From: Sandy Petersen (sandyp@idcube.idsoftware.com)
Date: Fri 29 Apr 1994 - 17:15:11 EEST
VADELI SPECULATIONS
In modern Glorantha, only two varieties of Vadeli are known to have
survived: the Brown and the Red. The Blue class is supposedly
extinct, and has been so since Time began. However, in the First and
Second Ages, the Red class was also supposedly extinct, but when
Dormal Opened the seas, new islands were discovered, on which dwelt
Red Vadeli. The re-appearance of the Red Vadeli seems to have
invigorated this ancient race, and for a while after the Opening,
they traveled everywhere and using their new-found knowledge to gain
footholds in Jrustela and all the northen coast of Pamaltela, from
whence they were only ousted with difficulty. In fact, they still
remain, but are no longer the dominant naval power.
It's not unfair to compare the Third Age Vadeli's economic position with that of the ancient Phoenicians. They have little military or even political strength, but are ubiquitous traders, middlemen, speculators, spies, and meddlers. However, culturally they do not particularly resemble the Phoenicians (nor any Earth culture).
A comparison between the Vadeli and the Brithini is often made in Malkioni texts. The Brithini and Vadeli are ancient foes -- while they may not hold the instinctive significance that, for instance, elves and dwarfs share, they probably dislike each other as much as any two human races are able (i.e., heaps) and I can think of no recorded instance, either pre- or post-Dawn in which the two groups cooperated, except in those rare cases, such as I Fought We Won, in which "all" sentience were as one.
The original Vadeli had three castes: Brown, Red, and Blue. The Brown caste roughly corresponds to the Malkioni Farmer caste or the Brithini Dromal caste. The Red caste = Warrior/Horal, and the Blue caste = Noble/Talar. The Vadeli have no Wizard/Zzabur equivalent. However, all Vadeli learn sorcery, and in fact know many unique spells, as is only appropriate to such an ancient culture.
The Vadeli are one of the most secretive peoples in Glorantha. Even the Brithini are forthcoming compared to them. Not only do the Vadeli never tell outsiders any secrets, but they also prevaricate with facility. Complicated lies seem to come naturally to the Vadeli and they appear to spend a great deal of time rehearsing and coordinating their stories together. At least, every time a group of Vadeli are given the opportunity to collude together, they do so.
The Vadeli are immortal, so long as they do not violate the rules of their caste. These rules are never shared with outsiders, but some of them have been figured out by Brithini and other observers. The Brown Vadeli may not use any weapon associated with one of the elements. All other weapons (what's left over) are freely available (hammer, crossbow, dagger, tool, etc.). In addition, the Brown Vadeli may not captain a ship, only small boats. This last prohibition may explain why they did nothing overseas until the Red returned.
The Red Vadeli can use any type of weapon, and can serve as ship captains. They cannot farm or plow, nor can they fish with net or line, but are allowed to herd, hunt, and harpoon sea creatures such as walruses or whales. They milk their beasts, which is probably where they got most of their vitamins before the Opening, since plant food was hard to come by. Now, of course, they get grain and fruit from the Brown Vadeli. Before they had access to the mainland, the Red Vadeli kept only goats, while the Brown Vadeli kept both goats and sheep. Now, they also have pigs, domestic fowl, and all sorts of local beasts in mainland ports (horses, cattle, thunderbeasts, etc.)
It is unknown what the Blue Vadeli are good for. It is notable that the Vadeli have not engaged in any large-scale land battles, even allowing for their small numbers. In addition, the only major naval battle they fought was a disaster, costing them control over the Pamaltela seaboard. For that matter, their cunning plan to gain control over all the coastal cities by claiming to be gods only lasted a few years. These failings may signify a major shortcoming in the Vadeli "mix". The Brithini have been known to grouse that "If the Blue Vadeli had been around, their stinking hegemony in Umathela would have lasted generations." Presumably, their Vadeli grab for power would have been better-planned.
It is widely believed that one of the Vadeli caste strictures is a prohibition against revealing the Vadeli "secrets". Even under torture, the Vadeli are generally adamant about this, and have sometimes died, using a technique similar to the Lamsabi Seal Tongue ritual, rather than talk. Perhaps the Vadeli immortality has made them incapable of distinguishing between "inevitable caste-violation death because I blabbed" and "immediate death now if I don't blab".
Individually, the Vadeli are quite personable. They are affable, polite, and quick to apologize. Most Vadeli are both quick-thinking and intelligent. Though the Vadeli are friendly enough, most folks feel that the Vadeli friendship is somehow "superficial"; too slick for sincerity. Certainly when they are threatened, the Vadeli react with ruthless alacrity. Who knows? The general feeling is that it is "Easy to make a Vadeli's acquaintance, but impossible to become a true friend."
While the Vadeli are still only around in small numbers, their renaissance is obviously upsetting the Brithini, who remember ancient Godtime wrongs. Tales of Vadeli wrongdoing are spreading throughout Glorantha, some possibly true, some obvious lies. The best-known tales and their frequencyare as follows:
Sandy Petersen
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