[Glorantha] Gloranthan concepts of the Soul

[Simon Hibbs]

Some further thoughs on the souls of Gloranthans.

As has been pointed out, different Gloranthan cultures vew the soul in
different ways - as their Breath, the warmth of the sun on their face,
etc, etc. I think most Gloranthan cultures actualy have much more
sophisticated models than this and would recognise that the whole
person is composed of many parts, including mortal and immortal parts.
(In one myth Orlanth is said to have been cut into a given number of
pieces (48?), which was one less than the total number he could have
been cut into (all 49?) and that as a result he was not destroyed.
This indicates the existence of quite a complex model for the
composition of gods, at least, among Theyalans.)

The key difference between cultures is the value that they place on
different parts of the person. Solar worshipers still have a breath,
and Orlanthi still experience the warmth of the sun, they might even
be prepared to agree that these are both parts of a person. The key
difference is the value that they place on them. Orlanthi most
probably do not consider the 'warm' part of themselves to be important
after death, while Solars most likely have a similar disregard for the
fate of their 'windy' part on departing the mortal world. As is often
the case, it's not the physical observation, or even interpretation of
the world or their magic that greatly distinguishes cultures in
Glorantha, it's the value systems they apply to them.

The relationships of souls, spirits and essences is just the same
question elevated to another level. I don't think Malkioni have any
difficulty accepting that Animists do have spirits, for example, and
these spirits can continue a rudimentary existence after death. In
Glorantha the existence of such things is objectively verifiable, but
they would deny the value of such an existance, eternaly severed from
any possibility of Solace.

In the case of the Great Darkness some survived at the cost of their
humanity (Ogres, for example). At least the people we are talking
about were still human, but the fact that such a loss was possible
shows how much was at stake.


Simon Hibbs