Duels At Court

[Vutall]

Duels At Court
Thanks to the prowess of the Kakita, it is extremely dangerous to challenge the Crane Clan’s authority at court, for the law affords that the aggrieved may demand satisfaction by steel. While dueling customs vary somewhat by region and the temperament of particular daimyō even within Crane lands, all of the following terms are considered customary for an iaijutsu duel in a Crane court (and in courts where their diplomats hold sufficient sway):

The lord who sanctioned the duel must stand as a judge, and stakes puts their own honor and glory on the line that the outcome proceeds honorably (or justice being done if it is not).

The lord who sanctioned the duel may nominate two additional individuals of the same status rank to stand as judges as well, who makes the same guarantee Any decision must have a majority.

It is considered uncouth for a duel to be fought within eight hours of the challenge, for combatants must steel themselves spiritually before battle and undergo ritual purification (this delay gives the skilled diplomats of the Doji family ample opportunity to capitalize on the duel as tension mounts).

Ever since a series of events in the 1st century, it is also considered uncouth for a duel to be fought outdoors at sunrise or sunset.

Ever since the same series of events, it is considered uncouth for a combatant to arrive late. If a combatant arrives late, the judges may choose to postpone the duel.

An appropriately scenic location must be chosen; a judge must determine a suitable locale. If they cannot find one, the duel is postponed for one day while they continue to seek a location.

A duel may also be postponed should the judges determine the weather to be inclement.

The duel must be fought only with the daishō, and warriors must wear only ceremonial robes.

Only iaijutsu cuts and attacks with the unsheathed daishō are permitted. Strikes with other weapons—including unarmed blows—are considered cheating.

Blades must begin sheathed, and cannot be unsheathed before a combatant’s first turn.

There are two acceptable victory conditions: first blood and judgment.

If either warrior is Incapacitated, their opponent may appeal for judgment. If successful, the duel ends and is scored. Target papers are sometimes attached to help judges in determining a clear victory by judgment.

Speaking discourteously to one’s opponent incurs a penalty of –5 points.

Multiple strikes are permitted, but as waste is to be scorned, each strike after the first incurs a penalty of –1.

Given these terms, it should come as no surprise that other clans greatly value any diplomat who can convince a Crane lord to set in place rules that are less unfavorable to their own duelists. There have also been cases where a local ruler takes obvious pleasure in forcing a Crane iaijutsu master to follow some equally arcane set of local customs during a duel, rather than those set down by the Crane Clan.

[Vutall]

The Etiquette of Killing in Duels
Killing one’s foe is the goal of some duels and unacceptable in others, based on circumstances and prior agreements.

Killing a foe in a duel to the first strike or incapacitation is a tragic accident at best and possible murder at worst.

Killing one’s foe in a duel to first blood is unusual and frowned upon, but not strictly dishonorable.Obviously, killing one’s foe is the point of a duel to the death. Sparing one’s foe can be seen as extremely disrespectful unless done very deftly