[Glorantha] Re: Chaos continued

Claude Manzato:

>Somehow, I alway tought that the main relation between acts and chaos
>was intention.

In a sense, yes I think so. Whether or not what you are doing invites chaos depends on whether or not it involves a denial or sacrifice of the Great Self - of your connection to the cosmos and your kind. It's not just the intent, it's intent plus an action that makes that intent a real material change.

>When you commit one of this acts, you can stengthen Chaos (become a
>broo, gain a chaotic feature, atract chaos monster,...)
> -If you do it "on purpose" and consciously (presumably for the
>destructuve power chaos can bring) it is almost sure to actualy
>strengthen Chaos. In a way you are worshipping Chaos...

Any act that falls within the domian of a god is, from a theistic point of view, automaticaly worship of that god because it strengthens that power. Of course if you actively invoke that power, you are more likely to trigger more immediate and obvious consequences.

> -If you do it without this intend there is still a non-negligeable
>risk. The perpetrator would likely call himself evil, but not chaotic.

I don't think people who do this sort of thing always are aware of what they are doing. A cannibal preying on people he considers weak and inferior, even sub-human, doesn't know what the consequences might be but is still exposed to them.

> -If you do it in a non-chaotic mythical frame (maran gor, bloody
>tusk, blood sun) you are quite protected and would only exceptionnaly
>strengthen Chaos. People doing this would not see themselves as chaotic
>nor evil.

The question is, what is a "non-chaotic mythical frame"? My contention is that it's a context in which the act is done in a natural context and done with (at least minimal) respect to the value of the target. Hunters generaly respect their prey, Praxians use the Peaceful Cut to send the souls of their animals to the next life, Trolls may enslave ghosts, but they don't annihilate them and remember they come from the underworld. They have a different eprspective on death, that's all.

Ogres deny their humanity, so they aren't human. Broo objectify their victims, and so they are themselves objects, not people. Thanatari gut gut the minds of their victims and ultimately fall prey to the same fate. Scorpion people lay waste to their environment untill they are unable to sustain themselves on it. They deny the intrinsic value of the things they exploit, only valuing it for what they can get for themselves, and contribute nothing back thus rendering themselves valueless. That's what Chaos is about.

Simon Hibbs Received on Wed 03 May 2006 - 00:38:58 EEST