DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 08/25/2026    Duedate: 09/07/2026

SEAM ARENA

DM 20    TURN 292

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SAMWISE GAMGEE
80S FANTASY (60)
(20-854) [19-6-0,119]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

SAMWISE GAMGEE                 AMANDA
80S FANTASY (60)               ABLE COMPANY (101)
(20-854) [19-6-0,119]          (20-1638) [5-0-1,46]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

MIST SONG                      MIST SONG
WARLORDS (14)                  WARLORDS (14)
(20-866) [17-12-0,90]          (20-866) [17-12-0,90]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

WARLORDS (14)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)           35 
2. ABLE COMPANY (101)            30    WARLORDS (14)
3. 80S FANTASY (60)              30    Unchartered Team
4. WARLORDS (14)                 15 
5. SAND EATERS (102)             12    SAND EATERS (102)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*SAND EATERS (102)         18   7  1 72.0   1/ 1 WARLORDS (14)            11  4 0
 2/ 2 WARLORDS (14)            190 149  4 56.0   2/ 4*OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     9  6 2
 3/ 3 80S FANTASY (60)         153 140 10 52.2   3/ 2*SAND EATERS (102)         8  7 1
 4/ 8*ABLE COMPANY (101)        13  12  2 52.0   4/ 3 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       8  7 0
 5/ 6*OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     13  12  2 52.0   5/ 6*ABLE COMPANY (101)        8  7 0
 6/ 4 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)      730 695 37 51.2   6/ 9 SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       5  5 0
 7/ 5 I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    28  31  1 47.5   7/ 7*SEAM STRESS (104)         5  5 0
 8/ 7*SEAM STRESS (104)          7   8  0 46.7   8/ 5 I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    4 10 0
 9/ 9 SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       23  30  0 43.4   9/ 8 80S FANTASY (60)          3 12 0
10/ 0*DURIN'S FOLK (106)         0   5  0  0.0  10/ 0*DURIN'S FOLK (106)        0  5 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                      SPY REPORT

Well now, my darlings, come in and find somewhere comfortable. I have tea steeping, 
bread cooling by the window, and plenty to tell you about what happened on the sands 
this week. Seam gave us twenty-eight fights, a new Duelmaster, a death that deserves 
remembering, and enough bruised pride to keep every healer in the city busy until next 
turn. We should begin at the top, though, because Samwise Gamgee has earned himself a 
proper celebration.

Samwise went looking for the throne rather than waiting for it to come looking for 
him, challenging The Phool and putting the matter to rest in a single minute. That 
victory gave the warrior from 80s Fantasy the Duelmaster's seat with a lovely 19-6 
record, and we have since learned that Samwise will be leaving Seam for the Advanced 
Games after next turn. So congratulations to Hombre on Samwise Gamgee's graduation. 
Nineteen wins against six losses is a fine piece of work, and sending a warrior onward 
is one of those moments a manager ought to enjoy before immediately beginning to fret 
over the next promising youngster. Managers are very good at spoiling their own 
celebrations that way.

The Warlords may have surrendered the throne, but please don't mistake that for a bad 
week. They remain Seam's top team, and most of them went about their business quite 
successfully. Mace Face handled Deemster Dhone in an energetic little affair, Orc Monk 
somehow got the better of Bounceless Baby Boy, and Bully Bully made short work of Hold 
Mybeer. Best of all for the stable, Mist Song defeated Ryz Razorhand in a vicious 
three-minute bout and walked away both Seam's overall popularity leader and this 
week's favorite. Losing the Duelmastership stings, certainly, but a stable that can 
answer with four wins elsewhere is hardly headed home muttering into its cloak.

Able Company had an especially pleasant afternoon with four wins in five attempts. 
Amanda remained perfect at 5-0 after swatting aside Mad Petunia, while Avalon disposed 
of The Mild just as quickly. Amy Allen picked up her first victory over Cooless Fonz, 
and Aribell survived a gruesome three-minute fight with Ironfoot to earn another. Anna 
Marie was the lone stumble, falling to Dagan Kain, but four victories ought to make 
that one much easier to forgive. Darque Knights also found plenty to smile about. 
Laris Moonsong won a crowd-pleasing four-minute challenge against Prince Vultan, Sera 
Starbloom climbed twenty-one points to challenge Mec Vann Ironhand and then flattened 
him in a minute, and Dev Dawnleaf spent four bloody minutes teaching Sheading Cpt a 
lesson. They suffered losses as well, but their thirty-five-point gain was the largest 
in Seam this turn.

