From: David Cake (davidc@cs.uwa.edu.au)
Date: Wed 29 Jun 1994 - 10:46:11 EEST
>PAMALT: owned by Pamalt. Represents: Pamalt's special power. This is
>a sort of artificial Rune invented by the God Learners to describe
>Pamalt's powers that seemed to transcend the other Runes. It is based
>on a native Doraddi sigil.
Tales 11 called it the Power Rune (which I seem to recall either Greg or Sandy calling it at one time). I play this (I am not sure if I believe it, but I believe some people believe it). Tales 11 also say it represents Kinship, which I do not go for much (it leaves me kind of luke warm, as with most of the Tales Pamaltela issue, because I didn't like John Hughes stuff that much (I thought it was much too obviously Australian Aboriginal, rather than Pamaltelan (whatever that may be)). I think Kinship is an oversimplification, and one aspect of the idea that is not that particularly associated with Pamalt (now Faranar might tell you that Kinship is it, but that is one reason why Pamalt is more important, because he understands better). I think Pamalts power is in cooperation, and everything in the right place. It is the power of Pamalt as leader, not because he is the most powerful, or because he is the most morally worthy, (though these may be true) but because it is his rightful place to be leader, and he knows everyones rightful place. It differs from Harmony in that it is an order that includes the harmony shattering warriors, and that can be used to fight, like Pamalt fought Vovisibor (not a harmonious act, but the classic use of his power). In some respects Pamalts Power is not putting society at peace, but making the tensions within society into strengths, not weaknesses. To Pamalt, the old women want Harmony and peace, and value kinship, the warriors want warfare and disorder and a chance to prove their individual prowess in battle, and value great deeds above lineage, and both are right, and both are wrong, and both are necessary for the tribe to be safe, sucessful, and strong.
Anyway, thanks Sandy for writing this. I got much the same information from you and Greg many years ago (6 or 7) and have repeated it on the daily at least twice already, so I am glad to see you say it so that hopefully it doesn't need to be repeated again.
Cheers
Dave
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