Joerg Baumgartner wrote:
>
> Darran
>
> I guess that's because there aren't that many among the average
> Sartarite clans. The only active Sartarite mining site I know of is
> the
I think it would depend on your tula's resources. But I suspect there's a few bloodlines that viciously guard their 'claim.'
> hills near Tink, which is outside of the tribal lands of Sartar, north
> of the Creek. Maybe one or two clans have something resembling a
> mining
Tink is an old site. It was supposedly mined back in the EWF era (I seem to recall reading that).
> activity, but even then I expect this to be riverine "gold-washing"
> (for
> lesser metals, though) rather than scratching tunnels into
> mountainsides.
Actually, I could think of something like 'bog iron' happening in Glorantha. As fragments of bronze are washed into swamps and bogs they tend to accumlate into masses of very, very impure metal. In the Real World (tm) this spongy limonite was the source of iron used by most Celts, especially the Gauls. It can be found in large quantities but most of the time its in football sized lumps brought to the surface by smiths with rakes (who use it themselves).
Ironsand, as found in Japan, is probably too much to hope for (even as bronze-sand). Its the perfect ore and one reason why the blades produced there are so superior.
> After all, the Sartarite clans left Heortland to be spared the life of
> thralls.
Not quite. But I think mining is a cottar occuptation. I am also reminded of the 'family' mines from Yorkshire ancient times. Very small operations to bring out iron, copper and the like.
> In my Heortland campaign notes, there are silver mines in the upper
> foothills of the Storm Mountains, the source of the Heortlander
> Guilders, and a source of conflict between thick-hided mountain folk
> and
> urbane feudalists.
Good idea. I might think that something is in the quivini mountains too. It only takes a small deposit to make it worthwhile.
I do think that things like the thracian silver mines are something that Dara Happans or Malkioni would come up with. Of course, a bunch of Heortlings who found such a treasure might end up getting into thrall taking in a big way and quite truly change their outlook on life. I wonder if that's why the Sambari take so many thralls? They are issaries oriented, IIRC.
> In traditional Heortling society, I suppose that digging for ore is
> similar in status to stickpicking - people just go out and gather
> natural resources without much sophistication needed. Smelting or
> refining the ore is done by the smiths, who receive the charcoal
> produced by other stickpickers as well. Smiths might oversee the
> ore-gathering operations, or sages whose expertise (in myths or
> natural
> law) can direct the gatherers.
Cottars. It takes a certain amount of craft to mine. But smelting is definitely a cottar's occupation unless it was Iron or Gold or Silver or the like -- that's raw wealth. probably would rate the lucky smith a carl at the very least.
> In Heortland, miners will form guilds or fraternities, ersatz-clans
> which might grow (or have grown) into the real thing (i.e. just
> another
> whacko clan specialisation).
Sambari? But I think a clan with such 'drift' would be an "interesting" place to visit.
> > On top of that, what god/aspect would they worship?
>
> A subcult of Orlanth Allfather could be a miner, by default. A
> specialist deity might be involved, too - Gustbran or Quivin spring to
> mind.
Orlanth Allfather probably handles crafter stuff. But I tend to prefer a cult related to Gustbran or someone borrowed from more 'civilized' cultures.
> > Asrelia the goddess of the
> > Earth's Wealth seems more apropriate but comes across as strictly
> female
> > worshipped goddess not one for big, burly miners (at least to me
> anyway).
>
> Asrelia will be the goddess whom the mining god might have to seduce
> (or
> similar) in the rites.
> Which might make mining slightly unpleasant, knowing that you have to
> seduce a crone...
Or just appease her. And Asrelia wasn't _always_ old. =)
Jeff
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