[MR] Term Usage

[Nikki Petersen]

See the things like that, taking a knee as you described when losing a
fight, that is a great example of being courteous to your fellow fighters.
It is not something that is required (like calling shots) it is an open
display of the honor based part of fighting. I think that taking a knee when
killed is a great thing for both those fighting and those watching. This
also applies those that use their sword to "salute" their opponent at the
end of a fight.

I think that is the kind of behavior that separates the fighters. As in much
of real life, getting the job done (in this case defeating your opponent) is
the goal, but how you behave on the way to that goal and once you have
achieved the goal, are the things that people remember.

For example, I was at a tournament about 8 years ago (in another kingdom)
and they were going a bear pit style tournament, so there wasn't much chance
for showmanship. At the beginning of the tourney all of the fighters paid
their respect to the crowns and to the person whose favor they carried. Then
the fighting began. In the very first fight, there was the fighter that won
shook the hand of his opponent, and bowed to his lady and TRM. He lost the
next fight, and saluted his opponent, and bowed to both his lady, the lady
of his opponent and THM. He matched weapons with his opponents, when he knew
that if he had stayed with his primary fighting style he could have won more
easily,  About half way through the tournament one of the other fighters in
line, started feeling the affects of the heat and this helped the overheated
gentleman back to dayshade, and sent for the chirurgeon, he got him water
and stayed with him, all the while losing fighting time. Once the chirurgeon
took over he went back to the fight. Again paying his repects after each
fight wins and losses alike. At the end of the tournament he had come in 2nd
place. Being a bear pit style tournament, had he not stayed with that
fighter, he may have gotten to fight the few fights that would have won him
the day.
This to me is a prime example of both chivalry, courtesy, and honor. And as
I saw that fighter at events over the new year or so that we were in that
kingdom I remembered him and his actions that day, but honestly I have no
clue who own the tournament.

So if I were judging it would be things like that, things that are above and
beyond the normal "common courtesy", things that bring a sense of pride to
all that are watching, and any who are about to call such a person friend.

Maybe in the historically sense the word chivalry isn't right, but courtesy
doesn't quite get it right either, so I spent some time this morning looking
for a word that best suits the ideals I would search for:
brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous, exceptionally polite and
attentive, courtly.
unflinching in battle or action; valiant, nobly or selflessly resolute.
These are the definition and synonyms for the word Gallant.

Lady Murienne