DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 09/29/2009 Duedate: 10/26/2009 SCOMSS SWAMP ARENA DM-47 TURN-281 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS MEDEE THE OPERA (613) (47-5642) [30-10-0,137] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader MEDEE POSITION IS EMPTY THE OPERA (613) (47-5642) [30-10-0,137] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite SWAMP BOGG HAMMER DAKION ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) NEW CENTURIONS (56) (47-6306) [13-21-0,64] (47-361) [14-13-1,90] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM THE OPERA (613) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. INDIFFERENCE (611) 28 2. ABYSMAL RITES (215) 27 LAND OF OZ (217) 3. THE BEAR'S PAW (150) 23 Unchartered Team 4. THE OPERA (613) 21 5. DEVIATION (708) 21 SICARI (678) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1- 2 OLD HABITS (566) 129 70 9 64.8 1/ 1 THE OPERA (613) 12 2 0 2- 3 KAOS (695) 32 18 0 64.0 2/ 2 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) 11 2 3 3/ 4 LAND OF OZ (217) 578 366 18 61.2 3/ 4 LAND OF OZ (217) 8 3 1 4/ 5 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) 336 221 25 60.3 4/ 3 DARQUE FORCES (396) 6 5 0 5/ 6 THE OPERA (613) 117 78 3 60.0 5/14 DEVIATION (708) 6 9 0 6- 7 SPOONERTIKS (523) 151 104 8 59.2 6/16 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) 6 9 0 7/ 8 SECOND BANANAS (573) 186 131 18 58.7 7-10 THE FALLEN (696) 5 0 1 8/ 9 DEVIATION (708) 68 51 1 57.1 8/11 INDIFFERENCE (611) 5 3 1 9/10 THINGS I DROOL IN (614) 93 72 6 56.4 9- 6 ROYAL FLUSH (48) 5 5 0 10-11 ROYAL FLUSH (48) 723 572 38 55.8 10/ 7 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) 5 10 0 11-12 THE FALLEN (696) 30 24 3 55.6 11- 5 KAOS (695) 4 0 0 12/13 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) 64 52 3 55.2 12/13 WARHAMMERS (75) 4 5 1 13/14 DARQUE FORCES (396) 168 148 14 53.2 13/ 8 RAPTOR (674) 4 11 0 14/15 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) 449 407 44 52.5 14-17 OLD HABITS (566) 3 1 0 15-16 OF WOLF AND MAN (603) 78 77 5 50.3 15/18 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) 3 3 0 16/17 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) 137 136 8 50.2 16/20 ABYSMAL RITES (215) 3 4 0 17-18 FORCE OF WILL (670) 42 43 4 49.4 17/ 9 SECOND BANANAS (573) 3 9 0 18/19 INDIFFERENCE (611) 120 123 10 49.4 18-19 OF WOLF AND MAN (603) 2 2 0 Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 19/ 0 NEW CENTURIONS (56) 60 62 3 49.2 19/28 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) 2 2 0 20-20 CHEERS (659) 41 47 2 46.6 20-25 CHEERS (659) 1 2 0 21-21 AN EPHRAIM (32) 178 212 17 45.6 21-21 AN EPHRAIM (32) 1 4 0 22/22 RAPTOR (674) 57 69 2 45.2 22/24 THINGS I DROOL IN (614) 1 4 0 23/23 WARHAMMERS (75) 297 379 15 43.9 23-22 FORCE OF WILL (670) 1 4 0 24/24 ABYSMAL RITES (215) 70 90 3 43.8 24-15 SPOONERTIKS (523) 1 4 0 25/26 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) 121 190 2 38.9 25/26*SICARI (678) 0 6 0 26/27*SICARI (678) 0 6 0 0.0 26-27*THE SKULLS (705) 0 2 0 27-28*THE SKULLS (705) 0 3 0 0.0 27/ 0 NEW CENTURIONS (56) 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 * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * WE STILL FEEL THE IMPACTS OF THE WIZARD OF OZ Ruby slippers. If I only had a brain. We're not in Kansas, anymore. I'll get you, My Pretty, and your little dog, too. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. That's just the tip of a pop-culture iceberg, a towering mountain of nostalgia and influence that rises above most movie fare in a time when the majority of entertainment seems fairly disposable. On Aug. 25, 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" was released into theatres nationwide and began its not-so-classic journey toward classic status. Now, 70 years later, the echoes of Oz continue to reach into all corners of filmmaking and pop culture in general, from the iconic "Star Wars" characters Chewie and C-3PO to frequent references on ABC's "Lost," from adaptations for upcoming graphic novels to mysterious ties to Pink Floyd. Stormy beginnings. Before digging too deeply into the film's influence, it's helpful to remember that "Oz" wasn't immediately and universally acclaimed as an instant classic. The movie, based on the L. Frank Baum 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," had already seen a couple of screen adaptations, and much tinkering was done with the script of what would become the 1939 version. Filming was also afflicted with numerous difficulties, including the illness and withdrawal of original Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, a rotating series of directors, and on-set injuries to Margaret Hamilton (she was burned during the witch's appearance in a column of smoke). The film turned out to be marginally profitable upon its release, and was well- nominated by the Academy. Though it failed to lock up best picture (which went to studio mate "Gone with the Wind"), it took best song ("Over the Rainbow"), best score, and best performances by a juvenile, a special award for Judy Garland