DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 11/18/2003 Duedate: 12/01/2003 ZUKAL ARENA DM-9 TURN-479 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS E. VICTOR LETTER BOMBS (436) (9-4864) [14-10-0,91] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader E. VICTOR SLASH LARUE LETTER BOMBS (436) CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) (9-4864) [14-10-0,91] (9-4993) [5-2-0,46] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite E. VICTOR ACACIA GARCIA LETTER BOMBS (436) DREAM PARK (447) (9-4864) [14-10-0,91] (9-4862) [5-4-0,41] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM DREAM PARK (447) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. LETTER BOMBS (436) 42 2. DREAM PARK (447) 24 DSM4 (239) 3. DSM4 (239) 15 Unchartered Team 4. INTERHOOPS (461) 13 5. GARDEN OF EVIL (458) 13 (-1) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 0*INTERHOOPS (461) 1 0 0 100 1/ 2 DREAM PARK (447) 7 8 0 2/ 0*GARDEN OF EVIL (458) 1 0 0 100 2/ 1 BLUE MOON (381) 6 9 0 3- 1*FIRST STRIKE (453) 1 0 0 100 3/ 4 DSM4 (239) 4 0 1 4- 2 SUPERIOR SPLASHES (410) 11 4 0 73.3 4/ 7 LETTER BOMBS (436) 4 2 0 5/ 3 DSM4 (239) 347 273 24 56.0 5/ 3*CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) 3 6 0 6/ 4 DREAM PARK (447) 31 28 0 52.5 6/ 0*INTERHOOPS (461) 1 0 0 7/ 5*CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) 19 19 1 50.0 7- 5*FIRST STRIKE (453) 1 0 0 8/ 6 LETTER BOMBS (436) 62 66 2 48.4 8/ 0*GARDEN OF EVIL (458) 1 0 0 9/ 7 BLUE MOON (381) 283 400 9 41.4 9- 6 SUPERIOR SPLASHES (410) 0 1 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[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #72 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Between Ibizond and Korga: The hound that Fist of Kjarran had crippled was dragging itself down the road toward its approaching master, whining pitifully. If it had been a proper dog, the gladiator might have regretted the injury. As it was...serve the damned beast right. As the hound had appeared to grow when it charged him, so did the hunter. What might have been a big horse--if it was a horse at all--became huge, and its rider dominated the sky. He...it seemed to wear a crown of cold lights, or maybe there were northern lights in the sky behind its head. No, that wasn't north, that was southeast. Fist shook his own head to clear out the fantasies. As the rider passed the crippled hound, he cried out in a terrible voice, a word Fist didn't know and didn't want to know. An evil word, he was sure. Maybe a spell, or a vow of vengeance. Not that it mattered! He had the protection of Kjarran and Jayde. He raised his sword against the moon-colored blade that was swinging down out of the stars above him. "Kjarran and Jayde guide my hand!" Fist shouted, and then the blow fell against his blade with enough force that it drove him to his knees. The hunter's blade was white as bone, his own turned red as life's blood, and warmth came into his hands from his two-handed grip on it, and down his arms, to counter the icy air that cloaked his opponent. He was a little surprised to find himself still alive after such a blow, more surprised still to find his blade unbroken. Nothing but the direct intervention of his god Kjarran and the god's Daughter Jayde could have preserved his life, he was sure. And the only proper way to show appreciation of that aid was to get up and fight. Which he would do. As the hunter's blade was withdrawn and raised for another blow, Fist lurched to his feet. The hunter was thundering more of his evil-sounding words, they seemed to streak toward him like arrows, like an icy hail or the bitterest wind of winter, and it was hard to stand against them, the coldness and the hate and the fury. Impossible to stand against another powerful sword-stroke delivered in their wake. Fist did the only thing he could think of and threw himself forward under the falling blade, slashing at the horse's forelegs where it reared high, then at its belly as he rolled under it and out into the road. The horse screamed as cold-gleaming coils emerged from its belly and came down on all four feet, stumbled when one of its front legs wouldn't hold, and fell. The hunter leaped free, but the fallen horse was now between him and his prey. Cold light, colder than moonlight and without that clean purity, shivered around him. The intestines that had spilled from the horse writhed like snakes, or like an animated snare, coils twisting toward Fist. If they caught him, the gladiator believed they would be like a snare and would hold him for the vengeance of the hunter. He edged backward, not taking his eyes off the hunter but wondering uneasily what had become of the hounds. The idea of one or two of those hell-hounds coming up behind was enough to shake the steadiest nerves. As though in answer to his worry, one of the hounds howled pain behind him. "We've got your back," Cadal said. At that moment, the barbarian's voice was the sweetest sound Fist could imagine. "Serimna shield us all with her mercy!" Zilla added. There were several butchery whacks interspersed with screams, and Aghtamar growled, "What does it take to kill the damned thing?" The