DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 09/23/2005 Duedate: 10/20/2005 TROCAR ARENA DM-54 TURN-199 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS POSITION IS EMPTY Chartered Recognition LeaderUnchartered Recognition Leader POSITION IS EMPTY SOLID GONE STEEL REIGN (309) (54-2879) [6-2-3,67] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite HAVELOCK THE DANE VIRET POMPOUS PALADINS (277) TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) (54-2614) [2-9-0,17] (54-2727) [12-5-0,96] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM SEA DOGS (294) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. SEA DOGS (294) 54 2. GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) 33 USELESS TOOLS (219) 3. MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) 25 Unchartered Team 4. HOLD THAT TIGER (300) 23 5. LEAKY TEEPEE (307) 18 CARESS OF STEEL (301) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1 USELESS TOOLS (219) 181 85 6 68.0 1/ 4*SEA DOGS (294) 11 4 2 2/ 4*CARESS OF STEEL (301) 18 11 0 62.1 2/ 1 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) 10 5 1 3/ 3 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) 136 93 7 59.4 3/12*CARESS OF STEEL (301) 10 5 0 4/ 2*STEEL REIGN (309) 21 15 4 58.3 4/ 2*JANIX (298) 9 5 0 5/ 8*SEA DOGS (294) 20 15 2 57.1 5/ 7*OF WOLF AND MAN (296) 9 6 0 6/ 5*HOLD THAT TIGER (300) 20 15 0 57.1 6/ 8*HOLD THAT TIGER (300) 9 6 0 7/ 6 SPARF! (310) 65 52 3 55.6 7/ 3 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) 8 7 2 8/ 7*OF WOLF AND MAN (296) 22 18 1 55.0 8/ 6 SPARF! (310) 8 7 0 9/ 9 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) 27 23 1 54.0 9/ 9*LEAKY TEEPEE (307) 7 8 1 10/11*JANIX (298) 19 18 0 51.4 10/ 5*STEEL REIGN (309) 7 8 1 11/10 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) 170 163 8 51.1 11/11 MILLENIUM METAL (304) 6 9 0 12/12 EYE OF THE STORM (221) 47 48 5 49.5 12/16 EYE OF THE STORM (221) 5 8 0 13/13*LEAKY TEEPEE (307) 11 14 1 44.0 13/15 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) 4 1 0 14/14 MILLENIUM METAL (304) 62 86 4 41.9 14-10*BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) 4 6 0 15-15*BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) 9 16 0 36.0 15/13 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) 4 11 1 16/17*MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) 10 20 0 33.3 16/17*MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) 4 11 0 17/16 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) 17 38 3 30.9 17-14*DOG SOLDIERS II (311) 2 3 0 18-18*DOG SOLDIERS II (311) 5 12 0 29.4 18/18 USELESS TOOLS (219) 1 2 0 19-19*OFF THE WALL II (303) 1 10 0 9.1 19-19*OFF THE WALL II (303) 0 3 0 20-20*RAIDERS (47) 0 1 0 0.0 20-20*RAIDERS (47) 0 1 0 Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT One turn left, the one that's run the turn this article will print, until the first four RU certs will be awarded and it looks like there are five teams in the running for this prize! And for the first turn Steel Reign is knocked off its perch, congrats Rillion! Turn 4 Standings: GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 10 Rillion HOLD THAT TIGER 2 Vet STEEL REIGN 9 Stik (of the Consortium) OF WOLF AND MAN 8 Tripwire BATTLE BEASTS 2 1 Sensei Jan JANIX 8 Kat LEAKY TEEPEE 1 Shaman CARESS OF STEEL 7 Maximillian DOG SOLDIERS II -1 Baphomet MILLENIUM METAL 3 Street Legal POMPOUS PALADINS -4 Firehawk SPARF! 3 Crip MEMORIAL HAMMERZ -5 Hammer SEA DOGS 3 One Armed Bandit EYE OF THE STORM -8 Black Storm This turn: GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 4-1-0-0 +1=+4 HOLD THAT TIGER 2-3-0-0 0=-1 STEEL REIGN 2-3-1-1 +1= 0 BATTLE BEASTS 2 3-2-0-0 +1=+2 OF WOLF AND MAN 2-3-0-0 +1= 0 LEAKY TEEPEE 1-4-0-0 +1=-2 JANIX 3-1-0-0 +1=+3 DOG SOLDIERS II 2-3-0-0 +1= 0 CARESS OF STEEL 5-0-0-0 +1=+6 POMPOUS PALADINS 1-4-0-0 0=-3 MILLENIUM METAL 2-3-0-0 +1= 0 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ 1-4-0-0 +1=-2 SPARF! 3-2-0-0 0=+1 EYE OF THE STORM 1-2-0-0 +1= 0 SEA DOGS 3-2-1-0 0=+2 Kills Total: Steel Reign 3 Of Wolf and Man 1 Sea Dogs 2 Pompous Paladins 1 Gryffindor House2 1 One third down as we head into the middle stretch and really anybody can get back in this thing. Even if not a good stretch and you could pick up 4-8 RU certs for your troubles. And besides, who isn't sitting there going what the F^%% do I do now with this warrior.... Come on we all have AT LEAST one on our team..... What a blast! Oh and congrats Max on the perfect 5-0, it was a long time coming and good to see you do it in honor of our friend! Oh and hope I got all the managers right off the top of my head here. :O Street Legal + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ A Darque Tale #5 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Trocar: Raigavor snapped his fingers and part of the floor dissolved, revealing a staircase spiraling downward. "My sanctum is below." "But we could talk equally well here on the roof," Darque countered. Raigavor glanced up at the sky, which was quivering with iridescence. "My sanctum is private." Darque frowned and studied the sky himself. Now that the topic was opened, there was something strange about that shimmer, something more than the disturbance of the Arcanum. He didn't like being