Sorcerous Orders and Gifts & Compulsions

[Lord High Munchkin]

Sorry about not being very active... emigration occupies much of my time.

OK, here is a question for Loz... a player of mine has got me wondering. It might be answered in the Cults book but some general guidance would be dandy!

Do the widely followed, and long established Sorcerous Orders (such as St. Xemela, St. Herestol, St. Gerlant etc.) form pacts and use Gifts & Compulsions (as with St. Talor in 'Guilds, Factions & Cults')?

As a possible example of what I mean regarding committed dedication to Saint Xemela (as an illustration as I was thinking about her):

Gifts: Abstinence (Sleep), Divine Training, Ward.
Compulsions: Chaste, Compassionate, Merciful, Tedious (on Doing Good).
Myths: How Saint Xemela overcame the Black Swelling (Resonance 75%, Interactive), How Xemela bargained with the Dehori to save Froalar (Resonance 45%, Interactive), How Xemela entered the split-rock (Resonance 34%, Interactive).

Would that seem reasonable?

Independent sorcerous orders which are not part of a Church, and who do not venerate a saint, probably would not use pacts. Is this a correct assumption?

I'm also assuming (but I might be wrong) that one wouldn't need to form a pact with a general Church (for example The Malkioni True Church), as they actively want new members, and thus set the bar low (although this might be optional, and/or necessary at higher levels). The Gifts & Compulsions would however, likely be quite general... as it's a wide church (pun intended).

Any comments or thoughts would be welcome.

 

[Loz]

Do the widely followed, and long established Sorcerous Orders (such as St. Xemela, St. Herestol, St. Gerlant etc.) form pacts and use Gifts & Compulsions (as with St. Talor in 'Guilds, Factions & Cults')?

Yes they do. Divine cults use Pacts (see below) and Gifts and Compulsion are used widely. Some cults have them; some don't.

As a possible example of what I mean regarding committed dedication to Saint Xemela (as an illustration as I was thinking about her):

Gifts: Abstinence (Sleep), Divine Training, Ward.
Compulsions: Chaste, Compassionate, Merciful, Tedious (on Doing Good).
Myths: How Saint Xemela overcame the Black Swelling (Resonance 75%, Interactive), How Xemela bargained with the Dehori to save Froalar (Resonance 45%, Interactive), How Xemela entered the split-rock (Resonance 34%, Interactive).

Would that seem reasonable?

Seems entirely reasonable - although you may find that Xemela's official cult differs somewhat to yours here - but you're definitely on the same page!

Independent sorcerous orders which are not part of a Church, and who do not venerate a saint, probably would not use pacts. Is this a correct assumption?

It is. Pacts are reserved for Divine cults, not sorcery orders or spirit cults. However, whatever cult you choose, you must choose which of its runes you will follow. Like Pacts, these influence behaviour and magic choices. Rune Affiliation is fully explored and explained in the Cults of Glorantha book.

I'm also assuming (but I might be wrong) that one wouldn't need to form a pact with a general Church (for example The Malkioni True Church), as they actively want new members, and thus set the bar low (although this might be optional, and/or necessary at higher levels). The Gifts & Compulsions would however, likely be quite general... as it's a wide church (pun intended).

Absolutely!

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

So, I take by what you say that a Sorcerous Order like Saint Xemela would not have a Pact?

With no Pact required, sorcerous orders gain Gifts (alongside Compulsions of course), but don't have to bother with raising a Pact skill. OK they don't get magic (like Divine magics) as cultists do, but they do get the Gifts—some of which are quite powerful.

If that is the case, would just the myths and their resonance (besides mundane control and culture) influence character behaviour? Is there another mechanism potentially directing behaviour for sorcerous orders?

I take it (as with St. Talor in 'Guilds, Factions & Cults') that some POW cost could be involved in taking orderly rank, and above, in some orders? Gifts and Compulsions might be gained in doing so.

Thanks