Re: Humakti and Heortlings law?

From: nichughes2001 <nick.hughes_at_...>
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 09:51:28 -0000

Precisely, there is no strong relationship between the two in Heortling society because Heortling law is explicitly about compromise and maintaining harmony rather than truth or justice. Humakt is very much big on truth and justice so humakti may well resent the very idea that they be subject to courts which they would percieve as fundamentally compromised and unjust. When you can recieve judgement on your actions from the supreme court (Humakt himself) simply by drawing your sword why would you care about the opinions of lesser courts?

However humakti can perform a valuable role in the law precisely because they stand outside its normal systems. Heortling law is vulnerable to being exploited by the powerful and unscrupulous and unless the clan/tribal king is wise and decisive enough to stop it the seething injustices and resentments could eventually tear a clan apart. Humakti, unlike orlanthi, are concerned with justice more than compromise - they understand that what is lawful may also be unjust and that injustice can eventually have dire consequences. To some extent the very presence of humakti adds an element of justice and truth to a legal system which can stray from these ideals, humakti more than anyone would understand that a single well placed blow can avert generations of bitterness and divison and have both the freedom and the duty of executing that blow. The unspoken possiblity of a humakti delivering their grim brand of justice would deter many unscrupulous defendents from trying to abuse the Heortling legal system in the first place. Perhaps the name of the hoods faction is literal, when performing this role an executioners hood would be very appropriate.

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Nic

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