for her work in both "Oz" and "Babes in Arms." It wasn't until 10 years later, upon its 1949 re-release in theatres, that the film generated what was considered a successful amount of money. It also generated more notice, causing people to reconsider the greatness of the film. For much of America, the real arrival of "The Wizard of Oz" came when the film began appearing on broadcast television. Debuting in 1956, it drew over 45 million viewers. Three years later, it began running as an annual event; with only one interruption (the regular holiday showing in 1963 was skipped as the United States mourned the loss of President John F. Kennedy), "The Wizard of Oz" continued its once-a-year showings until 1991. Now under the control of the Turner Networks, "The Wizard of Oz" airs slightly more frequently, typically around major holidays. Building a mystique. However, it was under the pre-home video market "annual viewing" days that the film really built its sphere of influence. Showings of the film were considered an event, a rare treat that you had to wait once a year to see. It's hard for young people to conceptualize that in today's downloadable, on-demand culture, but that sense of waiting had an undeniable effect on how "special" the film was perceived to be. Another piece of the allure of "Oz" is that it enchanted young viewers, but also occasionally terrified them. Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West can stake ownership of a good number of nightmares over the past seven decades. In a way, that made the fantasy of "Oz" a little more real to the audience; yes, there were Lollipop Guilds and flying monkeys, but the enchanted land could be dangerous. That set "Oz" apart from a number of films, and even earned it a spot on Bravo TV's "100 Scariest Movie Moments" (No. 86) in 2004. The songs, the visuals and, simply, the story kept bringing the audiences back. And certain young members of that audience would not only never forget what they saw, but be profoundly influenced by it. Echoes across time. One such artist is David Lynch. Known for surrealist film and television that often breaks the line between what is considered reality the world of dreams, Lynch has often evoked themes and moments from "Oz." His most overt homage came in "Wild at Heart," which won the Palm d'Or at Cannes in 1990. Not only does the film include references to touchstones like the Yellow Brick Road and ruby slippers (as when Laura Dern clicks her heels together after a nightmarish encounter with Willem Dafoe's character), Nicolas Cage's character Sailor is literally told to chase down his true love Dern by a vision of Glenda the Good Witch. John Boorman's cult classic science-fiction film "Zardoz" (1974)boasts a pretty big association. The name for the floating god-head at the center of the story is derived from a mash-up of the words "Wizard" and "Oz," a visual pun that also plays into that movie's themes of a civilization being manipulated by an outside force. The implication is that the pilot of the god-head actually got the idea for his plot from the story of Oz. Casting our science-fiction net a little wider, it's pretty easy to see reflections of Oz in "Star Wars." True, we know that much of the story is a team-up of Akira Kurosawa's "Hidden Fortress" and John Ford's "The Searchers," but there's a lot of Oz on display. Luke Skywalker has a lot in common with Dorothy Gale, as both live on farms with big dreams of seeing what else is out there. Several of Luke' companions mirror Dorothy's in particular ways. Chewbacca, of course, is their own Cowardly Lion (if you doubt that, remember how Chewie acted around the trash compactor?). C-3PO is a stand-in for the Tin Man, with his habit of losing limbs subbing in for the Tin Man's inconvenient rusting. You could say that Han Solo was the one who had to find his heart. The villains of the Star Wars universe have a bit in common with Oz. What's the Death Star but a dark fortress? How about armies of identical soldiers, or bushwhacking those soldiers so that the heroes can dress in their outfits to rescue a damsel held hostage? We know that Vader's complicated (maybe he's the Tin Man who has to find his heart in "Jedi"), but the Emperor is definitely cut from the same black cloth as the Wicked Witch (and the Wicked Queen from Snow White for that matter). And, of course, there's that Jedi habit of leaving nothing but a pile of robes behind without ever needing a bucket of water. Stepping back from film for a bit, one of the most infamous associations with Oz actually draws from Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album. Legend had it that if you began to play it at the "third roar of the MGM Lion" at the start of the film, the music would perfectly match the action on the screen. The story became so popular that Turner Classic Movies actually aired a broadcast of the film in 2000 with "Dark Side" playing. The members of the Floyd have always denied that any connection was intentional, although it is amusing to think of Roger Waters sitting with his