Star duel

Moonlit Forest

"Every Falarian has fought under the stars once. Be it against the innumerable legions of voidspawn or their own comrades, the thrill of fighting whilst the stars watch you is an unforgettable experience
Aiden Talloran, talking about the tradition to a few offworlders

Falaria is a planet of many wonders. Here, Ents roam throughout the countryside, their natural might being enough to strike awe in anyone. The people are rather laid back, mostly living peaceful lives as farmers and agricultural workers. In the cities, the people are still laid back and live a life of relative tranquility, despite the calls for war every now and then. It is a world where peace and violence coexist side by side, sometimes winning over their adversary for a short time
For this very reason, Falarians often spar. And that too underneath the starry skies blanketing the world. It is an age old tradition, starting with the first men who set foot on the world. But the exact origins of it can be traced back to the highlands of Dresdanel, a region dominated by the towering Vendrelan Mountains. Beset by deadly beasts and voidspawn, the first colonists often had to resort to violence to survive. During those times, a tradition arose, of sparring during the night when the stars lit up the highland sky. It was said that the gods themselves would be watching and protecting them, and thus they found it befitting to hone their skills and develop deeper bonds through the duels beneath the stars
Despite arising as a necessity at first, the tradition would be practiced even during peacetime by the inhabitants of Falaria. Women would often challenge their husbands to see how strong and brave they were, whilst Falarian youths would do it to settle bets. It soon spread all over the planet, with different regions having their own take on the tradition. One thing was sure however. The star duel would be a beautiful experience, especially in the aftermath where both victor and vanquished settled down and watched the stars, often with a drink in their hands

History

The star duel has its roots in the very beginnings of human habitation on the world, and it has endured the tests of time till now

The first men

Highlands of Dresdanel

When the very first colonists landed on Falaria, on the highlands of Dresdanel, they were faced with a beautiful world. Clear azure skies, with towering mountains rising up to their reaches were a marvellous sight to see. The air was fresh to breath and it heralded the beginning of a new age for mankind. An age that many thought would be of peace and prosperity
It was not to last however. For the war had begun soon

The battle against the Voidspawn

”This is just the beginning. We haven’t seen the last of these foul beings from beyond. If we are to survive, we have to give all our blood and mortal remains to this cause”
A Falarian general, delivering a speech to his soldiers

Execution

"You fight like a drake. I am impressed"
"And you fight worse than a pig" She said whilst laughed
A Falarian man, after a duel with his sister

A duel in the flames by Dominik Mayer

Despite having many variations, some of which diverge greatly from the original, there are a few things in common to the execution of all these rituals.
The first step is the preparation. During this time, both participants usually sing a mantra or song, commonly refered to as the "Starsong". This signifies them asking for help and blessings from Storvanel, the Falarian god of the stars and his many manifestations across the galaxy. The duel can be fought both unarmed and armed, with the conditions that the weapons used must not be lethal or capable of causing heavy damage to the participants
The next step involves the beginning of the duel. Based on the local traditions, the ceremonies can be either simple or complex or somewhat in between. In Dresdanel, it is common for the combatants to wish each other luck and shake hands. In Faldren, the combatants usually give each other a hug, whilst in some other regions, the combatants touch their weapons or arms together before beginning the fight. This is to signify that the duel is a friendly one, between brothers who are willing to hone their skills to better protect their families and loved ones
The fight itself too, has many different variations. Due to the inhabitants of Dresdanel not knowing about magic beforehand, magic is rarely if ever used during the duels there. In Faldren however, not only is magic permitted but it is even encouraged to use it, so long as the combatants do not seriously hurt each other. The duel ends when one of the combatants has either given up or in other cases, loses their weapon or falls down to the ground for a specific amount of time. The battle itself must be done whilst the stars are out, and the combatants must have complete focus on mastering their own combat skills and perhaps most importantly, enjoying themselves.
Once the duel is over, it is tradition for the winner to congratulate the defeated and vice versa. The winner also has to usually offer them something, the most common of which is Veldmin, a refreshing drink made from the juices of a plant native to Dresdanel. If the duel was between siblings or friends, it is also usually polite to shake hands with them as a sign of friendship.

Components and tools

"Fighting unarmed is one of the best experiences one can ever have. Then again, the pleasure of swinging a big stick around is too much for me"
A Falarian, commenting on his usage of weaponry during duels

Svalteran, sword of the Northmen by Oded Steinberg

Though the tradition differs in its usage of weapons, the one originating from Dresdanel readily used them. If weapons are indeed used, they must be non lethal and not cause too much injury to someone. During more formal occasions, the combatants may take special weapons called 'star staffs', long metal rods with intricate carvings that are made specially for the purpose of the duel. In situations where magic is allowed, these staffs may be enchanted with various arcane runes, though as with the rules, the enchantments have to be non lethal
Another item of note used during the ritual is the Veldmin. This is a sweet, cold drink ingested by the duelists after the battle. In more formal occasions, the winner also has a trinket gifted to him, known as the victor's trinket which signifies him as a warrior who has won. If they keep repeatedly winning, they may be offered more items and higher quality ones as well

Participants

"Come. Let the gods watch over us whilst we beat the soul out of each other"
A Falarian man, addressing his opponent before the beginning of a duel

In informal occasions, the battle is usually attended by close friends and family members. However, if it is between siblings, then there is rarely anyone except them to bear witness to the event. During formal occasions, the duel is usually attended by a large crowd consisting of family members, close friends and other people.
There are also a few other people who take part in the ceremony. On formal occasions, a supervisor usually prepares the two combatants before they fight. Another important person is the judge, who formally declares the winner and investigates any foul play that the duelists might have done

Observance

"May the stars guide my blade to the softest part of my foe's flesh"
A Traditional Falarian blessing

Darkness Rises by TacoSauceNinja

As the name implies, the star duel is observed solely at night, especially when the stars are out and shining brightly. Sometimes, this can take more complex forms.