Honourable use of Detect Truth

[Geoff R Evil]

The most effective use of detect truth is obviously when people don’t know you have cast the spell. However, that raises two issues

1. what visible effect would accompany this spell? For me it might be that the irises of your eyes turn into truth rune slits.

2. Is it honourable to use this when others are unaware?

Its really the second question I am most interested in, but the answer to 1 obviously has an effect too.

As a Humakti spell, it is obviously easy to use in adjudications that are perhaps public and those questioned can be pinned down to give a clear answer to a question. Such as a court of law or similar.

But what about when a friend is asking questions and you hang back to listen in, with the expectation the other person does not know their lies could be caught out?  Dishonourable conduct? Frowned upon by Humakt?

[Ali the Helering]

MGDV, and I would only permit it in legal cases and clan (or above) negotiations.

[soltakss]

15 hours ago, Geoff R Evil said:

1. what visible effect would accompany this spell? For me it might be that the irises of your eyes turn into truth rune slits.

I'm not sure how it manifests in the caster, or target, but the Humakti versions has a smoky aura around people telling lies and the RQ Vikings version had honey dripping from the lips of the liar, which I loved.

[David Scott]

16 hours ago, Geoff R Evil said:

The most effective use of detect truth is obviously when people don’t know you have cast the spell. However, that raises two issues

1. what visible effect would accompany this spell? For me it might be that the irises of your eyes turn into truth rune slits.

I've only used the smoky glow visible only to Humakti

16 hours ago, Geoff R Evil said:

2. Is it honourable to use this when others are unaware?

Its really the second question I am most interested in, but the answer to 1 obviously has an effect too.

No, unless it's Discourtesy to a guest in your hall or home. per the Honor table (RQG 234)

16 hours ago, Geoff R Evil said:

As a Humakti spell, it is obviously easy to use in adjudications that are perhaps public and those questioned can be pinned down to give a clear answer to a question. Such as a court of law or similar.

In my games it has been used pro-actively, with the caster asking if they will tell the truth under the spell. The innocent always say yes. Saying no in this magical would to Humakti clearly means you are going to lie.

16 hours ago, Geoff R Evil said:

But what about when a friend is asking questions and you hang back to listen in, with the expectation the other person does not know their lies could be caught out?  Dishonourable conduct? Frowned upon by Humakt?

I'd suggest there's no honor problem here. Honor for Humakti is all about fighting and war. See:

• Lightbringers, Honor and Combat, page 108
• Articles on Honor

[Geoff R Evil]

Reading the articles on Honour, I think the key theme is that Humakts honour code is mostly aligned with the use of death in personal combat and war.

So in summary, there is no honour issue using Detect Truth surreptitiously.

I am aware that the spell creates a smoky effect visible to Humakti only, but that’s the effect of the spell, not the reflection of the god power manifesting in a mortal, so I will stick with the truth rune irises, perhaps with a golden glow. 

Edited February 4 by Geoff R Evil