DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/09/2009    Duedate: 08/05/2009

ARKERS ARENA

DM-8    TURN-311

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

ZIP
Z GLADIATORZ (519)
(8-4383) [19-11-0,115]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

ZIP                            POSITION IS EMPTY
Z GLADIATORZ (519)             
(8-4383) [19-11-0,115]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

ZIP                            ZILCH
Z GLADIATORZ (519)             Z GLADIATORZ (519)
(8-4383) [19-11-0,115]         (8-5081) [9-5-0,78]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

Z GLADIATORZ (519)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. Z GLADIATORZ (519)          47
2. HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)       34      CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
3. BLOOD RITES (585)           33      Unchartered Team
4. SMITHSONIAN (245)            1
5. HEAD BANGERS (595)           0      BLACK JACK HAMMER (526)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)      61  19  1 76.3   1/ 4 Z GLADIATORZ (519)       11  2 0
 2- 2*WARRIOR POETS (578)       15   5  3 75.0   2/ 6 BLOOD RITES (585)         9  1 0
 3/ 3 Z GLADIATORZ (519)       149  76  0 66.2   3/ 3 HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)     6  8 2
 4/ 6 BLOOD RITES (585)         87  56  4 60.8   4/ 1 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)      6  8 1
 5/ 5 SMITHSONIAN (245)        606 393 13 60.7   5- 7*HEAD BANGERS (595)        5  5 1
 6- 7*HEAD BANGERS (595)         5   5  1 50.0   6/ 5 SMITHSONIAN (245)         5  5 0
 7/ 8 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)      134 186  2 41.9   7- 2*WARRIOR POETS (578)       4  1 0
 8/ 9 HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)     17  28  5 37.8   8/ 8 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)       4 10 0
 9-10*THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)    1   4  0 20.0   9-10*THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)   1  4 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[ The Andorian Succession #31 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Fratsfa:

     Lady Fern knew that her brothers Fandil and Lenpro were competent men, and that
they had each followed up what they considered an important point in the current
problem.  But she could not help feeling that they had, each of them, overlooked the
key to the problem, or at least the point which should have been dealt with FIRST:
the King.
     Whether the true king had died some time ago or was alive but under magical
control or any of several other possibilities, the important thing, as she saw it,
was to insure that command of the Andorian League did not fall into the wrong hands.
Yes, the causes of the problem, which Fandil thought he had a line on, needed to be
dealt with.  And yes, the secondary results of the problem such as intolerance of the
Aruaki, which Lenpro had gone out to tackle, did need to be dealt with, too.
     But the previous kings of the League had not made much effort to draw it
together into a coherent whole, and if the king failed, it would--almost must--fall
apart into its constituent parts.  Fratsfa, Convincia, Ardivent, and the Aruaki
Clanholds.  Raltumas... she shrugged.  That was probably lost.  Which, also, an
active king might have prevented.
     So she had done what seemed reasonable to her, and sent one of her Girls, the
Outcast Orchid, to Andor to find out what was going on.  It seemed so obvious.  No
magical scrying, no careful collating of reports from spies and chance travelers,
just... go and look.  She'd been tempted to make up a party drawn from several teams
here, because though her Girls were Good Girls, they were easily distracted.  But in
the end she had not.  Time enough to involve more people when she had some
information to work with.  Orchid had strict instructions not to become involved with
people along the way, just to go, see, and return to report what she had seen.  It
would have to be enough.

Andor:

