This sounds a lot like joshi.

>>67213231
so it's Luchadores, mixed with honour duelling, and only for women? Kinda cool actually

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>>67213231
I like it

Sounds like takarazuka.

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>>67213231

>These characters and the stories woven about them become the stuff of legends
>Rivalries between master swordswomen and the drama of their lives both with and without the masks in the case where the madame is known
>Most provacative of all are the dark horse fighters, little known but showing skill and flair draw the hearts and imaginations of the crowd
>Many will cheer for the well known noble characters while others naturally gravitate to the unknown who makes a name for herself.

>>67213231
>Taking your mother's character
>Not creating your own and outdoing all of your mother's achievements

>>67213231
There's an anime for this called Starlight Revue, but the emphasis is stage combat.

Also, are you the guy who keeps going on about dames?

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>>67213743

I've neither heard of the first thing you've mentioned and no I'm not the lady knight poster.

This is simply been an idea floating in my head (unoriginal as it may be) for a while because I'm oddly fascinated with something that is: Romantic and vaguely spanish/french if only in window dressing only.

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>>67213231
>Wealthy, but less skilled noblewomen, or inexperienced debutantes, often have stables of body doubles, who stand in and assume their identities against formidable opponents.

>>67213743
There's not just one guy posting about lady knights, my dude.

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>The weapons wielded by these women are as varied as their dress and often as much characters they are
>The most notable of these weapons often known to be made of Willow Steel. A special alloy believed to have originated in the Lotus Lands.
>Blades of Willow Steel are known for their flexibility and ability to keep a razor sharp edge and most fighting techniques center on making use of of these qualities prizing precision and flourish over brute strength

>>67213231
"Women"
"Sword duels"
I see what you did there.

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>>67213231
>elaborate costumes
Ah, that's where you're wrong - duels between noble ladies should be topless
At the advice of a Lady ex-nurse/doctor, who'd seen too many wounds infected due to unclean cloth getting into the wound

>>67214703
Wasn't silk sometimes worn since it's less of an issue for getting in a wound?

>>67214703
I’m actually curious about OP’s opinion on this counter-suggestion

>>67214745
Silk's worn because silk is pretty great, but I do think you're right about it being less of an issue when it gets in wounds than fabrics that spit like wool and cotton

>>67213690
>Not challenging your mother to a match to take it from her by force.
>Not cutting off your mothers clothes to shame her since your destroying her identity as a fighter
>Not using your sword hilt to dominate your mother to assume the head of the household

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>>67215165
>>Not using your sword hilt to dominate your mother to assume the head of the household

Well, I guess that I should have expected something sexual...

>"End her rightly, milady!"

>>67215165
goddammit

>There's a long history of the princess overseeing the most noteworthy of these duels
>Usually declaring the winner herself
>Sometimes having a body double oversee it while she participates

>>67213231
>women acting like men
lol so innovative

>>67215965
>>67215965
>>67215965
>This kind of reply
Lol so original

>>67215965
>gynophobia
you're a real trendsetter huh

>>67213231
>The duelists have an honor code that prevents them from landing grievous injuries, while at the same time emphasizing the drama between the alter ego characters
>That's right, they have kayfabe

>>67216069
>Kayfabe
But that removes the risk, anon.

>>67216069

>>67216078

Addendum:
By that token, it is FAR less gracefully sexy, imo.

>>67216078
Only grievous injuries, such as loss of fingers/limbs and mortal wounds.

But wounds that leave a lasting mark? Or just wound sin general? AOK in the honor code. Hell, they might even be encouraged.

>>67216101
What about a duel to the Death over the affection of someone or a trade agreement/moneylending or because of a particularly brutal slight?
I mean, think about it, how else will those anonymous commoner women be able to advance themselves in status corporeally via the sport?

>>67216143
The 'death' is faked, the 'character' dies but the person behind the character just gets injured non-grievously. Besides, Masquerade Dueling is a honorable and civilized sport, it is not gladiatorial brutality.

I'd think if a masked duelist caused the actual death of another duelist, even accidentally, that'd be a mark against their honor. They are viewed as untrustworthy, or a loose cannon with no honor. And once you lose dueling creds you lose status as well, so duelists are trained to hold back on them mortal blows.

>>67216302
But do they actually win the hand of [person] or uncontested control over the financial agreement with the Bank of [x] or advance from commoner to courtier as a reward for killing off a character in such a duel?

>>67216347
Sure, that's what fame (and winning a duel) does to ye. Win a high-profile duel and raise your status, businesses see them as revenue boosters if they support a popular duelist - and thus financial agreements are favored towards the winning duelist, and the commoner can get raised to courtier status if they accumulate enough fame (and the princess/queen also endorses such vertical mobility due to her highness fancying masked dueling herself), and as a bonus they could become the elite bodyguards for the princess/queen.

tl;dr: yes on all accounts.

>>67216471
How wholesome is this activity?

>>67216489
>>67216471
This is mostly just a general sleeper question to gage information about the sport and the women involved in it. I assume the answer is “extremely”, but, one must be certain.

>>67216471
Also, is this a uniquely human activity? Or do other species/races do it? Or is this in a human-only setting and I missed that? Or is that irrelevant, in that this is even more local, and this practice is confined to this specific human country, and practiced nowhere else, even among other humans?

>>67216489
>>67216505
idk, it's like if luchadors/WWE with less testosterone but maybe about the same air of violence, and more flamboyant. Utena's duels came to mind as well. So maybe medium wholesome?

But enough on me prattling about it, who are some Masked Duelists you can think of? Both the 'stage' character and the person behind the mask, if you would.

>Big Bertha: a massive woman of commoner origins, she decided to duel for additional income when harvest season's over. Her persona is that of a brash bully in an iron mask, usually just glad being the heel since even losing such duels gets her enough additional money for the lean times. Her actual personality is caring and bubbly, so she's also using her stage persona as a means to vent as well.

>>67216747
Ooh, those are some good questions. Anyone else want to elaborate? If it were up to me, I'd say it started out as a local event in one medium-sized kingdom, but is starting to spread to nearby lands as the kingdom's diplomatic marriage network grew. Maybe if the original kingdom started making waves as a trading power, foreign duelists would start to make an entrance in the masked duels.

>>67216818
I mean, personally, I feel like the Elves, if they exist, would either spit at such activities, or would eat this shit up, depending literally on their mood, however, its source of introduction to them would be a mystery to me, since diplomacy towards them, if it’s even a thing, would be fundamentally different from that with other Human Kingdoms. As for it spreading diplomatically via marriage diplomacy, that makes logical sense, in my opinion. Say, the Archduchess of Savaria within the Human Kingdom of Midsize marries Viscount Frankie of the Viscounty of Trilenia in the neighboring Kingdom of Faroffia as a political overture, and boom, their new daughter and multiple female courtiers are now introduced to the sport.

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>>67214703

I had thought the thread dead and went to sleep but I'm surprised it's lasted this long. Since the setting involved would naturally be fantasy in origin assume fantasy physics but otherwise, yes, I'm entirely aware women who dueled in real life would do so topless or without clothing as it reduced the chance for infection.

