The Rules of the Blade, also referred to as the Phosphura rules, were a formalized set of duel codes originally developed for internal business and settling of disputes among the Phosphura Belt Pirates. Later the Rules of the Blade were adopted by other pirates across the galaxy. These duels were inherently more serious and less stylized than those practiced by the Dueling academies. In the absence of a judicial system, trial by combat was the simplest means to determine guilt or innocence among pirates, and the rules created three distinct type of duel.