DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 05/11/2007    Duedate: 05/24/2007

ARUAK CITY ARENA

DM-11    TURN-567

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

TANGERINE TOAD
ANIMAL FARM (510)
(11-6603) [22-3-0,136]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

TANGERINE TOAD                 SHOTGUN GANDHI
ANIMAL FARM (510)              ARMED & GREGARIOUS (580)
(11-6603) [22-3-0,136]         (11-6760) [2-0-0,39]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

DONALD DUNSEN                  DRACULA
TUFT TUGGERS (305)             UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)
(11-6787) [15-6-1,94]          (11-6319) [9-5-0,103]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

BULLDOGS (157)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)    30
2. NEVERWAKE (508)             30      COLORIFIC (511)
3. COLORIFIC (511)             29      Unchartered Team
4. ANIMAL FARM (510)           24
5. ORDO HERETICUS (593)        21      ARMED & GREGARIOUS (580)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 9*ARMED & GREGARIOUS (580)   2   1  0 66.7   1/ 1 BULLDOGS (157)           10  4 0
 2/ 1 COLORIFIC (511)          305 164 12 65.0   2/ 4 KRILL CAVALRY (374)       8  6 0
 3/ 2 ANIMAL FARM (510)        %1043 611 34 63.1   3/ 6 COLORIFIC (511)           7  1 1
 4/ 3 UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)    11   8  0 57.9   4/ 5 ANIMAL FARM (510)         7  1 0
 5/ 4 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)     119  87  5 57.8   5/ 2 IMMORTALS (85)            7  8 0
 6/ 5 BULLDOGS (157)           923 700 28 56.9   6/ 3 NEVERWAKE (508)           5  6 0
 7/ 7 TUFT TUGGERS (305)       720 682 25 51.4   7/ 7 ORDO HERETICUS (593)      4  6 0
 8/ 6 ORDO HERETICUS (593)      45  43  2 51.1   8/11 TUFT TUGGERS (305)        3  1 0
 9/ 8 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507) 169 169  8 50.0   9/12 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)      3  3 0
10-10 MILITANT LEGION (586)     24  25  3 49.0  10/ 8 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)  3  3 0
11/11 IMMORTALS (85)           835 926 65 47.4  11/10 DARKOVER II (592)         3 12 0
12/12 ELFQUEST (515)           272 316 12 46.3  12/14*ARMED & GREGARIOUS (580)  2  0 0
13/13 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375)    318 411 17 43.6  13-13 MILITANT LEGION (586)     2  3 0
14/14 NEVERWAKE (508)           99 133 14 42.7  14/ 9 ELFQUEST (515)            2  7 0
15/15 DARKOVER II (592)         61  98  6 38.4  15/15 SCARLET KNIGHTS (375)     1  2 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
16/16 KRILL CAVALRY (374)      306 557  6 35.5  16/16 UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)    0  2 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[ Shadows of Aruak #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Aruak City, today:

     It was not the worst that he'd had, but it was always a telling sign of things
to come when one wakes up due to residual pain from blunt force trauma to the head...
and you don't know how it happened to you.
     Tankesh shivered and opened his eyes, trying to blink away the blackness.
Trouble was, no light existed.  Even his superior elf endowed vision could not
penetrate the utter blackness.  But his other senses worked.  Beyond the throb of his
head, it was cold, it was...humid.  And there was the slow patter of water drops.  He
was in a prone position, arms at his side, and decided to try to move but found he
could not.  He was bound around the body.
     "Great.  Typical."  Tankesh smacked his lips and swallowed.  "At least the
moisture has done wonders to ease my sore throat."
     He froze.  A curtain or something had been drawn oh so very quietly behind him.
Tilting his head, he saw nothing.  Still black.  With nothing to work with,
conversationally, he just decided to wait, holding back his usual sarcasm.
     A voice like honey floated to him from behind and came closer.  Tankesh's captor
was skilled at moving quietly.  "I know you are more intelligent than you typically
appear to be..."  Tankesh scowled at the insinuation.  "So I will not mince words
with you, unless you prefer the...foreplay."
     Tankesh's first thought.  'I love female captors!'  His mind had a million
versions of beautiful women run through in a flash.  He tried to crane his neck to
see more but it was still black.  He was beginning to suspect the darkness was
magical.  Not unnatural, but the deepest shadow imaginable.  "Foreplay, please!"
      A smiling laugh of air escaped his captor's lips.  He soon felt a soft finger
run down his face and along his neck, sending tingles down his body.
     "Ooo...you're good.  I give up already."
     "Sorry about the bump on the head," the voice responded, ignoring his quip.
"You've been known to be pretty...stubborn."
     Tankesh sighed.  Unfortunately it was already time to get past the small talk.
"What do you want?" he asked casually.  The response was quick and natural, but it
elicited an incredulous raised eyebrow reaction from Tankesh...

