Core Tenets of Dominus-Law:
Given the origins (Valkorian the Stern, Beast Cult, pack dynamics), the core tenets revolve around hierarchy, strength, and the collective:
Hierarchy is Binding: Every individual has a place within the Pack (family/kith, Den-hold), determined by lineage and demonstrated capabilities. Rank must be acknowledged through specific deference (The Kith-Sign, The Cant, Yielding). Know your place, respect those above, guide those below.
Dominance Must Be Maintained: Status is not static. It requires continuous demonstration of strength – physical, psychological, strategic, or force of will. Weakness (perceived or real) invites challenge and risks lowering one's place. Constant vigilance and assertion are necessary.
The Pack Endures: Loyalty flows upwards to the head of the immediate Pack (family head, Thane, Apex/Voivode). The strength, reputation, and survival of the Pack are paramount. Internal conflict should ideally reinforce the hierarchy, not cripple the collective. Betrayal of the Pack is the gravest offense.
Territory Defines Authority: The Den-hold and its resources (land, game like Ghoulfangs, minerals) are extensions of the ruling House's dominance. Intrusion, poaching, or unsanctioned resource extraction is a direct challenge to that authority.
Strength Resolves Conflict: When hierarchy or custom fails to resolve disputes, strength is the final arbiter. This is ideally channeled through sanctioned means like the Challenge-Right, where the outcome determines the 'right' of the matter according to the law. Might doesn't just make right; in sanctioned conflict, it is the proof of right.