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Date   : 05/20/2025    Duedate: 06/02/2025

STORM ROCK ARENA

DM 107    TURN 358

RANK TEAMS                 W    L   K    %  RANK TEAMS                 W    L   K    % 
  1 RHYME TYME 55/385    548  357   4 60.6      RODENTIAN NATION 62/466
  2 MADNESS 81/465        52   42   0 55.3    6 DEFROSTED 75/455     226  333   6 40.4
  3 REDHORSE 56/469      945  958   8 49.7      CON + INSULT 32/442
    MOSSRUNNERS 1/113                           HOUSE JHEREG 35/426
  5 RAT PAK 41/468       128  166   2 43.5    7 DEADLINE 20/432       76  128   1 37.3
    MIRKWOOD ORCS 81/467

                                  WARRIOR SPOTLIGHT

                      Mission to Green Valley Gate, Chapter One

"It don't look too promising," Rabid Moose commented, and spat into the surf.

"This is the outside," Vengeance told him.  "There's supposed to be an inside, in the 
crater of the volcano.  Supposed to be nicer."

The five men gazed up at the jagged slope above the small cove, where a few buildings 
clung to a beach.  Beyond and above them, a road led to what looked like the mouth of 
a lighted cave.  As the ship glided into the harbor, more details became visible, 
including the sight of men and women unloading crates full of fish, and then the they 
saw a wide one-story building with a bright red sign over the door.  A warm breeze 
from the island brought a scent of green growing things, and the odor of dead fish. 
And a slight hint of rotten eggs.

"Monster!" said Teddy Brewster, pointing.  "A two-headed dog!"

The four other gladiators peered at the shore.  "Huh," Teetotaler grunted. "You'd 
think something like that'd be wild and dangerous, but a couple of kids are petting 
it."

"Canid Mortalis," Tortured Trout offered. Tallish and thin, he had long, red-dyed hair 
pulled into a braid down his back, and a long, scraggly brown beard.  "You find them 
around chaos gates sometimes, the chaotic energy mutates them.  Their bite is 
poisonous because they eat plants containing aconite.  Not all of their pups are born 
alive, but supposedly the aconite stabilizes the mutations.  I never heard of them 
being tame, though."  He pressed his lips together.  He was a mage but he had no 
healing ability.  They did have a few healing potions, but that was all. He didn't 
know how to treat aconite poisoning.

As their small ship, the Lazy Daisy, pulled up to the dock, Rabid Moose kept watching 
the kids with the dog, but Vengeance and his lieutenant, Teetotaler, began sending 
sailors to the hold to get the team's luggage.

The land sloped up from the docks into a crescent of rocky ground packed with 
buildings that faced the water, and two other tiers of buildings above the dockside 
ones.  The wide building in the lowest row, the one with the big red sign, turned out 
to be a tavern.  The script looked foreign, but under the words was a picture of a 
tankard of ale.

Two men and a woman, all of them brawny, came down the dock leading light pony carts 
with net sides.  The ship's captain called down to them to take the gladiators' 
luggage first. Then he came over to the five men at the rail and said, "Welcome to 
Herring.  It's been a pleasure having you all ride with us. There be monsters in the 
sea, and we liked knowing that you would fight them if it come to that.  And you been 
real polite, too. Good luck with your mission.  We'll come by again in a couple weeks, 
if you're still here by then and need a ride back to Alastari. Same low price."

Once on shore, the five men followed their luggage carts uphill, on a switchback road, 
to the cave opening. A warm breeze came out of it, smelling of green crops and rotten 
eggs, but not of fish.

"What are these light?" Teetotaler asked, stopping to gaze at one of the lamps in the 
cave walls.  "That's a bright, steady light."

"It's a flammable gas that comes out of the ground," answered Tortured Trout.  "I've 
read about it. That's the rotten egg smell, you know.  Swamp gas. They've found a way 
to bottle it and use it.  Very clever folks, here."

Teetotaler frowned.  "Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

"Oh, it is.  But the occasional explosion isn't a high price for all the convenience.  
I hope they have this kind of lighting at our hotel.  It's excellent for reading. I 
wonder if I can buy a few bottles of the stuff to use with my spells."  

Marduk grimaced.  He seldom spoke, but now he said, "Wasn't someone supposed to meet 
us here?  Someone magical?"  He glanced at the Trout.  "Besides you I mean."

"He'll probably be at the hotel," Vengeance told him.  "I was told he came here ahead 
of us, to make preparations."

