I doubt that, given that the beardedness is a pretty central LM mythic and physical identifier - but I could see LM having a far lesser role. For a start, Esrolia is rich and urbanised enough to support real places of learning, encouraging the LM sages to towards the old model of the bookish scholar rather than the clan lawspeaker, and I could also see Ernaldan subcults taking many of LM's roles. Maybe there are specialised subcults of E the Queen, or else Kev might fill that niche, exalting the manifest truth of divine vision over the written word. 'Don't listen to that old fart LM, who claims to tell us the law while he still can't comb last week's food out of his beard. All he knows is words and runesticks and scrolls, dead and dusty. I speak with the voice of Ernalda, visions of truth and hope and danger, soul and heart.'
Mark
(who's once again amazed at the way an innocent query can open up so much fruitful debate!)
Mark Galeotti
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