I'v never been fond of the metaphor of the gods 'choosing' people in Glorantha,
although I'm quite sure at least some societies explain it that way.
/// That's the point : it's explained this way. But fact is, your players pick
up which Runes they like and then you build a cult around it. For the
characters, being born with a specific Rune is like being born tall, or smart,
or red-haired or whatever; in fact I think your runes do affect your aspect.
Gods actively intervening in the Middle World to select which mortals will be
their followers seems to give them too much agency and free will.
/// They don't. Their followers just think they do. This is what gives them
power. But you can't explain you were born with the Air Rune because of genetics
and chance can you, you bastardly meldek ??
Whether you can change your composition, or have it changed for you,is an
interesting question. There's some evidence it's possible: but I'm not sure if
that's a case of them actually gaining it, or "discovering" or "awakening"
something that was already there but hidden.
/// I stand with that. It's always been there, deeply hidden in you. Theism is
what you ARE.
In game terms it's the same thing, but in the Gloranthan/Watsonian perspective,
it's not.
/// And it's all a matter of perspective. THERE IS NO TRUTH, no Noumen. There
are only our puny mortal perceptions.
Of course this only applis to theistic magic. As far as I'm aware your character
could learn sorcerous fire magic or control an animist fire spirit regardless of
her own runic make-up.
/// If so he becomes a weirdo shaman-licker or worst, a soul-leeching meldek. If
he like fire magics so much let's burn him at the stake with clean Mahome Fire.
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