[DL] Harrowed - Am I Missing Something? (Repost)

["Ed's" <edbarnes@ev1.net>]

Heya Folks,
I'm reposting this because a) I got very little response and am still stuck
and b) I posted it right about the time that the 'lil snafu occurred with
the list and I am hoping that's the reason for the lack of response.  I have
made slight changes for clarity.


My group has chatted about what would happen should a posse member become a
Harrowed.  (My bad that they know a bit about them.  In my exitement about
the game before we started, I let a tad bit of it slip... probably my
biggest hinderance as a GM/Marshal, I tip my hand a bit more than I should.)
To a person, they plan on "puttin' him back where he belongs... in the
dirt".  This is for one simple reason (in their minds), no matter how useful
the posse member was and no matter how much MORE useful he is now with those
neat-o Harrowed powers that they've heard whispers of, they'll never be able
to let their guard down with him/her ever again.  They know
that, eventually, that Manitou is gonna grab dominion and make a ruckus.

This seems to be an element of the game that neither I nor my players have
seemed to get a handle on yet it seems to be an important aspect.  Can
someone help me out?

If a posse member becomes Harrowed, why shouldn't the posse put him back
down as quick as possible?  Why should they ever trust him?  And when should
the Manitou make an attempt to gain dominion?  I don't see how the posse can
NOT know when a member has come back from the dead since, thus far, they
have given a proper burial to all dead humans (including the bad guys)
primarily due to brow-beating (or Bible-thumping) from the Blessed member.
And how do y'all go about doing a dominion test without letting the rest of
the posse know it is occurring?

Seems to me that as soon as the Manitou gains control and tries something
fishy he's a gonner.  Is a Manitou nuts enough to grab dominion and tip his
hand just to say, push one of our heroes in front of a speeding train
knowing that, assuming he was seen, he's done for?  Or does it prefer to be

more subtle like allow an Abomination access to the camp while he's on guard
duty?  (Not that my posse would ever let anyone they didn't trust compIetely
be on guard duty to begin with!) I guess I just can't seem to get inside a
Manitou's head (no pun intended!) and see why he would take such a risk.

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here but, isn't a Manitou basically immortal
unless he enters a human and creates a Harrowed?  Now he's very vulnerable.
Just doesn't seem worth it.

Have I completely missed the point here?  Or am I just looking too deep?

As if I'm not asking enough questions, I have one more... what advice should
I give a player about how to play it once he becomes Harrowed?  4 of my 5
players have the roleplaying skills and experience to pull it off without me
having to take control.

Sorry for the repost...