DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 11/27/2006 Duedate: 12/09/2006 MORDANT ARENA DM-1 TURN-559 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS SQUIRREL NUT MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) (1-7793) [13-1-3,162] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader SQUIRREL NUT CRUDE FIST HAMMER MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) (1-7793) [13-1-3,162] (1-7643) [1-2-0,16] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite BLACK PLAGUE KEITH RICHARDS DEATH'S DOOR (129) DEATH'S DOOR (129) (1-1720) [19-17-0,97] (1-7927) [5-7-0,33] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. SHE'S CRAFTY (592) 50 2. MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) 30 SEA DOGS (575) 3. LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) 24 Unchartered Team 4. DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) 24 5. DEATH'S DOOR (129) 20 CAN I SAY THAT? (593) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 2 SEA DOGS (575) 50 29 1 63.3 1/ 1 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) 11 4 1 2/ 3 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) 52 38 5 57.8 2/ 2 SWEORDMASTERS (138) 10 3 1 3- 4 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) 38 29 4 56.7 3/ 5 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) 10 3 1 4/ 5 DEATH'S DOOR (129) 97 82 1 54.2 4/ 3 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) 10 5 1 5/ 6 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) 194 170 30 53.3 5/ 6 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) 7 8 0 6/ 8 SWEORDMASTERS (138) 438 400 56 52.3 6/ 8 SEA DOGS (575) 6 6 0 7/ 7 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! (576) 37 36 0 50.7 7/11 DEATH'S DOOR (129) 5 5 0 8/ 9 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) 351 353 40 49.9 8/ 7 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! (576) 5 7 0 9/11 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) 36 37 4 49.3 9/10 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) 5 10 0 10/12 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) 276 310 19 47.1 10- 4 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) 4 1 0 11/10 STEEL LEGION (581) 37 43 2 46.3 11/13*KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) 4 6 0 12-13 DRAGONLANCE (585) 28 33 1 45.9 12-12 WIND STORM (144) 3 1 0 13/ 0*CAN I SAY THAT? (593) 4 5 0 44.4 13-14 JGW PERISHABLE (409) 2 3 1 14-14 WIND STORM (144) 443 575 30 43.5 14/ 0*RUSTED ARMOR (603) 2 3 0 15/ 0*THE ASGARDIANS (602) 2 3 0 40.0 15/ 0*THE ASGARDIANS (602) 2 3 0 16/ 0*RUSTED ARMOR (603) 2 3 0 40.0 16- 9 DRAGONLANCE (585) 1 6 0 17/15*KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) 5 10 0 33.3 17/15 STEEL LEGION (581) 0 5 0 18-16 JGW PERISHABLE (409) 24 57 4 29.6 18/ 0*CAN I SAY THAT? (593) 0 1 0 Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT MORDANT MELODRAMA Act One by Hammer the WordSmith "A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones." -- Proverbs 14:30 Amplified Hammer surveyed the information and was satisfied to find ten other active stables besides his newly activated KLK FISTS HAMMERZ. The activation had been much swifter than the veteran manager had expected and hopefully the sack of gold coins had reached the Gladiatorial Commission in plenty of time to continue the activation. For far too long had several HAMMERZ stables languished in inactivity, but good fortune had smiled upon the veteran manager and the yearning to once again face the challenge of graduating a mediocre at best gathering of gladiators had stirred within the soul of Hammer to begin the activation with his collection of misfits in Mordant Arena. Hammer was indeed willing to send his KLK FISTS HAMMERZ onto the sands of Mordant Arena for the next several months in an effort to see which gladiators were able to overcome the rigors of facing Tourney Primed and Timed Warriors and a wealth of other gladiators much far better suited for combat than the current roster in his stable. BELCH FIST HAMMER not only provided a humorous outlook, but an equally challenging