The Talon

Drakiss are not normally legalistic so well defined laws are few in most of their communities. But they are inherrently collectivist in their approach to society and when the norms of their societies are threatened we find The Talon emerging to enforce the norm. Do not mistake The Talon for a police force or a formal part of a community's government - it is the name applied to an emergent behaviour which in many species could be translated as "mob". Talons are normally short lived affairs ending when either the community's norm has been re-estasblished or when it is recognised that the perceived threat is either not a significant one or the "abnormality" has become part of the normal make up of the community. Since Drakiss communities are small, seldom exceeding a few hundred, Talons seldom exceed a dozen drakiss and usually come into existance to address a specific issue such as a series of thefts before fading back into the general population a short while later. In such cases peer pressure tends to re-establish the norm and lead to repair of damage done - if it doesn't then the Talon brings the offender before the Burrowken, who has amongst their responsibilities the security of the colony as a whole, the leader of the colony or the drakkun - which can lead to the expulsion of the offender or their executionIn cases where the offence to the norm is discovered in the process of being committed, Talons may form by "Outcry" - a shout to attract attention and gather support - these can lead to a more "summary" approach to justice. In such cases the Talon will be called to account for their actions and may themselves face expulsion or execution.