From: Alex Ferguson (abf@cs.ucc.ie)
Date: Tue 22 Sep 1998 - 03:35:27 EEST
Jeff Richard sez, amid an attack of the "Marcel Marceau's":
> Ultimately, only Orlanth provides Thundering to the Orlanthi. Some gods
> that are essentially little more than approachable aspects of Orlanth (take
> the Thunder Brothers - the sons of Orlanth) may also provide the "storm"
> package, complete with the feat of thunder, but that does not contradict the
> truism - only Orlanth Thunders.
OK. Obvious follow-up -- is separate initiation into (say) Hedkoranth
possible, thereby being able to invoke Orlanth's Thunder "indirectly"?
You seem to hint at this, at least.
> Finally, Heler is not seen as a "homo".
I think "borderline pan-sexual" might be a better construction. Heler
Heler is certainly not the role model for "passive" homosexuality,
> He is a rather impressive martial
I thought the official take was "sometimes a martial deity, but rarely
is the role-model for promiscious sexual behaviour, I think this is
clear, and I believe that the Orlanthi probably see the "active"
(and hence "male") participant in a homosexual liaison in a not-very
different light than someone is simply not-very-discriminating
in his sexual activities generally. (I hope that does not sound
offensive to anyone. I'm trying to give a feel for what I apprehend
Orlanthi attitudes to be, not to speak of them overly-approvingly, or
worse, smirkingly.)
though. (Which would be Nandan, obviously.)
> diety who once conquered the sky and terrorized Glorantha.
an effective one"? (To quote or paraphrase, depending how close I got.)
> In theory, any stranger can participate in the adulthood
> initiation rites and anyone can offer worship to Orlanth. Or Ernalda for
> that matter. Anyone who wants to be an Orlanthi man can learn Orlanth's
> secrets, anyone who wants to be an Orlanthi woman can learn Ernalda's
> mysteries.
That's certainly at least half-right. Anyone who wants to become an
Orlanthi woman can learn Ernalda's mysteries -- even if they start out
as "apparently male". But is the reverse true? (I realise this may be
tangential to the point (I think) you were making.)
Slainte,
Alex.
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