DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 02/24/2005 Duedate: 03/09/2005 OSKSI ARENA DM-3 TURN-521 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS SUNBURN SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) (3-6345) [13-4-1,136] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader SUNBURN THE SUN SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) BRIGHT (578) (3-6345) [13-4-1,136] (3-6307) [4-1-0,66] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite THE GOALIE HAPPY APPLE GAMES LIBRARY (340) FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) (3-6229) [10-42-0,81] (3-6492) [3-2-1,41] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. BRIGHT (578) 59 2. AESIR (164) 39 OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) 3. OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) 27 Unchartered Team 4. VEGGIES (591) 17 5. SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) 12 BRIGHT (578) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 4 OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) 12 4 0 75.0 1/ 1 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) 10 5 0 2/ 3 VEGGIES (591) 34 12 1 73.9 2/ 4 AESIR (164) 7 8 0 3/ 2 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) 73 28 4 72.3 3/ 2 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) 6 6 1 4/ 5 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) 141 97 8 59.2 4/ 5 VEGGIES (591) 5 3 0 5/ 6 THE NUKES (580) 79 58 6 57.7 5/ 3 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) 5 5 0 6/ 7 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) 162 122 10 57.0 6/ 7 GAMES LIBRARY (340) 5 10 0 7- 8*ARENA FELINES (592) 5 4 0 55.6 7/ 6*BRIGHT (578) 4 6 0 8/ 9 AESIR (164) 606 598 42 50.3 8/10 OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) 3 1 0 9/10*BRIGHT (578) 14 15 1 48.3 9/11 THE NUKES (580) 2 1 0 10/11 GAMES LIBRARY (340) 365 603 8 37.7 10- 9*ARENA FELINES (592) 1 0 0 11/ 0 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) 90 158 3 36.3 11/ 0 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) 0 1 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===DELARQUAN REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 1 MORDANT (turn 515): DARK HELM of BLOOD OF THE SPIDER (DeGotti, mgr.) DM 2 NIANIA (turn 401): NELLISTHA of THE GOLDEN FISH (Nick, mgr.) DM 3 OSKSI (turn 520): SUNBURN of SIMPLY DESSERTS (Sweet Tooth, mgr.) DM 4 JHELUM (turn 516): ARCANE RAIDER of THE MOTHERSHIP 5 (Floyd, mgr.) DM 5 KALTOS (turn 515): JOHN TYLER of I'M HISTORY (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 519): SATAN CLAUS of HOLIDAY HORRORS (The Dark One, mgr.) DM 7 BONSUR (turn 517): GOKU of WASTELAND II (The Muffin Man, mgr.) DM 10 KOLACT (turn 511): QUIFF of QUBIT (Sultan, mgr.) DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 503): BULMA of WASTELAND (The Muffin Man, mgr.) DM 21 SUNSET (turn 502): RONALD REAGAN of SONS OF SATAN (Damion, mgr.) DM 36 COSMOWORLD (turn 476): SANDPAPER CONDOM of MEMPHIS MAFIA II (Talon Darkhart) DM 38 CLIFFHOME (turn 467): DARK TYPHLOSION of FIRE DECK (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 204): HOMEY CIDE of CRIMINAL ELEMENT (Fizban, mgr.) DM 42 RODEKI (turn 453): RONALD MCDONALD of CLOWNING AROUND (Assurnasirbanipal) DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 402): HANNAH of AMAZON ELITE (Doc Miracle, mgr.) DM 54 TROCAR (turn 191): DAROSHTAN of TRADERS OF TROCAR (Jinda, mgr.) DM 59 ILLIS (turn 179): DUFF of ISLANDERS (Nick, mgr.) DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 351): ALTA CHESS of MIDDLE WAY 10 (Nick, mgr.) DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 156): ORPHAN of X-POSSE (Savant, mgr.) ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 395): WHIRLING WORD of 4-LETTER WORDS from CAER (TUM, mgr.) Top Teams --------- DM 1 MORDANT (turn 515): SWEORDMASTERS (Mannequin, mgr.) DM 2 NIANIA (turn 401): THE GOLDEN FISH (Nick, mgr.) DM 3 OSKSI (turn 520): OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.) DM 4 JHELUM (turn 516): LOTHLORIEN (Mithrandir, mgr.) DM 5 KALTOS (turn 515): I'M HISTORY (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 519): HOLIDAY HORRORS (The Dark One, mgr.) DM 7 BONSUR (turn 517): UNDER JOLLY ROGER (Huckle Cat, mgr.) DM 10 KOLACT (turn 511): TERRAPIN STATION (Floyd, mgr.) DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 503): WASTELAND (The Muffin Man, mgr.) DM 21 SUNSET (turn 502): GRIM FANDANGO (Stik, mgr.) DM 36 COSMOWORLD (turn 476): HELTER SKELTER (Cosmo, mgr.) DM 38 CLIFFHOME (turn 467): JINDA-BAN (Nick, mgr.) DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 204): CRIMINAL ELEMENT (Fizban, mgr.) DM 42 RODEKI (turn 453): FLAGG'S FIVE (Flagg, mgr.) DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 402): AMAZON ELITE (Doc Miracle, mgr.) DM 54 TROCAR (turn 191): TRADERS OF TROCAR (Jinda, mgr.) DM 59 ILLIS (turn 179): SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.) DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 351): MIDDLE WAY 10 (Nick, mgr.) DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 156): X-POSSE (Savant, mgr.) ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 395): ODD SQUAD, etc. (Doc Steele, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 1 MORDANT (turn 514): AEGLOS of SWEORDMASTERS (Mannequin, mgr.) DM 3 OSKSI (turn 519): GREEN BEAN of VEGGIES (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.) DM 4 JHELUM (turn 516): DREAMER of DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.) DM 5 KALTOS (turn 514): FREDERICK DOUGLASS of I'M HISTORY (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) MANUTE BOL of LARGE LOSERS (The Muffin Man, mgr.) DM 10 KOLACT (turn 510): CYCLONE of THUNDERSTRIKERS (Zeus, mgr.) DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 503): LE PAIN DLG of PENTARCHIE-18 (The Pentalque, mgr.) (turn 502): BRICKTOP of WASTELAND (The Muffin Man, mgr.) DM 21 SUNSET (turn 502): RONALD REAGAN of SONS OF SATAN (Damion, mgr.) (turn 501): POISON BEAK (21-5827) CARNAGE CANARIES (147) DM 36 COSMOWORLD (turn 475): KERRY BEAR of BLITZKRIEG (Polarius, mgr.) KILL'EM KREPP of ANARKYSTS (Iver, mgr.) DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 204): HOMEY CIDE of CRIMINAL ELEMENT (Fizban, mgr.) DM 42 RODEKI (turn 453): RONALD MCDONALD of CLOWNING AROUND (Assurnasirbanipal) DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 402): HANNAH of AMAZON ELITE (Doc Miracle, mgr.) DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 350): TRAIN of PUBLIC TRANSIT (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.) DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 155): CANNONBALL of X-POSSE (Savant, mgr.) SPY REPORT Well, what are you looking at, OSKSI? Ain't you never seen Snide Clemens before? Ah, shaddup and listen to my news. Of course, we're all terribly impressed to see STEPHEN HAWKING win a fight and gain 26 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk, STEPHEN HAWKING beat SOLDIER #3 and SOLDIER #3 lost 21 points. You're breakin' my heart. SUNBURN challenged BRUENOR for OSKSI's Title this turn, and guess what happened? And if variety is the spice of life, OSKSI may be getting bland, as SUNBURN stays top dog in the city. The Elefont, humph! I've tasted better ale at mortuaries. Where do they get this stuff? From OSKSI's trash dumps? Well, let's take a look at some more misdeeds of you miserable sword-boys. OSKSI, I am losing what little hope I had in you. AESIR the most avoided team? What insult will suffice, I cannot say. And who led the way in this mass act of cowardice? Let's see, well, whatcha know? It was SIMPLY DESSERTS. Ha ha ha ha! Ooh, I'm frightfully impressed, HEARTS was this turn's most challenged warrior. Watch that ego swell, sports fans. Some people like volunteer work in the hospitals. I volunteer for OSKSI's morgue. More variety. We're all going to die in the end, so why worry if the fate catches up with you sooner that later? I was about to buy a new quill pen the other day, but some fighter took it for an epee. Forgive me for writing with a dagger. Just wait 'till next time I show up here, I won't be so nice! So nyaaah! I see the crowds are getting restless, I must leave now-- Snide Clemens DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SUNBURN 6345 13 4 1 136 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME GOMER 6326 28 9 1 112 THE NUKES (580) SAGA 6447 11 7 0 103 AESIR (164) WOLF SPIDER 6324 15 7 1 100 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) -DAT NGUYEN 6216 19 22 0 97 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) BRUENOR 6420 13 10 1 95 AESIR (164) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME CARROT 6416 12 4 0 85 VEGGIES (591) THE GOALIE 6229 10 42 0 81 GAMES LIBRARY (340) NOT HOYLE 6208 11 43 0 76 GAMES LIBRARY (340) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME THE SUN 6307 4 1 0 66 BRIGHT (578) GWENNOLAS 5592 7 0 0 59 OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -A CANDLE 6303 5 1 0 53 BRIGHT (578) SQUASH 6418 12 5 0 51 VEGGIES (591) STEPHEN HAWKING 6451 5 2 1 51 BRIGHT (578) HEMOGLOBIN 6158 7 1 0 50 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) SOLDIER #2 6226 6 2 1 44 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) BENEICO 5457 4 2 0 44 OF WOLF AND MAN 3 (481) -DIANE MACK 6435 5 5 0 42 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) HAPPY