A call unto the Barons and the Community.

[DoS Archive]

From: sartanz@aol.com (Sartan Z)
Date: 21 May 2000 22:30:40 EDT

In the time I've been a part of the Duel of Swords, there have been two challenges in which debates have arisen about the answering of challenges and the match itself that I've been closely related to. One was the challenge I issued to Darkness, which doesn't have much to do with this issue, it seems. The other was Huma Dragonbane's challenge to Dalamar Ar'Daumon.

In this challenge, Dalamar failed to appear the day of his match, and the matter was brought to the Council immediately. While many other things took place during and before the Council's deliberations, the Council had the final decision in the matter. Whether that decision was right or wrong is a moot point now, what is important is that the Council was given that choice, to decide as they will, as is their right and responsibility as Baron and
Baronesses of the Duel of Swords.

Now, let me interject some opinions. Before reading Val's missives my feelings were similar to Cassius, frighteningly enough. If Drey had been in the know and had agreed to an extension, then why should the Council involve itself if both were agreed? However, if Avery had taken it upon himself to go around his challenger and simply ask the Supervisor, there certainly be some action taken by the community as a whole, for this would be a matter for
the Council, be their decision to immediately strip Avery or to select that same extension.

After reading Val's statement, my opinions hold the same, but I have an added question, for Val. Why grant the extension, if you intend to give Drey the same choice he would have had without this? The obvious answer seems, to me, that you want Avery to have some extra time, to return and answer the questions during the Council's inquiry as to why he missed the challenge, if you do give Drey the choice between rescheduling and taking the matter to
them. To be quite honest, if the Council is involved, I can't see them rushing to make a decision without waiting a reasonable time upon Avery's return, because there may be a very good reason as to why he's not here...good enough to not warrant some punishment, I doubt, but still, it could be a very compelling reason for the Council and I'd like to think they would wait upon hearing from Avery before tending a decision.

If this is favoritism, as some have hinted at (not so subtlely in some cases) it seems of a very poor variety. My question is, stated once more and in a simpler form, why involve yourself in this matter at all, Val?

Curiously,

Sartan

[DoS Archive]

From: verceterixfavre@aol.com (Verceterix Favre)
Date: 21 May 2000 23:01:38 EDT

If Avery did not show up for the duel, it is a forfeit and the matter should be sent to the council. There should be no granted extension after the fact.

If Avery asked for extra time beforehand and both agreed, that's fine. From what I understand, he did not. What this does is set up difficutlies for all future challenges. The challenged has no need to show up for the date of their challenge, because they will be granted extra time. If they aren't given extra time, they would have every right to be upset since someone else was granted an extension and they were not.

Fix this mess now. Send the matter to the council and let them decide what to do. Take yourself out of the equation, Val.

-Rix

[DoS Archive]

From: hostdfcval@aol.com (HOST DFC Val)
Date: 22 May 2000 00:13:22 EDT

Community,

Below this short statement there will be copies two missives recently exchanged between Baron Starke and myself. I did get his permission to post a copy of what he has written to me. With the upcoming Warlord's Tournament, there can be no futher challenges to the Overlord anyway, so his decision does not hinder anyone else from challenging the Overlord.

Val

First, my message to Baron Starke:

Baron Starke,

As the midnight hour approaches, the extension I've granted to Overlord Blade expires. Therefore the decision now lies in your hand. If you wish, you can give him a few more days to respond and possibly set up a match. Or, you can send this matter to the council and let them decide. If you choose neither, the matter will be sent to the council anyway. Let me know of your decision.

Val

And now Baron Starke's reply:

I want an extension for Avery so we can duel. I didn't challenge anybody else but Avery. That is my decision. Give him more time.

Drey D'erest Sanchez Starke
13th

[DoS Archive]

From: foxxgrrl@aol.com (Foxxgrrl)
Date: 22 May 2000 00:25:08 EDT

What right does Drey have over the decision to honor extensions?

Does no one else see the problem in this? Mr. Starke is not an official of this sport, he is a participant. Though this matter concerns him directly, he is hardly a law-making party. Official decisions in this sport are not made on the basis of who'll be happy with them, they are made on the basis of what is fair.

At least, one would hope so.

If this is the accepted practice, perhaps I should issue challenge to some friend of mine. They could deign to set a date, I could agree to an extension of their replial time.. and voila, they're free from direct challenge.

-Ally St. Reynolds

[DoS Archive]

From: hostdfcval@aol.com (HOST DFC Val)
Date: 22 May 2000 00:32:22 EDT

>
>If this is the accepted practice, perhaps I should issue challenge to some
>friend of mine. They could deign to set a date, I could agree to an
>extension of their replial time.. and voila, they're free from direct
>challenge.

