09-28-2010, 02:20 PM
Nice writeup on your blog Havard. Unfortunetly short though. Seems strange that, given they have been such a long time part of Blackmoor, there isn't more written about them or that ZGG didn't produce a sourcebook.
Matriarchy - so can you elaborate on this? My sense is that its an assumption because of Toska Rusa and her priestesses, but having a female priesthood, even in a theocracy does not alone a matriachy make. In fact, its not unusual for cultures to reserve spiritual roles to women where they are otherwise considered secondary to men. In such societies women may become shamen/whiches/priests to gain some power in their lives. I'm not sure what the case may be with the Aifridi.
Black skin -I forgot about that and its a very important detail because black skin is of course a biological no no in northern climes where lack of sunlight results in low production of vitamin D. To survive and maintain black pigmentation, the Aifridi must either have a secondary source of Vitamin D in thier diet or be biologically different from other humans.
interesting to note that both black skin and red hair have been thought by people to be the "mark of Cain" and associated with murderous rage. Also Kali is black as midnight. Perhaps Dave was drawing on that imagery.
The connection to EPT is extremely interesting since it would imply that Toska Rusa and the Aifridi are a kind of import from EPT culture and EPT could be used as a source to expand our info about them.
Of course there is also the obvious connection to ancient zoroastrianism.
Matriarchy - so can you elaborate on this? My sense is that its an assumption because of Toska Rusa and her priestesses, but having a female priesthood, even in a theocracy does not alone a matriachy make. In fact, its not unusual for cultures to reserve spiritual roles to women where they are otherwise considered secondary to men. In such societies women may become shamen/whiches/priests to gain some power in their lives. I'm not sure what the case may be with the Aifridi.
Black skin -I forgot about that and its a very important detail because black skin is of course a biological no no in northern climes where lack of sunlight results in low production of vitamin D. To survive and maintain black pigmentation, the Aifridi must either have a secondary source of Vitamin D in thier diet or be biologically different from other humans.
interesting to note that both black skin and red hair have been thought by people to be the "mark of Cain" and associated with murderous rage. Also Kali is black as midnight. Perhaps Dave was drawing on that imagery.
The connection to EPT is extremely interesting since it would imply that Toska Rusa and the Aifridi are a kind of import from EPT culture and EPT could be used as a source to expand our info about them.
Of course there is also the obvious connection to ancient zoroastrianism.