DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 01/26/2010    Duedate: 02/08/2010

BONSUR ARENA

DM-7    TURN-646

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SALTILLA
BEACH BABES (309)
(7-5996) [21-11-2,106]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

SALTILLA                       POSITION IS EMPTY
BEACH BABES (309)              
(7-5996) [21-11-2,106]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

PALMETTA PATTY                 BARILOCHE
BEACH BABES (309)              SENTINELS (122)
(7-5905) [19-40-0,99]          (7-6050) [1-0-0,11]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

SENTINELS (122)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. REAVERS (392)               30
2. SENTINELS (122)             24      SENTINELS (122)
3. BEACH BABES (309)            9      Unchartered Team
4. CHURCH LADIES (548)          0
                                       WORTHLESS CRETINS (405)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 SENTINELS (122)          384 249 21 60.7   1/ 2 SENTINELS (122)          10  5 0
 2- 2 CHURCH LADIES (548)       98  97 13 50.3   2/ 1 BEACH BABES (309)         9  6 0
 3/ 0 REAVERS (392)            117 128 12 47.8   3/ 0 REAVERS (392)             3  1 0
 4/ 3 BEACH BABES (309)        779 %1122 23 41.0   4- 3 CHURCH LADIES (548)       1  0 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

       + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Report from the Tourney #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

     Larkin here, with a report from the Winter Tourney.  Okay, maybe this isn't
Atlantis, but it's somewhere warm, and if that isn't a beach, at least it's sand,
and, as advertised, there are drinks with umbrellas in them.  And young women with a
lot of suntan showing.  By the time you read this, the tourney will be over, but
while I'm writing it, the tourney is NOT over.  And a lot of you guys reading this
won't have been able to go, anyway.
     I'm interviewing Zalgor Prigg, one of the managers participating in the Old
Valamantis Bloodgames, and let me tell you, Old Valamantis is not a place you want to
hang around if you don't have to.  It's rotten with magic, to begin with--Folstrom
magic, the blackest there is--and then it's got all this blood and violence on top of
it, and it makes for a dark and scary venue.  Anything might rise out of the ruins
around the arena, summoned by the blood and the curses of the managers.
     "Mr. Prigg, could you tell us why you--"
     "It was the play on words," the manager said, overriding the question.  "I
couldn't resist--the chance to call a Bloodgames team Phoenix, you know, the 'rising
from the ashes of death' business.  Of course, then I had to change it to Phonetix,
but that's okay, keep people guessing."
     "I've heard the Commission mages talking about that name, sir, and they seem
alarmed.  One of them said the name was practically a spell in itself, used here."
     "I heard.  That's why I had to change it."
     "Have you considered what might actually rise from the ashes and blood here as a
result?"
     "Well, no, but that isn't my business, you know.  I manage gladiators.  Let the
mages worry about what pops in from some other dimension.  Besides, what if nothing
happens?"
     "But, sir, there have already been reports of zombie rats and tentacled monsters
lurking in the backs of the locker rooms!  And someone is bound to consider that you
have a partial responsibility--"
     "No," Prigg said, "I have no responsibility for that kind of thing.  I'm no
magician, I haven't been reading forbidden tomes...."  He paused, looking thoughtful.
"Maybe it was TigToad with his Obscure Lore...."
     "I don't believe there's a team of that name in this Bloodgames--"
     "No, not here.  Earlier, in Veastian.  He could have been, hmm, preparing for
this, opening contacts if not gates, stuff like that.  Has anybody seen any Dark
Toads around?"
     "Not until they've had six drinks with umbrellas in them.  Tell me, sir, have
you given any thought to the moral implications of the Bloodgames?"
     "What moral implications?" the manager asked.  "This isn't about morals, it's
about survival.  And the way to survive on the sands is to kill your opponents every
chance you get!"
     "Yes, but--"
     "There's a reason they don't hold these contests up in Andoria," the manager
said sternly.  "Good people in their ways, the Andorians, but they just aren't cut
out for this kind of grim business."  He paused to listen to the roar of the crowds
jamming the ancient arena.  Checked the marquee where slaves dangled from ropes and
updated the records of participants.  Nodded, grimly satisfied.  "Another death.
That's good--can't have too many survivors, or it cheapens the victory at the end."
     "But the death toll--"
     "Bah!  Don't get the idea that these gladiators are the flower of Alastarian
youth.  The ones who enter the Bloodgames are the men with no hope.  We offer them a
future they could never have dreamed of, but they have to work for it, sweat for it,
bleed for it, and sometimes die for it.  The survivors..." he bared his teeth in a
grin that would not have looked out of place on a wolf, "they owe us EVERYTHING, and
they'll do anything to repay us."
     "But--"
     "And besides," Zalgor Prigg went on, "if you really want to take up the moral
question, go talk to the Grey Wand.  She's the one set this up, after all."
     "I don't see the point, frankly.  She's got plenty of Lord Protectors, and they
have longer training, skills polished and honed to a--"
     "The Bloodgames victors, they're Her enforcers," Prigg said.  "No polish, sure,
but when a dirty job needs doing, one of these guys will do it, and no questions
asked."

       + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Report from the Tourney #2 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

     Larkin here once again, with more interviews from the tourney.  This time I'm
talking to a new manager, so new he doesn't even have a manager name.  "Sir... what
would you like me to call you, by the way?"
     "Why do you have to call me anything?  I don't understand why you want to
interview me.  There are lots of great managers here who could probably tell you
stuff--"
     "I'm looking for a new perspective, the point of view of someone who is just
starting out with the gladiatorial games."
     "Oh.  Well, I guess that would be me."
     "Absolutely right!  Tell me, what do you think of the tourney?  This is your
first, right?"
     "Right, my first," the young man agreed.  "And it's GREAT!  Everyone is just
great here!  I mean, most of these managers, they're, like, legends, you know?
Everybody's heard of them, and they have stables of HUNDREDS of gladiators, and
they've been polishing their tricks for YEARS, and I didn't figure I had much of a
chance, you know?"
     "The popular view is that no matter how much you know, the arena can always
throw a surprise at you--"
     "Yeah, yeah, I've heard that.  I don't know if I believe it, but I've heard it.
But that isn't the best thing about this tourney.  The best thing is that everyone
here has been GREAT.  Or else I didn't meet them--the ones that might not have been.
But I think I met just about everyone, and--"
     "And they were great.  I'm glad.  But perhaps you could tell our readers a
little more, maybe tell them how these experienced managers were great to you?"
     "Well, yeah, okay.  It's that everyone was so friendly and helpful, see?  The
ENTIRE Consortium talked to me about warrior design, for instance.  I learned a lot
there.  And, well, there was Mannequin, and The Greek Guy, and I actually met
Manager, too!  And they were all really helpful.  Advice, you know, and charts, and
all that stuff that was so confusing.  It was just the best experience!  I'm going to
do it again, for sure!"

      * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *

                         ---===DELARQUAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   1 MORDANT (turn 641): BALL PEIN of MANNEQUIN'S BEST (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM   2 NIANIA (turn 523): GOLDINA of THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 647): VIRTUAL REALITY of STATE OF MIND (Marma Duke, mgr.)
 DM   4 JHELUM (turn 618): PETE MASTIFF of DOGS OF WAR (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM   5 KALTOS (turn 642): CREDIT CARD of BLOOD SUCKERS (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM   6 TRANSEL (turn 637): RIDLEY SCOTT of THE DIRECTORS (?, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 645): SALTILLA of BEACH BABES (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  10 KOLACT (turn 630): CHAGAN of VIKINGS (Nomad, mgr.)
 DM  18 TALCAMA (turn 631): GRUMPY GHOUL of THE GRATEFUL UNDEAD (Street Legal, mgr.)
 DM  21 SUNSET (turn 630): SARALEE JO of SWORD OPERA (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  36 JHANS (turn 602): GRACIE NICOLE of GIRLS X3 (Non, mgr.)
 DM  38 CLIFFHOME (turn 594): ZIG of U.A.K. (Otis the Drunk, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 268): XYOKOR YAHL of THE MIDDLE WAY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  42 RODEKI (turn 578): ALMOST PRETTY of COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
 DM  51 TRICORUS (turn 529): CARGO of SEA DOGS (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  54 TROCAR (turn 253): MATEEN of SAI'FULLAH (?, mgr.)
 DM  59 ILLIS (turn 243): GISBORNE of KIWI CONNECTION (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM  62 VALAMANTIS (turn 476): SAND STORM of DISASTERS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 219): BAYLY of KIWI CONNECTION (The Mun, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 523): PTI of WASTELAND II (The Muffin Man, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   1 MORDANT (turn 641): HOMICIDAL MANIACS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM   2 NIANIA (turn 523): THE GOLDEN FISH (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 647): IRATE FORMATIONS (The Muffin Man, mgr.)
 DM   4 JHELUM (turn 618): TRIBAL COUNCIL (Chief Illiniwek, mgr.)
 DM   5 KALTOS (turn 642): BLOOD SUCKERS (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM   6 TRANSEL (turn 637): THE DIRECTORS (?, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 645): BEACH BABES (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  10 KOLACT (turn 630): VIKINGS (Nomad, mgr.)
 DM  18 TALCAMA (turn 631): THE GRATEFUL UNDEAD (Street Legal, mgr.)
 DM  21 SUNSET (turn 630): BEN'S BAZAAR (Gentleben, mgr.)
 DM  36 JHANS (turn 602): GIRLS X3 (Non, mgr.)
 DM  38 CLIFFHOME (turn 594): U.A.K. (Otis the Drunk, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 268): POSITION IS EMPTY
 DM  42 RODEKI (turn 578): COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
 DM  51 TRICORUS (turn 529): RAISING R'LYEH (Reaper, mgr.)
 DM  54 TROCAR (turn 253): STREET-SOLDIERS (Darkface, mgr.)
 DM  59 ILLIS (turn 243): WHAT'S IN A NAME (Storm Lord, mgr.)
 DM  62 VALAMANTIS (turn 476): MIDDLE WAY 10 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 219): KIWI CONNECTION 7 (The Mun, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 523) 0729205R et al (The Muffin Man, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 646): HELIAS SOL of ASTRAL KIN (Kid Arcane, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 644): BLUEBURN of SENTINELS (Nomad, mgr.)
 DM  36 JHANS (turn 601): EVA MENDEZ of GIRLS X3 (Non, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 267): WHAKAPAPA of KIWI CONNECTION (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM  42 RODEKI (turn 577): DACIMOUSEL of DELVERS (Harby, mgr.)
                           LAZY LOOKOUT of DUNGEON CELL (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  51 TRICORUS (turn 528): GOB of SEA DOGS (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  62 VALAMANTIS (turn 475): SALTY DOG of DEATH MOB (Jakari, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 218): EAGLE KEYS of ANCIENT KNIGHTS (?, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     I sliced and diced the Venomous Gigolo, and I was GLAD to do it.  The man's a
menace.
     Yeah, I know I should write more, but I couldn't think of anything to say.