spied on, and he began to probe for the identifying characteristics. "Priests of Mytori," Raigavor said. "You may not have encountered them near Chimlevtal, but we're bothered by them a lot down this way. Nosy and malicious, but they won't come here to my island." "I have never heard that they report to the Greywand." "They don't. They've got their own ox to roast, but they'll use a fire someone else has started." Raigavor stepped down into the stairwell. With a final glance at the sky, Master Darque followed him. A master mage learned not to engage in needless combat--that kind of thing was the province of the young and insecure. He would save his strength for the battles that would make a difference. Such as with this Raigavor the Unholy, if it came to that point. The sanctum was on the first level below the roof, and it was luxurious. Money had been spent freely on the furnishings and the decor. The only signs that a magician worked here were the heavy glass-fronted bookcases (all with obvious locks), and a complex circle-and-star pattern inlaid into the floor, now partly covered by a rug similar to the flying carpet in pattern and color. "Tell me what you know of this sigil," Darque said, "and tell me why you want it." "It's the key to a certain class of Gates," Raigavor said, "and I want it because I'm a Red Wizard." "What does the Nai Shang Academy have to do with it?" Darque asked. Raigavor frowned. "You really don't know?" "I know somewhat about the Academy, and it has not, to my knowledge, had much interest in Gates." "Amazing," Raigavor murmured, "you really don't understand, and yet you knew enough to seize the sigil...." He shook himself and sighed. "Some things you will need to know. First, that a Red Wizard may become a Nai Shang--it's a good disguise. But one must be BORN a Red Wizard. And we are not a numerous people, especially in this world." "In this world," Darque repeated. Many things were beginning to come into focus. "That's why you need the sigil, is it? To go home." "Yes. I had thought you a demon-lord native to that world, but now...?" "I may not be native to that world," Darque said, "but I will be a Demon Lord there. How is the sigil to be used?" "From Xochithlan." Raigavor gestured toward one wall of his chamber. "Trocar has no points of direct contact, which would make for an easy Gate--we don't want to arrive with half our powers exhausted." Darque nodded. That made sense. "So, there are points of 'direct contact' in Xochithlan? Good. I had been going there anyway, to consult the royal library about the sigil." "An excellent choice," Raigavor said. Darque looked at him closely, but the man--the Red Wizard--did not seem to be mocking him. "We can reach there quickly through the Spirit Land--" "Ah, no. That route is closed now. I spoke to some...creatures in the Spirit Land who were very firm on the subject, even after I demonstrated my ability to compel them. Apparently there has been some kind of structural damage." He shrugged. No need to admit that he was partly responsible for that damage, and he wasn't sure that he was to blame anyway. "What other methods of travel are there?" Raigavor sighed. "I was afraid of that. The Guardians have been getting more restive and hostile for some time. It leaves us with nothing but mundane options, as my carpet is unreliable over such a distance." "Horses." Darque pursed his lips as though to spit. "I hate riding horses." Master Darque stood near the edge of Raigavor's island and watched the wizard lock up his tower. It was natural that the wizard should want to lock it up--or seal it in some fashion--when departing for a lengthy journey, and courteous for he himself to stay out of the way while Raigavor was doing it. But he didn't have to like it. Manners were such a nuisance! He was sure that the Red Wizard was using some kind of spell, but he wasn't close enough to distinguish the details against the island's background of magical static. A new spell was rare, and probably would be useful at some point. Oh, well, he could steal it later if he needed it. Raigavor joined him at the shore, striding briskly while slinging a satchel, almost a backpack in size, over his shoulder. "The boat is there," he said, gesturing. A boat appeared out of a patch of mist and reeds. Master Darque conceded that the mist and reeds, if they were real and not illusion, might have been sufficient to conceal the little boat in a normal, non- magical way, and that the boat could perhaps be normal and non-magical. With a wizard like Raigavor, you couldn't be sure that what you were seeing was actually there. The manager followed Raigavor onto the much-too-small boat and sat gingerly where directed. The boatman, he saw, was a golem. Well, fine. Less likely to become hysterical if something went wrong. A well-made golem was the most reliable servant a magician could have. There was a carriage waiting on the shore. That was a relief; horses did not get along well with him, and to have to ride one all the way to Xochithlan...no. His two dwarvish servants were waiting with it, and one servant for Raigavor. Hard to tell what race that one was, perhaps an orc? But the coachman was human, wearing Trocaran Royal livery. "One