Challenge to the Overlord.

[JewellRavenlock]

It's Teags! Hi Teags. We haven't seen each other in a while, so I thought you should know that I'm blonde now too, and I think it looks better on me.

By the way, I thought you were done stabbing people with your stupid iron spike and didn't care about how/when the rest of us stabbed people?

Hey.. by the way? Why would dummy Cory want a Barony? I thought he wanted to be Overlord? Is someone trying to pull a fast one on him? Make him think Dragon's Gate is the same as the entire city these days?

I'd rather he go for Overlord because I spend a lot of time in Dragon's Gate and I don't want it to stink like him.

xoxo
Jewell

[Seirichi]

Awww poor Cory. Instead of the teddy bear and lollipop of a barony or the Overlord challenge right given to him, we should do one better. He should have his own special title! This reminds me of when Vinny got shafted by the now gone barons council yet didnt recieve the overlord title for free nor did he get to fight a baron for it. uh-oh! It went to barons tournament and after everything was said and done Vinny got a shot to challenge for it! Sadly the Warlord Tournament winner gets first dibs, you know with that whole supercedes all active challenges to the title the winner may want to go after. Or... do some people want the rules to be bent and broken for poor Cory? Gasp! Who in their right mind would bend the ironclad and honorable rules of tthe Duel of Swords?!

[Shadowlord]

Jewell, you are fantastic.

~Shadow

[Kalamere]

I know I'm retired from this place an all, but since I'm keeping up on local events and see the news, I've just got to ask:

Why would Cory's challenge to Overlord Terry King transfer over to a challenge against Overlord Melanie Rostol?

I actually don't understand why his challenge to Terry wasn't voided outright when Mel challenged Terry, since by rule there is no queue of challenges againt the Overlord; but I really don't get why it would survive a complete OL replacement. There's certainly nothing in the challenge rules that would provide for it.

~Kal

[Rhiannon D Harker]

Kalamere,

It is my understanding Cory's challenge was set aside pending the outcome of the King vs. Melanie match because of the same rule that allowed that Artemus Kurgan, then Baron of Seaside, to press immediate challenge when he was banished to Renegade.

To clarify further:

In the Universal Terms of Challenge under the subheading for Overlord:
8. Can, at anytime, switch the alignment of a Loyal Baron with reason given in writing to all Barons and to the Standings Keeper provided a WoL record of 15 is maintained. If the Overlord should banish a Loyal to a Renegade alignment, then the Overlord must accept an immediate challenge of title if issued by that Baron. This challenge will supersede any other challenges, including that of a WLT winner.

While the rule stipulates that such a challenge supersedes all others it does not specifically state that it negates any that have been made and were not yet completed. I tend to agree with you that this specific challenge should not carry over due to Melanie's win. However, I think the follow things should be considered by the Duel of Swords staff:

The rules regarding banished Barons and WLT prize winners could have an addendum written in them to allow said winner to press challenge to the new Overlord should their challenge be superseded by one of a banished Baron. The winner should not be penalized because an Overlord was dethroned while they were awaiting their shot at the title.

The rule regarding Barons that are banished to Renegade being allowed to press immediate challenge to the Overlord could be open to various interpretations. Be that as it may, to supercede pending challenges apparently does not mean to negate pending challenges or G'nort would not have declared the match was set aside pending the outcome of Terry and Melanie's match.

Given that we have entered a new cycle since Cory pressed challenge, he should, perhaps, be allowed to carry over his challenge rights for last cycle into this one since it was not his fault that Overlord and her fiancee took nearly a full calendar month to complete their challenge. Seirichi's example of Vincent Smith being allowed to challenge for Overlord after the Barons' Council's decision is an interesting one. That I recall, Vinny was not penalized for any SoA duels that might have expired during the time he pressed challenge and the time his challenge was reissued for the title of Overlord and met. Cory should not be penalized in a similar manner either.

Rhiannon D. Harker

[Morgan le Fay]

If a banished baron can immediately challenge (and the baron should do so just as immediately as they were banished), then the challenge should be fought immediately--fought no later than one week from issuance/validation. It's the immediacy of the event altogether that should be of priority, not the drawing out of the event to keep future (and superceded) challenges from potentially coming at a reasonable pace.

[Shariane]

I will preface this by saying that these are my own personal thoughts and perhaps a prime example of why I dislike these attempts at manipulation.

3. A challenge is not considered complete until the results are posted in the Standings. And where not specifically addressed all challenges must be answered within one week of validation (by the date and time the validation notice is sent out) and dueled within two weeks of the response. Any challenge not responded to within one week, setting a time and place, shall be considered an abdication.

This is the standing rule, however, this particular situation was drawn out until very close to end of the time limit. A rather creative way around the rules, it would seem.

Frankly, management was very generous in allowing the rescheduling. Yet even then, we can see where the challenge pushed that generosity to it's limits by once again pushing the time limits to as close to the edge as possible.

But this is neither here nor there. There is a precedent already established in this matter as Seirichi and Rhiannon have pointed out and I believe that would be the most equatable course of action.

Again, this is my personal opinion only, take it for what it is worth if at all.

[Seirichi]

Four challenge rights?! If that happens, wow..! What a lucky duck!

