Re: Strong Winter Darkness; Mute Yelm

From: Alex Ferguson <abf_at_cs.ucc.ie>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:05:09 +0100 (BST)


James Frusetta:
> I'm guessing that at least in Genertela, the days grow shorter in winter,
> and longer in summer (just a guess; at least ES notes "When Yelm is weak
> it is winter, a wet cold and shadowy season", and vice versa.").

Yes, I think so. And by the Flatness Theorem, then presumably if it's so in Genertela, it's thus everywhere in the Inner World. Which is a slight problem for the intuition, as a day length that "feels right" varies more than a little by "latitude". (One might expect Midnight Suns in Eol summers and little seasonal variation at all on the Pamaltelan plains, for example.)

> Hmm -- it just hit me. If darkness is the conduit for sound, then before
> the Troll Exodus, could Yelm talk? Are those long, long, boring Yelmist
> lituries the result of his tenure in Hell? A curse indeed! ;)

Surely at least in Orlanthi cosmology, the Wind is the conduit for sound? Same problem for the Yelmies, mind you...

> Boy, think of the trollish mockery. "Stoopid hoomans -- invent harp before
> they have sound. What they use it for, cheese slicer?"

*exit, guffawing merrily*

Alex.


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