[[dueling]]
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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
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dueling [2016/11/16 21:47] drac created |
dueling [2016/11/21 16:29] (current) drac |
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| - | While it started for grievance resolution, duelling grew rapidly in popularity throughout the entire and is considered a high sport. Numerous salons exist in every civilised bastion of imperial space to cater for all abilities from the occasional fighter who is mostly going for the cucumber sandwiches and social gossip over gin and tonic to the professional duellist who lives and, in some cases, dies by their skill with the blade. A respected university would be expected to sport duelling teams in several leagues, and there will usually be at least one alternate dueling society, practicing an unofficial standard, of which single sword is the most popular (the exact sword varies over time: rapiers are currently the in thing, but everyone expects broadsword to make a comeback soon). Zero G duelling is popular with universities and installations that are primarily spacebound though the tactics are so different that it has a much smaller following. | + | While it started for grievance resolution, duelling grew rapidly in popularity throughout the entire and is considered a high sport. Numerous salons exist in every civilised bastion of imperial space to cater for all abilities from the occasional fighter, who is mostly going for the cucumber sandwiches and social gossip over gin and tonic, to the professional duellist who lives and, in some cases, dies by their skill with the blade. A respected university would be expected to sport duelling teams in several leagues and there will usually be at least one alternate dueling society practicing an unofficial standard, of which single sword is the most popular (the exact sword varies over time: rapiers are currently the in thing, but everyone expects broadsword to make a comeback soon). Zero G duelling is popular with universities and installations that are primarily spacebound though the tactics and combat are so different that it has a much smaller following than those with feet on the ground. |
| A professional duellist is seen as a fine career choice for a young noble who is out of line for succession, it is seen as an aspiring career for the common classes. As a rule, each social strata will hire duellists from their strata, so provided they can afford to learn the skills, those of the lower classes can make an excellent living. | A professional duellist is seen as a fine career choice for a young noble who is out of line for succession, it is seen as an aspiring career for the common classes. As a rule, each social strata will hire duellists from their strata, so provided they can afford to learn the skills, those of the lower classes can make an excellent living. | ||
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| Sporting duels between professionals are broadcast empire wide with famous duelists becoming household names. Some maintain duelling only in such a way, but for most their performance on the public sporting circuit is advertising for being hired to represent someone in a dispute. The better they are, the better clients come to them. | Sporting duels between professionals are broadcast empire wide with famous duelists becoming household names. Some maintain duelling only in such a way, but for most their performance on the public sporting circuit is advertising for being hired to represent someone in a dispute. The better they are, the better clients come to them. | ||
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| Sufficient fame can sometimes gain limited social mobility for the very best. While it will not make you a noble, the most skilled duelists are in great demand and gain social perks commensurate with that. Many a young commoner boy dreams of the day his star on the circuit has risen high enough to be invited to all the best parties to discuss the ins and outs of parrying with the lords, and maybe meet the eyes of a young barons daughter across a crowded room. The latter may be very rare, but young boys can dream. | Sufficient fame can sometimes gain limited social mobility for the very best. While it will not make you a noble, the most skilled duelists are in great demand and gain social perks commensurate with that. Many a young commoner boy dreams of the day his star on the circuit has risen high enough to be invited to all the best parties to discuss the ins and outs of parrying with the lords, and maybe meet the eyes of a young barons daughter across a crowded room. The latter may be very rare, but young boys can dream. | ||
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| As with all things, the fashions of the nobility set the standards for the empire to follow and duelling is also practiced by commoners for similar reasons. The range of ritual among the common classes varies from upper middle classes who do their best to imitate the practice of the nobility to the lowest levels that are one step above a brawl. A noble calling a commoner out is legal but incredibly rare as the social harm it does would outweigh any perceptible gain. | As with all things, the fashions of the nobility set the standards for the empire to follow and duelling is also practiced by commoners for similar reasons. The range of ritual among the common classes varies from upper middle classes who do their best to imitate the practice of the nobility to the lowest levels that are one step above a brawl. A noble calling a commoner out is legal but incredibly rare as the social harm it does would outweigh any perceptible gain. | ||
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| **//Bravo sir! Such courage. Pray, what salon did your opponent learn the blades at? Doesn't even own a pair of daggers? Surely she can afford the very best to stand for her though, yes? No? No. Still. Very brave sir, very brave//** | **//Bravo sir! Such courage. Pray, what salon did your opponent learn the blades at? Doesn't even own a pair of daggers? Surely she can afford the very best to stand for her though, yes? No? No. Still. Very brave sir, very brave//** | ||
