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Sevolites use duels to settle their differences, as a socially acceptable alternative to wars of mass destruction. Sword Law prescribes what is and is not allowed within that scope. Demish and Vrellish norms differ. The Vrellish are more matter of fact about life and death. The Demish like tournaments, and conduct more business via nonfatal duels used to settle ambiguous disputes, but are less likely to fight to the death in any cause. When they do, they are more likely to bear a grudge. Sword Law, and the political/religious philosophy of Okal Rel itself, was actually cooked up by the early Lorels as a desperate measure to contain violent behavior by providing the Vrellish, in particular, with an emotionally satisfying outlet for their restless and aggressive natures. The Demish fell in love with its Romantic aspects and build up the religious and literary traditions of Okal Rel. Modern (c. 200 P.T.) Sword Law is an amalgam of 1,000 years of alternating Vrellish and Demish dominance, with shared standards set by Fountain Court. Differences of opinion increase the farther out into purely Demish or Vrellish territory one travels from Gelion, with the Demish extreme prevailing on fabled Demora and the Vrellish one at gatherings on Cold Rock, in barren, scrappy Red Reach. Key concepts in Sword Law include Challenge Right and Challenge Class. A challenger with Challenge Right cannot be refused. Rights are either inherent, by virtue of birth, or conferred by an honor bond contract. In the latter case, duels are the Gelack equivalent of a court of law resolving trade disputes or other business transactions. Honor bonds may stipulate resolution by duel, or a duel may result due to lack of unanimous support by peers or superiors concerning the disputed matter. Although death is always a risk in any duel, a duel over a contested honor bond is more likely to be "to first blood" than meant to be fatal, and may be declared as such. Among the Demish, accidentally killing your opponent might cost you the match, from the legal standpoint. Title challenges are typically to the death. Sevolites may also draw swords over personal matters, but there is no obligation to accept a challenge of that sort unless so inclined or driven to it for status reasons. Deaths over courtesan den quarrels do happen, but mostly among young and impetuous people or ones who have had too much to drink. Being armed with a weapon it is legal to kill other people with if you can get them to draw theirs is an occupational hazard of being Sevolite. "Old Swords", like Di Mon, rarely draw a sword in anger and discourage such behavior in their younger charges. Challenge class is an important consideration. It is generally deemed dishonorable for a highborn to duel a nobleborn in earnest, even under impromptu circumstances. If attacked, of course, there is no shame in defending oneself. Regardless of class, two or more people attacking one is always dishonorable. In formal circumstances, matters are resolved at one level or another, within challenge class. Petty Sevolites do not contend with nobleborns, and a highborn must duel another highborn. Having a highborn liege is a requirement for holding a hearth on Fountain Court because of challenge class considerations. Sevolites are busy bodies. If they weren't, and didn't take a keen interest in each other's business, Sword Law would be hard to uphold. Crucial fights take place in front of witnesses. If there was no acknowledged right at issue, or honor was obviously on the side of one party, bystanders would intervene - albeit with something of the judicial discrimination of a lynch mob. Situations do occur, such as the one Ameron is desperate to avoid towards the end of Throne Price, where support is roughly evenly divided and emotions run high. Mismanaged, these can lead to spontaneous melees which reap far too many, important lives, and therefore represent a failure of the system. As Prince H'Us points out, also in Throne Price, that is what space warfare represents too: a failure to resolve differences at the cost of one or two lives, with no risk to by-standers, instead of losing hundreds of Sevolites in a space war conducted at great risk to neighboring habitats. Related Excerpts:
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Sword Law
A
Sevolite law breaker is condemned, by Okal Rel to a slow rebirth, or even
to becoming Soul Lost, depending on the severity of the misconduct and
the spiritual politics in force among Waiting Souls who both 'midwife'
at births and watch duels. For those not motivated by religion, or personal
questions of honor, there is the peer pressure of witnesses and the threat
of economic ruin. (See article