Speaking of Prince Vultan, the poor fellow found himself wearing a very large target 
this week as Seam's most challenged warrior. Of Wolf and Man, meanwhile, earned the 
more enviable distinction of being the most avoided team, with the Sand Eaters showing 
the greatest enthusiasm for staying out of their path. Of course, avoiding somebody in 
Seam only works until Arenamaster Vyan points at the sand and tells you where to 
stand. The Sand Eaters did quite well once they arrived anyway. Sir Stumbles bowled 
over Lord Mann Cregbal, Big Feelings edged Varrick Moor, and Greg the Grim subdued Six 
Sheets. Their unchartered 18-7 record remains the best percentage in the arena, so 
perhaps there is something to knowing when not to knock on a particular door.

We also welcomed Durin's Folk to Seam this turn, though I suspect they may wish 
someone had warned them how inhospitable the welcome mat can be. Balin lost to Dorrin 
Pike, Ironfoot fell to Aribell, Kili was overwhelmed by Woodless Peck, and Thorin was 
dispatched by Reseiling. Gone was sent directly to the Dark Arena and did not return. 
An 0-5 beginning is unpleasant, but beginnings are only beginnings. I have seen 
warriors crawl out of much deeper holes than that, sometimes literally. Give them 
another turn before anyone starts carving epitaphs. 

One epitaph, sadly, does need to be written. Fearful Hero of Seam Stress challenged 
Selene Rook of Of Wolf and Man and was killed in a one-sided fight. Selene now has two 
kills in only five fights, which is the sort of thing other managers notice very 
quickly. Seam Stress did find happier news elsewhere, especially when newcomer Nutless 
Squirrel savagely defeated Enola Blackfist. Woodless Peck also remained unbeaten at 3-
0. Still, a new victory never quite balances an empty place back at the guildhouse. It 
is all right to celebrate the living while remembering the dead. We have room enough 
for both.

Time for me to move on to my next project, my dears. I will see you in a fortnight for 
more Seam action. Keep the kettle boiling, and I'll bring more tea.

                                          Hugs and Curses,

                                          Sidara Brightbell

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SAMWISE GAMGEE 854           19   6  0 119         80S FANTASY (60)          

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THE PHOOL 1588               14   8  0  93         WARLORDS (14)             

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MIST SONG 866                17  12  0  90         WARLORDS (14)             
 RYZ RAZORHAND 1590           13  10  1  71         DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MACE FACE 1593               13   7  0  63         WARLORDS (14)             
 LARIS MOONSONG 1589          11  12  0  57         DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SERA STARBLOOM 1613           9   3  0  56         DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       
 PRINCE VULTAN 988             4   6  0  49         80S FANTASY (60)          
 DEEMSTER DHONE 1606           7   5  1  46         I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    
 AMANDA 1638                   5   0  1  46         ABLE COMPANY (101)        
 FECHIN EEJIT 1619             4   7  0  46         SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       
 POGMO THOIN 1618              8   3  0  45         SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       
 BULLY BULLY 1631              6   3  0  42         WARLORDS (14)             
 MEC VANN IRONHAND 1604        7   5  0  35         I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    
 DESIGN8D FIGHTER 1617         5   6  0  34         SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ORC MONK 1601                 8   7  0  33         WARLORDS (14)             
 AVALON 1636                   4   1  1  32         ABLE COMPANY (101)        
 SIR STUMBLES 1643             4   1  0  29         SAND EATERS (102)         
 DEV DAWNLEAF 1614             6   6  0  28         DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       
 SELENE ROOK 1650              3   2  2  27         OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     
 WOODLESS PECK 1656            3   0  0  27         SEAM STRESS (104)         
 LORD MANN CREGBAL 1602        6   6  0  24         I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ELARA FENN 1648               4   1  0  23         OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     
 HOLD MYBEER 1616              4   7  0  22         SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       
 MAD PETUNIA 1645              3   2  0  21         SAND EATERS (102)         
 BOUNCELESS BABY BOY 1653      2   1  0  21         SEAM STRESS (104)         
 BIG FEELINGS 1642             4   1  0  19         SAND EATERS (102)         
 DAGAN KAIN 1651               2   2  0  19         OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     
 GREG THE GRIM 1644            4   1  1  17         SAND EATERS (102)         
 DORRIN PIKE 1649              2   3  0  13         OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     
 SHEADING CPT 1633             1   5  0  12         I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    
 THE MILD 1641                 3   2  0  11         SAND EATERS (102)         
 ARIBELL 1639                  2   3  0  10         ABLE COMPANY (101)        
 NUTLESS SQUIRREL 1682         1   0  0  10         SEAM STRESS (104)         
 RESEILING 1672                1   0  0  10         I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)    
 VARRICK MOOR 1647             2   3  0   9         OF WOLF AND MAN (103)     
 AMY ALLEN 1640                1   4  0   8         ABLE COMPANY (101)        
 ANNA MARIE 1637               1   4  0   7         ABLE COMPANY (101)        
 SIX SHEETS 1664               1   1  0   7         SIX PINTS DEEP (99)       
 ENOLA BLACKFIST 1661          1   2  0   5         DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       
 IRONFOOT 1678                 0   1  0   1         DURIN'S FOLK (106)        

