DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 06/26/2009 Duedate: 07/23/2009
MORYA ARENA
DM-28 TURN-308
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
CASH MEALS
EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
(28-4532) [12-6-0,113]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
CASH MEALS QUINTUS MAXIMUS
EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506) SONS OF MARS (526)
(28-4532) [12-6-0,113] (28-4709) [3-0-1,30]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
LORVANDIS BLOOD HAWK
DODGE BULLETS (126) DODGE BULLETS (126)
(28-4402) [19-19-0,82] (28-4621) [9-4-0,57]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
PHANTACITY (480)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. ZULU NATION (501) 48
2. SANGUIS MORI (488) 44 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
3. SONS OF MARS (526) 30 Unchartered Team
4. EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506) 27
5. PHANTACITY (480) 14 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506) 42 23 0 64.6 1/ 6 PHANTACITY (480) 10 4 0
2/ 2 THE PENTARCHY (397) 346 207 8 62.6 2/ 4 STEEL AND SILK (495) 10 5 0
3/ 3*ODIN'S CHOSEN (403) 12 8 3 60.0 3/ 3 THE PENTARCHY (397) 9 4 1
4/ 4*SONS OF MARS (526) 9 6 1 60.0 4/ 8*SONS OF MARS (526) 9 6 1
5/ 5 SANGUIS MORI (488) 29 26 4 52.7 5/ 1*ODIN'S CHOSEN (403) 8 7 2
6/ 6 PHANTACITY (480) 95 92 8 50.8 6/ 5 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506) 7 5 0
7/ 7 DODGE BULLETS (126) 365 369 12 49.7 7/ 9 ZULU NATION (501) 7 6 3
8/ 8 ZULU NATION (501) 57 60 7 48.7 8/ 2 SANGUIS MORI (488) 7 8 0
9/ 9 STEEL AND SILK (495) 85 99 1 46.2 9/ 7 DODGE BULLETS (126) 5 9 0
10/11 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513) 30 40 4 42.9 10/10*THE CONDEMNED (520) 5 10 0
11/10*THE CONDEMNED (520) 10 15 1 40.0 11-12*FORCE OF FIVE (524) 4 6 0
12-12*FORCE OF FIVE (524) 4 6 0 40.0 12/11 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513) 4 11 0
13-13*PAX CLAN (522) 5 15 3 25.0 13/ 0*RAG-TAG MISFITS (527) 1 4 0
14/ 0*RAG-TAG MISFITS (527) 1 4 0 20.0 14-13*PAX CLAN (522) 0 5 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+-----]|%{ *
Part 1
"Absolutely not!" Michael was about a decibel short of shouting. "You've
brought this matter up numerous times in the past, Ebonariex, and the answer is still
the same!"
"Perhaps he has, but I have not." Azaziel swirled the last of his wine slowly.
"Your nature has always been a bit of an enigma to me, Michael, but if what the
dragon says is true...."
Michael slammed the palm of his left hand down hard enough to split the black
oak paneling of his desk. "It does not matter. I paid a price for centuries, and I
will not willingly give up all that I have striven for in those intervening years for
something so fleeting as power."
Ebonariex sneered. "Oh, really, and what good is your knowledge without the
power to utilize it to its fullest capacity, Michael?" He crossed his massive arms
and leaned back against the wall. "Thanks to you, Michael, my arcane skills far
outstrip the complexity of any natural born dragon, but without the draconic might I
possess to fuel those intricate formulae, that knowledge would be USELESS!"
Michael sighed. "Your case is unique, Ebon--"
"No, I tend to agree with the dragon's statement there, Michael," Azaziel
interrupted. "Your arcane knowledge is far more broad than my own, and you certainly
have access to matters which would confound even my immortal mind," he ran a finger
across the rim of his glass, creating an eerie hum, "but many of the theories you
pose are just that, Michael--powerless theories."
Michael slowly lowered himself into his chair. "Azaziel, you have known me for
some time, but Ebonariex knew me when my curse was still fully in control." His
sentium hand curled into a tight fist. "As such, he should know how much I dread the
loss of control that curse brings with it."
Before Ebonariex could interject, he continued, "You know a thing or two about
the 'Curse of Cain', Azaziel." He paused to allow Azaziel to acknowledge the fact.
"In the world of darkness from which I hail, the Curse is a far more involved matter.
There are numerous clans and bloodlines, each with their own strengths and, in some
cases, weaknesses." He paused a moment in contemplation. "My sire's clan was of the
worst sort, Baal. His blood gave me access to many unusual powers, but also
instilled within me an almost uncontrollable urge to commit vile acts.
"Now, in all truth, the first portion of my unnatural existence was almost
completely under the control of my sire anyhow. He sought to corrupt me by force."
Michael smiled thinly. "That did not, however, work out in his favor. I stole his
greatest masterpiece, and with it claimed his power and his very soul."
Michael chuckled a bit ruefully. "I did not fully comprehend the nature of the
artifact I had claimed, and for my ignorance I paid a very heavy price. For
centuries, I was compelled to hunt down demons and their kin to fuel the unnatural
power of the weapon. Otherwise, my sire's soul, which I had later learned was WITHIN
the blade, would be freed and would likely take control of my own body.
