From: Michelle Ringo (Michelle_Ringo@ed.gov)
Date: Fri 01 Jul 1994 - 17:39:25 EEST
Thanks to all of you who have kindly thought to name a
Rokari Saint after me. I agree that it should be a
"Gloranthan" name, if done at all.
I would like to put forth my argument for why
Hrestoli/Loskalmi are more egalatarian than other Western
cultures.
I agree that Book 3 of the Genertela Books under Western
Soldier does state that under "Gender Relations" Western
culture is dominated by patriarchal structures, paternal
ancestors, etc. Men are the rulers, highest church
authorities, warriors and hard workers. Women are the child
bearers and hearth keepers. However, this does not
preclude strong roles for women. "Dominated by" is not
the same as exclusively. Even Seshnela has female
enchantresses.
Under Loskalm in Genertela Book 2, Page 19: "The old and
respected kingdom is rich, stable and confident of its
future The _unusual_ meritocracy based on a revival of
Hrestoli beliefs [whatever those may be], has produced a
_fair and integrated_ society . . . cities thrive, . . . ."
Meritocracy is a system by which advancement is based on
achievements, or ability. Leadership by talented achievers
(per Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary).
This is not implicitly a gender biased approach to
advancement.
I would argue that Loskalm has the traditional
gender roles (like all the other cultures described
throughout the Genertela books), but also like the Lunars,
Orlanthis et al, has men and women both switching roles, and
not all roles are gender specific.
Wizardry, Sorcery, Priesthood would not be gender specific.
One of the differences in Hrestoli based worship amongst the
wizards (unlike the Seshnela wizards) is that they "do not
rail against the common pleasures, nor threaten loss of
Solace for feeling no guilt over love and hunger". This
moves further away from a celibate priest/monk approach of
the Catholic church.
My interest in all of this comes out of the fact that the
Kingdom of War vs Loskalm clash looks interesting for gaming
within. Thus far, I would not run a female PC in the
Kingdom of War, but I could see strong women PCs and NPCs
coming out of the Loskalmi culture. Varying in type from
St. Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Eleanor of
Acquitain, Catherine de Medici, Fighting Nuns of Saint
Myshella. There is not dicta that women can not be members
of the Order of the Red Garter and the Order of the Swallow.
Yes, history of the Loskalmi reflect that only men have been
Kings and Heads of these Orders. Analagously, the USA has
no prohibition against a woman president, but simply has not
had one elected to date. Until Margaret Thatcher the UK was
in the same situation. That which has not happened is not
per se forbidden.
I would see the women warriors of Loskalm as using archery
of a type other than the crossbow and as using spear in a
melee situation. From a sociological perspective if a
culture has a warrior class to which women can be are
expected to aspire to, the proper physicality and aggression
can be developed.
Another possibility for women roles in this area are as
merchants, auxilarly support to the war machines of either
side, part of a subversive underground movement for peace in
the Kingdom of War. Nevertheless, at least one side of this
conflict should be fairly attractive to PCs of both genders.
From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RQ Digest Maintainer)
To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (Daily automated RQ-Digest)
Reply-To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RuneQuest Daily)
Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Sat, 02 Jul 1994, part 3
Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM
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