Darius West

On 8/7/2022 at 7:56 PM, radmonger said:

One thing about eunuchs is that Heal Wound can regenerate a limb. And that isn't the pinnacle of healing magic in principle available. 

So any form of infertility is going to be either spiritual or economic in nature. Either noone wants to spend the RP on you, or if they did it would simply heal you to back to how you already are[1].

 

[1] Like the healing nanobots from that one episode of Doctor Who that had a very specific template for what a human was.

This is a really good point.  The fact is, Chalana Arroy can give you a new set of testes, so what then becomes the neuter gender?

On 8/7/2022 at 8:44 PM, hipsterinspace said:

I think it’s important to distinguish very clearly between people who identify as the neuter gender versus people who are incapable of sexual reproduction. There are plenty of historical examples of eunuchs who clearly still identified as men and would not have considered themselves to be socially a category apart despite their inability to reproduce (which is also why I think it’s also helpful to semantically distinguish male fertile/sexed from “man” or perhaps more clearly “orlanthi gendered”). Those people still fall broadly into the bimodality of the Orlanth-Ernalda social complex, but in cases far outside of the 85% “all” there might be a different rite or ceremony to be called upon, be it with the shamans or an unusual cult.

This is another good point that begs the question of how Orlanthi culture decides what is neuter.  There aren't too many female eunuchs, after all.🤔😉😅

Your point about trickster shamans is a point well made too.

It occurs to me that maybe the Orlanthi neuter sex might primarily apply to species other than humans that have an actual neuter gender like dragonewts.

15 hours ago, Akhôrahil said:

This does not answer the original poster's question though, as those issues are about sex. I would expect that "Nones" are overwhelmingly eunuchs, which isn't normally going to happen to the youngsters in Orlanthi society?

Agreed.  The numbers of eunuchs in Orlanthi society is likely to be low, even in places where Maran Gor and Barbeester Gor are popular.  On the other hand, what about people who are born with an obvious sex, but who feel no interest in sex?  Or people who are determined to be infertile?  Or people whose sex organs are obviously too malformed at birth to function?  There are likely a number of other such categories and exceptions, and if the Heortlings are going to have a neuter sex, then it is likely going to need to be a larger rather than smaller as a category in order to be socially useful in the language imo.

15 hours ago, Akhôrahil said:

Greg was explicit that this doesn't happen, though. That adulthood rites are about sex, not gender. 

Hmm... This makes the neuter sex somewhat problematic.  Obviously they can enter physical maturity, but not sexual maturity.  We also haven't quite established what the neuter sex actually means to Heortlings.  There are no deities within the pantheon that are identifiably neuter afaik who would oversee such rites.  As such, we have 2 questions to ask:

1.  What do Heortlings qualify as a neuter person?  (a) To whom does this extend?  (b) To whom might it extend, but in fact does not?

2.  Which deity oversees the rites for neuter people in Heortling society?

18 hours ago, radmonger said:

Politeness aside, this is simply factually wrong. Hermaphroditic people could logically exist, and likely do in Glorantha. In the real world, they don't; mammalian biology doesn't work that way. If someone wants to deliberately use the wrong term, then if are not trying to insult people, what are they doing?

Mosaic hermaphrodites can also logically exist IRL with both sets of human sex organs in working condition.  It involves the incomplete subsuming of a fraternal twin in utero.  It is also the time honored term for what some people have now chosen to re-label "intersex".  Like I said, if an hermaphroditic person wants me to use new term (with all its associated poverty of history and meaning, and potential for misunderstanding) for them, I will likely oblige at their request, but I won't change for people who aren't just to fit in with their odd preferences.  I can't understand why someone wouldn't want to be a child of the two most powerful pantheistic divinities of ancient Greece anyhow.  It's kind of awesome.

Besides, Heortlanders don't recognize intersex people, they recognize hermaphrodites, look it up.  And this is as it should be.  Glorantha is a Bronze Age society where there is every chance that such a rare occurrence in their community would be considered unusual enough to be of divine importance.

2 minutes ago, Qizilbashwoman said:

not to be difficult, but do you think maybe we should listen to the intersex people? Hermaphroditism is a scientific term but people have asked not to be called "hermaphrodites".

If they ask me specifically not to call them that, I will likely oblige, unless they are rude about it, in which case I will double down.  They also need to provide a decent alternative term, as intersex doesn't have a clear meaning if you stop to consider it and could easily be misinterpreted.

