DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 11/24/2006 Duedate: 12/07/2006
ARUAK CITY ARENA
DM-11 TURN-555
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
KIRI DRAGONSPEAR
TUFT TUGGERS (305)
(11-6643) [15-7-0,125]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
KIRI DRAGONSPEAR TUCK PADWHIN
TUFT TUGGERS (305) THE RED HAND (579)
(11-6643) [15-7-0,125] (11-6747) [3-3-0,33]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
JON FLEET FIREBASE
KRILL CAVALRY (374) MILITANT LEGION (586)
(11-6415) [11-46-0,79] (11-6817) [5-3-2,30]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
TUFT TUGGERS (305)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. TUFT TUGGERS (305) 44
2. COLORIFIC (511) 40 COLORIFIC (511)
3. MILITANT LEGION (586) 31 Unchartered Team
4. BULLDOGS (157) 19
5. SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507) 11 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 2 JGW EXPIRATION (572) 67 27 1 71.3 1/ 4 TUFT TUGGERS (305) 8 3 0
2- 3*LINDTAL (591) 7 3 1 70.0 2/ 1 BULLDOGS (157) 8 4 0
3/ 1*GLEN PARK LODGE (590) 7 3 1 70.0 3/ 6*GLEN PARK LODGE (590) 7 3 1
4/ 5 COLORIFIC (511) 274 153 7 64.2 4/11 COLORIFIC (511) 6 1 0
5/ 6 ANIMAL FARM (510) %1022 602 34 62.9 5/ 5 ELFQUEST (515) 6 6 0
6/ 4*MILITANT LEGION (586) 20 12 3 62.5 6/12 ANIMAL FARM (510) 4 1 0
7/ 8 BULLDOGS (157) 893 677 28 56.9 7/ 7 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) 4 4 0
8/ 0 MANIACAL TUFTS (431) 97 78 3 55.4 8/10*THE RED HAND (579) 4 4 0
9/ 9 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253) 746 712 21 51.2 9/ 8 KRILL CAVALRY (374) 4 10 0
10/10 TUFT TUGGERS (305) 696 665 23 51.1 10- 2 JGW EXPIRATION (572) 3 1 0
11/11 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507) 157 157 7 50.0 11- 3*LINDTAL (591) 3 2 0
12/12 ELFQUEST (515) 258 294 12 46.7 12/ 0 MANIACAL TUFTS (431) 3 2 0
13/13 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) 315 402 17 43.9 13/15*MILITANT LEGION (586) 2 4 0
14/14 KRILL CAVALRY (374) 280 524 5 34.8 14-14*ONE HIT WONDERS (588) 1 0 0
15/15*THE RED HAND (579) 6 12 1 33.3 15/16 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507) 1 5 0
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
16-16*ONE HIT WONDERS (588) 1 2 0 33.3 16/17 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375) 0 3 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Cities by the Shore #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Somewhere:
The Lord Protector Eclipse stood on a cliff and looked down into a canyon. If
there was a bottom, he couldn't see it. The glowing footprints he'd been following
brightened and dimmed repeatedly, beckoning. He and Lady Protector Stepharoo had
been following them, until the trail split and footprints went both ways. There had
seemed no acceptable alternative.
What if they'd been wrong about that?
Why were they getting mixed up in the internal politics of the Tarot Mime
universe? Yes, okay, the Tarot Mimes had sent the Dark Tower to interfere with
shipping. At least, they--he and Stepharoo--had thought that's what the Tower was
supposed to do. But they'd only thought it because that was the actual effect. What
if it wasn't intentional? Or if the interference was simply the bait to get a couple
of gladiators to come and solve problems here?
*At last you ask the right question!* The air in front of him shimmered and
took the shape of a man in a ruler's regalia: crown, rich cloak, scepter, the whole
works. *It is all a snare to divert your attention and energies from problems in
your own world.*
"Why should you--all your people or any of them--care?" Eclipse demanded.
The crowned figure shrugged. *The Reversed Magician arranged it. We believe
that he was bribed to do so by someone in your world. And it furthered his own ends
of causing disruption here.* There was a pause, long enough for a human heart to
beat four times. *Your presence here is disruptive to the proper functioning of our
world.*
"Meaning you want me and Steph to leave?" Eclipse glanced behind himself at the
dark landscape. "That might not be easy to do."