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 COOLESS FONZ 1681             0   1  0   1         SEAM STRESS (104)         
 BALIN 1677                    0   1  0   1         DURIN'S FOLK (106)        
 THORIN 1680                   0   1  0   1         DURIN'S FOLK (106)        
 KILI 1676                     0   1  0   1         DURIN'S FOLK (106)        

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
DA1 1673                0  1 0 80S FANTASY 60       BANDIT PRINCE          292 NONE
DA2 1674                0  1 0 80S FANTASY 60       SWINE GOLEM            292 NONE
DA3 1675                0  1 0 80S FANTASY 60       ARENAMASTER VYAN       292 NONE
BUILD-A-BOAR 1611       2  2 0 CHOPPING MALL 98     AVALON 1636            288 NOT REVENGED
PSYCHO BUNNY 1608       2  2 0 CHOPPING MALL 98     DEEMSTER DHONE 1606    288 NOT REVENGED
GONE 1679               0  1 0 DURIN'S FOLK 106     DARK CHAMPION          292 NONE
KEYSMAN RAMSEY 1629     1  4 0 I-1/25 MANX CORPS 97 GREG THE GRIM 1644     290  
KORRIK ASH 1646         0  1 0 OF WOLF AND MAN 103  AMANDA 1638            288 NOT REVENGED
FEARFUL HERO 1665       1  1 0 SEAM STRESS 104      SELENE ROOK 1650       292  

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Is this what I have become!?!  You send beggars my way! -- Dagan Kain

Looking down upon the corpse of a shifty eyed volunteer.  "Darling! Never volunteer 
for anything!" -- Selene Rook

Mad Petunia -- Well fought.  My dodging needs some work -- Varrick Moor

Aribell -- That was interesting to say the least!  We need some seasoning! -- Dorrin 
Pike

