think that most Gloranthans who've studied the BE cult think it's a manifestation of chaos, rather than the Trickster. (Though some Gloranthans would say this distinction was a mere bagatelle at most, like the Dara Happans, Westerners, and the Doraddi, I'd say.) Troll(kin) worshippers don't think so, obviously. (I think Sandy and/or Greg have said something to the effect of this, but don't quote me as quoting them as to this.)

> 2.) Does Trickster have a chaotic aspect which is worshipped by chaotic
> beings?
> (My personal theory is that the only incarnation of the Chaos pantheon
> Trickster is Glorani Wasa, who created the permanence of Law amid the
> impermanence of Chaos.)

I agree, and this entity is fairly clearly really just a kind of philosophical mirror of the beliefs of Law worshippers, rather than being a "real" deity of Chaos.

> 4.) The Orlanthi tell of Kolat having six sons, with the sixth son being
> known as "the magical Lower Wind." Did the God Learners consider the Zorak
> Zorani spirit Hell Roar to be this sixth son of Kolat? (I believe so.)

The maxim "you can find a God Learner who beleived anything" probably best covers this one. Personally, I don't see much basis for a corresponence: know something we don't?

> 5.) Do the Dragon Pass Orlanthi believe that Himile (the God of Cold) and
> Kero Fin (the Goddess of Mountains) are the parents of Inora (the Goddess of
> Mountain Top Winter)? (I believe so.)

I'm not sure about this one, since it sounds plausible, but Himile doesn't seem much recognised by the Orlanthi, and Kero Fin and Inora are associated with different mountain ranges.

> 7.) Who or what were the EWF "waltzing and hunting bands"? (mentioned in KoS)
>
> 8.) Who or what were the God Learner "Outer Atomic Explorers"?

Improperly stated questions. ;-)

> 9.) Were any of the God Learners ever Illuminated?

Probably not. Perhaps if the odd few went to Peloria and "went native" they could have been, though they would likely have ceased to be GLers, by any functional description, in the process.

So, Peter, did you ask 'em, and how did you do?

Alex.