There are rules about provocation too, and if someone has a pattern of being a provocateur, they may see themselves in trouble too.

[Emizel did already have something of a reputation of mouthing off, which, of course, was to be expected. But it did mean that things had to be cut off at the pass sometimes.]

That's one of the ways the Human World differs from the Outlands. Might doesn't always make right here.