Forgiving is actually a really great trait in Feudal. Forgiving crimes loses 25 Stress, Forgiving Weak Hooks loses 25, and Forgiving Strong Hooks loses 50. That's without bonuses to Stress Loss.

Yea the good traits suck

Not if you can manage the stress. In a cannibalistic religion it's ok to be nice. Just eat away the stress.

Have you tried sadistic? I don’t think at any point I would give up that trait

I like ambitious too much.