DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 03/09/2007 Duedate: 04/05/2007 TROCAR ARENA DM-54 TURN-218 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS PENELOTHE TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) (54-2838) [12-6-0,106] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader PENELOTHE POSITION IS EMPTY TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) (54-2838) [12-6-0,106] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite WIMPERETTA PENELOTHE TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) (54-2655) [23-17-1,87] (54-2838) [12-6-0,106] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM EYE OF THE STORM (221) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. EYE OF THE STORM (221) 23 2. TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) 12 JANIX (298) 3. FERAL LEGION (314) 0 Unchartered Team 4. JANIX (298) 0 DOG SOLDIERS (263) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1- 1*FERAL LEGION (314) 4 1 2 80.0 1/ 2 EYE OF THE STORM (221) 11 4 2 2/ 4 JANIX (298) 69 53 7 56.6 2/ 1 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) 9 5 0 3/ 5 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) 208 184 8 53.1 3- 3*FERAL LEGION (314) 4 1 2 4/ 6 EYE OF THE STORM (221) 91 87 8 51.1 4/ 5 JANIX (298) 2 3 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Near Morya: Young Joan had asked, "Why are the dead restless, and what can we do to give them peace?" And her teammate had agreed to scry an answer for her... in a graveyard at midnight. Haruspek straightened away from his tablet of engraved yew, the movement abrupt, even alarmed. It slid a little on the tombstone he was using for a worktable, and the pattern of... stuff, herbs and bits of bone and fur and feathers, that he had cast across it shifted, too. Young Joan shivered again. She was no shaman or seer to know exactly what Haruspek had done, but she could feel the movement of powers in the night, the twisting of immaterial currents into a pattern that partly responded to, partly coerced the pattern on the tablet. "The Water Gate," Haruspek said. His voice was thin and strained. "The Moon's Path. The Dark Riders." Joan waited. Surely there was more? This didn't seem to answer her dilemma. She counted heartbeats. Three, four, five, six-- "Feed the ghosts." His breath whistled. "Light into shadow, bring them light. The Dark Road. Too many shadows. Free the ghosts. Follow the Moon's Daughter to the Water Gate. There will be a guide." Haruspek wobbled and his eyes rolled back in his head; he fell sideways off the flat surface of the gravestone onto the winter- killed grass. Joan flung herself down beside him, feeling for a pulse at his neck. Finding one, and glad of it. Her young teammate wouldn't have done this if she hadn't asked him to. Pressed him to, when he'd been reluctant. He had asked her question of... whatever spirits were here. The dead, she supposed, since it was a graveyard. Just because she didn't understand the answers didn't mean they were wrong. She just needed to think. But she did wish Uncle Wolf was here to explain things. Near Rocanis: "Dark and stormy, of COURSE," Buck Fever said. "What other kind of night would we be out in?" "Be quieter," Lord Protector Bitter Vetch said. "We could get killed out here, you know. Or worse." "What's worse than getting killed?" "Any number of things that could happen to someone straying on Spirit Ridge at night without a shaman," the older man replied promptly. "Trust me when I say you don't want to know the details." "Okay. So why ARE we out there, then?" Buck tripped over... something unseen on the path, nearly fell, and stiffled a curse. The path up Spirit Ridge was tricky in the dark. Hell, it was tricky in the daylight; in the dark, it was worse. He didn't want to think what it would be like coming back down, still in the dark, and probably raining hard. It was already beginning to sprinkle. After several minutes, Vetch answered, "We're supposed to... meet someone on the ridge." "Meet--! Who?" "I wasn't told." "Tricky phrasing," Buck noted. "You found out some other way?" "I don't know, not for sure. If I'm guessing right... maybe ghosts." Near Lapur: Redfox, a Cardow Hunter who had graduated from Dullens, frowned at his manager. "Uncle Wolf, are you SURE this is a good idea?" The old shaman didn't look up from the pattern he was sketching in the snow. "I know it is a bad idea," he said. "Just not as bad as the alternatives." He looked up, his eyes colder than the night sky above them. "Not as bad as doing nothing." He raised the dagger he was using to draw with and pointed at a spot in the pattern. "Stand there," he said, "and don't move, don't talk." Redfox stayed where he was. "What happens when you... make this thing work?" The gladiator knew himself for a simple hunter and warrior; he had no pretensions to shamanic skills. He didn't want any such skills. He didn't want anything to do with situations that required such skills. The shaman sighed. "This is... a doorway of sorts." Redfox tensed. "To the Spirit Land?" He had been there, or somewhere connected with there, before. It had not been a pleasant experience. "No. The Spirit Land is closed to all but the dead at this time. This is... a way around it. A detour, you might say." "To where?" The old shaman shook his head. After a moment, he said, "I don't think I could explain it