DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 07/19/2006 Duedate: 08/01/2006 LAPUR ARENA DM-29 TURN-532 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS LYRA VENUSIANS (321) (29-4320) [15-9-0,92] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader LYRA POSITION IS EMPTY VENUSIANS (321) (29-4320) [15-9-0,92] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite MURRY AKUMU CROC FILES (374) BLACK SAMURAI (166) (29-4638) [14-23-0,81] (29-4674) [4-3-0,22] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM (153) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. FORCE OF NATURE (312) 25 2. VENUSIANS (321) 16 CROC FILES (374) 3. BLACK SAMURAI (166) 14 Unchartered Team 4. CROC FILES (374) 9 5. ECHL-EAST (313) 0ARMED AND DANGEROUS (368) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1- 1*BOMBER GALS (409) 7 3 3 70.0 1/ 5 VENUSIANS (321) 9 6 1 2/ 3 CROC FILES (374) 300 274 20 52.3 2/ 2 CROC FILES (374) 9 6 1 3/ 4 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 294 283 20 51.0 3/ 4 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 7 8 0 4/ 5 VENUSIANS (321) 129 129 7 50.0 4/ 1 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 6 6 0 5- 6 ECHL-EAST (313) 18 19 0 48.6 5/ 7 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 3 4 0 6/ 7 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 159 188 11 45.8 6- 3*BOMBER GALS (409) 2 3 1 7/ 8 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 304 384 7 44.2 7- 8 ECHL-EAST (313) 0 1 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ A Crocodile in the Shadows #20 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + The story so far: At a time in the past, intelligent reptilians were brought to Ghea and manipulated magically to become gladiators. Though they could pass for human in heavy cloaks and a bad light, they were and are not human, either in the altered Ghean form, or in the world of their origin. Legend among them says that they were made by magicians in the distant past, to be servants or slaves, but were found to be unsuitable and abandoned. Why they were brought to Ghea and Alastari they do not know, but they believe it was for no purpose they would approve of. Through the machinations of one of their main enemies, the dark-elf mage Nishtar who has seized control of Monuntial, the gladiatorial Crocs Agro and Bindi have been returned to the world from which they came, where Nishtar is also a powerful ruler. With the help of certain humans, some of them also gladiators, they escaped from Nishtar's immediate clutches and fled across a great plain in search of their people. They stand now on the brink of the last descent to a swamp-filled valley where they can hope to find other crocs. They have seen an army of elves approaching the swamp on a northern route, probably with no good end in view, and two of the humans have gone to scout the elvish army. Bindi and Agro stood on the brink of the last cliff and looked outward and down. Below them the land was green and spangled with the reflection of sunlight off water, unlike the dry hills behind them. "That is a land for crocs," Agro muttered. His hands twitched, fingers curved into claws. "If crocs are already there, we'll have to fight them for territory, no one would give up so much as a body-length of that--" Bindi jabbed him with a hard fist. "We must form alliance with them," she reminded her companion. "That's the warmblood way--" "Yes, it is one of their great strengths, and we must have that strength, too, in order to stand against them. You know that! We talked about it before." In so far as his reptilian face could have an expression, Agro looked sheepish. "I forgot." Bindi thumped him a second time. "Well, don't forget again. This is important." "Yeah, yeah." He turned to look north. Their human companions, Ashon Chang and Rughal, were already out of sight, but the faint haze of dust from the movement of the elven army was visible. "I know. An individual band of crocs isn't going to defeat an army of elves. Damned warmbloods...." The