I think that the Green Aldryami of the boreal forest do use fire to maintain their homes. The fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. Normally it will get started by lightning strikes. If it doesn't happen for too many years then a disastrous fire could result. I like the image of ecstatic elves running through the forest with torches, firing the underbrush, singing as they run. It clashes wonderfully with the normal tree-hugging attitude that people expect the elves to have.
Boreal forests do need regular fires to remain healthy. The elves know that. Yes, they could come up with other ways to accomplish the same thing, but why would they. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
End of Glorantha Digest V2 #286
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
Powered by hypermail