Map Wars from Chris Bell on 1999-02-07 (Glorantha Digest Vol 06)

From: Chris Bell <argrath_at_xsite.net>
Date: Sat, 06 Feb 1999 22:05:16 -0600

>From the sidelines, I've been watching the Map Wars with some bemused
interested. IMO, Maps in Glorantha, and how well they'd be made, depends highly on the culture involved. It seems to me that perhaps the western Ralian City States would make the best maps, for trade purposes. And of course the Lunars, being a highly developed military and political state, would find maps indispensable for both war and trade. How would these cultures develop their maps? Lets look at some ideas that come to mind...

The Barbarian Belt, Dragon Pass, etc - While aerial surveillance is indeed a possibility, one needn't even go up into the middle air to get a lay of the land. Just question various sylphs or more sentient air-spirits for the location of landmarks and where things are. While perhaps using Sylphs to gain altitude to to map might seem ludicrous, journeying up the mountainside and asking the local Wind Children to observe and point out landmarks isn't. Further, many of those Orlanth temples are found on mountain summits, that no doubt have splendid views.

There is also one Lightbringer cult that has a deep, practical, abiding interest in Map Making - Issaries. The Trader Princes from their trading journeys would no doubt have much practical knowledge that can be used to make fairly reliable maps, of both the physical and mythic worlds (Issaries in his role as the guide of the Lightbringers.)

In Kralorela, map making would no doubt be one of the arts of civilization taught by one of the many sons of Aptanance the Sage. The Kralori never 'learned' how to make maps, it was one of the divine arts of civilization that has existed since the beginning of creation!

In Peloria, Map Making would no doubt be highly tied into Yuthuppan star lore, and much navigation and mapping would be star-based. Questioning the Star Captains would also be the key, detailed maps would no doubt be a hallmark of solar culture.

Amongst Westerners, the map making skills would no doubt be a degree better than equivalent map-making, as the Loskalmi and Seshnelans would no doubt have access to somewhat better glass making technologies, allowing for such things as astrolabes, spyglasses and whatnot, as well as all that nifty logical sorcery to use.

It's important to note that just because something may be somewhat anachronistic for an equiavalent period for Earth doesn't mean it's not MGF in Glorantha. As always, flavor and mileage per game will vary. It's important to remember that Glorantha is *not* Earth, and that Glorantha exists as a setting that is independant unto itself, inspired by, but not beholden to, earthly myth and history. Certain things which occured in our worlds history and cultures would be downright silly in Glorantha, if not out of place.

Chris Bell
argrath_at_xsite.net