>>67216489

As far as I imagined it'd run the gamut but it seems you all are doing a well enough job fleshing it out. So yes, it's all about the drama of the characters involved but naturally things can and do get heated so "death" as well as actual deaths do happen but I approve of how it's been laid out as outright murder is a no go.

>>67216747
>>67216918

I have this idea of a setting in the back of my head so it's primarily human so I hadn't considered the thought of women of other races participating although this does bring up a unique idea of foreign women who are willing to throw their lot into the mix

Also, I realize my folders are lacking in swordswomen and I'd like to rectify this.

>>67217317
Thread is alive and well, moreso now that you have returned.
1) I mean, fantasy physics don’t really remove the risk for infection, but at the same time, toplessness kinda messes up the costumes, so...what can you do.
2) Seems pretty neat conceptually as a sport.
3) As for foreign women, I feel like if other races were involved in the sport, it may be either a diplomatic courtesy or an outlet to escape ostracization, and may be approached in one of two angles if it’s the latter: it’s either A) another angle played up to the audience for their character, giving them an “exotic racial aspect” or B) some sort of highly policed (both by themselves and by any in-the-know duel moderators) shameful secret due to discrimination by audience members or other contenders. I could totally see the Dark Elves or the Dwarves, or even the Elves, liking this sport, and sending fighters as diplomatic reps, if only to try and prove their inherent superiority over humankind or to just be bros in the case of Dwarves. If they had states, it may even be a diplomatic gesture. Meanwhile, Races like Halflings, Half-Elves, or, assuming this is a DnD type setting, the Planetouched, would likely participate alongside other disguised “Commoners”, but suffer from being ostracized.

>>67217446
This is all, ofc, assuming that such races even exist in the setting though. If they don’t: foreign cultures sending diplomatic envoys to fight over shit like trade disputes would be hilarious.

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>>67217446
>>67217457

I'm not being hard and dogmatic about it. I'd assume such a kingdom would have a mix of races in their lot anyways if you wanted to go that route so it all works out especially the Big Bertha type character being a half-orc and/or dwarven woman if you so chose.

That said, some additional thoughts:

Such duels are a key part of the kingdom's legal system as groups, individuals, institutions, and what have you can use them as a form of resolution system if their case meets the critiera.
This is usually how Dark Horses come up in the ranks making themselves known enough to be sought out by petitioners and gaining enough wins and notarity to be able to be a household name
>From there, challenging for sport or other reasons can be a thing and fighters can declare a match whenever they choose and agree but there are also seasonal events to which they earn their way into it.
Since I'm a huge faggot for FF12 and it's aesthetics lets say you earn chops, special cuts of a magically made and treated wood that is a sign of wins and an indicator of your right to participate in events of a particular level

>>67213231
Cool. I like it.

>>67217640
Well I mean. The Legal System and Dueling Criteria in such a society could arguably be very simple, going from such things as:
Some dickhead stole your money? Have your wife duel him.
To
Single woman and another woman is gossiping about you? Duel her.
Etc.
I assume they’d have a formal guideline deciding what is severe enough to warrant a duel and which duels are to the Death and which ones aren’t, etc., though. That, or that itself would be decided by duels, if this society was particularly dependent on this. However, this begs the question of: Is this kingdom actually a Matriarchy, or do the women of it just like releasing their inner frustrations and settling disputes via chivalrous ritual combat, and the society just happens to be extremely dependent on that due to its role in resolutions of criminal cases/civil lawsuits and presumably also the economy? (as well as the ascent of commoners to petty nobility or even to the Court of the Land, as well as anonymous national fame)

>>67217972

There are and would be formal guidelines on what cases can be decided via duels and Petitioners themselves are not allowed to duel (even if the woman of one side is a duelist herself, you don't petitioner "her" you petition her character).

As far as your other question, no, the Kingdom is not a matriarchy. The Duels were a tradition that came out of a time when the country itself was part of greater empire that eventually schismed and even before then the various tribes at the time taught their women how to use weapons in case all the men were killed and some rival tribe came in to loot/pillage/rape. The introduction of the nobility and the current King's lineage was a result of the Emperor installing them to that position and creating the system of Ardents and Gentry and is and was a system that was maintained by this country after it became independent.

>>67217972
Hmm, maybe the King initially allowed it because the Queen likes it, but has since supported it officially because 1) simplifies some bureaucracy, 2) tourism/trade prestige draw, 3) lets at least some of the women to be trained in martial arts so they could be counted as levies when the kingdom comes under attack.
What do you guys think?

>>67218096
I think that is a simplified and less fluffy version of the xplanation given in:
>>67218087

>>67213231
Nice. Tell me that oil pits are involved somehow.

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>>67218138
But that’s a fire hazard, anon

>>67218138

Unfortunately no. For legal duels the stage itself is bland wooden Rectangle to allow for free and unfettered movement.

Seasonal events however can have all manner of themed stages up to and including: The deck of a ship, a banquet hall, the inside of a barn and a forested field.

>>67215965
He's right, you know. This is such a tired trend.

>>67218209
Yes, because the concept of a woman classing as a paladin, for example, is such an alien concept.
>>67218163
Do the duelists have in-character banter or is it a strictly wordless and professional affair?

>>67218218
>Do the duelists have in-character banter or is it a strictly wordless and professional affair?
Definitely yes on the banter, helps sell it more for the audience, unless you're really selling the 'duelist of few words' persona.
Imagine a trash-talking duelist getting BTFO by a silent duelist, only for a striking one-liner to be delivered afterwards by the silent one. Crowds gonna gobble it up.

>>67218163
You're right.
Oil pits are a rather expensive variation of peasant female "dueling" that is usually performed in dirt (most villages don't have a proper duelling field)

>>67218218

Of course there is banter. From two unknowns sizing each other up to rivals having epic dialogue before or during the duel.

The duelist has to really sell their character and everything plays a part from their costume to the mask to the weapon to how the character interacts with everyone else

>>67215965
and the incel of the year award goes to

>>67218218
Duel victor is determined by two parameters: fullfilling fighting victory condition, and performance (beauty of costume, fencing and of course banter).
Otherwise duelling would either be dominated by masculine sword and board meathunks and crossdressers or everyone would be forced to use the same equipment, pass gender tests and do other stuff that would have turned duels into a complete bore.

More bits:

There are many styles of swordsmanship on display as their are costumes. Generally, the most accepted forms are the following: Single blade, dual blades, blade and dagger, dual daggers, and blade and coat/cloak.

There are a number of schools as well as individual teachers who will take would be duelist and noble families will also have their own styles of swordsmenship passed down within the family along with any weapons made

To make Seasonal duels more intersting there are often secondary or hidden objectives beyond simply besting your opponent. For example, during the Summer Feast events a fairy will be let loose into the stage with a golden apple. One duelist is made to defend the fairy and her apple so she may deliver it to the queen while the other is tasked with stealing it. The conditions only being known up to the beginning of the duel or part way.