The cave was a tunnel through the volcano's wall.  As they emerged from the other end 
of it, they found themselves at the top tier of a the town of Coldbridge, which 
marched down the south side of the volcanic cauldron.  Beyond the town, a lush 
patchword of pastures and planted fields lay beneath a layer of soft mist.  

Their inn, the Green Valley Host, was two tiers down, but just before the five men 
could follow their luggage into the inn yard, a scream echoed down the street.  There 
was a warbling snarl. They saw a pair of teenagers trying to fight off a giant six-
legged, armored thing wielding a short sword and a weighted net.

"CHAAAARRRGE!" Teddy Brewster roared, racing toward the fight. Vengeance, Teetotaler, 
Rabid Moose, and Marduk caught up with him, their weapons drawn.  Only Tortured Trout 
held back a little, still walking toward the fight, his lips and hands moving as he 
prepared a spell.  

The boy fell to the street, bleeding from the chest and abdomen, and the girl slashed 
at the monster with a big knife.  Her blade broke against the thing's armor, or 
armored hide, as the rescuers arrived.

                                   * * * * * * * *

                         Mission to Green Valley, Chapter Two

Teddy Brewster's headlong charge made him the first to reach the young girl being 
attacked by the armored... thing. But Vengeance was right behind him to back him up, 
or bail him out of trouble if needed.  The weapon Teddy wielded was not the official 
equipment of any gladiator in Greywand's arenas.  It was long, curved and heavy like a 
scimitar but with a wickedly hooked tip, made of a blue-tinted metal.  The hilt was 
two-handed, wrapped in leather, ending in a heavy lead club.  As he reached the 
monster he pivoted and kicked, landing the steel toe of his boot between two of its 
six limbs, apparently attacking ribs.  There was a loud thud, and the creature 
grunted, interrupting its low-pitched warble.  The teenaged girl tried to pull away 
from the monster, but its first pair of limbs tightened the clawed fingers imbedded in 
her shoulders and she screamed in pain.  Following up with a mighty swing of his 
weapon, the gladiator struck the creature's side, the blade cutting into the armor, 
his arms feeling the powerful impact, but with no sign of blood or other fluids. 
Whatever the thing was made of, it was tough.

At least it was distracted; it let go of the girl, and Vengeance pulled her away.  She 
stumbled back, her tanned face pale, eyes wide. The shoulders of her shirt were red 
with much too much blood.

"Get them to safety!" Vengeance grated.  Marduk bent and picked up the unconscious, 
bleeding boy.  Rabid Moose, not too swift on the uptake, realized he should get the 
girl into the hotel.  Teetotaler loomed near as the teenagers were carried toward the 
building.  As Teetotaler and Vengeance set themselves on opposite sides of the alien 
creature, Tortured Trout called out, "Get back!  Incoming!"

Vengeanced and Teetotaler each took a step back.  A bright light streaked from the 
Trout's hands to the six-legged creature, making it glow for a moment.  It screamed.  
Then the glow faded. The creature shuddered and uttered a strange chortling sound, 
then pivoted on its rear four legs and lunged at Vengeance.

"Oops," said Tortured Trout.  "Sorry boss.  New spell, needs work."

Although he met it with the point of his blade in the alien's abdominal armor, 
Vengeance staggered back from the heavy impact and felt its claws in his chest.  
Teetotaler barrelled into the thing from the side, knocking it away from his boss, 
plunging his spear into its body.  This time, with Teetotaler's considerable mass 
behind it, the blade penetrated the armor and sank a good eight inches into the 
thing's body.  It shrieked, a quavering sound that hurt everyone's ears.

"Get back!" said the Trout. "Lightning!"

They knew this spell worked, so Vengeance and Teetotaler backed up.  Vengeance's blade 
came free; Teetotaler's remained stuck, but he let go of it.  They ducked their heads 
and covered their eyes.  There was a sharp ozone smell as the lightning hit.  All 
three gladiators felt a jolt up through the ground, making their feet and legs tingle, 
but they all knew from bitter experience to keep their sphincters tight.

With a hoarse and fading scream, the alien fell to the pavement.  Its charred body 
broke into smoking chunks.  It smelled a bit like roasted meat, but not something that 
might be edible.

"Good one, Trout," Vengeance gasped, shaking the tingles out of his body.  He looked 
down at the remains of his bloody shirt.  "Damn.  This doesn't rate a healing potion, 
I think.  Stitches and bandages, yeah?"