knowledge that his friends were at his back, ready to stand and fight beside him, was more warming than sunlight. "The hounds won't close with us on their own," Cadal reported from close behind him. "If we can take out the hunter, we may be home clear on this." "That won't be easy," Fist of Kjarran observed. "These things can be hurt, but damned if I know what will kill them." He staggered as one foot was dragged out from under him. Someone caught his arm and kept him from falling while he looked down. And swore. A loop of the horse's intestines had wrapped itself around his ankle. He slashed downward to free his foot, then threw himself to the side just as the hunter struck. Blades rang together as one of his comrades parried the blow. The hunter spoke more of his unknown words that might be spells or cursing. Or really cursing, if it came to that, really laying a curse. Fist pushed himself to his feet again and faced his opponent grimly. "Kjarran and Jayde, this has got to STOP." He raised his sword, noting that the blade had gone red again, and advanced on the dark shape of the hunter. The blade burned as hot as the hunter was cold and made a sound like a deep-voiced bell very far away. Fist felt a presence, a force, move through his body, and without willing it he lunged forward, driving the bright-burning blade toward the hunter. There was a roaring around him, and he felt as though he'd been caught in a twist of wind, or an earthquake, something natural and violent and beyond his control. It was a relief to faint. * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 478): SCHIZOPHRENIC of DSM4 (The Sandman, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 476): CUNNING CALICO of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 472): MAN O' WAR of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 472): CRIMSON of PHOENIX (?, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 470): ASH of DELTA DOOM (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 469): LADY DEATHSTRIKE of QUASI-LEGAL OPS (Necron 99, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 234): TERRIBLE TOTOMAC of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 461): BUZZARD of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 232): GAELIN BLACKTALON of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 458): STARBREAKER of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 456): WILD CARD HAMMER of CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 449): KING BEAR of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 412): SILVER BELLE of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 209): BINGE N PURGE of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 204): 101 PROOF!! of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 191): IRIADOR of DRUID'S GROVE (Talon Warsmith, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 337): GAZELLE of REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 317): MARTINE of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): MONGOL HORDE of WORLDWIDE GORE (Crip, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 362): NEMESIS of CHAMPIONS from JHELUM (Shadowgate, mgr.) Top Teams --------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 478): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 476): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 472): GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 472): BLACKHEART'S AXE (?, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 470): none DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 469): NATURE'S WRATH (?, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 234): KESSEN (Iker, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 461): none DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 232): WORDS TO THE WISE (Wordsmith, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 458): DEVIL ADVOCATES (Dark One, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 456): CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 449): THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 412): KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 209): MIKES MORGUE (Mike, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 204): COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 191): TEAM VIRTUE (Boy Scout, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 337): BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 317): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): DHOOMZDEY (Fizban, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 362): MEOW MIX, etc. (Sylvester Frothingslosh, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 478): SCHIZOPHRENIC of DSM4 (The Sandman, mgr.) GWEN RYDER of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 476): CUNNING CALICO of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) CAT FANCY of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) FASTER PUSSYCAT of ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.) PERSONAL BEJEEZUS of ESTIMATED PROPHETS (Chazz Frothingslosh, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 469): INBRED FRED of SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 