orc, Vurand, came up beside them. "Swamps aren't my favorite kind of place," he said, "but I'd like it better to be down there than skylined here on the top of the cliff. The elves to the north might have scouts out, and there could be other enemies around." "For a warmblood, you're not so dumb," Agro said. He began to search the cliff on which they stood, looking for a way down. As cliffs went, this one was low, maybe ten lengths straight down and then a longer slope to the waterside. But it was still a cliff. Tyrai, once the arenamistress of Monuntial, came up on their other side. "There is a small ravine just to the south of here," she said, "and from the end of it, what appears to be a ledge that will take us the rest of the way down." Agro looked at her, shaking his head over the unlikeliness of this alliance. But it was Vurand who put the Croc's most immediate concern into words. "You haven't forgotten that the rest of us aren't werecats who can climb anything, have you?" "This will be easy," Tyrai said. "Well, at least not terribly hard...." They followed her along the top of the bluff to the descent she had chosen. The ravine was narrow and steep, but at least the rocks they could see were large and firmly bedded in the slope, and there was none of the dry, thorny brush that had given the crocs trouble at earlier stages of their climb down from the highlands. The going was faster than Bindi had expected. They half-slid down the grassy ravine, and the ledge at the end of that was wide enough to walk along almost normally. In fact... "This looks like someone cleared it," she said. Ahead of her, Tyrai shrugged. "Maybe someone--some one of your people--did, in case they had to climb in or out of the swamp." "They wouldn't need to!" Bindi said. "What would bring a croc up to the high, dry land?" "You never know when a pressing need might arise," the arenamistress said. "Your people have enemies, which may mean scouting parties to be sent out, or raiding parties. They may engage in trade--" "No. We never do things like that!" "Then it's time and past time that you did! Learn the lesson my people did-- finally. Make yourselves a strong, productive people among the other peoples of the world, if you want them to respect you as equals instead of see you as animals to be hunted, or at best slaves to be used." She glanced over her shoulder at the two crocs. "It is true that whatever you do, not everyone will change the way they see you. But some, the best, will." Bindi glanced over her shoulder at Agro behind her. The bigger croc hissed annoyance and acknowledgment. "We see this...now," he said. "We will do what we can." After a moment, watching Tyrai's back descending the ledge ahead of them, he asked, "Why do you care so?" She twitched one shoulder. "Your people are in the same position mine were, not so long ago. We had to make the rest of the world see us as people, as equals, or we would be nothing but prey. In most places, this happened long before I was born, but some isolated communities of shapeshifters are still balanced on that edge. And if you are accepted as people, that will help us, just as our acceptance helps you. So you see," she finished, "my own interests are involved, too. This is why I will give you all the help I can. And because, as one person to another, I find you...worthy. Deserving of help." SPY REPORT Hail and well met warriors of LAPUR! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner! Witness how this week VENUSIANS went 3-2-0 to move up 4 in the rankings. DOWN POUR caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested LADYBUG and was awarded 16 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, SOLAR FLARE put down CEZZARO, causing him to lose 12 points of recognition in the process. Not for nothing has ACCO in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and this week he's proven his combat skill yet again. 