    "Your help."

      + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Chronicles of Andoria #7 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

This story continues from the last part on Turn#553.  You will have to look up the
newsletters to read the earlier issues, or perhaps contact me on the D2 site forum.
-- Adie

Aruak City, 10 years ago:

     The day and night passed with no incident, but not so fast for Torin and Belana.
One of them had to stay awake to watch for any more of those 'exploding' men.
Keeping watch wasn't difficult however, for there was only one direction to come...
or go.  Except for the pain in her broken arm, the rest of Belana's aching body
seemed to be regaining its strength quickly as the residual effects of the demon's
attack left.  Torin, his usual brilliant self, constructed a brace and sling for her
arm.  With a little stretching and movement, they were almost ready to go about mid-
day.  But Torin needed another weapon other than his carpenter's hammer, which he
found had survived and was in the rubble as he searched for something useful.  He
decided upon a huge club.  You could call it a maul.  He borrowed Belana's acid edged
scimitar and sliced up a large beam.  Looking each other over, they realized how
little they had.  Weapons... and clothes.
     "We're gonna need to find some food and water lass."
     "Well, get movin!" she taunted the dwarf playfully, "I'm thirsty."
     The dwarf snapped his heels and bowed, "Yes yer majesty."  He snapped his heels
again, grabbed a beam from the small fire as a torch, and led off into the black
tunnel.
                               *          *          *
     Across the street from the Tuft Tuggers guild hall were stables to house horses
for the nearby arena.  But they housed more than horses.  They also had quite a
collection of shadows from which the 'palace servant' was observing.  He had watched
as the gladiators had come and go.  With their 'investigation' in progress, the Tuft
Tuggers had quite a collection of Lord Protectors in the city, and some of the higher
ranked Lord Protectors were known to have super-human abilities.  There was not a
better place to start looking for a sacrifice.
     The palace servant was a true demon of the void.  His entire being was composed
of the essence of magic, for only a creature of such could survive in the void.  With
such a grasp on the nature of magic, such creatures could wield it in ways
unimaginable to mortals.  And such was his ability to 'see' the essence which gave
these mortal creatures life and spirit, for some creatures possessed more than
others.  Lord Protectors were some of those.
     He had watched as gladiators came and went.  The Ranger had the most remarkable
of their auras, but his was not much stronger than the others.  He had fancied what
kind of power lies within one of the so called 'managers', but he had never seen one.
Too bad, he thought to himself.  It would have been fun to drink one of their souls.
After a couple hours, he had almost given up, when a new woman appeared.  He inhaled
deeply with awe, then chuckled.
     "Such weak illusions and shapeshifting can't hide you from me, he whispered as
his eyes followed the Lady Protector.  The demon shifted his own form to a woman, for
he didn't want to chance any of her magical abilities.  She would be the one.  The
one to open the gate.

     The servant followed her for several hours.  This lady seemed to be looking for
something, or someone.  She spent a lot of time waiting in the Bulldog Inn and
questioning the waitress'.  Then she turned to a waitress close to him, he magically
extended his hearing to eavesdrop.  His mouth crooked in surprise as he realized she 
was looking for himself.  His first human smile graced his lips.
                               *          *          *
     "I warned you about his possible uncooperative behavior," Khazakh growled.
"This is not an acceptable result."
     Strome turned down another alley, a large heavily loaded potato sack over his
shoulder.  "It will be the only result." he chipped in, adjusting the sack.  "Also,
he would not have come, and bringing a Kinsmen would have tied him up in court.  We
are only questioning him under authorization of the barracks commander.  Besides,"
Strome tipped his boonie hat to a homeless lady, "he was getting violent.  Especially
towards his wife."
     "And,"  Khazakh's pearly whites gleamed in a cunning smile, "she asked us to
take him."
     If Strome were not a stoic, he would have smiled. "Your sapping blow to the top
of his skull was well executed," Strome added.
     "Thank you." grunted Khazakh in a non-chalant business tone.
     "Don't mention it."

