Re: Breaking hospitality and the Greeting

From: Benedict Adamson <badamson_at_...>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 14:30:15 +0100

Ian Cooper wrote:
...
> Third question: Can the guest create a situation that breaks the
> ritual orforces the host to break the ritual so that he or she can
> act (i.e. commit an act of violence) without fear of Divine Wrath.
...

Absolutely, this is the stuff of cunning plans. Somewhat like tricking a hero into breaking a geas. For example, one might subtly goad the hosts Uroxi into starting a fight. Or even, just turning up at an enemy's hall and sitting about, showing off the sword you prised from his son's dead fingers (c.f. Beowulf and Njarl's saga).