DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 09/01/2008 Duedate: 09/13/2008
VALAMANTIS ARENA
DM-62 TURN-443
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
WOLF RIDER
DEATH MOB (15)
(62-2132) [16-8-2,109]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
WOLF RIDER POSITION IS EMPTY
DEATH MOB (15)
(62-2132) [16-8-2,109]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
GORMODUC IRN RUSSIAN BEAR
MIDDLE WAY 10 (420) THE BEARS (268)
(62-4420) [12-21-0,58] (62-4427) [10-10-2,99]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
GRIM OBITUARY (197)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. DEATH MOB (15) 56
2. MIDDLE WAY 10 (420) 19 THE BEARS (268)
3. HILLTOP GURUS (446) 18 Unchartered Team
4. GRIM OBITUARY (197) 8
5. THE BEARS (268) 4 HILLTOP GURUS (446)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 2*DEE CEE (397) 6 4 0 60.0 1/ 1 GRIM OBITUARY (197) 10 4 0
2- 3 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395) 37 26 0 58.7 2/ 3 DEATH MOB (15) 8 7 1
3/ 4 THE BEARS (268) 385 351 34 52.3 3/ 2 THE BEARS (268) 7 7 2
4/ 0*HILLTOP GURUS (446) 1 1 0 50.0 4/ 4 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420) 7 8 1
5/ 5 DEATH MOB (15) 148 162 16 47.7 5- 6*DEE CEE (397) 1 0 0
6/ 6 GRIM OBITUARY (197) 376 461 36 44.9 6/ 0*HILLTOP GURUS (446) 1 1 0
7/ 7 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420) 261 335 5 43.8 7- 7 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395) 1 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+-----]|%{ *
---===DELARQUAN REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 1 MORDANT (turn 604): WAIF of SWEORDMASTERS (Mannequin, mgr.)
DM 2 NIANIA (turn 487): DOLOVOR of THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 612): SOLDIER 2 of OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 4 JHELUM (turn 608): PETE MASTIFF of DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 5 KALTOS (turn 607): GERDIG IBBINS of THE MIDDLE WAY 5 (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 611): OL SMOKEY of THE VOLS (Wali Kharif, mgr.)
DM 7 BONSUR (turn 609): LONG BEACH LILA of BEACH BABES (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 10 KOLACT (turn 603): OZZY of SABBATH (Abraxis, mgr.)
DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 595): JB BLAH of CENTER FOR OLDS (Suave, mgr.)
DM 21 SUNSET (turn 594): KNOTHANDLER of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 36 JHANS (turn 568): SALLI VOSS of MIDDLE WAY 13 (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 38 CLIFFHOME (turn 558): DIONYSUS of OLD SCHOOL (Abraxis, mgr.)
DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 250): DUCK A L'ORANGE of DUCKS UNLIMITED (Crip, mgr.)
DM 42 RODEKI (turn 542): CHEESY SQUEEZER of COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 493): BILGE RAT of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 54 TROCAR (turn 237): BLACKHAWKZ of RAPTORZ (Owlin the Wise, mgr.)
DM 59 ILLIS (turn 225): KONA QUAIL of ISLANDERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 442): FREON NECROPHILIA of DEE CEE (Soultaker, mgr.)
DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 201): PORKY PIG of MEAT YOUR MAKER (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 486): NEOSPHINCTER of WASTELAND (TMM, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 1 MORDANT (turn 604): SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 2 NIANIA (turn 487): THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 612): GAMES LIBRARY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 4 JHELUM (turn 608): DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 5 KALTOS (turn 607): THE MIDDLE WAY 5 (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 611): THE VOLS (Wali Kharif, mgr.)
DM 7 BONSUR (turn 609): SENTINELS (Nomad, mgr.)
DM 10 KOLACT (turn 603): THE MOONDOGS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 595): POSITION IS EMPTY
DM 21 SUNSET (turn 594): POSITION IS EMPTY
DM 36 JHANS (turn 568): BABES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 38 CLIFFHOME (turn 558): OLD SCHOOL (Abraxis, mgr,(
DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 250): WACKY (The Zoo Keeper, mgr.)
DM 42 RODEKI (turn 542): COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 493): DARK HORSEMENT (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 54 TROCAR (turn 237): RAPTORZ (Owlin the Wise, mgr.)
