1.)  Is a human going to die from the action you are taking?

in my players words "put the knife in teh back and twist twist twist" i do belive that the perferated lung would have done it but the fire certainly helps so yes

2.)  Is the action that causes their death magic, in any way or form?

partialy the action stabbing a man/woman/person with a knife is mundane, the knife bursting into flame is magic.

3.)  Did your use of magic have deadly intent?

ya... no real way around that one unless the inteded purpose was a campfire lighter that got used as an impromtue weapon.

hmmm looking at it like that it seems like it would break the first law but it still seems kinda grey.

what about the guy that uses a version of the kinfe that is useable by anyone, does the pure mortal who wields and kills with the knife breaking the first law? if he is then this opens up a whole new can o worms. other wise if it doesnt break the first law for a pure mortal who used the knife to kill a man why then is it a violation of the first law for the magical person that made the knife or say another magical person using the kinfe?

hear is a new question does killing with an Enchanted Item count as breaking the first law?

for example:

a player enchants a knfie to release a blast of fire power 4 3 times a seesion when striking an opponent and uses this knife to kill a mortal. the blade is a magic item that he made. he killed a mortal with the blade. did he break the first law?

keep in mind wardens kill mortals with magic swords on a regular basis but dont seem to break the first law, however the older wardens are not all that happy and well in spirit ( remember morgan's soul was pretty dark and sad near the end ).