Didáctica del curso Cálculo de una Variable 1. Didáctica

For the ven, the Seventh Law is the most open to interpretation. Jonan Drax left behind no system of recompense or reprieve. Instead, he gave the ven a different kind of legal system.

A system unconcerned with impartiality or fairness. A system that validated Revenge.

Because the Seventh Law deals almost exclusively with the Jury, let’s jump in to that subject right now.

T^HE S^EVEN L^AWS

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J

All legal matters are determined by Jury: an old tradition established by Jonan Drax centuries ago. Drax’s Jury allows immediate decisions in matters of the Law. If three or more nobles are present, a Jury can be formed to kvir tam (“make the Law”).

When a matter of Injury or Insult rises among the Blooded, a Jury is called. The Jury must be made up of at least three nobles—one of which must be from a House not affiliated with the parties involved. In other words, if a Fox calls Insult against a Bear, one of the Jury must be from a House that is neither Fox nor Bear.

The Jury hears initial complaints and then decides if further mediation is necessary. If the majority of the Jury votes in the negative, the case is dismissed. If the majority of the Jury agrees an issue of Insult or Injury is valid, the proceedings continue.

The Jury hears arguments from both sides then makes their decision. The Jury’s decision is final. Arguing or bickering is bad form. Don’t try it.

Because Senators make up Juries and because a Jury’s authority derives from the Senate, ignoring a Jury’s decision is throwing an Insult at the Senate. Bad form.

You’ve just Insulted every Senator, telling him his authority means nothing.

Wearing the black. You’ll find out what that means in a moment.

Another point of order. Both parties must be present in order for a Jury to take place. That’s why most Juries are called immediately upon the Insult. At most social gatherings, a Jury is chosen before the gathering—usually made up of the most powerful nobles present—out of foreknowledge that any gathering of ven requires a Jury by the end of the night. It is his home, the host decides the Hospitality:

The Missing Law

Some ven scholars believe in a

“Missing Law.” This comes from

a discrepancy in two important

documents. Most ven literature,

such as The Great and Tragic

Life of Shara Yvarai, list Seven Laws (as above), but a few

works, such as The Comedy

of Licenteus Burghe list Eight Laws. Speculation on what that

Law may be is ripe among ven

scholars, but so far, we have no

evidence for its existence except

for a listing that may be nothing

more than a typo.

Most scholars agree the

Missing Law may be something

to do with Hospitality. Others

speculate it could be There

Shall be No High King. Seeing these two ven traditions are so

important and regarded with

such reverence, it makes sense

Either one would make a fine

Eighth Law. If you like, go ahead

and include it in your game. I

won’t tell anyone.

T^HE S^EVEN L^AWS

Jury. Those selected are given the highest honor by the host of the gathering. This is out of gratitude for the insufferable and undesirable job of dismissing frivolous claims and debating difficult ones.

Also, if the host forms an even-numbered Jury, he quietly communicates to the Jury that he wants a split decision. The Jury may or may not follow his silent recommendation at their own discretion.

Yes, those of you who pay attention noticed that because the host of a Party usually chooses who will be the Jury for the night, the Jury is usually someone the host knows. Don’t start something you can’t finish in someone else’s house.

If a Jury decides Injury, Insult or True Pain are worthy claims, they then decide on the proper recourse.

I

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The ven recognize three Offenses: Insult, Injury and True Pain.

For Insult, a Jury will usually require the Insulting party make some sort of recompense to the Insulted party. This involves a surrender of something minor.

Resources are the standard payment. Food, stone, iron, spices. These are the things a noble must surrender for an Insult.

For Injury, such payment is not sufficient. The stain of dishonor may only be cleansed with my enemy’s Blood.

In that case, the Jury declares a Duel. Alternatively, a ven may demand the Offender “wear the Black” for a year and a day.

A simple, but nuanced system. Fortunately, we have a guide.

Cleaning up Ven Law

I feel the temptation.

Looking through ven Law, I see

the loopholes. I see the oversights. I

see all the mistakes they made.

I feel the temptation to clean it

up. But I won’t.

These are the Laws the ven

lived with and changing the

Laws changes the ven. I think

the loopholes and the oversights

provide us a clear lens allowing us to

look at the ven without revision. I’m

going to be true to them. Warts and

all. I think they’d appreciate that.

Besides, ambiguity and confusion

lead to conflict, and conflict leads

to story. Look at all the drama over

America’s immigration problem. This

problem is caused by confusing and

ambiguous Law. Clear, clean, simple,

unambiguous Laws would remove

those opportunities. Remove stories.

So, I’m going to leave them alone so

you can take advantage of them. I

thought you’d appreciate that.

T^HE S^EVEN L^AWS

T ^HE S ^WORDSMAN

The ven are hot-Blooded creatures, driven by passions and desires they cannot control. So, to curb this incessant need for Bloodshed, the ven have a ritual to allow for the proper use of violence. Violence as necessity. Violence as Art. To create that Art, one must know the rules. The Rituals. The proper forms. Fortunately for the ven, we have a guide.

The Swordsman: A Practical Guide to the Art of the Blade is a small book making clear the Senate’s overly complicated and convoluted rules for the Duel. Over the last two hundred years, the ven have continued to manipulate the system, creating a labyrinth of Laws. The Swordsman makes these procedures clear, starting with causes—both just and otherwise—and moving on to Ritual. As the author of the work writes:

Before all other considerations, my sense of clarity in this matter bears the greatest weight. If the matter of violence is not made simple and straightforward, we are lost.

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If the Jury finds Revenge is appropriate, Injury or Insult may only be settled by a duel.

The ven are civilized creatures. They agree upon a set of Laws, and abide by those Laws, surrendering certain civil liberties in exchange for safety. Without this mutual agreement, the ven would be no better than orks. Nobles are the keepers of civilization, the watershed against that chaos.

Even still, there comes a time when words and rhetoric fail, and when they do, the only recourse is violence.

The noble caste recognizes this, and recognizes a citizen’s right to defend his honor, and defend it with Blood, if necessary. Violence is a part of ven culture, but if arms must be taken up, they will be taken up with a mind toward Art. Two opponents, each with the same weapon, facing off to prove or disprove a claim of dishonor. This is the purpose of ritual violence: to address the necessity of aggression in a civilized culture.

A formal duel is a serious affair for all involved. Even if a duel is set for first Blood, accidents happen. It is more than just a test of skill, but a test of honor for both parties. A most serious matter, indeed. One might even say, “deadly serious.”

Their hands are bound