[Glorantha] Re: Kinstrife and Heortling law

[Nic Hughes]

donald at grove.demon.co.uk (Donald R. Oddy)wrote:

>
>Trying to reconcile those, I came to the conclusion that while it
>would generally be regarded as wrong, if someone did kill another
>who had been outlawed from their clan it wouldn't actually be a
>punishable crime. 
>  
>
To the extent that nobody would demand wergild and there would be no 
court case you are of course correct.

However there is another level of meaning to the word crime in this 
context - crimes against the laws of Orlanth and Heort. If you commit 
such a crime then the Gods' protection may be withdrawn even if you do 
so in circumstances where nobody needs to be compensated and therefore 
there could never be a court case. Whether you view this as the Gods 
punishing you for a crime, or the natural consequences of an act that 
brings the Great Darkness just that little bit closer is a matter of 
interpretation.

>There is also the issue of what happens if someone who is
>outlawed sets up as a bandit on the edge of the tula. If the
>clan is unable to fight them they can steal from the clan
>with impunity.
>
>  
>
Well not with impunity but it would be hard to deal with if you could 
not kill them and were reluctant to risk the consequences should this 
occur when you try to deal with them. Such is the stuff of Heortling 
tragedies - and of course some good stories. Most clans do have access 
to people who are not so contrained, either internally (Humakti) or 
through standing arrangements (Uroxi etc). If all else fails some 
wandering group of well armed people (e.g. player characters) might be 
persuaded to help deal with the problem.

--
Nic