DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 12/29/2010 Duedate: 01/11/2011
SHADOWSPIRE ARENA
DM-81 TURN-104
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
BERSERKER
MONSTER MANUAL (87)
(81-1047) [17-24-2,122]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
CHUPUCASUPERIOR POSITION IS EMPTY
SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
(81-1229) [19-6-0,142]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
CARIEC TOM ONYB ENGLVAR
LA PENTARCHIE (11) PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
(81-984) [23-26-2,108] (81-903) [18-17-0,94]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
(-1)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. OTTO'S DINER (96) 55
2. MONSTER MANUAL (87) 52 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
3. LITERATE LOONS (40) 51 Unchartered Team
4. SUMMERBORN (104) 38
5. ARCHAIC CHAOS (111) 35 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 CAPITAL CARTEL (93) 125 79 5 61.3 1/ 8 CAPITAL CARTEL (93) 12 3 0
2/ 2 LA PENTARCHIE (11) 299 216 9 58.1 2/ 6 OTTO'S DINER (96) 12 3 0
3/ 0 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43) 183 137 9 57.2 3/ 1 OF WOLF AND MAN (57) 10 5 0
4/ 6 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106) 71 54 0 56.8 4/ 9 MONSTER MANUAL (87) 10 5 0
5/ 3 SUMMERBORN (104) 84 65 4 56.4 5/ 2 THE RED BLADES (88) 9 6 1
6/ 5 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13) 289 227 9 56.0 6/13 SUMMERBORN (104) 8 6 1
7/ 4 DARQUE AGES (29) 230 184 9 55.6 7/16 WARMASTERS (15) 8 7 2
8/ 7 RODENT CLAN (37) 191 176 11 52.0 8/ 7 DARQUE AGES (29) 8 7 1
9/ 8 WARMASTERS (15) 265 248 22 51.7 9/ 4 JUNGLELAND (103) 8 7 0
10/10 CLAN LONGBEARD (39) 265 254 13 51.1 10/ 5 CLAN LONGBEARD (39) 8 7 0
11/ 9 FUCHI OWNED (54) 165 159 6 50.9 11/22 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106) 7 3 0
12/12 OF WOLF AND MAN (57) 250 242 12 50.8 12/12 FAR TRAVELERS (113) 7 8 1
13/11 JUNGLELAND (103) 82 80 1 50.6 13/11 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13) 7 8 0
14/17 OTTO'S DINER (96) 98 107 2 47.8 14/ 3 LA PENTARCHIE (11) 7 8 0
15/14 PHILANTHROPISTS (85) 86 94 2 47.8 15/21 LITERATE LOONS (40) 6 9 0
16/15 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92) 32 35 0 47.8 16/10 PHILANTHROPISTS (85) 6 9 0
17/13 THE MONSANTIS (112) 31 34 2 47.7 17/24 FUZZY BUNNIES (110) 6 9 0
18/16 LITERATE LOONS (40) 244 274 10 47.1 18/15 FURRY FURY (25) 5 10 2
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
19/18 THE RED BLADES (88) 108 127 6 46.0 19/20 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92) 4 6 0
20/19 FURRY FURY (25) 134 161 7 45.4 20/14 RODENT CLAN (37) 4 6 0
21/20 MONSTER MANUAL (87) 108 132 4 45.0 21/ 0 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43) 3 2 0
22/ 0*O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118) 2 3 0 40.0 22/25 THE MONSANTIS (112) 3 7 1
23/22 FAR TRAVELERS (113) 24 40 3 37.5 23/23*BUBBA'S 23RD ARMY (117) 3 12 0
24/23 FUZZY BUNNIES (110) 34 60 1 36.2 24/ 0*O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118) 2 3 0
25/24 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111) 27 53 4 33.8 25/18 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111) 2 3 0
26/ 0*PAPER TIGERS (114) 7 20 1 25.9 26/19 FUCHI OWNED (54) 2 8 0
27/25*BUBBA'S 23RD ARMY (117) 3 12 0 20.0 27/ 0*PAPER TIGERS (114) 1 5 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
This time of year use to be Gentlebens favorite time of year. That is until
this accursed link to the underworld took over and filled him with dread every hour
of every day and in the nightmares of his dreams. How he longed for this link to be
gone. Even the simple joys were impossible for him. These creatures that he
"Managed" would be the death of him yet...if only he could die then this nightmare
could at least come to an end.
Gentleben's stable, Unholy Knights, were all from the underworld. Even though
they were controlled by death itself something inside Gentleben said that they wish
the link would be broken for them as well. The joy of the battle and the competition
has taken hold in their hearts as well, if they have hearts. Gentleben has even
grown to like them, in a way. There were even times during training and even more so
during the fights that it almost seemed like they were actually his to train and
mold. They didn't even address themselves as "WE" anymore. If a demon and a human
could be friends then thats what They would be, but the darkness always, always came
back to the front of their perceptions and the hope or whatever it was was gone.
The days were getting colder, the nights were getting longer and gentlben's
despair was getting greater.
"Damn I hate these cold mornings! Guess I should wake em up and get started."
Gentleben started towards the door to the barracks when a voice boomed in his head.
"WE ARE NOT PLEASED!"
"Join the club."
"WE HAD EXPECTED MORE SOULS THEN YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER. WE ARE GOING TO
ADD TO YOUR LINK A TRAINER BY THE NAME OF SANTA CLAWS. HE WILL TAKE OVER THE
TRAINING FROM HERE ON. YOU WILL NOT DO OR SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TO ANYONE OR YOU
WILL SUFFER GREAT PAIN UNLIKE ANY MORTAL HAS EXPERIENCED!"
"So what am I suppose to do? Bake cookies?"
"YOU WILL DO NOTHING EXCEPT FOLLOW! SANTA CLAWS WILL ALSO NEED MORE SOULS WITH
WHICH TO STRENGTHEN THE STABLE!"
"And...?"
"THERE IS A CELEBRATION YOU MORTALS DO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WHERE YOUR YOUNG GO
TO AN ELDER MORTAL AND TELL THEM THEIR DESIRES! YOU WILL BRING THEM TO SANTA CLAWS
SO THAT HE MAY TAKE THEIR SOULS IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE ITEMS OF DESIRE!"
"I don't think so!" is what Gentleben wanted to say but just the thought brought
the greatest pain he has ever had which caused him to crumble to the ground.
"YOU WILL DO THIS OR SUFFER MORE! NOW GO! SANTA CLAWS IS COMING TO TOWN!"
Gentleben would have laughed at the joke except it was no joke. The pain was
gone and the darkness that always occompanied the PRESENCE was gone, only the dull
sense of eternal darkness remained. "What the hell...never mind...crap this sucks."
Gentleben left the house and walked the streets and alleyways trying to avoid anyone
that might be awake but especially the children. The poor children! Gentleben's
heart ached worse than it has ever ached before. Tears were rolling down his face.
Not knowing where he was going nor did he even care where he went as long as he
kept moving and no children were around. "I need time to think...if only there were
something I could do besides run", but running would not save the children. Santa
Claws was still coming to town and Shadowspire was not prepared for this kind of
shadow to befall it. He was hated by many now but if this darkness comes to pass and
they find out it is somehow connected to the Unholy Knights, there wouldn't be a safe
place for any of them to go.