of King Samir's coaches," Raigavor said. "As fast as any we could hire, and we won't be stopped. A royal coach is as good as a free pass at the border." As promised, there had been no delay at Trocar's formal border, nor at the point somewhat farther west where the land officially claimed by Xochithlan began. "It used to be forest all the way between the borders," Raigavor commented. "Burned during the Rirorni War. Replanted four times, and they all failed to take. I told Samir he should bet a greenwitch for it, but he said the elves didn't like that idea." The wizard snorted. "Typical of elves! Arrogant through and through, and they think they know more about growing things than anybody. That's a load of fertilizer, if you like!" "Plants are over-rated," Darque said. "Food for cattle." He bared distinctly non-herbivorous teeth. He turned his attention to Xochithlan, spies and domes rising over the hills ahead of them. Pastel and delicate. Very elvish. Boring. The sigil stirred in his mind. "What do we have to do in Xochithlan to use the sigil?" + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Black Sword #2 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Jhans: Barudai the Rirorni moved sideways until he could put one shoulder against all that remained of his shelter. From here he could watch the tunnel that had appeared in the hillside behind him and the wall of water that fell from the sky in front. The tunnel beckoned with dryness and warmth, but he was not such a fool as trust himself to a magical passage. It was bound to be a trap. Better to run out into the storm than to venture into the depths of the hill. A disturbance in the glassy smoothness of the falling rain claimed his full attention. A man stepped through it, gaunt, clad in a few rain-soaked ribbons and draggled feathers, clutching a deeply carved staff. His face and body were tattooed with the symbols that marked him as a dark shaman, a follower of Mytori. The priests of Mytori had spells that could overpower the most accomplished swordsman, but Barudai raised his sword anyway, prepared to sell his life as dearly as he could. The shaman never looked at him. The burning eyes were fixed on the tunnel, the thin-lipped mouth stretched wide in the smile of a man who sees his dearest wish made real in front of him. The shaman prostrated himself at the entrance to the tunnel, began to chant, rose and entered it. Which meant that Barudai could escape his pursuer, but he was not as happy about that as he had expected to be. Whatever the shaman thought to find down there could not be good news for the ordinary people of the plains. The tunnel closed behind the shaman, and Barudai the Rirorni was glad to see that, even though his horse had vanished with it. Better to be on foot, better to be caught in the heart of the storm, than to have stepped into that trap. And far better to survive to take the warning to Rocanis where the shamans were gathered than that the renegade fall upon the tribes and the cities of southern Alastari without warning. Rocanis: For a bunch of shamans who would be needing all the help they could get to deal with a major menace, Ghost Dancer thought they looked truculent. Even hostile. Nobody actually said out loud that the problem was all Uncle Wolf's fault, but you could tell they were thinking it. Bluesnake, chief shaman of the Saargedai tribe, scowled at Wolf. His combination of body-paint and tattoos made this an alarming sight. "You made good time. We just sent the message to Morya." His look of annoyance deepened to suspicion. "And the word we're getting is that everyone ELSE is finding the Spirit Land closed to travel." Wolf looked back at him calmly. You couldn't tell from his expression that he distrusted the Saarda. "Your message must have missed me," he said. "I was already coming here for other reasons." Bluesnake smiled, baring incisors that had been filed to points and abnormally long canines. "Then we won't keep you from your other business--" "The good of the Maengedai will always be my first business," Wolf assured him. He glanced at the other shamans. "What is the news, Windrider?" The young shaman of the Vonsogedai shrugged, causing the feathers on his bandolier to flutter. "What you warned us of," he said. "Everyone has been dreaming of the Black Sword lately. I have dreamed it myself, and it is...bad." "Mind you, we're not SURE yet," another shaman said. Rain Caller was his name, of the Haimgedai, an old man in an embroidered cape sewn with rows of tiny steel chimes. "We've sent scouts--" "Very wise," Wolf said, cutting across the beginning of Bluesnake's derisive laugh. "What's the use of holding meetings?" another man asked. He was wearing an incongruous robe of silk, and his complexion was more golden than typical Rirorni bronze. Probably from one of the semi-civilized tribes of the Rithakar area. "Mytori is a GOD. No mortal can overcome a god's will." "This is true," Wolf said, cutting off the comment Bluesnake was about to utter. "And no group of a hundred shamans, however united in purpose they might be, could overcome a god--save by the aid of another god, and at the cost of their own lives. But Mytori must work through a human tool, and THAT we can