DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 08/05/2026    Duedate: 08/18/2026

LAPUR ARENA

DM 29    TURN 1052

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

HOUN DOG
CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
(29-6872) [18-14-1,115]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

HOUN DOG                       JAGERBOMB
CARDOW HUNTERS (359)           LIBATIONS 6 (573)
(29-6872) [18-14-1,115]        (29-7009) [5-0-0,71]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

HOUN DOG                       APOSTATE POSTMAN
CARDOW HUNTERS (359)           ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)
(29-6872) [18-14-1,115]        (29-6847) [15-22-0,73]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

POKE' MON (568)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. LIBATIONS 6 (573)             37 
2. ALMOST EXACTLY (20)           22    AVOID ME! (535)
3. ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)        21    Unchartered Team
4. CARDOW HUNTERS (359)          16 
5. DEMONS OF SNOW (572)          13    LIBATIONS 6 (573)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 2*TORRID FERVOR (575)        1   0  0 100.   1/ 1 POKE' MON (568)          12  3 0
 2/ 4*LIBATIONS 6 (573)         12   4  0 75.0   2/ 2 BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   7  6 0
 3/ 5 AVOID ME! (535)          233 144  7 61.8   3/ 4 ALMOST EXACTLY (20)       6  5 0
 4/ 6 BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   29  20  1 59.2   4/ 3 MID EARTH (223)           5  9 0
 5/ 7 POKE' MON (568)           52  36  1 59.1   5/14 AVOID ME! (535)           4  5 0
 6/ 8 ALMOST EXACTLY (20)      876 695 50 55.8   6/ 6*WOODVALE FALLS (570)      4 11 1
 7- 9 WRATHMEN 20-12 (532)      15  12  0 55.6   7/ 5*LIBATIONS 6 (573)         3  2 0
 8/11 MID EARTH (223)          1106 914 52 54.8   8/ 9 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)      2  1 0
 9/ 0*OF WOLF & MAN (569)        5   5  0 50.0   9-10 BLACK KELTS (233)         2  2 0
10/ 0*DEMONS OF SNOW (572)       1   1  0 50.0  10/11 ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)    2  7 0
11-12 BLACK KELTS (233)        333 336 12 49.8  11/ 0*COVEY XIX (564)           1  0 0
12/13 ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)   214 241  6 47.0  12/ 0*OF WOLF & MAN (569)       1  0 0
13/14 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)     1145 1471 26 43.8  13/ 0*DEMONS OF SNOW (572)      1  0 0
14/ 0*COVEY XIX (564)            3   7  0 30.0  14-13*TORRID FERVOR (575)       1  0 0
15/15*WOODVALE FALLS (570)       7  33  1 17.5  15-15 WRATHMEN 20-12 (532)      0  3 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Origins: Grakus

Grakus Duskeye had learned long ago that silence could keep a man alive.

The people of Lapur believed silence meant guilt, weakness, or calculation. In the 
great port city, every dock worker had a story, every merchant had a lie, and every 
gladiator had a legend they sold as readily as their victories. Grakus offered none of 
those, he simply listened.

At thirty years of age, the Harkeny had earned a reputation among the members of the 
Mid Earth Guild as a dependable fighter rather than a celebrated one. Others won 
crowds with impossible flourishes and triumphant speeches. Grakus won by surviving. 
Every scar on his arms had been paid for honestly. 

The arena masters appreciated that. The audience barely remembered his name. That 
suited him well enough.

                                         ---

He had been born far from salt air and cheering crowds.

Deep within the Shewish Forest lay a village few maps bothered to name. The people 
there lived by the rhythm of the woods. Trees were respected, rivers feared, and 
strangers watched before they were welcomed.

Grakus had been raised as a woodsman. Before he was old enough to swing an axe, he 
could tell the age of a tree from its bark. Before he hunted deer, he could follow a 
fox across stone. His father insisted every member of the Duskeye family carry the 
same kind of blade, a simple iron dagger marked with a crest that meant nothing 
outside the forest.

