From my experiences in this path I have seen many followers decide to request patronage. In that being I have only done so with one patron of which I serve I cannot comment on the many countless others that can be chosen.

When committing to Patronage usually the individual has come to a point in his or her path that she or he cannot do something effectively by themselves. So the option of Patronage comes up and has to be decided if that is worth it for them to pursue.

My experiences with the Patron I serve is that you give to gain. There is nothing free in the exchange. I have never been asked to do something in a way that I haven't wanted to do myself. I have never been asked to make my life into a hellish misery in order to keep my patronage. Going by others I have spoken to and their thoughts on this subject our thinking seems to be in accordance for the most part.

Many have heard my analogy about the loaf of bread. Please just bear with me I do think that it is important for me to reinforce it.

In this scenario you are told by your boss, or whomever has the control to require you to do something to bring back a loaf of bread. In this you have many options to pursue all which have their own consequences. This leads into the theory of "Cause and Effect." Here are just some of the major simplified options you could choose.

Stealing the Bread
Manipulating Someone to Steal the Bread
Tricking Someone into Giving You the Bread
Buying the Bread
Making the Bread

  As we see all of these options have their own plus and minus effects. The patronage that I know about leaves these ways of dealing up to the individual and they then use the best to their ability the talents they have to accomplish the deed asked of them.

This being the case it is not very likely that those of this path from what I have experienced can blame their misdeeds or deeds that have erupted in a negative way for them on the Patron of which they serve. I have seen that there really has been no order issued that the patron has given that if one looks into hard enough they cannot fulfill in a way that is positive to them.

Punishment comes from trying to bypass the will of the patron you serve and act in a way that is contrary to the agreement you have made. If this is commonplace and you are punished frequently it might be best that you void your contract and go your own way. How this is accomplished though is beyond my level of understanding. I have not met with un-satisfaction at the agreements I have with my patron or the things that have been requested of me thus far. If any action to me has been unpleasant or in a negative way it is because I chose a way that dealt me those things.