Ali the Helering

As ever, your case does nothing to undermine my point. As Morien says, head of state does not dictate intrinsic structure of state.

Trust me, I understand collectivism - but individuals still retain personality. Any form of government that specifically ignores 50% of the population is certainly not a representative democracy, nor if it excludes the poor and unlanded. It is a dictatorship of plutocratic males.

Unfortunately that doesn't for a moment convince me of your case. Collectivism is a useful structure, but individuals within that structure still existed as discrete entities. Similarly, describing something as a representative democracy when it was anything but doesn't help.

I would hardly be the nit-picker you know so well if I didn't point out that Mallory finished LMd'A in 1470, well into the gunpowder era.😈😉

I don't see that you limited it to pre-gunpowder societies in your post, but if I missed it, fair enough.

Philippa Gregory doesn't attempt a hatchet-job on present day organisations. Her novelisations are open to criticism, certainly, but opinions about the past differ. YRWMV. It is also worth remembering that David Starkey, possibly her strongest critic, is a man who talks about Britain having become a foreign country due to the speech of immigrants, and that he wishes people would "stop going on about slavery". Not, I would suggest, a man whose opinions should be taken seriously.

I think we may be straying into the Thanatar thread, given the rearmost soldier! (Yes, I do know the historicity of it)

I have used the Thanatari as infiltrators, softening up a target area for invasion by Lunar military forces. Losing your established and loved (?) leaders to a cult who leave only decapitated bodies behind is bad enough. Having their powerful (perhaps even of hero level) magics at the invader's disposal thereafter can be terrible indeed. Therefore I see them as an active part of the Empire's foreign policy.

If the Crimson Bat has a place, I don't see why Thanatar is that big an issue, tbh.

They wouldn't necessarily want to avoid the Hellcrack, since there are creatures that may be bound and hell cultists who may want feeding. Food for demonic matrices?

Vormaino goods might include aquatic ivories, rare woods, spices, poetry from Aiken Hu, quicksilver from Henshie's Forge, Slave Bracelets (possibly with slave attached) from Henshivelica, pearls from Vengorokte, and magical items unavailable elsewhere on the lozenge. If my thoughts regarding porphyry are correct, silver (and gold) are frequently found with it in the RW, as it is with lead, tradeable with the uz. As with Issyk-Kul, sedentary trading posts can be tremendously important for nomads. Different tribes and clans might hold power over one or two each, enforcing tariffs on traders. Rather than paying tribute, the caravans might hold seasonal markets, another popular element in nomadic life! Protection might be a matter of treaty, bribery, or coercion by neighbouring clans or tribes who want the trade to continue. In Glorantha, of course, there are trader gods with some very powerful magics...

If we are including smuggled goods, then material from Vormain also

Slaves - enlo from the Uz lands, locals, Pentans, Pelorians, hsunchen from the mountains, possibly even undead from Orathorn. Slave gladiators - hsunchen, uzdo and romal, huan to. Exotic animals and their hides etc. Exotic magic items and beings. I don't think there will be any lack of trade goods, to be honest.

To start with, there is tremendous mineral wealth. Saresangk, "where gold and lapis lazuli are mined in great quantities". The distinctive coloured stone of particular cities and structures suggests resources of a Gloranthan analogue to porphyry or similar. Bethmoora - pale green, Utnar Vesh - 'ivory bleached', Zhi Ti - yellow. There is copper as evidenced by the gates of Bethmoora, and silver as evidenced by the bells of Yian. As for places on the route for trade, I would suggest that there are settled towns around the Hot Lake. The eastern part of it was occupied by the Kingdom of Wisdom, and they could easily have left settlers there. It would seem to be modeled on Issyk-Kul, and the towns there were a regular stop-off on the Silk Road. It is likely that Sheng Seleris would have placed fortifications there to protect his supply lines.

There is an element of it involved with clan wyters, or other 'community spirits'.

With respect to the business of the aging and experience of elves, a note by Tolkien published in 'The Nature of Middle Earth' ISBN 978-0-00-838792-1 states that they entered phases of 'quiet' and 'renewal' during which their bodies were rejuvenated but their knowledge and wisdom were cumulative. In the Third Age the periods of activity were shortened and the rejuvenation less complete.

And why do you think I'm a Helering, pray????😇

Tindalos and I used Microscope to 'fill in' the details of a Sartarite tribe. It worked very well, and was a great deal of fun.

At the risk of being shouted down as 'no longer canonical', Thunder Rebels and Storm Gods contained relevant materials.

Sorry guys, but December 25th was the festal day of Sol Invictus. Since the mid-8th century there has been some discussion as to whether Christianity appropriated it, but no actual evidence for it. There is an huge problem with 25th as Jesus' birthday as recorded in the Gospels, though. No shepherds in their right minds 'abide in the fields' with their flocks in late December in the Judean hills.

My machine, I am afraid. Now at the shop, and I am using my laptop. Sorry about that Bill!

Every Roman pater familias was a priest for their family ancestor worship

It was particularly because priests were accumulating wealth and passing it on to their children. Celibacy discouraged seeing priesthood as a road to inherited wealth

Absolutely agreed, with the caveat that the HeroQuest is seldom an event of great power and peril except at Sacred Time and on Holy Days. I once told Tindalos that I was off to lead the primary Christian HeroQuest to which he replied "A communion service then?". Exactly.

Interracial tolerance is not the same as interracial relations, if you get my meaning?