[Glorantha] Re: Changing (or not) reality via heroquests

Graham:

> One last comment. One of the heroquest rituals we understand best is that
> of forming an identification with a god, hero, etc.

I'd say that all heroquests involve this.

> ...This takes many forms -
> initiation, hero-forming, heroquest enemies, etc. The Lunars especially are
> adept at forcing their opponents into heroquest roles that give the Lunars
> an advantage. That would seem to me to be a clear case of heroquesting to
> change reality (on a fairly mundane level) while also being reliant on true
> insights of a deeper level.

I don't think this is a particularly Lunar trick. The Orlanthi do it regularly with the Summons of Evil quest. Also I don't think it's changing anything. It will only work if the identification between the 'mundane' target and the role they are being identified with is credible. For example trying to use an 'Orlanth defeats the Trolls' quest where he blows them off a ridge, isn't going to work very well against Yelmalions fortified in a deep valley. To be effective your heroquest ritual has to take advantage of real, valid correspondences.

Your previous points are largely fair, the realy deep truths usualy are too abstract to be useful in real life. The lesser truths can often be applied in different ways, which is why different cultures can use the same powers differently. However those uses must still be in accordance with the basic nature of the natural phenomenon or principle.

Simon Hibbs Received on Wed 02 Aug 2006 - 13:00:34 EEST