DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 11/15/2006 Duedate: 11/28/2006
IAYE ARENA
DM-30 TURN-536
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
GARBO
CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
(30-3158) [18-19-0,111]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
GARBO POSITION IS EMPTY
CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
(30-3158) [18-19-0,111]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
WROTE THE BOOK BIGFOOTS
GAMEHENDGE (299) RED DOG GANG (356)
(30-4540) [22-22-0,88] (30-4512) [11-40-0,73]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273) 68
2. LENPROS (145) 33 I TRAINED THEM (331)
3. THE WARLOCKS (430) 20 Unchartered Team
4. GAMEHENDGE (299) 14
5. I TRAINED THEM (331) 13 SCOUTS (342)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 0 I TRAINED THEM (331) 214 105 9 67.1 1/ 1 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273) 12 2 0
2- 1 HELLSWORN (450) 32 18 2 64.0 2/ 2 LENPROS (145) 8 5 0
3/ 2 THE WARLOCKS (430) 135 79 7 63.1 3/ 3 THE A'S -- LOSERS (431) 6 6 0
4/ 3 LENPROS (145) 910 594 25 60.5 4/ 6 RED DOG GANG (356) 5 9 0
5/ 4 THE A'S -- LOSERS (431) 161 138 6 53.8 5/ 8 THE WARLOCKS (430) 4 2 0
6/ 5 GAMEHENDGE (299) 151 132 10 53.4 6/ 4 GAMEHENDGE (299) 4 5 0
7/ 6 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273) 178 165 10 51.9 7- 5 HELLSWORN (450) 2 3 0
8/ 9 WORLDLY DECLINE (445) 19 21 1 47.5 8/ 9 WORLDLY DECLINE (445) 2 4 1
9/10 RED DOG GANG (356) 462 630 10 42.3 9/ 0 I TRAINED THEM (331) 1 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[ Cities by the Shore ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Krael:
An explosion could not have been more disruptive of the activity in the plaza.
There were several work-parties engaged in clearing it, and the magicians commanding
them immediately began directing their laborers against the newly arrived Lord
Protector. And no matter how good a fighter a Lord Protector may be, he cannot hold
out forever against overwhelming numbers. Not with them coming from all directions.
"We have to help him!" Fandil said. He spun his magician's staff as a warrior
might spin a quarterstaff, and the end traced a wheel of flame in the air. With a
word of command, he released the flames. The wheel flew toward the struggle.
Adie spoke, and shafts of sunlight flashed outward from the center of the wheel
like scythes.
The first of the Kraelian magicians it encountered screamed and threw up his arm
to shield his eyes. He staggered blindly across the plaza, still screaming and still
covering his face, and fell over the line of broken stones that marked an ancient
wall. The laborers he had been controlling stood numbly. When the expanding rim of
fire and light passed them, they fell silently. Those who were Aruaki by blood began
to take their feline shapes, but slowly.
Cho touched her lightly on her shoulder. "You could do no otherwise, Lady, and
your clean sunlight may yet bring them recovery."
"I know," she said, wiping at the tears on her face. "I wish..." she sighed and
shook her head, following the burning wheel's progress. "At least we can hope to
prevent any others from being taken by these...fiends."
As the wheel neared the gladiator Eclipse, he flung up his shield. A flash and
a crack of thunder. The wheel turned, deflected; it was only a circle of fire now.
The sunlight had been...absorbed by the dark barrier of his shield; it was Adie's
turn to stagger at this unexpected interruption of the power moving through her. A
tiger who had once been Aruaki lurched to its feet, jumped through the burning hoop
and ran across the plaza and into the fringe of buildings that separated Krael from
the peninsula.
Steel rang behind them. Adie risked a glance over her shoulder. Cho was
engaging two swordsmen. They were bigger than he was, younger than he was...and
utterly over-matched by the old Adantri. The tip of his blade was beginning to trace
bright lines in the air--bright lines and sprays of scarlet blood, because he was
doing more than drawing a web with it. Adie jerked her gaze away before she could be
trapped by that glittering pattern. It was a spell of some kind, but she didn't need
to know more. Not right now, anyway.
More sunlight, that's what she needed, but NOT to send anywhere near the warrior
named Eclipse. She reached for the light and realized that it was...dimmer.