opportunity to produce a winner and/or survivor from the dregs of mediocrity that had so saturated the paper warrior. TROLL FIST HAMMER was another hard case that was better suited for fighting by torchlight, but Hammer had decided the challenge of sending this one to do battle on the sands of Mordant Arena far outweighed the simplicity of the Dark Arena. CRUDE FIST HAMMER was a case for the Jaded to analyze, but this one as well needed the right opportunity cycle in and cycle out to survive the competition. BLOOD FIST HAMMER might well prove to be the bright spot on the roster, but Time and Tourney would pass judgment either harshly or graciously on the road to graduation. BLACK FIST HAMMER was another of the historical favorites that the veteran manager was prone to sign to fight under the HAMMERZ banner. Yet another reason for Hammer to activate this stable and allow this gladiator to slice his way to graduation. Each warrior had been originally assembled to compete in the Mordant Olympics, but due to circumstances beyond the control of Hammer this stable and many others had been deactivated. Perhaps it had been for the best, but now was the time to grant these gladiators the opportunity to fight their way to graduation and glory...or die trying! Hammer Minister of War SPY REPORT It's me, The Unknown Spymaster here with my bag to give you the news on last week's fights. A stormcloud is brewing over the DRAGONLANCE guildhouse. Rumor says any more weeks like this ones 0-0-0 may send the team to the Dark Arena. Coming up with a solid 4-1-0 outing, DEATH'S DOOR has advanced 4 places in the rankings. LAB EXPERIMENTS is no joke as it posted a 4-1-0 week advancing from 5th place to 3rd place. Hey everybody, watch out for SEIUS GLABRIO, who flew up 28 points in the rankings after mashing BELY MEDVED like a melon. Keep your eye on this guy. And falling like a basher in the top ten was BELY MEDVED, who dropped 23 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with SEIUS GLABRIO. Well, everybody's pal SQUIRREL NUT moved its record to 13-1-3 by defeating COBALT in the Duelmaster's Title Bout and gaining 14 recognition points. Can you believe they are paying me 10 gold to deliver this stuff? Here is other news that is of note. Here's a song for you: Who's afraid of the big, bad LAB EXPERIMENTS? Big bad LAB EXPERIMENTS. Big bad LAB EXPERIMENTS. MORDANT's afraid of the big bad LAB EXPERIMENTS. Tra la la la la! Okay, so I may not be funny, but catch SHE'S CRAFTY's act in the arena. Those acrobats seem to be fairly deft at running from LAB EXPERIMENTS. And who is this MAKESHIFT ANCHOR you ask, with 64 points and a 13-7-0 record. Ooh, the tales I could tell! Death is kind of like a new puppy: he's always around wanting to play. (Ha Zontani, how's that for a wise saying?). AEGLOS says to his dog--'Who should I fight this week?'. Dog says 'MOUNTAIN TROLL'. So the guy dies. Moral? Put lying dogs to sleep. Knowing when to use the right tactics at the proper time is a very important step on the road to Duelmaster. Well, there's the manager of the MORDANT giving me the 'cut' sign (or is that 'They're going to strangle you in the alley?). Okay, so I may not be the world's best comedian, but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors. Its been real, and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun...-- The Unknown Spymaster DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SQUIRREL NUT 7793 13 1 3 162 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME PRODIGAL SON 7937 11 2 0 109 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) WOEBEGONE 7795 14 8 1 106 SWEORDMASTERS (138) BLACK PLAGUE 1720 19 17 0 97 DEATH'S DOOR (129) COBALT 7784 11 6 0 92 STEEL LEGION (581) BASHFUL 7899 11 4 0 92 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME CHEESE WHIZ 7821 11 4 3 86 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) GLUTIUS MAXIMUS 7906 11 5 1 86 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) SOULTANCHOR 7980 7 2 2 85 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) ENURAM 7851 12 6 3 74 