Equality

One of the core concepts of Gith culture according to Luopolus was the Gith concept of "Equality".

This at first confused Luopolus as what he seemed to witness in their interactions seemed in conflict with their more core stated values.

Crafty Luopolus, knowing that his questions of their ways and tall tales about the "Great Walled Village of The Mams" amused the younger Gith, especially the Chief's "middle" son Flxx....he was very motivated to continue his time as teacher, babysitter and storyteller as they had already eaten one leg.

The eating of the leg of a hostage shows the hostage "a sign of respect for their prowess in battle" and as "hosts" were starting to get hungry as they hit a streak of bad luck in raids. He hoped to stall that as long as he could.

In the course of this, Luopolus learned the Gith concept of "Equality", which he boiled down to it's major and minor tenets in his tellings.

FOUNDATIONAL

"Everything you have came from another, Everything you lose benefits another."

"All things come from and go to blood, no matter how many steps."

"What is yours is yours, even your name and word. It is yours by right of you having it."

"All things in life have an opposite. Thus all those wronged by you also have the right to GET EVEN."

"That in this world and the next, all beings have a right to their own vindication by whatever means they have been given or gain."

"Thus, The ancestors from Ral and Guthay teach us......"

APPLIED

"To Hold The Burden of Strength for more than a Season, one must strive... "

"To balance when to be generous when one is above and sly when one is below, inorder to remain above."

"To seek the proper equilibrium between Chief and slave alike to prevent both rebellion and insolence but also promote acceptance of harmonious rightful roles."

"For seek if you can to avoid rancor and wanton "Murder..."

"..But If you must hurt someone, then do so in a manner that you need not fear their just revenge."

"To pay blood money is cheaper than to pay blood. It's a question of trade not pride."

"Everyone is good for something...just find out what first."

"Never kill an incompetent follower...if they are loyal. Beat them without mercy, so that you "encourage" them to succeed."

"When those who you have wronged reap their revenge, if they have used daring and cunning, then respect them by surpassing their daring and cunning in your revenge, but do so with respect and without rancor or malice outside of a blood feud."

"Only a fool fights in a sandstorm. Know when to wait and when to fight."

"Sometimes vengeance yours can be vengeance mine, as well. This is wisdom."

"Control is the highest virtue of freedom."

• Control can only be maintained by force and power. This is effective but not efficient but will work."

"True wisdom is to know that control is an illusion. Align the fortunes of others to your own. Never betray something of value, except for something of greater value. "

"Thus true Freedom.. without applied power, is a falsehood most foul.

"The power of your spoils is not in how many of your brood your feed but in how many others who are not of your brood, also eat..and now are in your debt."

"Always know the true value of all things and let your vengeance be measured by the slight by a step above."

"Never confuse the cost of something for it's value or vice versa."

"Be not the Drake without it's scales nor the Sygra with sharp horns."

"No matter what your station know that the Drake in power, eats first, most and shortest. The Renk in service eats, last, plenty and much longer but still it too is one day eaten."

"Thus always be the Critic lizard, always needed by many for acting for it's own. knowing when to stay and when to leave and always having the means to do so."

"This is the burden of true strength." '

There are others and there are no doubt many varied interpretations of them.

Some common, "Somewhat, all Gith norms vary on how hungry they are." Gith social norms.

• Only a blood feud calls for undue escalation or no quarter for a nonlethal slight."

"Smaller" disputes are expected to be solved via "blood money" and reciprocity and Debate.

A Gith who has found or feels his fellows have stolen or wronged him will find an equal level plus one higher means of getting even.At first discretely and if the imbalance continues the acts will slowly and in a measured manner escalate. Conversely, once the Gith in question feels the balance has been restored then they will quickly move on, completely without hard feelings depending on most situations.. This is to be done without malice or rancor from the offended Gith in the sacred tradition of "Artistic Revenge" known as Respect It is important that tribal/clan/band imbalances be kept to a minimum, least they escalate into a blood feud or formal challenge to the death.

Gith intratribal/clan/gang norms.

Conflict, often, loud but rarely "seriously" violent, is expected and thus is not considered out of the ordinary or even disruptive, to a point. "When a weapon is drawn or spell is cast in anger."

Gith culture is a pressure cooker..but with many small releases in application of norms.

It's about a group consensus that disputes will be settled quickly as possible or involve as few of the whole as possible, to ensure profitable raids, "safety" which to Gith is the same word as "Power" is in the commons tongue.

This urge to resolve conflicts quickly sometimes leaves underlining issues which raises conflict later but Luopolus opined that, it was likely due to the near constant life on the move of a Gith raiding tribe that did not allow for prolonged "open" conflicts.

However conflicts of this nature rarely result in serious harm and is normally posturing or testing. Sometimes, it's just to be noticed...but young Gith who do so..must be very careful not to cross the line between ..impressive moxie and disrespect. The outcomes on that razor's edge vary greatly.