The Mild -- Style matchups, amiright?  Whacha gonna do eh? -- Elara Fenn

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

DA3 was butchered by ARENAMASTER VYANDYL in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
DA2 was barely slain by SWINE GOLEM in a 3 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
DA1 was murdered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight.
GONE was butchered by DARK CHAMPION in a 1 minute Dark Arena contest.
SAMWISE GAMGEE overpowered THE PHOOL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title fight.
DEEMSTER DHONE was bested by MACE FACE in a action packed 2 minute Challenge brawl.
LARIS MOONSONG bested PRINCE VULTAN in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Challenge match.
BOUNCELESS BABY BOY was unbelievably bested by ORC MONK in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
MAD PETUNIA was vanquished by AMANDA in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
SERA STARBLOOM overpowered MEC VANN IRONHAND in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
FEARFUL HERO was assassinated by SELENE ROOK in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
SIR STUMBLES overpowered LORD MANN CREGBAL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
THE MILD was devastated by AVALON in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge conflict.
RYZ RAZORHAND was viciously subdued by MIST SONG in a 3 minute master's bout.
ELARA FENN was vanquished by POGMO THOIN in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
HOLD MYBEER was vanquished by BULLY BULLY in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
DESIGN8D FIGHTER was devastated by MORDANT GOON in a 1 minute mismatched brawl.
FECHIN EEJIT savagely defeated ARADI THUG in a exciting 1 minute brutal bout.
DEV DAWNLEAF savagely defeated SHEADING CPT in a 4 minute bloody conflict.
BIG FEELINGS slimly won victory over VARRICK MOOR in a 1 minute novice's bout.
GREG THE GRIM subdued SIX SHEETS in a 1 minute beginner's bout.
AMY ALLEN unbelievably bested COOLESS FONZ in a 1 minute amateur's fray.
DORRIN PIKE defeated BALIN in a 5 minute novice's match.
DAGAN KAIN defeated ANNA MARIE in a popular 1 minute novice's duel.
ARIBELL unbelievably bested IRONFOOT in a exciting 3 minute gruesome novice's fight.
WOODLESS PECK overpowered KILI in a 1 minute uneven duel.
ENOLA BLACKFIST was savagely defeated by NUTLESS SQUIRREL in a 2 minute novice's fray.
RESEILING vanquished THORIN in a 1 minute one-sided bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                 11         STRIKING ATTACK   37 -  18 -  1      67  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                  10         PARRY-LUNGE       10 -   8 -  0      56  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   7         AIMED BLOW        29 -  25 -  0      54  |
|AIMED BLOW                       6         LUNGING ATTACK    27 -  29 -  3      48  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    5         WALL OF STEEL      9 -  10 -  1      47  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         BASHING ATTACK    17 -  20 -  0      46  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         SLASHING ATTACK   15 -  19 -  2      44  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     10 -  14 -  1      42  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         TOTAL PARRY        6 -  10 -  0      38  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-STRIKE       1 -   5 -  0      17  |

Turn 292 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  0     STRIKING ATTACK    5 -  6         2  AIMED BLOW     
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -  3         2  STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         4 -  2     BASHING ATTACK     2 -  5         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     6 -  4     SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  3         2  BASHING ATTACK 
                              PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         1  TOTAL PARRY    
                              WALL OF STEEL      0 -  3         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       SAMWISE GAMGEE 854         19   6  0  119 80S FANTASY (60)
STRIKING ATTACK  THE PHOOL 1588             14   8  0   93 WARLORDS (14)
LUNGING ATTACK   MIST SONG 866              17  12  0   90 WARLORDS (14)
BASHING ATTACK   MACE FACE 1593             13   7  0   63 WARLORDS (14)
SLASHING ATTACK  SERA STARBLOOM 1613         9   3  0   56 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
WALL OF STEEL    DEEMSTER DHONE 1606         7   5  1   46 I-1/25 MANX CORPS (97)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is MIST SONG 866.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was MIST SONG 866.  The ten other most popular fighters were PRINCE VULTAN 988, MACE 
FACE 1593, IRONFOOT 1678, NUTLESS SQUIRREL 1682, FECHIN EEJIT 1619, DEV DAWNLEAF 
1614, SHEADING CPT 1633, DORRIN PIKE 1649, DA2 1674, and AMANDA 1638.

The least popular fighter this week was THORIN 1680.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were KILI 1676, SIX SHEETS 1664, HOLD MYBEER 1616, ELARA FENN 1648, LORD 
MANN CREGBAL 1602, FEARFUL HERO 1665, MEC VANN IRONHAND 1604, MAD PETUNIA 1645, THE 
PHOOL 1588, and DA1 1673.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

SAMWISE GAMGEE (20-854) 80S FANTASY (60)

                         BLOODGAMES 2026 -- corrected (dates)

Back by popular demand, we will be hosting a new slow Bloodgames mailed arena 
beginning in September. We also plan our usual Bloodgames arenas at the winter and 
summer Face-to-Face tournaments.  

For those of you who always wanted the chance to manage the last warrior standing 
alive upon the arena sands, your day has come.  The Bloodgames are coming! 

