Proxy marriages, feathered queens

From: Jane Williams <jane_at_williams.nildram.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 19:36:26 +0000

Peter:
> Kerofin is a great massive mountain that reaches into the Sky. Since
> birds can be found on its heights, I fail to see why the Feathered
> Queen must be an earth priestess.

Well, mainly because Kerofin is a centre of earth worship. But yes, you could have a lot of earth priestesses and one other to look after the birds. So would you say she's a Sky priestess (birds being associated with Sky), or an Air priestess (birds being somewhat famous for using the stuff for flying)?
And if she isn't an earth priestess, does she have sovereignty to bestow? If not, why did her marry her?

And on proxies:
> I don't think the Grazers will be aware of the distinction or even see
> the need for Argrath to marry again.

I agree.

> Marriage by Proxy is not even known to most Orlanthi (cf the Report of
> the Orlanthi) and I doubt it would be well known among the Grazers.
It's known in Tarsh, surely? Marriage of infants is tricky without it. But it wouldn't be common.

> I'm not saying that it was impossible for Kallyr to undergo such a
> marriage, just that over time the patriachal mindsets of both the
> Orlanthi and the Grazers would have regularized the marriage so that
> the proxy Argrath became the real husband.
I agree. That's why Kallyr never gets listed as KoDP: her status was dubious even if the marriage had lasted longer, or Garrath hadn't nicked the resulting power. But, I don't think this happened fast enough, so he remarried just to be sure.

And, of course, this explains why Min. Blue didn't mention her husband - he was too confused by the whole thing. I don't blame him.

Jane Williams jane_at_williams.nildram.co.uk http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~janewill/gloranth/

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