>>67218368
Yeah, I see victory conditions as being varied.
There's the aforementioned 'golden apple' and duel to the 'death'.
There is also duel to first blood, or for the faint of heart, first deflowerment. As in, both duelists gets a flower worn on the chest, and the one whose flower gets destroyed loses. Whether it's from an opponent's blade, or their own overmaneuvering.
There is also duel to the first sound. Obviously banterless, the first duelist to eep out a sound from their mouth loses.
There is also the ever-popular 'stay on the arena' modifier, where those who fell out of bounds loses. Usually combined with other victory conditions above. Rarely, there is a 'pure' out-of-bounds match, where only getting out of bounds counts as a loss. The 'bounds' could be anything from a fighting ring, to a piece of suspended log.

>>67218368
Would there be any Houses strictly declared to dueling or, due to the nature of the masquerade, at least known for their output of famous characters?

>>67218526
*dedicated
Not declared, why did I type declared, wtf

on a rather sad note, this thread may be declining

>>67218866
Then post notable Masked Duelists, anon.

>Black Widow: A duelist who picked up the sword after her noble husband died to a plague. Dressed in black mourning clothes and a stark white mask, her rapier is methodical and precise, so much so for a lady her age. She donates her winnings to a local orphanage who takes in children whose parents died in plagues.

>>67213231
>>67213377
That does sound kinda cool, actually. It's equal parts honor dueling and drama theater.

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>>67219291

>>67219372
We should literally just start replying with fem!duelist pics to keep thread alive, if that is what it takes

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Interesting ideas, OP. I like it. Have some duelists.

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>>67219419

>>67219291
>The Happy Harlequin: A common stock character in many summertime story-based duels, the Happy Harlequin is generally played by a short, slim, highly agile young woman dressed in bright motley attire and wearing a funny festival mask.

>Her weaponry is most commonly a pair of daggers or a dagger and cloak combination, and her fighting style is acrobatic, seeking to hassle, harry and evade her opponents in a teasing fashion, and always includes slight of hand tricks and minor magical pranks used to comic effect that would otherwise be considered illegal in other serious duels.

>Happy Harlequin duels are considered to be the most "family friendly" and are never fought to the death.

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>>67219436

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>>67219455

>>67218526

None that are purely dedicated to it as not all women find interest in picking up the blade and the mask. That said, women of the kingdom who can and do have the means to learn often take lessons or learn from their mothers and fathers how to fence if only to maintain their figures as it's still a means of exercise in the same way a man would go hunting or some such.

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>>67219467

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>>67219483

>>67219469
Alright. Given this is a hereditary monarchy and this activity seems to be all the rage, I have to ask:
Does the Queen/Queen-Consort herself have a character and pick up the sword every now and then, or is she too important/reserved/timid/aged/busy to do so?

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>>67219487

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>>67219501

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>>67219506

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>>67213231
>>67216818
That's crazy good A Hat In Time fanart

Where's the money to fund all this come from? Upper class participants, sure, they have money in pocket to carry this out, even challenge their opponents, "1000 gold says my opponent is a no show and a coward!" but are there other avenues to sustain this, especially for working or lower class participants?
Are the duels organized like a private event or a pay-per-view you need to buy entry to, or even just a front row view? Do the duelists have agents in the crowd hawking merchandise or memorabilia or toys? Does the winner take the weapon of their defeated foe, or an item or a piece of their clothing as a trophy? Is it all just run for free, for the entertainment of the people and fame on top?

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>>67219519

>>67219491

Yes. The current queen of Kingdom in setting has had a character and competed in the past. It was how she gained station enough to be courted by the current king who had learned her identity because she was a bit of vigilante on the side.

She would retire her character in a dramatic fashion with the aide of her rival with several fireworks to mark her own firey "death" after being ran through with left the one scar she is quite proud to bare in secert.

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>>67219535

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>>67219553

>>67219291


>Turtledove
>A long-standing mask worn by an ancient noble family, often incorporating illusion magic that the family is known for - only for making a fancier entrance, or for show matches.
>The mask outfit is variable over the years that the persona has been used, but is often a light grey with white accents. The main colour comes from an asymmetrical cape, short on the right to long on the left, which is patterned after the eponymous bird and is used in the Turtledove's style.
>The long-standing Turtledove entrance is illusory doves and rose petals, both carried on a scented breeze that blows around the arena.
>Long seen as one of the more 'refined' masks, Turtledove does have a certain popularity among poorer fans who see her as a dream to aspire to.

>>67219291
>The Masked Knight. Stock character whose costume reminds one of a lighter, decorative version of plate armour, including a metal helmet. Always tall and physically impressive, often silent, it's a type of character prized by women who have more strength and technique than beauty. A Masked Knight should, of course, always be honorable and chivalric. For any Masked Knight character, there'll always be rumors that the duellist is secretely a man.

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>>67219566

>>67219491

I imagine she probably shouldn't, and may even be banned from participating, but who knows who is under the painted mask of the Briar Blade? Or the the gold trim Cape of the August Courtisan?

>>67219291
>The Hornet. A villain character, known for her use of trickery and "poison", and a black rapier named Sting. Her fighting style is quick, precise and brutal, seemingly aiming to finish the fight as fast as possible. Of course she always seems to lose in rematches against plucky underdogs and brave heroines getting their revenge. Has a very characteristic, smug laughter.
Her costume is all black with gold accents in very thin stripes and spiky motifs, and a sheer cape styled like the wings of a hornet.

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>>67219625

>>67219659
OP has spoken:
Apparently she did, but has now retired, due to her regal duties and being defeated in a staged fight, after her husband discovered her identity prior to their marriage.
This is a roughly paraphrased summary of information according to:
>>67219543

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>>67219708

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>>67219741

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>>67219764

>>67219741
Is that actually supposed to be female, or elf?

>>67213231
The lenghts we go to justify playing waifus.

>>67219794
I should have read the file name...

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>>67219782

>>67213231
Okay, but what about when they die?

>>67219803
Is this shittalking or a harmless joke?

>>67213231
I see no reason to make it women only. Just have it so women fight women and men fight men. And make it half stage play.

Wrestling. What i'm saying is, make it wrestling. But with swords. Clerics can be on hand to prevent accidental death.

>>67219818
He already said, the characters can be passed on, and such. Also, duels to the death are arranged, and sometimes deaths are staged so only the character dies, not the duelist herself, but other times it’s genuine. (I think?)

>>67219526
Money-wise I think it could be some kind of trust fund from the Queen. Maybe even institutionalized between nobles. Don't forget the businessmen who endorse duelists in exchange for allowing the use of their persona in their products (Smith your blades at Brennan's, where the Elegant Hawk gets her blades! Get your fineries at Harlan & Family, personal tailor to Fancy Dancer! etc etc) could invest in one such institution, or even directly paying their endorsed duelists.
As for the dueling events themselves, it could vary. There's the elite and royal events where it's pay per view and held in halls and specially-made stadiums, there's also the 'countryside' types where the village hosts a duel alongside a festival and the arena is usually quickly made, hell, there could be a 'flash mob' type of duel more common in urban squares where two duelists would 'happen upon each other' on a public square and have a makeshift duel. The latter mostly used for promotions etc, with help from the city guards to corral the audience and fans to a safe ring distance.
Memorabilia, toys etc could very well be done by enterprising businessmen, official or otherwise. From flash street vendors who make toys that look like duelists and sell them outside 'countryside' duels, to organized businesses making special merchandise.
Of course, some of the duelists themselves care not for the money, they do it to entertain. As an added effect these duels have a 'bread and circus' effect to the masses, so less disgruntled peasants with nothing to do raising a rebellion and more peasants thinking this could be a way to gaining a better status.