Grakus still carried that dagger. He claimed it was only useful for skinning game. No 
one believed that. Whenever anyone asked about the symbol carved into its hilt, Grakus 
quietly changed the subject. Eventually people stopped asking.

                                         ---

His family remained alive. As far as anyone knew. Sometimes letters arrived bearing 
the familiar forest seal, he never answered.

Whatever waited for him back in the Shewish Forest was neither entirely home nor 
entirely enemy. Even Grakus wasn't certain which.

The years that shaped him came after he disappeared. No one in Lapur knew exactly 
when. No one knew why. The story always skipped ahead.

"... I survived."

That was all he would say. Those missing years were filled with whispers. Some claimed 
he had hunted monsters beyond civilization. Others believed bandits had slaughtered 
his village and Grakus alone escaped.

A drunk sailor once insisted Grakus had lived among ghosts. Grakus never corrected any 
of them. The truth remained buried somewhere beneath pine needles and forgotten 
trails. What everyone did know was that he survived alone in the wilderness for many 
years. Long enough to become someone different.

Long enough that he trusted birds more easily than people. Long enough that he still 
woke before dawn because predators hunted at sunrise.

Long enough that every room felt too crowded.

                                         ---

When Grakus first joined the Mid Earth Guild, he barely spoke. Some mistook his 
quietness for arrogance. Some mistook it for fear.Only after training did they 
understand. He simply found people difficult. Conversations exhausted him more than 
sword practice. Crowded taverns made him visibly uncomfortable. Yet he tried. He 
forced himself to attend guild dinners.

He often only nodded when others spoke. He remembered names. He listened far more than 
he talked. Eventually people discovered that if they needed someone to truly hear 
them, not merely wait for their turn to speak, they sought him out.

He rarely offered advice. But when he did...

It mattered.

                                         ---

The arena transformed him. Not into another man. Into the version of himself that fear 
could never reach. He fought with the calm patience of someone who had once stalked 
wolves. His movements wasted nothing. Every dodge had purpose. Every strike ended a 
fight instead of prolonging it. 

He rarely taunted defeated opponents or celebrated victories. If an opponent yielded, 
Grakus lowered his weapon immediately. Some called it mercy. Others called it 
weakness. He ignored both. There was one rule he never broke. Protect those who could 
not protect themselves. 

                                         ---

His ambition surprised people, his wish to become one of Lapur's Lord Protectors, the 
city's elite guardians. Many laughed, a woodsman with no noble blood. A quiet 
gladiator with little fame. A man who flinched whenever he looked over the arena's 
highest walls. His fear of heights was impossible to hide.

He could face charging beasts without hesitation,but climbing the observation towers 
overlooking the harbor left his hands trembling. He endured it anyway. Because 
courage, he believed, was not the absence of fear. It was choosing the climb.

                                         ---

Late at night, Grakus often walked Lapur's seawall. The crashing waves reminded him of 
wind through pine branches. Almost. Never quite.

He would sit with his back against old stone and sharpen the family dagger until 
moonlight reflected across its edge. Occasionally someone would notice him speaking 
softly. Not praying. Not talking to himself... Listening. As though another voice 
answered between the sounds of the tide.

                                         ---

Rumors gathered around him. Dockworkers swore they'd seen the same hooded stranger 
watching Grakus from different rooftops across the city.

A fish merchant claimed someone paid silver merely to ask whether Grakus still carried 
his old dagger.

An elderly beggar insisted Grakus had been followed since the day he entered Lapur, 
though whenever anyone searched for the watcher... There was never anyone there.

                                         ---

One evening after a victorious match, a young guild recruit finally gathered enough 
courage to ask the question everyone else had abandoned.

"What happened to you out there?"

Grakus froze. Not from anger. From memory.

His hand unconsciously wrapped around the old family dagger. For a long while he 
stared toward the distant horizon beyond the harbor.

"I got lost," he finally answered.

"In the forest?"

Grakus looked at him with tired eyes.

"No." and he walked away before another question could follow.

