View source for Group Feuds

Feuds between families, guilds, or factions follow different patterns from individual duels, and vary sharply by where they happen.

== In Shining Reach, Forgegate, Eldershore, and Clearhold ==
Ruining a family's business relationships, cutting them from social circles, spreading damaging information through the right networks — any of these can trigger a feud. Physical violence exists but is relatively rare and is usually channeled through formal duels. The goal is to destroy a rival's standing and economic position rather than to do physical harm.

== The Iron Coves and Frontier territory ==
Raids are common: property destruction, physical intimidation, slave-taking, and the killing of combatants are not unheard of. Raiding is a culturally recognized and legitimate form of feud here. Outcomes follow the established pattern — women are taken as slaves; men die fighting honorably or escape and are judged by what they do next; organized counter-raids earn respect and disappearing earns contempt; men taken alive carry the shame of war-captive status, having chosen life over Oathbond.

== Stormharbor ==
The families live in one city and have nowhere else to go, which makes it harder. Feuds are fought on the streets and in the margins: men meet each other, flocks are taken on open ground, boats are holed, gear is cut. The Thing hears about it, and that is the real constraint. A feud that starts costing the city gets weighed in public, and a family gone too far is told so to its face.

== Escalation ==
Six stages:

# '''Declaration and negotiation''' — where most feuds end.
# '''Duel between principals''' — resolves personal honor, and may not satisfy a group grievance.
# '''Economic warfare.'''
# '''Physical raids''' — usually only in the rougher places.
# '''Sustained conflict''' — rare, expensive, and drawing intense community pressure to resolve.
# '''Resolution''' — by exhaustion, decisive victory, negotiated settlement, external intervention, or a marriage alliance.

== See also ==

* [[Feuds and Declaration]] · [[The Duel]] · [[Stormharbor#Districts]] — the Thing · [[Piracy#Coastal raids]]