DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 10/05/2005 Duedate: 10/18/2005 MURSKA ARENA DM-35 TURN-499 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS LOCO PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) (35-3677) [14-9-0,98] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader LOCO POSITION IS EMPTY PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) (35-3677) [14-9-0,98] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite LOCO CADAL COONTZ PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) (35-3677) [14-9-0,98] (35-3901) [8-12-0,45] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) 39 2. DIRT DEVILS (363) 26 DIRT DEVILS (363) 3. BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 7 Unchartered Team 4. CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 4 5. BLITZKRIEG (357) 0 KOSHER HAYSEEDS (335) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1 DIRT DEVILS (363) 13 2 1 86.7 1/ 1 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) 10 5 0 2- 2 BLITZKRIEG (357) 74 21 9 77.9 2/ 2 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) 8 7 2 3/ 3 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) 86 65 4 57.0 3/ 3 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 7 8 0 4/ 4 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 42 34 5 55.3 4/ 5 DIRT DEVILS (363) 3 0 1 5/ 5 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) 31 36 3 46.3 5- 4 BLITZKRIEG (357) 3 0 0 6/ 6 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 503 766 20 39.6 6/ 6 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 2 4 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[ The Mountains of Night #5 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Murska and vicinity: There was a flash of darkness. Tankesh could still feel himself running, but the stones of the bridge weren't under his feet. He tried to drag in a breath to shout...a question, a warning, something to his companion. There was no air. No hot or cold, no up or down. "The Master said you would come to that bait." The voice was in his head as much as his ears. Toneless, almost mechanical in its lack of rhythm or inflection. "The Master is always right." A chirping sound erupted, as from the world's largest cricket. The stridency bored into his awareness like a drill. More chirping. Two giant crickets, arguing. Tankesh reflected that it would be a sad end to a life of adventuring if he went insane because of a couple of crickets. Up and down returned in time for him to be thrown down on a hard surface. His head smashed into it hard enough to stun him. Fratsfa: "Demons?" Elrienoriseth'rin snorted. It was, perhaps, an undignified sound for one of the High Folk to make, but he felt that his years as a Mercenary, enough to classify him as a Veteran, entitled him to a little crudeness now and then. "I don't believe it." "You saw it with your own eyes, Elri," Korisien Fayne Roh reminded him. "Just as I said you would." The elf snorted again. "Saying 'I told you so' isn't--" "I'm a Trustworthy Scribe, not a tactful one," the standby fighter answered. After a moment, he discarded his lofty air and peered through the crack in the shutter again. "If it hasn't been dispelled, it's in there still." Elri also put aside the mostly good-natured teasing with which he addressed his teammate. "You don't dispel demons," he muttered. "Any more than you could dispel a barking dog. You have to dismiss them, and damned carefully, too. Besides, I don't think the demonologist is here in Fratsfa. Even I would have noticed the amount of magic it takes to summon a demon, now that the magical background has faded so far." "If it wasn't summoned here, then how...?" "Summoned elsewhere and sent overland," the Mercenary said. "And that takes a lot of power. Demons don't like being ordered around." "Who does? Do you suppose it's...camping in that ruin?" Elri shrugged. "What I don't know about demons would fill the Emperor's palace. But why not? The place is huge, a ruin, has no known owner--probably reverted to the crown for non-payment of taxes years ago. Very few people live in this neighborhood, and they mind their own business. It has direct access to the river, and it's near the heart of the city. What more could anyone ask of a hideout?" "Comfort?" "It's a demon." The elf was silent again, then said, "Maybe comfort for its handler, but then again, anyone who can handle a demon can make his own comfort." Fayne drew back from the window and tried to wipe the dust from his hands. "This whole area should have been cleared out years ago. It's a disgrace-- Why are you shaking your head?" "Most of the property is part of an unsettled estate. Damn thing's been in litigation for a century and a half, and none of the parties will let the others do anything with it." "The Emperor--" "Not if he wants to push his agricultural reforms through." The Mercenary moved toward the door. "The best thing would be a lighted match...." Fayne thumped the wall as he followed his friend out onto