The recruit noticed something then, far across the rooftops, silhouetted against the 
moonlight, stood a lone figure wearing a long dark cloak. Watching Grakus, only 
Grakus.

When the recruit blinked... The rooftop was empty.

The next morning, he asked Grakus if he had seen the stranger. Grakus simply smiled a 
weary smile that carried more resignation than surprise.

"I know," he said, then he changed the subject, as he always did.

No one ever learned what detail from his past he refused to speak of and no one ever 
discovered whether the watcher was hunting him...... or making sure no one else did.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Mr. Postman, sorry about your infirmary visit, but it is all part of our business, 
hope you heal up quickly. My tip of the week is, speak softly and carry a big stick. 

                                          -- Duelmaster Grakus

                                      SPY REPORT

Hail Lapurians! It's time for your favorite spy reporter to chronicle this week's 
arena activities. When I last left you GRAKUS had just become our new Duelmaster after 
the departure of Lord Protector Skunk. Now we have to wonder can he hold onto the 
title or will someone new step and claim the gold for their own? The obvious choices 
are Jorja's HOUN DOG, Neon's BATTERSCOTCH6 or Poke's SNORLAX. Who is your money on? 
Hurry and place your bets and let's find out.

Well the normal post tourney ins and outs, we lost a few and gained a few returning 
guilds. All part of today's gladiator business. Returners, try not to kill anyone. 
Anyway welcome back, 15 teams in the ranks, 4 inactive, including Purple Sage's Kelts. 
Rumor is he was doing some post tourney traveling and should return soon. From those 
teams we have 23 fights in the arena, three using the warrior recycling program, six 
challenge matches and the rest being random commission matchups. To the three that 
entered the Dark Arena, we salute your sacrifice.

I can hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, so it must be time for the fight for 
the throne. It came down to a matchup between our current champ GRAKUS and HOUN DOG. 
The duel lasted 2 minutes, with Jorja's canine warrior taking the title from 
Visionist's harkeny champ. All Hail the new Duelmaster HOUN DOG and invite to the 
Isle. That makes the 12th new Lord Protector so far this year and Jorja's 23rd of all 
time. If this is your last warrior here, we all thank you for your efforts here in 
Lapur over the years. Salute!

In team news Poke' and his Monsters (please tell us your manager name) holding onto 
the top spot after another 4-1-0. Maintaining 2nd is BUFFALO TRACE after a 2-2-0 
result. Rounding out the top 3 is Vlad and his ALMOST EXACTLY crew, who also had a 2-
2-0 showing. The Team on the Move is LIBATIONS 6, who gained 37 points and in the Most 
Avoided their were 44 total avoids today, that is ALOT! After calculating them all the 
Bloke and his AVOID ME! propaganda machine received 8 avoids and is once again the 
most avoided. But not by much: getting the second most is Visionist and his scary MID 
EARTHers with 7 avoids. Multiple guilds received six and five avoids. Definitely the 
most anti-social week of the year.

The Challenge fights...

JAGERBOMB of LIBATIONS 6 TV challenged SUE CHEF of ARMY OF DARKNESS, with the 
Barkeep's (please tell us your manager name) energetic warrior savagely defeating 
Master Meru's culinary warrior in a 2 minute bloody duel.

UPCHUCK of AVOID ME! challenged APOSTATE POSTMAN of ARMY OF DARKNESS, with the Bloke's 
hurling warrior scumming Mast Beru's courier warrior in a exciting 6 minute veteran's 
fight.

BRIAR POKE' MON challenged END OF BIDET of ALMOST EXACTLY, with Poke's prickly warrior 
being bested by Vlad's porcelain warrior in a 2 minute brawl.

1.75L of BUFFALO TRACE '25 challenged LOPUNNY of POKE' MON, with Mr B's metric warrior 
being outwaited by Poke's rodent warrior in a 7 minute match.

PROUDBERRY of WOODVALE FALLS challenged CLOT of AVOID ME!, with G's hybrid warrior 
being devastated by the Bloke's platelet warrior in a 1 minute bloody fight.

