> Given that the Jerustelli were essentially exterminated at the end of
> the second age, is there any evidence that there are any surviving
> pockets of the culture left? I'm particularly thinking of groups who
> believed in "appropriate technology" rather than the slash'n'burn
> approach, and who would therefore be exiled (voluntarily or not) into
> the outer corners of Glorantha at the time of the Machine City. Legends?
I think it's safe to say there are no surviving God Learners (there are a few oddball survivors, perhaps at the bottom of the ocean in the Trickster Temple, but they are insane by now and hence no longer God Learners).
And Jrustela itself was pretty hard hit, as was Seshnela. But many individual Jrusteli survived the Age, quite likely in the distant parts.
Depending on how you define Jrusteli culture, I think the answer has to be yes. The Sedalpists (in Umathela) may still maintain much Jrusteli religious belief (though certainly not in its God Learnerized form). And the Seshnelans and Jrusteli have always been related cultures, so something of the Jrusteli survives in parts of Seshnela.
BTW, slash & burn *is* appropriate technology for inland Umathela, but the Jrusteli there were pretty much wiped out, both by the disasters and the fact that they would be seriously outnumbered by hostile aldryami and barbarians.
Anyway, I don't see any problems with small colonies somewhere who trace themselves back to Jrustela. But once again, they will not be God Learners.
As for myths involving Xiola Umbar and Orlanth:
I suspect the Kitori must have some, since humans and trolls live in close proximity.
And in my East Ralios game, I suggested that Xiola Umbar might be worshipped by some of the Orlanthi who lived close to troll lands:
Soothing Touch is a gentle spirit of healing. She can only be contacted at
night, and her powers are best against fevers. She's also known for the
ritual which transfers childbirth pains to the baby's father. Many
outsiders identify her as the troll goddess Xiola Umbar for this reason,
though the Mokevogi vigorously deny this. Her statue of crudely carved
stone lies in a sacred grove. Healing spells cast here are more powerful
than usual.
<http://www.pensee.com/dunham/ralios/locals.html>
David Dunham <mailto:dunham_at_pensee.com> Glorantha/RQ page: <http://www.pensee.com/dunham/glorantha.html> Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein
End of The Glorantha Digest V7 #7
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