in a way that would be meaningful to you. Just call it... somewhere else." When Redfox opened his mouth to ask another question, Wolf held up his hand. "No, 'Fox. You're a good man when it comes time to act. That will be your job. I'm sending you to somebody who needs a man of action, and will give you instructions when the time comes. Now, take your position and let's get this done." "But--" "Your main character flaw," Uncle Wolf observed, "is a tendency to ask too many questions. You need to fight that, 'Fox." "If you can't tell me where I'm going, can you at least tell me who I'm supposed to help?" Redfox asked, exasperated. The old shaman grinned, looking suddenly very like his namesake animal. "I'm sending you to Raigavor the Unholy," he said. DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Well, I bet you thought you were rid of me? In the immortal words of Debby Totne, as if! I had the title last time, I won my fight, nobody else is in a position to take up the title, so I say, heck with little details, such as my graduation. *I* will do a column. Alas, I have no earth-shaking pronouncements to make from this position. I know earth-shaking things, of course, I have a lot of curiosity, and I keep my eyes open at all times (except when sleeping, and even then, my EARS are open), and I have picked up a thing or two. For instance, I happen to know--that's KNOW, not guess--how the milk got into the coconut, but I promised not to tell. I am privy to the Secret History of no lesser personage than Raigavor the Unholy. I did NOT promise to keep this a secret, but since it's Raigavor, I think I probably should. What? Wait, somebody's trying to tell me something here.... WHAT? NOW? Heck. Well, I guess I have to go now, sorry, I there are lots more things I know that I can't tell you. Viret SPY REPORT The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon TROCAR, for I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned! TRADERS OF TROCAR? Who? EYE OF THE STORM is the top team these days, buddies! Practice pays for PENELOTHE, who pummelled XYCO, to pocket 17 points. Win some, lose some. Speaking of which, GLUM was winsome, after beating DARISTAM and seeing him lose 13 points. Now I can't insult PENELOTHE, as she has gloriously dueled to the top. Oh great new Duelmaster!!! (Stop me if I lay it on too thick) Word has it one team in TROCAR is taking speech lessons to try to bore their opponent to death. I'll bet it works. My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter. But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights! Perhaps the warriors of EYE OF THE STORM should take up some hobbies, as they are the most avoided team... The warriors of EYE OF THE STORM found their efforts at combat frustrated as JANIX apparently had more important things to do than fight. Everyone is famous for fifteen minutes, and DARISTAM is it right now. Most challenged warrior. Isn't TRADERS OF TROCAR proud! Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors. Oh hard! that to strike a flame, the match itself must needs be wasting! Leave me now, you base fools! As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my control, I must take my leave of this place. Like a mixed metaphor, and an overtaxed simile, I now bid TROCAR farewell-- Novgorodny Vir DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME PENELOTHE 2838 12 6 0 106 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WASTELANDER 2134 18 14 1 103 EYE OF THE STORM (221) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WIMPERETTA 2655 23 17 1 87 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) XYCO 2899 13 9 1 84 JANIX (298) SNIR 2784 16 8 0 69 JANIX (298) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SKORINDELLE 2742 13 8 1 63 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) GLUM 2766 7 5 1 59 JANIX (298) RUNE KNIGHT 2915 11 8 0 58 EYE OF THE STORM (221) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DARISTAM 2837 9 9 0 39 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME VAGRANT CUR 2953 5 3 1 33 EYE OF THE STORM (221) VIKKI THE VAIN 2946 6 3 1 24 EYE OF THE STORM (221) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -WERETIGER 2965 1 0 1 21 FERAL LEGION (314) -WEREWOLF 2966 1 0 1 21 FERAL LEGION (314) HELLFURY 2963 4 0 0 20 EYE OF THE STORM (221) WORQ 2956 4 1 0 20 JANIX (298) -WERE BEAR 2967 1 0 0 15 FERAL LEGION (314) -WERERAT 2964 1 0 0 15 FERAL LEGION (314) ROXY 2957 2 2 0 10 JANIX (298) -LYCANTHROPE 2968 0 1 0 7 FERAL LEGION (314) -KENAZ THORSSON 2507 0 2 0 2 ODIN'S CHOSEN (264) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? HAUBERK 2564 2 7 1 THE ABYSMALS 270 BOBBY JONES 2600 214 NOT REVE PERSONAL ADS Viret -- In french your name means "take a little trip"--Congrats on your invite, I for one am rather glad to see you go. You could of left me an extra point to remain a CC though!, I'll remember that!!! (smile) -- Wasteland golem All --- Not that there are many of you, but sorry for the lack of PA's these past few turns, shouldn't happen again. -- Blackstorm Feral Legion -- (wry grin) Glad to see you. Makes 1-0-0 for me unless we only count kills. Should we let NPC's count? -- Blackstorm (EOTS) P.S. A were-rabbit showed up here by mistake, is he one of yours? Skorindelle -- In that case you don't mind me taking this win then. Most of the Storm seem to be good teachers, we have the skills, it's