"The weapon was insidious, and over time its influence over me grew. It gnawed
at the edges of my sanity, and I spent decades completely in its thrall. I remember
little of those years, aside from the memory of bloodshed and pain. In the end, it
was the love and sorcery of a youngling that allowed me to regain my dominance,
though the world as I knew it would end before I truly managed to free myself from
its influence.
"More by accident than plan, I found myself cast into an alternate reality when
the Armageddon struck. It was in that new world that I met Ebonariex, and also that
I purged my father's soul once and for all. Most of my advanced arcana was derived
from those years of newly gained clarity. Most amazing of all, though, was the fact
that it appeared my final act of sacrifice in my home world had severed my bloodline
curse. I no longer suffered beneath the light of day and the blood craving that
could never be completely denied was gone. I still needed blood to fuel the most
potent of my powers, but I no longer required it to live.
"And now you, both of you, are asking me to replace the chains I striven for
centuries to break." Michael shook his head slowly. "I can't do that. No, I WON'T
do that!"
Silence held court for a ten-count before Ebonariex spoke. "Michael, I know
first hand what you went through, but you yourself said that you have never tapped
the powers of your sire's bloodline since the fall of your world. Can you still even
access those powers?"
"It's a pointless question, since I won't attempt to." Michael shrugged.
"Besides, what would it matter if I could?"
Ebonariex became a bit more animated as he dived into his point. "If you COULD
tap those powers, then I would concur with what you've stated regarding your curse.
But if you CANNOT, and that is what I believe, that you cannot, then it would prove
the validity of MY point. You are being foolish, Michael. Your reality has
collapsed, and with it the laws that bound you to it. You know the nature of such
things better than I, as you are the one who TAUGHT me. And yet you sit here and
argue around the obvious: the Curse you speak of does not exist in this reality, and
therefore you have nothing to fear!"
Michael seemed to be gathering himself for a response, but Azaziel, who had
quite literally faded into the woodwork, spoke first. "He's right, you know. I
myself am constrained by the laws of my own reality, and as such possess LESS power
outside my own realm. If my own realm were to collapse, and I was to somehow
survive, I would no longer be able to access a great deal of the power derived from
that existence." Azaziel smirked. "A simple matter of logic, as I believe you would
say, Michael."
Michael stared at his hands. The one, immortal flesh and blood, the other a
sentient magical metal. 'Could it be? Have I been so determined to deny the old
ways that I have blinded myself to a simple fact?' Deep inside, he sought,
tentatively, for the unique power that his sire's bloodline had gifted him.
'Nothing.'
Michael stood and met his friends' eyes. "I believe you may be right...." He
held up a hand to cut off any statements. "However, I am still hesitant to tap into
the forces of which you speak so freely. Remember, I DO understand their nature, and
even if the Curse no longer has a hold on me, it will not change who I am and how I
operate. Ruthless, I can do. Bloodthirsty, I am not."
Azaziel laughed. "Why, Michael, I don't believe there's a 'ruthless' bone in
your body, but I've been wrong before. Needless to say, our allies in the Dread
Naughts will be pleased to know that you're willing to give it a try."
Ebonariex maintained a stony expression. "I could care less about the current
alliance. There are those who want you destroyed, Michael. You know it as well as
I." He summoned a magic globe above his left palm. "Remember them, Michael, for
they've not forgotten you or me, and when they come, it is I who will once again need
your help. I can't have you falter in the face of those forces, and I will kill you
myself to prevent them from finding me alone."
Michael stared into the summoned globe for some time before responding. "I've
not forgotten, Ebonariex, and I'll not fail you when that time comes." He stepped
around his desk and clasped the globe in his left hand, crystallizing it with a
whispered phrase.
"Let us concern ourselves with the present for now, and I will consider what can
be done about the past in the days to come." He pocketed the globe and keyed open
his laboratory's exotic 'door'. "I've learned much about the nature of Ghea's laws,
so it is ironic that I must be reminded of such basic matters as those we have wasted
time discussing. But come now, let me show you Morngrym's latest contraption. It
should prove to be immensely useful in the months to come."
As Michael and his guests departed the study, a small horned creature appeared
atop the desk in a puff of acrid smoke. It quickly glanced about the room to be sure
no one remained, and then went about rummaging through the desk drawers. "You'd
think a half-dead scribbler would at least keep some interesting snacks lying
around!"
A second cloud of smoke appeared just to the rear of the first, and the newly
arrived imp swiftly kicked the other square in the rump. "If you don't get out of
the scribbler's stuff, I'M going to tell Azaziel!"
The first looked up from the floor in disgust. "Come on, we're supposed to be
checking in on The Fallen."
With that, the two disappeared with a simultaneous BAMPH!
Elsewhere
The deathly chill of these hyperborean peaks was nothing in comparison to the
dead chill of Hel's realm; nevertheless, it was far from any normal civilization.
Outside the shallow cave carved into the side of a matterhorn-like peak, slicing
winds whipped ice flecks the size of shurikens at deadly speed. Nothing natural
lived for long at these heights, and for that reason, among others, Eliphas Tragoruss
had chosen it.