Clouded, somehow, as though it had to come through a dirty window. But it was
sunlight, and she needed. Now. The Kraelian mages had recovered their focus and
were taking steps. Sending ALL the workers toward the three intruding mages and the
lone gladiator. What did that make the odds, twenty to one? Thirty to one? More?
And these laborers were not the guilty ones.
Cho cut down the first to reach them.
"No!" Adie said. "They're innocent, tools, you can't punish the tools for--"
"Precisely tools," Fandil said grimly. "Look at them, look one in the eye,
Adie. They have lost soul and self, they are no more people than a hammer is." His
staff was spinning again, lashing out, sweeping and thrusting. It was a weapon now,
and not a magician's tool; there was no time to set up a proper spell.
"Zombies, of a sort," Cho said, his sword darting and flashing. "There are
worse fates for these than death, and no better ones."
"I know," Adie said. "But I don't like it." Still, there were things she could
do; a priestess of the sun didn't have to establish a formal spell structure. She
could direct the power of the sun--what there was at this time and place--as a
gardener direct water with a hose. And Fandil and Cho were right. The Kraelians had
sucked the last humanity out of their slaves when they sent them to fight. If you
could call this stumbling wave of bodies a fight.
She went back to back with her companions as the wave curled around them. Okay,
it was a fight. And with something filtering out the strongest rays of the sun, it
was a hard fight. She couldn't see the gladiator any longer and hoped he had found a
defensive position.
He was looking for one.
Dropping out of that deserted Country of the Mimes into this was a shock. He
didn't know where he was, but people were making noise, so it wasn't Mime-Land. And
they were attacking him, which was the pits but not something he couldn't handle.
Provided he could find a wall or something to put his back against, because the odds
were...not good. True, the attackers were fighting dumb. Just ordinary tools,
shovels, crowbars, that kind of thing, instead of weapons, no armor, no indication
that any of them were trained to fight. But the numbers would overwhelm him even so,
if he didn't get his back to a wall.
There were walls around, broken but sufficient for his needs. On all sides, so
which way to go? As he pondered this, his blade darted in and out, slashed and
hacked and stabbed, and he smashed his dark shield into arms and faces and bodies.
He could see, through temporary breaks in the crush of bodies around him, another
cluster of battle at the edge of this open space, on the down-slope side. Try to
join them, or go another way?
The up-slope edge of the plaza was closer, and he really needed something at his
back.
He began to edge upward.
Lady Protector Stepharoo sat on a bench with her back against the main cabin of
the ferry. She sipped from a bottle of Marvelous Elixir and tried to make sense out
of what had happened.
"I was on the Ardivent Peninsula," she said. "And there was a Black Tower,
something to do with the Tarot Mimes. So me and Eclipse--another Lord Protector from
Ardivent--went do something about that. And we were in the Tarot Mime world, and we
had to split up, and then... I was here. I don't know what happened, and I don't
know where Eclipse is, and I don't LIKE this. We were a TEAM."
The alchemist patted one of her hands, and the politician patted the other, and
they both made soothing noises.
"Maybe your friend got brought back to Ghea, too," the other woman, Gissanniah,
suggested. "How far apart were you? Maybe he's that far away here?"
Stepharoo looked out over the lake, suddenly alarmed. "He could drown!"
"He could be, I don't know, in Point, maybe, just as likely as out in the lake,"
Gissanniah countered.
Steph considered this. "The distance might be about right," she admitted, "but
I have no idea at ALL about directions." She looked east, toward the mainland that
was rapidly getting nearer. "I suppose that's a place to start looking."
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Deep Waters #23 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
"Traveling to Point will mean a boat," the Khalhums Dwarf said, looking worried.
"Crossing water. The water monsters--"
"--Won't harm a boat on a regular run from Iaye to Point," Senator Sedalia said
firmly. It might not be so, but people will believe anything said firmly by a man
with presence, and he did not want his henchpersons panicking.
"Well, they haven't SO FAR," Old Doc Circ said, is tone dark with suggestion.
The senator fixed him with a steely glare. "Do not make it necessary for me to
biff you over the head with a Congressional Record," he warned. "We will be entirely
safe from lake monsters on the ferry." He peered through the greenish twilight that
had come when the rain finally let up; it was near sunset, and the light was coming
in flat below the clouds. "The last ferry of the day will be leaving shortly. Let
us go now and get on it," he said.
