Uncoling (2013)

Submitted by Iskallor on Sat, 02/03/2013 – 02:28

There’s conflicting fluff out on the net and i’m sure it will be sorted out soon when the guide comes out, but can you answer this…

Are all the reindeer in Uncoling lands Hsunchen? Or do those that are Hsunchen herd normal reindeer which they eat?

An interesting question

Submitted by David on Sat, 02/03/2013 – 08:03.

The guide doesn’t contain the answers to everything of course, but is designed to let you have enough information to start playing there.

Part of the Uncoling entry says:

“Uncolings (Reindeer People), Population: 300,000. Homeland: Tastolar (Fronela).
These foot nomads inhabit the tundra regions just below Valind’s Glacier. They subsist almost entirely on their herds, making use of their milk, meat, antlers, etc. Their land is sufficiently desolate that nobody else will live there, except for occasional foraging trolls…”

Generally speaking you don’t eat your totem animal (taboo), but this is not always the case and certainly not the case here. I personally know people who to their horror are told to eat their totem animal. This makes much sense if you add the phrase, you are what you eat. Some totems of the hsunchen aren’t good to eat so this won’t be a problem to all, but some of the animal may be eaten as part of a sacred ceremony.

I would suggest that all reindeer in the Uncoling lands are part of/claimed by the Uncolings. Not not all can turn into humans, only special ones. So they eat the ones that can’t change. Clearly they will use a ritual/ceremony/food song to send the animals spirit back into the cosmic cycle.

Although not hsunchen, there are certainly some parallels here to the Praxian nomads.

I’ve included some links to articles you may find useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totemism, but be aware of the interpretations.

http://www.buganda.or.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=543, Nte clansmen (in Uganda) eating their totem.

—–

David Scott

From the Guide to Glorantha

Submitted by Charles on Sat, 02/03/2013 – 04:10.

“The Uncoling reindeer folk believe that they are reindeer who just happen to be able to turn into humans”.

Hope this helps,
Charles

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