Re: Sacrifice (Cows to CA)

From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_...>
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2000 11:36:43 -0000


Wulf & Phil are talking about Sacrifice to Chalana Arroy Wulf:>I'd say sacrificing a life to Chalana Arroy would be a Bad

      Thing...

Phil:>Why?

Wulf:>She's not into killing things much.

Phil:> Who mentioned killing anything? Not me.

Indeed. Although we tend to think of Sacrifice as involving the slaughter of animals this need not be the case, particularly in the case of Chalana Arroy. Rather the supplicant donates the cow to the Temple/Shrine who then get the benefit of the cow.

If I recall correctly, in RQ cash-strapped adventurers could provide service to CA temples in return for healing, and this is an extension of that principle.

Obviously Chalana Arroy (and her cult) will look poorly on the sacrifice of old/weak cattle, and favourably on strong, fertile cattle and/or good milk cows. They would also disapprove of someone sacrificing cows to the extent that they can no longer support their family / meet their obligations to the clan.

It may be possible to sacrifice future cattle to Chalana Arroy too -  "If you save my wife from the creeping chills I will give you every third calf born this spring" - with all the fun possibilities this can bring (Your clan chief made such a promise and has now reneged - your clan is stricken with disease and you must appease the healers (or sacrifice to Malia?) - You promise the next thing born in your cowshed, and your wife goes into labour while milking the cows - The cattle you promise to the temple is stolen in a cattle raid, and the temple will not accept any substitute...

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