DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 10/14/2005 Duedate: 10/27/2005 ARUAK CITY ARENA DM-11 TURN-526 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS ALMOND ALBATROSS ANIMAL FARM (510) (11-6056) [20-14-0,112] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader VIRGINIA'S SECRET ALL WAR-C-KERS (345) THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) (11-6295) [18-19-1,122] (11-4476) [4-0-0,42] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite RAINSONG FRANK ZAPPA ELFQUEST (515) THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) (11-6128) [22-27-0,94] (11-6484) [12-5-0,100] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM BULLDOGS (157) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. IMMORTALS (85) 27 2. BULLDOGS (157) 25 COLORIFIC (511) 3. COLORIFIC (511) 18 Unchartered Team 4. DO IT AGAIN (565) 14 5. WAR-C-KERS (345) 14 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 2 COLORIFIC (511) 223 116 5 65.8 1/ 5 BULLDOGS (157) 10 5 0 2/ 3 ANIMAL FARM (510) 960 578 34 62.4 2/ 6 IMMORTALS (85) 9 6 1 3/ 4 BULLDOGS (157) 811 635 26 56.1 3/ 9 COLORIFIC (511) 7 1 1 4/ 5 WAR-C-KERS (345) 166 143 9 53.7 4/ 4 ANIMAL FARM (510) 6 4 0 5/ 9 DO IT AGAIN (565) 22 21 1 51.2 5/ 2 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) 6 6 0 6/ 7 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) 687 666 19 50.8 6- 7 NEVERWAKE (508) 5 5 1 7/ 8 TUFT TUGGERS (305) 636 623 20 50.5 7/ 1 TUFT TUGGERS (305) 4 7 0 8/10 BALLAD OF THE BLAD (415) 23 23 0 50.0 8/ 3 KRILL CAVALRY (374) 4 11 1 9/14*THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) 7 7 1 50.0 9/16 ELFQUEST (515) 3 3 0 10/11 ELFQUEST (515) 216 231 10 48.3 10/ 8 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) 3 4 0 11/13 IMMORTALS (85) 810 886 63 47.8 11/10 WAR-C-KERS (345) 3 5 1 12/12 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) 232 255 9 47.6 12/15 BALLAD OF THE BLAD (415) 2 1 0 13/15 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) 294 358 12 45.1 13/12 DO IT AGAIN (565) 2 1 0 14-16 NEVERWAKE (508) 62 88 10 41.3 14/11 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) 2 10 0 15/17 KRILL CAVALRY (374) 245 421 5 36.8 15/14*THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) 1 0 0 16-18*BURNING SKULLS (569) 0 5 0 0.0 16-17*BURNING SKULLS (569) 0 5 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Out of the Past #9 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Adie watched closely as Cho formed the spell-Key. It might be something she would need to do herself later on, and it was always better to know than to lack tools. She twisted a lock of redgold hair around one finger, frowning. The spell, so far as she could see, was of very low power, but of a complex structure. How could something so weak open a Gate for them? The spell hung in the air between the three wanderers, compact, faintly luminous. "Shouldn't something happen?" Fandil asked quietly. "It will," Cho said. "There are things going on that we can't see." "Can YOU see them?" "No. I'm only half a wizard," the Adantri said. "But I've been well taught, and I know what and how, even when I can't see. Ah, there! Watch now." Adie and Fandil watched. The Key did not glow any brighter, but it seemed to be growing, sending out tendrils of faint light and weaving them into steadily more complex patterns. "This is a very slow spell," Adie said. "If we needed to use it for, oh, a rapid escape from danger, for instance, it might not be fast enough." "That's because we're starting from Limbo. It's a lot faster when it is cast in the real world." Cho spoke softly, as though to avoid startling the spell. "Any real world," he added. "Spells don't like being in Limbo any more than we do." "You called yourself 'half a wizard'," Fandil murmured. "I have seen no lack in your skills--" "That isn't a question of skill," Cho said. He reached out and stroked the spell with one finger, guiding the shape. "In this world, anyone may study magic and become adept in its use, but a true wizard is--only--someone born of a given bloodline. A race, if you will, just as the elves are a race apart from humans." He smiled thinly. "And a good thing it is for me, and you, that I'm only half wizard! Those of the pure wizard descent are often, hmmm, unstable. Unpredictable and dangerous. Definitely not team players." Adie considered that and shrugged, filing it away as 'information I don't need right now'. Odd, perhaps, but there were plenty of odder things in the multiverse. For now... something was happening to the Key. It had stopped growing, size and complexity stabilized, and waves of color, pale as pearls, were sweeping through it. She reached out and gripped each of her companions so that they faced the pulsing Key hand in hand. The