The sound of many people could be heard and the sound of running. People were
yelling,"Santa Claws! Santa Claws!" Someone turned up the alley and ran his
direction. It was a very short plump man who was quite quick and nimble for someone
so obviosly overweight, old and grey. His red suit with white lineing were a
contrast to the drabe and dingy alleyways they shared. His bells jingled as he
screached to a halt right in front of Gentleben. the crowd of people ran accross the
entrance to the alleyway and never looked their way. The very round but yet very
short man took one look at Gentleben and his entire face changed. The stranger went
from looking scared to one of concern for someone else. His face went thru several
other expressions as if a very sad story were running thru his mind. Then is settled
on one of compation. A look Gentleben had not seen since he himself were a boy.
"Benjamin," the little man in red said with a tenderness not seen in these parts
in many years, "you do not have to be sad any longer."
The shock at hearing his name coming from this man was enough to throw Gentleben
out of his current thought process. "How do you know my name?"
"I know a great many things about you, my son."
The statement should have made Gentleben scoff, but yet he knew it to be true.
How he knew he could not tell you, but in that moment there was no doubt. Tears
streamed down his face as Gentleben fell to his knees and sobbed. At first it was
tears of sadness and shame but then this hand, a gentle hand like that of a loving
father layed upon his head. As the strangers hand stayed upon his head Gentleben's
tears turned to tears of joy as if he had found something that had been lost. Then
the thought of the poor children came back. "The children! They are in danger!
Santa Claws is coming to town! I must warn them!"
"WE ARE HERE!", boomed a voice from behind.
"I got this one Benjamin." His voice was so reassuring and gentle that
Gentleben didn't even try to get up. Gentleben's eyes just followed the man as he
stepped around him. Gentleben thought he was going crazy for what he saw made no
sense. He saw two of the strangers facing eachother. Gentleben blinked and as the
blur from his tears cleared he notice that though the men were dressed identical, one
of the mens hands ended in long sharp claws, that one has to be Santa Claws.
"YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE, YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE!"
"Niether are you", the calmness yet directness of the statement was quite
convincing. "You will go now and release your link or I will do it for you."
"WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! WE HAVE WORK TO DO AND YOUNGLINGS TO..."
The suddness of the change from BOOMING VOICE to scream of utter pain to silence
was startling. As the man in red turned once more to face Gentleben Gentleben was
begining to notice that he felt different, lighter, calmer...at peace.
"Stand up my son. The darkness is gone."
"What did you do?"
"Gave you the gift that you so desperatly needed and desired. You are free from
the darkness. It can not take hold of you any longer."
Gentleben didn't know what to believe or say, but believe he did, there was no
other explanation. He actually felt joy in his heart. Then worried he said, "What
of my...I don't know what to call them, my guys? What happened to them?"
"They have been freed as well, my gift to them. Merry Christmas my son."
The joy over took him as Gentleben jumped up and ran home, he turned to say
thank you but he was already gone.
"Merry Christmas? Who is Mary Chrismas?"
As the joy continued to fill his body and as he ran he couldn't help but wonder
what it was going to be like to be free and what his friends would be like without
the darkness. Laughter and joy filled the air.
* }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *
One Cold Night
The trail was fairly straightforward. It had begun at a spring, due south out
of Shadowspire, in the middle of the flat grassy plains area rumored to be haunted.
Rippling grasses undulated above a foot of snow as far as the horizon on either side.
It didn't seem that the trail was traveled very often, but the occasional hoof print
or bit of trampled grass along its edges testified that it had not been completely
abandoned.
A line of bundled riders, leaning against the wind, their muffled faces venting
icy plumes, clumped determinedly forward. The sun cast a nebulous red glow to their
right. The bright-tipped, jagged silhouettes of a vast mountain range swept across
the sky in front of them. A nearby forest cast a thick line of dark shadow; a dense,
wedge-shaped segment of trees pushed down from the mountains and pooled along the
left side of the trail.
The rattle of a large sign, buffeted by the wind as it hung from a pair of chain
links, caught their attention. A sidetrack, barely a footpath, left the trail and
headed into the sunset, quickly disappearing under the thick forest cover.
"Absolution!" read the faded sign. The horses stopped and shuffled
uncomfortably; their riders studied the sign and the new route in silence.
After a few moments the first rider turned to face the others. "So what's the
name of this dump?" asked Patroclus.
"Absolution," replied Numitor, patting his horse's neck. "It means..."
"I don't really care," interjected Pandera. "I just want a hot bath and good
meal!"
"I just want to get warm!" Hippodameia shivered.
"Whatever," sniffled Glaucus. A bleary eye peered out of a gap in the scarf
wrapped around his head. "Is this the place, or isn't it?"
Numitor's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "This is the place," he nodded.
"There's a stable in the back."
Patroclus squeezed his heels into his horse and lurched forward and down onto
the narrow side trail. The others followed.
+++++++++++++++++
The trees created a living tunnel, a dark, dry area fashioned by their boughs as
they blocked the sun and snow. The new trail meandered amongst the trees, but
generally headed northwest. A rocky knoll rose suddenly from the forest; a narrow
path had been carved through it.
"Great!" growled Patroclus. "Dead end!" He swung his horse around with an oath,
startling Numitor's mount and almost unseating him.
"Calm down!" cried Numitor, both to Patroclus and his horse. "Easy, easy!" The
horse snorted and stopped its skittish dancing; Patroclus also snorted, glaring from
out of his hood with intense anger.
"There's a gate ahead," nodded Numitor curtly. "Just keep riding."
"I can see the end of the trail from here!" shouted Patroclus. "It runs smack
into the side of the mountain!"
Numitor sighed heavily, sending a large cloud of mist into the icy air. "Do you
really think the Kid would send us out to a dead end? In this weather?" Numitor
shook his head and gestured forward.
Patroclus hesitated and tried to trade glances with the others, but they were
strung out single-file and there was no room to gather and make a collective
decision. He growled in frustration and turned his horse again, urging it into the
cleft of rock; the others followed.
"Numitor, I warn you..."
"Relax, Patroclus," chuckled Numitor. "It's just a little further."
Suddenly, to their left, a gate opened into a tunnel, wide and tall. The gate
was heavily reinforced; the words painted thickly across its face read: "Absolution".
Patroclus shot Numitor an ugly look, and then concentrated on encouraging his
horse to turn and enter the tunnel. Once they were all inside, the sound of their
horses' hooves clattering across the stony floor created sharp, thundering echoes. A
dim glow far ahead revealed a sharp right turn. From there, a bright light
illuminated the far gateway. A pair of boys holding lanterns and wrapped in warm
woolen coats and leather leggings met them as they exited the tunnel.
They smiled and shook their heads resolutely when Patroclus questioned them.
They split up: one lad briskly led them down a paved path; the other rushed into the
tunnel.
"Where's he off to?" asked Hippodameia.
"Probably going to close the other gate," Pandera speculated. "This place is
like... like some kinda mountain fortress!"
Hippodameia frowned and loosened her scimitar in its saddle scabbard. "Is it a
fortress, or a prison?" she muttered to herself.
The tavern came into view as they came around a brightly decorated thicket of
pine and elm. Shiny metal ornaments hung from long streamers of colorful ribbons on
every bough and branch. Small bells tinkled merrily in the light breeze.
"Ooohhh," Pandera smiled. "That's beautiful!"
"A nicely decorated prison, don't you think?" asked Numitor. Hippodameia
ignored him.
The tavern was just past the grove. It seemed sunk into the ground, hewn from
the mountain itself. Its rock walls merged seamlessly with the rock of the mountain
behind it. Smoke from half a dozen fireplaces coiled above its steep roof. The
riders sniffed the air appreciatively as they kept on the path; it led them around
the tavern to the stable, or burrow, bored into the mountainside.
