<< re: Solace. Is this something that worshippers know about as a fact? (or
reasonably provable fact) I always assumed (without thinking much about it)
that Solace was like Heaven, something based on faith alone.>>
You can have direct experience of God through worship ceremonies, and through Hrestol's 'Joy of the Heart'. You can't exactly have a conversation with Him, but you can feel His presence. And, as I said before, the saints are easily as demonstrably real as Orlanth is, and they all claim to be in Solace. Why would they be making it up?
<< As for Western Sorcerers being (arguably) superior to Theistic, that's
because of a better "scientific" [sic] understanding of Magikal principals.
IG has little to do with it, as proven by the atheistic Brithini who are the
best sorcerers! >>
Malkioni magic is superior to Brithini in at least two respects. Firstly, its much more varied, with the Brithini sticking to exactly the same old spells century after century. The only reason they are so good at what they do do is because they've had so long to practice it. The creation of new grimoires isn't exactly a common event, but it does occur, and many of those people who do it are divinely inspired.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the Malkioni have blessings. The Brithini dronar gets exactly nothing in the way of magic, except what the Zzaburi chose to cast on him. The Malkioni peasant has direct access to magic of immediate relevance to him, and that magic is demonstrably related to religious activity.
Of course, there are living saints, too, whose divine magic exceeds any parlour trick the pagan gods might provide their disciples, but they're obviously very few and far between (although becoming more common in the Hero Wars, one suspects). There are plenty of examples of this in future HW books on the West.
Forward the Golden Banner of Flame!
Trotsky
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