grass was green-turning-gold with autumn and came almost to Shania's knees. It brushed against her legs, rustling a little as a breeze moved across the hillside, and it smelled like sun-warmed grass. It was simple, natural, and real. The tree was real, and the sunlight. Shania tipped her face back and closed her eyes as the warmth of the sunlight poured down around them. How long had it been since she'd simply enjoyed existing, no pressures, no impending dooms, just sunlight, grass, and friends? Too long. "This would be a good place for a vacation," Ashon Chang said. "But we do, unfortunately, have urgent business... somewhere?" Shania sighed and opened her eyes. "We do," she said. "Do you...? Rughal, you picked this Gate. Do you have any idea where we are?" The ranger was turning in place, slowly, eyes half-closed. He didn't answer immediately. Finally he shook himself and looked at his friends. "I don't know exactly," he said. "But I think we may be somewhere on the eastern plains." "The eastern plains?" Shania asked. "East of Lirith Kai," Vurand said. He cocked an eyebrow at Rughal. "Where the nomads live, right?" "Ah, so we're back on Ghea, though a long way from Alastari." Ashon Chang relaxed. "No." Rughal frowned. "Maybe. But maybe not. This feels like...." He turned in another circle, staring at the distances. "It doesn't... I don't think...." Shania stretched her own senses, enjoying the fact that she could do so. Realized what it meant. "Not Ghea," she said. "This Arcanum is stable and strong." Ashon Chang muttered something she didn't hear clearly, she thought it was probably a curse. "Well," he said, "do you have any idea--either of you--where we are in relation to our problem? That Sojourner said that Khaldren was a problem in two worlds, and I suppose this is the other one. But a world's a big place. Are we near his operation site here, do you think?" Rughal grimaced. "I think Master Cho knew what the Sojourner was talking about, but I'm no mage to guess where his power is anchored. Or where he's trying to bring it to bear." He looked at Shania. "A place called Aldanira was mentioned, but I don't know if...?" She shook her head. "Master Cho was given a link to that place, but I didn't get the impression that the actual problem was centered there. Have you any idea where it is?" "In the far east, north and east," Rughal said after a moment. "I've heard of it, but not much more than the name. I have no idea how far we are from there." "We need a plan of action here," Ashon Chang said. He gestured as though flipping a coin. "Let's find this Aldanira place." Vurand looked at the sky and then at the sloping land around them. They were on the shoulder of a wide, shallow valley, with a line of trees down the center. "Probably a stream down there," he said, "and it looks like it's flowing north. Follow it, for a starter?" Rughal shrugged. "If we are on the eastern plains, then going north should bring us to the Middle Sea. There are cities on the shores of the Middle Sea, where we can get supplies and information." "Then that's the way to go," Ashon Chang said. "Unless Lady Shania has other advice?" "No, that sounds fine." She sighed. "I suppose we're in for a long walk." It was a room in an inn. Not the Bulldog in Aruak City, but there was a comforting familiarity, right down to the background aroma of beer. Cho slumped in a chair, looking exhausted. Adie crossed to the nearest window and peered out. Fandil investigated a cupboard beside the door, pulling out cups and a jug. "Not the Bulldog, not Aruak City, not Ghea at all," Adie said. "But it's better than Limbo. What do you know about this place, Cho?" + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Mountains of Night #4 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Murska and vicinity: In the fashion typical of so many of the Bad Guys, the demons and their minions were throwing their weight around, making a splash and attracting everyone's attention in Murska. Their first appearance had been accompanied by spectacular displays of black lightning, causing landslides and setting fire to some buildings in and around the town. As Tankesh and Huw worked their way down the mountainside to the bridge that would take them across to Murska they could hear people shrieking. Fire bells were barely audible above the shouts and screams, and the roar of the river as it tore at the rocks newly fallen into its bed. "Showy and wasteful," Huw growled. Tankesh glanced over his shoulder at the Murskan. The man wore his disapproval as a breastplate and shield. Well, it was his home town that was being smashed up, so the elf could make allowances. "It isn't a bad plan," he said mildly. "Intimidate the population to begin with, and they won't fight