Miss Reynolds,

Apparently you're missing one of the points I made. One of the reasons I'm allowing this is because that no one else can challenge the Overlord due to the upcoming Warlord's Tournament, and the grace period for the Overlord that comes from it. If there was no Warlord Tournament scheduled within 24 days, this would be a different story. But that is not the case.

Val

[DoS Archive]

From: quickvarmg@aol.com (QuickVarMG)
Date: 22 May 2000 01:07:06 EDT

As written to the appropriate parties:


~~~~~~~

Hence, my case proven on the Overlord being permitted to go beyond the rules of engagement. Thank you, Val, for giving Avery the right to break the rules with no penalty. It has increased my faith in the integrity of the sport in such a way that it's impossible to measure.
I suppose I have to make a few friends here so I may secure a safe place for myself.

Var Medici-Giovanni

~~~~~~~~~




Var Medici-Giovanni


Proud Father, Proud Husband

[DoS Archive]

From: jonalyn@aol.com (Jonalyn)
Date: 22 May 2000 01:39:36 EDT

Master Valentine Evermeadow,
Barons of the Council,

Unto thee, Master Valentine Evermeadow,

I must express disheartenment that thee continue in thine path of usurpation of the rights and privileges of the Barons.

Again, sir, I must protest thine decision, for in that the matter, by rights ast well ast by the rules of engagement dost rest solely with the Council of Barons.

The Renegade Baron, Master Drey D'erest Sanchez Starke, hae to right to offer the courtesy of rescheduling his meeting with the Overlord, Avery Shiv Blade. That right expired upon the stroke of midnight upon the eighteen day of the fifth month of the common era.

The Baron Dustin hast stated he considers the usurpation of the rights of the Council and the setting aside of the rules of engagement ast being a small infraction of the law, traditions and customs. Perhaps tis the Baron's own inexperience in such matters which lead him to make such a statement. Perhaps he merely hast nae considered the ramifications of such a decision. Perhaps he considers the title of Baron to merely indicate that he hae
managed to gain a victory and that such title carries with it no responsibility or duty. Perhaps he hae nae considered the dangerous precedent set by this matter. Perhaps he cares nae that such a decision proclaims before the community that the Barons are content to bend knee and nae demand of Master Valentine the rights granted unto them by the charter of the duels.


Unto thee, Baron Drey D'erest Sanchez Starke,

Though perhaps some may accept ast laudable thine offer to permit an extension unto the Overlord Avery Shiv Blade, thee, sir, join with Master Valentine Evermeadow in undermining the rights and privileges of your fellow Barons. Such deeds merely perpetuate the growing perception of bias, prejudice and lawlessness and dost mightily demean the title of Baron.

Gentlemen, I remind thee all, the future rests upon the tapestry of the past. Dost permit thee the usurpation of the rights and privileges of the Barons, thou dost open the path upon which tyranny may ride forth and encompass the future.

Gentlemen, rebellion ist a dangerous concept, however, sirs, rebellion in the face of a tyranny must be considered. Loyal, Neutral, Renegade, gentlemen, the time ist now to stand together in the face of lawlessness.

M'lord Var Medici-Giovanni, ast the senior Baron of the Council, I do call upon thee to demand of Master Valentine that he rescind his despotic decision and, should he fail to do so, that thee stand in opposition to the tyrant and call the Council of Barons into immediate session to adjudicate the matter ast be right and proper.

Let nae tyranny gain foothold within the sport nor within the community, gentlemen. Let nae this Council of Barons be writ in the history ast the Council which didst permit the banishment of the rule of law. Let nae the history record thine names ast condoning tyranny. Gentlemen, tis time for deeds.

Stand together in this gentlemen!! Down with the Tyrant!

Jonalyn Nenshen Starfare.

[DoS Archive]

From: quickvarmg@aol.com (QuickVarMG)
Date: 22 May 2000 02:01:54 EDT

Again, as sent to the appropriate parties


~~~~~~~~

Lord Valentine Evermeadow, son of the great Goldendust Evermeadow, the man who called my first duel of the Duel of Swords. I am demanding you relinquish this decision of yours and allow the Council of Barons to decide Avery's fate, as per in the rules of engagement.
I have grown with the belief that man, no wonder how pure of heart or intention, is not to abuse his power. Even to this moment, when I find your decision one of abusing power, I will not counter and call forth the barons to vote in defiance. That would lead to me abusing power, and thus, making me no better than what you are doing.
What I will do, however, is make use of my right as senior baron to call you to task, just as it is the right of every other baron to call you to task. I will not turn this council into a group of men trying to flex muscle and trying to overturn your decision, when in fact, it is your decision that overrides the council anyhow.
I shall write to you Val, at least once per day, demanding you turn over the matter to the council. I will try to find some more time each day to send you a couple more letters, demanding that you turn the decision over to the council. Furthermore, I will post these letters upon the board so the community may witness your negligence. Moreover, I encourage all other barons to write to Val as often as they can, demanding that he relinquish the
decision to the Council of Barons as per our rights in the rules of engagement.
I suggest you have your reading glasses handy until you decide to give the Council the right to vote, because I will not sit here and allow the Council be reduced to mere pawns.

Var Medici-Giovanni

~~~~~~~




Var Medici-Giovanni


Proud Father, Proud Husband

[DoS Archive]

From: jonalyn@aol.com (Jonalyn)
Date: 22 May 2000 05:49:29 EDT

Master Valentine Evermeadow,

Perhaps thee wandered into some passing twist in the time space continuum, sir, or perhaps thee merely be seeking some sympathy from those who were nae present in the basement upon the eve of the eighteenth.

