I don't claim to be an expert but it occurs to me that, since clans engage in a kind of cycle of swapping members (due to marriage), that the other clans in the 'arrangement' would also be 'losing' well trained members or, more pertinently trading a valuable member (or even human resource :) for someone else as the marriage-to-other-clans' men 'cycle' continues.
So we have here a situation *sort of* like the way in which arranged marriages are conducted in this world.
Of course someone else on this list will be able to put this idea better but I think that's the idea.
Hope this helps, I'm sure you can use it to yours and the story's advantage!
Cheers
Matthew
-----Original Message-----
Sent: 27 April 2004 20:59
To: HeroQuest-RPG_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Women in the clan
Hi All,
My game is moving along nicely, and the players seem to be enjoying themselves a lot.
One of the NPCs that has impressed them has been a woman tradethane called Halorica. They asked if she was married (no) and then they said "So if she marries we lose her? Why would the clan spend effort and resources training up a woman if she's going to leave and become a resource for another clan? Especially someone as sneaky as Halorica..."
Now of course, they're trying to come up with schemes involving looking after her to convince her she wants an Esrolian marriage, but the larger question remains.
What incentives are there for a clan to spend time and effort training women in specialist roles if those women will be lost to the clan when they marry?
This is concerning some of my group a fair bit, and I haven't really thought of an answer yet...
Suggestions gratefully received.
Stephen
-- Stephen Rennell steve_at_... Wellington, New Zealand GPG fingerprint - CD0F 78C6 1AAE 8726 803A F1D0 F123 8486 062F 0317 Yahoo! Groups Links
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