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