DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 02/02/2007 Duedate: 02/15/2007 LIN TIRIAN ARENA DM-78 TURN-342 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS OOKLA THE MOK SUPER SCIENCE (310) (78-2719) [9-1-0,94] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader OOKLA THE MOK DA OTHA BARKEEP SUPER SCIENCE (310) EARL'S TAVERN (100) (78-2719) [9-1-0,94] (78-869) [5-1-2,51] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite SHANA THE KNIFE ILLUSIONIST SAND DANCERS (68) MAGIC ARTISTS (292) (78-2663) [17-21-0,72] (78-2511) [12-3-0,83] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM EARL'S TAVERN (100) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. DOMINATION (201) 55 2. SUPER SCIENCE (310) 17 SUPER SCIENCE (310) 3. EARL'S TAVERN (100) 14 Unchartered Team 4. ERRATA (312) 7 5. SAND DANCERS (68) 2 EARL'S TAVERN (100) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1 SUPER SCIENCE (310) 9 1 0 90.0 1/ 1*EARL'S TAVERN (100) 8 5 2 2/ 2 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) 30 14 1 68.2 2/ 2 DOMINATION (201) 7 4 1 3/ 3 DOMINATION (201) 46 27 5 63.0 3- 5 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225) 4 2 1 4- 4 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225) 72 67 3 51.8 4/ 4 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) 4 3 1 5/ 5*EARL'S TAVERN (100) 18 19 4 48.6 5/ 3 SAND DANCERS (68) 4 8 0 6/ 6 SAND DANCERS (68) 639 802 22 44.3 6/ 6 SUPER SCIENCE (310) 3 0 0 7/ 0*ERRATA (312) 0 1 0 0.0 7/ 0*ERRATA (312) 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 Surprising Discoveries "Boss, it's not working!" Master Beru laid the cloth over the youthful face on the stone table before him. Turning, he took the two steps to where Da Otha Barkeep stood over Da Champeen's still form. Worry drew his eyes shut as he looked down at the still form on the table. "What's the matter Barkeep? Did you forget what I showed you?" "No sir. It is too important. But it is not working. I've tried three times." Raising an eyebrow, the older man reached over to the corpse's exposed chest and traced the mark on his chest, as he had done all too often since returning to Alastari. Nothing happened. His heart sank as he stared down at Da Champeen. Drawing his face closer to the markings, he gently ran his hand across them. As his fingers brushed over the cold flesh, the skin lifted slightly in several spots. The skin was too finely edged to be anything except cuts. Standing back up, he lifted the blanket and confirmed the injuries which had taken Da Champeen's life. The closest was in his ribcage and that was several inches from the critical area where the mark lay. "Where did he get hit in that fight," he asked, nervous tension evident in his voice. "Uh...belly," Barkeep said and pointed to a precise cut to the midsection. "The head was next," he said sadly, pointing to a place where the white, cracked bone beneath could be seen beneath the flesh on the head. "And final blow was to the right rib area, laying him open like you see there." Meditatively the pair eyed the corpse, different questions in each mind. Da Otha Barkeep had seen this expression before though and kept his mouth shut. The boss would speak when he had something to say, but he desperately wanted to know. "How quick can you pack up everyone?" "WHAT!?! We just got here!!" "I know that! But someone has discovered our secret. And they already know how to negate our gift. His mark has been sliced to bits, likely while he was passed out in some whore's room. When did you find out about his matchup?" Barkeep's face was drawn in confusion as he tried to take in what his former general was saying. He tried to focus on the question at hand, but it was hard with the realization that Da Champeen was gone. Permanently gone. "Uh.... We got the fight announcements at the normal time, the day before." "All of them? Nothing strange about any of them?" He looked up at the older man, seeing eyes boring into his head. He replayed the events of that day in his head to be sure. The courier brought the fights. They discussed what they knew about their opponents. Then he went out to practice a bit, nervous about his challenge going through. Then the courier returned.... His head had dropped in thought and snapped up, as he said, "A second courier! He arrived just before the door was locked. He had changes for Da Champ and Da New Bounsa. Something about a last minute withdrawal.... I remember the girl was ecstatic because she felt better about facing Janil than the first pairing and Champ just belched and got another ale." The pieces clicked together in his mind, as Master Beru stared at the wall. A knock at the door held his tongue. One of