From: Daniel McCluskey (Volt Comp) (a-daniem@microsoft.com)
Date: Tue 12 Nov 1996 - 20:32:43 EET
Peter Metcalf
>The point is that I am highlighting the lack of difference in kind (not
>in degree) between what you say it was like then and what it is like
>now. Given this, it is pointless methinks to ascribe events then to
>the free will of the Gods and events now to the Web of Arachne Solara.
The vital difference is in the Effect, not in the events. In godtime,
when Humakt killed Grandfather Mortal - people started dying and KEPT ON
dying. When Orlanth Killed Yelm, It was Dark (up here) FOREVER (untill
LBQ -- another action). Now, when Actions occur, the effects erode OVER
TIME. Then effects were Permanent. Events are the same, but the
Effects are different. It is this Change in Effects that is IMO the
huge and important difference created by the compromise.
David Cake, paraphrasing Michael Raaterova:
> It seems to me all to much like - things in the Godtime and Now are
>pretty much the same, but in the Godtime they were that way because the
>Gods wanted it that way, but now they are that way because thats the way
>they were in the Godtime and the gods don't want it otherwise. Or even
>something like the world continues the way it always has, but in the
>Godtime it was because the gods wanted it that way, but now its because the
>gods don't want it some other way.
I think a better summary would be:
Things in the Godtime and now are pretty much the same, Except that in
the godtime, when something was done it stayed done, and now you have to
do it over and over again. The Gods agreed to this to make it harder
for Chaos to destroy the world, at the expense of their (the Gods)
ability to act freely.
In Godtime, If you went to Ernalda and gained her Blessing, your fields
would Flourish indefinately. If Broo infected your flock, you would
never again breed anything but chaos monstrosities from the poor
animals.
Now, You perform rituals every year for your fields -- this years
success has no effect on next years harvest. And when the Broo come a'
courtin... just Killem -- next years calves will come out OK.
> Personally, I think just face up to it - the gods don't have free
>will. Maybe in the GodTime they did, but that doesn't mean the world acted
>according to divine whim, it meant the gods where not yet trapped into
>following their set paths.
Right. The gods gave up Free Will at the end of GodTime. They set a
>>But I believe that if you ask the Orlanthi godi if time existed
pattern for the world in the image of GodTime, so that their
worshippers might have a chance to exist. This pattern is called "Time"
>
> While the GodTime sounds like a lot more amazing things happened,
>bear in mind the MUCH longer time period. Apart from the one or two really
>BIG anomalies, like the missing sun,
Exactly! Anomalies like the seasons... you can count them on one
hand... (an approximation, as I do not have a calander on hand...
There's one more, but I'm fairly certain the pattern still applies)
Green Age == Spring.
Golden Age == Summer.
Storm Age == Fall.
Great Darkness == Winter.
Glorantha Passes through the Entire Godtime every year. No wonder
things are a bit more hectic nowadays.
>>before Time, and then plagued him with paradoxes *like* the CA paradox, then
>>they would happily admit that time was more of a storytelling aid than
>>anything to worry about.
>
> I think he'd accuse you of God-Learnerism or Nysalor riddling, hit
>you a bit, and if you still wouldn't shut up, run you out of town.
Hear, Hear!!! I agree 100%... ( At LEAST we agree on what things are
like Now.)
(Asbestos Disclaimer: I really am not trying to discredit anyones
viewpoint here, and do greatly respect everyone I'm arguing with. I
just want to make sure that when you decide I'm wrong, you really KNOW
that I'm WRONG. :-)
danm
>
>
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