His passage through Hel's realm had been excruciating, and had taxed his powers
to their limits. The breach he'd followed had been guarded well, and he'd had to
take extraordinary precautions to avoid detection. The current arrangements were far
from comfortable, but with a few minor magical wards, he could survive indefinitely.
The important thing was that it was highly unlikely that Michael would ever direct
his attention to this forlorn portion of the globe, and the dragon didn't
particularly care for this sort of climate, either. As for the 'new' arrival... that
one could pose problems, but as long as he refrained from certain activities, there
should be no reason for THAT one's attention to fall on him.
Carefully arranging the last of his elaborate preparations, he turned to a large
frosted mirror he'd recently procured from a former 'dabbler'. The hedge wizard had
no idea just how valuable an artifact his grandmother had passed down to him. It was
an ancient scrying mirror, engraved with numerous archaic runes along its filigreed
edge. Many of those runs were not even of this world, but, of course, the hack who'd
formerly possessed it had thought it only capable of seeing into the past and
sometimes the present. What he hadn't known was that it could do far more than SEE
into the past or present... it could reach out to them. And if the arcanist was
skilled enough, perhaps even reach INTO them.
Oh, Michael thought him long dead, and that damnable alchemically altered drake,
too, but he had found a way out in those fleeting final moments. He was no fool;
Michael and his allies were too powerful to attack head on. Which was why he was
about to secure the perfect bait.
Muttering words of power unheard in this realm for centuries, Eliphas ignited
the sigils of the mirror one after the other. As each came to life, images began to
coalesce; first indefinite, and then with more clarity. When all but the final sigil
had been awakened, he paused. Clearly envisioning the one he sought, and bringing to
mind the exact moment when Michael would have last seen her, he uttered the final
invocation.
A human female of indeterminate age came into focus. Her waist length raven
hair was in disarray, and a small garnet teardrop was embedded in her left cheek just
below the eye. The ravaged condition of both her clothing and her body confirmed the
accuracy of his timing, as did the small silver pendant she wore--a perfect replica
of Solomon's Seal. The medallion seemed to be smoking slightly, and for a moment
Eliphas paused. He knew well the power behind that charm. It was more than the
replica it seemed, and if his information was correct, it had been given to Michael
by the Keepers of the Key themselves in honor of some bumbling favor he'd
accomplished for them.
He shook off his momentary dread and continued with the process necessary to
breach the confines of reverse chronology. Of course, the process would probably not
be possible if her realm still existed, but it had terminated and therefore only
existed in theory, without concrete law. Where law had failed, power could prevail.
With a final guttural series of phrases, and a vicious wrenching motion, the vision
became reality.
As Eliphas staggered back from the crumpled form of Crystaltear to catch his
balance in the sudden ebb of magical force, he smiled. And as the wind wailed its
horror across the ravaged peaks, Eliphas Tragoruss laughed.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #38 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Somewhere else:
"Leave them be!" Arhazul roared.
"They are interlopers--mortals! They are our meat--"
"They are mine, Triforos."
"It is unlike you to refuse to share, Arhazul. We have long been allies, have
we not?"
"The matter is not simple. They are... envoys from the mortal realm. From...
the Malcorn."
A long silence. "Oh." More silence. "It is unlike the Malcorn to send others
to do his errands."
"I believe the Malcorn to be fully occupied on another aspect of this problem--"
"Leaving his mortal realm unguarded?" The voice became eager. "Perhaps we
could--"
A third voice, heavier, darker. "That is short-sighted. So the Malcorn is busy
now. It will return. The Malcorn always returns. What is the nature of the
problem, that it should concern us?"
"It appears that Doors have been opened, and oaths have been broken, my Lord
Chorzelan. Specifically, those Doors and oaths with which the Malcorn has always
been concerned. I have questioned these mortals, and they are in agreement, further,
I can detect no deception in their answers. Oaths have been broken by those who
dwell in the Silent Place--"
"The Silent Place has long been sealed, so that only the most powerful of
necromancers could breach the barrier. Surely no mortal would be so foolish?"
"Surely mortals *would* be so foolish," the second voice, the one 'their' demon
called Triforos, countered. "Such foolishness has always been their specialty. It
is amazing that any survive."
"They are not the only fools in the multiverse," Chorzelan said. "All oath-
breakers are fools. That those who dwell in the Silent Place have broken their oath
is not good, but what business is that of ours? We are not charged with guarding the
oath. It is the Malcorn's business."
"The Malcorn cannot be in two places at once, any more than one of us can, and
doubtless it feels that, while closing the Door is critical--as we know it is--this
other matter is nearly as important."
"Still, why should we--?" Triforos began.
"I see a certain value in performing a service for the Malcorn. In placing the
Malcorn in our debt."
"I do not believe the Malcorn will think in terms of 'debt'," Chorzelan said.
"But a reputation for having been... helpful may stand as a shield to us at some
later date. Tell us more exactly what the Malcorn wants." Blackwind felt
Something's attention shift to him and Redfox. "Or let these 'envoys' tell us."
Blackwind braced himself. He and Redfox--and Agro--didn't actually KNOW what
Lord Malcorn expected them to accomplish here, so how could they answer--
"They were not told," Arhazul said. "I determined it from the air that clung to
their skins."
