Odaylans, Elmalites, Humakti and Ernaldans in Sartar are orlanthings but
not orlanthi. The Dinacoli tribe is orlanthing even if they worship
(Y)Elmal(io) since they regard Orlanth as the king of the kods and ruler of
the universe.
Not that i believe that orlanthings name themselves 'orlanthings', though. Using 'orlanthi' to describe both the initiates of Orlanth and the members of a *culture* that is defined/bounded by Orlanth's Laws and Traditions is bound to cause confusion. My distinction between orlanthi and orlanthings is *not* present within Glorantha, it's merely a tool for evading (some) confusion when discussing Glorantha.
And the gods should know we need less confusion on the digest; just witness the exchange between Joerg and Peter based on the term 'theyalan' and the resulting discussion about what cultures are theyalan/orlanthi/heortling or not.
The distinction between orlanthi and orlanthings is of course based on a male perspective. In Esrolia, the culturally defining worship is centred on Ernalda, regardless of which male god happen to be King of the Gods since Ernalda is Queen of the World. There are undoubtedly both orlanthi and orlanthings in Esrolia but Esrolia is *not* an orlanthing culture. (I know there's problems with talking about 'Esrolian culture' since there may not be any such thing as a homogenous Esrolian culture, just varying degrees of divergence and difference).
Maybe this will just cause more confusion? Aww, hell, i'll shut up now.
Michael Raaterova
<.sig omitted on legal advice>
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