Conversions

From: Jonas Schiött <jonas.schiott_at_hem.utfors.se>
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 19:26:29 +0200


Joerg:

>peoples shed some of their Hsunchen ways. In the case of the Pendali this
>apparently was reversible, and the Galanini horse hsunchen of eastern Ralios
>possibly are a similar example.

I don't believe the Galanini reversed it. I believe the survivors (which I don't think are canonical BTW, though both David Dunham and I believe they exist) are still theistic sun-worshippers. In fact, they have a lock on Ehilm-worship. No Elmal or Yelmalio or anything of the sort among East Wilds Orlanthi.

>We don't know the exact background of Pendal, Eneral and a number of other
>western, Hsunchen-like founders. Is Galanin a horse spirit or a horse god?
>Is Bemur(ox) a cattle deity or a cattle spirit, regardless what his
>followers did during the Greater Darkness?

Very good questions. I too would like to know the answers. :-)

>The surprising ease with which
>some of the Ralians were converted to Lifebringer Ways indicates to me that
>there were some hidden common roots

[...]
>Did the Lifebringer missionaries cut their convertees from their ancestors,
>or did they manage to convert the ancestors (or some manifestation of the
>ancestors, an embodiment of their memories and their history) to their
>theist ways as well?

OK, now the only conversions which are (sort of) canon for Ralios are the ones mentioned in the Broken Council Guidebook: the Vustri tribe of highland Enerali, who were already theists and even worshipped a kind of storm deity to boot. These are placed on the map in northern Ralios, and described as being sceptical of the Council and its God Project. In other words, likely ancestors of todays Lanksti and Korioni.

In the BCG, no mention is made of any orlanthi in the east. On the map it's just wilderness with the notation "Bemuri". This leads me to believe that the East Wilds were converted later, under Nysalor's reign. Which provides a nice antagonism between easterners (pro-Nysalor) and northerners (pro-Arkat). Now, Nysalorian missionaries apparently could be very persuasive. Not quite sure what methods they used in Ralios, but the conversion must have been to Lokamayadonic-style Orlanth worship. This would obviously fizzle when Arkat won, and so they were easily subdued by the Dark Empire. Providing a nice lead-in to the activities of one Aringor Darstalsson (KoS): I am fairly certain that what he brought back from his LBQ was the secrets of proper Orlanth worship. What I'm fuzzy on is how this "Narnarra the Greater" person fits in. Quite possibly the one who taught them which rites to use - I was thinking she might be a Silver Age hero of some ilk, David D. suggested a Dawn Age Talastaring. I really have no preference, as long as it's not Heortling.

>>I think they'd want to forget as much as possible about
>>their hsunchen roots. IMG they're aware that their ancestors worshipped
>>animal gods, but not which ones or even that they were animists.
>
>I'd prefer a number of odd Orlanthi clans or even tribes with strange
>traditional magics in addition to more stream-lined Orlanthi.

Sure they have strange magics. Who in Glorantha doesn't? But not animist magic.

>>I have a story about this that I could post if there's interest.
>
>Please do. I only wonder that they should be willing to abandon their
>ancestors entirely.

I'll post it soon. The explanation I've come up with is that they believe their ancestors were really a lost tribe of Vingkotlings who turned to animal-worship for survival in the Darkness. Certainly this is what the missionaries would have told them. Is it true? You be the judge...



Jonas Schiött
Göteborg

End of The Glorantha Digest V8 #323


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