Blackwind blinked and glanced at Redfox. The Rirorni shrugged.
A limb, not quite a tentacle but not quite an arm, came out of... the "sky" or
somewhere else that seemed to be "above" them, and extended a digit. Touched
Blackwind's head, the Redfox's arm where the nighthunter had clawed it, dabbling in
the blood. Withdrew.
"Yes," the Chorzelan voice said, "I perceive that you have deduced correctly.
Very well. I authorize you, Arhazul, and also you, Triforos, to deal with this in
whatever way you must, up to... the Third Level of Force, I believe should be
sufficient. I shall arrange that your authorization is declared in the proper
places. Begin at once."
Blackwind had the clear sense of a great pressure departing. Or the pressure of
a great presence departing. Anyway, it was easier to breathe now. If they were
breathing and not just going through the motions in this weird place.
"We will go to the Silent Place," Arhazul said. "These two, being mortal, will
be our keys to open the way."
"With blood?" Triforos asked. Again that eager note. A blood-hungry demon.
Blackwind would prefer not to give his life--or Redfox's, or even Agro's--to
accomplish their mission, although, since they were all three Lords Protector,
resurrection was available to them. Probably available. If nothing happened to
their souls while their bodies were 'incapacitated'. He could feel the hilt of his
sword pressing against his ribs as he lay on the surface, floor, whatever it was, and
that was a comfort. If he did have to die, he wouldn't go easily.
Arhazul's voice, cold, ironic. "You see a long-term benefit in breaking the
Malcorn's chosen tools?"
"The Malcorn might well die in closing the Door!"
"So? The Malcorn always returns. Always, Triforos. It is that you are young,
I suppose, scarcely half a millennia. You will learn. Come."
Again the feeling of being drawn through the "air" by the collars. This time it
seemed to Blackwind that they were going... down. Not falling, but approaching
something that could be considered a "lower level." Alastari, he hoped.
A sudden rush of wind, real wind that smelled of night and trees. Another
jolting impact, cushioned by drifted leaves. They even smelled like leaves. He took
a deep breath. Oak and pine and twilight. Nothing had ever smelled so good before.
Felt Agro let go of his ankle and roll away.
"This is the Silent Place that we visited before with Wolf," the Croc said. "I
did not like it then, but I am glad to be here now."
"I'd really like to know why Wolf came here to begin with," Blackwind said.
"Why he brought the Dark Stranger to Malcorn. It sounds like the Stranger might be
an enemy."
"There will have been a good reason," Redfox said.
"Yes, but didn't he say anything, give any explanation?" the Malcornishman
pressed.
Redfox laughed, coughed, and sat up, one hand going to his neck. The collar was
gone, Blackwind saw, and felt for his own. Also gone. "You don't know Uncle Wolf!
Explain a shaman's business to a mere warrior? Not likely." The Rirorni held up his
hand. "And, no, I didn't really ask. I don't understand a shaman's work, so how
could I expect to understand his answer? But Lord Malcorn went along with it."
A swirl of darkness. "Yes, the barrier around the Silent Place is breached. It
has been open for months." Triforos, suddenly uncertain. "Except that it is not
exactly open, just... not sealed. I do not understand this."
"Broken by someone who could close but not seal it," Arhazul said. "Then more
recently opened and closed again. No more than a handful of nights ago, the second
opening."
"That would have been Uncle Wolf," Redfox said. "We were here a few nights ago.
Uncle Wolf opened it, and the Dark Stranger came out. We took the Stranger to Lord
Malcorn, and I suppose it is still with them, wherever they have gone."
"A clever trap," Arhazul said. "This one you call the Stranger would not
readily have entered the presence of the Malcorn, with oath-breaking on its heart,
save if it believed the sin unknown. The Malcorn will know how to deal with it."
"I hope that Stranger is bound in a place of torment for ages," Triforos said.
"Truly, so do I," Arhazul agreed. "It must have had knowledge of the oath-
breaking even if it did not act personally, for it is of high rank among those who
dwell in the Silence. If it had knowledge and did nothing, then it gave consent.
Whereby all on our plane are endangered, from the lowest night-hunter to the greatest
of us, even Lord Chorzelan."
"It is a bad thing," Triforos agreed. "Let us abate it then, without further
nattering."
A truly horrible sound that Blackwind decided was Arhazul's laughter. "We deal
with the mortal realm now, Triforos, and 'nattering' is required."
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #39 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
The Silent Place near Zuwayza:
"So, what's our first move?" Blackwind asked. He was glad it was late twilight
so that he couldn't clearly see the two who had come from that other place to help
them, Arhazul and Triforos. He didn't want to know what they looked like here in the
mortal world. He didn't want them here in the mortal world, and the fastest way to
get them back to their own home was to solve this problem they'd been set--by, he
guessed, Uncle Wolf and Lord Malcorn.
"First we must describe the dimension of the problem," Arhazul said. Its tone
was brisk, all business now. "We see before us the Silent Place," a limb of some
sort waved at it in the darkness, "and we know the barrier around it to have been
breached, that much is obvious from the shape of the presence that remains. Further,
we know that the breach in question lies before us, at the place you mortals would
call the 'natural' entrance. A gate of sorts, merely physical itself but strongly
symbolic, of course, in the barrier that surrounds it."
