From: Stephen P Martin (ilium@juno.com)
Date: Thu 12 Dec 1996 - 09:01:28 EET
Hi. This is my first time actually on the Digest, though MOB posted some
bits for me a very long time ago. And yes, MOB and everyone, I swore I
wouldn't because I didn't have time, but oh well.
So that everyone can breathe a sigh of relief, I promise not to post to
often, go on at length, or be stubborn. Much.
Anyways, since I am working on a Praxian issue of The Book of Drastic
Resolutions (for Gloranthacon British Columbia release), I thought I
would chime in on this subject.
Notes from Chaosium/Sandy Petersen on Praxian marriage customs state the
following (in my words):
In most cases, the herd beasts are individually owned by tribal women.
When a woman marries, she receives a share of her mother's cows as if the
cows were being divided equally among her mother and all her sisters;
thus, if a mother had four daughters, each daughter would receive a fifth
of the owned cows upon her marriage. When the mother dies, all her
remaining cows are given to her eldest son's wife. Similarly, when a son
marries, he often gains two of his mother's bulls to offer as a
bride-price, in addition to any captured beasts he owns.
Now, I see this as the norm, each of the tribes, and possibly even
different clans, might have variations on this.
Elf Adoption Rituals
Again, some old unpublished notes give details of how humans join the
elves. It is as bad as Trollpak, I am afraid. As with everything old like
this, it may no longer be true, or may not be true everywhere. I also
think it is extremely rare that elves would allow a human to attempt to
become an elf.
"Initiation into the cult of Aldrya is not a casual event for an
outsider. All Aldryami are born into the cult. Something in their very
makeup makes them acceptable to the Forest Mother. This is lacking in
non-Aldryami, and must be corrected."
This goes back to the original write-up in Cults of Prax, which talked
about the percent chance a person of given race and sex would be
acceptable to the cult.
The paper goes on to describe the ritual and requirements. The human is
forced to perform some act which is unspeakable for him to do, often
including murder, incest, rape, cannibalism, or disfigurement. This is
supposed to prove that he has "the will of an elf."
He is then nailed to a large holy tree with copper stakes, one
per limb. They cut ou7t his thigh and upper arm bones, and replace them
with sticks. He is gutted and most of his organs removed, replaced with
plants, seends, and soil. A hole is chopped in his forehead through the
skull, and a dried root stuck into the brain. Genitals are amputated and
seeds planted.
He is then stuck into the tree to metamorphise. Eventually, the tree
Back to more pleasant topics. Is anyone interested in seeing articles on
grows a nut, out of which the new elf sprouts.
The Night Sky in Prax, Praxian Seasons, or the Cult of Oakfed for
comment? Anyone out there have any Praxian material which they would like
me to include in this issue? Finally, can anyone design a "Praxian" rune
to use as the title for this volume?
Stephen Martin
ilium@juno.com
The Book of Drastic Resolutions
drastic@juno.com
------------------------------
End of Glorantha Digest V4 #11
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