From: yfcw29@castle.edinburgh.ac.uk
Date: Thu 10 Nov 1994 - 18:09:48 EET
watson@csd.abdn.ac.uk (Colin Watson) says:
>The current rules imply that the use of MP/INT/spells is a peculiar quirk of
>the spirit itself which only manifests when the spirit is bound. That's what I
>don't like. It's too contrived.
I don't see it as contrived at all. It seems perfectly natural to me that certain spirits will have certain specific spells, powers or attributes dependent on their nature. Intelect spirits are splintered fragments of conciounsess; Power spirits are shreds of psychic energy; spell spirits may have more naturalistic orrigins. Eg an Ignite spirit may be a minor league relation of a salamander. Many shamans may think of spirit spells as being minor summonings, or invocations of spirits or spirit powers. That is perfectly in line with animistic belief.
To those who say 'I can disprove that by watching what happens with mystic vission', it is in the nature of magic that the observer will see what he expects. If there was a prefered magical reality in Glorantha that could be determined using magical analysis, then how come there is so much magical diversity? ... RQSight excepted. ;)
I can imagine another way to achieve what Colin wants. If Intelect and Power spirits are fragments of spirit conciousness and energy, where did they come from? Is it possible to perform psychic surgery on a captive spirit, ripping out the bits you want and bending them to a desired purpose? Such powers or techniques may be available via spirit cults. I don't see such activities as being chaotic at all, just darned unpleasant. Perhaps those who follow the horned man follow a naturalistic path, conserving the spiritual environment, while those who follow the bad man are psychic exploiters and polluters.
It am sure Colin and I can find some common ground here.
I think Joerg said:
>There must be a couple of gods in Glorantha unknown to anyone,
>but still there...
You mean like the one in Snakepipe Hollow, old barleyhead whateverhisnamewas.
German RQers : I will be visiting a friend in Regensberg in December. I arrive in Munich during the evening of Friday 2nd and will travell on to Regensberg that evening. At least, that is the plan so far. I will be staying in Regensberg for a week, I am going with another English frind and we will probably hire a car while we are out there. Do any of you live in that area?
Simon Hibbs
yfcw29@castle.ed.ac.uk
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