"I didn't know demons liked to lecture," Redfox muttered in his ear.
"Yeah, well, I guess demons are like mortals and come all sorts," Blackwind
answered. "I can live with it."
If Arhazul heard their comments, it gave no sign. "But it would be folly for us
to advance at once upon this obvious weak point without first determining that the
rest of the barrier remains intact. What use to attack if there is a bolt-hole by
which our foes may escape?"
"Are they all our foes in there?" Blackwind asked.
"You question?" Triforos demanded. "You seek to permit some to escape a due
punishment?"
"No, I'm not arguing. I really want to hear the answer," the Malcornishman
said. "With humans, residence in a place doesn't mean you are necessarily guilty of
something that some other residents did."
"Here it means that," Arhazul answered. "All herein are parties to the Oath
Which Is Broken. If they did not consent at the time, being unaware, they have still
had opportunity to seek restoration. They have not done so, or we would smell it on
the wind. All are complicit and thus guilty of the oath-breaking."
"Okay. Just figured I should check any loose ends before they become a big
deal," Blackwind said. "Our best information by the sources we have at hand, then,
is that everything inside the Silent Place is a foe."
"Yes. Now, let us discover whether they have managed to secure an escape route,
which could only have been done after the seal on the barrier, and thus its
integrity, had been broken but could then have been done by anyone with sufficient
skill and power--or what you mortals call 'luck'."
Blackwind shrugged. He guessed it made a kind of sense, and he had no problem
at all visualizing some lesser magician or necromancer poking around and discovering
that now the once-impenetrable barrier around the Silent Place would yield to his
efforts. And that finding this so, whether he had any specific reason for making an
entry or not, he would do it just because he could, giving not one thought to the
possible consequences. To his mind, that was practically the definition of a
magician: I want what I want, however I can get it, and damn the consequences!
Okay, he was doing an injustice to some magicians, but most, or at least a lot of
them, were like that. Probably compensation: If they'd been any good with a blade,
they'd never have bothered to study magic.
Meanwhile, he was following the two demons on a circuit of the enclosure.
Thrashing through underbrush which he mostly couldn't see now that it was full dark.
Getting soaked, because it must have rained recently and everything was dripping.
Slapping at bugs. The demons didn't seem to be having these problems, not even the
one with the underbrush. Life was so unfair!
"There!" The voice was Triforos's, from well ahead of them. The junior demon
must be doing scout duty. "A flaw in the barrier, as though it has been opened and
then closed... ineptly."
The others moved to where it 'stood' and looked. The barrier itself was marked
by a fence of iron uprights with spear-head shaped finials and chains linking them at
top, middle, and bottom. Some rust, but less than Blackwind would have expected,
given the age of the place and the climate. Arhazul muttered something, and a
ghostly greenish light flowed from its hand to illuminate the scene. A broken chain,
one upright missing and the ones on either side of the gap bent away. A man could
squeeze through that hole, though not easily unless he was small and thin.
Agro stepped into the spill of light and knelt, touching the ground with a
clawed fingertip. In one place, another, a third. "There were two humans here," the
Croc said. "A man, a child." The finger tapped one track. "The child went through
the gap," the finger moved to one of the bent poles, "and scratched himself on the
iron here. If those within are like the others we have met, the blood-scent would
have drawn them. The tracks don't tell me what happened next."
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
How did I do that?! I am Duelmaster?! I merely wanted to beat up on old Zod of
Zulu Nation who had just killed my teammate, Assundries. I guess bloodfeuds really,
really pay off, eh?
I must speak something well of all the teams and managers in Morya. Did you see
all those arena ads? Talcama Battle Royale; Fratsfa Feud, a Roleplaying Arena, an
ADM challenge.... The list of arena events goes on. Yet, we in Morya have a solid,
thriving, and growing arena. THANKS to YOU ALL. Keep up the great work, Moryans.
So now what to do? Should I bloodfeud Zod again? Is that ethical? What the
heck, he killed my teammate! Or should I try on one of those old-timers like
Experimentia, Seci, Lorvandis, or Surgical (Somehow the name, Surgical, scares me!)
We shall see.
Right now, in South Carolina, at 5:50AM, as the sun rises and light begins to
filter the sky, the boss says, "It is time for golf." I wonder if he puts that on
his Expense Account?
Cash Meals, Duelmaster
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of MORYA! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp Eyes,
Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. Former top team ODIN'S CHOSEN was unseated
this week as PHANTACITY moved up from 6th ranking to take the top spot with a 4-1-0
record for the round. There were bitter words at SANGUIS MORI's guildhouse after a
3-2-0 showing this week which dropped the stable into 8th. Dark Arena anyone?
Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner! Witness how this week
PHANTACITY went 4-1-0 to move up 5 in the rankings. My praise to ZULU NATION for
their 4-1-1 week this time out. Indeed, it was a skillfully fought round deserving
of notice! YAU (DARKFACE) caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as
he skillfully bested CLOUDRIDER and was awarded 22 points in recognition. In one of
the week's more notable duels, SICARIUS put down IWRON DESTUDE, causing him to lose
14 points of recognition in the process. Most watched of the fights this week, the
spotlight was on EXPERIENTIA as she bore arms against the challenge of reigning
Duelmaster CASH MEALS. Although EXPERIENTIA made a valiant effort, it did not
suffice to topple the reign of victorious CASH MEALS. Heed this! A seer has warned
that if exactly 6 die in duels this week, the whole city shall perish! Just
remember...5 or 7!
But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades
that is city MORYA. MORYA, city of gladiators! Mighty among the names of thy guilds
is DODGE BULLETS, a guild shunned and avoided by many in the weekly duels. If you
didn't look down dark alleys you'd have been hard pressed to find any of SANGUIS MORI
last week. Busy avoiding DODGE BULLETS? Mighty fighters cannot but expect
competition from those below. JENNSEN take warning! You have more than a few
enemies in MORYA. A match that raised a few eyebrows at the games this week, it
seems that SCARLET posted a challenge against the more highly recognized SECI. The
results, you ask? Well, the firebrand SCARLET was subdued by SECI. Remember
warriors, this is the discipline of steel.
What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his
foe's mortality? My condolences to SONS OF MARS for their loss of a very promising
warrior, GAIUS NERO. GAIUS NERO went to doom before the arms of THOR THORSSON, a
warrior of ODIN'S CHOSEN. I must report the passing of CLOUDRIDER, veteran of many
duels. 17-19-0 final record His was not illustrious--but death plays no favorites.
Some say a warrior is judged by the way he bears arms. One thing is sure, better a
dagger in hand then a sword on the belt!
If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times
already in MORYA. Nice atmosphere you have here! Ahh, but I can hear the spires of
a far off city calling to me. I must away! Till next we meet remember - the pen is
mightier than the sword, but a maul is a different story!-- Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CASH MEALS 4532 12 6 0 113 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
YAU (DARKFACE) 4519 14 7 1 107 ZULU NATION (501)
SURGICAL 4437 14 16 0 105 STEEL AND SILK (495)
SECI 4464 17 11 2 98 PHANTACITY (480)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
EXPERIENTIA 4483 14 9 0 89 STEEL AND SILK (495)
LORVANDIS 4402 19 19 0 82 DODGE BULLETS (126)
ANFERROUS 4508 14 6 0 67 STEEL AND SILK (495)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ZOD 4525 12 7 1 66 ZULU NATION (501)
ZOE (DARKFACE) 4538 7 12 1 66 ZULU NATION (501)
SCARLET 4603 8 6 0 65 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
PATTE DE SAGUAR 4629 8 3 0 63 THE PENTARCHY (397)
OTHER 4536 14 5 0 58 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
BLOOD HAWK 4621 9 4 0 57 DODGE BULLETS (126)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CASCELLA 4659 5 3 0 53 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
CRICTOR UNGERER 4640 5 3 0 48 THE PENTARCHY (397)
PIZDA 4599 9 3 0 45 PHANTACITY (480)
MESSORA 4427 6 2 1 45 SANGUIS MORI (488)
TEZCATLIPOCA 4641 5 0 1 42 THE PENTARCHY (397)
CAEDERE 4389 7 4 1 41 SANGUIS MORI (488)
WHITE BECT 4645 3 2 0 39 THE PENTARCHY (397)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CRUORIS 4388 6 5 1 33 SANGUIS MORI (488)
PARKING FEES 4535 3 5 0 32 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
MORTUUS 4387 6 5 1 31 SANGUIS MORI (488)
QUINTUS MAXIMUS 4709 3 0 1 30 SONS OF MARS (526)
CHANDALEN 4602 5 9 3 27 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
-RENTAL CAR 4534 5 4 0 27 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
JENNSEN 4604 6 8 0 26 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
APPIUS CLAUDIUS 4708 2 1 0 24 SONS OF MARS (526)
PYRITE 4698 2 1 0 24 STEEL AND SILK (495)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
THOR THORSSON 3564 3 1 1 23 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
SICARIUS 4697 2 2 0 23 SANGUIS MORI (488)
NENA VIXIN 4670 2 3 1 22 THE CONDEMNED (520)
VRTOGLAVA 4684 4 2 0 21 PHANTACITY (480)
LAUNDRY 4715 2 0 0 19 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
DASK RUIN 4667 2 3 0 19 THE CONDEMNED (520)
-BOOMERANG 4696 2 0 0 18 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
GUNGNARTH 3568 3 1 1 16 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
FORSETI 3567 3 1 0 16 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
JEBI1KENOBI 4711 2 0 0 13 PHANTACITY (480)
ZAB 4729 1 0 0 13 ZULU NATION (501)
REIBISCH 4683 3 3 0 12 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
