- In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, donald@... wrote:
>
> In message <46CB9ED0.7080609@...> Greg Stafford writes:
>
> >If the terms of the oath are broken, then the oath breakers will have
> >very, very bad luck indeed. Orlanth and Ernalda are the Keepers of
> >Oaths. They will withdraw their protection from oath breakers. This
is a
> >VERY serious handicap. It is the same as the whole clan being outlawed.
>
> There will probably be some clansfolk tempted to break the oath. How
> many will determine what happens. If enough do so the clan will split
> otherwise any individuals who do so will have to be outlawed to
> protect the clan.
>
> I see an Ernaldan influence in duels as an alternative to war. If
> you've got to have some killing let it just be a warrior and accept
> the result. So while many men and some women will want to carry on
> the feud the majority of women and some men will accept the result
> even if they don't like it.
>
> In the long term there's still a problem, when a new generation
> who hasn't sworn the oath grow up the feud may reignite.
>
I think in the game mentioned, the clans were not officially feuding.
What would be interesting is the terms of the oath. Obviously it
settles the matter of the mother's death--there will be no further
revenge killsings, demands for wereguild, etc afterwards. Presumably
it includes the two clans not interfering with the duel, nor attacking
the other clan during the duel.
But does it extend longer than that? Is there anything to stop
someone of one clan claiming offense from someone of the other clan?
For that matter, if it seems like the impartiality of the duel was
somehow compromised, is there anything to stop one clan from sending
leaders in their best cloaks to the other clan, to declare blood feud
(to keep everything open and legal). Not because of the killing of
the mother, of course, but just from general gross offense.
I imagine negotiating the terms of the oath is something for the
lawspeakers, as each clan wants maximum freedom of action for
themselves, protection from the other clan, and enough clarity that
they are not apt to accidentally break the oath and suffer terribly
(imagine if it was protection on all members of both clans for a week,
and far from the duel, in the deep woods, a hunter of one clan
accidentally shot the hunter from another. Or the oath covers all
damage, and someone's horse gets spooked and gallops wildly, running
down an opposing clansman. In the normal course of things these could
be negotiated out easily enough, but if it violated the terms of an
oath.....
--Bryan
Received on Wed 22 Aug 2007 - 06:32:49 EEST