Offering tribute isn't really begging for mercy, it's a deal where they give you cows and you forbear from killing them and taking their cows. After you agree and you're locked into your oaths, they're free to declare a feud safely, and they can curse you, hire mercenaries against you, send ghosts against you, etc., etc. If you retaliate by raiding, you lose 4 to 6 magic. So it makes perfect sense for them to declare the feud *after* you agree to accept tribute.
Powered by hypermail