back. Saves time and effort, and I suppose even demons have to think about that sometimes." Huw grunted. After a moment, he said, "I was right about the dwarves. There aren't more than half a dozen in sight, and those are probably gladiators. The doors to the Undercity are shut." "It won't save them, if the demons decide to go underground," Tankesh said. Huw grunted again, a more cheerful sound this time. "True," he said. "The dwarves are making a mistake. It'd be worse to fight demons in the tunnels than above-ground." "Limited front of attack," Tankesh said. "No demons taking to the air and coming at you from behind." "Limited lines of retreat, if the roof comes down," Huw countered. "A point," the elf admitted. They had reached the approach to the bridge, and he paused, looking at the span critically. It was of stone, good dwarven work, wide enough to take a wagon and with a waist-high parapet on either side, but... it was narrow--two wagons couldn't pass on it, and if a person fell off, well, the fall to the river would be a long one. There were people on the bridge now, maybe twenty or so, running from the town toward the bare mountainside behind the two gladiators. They were each running as though alone, no one covering their retreat, no one helping if someone tripped and staggered against the parapet. They were in a state of blind panic, and Tankesh distrusted them automatically. Panic was contagious, not that he thought either he himself or Huw would succumb. And it was blind; the fleeing people would run down anyone in their path, and not only would they not give help if asked, they wouldn't know enough to accept it if offered. Crossing the bridge against this current would be-- His eyes focused on the far end of the bridge as a woman screamed. Part of his mind flashed back to the black altar in Kurukar and the woman he had been unable to save there. The scream was a high, thin sound, compounded of terror, pain, and despair, and it cut off sharply as a creature that looked like an upright lizard ten feet tall reached down and plucked her from the crowd. He held her by the knees and swung her body horizontally, using her as a club to knock other refugees from the span. Tankesh was just marginally aware that this was not the woman he had lost in Kurukar as fury hazed his vision with red. He roared a wordless challenge and lunged forward onto the bridge. + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Mountains of Night #5 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Murska and vicinity: There was a flash of darkness. Tankesh could still feel himself running, but the stones of the bridge weren't under his feet. He tried to drag in a breath to shout... a question, a warning, something to his companion. There was no air. No hot or cold, no up or down. "The Master said you would come to that bait." The voice was in his head as much as his ears. Toneless, almost mechanical in its lack of rhythm or inflection. "The Master is always right." A chirping sound erupted, as from the world's largest cricket. The stridency bored into his awareness like a drill. More chirping. Two giant crickets, arguing. Tankesh reflected that it would be a sad end to a life of adventuring if he went insane because of a couple of crickets. Up and down returned in time for him to be thrown down on a hard surface. His head smashed into it hard enough to stun him. Fratsfa: "Demons?" Elrienoriseth'rin snorted. It was, perhaps, an undignified sound for one of the High Folk to make, but he felt that his years as a Mercenary, enough to classify him as a Veteran, entitled him to a little crudeness now and then. "I don't believe it." "You saw it with your own eyes, Elri," Korisien Fayne Roh reminded him. "Just as I said you would." The elf snorted again. "Saying 'I told you so' isn't--" "I'm a Trustworthy Scribe, not a tactful one," the standby fighter answered. After a moment, he discarded his lofty air and peered through the crack in the shutter again. "If it hasn't been dispelled, it's in there still." Elri also put aside the mostly good-natured teasing with which he addressed his teammate. "You don't dispel demons," he muttered. "Any more than you could dispel a barking dog. You have to dismiss them, and damned carefully, too. Besides, I don't think the demonologist is here in Fratsfa. Even I would have noticed the amount of magic it takes to summon a demon, now that the magical background has faded so far." "If it wasn't summoned here, then how...?" "Summoned elsewhere and sent overland," the Mercenary said. "And that takes a lot of power. Demons don't like being ordered around." "Who does? Do you suppose it's... camping in that ruin?" Elri shrugged. "What I don't know about demons would fill the Emperor's palace. But