Re: Social Cult Ranks or Devotees vs Initiates

From: Mark Galeotti <mark_at_...>
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 19:42:29 -0000

Lots of good stuff has already been said about this. Just to chip in an additional thought: do remember that a devotee is a useful asset to the community some times, but on other occasions a real pain in the backside. This is, after all, someone who has devoted himself literally body and soul to his (or her) deity. While generally that doesn't mean severing existing ties with family, friends, community, etc it does mean that when push comes to shove, god comes first.

So, when the good of the community demands that everyone choose to overlook some minor law-breaking or inconvenient truth, it's the LM devotee who stirs everything up by refusing to go along with the consensus. When there's a Lunar army passing through the tula and it makes sense to hide away those weapons and not make waves, it's the Orlanthi devotee who starts denouncing Shepelkirt and demanding that the fyrd go out and fight. And when that Lunar spy breaks his leg while fleeing and your thanes are about to run him through, lest word of your clan's tax evasion got out, that Vinga Spearwoman devotee ought to be using her Defend the Helpless secret to save him, even though realpolitik calls out for a quick death and a hidden grave...

All the best

Mark

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