Aeolian Shrine/Temple vs Wind Temple

[Joerg]

7 hours ago, Richard S. said:

I don't see why LM has to be involved for Aeolian priests to learn sorcery.

Unless the Aeolians use western script for their sorcery (while speaking a Theyalan language), they will be using Theyalan script, and knowlede of that is intrinsically tied to Lhankor Mhy. Mind you, lay worshiper status is sufficient to acquire literacy.

 

If you want to assign cults to the castes, I would place Orlanth with the farmer caste (or Barntar), Lhankor Mhy with the wizard caste (those who don't actually become wizards are still likely to become scribes, alchemists or similar knowledge-based trades), and Issaries with the lord caste as the Talar caste has all this organisation and trading and diplomacy in their hands.

Are the zzabur-caste worship leaders necessarily wizards, or can they be priests or god-talkers? Does a worship-leader act as the priest of the congregation's wyter? Do the wizards gain any magic points for use in sorcery from holding worship rites?

[scott-martin]

46 minutes ago, Joerg said:

If you want to assign cults to the castes, I would place Orlanth with the farmer caste (or Barntar), Lhankor Mhy with the wizard caste (those who don't actually become wizards are still likely to become scribes, alchemists or similar knowledge-based trades), and Issaries with the lord caste as the Talar caste has all this organisation and trading and diplomacy in their hands.

IMG this varies across the Aeolian diaspora but generally the "orlanth" or kshatriya principle really does call the shots and the "issaries" is content in a mediating role. Barntar (probably with a lot of folk "flesh man" practice) works the land and a form of Humakt provides the muscle when needed. 

This reveals something of the way the "gunas revolve" dynamic informs Western social history. The "farmer" or shepherd (dronar) rises through upheaval (horal) to become the new aristocracy ("talar") while old aristocrats fall or simply recede (zzabur). Losers are pushed to the bottom and history cycles. Intellectuals and intermediaries are not always content to merely guide the process but in most places efforts to rule in their own name are not sustainable.

I don't think the brahmins lead collateral worship in normal circumstances but probably jealously protect a ritual specialist role. Real talar magic (as opposed to the social status) depends on a sacrificial economy that few bookworms can negotiate . . . MOA experience unlocks it fairly reliably.

[10baseT]

On 6/2/2020 at 4:39 PM, metcalph said:

I don't think the Wizards preside over the Orlanthi services - Lhankor Mhy is distinct from Orlanth.  Instead Lhankor is the emanation of the Invisible God that is closest to his thoughts even though Orlanth is the greatest emanation.  So while the Orlanthi lead, the Lhankoring Wizards advise with the wisdom of the Invisible God.

Who would you think oversees the Orlanthi services then?

[metcalph]

4 hours ago, 10baseT said:

Who would you think oversees the Orlanthi services then?

Rune Lords of Orlanth.  

[10baseT]

5 hours ago, metcalph said:

Rune Lords of Orlanth.  

Thank you. It's helping paint the picture in my head. With the henotheist Aeolians in areas with Orlanhthi, I was having a  hard time trying to picture how things worked come worship time.