In defence of Babs Gor

From: Hugh McVicker <hugh_at_mbcmr.unimelb.edu.au>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 12:18:44 +0100


Paolo Guccione wrote
> Babeester Gor is a goddes of revenge and utter destruction

 I've noticed this attitude(BG=destruction & man hating) around and was wondering the basis of it. There are several cults (Maran Gor, Gorgama) which I would have thought already filled that role. I always thought BG's role was that of temple protection and anti-oath breakers which sounds more like cops than reavers to me. The pepole that stay home to defend the home while the Orlanthi go out raiding can't afford to be berserk warriors because they fight AT HOME, not at some-one else's place (the spell berserk is there as a last resort, the wolf standing over her cubs type situation).
The other possible role for BG initiates is in a local cop type role. Immagine Barroth the orlanthi warrior has had a little too much post raid celebrating and is getting out of hand. If another orlanthi stands up and tells him to go home it's an afront to his (inebriated) honnor but if one of the BG patrol might mention it then he can save face by going home while complaning to his mates about party-pooping women. The option to fight the BG woman is not an attractive one for a couple of reasons
1) You win (maybe) and end up with the emnity of the local earth cult (read most of the women and every one with a farm). You gain little glory cos you only beat a woman.
2) More likely you lose. You lose much face in being beaten by a woman.

All those gross BG spells are balanced out by the cult attitude being primeraly defensive. They don't get the experience of all that fighting and raiding so they need to be able to pull a big bonus out when an attack occurs. BG is not a cult for conquesting heroes but rather the tough core of the home milita.

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