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>>67219814
Continuing the thread even if anon can’t rn

>>67213231
>women's sport

fucking lol, nobody takes their world cup seriously so who'd give a shit

>>67219844
The bread and circus part rings very true. You'd likely get champions standing up for different groups. For the poor as a whole, or for any other downtrodden group, ruined farmers, orphans, refugees. You might even get Religious duelists, who challenge those who flagrantly disregard the teachings of the gods, or Robin Hood types (with haughty, tax-collector persona heels).

>>67220161
Go back to your containment threads/board with this subpar bait, and led us have our fun with this hypothetical. Stop sucking the joy out of everything with your hatred of women deflected into the belief everyone else is supposedly fetishizing them.

>>67220161
>>67220180
*let

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>>67220106

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>>67220241

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>>67220319

>>67220164

The thought crossed my mind. The kingdom isn't despotic or dystopian or anything but there are bound to be people in hard luck and hard places and all that like in real life.

That said, being a duelist allows for a number of things with social and financial mobility being one of them. It allows people to champion a cause or act and be in such a way that would normally be frowned upon in society. The villian characters are loved because they have hero characters and some duelist wear their causes and desires on their sleeves more than others.

The whole point of it is it's a way for people to let out the steam, have fun and, from a game standpoint, be a neat character background that can be incorporated into nearly any setting.

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>>67220329

>>67220161
have sex

>>67220456
This

>>67219444
Retreading my post makes me think and wonder how widespread and organized these duels are. I’d imagined that the duels would be very widespread, and would be a part of most festivals large and well-funded enough to host them. Is this the case, or is it more of a centralized affair in the capital?

>>67216078
Not exactly. Kayfabe also means that if your opponent breaks the rules and attacks you with full lethal intent, the show must go on. Your opponent wjll likely be banished or punished after, but in the meantime you have to keep up your character even if it means your life.

This has happened multiple times in pro wrestling.

>>67220632

There is also drama that happens outside of actual duels as well. After all, such clash of personalities as well as different groups who participate in them so common things like "A commoner like you could never share the stage with someone like me!" exists as well as genuinely bad actors.

Imagine the drama where you are made to throw a fight because your husband has a blade to his throat and such.

>>67214703
>Censoring historical paintings
Just nuke this site already

>>67213231
This all sounds cool, but what system would you use for fast paced duels like this? It needs to habe enough technicality to have interest but not be a Runequest-like GURPSian simulation nightmare

>>67220718
On one hand, this
>>67220687
On the other hand, very interesting concepts.

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>>67220340
Not necessarily a duelist, but at least this one has a mask

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>>67221505

The alternative was this image, which I think is far too photo realistic and unfitting for such a thread. And also probably came from some advertising site.
Bleh(?)

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>>67221524
In the meantime, have some eye bleach

>>67220811
Have you actually tried GURPS swordfighting?
It goes like this: step, roll to hit, optional step, roll to parry/block/dodge, reverse roles.
Modifiers change very little during the fight, you simply roll under skill and your action succeeds.
It's basically no different from D&D, other than your AC being variable.

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>>67213231

>>67217446
> I mean, fantasy physics don’t really remove the risk for infection, but at the same time, toplessness kinda messes up the costumes, so...what can you do.
You could honestly make a thing of it. Maybe costumes feature really ornate masks and pants/leggings and combat oriented skirts and dresses. Fantasy races or 'strange' cultures could tattoo their women. Patterns and animals/monsters that look good in movement.
Or just more exposed than on average for the time period tops. Its a bit more risque and most time periods with fencing were farely modest so it might be an outlet for the depraved to expend money on.

The exposed torso also gives a bit more visceral danger to it. If you hit your opponent everyone will see it. Also the trash talk involved would make it worth it.
>"Wow, I didn't think I'd manage to hit you. You're such a small target."
>"Must be hard to keep your balance with those things working against you."

> Seems pretty neat conceptually as a sport.
I could see it as quite the spectacle, death being a very unfortunate accident.

>3)
Would certain races be banned from the practice? Any supernatural abilities seen as cheating? Or just more spectacle?

>>67221753
I mean, I can imagine inherently magical beings being banned from it. I mean, for example, Why would a Nymph even want to practice fencing, unless it was the historically accurate kind giving her an excuse to show off her tits?

>>67221784
>>67221753
Which, if such a thing occurred, would likely enthrall the audience...into something BESIDES the sport. Which is Bad for both the contestants besides that duelist and for the sport making money.

>>67221795
>>67221795
*bad
case insensitivity is a bitch

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>>67221585

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>>67221820
I call this next one:
“Bland, but summary”

>>67215965
This. This anon is actually right.

>>67221858
>this anon is actually right
This anon keeps coming back every few hours to repost his comically misunderstanding opinion.

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>>67221858
>Absolutely
>S E E T H I N G
(About the concept of women doing anything remotely similar to men)

I think some other anons brought this up but it just dawned on me. There would be a lucrative business of body doubles especially for nobles who compete. After all you are in "disguise" so it makes sense to have someone who can pass as you near by so you can be in two places at once.

Also usefull if you are a vigilante crime fighter but imagine the sort of drama that could be involved if your double lives your life more than you do or is more romantically involved in your lovelife then you are

>>67221922
What kind of lovelife drama would this create?

>>67221935

You have an important date but it also happens to coincide with your duel so your body double goes on the date in your stead. The body double falls in love with your date.

>>67213231
this is an excellent idea

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I had forgotten about the Guild Wars mesmers, thanks >>67221585 for reminding me.

>>67221957
Well shit. What happens then? Do you have to dom your body double to regain control of the situation? Let your body double steal your man? Awkwardly take your lover back? Some combination of the above, depending on the noblewoman?

>>67221974

Yes.

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>>67221973

>>67221990
E p i c

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>>67221994
Also worth looking up would be pictures of Julie d'Aubigny/la Maupin, patron saint of dashing female duellists.

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>>67222030

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this is a fighter, not so much a certified flamboyant duelist, but I believe she can still be used to bump the thread just this once.

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>>67222057
Also friendly reminder, the longer this thread exists, the longer the naysayers remain:

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>>67222048

>>67221957
Consider the following: the whole conceit about the Masquerade duel is that no one is supposed to know who you are even if most identifies are an open secret.

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>>67222129
Found a duelist lady sourced from this very board
Unfortunately, aesthetic is kinda Weeb. Oh well, I have others, fortunately, Incase that isn’t y’all cup of tea.

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>>67222153
Like this Elf one, which I don’t think has been posted by other anon yet

>>67222152

Indeed. Non nobles don't have to worry about it as much but it's also expected that if you're going to go out of your way you might as well make the effort to keep up appearnces. It's part of the fun and drama of it afterall.