233): LUCKY LUCIEN of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.) POLARIS of ASTRONOMY DOMINE (Razorback, mgr.) RAPAX of THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 231): DELWYNNDWN of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.) GILGAMESH of THE STORMBRINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 458): LINDEN of FISHERMAN'S WHARF (Jorja, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 456): WILD CARD HAMMER of CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 449): KING BEAR of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 411): HEMERA AHKISAR of TERMAGANT VOTARY (Noachian, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 208): IPECAC of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 204): BEAR KEEPER of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.) (turn 203): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 337): GAZELLE of REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): SUNGLASSES of FOUND IN THE SAND (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.) (turn 138): I.O.U. of ALPHABET SOUP (Crip, mgr.) SPY REPORT Hail and well met warriors of ZUKAL! Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. Former top team BLUE MOON was unseated this week as DREAM PARK moved up from 2nd ranking to take the top spot with a 3-2-0 record for the round. Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner! Witness how this week LETTER BOMBS went 3-0-0 to move up 3 in the rankings. B. TRAYOR caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as she skillfully bested TITO THE GUIDO and was awarded 20 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, B. TRAYOR put down TITO THE GUIDO, causing him to lose 15 points of recognition in the process. Most watched of the fights this week, the spotlight was on SPYMASTER as he bore arms against the Dark Arena Challenge of reigning Duelmaster SCHIZOPHRENIC. Not for nothing has SCHIZOPHRENIC in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and this week he's proven his combat skill yet again. 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 ZUKAL these days is DREAM PARK. At least, most blades in town are looking to avoid them. Apparently the stalwarts of CLAN O' WHOOPAS are catching the bulk of jests down at the challenging board for their large share of the avoids. Loose talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters are after CHESTER HENDERSON. Watch your back! For some warriors honor is not important--only empty victory. See, gladiators, how GWEN RYDER of DREAM PARK challenged down 21 points to BLUE GOOSE. The weight of the challenge fell hard upon BLUE GOOSE and predictably he was subdued by GWEN RYDER. This is how to arouse the anger of an entire guild! A match that raised a few eyebrows at the games this week, it seems that CHESTER HENDERSON posted a challenge against the more highly recognized BISBEE. The results, you ask? Well, the firebrand CHESTER HENDERSON was overcame by BISBEE. Remember warriors, this is the discipline of steel. What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his foe's mortality? SCHIZOPHRENIC has sworn to take up religion upon living to tell of his recent bout with the Dark Arena horrors. A rare thing indeed! Some say a warrior is judged by the way he bears arms. One thing is sure, better a dagger in hand then a sword on the belt! If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times already in ZUKAL. Nice atmosphere you have here! Sadly warriors, now longer can I keep thy company nor savor the ale of thy fine city. Depart I must and soon! Till next we meet remember - the pen is mightier than the sword, but a maul is a different story!-- Zontani Sharp Eyes DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME E. VICTOR 4864 14 10 0 91 LETTER BOMBS (436) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BLUE GOOSE 4937 15 13 0 70 BLUE MOON (381) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -INSOMNIAC 4870 6 1 0 60 DSM4 (239) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ALEX GRIFFIN 4856 7 7 0 48 DREAM PARK (447) -RAVEN CLIFF 4488 7 2 0 47 SUPERIOR SPLASHES (410) SLASH LARUE 4993 5 2 0 46 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) ACACIA GARCIA 4862 5 4 0 41 DREAM PARK (447) BISBEE 5002 5 3 0 39 BLUE MOON (381) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BLUE MONDAY 4968 7 8 0 29 BLUE MOON (381) B. TRAYOR 5019 2 1 0 29 LETTER BOMBS (436) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME STONEWALL JACKSON 4991 5 3 0 20 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) CLEOPATRA SCHWARTZ 4990 4 4 1 20 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) TITO THE GUIDO 4992 5 3 0 18 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) T. ZER 5011 1 2 0 16 LETTER BOMBS (436) ANXIETY 4961 1 0 0 13 DSM4 (239) RICKY PAULDING 5032 1 0 0 13 INTERHOOPS (461) ARTICHOKE AVENGER 4994 1 0 0 13 GARDEN OF EVIL (458) CHESTER HENDERSON 4868 2 2 0 11 DREAM PARK (447) -STRIKE 3 4943 1 0 0 11 FIRST STRIKE (453) BLUE RUIN 5023 2 2 0 8 BLUE MOON (381) MORENCI 5003 0 8 0 8 BLUE MOON (381) GREEN MACHINE 5027 0 2 0 2 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) DARKSTAR 