The stable was surprisingly large and well maintained; without the bitter edge
of the wind, the inside felt warm and cozy. A small iron stove in a bricked enclave
helped. A groomsman and three older boys hurried to help them dismount and lead
their horses inside. The horses were quickly curried and rubbed down, then covered
with thin blankets. There were stalls to house over fifty horses, with enough grain
and hay stored deep in the back to withstand the longest winter. Over a dozen mounts
were there already, patiently waiting. Numitor tossed a coin to the groom; he was
supervising the stable boys as they fed and watered the horses. The others followed
suit as they left the stable and crossed the small yard to the tavern.
++++++++++++++++++
The door opened before they reached it. Havoc, his close-cropped grizzled hair
offset by his coal-black byrnie, met them with a grin and a wave of a deep tankard.
"There you are! Finally! We were beginning to wonder about you guys!"
"This place is far off the usual trade routes," Patroclus retorted. "We thought
we were lost!"
"Really?" Havoc cocked his head quizzically and stepped aside as the others
entered. Numitor brought up the rear; Havoc laid a broad hand on his shoulder as he
kicked the door shut. "Numitor, you've been here before, haven't you?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Ooooh! Another tree!" blurted Pandera Pax.
"Woo hoo!" echoed Numitor. Glaucus unwrapped his head and blew his nose into a
moist, well-used handkerchief. None of them could take their eyes off the tree.
The team slowly gathered in a loose semi-circle around a massive tree that took
up most of the entry room and almost reached the vaulted ceiling. An enormous star
fashioned of silver wire was fastened to the top of the tree. All manner of bright
and colorful decorations were hung or wrapped on every branch. A myriad of smaller
stars, in flashing shiny garlands, were wrapped round and round its immense girth and
woven throughout the other decorations. Bright globes of glass, painted red, silver,
and blue, were scattered evenly throughout.
Also prominent were freshly painted, small wooden gladiators in various poses,
dangling from their strings. There were some with spears, and others with swords or
axes; a few carried nothing more than a dagger or shortsword. Some wore heavy armor,
and carried shields in either hand. The gladiators from Shadowspire stared at the
tree for several minutes, mesmerized. Glaucus smiled as he noted one figurine holding
a pose with just its fists.
"Well, c'mon! C'mon!" Havoc herded the team into the next room. Once again, the
gladiators from Shadowspire stood and stared.
The room was a long rectangle; a matching table took up most of the center. A
handful of musicians took up residence on a modest platform in the far corner, but
could barely be heard above the clamor at the table. Along one side of the table
three men and a woman were seated. Each wore a soft chamois shirt dyed bright
scarlet. The Arcane Kid, in a deep blue necromancer's robe, sat at the far end of the
table. He was smiling and nodding, but didn't appear to be participating in the
heated discussions taking place. He was the first to notice the new guests; he stood
and raised a crystal cup in their direction.
"Welcome, warriors of Shadowspire!" The Kid's voice resonated loudly in the room
somehow, though he didn't appear to shout or raise his voice. The others froze and
turned, startled, to stare in their turn. "We've looked forward to your arrival,"
beamed the Kid. The gladiators studied each other. Everyone was smiling, but it
seemed to Hippodameia that only Havoc and Arcane seemed sincere.
"Allow me to introduce the fighters from Astral Kin, my oldest and most
treasured team." The four warriors from Osksi somehow managed to swagger a bit,
though they remained seated.
"At my immediate left is Auriga Nebula, a slasher with a promising future in a
difficult arena." Auriga, his thin face flushed with excitement, nodded and winked
at Hippodameia, who flushed in turn.
"Next to him is our iron maiden, Galilea. She's a WASTE, as you've probably
guessed." Galilea swung her thick yellow braids as she laughed and blew Patroclus a
wet kiss. "I wouldn't get involved in any drinking games with her," warned the Kid.
"With her constitution, she could put most of you under the table." The others
laughed; Galilea waggled her tankard in the air.
"Next to her is Meteor Man, a Shewish half-breed posing as a Kannar, of all
things!" All the Astral Kin roared with laughter, even Meteor Man. Seated, he
looked down on everyone else at the table. He waved a calloused hand the size of a
skillet, but no one from Chaos waved in return.
"Last, for now, is Vector Unstable! Another WASTE, the only recent team member
to step into the Dark Arena and return!" The rest of the Kin all beat their fists on
the table and began chanting:
"Vec-tor! Vec-tor! Vec-tor!"
Vector Unstable blushed like a maiden; he waved his hands in random circles
while the Kid calmed them down.
"That's enough, that's enough! Okay, let's wrap this up! You know your
manager, Havoc." Havoc, slouched and muttering something to Vector, raised his head
briefly and nodded at the Shadowspire warriors.
"Now, go ahead and get to your rooms. Change clothes; wash up; hurry up! We've
been waiting for you so we could begin our banquet!"
A pair of boys, probably the ones they'd seen earlier, thought Pandera, led the
team back into the entry hall and up a flight of stairs that none of them had noticed
before.
+++++++++++++++++
Their rooms were spacious and clean; everyone had their own private bath. Blue
chamois shirts, similar to the red shirts that the Astral Kin had, were laid out on
each gladiator's bed. The all cleaned up, changed clothes, and quickly came
downstairs.
"Good, good!" nodded the Arcane.
"At least you know how to dress yourselves," grinned Galilea. "With that arena
record of yours, we weren't sure!" The Kin laughed and pounded the table, but the
Chaos team bristled at the remark.
"Relax; don't take any of their comments seriously." Arcane looked down the line
of warriors on his left. "Their record rests on the shoulders of another generation;
powerful warriors of old. These youngsters have yet to prove themselves to me." The
table grew quiet as The Kin busied themselves with the cheese dip and their drinks.
"Now, please take your seats; there should be place cards..."
The gladiators warily stepped to the table and sorted themselves out.
Hippodameia found herself seated between Pandera Pax and Numitor. Glaucus sat on
Numitor's right, next to Havoc at one end. Patroclus sat on Pandera's left, next to
the Arcane Kid at the other end. A pair of bustling waiters quickly took their
orders and returned with mugs and glasses and pitchers for refills. The Kid waited
several minutes while the teams took a swallow or two and exchanged a few comments
across the table.
Finally, Arcane stood and raised a slender, manicured hand. The others fell
silent. "Warriors, this is a special night! Tonight we feast! Tonight we celebrate!
Tonight, my little lads and lassies, is Christmas Eve!"
The gladiators gave a ragged, unenthusiastic cheer. Their heads swiveled back
and forth as they traded glances and shrugs.
"Kid, they don't have a clue!" chuckled Havoc, slapping his palm on the table.
"Why don't ya fill 'em in?"
Arcane shook his head slowly. "I don't think that's necessary, Havoc. Let's
just make the announcements and let it go at that." The others quieted in curiosity
at that remark. Havoc made a deep shrug, and then he forced himself up from the chair
with a heavy sigh. As he left the room, the Kid smoothly rose to his feet.
"On this night, in other lands, other worlds, there is a great deal of intra-
dimensional activity."
"You mean 'magic', right?" asked Patroclus.
"NO!" Arcane shouted. The table grew very still. The Kid rolled his eyes to
the ceiling. "There is no such thing as magic, in the sense that you infer," he
frowned. "However," his eyes dropped to the table but didn't light on anything.