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) FROZEN ROPE 7841 9 8 0 73 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) TUNGSTEN 7788 10 9 2 69 STEEL LEGION (581) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME KAZACH 7853 10 8 0 66 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) MAKESHIFT ANCHOR 7724 13 7 0 64 SEA DOGS (575) SEIUS GLABRIO 7978 5 2 1 63 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) COMICUS 7207 10 12 0 62 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) -DANYAL 7855 8 5 1 62 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) N'AZADAR 7850 11 7 2 61 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) SWEET STUFF 7966 8 2 1 57 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) FULL METAL MINX 7900 8 7 0 57 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -LAN 6724 12 18 0 54 WIND STORM (144) BALLAST 7727 8 10 0 54 SEA DOGS (575) ZIMA 7750 10 6 0 53 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! (576) PROPAGANDA 7747 7 9 0 51 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! (576) CALIS 7849 9 9 0 50 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) -FLINT FIREFORGE 7848 8 5 0 48 DRAGONLANCE (585) HORTATOR 7791 7 4 1 47 SEA DOGS (575) GOLD 7787 7 6 0 47 STEEL LEGION (581) HATCH BATTENER 8014 3 0 0 47 SEA DOGS (575) -SALAMANDER 7769 10 13 1 46 WIND STORM (144) RELLIK 7852 10 8 0 44 DESOLATE TEMPLE (586) -FEYEVER 7993 3 2 1 42 SWEORDMASTERS (138) -CONNAVAR 7858 8 6 0 41 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) FRENCH TICKLER 7930 7 6 1 41 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BELY MEDVED 7751 10 6 0 40 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! (576) -LOST SOUL 7868 6 6 2 36 JGW PERISHABLE (409) -BELTZER 7854 7 6 0 35 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) PRAESENTIUS 7996 4 2 0 35 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) -TENAKA KHAN 7940 5 4 1 34 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME LARRY KING 7893 9 6 0 33 DEATH'S DOOR (129) KEITH RICHARDS 7927 5 7 0 33 DEATH'S DOOR (129) WINDREAVER 8000 5 2 1 32 SWEORDMASTERS (138) -RAISTLIN 7845 7 6 0 29 DRAGONLANCE (585) SIMPLICITY 7995 5 3 1 28 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) CHOBAM 7913 4 5 0 27 STEEL LEGION (581) LUNG CANCER 7977 4 3 0 26 DEATH'S DOOR (129) TYPHOID MARY 7941 4 7 0 25 DEATH'S DOOR (129) CHROME 7908 3 6 0 25 STEEL LEGION (581) REAPING BEAUTY 8032 2 0 0 25 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME 12 GAUGE PIXIE 7970 2 5 1 22 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) -LOYOLA 7956 3 5 0 19 JGW PERISHABLE (409) -FEWMASTER TOEDE 7954 4 4 0 16 DRAGONLANCE (585) CRUDE FIST HAMMER 7643 1 2 0 16 KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) -FLYING BUTT...RESSES 7916 1 1 0 16 CAN I SAY THAT? (593) STEEPLEJACK 8031 2 0 0 15 SWEORDMASTERS (138) SLAP PAPPY 8021 2 1 1 13 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) BLACK FIST HAMMER 7645 2 1 0 13 KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) BLOOD FIST HAMMER 7644 2 1 0 13 KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) -ARAKIAN 8022 1 1 0 13 AGENTS OF OSIRIS (587) -HARRY KNUCKLES 8024 1 0 0 13 JGW PERISHABLE (409) -SHUCKY DARN 7920 1 0 0 11 CAN I SAY THAT? (593) TROLL FIST HAMMER 7642 0 3 0 11 KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) -BUTT...ERMILK 7918 1 0 0 10 CAN I SAY THAT? (593) AANSLOW NJORD 8030 1 0 0 10 THE ASGARDIANS (602) LARCIA 7999 2 3 0 9 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) BELCH FIST HAMMER 7641 0 3 0 9 KLK FISTS HAMMERZ (567) THUNDERSTRUCK 8039 1 0 0 8 RUSTED ARMOR (603) ASS...ININE 7919 1 2 0 5 CAN I SAY THAT? (593) MISS TEAK 8015 1 2 0 5 SEA DOGS (575) THOROR IRONHAND 8026 1 0 0 5 THE ASGARDIANS (602) CROWBARBIE 8041 1 0 0 5 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) GRUMPET 8038 1 0 0 5 RUSTED ARMOR (603) -TAS 8020 1 1 0 4 DRAGONLANCE (585) -STRICKEN 8013 0 3 0 3 JGW PERISHABLE (409) COPPERHEAD 8040 0 1 0 1 RUSTED ARMOR (603) HOT TODDY 8043 0 1 0 1 LAB EXPERIMENTS (261) TYBAL NJEK 8029 0 1 0 1 THE ASGARDIANS (602) IRONCLAD 8037 0 1 0 1 RUSTED ARMOR (603) BLACKHEART 8036 0 1 0 1 RUSTED ARMOR (603) LYSE RANN 8028 0 1 0 1 THE ASGARDIANS (602) GEOLF NJORD 8027 0 1 0 1 THE ASGARDIANS (602) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? RANIS 7846 3 6 0 DRAGONLANCE 585 SWEET STUFF 7966 555 NOT REVE LUARANA 7964 3 4 0 DRAGONLANCE 585 LOST SOUL 7868 557 VERMILION 7823 5 10 1 JGW PERISHABLE 409 SOULTANCHOR 7980 556 SLINGBLADE 7957 2 4 1 JGW PERISHABLE 409 SOULTANCHOR 7980 555 NOT REVE BLACK KETTLE 8025 0 1 0 JGW PERISHABLE 409 SLAP PAPPY 8021 557 KOMPROMAT 7997 2 6 0 LIVE FROM MOSCOW! 