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By TERA STARFARE
December 28, 2006
Spike
On this grand and glorious occasion 11 Warlords came prepared to show their skill in the rings while Xenograg and Imp officiated the Autumn Warlord Tournament in the Annex. The prize for first place was to decide if they want an intercession free shot at the Overlord or at a Baron or Baroness and second place gets the one that first place doesn't want. Unlike the last few this one was single elimination or as Xenograg said if you don't win you go home.
This did cause a few comments from the spectators that had gathered to watch the dueling and cheer on their favorites or just plain cheer. There was a really good crowd that came tonight to watch just about as large if not larger than the last WLT drew. Those that entered were quite a who's who from the list of Warlords and were as follows: Cletus, Sartan, Gnimish,
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Tass, Kheldar, Bode, Skyler, Spike, Leo, Anubis, and Vanion.
The first round went like this: Skyler vs. Spike with Spike the victor. Tass vs. Vanion with Vanion the victor and Vanion got the bye in round two. Bode vs. Leo and Bode won this one. Kheld vs. Anubis and Kheldar came out on top.
Round two saw Spike defeating Cletus to move on, Kheld met up with Gnim and sent him back to his seat, Sartan dueled Bode and Sartan advanced to round three.
In round three we had Spike facing Vanion and ending his night as well as Khel's hope of another fight dashed by Sartan. The final round was Spike and Sartan in the ring together and it was quite a duel with Spike scoring 4 unanswered points to take the win and she decided she wanted a chance at being Overlord so Sartan has his prize of picking a Baron or Baroness to Challenge.
It might be noted that Spike issued Challenge verbally to Cory right then and there as soon as the last duel was finished but after a little contemplation it was decided that the blessing of the Supervisor and the Standings Keeper would be a good thing to have and so she will be sending a missive to the Overlord instead stating her intentions so that proper Protocol will be followed.
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By TERA STARFARE
December 5, 2006
On December 5, 2006 Topaz and Tass officiated as eight Casters entered the rings hoping to win the grand prize of 1,500 nobles and a step up in rank or Archmage status for a week. Second prize was to be 750 nobles and either a step up in rank or Archmage status for a week. If there were 10 or more entrants there would have been a third place prize but for this one there were only eight brave souls willing to place limbs on the line in the dueling rings!
The format was single elimination and each had their choice of one advanced spell to use during the grand and glorious fireworks that were to ensue as mage bolts, wizard blades, foul fogs, arctic blasts and all kinds of magic spells were flung back and forth and forth and back with each intending to claim that coveted first prize place at the end of the evening.
The best part about the All Ranks Tournament here is you don't have to have ever done magic before to enter. You just have to sign up along with letting the official know what advanced spell you want to use and poof you too have a chance to experience the excitement of Tournament Dueling!
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Anyway in this here one there were eight hopefuls to begin with G'nort, Rena, Aremus, Soerl, Kheldar, Kitty, Illusia, and Cory but it was Soerl who ended up winning First place and G'nort dueled his way into second place tonight. The third place prize is being held over for the next All Ranks Tournament.
 Drachen Walde Industries, owned by the Marquess and Marchioness von Triberg specializes in weapons manufacturing.
Custom orders, or off the shelf weaponry available to those with proper ID and resources.
Please see Azjah or Klinton Caer for details and pricing.
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By TERA STARFARE
Anubis Karos
Preferred Dueling Areas: Swords & Fists
This month I had an extremely rare privilege and huge honor conferred on me when I was allowed to sit down with the current Diamond of the Duel of Fists, Anubis Karos, for my column. The also two time previous Overlord of the Duel of Swords does not normally grant any interviews as he is a very private and extremely busy business man so I'd like to start off this month by thanking him for taking the time to see me and for granting me this interview.
As usual my first question was which of the sports is his favorite. I was surprised when he asked me what kind of a question was that so I explained why I was asking and he had this to say in reply.
Anubis: "Swords and Fists are very much alike in many respects. I suppose it would be politically correct to promote the Outback as I am it's Diamond, but I have also been the Overlord of the Arena as well. Both are efficient in providing me with what I want out of them."
That of course lead to my wondering what it was that he wanted out of the sports and I'm sure you must be wondering as well.
Anubis: "That's a question my own wife asks a lot… on a personal level, it's hard to say. I like the feeling of my hard fists striking at a fool's eye socket, the feeling bone relenting before my onslaught… I like the tide of crimson which brims around my daggers as they bury themselves within another. The wards, they heal damage to the body, but you remember the pain. You remember what I did, and no matter how I conduct my trade or how I live my life… you respect me. You may even fear me. The best way to put it is that it fulfills the warrior in me without risking my neck. And lastly, many take umbrage at slavers for their use of stealth and bodyguards. I do the same, but what fighter can question the manhood of the Diamond of Fists?"