     Khazakh and Strome ducked into the Tuft Tuggers guild house a couple hours
before sunset.  Lyssa had returned, empty handed, as well as Alaina.  They were both
studying some notes with another older lady whom they recognized as Mrs. Calfskin.
Adie's magical research, which Alaina had brought back, had taken the better part of
the day, as the runic magic used was exceptionally hard to find because of its
rarity.  Now, to locate the teleport destination, they had but to go to the warehouse
and measure the circle's exact size.  Alaina and Mrs. Calfskin had found examples of
the use of such magic in the mythology of Alastari.  And these were even more
difficult to find.  Apparently its use was limited to a couple encounters of chaos
creatures who had used such magic around the time of the chaos wars.  The only native
of Alastari to have wielded such magic was Sheila Greywand herself, who has used it
to help destroy and maintain gates.
     Mrs. Calfskin was quite amazed at everything happening here.  "It's a bloody
miracle you boys haven't been killed." she said, nodding to Khazakh and Strome.
     Khazakh's deep voice cut to the chase, "So, have we uncovered some kind of plot
or operation by the Lady Greywand?"
     Lyssa shook her head, "Not likely.  She doesn't have the kindest reputation, but
she wouldn't stoop to kidnaping Aruaki families, or using such chaotic creatures as
these demons."
     Strome took his boonie hat off, "But she is the only one known who could control
such creatures and wield this magic?"
     Lyssa nodded, "I'm afraid so."
     "Even so," continued Khazakh, "would she stoop to such dishonorable methods?
And what is her plan?"
     "The Lady Greywand does not always act with honor, deary." Mrs. Calfskin chimed
in.
     "Perhaps we should interrogate our friend?" added Strome, who nodded towards the
wiggling sack in the corner.
     Mrs. Calfskin looked at the others, "Well, who'd that be people?"
     Lyssa stood and went over to the struggling person.  "That is our informant,"
she glanced at Mrs. C, "one of their slaves.  Strome, Khazakh, hold him while I
dispel the enchantment rune."
     Strome and Khazakh opened the bag.  As soon as he stood, arms flailing wildly,
they spun him around and pinned his face to the wall as he tried to yell.  Lyssa
pulled his hair aside to reveal the rune.  She cast her magic upon it.  The rune
evaporated, but the room suddenly exploded with fire.  The windows blew out, sending
glass flying everywhere.  All the gladiators reflexively threw themselves to the
ground, sensing the flames licking over them.  But they never felt it.  As quickly as
it came, it disappeared.  The flames roiled back, and as they all glanced up, the
warriors saw the flames sucked into Lyssa's palm, which was held out over the man's
neck where the rune was.  Adrenaline rushing through their veins, the Lord
Protectors, all jittery, checked themselves out.  Not a scratch.
     Mrs. Calfskin stood, brushing off some glass.  "Wooo!  That'll get your blood
pumpin' boys."
     They all stood and looked at Lyssa.  She shrugged. "Booby-trap," she said
innocently, "Didn't see it."
     The poor Aruaki businessman turned around shaking uncontrollably.  Then Khazakh
turned and stood over him.  "Back to business."  Khazakh brought one red eye up close
to the man's face and scowled, his deep voice promising much pain, "You WILL tell us
everything."
     The poor man's first response was a trickle dribbling down his pants to the
floor.
                               *          *          *
     Rabid Shrew wasn't exactly having her best of days.  Having ran across the floor
of the mined out cavern, fleeing from the magical circle of monoliths where she
encountered a pair of sorcerers, she dashed up the ramps to the upper levels to hide.
And once there, a squad of the misshapen sorcerers had barely missed her as they led
the enslaved people out to work, right past the storage room she had occupied.  Shrew
decided to risk sleeping, for the gods knew she needed it, especially for tonight.
Tonight she would find a way out, back to Aruak City, back to home.
                               *          *          *
     Released from the control of the rune's enchantment, the Aruaki shipper was more
than cooperative.  However, he had little in the way of key information.  He had been
spending all of his savings to buy food, water and excavating equipment.  Some of the
equipment needed to be transported in, which is where his business came handy.  He
could only say how much food, what kind of equipment, and where he took it.  Then of
course, it was all magically transported away.
     However, he did confirm that this mysterious 'palace servant' seemed to be the
leader.  Even though he didn't appear to be a demon, it was still disconcerting to
know such a person was working in the Royal Palace, for who knew what reasons he had
to be there.
     It was decided before sunset to split up again. Mrs. Calfskin opted to join
their investigation and solve this mystery.  She and Alaina left to take the Aruaki
shipper back home, then search for the servant.
     Strome and Khazakh, who seemed to work great as a team, took their information
about the excavation equipment, and see if an engineer could shed some more light
upon its possible uses.  Lastly, Lyssa was heading for the palace to warn the Guard
of their infiltrator.
                               *          *          *
     Belana slumped down against the wall, "Oh, Torin. Can't we just stop for a
little bit? I feel like we've walked miles."
     Torin stopped and thought about that for a moment.  "Actually, I thank that we
moighta gone that far.  Lets see."  The dwarf scratched his head, nodded it as if
counting numbers, then glanced around.  "You're right.  In fact, I thank we even
headed west.  We could be close to the city now."  He helped Belana up, "All that
aside however, we need to keep moving.  I'm tired too, but we canna stop lass."
     Their travel down the tunnel soon became one through a black tunnel.  Their
torch having ran out, Torin had to lead Belana by the hand, using his weak
thermalvision to find their way.  The tunnel seemed endless.  It didn't turn that
much, and the dwarf said it didn't really go any deeper or become more shallow.
Combined with the blackness, it was mind numbing.
     Their trek became so repetitive, time and distance losing their meaning.  But
anything different caught their attention immediately.  They had traveled beyond
keeping track of their movement, when they both heard a dripping sound.  They glanced
at each other in the darkness out of reflexive habit, neither seeing each other.  A
simultaneous whisper escaped their lips, "Water."
     The Lord Protectors jogged down the tunnel through the blackness to the source
of the water.  They quickly found themselves getting soaked by acorn sized drops of
water.
     Torin chuckled, "Hey, we must be under the Cat's Eye river.  This water's had to
filter through the stone, which means it's clean ta drink, Belana."
     The Lady Protector was already cupping it in her hands and guzzling it down, she
verbally shivered, "Ahh... it's c.. c.. cold."
     Torin drank deeply as well, "I ain't complainin'. But we can't stay here and
freeze."

