DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 10/06/2016 Duedate: 10/19/2016 ROCANIS ARENA DM-56 TURN-671 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS ANUSHA SKULL SQUADRON (28) (56-4660) [14-4-1,99] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader ANUSHA PRINTS OF WHALES SKULL SQUADRON (28) PICTURE THIS (448) (56-4660) [14-4-1,99] (56-4289) [2-1-0,73] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite JOMMY TARGUS MEN OF STEEL (131) SKULL SQUADRON (28) (56-4539) [16-31-1,86] (56-4665) [10-4-1,79] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM SKULL SQUADRON (28) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. THEM (433) 37 2. SKULL SQUADRON (28) 36 GET (419) 3. PICTURE THIS (448) 20 Unchartered Team 4. GET (419) 16 5. MEN OF STEEL (131) 1 PICTURE THIS (448) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1- 1 DEMONIC DELICACIES (471) 10 1 0 90.9 1/ 1 SKULL SQUADRON (28) 8 3 1 2/ 0*PICTURE THIS (448) 2 1 0 66.7 2/ 4 THEM (433) 2 4 0 3/ 0 GET (419) 77 46 1 62.6 3- 2 DEMONIC DELICACIES (471) 1 0 0 4/ 2 SKULL SQUADRON (28) 476 371 30 56.2 4/ 0 GET (419) 1 0 0 5/ 3 THEM (433) 160 165 13 49.2 5/ 3 MEN OF STEEL (131) 0 3 0 6/ 4 MEN OF STEEL (131) 336 377 46 47.1 6/ 0*PICTURE THIS (448) 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 "Victory!" Bosh and Targus of the Skull Squadron stable carried Rao, the new Duelmaster of Rocanis on their shoulders from the arena to Mylar's Tavern; after removing his armor. Anusha opened the door to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters shouting, "Rao..Rao..Rao!" The Duelmaster's feast for Rao had been prepared early once the surprising rumors were confirmed that Vealzebub of Demonic Delicacies wasn't defending his title and likely preparing for the upcoming tournament. Inside, the drinks were pouring, food was cooking, and gold was flowing. Grimwood, their manager, waited at the table of honor with two fat sacks in each hand. As Rao's companions let him down, Grimwood dropped them. Each made a heavy coin sound. One tipped over, spilling its contents of gold and silver pieces. "Congratulations, Rao, on winning the Duelmaster title! I couldn't be happier for you and the stable!" Grimwood shouted over the crowd's din. He then placed a rolled-up scroll sealed with red wax, which had the impression of a crooked wand. "What's that?" "Oh, something to read later. Congratulations again, and enjoy your feast!" Grimwood clasped him firmly on his shoulder. He then waived to someone he knew and disappeared into the crowd gathering around the Duelmaster's table. Rao sat and breathed out a sigh of contentment. He stared at the mound of coins in front of him. The tinkering sounds of plates and glasses overlapped the conversations of his friends in the tavern. He breathed in the smells of the cooking meat, the refinement of the Alastarian drinks, and saw the warm smiles of ladies approaching. It had been a good day. * * * Grimwood moved through the patrons in Mylar's Tavern to Khel Rojida, Rocanis' arena manger. The two briefly shook hands and Khel asked, "Is it done?" The manager of the Skull Squadron stable nodded. "I don't like this, Khel." "None of us do, but it's for the greater good. Things are almost over, but there is one last piece of business to attend to." "Want company?" "No, you'd be missed. Go enjoy the feast." Khel left Mylar's, shaking a few peoples' hands on the way out. He mounted his steed and trotted through the streets. He smiled, taking special note of the various buildings, lights, and the populace happily going about their lives. As he passed through the main gate, he waived at the guards, and headed south. Two hours passed and the chirping songs of crickets began to emanate from the lush grassland. Khel enjoyed the feeling of the wind brush his face, his mount's strength, which didn't even seem to notice his weight, and the slow gate at which they traveled. It had a calming effect on him. He always enjoyed riding. Four Rirorni men rose from the cover of the tall grass. Each had an arrow trained at Khel. Each wore heavy, maroon