GREENROBYN of WOODVALE FALLS challenged IMGUR) of MID EARTH, with G's mysterious 
warrior being overpowered by Visionist's werecat warrior in a 1 minute melee.

My "Fight(s) of the Week"... yes, two again.

NUNHORN of WOODVALE FALLS fought BENCHMARK of BUFFALO TRACE '25, with G's sandy 
warrior being savagely defeated by Mr. B's measured warrior in a 3 minute brutal 
match.

TRUNKGRUB of WOODVALE FALLS fought AI OVERLORD of ARMY OF DARKNESS, with G's 
mysterious warrior beating Master Beru's artificial warrior in a 3 minute fight.

Other arena notes...
This week's favorite is APOSTATE POSTMAN, who was made famous despite losing to 
UPCHUCK.
PILSNER's win gained them 18 points and POX's lose cost them 13 points.
The most popular style is Bashing. The most successful style is Total Parry.

Next week we honor HOUN DOG and Jorja, so that brings my report to a close. 'Til next 
time.

                                          -- Eoghan McGrimm

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HOUN DOG 6872                18  14  1 115         CARDOW HUNTERS (359)      

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SNORLAX 6941                 14   4  0  96         POKE' MON (568)           

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GRAKUS 6920                  16  10  0  90         MID EARTH (223)           
 UPCHUCK 6721                 23  17  0  86         AVOID ME! (535)           
 END OF BIDET 6849            13   6  1  85         ALMOST EXACTLY (20)       
 FROSLASS 6963                13   2  0  83         POKE' MON (568)           
 APOSTATE POSTMAN 6847        15  22  0  73         ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)    
 BRIAR 6940                   10   8  1  73         POKE' MON (568)           
 JAGERBOMB 7009                5   0  0  71         LIBATIONS 6 (573)         
 STORE PICK 6911               8   1  0  68         BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SUE CHEF 6848                14  23  0  65         ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)    
 WINDLESS WHISPER 6956         7   7  0  62         ALMOST EXACTLY (20)       
 LOPUNNY 6976                  8   4  0  60         POKE' MON (568)           
 STOMPER ROOM 6954             8   6  0  59         ALMOST EXACTLY (20)       
 PILSNER 7010                  4   0  0  58         LIBATIONS 6 (573)         

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-POPPY POPPINS 6933            8  13  1  55         BLACK KELTS (233)         
-BIKINI KILL 7032              1   0  0  53         TORRID FERVOR (575)       
-MAEVE MANIAC 6916            11  13  0  48         BLACK KELTS (233)         
 1.75L 6914                    9   7  0  47         BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   
 POX 6950                      8   5  0  47         AVOID ME! (535)           
 SALAZZLE 6974                 6   7  0  44         POKE' MON (568)           
-PYRRAVYN 6432                 6   6  0  40         WRATHMEN 20-12 (532)      
 IMGUR 6986                    8   3  1  39         MID EARTH (223)           
 SILENCE 6868                  3   3  0  38         COVEY XIX (564)           
 ELHAD 6965                    7  10  1  35         MID EARTH (223)           

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 50ML 6913                     5   5  0  32         BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   
 DAVIEL 6982                   8   5  1  30         MID EARTH (223)           
 BRUTUS FALX 6968              2   3  0  25         OF WOLF & MAN (569)       

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THE WHITE WITCH 7002          1   1  0  20         DEMONS OF SNOW (572)      
 CLOT 7004                     3   2  0  18         AVOID ME! (535)           
-STRAIGHT BOURBON 6915         4   3  0  15         BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   
 ROLLING BROWNOUR 7017         1   0  0  15         ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)    
 GREENROBYN 7024               1   2  0  13         WOODVALE FALLS (570)      
 TRY MAXXER 7014               1   1  0  12         ALMOST EXACTLY (20)       
 BENCHMARK 7021                2   0  0  10         BUFFALO TRACE '25 (567)   
 TRUNKGRUB 7022                2   1  1   9         WOODVALE FALLS (570)      
 PROUDBERRY 6990               0   8  0   8         WOODVALE FALLS (570)      
 VINESTONE 7023                1   2  0   5         WOODVALE FALLS (570)      
 STROKE 7082                   1   0  0   3         AVOID ME! (535)           
 NUNHORN 7025                  0   3  0   3         WOODVALE FALLS (570)      
 MYTHYA 7081                   0   1  0   1         MID EARTH (223)           
 AI OVERLORD 7016              0   1  0   1         ARMY OF DARKNESS (283)    