the dastardly PPs that are getting away from us, which means Wastelander is still around for another 13 PPs. (grin) -- Rune Knight Lycanthrope -- Hehe, couldn't get me, eh? I was aiming for the melon, only way to kill a lycanthrope, since silver bullets don't exist here, haha. -- Hellfury Watermelon? Canteloupe? INNOCENT BYSTANDERS -- Funny since gladiators are far from innocent!!, anyways this is to warn everyone that Eye of the Storm and Feral Legion are involved in a kill kontest to 10 points!! You may encounter higher levels of bloodlust that usual from both of these teams. Thank you. -- Blackstorm A Wild-Eyed Fanatic? And unwashed, you can't IMAGINE how awful he tasted. I was quite repelled. -- Wimperetta Ha. Wimperetta was repelled by and LOST TO the Wild-eyed Fanatic, but *I* won. So there. -- Penelothe Rune Knight -- I didn't realize runes took so LONG. But all is now clear, and I will go with cursive in the future. Count on it. -- Skorindelle Hmm, the Rirorni Slaver is not Rirorni. What is the meaning of this? Is this foul elf an enslaver of Rirorni? I don't much like the nomads myself, but I'm against enslaving them. I believe it might lead to Bad Things happening in the area, because they're bound to get upset about it. -- Daristam 14 February 2007 RSI is now taking rollups for a slow version of the No-Tournament arena. Send your rollup to RSI listing the arena as "Slow No Tournament". Sign and send in the following pledge: * I pledge that I will not send warriors from this team to a Tournament, nor will I use a Tournament prize on a warrior from this team. * I pledge to run a full team when I run turns in this arena. If circumstances preclude my running less than a full team I will notify the Player Committee. * I agree to abide by the decisions of the Player Committee. * I understand that any warrior that participates in a Tournament shall be sent to the Dark Arena until they are dead. * I understand that any warrior that receives a Tournament prize shall be send to the Dark Arena until they are dead. The following are the rules for joining this No-Tournament arena 1. No tournament play (Dead tournament or otherwise) 2. One team per manager 3. Team starts with new rollup (or a zero fight equivalent team is transferred into this arena.) 4. No tourney prizes allowed to modify warriors in the arena 5. 20 teams required, per RSI 6. Waivers are required to allow self-regulation on tourney ban, granting RSI authority to Dark Arena any warrior that participates in a Tournament (until the warrior is dead.) 7. Rotating council to enforce tourney ban and maintain arena integrity. Hammer will be the focal point for this arena's Player Committee. LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS XYCO was devastated by PENELOTHE in a 2 minute mismatched Challenge Title fight. SNIR outlasted RUNE KNIGHT in a slow 16 minute gruesome veteran's Challenge melee. GLUM devastated DARISTAM in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest. WORQ was savagely defeated by VAGRANT CUR in a 3 minute bloody Challenge match. ROXY was bested by HELLFURY in a 5 minute novice's Challenge duel. WIMPERETTA was devastated by WASTELANDER in a 1 minute mismatched match. SKORINDELLE overpowered AMBITIOUS GUARD in a action packed 1 minute uneven melee. VIKKI THE VAIN won victory over TROCARAN DESERTER in a 2 minute duel. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |WALL OF STEEL 5 PARRY-RIPOSTE 9 - 1 - 1 90 | |TOTAL PARRY 2 PARRY-STRIKE 6 - 3 - 1 67 | |AIMED BLOW 2 WALL OF STEEL 19 - 11 - 0 63 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 LUNGING ATTACK 10 - 6 - 1 63 | |LUNGING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 8 - 5 - 0 62 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 PARRY-LUNGE 3 - 2 - 1 60 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 STRIKING ATTACK 17 - 16 - 3 52 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 - 0 50 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 AIMED BLOW 14 - 15 - 2 48 | |BASHING ATTACK 0 TOTAL PARRY 9 - 12 - 0 43 | Turn 218 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-STRIKE 1 - 0 AIMED BLOW 0 - 2 3 WALL OF STEEL LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 2 AIMED BLOW SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 SLASHING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 3 - 2 1 LUNGING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK 1 PARRY-STRIKE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME WALL OF STEEL PENELOTHE 2838 12 6 0 106 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) SLASHING ATTACK WASTELANDER 2134 18 14 1 103 EYE OF THE STORM (221) AIMED BLOW WIMPERETTA 2655 23 17 1 87 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252) TOTAL PARRY SNIR 2784 16 8 0 69 JANIX (298) LUNGING ATTACK GLUM 2766 7 5 1 59 JANIX (298) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is WIMPERETTA 2655. The most popular warrior this turn was PENELOTHE 2838. The ten other most popular fighters were VAGRANT CUR 2953, WASTELANDER 2134, SKORINDELLE 2742, VIKKI THE VAIN 2946, XYCO 2899, GLUM 2766, WORQ 2956, WIMPERETTA 2655, DARISTAM 2837, and ROXY 2957. The least popular fighter this week was SNIR 2784. The other ten least popular fighters were RUNE KNIGHT 2915, HELLFURY 2963, ROXY 2957, DARISTAM 2837, WIMPERETTA 2655, WORQ 2956, GLUM 2766, XYCO 2899, VIKKI THE VAIN 2946, and SKORINDELLE 2742.