DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 09/11/2008 Duedate: 10/08/2008
DRAGONHEAD ARENA
DM-72 TURN-202
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
PORKY PIG
MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
(72-5953) [15-5-2,101]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
HAMMY HAMSTER HARMONICA
MEAT YOUR MAKER (656) ONE MAN BAND (684)
(72-5950) [11-3-1,102] (72-6268) [2-0-0,26]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
PORKY PIG GENERAL RAY
MEAT YOUR MAKER (656) BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
(72-5953) [15-5-2,101] (72-6113) [6-3-1,39]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. ONE MAN BAND (684) 26
2. MEAT YOUR MAKER (656) 21 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
3. SUE'S BOYS (670) 0 Unchartered Team
4. RUSSIAN BIRDS (671) 0
5. SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590) 0 ONE MAN BAND (684)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 1 PURPLE PLATYPI (659) 9 2 0 81.8 1/ 1 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656) 8 2 2
2- 2 RUSSIAN BIRDS (671) 13 4 1 76.5 2/ 8*ONE MAN BAND (684) 5 2 0
3- 3 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590) 45 17 2 72.6 3- 2 SUE'S BOYS (670) 5 3 0
4/ 9*ONE MAN BAND (684) 5 2 0 71.4 4- 3 RUSSIAN BIRDS (671) 4 0 0
5/ 4 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656) 49 21 4 70.0 5- 6 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590) 2 0 0
6- 5 SUE'S BOYS (670) 28 14 1 66.7 6- 5 NO OFFENCE INTENDE (657) 2 0 0
7- 6*RAPTOR (685) 8 4 2 66.7 7- 7 PURPLE PLATYPI (659) 2 1 0
8/ 7 BARBARIAN HORDE (637) 52 37 6 58.4 8- 9*SUE'S HOBBIES (672) 1 0 0
9- 8 NO OFFENCE INTENDE (657) 11 8 1 57.9 9/10 BARBARIAN HORDE (637) 1 1 0
10-10*SUE'S HOBBIES (672) 2 5 1 28.6 10- 4*RAPTOR (685) 0 2 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 605): JETSAM of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 2 NIANIA (turn 487): DOLOVOR of THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 613): LAMERIDHOR SKO of GAMES LIBRARY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 4 JHELUM (turn 609): PETE MASTIFF of DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 5 KALTOS (turn 608): TIFFINAL of WIZARD'S WRATH (Visionist, mgr.)
DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 612): MICHELIN of THE VOLS (Wali Kharif, mgr.)
DM 7 BONSUR (turn 609): LONG BEACH LILA of BEACH BABES (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 10 KOLACT (turn 604): LUNAR COYOTE of THE MOONDOGS (Jorja, 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 443): WOLF RIDER of DEATH MOB (Jakari, mgr.)
DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 201): PORKY PIG of MEAT YOUR MAKER (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 487): NEOSPHINCTER of WASTELAND (TMM, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 1 MORDANT (turn 605): SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 2 NIANIA (turn 487): THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 613): GAMES LIBRARY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 4 JHELUM (turn 609): DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 5 KALTOS (turn 608): THE MIDDLE WAY 5 (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 6 TRANSEL (turn 612): THE VOLS (Wali Kharif, mgr.)
DM 7 BONSUR (turn 609): SENTINELS (Nomad, mgr.)
DM 10 KOLACT (turn 604): 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 443): GRIM OBITUARY (Jekyll, mgr.)
DM 72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 201): MEAT YOUR MAKER (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 487) POWER PLAY et al (Doc Steele, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 3 OSKSI (turn 613): MARY JANE of GREEN WITH ENVY (Misfit, mgr.)
(turn 612): SOLDIER 2 of OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.)
GRUNT of OUR HIGHEST HONOR (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 5 KALTOS (turn 608): TIFFINAL of WIZARD'S WRATH (Visionist, mgr.)
SASHA of CASSEY'S CREW (Dartor, 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.)
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of DRAGONHEAD! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp
Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. Fortune did not smile upon RAPTOR
this time out who this turn suffered a fall into 10th position in the wake of a 0-0-0
round. Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner! Witness how
this week ONE MAN BAND went 3-0-0 to move up 6 in the rankings. LONDON BEEFEATER
caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested
MYSTIQUE and was awarded 17 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable
duels, LONDON BEEFEATER put down MYSTIQUE, causing her to lose 11 points of
recognition in the process. Although M. CHARDINEE made a valiant effort, it did not
suffice to topple the reign of victorious PORKY PIG. Informants "close" to the city
champion have told me that he never fights without pantyhose on beneath his armor.
Watch out!
But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades
that is city DRAGONHEAD. My inside sources tell me that the team to beat in
DRAGONHEAD these days is ONE MAN BAND. 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 ONE MAN BAND. Indeed it was MEAT YOUR MAKER.
Mighty fighters cannot but expect competition from those below. MYSTIQUE take
warning! You have more than a few enemies in DRAGONHEAD.
Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser? Warriors, may this counselor stand
ready at your right hand forever! 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 DRAGONHEAD. Nice atmosphere you have here! More than a sharp eye must I
keep, indeed a stout pair of legs must I keep as well! The endless paths of Alastari
await me! Till next we meet remember - the pen is mightier than the sword, but a
maul is a different story!-- Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
PORKY PIG 5953 15 5 2 101 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HAMMY HAMSTER 5950 11 3 1 102 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
-SLO-PITCH 5815 16 1 0 93 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590)
-HOCKEY 5461 12 2 0 93 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-THE TRUNK MONKEY 5775 12 3 1 77 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
-STEVE LAKE 6117 10 2 0 75 SUE'S BOYS (670)
-ARAMIS RAMIREZ 5967 8 2 0 75 PURPLE PLATYPI (659)
-FULCRUM 6122 8 2 0 67 RUSSIAN BIRDS (671)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-LEON DURHAM 6118 9 3 0 66 SUE'S BOYS (670)
-MERLIN 5776 10 5 2 62 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
-BADGER 6121 5 0 1 62 RUSSIAN BIRDS (671)
-FREDDY GARCIA 5959 8 4 1 60 NO OFFENCE INTENDED (657)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-SOCCER 5459 6 4 1 46 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590)
LONDON BEEFEATER 6238 4 0 0 45 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
-SQUASH 5458 6 4 0 40 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GENERAL RAY 6113 6 3 1 39 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-ANDAR 5774 8 7 1 32 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
MYSTIQUE 6212 7 6 0 27 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
-CHRISTIAN 6200 4 1 1 27 SUE'S BOYS (670)
-MARK REDMAN 5958 3 2 0 27 NO OFFENCE INTENDED (657)
-CHICKEN HAWK 6274 2 0 0 27 RAPTOR (685)
HARMONICA 6268 2 0 0 26 ONE MAN BAND (684)
CHICKER S#!^ 5952 5 4 0 24 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
-MARK PRIOR 6114 4 1 0 24 SUE'S BOYS (670)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-BASEBALL 5460 5 5 1 23 SPORTS CRIP PLAYS (590)
-SUDOKU 6128 2 2 1 22 SUE'S HOBBIES (672)
-BLACK HAWK 6275 2 0 0 21 RAPTOR (685)
STUMP FIDDLE 6266 2 0 0 18 ONE MAN BAND (684)
-PEREGRIN 6271 2 0 1 16 RAPTOR (685)
UM-PAH 6270 1 1 0 13 ONE MAN BAND (684)
-ANDREW JONES 5965 1 0 0 10 PURPLE PLATYPI (659)
HAMBURGER HILL 6216 2 3 0 9 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
-ANDRE DAWSON 6278 1 2 0 5 SUE'S BOYS (670)
-JOHN PATTERSON 5957 0 2 0 2 NO OFFENCE INTENDED (657)
-TABOR 6269 0 1 0 1 ONE MAN BAND (684)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
M. CHARDINEE 0 0 0 PORKY PIG 5953 202 NONE
VETERAN MERCENAR 0 0 0 HAMMY HAMSTER 5950 202 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
I would like to toot my own horn, but cannot. A 2-2-0, losing to a weak NPC, is less
than mediocre. It is not even on par with kissing one's sister. Perhaps I should
just return to my audible composing? -- Allegro (sigh)
I would think that my losing to the Mordant Deserter could be career threatening. I
am far better at making noise than I am at making war. -- Tabor
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
LONDON BEEFEATER devastated MYSTIQUE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
HAMBURGER HILL was vanquished by HARMONICA in a 1 minute uneven Challenge battle.
PORKY PIG murdered M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute uneven Title fight.
HAMMY HAMSTER butchered VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
GENERAL RAY savagely defeated CHICKER S#!^ in a crowd pleasing 4 minute bloody match.
UM-PAH vanquished MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
STUMP FIDDLE beat PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 1 minute amateur's brawl.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|AIMED BLOW 3 TOTAL PARRY 11 - 2 - 0 85 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 3 LUNGING ATTACK 27 - 6 - 4 82 |
|BASHING ATTACK 2 BASHING ATTACK 13 - 3 - 2 81 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 3 - 0 67 |
|WALL OF STEEL 1 SLASHING ATTACK 6 - 3 - 0 67 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 STRIKING ATTACK 17 - 9 - 3 65 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 AIMED BLOW 22 - 12 - 0 65 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 2 - 0 60 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|TOTAL PARRY 0 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 4 - 0 0 |
Turn 202 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:
LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 3 LUNGING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 2 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 2 BASHING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 2 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 2 AIMED BLOW
STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 2 SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 1 TOTAL PARRY
WALL OF STEEL 0 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
BASHING ATTACK PORKY PIG 5953 15 5 2 101 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
LUNGING ATTACK HAMMY HAMSTER 5950 11 3 1 102 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
AIMED BLOW LONDON BEEFEATER 6238 4 0 0 45 MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
STRIKING ATTACK GENERAL RAY 6113 6 3 1 39 BARBARIAN HORDE (637)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is PORKY PIG 5953. The most popular warrior this turn
was GENERAL RAY 6113. The ten other most popular fighters were LONDON BEEFEATER
6238, STUMP FIDDLE 6266, HARMONICA 6268, PORKY PIG 5953, CHICKER S#!^ 5952, HAMMY
HAMSTER 5950, UM-PAH 6270, MYSTIQUE 6212, HAMBURGER HILL 6216, and 0.
The least popular fighter this week was HAMBURGER HILL 6216. The other ten least
popular fighters were MYSTIQUE 6212, UM-PAH 6270, HAMMY HAMSTER 5950, CHICKER S#!^
5952, PORKY PIG 5953, HARMONICA 6268, STUMP FIDDLE 6266, LONDON BEEFEATER 6238,
GENERAL RAY 6113, and 0.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
PORKY PIG (72-5953) MEAT YOUR MAKER (656)
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.