5029 0 1 0 1 DREAM PARK (447) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? PERSIS 5020 1 1 0 BLUE MOON 381 CLEOPATRA SCHWAR 4990 475 REVENGED SPYMASTER 625 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 SCHIZOPHRENIC 4595 479 NONE PERSONAL ADS Alex Griffin -- You have to stop dreaming when you come out on the sands, young fellow. You mammals are too woolly-minded. -- Blue Goose Chester Henderson -- Well, you certainly didn't waste any time on that! Ouch. I won't sit down for a week. -- Morenci Insomniac -- I'd've won that, if I could've gotten a good night's sleep beforehand. -- Blue Monday Who let that Dangerous Criminal loose? -- Bisbee Acacia Garcia -- Yowch! You're a thorny one. -- Blue Ruin 31 October 2003 Come one, come all, to the greatest contest in Alastari! The Third Annual Turf War will be in North Fork (DM 47) starting in about 6-7 turns.... C'mon and get your team some experience, and get declared! More info available in North Fork's newsletter. Bloody Sands. -- Asmo Dius, TCB 13 November 2003 Let it be known far and wide, that the Warrior TUM 18-7380, the Champions Runner-Up for the recent Tournament, is managed by none other than Shocking Toad. I named this fabulous warrior after my friend and mentor, TUM, a.k.a. Don! Sorry TUM didn't get me my first TC; however, a runner-up with all those sandbaggers is pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. -- Shocking Toad, The Manager 13 November 2003 All -- This is to announce that I am no longer a member of the Vendetta Cartel Alliance. I have enjoyed my time there, and I've made some great friends. Their company will be missed, but they will endure. I wish them well. -- Apex LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS SCHIZOPHRENIC barely slew SPYMASTER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Dark Arena fight. GWEN RYDER demolished BLUE GOOSE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge melee. ACACIA GARCIA overpowered BLUE MONDAY in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel. T. ZER devastated MORENCI in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight. CHESTER HENDERSON was demolished by BISBEE in a 1 minute Challenge competition. E. VICTOR vanquished M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute mismatched Title fight. SLASH LARUE beat AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute brawl. ALEX GRIFFIN handily defeated CLEOPATRA SCHWARTZ in a 1 minute uneven fight. TITO THE GUIDO lost to B. TRAYOR in a action packed 1 minute duel. STONEWALL JACKSON defeated BLUE RUIN in a 4 minute duel. GREEN MACHINE was vanquished by ANXIETY in a 1 minute one-sided fight. ARTICHOKE AVENGER overpowered DARKSTAR in a 1 minute one-sided melee. RICKY PAULDING overpowered MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 5 TOTAL PARRY 5 - 3 - 0 63 | |WALL OF STEEL 5 PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 2 - 0 60 | |STRIKING ATTACK 3 AIMED BLOW 3 - 2 - 0 60 | |BASHING ATTACK 3 WALL OF STEEL 23 - 18 - 0 56 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 STRIKING ATTACK 10 - 8 - 1 56 | |PARRY-LUNGE 2 SLASHING ATTACK 5 - 4 - 0 56 | |AIMED BLOW 1 LUNGING ATTACK 13 - 13 - 2 50 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 BASHING ATTACK 10 - 16 - 0 38 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 3 - 5 - 0 38 | |TOTAL PARRY 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 - 0 0 | Turn 479 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 STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 2 3 LUNGING ATTACK PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 3 WALL OF STEEL SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 2 2 BASHING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 4 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 1 STRIKING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 3 - 2 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 1 SLASHING ATTACK 1 PARRY-STRIKE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK E. VICTOR 4864 14 10 0 91 LETTER BOMBS (436) WALL OF STEEL BLUE GOOSE 4937 15 13 0 70 BLUE MOON (381) SLASHING ATTACK SLASH LARUE 4993 5 2 0 46 CLAN O' WHOOPAS (457) PARRY-STRIKE ACACIA GARCIA 4862 5 4 0 41 DREAM PARK (447) BASHING ATTACK BISBEE 5002 5 3 0 39 BLUE MOON (381) FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is E. VICTOR 4864. The most popular warrior this turn was ACACIA GARCIA 4862. The ten other most popular fighters were T. ZER 5011, SLASH LARUE 4993, B. TRAYOR 5019, BLUE RUIN 5023, BISBEE 5002, E. VICTOR 4864, ALEX GRIFFIN 4856, CLEOPATRA SCHWARTZ 4990, ANXIETY 4961, and ARTICHOKE AVENGER 4994. The least popular fighter this week was DARKSTAR 5029. The other ten least popular fighters were GREEN MACHINE 5027, STONEWALL JACKSON 4991, MORENCI 5003, BLUE MONDAY 4968, BLUE GOOSE 4937, TITO THE GUIDO 4992, CHESTER HENDERSON 4868, RICKY PAULDING 5032, ARTICHOKE AVENGER 4994, and ANXIETY 4961. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: E. VICTOR (9-4864) LETTER BOMBS (436) The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn: SCHIZOPHRENIC (9-4595) DSM4 (239) GWEN RYDER (9-4867) DREAM PARK (447)