Mark G. Manley, a longtime player, has written two books and numerous stories set in the Duel2 world of Alastari. If you enjoy Duel2, you'll enjoy his work. Visit his website to read some of these stories and find more information on his two full-size novels.

Dark Arena

The World with No Ceiling: For centuries, the Shagornan Elves have been forced to live underground. Human invaders, the Delarquans, burned their forests, sparking a war of elven annihilation. The elders tell tales of when the Delarquans marched to war against the elves, the land itself bled as they passed. Since the war, the elves have dwindled with every passing year, while the humans multiply like rodents across the land of Alastari. Until now. The Delarquans have disappeared. Some say they departed, others think it's a ruse, but there have been whispered rumors an even greater threat looming in the region. Khyron of the Shagornan Elves has been tasked to determine the cause, realizing failure is probable and at the end of the road death could be the only reward. Khyron has known only the safety of the caves, but now he must journey to the world above... the World with No Ceiling.

Blood Games

War throws the land of Alastari into chaos by the Rirorni horde invasion. Swept up in the conflict is My-re, a girl living near the Rirorni plains. Regarded as a spoil of war, she grows up in a Rirorni family. Now, life in the Rirorni Empire is dangerous, brutal, and short. Her troubles begin as warlords within the Empire fight each other for prestige, property, and honor. For mutual protection, the family teaches My-re the Wall of Steel combat style: when executed correctly, no blade, no weapon can penetrate. Confronted by a prominent warrior, My-re defends herself but kills him. Found guilty, she is sold to a slaver and exiled back to Alastari. However, there is no joyful return, as she is sentenced to fight in the Blood Games arena. My-re's one chance of freedom is winning the tournament. However, to become champion, My-re won't have to best her opponents, she must slaughter them.

About the Author: Mark G. Manley was born in Kansas. He has spent numerous years of his spare time reading and writing about the adventurous and perilous world of Duel II, formerly called Duelmasters, a gladiatorial gaming fantasy world created by Reality Simulations, Inc. (RSI). His love of this world and the characters, which have grown throughout the years, serves as the backdrop to tell his stories of high adventure that otherwise would be lost to annals of time. Through his years of immersion in the world of Alastari, he has written numerous short and continuous stories, which have been published in RSI s bi-weekly newsletter. Mark still lives in Kansas today with his caring family, loving wife Gina, two very needy, but precious cats, and their children.