DM 59 ILLIS (turn 225): KIWI CONNECTION (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 442): GRIM OBITUARY (Jekyll, mgr.)
DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 201): MEAT YOUR MAKER (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 486) POWER PLAY et al (Doc Steele, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 612): SOLDIER 2 of OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.)
GRUNT of OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 4 JHELUM (turn 607): LEONIDAS of DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 611): OL SMOKEY of THE VOLS (Wali Kharif, mgr.)
DM 7 BONSUR (turn 609): N'ORLEANS NORA of BEACH BABES (Jorja, mgr.)
(turn 608): ERASMUS of SENTINELS (Nomad, mgr.)
DM 18 TALCAMA (turn 595): JB BLAH of CENTER FOR OLDS (Suave, mgr.)
(turn 594): SHEWISH WHALER of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 21 SUNSET (turn 594): KNOTHANDLER of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 249): HOT AIR DUCK of DUCKS UNLIMITED (Crip, mgr.)
DM 42 RODEKI (turn 542): CHEESY SQUEEZER of COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
(turn 541): CHRISTELLINA of DELVERS (Harby, mgr.)
DM 51 TRICORUS (turn 492): FEAR OF THE DARK of RAISING R'LYEH (Reaper, mgr.)
VOICES IN MY HEAD of RAISING R'LYEH (Reaper, mgr.)
DM 54 TROCAR (turn 236): MOUSETRAP of USELESS TOOLS (Crip, mgr.)
DM 62 VALAMANTIS (turn 441): JAGGED SHIV of GRIM OBITUARY (Jekyll, mgr.)
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of VALAMANTIS! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp
Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. WOLF RIDER caught the eye of many in
the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested BEARFACE and was awarded 19
points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, SALTY DOG put down
BIG BEAR, causing him to lose 17 points of recognition in the process. Due to his
absence and inability to defend the throne, FREON NECROPHILA has lost the title of
Duelmaster. This time victory fell to the grasp of the usurper. All hail WOLF
RIDER, Duelmaster of VALAMANTIS! 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!
Many and various are the arts of battle. In VALAMANTIS "art" is a word that has
long since passed from the language! VALAMANTIS, city of gladiators! Mighty among
the names of thy guilds is GRIM OBITUARY, a guild shunned and avoided by many in the
weekly duels. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent
the better part of last week avoiding GRIM OBITUARY. Indeed it was DEATH MOB. Loose
talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many
fighters are after ZAIN GRIMEYE. Watch your back! I can not but mention with
disdain the name of RUSSIAN BEAR who this week posted a challenge to a warrior a full
13 points below in the rankings. I thought RUSSIAN BEAR showed great skill and
promise when he defeated ZAIN GRIMEYE. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal!
Vendettas. Bloodied blades and broken spears. Indeed the city has seen more
than its fair share of red in recent times. I must report the passing of BEARFACE,
veteran of many duels. 9-8-1 final record His was not illustrious--but death plays
no favorites. Some say a warrior is judged by the way he bears arms. One thing is
sure, better a dagger in hand then a sword on the belt!
If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times
already in VALAMANTIS. Nice atmosphere you have here! 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
WOLF RIDER 2132 16 8 2 109 DEATH MOB (15)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
RUSSIAN BEAR 4427 10 10 2 99 THE BEARS (268)
-FREON NECROPHILA 3861 5 1 0 93 DEE CEE (397)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MASTIFF 4446 10 4 0 82 THE BEARS (268)
CHATTI 4448 13 6 0 81 DEATH MOB (15)
ZAIN GRIMEYE 3976 7 6 0 70 GRIM OBITUARY (197)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
OGRISH NOCLARR 3970 10 4 1 59 GRIM OBITUARY (197)
GORMODUC IRN 4420 12 21 0 58 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
EVANDER GILL 4470 9 4 0 57 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ANGRY DECKHAND 4473 4 4 0 43 DEATH MOB (15)
INVUR KREB 4449 9 13 0 40 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
-LETHAL INJECTION 4339 2 2 0 38 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395)
GLAL 3994 5 7 0 36 GRIM OBITUARY (197)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SALTY DOG 4471 5 7 0 33 DEATH MOB (15)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MATANZA 4350 4 2 0 30 GRIM OBITUARY (197)
ISOMBARD KORL 4462 5 9 0 24 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DARCI FERRIN 4487 3 0 1 22 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
-ANGEL OF DEATH 3805 2 2 0 20 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395)
-PSYCO KILLER 4340 1 1 0 17 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395)
BIG BEAR 4474 2 4 1 16 THE BEARS (268)
FYRE SWORD 4481 2 2 1 15 DEATH MOB (15)
WITCHY WOMAN 4485 1 0 0 9 HILLTOP GURUS (446)
WHITE WIZARD 4484 0 1 0 9 HILLTOP GURUS (446)
-MEATHOOK 4417 0 1 0 7 SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (395)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
CHEA EDEL 4450 9 10 0 MIDDLE WAY 10 420 OGRISH NOCLARR 3970 440
BEARFACE 4445 9 8 1 THE BEARS 268 WOLF RIDER 2132 443
PERSONAL ADS
Ogrish Noclairr -- Listen, I'm not an idiot. I never fight with ogres, even small
ones. Take the win and the skills and leave me be. -- Invur Kreb
P.S. And if that's cowardice, I can live with it. Courage is what you die with.