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
KIDNAP 6984             1  2 0 AVOID ME! 535        DUSKBLOOD TROLL       1052 NONE
SLIME 6 7012            0  1 0 LIBATIONS 6 573      HEINOUS BEAST         1052 NONE
SLIME 7 7015            0  1 0 LIBATIONS 6 573      BLACK ORC             1052 NONE
LECHBUG 6993            3  2 0 WOODVALE FALLS 570   BRIAR 6940            1049  

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Surprise, surprise! Ole Visionist wandered into the FTF in Charlotte. Neato! Glad to 
see you again after all these years, Compadre. -- the Bloke
P.S. And there was something Purple floating all around the place, too. Salute.

If anyone in this arena has learned anything (unlikely), it is AVOID Me. Get with it 
OR LOSE! -- the Bloke

Skunk -- You forgot to add a stripe of yellow.  What's to avoid? -- SnoreeeeeLax

Apostate Postman -- Was that shield for decoration? -- Duelmaster Grakus

Bikini Kill -- I feel so used! -- Elhad

Straight Bourbon -- You are pretty quick lefty, but you lack the energy. Daviel

Proudberry -- Keep training girl, you will get there. -- Imgur

Skunk -- Lapur's smelling better without the stench of your curious blend of 
slow/stupid and scum. No doubt many collapsed at your feet, gasping (for a breath of 
fresh air). -- G of Woodvale Falls

Clot -- Like an old lady, you say, "Tsk, tsk"?!  You remind me of my dear grandmother 
(may she rot in hell, if she believed in it). And it was my first fight, so no 
challenges or avoids were allowed, dummy. But on the second turn, you showed your true 
low nature, challenging 12 points down to me for what you "thought" would be an easy 
win. But instead, I gave you what you deserved, with both hands! Go attack someone 
else's heart, Clot! -- Greenrobyn of Woodvale Falls

Arenamaster -- Actually, I realized I don't really know: *Can* a new warrior avoid on 
his first fight? -- G of Woodvale Falls

     G -- No, warriors may not challenge or avoid on their first fight, nor can 
     another warrior challenge them. -- Mryk the Scribe, Asst. to Arenamaster Kyall

Try Maxxer -- Your ankle is looking fine after my bone-smashing of it. -- Trunkgrub of 
Woodvale Falls

Benchmark -- You were not strong enough. -- Nunhorn of Woodvale Falls

Irritated Housewife -- C'mon, Honey. Don't be like that. -- Vinestone of Woodvale 
Falls