>>67213231
Why women you cuck? Who let's their daughter hold a sword?

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>>67222152
this may very well be true, and could likely even play a weird fucked yo role in politics
OP, please elaborate >>67221957

And have a white hair girl with sword

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Idea: It is customary that when a noblewoman is married, her groom's family gifts her with a blade as a dowry, even if she's not a duellist herself. The fancier the better, of course. This blade serves as some sort of testament of her new family's ability to protect her (or help her protect herself). Family blades are usually inherited from mother to daughter, though, so some dowry blades might never see any use, hanging proudly over the chimney, or they might be given to younger daughters, or sons, when they come of age.

I dunno. Jacques d’Arc? Are you an actual moron?

>>67222192
I dunno, maybe like, any sane monarch with only female heirs? Or Jacques d’Arc? Have you ever studied history? Or noble succession laws? Or anything, retard?

>>67222197

The Gentry of the kingdom form the political/military body of the kingdom and also is the pool from which marriages into the royal family are drawn from

>>67221922
Also, checked.
Almost forgot.

>>67222255
>have an entire martial tradition focused around females for some reason
>y is this tho
>have you even read succession laws bro

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>>67222197
This duelist Lady exudes an aura if smug confidence I find both amusing and also strangely charming
>>67222267
>>67222129
Thoughts, OP and master of duelist lady pics, respectively?

>>67222360
If you fucking read the thread, you’d understand why this is the case. It’s a fantasy setting. Why does it have to make sense? It’s not even actually a matriarchy, it’s just women dueling each other for sport and advancement of personal status, and said experienced duelists doubling as career soldiers.

>>67222267
>>67220580
OP, is this dramatized dueling something done exclusively by the nobility and those aspiring to nobility, or would there be “semi-pro” leagues of duelists that perform the faire and festival circuit and the like?

>>67222382
>>67222360
And as for the reason why it’s the case:
OP literally explained it. Just scroll up and read.

>>67222365
That smugness is great. Into the folder she goes.

>>67222382
>and said experienced duelists doubling as career soldiers
and then you went full retard.

>hurr durr olympic sport shooters should be navy seals

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>>67222129

>>67220718
What is a blue board?

>>67222382
>career duelists make career soldiers
Lol no. That's not how that works. Whenever Rome deployed Gladiators into the field they got slaughtered. That's because they are trained as show fighters, not real soldiers. No school duelist is gonna last long in a line of battle.

>>67222470
Not my wording, it’s OP’s. Also, Knights were Nobles who engaged in duels for sport and were part of a peerage that served as warriors. Explain the difference, besides that Knights were men.

Oh wait, you can’t, without invoking ‘muh realism, which doesn’t work, as this is fantasy, and women adventurers have and always will exist.

>>67214745
>>67215118
silk is also not nearly as absorbant as cloth and wool. It actually makes a wonderful bandage.

>>67222494
>Fictional Setting
>Nobles extensively trained with fuck huge amounts of money
You’d think you’d be smarter than this

>>67222488
adcuck,
you are the cancer that ruined this site

>>67222383

Both. Villages and cities would naturally have their own duelist local to them. I brought up before that advancing in rank within consists of winning chops so if you're looking to get into the big leagues

>>67222488
What is a historical topic.
Fuck they don't even censor this shit on US tv or in print.

>>67222518
>trained with large amounts of money
In how to fight with pretty weapons under strict dueling rules yes. That's not going to translate well on a battlefield where nobody fights clean or fairly. A dueling ring is not a battlefield

>>67216069
>Some of the most beloved tales originate with a young upstart being scarred upon her face and seeking revenge upon the unscrupulous but skilled opponent who scarred her
>Noble women without at least a small scar are often ridiculed as cowardly
>Younger women will sometimes intentionally try and create "attractive" scars in order to win respect without risking marring their own beauty, much to the annoyance of physicians the kingdom over

>>67222538
>Knights
>Weren’t also Nobles given rich people training
“Aha yes, but, uhm, it wasn’t focused on dueling” despite the fact that in a logical scenario, if they were also the soldier class and operated as vigilantes, they'd be trained as warriors and also know how to deal with criminals or insurgents?

>>67222535
Based Anon

>>67222572
Knights were taught how to fight in battlefield style you absolute autist. In lance charges and longswords and the melee. Not unarmored rapier combat under strict rules.
What you are trying to do is
>we want them to be excellent duelists
But we also want
>them to be great actual soldiers
Anon these combat styles are antithetical. Fucking fencing isn't gonna help you when some 300 lb motherfucker with a flail comes at you in full plate

>>67221784
Could be a myriad of interesting reasons. It wouldn't be a normal thing mind you.

But a nymph may like the attention, using it to encourage environmental protection. She gets a cavalcade of foresters as her entourage and perhaps even makes a house of import that now represents nature's political interest.
Maybe she just finds the sport fascinating. Sort of a humanizing trait for a character.

I could see a sucubus who does it to garner magical energy from the unrequited ardor of her fans. Her gimmick could be actually wearing a lot of concealing clothes, but through inhuman grace narrowly allows the opponents blade to slowly tear through it. Her fans make the joke that like goku, when shirtless her power level increases.

There's not many fantasy creatures (that are at least somewhat humanoid) that I couldn't come up with a character to be interested in fencing.

>>67221795
I mean would it? She draws a crowd every time, her opponent has a harder time focusing sort of like a hypnosis style fight. You could make a series out the different fights.

>>67222532
Thanks, I’d missed that earlier on.

>>67215965
Men traditionally fight as themselves so they can acquire fame for themselves, not a character that they play. Men are egotistical in this manner.

>>67222602
>Ignoring my point
You can be trained in multiple fighting styles at once, troglodyte.

>>67221973
Mesmers are the dopest shit

>>67222615
Fucking Based

Also, Inb4 the /pol/lution accuse US of seething, despite trying to ruin our thread with their own.

>>67222624
Oh so in that case you naturally qould be inferior to an actual person who trained exclusively in either one. So now you have a "soldier" class who are not only already weaker then male enemies, but also inferior to actual duelists and trained soldiers.

>>67222646
Wtf
This is your brain on sexism and disbelief in the concept of multitasking and learning different subjects. And don’t claim a combat discipline is any different, as both men and women can be equally proficient in numerous forms of martial arts, for example.

>>67222604
High elves is the fantasy race that comes the most to mind, to me. They'd be very smug and trying to outdo the humans at every occasion.
I could see gnome duellists too, more attracted by the showmanship, and using minor illusions to make fabulous entrances and visual effects.
And... changelings, maybe? At the very least they'd have easy careers as body doubles.

they still have -4 str tho
i cant see it being popular, its level of competition would be like middle schoolers fighting

>>67222679
Based Retard

>>67222673
>disbelief in the concept of multitasking
Dude if you split your focus between two disciplines you are going to be inferior to a specialist in both of them.
If someone trains 50% in Karate and 50% in Shootfighting he is gonna be worse at karate then a guy who trained 100% in it.