APPLE 6492 3 2 1 41 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) SOLDIER #4 6499 3 2 1 40 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) -TIGER BEAT U 6425 5 0 0 35 ARENA FELINES (592) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -JEFF DUNKLE 6391 6 9 0 34 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) OTIS 6501 3 2 1 34 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SAND CRAWLER 6434 4 4 0 31 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) HEARTS 6485 4 10 0 31 GAMES LIBRARY (340) KEG STAND 5754 5 3 0 30 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) SOLDIER #3 6251 6 2 1 28 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) -FLAGPOLE PANTIES 5968 3 1 0 27 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ALFJAR 6512 2 0 0 20 AESIR (164) ETERNAL D.J. 5931 4 4 0 19 FRAT PARTY BLOWOUT (253) SOLDIER #1 6521 1 0 0 15 OUR HIGHEST HONOR (563) HULDRA 6523 1 0 0 14 AESIR (164) RAY MORAN 6436 1 10 0 13 AMERICAN APPRAISAL (559) KRAKI 6511 1 1 0 12 AESIR (164) MUMBLEDY PEG 6510 2 1 0 9 GAMES LIBRARY (340) PENCIL NECK 6515 1 1 0 4 GAMES LIBRARY (340) -KRAZY KITTEN 6426 0 4 0 4 ARENA FELINES (592) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? SPOTLIGHT 6489 0 5 0 BRIGHT 578 LORD ISKOVEN 627 521 NONE JOKER 6466 2 13 0 GAMES LIBRARY 340 HAPPY APPLE 6492 519 PERSONAL ADS Simply Desserts -- Sorry I wasn't available for the rematch, but Assur had other plans. On the other hand, I doubt it would have helped you. I ran open almost my entire career. I was fast enough that Assur didn't bother with the decise tactic. I truly wish I had been around, because Stone Golem just wasn't very nice to me! Skills ended up being: 30/17/34/18/16/27 -- Green Bean Wolf Spider -- Aw, you're such a cute, furry little thing, why'd you have to go and bite me? -- The Goalie Carrot -- I'm not talking to you. I'm sulking. You are not a good veggie. Bad veggie, BAD. -- Not Hoyle and not happy Sand Crawler -- You're mis-named, dear. You don't crawl, you leap. That is false advertising, and I think you should do something about it. -- Hearts Spotlight -- Ha! Uh...ha! Ha! -- Pencil Neck Spotlight -- What Pencil Neck is trying to say, in his inimitable way, is that he didn't expect to win that fight, not being the muscular, fighting type. I'm sure that if your wiring had been properly grounded, you would have done fine. -- Hearts Kraki -- Oh, cheese, my hand slipped. I usually don't stab the people I'm playing with. Honest! -- Mumbledy Peg P.S. Your name wouldn't happen to be Hrolf among friends, would it? 31 January 2005 My fellow duelists I come before you bearing a sad and unfortunate message. Several months ago our group, the Vendetta Cartel, had lost contact with one of our friends. Since he was in contact or correspondence on an almost daily basis there was concern amongst us. With some research two of our members discovered why contact was lost with him. On November 10, 2004, Richard Hammes was taken from us in a senseless act of violence during a robbery attempt at a friend's store where he sometimes worked. He was watching the store so his friend could go home to tend to his son who had taken ill. You may have known Rich as Abarsis, The Slaughter Priest ; richh10 on the RT; or gameogre on the Duel2 messageboard. You may not have known that he spent 13 years serving the United States in the Navy. Rich dearly loved this game and all it encompassed. He may not have been the best or most experienced manager but he loved to interact with others and was quick to offer advice whenever anyone asked for help. He was always kind and gracious and tried to strengthen our game, often by helping new players feel welcome or give them a chance to compete. With his prolific posting I know that I am simply speaking the obvious about what he did for our game. Many, like me, were drawn to him, perhaps for his kind nature or his sense of humor, and it appears he lived his life as he played this game. Always willing to help or do right by others. I realize that he had many friends outside the VC so I will include the link to the news story in case any of his other friends would like to know more of what happened. We're all dealt a hand in life but it's not the strength of the hand you're dealt but rather how you play it that really matters. Rich played his hand to the very best of his human ability and for this I admire him greatly. I know we all choose to like or dislike managers but I believe deep down we are all good and decent, in this game, and will drop party (alliance) lines and will show the proper respect. