From: Brandon Brylawski (brandon@caldonia.nlm.nih.gov)
Date: Wed 06 Jul 1994 - 18:34:29 EEST
Regarding women in Glorantha, I thought I might tell about the group I currently GM for.
The campaign is set in Prax, centering around Sun County and Pavis. Three of the characters are men : one is an ex-templar farmer forced to take up adventuring by disaster, one is an Orlanthi exile from Sartar hired/impressed into service by a Sun County official, and one is a Bison shaman, without a bison (long story) that the group has picked up along the way. The other three characters are females:
Sister Alfreya is a Chalana Arroy from Boldhome, an older (42 years old) initiate who has traveled to Sun County because of a dream. She has a mouth on her that just won't quit and a very sarcastic and sardonic tonuge, something that is pretty irritating to the macho males around, particularly the Yelmalion group leader Sunny. On the other hand, she is a woman in a woman's role; furthermore, Chalana Arroy is really a Solar goddess (everyone in Sun County knows that!), even if she was disobedient and stayed on Glorantha to heal the injured while all of Yelm`s other loyal retainers (save Yelmalio) tropped off behind their leader to Hell.
Valera Hopsturner is a diminutive Lhankor Mhy from Nochet (!) who has been bitten by the archaeology bug and wants to go see the Rubble with her own eyes. The Sun Domers are, by and large, confused by her. However, as long as she keeps covered up and doesn't talk much, she's not too offensive, just supremely foreign and strange, especially with the beard.
The third character needs an introduction. Darius Sunspear is a retired Templar sergeant of incredibly distinguished service who was forced to retire when a Troll maul crushed his right hip and it did not heal properly: he can still walk, but cannot march in step. He went back to his family estate near the town of Yellowrock and soon became headman due to his natural talent for leadership and determination. Sometimes he would receive visits from important officials in the Sun Dome, men who had been soldiers in his regiment and then gone on to higher rank and office. He took a wife, whom he loved dearly, and settled down to live the Good Life. In time, his wife bore him three sons, Yelm be praised! But Fate was cruel, and each time the couple drank bitter waters, for no son lived to become a man. His wife then bore a fourth child, a daughter, and died in the birthing thereof. Sunspear's heart was broken, and he never took another wife. What now would become of all of his dreams of rearing a fine, strong boy to take his place in the Templars and carry on the family tradition of soldiery and service? Would he die an embittered old man, with none to carry on his name? No!! By all the Gods, By the Sky Dome and the Heavenly Sphere, if Holy Father Yelm had given him only a daughter, then she would be the son that he had wanted, and the warrior to carry his spear.
To the dismay of many and the shame of some, upon his daughter's eighth birthday Sunspear gave her a blunt spear and a wicker shield and began her training as a fighter. He trained her harder than he would have trained any boy, for he knew that she would have to be twice as good to pass the tests as any man, and twice as tough to withstand the hatred that society would inflict upon her. Otehrs spoke to Darius, to dissuade him from this perversion, but he was a lonely and determined man with the unshakeable strength that comes from command, and their efforts came to naught. She grew up knowing nothing but fighting and training and the endurance of pain and discomfort without complaint, and had none of the joys of children past the age of eight. At fourteen, Darius presented her to the priest for initiation into the cult of Yelmalio. The priest demurred, and would have refused. But the elder Sunspear recalled when the Priest had been a simple private in the Templars and would have been killed on campaign had it not been for his Sergeant's timely action in rallying the troop; and the priest could not refuse. But he did set her a series of fierce tests, much more stringent than any which young men had to pass: she passed them, every one, without pride and without difficulty. And lo! Yelmalio did accept her, and did grant to her a great boon and extract from her a great oath. And the Priest there had to acknowledge her as a true follower of the Light. But he warned : "She may have met acceptance of the Lord of Light, but be warned that she may never meet acceptance of those around her, who will see her woman's form and hate her for not knowing her proper role. She will not even have the comfort of the followers of Yelorna, who at least have sisters around them who understand their strange and warlike ways. She walks her path alone." And so it has been. Her name is Andromache.
Brandon
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