The highborn are usually the only ones able to afford armour. Behind the helmet are three personal banners identifying you on the battlefield and on the breast plate hang beads, one for each person the warrior has killed in the colour of the deceaseds family. A red bead indicates a man of no known or significant family or someone of a non-human race.
One is expected to take public responsibility for the death by installing the bead on ones armour and show that it was just and that you must be willing to be reminded of your killing of another sentient.