     Outcast Orchid leaned against a pillar along the Processional Way--whatever the
actual name of the avenue was, she didn't know or care--and waited for the King to
drive past in his carriage.  It had been a boring trip.  No fraternization with
anybody!  She understood why her manager had give that order, but it had been hard to
follow.  All the opportunities she'd passed by!  She let her eyes wander across the
crowd waiting for the king to appear.  There was a fine-looking man in the prime of
life who looked like he might know a thing or two.  And over there a young man, full
of energy, who might be a gladiator--he looked like he could hardly wait for the
king's carriage to come into view.  It was good to see someone who really cared; and
he had several more probable gladiators with him.  They must have come from one of
the Convincian arenas to see the king.  And that man over there, my, wasn't HE a cute
one--
     A stirring in the crowd at the end of the block.  Not a cheer, but....  No, she
couldn't say what it was, exactly.  She wasn't good at finding words for stuff like
that.  Not exactly excitement, but greater attention.  Focus.  Probably the king's
carriage.  Or at least the head of the procession.
     Yes, here they came.  Guards.  Fine looking men, really fine.  Very serious,
practically stone-faced, but they were on duty, after all.  Then ordinary men in
fancy clothing.  Lesser members of the government, she guessed.  Some of them looked
like nobles, and some reminded her a LOT of Commission officials.  A bureaucrat
doesn't change from office to office.  More guards, looking more tense.
     "I was against this," a man beside her muttered.  "I told them from the
beginning that it would be better to keep it simple."
     She turned to look at him.  Oh, my, really cute!  Dark and gloomy, looked like a
poet.  She could have FUN with a man like that, but... she had her orders.
     "You think the parade is a mistake?"
     "That, too.  The more they bring their 'king' out in public, the more chance for
people to see that something's wrong.  But they have insisted on displaying... him.
No, it's this that's going to happen next.  I advised against it.  I did!  But they
WILL have their drama, and I, the gods forgive me, helped them set it up."  He shook
his head, looking more gloomy and romantical than ever.  "You should move away from
me.  I'm dangerous company."
     Orchid was going to ask him what he was talking about, but the carriage came
into view around the corner.  Okay, she could ask questions later.  Right now, her
most imperative command was to SEE.  To see the king, and report what she'd seen.
Accurately, which meant she had to pay attention here.  The carriage was moving
slowly, so she had plenty of time to observe it.
     The man on the rear seat, in the purple robes and the golden crown, must be the
king.  Who else could it be?  But she hadn't expected the crown, somehow.  She'd seen
Emperor Alonj of Fratsfa, and he didn't wear a crown.  She studied the king, if that
was him, closely.  Lady Fern would want details.  He didn't look... huh.  Not much of
anything.  Not interested in the city going past him, not bored by the parade, not
angry at something, not... anything.  Not particularly healthy, not actually sick.
He seemed so much a blank that it was disconcerting.
     "What's WRONG with him?"  She didn't realize she'd spoken out loud until she
heard the words hanging in the air.  Too late to call them back.
     "Aside from the fact that you're looking at a golem with no more mind than a
puppet?  Not a thing.  As empty golems go, it's a fairly good one."
     "A... golem?"  She turned to look at the man beside her.  "Then what happened to
the KING?"
     He shrugged.  "Nobody who's talking knows."
     "But--"
     He took her arm gently and turned her back toward the parade.  "Watch this."
His voice was grim.  "Watch closely, not just the 'king', and see if you can spot the
flaws.  Someone needs to know, besides me."
     Orchid focused on the carriage again, then began to look at the people closest
around it.  The neatly arrayed ranks of guards had gotten out of step and out of line
when they turned the corner back there.  Surely guards knew how to handle corners?
But they were being slow to reorganize their ranks.  The group she'd identified as
almost certainly gladiators--half a dozen of them--surged forward.  To protect--  No!
They were ATTACKING the king!  She stood for a few seconds in stunned disbelief, then
shook herself together and took a step forward.  She had to protect--
     The grip on her arm tightened, holding her back.  "No, lady, don't throw your
life away for nothing.  That is not the king, it was never the king, and this
'assassination' was arranged by--  Better, probably, if I don't tell you.  They sniff
out guilty knowledge like pig sniffing truffles.  Take what you have seen and get out
of town as quickly as you can without attracting suspicion.  Tell people--it's
important that people know what really happened here--"
     "Come with me," she said.  "You're in danger, too, aren't you?"
     "Yes, but I put myself in the path of--"
     A scream cut off his words.  She looked back.  The words of so many spy reports
ran through her head:  Blood on a purple robe may stain.  That robe was badly
stained.  But it was the gladiator-assassins who were screaming as the guards closed
around them and cut them down.  Cut them into pieces.  The pavement was awash with
blood.
     The grip on her elbow dragged her back into the concealment of the milling
crowd, then into a side street.  "Come away, lady, while you still can."

        + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian Succession #32 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Elsewhere:

     "I wouldn't want easy," Sunflower told the vampire.  Not strictly true, all she
wanted right now was out of this... whatever.  Pocket dimension.  But any trick that
could startle her opponent was good.  Vampires were tricky to fight, and there was no
choice here but fight or die; a vampire wouldn't take a surrender.  Well, except to
kill the loser at more leisure.  But she, Sizzling Sunflower, was going to win.
     Which raised a question.  She pondered it as she parried the vampire's dark
blade in a shower of sparks, riposted, lunged and withdrew.  In this pocket
dimension, the nature of reality was, call, it suggestible.  Intuition told her that
letting the "suggestions" get too far with her would be a bad move.  But could she
use just a little?  Use the "Sunflower" part of her arena name against a vampire who
might not be able to bear sunlight?  She had noticed when they first entered this
place that there wasn't any true sun here; the sky was a bright gray, and that was
the source of the "daylight."
     Hmm.  This vampire was strong and fast, but not particularly skilled with a
blade.  Ah, make that, apparently not skilled.  She supposed it could be a ruse.  Her
gladiator's instincts told her it was no trick:  this vampire really wasn't a
swordmaster.  Probably didn't have to be.  Until now.
     Their swords crossed again, shrieking metal and the weight of the vampire's
strike jolting down her arm, but the blade, HER blade, flashed bright as the sun, and
the sparks this time were hot and golden.  The vampire reeled back, shrieking as
loudly as the dark blade had done.
     Now.
     Sunflower pressed the attack.  A slash, and the vampire shied back, not as
confident as she'd been before.  A lunge.  Further retreat, and a stumble.  Another
lunge, a swerve as the fallen vampire kicked out at her.  Drive forward, keep the
creature on the defensive.  Hamstring, that's what she wanted.  Sunflower feinted for
the torso and then drove her sword--flaring hot gold again--into the vampire's leg.
     A scream such as she never wanted to hear again, a sudden cloud of oily black
smoke, and... nothing left.  The vampire was just gone.

West of Fratsfa:

     Elosjon heaved a sigh of relief when his feet touched firm ground again, and he
didn't care if Fandil heard him or not.  He had been afraid--no, he was afraid now.
In the tree, he had been terrified.  Of falling.  Of failing.
     The old mage gripped his arm, held one hand to his mouth briefly to signal
silence, and then pulled him away from the ravine, deeper into the forest.  Higher up
the mountain.
     After several minutes of silent walking, or at least walking without speech,
Elosjon figured he could risk speech.  "What about Redbud?" he whispered.
     "We keep going," Fandil said.  "She may, probably will, be fine.  And she's
doing a necessary job so that we can go forward and do a different and even more
necessary job.  Let us not waste her efforts."
     "Right, right.  The magician at Mountain Home."  He hesitated.  "I could be
wrong about Mountain Home.  I only have the word of Herlas of Zensu and he's, well,
his reputation isn't exactly--"
     "I feel sure that you ARE correct," Fandil said.  "All my instincts tell me so.
We will find an answer up there on the mountain.  If we get there soon enough."

Andor:

     Orchid stared back toward the avenue and the slaughter.  "I don't believe it!
Those gladiators were waiting to kill the king--the golem they thought was the king.
How could they do such a thing?"
     "You saw how," the man beside her said.
     "Yes, but--"
     "Gladiators come all kinds, just like ordinary people," he went on.  "Some good,
some bad, and a lot of them on the fence.  And this hasn't been a good town for a
gladiator since the arena closed.  They were probably so glad to have a job that they
didn't look into it closely."
     "You're saying someone paid them to--?"
     "Of course."  He steered her into an alley just before a troop of mounted guards
rushed past.  "Very few people, gladiators or not, are genuine anarchist to kill what
they believe is the king just for... kicks."  He paused at the other end of the
alley, looked both ways, and hurried her across another street into an overgrown
park.
     "But they must have expected the guards, why didn't they have an escape route
ready?"
     "They were most likely told the guards wouldn't be a problem.  Don't you see?"
He stopped and turned to face her.  "They were set up to kill and to die."  He shook
her a little.  "Believe it, lady!  Lord Korneth doesn't care whose death he ordered,
and you will be a target if anyone noticed and recognized you.  Even if no one saw
you at the parade--any gladiator found in Andor today will be marked for death.  You
have to get out of the city!"

