Re: sandy's maunderinx

From: Sandy Petersen <sandyp_at_idpentium.idsoftware.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 95 11:33:04 -0600


I suggest that the Lunar Empire's psychopomp might be Danfive Xaron. Dave Dunham winces:
>This bothers me, since he's a pretty unpleasant deity to have to
>face when you die

        Perhaps this is another reason that the Lunars don't talk a lot about their afterlife. I don't object to your theory of Jajagapa, either. Maybe the Lunars have a variety of psychopomps, ranging from Jajagapa to Danfive X to Gorgorma, and the 'pomp' you get depends on you, much as medieval Christianity believed that both angels and demons appeared at your deathbed to vie for your soul.

Nick B. talks about mummification in Esrolia. Note that mummies in Glorantha can be animated. I predict that deep within the inner sanctum of Ty Kora Tek's reserves there are such animated mummies hopping and bopping around. They probably show up for the high ceremonies of the holy days, too, and are a big cult secret. "What? Undead?" Why not? It's Ty Kora Tek, after all, not Voria we're talking about. Besides, mummies are a comparatively benign undead -- they don't drink the blood of the living, or have other antisocial habits, like a ghoul's howl. Plus they aren't a mindless corpse, but can walk and talk and communicate with you (by writing, presumably, I don't picture mummies speaking aloud). They keep really well, too. And they smell pretty good, depending on what spices you add to 'em. All in all, the aristocratic undead of choice. "Mummies. Isn't time _you_ tried one?"

Matt:
>It has always been my opinion that most Orlanthi concider the goat
>to be unclean because of its potential relationship to broo/chaos.

        But nonetheless it is the only animal you can graze on certain hillsides. The Orlanthi are nothing if not practical, and 'tis my belief that the stigma of herding goats, while present, is no worse than the stigma of herding goats in medieval England -- which considered goats to have "devil's eyes" and to be associated with Satan. Which is to say the stigma will vary from place to place. Some folks won't drink in the same tavern with you, but most won't care at all. Since most of the folks you hang out with live in crappy rocky hillsides, too, they'll probably also be goatherds.

        And broos _aren't_ part goat. This is a minor point, of course, because the Orlanthi certainly believe that broos, aka goatkin, are related to goats. But they're wrong, and any Lhankor Mhy sage could (try to) set them straight. And to add to the Orlanthi confusion, goats are free-ranging in most of Sartar, and so are easily accessible to broos, so plenty of broos have goatlike features. Still, I'll wager that deer-headed broos are very nearly as common in most of Dragon Pass.

Some people have compared Sheng Seleris to Genghis Khan. Not to go too much into real-world stuff, but Sheng Seleris didn't hold a candle to Genghis. He didn't conquer nearly as much, and didn't set up an enduring empire -- it died when he did. Sheng Seleris might be the equivalent of Attila or Tamurlane, though. Not that it matters. (Side note: I am _not_ a fan of Genghis, whom I regard as a really horrible person. But I do recognize his accomplishments.)

Dave Dunham:
>Orlanth killed Yelm. This doesn't mean that good Orlanthi should
>kill their ruler.

        No, but it means that an Orlanthi ruler needs to watch his step and not be too tyrannical, because his subjects don't consider regicide to be the worst of crimes. On the other hand, a Yelm ruler can be a bit more strict in his regime, because all the Yelm myths about deposing a ruler are rife with terrible punishments and curses to befall the evil usurpers. Hence his folk are less likely to attempt such a thing, and will endure taxes and laws that would make any right-thinking Orlanthi move to a different tribe.


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