why not? The place is huge, a ruin, has no known owner--probably reverted to the crown for non-payment of taxes years ago. Very few people live in this neighborhood, and they mind their own business. It has direct access to the river, and it's near the heart of the city. What more could anyone ask of a hideout?" "Comfort?" "It's a demon." The elf was silent again, then said, "Maybe comfort for its handler, but then again, anyone who can handle a demon can make his own comfort." Fayne drew back from the window and tried to wipe the dust from his hands. "This whole area should have been cleared out years ago. It's a disgrace-- Why are you shaking your head?" "Most of the property is part of an unsettled estate. Damn thing's been in litigation for a century and a half, and none of the parties will let the others do anything with it." "The Emperor--" "Not if he wants to push his agricultural reforms through." The Mercenary moved toward the door. "The best thing would be a lighted match...." Fayne thumped the wall as he followed his friend out onto the cracked and tottering stairs. "Stone, solid stone, most of it. A match wouldn't do it." When they reached the ground, he looked over his shoulder toward the demon's lair. "What is it HERE for?" "Who knows? But nothing good." + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Mountains of Night #6 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Somewhere near Zensu: "This is the most annoying demon--if it is a demon--that I have ever not-quite- encountered," Crystal Fireblade muttered. "What's it waiting for?" "Maybe we need to send it an engraved invitation, doll," Raoul said. "How should I know what it's waiting for? Demons and stuff, that's for managers to deal with." "They aren't here." "Shows their good sense." Raoul removed his hat and peered around the huge stump. Nothing moved in the long aisles of the forest except the slowly falling leaves. He pulled back, peered into his hat for a moment as a seer might peer into a crystal ball, then sighed and put it on his head. "I think we're in a lot of trouble here," he said quietly. "More than earlier?" The Lady Knight was doing her own surveying. "Yeah. You notice any squirrels, doll? Birds? Insects, even?" Crystal didn't have to look again. She knew what she would see, what he had seen. Silence and stillness. "Good point." Her hand went to her sword, but she didn't draw it. She glanced at her companion and raised an eyebrow. He nodded and began to move to the right, keeping low. The stump they'd been using for cover was part of a deadfall, and he was able to crawl along the fallen trunk, which was three feet thick. Crystal kept her eyes along their back-trail until Raoul had time to get into a new position. Then she moved to the left, behind a thicket of close-growing saplings. Not cracking twigs or crunching fallen leaves took most of her attention for a moment. When she looked up, the demon was there. If it was a demon. It was about eight feet tall, snouted and scaled, with a muscular tail. Roughly man-shaped, it was wearing a harness and kilt of studded leather, and carrying a short, broad-bladed sword. No aura of demonic power. If she'd met it in an arena town, she would have said, 'just another alien gladiator'. Maybe it should be classed as a monster, rather than a demon. Ah... make that 'monsters', plural. The first one was followed by another, and a third, fourth, fifth... that seemed to be all. It was enough. * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 8 ARKERS (turn 262): NYTEMAIR of CHAMPIONS OF STEEL (Blackstorm, mgr.) DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 525): FRANK ZAPPA of THE HEADCUTTERS II (Street Legal, mgr.) DM 14 TOBIR (turn 525): OPUNTIA of PLANTARUM ANDORIA (Generalissimo Puerco, mgr.) DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 518): CLINT EASTWOOD of THE REPUBLICANS (The Judge, mgr.) DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 514): JAMES T. JERK of STAR DRECK (The Dark One, mgr.) DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 514): VELOND WOK of THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (Nolan Orgel, team captain) DM 26 CALEAM (turn 512): POPPA LODE of GOLDEN CANYON (Leeta, mgr.) DM 30 IAYE (turn 507): DR. ROSENZWEIG of LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.) DM 40 ZENSU (turn 476): JENIPHER of BEYOND THE PALE (Leeta, mgr.) DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 469): FLUTTERLEE of WANDERERS (Leeta, mgr.) DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 458): ECLIPSE of CYNICAL DELUSIONS (Eclipse, mgr.) DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 208): COLLAPSED LUNG of OTTO'S PARTS (Crip, mgr.) DM 60 ARADI (turn 374): BRUSHFIRE of NATURAL DISASTERS (Soultaker, mgr.) DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 363): MALICHAI of WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (Vhagar, mgr.) DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 164): I OF THE KNEE DOLL of HAZAARDS OF CLONING (Crip, mgr.) ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 410): JOE SATRIANI of THE HEADCUTTERS II from ARUAK CITY (Street Legal, mgr.) Top Teams --------- DM 8 ARKERS (turn 262): CHAMPIONS OF STEEL (Blackstorm, mgr.) DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 525): TUFT TUGGERS (Tankesh Dushanbe, mgr.) DM 14 TOBIR (turn 525): THE DEATH SQUAD (Street Legal, mgr.) DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 518): JUST CHILLIN (Mr. Freeze, mgr.) DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 514): KRILL CAVALRY (Leeta, mgr.) DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 514): MADTOWN (Namenlos, mgr.) DM 26 CALEAM (turn 512): GOLDEN CANYON (Leeta, mgr.) DM 30 IAYE (turn 507): LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.) DM 40 ZENSU (turn 476): PHILANTHROPISTS (Aragorn, mgr.) DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 469): WANDERERS (Leeta, mgr.) DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 458): CYNICAL DELUSIONS (Eclipse, mgr.) DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 208): OTTO'S PARTS (Crip, mgr.) DM 60 ARADI (turn 374): THE MISGUIDED (?, mgr.) DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 363): none DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 164): NIGHTHAWKS (Savant, mgr.) ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 410): BOXES, etc. (Doc Steele, mgr.) Recent Graduates ---------------- DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 524): LINI DAWNWIND of KRILL CAVALRY (Leeta, mgr.) DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 514): JAMES T. JERK of STAR DRECK (The Dark One, mgr.) DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 468): LURLINE GRACE of WANDERERS (Leeta, mgr.) SPY REPORT Hail ARUAK CITY! Warriors of the arena, prepare to be praised and blamed for your deeds. It seems the training can make the difference, as TUFT TUGGERS is pushed out of top team by BULLDOGS, who came from 5th with a 5-0-0 this turn. Now keep the taverns open late tonight, for there are sorrows to drown for TUFT TUGGERS, whose 1-3-0 this turn dropped them by 6 into 7th. ELFQUEST stable has parlayed this turn's 2-0-0 into a 7 space move up the rankings. This brings them up to 9th place. Good work, guys! The BULLDOGS guild has had a 5-0-0 turn and deserves to be watched in the future. You never know where this kind of thing can lead. And let's see, DIRK DARKBLADE fought AMBITIOUS GUARD and gained 15 points and contributed to IMMORTALS' 3-2-0. HONEY has lost to VENOMOUS CONCUBINE, falling 38 points, while helping make SCARLET KNIGHTS a 0-2-0 turn. This week's Duelmaster bout was between ALMOND ALBATROSS and our Duelmaster FRANK ZAPPA, making a TV challenge. We should ask ALMOND ALBATROSS about the thrill of victory, and what being the new Duelmaster does for a warrior, it'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? I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling. A basher friend of mine assures me this is true. NEVERWAKE has cause to stand tall, as they were ARUAK CITY's most avoided team. A smart manager knows this is a team to beat. And guess who avoided NEVERWAKE stable the most? Believe it or not, it was BULLDOGS. Anyone surprised? Well, sports fans, take notice that VIRGINIA'S SECRET from WAR-C-KERS was ARUAK CITY's most challenged warrior this turn. In a brave attempt, STU HAMM from THE HEADCUTTERS II challenged up 23 points to fight VIRGINIA'S SECRET from the WAR-C-KERS stable. STU HAMM perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he was dispatched by VIRGINIA'S SECRET and ended up with 77 recognition points. We only live a short time in this world, so why not take a sharp blade, and shave it close? STU HAMM has departed ARUAK CITY, leaving THE HEADCUTTERS II without their 7-4-0 warrior. Question, just what was his team doing at the taverns last night? Seriously now, is it really honorable for VIRGINIA'S SECRET from WAR-C-KERS to kill STU HAMM and give THE HEADCUTTERS II the chance to bloodfeud? Mmmm, could be. We'd like to remind certain teams not to rob the graves of their enemies. You know who you are; and it's considered rude. I like this place, ARUAK CITY, the taverns have old wine, and young serving girls. Who could ask for more? It's been nice chatting with you, until we meet again, keep your swords sharp and your hammers heavy. Until you see my quill in ARUAK CITY again, farewell-- Alarond the Scribe DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ALMOND ALBATROSS 