Re: Glorantha digest, Vol 9 #29 - 1 msg

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_sierratel.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 14:36:09 -0800

> Do the Orlanthi pay taxes? that sounds more like a feudal setup
> than the traditional Celtic/Viking analogue. I see clan and tribal
> chiefs being supported by a combination of their own resources as
> thanes and gifts for help in settling disputes etc. The nearest
> thing to a tax I can think of would be the gifts expected of
> foreign merchants for the chief's huscarls to keep order in the
> market.

Yes, they do, but they just don't call it that :-).

Clan Chiefs are "supported" in terms of cows by the clan. Thunder Rebels 18 has "your Stead" giving 65 cow-equivalents to the chief (50 for him & the ring, 15 to pass on to the Tribal King).

Then, on TR 25 it shows the cattle that "your Clan" expects to give to the Tribe: 100 for the king and his needs, 150 for the appropriate 'gild (Tarsh, Horse, Prax - I'd add in a host of minor ones that, added up, amount to the same thing, such as the Icegild (to a local Valinding stronghold), Bullgild (To a local Urox family who supports the tribe), Swordgild (To support the Humakti who keep down the neighborhood undead), Beastgild (for clans down by Beast valley), Spiritgild (to support a shaman who keeps down the more-than-average local spirits, etc.. Figure that you're paying off at the rate of 150 cows a year to keep the peace in your neighborhood).

Note that some steads and some clans pay more, some pay less. A popular and/or strong Chief/King will be able to get more from their steads/clans, a weak/unpopular one will have a harder time even to get the minimum (ask anyone that's played Mad-Blood Malan on how easy it is to get cows!)

Since the lunars came, add another 250 cows in "Tribute, triumph money, fines, and reparations".
RR

--__--__--