                                       Saltilla

                                      SPY REPORT

     Hail and well met warriors of BONSUR!  Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp Eyes, 
Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari.  Former top team BEACH BABES was unseated 
this week as SENTINELS moved up from 2nd ranking to take the top spot with a 3-2-0 
record for the round.  CAJETAN caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission 
as he skillfully bested AMBITIOUS GUARD and was awarded 18 points in recognition.  In 
one of the week's more notable duels, HARPOON put down PELARGIR, causing him to lose 
8 points of recognition in the process.  Although KUNG-FU MASTER made a valiant 
effort, it did not suffice to topple the reign of victorious SALTILLA.  Heed this!  A 
seer has warned that if exactly 6 die in duels this week, the whole city shall 
perish!  Just remember...5 or 7!   
     I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently 
transpired.  Indeed there is much I would report.  My inside sources tell me that the 
team to beat in BONSUR these days is BEACH BABES.  At least, most blades in town are 
looking to avoid them.  If you didn't look down dark alleys you'd have been hard 
pressed to find any of SENTINELS last week.  Busy avoiding BEACH BABES?   
     Vendettas.  Bloodied blades and broken spears.  Indeed the city has seen more 
than its fair share of red in recent times.  Dark alleys may hide both secrets and 
assassins.  In the arena there is only the brightness of steel.  Keep vigil always!   
     If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times 
already in BONSUR.  Nice atmosphere you have here!  Ahh, but I can hear the spires of 
a far off city calling to me.  I must away!  Till next we meet remember:  a fool 
flies into a rage quickly and often.  The wise are angered by the same thing only 
once.  Zontani Sharp Eyes  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SALTILLA 5996                21  11  2   106       BEACH BABES (309)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CANDY CANE 5973              12   8  1   112       CHURCH LADIES (548)
-PAULA 5923                   17   5  3   100       CHURCH LADIES (548)
 PALMETTA PATTY 5905          19  40  0    99       BEACH BABES (309)
 LITTLE VENUS 5990            22  13  1    98       BEACH BABES (309)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MARY ANN 6019                 6   1  1    60       CHURCH LADIES (548)
-SUZIE 6015                    5   1  1    58       CHURCH LADIES (548)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CAJETAN 6036                  5   3  1    43       SENTINELS (122)
 SCRAMBLER 4735                4   2  1    39       REAVERS (392)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLAGO THE AXE 6027            7   8  0    29       SENTINELS (122)
 QUEENIE 6034                  6   6  0    25       BEACH BABES (309)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 L'DY DEATHSTRIKE 4754         2   4  1    22       REAVERS (392)
 ETUGEN KHAN 6043              2   1  0    21       SENTINELS (122)
 HARPOON 4796                  1   1  0    14       REAVERS (392)
 SARAH SUNDANCE 6038           2   5  0    11       BEACH BABES (309)
 BARILOCHE 6050                1   0  0    11       SENTINELS (122)
 PELARGIR 6042                 2   3  0     9       SENTINELS (122)
 SCALP-HUNTR 4755              1   3  0     6       REAVERS (392)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
HAYMAKER 6032           4  5 0 SENTINELS 122        SUZIE 6015            643   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Patty -- Now, that was a worthy sending off party!  Oh, the Cabana will certainly be
missed!  But, I have heard that some of your teammates will also be hanging about
retired at the Isle with nothing to do....  I'm sure they can find something to keep
me busy until you arrive! -- Blueburn

