Hamish wears your sack Alfredo? We must have missed that in the prenuptial conversations..

Alrefdo likes the Wee Folk. I didnt think in that way though.

Father Rommel

I am often asked for a list of ancestors. It is impossible to compile such a list, and I would never give anyone the task of doing so.

There is nothing wrong with seeking knowledge about ancestors and faith - that is what the Guild is here to assist with and we will do that to the best of our ability. However, as you can gather from what has been said here already, some can be protective of their faiths and guarded against questions, whereas others are happy to proclaim the details of their faith to anyone who asks. You perhaps need advice and guidance on how and who to ask, and the manner in which you address your questions and gather your information.

So, I suggest that you follow the advice of others on here and seek us out at the Gathering to talk further, where we can help you with all of this.

I would like to talk to you then about the purpose of your request - is it purely from personal interest, or does it have a deeper purpose? You use the phrase 'to fully understand the ancestors', however I would caution you against this. It would be foolish and arrogant to presume we could ever fully understand the ancestors. An individual can spend a lifetime struggling to understand their own ancestor, let alone those of other faiths.

However, any attempt to 'understand' (I use the word lightly) faith would perhaps begin with a history lesson - there are a few of us who will be happy to tell you all about the birth of incantation and the first ancestor, which will provide a good basis for your continued research.

This offer is also made to any others who are interested in this information.

In faith
Cai-Lin

Pre-nuptual? That almost sounds like a marriage based thing.
Why marry when you can have as many as you like. As for the Hamish, he's too shy and i believe taken....and not in a good way. But i'll keep trying.
I think at the Gathering all of my sisters are around so i'll have to introduce him.

Cai-Lin

The full understanding I seek is the nature of the ancestors of the world not to fathom there depths or understand there deepest thoughts, I have noticed some very interesting things about the relationship between various faiths, magics of the world, rituals circles and the interconnections between them all.

Above all I have come to realise something rather fundemental of the nature of our world, which is very interesting, and I feel important and this reaserch will help me to understand if my theory is based in fact.

I will seek you out at the gathering and, and we can chat about how the faiths of this world and my theories.

Alfredo, you can introduce him to as many of your sisters as you like and I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to them but if you're suggesting that he marries one of them please come and speak to me first, I'm not sure I like the sound of sharing my husband.

As for you Father Rommel, I'd be more than happy to talk to you at length about the history of the ancestors, of incantation and what we know of the ancestors that give strength to the people of Mauritania. I currently have no meetings planned for the Saturday Theology shift (4-8pm) would you like to come and see me then?

I would never suggest my darling sisters marry anyone. That thought would revolt both them and me. Seeing someone tie themselves down to one single person revolts us in places you wouldn't think we had.

Alfredo

I understand, I'm allowed to have up to 5 husbands or wives (I expect that number will rise to 7 soon) but for now one is enough, between husbands and children I have enough headaches!

Marriage between only two people always seems to be a very odd thing. Good way to make yourself miserable, si? To lose the freedom is irksome. One of my ancestors was married so many times, and none could tie him down!

I tell you all about my faith, Father Rommel, but nothing gets you nothing!
-Romani

I find this whole, consensual relationship "thing" confusing.

Surely women of suitable rank merely demand your attentions? If you fail to fulfil there needs then you are of course suitably punished. However, if they are of a lower rank or other house then they would need to request permission first from your matron.

Sometimes males of suitable talents are traded or gifted for favours from other strong houses, normally for a set period after all why give away something valuable for the lifespan of a Drow.

I have read about this marriage and "relationship" thing many times in my research but i truly do not understand exactly what this supplies to you all? It just seems a good way of wasting money, time and effort...

Truly we are off the topic of the faiths!

I sort of understand the marriage. It is a trade. You give away something not worth very much (such as an offspring that won't the inheritance make) and you gain the favour and the alliance. The more valuable the offspring, the more favour and money you gain. The less valuable they are, the less you gain, but generally at least you get them out of your house to be eating someone else's foods.

Oftentimes, in Unicorn lands, marriages last a year and a day, so sort of like the trading of services you mention.
-Romani

If you want to put it as simply as what there is to be earned then you could consider marriage as a way of acquiring offspring who will later earn gold and take care of you when you are incapable of looking after yourself.

However on a far more personal note marriage is a lot to do about faith in another person, trusting them and loving them despite their flaws. Just as we have faith in our ancestors and our ancestors give us strength, I have faith in my husband and he lends me his strength.

And occassionally he lends me money to buy truffles

Si, perhaps we are not so off-topic as I think...

Lorr V'Rinn wrote:

Its the wooing and purchasing of small objects of value for a females attentions that makes things more confusing...

When you want the good impression to make, do you not make the effort to demonstrate the qualities that the person admires? The wealth, the thoughtfulness, the esteem, they are demonstrated by the gifts and the letters and the making of awful poems and the singing of songs under (what will generally transpire to be the wrong) window and so forth.

Lorr V'Rinn wrote:

Also, how so many of these "relationships" leave themselves open to abuse - So many people are willing to make foolish moves, to charge into traps and doom themselves for there "partners"

See, now that's just people. It's doing what they think their duty is. I would not, I am not a hero. I know little of the Drow culture and don't wish to say the wrong thing, but you're a paladin, and that implies a certain heroism. So perhaps you'd do the same for one who you hold in esteem?

Meep, I have faith in friends and family, and agree that together people can be stronger. But I don't see why you make the marriage to avow this. By the way, pretty lady, your husband owes you a gold to pay me for my fortune telling...

Addendum:

Lorr V'Rinn wrote:

If i acquired offspring, i would consider them a threat for the position i earned within my House. If i showed a sign of weakness, including age they would be the first to plunge a knife into my back.

That's a cultural thing... Vistani, such as I, we revere our aged.