     After a couple of minutes, they charged off headlong through the raining cavern
with a renewed vigor.  It was mile later when they both heard sound echoing down the
tunnel. The sound drew them forward, forward into a lighted tunnel lit by blue and
red magical fire in scones on the wall. Torin was listening to the noises closely.
     Belana tugged on his sleeve, "Torin, look.  A room."
     Torin turned to her mumbling something about mining. "What?"
     "A room full of supplies I think.  Let's go.  Maybe there's food."
     "Well don't stand there lass, I'm hungry enough to eat a troll."

     Their guess was correct.  Within the storage room were crates of rations and
jugs of water. But there was much more.  The room was vast.  Separated into neat
piles and stacks were food and water, shovels, rope, chisels, rails, and every type
of equipment imaginable necessary for a mining operation.
     Torin, a loaf of bread hanging from his mouth, excavated through the piles
themselves to search for something useful other than food. He watched from behind
crates as people came and went regularly, taking supplies with them.  Giving him a
bit of clue where to search, he'd duck out and rummage through the goods.  By the
time he returned to where Belana was resting and eating, he had collected quite a
collage of equipment.  He truly looked like a mountain man.  Rope hung from his
shoulder, a grappling hook in his backpack.  He had found a bright new shiny hammer-
pick which was thrust through his belt.  Pitons and hooks were bandoleered across his
chest.
     "You look cute," grinned Belana, stifling a laugh.
     "Just preppin' for any more trouble lass." Torin stroked his beard and rubbed
his tummy, looking quite content.  It was then he noticed the small barrel she was
using as a chair.  His eyes widened with excitement.
     Belana glanced around warily and looked at the dwarf with a curious expression.
"What?" she grumbled, her mouth stuffed with bread.
     Torin checked out some vials in his equipment, then seemed to fiddle with some
flint and steel, his face twisted in thought.  He looked up.  The dwarven Lord
Protector's eyes narrowed cunningly as a huge grin spread across his black bearded
face.
     Belana smiled at him, "What?"
                               *          *          *
     Strome and Khazakh were walking slowly down the street back towards their guild
house, chewing over the information they had just acquired.  They had journeyed to
the barracks of the kingsmen to speak with their military engineer.  Though he was
not currently in, the commander directed them to his home on the west side of the
city in the classier estates.  With much insistence and posture, and a little note
from the barracks, they were granted an audience with the 'master' of the house that
evening.  Apparently, engineers commanded much respect and pay for their skills.
     The engineer was more than gracious enough to answer their questions about the
equipment likely in use.  The equipment was that such used in the cutting of solid
rock.  The scale of the equipment used suggested a very large operation, but one that
required very precise detail, for many of the tools used were fine chisels and picks.
The most important information came when the master engineer told them that some of
the machinery could not be transported by cart out of the city because of its size,
at least not easily. It was likely that whoever had collected such equipment was not
performing their operation very far away. By itself, that information was not a vital
puzzle piece, for the equipment had been magically transported. But it reminded them
that the magic used to transport was not powerful enough to move it long distances.
In fact, the research brought back by Alaina from Adie had stated 'within a few
miles'.  Which meant the operation must be either in the farming fields, or within
the city.
     Strome rubbed his chin, "OK, we have a person, probably a sorcerer, who has
organized a mining operation, likely within Aruak City.  What does this mean?"
     Khazakh cocked his head, "Mining is a common tactic amongst besieging armies who
wish to bring down the wall of a castle.  I have seen it many times."
     "Why would one tunnel under a building?  To infiltrate it?  There has to be an
easier way.  We must think what a wizard would want."
     "Remember, a wizard who masquerades as a palace servant. But why?  He has
already infiltrated the palace."
     "Could a wizard not transport an army through magic? Perhaps it is an invasion."
     "Magic is unstable now.  Such would be death to the soldiers."
     Strome nodded acknowledgingly, "Yes, but we can't chance it.  We will get Alaina
and Mrs. Calfskin, then travel and rendevous with Lyssa at the palace."
     Khazakh's voice was deep and determined, "We MOVE!"

