Odrun Fell

The Gilt Thorns are known for being a ceremonial training ground dedicated to the art of social combat. The kind of combat where words can be daggers, and daggers must never leave a scar. Here, the wealthy of the Sprigs learn the rituals of sanctioned dueling. The calls, the steps, the poisons permitted by contract, and the expressions expected of the victor. Every lesson teaches both law and performance, given by instructors who are well versed in etiquette, anatomy, and the art of leaving a bruise that teaches and humiliates. Many who train here hope to never draw blood, but the Gilt Thorns is not a place for place. Duels of inheritance, grievance, and reputation are staged here weekly. A group of retired instructors act as scribes who ensure that every match abides by Odrun's legal codes and that every floorboard is enchanted to record the flow of movement for review to ensure there is no foul play.

Tucked just off the main promenade of the Spindle, The Gilt Thorns appears at first glance to be a street theater or garden atrium. A woven canopy of amberglass and beetlewing silk shades the open courtyard, where delicate dueling platforms of polished bonewood float on tensioned threadvine. Thorned vines—gilded and trimmed—curl up iron latticework arches, casting intricate shadows on the stone below. Tall brass mirrors line the courtyard edges, angled to catch every flick of a blade and every gesture of poise. From behind velvet-veined screens, patrons sip shimmerfruit tea and place wagers on practice bouts while masked instructors trace combat forms like dancers beneath a spotlight.