From: Alex Ferguson (alex@dcs.gla.ac.uk)
Date: Thu 12 May 1994 - 22:20:45 EEST
Martin Crim:
> In RQ II, the storm gods had tin and the
> lunars had silver. In Gods of Glorantha, the storm gods had
> silver and the lunars had no associated metal.
I think bronze is associated with "crude, elemental Aer", or even just mixed earth and sky, while silver is linked with the Secret Power of the Middle Heavens, or something equally impressive-sounding. [Guy Hoyle posts a similar suggestion, I note (after the fact).]
> It is dangerous to
> forget that Gloranthan metals' english names are just analogues,
> but for simplicity's sake, we could call the lunar metal
> selenium.
Dubious root, since "Selenic" things seem to be associated with the Blue Moon in Glorantha.
> Another problem with Elder Secrets is that it does not give
> Lodril Enchant Aluminum (called lo-metal, for Lodril's metal).
I think this is simply mistaken, and based only on the metal's colour. After all, since Aluminium = Quicksilver, could they have different elemental and divine associations? In fact, "Enchant Quicksilver" surely works on the solid form, i.e., Aluminium, since liquid weapons and armour are of mainly comic use.
> It does give him Enchant Tin (Dayzatar's metal), which "is not
> often enchanted."
Redsmiths obviously _work_ with tin, hence the (thin) reasoning for allowing them to enchant it.
> Why does Lhankor Mhy get Enchant Iron? Does this make sense
> to anybody?
Not I. At a push, the Mostal/Stasis/Law connection?
> Annilla: Enchant Lead
[...]
> Xiola Umbar: Enchant Lead
> Saint Arkat: Enchant Iron, Enchant Lead
> Malia: Enchant Lead
> Vivamort: Enchant Iron, Enchant Lead (sorcerous)
I think I sense a pattern here. ;-) I don't think I agree with the (implied) idea that all elemental-associated cults get to enchant the corresponding metal: I think this is only the case for those cults which are "advanced" enough to have a need for it, and magically significant enough to provide the capability.
> Dayzatar: Enchant Tin
I agree with this association, but I think that in keeping with the rest of Dayzatar's rune magic, it should be expensive, and fairly useless.
> Godunya: Enchant Iron (Godunya magic)
This one seems a bit odd... I'm sure the Kralori have other cults for this purpose, and it's hard to imagine exarchs running around in enchanted iron plate.
> MALKIONI SECTS AND SAINTS (all sorcerous, and wizard caste only):
> Stygians: by saint or cult
Not necessarily sorcerous, for this one.
Paul Reilly:
> Alex Ferguson writes:
> > I happen to know a bit detail info on Jonstown, from the united
> > efforts of a group of friends in contact with Greg and AH.
Gah! No, not me, I was quoting Joerg.
> There has been much discussion of late on Initiation. I have come to believe
> that this is a development of the process by which a shaman develops a
> presence on the Other Side.
Sandy:
> Today, no human has Primary or Secondary information on the
> GL secret.
Eh, no _Gloranthan_ human. ;-)
> While Primary knowledge is impossible to obtain, I think
> that a band of dedicated PCs who worked hard could probably get
> Secondary knowledge.
Only if they have one of seven (?) people as their ref.
> >Enkloso: why are there two large areas in the north-east marked as
> >being free of both elves and trees? Are these areas human-occupied,
> >or deforested by some natural phenomenon?
> Those are technically in Vralos, not Enkloso. I believe these
> are the remnants of the so-called "Season Wars" which, as I recall,
> are now mostly ended in Vralos, but still being fought in the area
> south of Tortrica.
So what's in the "cleared" areas, then? Wasteland? Grassland, light vegetation, bush, light woodland? And do any humans live there?
> >Glorantha is absolutely, positively and with no doubt a Creationist
> >world with _no_ evolutionary history as we 20th century "humans"
> >know it. There is no point in classifying families in this manner.
> Except that, as I've said before, the classification system
> which we use today was developed and perfected by people who "lived"
> in what they firmly believed to be a Creationist world.
But if Linnaeus had lived in Glorantha, would he have invented a strictly hierarchical system in the face of man-shaped plants? Evolutionary zealots would say that he was "forced" to use a tree-shaped taxonomy, because of the Fundemental and Undeniable Truth of (divergent) evolution.
> And besides, who says Glorantha has no evolutionary history?
Having your cake whilst consuming same? ;-) I agree that Glorantha must have _some_ kind of "evolution", but if the mythic origin/development of most species is correct, a phylogenetic taxonomy for Glorantha _cannot_ be the tree-shaped thingy it is (and should be, despite my carping about the details) on earth.
Alex.
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