1 hour ago, radmonger said:

[1] FYI, some people consider using the term _hermaphrodite_ outdated or offensive when applied to those with intersex conditions.

Well, they're wrong.  This is the accepted scientific term and has been for hundreds of years.  I intend to keep using the term.  You don't hear about intersex fish for example, some species are hermaphroditic, well, so are some people.

On 12/20/2021 at 4:38 AM, soltakss said:

So, come, worship at the Temple of True Being, visit the Carnival, Sweat Lodge and the House of Many Pleasures. Marvel at the military might of the Ogres and let your Inner Ogre out, without restriction. You know you want to!

So... Is this some sort of cult thing?  I mean... I know Glorantha has lots of cults, and they're cool and all, but you know, is this like a "CULT" cult?  Awkward question, I know...😅

7 minutes ago, PhilHibbs said:

Those are genders, the question is about the other two sexes. Yeah, it can be confusing.

You're correct, and the other two sexes are neuter and hermaphrodite.

So when we say 'neuter', do we mean someone who was born without sex organs, or has had their sex organs destroyed, or simply doesn't have any sexual impulses, or someone who is infertile?  The meaning here as it applies to the Heortling culture is unclear.

As for hermaphrodites, stats tell us that 1 in 2000 people are born intersex, so, for a clan of 1000 people, that's about one ever 4 and a half generations (given a 15 year generational turn-around which is normal for a bronze age society).  I think we can assume that the issue of hermaphrodites and their initiation would be sufficiently unusual that the Clan Ring would be able to take council with the individual and their kin and come to a suitable accommodation among the cults represented within the clan.

The logical answer is that the cult of Vinga holds Vingan puberty rites and the cult of Nandan holds Nandan puberty rites.

On 8/3/2022 at 1:40 AM, JRE said:

Now I wonder, if Harmast appeared from Hell with Arkat at Hrelar Amali, it was just easier because there is a well worn way from hell, or there is the fact that Flamal is also the rebirth itself? Arkat also made sure Hrelar Amali was within the Empire of Peace...

This is such a good idea.  Kudos JRE!  I love it.  You've thoughtfully observed and used the lore and cleverly integrated two pretty divergent themes in a pretty inspired way.  Should it ever come up, My Glorantha Will Vary to incorporate this.  If it isn't canon it should be.

On 7/30/2022 at 10:57 PM, Erol of Backford said:

? How would his wealth compare to that of Gringle?

I don't think Gringle is in the same league as Gold-Gotti.  Gold-Gotti is able to finance an entire regiment as well as running the finances for Argrath in the longer term. 

On 7/30/2022 at 1:41 AM, Akhôrahil said:

I would run it that DI can ”interrupt” a fatal event. So after the GM rolls that crit to the head, you can ask for Orlanth’s winds to sweep you away from danger, in which case that happens before the killing blow, so to speak (this is more mythically satisfying than a resurrection, I would say - that’s not a typical power in his repertoire).

So I would not require two separate DIs.

Best answer imo.

I'm writing a Gloranthan fiction right now and am 200+pages in.  The working title is "The Golden Phalange".  It is a humorous adventure/murder mystery set in Prax around Pimper's Block and Hender's Ruins.

19 hours ago, svensson said:

I've been messing around with Heroforge lately. I think I've almost got the decals function half-assed figured out.

Tell me what you think.

I've mentally titled this one 'A Wind Lord Proves His Kingship'

 

That is one pretty miniature. The detail is pretty great.  I love the tattoos and those little shoelaces.  Damn.  Could they have done a clear sylph, or perhaps a white and grey one?  That would be my only (largely irrelevant) gripe.  Purely a matter of taste.

On 7/23/2022 at 11:59 PM, TurbidWater said:

For when the Nomads have to move from pasture to pasture, do they harvest and carry rain water with them?

Most Prax beasts are very useful to their tribes as they eat grass and produce a supply of milk (drink) and meat (food).  Praxians will use buckets made of cuir-bouilli for milking and may well carry fresh water in water-skins.   Water-skins will be more important to Ostrich and Bolo Lizards as they don't produce milk, but these tribes (like all Praxian tribes) will have numerous beasts from the other tribes in their herd.  Praxians will have pots or sacks of stored grains they have foraged that they can't obtain easily, as well as stores of medicinal herbs, some of which can double as foods.  They will catch and store unseasonal rain water if they have the means, but during the seasons when it falls regularly and reliably (Storm and Dark) it is normally plentiful or is fallen as snow, and so it isn't a priority.  Due to the fact that Praxians often have an excess of milk, they have learned to make cheeses, some of which are good.  I have created a list of Praxian cheeses if you are interested.

