Showing posts with label duel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duel. Show all posts
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Dueling Among Le Bon Ton
Author Cara King has a good essay on dueling, primarily during the Regency era.
Synthesizers at Dawn?
Jamie at Mithril Wisdom offers his list of the top five fantasy duelling weapons.
The one from Scott Pilgrim sounds epic, but I'll stick with gleaming rapiers all the same.
The one from Scott Pilgrim sounds epic, but I'll stick with gleaming rapiers all the same.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Yet Another Field of Honor
You are challenged to a duel. Roll 1D20 to determine the actual location where the duel takes place.
1. On a rickety wooden bridge over roaring rapids.
2. By the light of a blazing bonfire in a ring of Romani wagons.
3. Inside a sea cave which floods waist-deep with each incoming wave - and fills to the ceiling on the ninth wave of every set - then empties out.
4. While balanced on a pair of chandeliers over a crowded theatre on opening night.
5. Knee-deep in effluent as sewer rats scramble up the duelists' clothing to escape the muck and mire.
6. In the cellar of a decrepit monastery amidst rotting casks of wine, ready to burst.
7. In a palace gallery lined with marble statues and suits of armor, with banners draped from the walls and ceiling.
8. Over the cracked marble benches of a Roman amphitheatre.
9. On the spray-swept decks of a listing galleon aground on a rocky reef.
10. On the loose terra-cotta tiles of an adobe mission roof.
11. In the smoky kiva of a cliff house.
12. In a narrow secret passage between the bedchambers of the king and his mistress.
13. In the hayloft of a thatch-roofed barn, lit by a single lantern perched precariously on the edge of a overturned bucket.
14. Atop the parapet of a ravelin amidst a thunderous cannon barrage.
15. On the steep stone steps of an Aztec pyramid.
16. In a treehouse built high in the jungle canopy by the survivors of a shipwreck.
17. Across the decks of a dozen canal barges moored together.
18. In a jolly boat as it spirals into a swirling whirlpool.
19. Roll on This Field of Honor table
20. Roll on Another Field of Honor table
1. On a rickety wooden bridge over roaring rapids.
2. By the light of a blazing bonfire in a ring of Romani wagons.
3. Inside a sea cave which floods waist-deep with each incoming wave - and fills to the ceiling on the ninth wave of every set - then empties out.
4. While balanced on a pair of chandeliers over a crowded theatre on opening night.
5. Knee-deep in effluent as sewer rats scramble up the duelists' clothing to escape the muck and mire.
6. In the cellar of a decrepit monastery amidst rotting casks of wine, ready to burst.
7. In a palace gallery lined with marble statues and suits of armor, with banners draped from the walls and ceiling.
8. Over the cracked marble benches of a Roman amphitheatre.
9. On the spray-swept decks of a listing galleon aground on a rocky reef.
10. On the loose terra-cotta tiles of an adobe mission roof.
11. In the smoky kiva of a cliff house.
12. In a narrow secret passage between the bedchambers of the king and his mistress.
13. In the hayloft of a thatch-roofed barn, lit by a single lantern perched precariously on the edge of a overturned bucket.
14. Atop the parapet of a ravelin amidst a thunderous cannon barrage.
15. On the steep stone steps of an Aztec pyramid.
16. In a treehouse built high in the jungle canopy by the survivors of a shipwreck.
17. Across the decks of a dozen canal barges moored together.
18. In a jolly boat as it spirals into a swirling whirlpool.
19. Roll on This Field of Honor table
20. Roll on Another Field of Honor table
Friday, April 6, 2012
F is for Field of Honor
Once again, you are challenged to a duel. Roll 1D20 to determine the actual location where the duel takes place.
1. On a coral reef at low tide while sharks cicle in the nearby lagoon.
2. Amid the vine-choked ruins of a lost temple deep in the jungle, while drums throb in the distance.
3. Atop a galley's ram as it protrudes from the side of a galleon while cannons blast overhead.
4. In the candlelit crypt beneath an ancient abbey.
5. In the middle of a court ballet during a masquerade ball.
6. On a swaying rope bridge suspended above a rushing torent.
7. Inside a church campanile as the bells peal for a requiem mass.
8. Atop a clocktower as shafts of lightning from an approaching thunderstorm illuminate the sky.
9. Hanging from the creaking sails of a slowly spinning windmill.
10. Aboard a wildly-rocking gondola drifting on the Grand Canal.
11. In the twisting alleys of a tall garden hedge-maze.
12. While racing around the Piazza del Campo during the Palio di Siena, using horsewhips and daggers.
13. Amid the canvas shrouds of a sailmaker's loft.
14. In a lantern-lit mine tunnel where gaping shafts nearby lay concealed by shadows.
15. Amid the silk carpets and satin cushions of a Turkish seraglio as the sultan's concubines make bets or throw fruit at the duelists.