576 WINDREAVER 8000 559 AEGLOS 7994 5 3 0 SWEORDMASTERS 138 MOUNTAIN TROLL 563 559 NONE KANDRIS 6612 14 22 1 WIND STORM 144 WOEBEGONE 7795 555 NOT REVE THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? TARMON GAI'DON 7789 3 8 0 WIND STORM 144 N'AZADAR 7850 555 NOT REVE PERSONAL ADS Hope everyone decides to stay as Mordant is GREAT! -- Toker (smiling like Tony the Tiger) Osiris -- Diplo enroute as well as snail! We need to be ready for TW 5 over in North Fork. It looks like a lot of managers are already showing up! It will be a blast. -- D.K. Toker JGW -- I saw you in 47. Are you going to compete? I hope so, as said above it is fun. I just brought in a new team "Smoked Out!!!" over there so look me up! -- D.K. Toker Mordant Maniacs -- My apologies for having been absent for so long! My current plan is to allow this stable the opportunity to fight their way to graduation and glory! Should any die along the way their replacement will be evaluated for possible activation! -- Hammer/Minister of War Mordant Maroons -- I look forward to [BELCH] meeting and [BELCH] defeating each and every [BELCH] gladiator that has the [BELCH] misfortune of matching up with my [BELCH] fight time on the [BELCH] sands! -- BELCH FIST HAMMER 2 November 2006 I received a Gift Certificate from someone. I'm assuming it's for entry into the Turf War 5. Whoever sent this to me...please email me at rbaphomets@yahoo.com. Thanks. 10 November 2006 The Quest of the Best has come to an end. Dark Knight Toker, host of the Quest, wants to proclaim the Ultimate Victor and give a listing of prize winners. Lady Fern and her Flower Girls of the Consortium are the Ultimate Victors of the Quest. Well fought and there's nothing like coming from behind to leave us all in the dust. Can't wait to see you defend your title! (wink) Here is a complete list of managers who placed in prize positions: 1) Lady Fern, mgr. Flower Girls 2) Le Pentarque, mgr. Blood & Guts! 3) Crip, mgr. Otto's Parts 4) D.K. Heathen Hatebred, mgr. Odin's Chosen 5) Ghab, mgr. Assassin Nation 6) Fanthayne, mgr. Dark Raiders 7) D.K. Toker, mgr. Silver Knights 8) D.K. Wasby, mgr. Bronze Knights 9) The Expatriate, mgr. Bleak Legion 10) Still the Distilled, mgr. Springborne Fair Thanks to all that had the gall to show up, but I really want to thank the managers that had the mettle to survive and not run when they started getting their butt handed to them. Respect to All. Quest #1 host, Dark Knight Toker 14 November 2006 A Tale of Fusion Confusion Delusion Revolution as told by Hammer the WordSmith SomeWhere Beyond ElseWhere and ElseWhen a hooded figure brooded upon the lingering wisps of memory from days gone by. From the howling sands to the sanding howls the streams of thought bubbled and flowed, winding endlessly entwined within the darkest recesses and lightest resources of the learned and unlearned disciplines of managerial mayhem and manipulation. Nameless faces and faceless names floated in the swirling mists of madness embalmed within the memories of one who knew he did not know how far reaching the influences [both positive and negative] had rooted and flowered in the march of time and energy expended in the historical markings of gladiatorial essence and excellence experience. The tamed and the untamed coupled with the named and the unnamed resources that spilt their sweat and blood on the sands of arenas both known and unknown had metamorphosed into the dreamings and the schemings of the fadings of jadings and paradings [in both