"They must have a medic around here," Teetotaler said.  He offered his shoulder to 
Vengeance, who slung an arm over him.

As they helped Vengeance into the hotel, Marduk and Teddy Brewster came to meet them.  
"Let that be a lesson to the monsters," Brewster said.  Marduk added, "We have a 
healer.  This way."

They led the combatants into a meeting room off the lobby. Though he was in pain, 
Vengeance noticed a small humanoid tending to the two teenagers, who lay on a pair of 
leather couches, already bandaged. The room smelled of something herbal.

Marduk said, "Orv, these are Tortured Trout, Teetotaler, and our boss, Vengeance."  He 
looked at Vengeance.  "This is Orv, sent by Lady Greywand to help us."

Orv, who seemed rather like a human child of about eight years, nodded gravely at 
Vengeance.  "Please sit.  I have made poultices and a healing tea.  Those creatures, 
the Kharack, have unclean claws that leave infections."  Its voice was light, but 
could be either male or female.

"What else can you tell us about them?" Vengeance asked, dropping into a leather 
armchair.

"From what I have learned, they are a peaceful race, but the ones here are not at all 
peaceful.  They hate everything that is not their kind."

"Then why didn't they stay where they came from?"

The little being shrugged, as he (or she) helped Vengeance to remove his tattered 
shirt.  "Hatred is uncooperative."

                             REPORT FROM WITHIN THE TOWER

Hey there.

Storm Rock Arena had 9 fights today (as opposed to the Storm Rock suburb of Talahya, 
which had a few more).  There was just one challenge.  No one died, and Big Lake 
Outcasts were avoided by Mirkwood Orcs.

     RAT SOLDIER (62-5152) (56-27-0,250) of RODENTIAN NATION challenged MOOSE (56-
3459) (77-101-0,360) of REDHORSE.  RAT SOLDIER bested MOOSE in a crowd pleasing 1 
minute Challenge Title fight.  So, we have a new Champion of the Horn, and I'll bet 
Moose is glad to get off the hot seat.  Rat Soldier is our best Aimed Blow, and Moose 
is still the top Striker.
     MOD COD (55-2638) (443-228-5,222) of RHYME TYME fought NARSIL (81-3401) (57-38-
1,181) of MIRKWOOD ORCS.  MOD COD vanquished NARSIL in an exciting 1 minute uneven 
battle.  Mod Cod is our highest ranked Lunger and, of course, the overall popularity 
leader.  Narsil is our highest ranked Total Parry, who gained 29 points for losing to 
Mod Cod.
     HUMMINGBIRD (56-3475) (104-120-0,229) of REDHORSE fought THE OVEN BIRD (75-3934) 
(52-29-1,203) of DEFROSTED.  HUMMINGBIRD was luckily beaten by THE OVEN BIRD in a 
crowd pleasing 3 minute duel.  Hummingbird is the top Slasher and The Oven Bird is the 
top Wall of Steel.
     LAUDINA (81-3658) (48-31-2,215) of MADNESS fought ARENAMASTER SANDAVOL (107-28) 
(0-0-0,211).  LAUDINA was overpowered by ARENAMASTER SANDAVOL in a 1 minute one-sided 
fight.  Ohhh... you can't blame a fighter for getting beat by the Arenamaster, but 
Laudina is still the least popular fighter around here.  She's also the most highly 
recognized Parry-Lunge, even though she lost 25 points in that fight.
     BUCK (1-2291) (76-166-0,188) of MOSSRUNNERS fought TOUCH BASE (32-6828) (69-85-
1,192) of CON + INSULT.  BUCK was viciously subdued by TOUCH BASE in a crowd pleasing 
3 minute brutal fight.  Touch Base was voted this turn's favorite, by the spectators.
     RINGIL (81-3633) (41-29-2,184) of MIRKWOOD ORCS fought BROKEN TOE (56-3683) (73-
100-1,202) of REDHORSE.  RINGIL unbelievably bested BROKEN TOE in a popular 2 minute 
gruesome competition.
     JAVELINO (56-3728) (65-77-1,187) of REDHORSE fought RAYNER (20-182) (100-152-
3,179) of DEADLINE.  JAVELINO vanquished RAYNER in a 2 minute gruesome uneven duel.  
Rayner is the top Parry-Riposte.
     RENEGADE-RAT (41-388) (45-38-3,210) of RAT PAK fought TEM OF SMALLCLIFF (35-4865) 
(61-75-5,192) of HOUSE JHEREG.  RENEGADE-RAT was defeated by TEM OF SMALLCLIFF in an 
action packed 2 minute gory duel.
     ANDURIL (81-3435) (44-41-1,180) of MIRKWOOD ORCS fought CRYSALIS GUARD (107-29) 
(0-0-0,200).  ANDURIL overpowered CRYSALIS GUARD in a 3 minute gory uneven match.

