From: jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu
Date: Fri 24 Sep 1993 - 22:25:07 EEST
On the subject of faith and religion in Glorantha. How I intend to run things (I have always done so, but I will emphasize it more strongly from now on) in my campaign:
PCs are considered to be a bit wacko by the vast majority of society. People in Glorantha are automatically "initiated" into the religion at a given age. Now, stupid, ignorant God Learners would only be able to see this as being initiated into the religion of a single deity who is identified as the cheif of a pantheon. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that the person initates into the RELIGION, not a particular deity. I am currently writing notes for the major religions to be found in the Pavis area to show exactly what I would mean in game terms for this initiation.
Now, some wierdos or talented sorts may, at a later age, find themselves drawn to inner secrets of a particular deity of a religion. These are the "cults" as written up for RuneQuest. If the person is fortunate enough to be turned on by the dominant deity of a faith, then little happens excepting that this person has opened an avenue for further authority and respect among their people and a few special abilities can be gained over the "basic" initiation. Now, if the deity is not such a god, the initiate must undergo rituals to tie themselves to the new deity. Generally, a new sacrifice of POW is not necessary since this is considered to be a "friendly transfer" of a follower. For example, under Orlanthi faith, a young adult drawn to the path of Humakt would undergo a ritual in which his possessions are stolen from him by a Trickster, an Orlanth Adventurous would commit a ritual crime with the possessions, the incipient Humakti would renounce Orlanth for a time (possibly a season). This would be a very dangerous time for the incipient Humakti, since all divine and cult spirit magic would be taboo to use. However, in this time, the incipient Humakti is taught the inner secrets of Humakt. After the season, then the applicant is ritually reconciled with the Orlanth Adventurous and the Humakti is admitted into the rights and priviliges of a Humakt Initiate. However, he surrenders those of an Orlanth initiate. The Humakti has cut himself off from normal society, however, by these acts.
This is all still VERY VERY VERY rough, and I need to work it out. Once I have, I will make the details public.
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