the cracked and tottering stairs. "Stone, solid stone, most of it. A match wouldn't do it." When they reached the ground, he looked over his shoulder toward the demon's lair. "What is it HERE for?" "Who knows? But nothing good." * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 525): COPY CAT of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 525): LUIGI of TEAM MARIO (?, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 519): GO AND GO of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 522): CAT MAN DO of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 520): ALEXANDER THE GREAT of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 517): ELLE of THE MAGNIFICENT MAGS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 259): GRIM BLACKSMITH of NORTHERN BADLANDS (Maximillian, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 511): TETRICUS of EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 257): IT FELT GOOD of WHY DID I DO IT (Fizban, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 507): BEFORE THE DAWN of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 505): WRETCHEDMISERY of CHAOTICDISORDER (Bobby Bigfoot) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 498): LOCO of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 461): TIRANIAN of THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 233): HOT LIPS of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.) DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 228): KALYPSO of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 215): YAIWE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 386): GLASS JOE of PUNCH-OUT! (Huckle Cat, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 365): STONE DOG of BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 164): VANISH of THE INANIMATES (Mannequin, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 412): SAMOO of DARKENED PRIDE from SIBIKHAS (Ultraist) Top Teams --------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 525): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 525): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 519): TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 522): GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 520): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 517): FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 259): NORTHERN BADLANDS (Maximillian, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 511): EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 257): LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 507): CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 505): CHAOTICDISORDER (Bobby Bigfoot, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 498): PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 461): THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 233): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.) DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 228): none DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 215): DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 386): BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 365): FEAR FACTORY (Var, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 164): THE BULLS (Crip, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 412): DARKENED PRIDE, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 525): CAT TAGIOUS of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) (turn 524): ANARCHY of CASTLE (Citizen Kane, public relations) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 257): HELM HAMMERHAND of LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk) (turn 256): DOOM HAMMER of THE STORM REAVERS (?, mgr.) GREYSCALES of THE STORMBRINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.) SPATHA of SOL INVICTUS (Bobby Bigfoot, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 507): TASSALTER of FISHERMAN'S WHARF (Jorja, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 505): WRETCHEDMISERY of CHAOTICDISORDER (Bobby Bigfoot) DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 228): KALYPSO of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.) (turn 227): GREGOLA of LIFE'S LESSONS (Street Legal, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 214): ELLITA FESS of MIDDLE WAY 6 (Jorja, mgr.) (turn 213): HOLLAN INNIS of MIDDLE WAY 6 (Jorja, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 386): GLASS JOE of PUNCH-OUT! (Huckle Cat, mgr.) (turn 385): KID QUICK of PUNCH-OUT! (Huckle Cat, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 365): STONE DOG of BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.) (turn 364): AFFLICTED of FEAR FACTORY (Var, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 164): VANISH of THE INANIMATES (Mannequin, mgr.) (turn 163): BASE ON BULLS of THE BULLS (Crip, mgr.) SPY REPORT Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the clash and bustle of the weekly MURSKA games. NOREASTER caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested MOZART and was awarded 26 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, GARTH THE SEAMITE put down BUMP 'N' JUMP, causing him to lose 11 points of recognition in the process. Not for nothing has LOCO 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! But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades that is city MURSKA. I saw one fighter that warriors avoided when this week's challenge seeking began. DIRT DEVILS is feared. This much I can say. