Okay. So right now we have grudges, which as far as I know, never have any more effect than giving a bad thought for talking to someone begrudged.
Let's spice that up, shall we?
What I have in mind is a system that allows for mere grudges to develop into feuds, blood feuds, and even full blown clan wars.
First stage: grudge
When two begrudged dwarves meet, the following can happen, from high chance to very small chance:
1) just the bad thought, as it was before.
2) the grudge develops into a feud
3) the grudge ceases to exist, relations shift to passing acquaintance
Second stage: Feud
When two feuding dwarves meet, the following can happen, from high to low chance
1) both dwarves throw a punch at each other. Happy thought 'is happy to have punched someone he dislikes'
Can have legal consequences if witnesses are present. After punching, feud goes down to grudge
2) nothing happens, just a bad thought
3) feud develops into a blood feud
Third stage: Blood feud.
NOTE: Blood feuds cannot exist between relatives. To prevent confusion, let's say marriage overrides blood lineage.
When the blood feud stage is reached, 1st line relatives (parents, spouse, children) of both parties form a grudge with the offending party (not with each other).
When two dwarves with a blood feud meet, they will start a fight (using weapons if they have those), until
1) they are interrupted by a dwarf with sufficient pacifier skill. This will end the fight, and drop the blood feud down to feud, grudge, or even passing acquaintance, depending on pacifier skill level. Note that pacification does not exempt from legal consequence.
2) the fight is interrupted by fortress guard, and justice is served. This will drop the blood feud down to feud, assuming both dwarves survive their sentencing.
3) one party is dead. If this happens, the Blood Feud will develop into a Vendetta
Final Stage: Vendetta
When a dwarf dies in a blood feud fight, his first line relatives develop their grudge against the killer into a blood feud. As a result, the killer's 1st line family will develop grudges with all enemy family members involved in the new Blood feud. Now you have to deal with clan wars!
<your thoughts down there>
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