Worked Example: fantastic bureaucracy

I ran a Stonetop session today where I decided an old Hillfolk woman wanted Blodwyn (a PC) to drop the Twisted Spear on the ground. The woman needed this before her Hillfolk group, the Blue Badger Band, would help hunt a monster that had penned them into their camp. Blodwyn did not like this. She sees herself as the rightful wielder of this potent artifact and had, moments before, declared that she would help this desperate band of Hillfolk slay a monster. A task for which the Spear is the perfect tool. I also read habeeb's excellent post who approved this dragon?! today. The advice in that excellent post is think of a small rule in your setting, and then ask why. habeeb argues that by doing this, you create a sense of place. Bureaucracy does not only mean forms in triplicate. Bureaucracy tells us who gets access and who does not. So, I wanted to have a think in public: why did the Hillfolk woman ask her to do that? It was an improvised decision. And it is a rule. So, this is a great…