That's all my news, and it ain't much.  Get into some trouble, you guys! 

                                          -- Olaf Modeen

CHAMPION OF THE HORN           W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 RAT SOLDIER 62-5152          57  27  0  256  RODENTIAN NATION (466)     VALAMANTIS

GRAND CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS     W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 MOD COD 55-2638             444 228  5  238  RHYME TYME (385)           KHALANI

GRAND CHAMPIONS                W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
-THE LEPER'S HAND 81-2940     75  43  1  210  BIG LAKE SOLUTION (439)    SHADOWSPIRE
 NARSIL 81-3401               57  39  1  210  MIRKWOOD ORCS (467)        SHADOWSPIRE
 THE OVEN BIRD 75-3934        53  29  1  209  DEFROSTED (455)            JADE MOUNTAIN
 TEM OF SMALLCLIFF 35-4865    62  75  5  206  HOUSE JHEREG (426)         MURSKA
 HUMMINGBIRD 56-3475         104 121  0  204  REDHORSE (469)             ROCANIS
 MOOSE 56-3459                77 102  0  204  REDHORSE (469)             ROCANIS
 ANDURIL 81-3435              45  41  1  201  MIRKWOOD ORCS (467)        SHADOWSPIRE
 TOUCH BASE 32-6828           70  85  1  199  CON + INSULT (442)         ARVAT
 RINGIL 81-3633               42  29  2  198  MIRKWOOD ORCS (467)        SHADOWSPIRE
-BURM WOLFSNARL 81-113       102  76  0  196  BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (410)    SHADOWSPIRE
 JAVELINO 56-3728             66  77  1  196  REDHORSE (469)             ROCANIS
 RENEGADE-RAT 41-388          45  39  3  194  RAT PAK (468)              KATI-TEI
 BROKEN TOE 56-3683           73 101  1  193  REDHORSE (469)             ROCANIS
 LAUDINA 81-3658              48  32  2  190  MADNESS (465)              SHADOWSPIRE
 BUCK 1-2291                  76 167  0  184  MOSSRUNNERS (113)          MORDANT

GRAND CHALLENGER ADEPTS        W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 RAYNER 20-182               100 153  3  171  DEADLINE (432)             SEAM

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                   W   L  K TEAM NAME              SLAIN BY                  TURN

                               PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE

Arenamaster -- So, 2 more NPCs to fight? We lose and get no skills? The fun never 
ends. -- Anduril & Ringil

Hummingbird -- You, again? Did you bribe the arenamaster? LOL -- Narsil

Buck -- That was quick. And where was my stat train? o_0 -- Rat Soldier

Javelino --That was fun. Much better result than our last fight. At least for me, 
anyway. -- Renegade-Rat

Moose -- I'm coming for your title. Hope I get my challenge thru. Should be fun. -- 
Rat Soldier

Burm Wolfsnarl -- Good fight. -- Moose

Narsil -- So you're from Shadowspire. What's that like? -- Hummingbird

Rat Soldier -- You hit my head three times.  Or was it four?  Confused. -- Buck

Renegade-Rat -- A renegade is like a rebel, right?  What are you rebelling against? -- 
Javelino

The Oven Bird -- You're a young lady, your arena name has nothing to do with your 
identity..  I was surprised.  You fought well, though. -- Broken Toe

The Iron Council has re-opened its guild doors!  All prior members contact Tripwire 
(DM18 or DM36) if you are interested in returning.  Also, if you have contacts for any 
of the old members, send those as well. -- Tripwire