When he mentioned his business it reminded me that I hadn't seen him around The Arena lately since he has been known to enslave women there on a whim. Nor has he challenged for a Barony or made any mention of wanting to wear the Mantle of Overlord again so that got me thinking and I asked him if there was any particular reason why he hadn't gone after a Barony lately.
Anubis: "From a business standpoint, I consider the Arena and it's environs to be my *sole* domain in the flesh trade. But I have other grounds as well, both within and beyond the walls. At the present time, I feel that there are more opportunities outside the duels for coin and impact than within, and business has to come before the urge to fight. As for the baronies? The titles themselves lose much luster after having clawed your way to the mountain's peak, more so after doing it twice. And I would need a district that would be both profitable and have a baron I can tolerate in order to be worth my time. To give a couple examples: E would be simple to defeat and is not a total moron, but Battlefield Park is worthless. On the other side of the coin, Dockside could be quite lucrative, but S'hort is an intolerable human being. No current baronies meet both standards."
Now that he had brought up G'nort my mind turned to the current race for Governor between G, his fellow Dueler that you can read about in the July issue of my column, and Count Talomar Longden so I asked him how he felt about the Governor's race and got a huge surprise by his answer.
Anubis: "I'll not obey any edicts or laws that either man issues… it's rather amusing. That said, I think I'll perhaps surprise you… my support is with G'nort Dragoon Talanador."
Knowing how Anubis feels about G I definitely had to know more of his reason for supporting him and he was kind enough to oblige me with explaining.
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Anubis: "I've weighed the options I have in the event that one of these two goes too far in what duties or powers they think they might have, and what they may try to do against me. G'nort is powerful at sea, and I live in the desert, well beyond the range of his cannons. He could potentially cut off my sea routes, yes, but I deal in caravans enough that I won't starve. Talomar has his own interests in flesh, I hear… I do not enjoy entertaining the idea of any slaver gaining any sort of pretense of control over my dealings. Indeed, I would like to use your interview as a forum for a statement, if you don't mind. Then we can return to your questions."
Here is Anubis' statement word for word folks as requested: "Me and you both know that interaction between the Inn and it's environs and the Arena and it's environs have grown tremendously in the past years. And business opportunities are the bastard children of any new horizons that are reached. And certainly, while your Inn-based slavers huddle in the shadows like evil caricatures, the idea of crossing over may have entered their minds. Tera, I'm not a supporter of the free market. The Arena and the Outback are off limits. I have more money, more connections, more power than any of those slavers who may read this. I remember the MorKai, I should hope I remember the Slaver's Association, given the money I made there and the unfortunate acts I was part of there. I've welcomed into my home names that many currently in the trade have thought to be mere legend. I lay my curse on any who would try to break into the market… and I take the initiative on my curses."
After that we got back to my usual questions and I asked him if he had any advice for new duelers and this was his reply.
Anubis: "It's not really in my best interests to give away any advantages that I may know. After all, it may come back to haunt me. I'll say this much: Do not duel like Xerzes Maureen or Vincent Smith."
I then asked him why it was that I never saw him on Twilight Isle dueling with magic.
Anubis: "No. For me to duel in the magical arts within my full capabilities there would cause an outcry there, and to duel there within the boundaries I have set for myself in this realm is not to my taste. It also simply does not fulfill the physical needs that the Arena and Outback do. Finally, I can hold my nose and deal with lesser company for so long, but the Isle dips below my tolerance. Will Wulfson is darkly amusing and Syous and Esper have certain dignities to them, but there is no one else worth the mention."
I did ask Anubis what he wanted most to be remembered for when the day came that he retired but he hasn't really thought of that yet as he sees it is far to far away to even contemplate yet. Those were all the questions that I had and so I asked him if he had anything else that he would like for me to put in the paper for him.
Anubis: "I would encourage fans of bloodshed to watch the Team Dueling League. You won't find me there, as it's not to my tastes, but it provides regular doses of humor and excitement. In particular, I enjoy the Wrecking Crew, as their boastfulness always amuses me when I recall how often I have bested them. They have a new rookie sensation named Naiya Lenai. I suspect she will make a succulent acquisition after TDL's season ends. And I have but one more thing to say.
I plan to issue challenge to Johnathan Ecorian Havoick for the mantle. It speaks volumes about his lack of popularity and support as Overlord that I, of all people, have received requests to amend the situation. Obviously, given my record against the alleged Supreme Duelist, I can see why I would be approached… and I do desire to be Overlord again… if only to see the look on the unwashed prairie dog Xenograg's face when he has to acknowledge that I have equaled his beloved record. But Havoick has been lackluster, and it shows in the boredom of his reign. Also, in case I wasn't clear earlier, I plan to own rookie sensation Naiya Lenai before the year ends."
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