Re: magical resources

From: Peter Larsen <plarsen_at_ZQCkB8fdHsb4W5ufGykiKCJdrUO6bgJWTts6SoAHSZatXGhdLBJw5O10t77hO-2Nkq9V>
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 16:38:16 -0600


At 10:20 PM +0000 2/24/02, jeffkyer wrote:
>> At 2:58 AM +0000 2/24/02, BEThexton wrote:
>
>> specialist shrines depends on a) the mythic landscape (if you have a
>> large sword-shaped rock that talks, you bet you worship Humakt) and
>> b) the special needs of the clan. Plus, shrines are cool -- it seems
>> a pity to limit them so. I imagine things like -- there is a temple
>> to Orlanth near the chief's stead, and it doubles for general
>worship
>> of the Storm Tribe. However, elsewhere on the tula is the might
>> Thunder Oak, sacred to Orlanth Thunderous. There is a shrine to
>> Ohorlanth and Yavor there, but OT godi prefer the oak for their
>> rituals rather than the more formal temple. Stuff like that.
>
>I think there's a difference between a Shrine and a shrine. The
>former will probably have a full time or part time goddi and probably
>have special magics associated with it - this takes time, money and
>effort to maintain.

        Yes, I think the "Storm Tribe shine" every stead should have is not a formal Shrine at all, although it's vital to the religious life of the stead.

>A clan only has so much time and cattle to devote to this.

        If we take KoDP as a model, the tula can be pretty thick with Shrines after a century or two.... But I take your point. In any case a shrine requires a godi (or, at least I think so) and should impact/be impacted by the stead's daily life. A "real" Heler shrine causes/is caused by a stead (and clan) that honors sheep more than the Heorling average. And so on. Too many shrines/holy places and your stead is driven entirely by religious pressures and can't react to any "normal" problems.

>However, the smaller srhines are more colour and can probably be found
>in any clan or stead, being worshippped at when appropriate.
>
>"We know that Leekai of the Blue Flowers is there, always, but we only
>offer her the first honey of the hives when the Whistling Pox
>threatens our herds."

        Right.

> > >So how about this compromise. "Everyone" (in the Orlanthi sense of
>> >the word) goes to the chief's stead.
>>
>> It's great! I like this a lot, especially since pre-initiated
>> adults aren't needed in the Sacred Time rituals (except for a few
>> choice roles), and it keeps the kids from eying their clan-mates too
>> much. Better they get exposed to potential partners on other clan's
>> tulas....
>>
>> Peter Larsen
>
>Those who can go or wish to go to the Clan or Tribal ceremonies do.
>Those who have obscure or restrictued cults probably have to. There is
>a requirement that Greg mentioned that once a year you must attend a
>ceremoney with 2x7x7 worshippers of your faith. For folks like Chalana
>Arroy or Issaries or other '15%ers' that can onloy happen at the
>tribal or confederation level.

        That's true, too. I was thinking about the regular O and E worshippers, for whom this isn't much of a problem. The 15%ers have those same problems and more ("Not only do I get stuck at the stead during every major event, I have to ride past Wilmskirk twice a year to properly worship Elmal. It's enough to make a boy go all Yelmalian and run off to the Sun Dome.")

Peter Larsen            

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