*It can be arranged. The Upright Magician has the spell in hand, requiring only
your consent.*
"This is a spell to return us to our own world?"
*Yes.*
"Where in our own world?"
*I do not know the name of the place, only that it will be... where you are
needed. Will you agree?*
"What about Stepharoo? Ah..." what had they called her here? "Ah, the Ace of
Lamps. We split up to--"
*To make it possible for us to contact you. Together, your force was too strong
to penetrate. If you agree, she will be transported also.*
"To our own world, to the place where we're needed."
*Yes.*
"Okay. Do it."
Krael:
Krael was a mess, which was not surprising in a ruined city that had spent four
hundred years under the waters and the silt of the Trier. No building was intact,
and the streets and semi-enclosed spaces were full of stinking mud.
Most of the buildings and streets were full of mud. Here and there, buildings
had been cleared, and walkways scraped clean down some of the main streets. Fandil,
Adie, and Cho had emerged from a magical Gate in the lower part of the city, near the
water's edge, which was marked by a massive wall of new construction. They had
fought one battle with a Kraelian mage commanding a squad of golems, and won. But
they had to assume that the magic used must have alerted someone in the city. The
water edge of the city was nearer, but only the landward edge, where it rose to
become the peninsula of Point, offered a likely chance of escape.
They moved inland, upslope, forced to detour by blocked roads and parties of
golem-ized Aruaki, fighting when they had to. Progress was slow, but finally they
could see the clean hills around Point rising behind one of the more impressive
ruined buildings. They would have to pass that building, a temple, it might be, and
then they'd have a clear course to the true shore.
Neither the temple nor the open circular plaza in front of it was large, but
they were surprisingly difficult to get around. The immediate vicinity had suffered
more damage than any other area they'd passed through.
"The original cataclysm?" Adie wondered, trying to get a secure foothold on a
tilting, mud-sheathed slab of pavement. "Or some later disaster?"
"More than one disaster," Fandil guessed. "This area has been smashed
repeatedly." He edged around a pile of stones that might once have been a buttress
for a small palace, taking care not to dislodge any of the precariously balanced
blocks. There were waterlogged timbers mixed into the tottering heap, and... bones.
Very large bones, human in shape but bigger than any human or even Shew might have
produced. Old, very old bones, not a current problem. He moved past, careful not to
touch the bones even with the edge of his robe, not even with his shadow. The whole
area was seething with abnormal magical energies, and who could tell what might set
off some spell?
Cho paused where a gap between two walls gave a clear view of the temple. "That
is... odd."
Adie came up beside him and looked. He was correct. It was odd. The plaza was
being cleared, and some of the temple--the main floor--but she could see the battered
cult statue at the back, and it was being ignored. She couldn't tell what god had
been worshipped here; none that she recognized. "The temple is more important as a
place of sacrifice and gathering power," she guessed, "than it is as a place to
channel power to a specific deity."
"The power they will generate here with their sacrifices will be channeled to
Khaldren," Cho said.
"This whole city rising is all about more power for Khaldren," Fandil agreed.
"The man's not sane."
"He may not be sane, technically--however you define sane--but his mind works
just fine," Adie said. "He expects clearing parts of Krael to benefit him in a big
way."
"Power and control of power," Cho said. "That's all that seems to interest him.
There is no suggestion I've heard that he is even searching for information,
knowledge. He figures he knows... everything worth knowing."
"He's wrong," Fandil said.
"Yes..." Adie frowned at the workers in the plaza. "Not just ANY power, though,
he wants the power to control PEOPLE. To manipulate and destroy people."
"Politician," Cho muttered under his breath.
"Politics takes too long," Adie said after a moment. "He's waited all those
years since the destruction of Krael--"
"--Which he probably had a lot to do with in the first place," Fandil inserted.
"Probably." Adie waved that away. "And now he doesn't want to wait any longer.
So, no politics, or at least not as a primary interest. There are plenty of
politicians he can corrupt when he turns his attention to it, especially if he has a
really strong base here in the Aruaki Clanhold."
"And somehow, what he's doing here in Krael will feed that base," Fandil said.