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part of last week avoiding DIRT DEVILS. Indeed it was PHILANTHROPISTS 3. Mighty fighters cannot but expect competition from those below. DALLOW take warning! You have more than a few enemies in MURSKA. I can not but mention with disdain the name of PARALLEL UNIVERSE who this week posted a challenge to a warrior a full 9 points below in the rankings. I thought PARALLEL UNIVERSE showed great skill and promise when he bested DALLOW. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal! What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his foe's mortality? Perhaps even the strong cannot escape the vagaries of this world. This week arena veteran MOZART was slain, despite a 12-5-0 record. 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 LOCO 3677 14 9 0 98 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -RAZZLE DAZZLE 3863 13 2 1 124 BLITZKRIEG (357) -O'MALLEY 3816 14 6 1 117 BLITZKRIEG (357) -KAMA KAZI 3859 14 1 1 105 BLITZKRIEG (357) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME NOREASTER 3896 9 1 1 90 DIRT DEVILS (363) OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912 9 6 2 85 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) -DARLING NIKKI 3842 13 3 2 83 BLITZKRIEG (357) -HUCKLE CAT 3874 9 5 0 78 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) MORPETH 3862 14 21 0 75 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) -FATHER CAT 3875 7 1 1 72 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) -DINGO DOG 3878 8 2 3 71 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925 10 1 0 69 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748 12 9 1 63 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) KAI 3873 14 14 0 59 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DALLOW 3872 12 16 1 55 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) -TYPHOON 3895 4 1 0 53 DIRT DEVILS (363) CADAL COONTZ 3901 8 12 0 45 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME PADDY 3898 10 11 0 43 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) BUMP 'N' JUMP 3929 6 7 0 43 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) Q*BERT 3928 8 6 3 39 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) PITFALL HARRY 3927 5 6 0 35 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DIG DUG 3926 7 8 0 33 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) MR. FIXIT 3905 3 12 0 26 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) JUNGLE KING 3930 5 9 0 24 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TOURNEY SCUM 3943 2 0 0 16 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? FRATSFA SLAVE 7 0 1 0 1 Q*BERT 3928 499 NONE MOZART 3756 12 5 0 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 347 NOREASTER 3896 499 PERSONAL ADS Jorja -- Thanks for the spotlight! I had to staple the newsletter together; it was like the old days! Except for the amount of warriors of course.... -- Aragorn Morpeth -- Thank you for beating me! I really did need that. -- Mozart Paddy -- That's you 2 and me 2. Best of 5? -- O.O. Ominah Kai -- Good fight! Always fun to see our styles against each other. Just like Paddy and O.O. -- Parallel Universe Busy, Busytown -- Hi, I'm Aragorn manager of the Philanthropists. Nice to meet you. Dirt Devils -- Hi, I'm Aragorn, manager of the Philanthropists. Nice to meet you. Flippers Arcarde -- Hi, I'm Aragorn, manager of the Philanthropists. Nice to meet you. All -- I know, my manager name is not original, so think of something else to say; I've heard that one before. When I started 16 years ago I was 13 years old just three years removed from reading the Lord of the Rings and I can't change my name now.... Sorry.... -- Aragorn Polaris -- Hi. We've met briefly before nice to see you again. Oh wait, you missed the turn. See you when you come back, probably after the tournament.... -- Aragorn Jorja -- Hi, I'm Aragorn, manager of the Philanthropists. Nice to meet you... again.... Tourney Scum -- I know I don't have to talk about originality to you.... -- Aragorn P.S. Good to see you by the way, this arena was lacking scum, the smell has been very clean these days.... All -- This arena is on the verge of an explosion!! I can feel it!!! Look at all of these teams!!! If you build it, they will come.........back.........eventually...... -- Loco Ed. -- Sarcasm? Us? Gosh, no! -- Children of Llyr Ah, something Even Worse then. -- Ed. 15 September 2005 HAMMER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Be it known from the highest mountains to the darkest