>>Do you see Nochet as being clan-based, then? I'd
>thought as it's a big city,
>>things would have been different there. Though I
>must admit I'm not too sure
>>how.
I believe that the matrilineal emphasis is maintained throughout all Esrolia, even in the large cities, as much as possible. I also believe that there have been times when lineages fractured to create new ones. Clans are always measured through the distaff side, of course, and are important for that reason.
>I haven't really got my head round how Heortling
>cities are organised but
>I would think the clan structure is still there. It
>may have started to
>mutate into guilds where a particular clan
>specialises in pottery while
>another specialises in weaving. The primary loyalty
>would still be the
>clan with the city ring serving the same purpose as
>a tribal ring.
I think that some clans or lineages have become permanently associated with certain jobs or functions within the city. Thus some lineages are potters, though not all potters would have to be of that lineage. Guilds are substitutes for clans and lineages. They are associations for people who have no lineage to defend their rights.
>There will be a proportion of outsiders - people
>who don't belong to
>any of the city clans - probably regarded with a
>great deal of suspicion
>until they have proved themselves and established
>relationships with
>one or more clans.
The guilds have official status and regognition, though I feel that a guild that has a traditional clan association would have some various superior rights over an identical guild without the blood connection. I think there are some guilds that have no bloodline association, too.
>Being in good standing with your
>cult would help
>achieve that.
I think that the traditional cults in Esrolia are also now dominated by or associated with certain lineages. Of course, the imported cults don't have the association.
>Some Babs cultists will certainly
>have ended up in that
>position either because their clan has been
>destroyed or their relatives
>can't cope with a mad woman living among them.
The Babeester Gor cultists would be more strongly associated with the cult, of course.
>Many
>more will still be
>accepted by their clan because they can contribute
>- a guard who
>frightens thieves is as useful in a city than the
>countryside.
We see here the etrnal conflict between the material and immaterial world. Which is more important, the deity or the family? I know that this struggle is constant in Esrolia (heck, in most of Glorantha!. The cults have their own axes to grind :) the leaders committed to that may well impede the progress or happiness of cultists who guard the family warehouse instead of doing temple duty.
No rules are laid for these kinds of conflicts between guilds and clans, between members of cults and of clans, and so on. Authorities can certainly cite valid references for almost any position that is possible.
Nonetheless, I do beleive too that the traditoinal clans are strong and exercise great sway upon their members. Thus the old ways are still strong, even though they are under great strain inside the cities.
--__--__--
End of Glorantha Digest
Powered by hypermail