Re: Re: Heortling Collectives for Common Magic

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 11:34:26 -0800

> I figure common magic is most common amongst the most common of folk,
> that is to say, those without the wealth or position to participate
> more fully in their society's more specialized religion. Even
> amongst the initiation mad Heortlings, there will be those who can't
> afford to sacrifice so much time and wealth to participate at that
> level.
>
> We see in Hero Quest that Flesh Man provides common magic talents to
> the heortlings, as the eponymous ancestor. However, it seems to me
> that even at those levels of society that can't afford theistic
> sacrifice, there may be the desire for more organized religion.
> Also, the heortlings include remnants of many other peoples, who
> didn't survive the darkness so well.
>
> The result, I think, would be common magic societies, that provide
> some of the community and support that the theistic cults offer,
> along with their own unique combination of common magic. Here are
> ideas for a few.

The problem I have with this is that this supposes that these people are looking for support, etc, from outside their kin and clan. The theistic cults aren't there primarily to provide community & support, that's the province of kin. Sure Uncle Oddi may be a stickpicker, but we won't let him starve, and there's a place by in the hall for him during the winter. Of course, we expect him to do the smelly, nasty tasks (like digging out the privy when it gets full), but he's kin.

By using the word "Societies" you prejudice the reader to assume that these are groups of non-kin, and that an individual "society" possibly stretches across the whole of Sartar. Now, remove the word "Society", and say that this is how the clan or stead treats with local minor entities, and I can see it. "Yeah, the old oak provides us with "Enjoy Acorn Mash", the little pond by the big rock has the best frog-catching magics, and that patch of hillside that looks like a troll-head if you look at it just right gives us a charm to ward off the cold". But it's just "Local Common Magic", not some sort of land-spanning society.

RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.
- Richelieu