Hi All,
I suspect that, when it comes to merchants using their magic in deals, certain
social pressures/prejudices would apply:
- It's okay to use your magic against other trader cult worshippers, who would
be expected to be able to deal with this sort of thing. In fact, traders might
well enjoy the chance to pit their magic against each other to prove who's
best. Pushing out the big guns against Joe Average, though, will get everyone
else thinking that they won't get a good deal from you and would probably be
counterproductive in the long run. Bad reputations don't tend to lead to big
profits.
- It's more acceptable to use your magic on a big deal, like a major
negotiation to set up a new trade route, than it would be if you're just buying
a loaf of bread or half a dozen eggs.
- It's more, or even particularly acceptable, to use your magic on strangers
and outsiders. We don't owe them anything, and they've probably got strange
magic of their own that we know nothing about! It's bound to involve eating
babies or something, though. We should make sure we get our magic in first.
- Magic use is probably more acceptable in big cities, where things are a bit
more cosmopolitan and impersonal, especially if you're dealing with strangers
who you might not ever see again.
- What *isn't* acceptable is strangers coming here and using their weird trade
magic against *us*. An Etyries trader using her magic in some backwoods
Heortling settlement is probably taking her life in her hands. This probably
happens whenever an outsider comes into an insular culture that feels
threatened. Lunar traders, on the other hand, being part of a dominant culture
in their region, might relish the opportunity to prove the superiority of the
Lunar Way against "inferior foreign magic".
Just my 2p worth. Though it'll be a few quids' worth if I can get the trade
magic cranked up... :)
Regards,
Bruce