> >>As long as there is a spirit ecology equal to its task in supporting
> >>a spirit-contacting population,
Such an ecology exists in fact almost everywhere in Glorantha. It's true that there _are_ some places where reality is less mixed than elsewhere and where certain types of magic may function with less efficiency, or even not at all : these are exceptions.
Also, some traditions or practices may rely on local spirits instead of those existing on the other side per se, but this too is, while not actually unusual, due to exceptions. Relying on specific winds, for instance, such as the Storm Bull Wind, is an example of this. There can be very few Uroxi far from Prax, although most of their magic would be unaffected by the distance. Initiation rituals might be difficult, though ...
In *most* cases, animist powers are just as effective wherever you are in the Inner World.
> >>I think that animism is among the
> >>most efficient methods of contacting the Other Side.
>
>PM>I do find the notion that an extension of infinite power into
> >mortal reality to be in available only in limited amounts to be
> >odd.
>
> So each tradition has unlimited resources? Hardly.
Yes, within the framework of what "unlimited" means in game terms, but with only limited AKA mortal access to them.
> The links to the
> transcendent present in any given area of Glorantha is limited, and
> can be depleted, as the Dead Place or tapped Brithini or Vadeli lands
> testify.
These are exceptions, not the rule.
>PM>Do Praxians worship Spirits because there aren't enough Gods
> >and Godlings to go around?
Well, Waha and Co. *have* run them off the ranch, haven't they ? ;-)
> I'd say that the Praxians inhabit a spirit-ridden waste where there
> aren't enough Gods and Godlings around, yes, but mostly this is so
> because the Praxians have aided their spirits to take hold of the
> magical energies there. They did so because the resources were there,
> and they could harness them.
This is only true up to a certain point : yes, there's probably more animist "mana" than theistic in the blasted remnants of Genert's Garden, but it's not because of historic actions by Praxians, nor that their spirits were able to grab hold of any neutral magical energies present there. It's because of events in the Gods War that certain areas are linked with specific otherworlds (or not). Neutral magical energies exist, certainly, and *are* up for grabs, but you can't really affect their neutrality except by destroying/breaking them, which takes so much energy and causes/requires so much destruction that it's not generally worthwhile to do that : unless you are a Chaos madman bent on destroying the world, that is.
And let's face it, there *are* guys like that in Glorantha ... ;-)
Usually, you can use the neutral magic as an animist, but so can the evil sorceror living next door.
> >Given that these rationales sound
> >comic,
:-(
> >I don't see why such limits should be placed upon Animism.
>
> Certain limits of available magic are placed on any system.
Only on systems centered on Short Worlds, actually.
>PM>The main reason why people worship Gods, Spirits or Saints is
> >due to the local magic places which are similarly attuned to the same
> >spiritual forces.
This is only partially, not absolutely, true.
It should be the other way 'round : some local magic places are attuned to specific types of magical forces, making local worship/use of those forces more effective than other forms of magic.
Note that this is an *exception*, although it's formulated as a rule.
I think HQ will make this clearer, from what I've guessed/gathered.
> This doesn't really explain how the Seshnegi could prosper in Pendali
> lands.
Because the Pendali lands aren't specifically attuned to any particular magic substances ?
>PM>The Orlanthi are theists because their
> >local magical geography is inhabited by godlings they can use.
Not their magical geography : because Orlanth is a god, and the Ohorlanth Storm is made primarily of god-stuff (although it also contains mixed air).
> The key here is "they can use". They take whatever works best, and
> persist under animist conditions as well, though with less advantage
> over rivals.
This is a good approach for understanding behaviour during crisis periods and during the Gods War & Great Darkness etc, and definitely helps explain why most cultures are tied with a specific magic type. But it's not the *only* explanation, although it is an important one.
It's an erroneous approach for attempting to understand the normal procedures of circa 1600-1620 Glorantha. In fact, Kolating magic is for example just as efficient as other Orlanthi magic, in its own specialised way, and as effective as other animist magic (albeit often less versatile, probably).
The key, really, is that the current make-up of various cultural magic traditions depends on actions by the Ancestors, and which forces they prehistorically (or historically) allied with and therefore survived thanks to, far more than any actually mechanic process (except in some cases) of which forces were present in which areas of the world. Even though some particular areas or locales of Glorantha are characterised by a certain magical purity not found elsewhere, that would mechanically precondition such choices.
Julian
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