"However, there are powers - energies, if you will, that are unclassified, undefined,
unexplained."
The gladiators fidgeted uneasily in their chairs and traded glances all around
the table. The Kid looked up; his eyes glowed eerily in the candlelit room.
"That's to say, these powers are unexplained at present. Science teaches us new
things every day. Someday, I'm confident that the veil hiding the properties of
'magic' will be torn asunder." Nobody had anything to say to that.
"Still, through various means it has come to our attention that, on this day,
this evening, in fact, there are... certain conditions... and traditions that are
venerable and highly revered."
Arcane raised his hand and gestured at the door; Havoc entered carrying a large
box wrapped in shimmering silver paper and wrapped all around with a blue velvet
ribbon. A large, flowery bow topped it. Behind him, the pages and stable boys
entered the room. Each one carried a box wrapped in sparkling foil paper, either
blue or red, and similarly wrapped in velvet ribbon. Each gladiator had at least two
boxes placed in front of him or her.
Pandera and Galilea each picked up their boxes and shook them violently.
Patroclus hefted his carefully, judging their weight. Meteor Man followed suite. The
others traded quizzical glances.
"Hey, these gifts are for YOU!" shouted Havoc with a booming laugh. The
gladiators paused for a moment; the Kid nodded and smiled. Pandera and Galilea
wasted no time in ripping the wrapping off their boxes. The others quickly copied
them. Patroclus, however, carefully cut away the ribbon first, then methodically
unwrapped the box, one fold at a time.
Nobody noticed the departure of Arcane and Havoc. Amid the shouts and squeals
and laughter the two made their way through a small door behind the Kid's chair. A
tall page closed the door behind them as the other servants bustled around the
raucous table.
++++++++++++++++++
Arcane led the way down a cramped narrow corridor; Havoc followed silently at
his heels. The glow from the Kid's eyes gave just enough light for Havoc to see
their way ahead. The passage led to a small door, barred and locked. Arcane grasped
the locks in his slim hands; they unlocked with a loud SNAP and fell to the floor.
Then the Kid raised the heavy bar with an easy gesture and pulled the door open. It
screeched loudly in the confined space of the corridor.
A single candle dimly lighted the room. It flickered from a stone bowl on a
small table. A large, hearty man with flowing white locks and a full white beard was
seated on a short, three-legged stool. His wide face held the hint of a smile; his
eyes twinkled brightly. It was as if he knew a joke and was just waiting for the
right moment to spring it. He wore a red, fur-lined suit belted with a wide strap of
shiny black sealskin, and held in place with a large silver buckle. His boots were
of some similar leather, large and well polished. His hands were calloused, and
seemed powerful; they rested on his thighs as if he were just ready to heave himself
up from the stool.
"Well then, gentlemen?" asked the red-garbed giant in a deep, smooth voice.
"You still haven't answered all our questions," the Kid replied. Havoc closed
the door behind them and kept his back to it, blocking it.
"Really you two!! I've been very patient up to now, but I DO have errands to
run." He nodded his head toward Havoc, who still held the box wrapped in silver
paper. "You have your gifts, as I promised you. Now where are my elves?"
"Oh, they're quite all right," smiled the Kid as he took a seat on a stool on
the opposite side of the table. The man let loose a loud chuckle that rumbled
through the room.
"I daresay they are," he laughed. "You don't seem foolish enough to harm those
folk." He turned to cast a wink at Havoc. "They've too many relatives in these
lands for that sort of mischief, eh?" He smiled broadly at Arcane; the Kid grimaced
in return.
"Enough of these games," he snapped. "I know who you are, Sankt Niclaus! Let's
not play games with each other!"
The burly man in red stopped laughing. A small, tight-lipped smile hid in his
curly beard as he tilted his head in acknowledgment. "I prefer Santa" he replied.
"So you ARE him," sighed the Kid. "I have much to ask you."
"I have little time to tell it," Santa replied with a brief shake of his head.
"I can bend time somewhat, but even I have limitations. I soon must take my leave,
elves or no elves."
"Not even one question, Santa?" Arcane asked. "A simple question."
"And then I may be about my business?" The two held each other's eyes for
several moments. "Oh, very well. What is it?"
"Simple, as I said," retorted the Kid. "What is this 'Christmas'?"
"Eh? What?" Saint Nicholas seemed uncertain for a moment, as if he weren't
quite sure if this sort of comment was worthy of laughter. "Christmas? What is
Christmas?!" He studied Arcane closely; for a moment the tiny table between them
seemed as wide as the gulf between stars.
"It's an old story," sighed Santa at last. "It's based on love, or prophecy, if
you prefer, and propitiated by faith." The Bishop stared hard at the Kid. "You
aren't from my world. But you exist, therefore you must know of Him."
"Him?" Arcane's luminous eyes glared at Saint Nicholas.
"God," replied Santa.
"God? Him? He's a myth!" declared the Kid.
"Then you've heard of Him," nodded Santa.
"That myth crosses all galaxies and boundaries!" declared Arcane. "Of course
I've heard of him. But he doesn't exist." The Kid's eyes glowed brighter than ever.
Santa looked back into them without flinching.
"Oh yes, oh yes He does." Without breaking eye contact, Santa stood up slowly;
the stool groaned a bit as it relinquished his weight.
"You want to know about Christmas, you say." Santa gave a sharp snort. "I
don't believe it. You know! You've heard of God, and you know of His promises. You
just want to pretend it's all make-believe, like I am."
"Magic again?" growled the Kid. "I don't believe in magic!"
"Good!" smiled Santa. "I'm not really magic, you see. I'm a creature of
imagination. I'm a myth, based on a legend. Yet in this place, this world, I
somehow come to life." His white locks shivered as he shook his head. "I don't
pretend to understand it. But Christmas? Christmas itself is real. It's a promise,
the beginning of a special promise."
The Kid's frown deepened. "I thought you were some do-gooder who started a
church in the early middle ages of Earth," he snapped.
"Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, was a man of faith. He was generous beyond the
norm for his time. He led his church by example. His story is the basis for my
myth." Santa shrugged. "I exist on this plane because enough people want me to
exist; my identity is linked to reality, but I'm not reality."
"Riddles? You're giving me riddles?"
"No, I've given you all the answers I have time to give you," replied Santa. "I
gave your men presents because you held my elves for ransom, but also because it's
Christmas. The glory of that promise demands that it be emulated, no matter how
feebly."
"Ha! I suppose it didn't matter to you that we gladiators deal in death?"
sneered the Kid.
"I prefer to think of it as a dangerous form of entertainment," came Santa's
stiff response. "Rather like juggling live grenades. Stupid and juvenile, but not
unheard of." Santa gave a hollow laugh and looked down at his polished boots. "You
have no idea how many pseudo-weapons I deliver to households across the world." He
hooked his thick thumbs in his belt. "The numbers just seem to climb higher every
year," he murmured sadly to himself.
Arcane swallowed and grit his teeth. With a low growl, he gestured at the door.
Havoc gingerly stepped to the side of the doorway. Santa looked up and gave him a
cheery smile. He waved. A brilliant flash of light erupted in the small chamber.
Havoc blinked repeatedly, but it was impossible to see anything but hordes of black
dots roaming across his eyes. After a couple of minutes the room came back into
focus. Santa was gone.
"Good riddance," muttered the Kid, his eyes riveted to the empty table. "If I
had known he was just going to give us a fairy tale, I'd have let him go from the
very first!"
Havoc said nothing; he stepped forward and placed the shiny box on the table in
front of Arcane.
