>The problem I have with these affinities is the question of "How does
>this get food on the table" and "How does this keep my family safe"?
>Madness and Revenge presumably are not things the average provincial
>citizen has on their minds in a daily manner.
That's correct. The same can easily be said for the old Seven Mothers Cult writeups (what good is reflection, mind-blast, madness, command lune or chaos gift for the average provincial city?) which is just as relevant as Yelmalio in day-to-day life.
However people aren't worshipping the cult for its utility value, they worship it to understand the goddess. The Madness Affinity is probably a reflection of their fumbling attempt to understand the Goddess's message while IMO the Revenge Affinity represents their usage of the Nathic cycles of balance for their ends (whether it be personal or community minded - the Lunars really don't care to what ends it used so long as it is used, it all balances out in the long run). The remaining affinity has some value for their day job but if they want to be outstanding, they'll probably shift to the direct worship of the relevant mother.
Secondly the number of lunar initiates in the provincial population is small. 5% is my impression (as opposed to 2% in the Heartlands). Initiates are generally wealthy layabouts, political agitators, jaded hedonists, bootlicking toadies etc. rather than being your average hard-working citizen struggling in through day-job (although there are some lunars in the last category).
>A single useful affinity
>out of three seems a lousy proposition for their interests. Worse, for
>the more specialist members of society (adventurers, soldiers, sages,
>merchants, etc.) its still rather limited in scope.
If you are in the Seven Mothers, you aren't a specialist. If you want a Moon-worshipping specialist then there's more appropriate gods (such as Irrippi for the Sages and Etyries for the Merchants).
Secondly I'll have to question whether "adventurers" and soldiers are screwed with the Madness and Revenge Affinity. The cult of Yanafal Tarnils as published has two affinities (Military Magic and Warlord) that are useless for your average grunt.
>If Orlanth & Ernalda weren't dead or banned it would be a no-contest in
>an open market.
Ernalda isn't banned.
>For that matter, encouraging your provinces to think of Revenge doesn't
>seem a brilliant empire-building move, unless you keep those thoughts
>very focused.
I've explained my interpretation of Revenge above. Further elucidation will probably belong on the Glorantha Digest as this is Entekosiad stuff.
That said, the Lunars are not into Empire-building. Their aim is propagation of Lunar consciousness (of whatever variety and flavor). They find the Empire to be a useful vessel spreading the Lunar Way _but_ there is always a contradiction between this and the needs of a well-governed empire (which the Dara Happans embody). IMO the Lunars err in favour of spreading the Lunar Way - that way, the empire is constantly going to pot (despite the best efforts of the Dara Happans) with widespread disorders. It's more fun that way.
--Peter Metcalfe
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