DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 11/29/2006 Duedate: 12/12/2006 MURSKA ARENA DM-35 TURN-527 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS FARON CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) (35-3954) [14-5-0,101] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader FARON POSITION IS EMPTY CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) (35-3954) [14-5-0,101] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite FARON PITFALL HARRY CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) (35-3954) [14-5-0,101] (35-3927) [12-21-0,57] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. DEVIL MAY CARE (370) 39 2. THE BEARS (253) 12 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 3. CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 7 Unchartered Team 4. BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 2 5. FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) -7 DEVIL MAY CARE (370) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 4*DEVIL MAY CARE (370) 3 1 0 75.0 1/ 1 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 9 6 0 2/ 1 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 86 53 7 61.9 2/ 2 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) 3 0 0 3/ 0 THE BEARS (253) 380 283 28 57.3 3/ 6*DEVIL MAY CARE (370) 3 1 0 4/ 2 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) 85 81 7 51.2 4/ 3 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) 3 8 1 5/ 5 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) 568 839 20 40.4 5/ 4*THE GODS ARE ANGRY (63) 2 4 0 6/ 6*THE GODS ARE ANGRY (63) 5 13 0 27.8 6/ 0 THE BEARS (253) 0 3 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. There are times, Jungle King, when accuracy is more important than flailing around. This was one of them. Kai P.S. FIST? I don't get a sword? SPY REPORT Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the clash and bustle of the weekly MURSKA games. Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner! Witness how this week DEVIL MAY CARE went 2-0-0 to move up 3 in the rankings. BEDEVILED caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested TIBERIUS and was awarded 16 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, BEDEVILED put down TIBERIUS, causing him to lose 13 points of recognition in the process. Not for nothing has KAI in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and this week he's proven his combat skill yet again. No confirmation, but my sources claim that the top team has gained their position using magical aids. Charmed weapons perhaps? Many and various are the arts of battle. In MURSKA "art" is a word that has long since passed from the language! MURSKA, city of gladiators! Mighty among the names of thy guilds is URBAN JUNGLE, 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 URBAN JUNGLE. Indeed it was DEVIL MAY CARE. Mighty fighters cannot but expect competition from those below. BILDIS take warning! You have more than a few enemies in MURSKA. I cannot but express pride for the fearlessness of DEVILED EGG who cast caution to the winds and challenged BILDIS, a fighter 26 points higher. Do not the gods reward courage? DEVILED EGG it was that claimed victory in the bout, while also rising 23 points in recognition. Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser? Warriors, may this counselor stand ready at your right hand forever! 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 MURSKA. Nice atmosphere you have here! Sadly warriors, now longer can I keep thy company nor savor the ale of thy fine city. Depart I must and soon! 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 FARON 3954 14 5 0 101 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME Q*BERT 3928 20 16 5 83 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) BALIN 3955 15 4 0 69 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) JUNGLE KING 3930 14 22 0 68 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -THE ONE 3965 6 0 2 61 THE BEARS (253) PITFALL HARRY 3927 12 21 0 57 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TOURNEY SCUM 3943 10 0 0 52 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BEDEVILED 3973 2 0 0 26 DEVIL MAY CARE (370) DEVILED EGG 3977 1 1 0 26 DEVIL MAY CARE (370) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -DR. STRANGE 3971 1 0 0 16 THE BEARS (253) BILDIS 3978 3 4 0 13 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) TIBERIUS 3983 2 1 0 7 THE GODS ARE ANGRY (63) CULANN COONTZ 3984 1 1 0 7 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) GRENADE 3972 0 1 0 7 THE BEARS (253) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ROCCO 3982 0 1 0 3 THE BEARS (253) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? SHADOW DIVER 3981 1 1 0 THE BEARS 253 BLACK ORC 20 527 NONE DUD 3986 0 1 0 THE GODS ARE ANGRY 63 WURM KIN 27 527 NONE PERSONAL ADS Dig Dug -- Very generous with the skills, thanks! -- Faron P.S. I shall treasure them always. Pitfall Harry -- And into the pit you fall, again. Gets a bit tiring, doesn't it? -- Balin Tourney Scum -- Gods, you ARE. -- Bildis Bedeviled -- Are you SURE you weren't laughing at me? Make really sure, now, because if you WERE laughing, well, I'd have to do something really bad. -- Culann Coontz 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 SHADOW DIVER was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. DUD was butchered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena duel. DEVILED EGG handily defeated BILDIS in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match. BEDEVILED vanquished TIBERIUS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl. KAI overpowered Q*BERT in a 2 minute one-sided fight. FARON devastated JUNGLE KING in a 1 minute uneven Title brawl. BALIN savagely defeated PITFALL HARRY in a 5 minute brutal struggle. TOURNEY SCUM outwaited FRATSFA SLAVE in a 10 minute veteran vs. beginner competition. CULANN COONTZ viciously subdued ROCCO in a 1 minute gory beginner's duel. GRENADE lost to CONVICTED THIEF in a 4 minute novice's duel. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |AIMED BLOW 3 STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 0 - 0 100 | |SLASHING ATTACK 3 TOTAL PARRY 14 - 5 - 0 74 | |TOTAL PARRY 3 LUNGING ATTACK 13 - 6 - 2 68 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 SLASHING ATTACK 13 - 7 - 0 65 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 AIMED BLOW 9 - 6 - 0 60 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 BASHING ATTACK 5 - 5 - 0 50 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 7 - 0 42 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 5 - 0 29 | |LUNGING ATTACK 0 WALL OF STEEL 5 - 15 - 1 25 | |BASHING ATTACK 0 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 4 - 0 20 | Turn 527 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: STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 WALL OF STEEL AIMED BLOW 2 - 1 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY SLASHING ATTACK 2 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 2 - 1 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 SLASHING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 PARRY-STRIKE WALL OF STEEL 0 - 2 1 STRIKING ATTACK 1 AIMED BLOW 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME SLASHING ATTACK FARON 3954 14 5 0 101 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) WALL OF STEEL Q*BERT 3928 20 16 5 83 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366) TOTAL PARRY BALIN 3955 15 4 0 69 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is FARON 3954. The most popular warrior this turn was PITFALL HARRY 3927. The ten other most popular fighters were BALIN 3955, CULANN COONTZ 3984, BEDEVILED 3973, FARON 3954, DUD 3986, DEVILED EGG 3977, Q*BERT 3928, JUNGLE KING 3930, SHADOW DIVER 3981, and BILDIS 3978. The least popular fighter this week was TOURNEY SCUM 3943. The other ten least popular fighters were GRENADE 3972, ROCCO 3982, TIBERIUS 3983, BILDIS 3978, SHADOW DIVER 3981, JUNGLE KING 3930, Q*BERT 3928, DEVILED EGG 3977, DUD 3986, and FARON 3954. The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: KAI (35-3873) CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)