colored scalemail armor and wore a full helm with the design of a snarling demon. Khel stopped and raised his hands. "You're late, Rocani," their leader said through an opening in his helm. "There was a celebration," Khel responded. "Fortunate, as Khan Bannok dictated that is the only thing keeping you alive." "Oh, he's a Khan now? Send my congratulations," Khel said. "You can tell him yourself. Move." Khel followed the leader with the other three Rirorni flaking behind. Cresting a hill, he saw Bannok's encampment. The Rirorni were lighting the nighttime fires and by the number of tents, mounted patrols, and troops, its size had grown tremendously from the thousand he had just over a year ago. He quickly got lost in the maze of similar looking bivouacs. They approach a gigantic marquee seemingly made from thick rugs with two heavily armored guards in ceremonial garb stationed at the entrance. Each carried a long spear and small shield and were completely motionless. If they watched him, he couldn't tell, as their full helms, decorated with the appearance of an angry demon hid everything in shadow. Instead of entering the large abode, which Khel assumed was Bannok's, the Rirorni escort guided him past it to another tent, akin to the others in the camp a few rows over. "Go in, Rocani," the Rirorni leader said, opened the flap, and closed it behind Khel. Inside the room, a large rug covered the ground. Three containers held fire that warmed the room and provided light. Two wooden pillars kept the roof up. A small table and several chairs lined with pillows were scattered in the room. One larger seat, lined with thick furs, wider than it was tall, sat on a slightly raised platform. Leaning back and sitting there was Khan Bannok. He was broad-shouldered with an over-sized jaw. Two normal Rirorni could fit within his massive frame. His head was shaven, but black stubble protruded and made it appear to look like a skull-cap. His face had several painful looking scars and his nose had been broken at least once in his lifetime. Khel bowed and kept his sight to the floor. Bannok grunted indicating for him to rise. "Khan Bannok-" "Warlord Bannok," Bannok interrupted holding up his hand. "Forgive, your men indicated you hold the title of Khan." "My soldiers have great enthusiasm about the future. I like to encourage it." "I have delivered as promised," Khel said. "Hmm. There is a saying in the Rirorni Empire. 'Alastarian's words are like their coins, don't trust them.'" "The Warlord has provided great incentive to ensure my words are trustworthy," Khel replied. "Ah, a man of his word?" "I am." "My little brother is the Duelmaster of your city?" Bannok asked. "Yes, his victory in the arena was earlier today." "And the invitation to the Isle of the Eye?" "Delivered by his manager." Bannok called out, "Wine!" A young woman entered donning an elaborate dress made of the finest silk. She approached a table and poured two cups from a decorated copper pitcher. She handed one to Khel, then brought the other to Bannok. She bowed and left. He then motioned for Khel to drink. The wine was dry, but not overly tart. A fine mixture. It didn't take but a few moments for the alcohol effect to hit his head after reaching his stomach. It was strong stuff. Bannok watched Khel for a moment, then drank and sighed at the taste. "Excellent. Now my little brother can stop with these grandiose notions of trying to prove himself in the Alastarian gladiatorial arena." Khel shuffled from one foot to the other, drew in a breath of courage, and asked, "The prisoner will be released?" "I have no prisoners here," Bannok scoffed and gestured to the empty room. "My pardon. Your latest guest is free to leave?" "Of course, he's ready to return with you back to Rocanis. Now, take your leave." Khel bowed and a Rirorni opened the flap for him from outside. He saw Vealzebub on a nearby horse. He removed a gag and then rubbed bruised wrists. While he wore an expression of anger and outrage, he wasn't any worse for wear. Khel exhaled, they both still drew breath, Rao's immortality