[Glorantha] Re: Earth Tribe

[Ian Cooper]

>When the Grandmothers reestablished control over all of Esrolia, Orlanth worship was deemphasized again (not banned - just socially and politically deemphasized).

Orlanth has many aspects and sub-cults and I expect what we are really talking about here is an emphasis on certain parts of Orlanth over others at different times. 

So right now most of the Orlanth Allfather roles would be acceptable in Esrolia - perhaps not Dar because there Orlanth is not a chief here, and perhaps not Andrin because the grandmothers are the source of the law, but Durev, Orstan, and even Starkval etc. would be acceptable. The fertility cults of Orlanth Thunderous like Ohorlanth would be popular, but perhaps not the fighting cults. Finally Orlanth Adventurous probably represents the least supported aspect - if anything typifies those aspects the grandmothers dislike it would be OA. Potentially the odd young man is temperamentally unsuited to life under the grandmothers, and maybe he initiates to Destor and then leaves Esrolia to find a life more suited to him. There would outright be no support of Vingkot I expect, because that line was broken for the Esrolians. Barntar is obviously a good role model, but I doubt he appeals to all.

It is all really a question of spin. When people in Esrolia tell the stories of Orlanth the emphasis will be that he is a good husband when properly tamed by his wife Ernalda, otherwise he can get into trouble. After all did not Orlanth admit his own mistakes by undertaking the Lightbringer's Quest. Women need to learn to control their husbands, just as Ernalda did (and Flower Day is about this) and husbands need to learn about the dangers of their temper. And if young men ask why they do not rule as Orlanth once did the grandmothers frighten them with tales of the Sword and Helm war.

Still Esrolia is a cosmopolitan place in areas like Nochet, and there I would suspect you would find worshippers of many of these aspects who have travelled from abroad. They would probably be regarded with suspicion by the grandmothers, but outright prohibition seems unlikely.
 
  
Ian Cooper