>>67222696
Tell that to people who are black belts in both karate and judo. Which are not the same thing.

>>67222711
How does them having a black belt in both help your case? That just means that they are very good at both. It doesn't mean they would beat a specialist fighter in either of those disciplines

>>67222687
i surely am based :)
now educate yourself incel

>>67222719
Look, lemme put it this way:
According to your logic, a soldier should not be able to defend himself with anything besides weapons he was trained to use, as the armed assailant is more proficient in the use of a kitchen knife.

>>67222721
Go back to your containment board, *actual* Incel.

>>67222746
no you

>>67222721
Your unironic clinging to the “muh upper body strength” argument is the embodiment of cringe and a sign of actual inceldom.

>>67222733
>According to your logic, a soldier should not be able to defend himself with anything besides weapons he was trained to use, as the armed assailant is more proficient in the use of a kitchen knife.
What a ludicrous strongman.
No what I'm arguing is that you cannot just split your focus between multiple disciplines without at some point there being a cost in how good you are at each one. You cannot reasonably be God-tier duelist, God-tier soldier, God-tier pit fighter, and God-tier Showman all at the same time anon. A jack of all trades is a master of none

>>67222763
*strawman

>>67222762
have sex

>>67222763
It’s Strawman, Anon.
And no, that wasn’t that. That was pointing out how retarded you are. Those are two different things. Keep seething, let us enjoy our thread about a fictional universe.

>>67222762
>women are just as strong as men!!!!
Lol

>>67222780
You first, Virgin.

>>67222792
>That was pointing out how retarded you are.
What a high IQ response from a onions gurgling retard

Never feed the trolls.

>>67222794
Try to bend the same way women do, cuck.
See what happens. See how many things get dislocated. Oh wait, there’s something called “flexibility training”. Guess what? They have the same thing for core strength too, dipshit.

>>67222821
>>67222821
What a high IQ response from someone who is obviously themself a troll. This thread has been derailed. Mission accomplished. We can never have nice things.

>>67222823
>core strength
Neato! Put the womens arm wrestling champion vs the male and see what happens :)
Or a womens football team
Or any sport that requires physical power

>>67222821
too late, uneducated idiot was the one who made this thread and now it has 206 posts

>>67222836
Unironically kill yourself if you believe in this legit MRA trash of “men beat women 100% of the time, deal with it cuck”.

>>67222679
The popularity doesn't come from the performance aspects of it you stupid ninny, it comes from the style and the drama. Why do you think people watch professional wrestling? People that want to watch pure, skilled violence have no need to pay tickets. Simply go down to the slums, among the uneducated peons of the city, and watch as men fight and kill men for any reason imaginable.

>>67222853
>cuck
You unironically think that women are as physically strong as men lol
Explain why rape is so easy then

>>67222838
Fucking off yourself, you and your cancer have ruined this board and this site. Can’t you just IGNORE shit you don’t agree with? Does it really bother you so much that something you dislike exists? You complain so much about people shutting down your dissenting opinion, but God forbid something conflict with your ass backwards worldview.

>>67222894
>ass backwards
>pointing out that women are less powerful then men is ass backwards
Kys Commie cuck

>>67222881
That implies you even believe it’s easy and not that it’s either a myth or only perpetrated by “Ahmeds”

>>67222894
>your ass backwards worldview.

>>67222907
You first, waste of air who believes it is necessary to insert real life logic into a FUCKING FANTASY WORLD.

>>67222914
A man raping a woman is far easier then the reverse. Can you explain why this is?
Physical differences clearly.

>>67222929
>real life logic
My wife's boyfriend agrees with you!
Who needs logic or sense!

>>67222930
Never denied that human sexual dimorphism exists. Just it’s extremely over exaggerated.

>>67222929
im getting mixed messages
so are women as strong as men irl or are they not?
why are you so against real life logic (or just logic as i like to call it :)) in FUCKING FANTASY WORLDS

>>67222950
Go. Back. To. /pol/. Anon.

>>67222929
Honestly, this was a perfectly workable and relatively realistic scenario until someone suggested using spectacle duelists as soldiers.

I still like the concept of flamboyant women in frilly dresses dueling for honor. Especially considering that duels among women happened in the real world.

>>67222961
Because why in the name of all that is holy does logic apply in a world where magic exists and where a bunch of weird fantasy races are wandering around? Does that seem “logical” to you?

>>67222979
>Honestly, this was a perfectly workable and relatively realistic scenario until someone suggested using spectacle duelists as soldiers.
i too agree with it
>>67222956
>Just it’s extremely over exaggerated.
if only you ever touched a woman...

>>67222979
Blame OP for that, not me. Personally, I was skeptical of it myself. But no, I am ofc the “omg normie commie liberal white knight cuck” for attempting to defend women.
Fuck life.

>>67222993
for me, fantasy worlds should start with unrealistic premise taken to its logical conclusion
so orcs and dragons - yay
dumb shit like sending your weak breeders to fight - nay

>>67223036
>dumb shit like sending your weak breeders to fight - nay
You do realize we have—not even going to fucking bother

>>67223016
>defending women
>implying women need defending
That sounds awfully sexist of you anon

>>67223057
Bold of you to assume I’m an SJW and buy into that kind of circular reasoning. Nope, just a decent human being. Try again.

>>67223082
A decent human being who defends women because they are incapable of self defense :)

>>67223096
no need for that :), unironically you are completely right
tho pretending that they are anywhere close to men in physical ability is pure retardation and the opposite of defending them

Can we stop arguing and start posting content that forwards the actual premise of the thread?

>The Ogre of Ortand is a mountain of a woman, uncommonly tall and beefy of build who favors heavily layered garments with rough-torn edges and an ugly ogre mask with a tear at the corner of one eye as her costume. Her fighting style is aggressive and brutish, and if not the villain of the duel she is at least the antihero. Her character’s story claims that she is a monster from the mountains that fights because no one could ever love her, though this persona and the power with which she duels means that she has no shortage of real life admirers outside of the arena.

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>>67219291
>Dame of Green Abbey
>cloaked in habit, the Dame of Green Abbey is a character who is sponsored by the local basilica
>viewers speculate as to whether the local abbess is behind the character, or if the character is even a nun at all
>she wears a blank, expressionless mask painted green, without flourishments
>her signature weapon is the quarterstaff, though unarmed bouts are common when she is dueling, due to often disarming her opponents

>>67223177
This.

>Pirate Queen Rosaria Del Mar is a fiery redhead adorned in a sea captain’s finery whose lower face is covered by scarlet bandanna, allowing her to stare down her foes unafraid. Her weaponry consists of a sword and dagger, and her fighting style combines plentiful use of feints and misdirections to keep her opponents off balance. Although seemingly beautiful and undeniably skilled, her somewhat “unheroic” fighting style and apparent valuation of payment over pageantry hasn’t made her one of the most popular duelists.

>>67223016

I was willing to sit this out but this is ridiculous. I said some of them moon light as vigilantes. I hadn't even said anything about the kingdom's military that's you fucktards making shit up for this point.

>>67213231
Do they have the option to have hype men talk them up before the duel? I'm imagining a Randy Savage style guy talking up how much his lady is about to hand some upstart her ass. OH YEAH!

