Rings of Honor

Prior to June 16th, 2005, this title was referred to as the Thirteenth Baronial Ring.

(Last Modified: 2010/10/26)

Cassius Gaius Maximius (06/08/2005 - 01/22/2006)
Cassius Gaius Maximius was first challenged by Chase MacLaren. The challenge was later voided due to lapsed time without resolution. Apparently both parties were subject to a controversy in which conflicting stories were given in trying to have the matter resolved. Though there was never an official date or time confirmed by either participant, the Duel of Swords Standings Keeper set one for the last possible date within the Universal Terms of Challenge that the challenge could occur on. Neither Baron nor challenger showed for the match. The challenger, Chase MacLaren, was stripped of her right to challenge again for the remainder of the dueling cycle, while the Baron’s fate was handed over to the Baron’s Council to vote upon. The Baron’s Council voted to have the Baron defend his right to remain with the title against council appointed champion, Max Quinlan Blue. The match between Cassius and Max took place and the baron defended his right to remain with the title in a seven round duel won by a two-point margin of victory.

Cassius Gaius Maximius was challenged next by Skyler Chamberland, who felt an old rivalry rekindled by barely losing to the Baron in a duel the previous night. Within a few short days, the challenge match commenced without the usual fanfare of Seconds or Ladies of Honor because of the short turn around in time. Newly minted Overlord Tareth Thorn decided to Intercede on behalf of the Baron because of personal dislike for the challenger, while then Baron of the Old Market District, Cletus Ganderfald, stepped in on behalf of the challenger for undisclosed reasons. Skyler was able to proceed directly to a one-duel format against Cassius after Cletus bested Tareth in a thirteen round duel by a dominating margin of victory of three and a half points. Skyler went on to end the reign of Cassius in New Haven in a quick eight round duel by two points.

Skyler Jackson Chamberland (01/22/2006 - 03/31/2006)
Citing Skyler a criminal who needed to be removed from power, Rakeesh Sah Tarma challenged Skyler on behalf of the Adventurer's Guild. With the Opal ShadoWeaver by his side, Rakeesh battled Skyler in three hard fought matches. With the score tied at four in the final match, Rakeesh was able to put up a strong defense to end Skyler's reign as Baron of New Haven.

Rakeesh Sah Tarna (03/31/2006 - 06/20/2006)
Controversy arose during Rakeesh reign when he used his Baronial right to intervene on an Overlord challenge despite the challenger having his own champion already picked out. Matters were further complicated when, after helping Damien Mortis rise to the rank of Overlord, Rakeesh accused the new Overlord of being a criminal. Rakeesh also announced his intent to challenge Damien immediately. In response, Damien and Baron Bapheloctis offered a gold bounty to the one who could remove Rakeesh from New Haven.

The first to attempt to collect the gold was Aya Hayashibara. When the two met to settle the challenge, Rakeesh was in fine form. After a five to two victory in nine rounds, Rakeesh defended his title with a thrilling five to four victory in eight rounds.

When Rakeesh interceded in Damien Mortis Overlord challenge, the man he fought in the Right of Challenge was Cassius Maximius. Weeks after the Overlord challenge concluded, Cassius still blamed Rakeesh for Damien's rise to the throne, and also felt that Rakeesh had robbed him of the opportunity to meet Damien's chosen champion, Skyler, in the ring. In response, Cassius challenged Rakeesh for both the New Haven barony, and Rakeesh's Opal ShadoWeaver.

The challenge night was interesting in the combatant alternated fighting styles so they could settle both challenges in the same night. Although Rakeesh was able to defend his Opal from Cassius, Cassius' experience in the DoS rings proved too much for Rakeesh to overcome. In a pair of five to three matches, one lasting ten rounds and the other seven, Cassius claimed the bounty put on Rakeesh.

Cassius Gaius Maximius (06/20/2006 - 02/07/2007)
Years ago after their last challenge match, Lorance Sneggle made a vow to never challenge Cassius again. Lorance was good to his word until a conversation with G'nort prompted Cassius to no longer hold Lorance to his oath. With the pact no longer binding, Lorance was free to challenge Cassius again, and he wasted no time in doing just that.

On the night of the challenge, it appeared that Overlord Havoick would be stepping forward to meet the Warlord, but Cassius announced that the challenge would be settled in a best of three format. Cory sat back down, and the two longtime rivals stepped into the ring.

The evening proved to be entertaining. The first duel was tight until Lorance was able to extend his lead and take the first match 5-3. Cassius was quick to rebound and even the field with a 5-2 victory. The final duel was close, and bloody, but in the end, Lorance was able to trap Cassius' direct attack and claim the barony of New Haven as his own.

Lorance Sneggle (02/07/2007 - 03/11/2007)
But Lorance's claim on the Barony was not to last long. As a result of his second place finish in the winter 2007 Warlord Tournament, Kheldar Drasinia received the prize to challenge a baron of his choosing. Less than two weeks after defeating Cas for the ring, Lorance was in the ring to defend against Kheldar. After ten rounds, Kheldar came out on top to give New Haven another new holder.

Kheldar Drasinia (03/11/2007 - 11/04/2007)
After many years away from the Arena, Warlord Rand al'Tan returned with a desire to once again prove himself within the rings of combat. In only a few short weeks, Rand was able to amass enough peer wins to issue challenge to Baron Kheldar Drasinia for New Haven. The member of the Wrecking Crew chose a single match to defend his title, but he was unable to overcome Rand's desire to once again hold a title. In eleven rounds, Rand held Kheldar to only two points to once again hold the rank of Baron.

