Barbarian's Honor

Barbaric Code of Honour

This is Conan’s style of morality, such as it is. The barbaric code of honour is common only in lands with harsh climates, such as Cimmeria, Vanaheim and Asgard in the north and Ghulistan in the east. It is also found among some of the Shemites and Kozaks who live in the great deserts that stretch over many of the southern and eastern lands. Here even strangers are given hospitality and fallen foes are extended mercy if they ask for it, since it is recognised that humanity must to some extent work together against the bitter cold or suffocating heat. Barbarian tribes who have a relatively easy time of it, such as the Picts in their lush forests, do not usually have a need for a code of honour, for their environment is not sufficiently deadly as to be their most dangerous enemy. It could be argued that the presence of a code of honour is what separates a barbarian from a mere savage.

A character with a barbaric code of honour will:

• Respect alliances with other honourable characters.

• Ignore an alliance with a dishonourable character, even pre-emptively, if it suits him.

• Abide loyally by a contract of employment, even with a dishonourable employer, so long as the character is well-treated and shown loyalty in return.

• Slay a dishonourable foe, even if that foe is helpless.

• Slay an honourable foe who is not helpless.

• Protect those weaker than himself, at least from physical dangers, if such protection is requested. This includes ordinary folk such as peasants captured for interrogation who will be set free once it is safe to do so and rewarded if they were of assistance, as well as children and most women. A woman who has demonstrated herself to be more capable in war than the average man need not be protected, though the typical male with a barbaric code of honour will probably attempt to protect her anyway.

• Offer his allegiance only to an honourable leader who is clearly stronger and better suited for power than himself, or to a greater cause of some kind; once allegiance is granted, the character must be utterly loyal so long as his leader remains honourable and loyal to him in return. Note that a character with a barbaric code of honour need not necessarily retain an allegiance that was always intended to be temporary, such as a mercenary contract, after its conditions are fulfilled.

• Plunder and rob anyone other than honourable allies.

• Lie, cheat and con anyone other than honourable allies.

• Have no in-principle objection to slavery, being willing to keep or free slaves as suits his purposes.

• Grudgingly respect genuine piety but despise venal priests and the typical trappings of civilised ‘religion.’

• Like or dislike others based on their honour and their actions, not their religion or race.

• Be hospitable and generous to those in need, even to strangers. It is said that no man starves in Cimmeria unless there is a famine and all starve, because every family will give of their own food to anyone without.

• Respect the hospitality shown him.

• Avenge any seriously intended insult with immediate and lethal force, if at all possible. Note that barbarians new to civilisation are likely to avenge even a jesting insult in the same way, not having yet learnt the subtleties of civilised behaviour, which can allow a man to insult another without the imminent danger of having his skull split.

• Avenge any physical harm done him at his earliest opportunity in a manner fitting his sense of balance and justice.

A character with a barbaric code of honour will not:

• Slay a wild animal or any other creature for sport alone. He may slay in self-defence, for revenge or to get food or other resources and he may slay a sworn enemy.

• Slay an honourable foe who offers a ransom or throws himself on the character’s mercy.

• Slay or steal from someone who has shown him hospitality in his own house, even if he turns out to be an enemy, unless the other breaks hospitality first.

• Harm anyone currently under his protection or receiving his hospitality, even if he turns out to be an enemy, unless the other breaks faith first.

• Assist the authorities with any information about his friends or allies, even if refusing to do so puts him at risk.

• Desert his henchmen or retainers, even if they appear to desert him. If he ever achieves the position of chieftain or a similar authority, he feels he must set an example to his followers. Even if they doubt him, he must prove himself to them, particularly if they need him.