G'day all,
The Truth about Cats and Dogs
>I am all for realism in gaming but this debate seems to be drifting into
>rather strange waters. If these cats have a trainable disposition then why
>not use them for hunting? It is a fantasy game after all.
I don't think anyone's disputing that Orlanthi use cats for hunting. The
debate seems to be whether they use them for *herding*. I am firmly in the
camp that finds this ridiculous. If a cat ever did stoop to doing dogs'
work, it would be as rare and marvellous as that irrepresibly cute
sheep-pig in "Babe", but in this case would be of no honour to the cat.
Just to put all my views on the table, I believe that all* Orlanthi:
- culturally use cats for hunting, as well as house pets (good for keeping
the rats down) and as status symbols - high status folk such as kings, wind
lords etc. keep the real big 'uns!
- culturally use dogs for herding; consquently only low status people ever
have much to do with them. Poor people might treat them as pets - or even
eat them! - but this is despised. So too is hunting with dogs - this is
considered extremely unsporting. That lunar nobles have brought their
hunting hounds with them to Sartar has done little to endear them to the
populace.
- It is thought unlucky to kill a cat; aetiologically, this is probably
because the high POW of shadowcats makes them hard to hit and gives them an
uncanny ability to get out of tight scrapes. We say "cats have 9 lives" -
Orlanthi have a similar belief. Conversely, no one would think twice if
you lobbed a stone at a cur in the street. In fact, stray dogs are
regarded as vermin. Poets laud the noble qualities of the cat and deride
the base qualities of the dog.
- Goat meat is only eaten by people who can't afford anything else, and
goat herding is generally confined to the margins of Orlanthi society; wild
goats thrive in these places. Most people would have think hard about
whether they'd prefer to eat dog or goat, or just go without. Such folk
should be wary of stews with "Mountain Mutton", sold in town cookshops and
low taverns - this is invariably goat meat rather than lamb.
*you know what this means.
Top Ten Things Greg Stafford Got Wrong About Glorantha (tm)
Martin got the ball rolling, and I've added mine: any more takers?
**Top Ten Things Greg Stafford Got Wrong About Glorantha**
- The primary use of the domesticated alynx is as a herding animal.
- Contrary to all existing evidence, the Yelmalio cult was actually
established only some 60 years ago.
[I would said 3. "The Red Emperor is an ever-reincarnating being, the
same person coming back every time", but Nick and I talked Greg round
to the current, much more fun model some time ago. So it is possible
to show him the error of his ways and change his mind; I'm not even sure
if even he still holds to his Yelmalio/Elmal views.]
Cheers,
MOB