Re: An Issaries Riposte

From: Peter Larsen <plarsen_at_...>
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 09:27:59 -0500


At 4:43 PM -0800 2/5/04, Greg Stafford wrote:
>Well, I can{t imagine training someone you{d want to kill. But in
>the training circumstances, of coure you{d not use the full magic
>when you are pteaching someone. Ever teach a kid to play checkers?
>So of course you don{t use it all the time.

        I would also think that (sticking to Heortlings for the moment) that a lot of training is done with children and the just-initiated, who have no or little magic. So, when the weaponthanes are showing the promising young 'uns which end of spear is which, they can't tell them "now use this augment or feat" because the trainees have no way to learn from that, and, besides, the trainer's magic is likely different from the trainees'. So training of any sort probably relies on teaching physical and mental skills rather than magic. Even the Issaries trader teaching a promising kid who is likely to be called to the Talking God can't do much more than teach the outer myths, proverbs, and practical knowledge (the five ways to disguise a cow's poor condition, Evaluate Esrolian Rugs, Trading Tricks of those Rotten Blueberries, and Pigs, Pokes, and What to Do About Them). If Issaries calls the child, the rest will follow (and the inner myths can be taught).

        Besides, I think we focus a lot on magic as something you do or a tool you use. My impression of Glorantha is that magic is part of what you are -- when the Issaries trader trades, she is acting as her god, and she trades better (assuming she is close to her god) because of it. Sure, most people (who don't have a super close contact to their god) use prayers and charms to focus their thoughts and magic, but even low-level devotees would, I think, use their magic in all appropriate instances because its what the god would do.

        On the flip side, I'm not sure "turning on" magic at inappropriate moments is correct behavior -- the Humakti training the fyrd shouldn't be calling up Bladehelp to show the guys what its like -- when Humakt's magic is evoked, blood (or Death, rather) should flow; it's not a casual thing -- the god is there. One exception might be calling on the power of Death to remind the fyrd of what they will face in battle (and, eventually, regardless of war or peace).

        Anyway, there's my thoughts.

Peter Larsen

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