Tung-duel

I have yet to witness this ceremony. But from what I have been told, it is an event that always someone ends up with blood on their hands. The Orfordsmen are a brutal kind, even with their leaders.

— Everam, Teller of Nimenra

The choice of heir usually falls for the king to decide in Telamirein. Orfordwhelm, however, decided long ago that laws and "birth rights" weakened rulers in the long run. No leader can be weak, no leader can lead without proving themselves capable of defending their rule with a weapon in their hands. That is perhaps the Tung-duel started once, to root out the weakness of poor rulership. This traditional duel between those who want to become the heir to the kingdom decides the future of the kingdom.

History

As long as the records on The Standing Stones of the Kingmaker recalls, there has been a selective way of choosing the leader of Orfordsmen tribes. Many practised duels in which the strongest warriors fought for leadership in hand-to-hand combat. Other feats of strength through competition were also recorded but less often.

When Orfordwhelm became the dominant power they kept the tradition of Tung-duel. Heirs to the throne of the Orfordsmen had to fight against each other to win the right to bear the crown and lead the people. Since multiple sons were common among the rulers, the Tung-duels could take days to complete if relatives and pretenders got involved. Later on, the duel itself became famous for being deadly at times, even if the rule of "first blood" or "first-to-fall" was kept strict. Since wits and intellect

were not tested, the culture around Orfordsmen was more and more related to battle when their conquests started to mount up. This also made certain characters "unfit for rule" in the eyes of Orfordsmen.

Today the primary way of choice falls to the current Chief-king of Orfordhwelm, who can choose his own heir more or less. Tung-Duel still is held between the heir and anyone who want to challenge him, be it his brothers, relatives or someone who feels they can mantel the crown of Orfordwhelm on their head. Tung-Duel is seldom seen in the lower nobility, preferring to allow their heirs and sons to live instead of letting them kill each other. They rather prefer the much more friendly Rus Feast to see worthy heirs.

The Duel

To become the heir and claim to be the next Chief-King the sons of the previous chief-king, and any who dares to oppose them, have to prove themselves to the current king, or to the Chief-King's Judge and the audience of nobles and other important characters like the leader of the Cult of Orios, the Arch-Ofarin. The Arch-Ofarin serves as a religious connection to the God Orio as a sanctify the duel in His presence.

The ones who challenge each other set the terms. "First-blood" is the most popular one but does not, in fact, entitle the first to draw blood from the other. Instead, it is the first to draw several wounds, between three and five, to make sure that the correct person wins. In the matter of the other common alternative, "first-to-fall", it is more literal, the first to fall and not able to get up within the given time of the Judge is declared to have lost his right and the battle. These duels usually include only hand-to-hand combat or at most non-sharp weapons. When the winners is decided, they are usally chosen to be the heir of the kingdom.

Related Organisation
Orfordwhelm
Important Location
The Standing Stones of the Kingmaker Related Ethnicities
Orfordsmen
Participants
Chief-king of Orfordhwelm
Chief-King's Judge
Arch-Ofarin
Unlimited amount of participants for the claim to be heir

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