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! I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently transpired. Indeed there is much I would report. My inside sources tell me that the team to beat in LAPUR these days is BLACK SAMURAI. At least, most blades in town are looking to avoid them. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part of last week avoiding BLACK SAMURAI. Indeed it was CROC FILES. Mighty fighters cannot but expect competition from those below. LYRA take warning! You have more than a few enemies in LAPUR. Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser? Warriors, may this counselor stand ready at your right hand forever! Walk proud, warriors of BLACK SAMURAI! By striking down WEIPA you have avenged the honor of your dead. Your virtue is known to all in LAPUR. Fate is a fickle mistress. She showers the miserable with fortune but sets enemies against the victorious. Remember this! If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times already in LAPUR. Nice atmosphere you have here! More than a sharp eye must I keep, indeed a stout pair of legs must I keep as well! The endless paths of Alastari await me! 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 LYRA 4320 15 9 0 92 VENUSIANS (321) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -MACHIGAI 4506 17 5 0 99 BLACK SAMURAI (166) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -ORATHAI 4598 7 1 0 83 ECHL-EAST (313) MURRY 4638 14 23 0 81 CROC FILES (374) SUE NAMI 4097 13 19 0 75 FORCE OF NATURE (312) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -FURY 3872 8 3 0 75 ECHL-EAST (313) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME KOJIRO 4456 14 9 1 63 BLACK SAMURAI (166) CONNIE 4716 9 4 1 61 CROC FILES (374) SNOWSHOE 4712 10 7 0 59 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) DOWN POUR 4323 7 12 0 59 FORCE OF NATURE (312) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SOLAR FLARE 4427 9 7 0 48 VENUSIANS (321) WHIRLWIND 4325 8 12 0 47 FORCE OF NATURE (312) -JUNIBAN 4599 14 4 0 46 BLACK SAMURAI (166) TIGER LILY 4732 5 2 0 41 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) LADYBUG 4709 11 6 0 39 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ASTRIAL 4328 7 11 1 33 VENUSIANS (321) MENSA 4442 7 7 1 33 VENUSIANS (321) AMIE 4718 4 5 1 32 CROC FILES (374) WEIPA 4726 4 3 1 29 CROC FILES (374) CEZZARO 4719 4 5 0 28 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME AKUMU 4674 4 3 0 22 BLACK SAMURAI (166) -BIG BERTHA 4728 2 0 1 21 BOMBER GALS (409) CARINA 4749 2 0 0 20 VENUSIANS (321) ZERO VISABILITY 4495 4 5 0 19 FORCE OF NATURE (312) -GREEN DRAGON 4729 2 0 0 17 BOMBER GALS (409) -POKI-GAL 4731 1 1 1 16 BOMBER GALS (409) STICKET 4751 1 1 0 8 FORCE OF NATURE (312) -ADMIRAL BOWEN 4289 0 3 0 7 ECHL-EAST (313) -TORPEDO JANE 4727 1 1 1 5 BOMBER GALS (409) -MS MANNERS 4730 1 1 0 4 BOMBER GALS (409) -DAIHACHI 4750 0 1 0 1 BLACK SAMURAI (166) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? HORIKAO 4748 0 1 0 BLACK SAMURAI 166 WEIPA 4726 530 JUST REV EXPRESS 3553 1 1 0 ECHL-EAST 313 POKI-GAL 4731 529 ILL OMEN 4494 4 3 1 FORCE OF NATURE 312 ASTRIAL 4328 530 REVENGED PERSONAL ADS A strange group of women from parallel Alastaris. They've come together as strangers in a strange land, looking to survive and prosper. And it seems folks like hitting each other over the head here. Ah well, when in Rome.... Ursa -- I suggest Green Tea. Anti-oxidants are healthy. -- Ms. Manners This one wishes for no more fill-ins. This one wishes to fight real warriors. -- Green Dragon Incoming! -- Torpedo Jane OK. OK! Bring on the Bloodfeud! I'm not asking; I'm telling! -- Poki-gal Like my drum solo, sailor? -- Big Bertha Ladybug -- About that rust...see, our stable is not big enough to actually store our armor inside with us, so it has to sit outside in the elements. -- Whirlwind Cezzaro -- That wasn't water pouring down...it was my blood that filled the holes. -- Downpour Poki-Gal -- A good, honorable fight. Enjoyable. -- Zero Astrial -- Go on...kill again! I mean, glad we could settle that with our honor intact. -- Down Pour Torpedo Jane -- Just my luck that I would draw the other Bomber Gal that