Rings of Honor

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The 9th ring is believed lost to the rift in the events of 2005.

Reign Summaries

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John Gaunt (2/7/95 - 2/28/95)
This ring was first held by John Gaunt, otherwise known as Grimjak. Three weeks after winning the ring, John became the first Baron to be unseated by a challenger.

Moralitor (2/28/95 - 6/14/95)
Moralitor, the mage of Questrion, became the second Baron of this line. The ring was defended once during his three and a half month reign. The challenge came from Falire, the mad sweep. Overlord Siera Redwin stepped in on this challenge, to defend her loyal Baron. Siera defeated Falire. Alas, Moralitor finally stepped down from his position, retiring his ring to the Warlord Tournament.

Phantom DoS (8/30/95 - 11/2/95)
The ring remained in the hands of the DoS officials for two and a half months before the tournament was held. Phantom DoS was one of three warlords to claim a ring from the tournament and he became the third to hold the Ninth Ring. Phantom was challenged twice during his reign, the first by Sir Galar whom he defeated, and the second by Merilsa MacDonnly who later withdrew her challenge. After wearing the ring for two months, Phantom was defeated in his third defense, by Daegarth Mithmellon.

Daegarth Mithmellon (11/2/95 - 4/2/96)
Daegarth never defended the ring. After a reign of five months he challenged and defeated Martigan Crow for the title of Overlord.

Martigan Crow (4/2/96 - 7/24/96)
Martigan became the fifth to hold the ring, trading places with Daegarth. After an uneventful reign of three and a half months, Martigan was challenged by Zen Rising and lost.

Zen Rising (7/24/96 - 8/27/96)
Zen held the ring for only a month before being challenged by Daegarth Mithmellon, who was determined to reclaim the ring he called his own. Complications arose when they failed to set a date for the challenge and when one seemed to be set, neither showed. After Zen again failed to respond to challenge, the first-ever Barons' Council was convened to settle the matter.

The council elected to strip Zen of the ring and to have Daegarth face another of the current Barons. If he won, he would become the seventh holder of the Ninth Ring. The Baron he faced was Adeena Maeax, the longest standing Baron and one of two tied for the most title defenses at the time. Adeena was victorious in the match and the ring was then placed back in the of the DoS Officials.

Iain MacKenzie (11/5/96 - 12/24/96)
At the following Warlord tournament, Iain MacKenzie went undefeated to claim the title, becoming the first ever to hold three separate Baron's rings.

Not to be outdone, Elijah Basia-Uhr challenged Iain for the chance to be the second to ever hold three separate Baron's rings. The win went to Elijah, as did the ring.

Elijah Basia-Uhr (12/24/96 - 1/19/97)
Almost immediately after becoming the eighth Baron to wear the ring, Elijah issued challenge to Overlord Leto. The match was controversial, which was characteristic of those times, but the result was a dizzying turn of events. The duel began with Overlord Leto declaring that Warlord Jeffery Oakenshield would be his champion in the Test of Worthiness against Elijah. Elijah, in turn, chose Iain MacKenzie, the man whom he beat to obtain the ring, to be his champion and face Jeff in his place. The two Warlords met each other in the ring to champion the rights of the others. It was the Overlord's champion who won.

Jeff's victory over Iain secured his right to fight Elijah. In order to make it to Leto, Elijah had to win. Jeff, however, had bested Elijah while defending his own Baron's ring some time before and managed to do so again this night. Elijah met the test of steel and was unable to prove himself worthy to face the Overlord. Not only that, but the loss also gave Jeff the right to challenge Elijah for his ring. The two took the floor again, this time it was Elijah as the challenged, not the challenger. Again, he fell to Jeff's sword.

Jeffrey Oakenshield (1/19/97 - 3/1/97)
By virtue of his three straight victories, Jeffery Oakenshield became the ninth Baron to hold this ring. With Jeff's history, it was only a matter of time before he faced a challenge. The betting people of the arena had their gold down on Lupton being the first. The masses were not dissapointed, as Lupton was indeed the first to challenge.

The result of this duel was the same as the three times Lupton had challenged Jeff for the Seventh Ring. Jeff had accomplished an incredible record of 5-1 when defending his title and 4-0 when the challenger was Lupton.

Jeff's next challenge was the first from a duelist with no affiliation to House Llewys-Lathadoscia. Rather it was Ulysses Graham 'd Nitesong Sidhe, lifemate of ex-Overlord, Alais 'd Nitesong Sidhe, who challenged. Uly's challenge was not based on House, politics or even on personal dislike. The challenge was annouced to Jeff for the reason that he was perhaps the most impressive of the current Barons. He wished for the match to be a true test..... and indeed it was.

