DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 12/29/2005 Duedate: 01/11/2006 ROCANIS ARENA DM-56 TURN-393 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS ZIPPER RESCUE RANGERS (338) (56-3111) [11-0-1,90] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader ZIPPER TOE RESCUE RANGERS (338) GET (419) (56-3111) [11-0-1,90] (56-3896) [4-1-1,56] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite PRIVET CHIP BAD APPLES (187) RESCUE RANGERS (338) (56-3867) [17-9-0,76] (56-3114) [6-3-1,66] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM RESCUE RANGERS (338) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. RESCUE RANGERS (338) 31 2. COWBOYS FROM HELL (349) 20 RESCUE RANGERS (338) 3. GET (419) 18 Unchartered Team 4. REDHORSE (207) 15 5. BAD APPLES (187) 14 GET (419) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1 RESCUE RANGERS (338) 32 11 3 74.4 1/ 2 RESCUE RANGERS (338) 8 1 1 2/ 2*GET (419) 7 4 1 63.6 2/ 1 REDHORSE (207) 7 6 0 3/ 4 REDHORSE (207) 451 503 16 47.3 3/ 4*GET (419) 5 1 1 4/ 5 BAD APPLES (187) 383 528 14 42.0 4/ 3 BAD APPLES (187) 4 10 0 5/ 0*COWBOYS FROM HELL (349) 0 4 0 0.0 5/ 0*COWBOYS FROM HELL (349) 0 4 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Black Sword #4 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Rocanis: Wolf turned to scan the whole assembly of shamans before speaking. Then he shrugged. "If I thought we could kill Bluesnake, here and now, I would attempt it. At this moment, he is a greater enemy to us than Volundagh and the Black Sword of Mytori." "The others wouldn't stand for--" Rain Caller began. "Which is why I'm not doing it." Wolf glanced at the group around the Saarda shaman again, and his lip curled into a sneer worthy of his totem animal. "Did you think I held off out of fear of Bluesnake?" Rain Caller snorted. "None think that who know what happened at the Buffalo Gate." Then he sighed and added, "But many of the young men do NOT know of that." Wolf swept that away with a gesture and turned to his younger companion. "Go find Redfox, Ghost Dancer. Bring him to me here." Ghost Dancer went, but reluctantly. He had never heard of a Buffalo Gate, and he had hoped that one or the other shaman would tell that story. How could he learn if such information was not passed along? Of course, he knew what his mentor would say, that if he really wanted to know, he would hunt the information as another man might hunt a deer. When Ghost Dancer was gone, Wolf turned to Rain Caller again. "You know what we have to do." "I don't know any such thing," the old shaman muttered. He shifted uneasily, causing the tiny steel cones sown to his cloak to chime against each other. "Why should there be only one course open? There might be other ways to kill the Sword." He shifted again, not looking like a man who believed in 'other ways'. "Why didn't you tell your apprentice?" "He's been...away," Wolf said. Then he grimaced. "On the Isle of the Eye. It is not a good thing for the tribe, this dabbling in foreign magics, but the young men must have some way to prove themselves worthy as warriors, and now that we live in civilized lands, this is hard to find." Rain Caller sighed. "Yes, I have seen it here. Since the war...." He shook his head. "Now they hang on the fringes of the city-lands, and they become brawlers and bandits and very nearly beggars. If they could only be united, all the broken tribes into one, and led to a new land...." The old man sighed again. "Just a dream, that." "Perhaps, or maybe not." Rain Caller stared at him. "Wolf, you know that killing the Sword will take-- and release--enormous amounts of energy. Everyone involved will die, more likely than not. How can you suggest--" "Never go into a battle expecting the worst," Wolf said. "That will bring the worst down on you. It is not in the nature of the Great Powers to do otherwise." He smiled, a thin, grim smile, but genuine. "And I have it in mind that the energies released might be put to a good use." Redfox lowered his practice sword and turned to face Ghost Dancer. He had been glad to get off the Isle and back among the tribesmen, glad to hone his true warrior's skills, which he knew from bitter experience were quite different those needed by a gladiator. But the appearance of a shaman, even a junior shaman such as Ghost Dancer, promised nothing but trouble. He raised an eyebrow, putting the burden of opening talk onto the young shaman. "Uncle Wolf wants you," Ghost Dancer said. He gestured toward the circle of spirit poles at the edge of the main Rirorni encampment. "Over there." "Wants me for what?" "He did not tell me." "Guess." Ghost Dancer looked uncomfortable. Had he been a pure warrior instead of already half a shaman, Redfox might have taken pity on him. As it was...no. Shamans were necessary for the good of the tribe, Redfox knew that, but he had no wish to get sucked into their business. Uncle Wolf had sent him off "adventuring" once before, and he had nearly died of it. His teammate and one-time sword-brother, Madbull, had been driven totally insane in the course of that business. What would be the cost of a new adventure? "Uncle Wolf wants you to come