"Easier to stop him piecemeal at the roots of his power than wait till he's got
the whole tower up," Adie said. She looked at her two companions. She was a
priestess of the sun as well as a magician. Fandil was a magician from a somewhat
different discipline than hers. Cho... was an oddity. He, too, had learned his art
in another universe, one which was like and unlike this one, and his magical
abilities were just a little different from either of hers or Fandil's. "We have
three different kinds of experience and power," she said. "If we can figure out how
to use that, we can bring Khaldren down."
Fandil squinted up the slope past the temple. "There's good beer in Point," he
murmured, "and I would really like to sit down with a good beer to think. But first
we have to get there."
"Yes." Adie looked down at her feet. She had long since hitched up her skirts
to her knees to keep them from accumulating pounds of mud. But she might as well be
wearing leggings of mud now, and if her shoes were still on her feet, she couldn't
tell it by looking. And walking under these conditions was exhausting. Still, the
dry land was in sight. Hold that thought. She squared her shoulders, glanced
skyward, gathered a handful of sunlight, and said, "Let's do it."
Fandil hefted his staff, checking to make sure it was free of mud. "We'll have
to go right through that plaza," he said. "Even if a way around exists, it would
take too long to find it." He glanced at his companions.
Both nodded.
"Right through," Cho agreed. He slung his own staff across his back by a
carrying strap and drew his sword. If it came to a fight, it was always good to have
an armed Adantri on your side.
There was a surge of power in the plaza ahead of them, and a shimmer, and... an
armed man where none had been before. Cloaked in shadows, haloed in light, and ready
for trouble.
Fandil gasped. "That's the warrior Eclipse from Ardivent!"
Off the south shore of Iaye:
The ferry shuddered as though it had hit some uncharted mudbar, then slid
forward into a small patch of glowing fog, and out again. But a core of the shining
mist remained on the deck, in front of the three Lords Protector.
Senator Sedalia raised his walking stick in one hand, the other hand coming
around to grasp the shaft. If he needed to unsheathe that deadly blade, there would
be no delay. He could hear Gissanniah drawing her sword, a more conventional weapon.
Old Doc Circ... what was the old quack doing?
"There has been a Gate of a sort," the alchemist said. "Wait for it to finish
transmission."
The mist pulsed and then contracted into the figure of a woman in amber-colored
armor. She stared at them in surprise and confusion. "What's going on?" Lady
Protector Stepharoo demanded.
SPY REPORT
If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of
ARUAK CITY brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too. Later days, BULLDOGS, since TUFT
TUGGERS took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news. If this keeps up,
JGW EXPIRATION, you'll have to shine swords instead of use them. A drop of 8 in the
rankings? COLORIFIC turned their 4-0-0 turn into a 4th place rank in the listings
this turn. Any better than this, and you get put on hit lists. Gee, I'm impressed,
a 4-0-0 is nice, but don't get cocky, TUFT TUGGERS, the Fates teach humility, and the
Fates are proud. Tsk, tsk, TWO-S0PEAR beat SPECIAL! and SPECIAL! lost 19 points.
You're breakin' my heart. KIRI DRAGONSPEAR challenged TREESTUMP for ARUAK CITY's
Title this turn, and guess what happened? And if variety is the spice of life, ARUAK
CITY may be getting bland, as KIRI DRAGONSPEAR stays top dog in the city. Kickbacks
and bribes, kickbacks and bribes, how else do you think some of these guys win their
fights? Skill? Ha!
Well, let's take a look at some more misdeeds of you miserable sword-boys.
ARUAK CITY, I am losing what little hope I had in you. TUFT TUGGERS the most avoided
team? What insult will suffice, I cannot say. And it looks like ANIMAL FARM avoided
them the most this turn. What a pack of would be losers, if you ask me. Hmph. Ooh,
I'm frightfully impressed, PONY was this turn's most challenged warrior. Watch that
ego swell, sports fans. I guess I can give a little credit to KAELEN THUNDERHEART of
TUFT TUGGERS for challenging up by 21 to WINDCHASER. KAELEN THUNDERHEART won to get
78 points of recognition.
Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's
see if anyone's dead or dying. And sending PLATOON to the Dark Arena was supposed to
be one of your better ideas, MILITANT LEGION? Titanium shields and bamboo daggers,
guess what brave team is developing these kinds of weapons?
