Re: Angels

From: TTrotsky_at_aol.com
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 17:07:11 EST


Aki Martti:

<< I'd like to include some angels in my campaign and because I don't know  anything about angels in Glorantha I thought I'd ask you. >>

     It depends what you mean by 'angel'. There certainly doesn't appear to be anything in Glorantha actually known by this name, but I'm guessing you're referring to semi-divine servants of the gods in general (or specifically the nice ones). What such servants will be like depends on the god. The main examples are the elementals - Orlanth's 'angels' would be sylphs, those of the sea gods would be undines, etc. Probably the ones closest to the Christian concept of angels are the Luxites, the 'light elementals' known to some cults in Dara Happa.

     Leaving aside the elementals, gods are followed by a number of magical heros and the like, whose specific abilities will depend on what god they follow. You'll only meet these on the Hero Plane, generally speaking. And then there's spirits of all kinds, which are summoned into the temples to teach initiates spirit magic (priestly religions) or are bargained with as equals (shamanic religions). Some spirits are really powerful and generally hang about in the spirit plane rather than being summoned anywhere.

      If you're referring specifically to the Malkioni, who acknowledge only the One True (Invisible) God, then followers of some sects regard the gods of the Orlanthi (or other pagan peoples) as being angels of a kind, while others do without angels altogether, although they do have saints who can be prayed to to help you out, and thus fulfil much the same function.  

<<How powerful are they and how rare?>>

      Depends on the religion, really. If we count Orlanthi sylphs as angels, then they are reasonably common, since most priests can summon them.  

<<Are there any "official" angel stats?>>

     If we count elementals, then, naturally that would be a 'yes' for the common ones - although not Luxites, for example. If we count the major heros on the Hero Plane, then 'no', although this may change with Hero Wars. Saints likewise, although you wouldn't normally be expecting to meet them in person.  

<<Any famous angels and their participation in Gloranthan mythology?>>

     The closest would be heros and saints, who, by definition, are now a part of Gloranthan mythology. What they did will depend on the deity they are associated with. For the saints, key individuals include:

     Hrestol, who showed Malkioni how to enter Solace (i.e. heaven) by acting in accordance with their conscience rather than just following the old rules.

     Xemela, who died in order to cure a plague, and is therefore the patron saint of healers.

     Talor, who defeated Arkat, and generally saved the world from the forces of evil - he's now a patron saint of warriors (although by no means the only one)

     Mardron, the first Rokari Ecclesiarch (Pope), a patron saint of wizards.
     and a number of others.
 

<<Are there any "fallen" or "dark" renegade angels banished from heaven?>>

     To be honest, I can't think of any parallel to this at all in Glorantha. Evil or chaotic deities still have heros and demon-type servants, though, if that's what you mean.  

<<Can angels be summoned?>>

    Elementals and spirits can be, certainly. Deceased heros and saints can't be summoned as such, but you can embody one by performing the right rituals, which lets you employ whatever powers they possessed - this is effectively how a lot of divine magic works.  

    I'm not sure whether the above will be of any use or not, but its the best I can do at the moment.

Forward the glorious Red Army!

    Trotsky


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