6056 20 14 0 112 ANIMAL FARM (510) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME VIRGINIA'S SECRET 6295 18 19 1 122 WAR-C-KERS (345) -KALIDOR THE BOLD 6441 15 4 0 118 TUFT TUGGERS (305) HOT DOG 6343 20 12 1 107 BULLDOGS (157) BRANFORD HAWKE 5077 26 23 0 101 TUFT TUGGERS (305) FRANK ZAPPA 6484 12 5 0 100 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) YELLOW STREAK 6239 15 6 0 98 COLORIFIC (511) REQUIEM 4472 14 12 0 98 BALLAD OF THE BLADE (415) RAINSONG 6128 22 27 0 94 ELFQUEST (515) -WARCHANT 4470 6 1 0 94 BALLAD OF THE BLADE (415) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BOOTSTRAP RIBEYE 6465 12 9 0 88 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) CALFSKIN 6240 16 21 1 87 BULLDOGS (157) HONEY 6368 15 16 1 86 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) WILLIE DIXON 6385 8 19 1 86 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) -HALO 6189 14 5 2 79 NEVERWAKE (508) GLADIUS STARSTRYKE 6127 13 36 0 78 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) ROCKIE DEE 6060 15 19 0 73 KRILL CAVALRY (374) TREESTUMP 6369 15 16 0 70 ELFQUEST (515) JO MOONCATCHER 6370 13 18 0 70 KRILL CAVALRY (374) THE SINGING BANDIT 6349 16 15 0 69 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BUCKING BRAHMA 6372 14 10 0 65 BULLDOGS (157) MOO MOO 6474 8 3 0 65 BULLDOGS (157) -TITANIUM 5137 7 5 0 65 WAR-C-KERS (345) -RICK DERRINGER 6463 10 11 0 64 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) SILVER LINING 6339 8 6 0 57 COLORIFIC (511) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -NATAS 6531 5 1 0 52 DO IT AGAIN (565) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DIRK DARKBLADE 6528 6 4 1 45 IMMORTALS (85) BIONIC BUFFALO 6570 5 1 0 45 DO IT AGAIN (565) JEB MERCLUE 6483 9 10 0 43 TUFT TUGGERS (305) ALL 4476 4 0 0 42 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) JON FLEET 6415 6 22 0 40 KRILL CAVALRY (374) -BURST 6514 3 2 0 40 NEVERWAKE (508) JEREMIAH JAY COOKE 6520 8 6 1 39 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) -PINK PUMA 6537 6 4 0 36 ANIMAL FARM (510) -GOLDEN AURA 6558 4 3 0 36 COLORIFIC (511) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WINDCHASER 6469 5 16 1 32 KRILL CAVALRY (374) TORRY FATEGIVER 6534 4 5 2 28 IMMORTALS (85) -LOUIE C 6532 5 4 0 25 DO IT AGAIN (565) -TYRANNOSAURUS ED 6590 3 0 0 25 DO IT AGAIN (565) SARAYA STEEL 6545 4 4 0 24 IMMORTALS (85) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BLUE SMASH 6553 4 3 0 23 IMMORTALS (85) -TURQUOISE TIGER 6556 4 3 0 21 ANIMAL FARM (510) -THE WHOLE ARENA 4475 2 2 1 19 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) -BLACK PLAGUE 6550 4 6 0 18 COLORIFIC (511) BLUE EYES 6594 2 2 1 18 COLORIFIC (511) -JACKHAMMER 6613 1 0 1 16 NEVERWAKE (508) TANGERINE TOAD 6603 3 0 0 15 ANIMAL FARM (510) BULL HORN 6593 3 1 0 12 BULLDOGS (157) -CANTICLE 4473 2 2 0 9 BALLAD OF THE BLADE (415) LORELEI 6596 1 1 0 8 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) -RELIC HUNTER 6563 1 1 0 8 WAR-C-KERS (345) -DREAM KILLER 6559 1 1 0 8 WAR-C-KERS (345) -EXCUSE ME EVERYONE 4478 1 0 0 8 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) -SLAG 6604 1 1 0 7 NEVERWAKE (508) -PEOPLE OF ARUAK 4477 0 1 0 7 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) -STU D. BAKER 6580 1 3 0 6 DO IT AGAIN (565) -LAMENTATION 4795 1 0 0 5 BALLAD OF THE BLADE (415) -FUGUE 4469 0 5 0 5 BALLAD OF THE BLADE (415) BAR-B-DOO 6614 1 1 0 4 WAR-C-KERS (345) -GORGE 6592 0 3 0 3 NEVERWAKE (508) -FROTHINGSLOSH BOOBS 5642 0 3 0 3 THAT ARUAKI TEAM (416) KORO CLOUD 6618 0 1 0 1 KRILL CAVALRY (374) -GREYBLADE 6607 0 1 0 1 BURNING SKULLS (569) LON BRADDOCK 6617 0 1 0 1 IMMORTALS (85) -BASTION 6608 0 1 0 1 BURNING SKULLS (569) -DIAMOND 6605 0 1 0 1 BURNING SKULLS (569) -GUAN YU 6606 0 1 0 1 BURNING SKULLS (569) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? AQUA ARACHNID 6511 4 5 0 ANIMAL FARM 510 TORRY FATEGIVER 6534 524 STU HAMM 6544 7 5 0 THE HEADCUTTERS I 412 VIRGINIA'S SECRE 6295 526 CACOPHONOUS 6610 0 2 0 TUFT TUGGERS 305 BANDIT PRINCE 493 526 NONE DARREN CROWNGUAR 6611 1 1 0 TUFT TUGGERS 305 BLUE EYES 6594 526 PERSONAL ADS Frank Zappa -- Congratulations, Champ! Duelmasters drink free at The Bulldog Inn. -- Kennelworth, Proprietor Generalissimo -- Make no mistake about it; my team does avoid the very best. And that is why the Steele Clan are often selected. Perhaps a down and weak team, but definitely top shelf intellect. -- Kennelworth Eliza -- You do, indeed, Great Lady. -- Kennelworth (bowing) Bootstrap Ribeye -- A good challenge and some great execution of strategy. I submit to my Better. -- Calfskin Willie -- Don't bite off more than you can chew, Pal. -- Hot Dog Saraya Steele -- I should have known better than to have challenged an Immortal. Kennelworth warned me. -- Bull Horn Requiem -- I think they are playing my song, and it surely sounds like a requiem. -- Bucking Brahma (feeling no bucking good) Jon Fleet -- Well, I'll take it any way I can get it. But PLEASE teach me more! -- Moo Moo Kalidor -- Thank you for the very fine substitute column. Well done. -- Kennelworth Doc Steele -- Autographed photos of great competitors are always welcome in this camp. (you could also just send good roll ups) -- Kennelworth Gladius Starstryke -- I guess that was an unfair upchallenge as I am obviously so much better than you. -- Yellow Streak, Proud Colorific Bionic Buffalo -- You know what? You are just plain good! Shucks. -- Blue Eyes, Proud Colorific (but with a lot to learn) Rainsong -- It must have been my day! One more PP and I am OUTTA HERE! Then I will fly off into the sunset. -- Almond Albatross [Note to self: Almond Albatross will be satisfied with a sunset for a greduation gift.... -- Shinketh] Treestump -- You were way beyond my ability. Salute. But 5 skills? Foe me? If only you knew. If only you knew. -- Pink Puma Greyblade -- I think my day was "orange" and yours was "grey". But perhaps some day your color will come. -- Tangerine Toad (Really a princess in disguise) Burst -- Yep. I'm a loudmouth. A lotta blatant one-upmanship can come out of my mouth! Didn't know you and Doc Steele were such sensitive types. If y'all can't take the heat, perhaps you should move to the cooler Darkholm kitchens? -- Pink Puma (Pottymouth Pussycat) Almond Albatross -- Nutty? Me? What are you talking about? -- Branford P.S. I hope we're graduating soon... Kennelworth -- Of course! What else are Delarquans good except as for fodder? -- Tankesh Doc Steele -- I normally check the dead list. Don't you? Is it so odd to note who died and from which team? Oh, right, you're not used to the Andorian way. Anyway, you flatter yourself too much. But hey, you know, if you really want me too, I'll take an autographed photo of you. I do, after all, need a new dartboard. -- Tankesh Rick Derringer -- Now THAT... was a cool fight! Yee-haw!! -- Jeb Honey -- Lucky... -- Branford Slag -- Another experimental pudly golem off to the recycling bin. -- Cacophonous Diamond -- You beat me to the punch, but you couldn't follow through. A good fight on my part. -- Darren Frank Zappa -- It still seems odd that you should be a dwarf, although the rolling eyes above the bushy black beard work. -- Lini Dawnwind Amazing! Do you realize that this is the first time a member of our team has fought M. Chardinee in over a year? There are arenas in which some teams fight him EVERY TURN. -- Jo Mooncatcher, not objecting to the win, just noticing Jeremiah Jay -- I bet you forgot to bribe the handicapper? How about if you give him some of my cookies next time, that always makes him sweet, and you can hope for a better random matchup. Because, of course, they aren't TOTALLY random. -- Rockie Dee Moo Moo -- Gods, a purple cow? What was I drinking last night? -- Jon Fleet Dirk Darkblade -- Why is your blade dark? Is there a sinister aspect to that? -- Windchaser, wondering if he should be worried Tankesh -- Yes, well, she only JUST noticed when the graduation overview came that I am a triple-17. What it is to have an attentive manager! -- Lini Dawnwind P.S. I believe I'm going to Home Guard. 15 September 2005 HAMMER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Be it known from the highest mountains to the darkest alleys of Alastari that the veteran manager known far and wide as Hammer has now officially retired from sponsoring contests as of September 15, 2005. What a long time ago was a fun motivated activity to help promote our common DM/D2 gaming interest in an effort to promote the growth and competitiveness of selected arenas has become a far from fun experience. In other words Hammer has had it! The combination of real life situations interfering with the time needed to effectively sponsor a contest, plus the attitudes expressed during such sponsorship interference has led to Hammer closing his personal coin coffers and retiring from his planned sponsorship of any future contests. There are others in our close knit gaming community who are well able to step up to the plate and continue sponsoring contests that make the basic game a fun experience for all those who choose to compete and interact in such future endeavors. Hammer thanks all managers both active and inactive who helped to make the Hammer sponsored contests a historical and entertaining experience well worth the time, effort and money spent over the past several years. May the Cheers and the Jeers of future contests build upon the legacies of those who have paved the way in years gone by to help make this game what it is today. Hammer has no regrets for the part he has played in that history. 