DEAEL 4671 2 3 0 12 THE CONDEMNED (520)
-JUGGERNAUT 4694 2 0 0 11 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
MARCUS CAMILLUS 4705 1 2 0 11 SONS OF MARS (526)
FLEN ASAIL 4668 2 3 0 10 THE CONDEMNED (520)
LUCKII DUVAL 4719 1 0 0 10 RAG-TAG MISFITS (527)
POGODI 4731 1 0 0 10 PHANTACITY (480)
IWRON DESTUDE 4713 2 1 0 8 THE CONDEMNED (520)
VALERIAN 4732 1 0 0 7 STEEL AND SILK (495)
LOURDEPATTE 4690 1 4 0 7 THE PENTARCHY (397)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ANGRBODA 4730 1 0 1 6 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
THORA THORSSON 3565 1 3 0 6 ODIN'S CHOSEN (403)
CINCINNATUS 4706 1 2 0 5 SONS OF MARS (526)
MADELINE 4710 0 3 0 3 DODGE BULLETS (126)
-LIZARD 4693 0 2 0 2 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
-SABRETOOTH 4692 0 2 0 2 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
-PORCUPINE 4717 0 1 0 1 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
ZIGGY (DARKFACE) 4716 0 1 0 1 ZULU NATION (501)
GIMLEE VAINE 4720 0 1 0 1 RAG-TAG MISFITS (527)
SLY DUVAL 4721 0 1 0 1 RAG-TAG MISFITS (527)
THROM BORDEN 4723 0 1 0 1 RAG-TAG MISFITS (527)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
CLOUDRIDER 4424 17 19 0 DODGE BULLETS 126 YAU (DARKFACE) 4519 308
ASSUNDRIES 4555 6 3 0 EXPENSE ACCOUNT 506 ZOD 4525 306 REVENGED
DANGEL 4722 0 1 0 RAG-TAG MISFITS 527 ANGRBODA 4730 308
GAIUS NERO 4707 2 1 0 SONS OF MARS 526 THOR THORSSON 3564 308
PLATINUM PEACH 4699 0 1 0 STEEL AND SILK 495 NENA VIXIN 4670 305 JUST REVENGED
WREN STAVELY 4669 0 2 0 THE CONDEMNED 520 GUNGNARTH 3568 305 REVENGED
PERSONAL ADS
Congratulations to Mankiller and Opasan, Morya's newest Lord Protectors. Do us all
proud at The Isle. -- Finance Manager
Sabretooth -- One must have his jock strap clean to fight the good fight. Mine was.
-- Laundry
P.S. How about yours, Dr. Doom?
Jennsen -- I only proved that of the two, on that day, I was the best holder-on. --
Other
Zod -- Seemed like the right way to do it! Vengeance! Want more of me? -- Cash
Meals
You go, Necroma. Get 'em, gal. -- Finance Manager
La Pentarque -- You had an award? -- Finance Manager
Welcome newbies, one and all. Morya is the place to be. -- Finance Manager
Thanks, Cash Meals, I'll enjoy a huge lunch! -- Crictor Ungerer, the guy who eats
once a month, but a lot
The tightening down of expenses seems to have been very efficient... that's a well
run business. -- Le Pentarque
By the way, Finance Manager, I owe you a free tax investigation for that wonderful
spelling time. :)
Welcome to Odin's Chosen.
Sanguis Mori doesn't like my guys! Why? What have I have done? -- Le Pentarque
Opasan -- I'd like to call that a "lucky win," but I detected a fair amount of skill
in it. Rather depressing, in a way. Do you suppose I'm already "over the hill"? --
Lorvandis
Seci -- A risk-taker, are you? I like that in a man. It's makes it more challenging
to kill them. But I was restrained (by the arenamaster), and so you crawl out of the
arena alive. Damn. Nothing personal, but I did wish for an arena death on my record
before leaving, to go with the, ah, let's just say, there are other places to die
than in the arena, and some men have died in those places in my presence. I wouldn't
want you to think I was RESPONSIBLE, or anything, but, well, you know. -- Mankiller
Yau (Darkface) -- Can't shadow what's dark to begin with, can I? -- Cloudrider
Messora -- They--my teammates and certain other people with formative influences in
my life, we don't need to go into those details, do we?--told me that anyone with
elven blood would be sneaky and dangerous. So I was, as the modern term goes,
proactive. But not excessive. -- Blood Hawk
Juggernaut -- That was definitely an "ouch" experience. What kind of force are we
looking at here, though? Storm winds, earthquakes, or what? -- Madeline
A salute to all here who participated in the tourney, and on to the next one--before
we meet again, I believe. -- Jorja, Dodge Bullets
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
ANFERROUS viciously subdued NENA VIXIN in a unpopular 5 minute Bloodfeud fight.
CASH MEALS demolished EXPERIENTIA in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title melee.
SCARLET was overpowered by SECI in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel.
OTHER bested CRICTOR UNGERER in a 3 minute gory Challenge fight.
PIZDA was demolished by ZOE (DARKFACE) in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition.
MORTUUS was vanquished by PATTE DE SAGUAR in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
DASK RUIN was overpowered by TEZCATLIPOCA in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
PYRITE was overpowered by CASCELLA in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
REIBISCH slimly lost to VRTOGLAVA in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
GAIUS NERO was viciously butchered by THOR THORSSON in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
DEAEL was savagely defeated by CHANDALEN in a 3 minute Challenge fight.
APPIUS CLAUDIUS defeated FORSETI in a 2 minute Challenge match.