Readers:  I'm using Consortium managers and gladiators here simply because they're
available.  If anybody else wants to be mixed up in this, just say the word, by
personal, email, or diplo. -- the Scribe

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

                          ---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 310): ZENITH of Z GLADIATORZ (? , mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 623): CARMEN ELECTRA of GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS (Weasel, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 622): GEORGE FOREMUN of ALL THE MUN'S MEN (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 610): SEREPHIM of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 612): PAUL WIEDORFER of MEDAL OF HONOR J4 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 609): SAML ULRON of THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 608): GUT BUSTER of ULTRA-VIOLENT (Deep Thought, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 604): BAINES of GAMEHENDGE (Malaquar, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 573): THE FOOL of AQUARIAN TAROT (Sage, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 565): SERGEANT2 of MEDAL OF HONOR H3 (The Anarchist)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 556): BINKLY of DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 258): BRAIN TUMOR of OTTO'S PARTS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 455): SERGEANT2 of MEDAL OF HONOR J3 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 212): ALBUQUERQUE of WESTERN FRONTIERS (?, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 508): WORKS 4 EVIL EMPIRE of SUPERIOR FATHER (Manager, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 310): CONSANGUINEOUS (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 623): KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 622): OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 610): KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 612): MEDAL OF HONOOR J4 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 609): FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 608): MENAGERIE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 604): LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 574): MEDAL OF HONOOR G1 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 565): MEDAL OF HONOR H3 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 556): DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 258): SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 455): MEDAL OF HONOR J3 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 212): THE ZOO (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 508): NO-HALF STEPPING (?, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                   ----------------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 309): CONCUSSION of CONSANGUINEOUS (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 608): GUT BUSTER of ULTRA-VIOLENT (Deep Thought, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 604): BAINES of GAMEHENDGE (Malaquar, mgr.)
                         MAYOR MCLAY of LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 573): THE FOOL of AQUARIAN TAROT (Sage, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     I beat Noble Assassin for the title?  That hardly seems worth me having to write
a DM Column.  The shame!  But I AM the Duelmaster, so I WILL pen a column.  I will.
How about I tell you about the two graduating Z Gladiatorz? Zinger and my favorite--
me!

     ZENITH
14-7-0 in the arena
17-11-1 in tournaments
TV - Fool's Champions
14-4-9-16-20-10-11 mode BA
good damage, normal endurance
bumped to 15-5-9-17-21-10-11
1.96 skill learn rate
fave weapon guess ML or QS
ML  at 34-146-15
QS at 32-166-17
others at 4-16-0
rhythm guess high/low learns attack, no tactic

     ZINGER
26-9-0 in arena
8-6-0 in tournaments
10-19-10-9-20-10-6 mode TP
bumped to 13-21-10-11-21-10-8
skill learn rate 1.92 (must be bonused?!)
fave weapon guess - a real guess LS
all weapons at 2-110-0; never used LS
rhythm guess low/low learns attack, favorite tactic parry

     A combined 65-33-1 for the two graduating Z's.  No wonder The Z Man stays near
the top.  We kept him there!
          Zenith, Duelmaster (at the top of her game)

