[Glorantha] Re: Godi - how do we define them in HQ

[Orlanth Umathi]

Thank for your replies:

CJ
 >You don't have to be a devotee to be a Godi in HQ though Jamie, so 
your understanding is fine?

Glad you agree, if they had to be devotees they would be poorly named 
given the origional Norse context.

Donald
 > I think Godi is the Heortling word for the priest occupation

This is certainly one way of interpreting KoS but doesn't seem to fit HQ.

David Dunham wrote:
> I think it's the term for god-talker.

This does make a lot of sense; I had totally forgotten about 
God-Talkers, but they fit the criteria of part time religious duties and 
are mainly but not exclusively devotees.

Also, in the lay-preacher mould, they appear to be politically separate 
from the priestly caste and so can be self appointed or selected by a 
small group.

I think the only alteration I would be inclined to make from this 
keyword to fit a Norse influenced game, would be to imply a greater 
number of initiates so as to allow more rounded part-timer characters.

e.g an Orlanthcarl the Farmer initiate who is also an initiate & godi of 
Heler. Time requirements covered by his cloud watching and long treks in 
the hills due to a lack of formal Heler worship in his clan.

Godi are a good way of filling in the missing mythological figures in 
local rites, and explaining the odd guys (often PCs) that don't seem to 
fit into the clan structure. I also get a distinct impression that very 
early tribes around the dawning had far less formal, almost animistic in 
flavour styles of worship, and Godi are possibly a remnent of this 
personal relationship style of theism.

Jamie