Gissanniah looked down at her clothes, which were stained with smoke and
somewhat torn. "My clothes--"
"The rain has washed out most of the smoke," Sedalia said, "and there will be
more soon enough to finish that job. And the way your bodice has been torn, well,
young lady, I never thought the high-necked style looked good on you." He stroked
his mustache.
Old Doc Circ cast him a reproachful look and pulled a very large handkerchief, a
yard square and bright red, from one of his inside pockets. "We will make you a
shoulder cape, dear, over the right, under the left, and suddenly! A fashion
statement, and quite modest."
"Yes, yes, it looks fine, but now we have to get moving," Sedalia said. "The
ferry will not WAIT for you, you know." He took Gissanniah's arm and urged her along
the waterfront toward the ferry slip at the other end. "And this is the last one
today, if we miss it, we wait until morning--"
"Bad plan," Doc Circ agreed. "Who knows what might happen while we wait?"
"Or hire a boat to take us over yet tonight."
"Even worse plan," the Dwarf said. "The monsters might leave the regular ferry
alone, but any boat on its own...not a chance. And boats are dangerous enough as it
is!"
"Exactly so," the senator said. "Don't dawdle!"
There was half an hour of activity as they reached the ferry and negotiated
their fares. They were the only people wanting to cross at this hour, and the
boatmen were sure they could wait till morning, that there was actually no need to
take the boat out now at all. It required a hefty bonus to get moving, which left
the senator muttering about votes of censure and revocations of license.
Then there was an hour of inactivity and tension as the boat glided through dark
waters under a sky steadily getting darker. The lights of Iaye, which had just been
coming on, faded behind them, and there were very few lights ahead along the southern
shore of Iaye. The four gladiators stood at the railing and said very little.
"This is a long way around, isn't it?" Gissanniah muttered.
"Indeed, and quite wise, too," Old Doc Circ said, cutting into any answer the
senator might have made. "With the town of Iaye on the northwest tip of the island,
and the town of Point on the northwest tip of the peninsula, the shortest course
would, or used to, be along the north side of the island. Very direct. But Krael is
there now."
"Can't sail a ferry through a city, however ruined," Sedalia agreed. "And I
don't believe Krael would be welcoming if we landed on its waterfront."
"It's all along the front of Point, though," Kegrald the Dwarf said.
"Yes, they've had to develop a new landing site on the south side of the
peninsula," Circ agreed. "I believe there's a shuttle from the landing place to the
town. Not much in the town worth seeing, of course--"
"But since we aren't going as tourists, this is not a problem," Sedalia cut in.
"Just so. We might be advised to get a night's sleep before approaching the
tunnels under Point," the old alchemist said.
"The main one is through the Ogre's Tomb," Kegrald said. "I haven't actually
gone down it, but I've seen the tunnel-head. Very fine stonework."
"The tavern by that name?" Sedalia frowned. "It's brick and timber, not stone.
I suppose the cellars...."
"No, the actual tomb. If you know Point, you'll have seen it." The Dwarf
sounded almost...enthusiastic. "Almost a hill of stonework right in the middle of
the town. The tavern's on its flank, but it's late, and human work besides. There
are several ways into the actual tomb; we should have no trouble with entry. Of
course," he hesitated and went on more quietly, "there's the Ogre."
"A myth," Senator Sedalia said briskly.
"Not...exactly," Circ murmured.
"Nobody knows what it IS," Kegrald said, "but there's SOMETHING down there."
Another hesitation. "That's why I didn't go down."
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of IAYE! 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 THE WARLOCKS went 2-0-0 to move up 3 in the
rankings. Did only my eyes note the 4-1-0 record which LENPROS managed to post this
round? I don't doubt that such a record will draw challengers! SPANDEX ODDITY
caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as she skillfully bested IRISH
CREAM and was awarded 19 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable
duels, MR SELF DESTRUCT put down SGT. SCHMID, causing him to lose 11 points of
recognition in the process. Although RILLION made a valiant effort, it did not
suffice to topple the reign of victorious GARBO. 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 IAYE. IAYE, city of gladiators! Mighty among the names of thy guilds
is WORLDLY DECLINE, a guild shunned and avoided by many in the weekly duels.
Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part
of last week avoiding WORLDLY DECLINE. Indeed it was LENPROS. Mighty fighters
cannot but expect competition from those below. FENCE POST take warning! You have
more than a few enemies in IAYE.
