Why should a mutual challenge afford the participants immunity from interference?

What prevents me from joining a combat already in progress is how much I respect

the participants. I have both seen and experienced repeated, unprovoked, unannounced

attacks by people obviously more skilled and experienced. These attacks took advantage

of my age and general ignorance. I can and have to live with that as part of life

here. These attacks are conducted when the attacker is most ready and the target

most vulnerable. The attacker gains xp, items and probably a good thrill. These

are the benifits. But there is a down side as well. That type of behavior earns

nothing but animosity and indicates a fundemental disrespect for the target. It's

laughable to think that these \"outlaws\" can then hide behind the sheen of respectability

a formal challenge provides. The message should be loud and clear: might really does

make right and if you don't want to be jumped any time, anywhere, then don't behave

that way in the first place. I don't want to hear whining about how someones

challenge was screwed up because I joined in. Of course your going to be mad that I

interfered, that's why I did it in the first place. I hope I caught you when you were

unprepared. Of course, this type of behavior does nothing but propigate a vicious cycle,

but isn't that why many of us are here in the first place?

You want blood? You got it.

Written by my hand on the 30th of Springflower, in the year 981.