A few thoughts on the Orlanthi view of society and justice worth keeping in mind. The Orlanthi encourage independence over centralization. They do not have faith in a single leader for all things, a single god for all things, or for a single rule to cover all eventualities. They know that their own rules may not be the same as others, and that difference is not bad or evil, and sometimes even has great good.Justice is the “right way” of the world. Orlanth is the lord of justice, and his changeable nature indicates that justice too must be suited to the circumstances of anything being judged. The Orlanthi believe a single rule is not possible. Justice to one’s family, clan, tribe, and nation means to follow the ways of Orlanth. Justice to outsiders is determined by their actions, but requires curiosity, tolerance, and honest restraint on the part of the Orlanthi until the stranger proves themselves a friend or enemy.
“What is important in your life will change throughout your life. We Orlanthi are the children of the ever-moving wind and air. Everything always changes and you must also change to live in harmony with the world.”
Those who imagine the Orlanthi as being die-hard traditionalists who resist change, resent cities, don’t engage in trade with strangers, or who think think they favour a single leader, single god, or single rule – I think you forget who Orlanth is.
This openness to change is a key theme in the Hero Wars, as the Orlanthi undergo tremendous social and even religious changes from 1625 to 1655.
Sartar defined justice as maintaining harmony within the community while at the same time maintaining the honor of all the members. If throwing a little wealth around to maintain harmony and keep face was necessary, Sartar would do it.Killing someone is not necessarily dishonourable, but it does tend to disrupt harmony, so wealth is spent to return that community harmony. If the people are being stubborn, they can be exiled (without losing honor) and community harmony regained. But treating people dishonorably or having dishonourable resolutions always causes problems with the Orlanthi.
It must be incredibly difficult to be Prince of Sartar and have the legacy of Sartar constantly showing you that you could have solved that problem better, with less dead, with more gain, and everyone pretty happy. Imagine if your predecessor in the job ALWAYS managed to get the Pareto Superior solution. Every damn time! Meanwhile, you are happy whenever you manage to get that Pareto option.
Orlanth is the Lord of Justice. There is no contradiction there, unless you expect the gods and the cosmos to be perfect (which we all know is not the truth). Or is this some sort of attempt to provide a meta-criticism of Orlanth from perhaps a Lunar perspective or whatever?
Justice is the “right way” of the world. Since Orlanth is responsible for upholding the “right way” of the world, he’s the Lord of Justice.