Hmm...  From what I am reading here I am beginning to think that if you don't go mad in the Sex Pit you're doing it wrong, and that is not something I want to consider.

6 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Not related but in Enclosure Issue 1 it says Kallyr kills Gunda and Harrek kills Kallyr but that is 1997. I had not seen that before even I had the zine for over 20 years...

Yeah, I doubt that is true.  I am 99% sure that Gunda makes it to the Hero Wars proper as I have seen her in the board-game.  Then again, you know heroes, they get comic-book style "come back from death" skill.  It is literally in the rules.

33 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

Not unless she could regain rune magic at the Lodri temples? But Yelmalio is Toldat's half brother and the Sun Domers are not really an ally of Orlanth?

Incorrect apparently.  I am reliably informed that Elmal is the same as Yelmalio these days and therefore is Orlanth's ally, horse master and loyal thane.  But don't take my word for it.  In fact don't take anyone's word for it, I agree with you Erol.

On 7/25/2022 at 6:27 PM, Scotty said:

Can men follow Babeester Gor?

To this point I would like to make a bit of a caveat.  I think that men can follow an otherwise all-female cult as laymembers and vice-versa unless the cult write-up specifically forbids it.  

Lay membership is extremely important to small communities, as it can help maintain shrines where there aren't enough initiates to make up the numbers, but you can pad them out by putting in laity.  Of course this may not sit well with the people who now have to pay this fresh tithe, but that is where generous council members and chieftains will foot the bill to keep the cult going, and the laity just turn up to the service and spend their MP.

So, if nothing else, it is very likely that men can join BG as lay members.

Deserts tend to have plenty of poisonous plants that will make you feel "Discorporate".  That is what the threshold of death is like.

Can anyone lay hands on the info on the Black Mushroom Drink from the Black Elves of Munchrooms in Trollpak?  Praxians love that stuff, to the point where Waha has rules that specifically mention it. 

Actually Emus taste like a combination of turkey and wagyu beef, in that the skin is really loose and fatty but the meat is lean and kind of red.  I ate it in the Northern Territory at a specialist Koorie restaurant.  Ostrich has the taste of turkey but is a lot stringier and tougher imo (I ate it in Africa).

As to riding an emu, well, while they are a large bird, they are plenty smaller than an ostrich, and while they are a bit aggressive, they are nothing on a Cassowary.  Cassowaries are the Stormbulls of Avians.  Have a watch of this (only 1.5min):

Cassowaries aren't good pets (unless you hate children, and have self destructive tendencies)

I strongly suspect that the Rinliddi Bird Empire was destroyed when they tried to domesticate cassowaries. 

The Papuans have a cunning trick for capturing and keeping cassowaries.  They stalk them and come at them from behind, bundling them into a sack so that their heads and their legs are sticking out, then they tie them together, often transferring them to a similar position between 2 solid pieces of bark.  From this position the bird can't get leverage to kick or use their full peck.  They can still peck, but sensible people keep themselves away from the "business end".  For the record I have never eaten cassowary, but they have tried to eat me when I was a kid.  I would totally eat one given the chance though. 

9 hours ago, davecake said:

I do not remember that, no? What is this a reference to? 

I was under the impression that after the death of Orlanth and Ernalda at Whitewall that the Air Rune passes to Valind and the Long Winter begins.  To remedy the situation Kallyr goes Hero Questing with her friends and as a result Rigsdal becomes the new Orlanth, taking back the Air Rune, and suddenly the Orlanthi get their magic back again.  This is where all the HQ references to "Orlanth Rigsdal" come from.  Or is this not how things went down?  AFAIKT it used to be.

The Sex Pit should not to be confused with the Ball Pit.

23 hours ago, Jeff said:

Nobody "replaces Orlanth". Nearly a year goes by, where the Orlanth cult in Dragon Pass and the Holy Country doesn't have its Air magic. Which sucks. But nothing replaces Orlanth.  After the Battle of the Auroch Hills, that magic returns (and about half the player characters in existence breathe a sigh of relief). 

And I have said many many times that the old HW material is not canonical.

So... Orlanth stays dead then?  And his Air rune remains with Valind?

23 hours ago, David Scott said:

IIRC it's the hands of herd man in place of the tail. Can't remember the source.

Not in my Glorantha, but fair enough.