The ven are civilized creatures. They agree upon a set of laws, and abide by those laws, surrendering certain civil liberties in exchange for safety. Without this mutual agreement, the ven would be reduced to chaos. Nobles are the keepers of civilization, the watershed against that chaos. Even still, there comes a time when words and rhetoric fail, and when they do, the only recourse is action.
The noble caste recognizes this, and recognizes a citizen’s right to defend his honor, and defend it with blood, if necessary. Violence is a part of ven culture, but if arms must be taken up, they will be taken up with a mind toward justice and fair play. Two opponents, each with the same weapon, facing off to prove or disprove a claim of honor. This is the purpose of ritual bloodshed: to address the necessity of violence in a civilized culture.
As we’ve seen mentioned elsewhere, for the ven, revenge is a sacred part of their culture. Not to be trivialized, disrespected or abused. The ven right of revenge is sacrosanct. But, in order to perform revenge properly, you must know the proper rituals.
Most matters of honor can be settled with a duel as outlined in the book aptly entitled The Duel.
The Duel
The Duel is a small book—only a few pages—outlining and making clear the Senate’s overly complicated and convoluted system rules for revenge. Over the years, the ven have continued to manipulate the system, creating a labyrinth of laws. As the author of the work himself writes:
Authorship of The Duel is one of the most disputed in all of Shanri. The book was written under pseudonym, but many assumed it was the hand of Uthali Rondo, House of the Wolf, Baron of Taven who penned the document. It was only recently that some have come forward making the claim that his brother, Uthali Pennin, House of the Fox, Baron of Grendir was the true author. Evidence stands for both claims, but too much time has gone by for any truth to be discovered.
The Duel makes clear the procedures for a seeking revenge, starting with causes—both just and otherwise—and moving on to ritual.
Three Offenses
If a man so finds himself in a position where his honor is questioned, it is true that he may consider himself under grievance.
—The Duel
Senthal’Ushanaja. I have translated this word as “dishonor,” which is a tad bit weak. The original ven word literally translates as:
The moment my integrity has been so stained that it may only be cleaned with blood.
Please pardon me if I use “dishonor.”
The anonymous Author goes on to discuss what exactly constitutes an offense to one’s honor. He defines three offenses as valid arguments for grievance. The first is insult, the second injury, and the third serious injury. Each calls for a specific duel with its own rules and outcome.
Insult
“Insulting a man’s honor – chiefly by questioning it – is the least serious of offenses. Calling him a liar is the highest of these low offenses. Intimation is one thing; exclamation another.”
– The Duel
“Insult” is publicly questioning another noble’s honor. Calling him a liar, an adulterer, a welcher or a thief is cause for the claim of insult. According to the Duel, insult cannot be claimed without a witness willing to testify to the insult before a jury. This is why so many nobles couch their insults in word plays and innuendo, thus avoiding a duel.
Injury
“Injuring a man is inflicting a wound that shall leave a scar on his person, his livelihood or his heart.”
– The Duel
“Injury” is a more serious crime, one that results in physical, spiritual, or financial scar. The wording of the Duel is ambiguous, a fact many nobles have used to make claim to injury. Like a claim of insult, it must be brought before a jury to decide the validity of the claim. The discovery of an affair is the most common cause for a claim of injury, as well as theft, a loss of honor or Reputation.
Serious Injury
“Some injuries cannot be healed by words. Only blood.”
– The Duel
Finally, “serious injury” is reserved for offenses that cannot be undone. In other words, injuries that cause permanent and irreparable damage. This is the rarest of all three duels as most juries try to avoid declaring them. But in the most extreme cases, such injuries can only be settled with a duel to the death.
Declaring the Duel
Once the insult or injury has been made, the offended party must make a claim within two days of the incident. (From The Duel: “to prevent any meddlesome voices from fanning dying fires.”) Claiming revenge must be performed in a specific way or revenge has not been declared.
If no claim is made, no insult or injury has taken place; the offending party is assumed to have spoken the truth. If the offended party does make a claim, all further details are handled by “seconds.”
A second is a trusted friend or relative who speaks for and supports a noble engaged in a duel. The Duel forbids both parties any further contact until the duel, giving them space and time apart, allowing time for their tempers to cool.
The Jury
“A jury must be made op of men and women who are neutral in the affair, who have no vested interest in either the success or failure of the duel. An odd number is preferable, in the event of a tie. The jury is selected by the most distinguished peer at the site of the alleged grievance.”
– The Duel
When a claim of injury or insult is made, a jury must be formed to judge the validity of the claim. A jury is made up of an odd number of nobles. The Duel calls them “peers.” These peers are chosen randomly or by the seconds. Typically, the noble with the highest social rank chooses the jury.
The Duel does not list a number of peers for the jury. Hence, most nobles pick an odd number. However, it is implicitly understood that if the noble intentionally picks an even number of peers, he wishes the jury to come back with a split decision. If a clear decision cannot be made, no revenge can be declared.
