From: Nils Weinander (niwe@ppvku.ericsson.se)
Date: Mon 27 Jun 1994 - 22:26:06 EEST
Nils Weinander writing
Joe Lannom on my DI thoughts:
>No sir, can't say I like it.
>
>I like the rule as it stands now... people shouldn't be DI-ing for
>everyday stuff, but in situations where its "them or me", or sometimes
>"me or not me". Last resort, or "I really need this" situations, some
>danger should be involved... and not something that can easily be healed.
Well some people like gambling. I don't.
Martin (Argrath?) on the same subject:
>While I'm talking rules
>(gack! Me, talking rules?!), players shouldn't know how many DI
>points their characters have.
YES!! of course! why didn't I think of that?
Mark Buckley on the same subject:
>Have you tried the old StormBringer Elan system? That works quite
>well...
The rules for what actions are good for getting Elan are a good source of inspiration for what should generate divine favour.
Paul Reilly on a related subject:
> I think it's important to keep in mind that ancient religion as represented
>in Greek, Roman, Sumerian, Egyptian, and other sources (leftout some examples)
>had much more emphasis on the correct perfomance of rituals and/or promises
>of sacrifices than on 'faith' and 'devoutness'.
...
> Perhaps the "devout" quoted above means "dutiful, performs correct
>sacrifices, etc." rather than "loves the deity, etc." I am not trying to argue
>with Nils W., he just reminded me of something I've been meaning to say for a
>while.
Very good points. I think this how it should work in Glorantha. I also think that correct rituals etc on Glorantha is mainly a matter of correct actions. So that when a Humakt kisses the death rune on her sword and then strides into battle singing a funeral hymn for the poor bastard she is going to cut into little pieces she is performing the correct ritueal. When the Chalana Arroy healer is comforting a sick child and puts her soothing hands on his fevered brow, she is also doing the correct rites. What I am trying to say is that the mundane actions are part of the ritual of the cults.
Sacrifice seems to have little importance, except for the personal sacrifice of magic points. As for rituals during active worship, there is very little information in the published material.
Martin/Argrath on Teshnos and castes:
> Indian castes are much more complex than Western Gloranthan
>ones. Rather than being a four- (or five-) way division, it is a
>division into hundreds of groups. The Brahmin/Kshatriya/etc.
>split is just varna or "color," not jati, or birth group. A
>person's jati determines customs and ritual practices, dietary
>rules, occupation, and of course marriage. A jati is like an
>Orlanthi clan, but is endogamous (marrying only within the jati),
>rather than exogamous. I can see something like this in Teshnos.
>"I am of the Phatum caste of Warriors--maintain your distance,
>impure stranger."
Sounds interesting. I see that I have a lot of information gathering to do.
Nick on Teshnos (Night caste):
>Of course. I thought this was your intention, by having a fourth caste but
>not stating its solar aspect.
It wasn't at first, since I thought of the casteless as outside the system, but the name would be fitting so I'll stick with it.
>Exactly my point! Reincarnation = Teshnan thinking; release from cycle of
>reincarnation = Kralori thinking. Is there a problem with this?
Ah, that's what you meant. I must be getting really slow. This makes perfect sense. Now some implications. If inifinite reincarnation is the original Teshnan-solar philosophy, what's the stage after Zitro Argon/Evening caste? {Yes I have shuffled the Noon/Evening names to suit the deity} even more reclusive Aether worshipping? rebirth in the Upper World as a Fire angel?
Another thought: if we see Zitro Argon/Dayzatar as more oftenly worshipped in Teshnos than in other lands this can have two implications: either the Teshnans know some secret on how to reach this aloof god, or his worship, Teshnos mode, started in incredibly ancient times, before he withdrew beyond the sky dome. The second would make Teshnan society _very_ old {which I like, anything to screw the Brithini's superiority complex based on age of culture :-)}. So, which seems more likely?
Nick on Zoria
>Nils W> Where is Zoria?
>
>North Fronela. Where they invented Swedish Blondes, the Sauna, and various
>other essential aspects of civilised living.
I'm swedish, but I'm black-haired, not blonde, so I guess I'm not to consider myself as an essential aspect of civilized living :-)
Paul Reilly on the theory of magic:
> A very common phenomenon in magic is the person projecting a bit of
>herself through into the Otherworld.
...
This is by far the best explanation of (Gloranthan) magic I have ever seen. Long round of applause!
> OK, the phenomenon is widespread. Shamanic, theistic, and Western
>cultures all have this. I am not sure about the Easterners; instead of
>entering the Otherworld they may just gradually realize the unity of
>things - this world may _be_ their Otherworld. Not sure, leave them
>out for now.
Being an east Glorantha fan I second this approach. It sounds like a very good explanation of the different approaches of east and west.
Guy Hoyle's obituary for Valgrim Bull-Answers-Twice:
That's how characters should end their careers!
/Nils W
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