Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Skald" data-source="post: 159921" data-attributes="member: 1601">I'd have to agree that a law such as this is rather absurd without an understandable precedent for it.I'll assume that you're familiar with Viking society; killing a man was acceptable within the boundaries of their culture, but it had to be performed as a personal duel. Death only resulted if one refused to yield (and most chose death, for by yielding they became slaves to the victor). Even still, the victor had to pay the survivors of the deceased a weregild (or payment) to cover his funeral expenses and provide for his widow and children. There were many such duels and instances within Viking society, but by and large this atmopshere did make these barbaric Northmen rather polite with each other. With the rest of Europe, however...Renaissance Europe also had duels over honor, and it was acceptable to kill for quite some time as long as these disputes were resolved according to 'gentlemen's rules' and the such; think of any swashbuckling film where formal challenges are issued and you'll get the idea.Feudal Japan and the Samurai class also had acceptable terms when it came to kill a man, although many samurai were really nothing more than cruel bullies that murdered rather innocent folks over misconstrued insults to their honor. With the support of their daiymos behind them, these samurai got away with murder.I'm not against your idea entirely, but do put some considerable effort into making these 'free kills' understandable within their own context. It will make this city far more interesting and memorable, and can quickly bring to light that in such a settlement many, many people will actually become far more cordial than people living in societies where killing is outlawed and condemned, while abusing and violating others in non-lethal ways is seen as an acceptable 'test of manhood' or not punishable as serious offenses.An interesting thought a martial arts instructor once told me... people will abuse others freely when they are forbidden to kill, but they will be far less likely to kill when they are forbidden to abuse...</blockquote>

Verification