The Strictures on Humanity
Unlike the other races that live in accordance with the strictures, laws, and decrees of the Nop Derk Safir, humans are greedy, ambitious, and full of hatred. Left to themselves, humans will destroy the peace of Derkomai and destroy Dermkomai itself.
Therefore, Valamarashe has decreed the Strictures on Humanity that none must violate. Cursed are those that heed not the Strictures. Cursed are those that tolerate violators. Their lives are forfeit.
Epistle of Meditations: The Strictures on Undisciplined Thought
Stricture 1: Counting by orders other than one, ten, one hundred, and one thousand is forbidden.
Stricture 2: Numbers may be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. No other operations are possible or permitted.
Stricture 3: Looking at the heavens through an implement of glass is forbidden.
Stricture 4: Depictions of the heavens are anathema.
Stricture 5: Alchemical investigations are forbidden.
Epistle of Actions: The Strictures on Undisciplined Arts
Stricture 1: Immersing metal in waters of salt or sour is forbidden.
Stricture 2: Forming wires of metal into the shape of a coil is forbidden.
Stricture 3: Forming clear glass into a shape thicker or thinner in the center than at the edges is forbidden.
Stricture 4: Painting glass with glazes of silver or gold is forbidden.
Stricture 5: Water that has been passed through ashes is anathema.
Stricture 6: Mixing charcoal with brimstone and saltpeter is forbidden.
Stricture 7: Machines with more than three meshed gears are forbidden.
Stricture 8: Machines that move by the power of wind or water are anathema. Sailing ships that move by the power of wind are permitted.
Stricture 9: Gazing on the Eye of the Dragon while the Dragon Blinks Its Eyes is forbidden. The natural consequence of doing so is to be struck with blindness. Other Warnings and Disciplines may be administered.
Epistle of Punishments: The Warnings and Imposed Displines
The ignorant or careless person may violate the Strictures on Humanity unwittingly or carelessly. Some may also tolerate Violations through ignorance or carelessness. Such persons shall have a Warning administered as a reminder that Valamarashe does not overlook Violations of the Strictures.
Warning 1: A Warning of Minor Pain.
The Violator shall be beaten by a rod no more than twenty times on the Stone of Violation.
Warning 2: A Warning of Greater Pain.
The Violator shall be beaten by a rod no more than forty times on the Stone of Violation.
Warning 3: A Warning of Permanent Reminder.
At the Stone of Violation, the Violator shall have the smallest finger of the left hand removed at the middle joint.
Warning 4: The Final Warning.
At the Stone of Violation, the Violator shall be branded on the left hand with the Mark of Final Warning, and the Violator shall be beaten by a rod forty times.
Severe Violators of the Strictures have proven that their thoughts or actions are deliberately or repeatedly undisciplined, and therefore, must have Disciplines imposed on them.
Discipline 1: Forfeiture of Freedom.
The Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator shall be confined in the Sepulcher of Valamarashe for no less than 200 days, or as long as the Abbot of Valamarashe decrees.
Discipline 2: Forfeiture of Dignity.
The Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator shall be stripped and chained to the Stone of Violation from sunrise to the sunset to sunrise to sunset.
Discipline 3: Forfeiture of Speech.
The Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator's tongue shall be removed to prevent others from following in violation of the Strictures.
Discipline 4: Forfeiture of Movement.
The Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator's legs shall be broken to prevent the Violator from spreading heresies from place to place.
Discipline 5: Forfeiture of Life with Repentance.
If the Violator's life is forfeit, but repents of his violations, the Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator shall be given the Ultimum Consilium: death by poison, death by hanging, or death by the blade. The Violator's body shall be buried intact in an unmarked grave.
Discipline 6: Forfeiture of Life without Repentance.
If the Violator's life is forfeit, and does not repent of his violations, the Violator shall be branded on the forehead with the Mark of Violation. The Violator shall be stripped, then strangled to death, his body dismembered and burned to ashes on the Stone of Violation. The ashes shall then be flushed into the sewers or discarded in the pauper's graveyard. The Violator is forever forgotten, his name never to be said.
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