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Cities by the Shore #15 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Between Point and Aruak City:

     Captain Tollisker kept them moving at a steady walk-trot-walk which chaffed
Adie's nerves even as she recognized that it was going to give them the most distance
covered in the least time.  If they'd been able to count on changing horses, things
would have been different, but since they couldn't....  They were arguably on the
King's Business, cleaning up the mess Khaldren had made of the Clanholds, and they
should be able to get spare horses from the royal posting stations.  If there had
been any horses to get.  They passed two such stations between Point and Aruak City;
one had been completely deserted and showing signs of vandalous attack, the other was
doing duty as a farmhouse-and-fortress, and there were only two heavy plowhorses in
the corral.
     Adie watched the countryside flow past as they rode and wondered how things had
gotten so bad so quickly.  Except, some of the damage done to buildings, bridges,
roads, fields didn't look like quick work.  Some had plainly been done the year
before, or even longer ago, and never repaired.  Even if he could not reach into the
heart of the Clanholds at this time, the King should be doing something!  What was he
thinking to let things go like this?  He was playing right into Khaldren's hands.
"We'll have to talk to him," she muttered, glaring at another abandoned farmstead.
     "There are lots of people we'll have to talk to," Fandil answered.  The old man
sounded weary and grim.  "It's figuring out what to do first that'll be the problem.
The king, the clanlords...Lady Sheila?  Other magicians and priests?  Do we start
working on the effects of the shapeshifter plague first, or tackle the political and
governmental mess first, or--"
     "Or square off against Khaldren first," Adie said.  "He's the root of the
problem."  When the old magician didn't answer immediately, she sighed.  "I know Cho
said we shouldn't act rashly against Khaldren, but we have to DO something and fast.
And...Fandil, can we trust Cho?"
     "Trust his judgment in the matter of attacking Khaldren?  Yes, no question about
it."  Another of those silences that she had come to know meant he was figuring out
how to say something she might not want to hear.  "Khaldren is the root of our
current problems," he said finally.  "But the real, deepest, original root is Lady
Sheila, Adie."
     The sun priestess had several different reactions to that statement, and they
whirled through her so quickly she couldn't decide which to pick first.  Finally, she
just said, "How is she a problem?"
     "How many days have we got to list the ways?" he asked.  Then he swept the
question away with a gesture.  "Doesn't matter right now.  Root or no, it's like the
old saying, you know the one.  How it's hard to remember, when you're up to your, ah,
hips in alligators, that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.  First things
first, and we have to get to Aruak City and start killing alligators.  Later for
draining the swamp."
     "But not too much later," Adie said.
                        ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     They had stopped at sunset, still fifteen miles short of Aruak City.  A
farmhouse with hex signs painted over every door and window, a wary family, a watch
kept through the night, on the way again at sunrise.  Two more hours to the city.
     A wary city.  The main gates were closed, with travelers being admitted one at a
time through secondary gates after a careful scrutiny.  Name, occupation, residence,
reason for traveling, and do you have any local references?
     And when they got in, the mood of the city was...odd.  Unexpected.  Some
wariness, yes, they'd expected that.  But there was a bright, almost eager
heedlessness, a hunger for violence near the surface, that was as shocking as the
blood-splashes on the walls.
     "I wish Tollisker had come in with us, him and his twenty good men, instead of
heading back to Point right away," Fandil muttered.
     "This is Aruak City," Adie protested.  "The heart and soul of Andoria!"  She
flinched as an argument over the price of onions at a market booth erupted into
blows, escalated to the use of clubs and daggers, spread like fire in dry grass
across the market square, then faded out.  Faded, except for half a dozen men and
women limping and a body being dragged away down an alley.  "What is WRONG with these
people?"
     "Alligators," Fandil answered grimly.