to him," Ghost Dancer said again. Redfox blew out a breath and shed his practice gear. This boy was a messenger. Nothing would be gained by hitting him, however strong the urge. "All right." Barudai was surprised to see so many spirit poles standing on the campground at Rocanis. There had been a of hand shamans present when they'd sent him scouting toward Jhans, and they had expected more to come, maybe another hand. But this many--! Nearly ever shaman still living must be present, he had never heard of such a gathering. That was good, because the news he had was bad, and the more shamans present to deal with it, the better. He encouraged his weary horse to a faster pace. The sooner he had cast this burden onto the shoulders of those better suited to carry it, the happier he would be. DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Good morning, Rocanis! I guess this is an ordeal we all must pass through before we go to the Isle, the writing of the column. What are we supposed to say? My teammates usually just chat about everyday things. I'll get to that, because I've got space to fill here...but first I want to say a few inspirational words: Cleanliness is next to Godliness! If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again! Don't forget the cat is outside in the cold! That last wasn't so much inspirational as...well, I need to let the cat in, back in a sec. Well, I accidentally hit him with the door but he's in, now. And we continue with... what? The everyday chat? I guess I'm going to fight Zipper or Privet this time around. I fought Bitter Vetch last turn but he's gone to the Isle now. Vetch, did you fight with your favorites? My favorite weapon, according to the Commission, is the small shield. I'm a striker. Can I adequately express how much this sucks? Oh, and the Commission measures my vital statistics as: 9-13-12-17-9-15-9. These are pretty much the perfect statistics for surviving the arena in your hometown and being a total pud on the Isle. I'm going to retire. I hope. It's up to my manager and you know how that goes. Redhorse only has three members at the moment. It seems our last couple of replacements didn't find their way to our door, or if they did they immediately sneaked off again. Going to have to ask the Commission for a couple more. It won't be pretty. Okay, I've talked long enough. I'm going now. One more fight, then retirement, which means a lot of plowing and planting on whatever land I'll be getting. I asked for a riverfront property. Yeah, it'll flood every now and then. But the rest of the time there will be fishing. Shanks Pony SPY REPORT Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the clash and bustle of the weekly ROCANIS games. Former top team REDHORSE was unseated this week as RESCUE RANGERS moved up from 2nd ranking to take the top spot with a 3-0-0 record for the round. RIVER REED caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as she skillfully bested MAGE'S APPRENTICE and was awarded 15 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, PIEFACE put down YUL, causing him to lose 9 points of recognition in the process. Although PRIVET made a valiant effort, it did not suffice to topple the reign of victorious SHANKS PONY. Heed this! A seer has warned that if exactly 6 die in duels this week, the whole city shall perish! Just remember...5 or 7! But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades that is city ROCANIS. My inside sources tell me that the team to beat in ROCANIS these days is REDHORSE. At least, most blades in town are looking to avoid them. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part of last week avoiding REDHORSE. Indeed it was GET. Loose talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters are after LARGE DOG. Watch your back! What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his foe's mortality? Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins. In the arena there is only the brightness of steel. Keep vigil always! The girls are as pretty in ROCANIS as ever I remembered them....and the fighters as ugly! Don't let your reputation slip! Sadly warriors, now longer can I keep thy company nor savor the ale of thy fine city. Depart I must and soon! Till next we meet remember: a fool flies into a rage quickly and often. The wise are angered by the same thing only once. Zontani Sharp Eyes DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ZIPPER 3111 11 0 1 90 RESCUE RANGERS (338) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME PRIVET 3867 17 9 0 76 BAD APPLES (187) PIEFACE 3875 11 12 0 69 BAD APPLES (187) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME CHIP 3114 6 3 1 66 RESCUE RANGERS (338) EATS GRASS 3853 16 14 0 62 REDHORSE (207) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TOE 3896 4 1 1 56 GET (419) YUL 3868 12 13 0 49 REDHORSE (207) LARGE DOG 3848 5 28 0 43 BAD APPLES (187) TEMB 3907 3 0 1 41 RESCUE RANGERS (338) -DALE 3112 5 2 0 37 RESCUE RANGERS (338) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -GODGET 3110 4 2 0 33 RESCUE RANGERS (338) BENT 3908 2 1 0 26 GET (419) JONNA THANE 3903 6 3 0 25 BAD APPLES (187) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -IT 