kanly [ˈkænli] n. (defective of plural)
The sanctified form of vendetta between Houses Major enshrined into law by the Great Convention of 337, which elevated humanity from the tribal feuds and skirmishes of old, when our most gracious Emperor's predecessor established our modern institutions and traditions, of which kanly was established for the preservation of imperial order and protection of the innocent. Kanly is conducted under the benevolent oversight of His Excellency's appointed Judge of the Rite, as a legitimate instrument of noble justice under Imperial Law, Section XXIV of the Great Convention (available for consultation at all Landsraad archives by permission of the High Council).
The procedural aspects of kanly follow an established process: declaration only by the titular and rightful head of a House Major with immediate notification to the Landsraad High Council, the Imperial Court, and the opposing House; judicial appointment by His Excellency of an appropriate Judge of the Rite to preside in His name over the proceedings; and negotiation between opposing parties under judicial supervision, with all proceedings sealed by Imperial mandate. The negotiations must be handled by the House heads, or their heirs in the unfortunate event of the formers' untimely death.
The three forms of legal negotiation, as enshrined into law by the Great Convention, serve as a formal framework to the fair and swift enactment of justice by His Excellency's wise Judge; these being Settlement by the declared-against House through gratious acceptance of conditions set by the declaring House, typically involving transfer of fiefs, CHOAM holdings, or matrimonial arrangements beneficial to Imperial stability; Combat Personal through ritual single combat with personal combat blades without the technological protection of shields, honourably fought to the death according to ancient forms. Such noble sacrifice demonstrates the courage that has ever been the hallmark of our great Houses; and the Judge's Ban issued under the wise oversight of His Excellency, serves as the quintessential tool for safeguarding the Imperium and its populace against destructive feuds that threaten the order and stability of our realm.
Etymology. Highly disputed and subject to extensive academic investigation. Considering the tradition's establishment around the time of the Butlerian Jihad and Great Convention, the word kanly is likely a synthetic word based on canaille, the Old Gallach word for feud. More exotic theories try to link its origins to Terran languages such as Turkic, however such attempts face significant issues, including the few surviving snippets of ancient texts.