>The pard, a woman in a black leather bodysuit and a bestial mask know for her pouncing and cat like movements. Has claws in her suit to fight.
What are we calling the sport anyway?

It seems unrealistic that a peasant duelist could theoretically challenge a queen/ princess. Peasants spend like 3/4 of every day working fields, churning butter (CHURN DOWN FOR WHAT?!) making clothes, mending clothes, preserving foodstuffs, blah blah blah day to day stuff and any money earned would go to replenishing supplies and tools, not dueling training/ mask/ sword.

...Maybe they could pool their money and sponsor/ hire someone to represent them?

>>67219291
>Sir Bernard: A duelist who's mask includes an elaborate fake beard. The mask and costume often change to ridicule whatever male public figure has recently become the target of gossip. Despite being a prolific fighter "Sir Bernard" rarely wins, often playing the foil in less serious "warm up" duels in larger events.
>DC 10(or setting equivalent) Rumor: Rumor has it that Sir Bernard is not a single duelist, but several women who take turns donning the mask.
>DC 15 Rumor: Several deaths have been attributed to a vigilante wearing a mask reminiscent of Sir Bernard's

>>67223776
I think the idea is that any “peasant duelist” would have theoretically worked her way up the ranking system from amateur village faire fighter, to semi-pro regional festival duelist, to professional national competitor, earning fame and fortune along the way.

So are the duels purely for show, or do they actually settle conflicts?
Is there betting?
Who regulates things to avoid fixed fights?

guys my peepee is hard

>>67222568
I feel like there would be a special taboo about not creating facial scars. Scars elsewhere can be concealed, but a scar on the face is tantamount to "unmasking" the duelist/luchadore.

The sort of thing only villains do.

>>67223836
If it were me, I'd have it set that they originated as honor duels for settling conflicts but as they became more of a spectacle, the conflicts became as much pageantry as the duels themselves.
Betting is common, but unofficial.
"Regulation" duels are set up and organized by venues and several private organizers. Most duels are agreed upon by the duelists themselves, however, and rumors constantly fly about fixed fights, but it's considered part of the show at this point.

>>67223918
>>67223836
Not the OP, but I feel like this is the case. Originally the duels were meant to settle disputes in a noble and ladylike fashion, but the drama and pageantry of the affairs soon eclipsed any actual justice they were meant to dispense with.

>>67223855
>>67223985
I kinda like the idea that now duels to actually settle conflict do still happen.
But those are secret now.
Dark, quite, and quick. Masks not of characters, but of anonymity. The only witnesses the seconds.

>The kitsune, a woman from the east who uses a katana and wears a festival fox mask
>the stranger, a heel who takes the form of a undead with a emotionless mask carries a heavy ax
>the blind archer, a robin hoodesque character with a blindfold
>Red moon, a especially flamboyant heel with a devil theme

>>67213231
The Brap Queen
She is morbidly obese and eats liver and onions before each duel

>>67223985

Correction. They are still used as a means of settling legal disputes. This is how most up and comers get their start.

It's starting to come together with other suggestions brought on by fellow anons but the sequence is something like this:

1. Way back when before the kingdom was fully established various tribes existed and regularly fought and attacked each other, women were taught to defend themselves and the home while men were away fighting/hunting/etc
2. When the kingdom was formed during the imperial age and what tribes willingly followed the emperor were favored and granted status as Gentry under the imperial system which would form the monarchy to follow
3. swordswomen were still a thing although women were not and do no serve in the army, however, over time the practice dueling came to be a local custom of resolving issues and eventually codified into a legal framework.
4. Add potential duelists going out of their way to market themselves even demostrating their skills against one another would form the traditions that would form in the present.

>>67213231
So is women dueling like Luchadore wrestling where cutting off the opponent's mask forces them to retire? Do they also have outspoken, larger than life personalities that they assume once the mask goes on?

>>67223985
This is how I would do it.

The big flashy everyone are more about prestige, than honor.

If it were a legal for of arbitration,I would keep it rare. If the matter was really important, you'd hire a male duelist, instead of leaving it to a female luchadore.

>>67224050
Yeah. I think it definitely makes the masks and their continued usage make more sense.

If it were strictly legal to do this sort of thing you wouldn't need the anonymity.

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>>67213231
>>67215423
Azurite?

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>>67225589

>>67219291
>The velvet sledgehammer. A foreign girl who despite her youth is significantly taller and bigger than most. Some of that size is admittedly chub, but more than enough is muscle. She's admittedly middling at best with a blade, but her friendly temperament
and habit of powering through wounds that would put other fighters on their knees made her a favorite of the small folk. No matter how bloodied, she'll always haul herself to her feet and ask for seconds.

>>67222267
>The Gentry of the kingdom form the political/military body of the kingdom and also is the pool from which marriages into the royal family are drawn from
>>67223596
No offense, but, this is what gave me that impression.

>>67222365

>>67223710
This sounds epic

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>>67226692
More Mesmer
Even though psionic illusionism and whatnot likely wouldn’t be involved in these duels

>>67213231
Do they have to be mothers first to participate?
or do whole lineages die out because the primary childrearers aren't willing to spend a year making a baby before stabbing each-other to death?

That said it sounds like a totally fun setting.

>>67228236
Something I actually am kind of curious about.

>>67228236

No, because duels (legal or tournament wise) arn't to the death. It's a way for a woman to try her hand at becoming a duelist and earning some money but also a chance to rise in social status if they dedicate themselves to going beyond being a duelist in their home city/village.

Think of ametuer wrestlers who then go on to become stars in WWE and such

>>67228561
OP, may I also ask what this Setting is being run in?

>>67228561
>>67228643
Or is that TBD?

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>>67227172

>>67228643
>>67228661

It's not really meant to be a setting by itself. it's just a feature of a place I've been casually thinking up for a setting that I may never actually wind up putting to use.

>>67228898
Ah. Does this placeveven have a name yet?

>>67228928
>>67228898
(The Kingdom where all this feminine masquerade dueling is primarily happening and where it originated, I mean.)

>>67228928
>>67228944


No. In my head this kingdom is an almalgam of spanish/french origins and that's as far as i've got

>>67228991
I can definitely imagine it as an Iberian Peninsular styled kingdom, given everything that's been discussed.

>>67228991
Well then that provides an easy and perfect idea for a rival human nation who also take up the sport for a novelty purpose but also put their own spin on it:
“Discount England”.

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Mind if I steal this idea, OP? I really like it.

>>67229139

What am i going to do? Call the Police? The fact that people want to steal the idea is flattering.

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>>67228755

>>67229039
Better yet, the “discount English” and their own leadership, nobles, etc. may take it up as a genuine method to try and show up this culture of the French and Spanish-influenced nature.