SICARIUS savagely defeated IWRON DESTUDE in a 5 minute Challenge competition.
QUINTUS MAXIMUS savagely defeated JENNSEN in a 9 minute Challenge brawl.
LORVANDIS was vanquished by SURGICAL in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
YAU (DARKFACE) slaughtered CLOUDRIDER in a 1 minute bloody one-sided fray.
ZOD bested WHITE BECT in a 2 minute gory brawl.
PARKING FEES was narrowly defeated by CAEDERE in a 2 minute brutal match.
BLOOD HAWK savagely defeated CRUORIS in a popular 2 minute bloody match.
MESSORA devastated THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
FLEN ASAIL defeated ZIGGY (DARKFACE) in a popular 1 minute novice's duel.
GUNGNARTH handily defeated GIMLEE VAINE in a 1 minute uneven duel.
THORA THORSSON was bested by LUCKII DUVAL in a 2 minute novice's bout.
LOURDEPATTE was overpowered by ZAB in a 2 minute uneven fight.
MARCUS CAMILLUS overpowered SLY DUVAL in a 1 minute gory uneven fight.
CINCINNATUS was defeated by POGODI in a 2 minute beginner's match.
LAUNDRY overpowered PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 1 minute uneven duel.
MADELINE was beaten by VALERIAN in a 3 minute novice's fray.
JEBI1KENOBI viciously subdued THROM BORDEN in a 2 minute gory novice's duel.
DANGEL was slain by ANGRBODA in a 1 minute beginner's duel.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK 12 WALL OF STEEL 34 - 19 - 1 64 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 10 LUNGING ATTACK 45 - 34 - 4 57 |
|WALL OF STEEL 9 PARRY-LUNGE 12 - 10 - 1 55 |
|AIMED BLOW 6 SLASHING ATTACK 33 - 29 - 2 53 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 6 AIMED BLOW 21 - 19 - 1 53 |
|BASHING ATTACK 5 PARRY-STRIKE 15 - 15 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 4 TOTAL PARRY 13 - 14 - 0 48 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 3 STRIKING ATTACK 29 - 34 - 3 46 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 BASHING ATTACK 28 - 40 - 3 41 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 10 - 1 33 |
Turn 308 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:
LUNGING ATTACK 7 - 3 WALL OF STEEL 4 - 5 3 STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 4 - 2 PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 3 3 SLASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 3 - 2 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 3 1 LUNGING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 7 - 5 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 3 1 TOTAL PARRY
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1 1 AIMED BLOW
1 PARRY-STRIKE
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK CASH MEALS 4532 12 6 0 113 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
LUNGING ATTACK YAU (DARKFACE) 4519 14 7 1 107 ZULU NATION (501)
SLASHING ATTACK SECI 4464 17 11 2 98 PHANTACITY (480)
TOTAL PARRY ANFERROUS 4508 14 6 0 67 STEEL AND SILK (495)
AIMED BLOW ZOD 4525 12 7 1 66 ZULU NATION (501)
PARRY-STRIKE PATTE DE SAGUAR 4629 8 3 0 63 THE PENTARCHY (397)
WALL OF STEEL OTHER 4536 14 5 0 58 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
BASHING ATTACK CASCELLA 4659 5 3 0 53 D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is LORVANDIS 4402. The most popular warrior this turn
was BLOOD HAWK 4621. The ten other most popular fighters were SICARIUS 4697, CRICTOR
UNGERER 4640, PARKING FEES 4535, VALERIAN 4732, CHANDALEN 4602, APPIUS CLAUDIUS 4708,
ZOD 4525, WHITE BECT 4645, CAEDERE 4389, and JEBI1KENOBI 4711.
The least popular fighter this week was JENNSEN 4604. The other ten least popular
fighters were NENA VIXIN 4670, DANGEL 4722, THROM BORDEN 4723, CINCINNATUS 4706, SLY
DUVAL 4721, LOURDEPATTE 4690, GIMLEE VAINE 4720, CLOUDRIDER 4424, PYRITE 4698, and
DASK RUIN 4667.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
YAU (DARKFACE) (28-4519) ZULU NATION (501)
SUMMER FACE-TO-FACE IN CLEVELAND!
Our summer FTF will be an eastern one this time, located in Cleveland, Ohio on July
17-19, 2009. It will be held at the Holiday Inn in Strongsville, OH, at 15471
Royalton Rd (440-238-8800). Rooms are only $95.00 per night, 1-2 occupancy.
There is a free shuttle from the airport, free parking, and free high-speed wireless
internet in all guestrooms ($3/day in public space). The hotel has an indoor pool,
pool table, and hockey, and a fitness center. The hotel is located 1/2 mile from the
largest mall in Northeast Ohio, with indoor minigolf and pottery painting, and right
next door to Iceland Arena, which offers open skate and skate rental. They also have
four bikes on property available for checkout, as the Metro parks are next door as
well. The rooms are blocked--ask for the "Reality Simulations" room block. There are
many restaurants and nightspots nearby and at the Mall, as well as a cafe in the
hotel.
The tournament information sheet will be out imminently. We hope you're all looking
forward to the tournament and that we will see you there!