has a kill. -- Sticket Ladybug -- Sorry, with a record like mine, I have to influence the commission on who I match-up against. (I challenged you, but it did not go through, and then got matched up with you). -- Sue Nami Mensa -- Hey, thanks for the great learns. You are welcome to enter the arena with me any time. -- Whirlwind Lapur -- I hope all who went had success at the tourney. -- Storm Front, Mgr. Force of Nature Snowshoe -- Ouch! It sure is dark in here. Snowshoe, I think you put my flare out. -- Solar Flare Whirlwind -- You seemed to have a lot of stamina. I am sorry you didn't have enough to finish the fight, I was going to buy you a drink afterward. -- Mensa Downpour -- Yikes! That felt more like hail than rain. -- Astrial Ms Manners -- To say that I was surprised to make it to the sixth minute is an understatement. You have some fancy moves, hopefully next time we are matched I can learn them. -- Carina Acco -- Congrats on your advancement. I can see that you deserve it! -- Lyra Sue Nami -- You just washed me away! Hey, what else could I say here? -- Ladybug P.S. But the "bury in the sand" part was going a bit too far, really. Getting the sand out of, you know, places, well, it's a hard job, and not at all pleasant. Connie -- Wow, the teeth that bite! -- Tiger Lily P.S. Come on, 'fess up! You were just jealous because I have more...chest development than you do, and the guys like it. I promise you, it isn't worth it. Who wants to be a sex object to a bunch of tigers? Solar Flare -- A good try, but when you hit the snow I keep about me (sort of about me, it's a kind of pocket-universe thing), well, it reflected right back AT you. That puts the glare in the other eye, eh? -- Snowshoe P.S. Okay, not a "pocket" universe, figure of speech, I slip it down my boottops. Amie -- Ah, I see the point of Lily's frustration. Golems just aren't...fun. -- Cezzaro P.S. Or tasty. Down Pour -- Rain like that, I gotta tell you, *I* was miserable, too. So I figured to share it. -- Cezzaro Whirlwind -- Yes. I'm fond of daisies, myself, they seem so cheerful. And I figured you needed some cheering up. -- Ladybug Ghost of Ursa -- If you would like me to make a special offering meal for you out on the local Spirit Ridge, I would be glad to do so. -- Tiger Lily Ed. -- This is true. -- Ladybug Big Bertha -- I consider that to be a PRIME example of the use of Unnecessary Force. -- Ghost of an Embezzling Scribe 20 June 2006 Dark Knights of the Desolate Empire Our newest Dark Knight disrespected?!?!?! ARE THEY SERIOUS?!?! If at all possible, let's get over to 31. I'm on the way. Let's get 'em. -- Dark Knight Osiris 26 June 2006 To those interested, G.E.C.K.O., Inc, is looking for able-bodied warriors to embark on a dangerous mission. Those interested (or for more details) diplo me at: Juice, DM 93, mgr. Arena Masters, Inc -- Juice 30 June 2006 All -- I am looking for able bodied warriors, magic-wielding wizards, faith-healing clerics, and quick-handed thieves to begin a quest requested by the Emperor of the Southern Kingdom of Crailmia. All interested parties can diplo me in arena 93 -- Noblish Island, c/o Will-O-Wisps (1422) or write to me at -- Robert Bennett, 317173, 4269 West M-80, Kincheloe, Mi 49784. -- the Lightbearer, mgr. Will-O-Wisps 1 July 2006 BROTHER KNIGHTS OF THE DESOLATE EMPIRE -- Hail brothers where ever you are to be found! We are engaging in arena 31. Let them feel our wrath. Onward to glory!!! -- Dark knight Blackstorm 1 July 2006 Soultaker -- Read your e-mail! -- Guardian 10 July 2006 The Dark Knights sat at the Dark Table with grim faces. All present knew that there could be no quarter. The Forces of Desolation would be unleashed. There would be no turning back, no mercy and no hesitation to do what was necessary. Teeth gritted and knuckles whitened with fury as the IMPERIAL PROCLAMATION was signed by each Dark Knight. AS OF JULY 1, 2006 -- WAR IS DECLARED ON THE ALLIANCE KNOWN AS THE VENDETTA CARTEL. The Desolate Empire -- Dark Knights: Ancient Creep, Blackstorm, Dok