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Bill: OOC (Roleplay): Dueling in Kazulia
Details
Submitted by[?]: De Nasjonale Konservative {S}
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This bill is a resolution. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: February 4507
Description[?]:
| NOTE: Dueling between two characters ICLY needs to of course have consent from both RPers OOCLY Dueling, an arranged, ritualised combat between two individuals, is an important social practice in Kazulia. It is the only way, apart from self-defence, in which private citizens can legally use deadly force against another. On average, around 40 duels are fought per year, with approximately 5% of them resulting in fatality. BACKGROUND Duelling as a social practice originated during the early years of Kazulia, when the warrior-aristocracy - knights and knighted nobles, would engage in single combat under the supervision of oathsworn witnesses to settle a wide variety of disputes, from squabbles over land boundaries to the pledges of freeholders. As the legal system became more sophisticated, many of these disputes would be settled in courts instead, with duels restricted to being fought over 'matters of honour' and other slights of social importance. The custom continues to be greatly respected in Kazulian society and there is often significant social pressure to participate in a duel where one was subjected to a public slight. The failure to issue or accept a challenge in such an event, except where the 'injured party' can convincingly explain his or her deeply held moral or religious convictions against dueling, may lead to ostracism for 'cowardice'. Throughout the latter centuries, with the rise of the bourgouisie to become the dominant class, the number of 'respectable gentlefolk', and thus potential duellists, grew considerably. At the same time, improvements in firearms technology made duels increasingly lethal. As pressure mounted to ban the practice through an Act of Parliament, in order to forestall legislative pressure and to codify existing unwritten customs. LEGALITY Duels are legal only insofar as they are conducted in accordance with the Duelling Code. A duel which complies with the Code is known as a 'sanctioned duel', as opposed to an 'unsanctioned duel' fought in contravention to its provisions. Serving officers may only duel with the permission of his or her superior officer. Judges and counsels may not be challenged for their words and conduct in court, nor Members of Parliament for things said in session. PROTOCOLS After the formal issuing and acceptance of a challenge, both parties will ordinarily appoint a second to arrange the time and place of the duel, as well as negotiate for a peaceful resolution, such as the withdrawal of the challenge or a published apology to the aggrieved party. Where such a mutually acceptable solution cannot be agreed upon, the duel will take place in a city's designated dueling field under the watch of a supervising officer (popularly known as a 'dueling master'), usually a senior member of the municipality's police department. SANCTIONED PISTOL DUELS The YEAR Code Duello regulates the conduct of Sanctioned Pistol Duels. In an attempt to limit lethality, the contemporary standard military sidearm was not adopted. Rather, duellists standardised on the .38 calibre Model 10 revolvers, fitted with 5-inch barrels and with their hammer spurs filed off. Similarly, only fully-jacketed 147-grain rounds, which are not designed to expand or tumble, are permitted in the duelling ground. Guns and cartridges are inspected by the participants and their second before the duel commences. According to the 'Standard Protocol', duellists stand forty yards apart behind two clearly-marked circles on the ground. Upon direction by the Duelling Master, the participants may exchange fire. Subsequent to each shot, the participants are asked whether they consent to be reconciled. If the offender apologies, or the offended party deems that honour had been served, the duel ends. If the duel is not thus terminated, shots are exchanged until first blood, or the parties have fired all six shots. For particularly grievous insults, the 'Abbreviated Protocol' may be used. Under this Protocol, there is no exchanges of single shots. Rather, upon the command of the Duelling Master, the parties may fire at will, until one duellist is unable to stand within his circle, or until ammunition is exhausted. SWORDS DUELS Dueling with swords has become very uncommon in recent times, as swordsmanship as a skill became a rarity beyond sport fencers. It is also considered to be rather uncouth and mildly barbaric in polite society compared to pistol duels, since competence with a sword is a far greater 'force multiplier' compared to marksmanship ability, rendering the proceedings 'unsporting'. The Duelling Code contains few rules regarding sword duels. The participants may use identical swords, or else elect to use their own weapon, as long as his or her opponent does not object to the choice. Sabres, spadroons and small swords are the most common choice. PROFESSIONAL DUELISTS A professional duelist is, in essence, an assassin for hire, who'd engineer a dispute with his or her target with the deliberate aim of provoking a duel. They are usually crack shots and experts in maximising the lethal potential of the standard dueling weapon, despite the aforementioned efforts made by the authorities to prevent fatalities. Paying for, or being paid to engage in a duel are criminal offences. In addition, both paymaster and hireling may be be prosecuted for conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and other related crimes, depending on the affair's results. In reality, it is rather difficult to prove such allegations, especially where the participants go to great lengths to cover their paper or electronic tracks. |
Proposals
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 11:31:19, December 27, 2018 CET | From |  Moderation | To | Debating the OOC (Roleplay): Dueling in Kazulia |
| Message | OOC: Archiving |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |
| yes |
Total Seats: 352 | |
| no | Total Seats: 0 | |
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: Dorvik is a nation based on Germanic and old Prussian cultures, it is located on the far north of Artania, making it an almost arctic nation. |
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