[Glorantha] Benefits of Illumination

Simon Hibbs:

>I'd certainly agree with this in the context of the Third Age. What
>remains of Nysalorian Illumination is a fragmented parody of the
>orriginal and most (but I would argue probably not all) 'modern'
>Nysalorian Illuminates are Occluded.

>However they are still aware of the All at some level and hence are
>still Illuminated.

My old HeroWarsy version of Illumination is that it is not a fragmented parody but rather potent knowledge that had been separated from its original context and as a result is far more destructive because of it.

The Illuminate is cursed with a sense that nothing is real. Their use of magic from many diverse cults and their immunity to Agents of Reprisal stems from this realization.

In Lunar eyes, Illuminates are occluded but that IMO they would say that about Draconists as well. As for having a sense of the All, I'll have to disagree. They lack a sense of the All which goes deeper than mere occlusion. Their whole life is full of cosmic doubt that is concisely conveyed through their riddles (and I think the riddles were originally developed by Illuminates to express their psychic agony rather than a teaching aid).

The Lunar Examiners could try to "cure"
illuminates by shocking them with All. But IMO this would require far stronger manifestations than they actually feel safe in handling (as well as being likely to kill the patient).

Given the limitations on Lunar Illumination that has been presented in ILH-2, I don't think the acquisition of magics is cost-free at a personal level. Instead once the illuminate has successfully proven the god is unreal, he acquires a vice which is the opposite of that religion's virtues (thus cowardly for a Heortling god, sacrilegious for a Praxian spirit etc) as a mark of his rejection of that religion's mores.

--Peter Metcalfe Received on Sun 04 Feb 2007 - 10:44:17 EET