>In some cases, it might be obvious from the myth of the god. For
>example, to prove that Yinkin is a spirit (in order to gain alynxes as
>a clan totem, for example),
This cannot be done and no gloranthan has done this. The amount of magic required to effect such a change is beyond the magical resources of a gloranthan empire, much less a clan.
Secondly if a clan wants an alynx as a clan totem, the easiest way to do it would be to get a guardian in the shape of an alynx. No heroquest "proving" required. Many Orlanthi have animal totems without being animists.
>a Gloranthan could take the role of the
>Serpentbeast Brotherhood, kidnap Yinkin, make him swear loyalty to his
>spirit father, Fralar, and then repel Orlanth when he comes to rescue
>Yinkin. All of that is a plausible variant of Yinkin's own myths (as
>given for his cult in _Storm Tribe_.
So in order to get Yinkin as a spirit, you suggest they have to join the Serpentbeast Brotherhood, compel a 10w6 god known for stealth, trickery and fighting to convert through compulsion against the resistance of all Yinkini everywhere and then fight off a 10w9 god that happens to be the Yinkin's half-brother and boon companion? Plausible isn't the word I would use.
>However, in other cases, it's not so obvious. How would one prove that
>two goddesses are the same entity, for example?
This is the Goddess Switch and the God Learners simply swapped congregations around without going into all that heroquesting. Even so, they _failed_ in their primary objective.
>This isn't entirely theoretical or digest fodder. I'm in a game where
>the player characters are considering trying to prove that two gods
>are distinct.
Divination. Ask the Gods knotty theological questions and exploit the differences.
--Peter Metcalfe
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