Re: Seven storms, fighting storms, seven wind (Orlanthi theology)

From: Boris Yarko <babeldemeter3_at_oCqLh0cCCnUBI1oo5BrYf-X4az0Xj5MsbCTvvhMubeBWqZXtHRNHcBVvupiVaA>
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:03:44 -0000

First, I would like to thank John and Donald for their responses (and the whitewall links). :)

Second, unfortunately their replies have bred an another burst of questions and thoughts... ;)

1. THE FOUR FIGHTING STORMS :

Donald wrote:
> I'm not sure there is a definite answer - I suspect it depends on
> who in Glorantha you ask.
> On page 169 of TR two alternatives are listed :
> The commonest one is Finovan, Helamakt, Hedkoranth and Enferalda.
> While the Lightbringer's Varient is Humakt, Elmal, Ohorlanth, and
> Heler.

The first list seems more suitable to fit with the problem of the death of Orlanth as Finovan, Helamakt, Hedkoranth and Enferalda are completely affected by the Fimbulwinter whereas Humakt, Elmal and Heler are not.

B) THE SEVEN STORMS :
> I think that Orlanth has seven storms: Daylanus, Hedkoranth,
> Helamakt, Ohorlanth, Vingkot, and Yavor all take the Storm affinity
> from Orlanth's Thunderous aspect, plus Vinga, whose Defender Storm
> subcult is the only ST subsult that has the Storm affinity other
> than Valind (see below). These are all "parts" or "children" of
> Orlanth. All of them are fighters.

I like the coherence of this proposal. Furthermore, they are aspects of Orlanth which are affected by the Fimbulwinter.

In this case Helamakt and Hedkoranth belong to both the Seven Storms and the Four Fighting Storms.

1)TR, p. 241 :"Once they filled the whole world, but the Lunars have forced them into tiny prisons. Six storms have fallen to the evil sorcery of the Lunar Empire, and they have trapped the seventh inside Whitewall."
--> According to this, it seems that six of the seven storms should have been already imprisoned when the siege of Whitewall occurs. So the magic of six of these subcults should disappear before the Death of Orlanth.
--> Why did it not happen ?

2) Which of the Seven Storms is the one "trapped inside Whitewall" ? --> Vinga ? (because of Kallyr Starbrow) --> Ohorlanth ? (because it is the "mother" of all storms)

C) THE SEVEN WINDS : I like the principle of cardinal directions, but it's not so easy to associate each cardinal direction with a known wind :

NORTH : Valind (with no doubt, the cold wind from the north)

WEST : ??? (why Humakt ? the western origin of Arkat seems a tenuous reason to associate Humakt with west wind)

EAST : Urox (with no doubt, Urox wind comes from the deserts lands of Prax)

SOUTH : according to Thunder Rebels p. 122, Heler seems to fit, he is the south wind which brings clouds and rain from the Choralinthor Bay. --> I don't really see the link between Kolat and the south. (TR, p. 125 : "Kolat winds are erratic, and come out any direction in any season.")

ZENITH / UPPER WIND : ??? (Orlanth because is the king of gods ?)

NADIR / WIND FROM BELOW : ??? (Humakt because of his connections with the Underworld ?)

And what is the seventh wind ? The MIDDLE WIND (Brastalos ?) ? or the INNER WIND ? the INNEXPECTED WIND (Kolat ? Eurmal ?) ?

Cheers

Boris