"Merry Christmas, Kid."
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Hail, Shadowspire, and farewell!
Thanks for the nice fight, Fan Zhen. Nice haul on the skills for you as well.
Maybe the DM can finally get his challenge in this turn. Bill suggested that since
I'm immortal I could try the DA again to be sure of getting my challenge through.
Quite a wit, that guy. We've since buried the hatchet. He should be getting out of
the infirmary soon.
Goulash, you get my challenge this turn. I do enjoy fighting other wastes.
Not many get to write three consecutive DM columns in Shadowspire. I am honored
and pleased to close out my run this way.
Lord Protector Kid Charlemagne, Duelmaster of Shadowspire
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of SHADOWSPIRE! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp
Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. I have begun to suspect trickery on
the part of SUPERIOR FORCES NT. How else weeks like this one's 4-1-0? How else the
sudden move to 11th team? LA PENTARCHIE bore the brunt of major assault on their
standings this week as they dropped to 14th position as the result of going 2-3-0!
Did only my eyes note the 4-1-0 record which MONSTER MANUAL managed to post this
round? I don't doubt that such a record will draw challengers! ZEVRAN caught the
eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested CYRIL WYRMSLAYER
and was awarded 27 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels,
ZEVRAN put down CYRIL WYRMSLAYER, causing him to lose 23 points of recognition in the
process. Who here was not present for the title fight this week as BERSERKER boldly
challenged KID CHARLEMAGNE in order to strive for the Duelmasters honors? The city
has turned out in honor of BERSERKER, for with his arena victory he may now lay claim
to the highest position in the city! No confirmation, but my sources claim that the
top team has gained their position using magical aids. Charmed weapons perhaps?
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. OF WOLF AND MAN is feared. This
much I can say. If you didn't look down dark alleys you'd have been hard pressed to
find any of LA PENTARCHIE last week. Busy avoiding OF WOLF AND MAN? Loose talk at
the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters
are after OUTLAW PETE. Watch your back! Give XORN credit for his courage. Did you
note how he challenged ELTHOR despite the 31 point difference in their rankings? In
the end XORN was bested by ELTHOR, a "sharp" reminder that higher recognition is an
indication of greater skill. Still, it was a worthy bout! A match that raised a few
eyebrows at the games this week, it seems that A.E. HOUSMAN posted a challenge
against the more highly recognized OUTLAW PETE. The results, you ask? Well, the
firebrand A.E. HOUSMAN subdued OUTLAW PETE. Remember warriors, this is the
discipline of steel.
What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his
foe's mortality? My condolences to BUBBA'S 23RD ARMY for their loss of a very
promising warrior, GRAPE JELLY. GRAPE JELLY went to doom before the arms of
PETRONIUS, a warrior of WARMASTERS. The warrior's path is harsh. For mediocrity
there is but one reward--death. This past week NOTAXESTEXAS, at 7-6-0, departed
SHADOWSPIRE forever. Let all swords of the city take heed! By law, RODENT CLAN has
but one remaining week to take their revenge upon PRONATE for the slaying of BRICK
MOUSE. Rite of Bloodfeud must forever be reserved for teams with honor. Witness
SHADOWSPIRE! OF WOLF AND MAN has failed to revenge the slaying of fallen BIG NOG.
Walk proud, warriors of SUPERIOR FORCES NT! By striking down SQUASHAPILLAR you have
avenged the honor of your dead. Your virtue is known to all in SHADOWSPIRE. SUICIDE
SEED must hold silent, for this week he was humbled in the arena by a successful
Bloodfeud won by SUPVSR of CORPORATE IDIOTS. Hail SUPVSR for thy victory! My hearty
congratulations LIMP IN, for thy revenge upon HIPPODAMEIA, slayer of thy fallen
comrade. Next time she will know better, eh? Dark alleys may hide both secrets and
assassins. In the arena there is only the brightness of steel. Keep vigil always!
A thought before I go. Each warrior practices one style, but must not the wise
manager learn the secrets of them all? 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
BERSERKER 1047 17 24 2 122 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CHUPUCASUPERIOR 1229 19 6 0 142 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
ELTHOR 1237 20 11 0 133 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
PRONATE 1320 14 5 1 122 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
GOULASH 1215 20 13 0 115 OTTO'S DINER (96)
CARIEC TOM 984 23 26 2 108 LA PENTARCHIE (11)
A.E. HOUSMAN 1306 13 7 1 104 LITERATE LOONS (40)
BLUE MARBLE 1030 24 21 0 102 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
FAN ZHEN 1288 13 7 1 102 DARQUE AGES (29)
AUGUST 1212 20 10 1 99 SUMMERBORN (104)
NARYAK 1296 13 9 1 98 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
KISS MY GRITS 1252 20 9 0 96 OTTO'S DINER (96)
ZEVRAN 1258 15 12 1 96 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
ONYB ENGLVAR 903 18 17 0 94 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
CLASSIC NAPALM 1262 13 12 0 93 LA PENTARCHIE (11)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
LIMP IN 1057 22 19 0 90 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
'68 ROAD RUNNER 747 18 8 0 90 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43)
XORN 1015 23 20 0 89 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
VACA 1210 17 13 1 89 SUMMERBORN (104)
NYDERAWYN 1046 13 12 0 87 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
'08 CHALLENGER 920 9 5 1 85 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43)
TING-TING 776 19 9 0 84 FUCHI OWNED (54)
BRIARSMILE 944 15 17 2 84 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
FIMNAR 1053 19 25 1 83 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
SINISTER SNOOPY 1069 16 23 0 83 FURRY FURY (25)
MICE AND DICE 1247 10 3 1 82 RODENT CLAN (37)
THE SUPERIOR CAT 1230 17 8 0 81 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
OUTLAW PETE 1200 23 10 0 79 JUNGLELAND (103)
BOBBY JEAN 1197 18 15 0 79 JUNGLELAND (103)
PIT FIEND 1344 10 5 1 76 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
CYRIL WYRMSLAYER 1267 13 11 1 74 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
SHAVIOLA 1322 13 6 0 70 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
ELILAD 1055 15 9 0 67 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SUPVSR 1083 8 5 0 66 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92)
VIRGINIA WOOLF 1263 7 18 1 66 LITERATE LOONS (40)
MAGIC RAT 1317 11 9 0 64 JUNGLELAND (103)
SUPERIORBANE 1226 15 10 0 63 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CICERO 1266 14 9 0 62 WARMASTERS (15)
