Words: King's Rapier Champion '09

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll (although she may have hid behind another name).

Having written many fencing scrolls from foppish sources, I tried something different, and based the words on Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus (aka "Saxo the Learned") The Danish History, Books I-IX, Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD.

SCROLL WORDS
King's Rapier Champion '09

We, Darius Rex, Fourth of His Name, have come this Feast Day of Saint Ermine to the East’s southern lands and found in the souls of its warriors a great cunning and fierceness. Of the cunning: we have seen how, at the outset of a duel, there may be a long dispute, which of those fighting ought to have the chance of striking first. For of old, in the ordering of combats, men did not try to exchange their blows thick and fast; but there was a pause, and at the same time a definite succession in striking: the contest being carried on with few strokes, but those terrible, so that honour was paid more to the mightiness than to the number of the blows. Of the fierceness: We know that carnage takes many forms, and the courage shown this day calls to Us.

Of these warriors of cunning and fierceness, one has shown the wisest hand: so do We declare ___________________ Our King’s Champion of Rapier and bestow suitable appointment amongst Our own champions. This We do at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Barony of Bhakail, the 28th day of February, AS XLIII.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus
(aka "Saxo the Learned"), The Danish History, Books I-IX
Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD

At the outset of the duel there was a long dispute, which of them ought to have the chance of striking first. For of old, in the ordering of combats, men did not try to exchange their blows thick and fast; but there was a pause, and at the same time a definite succession in striking: the contest being carried on with few strokes, but those terrible, so that honour was paid more to the mightiness than to the number of the blows. Agnar, being of higher rank, was put first; and the blow which he dealt is said to have been so furious, that he cut through the front of the helmet, wounded the skin on the scalp, and had to let go his sword, which became locked in the vizor-holes. Then Bjarke, who was to deal the return-stroke, leaned his foot against a stock, in order to give the freer poise to his steel, and passed his fine-edged blade through the midst of Agnar's body. Some declare that Agnar, in supreme suppression of his pain, gave up the ghost with his lips relaxed into a smile. The champions passionately sought to avenge him, but were visited by Bjarke with like destruction; for he used a sword of wonderful sharpness and unusual length which he called Lovi.

The carnage that is being done without calls thee.