Marriage rituals

[Soccercalle]

One of my PCs (an Orlanthi god-talker) will marry an NPC (an Ernaldans assistans priestess). I am thinking about "playing out" the ceremony with some action. I role-played the wooing (based on the myth about Orlanth wooing Ernalda).

But I wonder if I can find information about Heortling wedding ceromonies anywhere.

[Jeff]

Here's a common Orlanth-Ernalda marriage rite - 
 

Ernaldan priestess bride stands above a kneeling Orlanthi groom. Both are painted with woad. She with green, he with blue. She has placed her one foot on his shoulder and she is sheathing a scabbard on his sword. They are standing inside a circle which inner layer is made of flowers and outer from swords. People around them are dancing and throwing flowers and grain.

 

 

[jajagappa]

If you don't mind reading through a few pages of my Orlmarth campaign play-by-post game, you can see what I did for the Marriage of the Harvest Queen and the Barley King (a somewhat more elaborate Orlanthi marriage ceremony, but you may find ideas to draw from).

The marriage ceremony starts with the 2nd-to-last post on this page: [IC] HeroQuest Glorantha - The Colymar Campaign 2 - Orlmarth Clan - part 3 | RPGGeek

[Squaredeal Sten]

On 9/18/2022 at 11:38 AM, Jeff said:

Here's a common Orlanth-Ernalda marriage rite - 
 

Ernaldan priestess bride stands above a kneeling Orlanthi groom. Both are painted with woad. She with green, he with blue. She has placed her one foot on his shoulder and she is sheathing a scabbard on his sword. They are standing inside a circle which inner layer is made of flowers and outer from swords. People around them are dancing and throwing flowers and grain.

 

 

So when are the marriage vows spoken?  With the bride in this pose?

[Darius West]

The ceremony itself is secondary to all the financial haggling that goes on between clans and families prior to the wedding.

[Squaredeal Sten]

1 hour ago, Darius West said:

The ceremony itself is secondary to all the financial haggling that goes on between clans and families prior to the wedding.

Seems reasonable, that is the terms of the marriage are agreed in advance by the clan rings.   And it's not just financial haggling, but also includes other terms: which variety of marriage, year or life or...

Nevertheless the ceremony is when the deal is closed. And also when it is officially announced to and witnessed by both the wider families and the general public.

For role playing purposes I am interested in the details.

 

 

[Rodney Dangerduck]

Also, the ceremony is presumably when any divine blessing or presence occurs.

[Darius West]

19 hours ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

Seems reasonable, that is the terms of the marriage are agreed in advance by the clan rings.   And it's not just financial haggling, but also includes other terms: which variety of marriage, year or life or...

Nevertheless the ceremony is when the deal is closed. And also when it is officially announced to and witnessed by both the wider families and the general public.

For role playing purposes I am interested in the details.

Remember that generational feuds have started over seating arrangements at wedding feasts.

[Squaredeal Sten]

5 hours ago, Darius West said:

Remember that generational feuds have started over seating arrangements at wedding feasts.

Or over the behavior of a rude relative on one side.  All this can certainly he used to put in adventure hooks.