the children from up stairs poked his blonde curls through the doorway and then ran the four steps to him with his arm outstretched. "I'se tode to gib dis to you and ony you," he said in barely recognizable language. His hand opened to drop four coins into Master Beru's hand along with a small, folded slip of paper. With that, the boy turned and ran out. Master Beru held each coin up, his nerves straining with what he saw. He opened the folded paper and his eyes flared open. Reading the paper was no better. "Barkeep. Try to avenge them next fight. I want the pub boarded up within the month. You may stay if needed for another fight past that, but then I want everyone heading for our encampment. Understood?" "Yes sir. But. Well, I understand the instructions, but why? We have worked so hard here." "Just do it," the general almost yelled. Clenching his fists tightly, he breathed out slowly. Taking one of the coins, he handed it to Da Otha Barkeep and left the room. Da Otha Barkeep held the coin up to the light to get a look at it. His eyes widened like his bosses had a few moments before. The coin he held was from the other side of the gateway. It was the currency of the Empire of Drashaan. SPY REPORT Hail and well met warriors of LIN TIRIAN! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. My praise to DOMINATION for their 5-0-1 week this time out. Indeed, it was a skillfully fought round deserving of notice! OOKLA THE MOK caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested ILLUSIONIST and was awarded 17 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, OOKLA THE MOK put down ILLUSIONIST, causing her to lose 7 points of recognition in the process. Due to his absence and inability to defend the throne, ORGULLO DIFAMAR has lost the title of Duelmaster. This time victory fell to the grasp of the usurper. All hail OOKLA THE MOK, Duelmaster of LIN TIRIAN! Informants "close" to the city champion have told me that he never fights without pantyhose on beneath his armor. Watch out! I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently transpired. Indeed there is much I would report. I saw one fighter that warriors avoided when this week's challenge seeking began. THE LUNATIC FRINGE is feared. This much I can say. Apparently the stalwarts of MAGIC ARTISTS are catching the bulk of jests down at the challenging board for their large share of the avoids. Loose talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters are after CHALBAEG. Watch your back! Vendettas. Bloodied blades and broken spears. Indeed the city has seen more than its fair share of red in recent times. ROGAR THORFIN has sworn to take up religion upon living to tell of his recent bout with the Dark Arena horrors. A rare thing indeed! Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins. In the arena there is only the brightness of steel. Keep vigil always! If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times already in LIN TIRIAN. 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: 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 OOKLA THE MOK 2719 9 1 0 94 SUPER SCIENCE (310) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -ORGULLO DIFAMAR 1875 15 16 0 120 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -ABJURER 2534 6 2 0 86 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) ILLUSIONIST 2511 12 3 0 83 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) OLAF THORFIN 1720 11 5 0 79 DOMINATION (201) SHANA THE KNIFE 2663 17 21 0 72 SAND DANCERS (68) ROGAR THORFIN 2255 9 8 4 72 DOMINATION (201) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -CONJURER 2512 4 2 0 63 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ROLLO THORFIN 2732 5 1 0 56 DOMINATION (201) NECROMANCER 2520 6 2 1 55 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) DA OTHA BARKEEP 869 5 1 2 51 EARL'S TAVERN (100) SOLDIER 1 2733 5 1 0 48 DOMINATION (201) CHALBAEG 2705 10 15 2 47 SAND DANCERS (68) -NIOBE NEPENTHE 1925 7 14 1 40 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MIRIAL ADAMANT 2729 8 5 1 33 SAND DANCERS (68) DA DANCIN GIRL 859 4 3 0 32 EARL'S TAVERN (100) -JANIL MARTOS 2708 2 1 1 32 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MEDICINE MAN 2734 2 2 0 22 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) DEELAR MARION 2750 2 0 0 20 SAND DANCERS (68) DA PAINTED LADY 828 4 4 0 16 EARL'S TAVERN (100) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME JORGEN THORFIN 2751 1 0 0 15 DOMINATION (201) CUTICLE 2742 0 1 0 7 ERRATA (312) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? HIGH ELF 19 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 ROGAR THORFIN 2255 342 NONE DA CHAMPEEN 837 3 1 1 EARL'S TAVERN 100 