From: boris (mab@batman.b11.ingr.com)
Date: Thu 03 Nov 1994 - 18:50:49 EET
In X-RQ-ID: 6834, Michael Hitchens wrote:
> Here is one result of my mis-use of the term "myth". The Godplane is
> continually acting itself out (if you see what I mean). Most myths
> correspond (at least roughly) to the state of the godplane). Those that
> don't either mean trouble for their worshippers or a heroquest to change
> the godplane is in the offing.
But they correspond to the state of the godplane *where*. Only Greg (and possibly Sandy) knows what the "TRUE REALITY" (if any) of the godplane is. Possibly even Greg doesn't know. It may be a meaningless question, even. However, I have come up with a model that gives results that I like. Keep in mind, this is *just* a model, and like any models, it will break if pushed too far.
I think of Glorantha as resembling, in a metaphysical way, an onion. The mundane plane is the skin. Everything inside the skin is the godplane. Whenever someone heroquests, they push themselves a little bit into the onion. The more "powerful" a quest you perform, the further into the onion you push yourself. And as you go further in, you come between the "center" and a larger part of the surface. Thus more powerful heroquests will have more far reaching effects than less powerful ones.
Different places on the skin of our onion correspond to different cultures in Glorantha. Cultures which are similar, such as some of the more closely allied tribes of Sartar, will be near each other on the skin. Cultures which are less similar will be further apart on the onion (even if they are geographically adjacent in Glorantha, such as the Telmori and the Culbrea). Thus the myths told about Orlanth, frex, by the Lismelder, will differ from the Colymar myths, even though they reflect the same core (if any), because they pass through different sections of the onion. A Colymari would have to heroquest mightily to get far enough into the onion to overshadow both his tribe and the Lismelder tribe. And the further in you go, the more powerful the opposition is (the more potent the juice, so to speak).
Note that there may not be *any* center. To mix metaphors, it might be turtles all the way down. But the deeper you go, relative to the skin, the larger a portion of the surface you impact.
Also note that this model is just about the Godplane. Trying to extend it to apply to the spirit plane or the heroplane (or whatever the place is called that you go to when you heroquest in Time), will probably break it.
--
Boris Mikey, aka |"Here the ways of men part: if you wish to Maurice Beyke | strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then mabeyke@batman.b11.ingr.com| believe; if you wish to be a devotee of Intergraph doesn't want | truth, then inquire." my opinions. Nietzsche Maurice A. Beyke |Usenet: mabeyke@ingr.com | CR1100 |Office: (205) 730-6153 | Post No Sigs! Intergraph Corp |Lab: -6384 |Huntsville, Al 35894-0001|This sig. is politically correct and CIS friendly.
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