>>67229032
>>67229039

For myself I have a few countries that comprise the "Old World" which are naught but amalgams of various european countries: The Island Nation of McMahl which is a theocratic kingdom dedicated to their founding goddess and queen Aiona McMahl who drove away a great pestilience and the cults that formed around it, A nordic type country who's national animal is a breed of mountain lions who's skin is as hard as rock, a Russian/slavic country near the mountains of this nation that is famous for it's numerous natural hotsprings and the germanic empire that had originally conquered all but the island nation which formed their present day identities before splitting apart. and some greek flavored country that has contact with my !asian and has a form of greco-buddhism abound with warrior philosopher/scholars.

>>67229190
This makes me curious as to how "Discounteny" will approach dueling. France and Spain are often portrayed as romantic nations, and I think we can see that in the pageantry and melodrama of their dueling.

What makes our rival nation's dueling uniquely theirs? An increased focus on technical skill and ceremony? Historical influences? Solemn pomp and seriousness? I'm very curious about this.

>>67229254
Probably should name “Spain-France” Francisca or something. That or name it something original that reflects its culture of dueling. Unsure.

Also, on a sidenote, no Italy-type country in a state of Renaissance?

>>67229302
Think about how obsessed Anglos were and still are with fancy titles and peerages, and with chivalry and stoicism. Try to syncretizs that that with this sport and see the resulting chaos.

>>67229314
When you put it that way, I can imagine that they would be much more serious and ceremonial with their dueling, and most definitely would NOT wear masks or assume fanciful characters. They are there to represent their families and their esteemed heritage, not to prance about performing for others' entertainment.

>>67229314
>>67229302
Or, alternatively, think of the weird hybrid thing that could be created, where it’s super played up, and they try to seem so much more “honorable” during these duels and act all unfazed by the pageantry and fantasticalism.

>>67229341
True. Or they could wear plate armor, and I’d say they could actually have male champions, but OP said they follow a Goddess who was once a Queen, meaning they seemingly worship Not!Britannia, so I assume they’d still all be female...I guess they just send their female Paladins to own the Frenchies in actual fights?

>>67229341
>>67229346
Thinking more, it can still emphasize ceremony, history and technical skill without the solemnity. They could be boastfully rattling off the names of their illustrious dueling ancestors and proclaiming their own martial might.

I'm also imagining their arms and armor as being a lot heavier and more knightly than costumes, even if they are hamming it up.

>>67223710
>Randy Savage
You're not thinking right. You gotta be using a guy like Jimmy Hart.

>>67213231
I think I'll steal this idea

>>67229376
If they’re stereotypical Anglos, they may also be really good at back and forth banter, albeit the diplomats’ humour may be less serious word sparring and more crass, as they’d likely be appointed politicians of more either humble or petty noble origins, whereas the actual grudge-nursing Nobles, being hereditary nobility of high birth and status and therefore above such “juvenility”, would probably engage in the kind of invocations of family honour you’ve mentioned, and the use of “higher tier” verbal sparring.

>>67229306

I hadn't considered the Italian city state expy, but there will be now.

>>67222679
t. moron who is in middle school.
>>67222721
No you are just a retard.
>>67222907
No u /pol/tard tard.
>>67222996
If only you had a brain.
>>67223096
Or you are just stupid

>>67229629
Ooooooh, which citystate? Or would it be an expy of Italy in general, but on citystate scale?

>how are these paid for?

In some cases, they're not. This isn't just an avenue for entertainment. This is also a serious part of courtly life. Duels can and will be fought in this outlandish fashion to preserve honor. It's expected that the individual will pay for their own equipment and if the participants choose a venue for their duel (and you want it to be seen so your honor and their dishonor are readily apparent to as MANY as possible) you'll foot the bill for the stage too.

This doesn't mean that the Crown doesn't pitch in. It absolutely does. When two exceedingly powerful nobles come to blows it's the duty of the Crown to step in with a Crownswoman to mediate the contest. Such contests are HEAVILY restricted and regulated to ensure that certain levels of decorum are upheld - in particular no killing - as members of the peerage high enough to warrant their attention are very likely to be critical players in their house politics. Royal mediation then is also a tacit way for the Crown to dissolve notions of favoritism. Everyone can see the contest and the Crown pays for a neutral venue. Contests such as these are widely considered cheaper and more effective means of handling political disputes than open noble warfare which could also rouse the ire of the Sovereign.

>>67229805
Maybe in the Not-Italy, things are more formalized, with each city state having its own stable of duelists operating under the patronage of wealthy merchants and nobles. Instead of the nobles and merchants dueling themselves, they have champions to represent their honor and the glory of their cities.

I feel like we could archive this thread on Sup/tg/

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>>67223776
Turn it into a character hook.

>the poor peasant girl saw a duel early and life and vowed to one day become one herself
>parent(s) initially think it's just a game for nobility and won't put food on their table, before a significant event convinces them it's worth investing in their daughter's dream
>they slowly save enough money to have her enter a low key duel, where a scout sees the young girl's potential/she eventually works her way up
>etc etc

Put in some conflicts and drama and this shit writes itself.

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>>67229160

>>67229254
>>67229629
Also, what was this about “not!Asia”?

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>>67230647
Here you go

>>67230828
Thank you for a sourced version, Anon.
You make bumping fun.

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>>67230856
I gotchu

I'd actually read the thread and contribute myself, but I'm way too drunk to do any proper thinking right now, so have this

>>67230878
It’s fine. Us finally getting some images of actual masked duellists means the thread pic-bumps are actually more on topic now than before, anyway.

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>>67230930
tru, hopefully the thread survives the night, I really like this idea

>>67223760
Masquerade Dueling, I believe.

>>67223760
>Not-Catwoman
I like it.

>>67231015
Is that female Black Panther?
If it is, Cursed Image.
If it’s not, and it’s an original design, then, I feel like I've seen this before.
Mad Sus.

>>67223760
Hotline Miami 3: Femme Fatale?

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>>67231111
It definitely rings a bell, but I don't think it's black panther fanart.

Reminds me of a batwoman too

>>67231191
Mfw wish I could contribute to picture based bumping but the site is being autistic and saying I am blocked from file uploads while on LTE.

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>>67231314
We hit bump limit some 11 posts ago, so

>>67219483
Hey, it's Sabriel!

>>67222674
I'd see changelings as playing up a very mocking persona.

>>67231346
either way, this thread is worthy of survival

I archived the thread on Sup/tg/, so feel free to bookmark it, vote it up, or what have you:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=Dramatic+Dame+Duelists

>>67231811
Based Anon. You are great. Also, Checked. It was clearly meant to be.

>>67231811
This has generated some good content too so I'll start a second thread if no one else will.

>>67231998
Let us hope OP eventually comes back with an update assuming they do not contribute to the second thread or make their own.

>>67213231
I wish we got a mission in Hat in Time where the art style massively changed for that mission into OP pic and we had a duel with mustache girl and espionage and shit.

>>67231998
Continues:
>>67232490

>>67232495
If OP ever relocates this thread, pls follow to new thread, as bumps no longer will keep this one afloat

>>67218526
Add in academies styled like drag houses. So you might be biologically a part of Clan Claremore, but everyone knows your character as a daughter of the House of Montrose, with her swordmother Lady Montrose teaching her their own smallsword style and taking an active interest in her career.

Gives some nice reasons to bring together women from different noble families or split families apart, and add some more drama.