was assured, and with it, Rocanis' safety. It had been a good day. DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Hail gladiators of Rocanis! It is I, Rao of the Skull Squadron stable and Duelmaster of this fine city. Rocanis is way past due for a Duelmaster's Column, so I'm off to it. Talk about having your name plastered everywhere. I suspect in all the years Rocanis has had a gladiator arena, no stable has secured all 7 top honor spots. However, I admit there were two mitigating factors making it even possible. The first is the arena's low population, I'd like it to see it go higher, and second Demonic Delicacies didn't fight. Still it was a wonderful surprise. While I was prepared to fight Vealzebub last turn, I'll answer an age old warrior question. I was relieved not fighting him. He's a great gladiator, likely better than myself, and at the end of things the payoff for my stable was much grander. For my last turn in the city, which I've called my home for over a year, I'm heading to the Dark Arena to test my mettle and my newly gifted scimitar against a fabled monster. I suspected the short spear wasn't my favorite and was going to start testing again, but last turn confirmed it wasn't. So, to my fellow gladiators, I will leave you all with some words of encouragement. Remember, each defeat in the arena is only a delay on the long road to becoming the Duelmaster of Rocanis and a Lord Protector to Alastari. Humbly, Rao of Skull Squadron Duelmaster of Rocanis Grimwood, manager SPY REPORT Greetings, Warriors of ROCANIS. Allow this humble servant Novgorodny Vir to give you a respite from the fights in the form of this Spyreport. Practice pays for PRINTS OF WHALES, who pummelled T BONES, to pocket 20 points. Win some, lose some. Speaking of which, RIRORNI SABOTEUR was winsome, after beating TARGUS and seeing him lose 1 points. Well, Duelmaster RAO Dark Arena Challenged DARK ARENA's VEL STEELWIND. Is a 17-14-0 good enough? RAO successfully staved off a grab for the roses by VEL STEELWIND of DARK ARENA. Does ROCANIS have no one talented enough to dethrone him? Word has it one team in ROCANIS is using psychics to predict wins. They lead a charmed life! A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn? And do not the little birds cry out?' Any ideas? Perhaps the warriors of MEN OF STEEL should take up some hobbies, as they are the most avoided team... As a woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of THEM, so did that sorry team shy from MEN OF STEEL Ah, the duel! The roar of the oppenent, the smell of the crowd! Those who owe RAO of SKULL SQUADRON money and had written him off, take note: he'S BACK FROM THE DARK ARENA!!! AND he'S MAD!!! 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. Do not despair! I shall return!-- Novgorodny Vir DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ANUSHA 4660 14 4 1 99 SKULL SQUADRON (28) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -GREYLOCK 4605 15 3 1 115 MEN OF STEEL (131) -VEALZEBUB 4623 10 1 0 109 DEMONIC DELICACIES (471) PANCAKES 4241 9 4 0 91 GET (419) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME JOMMY 4539 16 31 1 86 MEN OF STEEL (131) BOSH 4656 15 6 1 84 SKULL SQUADRON (28) TARGUS 4665 10 4 1 79 SKULL SQUADRON (28) PRINTS OF WHALES 4289 2 1 0 73 PICTURE THIS (448) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME T BONES 4551 6 2 1 53 THEM (433) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -GENIUS AWESOME 4402 2 1 0 22 MEN OF STEEL (131) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -NAKOR 4686 2 0 0 22 MEN OF STEEL (131) BUMS 4712 1 0 0 7 THEM (433) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? OPEN TRYOUT #11 4714 0 1 0 SKULL SQUADRON 28 ROKORI KLEE 671 NONE FLIES 4710 0 1 0 THEM 433 MAINAKHA-TE MAST 671 NONE SCARS 4711 0 2 0 THEM 433 VEL STEELWIND 671 NONE PERSONAL ADS LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS RAO butchered VEL STEELWIND in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. SCARS was barely slain by VEL STEELWIND in a 2 minute Dark Arena battle. FLIES was easily killed