Just a couple of extra thoughts on what distinguishes Alakorings from
Heortlings (I'm not getting into the Yelmalio/Elmali issue!)
- In part to reflect the desire to reduce the power of the priests
and, I would suggest, in part because of the larger size of their
clan/tribe units, Alakoring rings tend to be larger: 13 is quite
usual for an inner ring, more is possible.
- The worship of Orlanth himself is oficially proscribed in Tarsh,
with most of his functions transferred to his subcults, such as
trusty Barntar. So where does the kingship function fit? My own view,
unofficial, unsourced and not especially thought-through, is that a
cult of Alakoring Rex woud be sponsored and backed by the Tarshite
royalty to perform this function. Not as a subcult of Orlanth,
though, but as ancestral hero-saviour of his people.
As I say, this latter is only a thought-in-progress, and comments are
welcome.
Mark
Mark Galeotti