Rand al'Tan (11/04/2007 - 03/04/2008)
In December, Second place of the Fall Warlord Tournament Querylon was the first to challenge Rand. The single match was slow to build momentum, being tied at two at the ninth round. Querylon made her play by dancing around Rand’s defense, but Rand then quickly scored three unanswered points to defend his title, 5-3 in thirteen rounds.

Nearly three months passed before Aya Hayashibara stepped forward, second place in the Winter Warlord Tournament. Rand again elected for a single match, but this time it would not protect him from the Warlord Tournament runner-up. At round three, it was tied at two, much like his previous defense. Aya pulled ahead by two in two rounds before Rand sidestepped the thrust from Aya to bring to 3-4. The seventh and final round decided the match 5-4 on a trade of cuts, Aya stepping away with the title.

Aya Hayashibara (03/04/2008 - 07/22/2009)
It was well over eight months before Aya was called to defend her title against Cassius as he made a run to claim the Barony for a third time. The Baroness elected for a single match, and a bloody one it was. Cassius chose the wrong defense in the first round, which was followed by a trade in cuts, Cassius tagging a ducking Aya, another trade in cuts, and Aya’s successfully ducking the bookend from Cassius. After five rounds, Aya already lead 4-3, and in only eight rounds, she successfully defended the title 5-3.

Aya’s next defense came in the form of an Overlord Grant recipient, Wyheree. Fought in a single match format Aya defeated Wyheree in an exhausting 18 round match, 5.5-4.5 to keep her title. (More content to come regarding this match)

Damien having lost the Barony of Seaside only two days before, Aya was the Senior Baron when she stepped into the ring with former Overlord Tormay. Aya elected for a best-of-three match, the first to be used to defend New Haven in nearly two and a half years. Aya took the first round of the first match, only to have Tormay gain the next three rounds. Aya quickly tied the match in the next two, 3-3 in the sixth round. A successful defense from Tormay followed by traded thrusts gave Tormay the first match.

The second match was closer. Aya took the first round, and Tormay tied it in the second. The pattern repeated, Aya taking the lead and Tormay tying it in the fourth. The pattern was reversed the next two rounds, Tormay taking the lead and Aya tying in the sixth. Aya then took the lead again, with Tormay tying it 4-4 in the eighth. Like the first match, a trade in thrusts brought the score to 5, but it being tied the match went on. Tormay cut low into the ducking Aya to claim the second match and take the title from Aya.

Tormay Eludes (07/22/2009 - 12/04/2009)
Bearing no malice, Guillermus Iulius Fortis issued challenge to Tormay based on the reason that he was longest-tenured Baron yet to be challenged. Tormay eagerly accepted the challenge and had it fought on Halloween evening.

Tormay chose to defend in the Best of Three format, and the first match found Guill successful reasonably easy by defeating the Baron 5-2 in 8 rounds.

The second match was clearly a lopsided victory by the Baron, who relatively quickly defeated the challenger by the score of 5-1 in 7 rounds.

The third and final match was somewhat closer a battle, but still found the Baron successful in his defense by catching Guills lunge to end the duel by the score of 5-3 in 8 rounds. Tormay then called for as many challenges as he could stand to have.

Deathlord (12/04/2009 - 05/27/2011)
By virtue of defeating Renegade Baroness Rena Cronin and Renegade Baron Tormay Eludes in a Test of Worthiness for then Overlord Anubis Karos, the Commoner known as Deathlord gained the right to immediately challenge Tormay for his Barony. Tormay avenged his loss at the Overlord challenge in the first match by winning 5-3.5 in 14 rounds, but it was Deathlord who take the next two matches, 5.5-4 in 9 rounds and 5-2 in 13 rounds to gain the Barony, making history by gaining title while not even being listed on the standings.

Deathlord's first challenge came from Aya Hayashibara, who had a specific interest in the Barony as opposed to any malice in relation to the Baron himself. Deathlord proved his mettle by defeating Aya 5-1 in 7 rounds and 5-4 in 9 rounds to maintain his hold upon New Haven.

The Warlord Thorne was next to issue challenge, seeking to quiet Deathlord's famed talking sword as the other two Barons he wished to challenge were currently occupied. Opting for a best of three the Baron was never behind in either of the matches, defeating Thorne 5-2 in 7 rounds and 5-1 in 6 rounds.

Newly returned Warlord Sylus Kurgen was Deathlord's third challenger in as many months, seeking to test the Baron's blade and end his run. It wasn't meant to be though, as Deathlord proved his dominance yet again by defeating Sylus in a best of three format, 5-1 in 6 rounds and 5-2 in 6 rounds.

While in the midst of conducting his squire tournament Deathlord found himself facing another challenger, this time Guillermus Iulius Fortis, who deemed the Baron was not active enough in the rings for his liking. The Baron felt disrespected by the timing of the challenge and opted to petition then Overlord Ticallion Carter for Loyalty, which was promptly accepted. It was no surprise when the challenge was held that Ticallion interceded for his newest Loyal, attempting to cut Guill down before he could reach Deathlord. After jumping out to a 4-1 lead Guill stalled, giving Ticallion the next four points before eventually defeating the Overlord 5-4 in 10 rounds. Deathlord was forced to step into the ring and defend New Haven himself and he did so with little difficulty, defeating his challenger 5-1 in 7 swift rounds.

Tarl Cabot (05/27/2011 - Present)