Vendettas. Bloodied blades and broken spears. Indeed the city has seen more
than its fair share of red in recent times. Fate is a fickle mistress. She showers
the miserable with fortune but sets enemies against the victorious. Remember this!
A thought before I go. Each warrior practices one style, but must not the wise
manager learn the secrets of them all? Sadly warriors, now longer can I keep thy
company nor savor the ale of thy fine city. Depart I must and soon! Till we meet
again, remember: a turtle walks slow, hides head in a shell, and harms no one; a
lion runs to slay its prey.-- Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GARBO 3158 18 19 0 111 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-NULN 4431 8 1 1 121 I TRAINED THEM (331)
MR SELF DESTRUCT 3254 15 14 0 106 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
SUNLIGHT SPLATRZ 4583 15 10 1 93 THE WARLOCKS (430)
THE CLEAR 4539 23 21 0 92 THE A'S -- LOSERS II (431)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
RILLION 4313 8 5 0 89 I TRAINED THEM (331)
SCARECROW 3671 8 5 0 89 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
WROTE THE BOOK 4540 22 22 0 88 GAMEHENDGE (299)
SGT. SCHMID 4569 17 10 0 88 LENPROS (145)
LADY HUNTSMAN 4579 16 7 0 77 LENPROS (145)
BIGFOOTS 4512 11 40 0 73 RED DOG GANG (356)
QUEEN CHINEE 4588 16 12 0 67 THE WARLOCKS (430)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-MAORAKITH 4664 7 3 1 66 HELLSWORN (450)
EARTHQUAKE EXCUSE 4584 14 14 1 59 THE A'S -- LOSERS II (431)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CARDINAL ARIZPE 4645 5 1 0 55 LENPROS (145)
LORD WALTON 4612 4 6 0 48 LENPROS (145)
-VRANCELLE 4658 7 1 1 45 HELLSWORN (450)
SLEEPS ALL DAY 4603 3 2 1 44 GAMEHENDGE (299)
FENCE POST 4604 9 12 0 42 RED DOG GANG (356)
-SARJSKI 4659 6 2 0 41 HELLSWORN (450)
-BAZTHRAX 4660 6 2 0 41 HELLSWORN (450)
SPANDEX ODDITY 3095 6 2 0 40 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
DR TRINAIRE 4606 9 10 0 37 RED DOG GANG (356)
HITHELLIENE 4596 7 16 0 37 RED DOG GANG (356)
POP IDOL 4617 6 4 0 35 WORLDLY DECLINE (445)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DON FRANCIS 4619 2 1 0 31 LENPROS (145)
THE BOY KING 4615 5 5 1 26 WORLDLY DECLINE (445)
PRINCESS DIANA 4614 4 6 0 25 WORLDLY DECLINE (445)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ECK 4649 3 2 1 19 THE A'S -- LOSERS II (431)
-CELL BLABBER 4616 3 3 0 19 WORLDLY DECLINE (445)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-OBBO 4656 4 1 0 17 HELLSWORN (450)
BARNABAS 4598 1 0 0 15 I TRAINED THEM (331)
FORTUNETELLER 4669 1 1 0 13 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
KLINK 4647 2 3 0 9 THE A'S -- LOSERS II (431)
HENDGE CLIPPER 4602 1 4 0 7 GAMEHENDGE (299)
IRISH CREAM 4654 1 1 0 7 RED DOG GANG (356)
-FRENCH VETO 4618 1 3 0 6 WORLDLY DECLINE (445)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
POLITE BEGGAR 363 0 1 0 1 THE BOY KING 4615 536 NONE
KILLER JOE 4652 1 1 0 RED DOG GANG 356 ECK 4649 533 REVENGED
PERSONAL ADS
Goodbye everyone! My stats are 10(1)-17(1)-3-17-15-3-21 AB. I will miss you all. --
Garcia
The Clear -- We really have to quit meeting like this; you almost had me. -- Garbo
P.S. Thanks!
Queen Chinee -- I'll take that victory, Queen. (grin) -- Scarecrow
Hendge Clipper -- I know my face is bristled, but you don't have to cut me that bad!
Oink. -- Pigface #2
Iaye -- Good luck at the tournament. -- Ringmaster
Lenpro -- Keep those total parries away from me! I don't want any part of them
for...let's see...two more turns! -- Garbo (joking)
The Clear -- How very nice of you to give it all to me on a silver platter. Bwahaha!
