From: Simon D. Hibbs (simon@fcrd.gov.uk)
Date: Mon 01 Jul 1996 - 16:50:47 EEST
On Sartarite attitudes to conversion to Lunar cults :
IMHO many of the Lunar missionaries in Sartar are likely to be of Tarshite
stock, or to have spent at least some time in Tarsh. They will be familiar
with Theyalan culture and mores and so will appear much less 'foreign' to
your avearge Sartarit than a heartlander. Cults such as Etyries, Irripi
Ontor and Yanafal Tarnils have their origins in Theyalan culture. I don't
think 'Lunars' like these would be considered any more foreign than a
Heortlander, or certainly an East Ralian. Sure, the Lunar heartland
commanders and Legionairs are realy foreign, but most Sartarites would
never actualy meet them, though they would see them around. It's the old
Hard Man/ Soft Man routine. All the high-ranking possitions in the main
temples would be usurped by Tarshite or Tarsh-influenced collaborators.
It seems to me that most Player Characters are extremist religious
fanatics compared to the average Sartarite. This is understandable as it
is prety much all we know about our character's background when it is
first generated. The rules produce 'Humakti' and 'Orlanthi' Adventurers,
they don't realy produce Sartarite hill tribesmen that spend most of their
lives herding sheep, but have had a bit of militia training. Most are
quite capable of understanding the similarity of Irripi Ontor and
Lankor Mhy so long as it is explained reasonably.
As for tarring the Lunars with the same brush as Broos (ie they are chaos
monsters), this is laughable. Everyone will know about the wild shepherd
in the neighbouring clan that turned out to be an Ogre (yeuch), or the
village further down the valley that have had a shrine to Malia since the
outbreak of fever a few summers ago, of course the local Chalana Arroy
Acolyte is scandalised, but has been unable to do anything about it yet.
Are the neighbouring clan all considered to be Chaos Monsters, or the
inhabitants of the village? Of course not, though they will not be well
liked.
If I remember correctly, the Sartarite clan cheiftan that was converted to
the Red Goddess was orriginaly an Uroxi who fought a guerrilla campaign
against the Lunars. My point is that before he is an Uroxi, even before he
is an Orlanthi, he is a human being. That means he is fallible, he can be
misslead and he can be corrupted - er, I mean enlightened as to the
benefits of Lunar Culture for himself and his people.
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