3900 1 0 0 21 GET (419) RIVER REED 3918 1 0 0 15 REDHORSE (207) GRAY COLT 3917 0 1 0 1 REDHORSE (207) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? SCRAWNY HUNCHBAC 3215 0 1 0 COWBOYS FROM HELL 349 MAINAKHA-TE MASTER 22 393 NONE CAMEL FODDER 3213 0 1 0 COWBOYS FROM HELL 349 JO-KOBA HARRO 26 393 NONE PATHETIC IMBECIL 3211 0 1 0 COWBOYS FROM HELL 349 TABAR THE KNIFE 27 393 NONE GUT WRENCH WENCH 3214 0 1 0 COWBOYS FROM HELL 349 STEV STONEFIST 18 393 NONE ANEWHOBBY 3897 0 1 0 GET 419 LADRO KHAN 24 393 NONE SLIM ODDS 3904 2 3 1 REDHORSE 207 TOE 3896 391 PERSONAL ADS Bitter Vetch -- Good luck on the Isle! Or wherever you're bound. -- Shanks Pony P.S. My shoes are fine. But if you want to buy me a new pair with all of your Lord Protector money, I won't turn 'em down. Chip -- How come you got four skills and I didn't get any? In a seven minute fight we both had time to learn and teach plenty. You forgot to teach! -- Eats Grass Privet -- When I was getting born my mother looked out of her tent and saw a horse eating grass. It was that name, or Poops Plenty. -- Eats Grass At least this time I defeated my stand-in. Take that, Doom from the South! -- Yul Shanks Pony -- Judging by the no-offer of lands I got, if you want to retire, I hope you have plans of your own. -- Bitter Vetch Zipper -- Well, dang. -- Pieface P.S. Buttons are classier. P.P.S. And they don't get as hot on a sunny day. If, and I only say IF, somebody would give the damned Turncoat a new coat, he wouldn't have to wear his old one inside out. -- Privet Toe -- Kick a dog, will you? Fiend! -- Large Dog Temb -- That's a Shewish name, is it? -- Jonna Thane Lord Protector Shanks Pony -- Go fight the Bad Guys, with our best wishes. -- Khel Rojida, for Rocanis Arena LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS SCRAWNY HUNCHBACK was butchered by MAINAKHA-TE MASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. CAMEL FODDER was viciously butchered by JO-KOBA HARRO in a 3 minute Dark Arena duel. PATHETIC IMBECILE was murdered by TABAR THE KNIFE in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. ANEWHOBBY was slaughtered by LADRO KHAN in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena brawl. GUT WRENCH WENCH was assassinated by STEV STONEFIST in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. CHIP subdued EATS GRASS in a 6 minute Challenge competition. TEMB bested LARGE DOG in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel. SHANKS PONY devastated PRIVET in a 1 minute mismatched match. ZIPPER handily defeated KUNG-FU MASTER in a 1 minute uneven Title fight. YUL was vanquished by PIEFACE in a 1 minute uneven duel. TOE vanquished AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute uneven fight. JONNA THANE vanquished TROCARAN DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided fight. BENT overpowered GRAY COLT in a 1 minute one-sided melee. RIVER REED defeated MAGE'S APPRENTICE in a 5 minute novice's match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |SLASHING ATTACK 4 SLASHING ATTACK 12 - 3 - 1 80 | |STRIKING ATTACK 3 PARRY-STRIKE 8 - 3 - 0 73 | |BASHING ATTACK 3 STRIKING ATTACK 12 - 7 - 1 63 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 4 - 0 60 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 LUNGING ATTACK 15 - 12 - 1 56 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 TOTAL PARRY 6 - 5 - 0 55 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 BASHING ATTACK 7 - 10 - 0 41 | |LUNGING ATTACK 1 AIMED BLOW 7 - 11 - 1 39 | |TOTAL PARRY 1 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 9 - 0 10 | |AIMED BLOW 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 2 - 0 0 | Turn 393 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are: STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 2 SLASHING ATTACK SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 1 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 2 BASHING ATTACK PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 STRIKING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 1 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE TOTAL PARRY 0 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY 1 PARRY-LUNGE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME SLASHING ATTACK ZIPPER 3111 11 0 1 90 RESCUE RANGERS (338) PARRY-STRIKE PRIVET 3867 17 9 0 76 BAD APPLES (187) STRIKING ATTACK CHIP 3114 6 3 1 66 RESCUE RANGERS (338) TOTAL PARRY EATS GRASS 3853 16 14 0 62 REDHORSE (207) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is PRIVET 3867. The most popular warrior this turn was CAMEL FODDER 3213. The ten other most popular fighters were CHIP 3114, PIEFACE 3875, TEMB 3907, ZIPPER 3111, TOE 3896, JONNA THANE 3903, BENT 3908, ANEWHOBBY 3897, LARGE DOG 3848, and SCRAWNY HUNCHBACK 3215. The least popular fighter this week was RIVER REED 3918. The other ten least popular fighters were GRAY COLT 3917, YUL 3868, PRIVET 3867, EATS GRASS 3853, GUT WRENCH WENCH 3214, PATHETIC IMBECILE 3211, SCRAWNY HUNCHBACK 3215, LARGE DOG 3848, ANEWHOBBY 3897, and BENT 3908. The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: SHANKS PONY (56-3854) REDHORSE (207)