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

KIDNAP was butchered by DUSKBLOOD TROLL in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
SLIME 7 was slaughtered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle.
SLIME 6 was easily killed by HEINOUS BEAST in a 1 minute Dark Arena match.
JAGERBOMB savagely defeated SUE CHEF in a 2 minute bloody Challenge duel.
UPCHUCK bested APOSTATE POSTMAN in a exciting 6 minute veteran's Challenge fight.
BRIAR was bested by END OF BIDET in a 2 minute Challenge brawl.
1.75L was outwaited by LOPUNNY in a 7 minute Challenge fight.
PROUDBERRY was devastated by CLOT in a 1 minute bloody mismatched Challenge match.
GREENROBYN was overpowered by IMGUR in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
GRAKUS was vanquished by HOUN DOG in a 2 minute gory uneven Title duel.
SNORLAX viciously subdued STRIKE BREAKER in a slow 10 minute gory duel.
FROSLASS savagely defeated WINDLESS WHISPER in a 3 minute gory melee.
POX was defeated by PILSNER in a 2 minute match.
STORE PICK demolished ELHAD in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
50ML was bested by SALAZZLE in a 2 minute battle.
STOMPER ROOM demolished THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 2 minute one-sided brawl.
SILENCE viciously subdued DAVIEL in a 3 minute gory conflict.
TRY MAXXER lost to THE WHITE WITCH in a crowd pleasing 2 minute gruesome bout.
BRUTUS FALX viciously subdued VINESTONE in a 3 minute master vs. amateur bout.
NUNHORN was savagely defeated by BENCHMARK in a 3 minute brutal novice's match.
TRUNKGRUB beat AI OVERLORD in a 3 minute amateur's fight.
ROLLING BROWNOUR bested EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute novice's contest.
MYTHYA was narrowly defeated by STROKE in a tiring 12 minute gruesome novice's duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK                   6         WALL OF STEEL     12 -   6 -  0      67  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         TOTAL PARRY       22 -  14 -  0      61  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  5         LUNGING ATTACK    24 -  17 -  1      59  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      4         AIMED BLOW        19 -  16 -  0      54  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         STRIKING ATTACK   16 -  14 -  1      53  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         SLASHING ATTACK   22 -  23 -  1      49  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    4         BASHING ATTACK    25 -  32 -  0      44  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      3         PARRY-RIPOSTE      6 -   8 -  0      43  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         PARRY-STRIKE      13 -  21 -  1      38  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         PARRY-LUNGE       12 -  20 -  0      38  |

Turn 1052 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  HOUN DOG 6872              18  14  1  115 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
TOTAL PARRY      SNORLAX 6941               14   4  0   96 POKE' MON (568)
BASHING ATTACK   GRAKUS 6920                16  10  0   90 MID EARTH (223)
AIMED BLOW       END OF BIDET 6849          13   6  1   85 ALMOST EXACTLY (20)
WALL OF STEEL    FROSLASS 6963              13   2  0   83 POKE' MON (568)
SLASHING ATTACK  BRIAR 6940                 10   8  1   73 POKE' MON (568)
LUNGING ATTACK   JAGERBOMB 7009              5   0  0   71 LIBATIONS 6 (573)
PARRY-LUNGE      STOMPER ROOM 6954           8   6  0   59 ALMOST EXACTLY (20)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is HOUN DOG 6872.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was APOSTATE POSTMAN 6847.  The ten other most popular fighters were BRUTUS FALX 
6968, THE WHITE WITCH 7002, JAGERBOMB 7009, 1.75L 6914, PILSNER 7010, SILENCE 6868, 
END OF BIDET 6849, IMGUR 6986, HOUN DOG 6872, and FROSLASS 6963.

The least popular fighter this week was STROKE 7082.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were LOPUNNY 6976, SNORLAX 6941, MYTHYA 7081, AI OVERLORD 7016, VINESTONE 
7023, ELHAD 6965, GREENROBYN 7024, BRIAR 6940, SLIME 6 7012, and SLIME 7 7015.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

HOUN DOG (29-6872) CARDOW HUNTERS (359)

                                   BLOODGAMES 2026

Back by popular demand, we will be hosting a new slow Bloodgames mailed arena 
beginning in August. 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 24 
                                 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.

TURN PROCESSING AND DUE DATES -- DM 95 is due August 1 and will process on a 28-day 
schedule.  The other two bloodgames arenas will be processed at the summer Face-to-
Face. (Note: there will also be bloodgames at the next winter FTF.)

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!

                             * * * * *   MEMO  * * * * *

From:       The Office of Accurate Census Reporting, Gladiatorial Commission
To:         All Managers

In the interest of preserving our natural resources and preventing managerial writer's 
cramp, the census form has been eliminated, effective immediately.  Managers may 
register their warriors' races and/or favorite sayings by simply writing them on a 
separate piece of paper and submitting them to the Commission.  Each warrior may have 
up to 15 favorite sayings.  Each saying must be categorized Jeer, Gloat, Boredom, Ouch, 
Victory and may be up to 70 characters long.  For any questions, please contact the 
Gladiatorial Commission.