Re: Heortling Duels (in Heortland)

From: bryan_thx <bethexton_at_rPs2TCSQuRBgW17l55X4LLJHEsPDyASp6w-KVhqaCVTZLO52hFd1U6oGIgW3dzB11E>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:32:24 -0000

>
> In message <46CB9ED0.7080609_at_...> Greg Stafford writes:
>
> >If the terms of the oath are broken, then the oath breakers will have
> >very, very bad luck indeed. Orlanth and Ernalda are the Keepers of
> >Oaths. They will withdraw their protection from oath breakers. This
is a
> >VERY serious handicap. It is the same as the whole clan being outlawed.
>
> There will probably be some clansfolk tempted to break the oath. How
> many will determine what happens. If enough do so the clan will split
> otherwise any individuals who do so will have to be outlawed to
> protect the clan.
>
> I see an Ernaldan influence in duels as an alternative to war. If
> you've got to have some killing let it just be a warrior and accept
> the result. So while many men and some women will want to carry on
> the feud the majority of women and some men will accept the result
> even if they don't like it.
>
> In the long term there's still a problem, when a new generation
> who hasn't sworn the oath grow up the feud may reignite.
>
I think in the game mentioned, the clans were not officially feuding.

What would be interesting is the terms of the oath. Obviously it settles the matter of the mother's death--there will be no further revenge killsings, demands for wereguild, etc afterwards. Presumably it includes the two clans not interfering with the duel, nor attacking the other clan during the duel.

But does it extend longer than that? Is there anything to stop someone of one clan claiming offense from someone of the other clan? For that matter, if it seems like the impartiality of the duel was somehow compromised, is there anything to stop one clan from sending leaders in their best cloaks to the other clan, to declare blood feud (to keep everything open and legal). Not because of the killing of the mother, of course, but just from general gross offense.

I imagine negotiating the terms of the oath is something for the lawspeakers, as each clan wants maximum freedom of action for themselves, protection from the other clan, and enough clarity that they are not apt to accidentally break the oath and suffer terribly (imagine if it was protection on all members of both clans for a week, and far from the duel, in the deep woods, a hunter of one clan accidentally shot the hunter from another. Or the oath covers all damage, and someone's horse gets spooked and gallops wildly, running down an opposing clansman. In the normal course of things these could be negotiated out easily enough, but if it violated the terms of an oath.....

--Bryan