In response to the first issue, I for one think it depends on the influence of local deities and pantheons. Regardless of how one feels in regards to the whole Sobjectivist issue, it's plaion and clear that in differing regions of Glorantha, different pantheons rule and have sway. In Seshnela, one or more of the Saints may curse the maldoer with some sort of brand, or the servants of the Invisible God may put some mark on the rapist that will bring forth attention so that mortal authorities can put matters right. The transformation to Broo seems to me that it would take place across a large part of Genertela, as Thed, under a wide variety of different names, is regarded as the Goddess or Broos and rape.
As to the question of 'involuntary initiation' (as brought up by Hugh McVicker), it seems in order to join a rune cult there must be an act of free will involved, as provided under the compromise. According to the Central Genertelan/Theist point of view, The Compromise provides that the Gods may not interfere with the free will of humans, so that the Issaries who is a skilled swordsman will not automatically forced to worhsip Humakt. The transformation from Human to Broo seems more similar to Maliant involuntary initiation... 'involuntary', IMO, is really a bad term, since the person who becomes an initiate of Malia due to disease spirit possession or the like chooses of their own free will to become one of Malia's serious worshipper's, usually to save his or her life from disease, just as the rapist knows full well of what he is doing when he violates someone else.
In the case of more benign Gods, several sources (CoP, etc.) establish that worship of the Gods began in the Godtime, in the Greater Darkness (again, according to the Central Genertelan/Deist point of view.) These methods of contacting the Gods were set forth as part of the Compromise, so it goes that anyone who follows the ancient rites can worship the Gods and contact them for their Rune powers. The temple heirarchies provide easier access to the powers of the Gods, but some one who has a problem with old grizzard the high priest due to political problems can go to a far off holy site, or just may travel to a shrine and as an initiate keep sacrificing for those 'Worship <whoever>' spells and conduct worhsip on their own. This is the exact case with the Lunar Aerollian church, which is devout to the Red Goddess but opposes the current Lunar political heirarchy and worships on their own. Can a person who is just a lay worshipper become an Initiate, and then an Acolyte/Priest on their own? That depends on whether or not you, as GM, believe that the Gods have an independent nature. IMO, if the god wills it, then that person should be able to become an Initiate and then a full Priest, perhaps after much Questing (this seems to be again, the exact case with the Red Goddess.) You may even have to resurrect the God or Goddess you want to worship! If you are an Acolyte, then it should be no trouble setting up you're own sect.
Another thing which keeps worshippers in their places, and leads to less corrupt clergy than in our RW, is the Gods themselves. Don't obey Cult Strictures, and you get zapped by Spirits of Reprisal, and perhaps Excommunicated. Remember, the god who you're initiated to knows all about you, so if you blow your cult strictures, the Big O will boot you out, for example.
In the case of the Orlanthi who also has strong Humakti traits, he or she would not become an 'involuntary initiate' of Humakt, but I think that the person would find joining the Humakt cult all the more easy. And most of Humakt's virtues are not opposed to Orlanth's, so as long as the person could balance the responsibilities of both cults, they'd be fine.
Chris Bell
remster_at_interport.net
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #157
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