From: Alex Ferguson (alex@dcs.gla.ac.uk)
Date: Mon 24 Oct 1994 - 23:43:59 EET
David Cake:
> I would like there to be
> ways for evil people to cast evil magic. Most of the figures of evil in
> Doraddi myth currently are external, like Sikkanos or Vovisibor.
Sandy's myths seem to imply that Sikkanos isn't external, as such, but at least notionally part of Pamalt's tribe. But then again, most sources of evil are externalised to a substantial extent: We're good guys, it's those nasty chaps in the next clan/tribe/nation that are Bad.
> Ogres - I like to think that ogres exist as well.
I'm sure they do -- but they may well be Significantly Different. To posit the obvious stupid Question: are there any "Agimori" ogres? As Elder Secrets implies not, let's take this position, for sake of the argument. (Though at the least, I'm sure there are "mixed race" ogres in Pamaltelan cities, so for them, read as for Genertelan ogres.) Ogres might then be a purely external source of evil, rather than one that works by subterfuge. Maybe many fewer, but more overtly chaotic and powerful specimens are found, after the usual Pamaltelan pattern of chaos.
I'm not sure I entirely like this theory: for one thing, it might understandably cause substantial prejudice against ogre-look-alikes (Wareran and mixed race humans), which is apparently not the case.
> Crocodiles - crocodiles make good powerful and dangerous water spirits.
I'd imagine that a tribe living near such a waterhole would most likely have a largely positive view of the crocodiles, and their shamans may regard them as "friendly" spirits (and vice versa). However another, "enemy" tribe of the first may see the crocodile as a malevolent figure, and a member of _this_ tribe worshipping the croc spirit would be "evil", at least from the point of view of his own tribe. Things may not be this sharply lineated, but I'm sure the position of a tribe in the local ecology at least colurs their moral attitudes to it.
As to the degree to which Doraddi tribes may be "enemies"; I don't think Doraddi tribes have the same sorts of long-term emnities that Orlanthi tribes and clans do, with standing blood feuds, and the like, but let's face it, not everyone can be pals with everyone else, all the time. I think these hostilities rarely result in significant organised or premeditated violence, but may manifest itself in ways such as not being able to marry into the deprecated tribe, lack of a formal penalty or punishment if you happen to kill such a tribesman, and they may be ritual, or not-so-ritual, opponents in ceremonies or quests.
Alex.
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