bass, intently watching a playback of the film, ready to write a new song. In terms of general dialogue, it's very hard to escape Oz. Lines from the film are so pervasive in pop culture that they're freely quoted almost without a second thought. Television series like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" repeatedly referenced the film (in fact, the nickname of Seth Green's werewolf character Daniel Osbourne was, of course, Oz). It's almost impossible to chart the density of those references, but it's safe to assume that "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most frequently quoted films in history. We'd be ignoring a pair of significant Oz descendents if we didn't also mention two direct tributes: the novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire, and the Broadway musical that it inspired. The novel is a revisionist take on the Witch's life, casting her as the put-upon protagonist. The musical, more upbeat than the novel, is reportedly set for film in 2010. The "Wicked" books are far from the only Oz descended novels out there. Among numerous others, writer Eric Shanower has written a number of novels set in Oz. Recently, he's been scripting "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and "The Marvelous Land of Oz" for Marvel Comics' line of graphic novel adaptations, illustrated by artist Skottie Young. "Lost in Oz." Perhaps the loudest echoes of Oz being heard in popular culture these days would be on ABC's "Lost." Well-known as a show that draws ideas and references from the entire entertainment continuum, "Lost" has returned to the Land with noticeable frequency. One of the most infamous moments was when the castaways discovered a man in the jungle who told them that his name was "Henry Gale" (a nod to Dorothy's uncle). Later, amid the ruins of a shredded balloon, the characters discovered evidence that he was lying; "Henry Gale" turned out to be Benjamin Linus, the man who from that point has been the series' major villain. "Lost" also cheerfully invokes Oz for the titles of important episodes. The shadowy leader of The Others known as Jacob figured heavily in the episode "The Man Behind the Curtain," while the two-part finale of season 4 was called "There's No Place Like Home." Of course, this all makes sense in terms of the show's preoccupation with the characters being trapped in type of deadly fantasy land (it often references "Alice in Wonderland" as well), but the deliberate uses of things like Henry Gale show that the creators paid quite a bit of attention to the marvelous land. These are but a few of the literally hundreds of examples of how the film remains vibrantly alive in the minds of the world today. Though the movie first hit home video in 1980, it still remains a potent TV draw. Its overall influence is perhaps incalculable, as we quote the film in daily conversation and artists from all walks of entertainment continue to reference, reinterpret and revere the movie. In the span of 70 years, "The Wizard of Oz" has gone from a film that needed a re- release to be profitable to a veritable institution. It's refreshing that we can still find things that last in a culture of disposable entertainment. The truly impressive thing is that television airings continue, updated DVDs are regularly released, and millions of children yet to be inspired by Dorothy, amused by the Lion, or terrified by the Witch will one day have the opportunity to learn what it means to follow the Yellow Brick Road. Happy anniversary, "Wizard of Oz"; it was a dream, and we were all there. 2009 Newsarama.com. All rights reserved. * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * Part V Something was seriously awry. Ebonariex paced the length of his cavernous "lair," muttering and shaking his head. Numerous arcane lights and flames danced around the chamber, each illuminating its own unique mystery. In the light of this multihued kaleidoscope, his draconic shadow danced fitfully across walls crisscrossed with maps and mystic scrawling. Magic and its workings were the target of his "dragon greed," something he readily accepted and reveled in. Objects and writings both marvelous and trivial were arranged in orderly fashion throughout the length of this cavern, each carefully catalogued and shelved. Ebonariex came to a sudden halt, his eyes narrowing and nostrils flaring. "I've warned you not to disturb me here," the words were growled so low as to be almost inaudible. Striding in from the cavern's end, a pale warrior armed in classic Norse regalia saluted smartly before coming to a halt. "I was told the matter was urgent, and one does not question Nomandatter." Ebonariex turned to face the intruder. "One does not question ME," his surprisingly quick stride brought him within a foot of the warrior before he could respond, "you may be newly awakened, but that is one rule you will learn swiftly." The strange warrior stepped back a few paces. His expression implied that the point had been made, but he fumbled for a cylindrical case clipped to his waist. "I... I was