> The people who follow Yanafal via the Seven Mothers look more
> like Humakti than the ones in the Red Army.
This is partly because Seven Mothers worshippers are likely to be frontier barbarian types who think Yanafal is "the Lunar Humakt" and act accordingly; partly because the Seven Mothers isn't an army cult itself; and partly for consistency with all those old RQ games we've all played where Yanafali turn up looking *just* *like* Humakti. Our presentation of Red Army Yanafali Officers isn't meant to imply that all other Yanafali you've met in your games are "unofficial" or "incorrect" -- and the Seven Mothers' Yanafali are the ideal let-out for the Humaktalikes.
> The officers in the Red Army are mostly (verging on all) members
> of YT for a different reason; he teaches them the things they
> need to know to be good officers.
While it is true that this is what Yanafal teaches, my own belief is that, *by definition*, an officer in the Lunar army must be *at least* a Lay Member in the Cult of Yanafal Tarnils. As we all know, Lay Membership means that you've heard of the god, know the outlines of his mythology, and participate in ceremonies held to honour him. Now, any Lunar Army Officer who hadn't heard of YT, knew nothing about Lunar military history, myth and tradition, and didn't wear a uniform or turn up to parades, would have a =
pretty darn short career, IMHO. Even if you were a barbarian ally or auxiliary (a Sable khan or Char-Un hetman), you'd be practising as a Lay Member while your troops were in Lunar service.
> No one is forced to join the cult; it's just silly not to.
It is, in fact, flatly absurd. If you want to be a "non-Yanafali" officer, don't think about joining the Red Army: stay home and help run your Sultan's personal bodyguard, or a temple regiment, or some other such organisation. OK, you'll never get to fight in a "proper" war (unless you're willing to be ordered about by the Yanafali officers of the Lunar Army), but you at least preserve your quaint religious outlook. For what that's worth.
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Nick
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