-- Sgt Schmid
The Boy King -- Regardless of what history books proclaim, a Don is far superior to a
king in status. (or anything else, for that matter) -- Don Francis
Klink -- I needed that. Perhaps there is yet a chance for me to make "lord" at this
activity? -- Lord Walton
Mr. Self Destruct -- Was that any way to treat a Lady? -- Lady Huntsman
Ringmaster -- What a nice (very nice) aimer! Congrats on maneuvering a three con
aimer to immortality! Sweet! -- Lenpro
I am proud to announce that my one and only entrant in the Mailer, Don Francis, won a
TV (9-3) for Iaye. In order he fought PR, PL, LU, PS, ST, TP, TP, SL, TP, ST, TP, SL
--none from Iaye. Loved those TP's! Iaye Forever! -- Lenpro (A proud papa!)
Cardinal Arizthpe -- You did that on purpothe, didn't you? Jutht becauthe you knew I
would have problemth with your name! That'th mean, buthter. -- Hithelliene
P.Eth. You jutht HAD to hit me on my bad ankle, didn't you? How am I going to run
the marathon with a thore ankle?
Sunlight Splatrz -- Huh, you're jealous, aren't you? Just because YOU aren't tall
and good-lookin'. Hmm. That might just be a problem with perception, though. After
all, on a day like this (started with fog and stayed that way, more or less), a
little sunlight splattered around would be a delight to the eye, not to mention the
laundry on the line. You don't have to be tall to be attractive.... Hmm, gotta
think about this. -- Bigfoots
Eck -- You loser! You had the NERVE to waggle that pathetic little thing in front of
me? Bah. I was totally not impressed, but I seem to be forced to write a rambling
personal to you anyway. So, um...have you read any good books lately? -- Dr Trinaire
Sleeps All Day -- Now, THAT is a great idea. Except...that means you have to fight
at night. NOT a good idea. Got to avoid that, if possible. Now...if it was a case
of sleeping all day to PARTY all night, that would be a very different matter. Er...
is this an invitation? -- Fence Post
That Shiftyeyed Volunteer was a very suspicious character, and I had to get FIRM with
him. He was behaving, well, he shouldn't have been doing that, you know? But I know
my responsibilities, and I BIT HIM ON THE LEG. Take that, you Shiftyeyed Volunteer!
-- Irish Cream
P.S. It's odd to be listed as a werecat when I am, as anyone could see if they
actually LOOKED, a dog at heart.
P.P.S. And a very GOOD dog.
Senator Sedalia and Old Doc Circ -- Nonsense! You're in the prime of life, both of
you! -- the Scribe
Cardinal Arizpe -- We fence posts cherish our firmness and non-yielding-ness. It's
our nature and our virtue to stand firm. -- Fence Post
20 October 2006
In accordance with those rules set forth by the Lady of the Realm, I hereby announce
the formation of a small group of managers calling themselves "The Outsiders". The
group consists of the following members:
Doc LeGrande
Apex
Street Legal
Carnage
Ghoti
Roadkill
Valamond
This group has only one rule. Respect the play of the managers of this
alliance. We have no worries about not playing by the rules set forth by others. We
fight the way we like, and all those in this group appreciate what tools each manager
brings. We have managers from the Delarquan, Andorian and Free Blade regions. We
have managers that focus on the tournament arenas, and we have those that focus on
the regular city arenas. We have those in our ranks that fight with honor and
respect for all, and we have those that have a bloodlust that cannot be quenched.
Our goal is simple. To create a ensemble of managers that will show their
prowess in the land of Alastari, and to bring a new level of competition to all those
that share the sands with our warriors. Our warriors are many throughout the land.
We have no home arena. We have no pacts we abide by. Our fighters range from
Mordant to Talcama, from Lapur to Lyratilan, Aruak City to Valamantis, the Primus
arena to Talahya, and many more arenas throughout the land.
Whether we are sought out or ignored makes no difference to us. We are what we
are. We fight how we fight. And we do it however we wish. We have no rules. We
have no leader or ruler. Be prepared. We are.
20 October 2006
The Dark Knights of the Desolate Empire respond thus to the Avengers of the Light:
Where are you? EACH AND EVERY Dark Knight can be found in arenas 31 and 52. Your
pretty words mean less than nothing if you won't fight. EVERY Dark Knight is more
than willing to back up their talk. So...we give you three turns in either 31 or 52,
REPEAT 31 or 52 to show up or shut up. If you don't show we'll let all of Alastari
know the Avengers are indeed cowards! -- Dark Knights of the Desolate Empire
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
LADY HUNTSMAN unbelievably bested BIGFOOTS in a 4 minute master's Challenge fight.
