On 6/25/06, Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_...> wrote:
> >Any ideas on Affinities?
> >Emilla: Motion, ?, ??
> >Orfeda: Concealment, Blue Streak, ?
>
>
> I've just realized that since they are Teshnan deities, their
> magics would be a mixture of common magic spells, affinities
> and spirits. I know Revealed Mythologies states a change
> from animism to theism but that was an old text written before
> Hero Wars (ie long before the Heroquest writeup of common
> religions and Teshnos). The change in worship still occurred,
> it's just that it changed from Pamaltelan practices to Vithelan
> practices.
Well, they are not *quite* Teshnan deities. They seem to be Artmali/Zaranagasti Deities that are have been followed by Teshnans. Half of my Heroes are Teshnans that are doing the whole Mystical Reverence thing, so I'd rather have the Gachi be more clearly Theists with blood thirsty Gods.
Certainly the Gachi probably have some Shamans among them, and perhaps bits of Sorcery left over from the God Learner colonization. I could easily see them have a distrust for other systems of Magic, due to their bad experiences at the hands of the GL's and Ashurtans (who can't practice Theism).
> Emilla would be closely associated with the Lopers, so his
> magics will be about tending them and using their special
> leaping powers in mounted combat.
Emilla: Blue Star, Movement, Loping
> Orfeda's magics will be best about wisdom (The word "anile"
> on which the name Annilla seems to be based refers to
> "old women" often in a demented sense). So a social basis
> for the cult of Orfeda will be about aged oracles sprouting
> incoherent wisdom.
Orfeda: Blue Steak, Concealment, Prophecy
> >I thought Turvenost was the King who listened to the Seer Hesurenav
> >and forbid sacrifice to the Gods, which resulted in castastrophic loss
> >to the Sea Antigods. Why would he be followed now?
>
> For protection against the Sea. He's now a sea demon that
> preys on Merfolk. I suppose it may be considered as an
> appropriate curse for his "misrule" - for forbidden the sacrifice
> of intelligent life in his lifetime, he is now condemned to have
> intelligent sacrifices made to him.
In that case, I can see the Gachi performing propiatory sacrifices to him, similar to how the mainland Teshnans give propiatory worship to Mallia.
> >Some further questions I forget to ask:
>
> >e) Is there an explanation why the Gachi practice Human Sacrifice?
> >(I believe Glorantha:ittHW, every 17 days is mentioned.)
>
> Humans are the most potent sacrifices that can be made. Most
> theists sacrifice themselves but there always has to be some
> badasses who sacrifice others. The seventeen day cycle I think is
> an average based on the Blue Moon cycles.
Seventeen has a *lot* of significance in Gloranthan Numerology. :)
> >g) What are relations like between the Gachi and the Ashurtans? Or
> >the Gachi and the Marazi Amazons (who have their love of their deity
> >Tolat in common, at least.)
>
> The Ashurtans are hostile towards the Gachi as a group (It's nothing
> personal - they are hostile towards the whole world) but they may
> easily manifest friendly intentions towards certain Gachi ("here's this
> neato spell that I found which I can't use... perhaps you can?) in
> order to wreck greater harm elsewhere.
Good, that mirrors some of my insidious plot elements nicely.
> The Marazi feel the Gachi have too many men and the Gachi men
> fear the Marazi for what they might do.
So fairly standard opinions. The Marazi believe that *everyone* has too many men, and all men are rightfully afraid of the Amazons.
-- -Santo "Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih."
Powered by hypermail