Re: Vengeance

From: Benedict Adamson <badamson_at_lhr-sys.dhl.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 19:24:10 +0000

The Glorantha Digest wrote:
> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 09:08:24 -0600
> From: aelarsen_at_facstaff.wisc.edu

- -..
> >>Gian wrote: I wonder where the vengeance stops
- -..
> Gian's question hits at the chief flaw of the wergeld/vengeance
> legal system. It has a hard time actually putting an end to this sort of
> thing, because it's slanted heavily in favor of those with money and social
> status.

- -..

You can acquire money and social status by association. That's why the entire family is responsible for feud and weregild. A weak farmer can subordinate himself to a powerful local, who in effect becomes a petty chief. Favouring those with social status and money contributes to the stability of the system, since they have the _de facto_ ability to chose when to stop the feud.

> This weakness of the
> system would make an excellent theme for an Orlanthi campaign

Read 'Njal's Saga' before you do. The ending unfortunately has a rather 'christian' theme: only through forgiveness does the killing end. Perhaps that too can be adapted: only by the healing of the Red Goddess can the killing end.

---