Might want to check up on both Thunder Rebels and norse and germanic marriage customs - or the Iroquois for that matter. Its all about survival of the larger unit, in this case, a bloodline. Love is secondary.
> Not having sex with your bloodline is probably part of the cultural
air
> they breath, though its not often talked about. I mean, do we
constantly
> lecture our kids about not having sex with siblings or first
cousins?
Probably just as well. I'd rather my game not be quite that "rich" a slice of life.
> And like the first cousin rule in our own society, things get a bit
vague
> at the edges.
>
> That's human nature. :)
>
>
> >And if they're _not_ bonking people from their own clan, who do
they have
> >affairs with?
>
> I'd run with elders turning a blind eye to sexual experimentation,
just as
> most do in our own cultures. Orlanthi are pretty free on most
sexual
> matters, and don't attach a particular value to virginity: we
discussed
> this at length for Thunder Rebels, but I don't have a copy close at
hand to
> check right now.
Yes, it is discussed at great anthro-whatsis level in that book.
> Though people don't draw a one to one correspondence between the
sex lives
> of the gods and their own - for gods have a duty and obligation to
spread
> there essence around - Ernalda is no shrinking violet when it comes
to
> lovers. Neither is Orlanth. Sex, like wisdom and a cold discerning
eye, is
> a natural part of women's magic, just as bragging and violence and
falling
> in love three times a week is part of being a Heortling male.
(Yeah, its
> essentialist and a bit stereotypical, but at least we've shuffled
the
> stereotypes around. :))
Yep. Hammers and screwdrivers of communication. Or are those cliches?
> Young men often travel after initiation, to build a name and a herd
and to
> find a wife. There's a certain fluidity to stead composition. Any
stead
> will have a number of guests - usually unmarried young men. The
elders will
> be checking them out as possible marriage alliances, the young
women will
> be checking them out a little less theoretically.
>
> Young men and young women travel to the shielings with the sheep.
And possibly see who's in the next pasture - the Cyrlings are 'just over the hill' afterall.
And if the neighbors come by for some reason, its very likely they'll be 'checked out' - something like that happens as backstory in "Sheepless Nights" as some of the local girls come by to bring a proper dinner out to the brave heroes stuck in the sheep meadow.
> Young women will tend to be 'protected' by their brothers, and as
hearths
> are communal, there are few secrets. But there's understanding too,
and
> here lies the most potential for individual storytelling.
And, of course, making for a good game.
> But marriage is very different, and much more serious.
>
> Cheers
>
> John
This is pretty much what I was hoping to see somewhere.
Jeff
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