Re: How prevalent is magic?

From: Trotsky <TTrotsky_at_...>
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2012 18:37:32 +0000


michaelL wrote:
>
>
> I know YGWV and all that, but how prevalent is magic in Glorantha? I'm
> reading Thunder Rebels at the moment and hoping to run a campaign in
> Glorantha in the near future based in Sartar. I'm probably not going
> to use HQ rules. I've heard that Glorantha is a higher magic setting
> than like Harn.
>

Almost everywhere is a higher magic setting than Harn :) But, yeah, magic is very widely prevalent in Glorantha, and, in fact, all adults can do at least some.

> I've heard that Heortlings can fly on the battle field and shoot
> lighting bolts. I'm assuming that everyone cannot do such magical feats.
>

No, not everyone's quite that effective - it really depends what they've specialised in.

> What can a common Carl do, if anything with magic?
>

If we're talking a standard farmer, then most of his magic will be farming magic. Since you've got Thunder Rebels, check out Allfather (p. 230), Durev (p. 232), and Orlanthcarl (p. 235) for a list of standard masculine farmer magic. Being a fairly aggressive society, though, it's worth noting that quite a few farmers will have at least some basic fighting magic, and there's a lot of people who are hunters, weaponthanes, or whatever, even before we take account of healers, god-talkers, and others who really focus on magic.

>
> And if they can do some magic, is it obvious that the feat was done by
> magic?
>

Yes, apparently it is. Unless it's concealment magic, of course. Exactly how obvious it is will be matter of taste, though.

>
> Where does this magic energy come from? I'm assuming the gods.
>

In the case of Orlanthi magic, yes, that's where most of it comes from. The powerful stuff, anyway. You perform your sacrifices regularly, and the gods give you magical power.

> But does some come from their ancestors? Would each have some magical
> reserve?
>

Yes, some of is from ancestors, or from local entities of various kinds. Maybe there's a magical daimone inhabiting the prominent rock at the edge of the farm, or the special well that's nearby. You can get magic from them - not much, because they're small, but a little. And people do have some magic within them naturally, so there's always the odd little talent here and there that some people have.

-- 
Trotsky
Gamer and Skeptic

------------------------------------------------------
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