told that you must be given this... that it, uh," the Northwight swallowed loudly and lifted the sealed scroll case toward Ebonariex, "that it must not be given to ANY other." Ebonariex shook his head in annoyance. "Then I apologize for my abruptness," he snatched the case, "but you will learn that it is far from wise to interrupt a dragon in his home," he gestured to the surroundings. "Your manager I may be, but I am STILL a dragon." The warrior swallowed loudly and stepped back a few more feet. "Uh, yes, sir, I mean, uh...." Ebonariex jabbed a taloned finger toward the exit. "Leave, before you make a greater fool of yourself." As the warrior scrambled for the exit, Ebonariex cracked the case's seal. *Strange, I didn't know Michael had need of another of Hel's souls yet.* Careful not to damage the fragile parchment, he removed the scroll with surprisingly deft hands. *I suppose the Slaughterhouse must have claimed another.* Unfurling the scroll, he couldn't help a moment of confusion. The handwriting was obviously not Michael's fluid script. It took only a few seconds for his draconic mind to grasp the implications, and by then the trap was closing. *If Michael didn't write this, then that wasn't his messenger, and since he controls the Niflheim rift, one of Hel's minions should NOT have borne this message!* Ebonariex swiveled to find where the "messenger" had gone, but already matters were spinning out of control. His lair seemed to be contracting around him, and he knew innately that a very powerful form of magical inversion was being enacted. *Someone's twisting my wards!* Fast as thought, he began invoking the keys necessary to shatter his own abjurant fields. At the same time, his hands flew through an intricate series of gestures, summoning numerous bits of magical paraphernalia-- rings, rods, spell-matrix gemstones. The entire cavern began to tremble as small fragments of stone tumbled free of the vaulted ceiling. "MINE! This sanctuary is MINE, and you will not usurp it!" Ebonariex's form began to swell, his near incoherent rage making it difficult to maintain his humanoid form. "Show yourself, coward! Show yourself, and we will see who is master of THIS lair!" As Ebonariex systematically shattered his own rebelling wards, the all-but- forgotten scroll was undergoing a sinister transformation. Jagged black script flowed smoothly from the parchment, squiggling across the floor in a disturbingly intentional manner. As Ebonariex's roars reached a crescendo, the now scarlet-tinged "ink" formed a sinister circle of infernal phrases and precise geometric angles. With a sulphurous puff, the outer ring of symbols flared into life. Ebonariex was channeling every ounce of his draconic being to stem the tide of his mutinous wards. They had been designed with the express purpose of preventing draconic access, and whatever else he had become, he was still a dragon. If the wards had inverted simultaneously, he would have been helpless before them, but thankfully they were flipping in an almost domino-like manner. The draconic mind is a marvelous thing, and while he had no time to spare for idle speculation, a nagging thought still surfaced. *If whoever did this had the power to turn my wards... why not all at once?* Crushing a spell matrix, he tore one of the deadlier wards apart. *It's almost as if someone WANTS me to breach these wards.* No sooner had the thought occurred than he sensed the presence of another. Half-mad with power, and now more dragon than not, Ebonariex whirled to face this new threat. What greeted him, wearing a mocking smile, did nothing to calm his near-crazed state. *Anthraxilariss!* Towering nearly twelve feet tall, the fiendish half-dragon's scales glinted a scarlet-tinged ebony in the flickering arcane light. "My, my, Ebonariex, that's quite the light show you're putting on," she parted her lips in a terrible grin and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Pity it's all for naught." Ebonariex stood frozen in shock as the last of his cascading wards slammed into place. It didn't matter now. His eyes drifted to the now-blank parchment which he had so carelessly tossed aside, before slowly returning his focus to the intruder. He'd been duped, and now a greater portion of his magical power was drained. It would be hours before his full strength returned. Anthraxilariss stepped daintily across the still-smoking symbols that surrounded her. "Don't look so distraught, I've no wish to KILL you, Ebonariex," she swayed toward one of his display tables, absently caressing a silver atheme before looking coyly over her shoulder, "or should I call you 'Father'?" Ebonariex flinched involuntarily. "Call me what you will," his voice was hoarse from shouting and thick with emotion, "but you are NO daughter of mine!" Anthraxilariss's smoky laugh rang out in the ensuing silence. "My brother was a fool, Father, and you yourself gave us our challenge," she pirouetted before assuming a deadly serious expression. "I did what I HAD to, Father." The contempt in her voice was unmistakable, but Ebonariex