17.2.10 Boons
Boons are sometimes offered by an Immortal of Achaea as a reward to the victor of an event or competition. Strictly speaking, the reward is not a boon - the reward is the opportunity to request a boon. WHAT IS IT? ----------- A boon is a favour or kindness. It may be greater, or lesser. The Grantor of the boon may give some indication, hazy though it be, of the nature of the boons being allowed. Or the Grantor may not. HOW DO YOU GET IT? ------------------ An immortal of the realms will tell you if you may request a boon. He may simply say that you may have a boon. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT? ----------------------- Ask something. Ask whatever you want, keeping in mind that the giver of the boon is not a machine, but a Divine Being, a Personage that is quite aware of such things as greed and deceit and how much you did to earn this request. A good start might be "I request" or "May I please" or "Would you please." If you make a very humble request, it may be granted along with additional benefits. If you make a very greedy request, it may be granted in a manner highly unpleasant to you, or not granted at all. If you ask for what's reasonable, that's fine - you will receive your answer, and that will be your boon. If you ask for what's too much, you may get nothing, or you may get something else entirely. If you put conditions on your request, or make it overly wordy or complex, you may find that the Grantor is peeved with you and becomes more likely to punish than reward. Or perhaps an audacious request will be granted out of hand because the Grantor is pleased by the audacity of it! WHAT NOT TO DO -------------- Don't be so polite that you ask if you can ask. Just ask! Don't give disclaimers. Don't explain why you are asking, or why this boon is needed. Don't give background or history. Don't ask to get more boons. Don't ask to transfer or give away your boon to someone else. THIS IS A COMPETITION OF WIT ---------------------------- Ask well, and ask carefully. If you do not ask well, you may be mocked, made fun of, or become the brunt of snickering. If this does not suit you, do not pursue a boon! No Guarantees ------------- There is no guarantee that you will ever get anything. There is no exhaustive list of what is good or bad to ask. You ask, and you take your chances. In the end there is no final rule except the attitude and inclination of the Grantor. If you don't like that setup, don't pursue a boon! FINAL WARNING ------------- The FIRST thing you say (or first tell you send to anyone) after you are called upon to ask your boon WILL BE YOUR REQUEST! Be warned.