In a challenge that was close the entire way, Ulysses defeated Jeff by a narrow 5-4 margin and became the tenth Baron to wear the Ninth Ring.

Ulysses Graham 'd Nitesong Sidhe (3/1/97 - 6/20/97)
Uly's first challenge came two and a half months later. Ex-Overlord Valmion, only recently returned to the rings after quite some time away from RhyDin, decided to re-enter things post-haste. It was the present Overlord, Athlstan, who made a difference in this one though. By virute of the Test of Worthiness, Athlstan entered the duel and met Valmion in the center ring. It took eleven rounds, but when all was done it was Athlstan who emerged the victor... Thereby revoking Valmion's challenge and maintaining Uly's status as a loyal Baron....

There was no intercession on the challenge that followed. Queen Luthien Tinuviel issued her first ever challenge to any title, despite having been around since before there were such things as Barons in the Duel of Swords. The words of challenge were civil, but what went on in the ring was anything but. In eleven rounds, there were only two where one of the duelists did not take a point. In the end it was Luthien who took the win and with it the Ninth Ring.

Queen Luthien Tinuviel (6/20/97 - 6/21/98)
Baroness Tinuviel maintained a peaceful hold on the Ninth Ring, despite the flurry of challenges for the other eight. Perhaps it was a mark of respect for a formidable duelist known for her grace inside as well as outside the ring. Maybe it was the knowledge that any who dare snatch it from her would be immediately challenged by two former ring holders now loyal to Tinuviel: Moralitor the Black, second holder of the ring; and Iain MacKenzie, seventh Holder of the ring and the Baroness' husband. Whatever the reasons, Baroness Tinuviel was unchallenged for the first four months of her reign.

In September, a ripple appeared in her tranquil reign. Steve Lynn Glowacki issued challenge. In a time of bitter words and grudge matches, Glowacki's challenge was unique and sublimely simple: he was worthy to hold a ring and wished to duel the Baroness because she had never been challenged.

But Baroness Tinuviel never set foot in the ring with Glowacki. Overlord Dalamar Ar'Daumon interceded for his loyal Baroness and shut-out the challenger in a rare six round 5-0 defeat.

The Baroness went another four months without challenge before a nameless Dueler stepped forward with intent to "test" the untried holder of the ninth ring. But an intercession, again, by the Overlord defeated the hopes of facing the Baroness as he won over the would-be tester.

Intending to mark Tinuviel's upcoming one-year anniversary as Baroness of the Ninth, Warlord Topaz Eludes issued challenge as a friend to a friend. Out of respect for that intent, the Baroness requested Overlord Dalamar not defend her in this instance. The match went twelve long rounds, with Topaz taking an early, strong lead and maintaining it throughout to win 5-3.

Topaz Eludes (6/21/98 - 7/22/98)
First to challenge the new Baroness was Lupton est Dracoern, long-standing Warlord and previous Baron of the Fourth ring. In eight hard-fought and bloody rounds, the Baroness was only able to tie Lupton's score once, and in the end he became the new Baron of the Ninth with a 5 -3 victory.

Lupton est Dracoern (7/22/98 - 10/3/98)
Not long after, Lupton received challenge from Warlord Baphelocutis est Lathadoscia. His reasoning: Lupton lead a coup within House Lathadoscia and ejected Baphe from the House Baphe himself had taken Lupton into. The Warlord now held to his oath to eject Lupton from any challengable rank he might gain.

The Warlord gained a three-point lead early in the match, but as it stretched on to fourteen rounds, Lupton's endurance proved the greater, finally retaining his title with a 5-4 victory.

Immediately, the Baron faced another challenge, this from Warlord Gloria Blaze of House Atrebla, for the honor of her dead love Breager. This match went not so long as the first, and with a 5 -2 win in eight rounds, Lupton successfully defended his title twice within a few hours.

The Baron enjoyed a lull of over a month before receiving his third challenge, this from Warlord G'nort Dragoon Talanador. Lupton had previously taken the Fourth Ring from G'nort, and attempted to take the Fifth; now it was G'nort's turn to bring challenge to his old enemy. The match itself was hard fought by both men, the score kept close until the very end, when the Baron thrust into a matching thrust from the Warlord, who was leading in the score and thereby secured the win, 5 - 4 in ten rounds.

G'nort Dragoon Talandor (10/3/98 - 1/26/99)
Three months after taking the Ninth Ring, Baron G'nort faced challenge by Warlord Galin Taelca. The match remained close-fought for the entire eight rounds, but the Baron was never able to bypass the lead originally taken by Galin. His 5 - 3 victory gave him the Barony and made the Ninth Ring Renegade to Overlord Dalamar.