public and private] amongst the elite and the indiscreet posturings and babblings of managers becoming legends in their own minds and times. Hammer pondered upon beginnings and the seemingly endless myriad of endings possibly possible among the interspersed and intertwined impossible possibilities presently past and future. Echoing and reechoing in the vast depths and countless compartments along the corridors of his mind, Hammer played and replayed the glories shared and dared in the sixty-plus stabled arena on fabled Noblish Island DM 93. The training had been all too brief, but the competition generated by the multi faceted personages inhabiting DM 93 and the sheer multitude of numbers had forever instilled themselves in the heart and soul of the veteran manager [Hammer]; insomuch that the migration to Niatoli Island DM 33 triggered the desire to emulate the glory and the grandeur of the spectacle of stables vying for recognition from among the virtually numberless no-name newbies making names for themselves as they numbered their stables and accomplishments for all to see and behold, to the song and the sound of the sight of clashing cold cruel steel simmering the flesh of gallant gladiators consumed by the gory and the glory of crossing blades with the superior and the inferior within the interior of Greywand's Global Gladiatorial Galaxy. Far far ago and long long away had many abandoned hope for a return to the reminiscences revered by so many managers; predating even the generations of gladiators graduating from Noblish Island and the years of yore and gore and gallantry before. Rumblings and mumblings of a renovation rejuvenating the reflexes of managers numbed by the numberless trysts of tourney tarnished stables began revolutionizing the very fabric of time and space and time-honored tradition throughout the ranks of visionary newbies and volatile veterans alike and dislike. History was being shaken to the core of the gore as glory and grandeur responded to the revelry reverie revelations and reveille revolutionizing the creation of a new arena in the making; populated by No-Tourney Warriors and Full Stable Participants pledging to forge a new vision version of "The Fiercest and Best" for crossing blades and crosser banter in the personal ads and team spotlight tomes. Now was the time for Hammer to emerge and once again merge his talent among the gifted and grifted; answering the call to assemble the drifted [and to directly divulge and converge with the dozens] for the destiny of destructive denizens determined to build a new legacy upon the all-but-forgotten ashes of the old and olden legends of times lost. [TIME JUMP] Hammer sifted the sands in the dead of night in the desert reaches [located SomeWhere BeYond ElseWhere and ElseWhen] to discover 5 gladiators not tourney worthy, yet interesting enough to begin their careers in a No-Tourney Arena! "They need not be dispatched to the Dark Arena," the veteran manager mused as he sorted through paperwork long discarded and vaguely forgotten, "because there is nothing like a good Blood Feud to provide inspiration for writing personal ads in the arena newsletter! Besides, there are times when the replacement for a warrior wounded mortally on the arena sands fares much better than the one exchanged from Torch Light!" Fights by Torch Light were certainly deemed unnecessary as Hammer had already deduced that a number of determined stables would undoubtedly congregate with High Octane Warriors under the guidance of Higher Octane Managers to populate and depopulate the new No-Tourney Arena currently under construction in DM 81. Fortunately his feeble foray into the desert would yield somewhat suitable candidates for the newfound purposes Hammer had in mind. From among the candidates to be found Hammer would be rewarded in time by BLOODFEUDS and REPLACEMENT WARRIORS aplenty! Deep into the night Hammer searched and searched until five not-so-promising stables were uncovered in the waning hours before dawn. Ripper discards were scattered far and wide, but this was not the time or the hour