'Stygian'

[GianniVacca]

In Gloranthan terms, what does 'Stygian' exactly mean? Is it a Malkioni heresy, or is it an altogether different religion?
Is there a difference between the Malkioni worshipping Saint Arkat and the 'Stygian' Arkati?

I am starting a campaign in Safelster, so this is really important for me... Thanks!

 

[Osentalka]

Stygian means "from the darkness".

So stygian is a term that came from the fact that Arkat was once an uz (troll), and worshipped darkness deities.

In Arkats "Stygian Empire", as its enemies call it, there was worship of Malkioni Saints, as well as pagon gods (Orlanth & pantheon + native Hsunchen + Galanini deities), as well as uz gods.

But Arkats "Empire" has been destroyed by the God Learners, plundered and the Arkati are somewhere underground, but will not become strong again until the end of the Third Age.

Cheers

Osentalka

 

[RosenMcStern]

There are several Churches (sects if you like) in Safelster that mix the worship of Malkioni saints and theist deities. Most of them have been described for the Third Age only, but since the Second Age version of the Boristi church is almost identical to the Third Age one, it is likely that the Second Age is as sect-rich as the Third. Orthodox Malkioni, and possibly God Learners, will probably label all of them as 'Stygian Heresy' just as they use to label all non-humans as Krjalki, but this does not mean that they are in fact similar. So the answer to your question is "There is no exact meaning". Creating your own Stygian sect (in the third Age it would rather be called a Henotheist Church) is unlikely to contradict future published materials, so let your imagination run loose

I also suggest that you post such a question on the Glorantha Digest or the WorldOfGlorantha Yahoo group rather than here. As a rule-unrelated question, you can freely ask there, and get an answer from Greg Stafford or Peter Metcalfe. Though Osentalka is the one in charge for Safelster, so his answer is to be considered official or semi-official at least.

 

[GianniVacca]

Thanks for the information... My question was, more precisely:

Is there a difference between the Malkioni worshipping Saint Arkat and the 'Stygian' Arkati?

Based upon your answers, my undersytanding is as follows:

#a Safelstran can be a monotheistic, sincere Malkioni, and he might worship Saint Arkat -- maybe for political reasons (as a symbol of Safelster's independence vis-à-vis Seshnela);
#a 'Stygian' Arkati would be more of a heretic, possibly being at the same time a Malkioni and a worshipper of Theyalan gods (a kind of henotheist even though there isn't a formal henotheistic church yet).

Am I right?

 

[Osentalka]

Arkat worship can be a lot of different approaches:

A Malkioni church may worship him as a saint, because they see him as Liberator of Ralios.
Another Malkioni Sect may give him propietory worship, because his way is wrong, and they see his as the Deceiver, and give him worship, so that theyu will not fail, like him.
Another sect may see him as god or saint, bringing together Uz and humans in peace.
Another cult may see him as their warrior god.
etc.

There is no SINGLE worship of Arkat, there are numberous sects, cults, and churches. A lot of them are stygian (including troll and darkness deities), but not all of them.
Please note that in the SECOND Age the Arkat cults are even more obscure than in the Third Age. The Godlerners spend a lot of time and effort to kill Arkat worship... in the third age a lot of the "real" facts will be rediscovered.

Cheers

Osentalka