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041112/news_7m12clerk.html Rich was taken from us all to soon and with so much left to offer the community around him. He spoke of a desire to run a contest on the Duel2 site which I hope to uphold in his name. Some of the people I have spoken with think it would be a nice gesture to do one final good act in Rich's name, though it could never match what he would've done within his community, for his community of San Diego. I hope that with this contest we might raise a little money to donate to an appropriate charity within San Diego in his name. In conclusion I send a message to Rich: "Rich, though I'm sure you gathered this I never really told you how much I admired you and what a friend I considered you. I thank you for being my voice of reason and always reminding me of why we both loved this game so much! You have taught me one final valuable lesson in learning more of you. There are things far more valuable in life than material possessions such as character and kindness. That nothing going on in your life means that you cannot find a way to be kind and giving to others. We always spoke of meeting someday and until we finally do know that you will live on in with me and the rest of your brothers and sisters in the Cartel: Master Darque, Kat, Bum, Sensei Jan, Maximillian, Hammer, Fizban, Firehawk, Phat Phat. You increased all of our enjoyment of this game, you were a true ambassador of Duelmasters, and the game will not be quite the same without you. A farewell battle cry from the ZalCon: 'Confusion to our enemies'. May your soul rest in peace, my friend." Should anyone wish to correspond about Rich feel free to contact myself, or anyone else within the Vendetta Cartel. Street Legal Jeff Bura The Death Squad(63) in Tobir or triumph1971@hotmail.com 31 January 2005 Be it known throughout Alastari that Hammer is no longer a member of the Vendetta Cartel alliance. A difference of opinion with another highly respected member of the VC due to my recent vocal actions in DM 47 can only be resolved by my resignation from the VC as of January 29, 2005. I leave of my own accord, in good standing with all members and with no hard feelings towards anyone in the Vendetta Cartel. There was a time when I felt that my membership in the VC made the alliance stronger. I know that my resignation today makes the Vendetta Cartel a stronger alliance with my absence. -- Hammer 1 February 2005 St. Valentine's Massacre update My apologies, the Kill Contest starting on turn 476 in Jhans will run for 10 (ten) turns ending on turn number 486. Azrael 5 February 2005 On behalf of the ILLUMINATI Confederation of Alliances (The kLk, CHAOS, Inc. and The Company of Brothers) I would like to express our sympathies concerning the tragic loss of Rich Hammes to both the DM community and to the real life world. Surely our loss has been Heaven's gain. -- Talon Darkhart, deeply sorrowful kLk God of War, Illuminati Alliance, Puppetmaster LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS SPOTLIGHT was butchered by LORD ISKOVEN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. SUNBURN viciously subdued BRUENOR in a action packed 1 minute Challenge Title battle. WOLF SPIDER was defeated by GOMER in a 2 minute master's Challenge duel. CARROT bested NOT HOYLE in a exciting 1 minute veteran's Challenge fight. HAPPY APPLE was devastated by GWENNOLAS in a popular 2 minute uneven Challenge brawl. SQUASH devastated KEG STAND in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match. ETERNAL D.J. was overcome by HEARTS in a action packed 3 minute Challenge fight. ALFJAR won victory over MUMBLEDY PEG in a 1 minute beginner's Challenge duel. SAGA overpowered THE GOALIE in a 1 minute gory uneven duel. SOLDIER #2 was overpowered by THE SUN in a 1 minute uneven match. HEMOGLOBIN beat SAND CRAWLER in a 2 minute brutal fight. SOLDIER #3 was demolished by STEPHEN HAWKING in a 1 minute mismatched competition. OTIS slimly lost to BENEICO in a 2 minute novice vs. master battle. SOLDIER #4 overpowered FRATSFA SLAVE in a 1 minute mismatched conflict. RAY MORAN was defeated by KRAKI in a 5 minute veteran vs. amateur upset duel. PENCIL NECK was vanquished by SOLDIER #1 in a 1 minute one-sided fray. HULDRA outwaited EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 8 minute amateur's brawl. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 10 STRIKING ATTACK 29 - 16 - 2 64 | |STRIKING ATTACK 4 LUNGING ATTACK 36 - 21 - 4 63 | |BASHING ATTACK 3 BASHING ATTACK 28 - 22 - 1 56 | |TOTAL PARRY 3 TOTAL PARRY 5 - 4 - 1 56 | |WALL OF STEEL 3 AIMED BLOW 12 - 10 - 0 55 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 4 - 0 50 | |SLASHING ATTACK 2 WALL OF STEEL 12 - 12 - 0 50 | |AIMED BLOW 2 SLASHING ATTACK 9 - 10 - 0 47 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 11 - 0 35 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 10 - 0 0 | Turn 521 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: BASHING ATTACK 3 - 0 STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 3 3 LUNGING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 2 - 1 AIMED BLOW 0 - 2 2 STRIKING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 2 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 BASHING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 6 - 4 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 2 WALL OF STEEL PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME STRIKING ATTACK SUNBURN 6345 13 4 1 136 SIMPLY DESSERTS (555) PARRY-RIPOSTE GOMER 6326 28 9 1 112 THE NUKES (580) FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK SAGA 6447 11 7 0 103 AESIR (164) WALL OF STEEL BRUENOR 6420 13 10 1 95 AESIR (164) BASHING ATTACK CARROT 6416 12 4 0 85 VEGGIES (591) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is THE GOALIE 6229. The most popular warrior this turn was HAPPY APPLE 6492. The ten other most popular fighters were HEARTS 6485, ETERNAL D.J. 5931, SUNBURN 6345, WOLF SPIDER 6324, CARROT 6416, SAND CRAWLER 6434, GOMER 6326, BENEICO 5457, GWENNOLAS 5592, and SQUASH 6418. The least popular fighter this week was HULDRA 6523. The other ten least popular fighters were KRAKI 6511, PENCIL NECK 6515, SOLDIER #3 6251, SOLDIER #2 6226, KEG STAND 5754, BRUENOR 6420, SPOTLIGHT 6489, RAY MORAN 6436, SOLDIER #4 6499, and THE GOALIE 6229. Name-Change-O-Rama The winter tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there normally. This included Commission employees. Half a dozen arenamasters regarded each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack. The Pig was obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking for. They saw gladiators every day. Most arenamaster were convinced that this was some kind of punishment. You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd. There were superficial differences: One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two were female. But there were, in significant ways, alike. The same size, the same hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness. The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute. "I'm Zrof One- Eye from Zukal. Sugar of Arvat--" One of the women bowed slightly. "I know Sugar. The rest of you...?" The Adantri matched his salute. "Dernal of Dayla Kiv." "Daiyla Kiv? Ah...." "No, without the 'I' in it. These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic." Disgust dripped from his voice. "Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement. "Khagal of Niatoli, and what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!" "I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now," Arenamistress Sugar said. "The arena, at least, because of a contest?" "Chavez Ravine." Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company for spitting on the floor. Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness. He wouldn't have minded a contest in Zukal, and damn what they called the place. "It's only temporary, though." "Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered. He seemed well into his drinking, although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well. "They do it all the time in Aradi. No reshpect. Go around changing thish, changing that. I wish I could change shome thingsh." He signalled the bartender for a refill. The second woman put her hand over his mug. "You've had enough, Harkon. Try the coffee, instead." "You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said. "They're going to do shtuff like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?" Ripples Dorrigan shrugged. All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to watch. "It's the way things are," she said. "Not much we can do about it." "You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes. Fix the spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--" "The Commission hates changes." Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and drained it gloomily. "Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a general Name-Change-O-Rama! Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would notice or mind." *-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------* By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of March. If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please contact RSI Customer Service. The charge for a name change is $1, unless you're in DOOMCorps, in which case you take your chances. (Just kidding, guys! *snicker*)