fight and destroy." Bluesnake made an abrupt gesture, cutting off the buzz of comment that followed Wolf's statement. "We can fight it, if we're fools," he said. "The Black Sword is a tool? Well and good. WE can seize the tool and use it for the good of all Rirorni! After all, was it not YOU, Wolf, who said that a tool is just a tool, and it is the intent of the wielder that decides whether it is good or ill?" "I may be a fool, Bluesnake, or perhaps not," Wolf answered. "But I know full well--as you do--that only one man may wield a Black Sword. It is not the tool for a committee. And even a tool, if consecrated to a god, will have a bias in it to bend the wielder to the god's will. Mytori is not concerned with 'the good of all Rirorni' any more than you are." "Words! Just words--meant to mislead! You will take the Sword into your own hand, will you? Wield it for YOUR ends? Who are you to judge the interests of the Saargedai, the Vonsogedai, or any other tribe? I say we seize the Sword and use it to make the Rirorni great, to cast down those who have spurned us and warred on us for generations!" He turned to the assembled shamans. "Will you listen to this fool who wants to DESTROY the most powerful tool that has come into Rirorni hands in centuries? Or to me, who says that power comes to those who will use it? One who says that WE should use this Sword?" Comment and argument erupted among the shamans, who broke down into clusters, becoming more heated by the moment. "That's torn it," Wolf said quietly. DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Greetings, Trocar! It seems I am off to join my brothers at the Isle. It seems I might be more fortunate than them though, as Rillion was quite impressed with the report by the commission scouts as to my apparent "favorites". Hopefully my replacement will be a cut above the last three replacements that have been thrown out on the sands representing our house. Fortunately Rillion has a long history of managing mediocre warriors from his days before much was known about optimal warrior training and strategies. It remains to be seen if Rillion can have another good turn and capture the first prize of the contest. I would say there is about as much chance of this team going 1-4 as there is of it going 4-1, both of which have happened so far in this contest. I expect to see further big swings in the standings of this contest as managers get lucky and pull some favorable random match ups while others get the short end of the stick. Good luck to my mates and me! Fred Weasley SPY REPORT It's me, The Unknown Spymaster here with my bag to give you the news on last week's fights. Say good-bye to GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2, as they are pushed from the coveted top team spot by the SEA DOGS stable. For every winner there is a loser. Speaking of losers, lets take a look at STEEL REIGN, who went down to 5th from 10th. Life is tough. Coming up with a solid 4-1-0 outing, CARESS OF STEEL has advanced 9 places in the rankings. It looks like the guys(?) at SEA DOGS had a good week as they went 4-1-0 to put them in 1st place. I guess steroids help! Hey everybody, watch out for LEE FAMILY HAMMER, who flew up 21 points in the rankings after mashing ENVI like a melon. Keep your eye on this guy. And falling like a basher in the top ten was WASTELANDER, who dropped 17 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with WICKED SLICE. Going for the gusto and coming up with aught but bloody knuckles was TRADERS OF TROCAR's WIMPERETTA, who was turned away from the Duelmastership by FRED WEASLEY. Advice to bashers--never force anything, just get a bigger halberd! Here is other news that is of note. And hey, kiddies, those of you who didn't avoid JANIX, please raise you hand. Wow. Does TROCAR really have that many liars? Okay, so I may not be funny, but catch JANIX's act in the arena. Those acrobats seem to be fairly deft at running from JANIX. And who is this YAHOO WAHOO you ask, with 28 points and a 2-2-0 record. Ooh, the tales I could tell! Remember that an arena is not always a safe place to be, but it is one of the most interesting, though! Here's some advice: warriors with little wit and will may encounter problems on the trail to the Isle. Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in TROCAR have no sense of humor. Or maybe that they were senseless. Well, there goes another Spy Report. Good luck in next week's fights. Its been real, and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun...-- The Unknown Spymaster CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -NO-STICK TAPE 2541 16 4 2 131 USELESS TOOLS (219) -A.O. HELL 2523 16 5 1 130 USELESS TOOLS (219) -RUBBER BULLET 2503 18 1 0 120 USELESS TOOLS (219) VIRET 2727 12 5 0 96 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) VIKING RAIDER 2885 4 1 0 96 SPARF! (310) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WIMPERETTA 2655 17 11 1 88 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) MOUSETRAP 2521 17 8 1 80 USELESS TOOLS (219) CHAOS WARRIOR 2069 10 10 2 71 EYE OF THE STORM (221) NICKLEBACK 2815 10 16 1 67 MILLENIUM METAL (304) SOLID GONE 2879 6 2 3 67 STEEL REIGN (309) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WICKED SLICE 2876 5 3 0 66 STEEL REIGN (309) SNIR 2784 7 0 0 58 JANIX (298) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MADAM VENUSIA 2887 10 9 0 53 SPARF! (310) SWASHBUCKLER 2743 5 2 2 50 SEA DOGS (294) WASTELANDER 2134 9 5 1 44 EYE OF THE STORM (221) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TONY THE 2778 6 1 0 41 HOLD THAT TIGER (300) DOOMRUNNER 2070 7 13 1 40 EYE OF THE STORM (221) HERMOINE 2855 6 6 0 40 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) MEL 2883 5 0 0 40 SPARF! (310) SHELLBACK 2744 6 1 0 38 SEA DOGS (294) -THE FORSAKEN 2826 6 5 0 35 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) NYALL BLOODGRIN 2782 5 1 0 35 CARESS OF STEEL (301) CUB 2774 4 3 0 35 HOLD THAT TIGER (300) XYCO 2899 4 1 0 34 JANIX (298) THOR RAVENBLADE 2781 3 3 0 34 CARESS OF STEEL (301) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WOODS 2776 3 4 0 33 HOLD THAT TIGER (300) HARPOONER 2747 3 4 0 33 SEA DOGS (294) EVERGREY 2801 7 3 0 32 MILLENIUM METAL (304) SIR LOIN OF BEEF 2618 6 5 1 31 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) WRONG WAY 2754 5 3 0 31 OF WOLF AND MAN (296) BLACK FLAGGER 2746 2 5 0 31 SEA DOGS (294) NEVER DIE 2756 5 3 1 29 OF WOLF AND MAN (296) VENTURIA 2878 6 2 0 28 STEEL REIGN (309) WET NOODLE 2844 4 1 0 28 LEAKY TEEPEE (307) KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 2802 3 7 0 28 MILLENIUM METAL (304) LEE FAMILY HAMMER 2792 2 4 0 28 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) YAHOO WAHOO 2733 2 2 0 28 USELESS TOOLS (219) -EMILY THE STRANGE 2832 4 4 0 27 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) RASPUTIN 2898 3 0 0 27 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) SKORINDELLE 2742 6 3 1 26 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) PENELOTHE 2838 3 3 0 25 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) NEVILLE 2908 3 1 0 25 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) FACELESS MAN 2753 6 2 0 24 OF WOLF AND MAN (296) BENGAL 2775 3 4 0 24 HOLD THAT TIGER (300) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SYSTEM OF A DOWN 2897 5 0 0 22 MILLENIUM METAL (304) MOCHAOMHOG 2616 2 9 1 22 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) -BLUE JACKET 2900 2 0 0 22 DOG SOLDIERS II (311) MAN OVERBOARD 2914 1 1 0 22 SEA DOGS (294) SLASH 2836 3 1 0 21 CARESS OF STEEL (301) PHOENIX 2909 3 1 0 21 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) SIR CASWALLAWN 2617 4 7 1 20 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) SHARK 2777 4 3 0 20 HOLD THAT TIGER (300) -SNOW LEOPARD 2759 2 2 0 20 BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) ERIK THUNDERHEAD 2783 3 3 0 18 CARESS OF STEEL (301) -WASP 2761 3 1 0 18 BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) FINNIGAN 2615 3 8 0 17 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) FUNGI WARRIOR 2848 2 3 1 17 LEAKY TEEPEE (307) HAVELOCK THE DANE 2614 2 9 0 17 POMPOUS PALADINS (277) HIGHER 2755 4 4 0 16 OF WOLF AND MAN (296) HONOR RICH HAMMER 2793 2 4 0 16 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) -SLIPPERY SNAKE 2901 2 0 0 16 DOG SOLDIERS II (311) OLGERD VLAD 2780 4 2 0 14 CARESS OF STEEL (301) GRUNGE GRL HAMMER 2794 3 3 0 13 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) -PIT VIPER 2834 1 3 0 13 BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) DANI 2918 1 0 0 13 JANIX (298) -BLACK CANDLE 2820 1 0 0 13 DARK PENTAGRAM (305) RUNNING WATER 2846 3 2 0 11 LEAKY TEEPEE (307) ENVI 2786 2 5 0 11 JANIX (298) WRENN 2877 2 4 0 10 STEEL REIGN (309) SLAUGHTER HAMMER 2790 2 4 0 10 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) -JAWS 2788 2 2 0 9 BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) WET DOG 2845 2 3 0 9 LEAKY TEEPEE (307) -SPINNER 2798 1 0 0 9 OFF THE WALL II (303) RUNE KNIGHT 2915 1 0 0 9 EYE OF THE STORM (221) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME JUUNK 2804 1 6 0 9 MILLENIUM METAL (304) FASC DROOL HAMMER 2791 1 5 0 8 MEMORIAL HAMMERZ (302) DARISTAM 2837 1 5 0 8 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) -HEYOKA 2905 1 4 0 7 DOG SOLDIERS II (311) -CERBERUS 2835 1 3 0 6 BATTLE BEASTS 2 (297) VICTORIAN MANDARIN 2911 1 2 0 5 SPARF! (310) -BLACK KETTLE 2904 0 5 0 5 DOG SOLDIERS II (311) YELLOW SNOW 2847 0 5 0 5 LEAKY TEEPEE (307) WALLAMALOOS 2912 1 1 0 4 SPARF! (310) -ANIME 2797 0 3 0 3 OFF THE WALL II (303) -QUICKSHOT 2796 0 3 0 3 OFF THE WALL II (303) -COCHISE 2903 0 2 0 2 DOG SOLDIERS II (311) SCEPTRE 2917 0 1 0 2 STEEL REIGN (309) DEMENTOR 2913 0 2 0 2 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308) -DARKSEID 2906 0 2 0 2 OFF THE WALL II (303) STORM ANGEL 2916 0 1 0 1 EYE OF THE STORM (221) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? GHOLAM 2827 7 2 0 DARK PENTAGRAM 305 SOLID GONE 2879 198 KRYMSYN 2758 2 3 0 EYE OF THE STORM 221 SWASHBUCKLER 2743 197 BUCKBEAK 2850 1 1 0 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 308 SOLID GONE 2879 195 NOT REVE HAGRID 2852 1 2 0 GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 308 NEVER DIE 2756 195 NOT REVE PUTZ 2910 2 2 0 JANIX 298 FUNGI WARRIOR 2848 199 DARA 2765 2 3 0 JANIX 298 SKORINDELLE 2742 197 ARE YOU READY? 2757 2 6 0 OF WOLF AND MAN 296 RIRORNI DESERTER 18 199 NONE FOUL NAVIGATOR 2745 3 2 0 SEA DOGS 294 MOCHAOMHOG 2616 197 REVENGED THE BORG 2882 1 1 0 SPARF! 