Point:

     The chosen tunnel descended steadily.  Gissanniah could tell that from the way
her legs ached, but she found it hard to judge the angle of the slope.  Steeper than
the fall of land between Point and Krael, she thought.  Had they come far enough to
actually be under the ruined city?  She touched one wall.  Wet stone.  The other
wall.  She could touch them both at once.  Even with Doc Circ's elixir she felt
confined.  Trapped.  But the elixir prevented a full-blown attack of claustrophobia,
so it was probably good.  Another hundred-foot-marker knot slipped through her hands.
The eighteenth one since they'd tied the rope near the entrance.  Eighteen hundred
feet...they hadn't gotten far, then.  More than a quarter of a mile, less than a
half, she didn't try to do the math in her head.
     The men in front of her came to a stop and bent over the map again.  Why?  There
was no junction here.  No sudden change in direction.  When they stood close
together, most of the light was blocked, leaving her in darkness.  In darkness, the
walls moved closer.  She couldn't prove that they actually did squeeze in, but...she
wasn't at all sure that they did not.  There was all that weight of land overhead.
Maybe the ceiling of the tunnel was being forced down.  She breathed in and breathed
out, filling her lungs and emptying them at a steady pace, counting, fighting the
urge to hold her breath and listen for the walls coming closer, which she would not
be able to hear, it would come silently when it did.  Resisting the urge to breathe
too fast as though in preparation for running.  Running wouldn't help, anyway, there
was nowhere to run to.
     What were they DOING that was taking so long?  Why didn't they get moving again?
     Master Cho was feeling along the left-hand wall.  The left side was sinister,
wasn't it?  Hadn't she heard it called the Lefthand Path when people did things the
dark way?  And Cho was strange, maybe even sinister, anyway: he was Adantri, and yet
a magician.  Everyone said there were no true Adantri magicians.  Of course, he
LOOKED Adantri, but--
     The wall faded away under his hands, showing the tunnel angling off to the left
and down more steeply.  "This way," he said, his voice echoing.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Sure; sure.  I already know what you want from the best Duelmaster Aruak City
has ever had.  You want to know all about me.  Of course, you should want to know all
about your Master, so you can emulate me in every way.  It is in your best interest
to want to improve yourselves, my loyal subjects.
     So here is what you should know:
14(+2)-6(+1)-16-15(+1)-21(+2)-21-7(+1)
Hosed -4 attack
Good endurance and great damage (after two bumps) - hence hosed damage
Learn rate 2.07 (blessed)
Seems to like WH @ 35/211/12 and 2 kills
Finished Adex decise and attack, plus expert init
     Clearly I have a brilliant body and make up!  Purple People Eater tells me I am
a true champion.  There HAS to be one here in Aruak City.
          White Lie, Duelmaster & Proud Colorific