HYPOGEE BLEVE 1364 7 7 0 62 LA PENTARCHIE (11)
MACEO 928 9 9 0 59 FUCHI OWNED (54)
MADDENED MEERKAT 1134 11 25 0 58 FURRY FURY (25)
'71 MACH ONE 952 9 3 0 58 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43)
VICTOR 1369 7 6 0 57 WARMASTERS (15)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HEINRIK 1257 11 17 1 56 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
'69 FAIRLANE COBRA 1007 6 2 1 56 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43)
BOWTIE BOB 930 10 8 0 55 FUCHI OWNED (54)
PIZZARRHEA 1348 9 6 0 55 OTTO'S DINER (96)
JAGER VON DRACHEN 1341 10 6 0 54 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
DOPPLEGANGER 1382 8 4 0 54 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
LIGDISH BANG 983 10 20 0 50 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
PATROCLUS 1410 6 1 1 49 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111)
MADAM MARIE 1356 10 5 0 46 JUNGLELAND (103)
MARCO POLO 1375 9 2 1 45 DARQUE AGES (29)
ANGRY SALAD 1432 4 2 0 45 OTTO'S DINER (96)
SHILLELAGH TOR 1294 10 12 0 42 THE RED BLADES (88)
LIAM O'SUPERIOR 1302 10 6 0 42 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
PIOTR COTTONTAIL 1352 6 7 0 41 FUZZY BUNNIES (110)
'66 CORVETTE 1036 4 2 1 41 AMERICAN MUSCLE (43)
ZOG CORNERSTONE 1319 10 9 0 39 LA PENTARCHIE (11)
RATLING GUN 1389 5 3 1 39 RODENT CLAN (37)
SUICIDE SEED 1402 3 3 2 39 THE MONSANTIS (112)
GUTTER BALL 1361 10 4 0 38 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
HOLY SHIITAKE 1433 5 1 0 38 OTTO'S DINER (96)
HR 1039 7 6 0 37 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92)
ALEKSANDR 1372 8 5 1 36 FAR TRAVELERS (113)
LUKE WAYFARE 1413 4 5 0 34 THE RED BLADES (88)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
LIFE PATENT 1340 6 6 0 33 THE MONSANTIS (112)
SMACKY BUNNY 1298 6 13 1 32 FUZZY BUNNIES (110)
CHARLES MARTEL 1346 7 7 0 31 DARQUE AGES (29)
HANA 1370 5 8 1 31 FAR TRAVELERS (113)
PANDERA PAX 1406 4 4 0 31 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111)
JOHN F QUEENY 1429 3 0 0 31 THE MONSANTIS (112)
URMAR 1373 5 8 0 29 FAR TRAVELERS (113)
CHINGACHGOOK 1371 3 10 1 29 FAR TRAVELERS (113)
OFFICE BRWN NOSER 1114 8 4 0 28 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92)
PUNT 1366 5 8 0 28 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
SISI BA-NETERU 1488 2 0 1 28 THE RED BLADES (88)
CEO 1040 5 9 0 26 CORPORATE IDIOTS (92)
ARCHON 1390 7 4 0 25 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
JAKLAK 1430 4 3 0 24 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
EL CID 1443 4 2 1 23 DARQUE AGES (29)
PETRONIUS 1434 3 3 2 23 WARMASTERS (15)
ROUNDUP 1388 3 4 0 23 THE MONSANTIS (112)
HIPPODAMEIA 1468 1 1 1 23 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111)
FIDGET 1403 5 5 0 20 LA PENTARCHIE (11)
BANK SHOT 1471 3 0 0 20 CAPITAL CARTEL (93)
SQUASHAPILLAR 1478 1 2 1 19 FURRY FURY (25)
BIG BONES BILLIE 1442 3 3 0 18 JUNGLELAND (103)
VELVETEEN 1431 3 2 0 18 FUZZY BUNNIES (110)
LUHAN 1441 5 1 0 17 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
ANGEROO 1452 4 1 0 17 FURRY FURY (25)
CREIDDY LAD 1484 2 0 0 17 SUMMERBORN (104)
BUNNY FOO FOO 1476 1 2 0 17 FUZZY BUNNIES (110)
RATURDAY KNIGHT 1440 3 1 0 16 RODENT CLAN (37)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HECTOR 1392 3 7 0 16 FAR TRAVELERS (113)
TURIN 1486 2 0 0 16 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
GLAUCUS 1446 2 2 0 16 ARCHAIC CHAOS (111)
ALP ARSLAN 1473 2 1 0 14 DARQUE AGES (29)
VERMINOTAUR 1485 2 0 0 13 RODENT CLAN (37)
GRAHAM GREENE 1435 3 3 0 12 LITERATE LOONS (40)
EYE 1419 2 6 0 12 PAPER TIGERS (114)
TYGER 1421 2 6 0 12 PAPER TIGERS (114)
THE RIGHT HAND 1456 1 3 0 12 SUMMERBORN (104)
ISIS BLOODSTONE 1475 2 1 0 11 THE RED BLADES (88)
TOM WOLFE 1467 1 3 0 11 LITERATE LOONS (40)
TIAMAT 1504 1 0 0 11 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
WALKER PERCY 1474 2 1 0 10 LITERATE LOONS (40)
SILENT KNIGHT 1497 1 0 0 10 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
MR WIGGLES 1477 1 2 0 9 FUZZY BUNNIES (110)
PORCUPAIN 1453 1 4 1 8 FURRY FURY (25)
ST JOE STRUMMER 1439 1 4 0 7 SUMMERBORN (104)
SNACKPACK 1466 1 2 0 5 FUCHI OWNED (54)
BENEDICT 1470 1 2 0 5 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
WEE TREE KING 1495 1 0 0 5 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
FLACCUS 1455 0 5 0 5 WARMASTERS (15)
STALKING STUFFR 1493 0 1 0 2 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
ZIGGY PIKE 1487 0 2 0 2 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
TITINIUS 1492 0 1 0 1 WARMASTERS (15)
KID SUPERIOMAGNE 1499 0 1 0 1 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
-CREASE 1459 0 1 0 1 PAPER TIGERS (114)
HAROLD ANGEL 1494 0 1 0 1 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
JINGLEBELL ROCK 1496 0 1 0 1 O' HOLY KNIGHTS (118)
-BENGALI 1458 0 1 0 1 PAPER TIGERS (114)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
NUMITOR 1379 3 7 0 ARCHAIC CHAOS 111 BLACK ORC 104 NONE
001 1500 0 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 SHEWISH GIANT 104 NONE
002 1501 0 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 HIGH ELF 104 NONE
003 1502 0 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 DARK CHAMPION 104 NONE
004 1503 0 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 WURM KIN 104 NONE
ALABAMA KUSH 1483 1 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 SISI BA-NETERU 1488 103
GRAPE JELLY 1482 2 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 PETRONIUS 1434 104
NINJA GURP 1479 0 1 0 BUBBA'S 23RD ARM 117 PETRONIUS 1434 102 REVENGED
SWISH 1469 0 1 0 CAPITAL CARTEL 93 HIPPODAMEIA 1468 101 JUST REVENGED
BAD EMPLOYEE 1498 0 1 0 CORPORATE IDIOTS 92 BLACK ORC 104 NONE
DICTATOR EXEC 1444 2 1 0 CORPORATE IDIOTS 92 SUICIDE SEED 1402 103 JUST REVENGED
IRN BRU 1393 6 3 0 DRAGONBANE GUILD 13 MARCO POLO 1375 102
THE CHEMIST 1465 1 2 0 FUCHI OWNED 54 STONE GOLEM 104 NONE
DJUNA BARNES 1425 2 1 0 LITERATE LOONS 40 ORIGAMI 1420 100 REVENGED
BIG NOG 1411 4 1 0 OF WOLF AND MAN 57 BRIARSMILE 944 100 NOT REVENGED
ORIGAMI 1420 2 3 1 PAPER TIGERS 114 A.E. HOUSMAN 1306 101
ANGER MOUSE 1347 5 6 0 RODENT CLAN 37 BANDIT PRINCE 104 NONE
BRICK MOUSE 987 19 10 0 RODENT CLAN 37 PRONATE 1320 101
CHILI SUPERIOR 1436 0 3 0 SUPERIOR FORCES 106 SQUASHAPILLAR 1478 102 JUST REVENGED
NOTAXESTEXAS 1323 7 6 0 THE MONSANTIS 112 VACA 1210 104
ANNA HIPPOLYTE 1427 2 2 0 THE RED BLADES 88 EL CID 1443 101 REVENGED
PERSONAL ADS
Lord Protector Kid Charlemagne of Red Blades, all Capital Cartel salutes you. --
Agent
Anger Mouse, what a valient, valient effort! Kudos. I almost felt bad winning. --
Pronate, Capital Cartel
Smacky Bunny, well, it worked. I feel like a thoroughly smacked bunny. Did you have
to block the kick, too? -- Punt, Capital Cartel
El Cid, I am sorry I didn't read that book you are in. I guess I shoulda, huh?