310 SOLID GONE 2879 196 KRAZY KANGAROO 2895 8 10 0 SPARF! 310 WIMPERETTA 2655 197 INCLINE 2880 2 3 1 STEEL REIGN 309 SWASHBUCKLER 2743 198 PERSONAL ADS Phoenix -- Fasc Drool Hammer is named after Abraxis the Slaughter Priest's team Fascist Drool that he was running in Hammer's Delarq Death Fest in DM 58 Illis slow arena contest. Just so you know, with Hammer being so over-worked overseas and all I thought I would let you know. -- Liam the Goth, mgr. Dark Pentagram Hammer -- Guess he didn't read your "A Question of Contests" back in 12 April 2005. See you in DM 13 Dullens when Zalgor gets his undead party started (hopefully). -- Liam the Goth P.S. So many contests, so little money. AHHHH! Yellow Snow -- Take that, ye landlubber. -- Black Flagger Mochaomhog -- Yar.... -- Foul Navigator We are MAD, MAD, MAD!!!!!!!!! We did not get our one point for personal ads in round 3 when we sent a LOT. Now, in round four, they did not appear and we sent a LOT and Hal confirmed them. What gives here? -- Cub, Tony The, Woods, Bengal, Shark, All us Hold That Tiger's If you want to send a copy to me, I can check and make sure they're in next time 'round. -- Ed. (otherwise known as Sue at solberg-mathews dot com) Swashbuckler -- That was rather unexpected. -- Krymsyn (ghost of) Shellback -- I am really tired of trying to die. I'm losing good teammates while I still remain. A big loser. -- Doomsun Viking Raider -- You must think you're funny. Either way I think you'll be Duelmaster next turn. -- Wastelander Ron Weasley -- A definite mismatch. May my shade haunt thee forever. -- Battleblade the ghost Madam Venusia -- Tell your Viking friend to lay off the white powder a bit if you know what I mean. At least you, I was able to see (and hit). -- Chaos Warrior All -- So you're gonna be like that, are you!! Let's see if I can get out of last place. -- Blackstorm Running Water -- Funny, I can go 10 minutes with Wet Dog and using the same fighting technique I get winded in the very first minute with Running. -- Wrong Way Do you have aquaphobia? Running Water is probably more water than Wet Dog. -- Ed. Mel -- Wow, that was impressive! -- Higher Killswitch Engage -- Didn't give you a chance to rip, those dodges and feints worried me for a minute. -- Never Die Everygrey -- Very nicely done! Gonna have to tweak a few things now I think. -- Faceless Man All -- Well, I decided to use my one and only DA and hope for a good rollup. I am sending Are You Ready? to the night fights. 15-3-17-5(+1)-17-21-7, ST, blech! Just couldn't get anything done. 0-4 since the official start of the contest. -- Tripwire, Iron Council All -- Just had to add a proud note for "hold That Tigers" Everywhere, when we put down those Texas A&M Aggies. -- Hold That CLEMSON Tiger Nyall -- I didn't want to do that the first time! -- Hold That BENGAL Tiger Leaky Teepee -- I find that Cub/Wet Noodle fight to be unlike one of cub's style. But I'll take it! -- Vet, Hold That Tiger manager Wet Noodle -- How did you like that flogging with my wet noodle? Cool! -- Hold That Tiger CUB Envi -- You've obviously been eating your sugar frosted flakes. You were G R E E E A A A T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- Hold That TONY THE Tiger Nyall Bloodgrin -- You know what they say "drive for show; putt for dough". Well, I drove it great! -- Hold That Tiger WOODS Yahoo Wahoo -- Next time I drink you for lunch, you crapola! -- Hold That Tiger SHARK Slash -- I was under dental care at the time. -- Hold That Tiger SHARK XYCO -- You're fast to have all those clothes on, well done. -- Fungi Warrior That sounds really odd. -- Ed. Wrong Way -- It wasn't you going the wrong way. -- Running Water Lord Protector Weasley -- Well done, perhaps someday you'll see your lost teammate on the Isle. Your manager's new "puds" seem to be more than holding their own, I've noticed. Represent Trocar well! -- Stik and Steel Reign Gholam -- I eat bashers for breakfast.... <BURP!!> -- Solid Gone I'd go for tea and toast, myself. -- Ed. Harpooner -- Moby Dick I ain't.... -- Wicked Slice Madam Venusia -- Congrats on handing me my first loss. Hopefully in the near future I can hand it right back! -- Venturia Seadogs -- Not sure if I consider that a fair trade. I give you a loss, and you give me a loss and kill my guy...wait a minute (glancing at repl rollup)...I was right, it wasn't a fair trade! (EG) -- Stik And turn five will show us who goes home with the first batch of rollups...come on 5- 0-2!! -- Stik Battleblade -- My "numbers" per the commission ratings are 13-12-10-15-21-6-11, which includes two trains each to strength and constitution, while my skills were very well rounded with a Master Parry and just a skill or two shy of master ratings in Riposte, Attack, and Defense and finally a Expert Rating in Decise. One attribute that helped me fight very well these last couple rounds of the Memorial contest is that I am quite experienced, having almost 60 fight equivalents under my belt. -- Ron Weasley the retired or soon to be anyway if my lazy manager gets around to having my maintenance turned off Viking Raider -- Sorry, no spoils for you. -- Fred Weasley of Gryffindor House2 Sir Caswallan -- Nice try