knew the truth. Her nature had betrayed her. Evil was inherent to his draconic bloodlines, and though he'd had seven children, he'd hoped to guide them down a path that would allow them to overcome that blood. With Michael's help HE had done it, and he'd sought the same for his children. Three had died early, but the other four--three male and one female--had shown true promise. His youngest had become a respected mercenary commander, and another had opened a chain of profitable taverns. It was his eldest and his only girl who'd shown the greatest promise. Locked in their human forms, as all his children had been, they'd progressed admirably as apprentices to a very respectable old mage. His eldest excelled, and then shocked even Ebonariex when he earned the mantle of Arcane Devotee to the god of Justice. Not only had he overcome his evil blood, he'd become a champion of righteousness! Anthraxilariss had seemed ecstatic and pleaded for him to visit her newly constructed tower. She was becoming quite the sorceress herself, though she had a reputation of being somewhat ruthless. Morchandium, his son, accepted his sister's invitation. To this day, Ebonariex knew not what had transpired in that tower. Only the evidence of his son's brutal death, and the ascendance of Anthraxilariss's fiendish power remained to tell the story. With a sudden burst of speed, Ebonariex lunged for his daughter, teeth bared and talons glinting. She easily rolled to the side of the attack, and his momentum carried him into the table she'd stood before. As the black oak splintered beneath his weight, he snatched a pure teardrop shaped crystal from a shattered compartment. *Lich's tear.* The thought was a chill one. Only the most powerful spell-matrixes required this sort of gem, and he had never determined what this particular one contained. Anthrax let loose a blast of brimstone scented fire. "Father, you have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," her voice was an unnatural hiss, "you will die a thousand deaths for the disgrace you brought upon me." Ebonariex had already begun the necessary concentration to free the spell- matrix, but hellfire was something he had no defense for in his weakened state. *I can't keep this up for long. If she realizes just how weakened I am....* Gritting his teeth against the pain, he continued to unlock the matrix. *Just a few more seconds, oh daughter of mine.* He ducked behind another table, snatching up a merfolk war-trident simply because it was near. *Got to keep her hesitant.* Anthraxilariss laughed maniacally, fire gouting from her fingertips in an endless stream, "Father, for all your lofted power, you have nothing to counter simple fire?" Her laughter had gained a decidedly lunatic tinge, "Let's see how you manage THIS?" Ebonariex had a fleeting impression of massive wrenching force, and with a final desperate effort, he crushed the spell-matrix. The horrendous sounds of splintered bone and torn flesh followed him into darkness. SPY REPORT Oh, hi. Its just little 'ol Debby Tonte. Thought I'd check out SCOMSS SWAMP to see what's new. I don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings or anything, but SPOONERTIKS really goofed with their 0-0-0. Cut this out and put it in your scrapbooks, ABYSMAL RITES! 'Cause they got 3-1-0 and moved up to 16th! MVP award for SPARROW? RAPTOR's proud of her after beating RERUN and getting 17 points. Talk about yer big time losers! RERUN got smashed by SPARROW, and lost 15 points! This Duelmaster is like something else! MEDEE stopped DAKION dead in his tracks! Who was the wiseguy that said SCOMSS SWAMP's Duelmaster was paying for drinks at The Dripping Blade? Don't look at me! So just why would someone becomes a warrior anyway? It can't be for these really neat Spyreports can it? THE OPERA was the most avoided team. Is a 117-78-3 record really that scary? Hhmph! What kind of warriors are LAND OF OZ? THE OPERA, an easy team to beat if I ever saw one, can't get them to accept an invitation! Can DARQUE FORCES' BOGBANE be more popular than me? He was challenged the most, but is that really the same? See if I ever talk to SPECTRE again! ROIS ANIN was so low when She challenged she. Hhmph! Is this how GOTHIC MINISTRY advances, by having their members (SPECTRE) fight people that are really below them (ROIS ANIN)? SUN BEAR is being unfair. It's challenged down 17 against SHOTAN. I don't know why they let this stuff go on. (I'd better shut up) SUN BEAR beat SHOTAN. No surprise about that. Really I'm not surprised SUN BEAR would do such a scummy thing, either. For sure, I was holding my breath when I found out RAZOR challenged SWAMP TURF HAMMER. After all, haven't RAPTOR and ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ had a long standing duel in SCOMSS SWAMP? It wasn't a spectacular fight, or anything, but SWAMP TURF HAMMER wants me to write about it since she won victory over RAZOR. Satisfied? Man, all these warriors dying and killing each other! Don't you guys ever give it a break? