From: David Hall (Glorantha@compuserve.com)
Date: Tue 18 Mar 1997 - 23:55:59 EET
Martin Laurie:
>However, Humakti are violent folk, they fight among themselves,
>sometimes to the death and are always testing one another - theirs
>is an uneasy togetherness and unlike Orlanth worshippers,
>they have no cult and social reason to be cooperative.
Huh?
Humakti initiates are called Swordbrothers (sounds like a sort of family to
When soldiers fight, they fight for their mates. Cultural isolation and
The idea of every Humakti initiate having to be totally alone to be a good
Dammit! I know that when I die I'm going to join my old battle comrades in
me). Humakti duels are never to the death. Membership of the cult is reason
enough to be co-operative, especially when it's a regiment or warband. See
the cult and the swordbrothers as surrogates for the kin that initiates
have cut themselves off from.
experience of battle will only forge a stronger bond. Who can you really
trust? You can trust your battle comrades, those who follow the same honour
codes and oaths. Comrades who will die for you, and for whom you'd
willingly die.
Humakti is frankly terrifying to an old Orlanthi like me. Maybe it's right
for a nihilistic culture somewhere but not for the kin-oriented Orlanthi.
Humakt's Hall of the Dead, there to prepare to fight at Humakt's side in
the final battle. How can I be afraid of Death? I'll be with my battle kin!
All Hail the Bloody Moon!
David Hall
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