Re: Aldryami from Matthew Thale on 2000-05-27 (Glorantha Digest Vol 07)

From: Matthew Thale <mattt_at_azstarnet.com>
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 17:35:59 -0700

Master Gollum writes:
>I need some information about elves:
>1) Aldryami forge metals?

>2) How live elves? They built towns/cities in their woods?

>3) They build temples or have holy places as celtic nemeton?

All of my answers are true for My Glorantha, and not necessarily true for anyone else's Glorantha.

Aldryami do not forge metals. Instead, the Aldryami gain their metals from two sources. Trade with metal working aldryami friends, or they rely on plants that grow the objects that they need. Some of these objects are made of metal, most are merely strong types of plant fiber.

Normal Aldryami armor is made of tree bark harvested from a certain type of tree that grows in Elf Forests. It has roughly the same statistics as hard leather armor.

Copper armor is also made from tree bark, but the tree is much more difficult to cultivate, reserving magical copper armor for the elites in Aldryami society.

There are plants that grow arrows in a similar fashion to the Poisonthorn bushes mentioned in Dorastor: Land of Doom. I imagine that spears come from a similar plant.

Swords and daggers are harvested from plants as well. There is a single plants out there that grows leaves that can be used as bladed weapons. Harvest them early in the season and you get daggers, wait until they're full grown and you get a sword.

2. Personally, I don't believe that Aldryami normally build conventional structures. The few structures that they build are used to house visiting human aldryami friends.

The Aldryami are sentient mobile plants, and are as bothered by the effects of weather as their non-sentient, immobile cousins. So I don't think that shelter is a concern for the Aldryami.

I do not envision Aldryami society made up of large concentrations of mobile Aldryami, but instead see them living in a fairly decentralized fashion. Aldryami gather when they need to, otherwise they tend to their own gardens.

3. Following in the pattern of #2, I think that the Aldryami do not build temples, instead they have sacred groves, holy trees and the like.

I view the Aldryami as alien in nature when compared to human society. They are not like us. They don't act like us. They do have two legs, two arms, a head, two eyes, etc... But they are not like you and me! They're not elves, they're plants that walk and talk.

Heck, if I didn't know better, I'd suspect them of being chaotic.

Master Gollum,
I hope you are able to use my opinions.
- -Matt Thale