There were three important things to remember when a conflict or war broke out between two Lords and their forces outside of the official Lord Battle sanctioned by the system.
First, no rewards. Yes, no reward at all! Battles fought on neutral ground, or generally outside the floating islands' official rules, were strongly discouraged, as they only harmed both sides without yielding any benefit. It also meant that the victorious Lord would not automatically claim the defeated Lord's island or resources from such an unsanctioned kill.
Second, weakening of forces. These kinds of fights only drained a Lord's army, a loss that could become a serious disadvantage in their next official battle.
And finally, the Unspoken Rule. There was a silent understanding among the Lords to avoid interfering with another Lord's affairs on unoccupied islands, mainly because no one truly knew how strong their opponent was or how much backup they could summon.