to let sentimental views cloud the issue at hand. Future events would lend themselves to a suitable Ripper replacement, especially with the prospects Hammer was now sorting for his selection decision to dispatch to the Gladiatorial Commission for processing. Most managers have the luxury of selecting the best group [or discarding the worst group!] Hammer had the novelty of rounding up the castaways from the New Stables paperwork accumulated long ago from Maximillian's Morya Madness contest in DM 28 that were deemed below inferior as contest prizes [and thus banished from sight!] Hammer scrutinized and agonized over which group of gladiators were worth the sacks of gold coins he was prepared to release to the Gladiatorial Commission for fees to MAINTENANCE his new stable in the No-Tourney Arena. After what seemed like long hours passing by, Hammer discarded one and then another group of hopefuls. After lengthy debate a third was cast aside. Deciding between the final two groups found Hammer going back to interview the rejected candidates time and time again [until a final decision was made that Hammer could live with and his new stable could die with!] before the final quirks were hammered out and pen put to paper to process the prospective puny stable with the Gladiatorial Commission. The only solace gained from the painful process was the knowledge that other managers would be less tempted to run stables in DM 81 populated by their tourney- worthy warriors [under the penalty of death imposed and enforced upon tourney experienced gladiators by the Committee being formed to police and regulate such matters!] as sworn to and signed in good faith by each registering manager. [TIME JUMP] Hammer had worked long and hard to find suitable candidates for his stable and now it was time to begin their training. The paperwork had been dispatched for registration with the Gladiatorial Commission and now was the hour in which preparation was paramount! Dispatch riders had arrived with the news that Considerable Bounty was being offered as incentive rewards to those managers sending new stables to the No-Tourney Arena. Hammer realized this would Up the Ante [causing greater pause in the managerial community for selecting suitable stables!] as the creative competition was certain to escalate and produce Serious Sword Slinging Stables Staining the Arena Sands Red! Obviously a serious upgrade in the quality of competition migrating to the No- Tourney Arena in DM 81 would definitely work in favor of Hammer; enormously increasing the death toll percentage potential amongst the ranks of his new start-up stable in DM 81 [Sands Running Red and Blood Feuds Running Rampant as Undoubtedly Expected!] Hammer observed the futility of his new warriors training [as well as they could for what they were made from!] while recent memories came to the forefront of his mind! When the paperwork was nearly completed and names were selected for each Gladiator, Hammer decided to name the stable according to what he had discovered in the darkness while searching during the dismal hours of the desert night. These warriors would probably be more well suited to fight by Torch Light had they fallen into the possession of most other managers! Paper Warriors better suited to confronting Dark Arena Monsters [rather than being fed to the Gladiatorial Lions certain to be populating the regular No-Tourney Arena!] Specimens blatantly better suited for feeding upon agitated armadillo ants than for striving to attain recognition and fame in the No-Tourney Arena [or any arena!] Thus was AARDVARK HAMMERZ birthed and born for Greatness or Disgrace! [TIME JUMP] Dispatch riders on winged steeds brought the news Hammer had been awaiting! Not since the days of training on Noblish Island in DM 93 had Hammer encountered such collective enthusiasm for crossing blades in a selected arena such as DM 81 [recalling the time Hammer generated a gathering of newbies to transfer to Niatoli Island in DM 33 to match wits and cross blades with the assembling veterans upon graduation!] The Consortium had