C'thonia/C'thonian Ritual Combat

The customs and rituals of dueling in C'thonia are taken from new innovations and old traditions. They are meant to show reverence to the Elders.

Preparation

Prayer

The parties partaking in the duel shall offer prayers and sacrifice to Hildr, Mistress of Battle, asking that she look kindly upon them in the battle to come. They will sacrifice a small amount of blood, taken from the forearm, and bled into a bowl of ivory. If the duel is to the death, they shall also pray to Hel, Odin and Thor as well. Rumor is that the wicked also pray to Loki to call his favor, causing their opponent to stumble, or otherwise fall prey to Loki Lietongue. The participant shall ask forgiveness for any wicked deeds he has done, and ask that his death, should it come, be considered honorable and allow him to gain passage into Valhalla. The participant shall burn incense while all of this occurs, to ward off the influence of evil spirits and the agents of Loki.

The Weapon

Recent engineering in C'thonia has developed a locking mechanism which allows a sword of certain specifications to be fastened to a pole, turning it into a halberd of sorts. This same device is used to lock two blades together, end to end, creating a double-sword. It is with the double sword that the participants shall fight. The blades are locked together after their prayers, while a priest or acolyte supervises, blessing the weapon, and anointing it with oil, while saying the following prayer "Pater Odin, qui es in Asgard, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in Asgard et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo."

The Duel

The two combatants enter the ring and bow to one another, and stick one end of their double-sword into the ground in front of them. If a participant is a Knight, they will ask for the blessing of their liege, or a representative. If the participant is a Lord, they will ask the blessing of their Duke, or a representative. If the participant is a Duke, they will ask the blessing of the King, or a representative. If the King is participating, he asks the blessings of the Elders. Then, if both participants are equals, they bow to each other. If one participant is of a higher ranking than the other (e.g. A lord compared to a Knight) the lower ranking shall bow and ask forgiveness for any bodily harm he might inflict upon his superior. The superior will offer forgiveness, and return the bow. The ring shall be lined with small censers, in which incense will be burned in. A priest shall enter the ring, and hand the challenger his blade first, and then hand the challenged his blade. As soon as the priest exits the ring, the duel begins.

Post Duel

A priest will enter the ring, and grant his blessings to the winner of the duel. If the duel was to the death, and one participant dies, the body will be given into the care of the family and preparations will be made to build the pyre to have the deceased burned atop of in the ritual of mourning. If the deceased is a known heretic or heathen, the body will be burned immediately afterwards, without a pyre, and the ashes cast to sea.