Re: the Irreversibility of Evolution & Mythology

From: Sandy Petersen <sandyp_at_idgecko.idsoftware.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 96 12:17:56 -0500


In the study of organic evolution, it is nearly axiomatic that evolution cannot be reversed. A carnivorous mammal can return to the sea, replace its legs with flippers, and become a porpoise, but it isn't a fish -- it doesn't have gills or scales, its backbone flexes in the vertical plane (so its flukes are horizontal), it has no bony projections from its back, so its fin lacks bony support (which is why cetaceans with tall backfins -- like killer whales -- often have the tips of their fins fold over), etc.
	This is also true in the world of Gloranthan Heroquesting.
	Gbaji fundamentally altered the nature of troll fertility.  
I do not believe that this event can be reversed. It can perhaps be redirected, or worked around, as was done at least twice (i.e., uzdo and litters of trollkin), but not just stopped cold.

        Ditto with other heroquest events. You can't go on the heroplane and give Yelmalio back his Fiery heritage. You can't quest to make Storm Bull king of the gods. Those things are already decided. They're over, quantized. BUT ... you might be able to triumph over some dark fire god, and found a subcult of Yelmalio or a special geas that allowed the user to have access to certain fire magic. Or you might be able to make a _particular_ Storm khan freed from Orlanth Rex.

        Now that Time rules Glorantha, it can no longer be rolled back.

TIME TRAVEL IN GLORANTHA
        I am firmly convinced that if time travel takes place in Glorantha, it can _only_ occur between entire Ages, because at the end of each Age, the world was reborn anew, and Time, in effect, restarted.

Sandy P.


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