Sik, Goat, Heathen, Hatebred, Kon, Osiris, Toker, Wasby the Great 14 July 2006 In response to the Desolate Empire's declaration of war, the Vendetta Cartel offers the following response: The members of the Vendetta Cartel can be found in 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 22, 25, 28, 31, 39, 45, 47, 50, 52, 54, 59, 60, 100, and 106. Stop yapping in the all-arena ads, pick an arena, issue a challenge, actually win something, and then maybe (and we stress maybe) you may speak. You may come to our home arenas (8, 31, and 47) and confront us, but we suggest you learn to win in your own "home" arena (52) first. LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS KOJIRO devastated WEIPA in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight. MURRY lost to LYRA in a exciting 1 minute expert's Challenge Title battle. DOWN POUR overpowered LADYBUG in a crowd pleasing 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel. ZERO VISABILITY was overpowered by TIGER LILY in a 1 minute Challenge match. AMIE viciously subdued ASTRIAL in a 2 minute gory Challenge duel. ACCO devastated VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute mismatched match. CONNIE slimly lost to SUE NAMI in a action packed 1 minute fight. SNOWSHOE was viciously subdued by DEADLY ASSASSIN in a action packed 3 minute duel. CEZZARO was overpowered by SOLAR FLARE in a 1 minute uneven duel. WHIRLWIND defeated MENSA in a 5 minute fight. AKUMU savagely defeated STICKET in a popular 4 minute gory melee. CARINA demolished CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 4 PARRY-STRIKE 4 - 1 - 0 80 | |WALL OF STEEL 4 STRIKING ATTACK 28 - 13 - 2 68 | |SLASHING ATTACK 3 SLASHING ATTACK 11 - 9 - 0 55 | |STRIKING ATTACK 3 BASHING ATTACK 11 - 10 - 2 52 | |AIMED BLOW 2 AIMED BLOW 12 - 11 - 0 52 | |BASHING ATTACK 2 LUNGING ATTACK 20 - 21 - 4 49 | |TOTAL PARRY 2 WALL OF STEEL 13 - 19 - 1 41 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 TOTAL PARRY 7 - 11 - 0 39 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 2 - 0 33 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 | Turn 532 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are: PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 0 STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 2 4 LUNGING ATTACK SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 1 - 3 2 SLASHING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 2 STRIKING ATTACK AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 1 TOTAL PARRY BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE 1 BASHING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK LYRA 4320 15 9 0 92 VENUSIANS (321) STRIKING ATTACK CONNIE 4716 9 4 1 61 CROC FILES (374) SLASHING ATTACK SOLAR FLARE 4427 9 7 0 48 VENUSIANS (321) AIMED BLOW TIGER LILY 4732 5 2 0 41 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) WALL OF STEEL LADYBUG 4709 11 6 0 39 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is MURRY 4638. The most popular warrior this turn was AKUMU 4674. The ten other most popular fighters were AMIE 4718, LYRA 4320, SNOWSHOE 4712, DOWN POUR 4323, SOLAR FLARE 4427, WHIRLWIND 4325, TIGER LILY 4732, CONNIE 4716, SUE NAMI 4097, and KOJIRO 4456. The least popular fighter this week was MENSA 4442. The other ten least popular fighters were CEZZARO 4719, ZERO VISABILITY 4495, WEIPA 4726, CARINA 4749, STICKET 4751, ASTRIAL 4328, LADYBUG 4709, MURRY 4638, KOJIRO 4456, and SUE NAMI 4097. The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn: LEXINGTON (29-4580) DARK GLORY (395) The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: ACCO (29-4691) CROC FILES (374) NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS) For those of you who keep track of such things, 5 additional warriors graduated from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament. SNOTTYMAN (40-3685) of THEY TRAINED ME! HORRID (65-6385) of LEGION IV JUDICIOUSLY (82-27214) of ADVERBS II TERRICONUS (82-27651) of THE GLORIOUS DARK FLABBY-O (82-30720) of STREET PIZZAD XXII Congrats to the grads. -- Green Eyes