Pelorian views of Chaos

From: Pam Carlson <carlsonp_at_wolfenet.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 14:31:25 -0700


Simon suggests that the Dara Happans don't much distinguish between chaos and other monsters (ie, trolls, undead), because they don't see much of it.  The Orlanthi, who tend to live more in chaos infested areas, know the true horror of it.

While that is a good argument, and admittedly from the Orlanthi POV, I want to offer a few others.

  1. Why is there more choas in Orlanthi lands? Why does Orlanthi have the bad brother, Ragnaglar? The Orlanthi seem to be rather obsessed with the evils of choas, yet they seem to draw it. Could it be that chaos is kind of an Orlanthi "other", to use a Pelorain term? Perhaps other Gloranthan cultures don't have such a reaction to chaos, and less trouble with it, because they are less linked to it?
  2. Perhaps different cultures are differently able to deal with threats. I can imagine a Dara Happan commmunity being more effective at driving off, controlling, or eliminating a chaos threat through community magic, because choas seems to be a deeply magical force. But trolls have a heavy presence in the mundane world. Brute force may be more effective than community magic against a force of cunning, organized, and sneaky predators. THus the average DH community experiences a troll threat as more dangerous than a chaotic one.
  3. Perhaps because of the first two reasons, chaos is viewed in Peloria as simply another force in the world, as useable, controllable, or as awful as any other. Thus, the red goddess' control of use of is little different than the Kitori's allinace with darkness.

Also IMHO -

Pam


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