[Glorantha] Re: Glorantha Digest, Vol 11, Issue 362

[Rob Helm]

    Greg sez: 
  
> As is well known, [Ernalda] is the wife and help mate of the great Storm God, ...The two are inseparable, and could not exist without each other any more than men and women could exist without each other.
   
  Except that Ernalda _did_ exist without Orlanth, well before he was born, in fact: "Ernalda was born in the Green Age, but she came into her power in the Golden Age, when the Emperor ruled everything." (_Thunder Rebels_, p. 141)
   
  Orlanth also existed without Ernalda, when he set out on the Lightbringer's Quest _after_ she went to sleep (_Thunder Rebels_, p. 146) If anything, he died because she slept, she didn't sleep because he died.
   
  _Thunder Rebels_ also has several references to the independent power of Ernalda, which is not consistent with her going "poof" when Orlanth has a local setback:
  "...although she plays a secondary role on her husband's day, she is not submissive or demeaned, for she shows that she has equal status and worth as her great husband." (_Thunder Rebels, p. 186) 
  "Ernalda is Queen because of her own powers, not those of any husband she might have." (_Thunder Rebels_, p. 198)
   
  And finally, I note that Heortling women _do_ exist after the death of their husbands, and even have a specific cult (the Red Woman) for avenging the death of a husband or loved one. (_Storm Tribe_, don't have a copy with me)
   
  It appears that some or all of these previous statements are now inoperative, correct? 
   
  I understand that there's a tradition of making these kind of retroactive revisions, which is fine. However, it's a bit much to label as mere "speculation" reasonable inferences made from _Thunder Rebels_, supposedly the definitive source on the Heortling religion, which was still in print until this year.
   
  Rob


		
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