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings, Warriors of ARKERS.  Allow this humble servant Novgorodny Vir to give 
you a respite from the fights in the form of this Spyreport.  Nothing is certain in 
ARKERS, with changing loyalties, changing Duelmasters.  Write this down:  new top 
team--Z GLADIATORZ.  Those betting on WARRIOR POETS lost their shirt, as WARRIOR 
POETS lost their fighting abilities:  0-0-0.  Nothing works for a team like victory 
(How's that for a perceptive observation?) as BLOOD RITES can attest...  Good things 
come to those who fight well, as Z GLADIATORZ can attest, moving up by 3.  HEAVEN'S 
SHADOW had cause to celebrate, after ESAU HARDGRAVE got 18 points by beating 
CONFESSION.  A certain someone should cut down on the drinking and practice more, 
after losing 4 points to CHAOS BLADE.  (Discrete enough, ALAMO?) Well, Duelmaster 
ZENITH challenged CONSANGUINEOUS' CONUNDRUM.  Is a 14-7-0 good enough?  Those who 
hoped for a new Duelmaster were disappointed by CONUNDRUM, of CONSANGUINEOUS, who 
despite a 15-5-0 couldn't overcome ARKERS' Number 1.  Word has it one team in ARKERS 
is using psychics to predict wins.  They lead a charmed life!   
     So much to report, so little time!  Like the noble eagle soaring amongst the 
mountaintops, so stand the warriors of CONSANGUINEOUS, alone and unchallenged.  As a 
woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of Z GLADIATORZ, so did that sorry team 
shy from CONSANGUINEOUS Is it charming personality?  Conversational abilities?  Good 
oral hygiene?  Whatever it is, CONUNDRUM is the most challenged warrior.  Take heed 
ARKERS, of the unprincipled action of ZINGER.  By challenging CONFIDENCE, 16 points 
below him, ZINGER besmirches the noble art of dueling.  Warriors of ARKERS!  Do you 
wish your reputations tainted by the base challenge of ZINGER?   
     Is there life after death?  Pragmatics (and warriors) know there is death after 
life!  Questions are being raised about the disposing of severed body parts in the 
arena.  A certain tavern in ARKERS would I avoid!   
     All good things must come to an end.  As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond 
my control, I must take my leave of this place.  Can anything compare to the pleasure 
of writing Spyreports for ARKERS?  On that giddy note I take my leave-- Novgorodny 
Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ZIP 4383                     19  11  0   115       Z GLADIATORZ (519)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-PEARL HARBOR 5076            16  11  0   102       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 CONSTERNATION 4896           14   2  0   100       CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
-WAR BOND 5066                15  12  0    95       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 CONUNDRUM 4892               15   5  0    92       CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
 CONFIDENCE 4894              11   5  0    91       CONSANGUINEOUS (567)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ZILCH 5081                    9   5  0    78       Z GLADIATORZ (519)
 INDIOR LANDIS 5058           16  17  0    77       MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
 KERBIN NOTTS 5040            13  22  0    67       MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLOOD STAIN 5049             18  12  0    66       BLOOD RITES (585)
 GERONIMO 5125                 5   4  0    66       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 CHAOS BLADE 5108              8   4  0    62       BLOOD RITES (585)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ESAU HARDGRAVE 5144           7   2  2    51       HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)
-DIOCLETIAN 4990               3   1  0    50       WARRIOR POETS (578)
 CONFESSION 4895               8   5  0    45       CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
 ZITHER 5153                   7   0  0    43       Z GLADIATORZ (519)
 NORM QUESHA 5171              5   2  0    34       MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MARTIN LUTHER 4987            4   0  2    30       WARRIOR POETS (578)
 ALAMO 5151                    4   2  0    30       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 JOS GATECRASHER 5146          4   5  2    27       HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)
-MENCIUS 4986                  3   1  0    24       WARRIOR POETS (578)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CRIMSON DRIP 5172             2   0  0    23       BLOOD RITES (585)
 GORE 5169                     2   0  0    22       BLOOD RITES (585)
-SIMON BOLIVAR 4989            3   1  0    21       WARRIOR POETS (578)
-SALIVA 5163                   1   1  0    19       HEAD BANGERS (595)
 AYANNAH WULF 5145             2   7  0    13       HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)
-SONIA 5185                    1   0  0    13       THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)
 BLOOD SPRAY 5170              2   0  0    12       BLOOD RITES (585)
 ALBRECHT WULF 5142            1   8  0    11       HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)
 FORSAKEN 5180                 2   1  0     7       HEAVEN'S SHADOW (594)
-PINK 5161                     1   1  0     6       HEAD BANGERS (595)
-METALLICA 5159                1   1  1     5       HEAD BANGERS (595)
-KORN 5160                     1   1  0     4       HEAD BANGERS (595)
-SLIP KNOT 5162                1   1  0     4       HEAD BANGERS (595)
 HANNA KEENE 5187              0   2  0     2       MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
-DRIZZLE 5181                  0   1  0     1       THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)
-SHEN ZU 5183                  0   1  0     1       THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)
-GRUUMSH 5182                  0   1  0     1       THE ASSASIN GUILD (598)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
GEORGE JOHN 5186        0  1 0 MIDDLE WAY 11 546    MARTIN LUTHER 4987    308   
JEREMAYO MELLON 5179    3  3 0 MIDDLE WAY 11 546    JOS GATECRASHER 5146  311   
GIMBLE THE QUICK 5184   0  1 0 THE ASSASIN GUIL 598 METALLICA 5159        309   
JUVENAL 4988            2  2 1 WARRIOR POETS 578    ESAU HARDGRAVE 5144   310   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Congratulations to our own Zenith who zonked the formidable Noble Assassin for the DM
Title.  What an epitome! -- The Z Man