The jury hears pleas from both seconds and decides who is the offended party in the claim. This can be a tricky situation, as both duelists want that title. Here’s an example to give you an idea. I took this from The Duel verbatim to demonstrate how complicated this can get.
Lord S______ claims Lord B______ has cheated him, claiming insult. Lord S______ rebuts that such a claim against him is a slight against his own honor, and thus, Lord S________—the accused—also has a rightful claim of insult. It now becomes the duty of Lord S______’s second to prove the claim, for if he doesn’t, Lord S______ becomes guilty of a claim insult, which can quickly escalate to a claim of injury (of character).
Like I said. Complicated.
Essentially, it boils down to this. If you make a claim of insult or injury, the person you make the claim against is fully within their rights to return the claim. That doesn’t always happen, especially when witnesses are present, but it can.
The jury hears all the evidence and testimony, then votes on the validity of all claims and sets them in order of injury. This becomes important later, when letters of apology are sent or a duel commences. The most serious injury is set at top, followed by less serious injuries, followed by the most serious insult and all subsequent insults.
Apologies
Once the jury agrees on the crimes, the seconds draft letters of apology for the opposing party to sign. Typically, three copies of the letter are drafted: one for the offended party, one for the offending party, and one for public notice.
A noble can refuse to sign a letter of apology, thus ensuring a duel. Letters are typically drafted with one signature addressing all the claims.
Arranging the Duel
If apology won’t settle the matter, all that’s left is bloodshed. The seconds meet to arrange the details of the duel. There are many factors to discuss, including time and place, weapons used, distance of stance, and the seriousness of the duel itself.
The Duel demands the offending party be given the right to choose the weapons while the offended party chooses the time and place. The seconds carry the demands and details of the duelists, sometimes making multiple meetings to finalize the details. All of these details are used as leverage points to either arrange for an apology (thus, dodging the duel) or to further enrage the other duelist (thus, ensuring bloodshed).
Choice of weapons is important and the primary concern of the seconds. They must make certain the weapons are identical to ensure a fair contest between the duelists. The offended party may waive his rights to “fair weapons,” allowing the offender to bring whatever weapon he likes to the duel.
Time and place are also important. Just as the offender has choice of weapons, the offended has choice of time and place. Duels usually occur just before dawn as the sun is rising, but not blinding. Noon is also a prime time for duels. Midnight is reserved for duels not approved by a jury, usually fought under a full moon to provide ample light for the duelists.
Finally, the seconds discuss distance of stance. This is how many steps lay between the duelists when the duel begins. This can also be an important factor, depending on the weapons employed in the duel.
The Duel
When the duelists finally meet on the field (having not seen each other since the whole affair began), weapons are chosen and the distance is taken. This is the first opportunity for apology.
In matters of insult, an apology may be made before the duel begins. The offender may make an apology, offering the offended party the opportunity to end the affair before bloodshed occurs. If the offended party accepts, letters are signed and the matter is settled.
In matters of injury, no apology can be offered until blood is spilled. Whether that’s first blood or a duel to injury is up to the duelists.
Duel to the Touch
In the case of minor insults, a duel to the touch may be appropriate. Both duelists stand a few steps apart and at the drop of a handkerchief, they draw swords quickly, trying to gain the first hit against his opponent. The duelist striking first is declared the winner and the affair is ended.
A duel to the touch is rare, usually insisted upon by the elders of a family who don’t wish to see their young killed in a senseless affair of honor. One duelist called this a “lady’s duel.” He was subsequently blooded and beaten by a woman duelist who overheard him and decided it was a matter of honor to defend her insulted gender.
Duel to the Blood
Also known as a “blood duel,” duels to blood are used to settle serious matters of insult. Claims of insult are resolved when one of the duelist is wounded to bleeding. This is the most common form of dueling, the others reserved for more serious affairs of honor.
Duel to Injury
More serious matters of honor call for a duel to injury. The duel proceeds until one opponent is blooded (as above). He is then allowed the opportunity to apologize (the offending party) or claim satisfaction (the offended party). An apology or concession ends the matter. If no apology or concession is given, the duel continues, breaking with each blooding. The offer of concession or apology is made again, and if none is made, the duel continues. If a duelist cannot continue for his wounds, the duel is over and the matter is finished.
Duel to the Death
For the most serious matters, a duel to the death is the only way to gain satisfaction. The duel ends when one duelist is mortally wounded. No offers of apology or concession are given, no breaks between blooding. The fight continues until one duelist falls, injured unto death.
After the Duel
Once the duel is over, the matter is settled. No further claims from the duel or its outcome may be made. The seconds are present to ensure a fair fight and prevent dishonorable actions. If they are honorable men, it is assumed the duel ended fairly.
Revenge for a fallen friend killed or wounded in a duel is forbidden. Both men agreed to enter into honorable violence and accept the consequences as honorable men. Plans of unjust revenge are dishonorable, left for men of lesser stature and spirit.