"Even Asgrimm seemed lulled into a sense of security, especially after Kelka, maddened by the wine they gave him, killed three Khemurians in the market-place, and no blood-vengeance or man-bote for the deed."

-Marchers of Valhalla

Paying the perceived value of a slain person not of the highest class, was the primary penalty for murder or man slaughter throughout history, up until the late 1700s in English-speaking America, where servant owners were merely fined for killing their servants or people belonging to another. Across the vast span of human history, only the killing of a person of the warrior or priestly class would call for death or banishment. Hammurabi's law came with values assigned to the type of person killed, meaning a rich man could kill a servant a day and merely expend pocket change.

[boht]

noun, Law.

1. compensation, such as for injury to person or honor.

Origin: learned use of Middle English bote boot