Post by Mr. Maltin on Dec 2, 2008 15:33:21 GMT -8
Alright, listen up. There's something about this domain that keeps neonates ignorant and makes elders forgetful. Maybe it's the air we're not breathing. Maybe it's in the water. Maybe you all caught democracy from the food. Whatever it is, you all seem to have forgotten what a Harpy is and how prestation works, so I'm gonna remind you.
Back in the day, and in most domains still, the Harpy was the biggest gossip in town. In fact, it wasn't really a nice name to call someone. Think about what you know about mythical harpies. Ok, fine, go look it up. I don't care. The point is, they are not nice creatures. These days everyone seems to think that the Harpy is some kind of elected bureaucrat who monitors status and keeps boons like a bank. Now why would you call an elected official something so mean? It's like calling the Sheriff the "Ogre" or the Seneschal "The guy who pretends he's in charge."
The point is, the Harpy isn't supposed to be a bank or a federal reserve. In fact, the Harpy doesn't even keep your boons. Sure, over the centuries we've sort of formalized the idea of having a Harpy, and it looks like the Primogen council votes on it, but they're really just discussing who's a big gossip.
So the Harpy is the biggest gossip in the domain. Why should you care? Well, let's look at how the old elders dealt with boons, and maybe you'll see why it's in your interest to do the same. Now, imagine you live in a society where there isn't anyone you can trust. If you weren't embraced yesterday, this shouldn't be hard. Now, how can you trust someone who owes you a favor to not back out? You can't, can you? So you do the next best thing. You set it up so if they don't pay up, they pay the price.
You see, we have all these traditions and rules and customs because we're vicious predators. Yes, even you. Looked at your Beast lately? Yeah. These social rules keep us from eating each other alive, or killing each other over feeding grounds. We do this because, like it or not, we need each other to some degree. Maybe it's old habit from our breathing days. Maybe it's just practical. Remember the inquisition? Lone kindred didn't do so well back then. As a less extreme example, what if you need to get out of jail, but don't have the resources to do it yourself? Sometimes you need a favor.
Now, remember what I said about lone kindred not doing well against the inquisition? Think about it. Do you want to be all alone in the world against everything that wants us dead? Yeah? Well, get the hell out of Elysium, you fucking Autark. I hear there's good feeding past the 17 mile marker going east on I-90.
I'm assuming the rest of you still think having some backup is a good plan. Being abandoned by the rest of the kindred would be a pretty hefty penalty, right? Well, that's what happens when you back out of a boon, and here's where the Harpy comes in.
When you're owed a boon, you tell the Harpy about it. You don't do it so the Harpy will write it down in a book and kick a dude's ass if he doesn't pay. It's not a collection agency. You do it so the Harpy will gossip about it. Soon enough, everyone in the domain knows who owes you and why. Now, imagine the guy who owes you backs out. Everybody knows he owes you. How many of them are gonna do him a favor knowing he backed out? That dude gets caught by the police, he'll be watching the sun rise from behind bars.
I imagine you get the idea. Now, this is why I have a problem with the way this domain is dealing with boons. How often does someone go to the Harpy to talk about a newly minted boon, and only gives the minimum amount of information. Major boon for "services rendered." Minor boon for "Information." Blood boon for "I don't want to talk about it." Are any of these a juicy story? Is there any reason for the Harpy to gossip about a dude who won't say anything? Is there any reason for the whole domain to remember that Kindred A owes Kindred B if they don't know why? A boon without a story is not a secure boon. The domain doesn't care.
So, I suggest you all start following the old ways again. They've lasted this long for a reason. If you want a secure boon, tell me why I, and everyone else, should care. You might actually see a benefit out of it. I know you don't want to tell everyone that you're elbow deep in the blood banks just because some neonate fucked up his hunt and needed a juice box to hold him over. People might try to jump your claim. On the other hand, you might get rich selling blood to every hungry or cautious kindred in the domain. You might gain status as you gain wealth and favors. In fact, you might get domain over that interest you have, giving you the right to kick some ass if someone tries to take it from you. You know, I know of domains where Ventrue have domain over entire industries. Not around here, they're all too afraid of losing their stuff.
You want to tell me about a boon, you tell me the story. You sell a guy information, tell me what kind. Don't tell me the information, just give me an idea what it was all about. Get a boon for telling someone about ghosts? Maybe people will owe you instead of the Giovanni when they need to know about ghosts. Get a boon for telling someone how to find a guy who doesn't want to be found? Soon enough people will come to you for that. Did you use your influence for someone? You want to get more boons out of the influence you hold? Tell the story. You get the idea.
Now, you come to me to register a secret boon, I'll tell you to keep it secret and take your chances. You can't have it all. You still want it known that you are owed? Fine, but I'll find the most embarassing story I can tell and still have some truth in it. You want people to remember, right? Well, I'll make sure they remember. Maybe telling the real story is more worth it.
On the other hand, since I'm the one telling the story, maybe I'll just inflate the price of your favor as is befitting the mystery. You owed a minor boon that you can't tell anyone about, but it has to be secure? That must be more important than a minor boon. Probably worth two majors. It's easier to determine the real worth of a favor when you know what it's for, and since I'm telling the story, I decide who owes how much. Don't like it? Fine, but it's going to get people making fun of you.
