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Traveling with Shadow Jar, the noted Dinganni Archer, taught me that the Dinganni's moral expectations are as high as the rumors claim. They accept strangers very readily, and are forgiving of small infractions, but anything that blatantly violates their Code will be met harshly. If it is another Dinganni violating their Code, he will be banished or killed. Nothing can soften this. An outsider will generally be banished from them, with a very explicit warning that to return to them means death.
The Code is very short and simple, and is the spirit behind every just set of laws I have ever read.
One will never cause harm to another member of the Tribe.
One will never steal what belongs to another.
One will learn the ways of war, so that he may protect the tribe.
One will never kill the creatures of the air, for they are our kindred.
Death awaits him who betrays the tribe to enemies.
Four of these five laws are the basis behind every other code I have ever seen. The law against killing creatures of the air seems odd. All Shadow Jar would tell me is that they embody the freedom of the Dinganni and are to be granted their lives as the Dinganni are granted theirs. I asked if that would include a Horror which flew. Shadow Jar looked at me, even in the eye, and said they are not truly creatures of the air. They use the air, they don't embody freedom.
When I asked him what was done with someone who repeatedly violated the Code he said no one repeatedly violated it. One violation and you were either killed or exiled. Anyone who couldn't be handled by force of their peers would be handled by individuals particularly affronted by the culprit. They would swear vengeance in a formal ritual against the culprit, and then hunt him down and execute him. Once the ritual for vengeance began, there could be only one outcome, the culprit would be killed. If the hunter was killed he would be replaced and it would continue.
Specifically, Shadow Jar explained, the ritual involved a blood sacrifice to the cause of revenge. This seemed very close to a blood sacrifice to Raggok. Shadow Jar said it was very close to that. Rather than binding yourself to the Passion, you bound yourself to revenge itself. To me this is the same thing, but there seemed a very distinct difference in Shadow Jar's mind. From what he claims happens within the ritual I cannot but hold my position that this ritual is trading power to Raggok for help in vengeance.
There are distinct parts of this extended ritual. The first is the Declaration of Vengeance. This is begun by placing a pole, the stripped trunk of a tree, upright in the ground. Thin lines, strong as bow strings, are tied to the top of the tree and run down to the ground about 20 feet from the base. One line is hung for each hunter taking part in the ritual. The hunters encircle the tree at sunset and run a half-foot long spike through their flesh, so that it enters then exits again. The line is then tied around the spike and they run the spike through their flesh again securing themselves to the line and the post. They proceed to dance around the post building up a frenzy until after sunset the following day. During this day they do not eat or drink anything. They dance bound to the tree and concentrate on the pain they feel to turn it into a burning vengeance. After sunset the pole is put to flame with the hunters still bound to it. At this point they jump back against their lines, pulling and jerking until they tear free from the spike binding them to the pole. They run out away from the pole to a hundred yards where others have left their bundled belongings, food, and water. The hunters set off as soon as they can pick up their belongings.
While Shadow Jar used the plural while explaining the Declaration to me he told me that it is usually only one person sent to exact vengeance. More than that detracts from the tribes ability to provide for itself. Enforcing the Code is important, but keeping the tribe strong is more so. For particularly heinous crimes, or a particularly savage culprit, such as an adept, more are sent. Shadow Jar told me that the most he ever heard of were seven hunters sent. I almost feel pity for anyone attempting to flee from seven Dinganni warriors. But that is overshadowed by my speculations on what that individual would have had to have done to warrant the seven.
The second part of the ritual is the Hunt for Vengeance. Ritually, each hunter carries a bow, a talon, and a long knife. These are the weapons to be used in hunting down their prey. In addition to these things each carries any personal equipment they would normally use. Shadow Jar explained that the Declaration of Vengeance inspires the hunters to never forget the crimes of their prey. The pain their prey caused burns within their breasts as it does in no others. This drives the hunters onward through any obstacle and sustains them through their hunt. It also allows them to evoke the same pain they feel in others they encounter as is necessary to convince them of their prey's guilt. They can extend their hatred of their prey to others. Theoretically if they never find their prey they can set everyone else in the world against their prey so that he can never find comfort.
When their prey is finally caught the only penalty possible is immediate death. The hunter attacks their prey with might beyond that of normal men, so inspired by their Declaration and burning. A normal, non-adept, Dinganni exacting vengeance upon their prey can do feats incredible for even an adept. An adept catching their prey is unstoppable.
The Ritual of Vengeance is a blood ritual that grants strength to those partaking in it. They are sustained by their hunt so that only an hour or two of sleep are needed each day, food is almost optional, and only half the water normally required for life keeps the hunter going.
When actually confronting their prey they receive +2 steps on all attack and damage tests, and a +5 step bonus on any karma use. These benefits apply only when directly fighting their prey.
The hunter is able to Inspire Hatred in others they encounter. They must describe the crimes of their prey in a language the listener understands, then roll their Charisma against the listeners social defense. The hunter must spend karma on this action, if it is a non-adept they must sacrifice a recovery test to provide the karma. If the test is successful a portion of the hatred felt by the hunter grows in the listener. The listener generally will not seek out the prey and try to exact vengeance, but will automatically take a Hostile attitude towards the prey if she encounters him.
All benefits disappear when the prey is killed.
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