NECROMANCER 2520 341 DA NEW BOUNSA 2743 1 1 1 EARL'S TAVERN 100 JANIL MARTOS 2708 341 KEDRON LOUK 2737 1 1 0 SAND DANCERS 68 DA OTHA BARKEEP 869 340 PERSONAL ADS Mirial Adamant -- I'm glad I broke your weapon. I think that helped me tremendously. -- Da Otha Barkeep Soldier 1 -- I guess that answered my question about my abilities against your style. Oh well, back to the drawing board. -- Da Painted Lady Niobe Nepenthe -- Would it have hurt to let me lead ONE time!?! That's all I wanted! ONE TIME!! GEESH!! -- Da Dancin Girl All -- Unfortunately I must announce that I will be closing down Earl's Tavern again. A number of factors were considered in my decision, so here are the highlights: 1) I am attempting to balance my arenas so that I have roughly even running each week. The run date for 78 puts this and one other arena I am running on the same week as the newly opened No Tourney Arena (DM81) while leaving me with only one team on the opposite week. This started my decision making. 2) The other arena I am currently running on these weeks is a lot more active to date and has done a better job of drawing me in. Whether because of size or personals or story-lines, everything there has clicked with me. 3) My warriors in my other arena have a lot more potential then those here. (This includes my two potential replacements this turn. And don't worry, neither of you killed any gems.) This team was primarily run because of Da Otha Barkeep and Da Dancin Girl. I may come back later to get them to AD, but it would likely be a while for that yet. So what happens now? I am getting a team set up in an arena that runs on the other week. I will run Barkeep, Dancin Girl, and Painted Lady until then and shuffle BFs. So Sand Dancers, if you want a shot at Barkeep, come and get him. -- Master Beru For anyone interested -- Da Champeen was 12(2)-5-8-11-17-12-21 LU and had gone 3-3-1 in a tourney back in the 90s prior to entering the arena here. He might have run another tourney or two, but is unlikely to get a shot at a dead tourney with me. Da New Bounsa was 10-9-8-15-15-16-11 LU. She would have run to the Isle, but would have retired then. Da Bounsa was 14(1)-5-14-17-9-13-13 SL. He was one of my first SLers before I learned the importance of END for his style. If I had it to do over he would have been a STer and made lots of people happy with his Great damage (ST train was to get more armor, not damage.) -- MB Rollo Thorfin -- Damn, you sound like some kind of monster fish! I never did like fish. -- Chalbaeg Da Otha Barkeep -- (curled lip of scorn) I have more entertaining things to do than hang around with someone who can't talk well. -- Mirial Adamant, Chartered Snob Did you know that M. Chardinee sells defective insurance to gladiators on the side? He deserved everything I did to him! -- Shana the Knife Thieves...how petty. I should at least fight murderers. -- Deelar Marion Illusionist -- Obviously, Houdini did send in personals, but his own personality so pervaded them, they escaped in transit! -- Jorja P.S. Even from the handcuffs. Master Beru -- Ah...you mean I have to read the spotlight? Damn. Where did I put my magnifying glass? Why are these newsletters printed in such minute type? I'll get back to you on this, but the odds are that I don't mind. Too much ice here for me to generate enough warmth to mind.... No, really, I'll read the relevant spotlight, I will! -- Jorja, with too many things on hand to be done Da Dancing Girl -- Why would any sane person want to go to Mordant? I'm from Simtakka, myself, and the only reason they call me a "Mordant Deserter" is because they tried to press-gang me and I ran out on 'em. The nerve of those people! -- Geo, not from Mordant Da Painted Lady -- You are cruel! -- (name withheld by request), Convicted Thief (it was a bum rap anyway) Master Beru -- Okay, I got an e-copy and enlarged it to legibility. That's a fine use of an arena death, and I don't mind in the least. The convention on my team here is that all members are criminals in some degree who chose the arena over other forms of punishment. True, some of them were sentenced on a "bum rap," but feel free to blacken Kedron's character any way you want. You're also welcome to use other members of my team. Mirial and Shana both have reputations for violence on very little provocation, Chalbaeg is a half-orc with a shaky grasp of what constitutes "civilized behavior" and a chip on his shoulder, and the new guy is unpersonalized as yet. -- Jorja 24 January 2007 The Council of Lords would like to propose a rule change in ADM and Primus. We propose that Lord Protectors ranked "Grand Champions" and below (ADM) and "The Tower Guard" and below (Primus) be allowed to fight in the Dark Arena. This would not impact the top rankings or title match. Any managers who never got his fill or shot at fighting Gateway monsters would have it as an option. We believe it might spark some interest in the ADM/Primus realm for some managers. If interested, speak up in the newsletters or on forums under the "rules changes" thread and let RSI know. This could even be something to try for 12 months and then be re-evaluated. What say you, managers of Ghea? -- The Icelord sends.... 