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

RAT SOLDIER bested MOOSE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge Title fight.
MOD COD vanquished NARSIL in a exciting 1 minute uneven battle.
HUMMINGBIRD was luckily beaten by THE OVEN BIRD in a crowd pleasing 3 minute duel.
LAUDINA was overpowered by ARENAMASTER SANDAVOL in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
BUCK was viciously subdued by TOUCH BASE in a crowd pleasing 3 minute brutal fight.
RINGIL unbelievably bested BROKEN TOE in a popular 2 minute gruesome competition.
JAVELINO vanquished RAYNER in a 2 minute gruesome uneven duel.
RENEGADE-RAT was defeated by TEM OF SMALLCLIFF in a action packed 2 minute gory duel.
ANDURIL overpowered CRYSALIS GUARD in a 3 minute gory uneven match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         AIMED BLOW        13 -   5 -  0      72  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         SLASHING ATTACK    6 -   4 -  0      60  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         LUNGING ATTACK    23 -  22 -  0      51  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         PARRY-LUNGE        5 -   5 -  0      50  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         STRIKING ATTACK   10 -  10 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         WALL OF STEEL     15 -  21 -  0      42  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         TOTAL PARRY       10 -  15 -  0      40  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      3 -   7 -  0      30  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   0 -  0       0  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         BASHING ATTACK     0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 358 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:

AIMED BLOW         2 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  1         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         3  WALL OF STEEL  
LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  2     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         2  AIMED BLOW     
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  1     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  1         1  TOTAL PARRY    
                              BASHING ATTACK     0 -  0         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                              TOTAL PARRY        0 -  2         1  STRIKING ATTACK

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       RAT SOLDIER 62-5152        57  27  0  256 RODENTIAN NATION (466)
LUNGING ATTACK   MOD COD 55-2638           444 228  5  238 RHYME TYME (385)
TOTAL PARRY      NARSIL 81-3401             57  39  1  210 MIRKWOOD ORCS (467)
WALL OF STEEL    THE OVEN BIRD 75-3934      53  29  1  209 DEFROSTED (455)
SLASHING ATTACK  HUMMINGBIRD 56-3475       104 121  0  204 REDHORSE (469)
STRIKING ATTACK  MOOSE 56-3459              77 102  0  204 REDHORSE (469)
PARRY-LUNGE      LAUDINA 81-3658            48  32  2  190 MADNESS (465)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    RAYNER 20-182             100 153  3  171 DEADLINE (432)

The overall popularity leader is MOD COD 55-2638.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was TOUCH BASE 32-6828.  The ten other most popular fighters were HUMMINGBIRD 
56-3475, RENEGADE-RAT 41-388, BROKEN TOE 56-3683, RAT SOLDIER 62-5152, JAVELINO 
56-3728, ANDURIL 81-3435, RINGIL 81-3633, TEM OF SMALLCLIFF 35-4865, MOOSE 56-3459, 
and MOD COD 55-2638.

The least popular fighter this week was LAUDINA 81-3658.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were NARSIL 81-3401, RAYNER 20-182, BUCK 1-2291, THE OVEN BIRD 75-3934, MOD 
COD 55-2638, MOOSE 56-3459, TEM OF SMALLCLIFF 35-4865, RINGIL 81-3633, ANDURIL 
81-3435, and JAVELINO 56-3728.

Arena (Number)       W  L K  Arena (Number)       W  L K  Arena (Number)       W  L K  
MORDANT(1)           0  1 0  KATI-TEI(41)         0  1 0  VALAMANTIS(62)       1  0 0  
SEAM(20)             0  1 0  KHALANI(55)          1  0 0  JADE MOUNTAIN(75)    1  0 0  
ARVAT(32)            1  0 0  ROCANIS(56)          1  3 0  SHADOWSPIRE(81)      2  2 0  
MURSKA(35)           1  0 0  

TOP WARRIOR OF EACH ARENA     W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 BUCK 1-2291                 76 167  0  184  MOSSRUNNERS (113)          MORDANT
 RAYNER 20-182              100 153  3  171  DEADLINE (432)             SEAM
 TOUCH BASE 32-6828          70  85  1  199  CON + INSULT (442)         ARVAT
 TEM OF SMALLCLIFF 35-4865   62  75  5  206  HOUSE JHEREG (426)         MURSKA
 RENEGADE-RAT 41-388         45  39  3  194  RAT PAK (468)              KATI-TEI
 MOD COD 55-2638            444 228  5  238  RHYME TYME (385)           KHALANI
 HUMMINGBIRD 56-3475        104 121  0  204  REDHORSE (469)             ROCANIS
 RAT SOLDIER 62-5152         57  27  0  256  RODENTIAN NATION (466)     VALAMANTIS
 THE OVEN BIRD 75-3934       53  29  1  209  DEFROSTED (455)            JADE MOUNTAIN
 NARSIL 81-3401              57  39  1  210  MIRKWOOD ORCS (467)        SHADOWSPIRE