Nothing ever changes, does it? You are still famous and I am pure gutter. -- Gutter
Ball, Capital Cartel
Isis Bloodstone, I may have lucked one in, but I surely do not have as classy a name
as you. -- Bank Shot, Capital Cartel
Fimnar, I'll take that win. Good thing neither of us was all in. -- Limp In, Capital
Cartel
Happy New Year!!!!!!!!! -- Agent and The Capital Cartel
Agent -- You despicable cretin! What manager in this arena has need to fear you or
your crybaby, cookie-sellin', campfire group of Nancys? Other matters of significant
consequence have taken our attention and delayed our return. You and yours,
obviously, rank low on my list of things that require my attention. But come! Dry
your tears and get a grip on your soiled diapers! Chaos has returned to Shadowspire,
as no doubt you feared we would. Do your worst! -- The Arcane Kid and all the
warriors of Archaic Chaos
Role-play is fun! -- Kid Arcane
Thanks to the Ambitious Guard! He saved my day! -- Le Pentarque
P.S. Argh.
Ligdish Bang -- Jeez, you're tall! I do well against your kind it seems. -- Shaviola
Mr Wiggles -- Ugh, not sure how much I am up for this fighting stuff. -- Benedict
The Right Hand -- Well, that didn't go as expected! Also I don't think I have ever
seen anyone try to "Smack with the flat of his scimitar!" That is just weird, man!
-- Archon
Arabian Knight -- Nice challenge! Okay, maybe it wasn't for you. But I certainly
had fun! -- Luhan
Piotr Cottontail -- Are you french? Your name sounds french. I am not as think as
you slow I am. -- Zevran
Marco Polo -- Well, pony or not, that fight didn't go the way I had hoped. I thought
I could handle the bloodfeud, but it seems I may have to hand those duties off to one
of my teammates. -- Jager
Housman -- I thought that might be the result. But I did not to end up in the
Challenger Champs because of it. -- Cyril
Pete -- So, how many times have you challenged me now? Is it a lot, or does it only
seem that way because each match takes so long? -- Marble
Alp -- Interesting name. Not an interesting fight. Blech! -- Ziggy Pike
All -- Well, when I got back to the house it was empty, not a soul in sight. I guess
when the guys realized that they were no longer linked to me nor did they need me to
stay here they went in search of their own way. I give them my best and hope they do
well in what ever they decide to do:
Duchess of Erat-15(+1)-4-9-17-21(+1)-10-11 BA; ADV EXP ATT+4/INI+1/DEC+4/PAR+2
(-1 ATT, MOD PAR/INI/DEC)
Ctuchik-13-4-15-21-7-7-17 ST; MAST RIP, ADV EXP ATT+4/INI+4/DEC+2, EXP DEF (+4
in DEF, -1 DEC, MOD ATT/INI/RIP)
Beastier Wee-18(+1)-10-7-13(+1)-21-12-5 LU; EXP ATT+3 (+4 ATT, +3 PAR, -1 INI)
Arabian Knight-9-9-15-17-17-4-13 WS
Porcupain -- You got a free kill there since I will not have anyone to BF but I will
try to beat you in the next 3 turns with someone just to make myself feel better. --
Gentleben
All -- The new team was sitting out under a tree with lights when I got back home and
discovered the others were gone, well they were all under the tree save one, he was
too big to fit so he slept off to the side. Please welcome my new team the O'Holy
Knights: Stalking Stuffr, Wee Tree King, Silent Knight, Harold Angel and Jinglebell
Rock. -- Gentleben AKA Son of Santa
Merry Christmas to all and a happy new year. -- Gentleben
Agent -- Speaking of long fights, I'd be interested in knowing if I have the most
minutes on the sands of Shadowspire ever. Maybe Master Darque can look it up in his
records. -- Outlaw Pete
Cariec Tom -- You just keep avoiding baby! Can\'t get enough of you. Yum! -- Bobby
Jean
Cyril -- I was referring to the Parry part of Marco's style, not the Striker part. --
Magic Rat
Kid Charlemange -- Congrats on the invite. Perhaps they will remove the Kid part
from your name now. -- Bartender and Jungleland
Blue Marble -- Scum R Us. -- Outlaw Pete
Eye -- I just love it when blind challenges turn out to be good ones. Hope you'll
heal eventually. -- Big Bones Billie
Onyb Englvar -- Didn't I just beat you? -- Bobby Jean
Ctuchik -- Okay, so you're 5-1 against us Junglelanders. I think you've proven your
point. Now, leave us alone. -- Magic Rat
Larkin -- Awesome spy report! Please stop by again, will you? -- Bartender
Odd-numbered turns, not every one, but often, as time permits. Thanks. --
Larkin
Ben -- Sorry for the little buddy, still haven't seen the fight. I hope you received
a decent replacement. -- Grimm
My challenges and if challenges didn't work Elilad, you are lucky. -- Grimm
Anger mouse -- you one crazy fool, 90 pts? -- Angeroo
Cicero -- When I saw you were kitted out in scale I figured you wouldn't come out
offensively. Disappointed again. Nice fight on your part. -- Shillelagh Tor
Hana -- Put some salve on that. -- Luke
Bank Shot -- Clearly you're no Tim Duncan, but that was a nice fight. Thanks for the
challenge. -- Isis
Bubba -- Uh, welcome to Shadowspire! Sorry about the kill. I hope your horde of
replacements turns up shiny. -- Bill the Bard
Welcome back to the Monsantis -- from The Red Blades
Kid Charlemagne -- Congrats on the threepete, kid! Bon voyage and live life to its
fullest...catch many many fish. -- Gentleben
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
ANGER MOUSE was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
NUMITOR was slaughtered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
THE CHEMIST was killed by STONE GOLEM in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
BAD EMPLOYEE was viciously butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl.
003 was assassinated by DARK CHAMPION in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
002 was murdered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena competition.
001 was barely slain by SHEWISH GIANT in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
004 was butchered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena competition.
LIMP IN overcame HIPPODAMEIA in a action packed 6 minute uneven Bloodfeud melee.
THE SUPERIOR CAT vanquished SQUASHAPILLAR in a 5 minute uneven Bloodfeud fight.
SUPVSR vanquished SUICIDE SEED in a 1 minute one-sided Bloodfeud fight.
GRAPE JELLY was killed by PETRONIUS in a 2 minute Bloodfeud melee.
XORN was overpowered by ELTHOR in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
BERSERKER demolished KID CHARLEMAGNE in a 1 minute Challenge Title competition.
CLASSIC NAPALM demolished ELILAD in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge brawl.
SINISTER SNOOPY handily defeated HYPOGEE BLEVE in a 5 minute uneven Challenge fight.
BLUE MARBLE unbelievably bested ONYB ENGLVAR in a 7 minute expert's Challenge duel.
AUGUST devastated BOBBY JEAN in a exciting 1 minute brutal one-sided Challenge brawl.