19 September 2005 I'd like to say hello to everyone I know that is still around after my being gone for five years. Hope to see you all on the sands, and may your weapons strike true and your shields protect you (except, of course, against MY warriors *grin*)!! -- Lord Xiang, D2-101 5 October 2005 To those once of Willaf -- It's time to come back to the sands. I'm back, exclusively at Willaf.... -- Kurd the Vivisectionist, Your Better LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS CACOPHONOUS was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. FRANK ZAPPA was unbelievably bested by ALMOND ALBATROSS in a 4 minute battle. BOOTSTRAP RIBEYE was outlasted by YELLOW STREAK in a 16 minute Challenge duel. WILLIE DIXON was luckily beaten by HOT DOG in a 5 minute master's Challenge match. REQUIEM vanquished GLADIUS STARSTRYKE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight. STU HAMM was executed by VIRGINIA'S SECRET in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl. JEREMIAH JAY COOKE was overpowered by MOO MOO in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee. ALL vanquished WINDCHASER in a popular 1 minute uneven Challenge duel. BIONIC BUFFALO vanquished JON FLEET in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel. BRANFORD HAWKE defeated ROCKIE DEE in a 2 minute expert's match. HONEY was beaten by VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a 2 minute brutal veteran's fight. RAINSONG bested THE SINGING BANDIT in a 2 minute brutal master's conflict. CALFSKIN subdued JO MOONCATCHER in a 2 minute veteran's brawl. BUCKING BRAHMA handily defeated DELARQUAN SPY in a 1 minute one-sided conflict. TREESTUMP vanquished JEB MERCLUE in a 1 minute mismatched bout. SILVER LINING vanquished BLUE SMASH in a 1 minute one-sided fray. DIRK DARKBLADE devastated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute mismatched brawl. SARAYA STEEL narrowly defeated LORELEI in a 2 minute brutal bout. TORRY FATEGIVER overpowered BAR-B-DOO in a 1 minute gory one-sided bout. BULL HORN slimly won victory over KORO CLOUD in a 5 minute amateur's competition. BLUE EYES slaughtered DARREN CROWNGUARD in a 1 minute one-sided match. TANGERINE TOAD unbelievably bested LON BRADDOCK in a 3 minute beginner's duel. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 8 WALL OF STEEL 38 - 24 - 3 61 | |AIMED BLOW 6 TOTAL PARRY 32 - 21 - 0 60 | |STRIKING ATTACK 6 PARRY-LUNGE 6 - 5 - 0 55 | |BASHING ATTACK 6 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 11 - 0 50 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 LUNGING ATTACK 44 - 45 - 0 49 | |TOTAL PARRY 3 STRIKING ATTACK 36 - 37 - 3 49 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 AIMED BLOW 29 - 30 - 1 49 | |PARRY-LUNGE 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 23 - 28 - 0 45 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 SLASHING ATTACK 14 - 20 - 1 41 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 BASHING ATTACK 21 - 37 - 2 36 | Turn 526 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: SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 2 - 4 2 WALL OF STEEL TOTAL PARRY 3 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 2 2 AIMED BLOW WALL OF STEEL 2 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 4 2 TOTAL PARRY LUNGING ATTACK 5 - 3 2 LUNGING ATTACK AIMED BLOW 3 - 3 1 BASHING ATTACK PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 3 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME WALL OF STEEL ALMOND ALBATROSS 6056 20 14 0 112 ANIMAL FARM (510) TOTAL PARRY HOT DOG 6343 20 12 1 107 BULLDOGS (157) AIMED BLOW BRANFORD HAWKE 5077 26 23 0 101 TUFT TUGGERS (305) LUNGING ATTACK FRANK ZAPPA 6484 12 5 0 100 THE HEADCUTTERS II (412) PARRY-RIPOSTE BOOTSTRAP RIBEYE 6465 12 9 0 88 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) BASHING ATTACK BUCKING BRAHMA 6372 14 10 0 65 BULLDOGS (157) SLASHING ATTACK SILVER LINING 6339 8 6 0 57 COLORIFIC (511) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is RAINSONG 6128. The most popular warrior this turn was FRANK ZAPPA 6484. The ten other most popular fighters were KORO CLOUD 6618, WILLIE DIXON 6385, RAINSONG 6128, ALMOND ALBATROSS 6056, ALL 4476, HONEY 6368, CALFSKIN 6240, REQUIEM 4472, MOO MOO 6474, and BRANFORD HAWKE 5077. The least popular fighter this week was YELLOW STREAK 6239. The other ten least popular fighters were BOOTSTRAP RIBEYE 6465, TANGERINE TOAD 6603, DARREN CROWNGUARD 6611, BAR-B-DOO 6614, JEB MERCLUE 6483, WINDCHASER 6469, JEREMIAH JAY COOKE 6520, GLADIUS STARSTRYKE 6127, BLUE EYES 6594, and BLUE SMASH 6553. The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn: ALMOND ALBATROSS (11-6056) ANIMAL FARM (510) HOT DOG (11-6343) BULLDOGS (157) RAINSONG (11-6128) ELFQUEST (515)