(OOC For the record, my main reason for asking for half endurance was my
concern that if I ended up facing anyone else the same month, my orders
would be to first blood for them, unintentially. I could not see a way to
specify rules for a particular Dual, other than by requesting Greg's
intervention)
----- Original Message -----
From: Joel M. Halpern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: banana list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 9:45 PM
Subject: Re: HSE to SdS, re duel with JBD
> Captain Henri Serf-Edly,
> While I understand your concern, I belive that you had the Major had
> reached an understanding of the practicalities of your discussion. It is
> my believe that as a practical matter the terms that had previously been
> agreed will sufficiently approximate what you ask for here, and is much
> simpler [OOC: from a game mechanics point of view].
> I appreciate your cooperation on this matter,
> Yours,
> Lt. General le Baron Soire de Success
>
> At 04:16 PM 3/22/01 +0000, Peter T Davies wrote:
> >To the esteemed Lt. General Baron Soire de Success (SdS)
> >
> >Sir,
> >
> >I write concerning the forthcoming duel between my good self and Major
> >Chevalier Jean Baptiste Doutron (JBD), whom I understand you will be
> >seconding in this matter of honour. Please excuse this direct
> >communication, but my second, the honourable Captain Jean de Lacey (JdL),
> >is hard pressed repulsing the accursed foreign foes of our beloved
France,
> >even as I hurriedly write in this brief respite from fighting.
> >
> >While the choice of rapiers has been agreed, I am a little concerned that
> >there remains, at least in my mind, a little confusion over the precise
> >terms of the engagement. I originally asked that the duel be fought to
> >first blood, after having been made keenly aware by my second of the
views
> >of his immediate commanding officer, the most esteemed Major Alain de
> >Sevigny (AdS), Commissioner of Public Safety. Major Doutron wished to
> >reject this proposal, perhaps understandably, for fear that some lucky
> >blow from myself might surprise him and count as a victory for myself.
His
> >response was a request to fight to half-endurance.
> >
> >When discussing this with Captain de Lacey, I suggested a middle path
> >between these two ways, one which I referred to as "second blood." Please
> >forgive my inexperience with such matters, but this was not some codified
> >means of agreeing to fight to half endurance as might have been first
> >imagined. I merely meant that, just as "first blood" affords a victory to
> >the duellist who first strikes his opponent, "second blood" was used as a
> >means to denote the winner would be the first duellist to successfully
> >gain two hits against his opponent.
> >
> >This "middle way" should, I trust, allay the fears of Major Doutron of
> >losing to a lucky blow of mine, but should not seriously incapacitate
> >either of ourselves, should further combat at the front be necessary. (I
> >realise this is far more likely for myself than Major Doutron, unless I
am
> >privileged enough to gain some pecuniary success when looting our
defeated
> >foes this month). I hope that honour would be satisfied with this
> >proposal, and would be grateful if you would discuss the matter further
> >with your principal, and send word to me of the outcome of your
> >deliberations. Thank you, sir.
> >
> >Your humble and obedient servant.
> >
> >Henri Serf-Edly (HSE), Captain and Regimental Adjutant, Grand Duke Max
> >Dragoons.
>