I will preface this by saying that these are my own personal thoughts and perhaps a prime example of why I dislike these attempts at manipulation.

3. A challenge is not considered complete until the results are posted in the Standings. And where not specifically addressed all challenges must be answered within one week of validation (by the date and time the validation notice is sent out) and dueled within two weeks of the response. Any challenge not responded to within one week, setting a time and place, shall be considered an abdication.

This is the standing rule, however, this particular situation was drawn out until very close to end of the time limit. A rather creative way around the rules, it would seem.

Frankly, management was very generous in allowing the rescheduling. Yet even then, we can see where the challenge pushed that generosity to it's limits by once again pushing the time limits to as close to the edge as possible.

I don't know..

* There is a 30 Minute leeway given to duelists in a challenge to arrive after the scheduled time. (I.E. Challenge is scheduled at 8pm, you have until 8:30 before the following rules commence)
* If an Overlord, Baron, or Challenger fail to arrive to at the scheduled challenge time, they are given 7 days to complete the challenge. No extensions beyond this will be given. Should one fail to show at the second appointed time, the missing party or parties will be stripped of their title/grant.

It sure seemed like no one was being generous to me! Just looked like rules were being followed as they are written. Oh my, it wasn't even allowed it's full seven days as written in the new guidelines too.

Golly gee. What a mess. I sure hope this matter is settled. We're all sitting on our hands waiting to see what happens.

I actually don't understand why his challenge to Terry wasn't voided outright when Mel challenged Terry, since by rule there is no queue of challenges againt the Overlord; but I really don't get why it would survive a complete OL replacement. There's certainly nothing in the challenge rules that would provide for it.

~Kal

I'm so very confused by this too. Artemus, when he was banished, had been a renegade Baron so queues, by the rules I think, can happen to him! But for the Overlord it says in the rules that no queues can be put in place! I'm so very, very confused and I hope someone can explain how a renegade baron and Overlord are the same thing to me when it comes to these situations. Could someone please explain how a renegade Baron and Overlord both allow for queues? I'm confused.

[Cory]

Kalamere brought up a valid point.

Unlike Renegade Barons the Overlord has no challenge queue. By G'nort's ruling my challenge was placed on extended hold until the completion of Terry and Melanie's challenge. Thereby establishing a queue order.

This challenge is on hold pending the results of the challenge from banished loyal Baron Melanie Rolstol to the Overlord, Terry King.

Logical sense from this point moving forward is the challenge I issued, was validated. Do I wish to proceed with my challenge?

Yes. I challenged for the mantle of Overlord. Who holds the distinction does not matter to me. If the challenge is allowed to stand, I fully intend to carry it out.

Being that G'nort said my challenge is on hold and the Warlord Tournament prohibits any new challenges from being issued. My challenge it not new. It was issued well before the Warlord Tournament was announced. The two week grace period need not apply.

Now. Granted I have learned G'nort and Gabby are in disccusions on what should take place. Ultimately the decision is theirs and I have no choice but to accept it. I will say that Gabby's wording on fairness is a promising sign. Please, duelers and spectators alike, do not lambaste them for their final word on the matter.

What is disheartening is this talk of the Warlord Tournament and this awful notion I should be given some honorary nonsense. Frankly, put it to bed. Allow G'nort and Gabby to reach a decision.

I myself am awaiting their word.

-Cory.

[G]

The Official Ruling Re: Cory Havoick's pending challenge to the title of Overlord.

After careful consideration, the Administration has determined how to best resolve the challenge from warlord Cory Havoick to the Overlord. Having taken into account the rules regarding the Warlord Tournament and challenge queues towards any titles that are not Renegade Barons, as well as a similar precedent in the case of Vince Smith vs then Overlord Vanion as resolved by the then Barons Council, we have decided on what we feel is the fairest course of action as follows:

1. The Current pending challenge to the Overlord will be cancelled.
2. The challenger, Cory Havoick, will incur no penalties.
3. The Warlord Tournament will proceed as planned.
4. The Warlord Tournament participant who chooses the Test Free Overlord Challenge will get the first challenge to the title of Overlord.
5. The warlord, Cory Havoick, will then receive the first chance to challenge following the conclusion of the Warlord Tournament challenge. This challenge will not cost Cory Havoick any of his challenge rights as the original challenge was issued in the previous cycle.

Thank you for your patience regarding this decision. It turns out there was a scratch on my reading glasses and they needed to be repaired. It was eliminating apostrophes and commas, and I hate that.

[Harris]

Gee golly. It could be another month before Cory gets his shot at Overlord, possibly. Tough break guy. Who could have foreseen this happening, amirite?

[Cory]

My gratitude goes to G and Gabby for their speedy resolution on the matter.

Thank you.

In the interest of fairness. The terms laid out are completely agreeable from my standpoint.

I wish those participating in the Warlord Tournament the best of luck. To the victor or who might take the grant to challenge the Overlord. Good luck.

-Cory

[JewellRavenlock]

We need a doctor or mad scientist here STAT (although I just locked one away in prison..)

I believe that Cory has been the victim of a body-snatching. Someone has clearly sucked out his soul and replaced it with a rational, reasonable alien creature.

Oh wait.. that's a good thing.

Never mind! Carry on.

xoxo
Jewell