OK: Summarizing the responses from Donald, Jane, and Jeff, Eurmali
have more benefits and lower costs than I gathered from _Storm Tribe_.
Benefits:
- Bonded Eurmali are a status symbol for the ruler they are bonded to.
If nothing else, they show that he is wealthy enough to clean up after
them. They are a perogative of the ruler, although their presence
might reflect badly on the ruler's judgement.
- Bonded Eurmali are useful on many Orlanthi heroquests, not just the
Lightbringer's quest or in the rituals associated with the other
Prescribed Roles (e.g. scapegoat). It's possible that their magic
would be useful for secular "wet work" as well (e.g. spying or dirty
tricks against enemies).
Costs:
- The "mean time to betrayal" (MTTB) of bonded Eurmali is long -- many
never get an opportunity to betray their rulers. Bonded Eurmali will
usually obey their rulers' commands, even when the stakes are high and
a betrayal would seem to be in order.
- A ruler will typically lock up or otherwise contrain his bonded
Eurmali when he has no need of him, so the Eurmali's tendency to
random mayhem won't do serious harm to others.
Under the conditions above, it seems like it would be possible to play
an Eurmali player character. However, he would have to be bonded to
someone close to the player character group. Even then, the
trickster's random behavior could create a lot of strains with the
other players. Socially, it's probably better to have him as a
narrator character.
Rob