but it takes a bit more than that to beat me. Not much more, but still more. -- Hermoine of Gryffindor House2 Yellow Snow -- EWWWW!!! You need to be cleaned up permanently, that is disgusting! -- Phoenix of Gryffindor House2 Wasp -- Ouch, you have quite a sting. -- Dementor of Gryffindor House2 Black Kettle -- You should really have your manager use his one dark arena challenge with you. Seriously, if I can beat you, anyone can. -- Neville of Gryffindor House2 Stik -- Wow you are running away with the kill total. Good job, you are getting so far ahead that my back up plan of using my one DA challenge to get a kill in the dark arena is just about moot. -- Rillion Wrenn & Venturia -- Only in a small way do those victories make up for your teammates kills. -- Madam Venusia and Wallamaloos Fred Weasley -- Begone, but bequest me not your throne -- Viking Raider Higher -- There was great debate on the team whether to DA me or not. Of course, we are now all glad that the decision was negative, but I'm not sure what is up this turn will hold. My teammates are not talking to me very much -- Mel Penelothe -- Certainly not the tempo of fight that I was expecting. Well done. -- Victorian Mandarin Stik -- No blood will flow; good luck in the contest. -- Liam the Goth Olgerd Vlad -- Be nice. -- Liam P.S. The same ladies said something about a gas thing you do. Baphomet -- Hey, in limbo. -- Liam Sen Sei -- Hope Katrina did not touch you and yours. -- Liam Rich Hammer -- That was telling. -- Rasputin Stik -- Thanks for the welcome (I think). I wouldn't worry too much about the late start, as...according to my calculations...I'm right on time! Life is hectic, but it'll be sorted out long before I'm outta the race. Just gotta tweak a couple of strategies...then it's on to at least placing in the top three. We'll see how it goes. -- Baphomet Wet Dog -- No wonder you stink! You in a Leaky Teepee! Must be a wasichu trick! -- Heyoka (spokesman for Dog Soldiers II) Erik Thunderhead -- Was I even in this fight? -- Cochise Slaughter Hammer -- Now, ain't you something? What the "ef?" All that armour and you were carrying the whole arms room with you! No wonder you passed out in Minute 5! -- Slippery Snake Man Overboard -- You thought I had a life-jacket, right? -- Blue Jacket Neville -- Beaten down like a broken pot. -- Black Kettle Hammer -- I'd send a missive, yet...appears you may vacate your current place of domicity at any moment. Will wait until I hear something as to your whereabouts before doing so. -- Baphomet Tony The Tiger -- I had my Corn Flakes this morning! -- Envi (Janix) Finnegan -- I had been celebrating a little too much the night before our fight, and performed like a putz. My apologies. -- Putz (Janix) Warrior -- You've proven yourself to be no fun guy! (bwaaaa ha ha ha ha haaaaa! Jeez, I crack myself up....) -- Xyco (Janix) Sir Loin of Beef -- That's just...nasty. -- Snir (Janix) Incline -- Man overboard! 'Tis a mighty fine view at the bottom of the sea, we hear. -- Swashbuckler of Sea Dogs Why does my manager always begin to tear his hair out when I come back alive from the arena???? Can anyone help explain this to me? -- Juunk Juunk -- I could but you wouldn't like it or his new request of his fellow managers; "Kill desires up PLEASE"! -- Evergrey Skorindelle -- Hmmf! Thought I had a problem when I saw you step onto the sands; that was no problem. -- Thor Ravenblade Woods -- None of those skills will help you in the future against me, I think. -- Nyall Bloodgrin Lee Family Hammer -- Better tell Hammer to up your training regimen. -- Slash Cerebus -- A well fought and honorable fight but still mine. -- Olgerd Vlad Cochise -- You saved my life! Literally! I saw torches in my future. -- Erik Thunderhead Daristam -- Nevermore?! We'll see, my friend. -- Thor Ravenblade Nickleback -- Well, that's fine, but what's in front? -- Viret Chaos Warrior -- As long as you don't have "chaos blood" or something like that, it's fine. I get so hungry during a fight, you know. -- Wimperetta Thor Ravenblade -- (recoiling) That's perverse, but I suppose if you just HAVE to caress your blade, there's no help for it. -- Skorindelle P.s. But don't do it in PUBLIC. Fasc Drool Hammer -- Good gods, man, keep your mouth shut! -- Daristam Victorian Mandarin -- You'd be more interesting if you hadn't been neutered. -- Penelothe P.S. Hey! Nothing wrong with thinking about things like that! Wastelander and Ed. -- The speculations are getting wilder here. -- Wimperetta Anything interesting (and printable)? -- Ed. Thor Ravenblade -- I should hope not! Nobody likes to see broken sweats lying around the arena. -- Daristam If they're broken, they haven't been washed often enough. -- Ed. Lord Protector Fred Weasley -- (surprised look) You want LANDS? Whatever for? They tell me this is all going to be overrun by Rirorni again in the next few years, and, anyway, who wants to have to deal with tenants, or property managers, or some such? Liars and thieves, the lot of them. No, I'm sure you just want to go to the Isle and forget about Trocar. Have a good trip. -- Arenamaster Jareth Okara 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 LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS ARE YOU READY? was