WoF Queen Challenge Headcanons (Pyrrhian)
I ended up thinking about this during work so <3 Here we go
A challenger directly challenges the queen, who will then inform her council that a challenge has been issued. There is a one-day period from the challenge to the actual battle where the challenger can rescind the challenge or the queen can forfeit the throne without a fight. No other challenges may be issued during this time.
Unless stated in the initial challenge that the fight will be hand-to-hand, both the queen and the challenger may select one weapon to use and will reveal it prior to the fight.
Audience varies by tribe. Every tribe allows at least one referee, usually an old or high-ranking noble; they are there to ensure an honor code is upheld and bear witness to the challenge battle. Some tribes allow a whole council of nobles, and SkyWings may hold queen challenges publicly in the arena.
Every tribe forbids the express use of animus magic during a fight, and if enchantments are suspected of being cast then the referee will intervene and end the challenge before the end. Certain tribes (NightWings, SandWings, and SeaWings, possibly IceWings) will allow enchanted weapons as long as the enchantments on the weapon are proclaimed before the battle (and verified by an enchanted object that can discern truth). SkyWings strictly forbid animus magic in all challenges.
Forfeiture rules during the challenge battle vary between tribes. SeaWings and IceWings state that if one party forfeits during the battle, then this should be recognized and this will end the battle, no death required. SkyWings generally allow forfeiture, but it does not guarantee mercy from the other dragoness--even after surrendering in the fight, the opposing dragon still holds it in their power to kill without interference from a referee. SandWing rules often vary between generations but are established prior to battle.
If a losing party should survive, then they are still forbidden from ever challenging the throne again, and may be exiled from the royal family as if they have died.
SeaWings may hold their battles on land or underwater. This decision is up to the queen.
RainWing challengers do not fight to the death. As shown in canon, they often engage in tests of skill to determine the winner. Combat may be one of these skills but it is never to the death.
MudWing sisters RARELY fight for the throne, because of the closeness of the sibling groups. Usually the Bigwings of the first clutch of any sister in the royal group is slated to become queen after the retirement or death of the old queen. In event this dragon dies or is unfit for queendom, it goes to the Bigwings of the second clutch in the group or the second-oldest if there is only one clutch (and so on). MudWing sisters usually rule as a group, anyway.
