Arkat and Orlanthi

From: Peter Metcalfe <P.Metcalfe_at_student.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 16:46:52 +1200


David Cake:

Me>>Personally I think that KL Priestesses can join the cult of Arkat
>>to learn sorcery but few outside ralios do so because of the lack
>>of a cultic presence there.

> Personally, I think few KL priestesses can join the cult of Arkat
>because being a Priestess and being a sorcerer (even an apprentice
>sorcerer) are both regarded as full time occupations.

This is simply an argument from the roolz. A KL priestess would have no problem in learning a few sorceries to augment her black and midnight powers.

>Being an Arkati is
>more like an occupation than a traditional cult, at least in the normal
>troll version. Its something you need to devote considerable time too.
        

I don't buy this. Some trolls will be full-time Arkati officials and sorcerers but most will be part-timers (ie the roolz student level) waiting to help a cult official in need after he gives the secret handshake.         

Nikk Effingham:


>Has anyone got any ideas how
>Uz sorcery works under Sandy's system, as I can't seen the Vows working the
>same????

Untimely rip a few organs from their owner (preferably human) and prepare. The blood is fermented into wine, the bones ground up and used in flour for making bread and so on. If done properly, the organs when consumed will confer the sorcerous presense needed. In most cases, the ritual needs to be repeated at least once a season for the presence to be maintained. The cult sorcerers know the secret of enchanting an organ so that it confers a more lasting benefit. However they reserve this for themselves as the temporary nature of the other method ensures that the lay cultists will keep coming to the ceremonies.

Stephen Lucek:


>First I think it is necessary to establish the natural enmity of Orlanth /
>Orlanthi culture [...] towards the Red Moon / Lunar way. I think the
>Orlanthi love of independence and hatred of chaos would mean they would
>be completely opposed to the Empire.

I don't see why there should be an enmity above and beyond the normal discontent that rises in a recently conquered population. The Malkioni use sorcery which is equally chaotic in Orlanthi eyes yet they have managed to establish quite successful modus vivendis in Jonatela, Maniria and some parts of Ralios. Tarsh has had violent struggles against the Lunar Empire (Palashee Longaxe), still is largely Orlanthi and is now within the Lunar orbit.

>My main reason for holding this opinion is that I see
>the Orlanth / Red Moon conflict to be representative of the wider
>conflict of the hero wars that sweep the whole of Glorantha.

I'm not sure if I follow. The Hero Wars are not AFAIK a struggle between good and evil in its various guises (independance/servitude, order/chaos etc). It is more remiscent to me of the Great War with its titanic struggles, myopic aims and nightmarish horrors. Very few of the cultures that enter the hero wars will be left intact. Most will be changed beyond belief. The Dragon Pass Orlanthi certainly won't be returning to their idyllic pre-lunar lifestyle.

>However, come the Hero wars and
>Orlanthi victories, the Orlanthi folk of Tarsh etc. will remember
>their proud traditions and rise against their masters.

I find it funny how the unrest in Tarsh which Argrath intervened in was not caused by traditional Orlanthi revolting against the Evil Empire but a dispute between two lunarized factions over the throne of Tarsh. Argrath backed the Fazzurites which is very strange for someone supposedly loyal to the Old Orlanthi tradition. He then rewards his fellow brethren with the rule of a rapacious Malkioni Tapper-Baron! Much of the unrest in Tarsh that follows is caused by Tarshites of every creed revolting against Mularik's tyranny.

>I imagine that there will be
>terrible blood shed between those who regarded themselves as having
>been loyal to their traditions and those who sold themselves to the
>comfortable Lunar way.

Most Orlanthi who joined the Lunar Way or even simply collaborate, did not 'sell' themselves but converted freely. There is no readily apparent reason that says that the Lunar Way is inherently evil and much of the opposition comes from simple conservatism and some xenophobia to boot.

BTW What do you think will happen to those Lunarized Orlanthi when Argrath comes? Will they be ethnically cleansed? It's all very well putting the tax-collectors up against the wall but what about the others?

End of Glorantha Digest V4 #559


WWW at http://rider.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html

Powered by hypermail