Holmgang
"Among the Scandinavians of the Viking Age, honor was of paramount importance, both to the individual and to the family: "honor was a kind of equilibrium which a man could not allow to he disturbed. It was intolerable if you were not on even terms with society at large; if you and your family could be spoken of with scorn. Balance and good name were restored only with successful retaliation for insult or injury" (Foote and Wilson, The Viking Achievement, 428).
This retaliation took form by way of an duel to restore the offended honor. The Vikings called the duel einvigi; literally "single combat," but the concept was developed well before the Viking Age by their Germanic ancestors, for cognates appear in Old Swedish (einvighe), Old High German (einwic), and Old English (artwig), as well as in Old Norse (B�, "H�lmganga and einvigi," 145). Einvigi was an unregulated duel, fought with any weapons, in any location and by any methods: in short, a brawl .
As Scandinavian society continued to evolve throughout the Viking Age, further mechanisms to control violence within the society were developed. Since the world-view of the pagan Norseman glorified the warrior, and promised a luxurious afterlife for those who died in battle, it followed naturally that for many the surest resolution of dispute would he by the sword. The duel of honor would remain a part of Scandinavian society, however in the West Norse areas (Norway and Iceland) a new form of duel evolved, known as h�lmgang. While the einvigi persisted to some extent side-by-side with h�lmgang, in Iceland especially einvigi became more and more rare. (At times in the later literature the two terms have become confused, using einvigi when the text's description makes it clear that h�lmgang is what was meant). The h�lmgang was still a duel of honor, fought between two men, but the h�lmgang was different from einvigi in that it was associated with specific rules or customs known as h�lmgangulog (literally, "h�lmgang-law" or "h�lmgang-rules"). The h�lmgangulog was not a single, formally codified law, as the word -log would suggest, but apparently varied from place to place, "
For the purposes of the company, the Holmgang not only resolves disputes but creates Bondi and Ravens. It is the central all important aspect of the company. Might makes right. The terms of the Holmgang are these:
1) Two combatants enter a 9 foot square area called a Holm. The Holm is to be clearly marked with rope or other markings so that the combatants clearly understand the borders of the Holm.
2) The two may choose a second to join them for the duel in specific circumstances (see below).
3) The duel is without the use of any class or class abilities. It is strictly to be a normal tournament duel.
4) There shall be NO reeve or otherwise judge to witness the event. The fight is purely on the honor of the fighters.
5) Should one of the combatants exit for whatever reason the boundaries of the Holm, they have lost and the remaining fighter is declared the winner. Whatever the issue of the Holmgang was, the victors viewpoint shall be considered the "correct" view for the entire company regardless of personal feelings to the contrary by individual players. This view shall stand without contest with the only exception being by the challenging of the second if applicable.
Seconds: In the event of an honor duel holmgang where a dispute is to be settled, or in the event of a Thrall exercising his right to choose an opponent Jarl, a second is to be chosen by the Jarl participant(s). The second is to serve as an extension of the honor of the participating Jarl(s). The second may not enter into the Holm during the actual combat at any time.
If the holmgang is a result of a dispute settlement, the defeated Jarl's second may challenge the victorious Jarl to uphold his mans honor. The challenged Jarl may either accept himself and continue the fight or must allow his chosen second to fight on his behalf against the challenging second.
If the holmgang is a petitioning duel and the petitioner has selected the Jarl he will fight, the Jarl will select a second who also must be a Jarl. If the Jarl involved in the petition duel is defeated, the chosen second will fight the petitioner again prior to the now Bondi seeking approval from the company Althing into the ranks of a Jarl. This second must also be defeated by the petitioner before he can be considered for full membership.
*Quoted from C.L. Ward's site, www.vikinganswerlady.com
Though the quoted portions are accurate it is to be noted that the rest of the site is not intended to be taken as fact.
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