Gareth Martin:
> > Oh, I dunno - I quite like the idea. Seen from the perspective of
>> starting/developing characters, they would start with what, half a
> > dozen?
Charles Corrigan:
>I think that it would be more likely to be a tattoo per affinity. A
>feat could be considered to just be a new understanding of the power
>of an affinity. So, usually, three affinity tattoos, a clan tatoo
>plus a tattoo per "magical" organisation/wyter.
I suspect that the affinities system is something of a game-mechanic classification system, grouping the myths and powers derived from them for ease of play, rather than something which is obviously recognized by the user. So, it's not "I have a Movement affinity of 10w2" but "The power of Orlanth fills me! See how I move like the wind!"
So I would suspect that the markings (let's not forget the possibilities of scarification and branding, either, although these work less well on fair skin) would show the god and subcult (and aspect, if any) that the worshipper follows. I can also imagine that some participants in heroquests and rituals get marks that would normally be pained on made permanent, either through tattooing or magic. So, if the clan does a Movement ritual reenacting Orlath's healing of Mastakos that ends with (they guy playing) Orlanth restoring the Three-Legged Sign to (the guy playing) Mastakos, in most cases, the one paints the sign on the chest of the other. If the other is a devotee of Mastakos, perhaps the mark is tattooed on or magically becomes a permanent mark (which could make the effects of the ritual more powerful, last longer, or just make the clan feel niftier).
As far as a tattoo per wyter goes, that seems sensible, except, of course, that the mark of belonging to the group (the clan tattoo in the case of the clan) should mark the connection. So you'd be showing membership in the group (including sacrifice to the wyter) rather than the connection to the wyter itself.
Some cults might add symbols to the primary cult tattoo to show understanding of certain myths (ie learning certain feats). These would likely be too small to be clearly noticed by outsiders (who shouldn't know what they mean, anyway). The Babeester Gori's cult tattoo should be enough to warn you off (if her mode of dress and axe weren't a better warning). You don't want to get so close you can make out the slogan "If you can read this, I've cut off your head."
Peter Larsen
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