From: Graeme A Lindsell (gal502@cscgpo.anu.edu.au)
Date: Sat 12 Jun 1993 - 00:31:09 EEST
> A quick but vital point:
>
> Let's not overdo the sexual aspect of libido binding. We know that the
> Rokari Wizards are not celibate. While they stress marital chastity, a
> hereditary priesthood advocating total celibacy is on a hiding to
> nowhere...
>
Yes, that's if they are a hereditary priesthood. Since the Rokari are
the closest to medieval Christianity of any of the Malkionists, I think
their priests have a similar origin: younger sons of the nobility for the
ranking priests, sons of knights for the rest. I don't think their religion
is an exact copy of the Brithini; after all they outlaw tapping. The "What
My Father Told Me" says clearly that their wizard is celibate, and implies
that the others are as well. Of course, this may be due to them all taking
Vows...
Does anyone know much about the Zoroastrians? I recall hearing that they
are monotheists with a hereditary priesthood. Another interesting apsect is
that their God (Ahura Mazda?) is evenly matched with their devil (Ahriman).
All things that could be used as part of a non-Christian Malkionist theology.
But I really think the sexual aspect shouldn't be part of the core rules:
it imposes Gloranthan thinking on any other worlds GM's create. The shrill,
celibate wizard comment does not seem to unbiased. I think that celibacy
should certainly be a Vow, though. I also don't like the roleplaying
limitations either. A magus (I agree with Loren, a better term than sorcerer)
must have a magical view of the world, just like shamans and priests, but
I don't think it must be based on sexual repression.
> I like the idea of sectarian lists of Vows (*not* called Geasa -- that's
> barbaric!) to distinguish between different types of Wizard. Some vows you
I don't think Vows should be as severe as Geasa either. Certainly the
earthly monotheist parallels have forgiveness for broken vows. From what
I've read of Irish myth, the breaking of a Geas usually preceeded one's
death by no more than a week. To balance this, a Vow should get you less
than a Geas does; perhaps an increased chance of a POW gain while you
keep to the Vow?
> Nick
>
Graeme.
0,,
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