The Death Bounty

The Death Bounty text is an ancient document that decreed the earliest instance of last hitting or Last Strike, a martial tradition that is now common among every contested kingdom with the capacity to pay their armed forces with each killing blow they land, and duelling, another martial tradition now common but exclusive to the armies of Stonehall.

It was first decreed by Lord Regent Urthic Laste of Stonehall in an unknown date, long before the time of the incumbent Emperor Galanius given its age. Since it was a regent of Stonehall who enacted this, it is implied that Urthic was acting in place of the real sovereign who may have been rendered unable to govern Stonehall. That being said, it is unknown who was the real authority before him.

Contents
First found in the ruins of the Stonehall Cartularium, this text was written on parchment with a lost language that had to be translated before it was recorded, hinting at its age. The document was found incomplete, leaving most of its mysteries safe from the world.

The document explains the procedures of Death Bounty, exclusive to the armies of Stonehall, a tradition where soldiers are paid a bounty for each killing blow that they successfully land upon a foe. Of course, the payment is made after the battle (not during the battle) where each "coterie" is responsible for counting and dividing the money among themselves to use it for upkeep and buying miscellaneous equipment.

It also explains what appears to be the first recorded instance of duelling, yet another common tradition that is exclusive to the armies of Stonehall even today, but practiced upon anyone that they challenged. The document implies that duelling was not just a way to challenge an enemy in single combat, but a way to solve disputes. In this case, duels are used to solve disputes between two soldiers of Stonehall who may have an issue between their last hits. The winner between the two will claim the total share of their opponent. If a duel ends with the death of one participant, recompense will be made, but what this recompense is for is unknown since the document is cut off at that part.

Transcript

 * The ancient Death Bounty Text, as it has since come to be known, was first discovered among the ruins of the great Stonehall Cartularium. The document's significance went uncrecognized for years as it lay untranslated and forgotten, sealed away behind locked the doors of the Historic Archive of Sennos. It was not until scholars studied the document in detail that they came to understand what it represented. This decaying bit of parchment was nothing less than a possible source of martial tradition of Last Strike, now common among all the kingdoms of the contested lands. ,


 * Translated from Page:


 * Royal Proclamation


 * By order of Lord Regent Urthic Laste of Stonehall


 * Henceforth shall all fellows of the Armies of Stonehall adhere to the statements below:


 * 1. Fellows of the Stonehall military shall now be paid for each killing blow struck against a foe in battle. This reward shall only be granted to the fellow who strikes the killing blow.


 * 2. Following the course of battle, each coterie shall be responsible for the tallying and dividing of payment amongst themselves to cover expenses, including equipment purchase and upkeep.


 * 3. In the event of a dispute, fellows may challenge one another to duel. The victor shall be awarded the total share held by the vanquished.


 * 4. Should a duel conclude by the death of a fellow recompense shall be made to...

Trivia

 * Like all of the short stories found in the Archronicus, this story is related to a specific Hero. In this case, the hero related to this story is, a prominent member of the Bronze Legion of Stonehall.