Fight Rock

Winter, Herne. One surly man, the other of gouging, baiting temper. The tensions grew and grew; spilling onto their other companions. None could enjoy company with this vehement feud afoot. Ryheric and Eirik glanced at each other. An unspoken, knowing moment between them. Finally, Ryheric said what they were all thinking. It was time for Surly and Gouger to take this out of town. To Fight Rock. Both duelists agreed. A duel of fists was had, under obligation neither man was to permanently damage the other. Ryheric and Eirik oversaw it, to ensure the safety of the two women among the witnesses. Violence was accepted; wanton brutality was not. Honour was at stake. But he who delivered the barbs wound up backing out. Refusing to fight, even while he continued his mockeries, and the Surly one stood firm, willing to see through his end of this duel. There was something fateful about how the issue ended. Surly stayed surly, Gouger remained gouging. Both men left, one a coward, the other left hanging... tensions unresolved... Or perhaps, tensions that would come to a head much later, projected to a much more final conclusion. Morale was indeed, everything.