Horonasius Duelists are not merely trained combatants; they are the cultivated aristocracy of violence within Raverie. Their philosophy descends from the belief that order, cleanliness, and restraint are not moral preferences, but prerequisites for legitimate force.
The Academy teaches that chaos is the enemy of civilization, and that a Duelist’s role is to impose structure—on themselves first, and on the city’s mechanical order second. Precision of dress, speech, posture, and environment is considered inseparable from precision in combat.
To them, brutality without discipline is barbarism. A Horonasius Duelist fights as one debates or engineers: with preparation, decorum, and an expectation of excellence.
Horonasius Duelists are cultivated to serve as Raverie’s internal guardians of order—distinct from soldiers, guards, or automatons. Where others enforce law, Duelists interpret and stabilize it.
Their purpose is fourfold:
Exemplars of Order — Duelists are living proof that controlled force and civic virtue can coexist.
Licensed Investigators — Graduated Duelists are granted limited authority to investigate mechanical crimes, corruption, and Modus sabotage.
Anti-Corruption Operatives — The Academy maintains standing directives to counter factions such as the Grinding Gears.
Civic Arbiters — In disputes that threaten escalation, a Duelist’s presence offers an honorable alternative: resolution through sanctioned contest.
The Horonasius Code is modeled as much on academic honor charters as on martial law.
Uniforms and equipment are maintained in immaculate condition.
Public intoxication, vulgarity, or disorderly conduct are grounds for censure.
A Duelist speaks with restraint, even when issuing threats.
Force is applied only with justification and clarity of purpose.
Lethality is reserved for existential threats or sanctioned executions.
Equipment tampering is considered a grave ethical breach.
Plagiarism of technique without attribution is forbidden.
False claims of victory result in immediate disciplinary review.
Refusal of a lawful duel without cause damages standing.
Among Horonasius Duelists, dueling is a formalized scholarly exchange.
Serve to test techniques, resolve disagreements, or establish precedence. Often quiet affairs, attended only by adjudicators.
Framed as demonstrations of controlled authority. Excessive force reflects poorly on the Duelist, regardless of outcome.
Duels begin with formal acknowledgment.
Environmental hazards are declared.
Termination is immediate upon adjudication.
Honor is quantified via a Ledger of Distinction, maintained by the Academy and civic auditors.
Exemplary Victory — Elegant, efficient, and controlled (+2 Marks)
Demonstrated Superiority — Clear tactical dominance (+1 Mark)
Scholarly Exchange — Mutual yield or draw (0 Marks)
Acceptable Loss — Loss without breach of conduct (0 Marks)
Conduct Violation — Breach of decorum or recklessness (−2 Marks)
A Duelist’s Mark total influences:
Investigative authority
Access to restricted districts
Eligibility for sensitive assignments
Advancement within the Academy is tied to Honor Marks and disciplinary review.
Reputation is not merely fame—it is trust earned through consistent conduct.
Disgrace results in loss of standing, not imprisonment. A disgraced Duelist may seek redemption through perilous civic service.
Viewed as respected professionals, though occasionally undisciplined. Useful in large-scale engagements.
Regarded with caution. Magic introduces variables that undermine clean combat data. Duelists do not forbid magic, but rarely trust it in honor contexts.
Seen as essential allies. Duelists often collaborate with engineers to secure Modi or investigate mechanical sabotage.
Outside the Academy, Duelists are:
Employed as personal guards for elite engineers or political figures.
Used as neutral arbiters in district disputes.
Feared during civil unrest—their presence often defuses conflict by offering a formal path to resolution.
Summary: Horonasius Duelists are Raverie’s disciplined arbiters of honor and force. They blend martial skill with academic rigor, serving as investigators, anti-sabotage agents, and living symbols of order in a city run on clockwork chaos.