I don't think it does. This expectation may be the cause of many failures when the youngsters try to initiate into the expected cult when they are more suited to another.
>> I'd suggest the failures fall into the following catagories:
>>
>> People who aren't ready or try and initiate to the wrong god. They
>> generally fail without significant damage but get an odd quirk...
>
>Men initiating to Ernalda (Nandan); women initiating to Orlanth (Vinga)?
Nothing as big as that. I think those are deliberate choices made in spite of social pressure. More like the woman who can't weave or the man who spooks cattle. Cause for teasing and a limitation in occupation but something which can be worked round.
>> People who fail badly enough that they die or end up lost on the
>> hero plane.
>
>Devotees of Humakt?
No, they are dead or dying.
>> People who fail and are physically or mentally disabled as a result.
>> They can never become adults and remain children all their lives
>> doing whatever tasks the clan can find for them.
>
>Disciples of Eurmal?
Some possibly although that wouldn't be a failure of initiation. Just not initiating into the cult you intended to.
>> Whether it should be a contest or not really depends on the story.
>> In most stories it is a distraction and a potentially derailing
>> one.
>
>And also, the event that makes your character an adult rather than a
>child, so arguably something to do as part of character generation.
Yes, although I suspect that any initiation rules are used more for characters changing or taking on additional cults or subcults.
-- Donald Oddy http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/
Powered by hypermail