Consternation -- Any time I can outmaneuver a Consag it is a fine day. -- Zinger

Pink -- You wanted me?  It was kinda fun, the win and all, but I am a yellow person
myself.  You know?  But I did like the fiddlin' around part. -- Zither

I've never had a Virginal Concubine before.  I feel refreshed. -- Zip

     Just wait till her brothers drop by to see you.

Well done, fellow Zs.  A 4-0 in C territory!  Well done. -- The Z Man

Shucks, I guess I get to rearrange my whole team with both Zenith and Zinger
graduating.  Life can be hard at times, you know? -- The Z Man

Congrats to Arker's new unabashed Duelmaster, Zenith. -- Curator

A salute to the new Lord protectors Zenith and Zinger. -- Curator

Indior Landis -- It was my day.  No sneak attacks from you. -- Pearl Harbor

Norm Quesha -- Me heap gud fite.  How! -- Geronimo

Slip Knot -- Perhaps a bowline would have better chance against me?  I am, after all,
making my last stand. -- Alamo

Conundrum -- You confuse me. -- War Bond

Arkerites -- May your time here in this great arena be long and prosperous. --
Curator and The Smithsonian

Fer them that be innerested ....Yep, I guess I missed er that fer.
Zenith VH/VL ME Learns Decise
Zinger VL/VL QS Learns defense -- The Z Man

All -- What a welcome I get on my first turn back, 3 standbyes out of 5.  Kind of a
sad turn but hopefuly my addition to the arena will keep others from the same fate.
-- Wretch

Forsaken -- What a great battle.  I have never seen someone stand as still for as
long as me before.  Well done. -- Blood Spray

Hanna Keane -- What a mess you have become.  Are you trying to steal my name? -- Gore

Blood Spray -- Congratulations on the win;  I'd like to think I made you earn that
one.  It's good to see Blood Rites back in action. -- Forsaken

Warrior Poets -- Artists are supposed to suffer for their work.  I'm happy to oblige.
-- Esau Hardgrave

     You're all heart.

To the Ghost of Gimble the Quick -- Exit light, enter night, off to never, never
land.  Tell the Sand Man he's welcome. -- Metallica

Drizzle -- You came like storm.  What happened? -- Slip Knot

Gruumsh -- Even if you do think you're a god, when a girl says "No" it means "Over
Her Cold Blue Corpse." -- Pink

     Careful, there are some kinky types around.  Some people actually LIKE blue.

