I think Trolls are well within human understanding. Colonial Englishmen and slave owners of all ages had no problem thinking of other peoples as commodities. The primitive tribesmen of Papua New Guinea believe in eating enemy tribesmen killed in war. They believe eating the legs of a fast runner makes you fast, the heart makes you strong or brave and so forth. Praxian Nomad tribes condone eating of Herd Men. Remember that they prefer to eat herd-beasts raided from other tribes. If the tribe next door is Morokanth then - hey! C'est la vie!
The tribesmen of Papua New Guinea are far from devoid of morals. They are loving family folk and most often friendly to outsiders. They have a well nit and stable society. I do think Trolls see murder of Trolls as immoral. It is crazy not to. Good healthy trolls are not to be wasted, something that a female dominated society would be well aware of. Trollkin, of course, are commodities - Relatives in only the most literal sense. There is a no link between ritual cannibalism and casual fratercide, IMHO. I think that there is a human tendency to say "If they do this - they must do that! And worse...". There must be limits to violent behaviour within any stable society.
James Wadsley.
Powered by hypermail