represented the veterans well in DM 33 with the SWEETNESS stable managed by Sweety Pie. Now the good news had arrived that The Consortium was seen registering a stable named LIFE IMPACTS in the No-Tourney Arena! Former alliance mates Darque and Kat had reportedly registered DARQUE AGES and KATHOUSE with the Gladiatorial Commission. Morya Madness combatant LePentarque from DM 28 had registered LA PENTARCHIE and longtime fixture Drake in North Fork DM 47 [recently returned from a lengthy hiatus] had been lured by the competition to register DRAKE'S HARDWARE. Deke [at the helm of DOC LEGRAND'S LAB] was instrumental in promoting the No- Tourney Arena by repeatedly negotiating terms with the Gladiatorial Commission. Others had laid the groundwork before him, but Deke raised the banner and carried it the final distance [Supported by Countless Managers too numerous to mention!] Salute Yourselves for Your Efforts are Most Graciously Applauded throughout Alastari! Apex had signed in with CAROLINA BLUE as had Ghab with ASSASSIN NATION. Another familiar name was found on the rolls as DeGotti registered CULT OF BACCHUS followed by DOOM KNIGHTS managed by Blackstorm. Also on the rolls to be noted were AS SEEN ON TV II managed by Indimar and RAGNAROK'S WOLVES by none other than ragnorokwolf. Nomad had signed on with PHANTOM REGIMENT and Silas followed suit with GRIFFONRAWL MMA. Another notable signature was that of MasterBeru with CHILDHOOD HEROES and a penchant for scribing Team Spotlights [A Plus in Any Arena!] Detective Kellumbo had followed the clues and was observed enroute to registering a yet unannounced stable [such are the ways of sleuthhounds and such!] Rumor had it that the manager known as Roadkill was on his way to register a stable after his namesake and Slugbait was close behind [obliviously lost in thought!] Finally [in no particular disorder!] managers Grimm, Woody, Terminator, Den and Bill were also seen elbowing their way through the gathering registration crowd to officially announce their participation in the No-Tourney Arena. COUNTLESS OTHER MANAGERS were known to be pondering the consequences of sending stables to a No-Tourney Arena and had yet to make the commitment public knowledge as to their intentions. Howbeit the Gladiatorial Commission was reportedly swamped with requests for New Stable Registration Forms [whether for the Tempe Facer or No-Tourney Arena was anybody's guess at the present time!] Judging from the furtive figures darting and ducking in the shadows and alleyways throughout Alastari [as well as those huddled in taverns or communicating with one another by various means available!] the success of such a No-Tourney Arena was Ballooning far Beyond the Expectations of the Promoters and Petitioners Bar None! HAMMER WAS UNDERSTANDABLY ENTHUSED BEYOND MEASURE BECAUSE the No-Tourney Arena had the Best Potential for attracting and assembling a congregation of competitors rivaling the numbers of Noblish Island from days gone by! JANUARY 2007 MARKS THE BEGINNING of a Journey where both Newbies and Veterans join together in a Historic Assemblage Celebrating the Crossing of Blades between some of the Best Managed Stables in all of Alastari [Known and Unknown!] "May Your Blades Be Sharp and Your Wits Sharper" Hammer Minister of War LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS AEGLOS was butchered by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. PRODIGAL SON devastated GLUTIUS MAXIMUS in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel. SOULTANCHOR overpowered COMICUS in a 1 minute bloody mismatched Challenge duel. ENURAM overpowered ZIMA in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight. KAZACH viciously subdued MAKESHIFT ANCHOR in a 3 minute expert's Challenge brawl. 