                                      SPY REPORT

     I was going on vacation, see?  Surf, sun...  But what do those bums say?  "Hit 
the road, Debby Tonte.  ARUAK CITY needs a spyreport."  Oh, well.  I don't wanna hurt 
anybody's feelings or anything, but ELFQUEST really goofed with their 0-3-0.  The 
guys at COLORIFIC like really pulled together to get a 2-0-0 this turn, moving up by 
3.  One team deserves special mention 'cause they moved up 3 after going 3-0-0.  Keep 
it up, TUFT TUGGERS!  MVP award for JUMPIN'?  SCARLET KNIGHTS II's proud of him after 
beating SPECIAL! and getting 29 points.  Talk about yer big time losers!  SPECIAL! 
got smashed by JUMPIN', and lost 20 points!  What a putz!  WHITE LIE fights so hard 
to be Duelmaster, then quits fighting and loses the title.  No one said she was a 
genius...  And I was just getting used to the ex-Duelmaster's habit of...(!)  Oh 
well, welcome TANGERINE TOAD.  Aren't ANIMAL FARM proud.  (Oh, my.) I hear the top 
team insists all their warriors get nine hours sleep.  They want photogenic fighters 
for PR photos.   
     AAARRGH!!!  I HATE SPYREPORTING!!!  Sorry.  I just had to say it.  The warriors 
of BULLDOGS must be getting lonely.  They were the most avoided team.  Do you guys 
know something that I don't?  Hhmph!  What kind of warriors are TUFT TUGGERS?  
BULLDOGS, an easy team to beat if I ever saw one, can't get them to accept an 
invitation!  Like, is DRACULA popular, or what?  He was challenged the most in all of 
ARUAK CITY!  He's got a 9-5-0, is that good?  I'm not so sure FARSHOT knew all the 
facts when he challenged VIOLET VULTURE of ANIMAL FARM.  I saw FARSHOT stumbling and 
dribbling at The Bulldog Inn last week...  FARSHOT lost to VIOLET VULTURE, but he got 
7 points.  VIOLET VULTURE won, and got 2 points.  I don't get it.  For sure, I was 
holding my breath when I found out TOBIUS challenged ZYN'KYR.  After all, haven't 
ORDO HERETICUS and MANIACAL TUFTS had a long standing duel in ARUAK CITY?  It wasn't 
a spectacular fight, or anything, but ZYN'KYR wants me to write about it since he 
subdued TOBIUS.  Satisfied?   
     Man, all these warriors dying and killing each other!  Don't you guys ever give 
it a break?  Like was that some Bloodfeud, or what?  (HONOR vs. SLEDGE, that is.) 
What if they had a fight and nobody showed up?  I'd be out of a job, that's what!!!   
     Remember, blood on a purple robe may stain.  Soak it in cold water, and hand 
wash.  I know how much you like reading this stuff, but I really should stop.  
Remember you guys, ease up sometimes!  Chill out!  Later, Debby Tonte  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TANGERINE TOAD 6603          22   3  0   136       ANIMAL FARM (510)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-LORD KRONOS 6111             13   9  1   115       MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
 VIOLET VULTURE 6612          18   4  0   113       ANIMAL FARM (510)
 DRACULA 6319                  9   5  0   103       UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)
 KAELEN THUNDERHEART 6777     12   6  1   102       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
 JACKHAMMER 6613              11   4  4    97       NEVERWAKE (508)
-MAGENTA MAGGOT 6627          12  10  0    96       ANIMAL FARM (510)
 DONALD DUNSEN 6787           15   6  1    94       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
 YOUSEFF 6906                  9   9  0    93       ORDO HERETICUS (593)
 ZYN'KYR 6579                 10   2  0    92       MANIACAL TUFTS (431)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JUMPIN' 6704                 14  19  2    89       SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)
 MAN'S BEST FRIEND 6694       21   7  0    88       BULLDOGS (157)
 FARSHOT 6713                  8   5  0    80       NEVERWAKE (508)
-AIRK ARCSTONE 6778           10   8  2    79       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
 MARGARET ALTON 6887           9   5  0    79       DARKOVER II (592)
 FIONA STARMANTLE 5022        12  12  1    78       MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
 TWO-S0PEAR 6700              14  19  0    75       ELFQUEST (515)
 GOLDEN GLOW 6803             14   7  0    75       COLORIFIC (511)
-DAWNING DANIKA 6866           7   3  0    74       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
-SMUSH 6916                    5   0  0    74       NEVERWAKE (508)
 KORO CLOUD 6618              10  32  0    69       KRILL CAVALRY (374)
 WOLFBROTHER 6706             17  16  1    68       SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)
 SPECIAL! 6526                14   5  2    67       MANIACAL TUFTS (431)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SARAYA STEEL 6545            10  11  0    66       IMMORTALS (85)
 TOBIUS 6905                  11   7  0    65       ORDO HERETICUS (593)
 DIRK DARKBLADE 6528          10  13  1    63       IMMORTALS (85)
 FLEA BAG 6804                16   8  0    62       BULLDOGS (157)
 DELIA'S GONE 6707            14  19  0    61       ELFQUEST (515)
 WALK THE LINE 6708           13  20  0    59       ELFQUEST (515)
 HONOR 6880                    8   4  0    59       DARKOVER II (592)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ARVIN LARN 6904               9   7  1    55       ORDO HERETICUS (593)
-BARRICADE 6819                8   0  0    53       MILITANT LEGION (586)
 ONE-EYE 6711                  8  25  2    51       SCARLET KNIGHTS (375)
 PONY 6820                    10  12  0    50       KRILL CAVALRY (374)
 AUTOMATON 6756                6   2  0    49       MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
 JOHNNY ASH 6912               4   1  0    44       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
 LON BRADDOCK 6617             6   8  1    40       IMMORTALS (85)
 BLUE SMASH 6553               9  11  1    39       IMMORTALS (85)
 SHOTGUN GANDHI 6760           2   0  0    39       ARMED & GREGARIOUS (580)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SLEDGE 6917                   3   3  1    33       NEVERWAKE (508)
-PINK EYE 6911                 2   1  1    31       COLORIFIC (511)
 CHIEF SITTING BULL 6872       7   3  0    29       BULLDOGS (157)
-GREEN THUMB 6830              6   5  0    24       COLORIFIC (511)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HORSEFLY 6860                 5   9  0    24       KRILL CAVALRY (374)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BARK 6915                     4   2  0    22       BULLDOGS (157)
 JOE THE SPLICE 6938           2   1  0    21       IMMORTALS (85)
-SAFFRON SKUNK 6910            3   1  0    20       ANIMAL FARM (510)
 BROWN NOSE 6939               1   0  0    20       COLORIFIC (511)
 THRISS 6883                   3  10  0    19       DARKOVER II (592)
 MAXIM SOREL 6921              3   3  0    19       ORDO HERETICUS (593)
-AMBUSH 6870                   1   2  0    16       MILITANT LEGION (586)
 BENJAMIN 6878                 2   8  1    15       DARKOVER II (592)
 JON FLUTE 6922                3   4  0    14       KRILL CAVALRY (374)
 WHEAT WILDEBEAST 6942         1   0  0    13       ANIMAL FARM (510)
-THE MUMMY 6316                1   1  0    11       UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)
-THE WOLF MAN 6315             1   0  0     5       UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)
-LEATHER HIDE 6914             0   4  0     4       BULLDOGS (157)
 CALLISTA ALTON 6937           0   3  0     3       DARKOVER II (592)
 LUSTIG BROKLAW 6929           0   3  0     3       ORDO HERETICUS (593)
-STRIKE 6943                   0   1  0     1       MILITANT LEGION (586)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
IAN MARSH 6877         2  4 1 DARKOVER II 592       SLEDGE 6917           564 JUST REV
TORRY FATEGIVER 6534   6 12 2 IMMORTALS 85          JACKHAMMER 6613       563 NOT REVE
DA4 6945               0  1 0 NEVERWAKE 508         SHEWISH GIANT 489     567 NONE    
SHAMBOS 6926           1  1 0 ORDO HERETICUS 593    PINK EYE 6911         563 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Congratulations to White Lie Of Colorifics, Duelmaster of Aruak City.  Come on over
to The Bulldog Inn for your free drinks. -- Kennelworth, proprietor

