Re: Re: Fog of war

From: Greg Stafford <Greg_at_...>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 14:28:02 -0800


At 05:09 PM 3/31/2002 -0500, Michael wrote:
>Look to medieval tales of the Mistral, the oppressive annual fog which
>descends hot and heavy upon the Provence region (Arles, Avignon, etc.) of
>southern France, for inspiration. Even the local laws account for the
>Mistral: no person committing a crime of passion while the Mistral looms
>over the land is ever held accountable. Those who dared to abuse this law
>for their own ends typically wound up dead under curious circumstances,
>come the following year's Mistral.

Great reference, Michael.

>I imagine the Heortlings do not feel quite so generous toward those who
>commit murder during the Iphara fog, crime of passion or no, but being
>under Iphara's influence might be the sole legitimate defense of murder
>(kinslaying, whatever the reason, can never be excused). Anyone who
>falsely claims Iphara's influence, however, would likely be treated far
>more harshly.

"Possessed by Iphara" may be a legitimate defense if it was real, but I don't think most Heortling courts would consider it to imply innocence. Sometimes Iphara spontaneously forms herself around bands of murderers going to their business. They are hidden by her even though they didn't summon or ask her help. Her presence proves their guilty intent of murder.

>Other than Huraya and Tarena the Blue Woman (Tarena, however, is somewhat
>suspect), the gods of fog (clouds come to Earth) are generally
>ill-considered among the Heortlings. As nasty as Iphara can be, Urain is
>far worse and calling it down is inexcusable on any level. I for one
>would love to see a write-up for Urain. Gagarth is a wimp in comparison.
Yea, me too.



Greg Stafford, greg_at_...
Issaries, Inc. 900 Murmansk St., Suite 5; Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 452 1648 Fax: (510) 302 0385 Publisher of Hero Wars, Roleplaying in Glorantha See our site at: <www.glorantha.com>

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