[Glorantha] St Hu'makt

[Graham Robinson]

>>Any ideas (even if rehashed) about how the Carmanian angsty cosmic
>>swordsman differs from the Heortling angsty cosmic swordsman?

Not much I can add to Kevin's excellent summary. Not that that's ever stopped me...

I believe that the Carmanian cult is older than the Heortling one. My theory is roughly -

Humath is the Sword Storm. He has no severance powers, no psychopomp role. He's much more of a straight forward sword warrior god. He's probably honorable, but compared to Orlanth that isn't saying much. This cult survives in modern Ralios.

Hu'makt is the Sword as severance. He is all about the cutting and the psychopomp. His cult is found amongst societies with caste and organised martial traditions, so he has duels and regiments and honour. He has no storm ties. This cult survives in Carmania.

(Note that I'm being deliberately vague about where either *originates*.)

The Heortlings I think originally had either no knowledge of Humakt, or saw him pretty much as Humath. Note that they don't need Humakt as psychopomp - indeed Harmast gives that role to Issaries on the Lightbringers Quest - nor as warrior.

I think the Heortlings met the Humath version first, then Hu'makt, but it doesn't matter much. Their missionaries met both, and noticed the similarities - the name (unless that's a later retcon), swords, death, honour. I think they tried to reconcile the differences, a story that goes *from* a storm god and brother of Orlanth *to* a god of honour, seperation, and a psychopomp. In their reconcilliation, Humath is the god before Orlanth kills the Emperor. Hu'makt is the god after the slaying, but before he and Orlanth make peace. The Heortling version is the final god - re-sheathed into the storm tribe. Most of the regiments and duels stuff has no place in Heortling society, so is de-emphasised. It survives in strange rituals like Humakti duels and 100s and such.

Hope that's of some use to someone...

Cheers,
Graham

-- 
Graham Robinson
graham at albionsoft.com

Albion Software Engineering Ltd.