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. Well, I've had enough of this
drivel, and I'm sure you have too. Off like a dirty shirt of padded leather. Glad
to see the back of this place-- Snide Clemens
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
KIRI DRAGONSPEAR 6643 15 7 0 125 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
YELLOW STREAK 6239 24 12 0 120 COLORIFIC (511)
-AIRK ARCSTONE 6778 9 2 2 116 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
ARIES 6695 13 7 0 112 BULLDOGS (157)
-VIOLET VULTURE 6612 16 4 0 104 ANIMAL FARM (510)
-CHOPSTICK SURGEON 6785 8 1 0 103 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
TANGERINE TOAD 6603 16 3 0 99 ANIMAL FARM (510)
WHITE LIE 6659 10 4 0 96 COLORIFIC (511)
-BULL HORN 6593 19 10 1 92 BULLDOGS (157)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-MAGENTA MAGGOT 6627 9 7 0 89 ANIMAL FARM (510)
LORD KRONOS 6111 10 7 0 87 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
TURQUOISE TIGER 6556 19 9 0 86 ANIMAL FARM (510)
-SILVER LINING 6339 12 12 1 84 COLORIFIC (511)
JON FLEET 6415 11 46 0 79 KRILL CAVALRY (374)
KAELEN THUNDERHEART 6777 9 3 1 78 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
WINDCHASER 6469 12 38 1 75 KRILL CAVALRY (374)
-RICHARD HENDRIX 6672 14 5 0 70 JGW EXPIRATION (572)
FIONA STARMANTLE 5022 8 9 1 68 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
TWO-S0PEAR 6700 9 12 0 66 ELFQUEST (515)
-ROD GRIZZARD 6673 13 6 0 63 JGW EXPIRATION (572)
-MAN'S BEST FRIEND 6694 15 3 0 58 BULLDOGS (157)
-CHUCK DAVIS 6671 15 4 0 57 JGW EXPIRATION (572)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
WOLFBROTHER 6706 10 11 0 56 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)
-RON STEELE 6670 15 3 0 53 JGW EXPIRATION (572)
ZYN'KYR 6579 5 2 0 51 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
-CARMEL CAMEL 6784 5 3 0 50 ANIMAL FARM (510)
FLEA BAG 6804 10 2 0 49 BULLDOGS (157)
-JEAN FELIX 6740 9 7 1 47 JGW EXPIRATION (572)
SPECIAL! 6526 6 2 1 47 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
JUMPIN' 6704 9 12 2 44 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)
DONALD DUNSEN 6787 7 5 0 43 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
WALK THE LINE 6708 9 12 0 39 ELFQUEST (515)
DELIA'S GONE 6707 9 12 0 39 ELFQUEST (515)
KORO CLOUD 6618 4 26 0 38 KRILL CAVALRY (374)
GOLDEN GLOW 6803 4 5 0 38 COLORIFIC (511)
-BARRICADE 6819 5 0 0 37 MILITANT LEGION (586)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ONE-EYE 6711 5 16 2 33 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375)
TUCK PADWHIN 6747 3 3 0 33 THE RED HAND (579)
PONY 6820 5 5 0 31 KRILL CAVALRY (374)
FIREWALL 6818 5 3 0 31 MILITANT LEGION (586)
FIREBASE 6817 5 3 2 30 MILITANT LEGION (586)
AUTOMATON 6756 4 1 0 27 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
BULL MARKET 6751 4 6 0 24 BULLDOGS (157)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BIG ETHEL 6846 2 0 0 23 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
ROSIE VOLKERDING 6848 2 0 1 22 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
-GADGET DIAL 6856 2 0 1 21 LINDTAL (591)
GREEN THUMB 6830 2 3 0 18 COLORIFIC (511)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-CULHAN CARAND 6743 1 0 1 17 THE RED HAND (579)
AREL MALEVIN 6775 2 0 0 16 THE RED HAND (579)
THE FLYING PEASANT 6859 2 0 0 14 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
-SIM DIAL 6855 2 0 0 13 LINDTAL (591)
-JESUS JONES 6834 1 2 0 13 ONE HIT WONDERS (588)
-GOOBER DIAI 6852 1 1 0 12 LINDTAL (591)
FOXHOLE 6845 1 0 0 11 MILITANT LEGION (586)
EDDIE RUBBER LEGS 6847 1 1 0 10 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
-JACK DIAL 6854 1 1 0 10 LINDTAL (591)
DAWNING DANIKA 6866 1 0 0 10 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
CLARENCE 6849 1 1 0 4 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
LAVERNE 6863 1 1 0 4 GLEN PARK LODGE (590)
-ALPHA DIAL 6853 1 1 0 4 LINDTAL (591)
GORIN ROGAD 6749 0 2 0 4 THE RED HAND (579)
HORSEFLY 6860 0 2 0 2 KRILL CAVALRY (374)
SKALLY SKYDEWAYS 6861 0 1 0 1 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
PLATOON 6829 4 1 1 MILITANT LEGION 586 DEVELLAN JARA 491 555 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Kiri Dragonspear -- Congratulations on winning the title in a great fight. You
deserve to be Duelmaster. DM's drink free at The Bulldog Inn. See you there. --
Kennelworth, Proprietor
Greetings, Tankesh. How are you today. -- Kennelworth
Elinae -- Bless her soul! May she fight well in that Great arena In The Sky. (And
in the next Dead Tournament.) -- Kennelworth
P.S. Very nice AB numbers. I am jealous.
