DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/01/2026    Duedate: 07/14/2026

SOLVEN ARENA

DM 22    TURN 1048

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

MEBIAN
MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)
(22-7971) [14-23-0,94]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

MEBIAN                         MOUNTAIN SHOT
MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)            BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)
(22-7971) [14-23-0,94]         (22-8046) [2-0-0,18]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

CEDARBURN                      REGINALD J. PRIEST
NEON TREES (849)               PROTECTORS (695)
(22-7882) [21-23-1,87]         (22-8027) [6-4-1,33]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

PROTECTORS (695)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)         43 
2. PROTECTORS (695)              32    PROTECTORS (695)
3. MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)           27    Unchartered Team
4. BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)        7  
5. NEON TREES (849)              3     BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)     3   0  0 100.   1/ 1 PROTECTORS (695)          9  6 2
 2- 2*MAKE IT UP (863)           1   0  0 100.   2/ 7 SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     7  3 1
 3/ 3 PROTECTORS (695)         222 161 14 58.0   3- 2 RED SECTOR A (840)        4  1 1
 4- 4 RED SECTOR A (840)       102  85  5 54.5   4/ 3 NEON TREES (849)          4  5 0
 5/ 5 NEON TREES (849)         108  97  6 52.7   5/ 5 THE REPUBLICANS (103)     4 11 0
 6/ 6 THE REPUBLICANS (103)    587 581 33 50.3   6/ 6*BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)    3  0 0
 7- 7*GRAD STUDENTS (681)        2   2  0 50.0   7/10 MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)       2  1 0
 8- 8 ARE YOU ? (768)          324 348 26 48.2   8- 4 ARE YOU ? (768)           2  2 0
 9/ 9 SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)    230 254 11 47.5   9- 8*MAKE IT UP (863)          1  0 0
10/10 MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)      885 1053 19 45.7  10- 9*GRAD STUDENTS (681)       1  1 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Long ago, before the fires taught the Ents to hurry, there was an Ent of the high 
ridges called simply Cedar. He was younger than most of his kind--only eight centuries 
old--and tended a grove of ancient cedars whose fragrant wood sang in the wind. His 
bark was smooth and reddish, his beard a curtain of blue-green needles, and his steps 
were measured even by Entish standards. He loved the quiet resinous scent of his 
charges and the way their trunks glowed amber at sunset.

Then came the summer of no rain.

The lightning struck first on the western ridge. Dry as bone, the forest answered with 
flame. Cedar felt the pain before he saw the light: a sharp, sizzling cry from one of 
his eldest cedars as fire raced up its sap-rich heart. He moved faster than he ever 
had, great root-feet cracking stone, but the wind was against him. 

The blaze leapt from tree to tree like a living thing.

When he reached the heart of his grove, it was already an inferno. His cedars--his 
children--were roaring pillars of flame, popping and hissing as their resin boiled. 
The heat seared his own bark black in long, weeping scars. 
Most Ents would have withdrawn to save themselves. Cedar did not.

He waded into the burning heart of the grove.

With arms thick as bridge-beams, he seized a blazing cedar that still lived and tore 
it from the earth. Sap and fire sprayed across his chest. He carried the flaming giant 
like a torch and hurled it down a rocky gully, away from the rest of the grove. Again 
and again he did this--ripping burning trees free, embracing them despite the agony, 
and casting them into the barren stone where they could die alone.

The other Ents, roused by the distant clamor, arrived to find a terrifying sight: one 
of their own wreathed in flame, moving with desperate speed, his voice a deep, 
continuous groan of pain and defiance.

By the time the fire was beaten back, Cedar's left side was charred nearly to the 
heartwood. Great strips of bark hung from him like funeral shrouds. The scent of 
scorched cedar clung to him so strongly that even the wind remembered it.

When the Entmoot gathered to mourn the lost wood, the eldest among them regarded the 
ruined figure before them.

"You have borne more of the fire than any tree should," Rootfather rumbled. "You are 
no longer simply Cedar."

The burned Ent lifted his cracked face, eyes glowing like embers beneath heavy brows.

"Then call me Cedarburn," he said, and his voice carried the crackle of cooling 
charcoal. "Let the name remind me--and all who hear it--that some things are worth 
burning for."