CARDINAL ARIZPE viciously subdued FENCE POST in a popular 3 minute Challenge match.
DON FRANCIS viciously subdued ECK in a 3 minute veteran vs. novice Challenge contest.
GARBO bested RILLION in a 2 minute uneven Title brawl.
SGT. SCHMID was savagely defeated by MR SELF DESTRUCT in a 4 minute struggle.
THE CLEAR savagely defeated VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute gruesome uneven melee.
SCARECROW viciously subdued WROTE THE BOOK in a 2 minute gory duel.
SUNLIGHT SPLATRZ vanquished VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 2 minute gory one-sided duel.
QUEEN CHINEE overpowered POP IDOL in a popular 2 minute brutal one-sided melee.
HITHELLIENE was demolished by SLEEPS ALL DAY in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
EARTHQUAKE EXCUSE devastated PRINCESS DIANA in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
DR TRINAIRE was devastated by LORD WALTON in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
THE BOY KING easily killed POLITE BEGGAR in a 2 minute uneven fight.
SPANDEX ODDITY overpowered IRISH CREAM in a 2 minute uneven struggle.
HENDGE CLIPPER was viciously subdued by BARNABAS in a 2 minute bloody bout.
KLINK was viciously subdued by FORTUNETELLER in a exciting 4 minute novice's brawl.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 8 TOTAL PARRY 20 - 9 - 0 69 |
|TOTAL PARRY 4 PARRY-RIPOSTE 8 - 4 - 0 67 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 3 PARRY-STRIKE 13 - 9 - 0 59 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 3 SLASHING ATTACK 16 - 12 - 0 57 |
|BASHING ATTACK 3 AIMED BLOW 20 - 17 - 1 54 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 WALL OF STEEL 18 - 17 - 0 51 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 LUNGING ATTACK 34 - 40 - 1 46 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 BASHING ATTACK 12 - 17 - 0 41 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-LUNGE 11 - 16 - 0 41 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 1 STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 5 - 1 38 |
Turn 536 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:
AIMED BLOW 2 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 5 2 LUNGING ATTACK
PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 2 PARRY-LUNGE
PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 0 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 1 2 SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 2 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY
TOTAL PARRY 2 - 2 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
WALL OF STEEL 1 - 1
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
WALL OF STEEL MR SELF DESTRUCT 3254 15 14 0 106 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)
PARRY-RIPOSTE SUNLIGHT SPLATRZ 4583 15 10 1 93 THE WARLOCKS (430)
PARRY-LUNGE THE CLEAR 4539 23 21 0 92 THE A'S -- LOSERS II (431)
SLASHING ATTACK RILLION 4313 8 5 0 89 I TRAINED THEM (331)
TOTAL PARRY SGT. SCHMID 4569 17 10 0 88 LENPROS (145)
PARRY-STRIKE QUEEN CHINEE 4588 16 12 0 67 THE WARLOCKS (430)
BASHING ATTACK CARDINAL ARIZPE 4645 5 1 0 55 LENPROS (145)
LUNGING ATTACK SLEEPS ALL DAY 4603 3 2 1 44 GAMEHENDGE (299)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is WROTE THE BOOK 4540. The most popular warrior this
turn was BIGFOOTS 4512. The ten other most popular fighters were MR SELF DESTRUCT
3254, QUEEN CHINEE 4588, CARDINAL ARIZPE 4645, FORTUNETELLER 4669, SCARECROW 3671,
RILLION 4313, SUNLIGHT SPLATRZ 4583, IRISH CREAM 4654, BARNABAS 4598, and KLINK 4647.
The least popular fighter this week was THE BOY KING 4615. The other ten least
popular fighters were DR TRINAIRE 4606, PRINCESS DIANA 4614, HITHELLIENE 4596, POP
IDOL 4617, SGT. SCHMID 4569, FENCE POST 4604, HENDGE CLIPPER 4602, SPANDEX ODDITY
3095, LORD WALTON 4612, and EARTHQUAKE EXCUSE 4584.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
GARBO (30-3158) CIRCUS MAXIMUS (273)