Mastiff -- Ah, yes, that reminds me of something my older brother once told me, when
patching me up from multiple dog bites. Never tease a big dog. Or a little dog. Or
any dog, even one with no teeth. Dogs have their ways of getting even. -- Gormoduc
Irn, with more dog bites
P.S. I'm thinking of starting a collection.
Fyre Sword -- You elves are weird. Why would you come into the arena with your hair
on fire? Or was it the heir on fire? Either way, it makes no sense. Elf-smoke is
bad for your lungs, and a gladiator needs good lungs. -- Evander Gill
Evander -- I take exception to your comment anent elves. Sure, *some* are weird, but
so are some humans. -- Darci Ferrin
Evander -- Yeah, what she said. -- Isombard Korl
Lethal Injection -- It's my belief that they all are, some just take longer than
others. -- Isombard Korl
Meathook -- Wow, talk about a painful introduction, I guess you really got one. But
me, I think maybe I might possibly perhaps have a sort of a knack for this stuff,
hmm? -- Darci Ferrin
Morisso Veldt of Osksi, Professional part-time Assassin -- Oh, lay off. That wasn't
an assassination, those reporters just like to be dramatic. The Mordant Deserter was
drunk and walked into my blade. -- Darci Ferrin
9 August 2008
All -- We are currently looking for capable manager that will give the Desolate
Empire Alliance a full roster for the Turf War. We currently have four (4) roster
slots that are open to capable managers without questionable morals. If interested
for the Turf War, contact: Lamar Treas-Wilson, Dok Sik, Dok Sik Killas DM 47
8 July 2008
*****************************************************
**********************ATTENTION**********************
*****************************************************
ALLIANCES
OF
ALASTARI
*****************************************************
**********************ATTENTION**********************
*****************************************************
*TURF WAR VI RULES*
Starting Nov 2008 (10 turns)
Anyone may participate; known alliances, new alliances, or temporary alliances created solely to compete in the Turf War! To participate, each alliance must:
1. Announce the alliance and the Captain of the alliance in the North Fork
(DM 47) newsletter.
2. Announcements made on the D2 Forums will not be accepted.
Captains are responsible for:
1. Verifying those who wish to participate under the banner of their
alliance;
2. Distribution of prizes should their alliance win the Turf War.
3. Submit one (1) RSI Roll-Up Certificate to participate
Participating managers who are not Captains must:
1. Submit one (1) RSI Roll-Up Certificate to participate
2. Announce their intent to compete with manager name, team name, and
alliance they will represent in the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter.
Announcement made on the D2 Forums will not be accepted.
a. No scores will be tabulated until a Gift Certificate is received.
No EXCEPTIONS.
b. Before a manager can compete, he/she must declare themselves in
the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter as stated above AND be verified
by the alliance Captain they will represent.
c. Only one (1) team per player may compete. No multiple teams or
aliases will be allowed. Violations will result in immediate
disqualification from the Turf War (so be sure to take any
multiple teams OFF of Team Maintenance).
d. Scoring will NOT be retroactive for teams that do not properly
declare or fail to send a Gift Certificate by Turn 1. In other
words, if your Gift Certificate is not received until Turn 3 of
the Turf War, and you have fought on Turns 1 and 2, your scoring
will not begin until Turn 3. All conditions must be met before
scoring will begin--declaration, verification, and Gift
Certificate received.
e. No declarations or verifications will be accepted after Turn 5 of
the Turf War.
f. For purposes of scoring, the moderators will score the Turf War
and settle any and all disputes as they arise. Their decisions
will be final.