A.E. HOUSMAN overpowered OUTLAW PETE in a 2 minute gory one-sided Challenge bout.
VACA easily killed NOTAXESTEXAS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition.
PIT FIEND overpowered HEINRIK in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
MADDENED MEERKAT was subdued by CICERO in a 2 minute expert's Challenge bout.
DOPPLEGANGER vanquished LIGDISH BANG in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fray.
VIRGINIA WOOLF overpowered MARCO POLO in a 2 minute gory one-sided Challenge match.
LIAM O'SUPERIOR won victory over LUKE WAYFARE in a 3 minute Challenge match.
PIOTR COTTONTAIL was overpowered by MAGIC RAT in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
VICTOR overpowered LIFE PATENT in a 1 minute uneven Challenge match.
ANGRY SALAD overpowered EL CID in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
HOLY SHIITAKE beat CHINGACHGOOK in a 1 minute Challenge fray.
GUTTER BALL beat PANDERA PAX in a action packed 4 minute Challenge competition.
HR overpowered ARCHON in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
URMAR slimly won victory over BIG BONES BILLIE in a popular 1 minute Challenge fray.
HANA savagely defeated LUHAN in a popular 1 minute brutal Challenge fight.
TOM WOLFE narrowly defeated ST JOE STRUMMER in a 2 minute beginner's Challenge bout.
BENEDICT slimly lost to VERMINOTAUR in a 2 minute bloody novice's Challenge duel.
BUNNY FOO FOO demolished TYGER in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
MR WIGGLES beat FLACCUS in a exciting 1 minute novice's Challenge fray.
ANGEROO outlasted WALKER PERCY in a crowd boring 9 minute novice's Challenge conflict.
ZIGGY PIKE was savagely defeated by ISIS BLOODSTONE in a 1 minute Challenge bout.
SISI BA-NETERU overcame ALP ARSLAN in a 2 minute amateur's Challenge match.
VELVETEEN defeated PORCUPAIN in a 1 minute beginner's Challenge battle.
BRIARSMILE lost to '68 ROAD RUNNER in a crowd pleasing 3 minute veteran's struggle.
PRONATE vanquished MICE AND DICE in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
NARYAK was bested by GOULASH in a 2 minute master's match.
FAN ZHEN viciously subdued NYDERAWYN in a exciting 1 minute brutal conflict.
TING-TING was luckily beaten by KISS MY GRITS in a 3 minute veteran's battle.
CYRIL WYRMSLAYER was overpowered by ZEVRAN in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
CARIEC TOM vanquished '08 CHALLENGER in a 1 minute one-sided match.
CHUPUCASUPERIOR handily defeated FIMNAR in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
MACEO was savagely defeated by SHAVIOLA in a popular 7 minute bloody fight.
SUPERIORBANE bested '66 CORVETTE in a 3 minute brutal conflict.
CHARLES MARTEL was devastated by BOWTIE BOB in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
JAGER VON DRACHEN bested SHILLELAGH TOR in a 2 minute fight.
PIZZARRHEA devastated CEO in a crowd pleasing 1 minute bloody one-sided match.
MADAM MARIE savagely defeated OFFICE BRWN NOSER in a crowd boring 18 minute bout.
ZOG CORNERSTONE was savagely defeated by '71 MACH ONE in a 2 minute fight.
SMACKY BUNNY was devastated by '69 FAIRLANE COBRA in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
ALEKSANDR defeated ROUNDUP in a exciting 1 minute duel.
RATLING GUN was overcome by PATROCLUS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute battle.
HECTOR was beaten by RATURDAY KNIGHT in a 1 minute struggle.
GRAHAM GREENE was overpowered by JOHN F QUEENY in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
FIDGET was luckily beaten by JAKLAK in a 2 minute gruesome duel.
PUNT overpowered EYE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
SNACKPACK was defeated by TIAMAT in a exciting 1 minute beginner's melee.
THE RIGHT HAND was subdued by BANK SHOT in a 3 minute beginner's battle.
GLAUCUS savagely defeated STALKING STUFFR in a exciting 5 minute amateur's fight.
CREIDDY LAD viciously subdued JINGLEBELL ROCK in a exciting 4 minute novice's bout.
TURIN savagely defeated HAROLD ANGEL in a 2 minute bloody novice's fight.
SILENT KNIGHT vanquished KID SUPERIOMAGNE in a 1 minute one-sided struggle.
WEE TREE KING overcame TITINIUS in a 2 minute novice's match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK 25 TOTAL PARRY 86 - 70 - 0 55 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 20 WALL OF STEEL 61 - 50 - 1 55 |
|TOTAL PARRY 18 STRIKING ATTACK 112 - 101 - 6 53 |
|WALL OF STEEL 13 PARRY-STRIKE 27 - 27 - 4 50 |
|AIMED BLOW 13 AIMED BLOW 47 - 48 - 4 49 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 12 PARRY-RIPOSTE 24 - 25 - 0 49 |
|BASHING ATTACK 11 LUNGING ATTACK 56 - 64 - 3 47 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 7 SLASHING ATTACK 42 - 53 - 4 44 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 7 PARRY-LUNGE 30 - 44 - 2 41 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 6 BASHING ATTACK 41 - 77 - 2 35 |
Turn 104 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:
TOTAL PARRY 13 - 5 PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 - 4 3 STRIKING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL 9 - 4 LUNGING ATTACK 8 - 12 2 BASHING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 8 - 5 STRIKING ATTACK 9 - 16 2 AIMED BLOW
SLASHING ATTACK 6 - 6 PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 5 2 SLASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 3 - 8 1 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 5 1 TOTAL PARRY
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK CHUPUCASUPERIOR 1229 19 6 0 142 SUPERIOR FORCES NT (106)
AIMED BLOW ELTHOR 1237 20 11 0 133 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
WALL OF STEEL GOULASH 1215 20 13 0 115 OTTO'S DINER (96)
TOTAL PARRY BLUE MARBLE 1030 24 21 0 102 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
SLASHING ATTACK FAN ZHEN 1288 13 7 1 102 DARQUE AGES (29)
LUNGING ATTACK VACA 1210 17 13 1 89 SUMMERBORN (104)
BASHING ATTACK NYDERAWYN 1046 13 12 0 87 PHILANTHROPISTS (85)
PARRY-LUNGE BOBBY JEAN 1197 18 15 0 79 JUNGLELAND (103)
PARRY-RIPOSTE SHAVIOLA 1322 13 6 0 70 OF WOLF AND MAN (57)
PARRY-STRIKE MARCO POLO 1375 9 2 1 45 DARQUE AGES (29)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is CARIEC TOM 984. The most popular warrior this turn
was ONYB ENGLVAR 903. The ten other most popular fighters were HIPPODAMEIA 1468,
HYPOGEE BLEVE 1364, BRIARSMILE 944, TING-TING 776, CREIDDY LAD 1484, STALKING STUFFR
1493, PANDERA PAX 1406, SHAVIOLA 1322, SINISTER SNOOPY 1069, and SISI BA-NETERU 1488.
The least popular fighter this week was OFFICE BRWN NOSER 1114. The other ten least
popular fighters were MADAM MARIE 1356, ANGEROO 1452, SMACKY BUNNY 1298, KID
SUPERIOMAGNE 1499, HAROLD ANGEL 1494, JINGLEBELL ROCK 1496, BANK SHOT 1471, EYE 1419,
GRAHAM GREENE 1435, and HECTOR 1392.
The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:
KID CHARLEMAGNE (81-1193) THE RED BLADES (88)