Death from behind: A Meditation on the Duplicitously Satisfying Yet Frustrating Experience That Is The Surprise Execution

By Fenris Kriegsang

As 2023 comes to a close and our fighting season wanes, I inevitably find myself reflecting on the events of the year. The highs, lows, triumphs, and defeats all carry in them lessons to be learned and chances for growth. Among these I find that the subject of death from behind seems to be brought up in some way at almost every war, hazzard, or melee held. And after being asked mid-battle at crown war by one of the princes to give an explanation of death from behind, I thought it might serve that I write this dissertation on my philosophy as a warrior concerning the subject based on the rules of combat within the Empire.

It is the custom that before every large war, tournament, melee event, or any event in which a number of the participants are new to the Empire or in the infancy of their fighting careers that a senior fighter gives a detailed breakdown of the rules that govern EMP combat. In this demonstration, Death from Behind is covered in depth and multiple examples are given. At the end of this class, should anyone be confused on what has been covered they are invited to ask questions for clarification. Despite this, it seems there are a great deal of mixed feelings regarding Death from Behind.

I will attempt to explain Death from Behind as it exists within my code. I do not feel the need to repeat the written description as it is easily found in the EMP’s doctrine of battle etiquette and every fighter should be familiar with that document as is. Considering that this confusion stands in wake of technical description and demonstration anyway, I feel that perhaps a philosophical perspective will serve better in any case.

There are three ways I find in which death on the battlefield is most ignoble. Death by arrow, by unseen pike, and execution from behind. No warrior enjoys being slain while his back is turned absent the chance to defend himself and show his prowess. There is no honor in it, no glory and it ends in nothing but the slow, resentful trudge towards one's resurrection point without having been granted the opportunity to raise a weapon. Simply put, it sucks. But among these examples of dissatisfying deaths there is another ghost on the battlefield we all hate. Being hit too hard. We all have different ideas and perspectives on what that means but the time we are all most vulnerable to it is inarguably when we are not looking and have been caught unawares. This is where that ever present imperial litany “Be excellent to each other!” factors in, this is a key example of where our ideals should come into play. It is also at this point where the following questions should be asked of ourselves. How do I want to be perceived by my peers? What is excellent vs. what is legal? Would I rather have to walk back to my res point or walk/be carried off the field?

In my experience I have found that when the battle is going and hits are flying, adrenaline is up, people can't hear or see. I have the option to run up and hit them in the hope that they will acknowledge my blow and go down. The low likelihood of this is a contributing factor to the confusion surrounding the subject. I also have the completely legal option to deliver a blow so powerful that you have absolutely no choice but to acknowledge it and possibly injure you to the point you can no longer take the field or perhaps need medical attention. In the past I have been guilty of this, we play a tough game, a combat sport in every sense of the word, and you not taking my blow could cost my side the win so I can't risk you being thick right? Or on the other side, did I just get hit? I don't know whatever, my team needs me, if I didn't see it then it didn't happen, right?

With these examples in mind it is here I present my idea of how one should view and approach death from behind both as the executioner and as the victim. Should you find yourself in a position where you can murder an opponent when their back is turned and they are unaware of your presence. There is no need to obliterate them, you will gain more honor and respect by demonstrating control, showing that you could have ended them and choosing not to. As to being on the receiving end, it isn't fun. But would you rather someone who, like you, spends a great deal of their time training to swing weapons generating maximum concussive force drill a great weapon into the back of your unsuspecting head, because if they have you dead from behind they could have done just that. Or would you rather just say check mate and call it good? 

In short, at the end our greatest enemy can be ego and one of our key, principle sayings is that “If you don't call my blow it just means you want me to hit you harder”. Death from Behind is a way for a fighter to honorably demonstrate that they have the upper hand without the need to deliver a crippling blow, as well as for the receiving fighter to acknowledge their defeat with dignity and lacking the risk inherent to both body and pride should the situation have escalated along a different path. This is my philosophy as a warrior within the Empire regarding Death from Behind beyond the rules as written.