Lakewalker reactions to Fawn; are they justified? Does she threaten their way of life?

[Kiri]

I was just pondering the difficulties Fawn has with Dag's relatives. I think it's Dar who makes the point that any children Fawn and Dag have will be halfbreeds with little or no groundsense... although of course they can't know that for sure. Still, that belief probably has basis in past experience. How justified are Dar and Cumbia (and others) in resisting Dag's marriage to Fawn?

[[deleted user]]

I think they are somewhat justified in resisting the marriage, but frankly Dag was never going to marry anyone else -- unless he fell head over heels in love like he did with Fawn. So, their choices really are between no children and the possible children with little or no groundsense.... I also think Dag has much more than most people so perhaps it balances out somehow? Also, it was a done deed and he wasn't going to abandon Fawn. I can't understand their resistance to Fawn being so great that they were willing to loose Dag instead of accepting her. He is an incredible asset to the community. He's killed more Malices than probably his entire patrol....

[vorbore, Ma Kosti's Apprentice]

I think they are totally wrong, because I have this theory that the Malices will be gone after the rejoining of Lakewalkers and Peasants, because they appeared when their differences are on their peak (while Lakewalker's ancestors were mages). But, yes, that would threaten some aspects of Lakewalker's way of life, their separation from the rest of the world and probably the intensity and frequency of their abilities, but changes make the world go around...

[[deleted user]]

Change is frightening. People tend to resist it. They get set in their ways, think things work well, even best, so why change? And if Dag is able to marry Fawn will they have to allow all Lakewalkers to marry Farmers if they want to? and then what happens to Groundsense? How will they fight Malices? These questions add to their fear and resistance....

[vorthys]

The genetic aspect of groundsense certainly justifies concern over widespread intermingling of lakewalkers and peasants. The question is the extent to which Fawn can be considered a special case as opposed to the first of many. In particular, should the fact that she personally killed a malice earn her any special treatment from the lakewalkers? I would personally be very interested to hear the camp debates about lakewalker-farmer marriage that followed Fawn and Dag's departure.

[Kiri]

Yeah, it seems that groundsense is the essence of being a Lakewalker... so perhaps to them a half-breed child isn't really Lakewalker at all.

Yet Dag makes points about the people in the Lakewalker camp who have little range to their groundsense. Diluting the ability perhaps isn't such a great concern afterall?

[vorthys]

Short range does not necessarily correspond to weak. The point is made that some strong makers have very short range.

Still, there must be some lakewalkers with little or no groundsense. Are they as ostracized as, say, squibs in Harry Potter?

[vorbore, Ma Kosti's Apprentice]

The arguments to understand Lakewalker's fears of loosing their "special" position are in place, but I have little patience for forbidding mixing with "others" because one is "better" then the other. But I also have very little patience for socially imposed limitations of all kinds. Each person deserves the benefit of a doubt and an individual validation, regardless of hers/his background.
To get back on the particular situation, if there will be no Malices, groundsense will no longer be essential. And if there is a strong relationship between a Lakewalker and a Peasant, forbidding them to be together will have no effect, and a Lakewalker in question will all the same be lost for their community one way or another, as their own stories tell. While the threat has it's effects, it has also bad influences as well, for it obstructs cooperation between the two communities, that would be very opportune in many ways.