Uleria and Flamal

From: Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_bigfoot.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 00:12:34 +1300


Andrew Larsen:

>>>What's the myth behind Flamal's resurrection?

Me>>It's the secret quest of the Lightbringers according to the
>>Aldrya cult writeup.

>Hmmm. I suppose it seems reasonable that it would be a side-effect
>of the LBQ, but nothing in the quest (or at least anything I've seen
>written about the quest) suggests that they were trying to bring back
>Yelm as well as Flamal.

Surely "Flamal as well as Yelm"? But there is an earlier version of the myth (Dawn Age) in which Orlanth leads the lifebringers so there may be some hint in that.

>None of these deities have any more connection to
>Flamal than Uleria does, with the remote exception of Chalana Arroy via
>Arroin, which is pretty tenuous.

Arroin is known as Eron, the healing waters, to the Elves and Aldrya is the daughter of Orlanth's wife and Flamal. The Elves reportedly acknowledge this relationship (cf KoDP Ernalda's quest) although they blast Ernalda for treachery.

>An Uleria does have a connection to
>Aldraya via her son Shanassee, whose function is pretty vaguely defined as
>Aldraya's mate. He seems to be a vegetation spirit, since he teaches Food
>Song, suggesting that he's the god of Plant Fertility. It seems reasonable
>to me that he might be the son of Uleria and Flamal.

Shanasses are love spirits rather than vegetation gods. They are depicted as trees because that is what aldryami find attractive I suppose. Uleria is so fertile she bore them by herself, or rather fashioned them from Chaos, depending on who you listen to. IMO Food Song is a manifestation of love, Uleria's power rather than vegetation magic.

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