Re: Demons, hell and chaos

• In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, Greg <Greg@...> wrote:
  >
  > YGWV
  >
  > valkoharja wrote:
  > > One character has captured a storm demon and bound it's essence within
  > > herself.
  >
  > Nasty! This is more like voluntary possession. Binding is not normally
  > done within one's self.
  > This might require constant reconquest of the demon, in my book. A
  > moment of weakness and POW! the demon takes over.
  

This is what I thought. My idea is that if the ritual is a complete success, then the demon is properly dubdued and assimilated. Lesser success levels give more problems, and indeed result in an endless struggle for dominance. Even on a complete success the demon's nature ill influence the personality and drives of the sorceress.

<snip>
> Maybe even worse than godless. Godless = atheist. Demonic = demonic.

True! I hadn't even thought about that. It's rather like being a medieval diabolist.  

> > But what is the attitude of the church(es) towards demons?
>
> They hate 'em. They are among the list of foes.

Roger. I'll remember that when running the character. She's a stormrider, that travels through the area about once in a generation. Powerful, but doomed in that "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" style. She is what she is, possibly eternally.  

> > Also what
> > are demons on Glorantha? Writing this character I was thinking of
> > demons like those that the Blackhorse Troop rides. Infernal, but not
> > chaotic. Is this the norm?
>
> Demons are, as explained in AR (I believe) either from the
> Underworld or chaotic.
> Although the term can also be used for something highly hostile. To
> uz, a sky being is demonic.

Right.

> > What, ultimately, is the difference between
> > demons of chaos and those that are more naturally a part of
> > Glorantha?
>
> The chaos. If one is incapable of quickly discerning whether
> something is chaotic or not, then, well, it's a demon. And all
> demons are nasty.

I assume there are lots and lots of demons and types of demons. Some are unique (and often strange) individuals, where others are like species of animal (there are many, but they are not quite identical).

Since the non-chaotic demons are from the underworld they are of mixed nature, I guess? They aren't exactly essences, spirits or daemons, but something like a mix of all that.

Is there a significant difference in dealing with a hostile essence or daemon and dealing with a demon? If you are going to bind and steal the powers of a creature of elemental air, does it matter if it's a storm essence creature or a demon?`

  -Adept             Received on Sun 10 Jun 2007 - 16:00:53 EEST