Re: Teshnos in HW: Glorantha and HQ Voices

From: L C <lightcastle_at_vK21TRgLH5IPRF9hiPvlRJQtqSZvUj_ju3Y3VZqKJwTInWAtjUXJ_0r6-rGwr_Q6>
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:07:55 -0500

Santo Sengupta wrote:
>
>
> >
> Namaste:
> I agree with Zitrs being able to look into someone's Life Flame and view
> bits from their past lives. That being said, there are a few options to
> consider.
>
> 1) Only Zitrs can read Flame Poems. Considering how few Zitrs there are in
> contrast to the overall Teshnan population, the Zitrs are *very* busy
> people
> giving spiritual advice to the Flamed, and that one's past flames
> enter into
> one's life after intiation and once someone is well established enough
> to go
> see a Zitr. (Or have a wandering Zitr come to her.) I would venture that
> the Zitrs may even be able to see beyond a flame poem, and see snippets of
> someone's previous incarnations.
>

I'm up for the Zitrs getting all kinds of glimpses sometimes. They're Zitrs, and therefore full of coolness.

> 2) The Goddess Furalor, the Fifth Fiery Form, is the psychopomp of the
> Teshnans. She removes memories of your previous lives, and returns your
> flame into the world. It would follow then that her priesthood could have
> the ability to see the Flame Poem's (as they were inscribed by Endi Varo
> Furalor in the Pyre of Unending Judgement). This gives the priesthood of
> Furalor an even more important role in Teshnan society.
>

I like this. I could see them only being able to see *part* of the flame poem, perhaps? Maybe certain bits, concerning judgment. Perhaps they can't see the poem, but can see the quality of the flame and some identifying characteristics.

>
> 3) The Teachings of Chal contains a formulary with a spell that allows
> anyone with sufficient learning to see the Flame Poem. It's a fairly
> common
> past time to exchange Flame Poetry with others, and see if there are
> uncanny
> connections between strangers.
>

Is that from somewhere or are you just throwing it out for us to chew on? If the poems are oblique, mysterious, and deeply personal in view point, then I can see this. It is almost impossible to figure out actual historical details from someone's flame poem, but all kinds of neat personal resonances can come up. In this case lots of people know their own flame poems, though.

I could go either way on this last one, depending on whether or not I felt the knowledge should be common or not.
>
>
> I can see how any/all of these options would be really fun to play in.
> Teshnos is anything *but* a monoculture - regional variations would be the
> norm, IMHO.
>

mmm... If the zitrs are super rare, then I could probably go with them being able to get complete or near-complete information, and other sources have different bits they can illuminate. A given region tends to lean on these other piecemeal solutions to differing degrees.

LC