T'was I assure thee, sir, more than a mere hour hae passed betwixt the time thee didst declare that thee wouldst make known unto the community thine tyranny and when I didst place mine initial missive upon this cork. Perhaps, sir, thee didst wish the silence to reign longer than it hae before thine perfidy didst come unto the knowledge of the community? Indeed, sir, how like a budding tryant to wish his deeds to go unbeknownst. Wast nae the
Baron, Cletus Gandarfald's inquiry into the matter given short shrift, young sir?

Indeed, young Master Evermeadow, I shall nae disabuse thee in thine self proclaimed, title, that of Tyrannical Menace.

Jonalyn Starfare,
Common as they come

[DoS Archive]

From: rlupton@aol.com (RLupton)
Date: 22 May 2000 14:34:20 EDT

In the past, if there was an abuse of power within this sport's officials, we could turn to the Supervisor and he would fix it.

Now, the Supervisor is the one flaunting abuse and there is none to overturn him.

If this situation is not resolved effectively, I will be retiring from the Duel of Swords until fairness returns.

~ Lupton

[DoS Archive]

From: oortael5@aol.com (OorTael5)
Date: 22 May 2000 16:21:46 EDT


Community,

This is all very ridiculus. Lord Evermeadow should not have played any role in this at all. The matter should've been turned over to the Council immediately where it would be our place to decide what to do with it. What comes of this issue will be precedence for future rulings of this sort. Do we wish to send the message that as long as the challenged have made friends in high places they may get around the set rules of the Sport? I doubt that any
person would want such a ruling to stain the history pages of the Arena.

Please, Lord Evermeadow, let the Council do it's rightful duty and decide what is just in this case.

-Galin Taelca

[DoS Archive]

From: ianmackenzie@aol.com (Ian MacKenzie)
Date: 22 May 2000 17:56:58 EDT

"I didst make query of Master Valentine Evermeadow and didst learn that he hae granted unto Avery Shiv Blade an extension of time in which he must face his challenger. Such an extension ist a blatant flouting of the rules of engagement and dost infringe mightily upon the rights, duties and privileges of the Barons Council."

Lady Starfare:

This is not the first time that the Supervisor of the Sport has given an extension; indeed, the first time, as you'll recall, resulted in a lawsuit filed against Master Gloin, Kalamere Ar'Din, Billy Ray, Gnimish Gnimoi, and myself, stemming from my challenge to Overlord Gnimoi.

Said lawsuit was summarily disregarded, as it was quickly determined that the Supervisor does, indeed, have the right to do so.

Regards,
Ian Rex.

[DoS Archive]

From: ianmackenzie@aol.com (Ian MacKenzie)
Date: 22 May 2000 18:00:45 EDT

"The only deviation I would accept is the scenario that Valentine suggested an extension to both parties, or to Drey, and they(or he) accepted."

Lord Maximus:

In the case I have just mentioned, the extension was requested by Master Gloin.

Gloin, people. Think about that one.

Regards,
Ian Rex.

[DoS Archive]

From: casmaxim@aol.com (Cas Maxim)
Date: 22 May 2000 19:52:54 EDT



Laird MacKenzie, I could very well be wrong, but was that not before the formation of the Baron's Council?








Cassius Gaius Maximius

Baron of the 12th

[DoS Archive]

From: gunthrodw@aol.com (Gunthr ODW)
Date: 22 May 2000 21:40:19 EDT

Perhaps I am missing something here, but if Avery requested an extension from the supervisor, and Drey even told the supervisor that he wanted the extension to duel Avery, what is the problem? Avery has a 24 day grace period, personally I could care less if he waits until the 24 and final day of it, as long as the challenge is taken care of before the tourney. Had this been at another time perhaps a different story, but
under the circumstances I feel that Valentine should have the final say in this one. If, for any reason, he feels it unfair to the sport, then send it to the council, if he feels it would hurt nothing by granting Avery an extension then screw it. Damn, quit being such sticklers and give it some time. You all expect this to be rectified in a damn hour when it makes little difference, as there is the grace period. Perhaps I am missing something here,
perhaps not.

Gunthar