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!!! KODIAK returns from the Dark Arena, maybe a "little upset" at hers THE BEAR'S PAW teammates... Everyone has problems, but why did INDIFFERENCE send JOE-SIX to the Dark Arena? He had a 4-0-0, and I thought he looked neat on the sands... I was SO depressed when I heard YOURBAGD FOREVER got killed. She was just a kid, and didn't get a fair chance in SCOMSS SWAMP, or anything! What if they had a fight and nobody showed up? I'd be out of a job, that's what!!! I really didn't, you know, study when I was a kid. Who would've guessed I'd be a famous Spyreporter? I'm getting tired of writing this stuff, so I'm calling it quits. Its been really albendranius! Later, guys-- Debby Tonte DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MEDEE 5642 30 10 0 137 THE OPERA (613) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -THE LION KING 6360 18 7 0 122 ROYAL FLUSH (48) -WINKIE 6401 16 8 2 120 LAND OF OZ (217) -VYNMORGATH 6646 7 1 0 116 KAOS (695) SPARROW 6411 14 11 0 114 RAPTOR (674) -MOTHER THERESA 5136 7 1 0 113 OLD HABITS (566) -ITHYIC THING 6292 12 12 0 108 ABYSMAL RITES (215) -SALSA ELEMENTAL 6312 12 6 0 106 DARQUE FORCES (396) SPECTRE 5654 14 9 1 101 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) -QUEEN OF TARTS 5980 10 9 0 97 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) -GIMLI 362 13 14 0 91 NEW CENTURIONS (56) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DAKION 361 14 13 1 90 NEW CENTURIONS (56) RERUN 6651 10 3 0 89 SECOND BANANAS (573) RONDOL QUIGLO 4978 16 22 0 88 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) -TEN LORDS ALEAPIN 6433 14 10 1 87 ROYAL FLUSH (48) -SEB WITE 6668 9 3 0 87 SPOONERTIKS (523) -MICE CREAM 6265 12 4 1 86 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) -AFRICAN QUEEN 6424 11 11 0 81 ROYAL FLUSH (48) -SISTER MARYJANE 6416 14 0 0 77 OLD HABITS (566) -OBESE CAT 6695 7 4 0 77 KAOS (695) PROWL 6460 6 5 0 77 DARQUE FORCES (396) -MY SHADOW 6649 6 2 0 77 KAOS (695) SMOKEY BEAR 6354 18 15 1 75 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) BAD NEWS BEAR 6486 16 9 0 75 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) -KURGER BING 6669 9 3 0 75 SPOONERTIKS (523) -TARZAN 5542 10 16 1 74 AN EPHRAIM (32) ROIS ANIN 6068 14 22 1 73 WARHAMMERS (75) -FRASIER 6224 12 7 0 71 CHEERS (659) BOGBANE 5500 13 16 1 70 DARQUE FORCES (396) -DEMONIC HEX 5530 14 7 0 68 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) A TALE OF PAIN 6531 9 2 0 67 ABYSMAL RITES (215) -JACK KNIFE 6694 8 3 0 67 ROYAL FLUSH (48) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -KORTALIA 6365 9 8 3 66 FORCE OF WILL (670) -FGC 6648 7 4 0 66 KAOS (695) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SWAMP BOGG HAMMER 6306 13 21 0 64 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) SWAMP TURF HAMMER 6565 10 8 0 64 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) BUMBLEBEE 6436 5 5 0 63 DARQUE FORCES (396) -ATTERY 6705 7 2 0 62 OF WOLF AND MAN (603) NIN QUIRE 5281 10 12 0 61 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) NIGHTSHADE 6536 11 8 1 60 RAPTOR (674) XXL 6178 10 6 1 60 INDIFFERENCE (611) -EARVLING KLASH 6547 10 6 1 59 FORCE OF WILL (670) DEATH KISS 5751 12 7 1 58 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) AGARIC 6509 12 11 0 58 WARHAMMERS (75) -FLAVIUS 772 10 8 0 58 NEW CENTURIONS (56) -MARCUS 815 11 8 0 57 NEW CENTURIONS (56) -NORM 6227 6 12 1 57 CHEERS (659) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -CARLA 6225 8 10 0 54 CHEERS (659) -GADREEL 6659 6 5 1 54 THE FALLEN (696) SCOMSSS'S NIGHTMARE 6934 6 0 0 54 THE OPERA (613) -PENEMUE 6657 8 3 0 53 THE FALLEN (696) -PARIAH 6364 11 6 0 51 FORCE OF WILL (670) -STINGO RARR 6507 9 10 0 51 SPOONERTIKS (523) FLOUR CHILD 6869 6 4 0 50 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) -SISTER MARY-KATE 6491 5 3 0 49 OLD HABITS (566) -SPARTACUS 773 10 7 1 45 NEW CENTURIONS (56) DAFNE 6899 7 2 0 45 THE OPERA (613) -LUMINOUS LOX 6495 7 6 0 44 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) KANA BALLISTIC 6976 5 3 0 44 DEVIATION (708) -SISTER BERNICE 6485 5 5 1 42 OLD HABITS (566) -PFM 6645 5 6 0 41 KAOS (695) SWAMP MOSS HAMMER 6567 11 7 0 40 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) BARNEY BEAR 6512 10 10 0 40 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) -MOLOCH 6888 4 2 1 40 THE FALLEN (696) AGOSERIS 6709 5 6 1 39 WARHAMMERS (75) -ORCO 6583 4 5 0 38 OF WOLF AND MAN (603) SWAMP BURN HAMMER 6566 9 9 0 36 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) GOLDEN CAP 6890 6 3 0 36 LAND OF OZ (217) EMILEI LOIT MATCHES 6710 3 6 0 36 THINGS I DROOL IN (614) RAZOR 6573 6 10 0 35 RAPTOR (674) -LATKA 6940 3 1 0 35 SECOND BANANAS (573) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -ASBEEL 6660 7 4 0 32 THE FALLEN (696) KISS OF DEATH 6977 5 4 0 32 DEVIATION (708) STRAFE 6693 6 6 0 31 RAPTOR (674) -PAUL 6861 3 1 0 30 CHEERS (659) SWAMP SONG HAMMER 6860 7 3 0 29 ALL SWAMP HAMMERZ (594) -CHRONALISS 6672 4 8 0 28 FORCE OF WILL (670) -ASPHYXIA 6330 4 4 0 27 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) TWISTER SISTER 6984 2 1 0 27 DEVIATION (708) EVISCERATE 6935 4 2 0 26 RAPTOR (674) SUN BEAR 6965 3 0 2 26 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) SHUFFLE 6938 2 1 1 26 INDIFFERENCE (611) -GAUNTLYN 6363 4 13 0 25 FORCE OF WILL (670) -PUCK 5919 3 8 0 25 AN EPHRAIM (32) CUPS 6614 4 5 1 24 THINGS I DROOL IN (614) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -BLUSHING CROW 6846 2 6 0 23 SPOONERTIKS (523) SONNY URK 6827 4 9 0 21 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) BLIGHT'S BURDEN 6903 1 3 0 20 ABYSMAL RITES (215) HILROC IBBINS 6875 4 7 0 19 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) BASKET 6956 3 1 0 18 LAND OF OZ (217) VELMA XAVIL 6828 1 12 0 15 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -GIZMO 6941 1 1 0 15 DARQUE FORCES (396) -MOTHER MAYI 6966 0 1 0 13 OLD HABITS (566) -ASTER 6667 2 1 0 12 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) -ACE OF BASE 6905 0 4 0 12 ROYAL FLUSH (48) -TREE ANEMONE 6985 1 0 0 10 AN EPHRAIM (32) -LANFEAR 6986 1 0 1 9 THE FALLEN (696) JUDGEMENT DAY 6973 1 3 0 8 DEVIATION (708) -UNFORGIVEN 6958 1 0 0 7 OF WOLF AND MAN (603) -EASY CHEESY 6902 1 3 0 6 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) LIMPER 7003 1 0 0 5 ABYSMAL RITES (215) BLOOD ON THE SUN 6971 0 3 0 5 DEVIATION (708) -TRENT 6946 0 2 0 2 THE SKULLS (705) SIMONGO 6458 0 1 0 1 SICARI (678) -THISTLE MAN 6959 0 1 0 1 AN EPHRAIM (32) LILI 6457 0 1 0 1 SICARI (678) -ALEXIS 6943 0 1 0 1 THE SKULLS (705) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? DA WITHOUT END 7004 0 1 0 ABYSMAL RITES 215 FABULOUS FATHER 281 NONE FOUR ARMS 6697 4 4 1 INDIFFERENCE 611 DWAYNE THE DOG 281 NONE JOE-SIX 6937 4 1 0 INDIFFERENCE 611 DWAYNE THE DOG 281 NONE PROFESSOR MARVEL 6891 4 4 0 LAND OF OZ 217 AGOSERIS 6709 280 215121117117 7007 0 1 0 SECOND BANANAS 573 DARQUE BEAST 281 NONE NOX NECO 6459 0 1 0 SICARI 678 SUN BEAR 6965 280 SHOTAN 6456 0 2 0 SICARI 678 SUN BEAR 6965 281 BAAL 6907 2 2 0 THE FALLEN 696 SHUFFLE 6938 277 REVENGED YOURBAGD FOREVER 6968 2 1 0 THE OPERA 613 XXL 6178 281 GUTTER DRAINS 6998 0 1 0 THINGS I DROOL I 614 NEUTERED KAT 281 NONE THE DROOLYMPICS 6910 1 1 0 THINGS I DROOL I 614 TRIPWHINE 6923 278 PERSONAL ADS Congrats to Duelmaster Medee. -- Oz The All Covetous Old Habits? Gone to a retreat? Vacated the DM? Must be some big Reconciliation going on! -- Oz The All Curious Sorry to deviate on your plans, Kiss Of Death. Thanks for the challenge, though. Bwahahahahahah. -- Golden Cap To the DA's own Omnipotent Oz, you weren't so omnipotent, now, were you? -- China Milkmaid, celebrating her DA win Velma Xavil -- I am glad you were not a basket-case like Prof Marvel this turn! -- Basket Agoseris and The Warhammers -- Professor Marvel may not have been much to most, but he was an Ozer, so, I am not at all happy about his death. You rascals! -- Oz The All Grieving Info from The Land Of Oz .... Professor Marvel was a 9-16-7-11-16-7-8 TP bumped to 11-17-17-11-17-7-9, and was an okay performer. He is DEAD. China Milkmaid was an 11(+1)-6-10-21-17-5-15 ST who brilliantly performed to 13-2-1 (1DM) in the arena and 26-15-1 (2TV) in tournaments. She was +4 Init, +3 Decise, and good damage at 10/10. She had 1 admaster, 3 masters, and 2 experts. Her faves were HA--VLO/MOD--Lunge and Init Tactics. -- Oz The All Knowing Agoseris -- We WANT you! -- All us Ozers. Eviscerate -- That sure was one savage fight... back and forth! -- Blood on the Sun Swamp Moss Hammer -- Next time the outcome will be different! -- Kana Ballistic Golden Cap -- You're a tough nut to crack. -- Kiss of Death Swamp Song Hammer -- Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! -- Twister Sister All -- I want to thank you all for a wonderful time. Due to some unfortunate family problems I will be disappearing fir a while. My daughter and newborn granddaughter have been in a battle with H1N1 and the hospital bills among other things will keep me occupied for some time. -- Owlin the Wise P.S. I will try to stay involved in Hyborian War but make no promises. God Bless Sad news, Owlin. We hope your daughter and granddaughter get well soon and things work out for you! -- RSI Bogbane -- I'm sure you'll do just fine being the bane of bogs. But the arena sands is (are?) very far from being a bog. -- Nin Quire Basket -- A golem basket is horrible to contemplate. An Ozzian Luggage, as it were? I'll pass on this. -- Velma Xavil Smokey Bear -- Ah, I bet you wish you were back in the woods around Capitan, just hanging out. Heck, so do I! -- Rondol Quiglo Scomsss's Nightmare -- I'll second that. -- Sonny Urk Yourbagd Forever -- More of a kayak if you ask me. -- Hilroc Ibbins Lurking Fear -- It will do you no good to lurk in the dark corners of my mind, because it's time for the autumn cleaning, and those corners will be scoured out. -- Jorja Our congratulations to Kodiak. -- Jorja and the Middle Way Michael Eldritch! The episode after this one appearing today is incomplete, being at the end of the available text. Time to send more. -- the Scribe LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS KODIAK butchered LITTLE RAVEN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. FOUR ARMS was slaughtered by DWAYNE THE DOG in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle. JOE-SIX was easily killed by DWAYNE THE DOG in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena match. GUTTER DRAINS was slaughtered by NEUTERED KAT in a 2 minute Dark Arena brawl. DA WITHOUT END was butchered by FABULOUS FATHER M in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena fight. 