One thing to remember is that the nuclear family is a modern invention. A single Orlanthi stead (or Lodrilli hovel) often houses several generations and the offspring of several related couples. Therefore, caring for the children of a dead (or warrior) woman is not an ususual burden.
Heck, Theyasstead is home to seven adults and eleven children.
Theya & Venharl (and their four kids)
Illig and his wife (and their four kids)
Svar (whose wife died three years ago, leaving him with three kids)
And two cottars who live with them:
Bianna - a Boscovi widow hired (for room & board) to help care for the
children
Hend - a Boscovi youth hired (for a cow and the renders from 1/3 hyde of
land), to help out around the farm and provide an extra axe for defense.
What's one or two more children? (For some families, extra mouths may be a problem, but as a gyda of Ernalda and a shrewd planner, Theya usually has enough food on hand.)
Both economic and safety pressures encourage extended families. Large amounts of labor & different skills are required to grow crops, herd cattle, _and_ hunt, and many adults can better protect one stead from raiders or monsters. Having lots of bodies around is warmer in the winter, too - especially of you bring the swine inside! And more establised steads would have an older generation to help care for the kids and give advice.
Another point to remember is that, according to KOS, the children of a Dragon Pass-Orlanthi marriage are generally considered the father's. Therefore, if the mother picked up and went off adventuring or left for someone else, the children would stay with him. He would probably have to rely on his female relatives to help out, or hire a cottar or a thrall.
Pam
Powered by hypermail