Re: government; clothing and banners; sun gods

From: David Dunham <dunham_at_pensee.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 10:05:49 -0700


Pam Carlson

> Pelorians also have an ancient tradition of rule by councils. The
> Genertela book describes Pelorian towns as ruled by councils, and
> guilds, while villages are run by committes composed of the residents
> and elders. The Entekosiad goes into the mythology behind these
> traditions.

In my Wendarian game, I considered the councils to be consensus-driven groups of elders. Not exactly a democracy. (Of course, who's to say they didn't become more democratic after the Ice Age?)

Michael Raaterova wondered

> Am i alone in believing that the LBQ *as the myth is understood and told by
> orlanthings around Dragon Pass today* aims to resurrect Elmal, not Yelm (in
> addition to Ernalda)?

Given that the myth (in King of Sartar) begins with Orlanth giving command of his stead to Elmal, I don't join you in that interpretation.

Joerg carelessly wrote

> Sure that these aren't the Wasp Riders well known from the DP boardgame but
> unmentioned in KoS?

without looking at the index, which would have referred him to p. 103.

Gary Switzer wrote

> < Much of the Orlanthi culture is devoted to defining law for each
> situation - >
> <beginning with the "greeting" (it establishes who each person is, their
> legal> <relationship to each other, and what subsequent actions are
> appropriate.)>
>
> Aren't there local fashions of dress, shield patterns, etc. that give a
> clue as to who is who in TODP-era Satar? Must make ambushing the vile
> Orlevings pretty tough.

I think each clan has distinctive clothing decoration (and tattoos). But this doesn't obviate the need for the Greeting. How else can you identify a vile Orleving who has come to offer to pay tribute, or to launch a baseless legal complaint? In these two cases, you're obligated to kill him another day.

> When you had the battle with the army of Malan did each side have a
>banner
> or standard?

In my campaign, the war banners of the Dragon Pass Orlanthi are wind socks.

Owen Jones

> is it possible that Elmal is
> entirely a construct of Argath's heroquesting?

Elmal is mentioned in Glorious ReAscent of Yelm and the Broken Council Guidebook, both First Age sources. I think it's safe to say that he's the original sun god of the Orlanthi culture.

> I would love to see an account of how the Orlanthi managed to
> think of the Sun as the Evil Emperor _and_ as Boy Wonder Elmal at the same
> time

The Orlanthi give different personalities to different winds. No doubt the friendly sun you're glad to see in winter, and the hot, oppressive sun that beats down relentlessly in summer are different people, too.

David Dunham <mailto:dunham_at_pensee.com> Glorantha/RQ page: <http://www.pensee.com/dunham/glorantha.html> Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein


End of Glorantha Digest V4 #460


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