Scoring will be as follows for Fights:
Win Loss Kill Die
Challenge +2 -2 +5 -5
Match Up +1 -1 +1 -5
Bloodfeud +2 -5 +5 -10
Champion x2 x2 x2 x2
Dark Arena* +10 -5 xx xx
*After 2nd win, warrior scores no points for wins
Special Scoring Considerations for the Turf War are as follows:
Spy Report mention (team name only) +2
Style Master +2
Duelmaster +2
Champions:
1. A Champion may be declared, but one is not mandatory.
2. Only one Champion allowed per manager at any given time.
3. Champions that graduate or are killed by another warrior in the arena, but
not the Dark Arena, may be replaced.
4. Champions must be in the Adepts bracket or lower on the turn they are
declared, and may NOT have gone above Adepts level at any time; this
includes teams transferred into North Fork for the Turf War.
Bloodfeuds:
1. Bloodfeuds will score points on all four (4) turns.
2. There is no limit to which warrior may bloodfeud or how often.
Tournament Considerations:
1. Tournament participation is ALLOWED and encouraged.
2. Tournament Victors won during the course of the contest will gain a one
(1) time bonus of 25 points. This bonus will apply EACH time a
warrior(s) wins such status.
3. Tournament Champions won during the course of the contest will gain a one
(1) time bonus of 50 points. This bonus will apply EACH time a
warrior(s) win such status.
4. Points for TVs and TCs will be applied the Turn after RSI posts
tournament results in the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter (i.e., if the
results post on North Fork turn 275, points will be credited on North
Fork turn 276 to the applicable teams).
Special Considerations:
1. Each alliance begins the Turf War with zero (0) points.
2. There will be NO alliance or team changes once the contest has begun. If
you begin the Turf War with Alliance A, you must end the Turf War with
Alliance A. If you begin the Turf War with Team A, you must end the Turf
War with Team A.
3. There will be a maximum of seven (7) teams allowed per alliance for the
Turf War.
4. The Dark Arena may be used on the first turn only, of every warrior,
without penalty.
Prizes:
The Turf War is a "winner take all" contest. All prizes and 100% of the Gift
Certificates will be awarded to the Captain of the winning alliance. It is the
responsibility of the Captain to distribute Gift Certificates. Moderators will
submit a list of each manager on the winning alliance to RSI at the completion of the
contest for the non-Certificate prizes.
The following prizes have been secured from RSI:
1. Renaming of the North Fork (DM 47) arena;
2. Renaming of Dark Arena Monsters (one for each manager in the winning
alliance);
3. Known Favorites for one warrior on each team of the winning alliance
(warrior must be ranked Initiate or above, must be alive, and must have
at least one arena fight to receive this award).
4. +1 Skill bonus potion for each manager on the winning alliance. Bonus
potion must be applied to a living warrior from (DM 47)
5. +1 Skill bonus potion (one) for each manager who fights in all 10 rounds
AND 45 fights of the Turf War. Bonus potion must be applied to a living
warrior from (DM 47)
These awards will be listed by the Moderator for claiming from RSI (Lee) within 4
turns of the end of TW VI.
Moderators:
The Moderators for this event will be Oz and Master Darque. They will arbitrate all
dealings during the course of the contest. Their decisions will be final. All
questions, comments, and scoring disputes may be directed to Land of Oz or Darque
Forces via diplo in DM 47. Managers with internet access may send a private message
to [The Consortium] or [Darque] on the Duel2 Forums. Lastly, you may also email
questions, comments, and scoring disputes to rebelnerfherder at yahoo dot com.
Please note there have been rule changes from the last Turf War. Please read them
carefully!
Contest will begin in November following the Fall Mail In Tournament.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
RUSSIAN BEAR devastated ZAIN GRIMEYE in a 2 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
BEARFACE was murdered by WOLF RIDER in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title melee.
ANGRY DECKHAND overpowered INVUR KREB in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel.
FYRE SWORD was devastated by GLAL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
SALTY DOG demolished BIG BEAR in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition.