16. In a dusty caravanserai, between the resting camels and their yelling, jeering drivers.
17. On the slippery, crackling ice bridge over a yawning glacial crevasse.
18. Between sulphurous hot springs and bubbling mudpots as a steaming geyser rumbles menacingly.
19. Over a half-dissected corpse in an operating theatre in the middle of a crowded surgical lecture.
20. In a tavern crowded with drunken revelers - hey, they can't all be exotic.
1. On a coral reef at low tide while sharks cicle in the nearby lagoon.
2. Amid the vine-choked ruins of a lost temple deep in the jungle, while drums throb in the distance.
3. Atop a galley's ram as it protrudes from the side of a galleon while cannons blast overhead.
4. In the candlelit crypt beneath an ancient abbey.
5. In the middle of a court ballet during a masquerade ball.
6. On a swaying rope bridge suspended above a rushing torent.
7. Inside a church campanile as the bells peal for a requiem mass.
8. Atop a clocktower as shafts of lightning from an approaching thunderstorm illuminate the sky.
9. Hanging from the creaking sails of a slowly spinning windmill.
10. Aboard a wildly-rocking gondola drifting on the Grand Canal.
11. In the twisting alleys of a tall garden hedge-maze.
12. While racing around the Piazza del Campo during the Palio di Siena, using horsewhips and daggers.
13. Amid the canvas shrouds of a sailmaker's loft.
14. In a lantern-lit mine tunnel where gaping shafts nearby lay concealed by shadows.
15. Amid the silk carpets and satin cushions of a Turkish seraglio as the sultan's concubines make bets or throw fruit at the duelists.
16. In a dusty caravanserai, between the resting camels and their yelling, jeering drivers.
17. On the slippery, crackling ice bridge over a yawning glacial crevasse.
18. Between sulphurous hot springs and bubbling mudpots as a steaming geyser rumbles menacingly.
19. Over a half-dissected corpse in an operating theatre in the middle of a crowded surgical lecture.
20. In a tavern crowded with drunken revelers - hey, they can't all be exotic.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Tossing the Gauntlet
You've been challenged to a duel. Roll 1D20 for the form in which the invitation arrives.
1. A chorale issues the challenge in the form of a madrigal sung in quintal harmony.
2. The challenge is tattooed on a piece of cured human skin.
3. The challenge is printed on broadsides which are posted in every marketplace in the city.
4. A suckling pig is served at a court banquet with the challenge on a rolled sheet of vellum sticking out of the pig's arse.
5. The challenge is sewn into a silk ribbon plaited into your lover's hair.
6. The challenge is stuck to your front door using the broken hilt of a good friend's sword.
7. The challenge is spelled out in fireworks at a court gala.
8. The challenge is carved into the oak tree outside your lover's bedroom window.
9. The challenge is inserted into the dialogue of a commedia dell'arte performance.
10. A sword is delivered in a case with the challenge engraved into the blade.
11. A silk-and-velvet doublet arrives with the challenge embroidered into the fabric.
12. An old peasant slowly drives a mule-drawn charrette around the city, with the challenge painted on a dirty sheet draped over the side of the cart.
13. The challenge is printed as the dedication in a fencing manual.
14. The challenge arrives stamped into the surface of a cannonball.
15. A painting depicting you and your challenger dueling in a well-known location appears on the wall of your lover's salon.
16. The challenge is written in blood on the steps of your parish church.
17. The challenge is painted on a long banner hanging from a hot-air balloon.
18. A ruby-lipped courtesan in a passing carriage tosses you her scarlet silk glove, with the challenge on a slip of paper inside.
19. The challenger slaps you and demands satisfaction - sometimes the old ways are best, after all.
20. Roll twice - the challenger is taking no chances that the invitation may be missed.
1. A chorale issues the challenge in the form of a madrigal sung in quintal harmony.
2. The challenge is tattooed on a piece of cured human skin.
3. The challenge is printed on broadsides which are posted in every marketplace in the city.
5. The challenge is sewn into a silk ribbon plaited into your lover's hair.
6. The challenge is stuck to your front door using the broken hilt of a good friend's sword.
7. The challenge is spelled out in fireworks at a court gala.
8. The challenge is carved into the oak tree outside your lover's bedroom window.
9. The challenge is inserted into the dialogue of a commedia dell'arte performance.
10. A sword is delivered in a case with the challenge engraved into the blade.
11. A silk-and-velvet doublet arrives with the challenge embroidered into the fabric.
12. An old peasant slowly drives a mule-drawn charrette around the city, with the challenge painted on a dirty sheet draped over the side of the cart.