12 GAUGE PIXIE was narrowly defeated by PRAESENTIUS in a 2 minute Challenge brawl. STEEPLEJACK defeated TROLL FIST HAMMER in a 1 minute Challenge melee. REAPING BEAUTY vanquished BLOOD FIST HAMMER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel. SQUIRREL NUT vanquished COBALT in a 1 minute gruesome uneven Title fight. WOEBEGONE overpowered CAPTAIN ELOY in a action packed 1 minute gory one-sided fight. TUNGSTEN was overpowered by BLACK PLAGUE in a 1 minute bloody one-sided match. CHEESE WHIZ viciously subdued N'AZADAR in a exciting 1 minute brutal contest. FROZEN ROPE was devastated by BASHFUL in a 1 minute mismatched bout. BELY MEDVED was handily defeated by SEIUS GLABRIO in a popular 1 minute uneven fight. HORTATOR was unbelievably bested by FULL METAL MINX in a action packed 2 minute duel. BALLAST beat KEITH RICHARDS in a crowd pleasing 5 minute brawl. SWEET STUFF unbelievably bested CALIS in a exciting 2 minute fight. GOLD was demolished by HATCH BATTENER in a 1 minute one-sided bout. RELLIK was overpowered by PROPAGANDA in a 1 minute mismatched fight. SIMPLICITY bested CHROME in a popular 5 minute contest. LARRY KING outlasted BELCH FIST HAMMER in a monotonous 15 minute duel. WINDREAVER executed KOMPROMAT in a 1 minute uneven fray. FRENCH TICKLER handily defeated CHOBAM in a 1 minute one-sided contest. TYPHOID MARY subdued MISS TEAK in a 2 minute veteran vs. beginner fight. LUNG CANCER beat SLAP PAPPY in a 1 minute fight. CRUDE FIST HAMMER slimly won victory over ASS...ININE in a 2 minute gory fight. BLACK FIST HAMMER narrowly defeated HOT TODDY in a 3 minute gruesome novice's melee. LARCIA overcame IRONCLAD in a 1 minute beginner's bout. LYSE RANN was beaten by THUNDERSTRUCK in a exciting 2 minute beginner's competition. TYBAL NJEK was defeated by GRUMPET in a 3 minute beginner's fight. AANSLOW NJORD handily defeated BLACKHEART in a 1 minute one-sided fight. GEOLF NJORD was savagely defeated by CROWBARBIE in a tiresome 7 minute novice's fight. THOROR IRONHAND luckily beat COPPERHEAD in a 2 minute bloody novice's fray. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 16 AIMED BLOW 46 - 31 - 2 60 | |BASHING ATTACK 10 STRIKING ATTACK 50 - 34 - 7 60 | |TOTAL PARRY 9 TOTAL PARRY 44 - 38 - 3 54 | |STRIKING ATTACK 8 LUNGING ATTACK 93 - 82 - 10 53 | |AIMED BLOW 8 WALL OF STEEL 35 - 31 - 4 53 | |WALL OF STEEL 5 PARRY-LUNGE 9 - 9 - 0 50 | |SLASHING ATTACK 4 BASHING ATTACK 44 - 49 - 5 47 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 15 - 1 42 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 SLASHING ATTACK 18 - 44 - 1 29 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 5 - 0 29 | Turn 559 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: PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 7 - 9 3 STRIKING ATTACK PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 2 - 3 2 AIMED BLOW TOTAL PARRY 6 - 3 AIMED BLOW 3 - 5 2 BASHING ATTACK STRIKING ATTACK 5 - 3 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 3 1 PARRY-STRIKE BASHING ATTACK 5 - 5 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 1 SLASHING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL 1 LUNGING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME STRIKING ATTACK SQUIRREL NUT 7793 13 1 3 162 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) AIMED BLOW PRODIGAL SON 7937 11 2 0 109 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) PARRY-STRIKE BLACK PLAGUE 1720 19 17 0 97 DEATH'S DOOR (129) SLASHING ATTACK COBALT 7784 11 6 0 92 STEEL LEGION (581) FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME BASHING ATTACK BASHFUL 7899 11 4 0 92 SHE'S CRAFTY (592) WALL OF STEEL GLUTIUS MAXIMUS 7906 11 5 1 86 ROMAN EMPIRE (531) LUNGING ATTACK FROZEN ROPE 7841 9 8 0 73 MANNEQUIN'S BEST (537) TOTAL PARRY MAKESHIFT ANCHOR 7724 13 7 0 64 SEA DOGS (575) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is BLACK PLAGUE 1720. The most popular warrior this turn was KEITH RICHARDS 7927. The ten other most popular fighters were CHROME 7908, CALIS 7849, THUNDERSTRUCK 8039, KAZACH 7853, HORTATOR 7791, PRAESENTIUS 7996, WOEBEGONE 7795, CHEESE WHIZ 7821, TYPHOID MARY 7941, and ASS...ININE 7919. The least popular fighter this week was BELCH FIST HAMMER 7641. The other ten least popular fighters were LARRY KING 7893, GEOLF NJORD 8027, CROWBARBIE 8041, BLACKHEART 8036, GRUMPET 8038, LYSE RANN 8028, CHOBAM 7913, KOMPROMAT 7997, RELLIK 7852, and GOLD 7787.