OGRISH NOCLARR was vanquished by MASTIFF in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
CHATTI overpowered CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 1 minute gory mismatched brawl.
EVANDER GILL handily defeated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute uneven melee.
GORMODUC IRN viciously subdued THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
ISOMBARD KORL was vanquished by MATANZA in a 1 minute brutal one-sided fight.
DARCI FERRIN handily defeated WHITE WIZARD in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
WITCHY WOMAN subdued PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a unpopular 4 minute amateur's match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 8 TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 - 0 100 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-LUNGE 10 - 4 - 0 71 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 STRIKING ATTACK 11 - 6 - 1 65 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 8 - 5 - 1 62 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 LUNGING ATTACK 34 - 26 - 3 57 |
|BASHING ATTACK 1 AIMED BLOW 5 - 4 - 0 56 |
|TOTAL PARRY 1 WALL OF STEEL 14 - 13 - 1 52 |
|AIMED BLOW 1 SLASHING ATTACK 19 - 22 - 2 46 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 BASHING ATTACK 4 - 7 - 0 36 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 - 0 0 |
Turn 443 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 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 3 4 LUNGING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 0 AIMED BLOW 0 - 1 2 WALL OF STEEL
BASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 2 SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 STRIKING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL 2 - 0 1 PARRY-LUNGE
LUNGING ATTACK 4 - 4 1 BASHING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
WALL OF STEEL WOLF RIDER 2132 16 8 2 109 DEATH MOB (15)
LUNGING ATTACK MASTIFF 4446 10 4 0 82 THE BEARS (268)
PARRY-LUNGE CHATTI 4448 13 6 0 81 DEATH MOB (15)
SLASHING ATTACK EVANDER GILL 4470 9 4 0 57 MIDDLE WAY 10 (420)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is GORMODUC IRN 4420. The most popular warrior this
turn was RUSSIAN BEAR 4427. The ten other most popular fighters were CHATTI 4448,
GORMODUC IRN 4420, MATANZA 4350, ZAIN GRIMEYE 3976, ANGRY DECKHAND 4473, GLAL 3994,
SALTY DOG 4471, MASTIFF 4446, WOLF RIDER 2132, and BIG BEAR 4474.
The least popular fighter this week was WITCHY WOMAN 4485. The other ten least
popular fighters were WHITE WIZARD 4484, ISOMBARD KORL 4462, OGRISH NOCLARR 3970,
FYRE SWORD 4481, INVUR KREB 4449, BEARFACE 4445, DARCI FERRIN 4487, EVANDER GILL
4470, BIG BEAR 4474, and WOLF RIDER 2132.
Name-Change-O-Rama
The summer tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there
normally. This included Commission employees. Half a dozen arenamasters regarded
each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack. The Pig was
obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking
for. They saw gladiators every day. Most arenamaster were convinced that this was
some kind of punishment.
You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd. There were superficial
differences: One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two
were female. But there were, in significant ways, alike. The same size, the same
hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness.
The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute. "I'm Zrof One-
Eye from Zukal. Sugar of Arvat--" One of the women bowed slightly. "I know Sugar.
The rest of you...?"
The Adantri matched his salute. "Dernal of Dayla Kiv."
"Daiyla Kiv? Ah...."
"No, without the 'I' in it. These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they
thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic." Disgust dripped from his voice.
"Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement. "Khagal of Niatoli, and
what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!"
"I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now,"
Arenamistress Sugar said. "The arena, at least, because of a contest?"
"Chavez Ravine." Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company
for spitting on the floor.
Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness. He wouldn't have minded a contest
in Zukal, and damn what they called the place. "It's only temporary, though."
"Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered. He seemed well into his drinking,
although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well. "They do it all the time
in Aradi. No reshpect. Go around changing thish, changing that. I wish I could
change shome thingsh." He signalled the bartender for a refill.
The second woman put her hand over his mug. "You've had enough, Harkon. Try the
coffee, instead."
"You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said. "They're going to do shtuff
like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?"
Ripples Dorrigan shrugged. All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to
watch. "It's the way things are," she said. "Not much we can do about it."
"You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes. Fix the
spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--"
"The Commission hates changes." Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and
drained it gloomily.
"Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a
general Name-Change-O-Rama! Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would
notice or mind."
*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*
By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of
September, 2008. If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please
contact RSI Customer Service. The charge for a name change is $1.