Damascus -- Uh, well, downchallenges are certainly a great way to make it personal.
(Naughty, naughty. But I will excuse it since you lost.) -- Flea Bag
Windchaser -- I did not think I would be able to ram that one home--but I did! --
Aries
Tuck Padwhin -- You deserved that victory. WOW! -- Bull Market
Kiri -- Salute. -- Bull Horn (bows to the victor)
Hah! My Colorifics were 2-1 last round. Hah. Take that Tankesh, you little bearded
gremlin! What a sight to see! -- Purple People Eater, Proud Colorific Manager
Cold Cast -- It was my day to glow. -- Golden Glow, Proud Colorific
Big Ethel -- Next time I plant you. -- Green Thumb, Proud Colorific
Aries -- Oh, it's you. The, er, horny old goat, right? Well, since I'm not a she-
goat, you'll have to look elsewhere for your fun. -- Windchaser
Yellow Streak -- Lots of things are yellow and good, don't put yourself down. You
are (wincing) a yellow brick from the road, is what I think. -- Jon Fleet
Two-S0pear -- Strange name. I figure it gives you an edge, because of indignation.
Damn. -- Koro Cloud
Osksi Noble -- So, why are you HERE instead of down in Osksi? Inquiring Minds want
to know. -- Pony
Arel Malevin -- Ah, a sinister lefty! Not only that, you're red-handed! Probably
from swatting me. I hate it when that happens. -- Horsefly
Green Thumb -- Ah, you don't think it was the daily infusion of really strong coffee,
then? Good! -- Pony
Velvet Finish -- Eh? I'm not a vet. Me stick my arm down a horse's throat or, er,
elsewhere with a big pill? Not a chance! -- Koro Cloud
Michael Eldridge -- I know your comment was not addressed to me, but I'll stick in my
two cents' worth anyway. You say that two-shield warriors aren't logical. True.
But this is not a world where logic rules. At least, not that kind of logic. To use
the most prominent example, logically, you would think a basher could use his fists.
But he is "unsuited to his weapon." Gladiators can even KILL with two shields. --
Leeta
Adie -- I moved the story in accordance with standing policy. Player fiction takes
precedence. Player spots go in first. Both managers who were involved in the
storyline were in the arena to which I moved it. No other manager, i.e., no one not
involved, who is here in this arena has protested its absence. It can be run here
also, if there's room, if there are managers here who want to read it and can't get
onto the website. I will include a note to Ed., the person who will include it or
leave it out, to resume running it here, okay? If there's room. -- the Scribe
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
PLATOON was butchered by DEVELLAN JARA in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
KIRI DRAGONSPEAR won victory over TREESTUMP in a 1 minute Challenge Title battle.
WHITE LIE demolished JON FLEET in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
KAELEN THUNDERHEART slimly won victory over WINDCHASER in a 6 minute contest.
DONALD DUNSEN narrowly defeated TUCK PADWHIN in a 3 minute bloody Challenge match.
BULL MARKET was viciously subdued by PONY in a popular 2 minute bloody Challenge duel.
GREEN THUMB luckily beat EDDIE RUBBER LEGS in a 3 minute amateur's Challenge brawl.