dealt death by RIRORNI DESERTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. FRED WEASLEY vanquished WIMPERETTA in a exciting 1 minute uneven battle. VIRET savagely defeated MOUSETRAP in a crowd pleasing 6 minute bloody duel. VIKING RAIDER overpowered NICKLEBACK in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided fight. CHAOS WARRIOR vanquished EVERGREY in a 1 minute mismatched fight. WASTELANDER was overpowered by WICKED SLICE in a 1 minute mismatched brawl. MADAM VENUSIA was luckily beaten by SNIR in a 3 minute melee. SOLID GONE vanquished CUB in a 1 minute uneven duel. DOOMRUNNER won victory over BLACK FLAGGER in a action packed 2 minute fight. THOR RAVENBLADE was unbelievably bested by TONY THE in a popular 2 minute fight. SIR LOIN OF BEEF was unbelievably bested by HERMOINE in a popular 6 minute bout. VENTURIA was demolished by SWASHBUCKLER in a 1 minute mismatched competition. NEVILLE was bested by SHELLBACK in a 2 minute novice vs. master battle. WRONG WAY overpowered JUUNK in a 2 minute mismatched conflict. XYCO savagely defeated BENGAL in a 2 minute gory duel. NEVER DIE bested MOCHAOMHOG in a 1 minute duel. SKORINDELLE was overcome by MEL in a 2 minute bout. YAHOO WAHOO was viciously subdued by HARPOONER in a crowd pleasing 2 minute brawl. FINNIGAN was overpowered by WOODS in a 1 minute one-sided match. ENVI was overpowered by LEE FAMILY HAMMER in a 1 minute one-sided match. NYALL BLOODGRIN viciously subdued GRUNGE GRL HAMMER in a 5 minute competition. SIR CASWALLAWN was overpowered by MAN OVERBOARD in a 1 minute one-sided duel. ERIK THUNDERHEAD beat DARISTAM in a action packed 1 minute gruesome fray. OLGERD VLAD bested SLAUGHTER HAMMER in a monotonous 5 minute bout. FASC DROOL HAMMER was overpowered by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in a 1 minute uneven fight. HONOR RICH HAMMER overpowered TROLLBAIT in a 1 minute one-sided duel. SHARK outlasted HIGHER in a dull 25 minute brutal match. HAVELOCK THE DANE lost to FACELESS MAN in a popular 3 minute fray. PENELOTHE overcame WRENN in a 2 minute bout. FUNGI WARRIOR put to death PUTZ in a 1 minute novice's duel. YELLOW SNOW was overpowered by DANI in a action packed 1 minute uneven fight. RUNNING WATER was overpowered by PHOENIX in a 1 minute one-sided match. WET DOG was overpowered by RASPUTIN in a 2 minute one-sided fight. WET NOODLE overpowered STORM ANGEL in a 1 minute brutal uneven bout. SLASH devastated DEMENTOR in a 1 minute one-sided duel. SYSTEM OF A DOWN bested SCEPTRE in a 2 minute novice's battle. VICTORIAN MANDARIN was outwaited by RUNE KNIGHT in a 7 minute beginner's bout. WALLAMALOOS was overpowered by TROCARAN DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |TOTAL PARRY 12 TOTAL PARRY 52 - 25 - 1 68 | |STRIKING ATTACK 12 PARRY-RIPOSTE 24 - 18 - 0 57 | |LUNGING ATTACK 10 WALL OF STEEL 36 - 29 - 2 55 | |BASHING ATTACK 9 PARRY-LUNGE 15 - 15 - 0 50 | |SLASHING ATTACK 7 STRIKING ATTACK 46 - 48 - 3 49 | |AIMED BLOW 7 LUNGING ATTACK 31 - 35 - 4 47 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 SLASHING ATTACK 17 - 20 - 0 46 | |WALL OF STEEL 6 BASHING ATTACK 26 - 37 - 1 41 | |PARRY-LUNGE 3 AIMED BLOW 26 - 39 - 3 40 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 6 - 11 - 0 35 | Turn 199 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are: PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 - 2 SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 4 2 STRIKING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 4 - 2 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 2 2 SLASHING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 7 - 5 AIMED BLOW 1 - 6 2 LUNGING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 5 - 4 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 1 PARRY-LUNGE LUNGING ATTACK 5 - 5 1 WALL OF STEEL STRIKING ATTACK 6 - 6 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 AIMED BLOW 1 TOTAL PARRY TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME PARRY-RIPOSTE VIRET 2727 12 5 0 96 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) SLASHING ATTACK VIKING RAIDER 2885 4 1 0 96 SPARF! (310) AIMED BLOW WIMPERETTA 2655 17 11 1 88 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) TOTAL PARRY MOUSETRAP 2521 17 8 1 80 USELESS TOOLS (219) LUNGING ATTACK SOLID GONE 2879 6 2 3 67 STEEL REIGN (309) PARRY-LUNGE MADAM VENUSIA 2887 10 9 0 53 SPARF! (310) STRIKING ATTACK SWASHBUCKLER 2743 5 2 2 50 SEA DOGS (294) WALL OF STEEL SHELLBACK 2744 6 1 0 38 SEA DOGS (294) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is HAVELOCK THE DANE 2614. The most popular warrior this turn was VIRET 2727. The ten other most popular fighters were NYALL BLOODGRIN 2782, SIR LOIN OF BEEF 2618, BLACK FLAGGER 2746, THOR RAVENBLADE 2781, HARPOONER 2747, ERIK THUNDERHEAD 2783, HAVELOCK THE DANE 2614, VIKING RAIDER 2885, MADAM VENUSIA 2887, and DOOMRUNNER 2070. The least popular fighter this week was HIGHER 2755. The other ten least popular fighters were SHARK 2777, OLGERD VLAD 2780, RUNE KNIGHT 2915, WALLAMALOOS 2912, SYSTEM OF A DOWN 2897, DEMENTOR 2913, STORM ANGEL 2916, WET DOG 2845, SLAUGHTER HAMMER 2790, and DARISTAM 2837. The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: FRED WEASLEY (54-2868) GRYFFINDOR HOUSE2 (308)