Galin Taelca (1/26/99 - 9/28/99)
Galin went without challenge for almost three months before Warlord Roland Sal Roa decided to try his hand at gaining the Ninth. The first half of the duel was a demonstration of caution, with only one point being scored in four rounds, by the Warlord. It proved, however, to be the only point Roland would score. The Baron took point in each of the last five rounds, an incredible sweep which secured his title without question, 5 - 1 in nine rounds.

Four months past after Galin's defense, when Former ring holder of the Ninth, G'nort Dragoon Talanador set forth challenge. Galin publicly announced that he found G'nort to be an honorable and good man. Neither contenders held any grudges and both Warlord and Baron wished an honorable match. As it was wished by both duelists, the challenge was founded to be one of the most honorable matches in history. The magic number was nine as well, as in the Ninth month of the Ninety-Ninth year. G'nort did defeat Galin, 5-4 (total score of Nine), in Nine rounds. G'nort Dragoon Talanador aligned himself Renegade to the Overlord.

G'nort Dragoon Talandor (9/28/99 - 4/18/00)
Many long months past without challenge to the Baron, months in which G'nort gave evidence of a growing discontent with the Duel of Swords. When Warlord K'yorl Jaraxel finally issued challenge, the Baron realized he had no interest whatsoever in defending the title. Rather than fight a challenge match giving less than his best, he retired from the Barony and from the Duel of Swords. The Baron's Council decided to place a champion against K'yorl. Baron of the Fourth Jesse Troyan pushed heavily to be chosen, even to stating that were he not, he would intercede on behalf of the challenger on every Test of Worthiness or Overlord intercession that would come after. This declaration made little impact on the Council's decision, however. Baron of the Eighth and Bearer of the Ninth before G'nort, Galin Taelca, was chosen as the Champion.

The match itself was hard fought and close throughout, Galin testing K'yorl's skill to the limit. That limit was not quite as high as the Baron's, however, and after twelve rounds the Council's Champion was triumphant by 5 - 4. The Ninth stood vacant pending the next Warlord Tourney.

Sartan (5/30/00 - 10/1/00)
Three Rings were vacant for the Second Quarter Tourney. As unsurpassed victor, Sartan had his choice of prizes, and took as his the Ninth. Through the middle of the year, Baron Sartan held the Ninth Ring without interruption until Baron Lucian laid successful challenge to Overlord Daegarth Mithmellon on the first day of the tenth month. The Baron Sartan could not declare himself Loyal, and so he chose to immediately abdicate his title rather than declare himself Renegade to a friend.

Ministere Secondat (12/15/00 - 4/11/02)
As the runner-up in the last month warlord tournament of the year 2000, Ministere Secondat, with only one loss, claimed the Ninth Ring as prize and declared loyalty to Overlord Lucian.

One day after his ten-month anniversary, Secondat faced his first challenge from Anubis Karos. The match remained low key during its validation process, and the community was unsure as to when it would begin until minutes before the match. Secondat pulled away to open the match, securing himself a four-point lead after five rounds. Anubis rallied to pull within one, but that would be all he could muster and in the end, he fell to Secondat by a score of 5-3 in nine rounds.

It would be nearly another six months before Secondat received his next challenge. Recently returned former Overlord and Baron, Cletus Ganderfald, was the man who issued it. Almost immediately it became apparent that Overlord Dalamar Ar'Daumon would be interceding on behalf of the Baron. Thus, when it came time for the match to be fought, Baron of the Tenth, Var Medici-Giovanni, was ready to defend Cletus' right to challenge. However, Var was clearly outmatched in this instance as the Overlord shut him out in six short rounds. With no break, Dalamar and Cletus met. This time, it was the Overlord who received the shorter end of the stick, falling to Cletus' blade in the same six rounds, but by a score of 5 - 3.

The final match of the evening finally pitted challenger against challenged. After five rounds, Cletus was well on his way to the second shut out of the night, building up a 4 - 0 lead. That was a lead Secondat would never be able to overcome. Two rounds later, Cletus closed the door with a 5 - 1 victory.

Cletus Ganderfald (4/11/02 - 4/18/02)
The following day, Cletus announced that he intended to challenge Overlord Dalamar as soon as the rules allowed him to. Until that time came however, Cletus made an offer to all of Dalamar's loyal Barons. Cletus offered to duel any loyal Baron in a match where the loser would retire their ring, and in the event Cletus lost, ending his chance to challenge Dalamar. Four barons offered to duel, but only one would receive the chance. Baron of the Twelfth, Elijah Basia Uhr was the first to duel, and after a grueling twenty-seven round match, defeated Cletus by a score of 10.5 - 9.5. As per the agreement, Cletus retired the Ninth.

