Re: Bestiality in Prax?

From: Andrew Larsen <aelarsen_at_j_mEtK48_CqrrcxnMtCmgKG_c8JJPn1jwtGM_ZnGD4ZCYngZVAFq3Wg3hQXr5gHl2WI>
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:14:16 -0600

I think the problem here is that in our society, personhood overlaps almost entirely with speciation. One humans are persons and all humans are persons (although we debate the outer edges like fetuses and those who are brain dead). But in Glorantha, personhood and speciation are not connected. There are lots of species that possess personhood (uz, Mostali, Aldryami, etc). This issue is particularly complex in Praxian society, because for most tribes, persons are two-legged and food animals are four-legged, but the morokanth and gern invert that rule. Morokanth are clearly persons, and gern are clearly food. So how do the other tribes regard them? Yes, they dislike the morokanth, and probably dislike them more than they dislike members of other two-legged tribes (because the morokanth are disturbing to their ideas of personhood and food-hood).

	But my feeling is that when you get down to it, a Bison Rider will view a morokanth as a person and a gern as a food animal. Waha and Eiritha insist on it.  And as all human history demonstrates, when people meet, eventually sex happens, even if it happens in strange, rule-bending ways.
	But yes, you're right that Praxian sex with animals should not see print.  That's fairly creepy. (In my Llama Rider campaign, the Eiritha player wound up speculating about how to milk a gern, which provoked some interesting discussion, but was definitely creepy.)  

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:01 AM, David Scott wrote:

> On 18 Feb 2012, at 11:02, Richard Hayes <richard_hayes29_at_4fNCFJt27cKKg9nfElhlrVwefgSE7BpCAT-n0TuTi6lcIGZIfY4nLkDYLdaWOfoL0NxHCy9Q57aMZP4fqk6RCPHN85I.yahoo.invalid> wrote:
>
> > What does bestiality mean in Glorantha, if Glorantha's concept of species is so different?
>
> I think that this is the important question. Our modern society has tells us that having sex with animals is wrong normally because the it violates the animals rights and it has no choice in the matter. However there are examples in history that this was not always the case. Have a look at the writings of Gerald of Wales. He records a kingship rite that suggests that the king to be has sex with a horse to consecrate him. There are are other historical tidbits like this to find. Also there is literature about these sacred unions in the spirit world, which is in shamanism is a common theme.
>
> In my Glorantha I can easily imagine that some of the fertility rites of eiritha involve having sex with sacred bulls. The same with the hsunchen, telmori, anyone with a divine companion of the opposite sex, etc.
>
> I would also remind people that not everyone is going to be comfortable with this in their Glorantha, so it's up to you what actually goes on at the ceremonies. If you want it all done with actors and masks in a sacred play, this is just as valid as origiastic rituals with animals.
>
> If we define exactly whats going on we run the risk of alienating some groups. I for one wouldn't like to see Praxian sex with animals in print, we don't want people pointing and saying look the weird roleplayers that play sex with animals.
>
> Luckily for us we have a fictional world to make things up in and we have the choice to make up what we like in our games.
>
> -----
> David Scott
> 07956-589433
> (emailed from mobile)
>
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