Barntar: Son of Orlanth?

From: parental_unit_2 <parental_unit_2_at_-b6u2gVzrHZvapWfTsWwpCgeo5HpKmYJnwlOaZeiKxMpkywbWJDdY5FJ1Q-o>
Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 16:00:47 -0000

A discussion on another list raised a question: Why isn't Barntar a subcult of Orlanth in _Thunder Rebels_? Instead, he's a very minor cult in _Storm Tribe_.

More generally, how does farming magic work in Sartar? The main farmer subcult of Orlanth, Durev, provides magic for work, making things, and being a father, but nothing specific for dealing with domesticated plants and animals. There's an "Orlanthcarl" subcult for farmers, but _Thunder Rebels_ lists it as archaic (like Varanorlanth -- Orlanth the Wild). There's also an Orolmarn herder subcult, but that has no magic for dealing with crops.

One interpretation is that most men don't have farming magic, but depend on women who worship Esrola for it. Another (broached on the other list) is that Barntar is more important, and more closely-tied to Orlanth, than _Thunder Rebels_ lets on.

Making Barntar a subcult of Orlanth could create problems for past Sartar Rising materials, however. For example, it would prevent former Orlanthi in Lunar lands from worshipping him.

Rob