215121117117 was murdered by DARQUE BEAST in a 1 minute Dark Arena competition. PROWL was bested by RONDOL QUIGLO in a 1 minute veteran's Challenge duel. SPECTRE overpowered ROIS ANIN in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl. RERUN was overpowered by SPARROW in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee. BOGBANE vanquished SWAMP BOGG HAMMER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel. A TALE OF PAIN defeated NIN QUIRE in a popular 3 minute expert's Challenge duel. EMILEI LOIT MATCHES was overpowered by AGARIC in a 1 minute uneven Challenge match. RAZOR was overpowered by SWAMP TURF HAMMER in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight. DEATH KISS demolished AGOSERIS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition. BLIGHT'S BURDEN bested VELMA XAVIL in a exciting 2 minute Challenge battle. CUPS was bested by SWAMP BURN HAMMER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Challenge bout. SUN BEAR easily killed SHOTAN in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight. MEDEE luckily beat DAKION in a action packed 5 minute brutal expert's Title struggle. SMOKEY BEAR bested BUMBLEBEE in a popular 4 minute master's brawl. BAD NEWS BEAR beat NIGHTSHADE in a 2 minute veteran's match. FLOUR CHILD overpowered CAPTURED ORC in a 1 minute bloody one-sided match. SCOMSSS'S NIGHTMARE devastated STRAFE in a 1 minute one-sided contest. XXL assassinated YOURBAGD FOREVER in a 1 minute one-sided duel. BARNEY BEAR was savagely defeated by DAFNE in a action packed 3 minute gruesome fray. SWAMP MOSS HAMMER was viciously subdued by KANA BALLISTIC in a exciting 3 minute bout. TWISTER SISTER was defeated by GOLDEN CAP in a 4 minute novice vs. veteran duel. HILROC IBBINS was vanquished by EVISCERATE in a 1 minute one-sided fight. SWAMP SONG HAMMER demolished JUDGEMENT DAY in a 4 minute one-sided melee. SONNY URK was vanquished by KISS OF DEATH in a 1 minute one-sided fray. BASKET outwaited BLOOD ON THE SUN in a unpopular 12 minute bout. SHUFFLE vanquished LILI in a popular 1 minute gruesome one-sided bout. LIMPER unbelievably bested SIMONGO in a 2 minute brutal novice's fight. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |STRIKING ATTACK 11 TOTAL PARRY 112 - 87 - 0 56 | |TOTAL PARRY 10 WALL OF STEEL 60 - 47 - 3 56 | |AIMED BLOW 8 STRIKING ATTACK 124 - 107 - 8 54 | |LUNGING ATTACK 7 AIMED BLOW 52 - 47 - 3 53 | |BASHING ATTACK 7 PARRY-LUNGE 16 - 17 - 0 48 | |SLASHING ATTACK 4 SLASHING ATTACK 52 - 60 - 6 46 | |WALL OF STEEL 3 BASHING ATTACK 59 - 78 - 4 43 | |PARRY-STRIKE 3 LUNGING ATTACK 69 - 100 - 2 41 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 13 - 29 - 0 31 | |PARRY-LUNGE 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 - 16 - 0 16 | Turn 281 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: WALL OF STEEL 3 - 0 STRIKING ATTACK 5 - 6 4 STRIKING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 8 - 2 AIMED BLOW 3 - 5 2 TOTAL PARRY PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 1 LUNGING ATTACK 2 - 5 2 PARRY-STRIKE PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 BASHING ATTACK 2 - 5 2 SLASHING ATTACK SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 3 1 WALL OF STEEL PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 2 TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME TOTAL PARRY MEDEE 5642 30 10 0 137 THE OPERA (613) PARRY-STRIKE SPARROW 6411 14 11 0 114 RAPTOR (674) STRIKING ATTACK SPECTRE 5654 14 9 1 101 GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) LUNGING ATTACK RERUN 6651 10 3 0 89 SECOND BANANAS (573) WALL OF STEEL SMOKEY BEAR 6354 18 15 1 75 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) BASHING ATTACK NIGHTSHADE 6536 11 8 1 60 RAPTOR (674) SLASHING ATTACK XXL 6178 10 6 1 60 INDIFFERENCE (611) AIMED BLOW AGARIC 6509 12 11 0 58 WARHAMMERS (75) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is SWAMP BOGG HAMMER 6306. The most popular warrior this turn was DAKION 361. The ten other most popular fighters were CUPS 6614, NIN QUIRE 5281, DAFNE 6899, VELMA XAVIL 6828, BUMBLEBEE 6436, KANA BALLISTIC 6976, SMOKEY BEAR 6354, NIGHTSHADE 6536, MEDEE 5642, and BAD NEWS BEAR 6486. The least popular fighter this week was BASKET 6956. The other ten least popular fighters were LILI 6457, SONNY URK 6827, SWAMP SONG HAMMER 6860, HILROC IBBINS 6875, SWAMP MOSS HAMMER 6567, YOURBAGD FOREVER 6968, STRAFE 6693, SHOTAN 6456, AGOSERIS 6709, and RAZOR 6573. The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn: SPECTRE (47-5654) GOTHIC MINISTRY (592) The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: KODIAK (47-6487) THE BEAR'S PAW (150)