I wasn't embraced yesterday. I hold to the old ways, and so are the rest of you if you know what's good for you. Now you know, or remember, what they are. Use them, they work. I'm here to maintain our social values, not do a bunch of paperwork. Remember that, and try not to embarass yourself too much.
That's it, story time is over.
Back in the day, and in most domains still, the Harpy was the biggest gossip in town. In fact, it wasn't really a nice name to call someone. Think about what you know about mythical harpies. Ok, fine, go look it up. I don't care. The point is, they are not nice creatures. These days everyone seems to think that the Harpy is some kind of elected bureaucrat who monitors status and keeps boons like a bank. Now why would you call an elected official something so mean? It's like calling the Sheriff the "Ogre" or the Seneschal "The guy who pretends he's in charge."
The point is, the Harpy isn't supposed to be a bank or a federal reserve. In fact, the Harpy doesn't even keep your boons. Sure, over the centuries we've sort of formalized the idea of having a Harpy, and it looks like the Primogen council votes on it, but they're really just discussing who's a big gossip.
So the Harpy is the biggest gossip in the domain. Why should you care? Well, let's look at how the old elders dealt with boons, and maybe you'll see why it's in your interest to do the same. Now, imagine you live in a society where there isn't anyone you can trust. If you weren't embraced yesterday, this shouldn't be hard. Now, how can you trust someone who owes you a favor to not back out? You can't, can you? So you do the next best thing. You set it up so if they don't pay up, they pay the price.
You see, we have all these traditions and rules and customs because we're vicious predators. Yes, even you. Looked at your Beast lately? Yeah. These social rules keep us from eating each other alive, or killing each other over feeding grounds. We do this because, like it or not, we need each other to some degree. Maybe it's old habit from our breathing days. Maybe it's just practical. Remember the inquisition? Lone kindred didn't do so well back then. As a less extreme example, what if you need to get out of jail, but don't have the resources to do it yourself? Sometimes you need a favor.
Now, remember what I said about lone kindred not doing well against the inquisition? Think about it. Do you want to be all alone in the world against everything that wants us dead? Yeah? Well, get the hell out of Elysium, you fucking Autark. I hear there's good feeding past the 17 mile marker going east on I-90.
I'm assuming the rest of you still think having some backup is a good plan. Being abandoned by the rest of the kindred would be a pretty hefty penalty, right? Well, that's what happens when you back out of a boon, and here's where the Harpy comes in.
When you're owed a boon, you tell the Harpy about it. You don't do it so the Harpy will write it down in a book and kick a dude's ass if he doesn't pay. It's not a collection agency. You do it so the Harpy will gossip about it. Soon enough, everyone in the domain knows who owes you and why. Now, imagine the guy who owes you backs out. Everybody knows he owes you. How many of them are gonna do him a favor knowing he backed out? That dude gets caught by the police, he'll be watching the sun rise from behind bars.
I imagine you get the idea. Now, this is why I have a problem with the way this domain is dealing with boons. How often does someone go to the Harpy to talk about a newly minted boon, and only gives the minimum amount of information. Major boon for "services rendered." Minor boon for "Information." Blood boon for "I don't want to talk about it." Are any of these a juicy story? Is there any reason for the Harpy to gossip about a dude who won't say anything? Is there any reason for the whole domain to remember that Kindred A owes Kindred B if they don't know why? A boon without a story is not a secure boon. The domain doesn't care.
So, I suggest you all start following the old ways again. They've lasted this long for a reason. If you want a secure boon, tell me why I, and everyone else, should care. You might actually see a benefit out of it. I know you don't want to tell everyone that you're elbow deep in the blood banks just because some neonate fucked up his hunt and needed a juice box to hold him over. People might try to jump your claim. On the other hand, you might get rich selling blood to every hungry or cautious kindred in the domain. You might gain status as you gain wealth and favors. In fact, you might get domain over that interest you have, giving you the right to kick some ass if someone tries to take it from you. You know, I know of domains where Ventrue have domain over entire industries. Not around here, they're all too afraid of losing their stuff.
You want to tell me about a boon, you tell me the story. You sell a guy information, tell me what kind. Don't tell me the information, just give me an idea what it was all about. Get a boon for telling someone about ghosts? Maybe people will owe you instead of the Giovanni when they need to know about ghosts. Get a boon for telling someone how to find a guy who doesn't want to be found? Soon enough people will come to you for that. Did you use your influence for someone? You want to get more boons out of the influence you hold? Tell the story. You get the idea.
Now, you come to me to register a secret boon, I'll tell you to keep it secret and take your chances. You can't have it all. You still want it known that you are owed? Fine, but I'll find the most embarassing story I can tell and still have some truth in it. You want people to remember, right? Well, I'll make sure they remember. Maybe telling the real story is more worth it.
On the other hand, since I'm the one telling the story, maybe I'll just inflate the price of your favor as is befitting the mystery. You owed a minor boon that you can't tell anyone about, but it has to be secure? That must be more important than a minor boon. Probably worth two majors. It's easier to determine the real worth of a favor when you know what it's for, and since I'm telling the story, I decide who owes how much. Don't like it? Fine, but it's going to get people making fun of you.
I wasn't embraced yesterday. I hold to the old ways, and so are the rest of you if you know what's good for you. Now you know, or remember, what they are. Use them, they work. I'm here to maintain our social values, not do a bunch of paperwork. Remember that, and try not to embarass yourself too much.
That's it, story time is over.
