Re: Seeking advice on Heortling Consequences

From: bethexton <bethexton_at_...>
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 21:18:26 -0000

> of them, he re-enacted the "Trouble Passes Through Eurmal" myth in
which
> Eurmal is tricked into gluttonously consuming a large amount of food
> containing trouble and then rushes out into the woods, quite ill, to
> dispose of it.
>
> He and his companions performed this ceremony using the clan
trickster, and
> then they left, quite certain that one of the Chaos artifacts was
safely
> disposed of. It wasn't, and it turned the trickster Chaotic.
<snip>
> some influential supporters. My initial thought is that the clan
will
> ceremonially move the bond of the trickster to the Orlanthi PC and
make him
> responsible for any damage and trouble caused by the trickster.
<snip>
> Given that the various factions in the clan will have their own
agendas,
> does this seem like a reasonable Heortling approach? I suspect that
I am
> being too easy on the PCs. For example, the Orlanthi PC may owe the
> chief/clan wergild for the harming of the bonded trickster (in
addition to
> taking responsibility for the trickster's actions).

Hmmm, I would think that anyone turned chaotic, even a trickster, would be immediately outlawed. Therefore, the PC would not be made responsible for the trickster per se. However, any trouble the trickster causes may cause people to look to the PC to make good, so I'm thinking as soon as the trickster is outlawed the PC would be expected to hunt him (?) down and dispose of him thoroughly.

If the trickster were reasonably well liked (as trickster go) and was generally more help than pain in the arse, then the loss of the trickster may also be something that the PC must somehow make good.

I guess my basic attitude would be: the PC made a mistake, but made it in all good intentions. He should therefore repair the mistake. So long as he goes out and fixes (from a clan point of view, not from the POV of the poor trickster!) the damage that he has done, there shouldn't be serious repercussions (maybe a little loss of faith in him, represented perhaps in a penalty to his relation to clan?). If he is reluctant to go out and fix things, then fines, punishment, and so on may be appropriate, to show others what happens to those who don't take responsibility for their mistakes.

All just IMO of course.

--Bryan