13. The challenge is printed as the dedication in a fencing manual.
14. The challenge arrives stamped into the surface of a cannonball.
15. A painting depicting you and your challenger dueling in a well-known location appears on the wall of your lover's salon.
16. The challenge is written in blood on the steps of your parish church.
17. The challenge is painted on a long banner hanging from a hot-air balloon.
18. A ruby-lipped courtesan in a passing carriage tosses you her scarlet silk glove, with the challenge on a slip of paper inside.
19. The challenger slaps you and demands satisfaction - sometimes the old ways are best, after all.
20. Roll twice - the challenger is taking no chances that the invitation may be missed.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
This Field of Honor
You are challenged to a duel. Roll 1D20 to determine the actual location.
1. On a floating mill anchored in the middle of the Seine.
2. Amidst the crumbling ruins of an old church perched on the edge of an insanely high cliff.
3. In the shop and forge of a drunken smith filled with finished and unfinished swords.
4. Under the vaulted ceilings of a laird's castle armory.
5. Swinging from the bellropes of a cathedral campanile.
6. Leaping from balcony to balcony of a grand theatre on opening night.
7. Over the cracking ice of a frozen river - on skates.
8. Atop a runaway carriage hurtling down a forest road under a think canopy of low-hanging branches.
9. In a convert courtyard between washed linens hanging from a web of suspended ropes.
10. Between tubs filled with soapy water and various colors of dye in the palace laundry, surrounded by shrieking laundresses.
11. On a tilting yard high above the deck of a sinking galleon as fire licks at the magazine.
12. On a battle-scarred bastion as cannon and musketfire rages between the opposing armies.
13. During a party in the doge's garden as patricians bet on the outcome.
14. In the basket of a hot air balloon during a gale.
15. In a sappers' tunnel under a cemetery, with bones protruding from the ceiling, as a burning fuse races toward barrels of powder.
16. On the sands of an arena in the middle of a bullfight as the bull known as El Gancho de Cuerno charges into the ring to the cheers of the crowd.
17. By torchlight in a ring of menhirs on a lonely moor, as wolves howl in the distance.
18. On the wooden scaffolds and a rope-and-pulley elevator surrounding a tall church tower.
19. In a lighthouse as a storm rages and waves crash against the tower.
20. In an alchemist's basement laboratory, amid alembics filled with all manner of conconctions while powders sizzle in crucibles.
1. On a floating mill anchored in the middle of the Seine.
2. Amidst the crumbling ruins of an old church perched on the edge of an insanely high cliff.
3. In the shop and forge of a drunken smith filled with finished and unfinished swords.
4. Under the vaulted ceilings of a laird's castle armory.
5. Swinging from the bellropes of a cathedral campanile.
6. Leaping from balcony to balcony of a grand theatre on opening night.
7. Over the cracking ice of a frozen river - on skates.
8. Atop a runaway carriage hurtling down a forest road under a think canopy of low-hanging branches.
9. In a convert courtyard between washed linens hanging from a web of suspended ropes.
10. Between tubs filled with soapy water and various colors of dye in the palace laundry, surrounded by shrieking laundresses.
11. On a tilting yard high above the deck of a sinking galleon as fire licks at the magazine.
12. On a battle-scarred bastion as cannon and musketfire rages between the opposing armies.
13. During a party in the doge's garden as patricians bet on the outcome.
14. In the basket of a hot air balloon during a gale.
15. In a sappers' tunnel under a cemetery, with bones protruding from the ceiling, as a burning fuse races toward barrels of powder.
16. On the sands of an arena in the middle of a bullfight as the bull known as El Gancho de Cuerno charges into the ring to the cheers of the crowd.
17. By torchlight in a ring of menhirs on a lonely moor, as wolves howl in the distance.
18. On the wooden scaffolds and a rope-and-pulley elevator surrounding a tall church tower.
19. In a lighthouse as a storm rages and waves crash against the tower.
20. In an alchemist's basement laboratory, amid alembics filled with all manner of conconctions while powders sizzle in crucibles.
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