29 January 2007 HDFA Mission Statement "Show me the money!" This is the battle cry of a newly formed collection of like-minded individuals: The High Dolla' Free Agent$. We are not a tough guy alliance: No...we offer no battle without reward. We search for victory and the prizes and accolades that follow. We are motivated by winning and will freely use whatever means necessary to obtain our currency. No stuffy rules, no mandates, no constitutions, no leaders, only a few objectives: 1) Win as often as possible 2) Celebrate freely and revel in your victories; the more meaningless the victory the more we celebrate. Highsiding and chest thumping are encouraged. Ostentatious endzone celebrations with prop usage are encouraged, regardless of fines, penalties, suspensions or arrest by local authorities. It is important to let your opponent know how great you are; more importantly, you must let your own alliance mates know how great you are. This is a 1-up alliance, let the performance of your fellow Free Agent$ motivate you. If a Free Agent wins a TV, win 2; if a Free agent wins a contest, win a more prestigious one. Current members of the HDFA include: CFH and Abraxis. Inquires can be directed to: CFH/Rat Salad DM 47 LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS ROGAR THORFIN butchered HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. DA PAINTED LADY was vanquished by NECROMANCER in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud battle. OOKLA THE MOK luckily beat ILLUSIONIST in a 3 minute Challenge Title fight. SOLDIER 1 bested CHALBAEG in a popular 1 minute gory Challenge contest. SHANA THE KNIFE was subdued by OLAF THORFIN in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition. DA OTHA BARKEEP won victory over MIRIAL ADAMANT in a 1 minute fight. ROLLO THORFIN bested AMBITIOUS GUARD in a crowd pleasing 1 minute bloody match. MEDICINE MAN was luckily beaten by DA DANCIN GIRL in a action packed 1 minute melee. DEELAR MARION vanquished CUTICLE in a 1 minute one-sided duel. JORGEN THORFIN vanquished PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a slow 3 minute one-sided duel. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 6 TOTAL PARRY 7 - 1 - 0 88 | |TOTAL PARRY 2 PARRY-LUNGE 6 - 2 - 0 75 | |SLASHING ATTACK 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 10 - 7 - 0 59 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 LUNGING ATTACK 25 - 18 - 5 58 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 9 - 0 55 | |BASHING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 6 - 5 - 2 55 | |AIMED BLOW 1 STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 3 - 1 50 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 BASHING ATTACK 4 - 4 - 1 50 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 7 - 2 46 | |WALL OF STEEL 1 AIMED BLOW 2 - 7 - 0 22 | Turn 342 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 AIMED BLOW 0 - 1 3 PARRY-RIPOSTE STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 3 LUNGING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY TOTAL PARRY 2 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE LUNGING ATTACK 4 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME TOTAL PARRY OOKLA THE MOK 2719 9 1 0 94 SUPER SCIENCE (310) LUNGING ATTACK ILLUSIONIST 2511 12 3 0 83 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) PARRY-LUNGE ROLLO THORFIN 2732 5 1 0 56 DOMINATION (201) STRIKING ATTACK NECROMANCER 2520 6 2 1 55 MAGIC ARTISTS (292) SLASHING ATTACK DA OTHA BARKEEP 869 5 1 2 51 EARL'S TAVERN (100) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is SHANA THE KNIFE 2663. The most popular warrior this turn was ILLUSIONIST 2511. The ten other most popular fighters were SOLDIER 1 2733, OLAF THORFIN 1720, ROLLO THORFIN 2732, NECROMANCER 2520, DA OTHA BARKEEP 869, MEDICINE MAN 2734, ROGAR THORFIN 2255, OOKLA THE MOK 2719, DA DANCIN GIRL 859, and DEELAR MARION 2750. The least popular fighter this week was JORGEN THORFIN 2751. The other ten least popular fighters were CUTICLE 2742, MIRIAL ADAMANT 2729, CHALBAEG 2705, DA PAINTED LADY 828, SHANA THE KNIFE 2663, DEELAR MARION 2750, DA DANCIN GIRL 859, OOKLA THE MOK 2719, ROGAR THORFIN 2255, and MEDICINE MAN 2734.