Blade Language

Dueling swords in the Sargonian Empire are, in this age, mainly decorative but often functional to deadly effect. Beyond that, because of the practice of blade language, they are quite informative as well. To the trained eye, a dueling sword on the hip of a noble, or other high ranking personage, can reveal endless amounts of data about the wielder. From how many duels the wearer has participated in, to how many souls they have slain, even to how many children they have and much more can be conveyed by a person's dueling sword. The practice of blade language dates back to well before the Restructuring, and quite likely to before the Breaking. Tradition holds that blade language was in use when the colony ship landed upon Akkad from Lost Terra over two millennia ago, but most scholars hold that to be unlikely.
There are four major categories for informational display with in blade language as used with dueling sword. These are the blade, the hilt, the sheath, and the tassels.
The blade contains, by all rights, the most important messages a dueling sword can contain. And often a message that can only be seen when it is too late to change the course of events. Along the flat of the blade is etched symbols representing the direct combat record of the wielder. Including kills, combat tours, and commendations. A more visible aspect of blade language as it relates to the blade itself is the length and curve of the sword blade. These distinctions often mark the profession of the owner. Strait or slightly curved blades of between 60 cm and 80 cm length indicate a ground warrior who has had opportunity to use his weapon in the heat of battle. A more curved blade of a similar length is usually worn by crewmen of starships. While a wielder of one of these blades won't have the battle experience of a ground warrior, members of the Sargonian Star-Navy are prone to frequently duel among themselves. So they tend to be fairy well skilled, and scarred. Shorter blades of the previous types mentioned are worn by those who have not been a part of a military force themselves but still hold true to the principals of honor duels. Their lack of military experience is no slight on their capability in a duel. Blades shorter than this, or more curved, indicate an increasing inability or unwillingness to participate in duels. At the far end of this spectrum are very short, very curved blades that are little more than long daggers. These are worn only by those incapable, or disallowed from instigating a duel. Some essential personnel are required to wear these because of the importance of their job descriptions. This does not stop them from accepting a duel however, and it may be unwise to duel a person willing to face you armed only with a dagger.
The materials used in the hilt and pommel are also a part of the blade language. This is a typical location for occupational history to be displayed. For example, one neural surgeon who was an avid participant in the duel culture, had a green lacquered wood, purple dyed leather and silver wire wrapped hilt. Anyone familiar with the blade language who saw this hilt would know without question that the wearer was a neural surgeon of accomplishment. And those few who pursued duels with him learned they were as good as dead when they saw the victory etchings on the flat of his blade.
The sheath decorations is where the blade language displays familial information. Spouses, children, grandchildren, and their accomplishments are displayed using various gems and precious metal inlays.
Tassels are a more ephemeral part of the blade language. Changing often and and often at whim. By color, length, and knots, a tassel can covey a world of immediately useful social information. Things like "I'm looking for a fight" to "I'm looking for a bed to share". And many more messages that can change from day to day.
Important visitors to the Sargonian Empire are often presented a silvered dueling blade with a silvered hilt and sheath. While this is definitely a blade language message, even the most bog standard outsider can figure something out when they see the vibrant displays of the Sargonian citizens' dueling blades. Some visitors are given shorter or more curved blades as a subtle insult. A visitor who is gifted with a tassel is most likely to be the target of a deliberate and incredibly vulgar insult.