SwordBrothers and SwordSisters

[DoS Archive]

From: eagleecore@aol.com (EagleEcore)
Date: 05 Mar 1999 14:04:18 EST

I was asked the question what exactly does "swordbrother" and/or "swordsister" mean and/or what is it about. So I decided to put my answer and explanation upon the board for all to know and understand. As well I would like some additional imput from some of the older duelists who would remember the days when this concept was more prominent.

Long ago when the WarDrac, Baphelocutis, first came to RhyDin, he met then Overlord, Xenograg Darelir, the 3rd Overlord of DoS. One of Xenograg's right hand men was a fellow by the name of Cymranger, a Warlord. It was Cymranger who introduced Baphelocutis to the Overlord, and thereafter the Overlord granted Baphelocutis his first ever duel in DoS. The WarDrac won that duel, and Cymranger immediatetly came to like Baphelocutis based on how he
dueled and his mannerisms as a dueler in the basement of the Red Dragon Inn. It was within a few months after that of dueling, comradery, and enjoying the adventures of Rhydin life together that Cym called Baphe his "swordbrother". Baphe likewised returned the honor bestowed upon him to Cym.

For them the matter was a simple code of warriors with a warrior clasp and a promise to watch each other's backs. They would be there for each other and stand by each other in the things they did in and out of the rings. As students of Xenograg, they also stood by him together as well, and would still to this day with each other if called upon. It was Cymranger who got Baphelocutis to become a student of the Darelir Dojo.

Shortly after that with the arrival of Feadur and Siera Red to the rings, and as students of Xenograg, a new form of the term "swordbrother" and "swordsister" emerged. For the moriquendi, the dark elves or the drow of the underdark as some know them, there was something known as swordsiblings. Siera and Feadur became students of Xenograg at about the same time, as well they learned how to duel and rose through the ranks side by side. I believe
it was Siera who actually made Warlord first, followed shortly thereafter by Feadur. It was Feadur who swore himself to Siera as her Swordbrother, and the honor likewise returned. For the moriquendi the oath of swordsibiling is more intense than perhaps the code of honor between a draconian and a human, but the basis remains the same. As the Bishop became a student of Xenograg's as well and joined the ranks among his other peers he slipped into
the swordsibiling relationship of Feadur and Siera.

As you can see here you have five students of Xenograg, and two sets of types of SwordBrother or Swordsibling relationships. All of them devoted to their mentor, Xenograg, and all of them there for all the students of Xenograg, but some of them having formed especial bonds of comradery. Xenograg also had more than just these five students.

When Bishop went on to teach his students, those being Simini, Aspendale, Branoic, Rantom, and of course myself, Ecore, he imparted upon us the same idea. We perhaps used the term more lossely than our forebearers. Or that all of us of the Bishop's Chapel formed a tight bond among the five of us. We over the time we spent learning under the Bishop's tutoring became close and supported each other in most everything we did in and out of the rings.
And so we refer to each other as SwordBrother and SwordSister. So whenever I use that term, I am probably refering to Simini when I say SwordSister, and either Aspendale, Rantom, or Branoic when I say SwordBrother. Cymranger also helped Bishop with the school, a further extension of extensive family helping family.

Later I began to teach others how to duel as well and tried to impart upon them the importance and the wonderful sense of having Swordbrothers and Swordsisters. Eventually, when I teamed up with Baphelocutis and we combined our students and Houses, we combined the more dramatical sense of it based upon the moriquendi philsophy since most of Baphe's House was drow anyway, and the experience I learned from the Bishop's Chapel. As you can see there
is a common interwoven thread of experience and teachings happening here. Among our students were Ellisa Morgan, RLupton, Rix Farve, and Shadowsiv. The first three listed indeed call upon each other and respect each other in their own SwordSister/Swordbrother relationships. Shadowsiv and Baphelocutis have a Swordbrother relationship based on many years of adventuring together long before coming to RhyDin. And hence convert that into their
relationship in the rings as well.

Basically SwordBrothers, SwordSisters, or whatever type of SwordSibling relationship you use or term as is someone you learn the blade with. Whether it be out in the adventuring beyond Rhydin or the days spent in the rings, it is someone who you learn with, improve with, and survive with by the blade. A common bond brought closer by the bond of facing life's trials together using that common bond. It is an oath upon your heart and soul to be
there for your swordsibiling through thick and thin.

I would encourage those who are students of Shadowsiv to perhaps learn of the concept and practice it as it suits them to continue the tradition.

~Ecore
~Warlord

[DoS Archive]

From: eagleecore@aol.com (EagleEcore)
Date: 05 Mar 1999 14:42:34 EST

I forgot another excellent example of Swordbrothers especially with those I trained.

Ford Prefect and Jo Kicklen. Both were in a Warlord's Tourney and it was a Round Robin tourney in which Ford technically came out ahead of Jo Kicklen in points though they never dueled each other for their final placements. Ford offered to duel Kicklen for it and Kicklen won the duel, which was the right to face the Overlord Intercession free challenge. Jo Kicklen offered his oath as a SwordBrother to Ford Prefect that day for showing such honor
in the face of such risk. Jo Kicklen never was able to follow through with his challenge and died several months later upon relinguishing the LyfeStone back to Mydin Blachknyght of Mount Bane. During their short time together they were excellent examples of Swordbrother carrying a similiar way as Baphe and Cym did and Siera and Feadur did.

~Ecore
~Warlord

[DoS Archive]

From: rolandsal@aol.com (Roland Sal)
Date: 06 Mar 1999 15:22:05 EST

::idly wonders how many students Dalamar had and the title he should refer to them with::

[DoS Archive]

From: ibanda@aol.com (I Banda)
Date: 06 Mar 1999 16:56:11 EST

Sirs,

In fact, Siera and Feadur's relationship was something removed from the swordsiblingship of the norm. They were not bona fide students of Xenograg's, as they had already learned the duels and become warlords upon the lists in their own right (they were, in fact, warlords outside the realm of some veteran years already). Xenograg had, however, played the sometime tutor to them in the rings and so they had, in turn, fought on occasion for the house of
Darelir, whom Siera had already fought to defend upon the common ground of battle on occasions past along with Xenograg's household guard.

Feadur's swordsibling relationship to the lady who never was (for she hated the term), was deep-rooted in the traditions of the dark elves--a matter of loyalty to ruling house and ruling matriarch. Feadur, exiled as he was, had no house or matriarch, and so he was informally adopted by the baroness into the lineage Redwin. And so she became to him both house and matriarch. Therein lies also the reason for his championing her at every
opportunity--because it was the privilege of the swordhand and swordbrother to do it and because Siera, who loved him, would not gainsay it.

Humbly submitted,
~B

[DoS Archive]

From: karnafexx@aol.com (Karnafexx)
Date: 11 Mar 1999 00:59:45 EST

::Doesn't really care since he's beaten the crap out of anyone of worth on the list::


::But wipes a sentimental tear outa' his eye anyway::