Re; The Paps

From: Ian Cooper <ian_hammond_cooper_at_dsr4MHnPxoxELwHRE9Veiec5kzANV0mEO6Fn539u39YSnU-CAUoYdnI8r>
Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 10:11:51 +0100 (BST)

>My Glorantha varies. I think the direction that BG has been taken in
Hero Quest is a pointless nerfing of a good, and much needed cult that has made it virtually unplayable. So I ignore a lot of >the HQ take on her in favor of a more Rune Quest approach. That's actually my approach to a lot of HQ religious developments.

First, I think its important to remember the 'revelation' that Greg had on this score in the HW/HQ era. Maran Gor is the goddess for women warriors of the Earth, Babeester Gor is the goddess of the vengeful earth. Babeester is extreme, single purpose, and probably much more suitable for npcs. For example, I've just added something to The Coming Storm where the clan can screw up on a heroquest and end up targetted by BG for punishment.

At that time this 'revelation' occured, Greg noted that a lot of historical references to BG should probably be read as MG instead. Much of the RQ era BG is in fact MG.

So whilst I agree that BG is not really a PC cult, much of what you thought of in the RQ has BG has been pushed to MG. MG does not come with the man-hating, genitalia wearing, blood-drinking requirements of BG. Boudicca is MG not BG (I don't think she is Vingan, nailing up prisoners to trees in sacred groves doesn't sound very Vingan, but could be MG). I think of goddesses like Morrigan when thinking about MG, in case that helps. Its not a pointless nerfing by the way. These two goddesses were too indistinct before, now they have more distinct roles.

Whilst the Tarsh Exiles are renowned for worshipping Maran, because her most important temple is in thier lands, there is no reason why one or two women warriors cannot worship Maran is most Orlanthi clans. (The one or two number is because that's what a lot of 'specialist' religions have in clans, same for Humakt for example). I think that women warriors in Esrolian armies are about MG not BG.

As for the Paps, well I would make the Axe Sisters something other than BG or MG but perhaps recognizable by both MG and BG as kin to their goddess (as Jeff says).

For Praxian women in general, I would look at having special women warrior societies that allow 'unique' women to step outside traditional gender roles. For a native american analogy see: http://sunshineskyways.blogspot.com/2006/04/cheyenne-women-warriors-marginalized.html

Ian Cooper

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