by MAINAKHA-TE MASTER in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena match. OPEN TRYOUT #11 was dispatched by ROKORI KLEE in a 3 minute Dark Arena brawl. ANUSHA overpowered RIRORNI SPY in a crowd pleasing 1 minute mismatched Title match. BOSH overpowered PRIEST OF MYTORI in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided struggle. JOMMY was handily defeated by PANCAKES in a 2 minute gruesome uneven fight. TARGUS was unbelievably bested by RIRORNI SABOTEUR in a action packed 3 minute duel. PRINTS OF WHALES was narrowly defeated by T BONES in a popular 3 minute uneven duel. BUMS defeated TROCARAN DESERTER in a 3 minute beginner's match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |WALL OF STEEL 4 LUNGING ATTACK 9 - 3 - 1 75 | |AIMED BLOW 2 PARRY-LUNGE 7 - 3 - 1 70 | |LUNGING ATTACK 2 AIMED BLOW 9 - 4 - 1 69 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 WALL OF STEEL 9 - 5 - 0 64 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 4 - 1 56 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 5 - 5 - 0 50 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 STRIKING ATTACK 5 - 12 - 1 29 | |SLASHING ATTACK 0 TOTAL PARRY 1 - 4 - 0 20 | |BASHING ATTACK 0 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 5 - 0 17 | |TOTAL PARRY 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 - 0 0 | Turn 671 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-LUNGE 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 3 AIMED BLOW PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 2 3 WALL OF STEEL WALL OF STEEL 3 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 2 STRIKING ATTACK AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE BASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 1 LUNGING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME AIMED BLOW ANUSHA 4660 14 4 1 99 SKULL SQUADRON (28) PARRY-RIPOSTE PANCAKES 4241 9 4 0 91 GET (419) WALL OF STEEL BOSH 4656 15 6 1 84 SKULL SQUADRON (28) LUNGING ATTACK TARGUS 4665 10 4 1 79 SKULL SQUADRON (28) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is JOMMY 4539. The most popular warrior this turn was TARGUS 4665. The ten other most popular fighters were PRINTS OF WHALES 4289, OPEN TRYOUT #11 4714, SCARS 4711, ANUSHA 4660, PANCAKES 4241, BOSH 4656, T BONES 4551, JOMMY 4539, FLIES 4710, and BUMS 4712. The least popular fighter this week was BUMS 4712. The other ten least popular fighters were FLIES 4710, JOMMY 4539, T BONES 4551, BOSH 4656, PANCAKES 4241, ANUSHA 4660, SCARS 4711, OPEN TRYOUT #11 4714, PRINTS OF WHALES 4289, and TARGUS 4665. The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn: RAO (56-4607) SKULL SQUADRON (28) FACE-TO-FACE TOURNEY LVII PRIMUS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME THE LITTLE ONE 1432 (243-281-4) 2 3 0 STAR GUARDIANS SONIC 1695 (83-66-2) 1 4 0 THE ALLIANCE CONTENDERS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME TWILIGHT ZONE 1694 (91-69-1) 0 5 0 THE ALLIANCE ELIGIBLES TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME ASHEN SHUGAR 1867 (69-93-5) 11 3 0 MEN OF STEEL ADM TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME SLICE CONSTRUCT 3181 (43-36-1) 2 3 0 ANYWAYUSLICEIT FRESHMEN TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME ERIK 3399 (67-89-1) 4 3 0 MEN OF STEEL BACK 3949 (31-24-0) 2 3 0 GET MEABEER 3899 (32-24-0) 1 3 0 GET CHALLENGERS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME PRINTS OF WHALES 4289 (2-0-0) 2 3 0 PICTURE THIS CHAMPIONS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME MUD KING 4659 (7-0-2) 10 3 1 MEN OF STEEL SERGEANT 5 4497 (14-5-0) 0 3 0 MEDAL OF HONOR A11 ADEPTS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME VEALZEBUB 4623 (6-1-0) 6 3 1 DEMONIC DELICACIES SHALLOW SLAMMY 4589 (3-2-0) 0 3 0 WEIRD STUDENTS INITIATES TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME T BONES 4551 (5-1-1) 2 3 0 THEM ROOKIES TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME PEACE AND 4705 (0-0-0) 5 3 0 Q IS FOR QUIET SCARS 4711 (0-0-0) 3 3 0 THEM BUMS 4712 (0-0-0) 1 3 0 THEM NAKOR 4686 (0-0-0) 1 4 0 MEN OF STEEL