alleys of Alastari that the veteran manager known far and wide as Hammer has now officially retired from sponsoring contests as of September 15, 2005. What a long time ago was a fun motivated activity to help promote our common DM/D2 gaming interest in an effort to promote the growth and competitiveness of selected arenas has become a far from fun experience. In other words Hammer has had it! The combination of real life situations interfering with the time needed to effectively sponsor a contest, plus the attitudes expressed during such sponsorship interference has led to Hammer closing his personal coin coffers and retiring from his planned sponsorship of any future contests. There are others in our close knit gaming community who are well able to step up to the plate and continue sponsoring contests that make the basic game a fun experience for all those who choose to compete and interact in such future endeavors. Hammer thanks all managers both active and inactive who helped to make the Hammer sponsored contests a historical and entertaining experience well worth the time, effort and money spent over the past several years. May the Cheers and the Jeers of future contests build upon the legacies of those who have paved the way in years gone by to help make this game what it is today. Hammer has no regrets for the part he has played in that history. 19 September 2005 I'd like to say hello to everyone I know that is still around after my being gone for five years. Hope to see you all on the sands, and may your weapons strike true and your shields protect you (except, of course, against MY warriors *grin*)!! -- Lord Xiang, D2-101 5 October 2005 To those once of Willaf -- It's time to come back to the sands. I'm back, exclusively at Willaf.... -- Kurd the Vivisectionist, Your Better LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS PARALLEL UNIVERSE bested DALLOW in a 1 minute bloody Challenge fight. GARTH THE SEAMITE vanquished BUMP 'N' JUMP in a 1 minute uneven Challenge battle. LOCO demolished MORPETH in a crowd pleasing 1 minute uneven Title fight. MOZART was dealt death by NOREASTER in a popular 1 minute fight. OH OHLISH OMINAH demolished VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a 1 minute mismatched competition. CADAL COONTZ viciously subdued JUNGLE KING in a crowd pleasing 2 minute bloody match. PITFALL HARRY was savagely defeated by DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 2 minute melee. KAI vanquished DIG DUG in a 1 minute uneven duel. PADDY defeated MR. FIXIT in a 2 minute duel. Q*BERT barely slew FRATSFA SLAVE in a 3 minute veteran vs. novice fight. TOURNEY SCUM handily defeated MORDANT DESERTER in a 3 minute one-sided bout. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 4 AIMED BLOW 14 - 6 - 0 70 | |PARRY-LUNGE 3 STRIKING ATTACK 13 - 6 - 1 68 | |WALL OF STEEL 3 TOTAL PARRY 2 - 1 - 0 67 | |AIMED BLOW 2 PARRY-STRIKE 5 - 3 - 0 63 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 LUNGING ATTACK 27 - 21 - 2 56 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL 14 - 11 - 3 56 | |BASHING ATTACK 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 11 - 9 - 1 55 | |TOTAL PARRY 1 BASHING ATTACK 7 - 6 - 1 54 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-LUNGE 14 - 15 - 0 48 | |SLASHING ATTACK 0 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 5 - 0 17 | Turn 499 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 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 2 6 LUNGING ATTACK PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 1 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 3 1 STRIKING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 SLASHING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME PARRY-LUNGE LOCO 3677 14 9 0 98 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) LUNGING ATTACK NOREASTER 3896 9 1 1 90 DIRT DEVILS (363) PARRY-RIPOSTE OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912 9 6 2 85 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) AIMED BLOW PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925 10 1 0 69 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) STRIKING ATTACK GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748 12 9 1 63 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347) WALL OF STEEL Q*BERT 3928 8 6 3 39 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is LOCO 3677. The most popular warrior this turn was CADAL COONTZ 3901. The ten other most popular fighters were LOCO 3677, OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912, PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925, PADDY 3898, GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748, MOZART 3756, NOREASTER 3896, KAI 3873, PITFALL HARRY 3927, and DALLOW 3872. The least popular fighter this week was TOURNEY SCUM 3943. The other ten least popular fighters were Q*BERT 3928, MR. FIXIT 3905, DIG DUG 3926, JUNGLE KING 3930, MORPETH 3862, BUMP 'N' JUMP 3929, DALLOW 3872, PITFALL HARRY 3927, KAI 3873, and NOREASTER 3896.