When the Opening Ceremony fails... from Joerg Baumgartner on 1998-01-03 (Glorantha Digest Vol 05)

From: Joerg Baumgartner <joe_at_toppoint.de>
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 98 13:42 MET

Andrew Joelson:
>Nick Brooke on the Closing
>>which is why sailors still
>>have to use Dormal's ritual to "side-step" its effects. This
>>makes it an Enchantment with a wholly ungodly expenditure of
>>permanent POW... :-)

> Why? It could be a long term spell. After all, now that 'everyone'
>has Dormal's spell to get around the Closing, who has tried to sail
>without it? The Closing could be wearing off, just like the Syndic's
>Ban, and who would know?

Like any other rite, the Opening ceremony has a certain chance for failure. In a few cases mariners survive such desasters (especially if friendly triolini are nearby).

Of course, this could be blamed on bad shiphandling, if you want to play the sceptic all along.

> Maybe the Waertagi retutning from Hell are using alternate magics
>they developed while down there. But maybe they don't _need_ to, and are
>laughing at everyone who follow's Dormal

The East Islanders use a parallel development of the Opening ceremony as well. AFAIK Dormal isn't really worshipped by the Kralori either, although they may just have enslaved the shiploads of Dormal sailors and use them (or their bound spirits) to guide their barges.