Allentria Duelling Code

The Allentria Duelling Code has been variously described as labyrinthine, unfair and insanely dangerous. Of course it isn't described this way in front of the Allentria as insulting the code can be construed as a challenge.

The code itself is freely available to anyone, in a handy 370 page document etched onto three foot square tablets. The Allentria offer a specialist consultation service to people affected by the code... as long as theyre a member, everyone else involved has to puzzle the bizarre legalese, obscure cross references, long rambling non-sequiturs and of course the bit which for some reason is in a hieroglyphic language seemingly made of stick insects.

The reasons for challenging someone to a duel are myriad, so with the right legal aid you can pretty much get away with challenging someone whatever the reason. Examples include a duel where a challenge was issued under the pretext that the Lasting Emotional Harm clause applied to Feng Shui and the receiver of the challenge was stood in the way of the challengers positive chi. While such a challenge would be illegal in many areas (especially within the Federation of Known Worlds, who are mostly against duelling in general]]), on worlds where the Allentria have a strong governmental presence these rules are often adopted into planetary law.

The dueling methods themselves are usually bloodless affairs, although property damage is sometimes incurred. The reason for this is that duels between Allentsi, although rare, do occur and are usually whipped up into a sort of spectator sport for members (who can request witness to a duel and, you guessed it, turning someone down without a good reason is grounds for a challenge). The receiver of the challenge gets to pick the method, however many dueling methods are only applicable in certain situations, and if the receiver does not select a valid method in about 10 minutes the challenger gets to pick. This is particularly advantageous against non members, who may not realise that they have been challenged under one of the codes more obscure ways of issuing a challenge (such as getting the receiver a certain drink).

Dueling methods include;

Trial of Artillery

The participants take artillery pieces of an agreed classification to an uninhabited planetoid, set them up and fire them, recallibrate and repeat. The first one to destroy the opponent's artillery piece wins. The advantage of this method is the hillarity of watching your opponent try to find an obselete anti-installation cannon on short notice. This is one form of duel which can be used to settle disputes involving multiple parties, with up to 6 combatants in the same system being legal.

Tumbling Sphere

The participants grapple in the centre of a hologramatic sphere in zero-G, at a signal they push apart, trying to throw their opponent into a bad position. When they leave the sphere (completely, although this is rarely actually said) they can draw and fire a small las pistol from a belt holster. Due to the low power of the weapons and the minimum range imposed by the sphere serious injuries are rare, but accidents do happen.

The Dragon Run

The participants are each required to provide a shotgun with a variant of dragons breath rounds, and are provided with a rocket powered sled. Although the sleds are not massively powerful they can get going pretty fast. The two competitiors (armoured fortunately) then race towards a predefined goal, getting rid of anything in their way with the shotguns. However, it is forbidden to directly shoot your opponent.