LANGUAGES, Sandeman: Pre-Empire English, called Standard, and a modified version of Classical Russian, called High War Speech. Since the Shapers left Terra before Imperial English was widely accepted, they retained the old alphabet and irregularities (mostly in plurals). Standard is the Sandeman common speech used by both castes. The purpose of High War Speech, as far as the Shapers were concerned, was another way to set the warrior caste apart. By Annexation, it was less exclusive; most Others had learned at least a little, and as long as they used formal mode to warriors, no one objected. (Familiar mode is restricted to battle-companions, lovers, and one's thakur or 'na.) There is a technical combat vocabulary, however, that remains mostly restricted to warriors since they are the only ones with a real use for it. LAST GIFT: (Sandeman) The gift of a swift death, asked when a person (usually a Sandeman) has been too seriously wounded, or is too ill, for medical aid to do more than prolong death. Between Sandeman's overthrow of the Shapers and its annexation by the Empire, their medicine was primitive enough that this was seen as an unpleasant necessity to prevent further suffering. As Imperial medical personnel have said repeatedly, Sandeman medicine then was little more than first aid; even something as minor as an abdominal wound was normally fatal. LAWS, IMPERIAL: The Empire has few laws, but the ones that do exist are strictly enforced, unless there is a very strong reason for not doing so--with the Sovereign the only one able to grant waivers. And Imperial law is kept purposely simple. Pre-Empire lawyers would be appalled, because if a law is obscure or easily misinterpreted, it is rewritten until it is clear to anyone of average intelligence and subject to only minimal interpretation by the officer judging a case. As with any decision short of the Sovereign's, such a judgement may be appealed, but only on substantial grounds. The ones so far covered (there are others) include the following: No noble shall attempt to exercise control over any fief other than the one @ is responsible for. Attempted crimes are punished in the same way as one that was successful. The penalty for murder of or assault on an Imperial noble is death. No mitigating circumstances. The penalty for murder of or assault on an Imperial servicewen is death or life imprisonment. The judging officer may consider substantial mitigating circumstances. A child born to parents of differing cultures will, as far as possible, receive the benefits of each culture most favorable to the child. Massive genetic engineering of humans is forbidden. (This is generally interpreted as engineering not required to correct a medical problem.)