From: allen wallace (alwallac@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us)
Date: Sun 23 Nov 1997 - 21:08:30 EET
My thoughts on Voriof, Shepherds, etc.
It isnt likely that a group will have both sizeable herds of cattle
and flocks of sheep. Each tends to destroy the grazing for the other. This
is not just a wild western myth. In a cattle culture, any flocks will be
by necessity small so as not to damage the herds grazing. The flock will
be large enough to provide woo and no larger. Voriof will just not be that
important in a catle culture. The reason that Voriof would be a minor
cult, is because the warriors tend the cattle, and the warriors are where
the power is. The RW Celts are probably the analog for the Orlanthi. They
had sheep, but not really that many, at least not by the midden remains
that Ive heard about. The optimal traits for a cowboy, Celtic or
otherwise, will be fairly martial. Endurance, horsemanship, the ability to
work with your fellow cowboys, and a reasonable degree of aggressiveness,
cattle really are a big and aggressive herbivore. These are not the ideal
traits for a shepherd.
I doubt that Voriof is a childrens cult outside cattle country. In safe
and settled lands, with no serious predators, and where adults are pretty
much always within earshot, children were often left to guard the sheep.
Assuming the flock has a good lead ewe or bellwether, keeping them
together is not a problem. Actually it isnt really a problem with a stupid
one, flocks stay together, its what sheep do. The problem is keeping them
all from walking over cliffs or into the bog. A whole flock will happily
get themselves killed for any reason whatsoever. Thats the importance of
having a good lead animal. If the lead animal is raised to be comfortable
staying near the shepherd most of the shepherds life is easy. The sheepdog
is a relatively new phenomenon RW. The sheepdog really became needed with
more modern raising methods where the shepherd is sleeping at home every
night. This is less likely to be the situation in a Gloranthan context.
The main job for the shepherd is protecting the flock from predators.
Sheep are marvelous targets for even the most ineffectual of predators. In
all but the safest of lands there will be adults with the flock at all
times. The flocks feed and clothe the clan, the shepherds trinity of wool
meat and milk. I suspect that the alynx oriented Orlanthi, if any are
sheep rather than cattle oriented, would likely have a pack of the alynx
patrolling their pasturage making certain that they are the only predator.
The clan hunters perform similar functions, as well as keeping down the
herbivorous competitors of the flock.
Everyone has pretty well come up with appropriate cult magics. I
suspect the favorites would be speedart and a sort of demoralize predator
spell. I cant really go with Telmori - Voriof connection. RW cultures
havent accepted the people who went feral, and I really doubt that
Gloranthans who have demonstrable chaos and evil magicks will be more
tolerant. These people would be driven off or killed. Besides the optimal
personality traits of a shepherd will be patience, serenity, self reliance
and courage. This is someone who is going to be spending a great deal of
time with only themselves for company, and who will have to face any
threats alone.
As an aside, RW cultures have had dealings with humans gone feral.
It is possible that the basis of both the werewolf and the Scandinavian
troll may be feral humans. Running with the wolves can turn you into one
in several European myths, and the same is true with living with the
trolls in Icelandic folklore. He said, "Trund, Trund and the Trolls of the
Fell," and the man was seen no longer in the lands of men. Giving up the
ways of society takes you out of society, and the myths arent loaded with
people being redeemed. I think the Telmori step would put you out of the
society entirely and permanently.
These are just my thoughts, and some RW info from my wife
(who did the great back to the land thing in her misspent
youth)
Allen
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