At the end of the ten turns, even though several warriors, bruised and scarred, MAY 
yet live, only one will be crowned Champion of the Bloodgames.  And in this game mere 
survival counts for little.  A great general once said, "The object of battle is not 
to die for your cause, but to make your enemy die for his."  This general would have 
greatly enjoyed the Duelmasters Bloodgames.  Here are the particulars: 

  Face-to-Face style Bloodgames  Turn 1 is due by Fri at 9pm at the hotel
  (Winter: DM 96, Summer: DM 98) Turns process with the tournament 
                                 Strategy changes allowed, bloodfeud challenges only 

  Mail-in style Bloodgames       Turn 1 is by Sat at 9pm at the hotel
  (Winter: DM 97, Summer: DM 99) All turns process overnight, mail-in style.
                                 No strategy changes; all ten rounds process one
                                 after the other and results will be out Sun morning.
 
  Slow Bloodgames (DM 95):       Turn 1 is due Weds September 23 
                                 Turns process every 28 days
	                         Strategy changes allowed, bloodfeud challenges only 
          
Gameplay proceeds according to standard DM rules, except for a few notable exceptions: 

BLOODGAMES ROLLUP --  Your Bloodgames team is ten warriors, one of each fighting 
style, each warrior designed from scratch!  (All are DYOs (design your owns) with 84 
points, 3-21, as usual.) To submit your rollup, just write/type them up and send them 
in.  We'll mail or email your overviews and you can write up your strategies. Your 
warriors must be created and have strategies entered by the first due date. 

DEATH -- As the name implies, the Bloodgames will leave the arena sands somewhat 
darker before they're over.  It's a dangerous sport intended only for the tough and 
spirited.  The Arenamaster will be less likely to intercede on behalf of a dying 
warrior.  Even at a 1 kill desire, kill attempts will occur.

REPLACEMENTS AND ROLLUPS -- There will be no replacement characters.  

CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES -- In the turn-based bloodgames, there are no regular 
challenges, only bloodfeuds.  There will be no DA challenges in any of the bloodgames 
arenas.

MISSED TURNS -- All warriors fight each round.  Only the dead may rest.

ERRORS -- If we make an input error, that warrior will be awarded a win and kill.  
Errors must be reported before the next turn processes.  

NEWSLETTER -- Warriors are ranked according to their number of kills.  Champions of 
Bloodgames may write a column for the newsletter at the end of the games. 

FEES -- A Bloodgames rollup costs a $10 set-up fee.  Managers may roll up more than 
one team but may run only one team in each arena.  The fee for all ten rounds is $49. 

AWARDS -- The Bloodgames last ten rounds.  Only warriors who survive to the end of 
Turn 10 will be eligible for an award.  However, a consolation award of a Bloodgames 
T-shirt will be awarded to the dead warrior with the most kills.

The living warrior with the greatest number of kills will be the Bloodgames Champion.  
Bloodgames Victor titles, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded to those living warriors 
with the greatest number of kills at the end of Turn 10, with one other important 
consideration:  Each of these three warriors must be of a different fighting style.  
Win/loss records and, if necessary, recognition points will only be used to determine 
awards if there is a tie.  

The Bloodgames Champion fights for free in Advanced Duelmasters, and all Champions and 
Victors earn Tournament Victor status, which allows them to challenge once per turn 
with increased priority.  These awards last for six months.  The manager of the 
Bloodgames Champion and Victors will receive Bloodgames T-shirts.

A Bloodgames T-shirt will be awarded to the manager of the team with the most kills.  
T-shirts will only happen if someone gives us a nice design. One shirt per person.

AFTERMATH -- Warriors from the Bloodgames may not transfer to any other arena.  Once 
the games are over, the arena and teams will be disbanded.  The fighters have won 
their freedom and will never more be seen in the gladiatorial games.  A special bonus 
will, however, be awarded to the 1st through 3rd place warriors.  Lady Sheila 
Greywand, of the Isle of the Eye, has consented to allow the top three gladiators in 
each Bloodgames admission to the Advanced Duelmasters games.  Any special training 
required to qualify those three warriors for Advanced Duelmasters combat will be 
conducted before transfer into ADM.  Astute managers will note that this means that 
three warriors that are designed from scratch will survive the Bloodgames, win one of 
the top three places, and go on to immortal glory!  One of those warriors could be 
yours!

         The challenge is yours to take.  The final plans are yours to make.  
           When the dust settles, remember:  To the victor goes the spoils!