TANGERINE TOAD won victory over VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a 6 minute expert's duel.
LORD KRONOS was overpowered by ARIES in a 1 minute uneven duel.
YELLOW STREAK outlasted M. CHARDINEE in a dull 13 minute one-sided fight.
TURQUOISE TIGER beat KHALHUMS DWARF in a tiresome 5 minute veteran's fight.
FIONA STARMANTLE viciously subdued DELIA'S GONE in a crowd pleasing 9 minute conflict.
SPECIAL! was demolished by TWO-S0PEAR in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
FLEA BAG unbelievably bested JUMPIN' in a popular 2 minute gruesome conflict.
ZYN'KYR overpowered KORO CLOUD in a 1 minute uneven struggle.
WOLFBROTHER handily defeated DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
WALK THE LINE slimly lost to GOLDEN GLOW in a tiring 9 minute brutal brawl.
ONE-EYE was narrowly defeated by FIREWALL in a 5 minute brutal bout.
AUTOMATON outlasted FIREBASE in a crowd pleasing 10 minute bloody fight.
BIG ETHEL devastated PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a crowd boring 4 minute one-sided bout.
GORIN ROGAD was demolished by ROSIE VOLKERDING in a 1 minute gruesome uneven bout.
AREL MALEVIN overcame CLARENCE in a 2 minute novice's contest.
LAVERNE was subdued by FOXHOLE in a 2 minute novice's fight.
THE FLYING PEASANT vanquished HORSEFLY in a 2 minute one-sided match.
SKALLY SKYDEWAYS was vanquished by DAWNING DANIKA in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|TOTAL PARRY 11 TOTAL PARRY 86 - 45 - 0 66 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 6 AIMED BLOW 18 - 11 - 0 62 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 5 PARRY-RIPOSTE 18 - 16 - 1 53 |
|BASHING ATTACK 5 WALL OF STEEL 17 - 16 - 0 52 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 5 PARRY-LUNGE 11 - 11 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 4 LUNGING ATTACK 34 - 34 - 4 50 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 3 STRIKING ATTACK 31 - 38 - 5 45 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 SLASHING ATTACK 16 - 21 - 1 43 |
|WALL OF STEEL 1 BASHING ATTACK 18 - 26 - 1 41 |
|AIMED BLOW 1 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 27 - 0 29 |
Turn 555 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:
WALL OF STEEL 1 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 2 - 4 3 TOTAL PARRY
TOTAL PARRY 8 - 3 STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 4 3 BASHING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 1 AIMED BLOW 0 - 1 1 PARRY-LUNGE
PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 1 1 LUNGING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 2 1 AIMED BLOW
BASHING ATTACK 3 - 2 1 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
PARRY-LUNGE KIRI DRAGONSPEAR 6643 15 7 0 125 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
TOTAL PARRY YELLOW STREAK 6239 24 12 0 120 COLORIFIC (511)
BASHING ATTACK ARIES 6695 13 7 0 112 BULLDOGS (157)
SLASHING ATTACK LORD KRONOS 6111 10 7 0 87 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
PARRY-RIPOSTE KAELEN THUNDERHEART 6777 9 3 1 78 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
PARRY-STRIKE ZYN'KYR 6579 5 2 0 51 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is JON FLEET 6415. The most popular warrior this turn
was FIREBASE 6817. The ten other most popular fighters were FIONA STARMANTLE 5022,
WINDCHASER 6469, EDDIE RUBBER LEGS 6847, KAELEN THUNDERHEART 6777, PONY 6820, JUMPIN'
6704, DONALD DUNSEN 6787, TUCK PADWHIN 6747, FOXHOLE 6845, and HORSEFLY 6860.
The least popular fighter this week was WALK THE LINE 6708. The other ten least
popular fighters were GOLDEN GLOW 6803, YELLOW STREAK 6239, DELIA'S GONE 6707,
TURQUOISE TIGER 6556, BIG ETHEL 6846, AUTOMATON 6756, SKALLY SKYDEWAYS 6861, GORIN
ROGAD 6749, FIREWALL 6818, and KORO CLOUD 6618.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
YELLOW STREAK (11-6239) COLORIFIC (511)
The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:
TREESTUMP (11-6369) ELFQUEST (515)