I've just been doing a good deal of reading in Greek mythology, and it's
prompted a few questions about Orlanthi mythology.
- In Greek myth, gods are constantly turning people into animals,
usually as punishments, as well as themselves into animals, usually as a
disguise. Are Orlanthi deities considered to have this sort of power? Did
Orlanth smite someone and turn him into a dog, for example? Does Issaries
travel around as a songbird when he wants to seduce someone?
- In Greek literature, the overwhelming sin is hubris, excessive pride.
Over and over again, the gods punish people for being too proud, often for
imaging that they are as good as the gods at something (such as Arachne at
weaving). The whole concept of hubris, however, doesn't seem very Orlanthi.
Is there an equivalent sin that the Orlanthi always have to guard themselves
against? Cowardice, perhaps?
- Do the gods travel around in disguise, testing people? Does Lankhor
Mhy wander through villages, making sure that no one is breaking the law?
Does Orlanth occasionally show up to test people's hospitality?
- What does Chalana Arroy do to smite somebody? People must
occasionally offend her. She can turn off people's immunity to disease, but
that seems pretty tame compared to the sorts of things that happen in Greek
myth.
Andrew E. Larsen