by Stormbringer on Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:30 am
Following the discussion on mates and bonding which took place recently, I believe we have a useful place in the game for a relationship definition between characters which is less than bonding but which is available to those who do not want to go into a master and slave partnership. Doing so allows characters to create significant relationships without undermining a religious bonding and without leaving the only other alternative as the collar. The obvious historical model for this is concubinage.
This then is the proposed format for recognised character relationships:
1 BONDING
Bonding is a sacred ritual between two characters who wish to establish a significant relationship blessed by their deity. Each religion sets its own specific guidelines on how this is achieved, the limitations and how a bond may be broken. Normally a character will only be bonded to a sngle mate at any one time as this is considered a very significant relationship.
The Empire's recognition of bonding is based upon the following:
- The bond must be created in a place sacred to a recognised major or minor religion by a priest(ess) or high priest(ess) of that religion
- At least one of those being bonded must be a follower of that religion
- In cases where the precepts of a religion allow a character to bond with more than one other at the same time, only the first of those bondings will be recognised by the empire
- No new bond will be recognised until any existing one(s) are broken under the requirements of the same religion which created that bond.
On those terms and providing the bonding ceremony is recorded in the annals (on the message board) then the Empire will recognise a significant relationship between two of its subjects. Whilst this bond does not carry much in the way of benefits and restrictions in imperial terms, the existence of it is such that a character whose bonded mate is stolen or abducted may apply to the Imperial Guards for their assistance in gaining their mate's return. This help is not automatic and it is not free. The IG Commander will consider a plea on its merits and if justified, set a fee for the IG's help. Any help will be refused if it is believed that the bonded character left of their own free will.
2, CONCUBINAGE
A concubine is less than a bonded mate and shares several common attributes with a slave. But they are also less restricted than a slave would be. The exact nature of the relationship between owner and concubine is left to the individual players involved, so they may vary from being considered minor wives/husbands to being in a relationship which mirrors slavery but without so many public restrictions. In view of the nature of roleplay in Belariath, it would be most normal to think of a concubine as trending towards the almost-slave rather than the almost-mate but that is for individual players to define for themselves.
There is no required religious ceremony to take a concubine, it is a purely temporal relationship which for the sake of convenience is administered by the ISA. Only concubines registered via the ISA are recognised by the empire.
There are a number of requirements and restrictions on the relationship in game terms:
- Concubines may be male or female
- There is no restriction upon the number of concubines a player owns apart from their ability to support such
- Each concubine requires two equip slots the same as a slave
- A concubine is considered owned and a part of their owner's harem.
- Concubines may not own other concubines or slaves
- A concubine is not required to show deference to free people
- Restrictions on a concubine's ability to carry and use weapons is decided in OOC terms between the players of owner and concubine
- A concubine does not have the same limitation over employment as a slave does
- Concubines are not collared but may be given some other indication of their status if wished. This could be anything from a pin to a brand.
- Concubines are not captured and sold by slavers and may not be traded or sold by their owner except with IC consent
- Becoming a concubine requires IC consent and would tend to be most often seen as a character giving up a varying degree of freedom in return for the physical and financial security of being owned by someone rich or powerful
- The registration fee for a concubine is 50% of the current registration fee for a slave. Waiting times for a concubine are the same as for a slave. Both owner and concubine must post OOC consent.
- Registration entitles the owner to appeal to the ISA for assistance (such assistance being given by an ISA call to the IG) if a concubine is stolen or abducted. However, the ISA will not intervene if a concubine runs away.
- Removal of concubine status also mirrors the ISA requirements for the removal of a collar
- A character can only hold one status at a time between bonded, concubine and slave.
3. SLAVERY
Slavery is the traditional way to take ownership of another character within Belariath and its details remain unchanged for the present.
TO BE DECIDED
- Does the owner of a concubine pay the same upkeep fee as a slave, since the concubine is kept in that owner's harem? Or does the concubine receive the basic allowance and pay their own upkeep?
- A way of marking concubine status in channel, the obvious being something like a slave tag but modified to {SBc}
- With concubines in play it may be possible to define slavery in more absolute terms
IMPLEMENTATION
This is currently a discussion document and I welcome feedback and requests for clarifications.
The plan would be to integrate this on the basis that it had always existed, not as a new invention IC.
Once settled, existing slaves who wish to switch to concubine would have a one month grace period when they could apply for an immediate (subject to ISA staff availability) change. No extra waiting times or fees but no refunds either. Both owner and slave would have to post consent to the switch. After that month a slave would have to be decollared and then start fresh with a concubine registration if they wished to change status.
(With thanks to laerel for some input)
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Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn(John Keats)
Check your baggage at the door and bring some magic through your
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