Well, other than ordinary people crossing the street to avoid him maybe yes.
A resheathed Humakti is no longer part of their family. They would no longer live with their family but instead would live wherever the chief put them. This is very unlike the life of a "normal" Heortling.
>
> I really do think (IMG, IMOHO etc.) that a humakti can sever his
family
> ties as a formality and a legal get out clause only, but still live
with his
> family, have a bit a nooky with suitable members of whatever sex he
fancies,
> turn up at his mums for family get together and generally be a
relatively
> normal member of society albeit with various ritual roles and
> responsibilities and a convenient legal position for a soldier ....
(I know
> others will disagree with me here ;)).
>
Yes. I don't quite see it that way, bear in mind that abandoning family and clan is one of the worst crimes in Heortling society and it is only tolerable within the bounds of a handful of outcast but necessary cults (Humakt, Urox, etc). Every single Humakti has abandoned their clan, something unspeakably awful to most Heortlings, this alone would be enough to set them apart as outsiders, wierdoes and fanatics in the minds of those around them.
I also think that in a society where religion means so much (and has manifest everyday effects) then a rite as serious as the severing is much much more than just a legal formality. There are both emotional and ritual bonds holding Heortling society together (cf wyters), these would tend to reinforce one another yet Humakti are pretty much entirely excluded from the whole ritual side except as outsiders (they cannot benefit from communal worship although they do still take part).
However I do agree that there can be differing degrees of fanaticism and even different fanaticisms within the cult of Humakt. Some Humakti are grim death wielders, others might uphold an iron-bound code of honor. Many (the Hoods faction) are quite able and willing to live a normal(ish) life but that is really just an example of the fact that fanatics do not always have to be obvious and anti-social.
Of course the character who thought he was just invoking a legal escape clause when joining the Humakt cult might make an interesting one, he might find he's got more than he bargained for and there is only one honorable way out of the cult. For every rule there may be an exception or someone with differing attitudes (to some extent I think this attitude might fit better in Esrolia but that's just IMO).
YGMV as always.
-- Nic
Powered by hypermail