Sarah -- See, dancing in the sun is tiring.  That is why I wear a helmet with a visor
--shade.  It works.  Try it sometime. -- Blago

Queenie -- I think I lost because you are simply always supposed to fight Blago.  I
got in the way of fate.  Always a bad idea.  Still, even with the FE disparity, that
was a disappointing showing. -- Pelargir

It seems that it might be a while before the Sentinels can again claim the throne of
this proud arena.  Enjoy it until we get up there, Ladies! -- Blago and crew

Pelargir -- Well, all RIGHT!  You make me feel like a queen.  Um, of the amazons,
maybe?  Not that it's a big deal, I already have sufficient self-esteem.  Come on out
to try the smash tonight.  We're going to have something hot, because this weather
NEEDS something hot.  For instance, sunshine!  But hot smash will do. -- Queenie

Blueburn -- We hate to see you go, but, whoa!  That was a great party. -- Palmetta
Patty, who may have had just a tish too much smash

That darned B.C. Li, him and his Kung-Fu.  He's so PUSHY and he puts his hands
EVERYWHERE.  I wish he would carry a weapon, which would give him something else to
do with them. -- Little Venus

Blago the Axe -- I guess it's just you guys and us here for now.  A little tedious in
the arena, but it certainly solved the "everyone's invited" expense problem at the
party. -- Sara Sundance

Nomad -- I was thinking of the link some claim between cows chewing their cuds and
belching and greenhouse gasses.  Total parries have a lot in common with cows chewing
their cuds. -- Jorja

Blago -- Well, okay.  Maybe I spoke too hastily. -- Queenie, willing to admit an
error (but only one!)

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

SALTILLA devastated KUNG-FU MASTER in a 1 minute gruesome mismatched Title fight.
LITTLE VENUS demolished M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute one-sided melee.
PALMETTA PATTY overpowered M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute mismatched duel.
BLAGO THE AXE was devastated by VICIOUS PIRATE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
QUEENIE was subdued by SCRAMBLER in a 1 minute competition.
CAJETAN devastated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
L'DY DEATHSTRIKE devastated SARAH SUNDANCE in a 1 minute mismatched match.
HARPOON overcame PELARGIR in a action packed 1 minute beginner's fight.
SCALP-HUNTR was viciously subdued by BARILOCHE in a popular 5 minute beginner's duel.
ETUGEN KHAN vanquished CONDEMNED PIRATE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                  3         AIMED BLOW        10 -   4 -  0      71  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         LUNGING ATTACK    15 -   8 -  1      65  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         STRIKING ATTACK   16 -   9 -  1      64  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         SLASHING ATTACK    9 -   6 -  1      60  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         PARRY-STRIKE       8 -   6 -  0      57  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         BASHING ATTACK     4 -   3 -  0      57  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      5 -   4 -  1      56  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         WALL OF STEEL      7 -   7 -  0      50  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-LUNGE        5 -   6 -  0      45  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         TOTAL PARRY        0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 646 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  SALTILLA 5996              21  11  2  106 BEACH BABES (309)
AIMED BLOW       LITTLE VENUS 5990          22  13  1   98 BEACH BABES (309)

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-RIPOSTE    CAJETAN 6036                5   3  1   43 SENTINELS (122)
STRIKING ATTACK  SCRAMBLER 4735              4   2  1   39 REAVERS (392)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is PALMETTA PATTY 5905.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was BARILOCHE 6050.  The ten other most popular fighters were SCRAMBLER 4735, 
SALTILLA 5996, LITTLE VENUS 5990, PALMETTA PATTY 5905, CAJETAN 6036, L'DY DEATHSTRIKE 
4754, HARPOON 4796, PELARGIR 6042, ETUGEN KHAN 6043, and SCALP-HUNTR 4755.

The least popular fighter this week was SARAH SUNDANCE 6038.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were QUEENIE 6034, BLAGO THE AXE 6027, SCALP-HUNTR 4755, ETUGEN KHAN 
6043, PELARGIR 6042, HARPOON 4796, L'DY DEATHSTRIKE 4754, CAJETAN 6036, PALMETTA 
PATTY 5905, and LITTLE VENUS 5990.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

PALMETTA PATTY (7-5905) BEACH BABES (309)
BARRIO (7-5207) WORDS THAT END IN O (507)