Re: What does death by "natural causes" look like in Glorantha? from Richard Hayes on 2010-12-20 (World of Glorantha)

From: Richard Hayes <richard_hayes29_at_nfzVZRNBCr0X8cYsCJhHgAl1toTgOO9j3lfMo8Jer7GPl17AKsxJAPg89S1E>
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:04:17 +0000 (GMT)

Chaps,

Don't know if it still reflects modern thinking, but iirc Cults of Terror indicated that Mallia's role, as mandated by the Great Compromise, was to bring death to those who didn't die of aything else first. In Glorantha disease is not exactly a natural cause, but there is still something inevitable about it.
Cultures which don't know Mallia (e.g. The West, Pamaltela, Kralorela and Vithela) will all have their own tales, as will non-human cultures. Here are a few ideas off the top of my own head:

There is something in MRQ about how elderly Aldryami take root, live as rooted plants and then die, so I don't see Mallia having a hand in that. Whereas Mostali (who used not to age/still don't?) will almost certainly see it as a sign that the World Machine still needs to be repaired; Dragonewts (which reincarnate) are probably less worried about it, as for them it is just a transition into living in a new body. I would not be surprised to find that Pamaltelans blame it on their Trickster; and As the West has an example of people who do not age at all (the Brithini), at least some people will see it as a result of departing from Logic. Indeed it may even be that all Westerners see ageing and dying of 'natural causes' as a consequence of departing from Brithini-style Logic -- maybe where they differ is more as to whether this post-Brithini life cycle of ageing and dying is necessary/good?
Richard Hayes

--- On Mon, 20/12/10, Jeff <richaje_at_s6Mz0fQiabUV96IRDBRVi-cU2TvYduOFkh2yBDbbmVoPCJW49jQyiZlEUT3PUlCMTyIKJAsGJj41b79F.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

From: Jeff <richaje_at_s6Mz0fQiabUV96IRDBRVi-cU2TvYduOFkh2yBDbbmVoPCJW49jQyiZlEUT3PUlCMTyIKJAsGJj41b79F.yahoo.invalid> Subject: Re: What does death by "natural causes" look like in Glorantha? To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 20 December, 2010, 10:37

> > Seems to me it needs a mythic explanation, relating to the Compromise, or why Death comes to (almost) everyone.
> >
> > "We die of old age because..." should be a story that people know.

Wait wait wait. Mythology is not an "alternative science" with a discrete myth conveniently explaining everything.

So I asked Silkenarl the Priest why we die of old age and he told me that all men are mortals because Darhudan the Father of Mortals was murdered by Eurmal and the first to be killed by Death.

"But why do we get old?" I asked.

"Because all men are destined to succumb Death. If they do not die from violence, curse, accident, disease, or evil spirit, they still shall die," Silkenarl replied.

"But what is old age?" I cried.

Silkenarl paused. "I do not know for certain, as the immortal gods are not subject to it. I think it is a curse by Eurmal, part of his cruel murder of Darhudan, but I do not know for certain, as I do not know Eurmal's secrets (nor do I care to). A Humakti Sword once told me that old age is how Humakt takes cowards. Far better, claimed the Sword, to die on terms of your own chosing. But I do not know for certain, since Orlanth is not the source of Death, merely one of His wielders."

Jeff

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