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| Duelling to the death is legal, provided it has been officially announced as such As this will involve the death of an imperial subject there will be a police investigation afterwards, so the reason for the grievance needs to be proportionate or the victor can expect to be treated as a common murderer. | Duelling to the death is legal, provided it has been officially announced as such As this will involve the death of an imperial subject there will be a police investigation afterwards, so the reason for the grievance needs to be proportionate or the victor can expect to be treated as a common murderer. | ||
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| **//While this is of course unusual my Lord, on behalf of Merrill Auskaga and Finch, our chosen duellist will be happy to meet you upon the field of honour in one hour. Would you like to merely settle the matter of insult, or also resolve this case over the separation of your estate?//** | **//While this is of course unusual my Lord, on behalf of Merrill Auskaga and Finch, our chosen duellist will be happy to meet you upon the field of honour in one hour. Would you like to merely settle the matter of insult, or also resolve this case over the separation of your estate?//** | ||
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| **//-Hon. Gareth Martin QC. When challenged during a divorce trial.//** | **//-Hon. Gareth Martin QC. When challenged during a divorce trial.//** | ||
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| //The duel shall be fought in the presence of suitable witnesses by combatants of sound mind and body until one such combatant either yields or is rendered incapable of continuing, in which case their duly appointed Second has the responsibility to yield for them. // | //The duel shall be fought in the presence of suitable witnesses by combatants of sound mind and body until one such combatant either yields or is rendered incapable of continuing, in which case their duly appointed Second has the responsibility to yield for them. // | ||
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| //The combatants shall armed with short blades, sharpened, clean and coated with no ignoble substances that would hamper the opponent.// | //The combatants shall armed with short blades, sharpened, clean and coated with no ignoble substances that would hamper the opponent.// | ||
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| //The combatants shall be armoured only with bracers which shall extend no further forward than the wrist and no further back than the elbow.// | //The combatants shall be armoured only with bracers which shall extend no further forward than the wrist and no further back than the elbow.// | ||
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| //Following the conclusion of the combat, the matter is considered settled and both combatants shall accept this and retire with decorum.// | //Following the conclusion of the combat, the matter is considered settled and both combatants shall accept this and retire with decorum.// | ||
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| The default method as described by The Noble Art of Combat: | The default method as described by The Noble Art of Combat: | ||
| //Simultaneously the Seconds shall approach the duelists until they are standing before the combatant. The duellist or his nominated assistant shall present them all weapons for inspection, following inspection the Second shall return the weapons before ascertaining the honour of the duellist themselves. // | //Simultaneously the Seconds shall approach the duelists until they are standing before the combatant. The duellist or his nominated assistant shall present them all weapons for inspection, following inspection the Second shall return the weapons before ascertaining the honour of the duellist themselves. // | ||
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| //They shall lightly place their outstretched hands on the duelists shoulders, as one would gesture solidarity. They shall then lightly grasp the upper arms in a similar gesture. Going down to one knee they shall then place one hand on the outside of each thigh, then on each shin. Rising to regain eye contact they shall place their open palm gently upon the stomach area then forming a straight knife-hand place their fingertips between the breasts, over the heart. Care should be taken here with those duelists who are endowed, as taking advantage of this process is the height of bad manners and easily sufficient grievance for a duelling challenge. The Second shall then walk around to behind the duelist and place an open palm against the small of their back and between the shoulder blades. The Second shall then return to their position facing the duellist and announce clearly, “I hereby vouch that this man/woman/person honours the terms of the duel as has been agreed.” When both Seconds have completed this declaration they may retire. // | //They shall lightly place their outstretched hands on the duelists shoulders, as one would gesture solidarity. They shall then lightly grasp the upper arms in a similar gesture. Going down to one knee they shall then place one hand on the outside of each thigh, then on each shin. Rising to regain eye contact they shall place their open palm gently upon the stomach area then forming a straight knife-hand place their fingertips between the breasts, over the heart. Care should be taken here with those duelists who are endowed, as taking advantage of this process is the height of bad manners and easily sufficient grievance for a duelling challenge. The Second shall then walk around to behind the duelist and place an open palm against the small of their back and between the shoulder blades. The Second shall then return to their position facing the duellist and announce clearly, “I hereby vouch that this man/woman/person honours the terms of the duel as has been agreed.” When both Seconds have completed this declaration they may retire. // | ||
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| //Should the Second feel something unexpected they shall politely ask the duellist to reveal the affected area and examine in more detail. Discovery of anything contravening the agreed rules is a damning indictment of the duellists character and must be removed immediately or suffer forfeit. // | //Should the Second feel something unexpected they shall politely ask the duellist to reveal the affected area and examine in more detail. Discovery of anything contravening the agreed rules is a damning indictment of the duellists character and must be removed immediately or suffer forfeit. // | ||
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