Phosphura rules

The Phosphura rules were a formalized set of dueling codes developed by the Phosphura Belt Pirates but later adopted by other pirates across the galaxy. These duels were inherently more serious and less stylized than those practices by the Dueling academies.

In the absence of a judicial system, trial by combat was the simplest means to determine guilt or innocence among pirates, and the rules created three distinct type of duel.


 * The first, or 'tente', was the least structured, being a simple duel with either no or simple, non-energy weapons, never fought to the death. The result of the duel resolved the dispute in favor of the winner, with the loser having the choice to either agree or be marooned. By far, most pirate dueling was done according to tente rules.


 * The 'rigora' allowed energy weapons, and also permitted the challenger to issue challenges to the death. Three types of rigora existed: the just rigora (not to death), where the loser must admit fault; the honor rigora, which allowed the challenger to substitute a champion if the disparity in skill was obvious, and the oath rigora, which was a death duel.


 * The final type, the 'negate', was fought between the champions, usually leaders, of two opposing camps in a pirate organization, with the winner taking over as pirate chief. This was always to the death, and was by custom the subect of gambling wagers.

Duels to the death were sometimes fought inside burning circles, called a Fire Ring of Fornax, after the Galactic Wonder, though clever and theatrical pirate chiefs sometimes substituted randomly firing blaster cannons, spinning sharp knives and other insanely dangerous symbols of bravado.