Reparations is a medium through which Downworlders and mundanes—and even Shadowhunters—can lodge complaints against the Nephilim if they believe them to have broken the Law during their dealings.
Description[]
If there is just cause to believing the Nephilim broke the Law when dealing with someone, that person—or a close relative should the person have been killed—can file a complaint through Reparations. A trial will then be held by representatives of the Clave and, if the Shadowhunters are found guilty, the party will receive some kind of compensation. Seemingly in most cases that compensation is money, however, it can also be for their belongings back if they were taken during the incident in question.[1][2]
History[]
Sometime in the early 19th Century, the warlock John Shade was discovered to be in possession of the Book of the White. Further investigation showed that he was trying to animate dead corpses using binding magic and necromancy; replicating damaged body parts with machinery. It was later stated that he had unnatural and illegal dealings with demons and had created a weapon that could destroy Shadowhunters. Since this was against the Law, an Enclave group arrived at the location and killed him and his wife, Anne Shade. They were unable to find the couple's adoptive son, Axel Mortmain.
Mortmain reappeared some years later, in 1825, when he made an application for reparations on behalf of his mother. He claimed that Anne was innocent, as she had nothing to do with and knew nothing of John's projects. Mortmain wanted a trial and punishment for those guilty of her murder, and his parents' belongings back—including the Book of the White. His demands were rejected; further fueling his hatred of the Nephilim and causing him to plot their demise.[1]
After the death of her father and husband, Tatiana Blackthorn filed a demand for reparations. She alleged that the members of the London Institute—including her brothers Gabriel and Gideon—had killed her father in cold blood and her husband had suffered the same fate during the brawl. Though the Consul tried to take the accusations seriously and put on a show of investigating the matter, her account was not held in high regard as she was well-known to be lacking in sense. The case was later dismissed as it was clear that Benedict had been in the last stages of astriola and had eaten Rupert; thus the inhabitants of the Institute were right to kill him.[3]
In the past hundred years or so, claims for reparations decreased. Shadowhunters are now legally held responsible by the Accords for any wrongdoing to Downworlders, even if no one goes through Reparations.[2]
Trivia[]
- Very few cases have been seen of mundane Reparations in the history of the Nephilim.[2]