<< Do people in Glorantha believe in luck?>>
Presumably they do, or else gambling would be rather pointless - it would just depend on who had the best god.
<<We often say that some tribe somewhere wears a certain talisman "for luck"
but in Glorantha, I imagine that a man does not rub his rabbit's foot (or
whatever) for "luck" but instead to contact/pray to/placate a particular god
or spirit, or to incant a spell, which will perhaps help him.>>
Agreed, but that doesn't mean that luck doesn't exist, just that it can't be influenced.
However, I think you're right to query exactly what the Luck Rune means, since luck would appear to be what happens when gods or other forces aren't determining the outcome in advance. The only cult I can think of that holds the Luck rune is Asrelia. I'd imagine she is thought of as arranging things in the worshipper's favour in a general sort of way that looks much like luck to an observer. The people of Casino Town in God Forgot are also associated with Luck, although its arguable what luck has to do with it when you *run* the casino - unless you're crap at setting the odds you ought to make a profit almost regardless of what happens!
<< If luck is the opposite of fate, and there is no luck in Glorantha as we know it, what is fate?>>
Fate is predestination. Glorantha has both luck and fate in it, just as it has both life and death. Most cultures can't believe in absolute predestination because it implies something is constraining the gods/spirits to act in a particular way. Not a problem if you're a Malkioni, but awkward for anyone else. But bits of the world can be predestined. Ty Kora Tek has the Fate rune, because everyone is fated to die sooner or later - even if the manner and time of that death isn't predetermined.
<<If fate is unalterable destiny, then what is a heroquest?>>
I'm not sure I understand this question. Heroquests, like other mortal endeavours, are shaped by free will and luck as well as by the intervention of deities. When Rurik gets offed by a trollkin, its not necessarily because the trollkin is a better fighter than he is, or because the trollkin worships a better war god than he does. Nor is it necessarily part of some ineffable plan hatched by Yelmalio or Argan Argar or someone. Its bad luck. Shit happens - even in Glorantha.
Forward the glorious Red Army!
Trotsky
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