Re: Wenelians - a snippet from Trader Princes

From: Toread DuDerysi <jakyer_at_9VDHm1Z_cwJ7eFWOBIO5GNmJsdolqqg-hKd_E4ma-jzVZfCMiw6hsb7xGMxJm0t-WUEWE>
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:23:45 -0000

• In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Richard" <richaje_at_...> wrote:
  >
  > > During the Imperial Era, the Archduchy of Slontos became the
  region's
  > > greatest power but horrors that ended the age left the surviving
  > > Wenelians shattered. Out of fear, the clans purged themselves of
  any
  > > possible God Learner taint and returned to their "pure"
  ancestry. Often,
  > > the Lightbringer teachings were purged and many of the unifying
  cults
  > > and practices that supported tribes and kingdoms became shunned.
  As a
  > > result, the clans turned inward and both leadership and justice
  became
  > > rare. From time to time, a chieftain stumbles upon or revives
  ancient
  > > tribal magic and becomes a warlord but such practices seldom
  survive
  > > their founder long.
  >
  > Would this be "any possible God Learner taint" or any perceived
  > "foreign cult"? I could imagine the Wenelians reacting against
  > perceived "foreign cults" like the Heortling Orlanth and his
  > Lightbringers on the ground that they are "foreign" (probably
  complete
  > with rites and ceremonies spoken in Heortling), and not so much
  > because they are "God Learner". But maybe I'm wrong.
  >
  > Jeff
  >
  

Hmm. Interesting point. I think, from the post-Sinking Wenelian point of view, any foreign cult was probably the result of God Learner meddling. There was a great reaction and many such supposed cults were purged from the clans. Issaries was always a favorite of the Justreli and would have been shunned. Of course, that would result in the loss of his communication and trade magic. I am not sure if Alakoring's reformation of the Orlanth cult really 'took' in Wenelia. I believe he was killed in the region but possibly before he could bring his newer, stronger kingship magic to the benighted clans. Some clans, such as those descended from the Harandings, are utterly opposed to any kind of unifying magic. Others, long ruled by Malkioni and Malkioni-ized nobles, no longer had any access to the king and chieftain magics, relying instead upon the feudal system - though these settlements are more common in the western Ditali peoples.

Of course, when they purged themselves of supposed "God Learner" influence, the Wenelians purged themselves of all but their most traditional practices. On the whole, this included the Lightbringer cults as well as foreign. With the generally harsh lifestyle and poverty post Sinking/Goddess Switch, cults such as Chalana Arroy and Lankor Mhy would be luxuries many clans could ill-afford. It was a Cultural Revolution...

But the Wenelian clans are such a patch work of broken and remnant peoples that its harder than usual to make sweeping generalizations.

Jeff