But I don't think this will wash, ultimately -- too radical a change. Even though I proposed it. But it is still possible the change was permanent -- instead of "Orlanth was Freed" read "Orlanth was Strengthened", and the basic argument stands. Doesn't it?
BTW, Nick, can you enlighten me on exactly what Celestioscopy is? I think it is "measuring the heavens", as opposed to mapping the constellations and stuff, but I am unsure. How exactly does it differ from Celestionomy?
>From: Peter Metcalfe <P.Metcalfe_at_student.canterbury.ac.nz>
>Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 00:00:18 +1200
>as Kallyr's companions and only one (Olaront) as Argrath's
Interesting sidebar here -- I have suspected very strongly from the beginning that "Orlaront Dragonfriend" is none other than Forang Farosh [sp.], late of Tink and the EWF. The guy does fit the profile.
>I think it is probable that Kallyr actually led the counter-ritual
>and that Argrath was not present.
Well, he is not _said_ to be present, and might not have been, but he could still have been behind the whole thing. Minaryth Purple is very strongly connected with Argrath, though he is not listed in The Argrath Book.
>Now where do you think the Sartarites figured out how to manipulate the
>heavens?
Yea, verily, that is the question. I have a couple of answers, one of
them that he borrowed on Praxian beliefs. Also, the Orlanthi themselves
have a rich star lore, most of which we just do not know about. They
don't have the sophistication to figure out the Southpath, true, but
their myths about the stars are just as valid and powerful as those of
the Dara Happans, even if the DHs and Lunars won't admit it.
>
To add to all of this, however, is that Argrath was possibly one of
Kallyr's companions (KoS pg. 235 -- note that one companion is not
listed, her Foodman. Though the connection is weak, I think this is one
of the Argraths). Certainly, one of the Argraths marries Kallyr (pg.
212), though it is probably not "the" Argrath. And he became King
directly after her (though she is the one who lit the Flame of Sartar,
despite CHDP).
>>After this event, Orlanth's Ring was no
>>longer gone for a week after entering the Pole Star Gate.
>
>>including a new planet I have discovered
>
>What planet is this?
>
My, I'm glad you asked. I have discovered a (relatively) large, probably
blue planet, which was visible before the Dawn. It disappeared sometime
during the Second Age. Rather than travelling either the Southpath or
Sunpath, it instead moved along the Celestial River in the course of its
eight day period (four in the sky, four in Hell). It was called Diros by
the Theyalans and Anaxial by the Dara Happans, and was the original
marker of the Dara Happan Four-Day period mentioned in Genertela, which
is not used any more. It disappeared no later than the Closing, of
course.
Now, these details are not yet fixed, but Greg liked the idea of such a planet when I discussed it with him. Whether or not it ultimately becomes canon or not, I cannot say at this time. That will depend on a number of factors, including (among others) Nick Brooke's reaction to it, he being the current avatar of Buserian on the mortal plane. Whattaya think, mate?
>From: "Jane Williams" <janewill_at_mail.nildram.co.uk>
>Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 21:48:53 +0000
>Subject: Stars
>
>1) You seem to credit the whole thing to Argrath.
Yah, I'm just an Argrathophile I guess. I think one of the various Argraths (there are three I have figured out) was the driving force behind just about every major Lunar defeat mentioned in CHDP after Sword Hill. He may not have been present at this (or other) events, but he probably organized it, figured out how to do it, directed it, or otherwise coordinated it. If it wasn't him, I think it was usually one of the "other" Argraths, such as Argrath White Bull or Argrath of Pavis (both of whom I believe to have been separate people from "The" Argrath).
>2)Did you have any theories on the Dragon?
According to CHDP itself, doesn't it say the dragon was created? All I really know about this dragon is that it is 90% likely (my %) that it is NOT the Dragon of Jarn. As for how it could have been there, how long have the Storm Hills been in their current shape? Who can name every dragon which appeared at the Dragonkill War?
All I really know about it is its name: Dara Esklator Boreem, the Younger Storm Dragon. At least, that's what an old file associated with the Genertela project says. May no longer be true.
>From: Philip Hibbs <101621.1264_at_CompuServe.COM>
>Date: 15 Dec 96 18:41:01 EST
>Subject: re: Star Stuff
>
>Stephen P Martin:
>>I have a lot more of this
>
>Excellent - let's have it, I love Gloranthan astronomy/astrology
>
Well, some of it will be forthcoming in the next volume of Drastic
Resolutions. And some of it is pending decisions by Greg Stafford. But I
can mention a few things.
First, there is a problem in Elder Secrets with the tilting of the Dome and the exposure of winter and summer stars -- the description as written is mechanically impossible. Now, there are a couple of possible solutions. Nick Brooke has suggested that the Dome only tilt to the south, then back to center. This allows for some tilt, but only allows for winter stars. I prefer to postulate a second Dome, which rocks north and south, but does not rotate. Most of the winter and summer stars would be on this Dome, including Ice Palace.
Advantages of this scheme include having both winter and summer constellations, and keeping the movement of the Sunpath both north _and_ south of the center of the sky. As an added benefit, Ice Palace would not rotate, and so would always be due north. This seems appropriate to me. One of the southern constellations, which is exactly opposite Ice Palace, would thus always appear due south.
Another suggestion I have is about the exact nature (and duration) of the Sunstop. This is related to the Star Stuff only in that it would have had an effect on the planets while it occurred. I think that the Gloranthan year was originally 280 days long, not 294, and that the Sunstop lasted exactly 2 weeks. And permanently changed the length of the year/nature of time. This is in keeping with my theory that Nysalor was, ultimately, an attempt to replace the deity Time with a new time god. And that it was only partially successful.
As for Lokarnos, I always had a problem with his period being 98 days in the sky and 98 in Hell if he is the Timekeeper of Dara Happa. At one point, Greg thought that his published time in the sky was a week, I believe, and that is where the confusion comes from.
My suggestion is that Lokarnos originally had a period of 7 days in the sky when he rose before the Dawn. However, actions within Time slowed him down, to his current rate of speed. This would best be during the time of the EWF. One of the reasons I like this is because it provides a source for Harald Smith's Imtherian myth about how their goddess, Lokarna, was crippled on the LB Quest, and now limps. I think that was part of my inspiration, actually.
I have worked out an entire cosmological scheme for the Praxians. If I can just get enough story/myth titles to name all of the constellations, I might even post it, though The Night Sky in Prax is one of the longest articles going into the next issue of Drastic.
>
>From: Philip Hibbs <101621.1264_at_CompuServe.COM>
>From: James Frusetta <gerakkag_at_wam.umd.edu>
>Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 21:22:28 -0500 (EST)
>Subject: Dead Chalanna Arroy Priests; Uz drugs
>
>MOB brings up the topic of Gloranthan drugs...
>
>GASH'S AGONY -- TROLL STRONGHOLDS
>Gash's agony is a nondescript shrub found in temperate hillsides
Wouldn't this be better as a fungus of some kind?
Stephen Martin
ilium_at_juno.com
The Book of Drastic Resolutions
drastic_at_juno.com
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