Forsaken -- You got lucky. -- Saliva

Shen Zu -- Use weapons that are fit for your style. -- Korn

Pearl Harbor -- Lighten up, girl, we've still got six months. -- Indior Landis

Confidence -- You've got too much of it. -- Kerbin Notts

Geronimo -- You didn't have to jump out of the sky and land in the middle of me!  I
was going to surrender anyway. -- Norm Quesha

Metallica -- If burying you in the sand is the only way to get you to tone it down,
well, there's plenty of sand. -- Jeremayo Mellon

Gore -- Euwh, messy! -- Hanna Keene

Alamo -- No, actually, rock is much to noisy for my taste.  I like easy listening. --
Norm Quesha

Our congratulations to Zenith and Zinger. -- Jorja and the Middle Way

Zenith and Zinger -- I can tell, being gifted that way, that you have no interest in
lands around Arkers.  This is good, as there are no lands available around Arkers  If
there is some other little gift that appeals to you, let me know and I'll look into
it. -- Desthvan, Arena Manager

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

ZENITH devastated CONUNDRUM in a 2 minute gruesome mismatched Challenge fight.
ZINGER savagely defeated CONFIDENCE in a slow 23 minute veteran's Challenge melee.
ZILCH viciously subdued BLOOD STAIN in a popular 4 minute gory Challenge contest.
ZITHER subdued NORM QUESHA in a 3 minute Challenge competition.
CRIMSON DRIP devastated ALBRECHT WULF in a 3 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
ZIP devastated INDIOR LANDIS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute mismatched Title match.
CONSTERNATION overpowered KERBIN NOTTS in a 3 minute gruesome uneven melee.
GERONIMO vanquished AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
ALAMO was vanquished by CHAOS BLADE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
CONFESSION was overpowered by ESAU HARDGRAVE in a 1 minute uneven match.
AYANNAH WULF was overpowered by GORE in a 1 minute brutal one-sided fight.
JOS GATECRASHER barely slew JEREMAYO MELLON in a 2 minute conflict.
BLOOD SPRAY bested HANNA KEENE in a 6 minute novice's battle.
FORSAKEN outwaited SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a unpopular 7 minute amateur's bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                  5         BASHING ATTACK    33 -  20 -  2      62  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         TOTAL PARRY       30 -  22 -  0      58  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         AIMED BLOW        23 -  18 -  2      56  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         WALL OF STEEL     12 -  10 -  0      55  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         SLASHING ATTACK   13 -  11 -  3      54  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     13 -  12 -  0      52  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         LUNGING ATTACK    20 -  21 -  4      49  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         STRIKING ATTACK   14 -  20 -  0      41  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         PARRY-LUNGE        7 -  11 -  1      39  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -  11 -  0      35  |

Turn 311 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
BASHING ATTACK   ZIP 4383                   19  11  0  115 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    CONSTERNATION 4896         14   2  0  100 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
AIMED BLOW       CONUNDRUM 4892             15   5  0   92 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
LUNGING ATTACK   CONFIDENCE 4894            11   5  0   91 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
SLASHING ATTACK  ZILCH 5081                  9   5  0   78 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
TOTAL PARRY      BLOOD STAIN 5049           18  12  0   66 BLOOD RITES (585)
STRIKING ATTACK  GERONIMO 5125               5   4  0   66 SMITHSONIAN (245)
PARRY-LUNGE      CONFESSION 4895             8   5  0   45 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is ZIP 4383.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
ZILCH 5081.  The ten other most popular fighters were NORM QUESHA 5171, HANNA KEENE 
5187, CONSTERNATION 4896, CRIMSON DRIP 5172, ALBRECHT WULF 5142, ZIP 4383, GORE 5169, 
JEREMAYO MELLON 5179, GERONIMO 5125, and ESAU HARDGRAVE 5144.

The least popular fighter this week was CONFIDENCE 4894.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were FORSAKEN 5180, AYANNAH WULF 5145, CONFESSION 4895, ALAMO 5151, KERBIN 
NOTTS 5040, BLOOD STAIN 5049, BLOOD SPRAY 5170, CHAOS BLADE 5108, INDIOR LANDIS 5058, 
and ZITHER 5153.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

ZIP (8-4383) Z GLADIATORZ (519)
CONUNDRUM (8-4892) CONSANGUINEOUS (567)

The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:

ZINGER (8-4890) Z GLADIATORZ (519)
ZENITH (8-5082) Z GLADIATORZ (519)