> Actually, I can't see the thrifty Praxians letting perfectly good
> blood go to waste by letting it drain into the ground like that.
>
The butcher lets some blood drain into the ground in order to give
sustenance to the spirit of the butchered animal. After all, the
herd beast's spirit faces a long journey back to Erithra's udder, and
needs all the help it can get. If you don't give any help to the
spirit, it may not make it back, and that means that your herds will
diminish. A pint or two of blood is well worth it.
> I wonder if there is a Gloranthan equivalent of trichinosis?
> Otherwise pork (both domesticated and wild), bear and herdman could
> be eaten rare or even raw without danger.
>
Well obviously, if the animal's spirit is not sent properly on its
way with the Peaceful Cut, the spirit will remain in the carcass and
attack whoever eats it. Symptoms of this spirit combat will be
stomach pains, general ill health, and adopting some animal-like
traits: incoherent moaning, disorentation, inability to stand or use
tools, etc. If this happens to one of your family, fetch a Waha
shaman quick! It's also another reason why the Pavisites use
Praxian butchers.
And there is absolutely no truth to the rumours that some Praxians occasionally entrap hostile spirits in the carcasses of animals not butchered by Praxians.
Neil.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neil Smith email: neil.smith_at_rmcs.cranfield.ac.uk CISMG, Cranfield University, phone: +44 1793 785900 RMCS, Shrivenham, Swindon, SN6 8LA, UK fax: +44 1793 782753 ------------------------------
End of The Glorantha Digest V6 #480
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