Eric Schmidt points out that the interrelationships between the various cultures is important, and that a pure subjectivist approach can't cope with the fascinating interaction and interplay between them. Absolutely. One of the wonderful things about Glorantha is that the cultures interact, and borrow from one another, and so on. Which is why I don't call myself a subjectivist.
Hasni Mubarak (who seems to be named Rich Olson) asks about meeting
Orlanth on the hero plane.
>Would they encounter a hero or Avatar of
>Orlanth? Does that make sense? That there might be some temporary
>manifestations of gods that can interact on the Godplane or via
>divination? Or is that just nonsense too? Should it just not be
>possible for that kind of encounter to happen?
Well, I think you can encounter a manifestation of Orlanth on the God Plane, though if you are performing an Orlanthi quest, its just as likely you are trying to be Orlanth (or retrace his steps). I think most of the time when you do meet him its an Orlanthi hero or spirit playing his part. If you run up and attack him (say on a Yelmalion quest), you don't meet Orlanths full fury and die, you have a tough battle, and if you kill him, some hero or spirit somewhere takes the pain.
A hero who tries his hardest to emulate his god for all purposes IS his gods manifestation in the world. Take as examples the Strange Fragment in KOS (which is Harmast on his LBQ, obviously emulating Orlanth), or Takenegi, who was able to prove that he WAS Yelm in all but physical body.
>However, as much as we say that the gods don't have free will, they're
>not people, etc, would Gloranthans believe this?
I think most Gloranthan priests and so on understand that the gods don't act as freely as humans might. I don't think they necessarily accept that this is that the gods have no free will, but they have other explanations, such The Compromise, or everybody acting in accordance with Yelms divine Justice in order to preserve the world.
Insight - the Malkioni (Hrestoli at least) probably believe that becoming godlike is a spiritual trap - they understand the lack of free will and fear it. Its like being a Brithini, trading magical blessings for harsh behavioural restrictions.
>Or would the majority
>of Gloranthans personify gods daily?
I think a lot of Gloranthans personify gods daily, and rightly so. Not having free will does not mean the gods don't have a personality.
Take Uleria, for example. Her worshippers believe she has a personality that is the embodiment of love and community, and they are absolutely right. But further to that, she is incapable of acting in a manner that is not driven by pure love.
I don't think its worth getting too far into what exactly free will does and does not mean, anyway. Earthly philosophers are still arguing about it.
Cheers
David
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