From that day on, Cedarburn walked with a slight limp and a hiss in his voice when the 
wind turned dry. His blackened side never fully healed, but new green shoots 
eventually pushed through the char, a living reminder that even fire cannot kill 
everything.

And in the high ridges, when travelers smell cedar smoke on the breeze with no 
campfire in sight, they quicken their steps. For Cedarburn still walks there, slow and 
watchful, carrying the memory of flame in his bones.

                                      SPY REPORT

     Good day, in SOLVEN a quiet thief gets rich, but a quiet spymaster gets poor.  
So bring me ale and harken to my tidbits of news.  Now keep the taverns open late 
tonight, for there are sorrows to drown for ARE YOU ?, whose 0-0-0 this turn dropped 
them by 4 into 8th.  SNOT QUITE RIGHT stable has parlayed this turn's 5-0-1 into a 5 
space move up the rankings.  This brings them up to 2nd place.  Good work, guys!  And 
let's see, NANO INFLUENCER fought TRUSTWORTHY SCRIBE and gained 21 points and 
contributed to SNOT QUITE RIGHT's 5-0-1.  BLACKBURN has lost to 790, falling 8 
points, while helping make THE REPUBLICANS a 1-4-0 turn.  We should ask MEBIAN about 
the thrill of victory, and what being the new Duelmaster does for a warrior, he's now 
the one to ask.  Can someone confirm a rumor for me?  I hear the top team makes their 
losing fighters do dishes at The Victory Tavern until they win.  Maybe?   
     The crowd's roar, the smell of iron and leather, mixed with sweat, what more 
could a warrior ask of life?  Well, besides that.  I also notice that the PROTECTORS 
stable was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on SOLVEN, what are you afraid of?  
And guess who avoided PROTECTORS stable the most?  Believe it or not, it was THE 
REPUBLICANS.  Anyone surprised?  The most challenged warrior this turn was MIDDLE WAY 
15's warrior MEBIAN.  More fighters challenged him than challenged the Duelmaster!   
     We only live a short time in this world, so why not take a sharp blade, and 
shave it close?  Kudos go out to SLOW DRIP this turn, for revenging SNOT QUITE 
RIGHT's bloodfeud against PROTECTORS' warrior REGINALD J. PRIEST.  Well done.  Is it 
really true that SOLVEN has more dishwashers per capita that fighters?  Just thought 
I'd ask...   
     Thought for the day, a new sword shines bright, but the notched sword sings the 
sweetest.  It's been nice chatting with you, until we meet again, keep your swords 
sharp and your hammers heavy.  Until the sun next rises and my pen sets to paper-- 
Alarond the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MEBIAN 7971                  14  23  0  94         MIDDLE WAY 15 (747)       

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-THE ENEMY WITHIN 7796        20  19  2  93         RED SECTOR A (840)        

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CEDARBURN 7882               21  23  1  87         NEON TREES (849)          
 WILLOW REAVER 7938           21  16  1  87         NEON TREES (849)          
 DUNCAN HUNTER 6634           19  18  2  79         THE REPUBLICANS (103)     
-REMEMBER 7913                 6   1  0  78         ARE YOU ? (768)           
-1001001 7878                 12  14  0  76         RED SECTOR A (840)        
 790 8019                     10   5  0  70         PROTECTORS (695)          

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VLAD 8016                    13   4  1  63         PROTECTORS (695)          
 SLOW DRIP 7982               15  12  0  57         SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BAM-BOO 8021                  6   2  1  53         NEON TREES (849)          
 BLACKBURN 8006               12  12  1  49         THE REPUBLICANS (103)     
-SECRET 7911                   7  10  1  49         ARE YOU ? (768)           
 TED CRUZ 8029                 6   4  0  42         THE REPUBLICANS (103)     
 SONUVA BEECH 8030             4   1  0  41         NEON TREES (849)          

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 REGINALD J. PRIEST 8027       6   4  1  33         PROTECTORS (695)          
 COMBOT 8034                   5   2  1  33         PROTECTORS (695)          
-SUBLIMINAL 5997               2   2  0  29         GRAD STUDENTS (681)       
 MR. 5 8031                    3   1  0  28         SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     
-S.O.S. 8026                   5   3  1  24         RED SECTOR A (840)        

