From: Guy_Robinson.sbd-e@rx.xerox.com
Date: Wed 19 Jan 1994 - 12:05:24 EET
Graeme Lindsell writes:
>>The Elemental Runes refelect one of the key strengths of RuneQuest, they
> The Taoists have five elements I believe, the four Greek ones plus Void.
I though I`d seperate this one out. First off the presence of the Lunar
Secondly the is the issue of real world elemental decomposition.
The conventional Greek elemental decomposition was not the only one
>>reflect a cosmology not entirely enherited from the Greeks by Western
>>Europe. As a student I researched Alchemy to give a talk to a student
>>society and the Greek elemental decomposition I uncovered was Earth, Fire,
>>Water and Air. The RuneQuest elemental division was less common.
>Similar to Glorantha before the Lunar Rune. Identifying the Moon as
>an element is odd: earthly religions I've read about have treated it as a
>sky god.
Rune is meant to jar with accepted elemental decompositions because the
the Lunar Empire is in some ways depicted as something unnatural. The
RQ2 rules are written largely from the perspective of the Orlanthi
culture into which the Lunar Empre has territorial ambitions.
postulated by the Greeks. The Greeks had many view points and the
existence of atoms, indivisable units of matters, where also conjectured.
Re-reading a book on Greek philosophy this morning I read about someone
who postulated the opposing forces of both Strife and Love in addition
to the elements.
Within the I-Ching six elements are described and each has associated
with it the cultural Chinese views. This divison is Earth, Heaven,
Wind/Wood, Water, Mountain and Fire. Taoist philosphy is, of course,
just as diverse as it's Greek counter-part.
In the Greek-flavoured fantasy of Glorantha Gregg appeared to revived a
less common view of the elements, for there are many, and added another
element to provide an almost unnatural contrast. The Elemental Runes
taken in context with the rest of the Runes in the RQ2 successfully
frames the culture of a strictly fantasy world.
Regards
-- Guy Robinson --
0,,
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