#//this is all like bloooaaaoororghkl;s in my head bUT I gave it a go and tried to flesh out my thoughts

[simiansmoke]

// HC batch (Arena Related) - Last Leg Law & 11th Hour.

When it comes to the Jungle Kingdom's royal practices, they have a good many traditions and rites. Some of these, they use on a fair basis (such as making sure they're dressed in traditional attire at banquets and ceremonies and such, especially with other kingdoms), though some that have faded far back into obscurity.

Whether that obscurity is because the kingdom simply never encounters a situation where these traditions must be applied, or if the rites themselves are much too outdated given the current way of life for the Kongs is currently far more peaceful than they have been in the past (back to back wars feat. Kremlings and the Defectors).

And still, some traditions have (as the young always do put their hip SPIN on things) evolved in a way that betrays its original intent. One such tradition is the kingdom challenger rite. In the past, it was standard procedure for Kongs in the royal family to simply shack up among in-laws and friends of in-laws and just assign every new family member a future mate in an arranged marriage in a covert way to keep lands, properties, and wealth circulating through the same and branching bloodlines. This of course left little way for other Kongs to mix and mingle and adjust the status quo. (Something that would further goad the Defectors to act.)

Eventually, the younger generation of lower rank royals grew up and of course weren't for such voices being made on their behalf and wanted a way to essentially choose for themselves on if they wanted to accept a marriage or not. So they began to adopt the policy of the kingdom challenger rite when it came to marriage proposals.

("these damn kids...ruining a perfectly good bloodsport-")

The kingdom challenger approach being that anyone who wanted the throne for themselves would have to beat the ruling king in the Kong arena to show that they were a stronger and more capable leader among the Kongs over any unlikeable or elderly king. (Side note that Cranky is now in the position of being quite old and a king that would certainly be a target for young upstarts...if it weren't for DK who is technically in line to accept the throne currently once Cranky gives him the position. Granted DK does not really want that right now, so he just serves as a proxy for Cranky in challenger fights.)

It is this template that is currently the most popular marriage proposal among all Kongs. The practice is usually an all day affair disguised as a tournament of sorts for the entertainment of a large and growing crowd of game-day Kongs and random tourists. One or both members of a couple that want to tie the knot will start the rite by aggressively suggesting the other 'meet' them in the arena. Once a 'fight' is established, they square off in an arena battle. However, instead of actually performing the kingdom challenger rite in its raw form, the two will merely engage in a playful battle with no intent to harm one another.

It is standard practice for both parties to merely tire themselves out into a tie, which would indicate both are in mutual agreement to marriage. However, should a couple get to this point where both are equally tuckered out and vulnerable, if one does not accept, they take the opportunity to pin their opponent and 'win' to not accept the marriage proposal with the illusion of the tourney suggesting that winners move up to higher tiers and losers are left in the dirt.

As for the obscurity of the kingdom challenger rite and why it ties in with younger generations using it for a trendy way to propose, that comes in form of two laws that are applied to the rite should an opponent not successfully kill the reigning king.

Since the challenger in the rite is essentially saying the old king is no good any more for the wellbeing of his citizens, they are expected to kill off the reigning king before assuming the throne. However, if the challenger wins in the sense the king can no longer battle, but is still alive by the end of the match (11th hour), two things occur. In a natural sense, it would make sense for the challenger to simply fight until the death...however, not wanting to adopt those brutal practices displayed by beasts like Kremlings, the Kongs enacted a time-limit for each challenger battle known as the Eleventh Hour. Once this time limit passes, any living opponent's life is protected under the Last Leg Law because they have shown they are still a fit and capable Kong vs. one that was too weak and would fall in battle.

The challenger then can assume the throne without having to kill the previous king, but since the previous king showed they still have the power to protect the kingdom fair and square, they either become the new king's advisor, or in some cases - depending on if the challenger comes from royalty or other kingdoms to expand their territories, the two will be 'wed' to ensure the previous king and any of his offspring are taken care of in the mutual exchange that any of them will be exempt from being able to challenge the throne one day.