Noulaenic Sport Fighting

Noulaenic sport fighting is a general term for a variety of sport fighting systems used during the first or second Noulaenic Empires, many of which are still popular in formerly Noulaenic lands in modern times. These vary from the heavily stylized and regulated Carisoul, a staff fighting contest, to the brutal and nearly unregulated Cosaeroum, an all out melee style.

## Carisoul

Carisoul (from proto-Noulaenic *cri* ("strike") *thoul* ("pike")) is the oldest form of traditional sport fighting in Malaena and some form of the discipline predates Noulian itself. Traditionally a Carisoul contest is fought in an octagon shaped ground, five paces across, with wooden staffs. Under the oldest recorded ruleset, dating to the second century NE, a point was scored for striking an opponent on their torso, no points scored for strikes to the arms, two points conceded for stepping out of the octagon, striking your opponent on the head, or striking your opponents legs. Later rulesets prohibited the use of shoving as a tactic to score quick points by forcing your opponent out of the ring, as shoving became so popular as a tactic that little staff fighting was occuring in high level bouts. This was enforced by adding a two point penalty for shoving and reducing the penalty for stepping out of bounds to one point. Carisoul matches traditionally were fought as the best of five rounds, with the first fighter to reach or exceed eight points winning each round.

Traditionally, Carisoul fighters would fight in a Faradaram helmet, a traditional Malaenic helmet that covers the back and top of the head in a wooden shell that is connected to two protective bars, one rounded one which extends below the chin and protects the neck and one straight one which drops vertically from the forehead, over the nose, and to the other bar. Such helmets fell out of use in actual fighting in the third century NE but they influenced later Noulaenic helmet design and are still used in high level Carisoul fighting.

Carisoul fighters would also traditionally wear a plate of wooden chest armor consisting of three partially overlapping plates hung from a rope around the shoulders. These plates became stylized and were made uniform in size and shape during the first Noulaenic Empire. Starting in the 5th century NE, the plate defined the legal scoring zone, with only strikes to the plate scoring points while any strike above or below the plate incurring penalties. This change extended the penalty zone to include the shoulders and waist. In low level or informal Carisoul bouts, the armor is generally not used but strikes to the shoulders and waist area are still considered penalties.

Carisoul was the most popular spectator sport fighting discipline during both Noulaenic Empires and Emperor Soulsis V commissioned construction of a massive Carisoul arena on the Noulian City Green, later named the Soulsisir Carisalfal in his honor upon its completion in 1365 NE. The arena could seat 24,240 spectators by design and was the second largest spectator facility in the city, behind the neighboring horse racing track (the Faer Calaful). The arena was designed for Carisoul but also hosted other sorts of sport fighting events during its history.

## Cosaeroum

Cosaeroum (from middle-Noulaenic *co* ("until") and *saeroum* ("submission")) is a sport fighting and dueling discipline that lacks the rules and discipline of other Noulaenic styles and most closely resembles actual combat. Combatants are permitted to chose their arms and armaments and no strikes are considered illegal. The fight begins in a ritualized manner, with the combatants separated and their arms at their feet, but the fight is essentially a free-for-all once started. The fight ends when one combatant submits by shouting *saerfas* ("I submit") or is physically incapacitated and unable to continue.

Cosaeroum competitions are held somewhat irregularly as the style is considered un-refined and is little regarded as a sport in the upper class. Competitions are often held informally as a betting sport among the lower classes. In competition, combatants typically fight with dulled arms, though serious injuries are still common.

Outside of competitions, however, Cosaeroum style duels are frequently fought with military weapons, often to settle conflicts. Such duels have high rates of morbidity and mortality.

## Falfoul

Falfoul is a form of scored dueling similar to Carisoul in some ways but fought with a greater variety of weapons and with fewer restrictions on strikes. Falfoul matches are fought without boundaries on open ground can be fought with pikes or swords, or a combination of these. Strikes to the chest area are worth two points and strikes to the limbs are worth one. Like with Carisoul, strikes above the shoulder are forbidden and result in conceding two points. Falfoul contests are popular in former Noulaenic Provincial regions, especially in the Pinakloos Sea and Casalanoua. Such contests are sometimes held in Carisoul arenas, and sometimes in the open. Scoring in Falfoul worked the same way as in Carisoul, with up to five rounds contested and the first fighter to eight points winning each round.