The Eighth Wane (1626-) is destined to be one of spiritual exploration through action for both the Lunars and the Orlanthi. If anything, this is the wane where the Orlanthi catch up to the Lunars in terms of being willing to explore and push the limits of their cults in order to gain insight and power.
Of course this did not start in the Eighth Wane – we can see elements of this as early as the Fifth Wane, with Hon-eel’s contests with the Reverend Horse Queen, Sartar’s remarkable magical transformations, and the Feathered Horse Queen’s identification of Dendara with Ernalda. But these were uncommon (if very important) exceptions. In the Eighth Wane, this is to become increasingly common.
Some of these actions will shock and horrify traditionalists. Orlanthi talking to dragons, unleashing Death on the world, and shaking up long-standing arrangements regardless of consequences. Lunars embracing Chaos in antinomian frenzies, and using Chaos to create liberating blasts of illumination, as old restraints are ignored. As mortals wield the powers of their gods to fight their opponents, there are those willing to go even further than their gods did in the Gods War.
And so Orlanth’s destroyer aspects become increasingly popular and embraced; at the same time the Red Goddess’ do as well. Ernaldan Earth Priestesses cast Blast Earth against enemies, and Humakt raises legions of swords.
The Lunars and the Orlanthi drive this, but many others participate.
For players and GMs – treat this as a liberation. Instead of thinking What Did My God Do, think What Would My God Do – and let your players create new myths through their deeds. Argrath and Harrek are certainly doing that!
What COULD my god do (if I get to choose) drives a lot of the upcoming events.
This is a radically different approach from the backwards looking heroquests of KoDP
Both the Lightbringers and the Lunars have these tantric practices, which so often get downplayed in academic discourse. We pretend that the Orlanthi somehow disappeared during the Empire of the Wyrms Friends (and ignore that the EWF was an Orlanthi project). We pretend that the Lunars politely dismiss the Lords of Terror, rather than using them to shatter the illusions of non-Illuminates.