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PRINCE 8023                   6   5  0  23         PROTECTORS (695)          
 EZ PICKENS 8032               2   2  0  22         SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 NANO INFLUENCER 8060          1   0  1  21         SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     
-DARK ARTS 8045                1   0  0  21         BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)    
 MOUNTAIN SHOT 8046            2   0  0  18         BRECKENRIDGE '26 (862)    
-ELI GILBERT 8053              1   0  0  13         MAKE IT UP (863)          
 SLIM PICKENS 8033             1   3  0   8         SNOT QUITE RIGHT (93)     
 WALL STREET 8058              0   2  0   2         THE REPUBLICANS (103)     
 TRICKLE DOWN 8059             0   2  0   2         THE REPUBLICANS (103)     

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
TRUSTWORTHY SCRI        0  0 0                      NANO INFLUENCER 8060  1048 NONE
ACORN MOTHER 8057       0  1 0 NEON TREES 849       BLACK ORC             1048 NONE
WHEEZY 8025             2  5 0 SNOT QUITE RIGHT 93  REGINALD J. PRIE 8027 1047 JUST REVENGED
PETE HAGSETH 8051       0  1 0 THE REPUBLICANS 103  COMBOT 8034           1046 REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Reginald, congrats on the kill!  Wheezy had a 4 Con and a 6 Will so it was kinda 
inevitable.  Why not just Dark Arena him?  Because we're givers.  We give so that this 
arena can take...and take...and take. Anyway, keep it up! -- Snot Quite Right

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

ACORN MOTHER was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
DUNCAN HUNTER lost to COMBOT in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud battle.
SLOW DRIP subdued REGINALD J. PRIEST in a action packed 3 minute Bloodfeud fight.
BLACKBURN was devastated by 790 in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
TRICKLE DOWN was savagely defeated by SLIM PICKENS in a 2 minute Challenge match.
CEDARBURN was vanquished by MEBIAN in a 1 minute mismatched Title fight.
WILLOW REAVER overpowered M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute gory mismatched brawl.
TED CRUZ outwaited HAPPY PEASANT in a crowd boring 8 minute expert vs. beginner melee.
BAM-BOO lost to VLAD in a 2 minute duel.
SONUVA BEECH overpowered PRINCE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
MR. 5 handily defeated SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
EZ PICKENS demolished FRIENDLY CONSTABLE in a 1 minute mismatched match.
MOUNTAIN SHOT handily defeated WALL STREET in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
NANO INFLUENCER murdered TRUSTWORTHY SCRIBE in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK                   6         PARRY-LUNGE        1 -   0 -  0     100  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-RIPOSTE     18 -   5 -  2      78  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      3         TOTAL PARRY       22 -   9 -  1      71  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         BASHING ATTACK    14 -   9 -  1      61  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         SLASHING ATTACK   16 -  13 -  1      55  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         STRIKING ATTACK   21 -  20 -  1      51  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         LUNGING ATTACK    25 -  29 -  1      46  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         WALL OF STEEL      5 -   6 -  1      45  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         AIMED BLOW         7 -  10 -  0      41  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  11 -  0       0  |

Turn 1048 was great if you    Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

TOTAL PARRY        3 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  1         4  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     5 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         2  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         1  STRIKING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  2     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1         1  SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
                                                                1  BASHING ATTACK 

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   WILLOW REAVER 7938         21  16  1   87 NEON TREES (849)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    790 8019                   10   5  0   70 PROTECTORS (695)
TOTAL PARRY      VLAD 8016                  13   4  1   63 PROTECTORS (695)
BASHING ATTACK   BAM-BOO 8021                6   2  1   53 NEON TREES (849)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is CEDARBURN 7882.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was REGINALD J. PRIEST 8027.  The ten other most popular fighters were SLIM PICKENS 
8033, BAM-BOO 8021, WILLOW REAVER 7938, COMBOT 8034, 790 8019, MEBIAN 7971, SONUVA 
BEECH 8030, MOUNTAIN SHOT 8046, NANO INFLUENCER 8060, and DUNCAN HUNTER 6634.

The least popular fighter this week was TED CRUZ 8029.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were WALL STREET 8058, PRINCE 8023, CEDARBURN 7882, ACORN MOTHER 8057, EZ 
PICKENS 8032, MR. 5 8031, VLAD 8016, TRICKLE DOWN 8059, BLACKBURN 8006, and SLOW DRIP 
7982.