Cletus Ganderfald (6/4/02 - 7/22/02)
The latest trend amongst Barons however was to reclaim the rings they had just previously retired. Cletus stated this was not his intention when he entered the second quarter Warlord Tournament of '02. But even though he did not intend to, when the dust from the tournament had settled, Cletus once more held in his possession the Ninth ring, due to a second place finish. As he did less than two months prior, he declared himself renegade over Overlord Dalamar.

Not long after re-acquiring the Ninth, Cletus set his sights higher. This time however, he went directly for the Overlord, and not his loyal Barons. Cletus was subjected to a Test of Worthiness, and his brother, Warlord Magnus Eques, stepped forward to remove it from Cletus' path. Magnus fought and defeated the Overlord's champion, Sartan, by a score of 5-3 in ten rounds, and cleared Cletus' challenge to proceed. Cletus went on to defeat Dalamar, and by virtue of the services the Warlord rendered, awarded Magnus the Ninth ring.

Magnus Eques (7/22/02 - 11/3/02)
The first one to challenge Magnus was neither a stranger to the Baron or his brother. Warlord Cassius Maximus issued yet another challenge to Baron Magnus. His reasonings were simple; he needed a "rubber match." Magnus was successful when Cassius challenged for the Thirteenth back in July of '99, but in February of '02, Cassius was successful in a challenge for the second.

Cassius Maximius (11/3/02 - 5/16/03)
Tying the score from the Challenge to the Thirteenth, Cassius and Magnus played a reversal of roles with Cassius on the winning side of a 5-4 bout in 9 rounds. The match seemed to take its toll on Cassius, who passed out after the match. His friend G'nort tended to his wounds, and eventually the new baron came to. However, his words of alignment to the Overlord Blindfold Proxy were not clear enough for the official on hand to note. Cassius wrote the following day his declaration of the 9th ring as Renegade.

About a week after acquiring the 9th Ring, Baron Cassius set his sights a little higher. He issued challenge to the Overlord Blindfold Proxy, stating the challenge to the Overlord is the only experience the Duel of Swords has to offered he has not yet endured. As the day of the challenge grew nearer, tensions rose, as accusations were thrown to the Overlord that he was responsible for the interference upon the Ward of Gondar. Between these accusations and words from the Overlord himself, Cassius had announced his plan to kill the Blindfold Proxy.

Perhaps this instigated the Proxy's next move, or he had it planned all along, but Cassius was to face the Test of Worthiness administered by Warlord Drey Starke, one not unfamiliar with the Test. Neither Cassius, or his champion could defeat Drey.

By virtue of defeating a challenging Baron in a Test of Worthiness, Warlord Drey was granted and exercised his immediate right of challenge to Cassius. The Baron opted for the Best of Three format, a very taxing tactic considering Drey had already dueled twice that evening. Cas led 3-0 early in the first duel. Despite a valiant comeback by Drey to tie it up, Cassius quickly recovered to take the first duel 5-3 in 12 rounds. The second duel (or third duel, if you care to include the Test of Worthiness) was clearly in favor of the challenging Warlord, taking the duel 5-0 in 5 rounds. Wanting to get the final duel over with, however, Cas wasted no time saying he's ready for the third duel of the best of three, and Drey's fifth duel in a row.

Five was Drey's limit. Cassius grabbed the lead and never looked back. Ironically, every duel this evening was won by the first duelist to score, with the lead never switching. Cassius took the final duel 5-2 in 8 rounds, securing his right to wear the Ninth Baronial ring, and announced his intent to come back for the Proxy next cycle.

Cassius' next challenge came a little over two months later, this time from a familiar opponent. Sergeant Lorance Sneggle issued challenge to continue his attempt to wrest the ring from Cassius.

Attempt was the operative word; in a best of three match, Cassius dominated the only two duels to be fought. He won the first match 5-1 in 7 rounds and adopted G'nort's "Plinko" maneuver to seal a shutout in 8 rounds the second match. Cassius held Lorance off in challenge for the second time.

Shortly after, Cassius issued challenge to the OverGoon and was victorious. Goon decided to hold onto the Ninth after his defeat.

Goon (5/16/03 - 6/16/04)
Goon reigned over a full year before entering into the Baron's tournament that followed the death of Overlord Shakira. During his final match in that tournament, Goon mysteriously vanished from the face of the Arena. It is believed that he crossed through the rift in the Ward that was created during the battle between Shakira and the Sorcerer Xenograg. The Ninth ring became the first to cross through the rift to help heal the Ward of Gondor.