With regards to fighting in the circle, I've read here and elsewhere that you intended fights within the circle to be to the death; though in this case, at least; it's a moot point because it's up to the challenger as you've said and you wanted to fight to the death. That all being said, I disagree with 'anyone' fleeing the circle once you started throwing down. That's the whole point of the 'circle of the rites', you stand within it and you fight to either the death or till someone admits they're defeated, usually by fleeing the circle. If it's going to be a fight to the death, then if you fled then you are in the wrong.

I totally understand that you can't bind wounds as a defender while fighting but that's neither here nor there, the spirit of the circle is you stay in it until the stain on someone's honor or the point that called for the circle to be utilized is made, fleeing unless that is allowed because it's not a fight to the death is as blameworthy as fleeing in the village in essence.

Do I think you're a horrible player or rager cause you fled, nope; but I do think that if you're going to place yourself in the stance of epitomizing the village and the tablets, etc. That you've gotta watch your own rear as well. I disagree with you about scouts and defenders and how they should or shouldn't fight but that's because honestly I've always been more keen on the tablet version of the village. When I was finally made to swallow the pill of the war room and the revised village, tactically speaking only an idiot fights 1 on 1 when he can make it 2 or more against that lone foe. As always there are exceptions to the rule, but speaking generally...

It's a game, the varying viewpoints both within and without the village make it more enjoyable and interesting, I'm not excusing anyone but you've gotta be realistic. The village was purged because the Imms felt that berserkers were being too tactical, ie. following the rules they'd set for them and beating the crap out of lone people occasionally. (Whose fault was that when you come down to it?) I don't know if I'd honestly expect a 'revised' berserker to honor much of a treaty with anyone when that other group has mages that might cross his or her path. The whole point of the 'revised' berserker's was that the new imm thought they should be crushing skulls and kicking ass regardless of the consequences, so do they listen to their immortal lord or the commander? Tough call for anyone...