“Marcel was a professional. His gloves felt like a fish had swallowed his hand, as the fabric was soaked with water from the unrelenting rain. His hat dripped, and the feather at the back dropped, dripping ice-cold water down the back of his neck. But Marcel didn’t move, as he was on the prowl. His target was a young nobleman who had insulted the Queen’s chambermaid. Marcel struck with viper-like speed as the young nobleman stumbled drunkenly from the tavern. By the time the alarm went up, he was long gone.”

Epic Armoury's Duelist Sword is part of the Vanguard line, and it takes its design cues from the longswords of late mediaeval Europe, as well as the swords from the early Renaissance, with a smaller crossguard and a slightly thinner blade. The hilt is made from polyurethane and is highly detailed, with a grooved grip and a petal-ornament version of the rain guard or chappe protecting the part of the blade next to the grip. Meanwhile, the pommel is leaf-shaped, and the whole grip is in the primary colour with gold detailing. The blade is made from closed-cell polyurethane foam and coloured to look as lifelike as possible. Unlike most LARP weapons, the Vanguard line requires virtually no maintenance beyond checking for wear and tear in the form of cuts or breaks.