Odayla/Goats/Cats/Sheep from Nick Brooke on 1997-12-01 (Glorantha Digest Vol 05)

From: Nick Brooke <Nick_Brooke_at_compuserve.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 03:57:18 -0500

If Stephen wanted to keep his old opinion, the fact that the Orlanthi god of *Hunting* knows "Command Goat" could suggest that goats aren't considered to be domesticated in Orlanthi lands: herders eat beef and mutton, hunters eat goat (poor things). But this ain't necessarily so.

Anyone who doesn't know: my old Orlanthi folk-story "Yinkin the Shepherd" is on my homepage at:

<http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Nick_Brooke/yinkin.htm>

This predates the current debate by many moons, and explains what would happen if Orlanthi *did* use cats to herd sheep. Kudos to Martin Crim, who inspired the folktale by positing that this was possible. And eternal damnation to anyone who thinks cats are obedient hard-working pack animals.

I'm taken by Sergio's suggestion that the drier hills of southeast Sartar (around Swenstown, etc.) are good goat country. IMO, Orlanthi could divide up land the same way they divvy up social roles: Horse/Thane, Cow/Carl, Sheep/Cottar; Horse Land, Cow Land, Sheep Land, Goat Land. Of course, Goat Land is the worst of all these -- high/dry/rough country where even *sheep* couldn't make a living.

FWIW, re: universal traits of goats: they do eat goat in Sun County, cf. "Gaumata's Vision" (at a *welcoming* banquet, no less). I ref'd this for a bunch of long-time Orlanthi players from the Greydog Game, and they recoiled in shock, until I asked what was the problem: OK, Orlanthi have a dietary taboo (arguably/piously/etc.), but that doesn't mean the rest of the world has to share it.

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Nick
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