Elves pride themselves of their swordsmanship and will often openly practice their sport and will challenge others to duels to show off their expertise with the sword. Elves that openly wear a sword is publicly announcing that they are open to a challenge. During high holidays, it is common for elves to openly challenge other elves to duels. These matches are always to a pre-determined qualification has been met. It can be anything to one person not being able to continue(caused by either lethal or non-lethal damage), first blooded(one opponent has reached half damage if the two opponents are fighting with lethal weapons), or to the death. Fighting to the death is unusual and usually will not be made as a challenge to another individual. Elves of higher rank, by tradition but not law, will not challenge someone that they do not consider at least their equal. Knights, members of noble house's guard or legion when in a different house's province will often not wear their weapons openly displayed as such as it is seen as an open affront to the other house's land and thus an insult to the other house's honor. The exception to this rule is House Guards that are in the presence of their principal. House Guards of a house are expected to be able to defend their liege at all times, thus they are allowed to openly carry weapons when they are protecting their charge and are not subject to the challenge rule of wearing weapons. Fencing is a way to show off not only one's martial skills, honor, but mutual respect for others. High Ranking elves have been known to bring with them bodyguard to fight on their behalf. If an elf has felt insulted, they have the right to make a challenge to the said individual. If they win, the offending party will apologize, if they lose, they are usually ridiculed and made fun of. These conventions usually do not affect relations with other races, though it has been known in the part that elves have taken advantage of tradition to make challenges to non-elves that are visiting Thechlon.