Fiona -- Why would I want to stoop so low as to be a "Lady's Best Friend"? -- Man's
Best Friend

Man's Best Friend -- That was uncalled for!  Where is your Humility?  Apologize NOW.
-- Kennelworth

OK, OK.  I'm sorry pretty Fiona. -- Man's Best Friend

Kendric -- Who knows who my Bulldogs will challenge and avoid?  All the competition
is so tough and so good, that nothing is easy in The Heart & Soul Of Andoria.
Nothing.  Health.  Humility.  Honor. -- Kennelworth

Jumpin' -- I had a good time with you.  I think I got rid of some of these itchy
bugs, too! -- Flea Bag

Benjamin -- Me thankum you.  Next time send wampum! -- Chief Sitting Bull

Ambush -- I do believe you tanned my ax!  Salute! -- Leather Hide

Jon Flute -- Another day, another bite which was worse than my bark. -- Bark

Dartor -- Old?  I wish I had yours or Doc's "old"!  We all do have our 20+ years in,
though, don't we? -- Kennelworth (needing a nap)

Dracula -- I had a lot of fun with that.  Even a vampire seems not to be interested
in toad's blood.  Must taste worse than garlic? -- Tangerine Toad

Kaelan -- Tuft is as tuft does---know what I mean? -- Violet Vulture

Farshot -- I think I lucked out on that one.  Probably BOTH of us are too high for
our own good! -- Magenta Maggot

Fiona -- Ye wench!  Ye hain't gittin' me critters.  Naye! -- Mino

Callista -- And to think that I thought that your debut was perfect! -- Saffron Skunk

Joe The Splice -- Take THAT you Immortal cannon fodder! -- Green Thumb, Proud
Colorific

Barracade -- You cheated!  You knew I was feeling poorly.  You cad! -- Pink Eye,
Proud Colorific

Walk The Line -- Clearly you should be walking that line 'cuz you ain't good enough
for much else. -- Golden Glow, Proud Colorific, proudly glowing

LOVE it!  Just love it.  Killing Concubines is such a rush! -- White Lie, proud
Colorific

Colorific -- Top career honors.  Gotta love it!  I need a new contract! -- Purple
People Eater, Proud Colorific Manager

In case anyone is interested, an infiltrator was able to search the Colorific files
and find that White Lie favorites were MA/Mod/VL. -- The Animal Farm Publicity Agent

Tuft Tuggers -- Good luck in finding your missing leader.  Let me know if I can help.
-- Dartor

Green Thumb -- I wasn't even trying to attack that much. -- Joe the Splice

Violet Vulture -- I swear I gotta break down and dump this scummy routine I got.
Tankesh used to tell me I could 'spank' everybody here if I'd just take it to my
competitors and throw some attacks.  Care to go for a round 2? -- Kaelen

Why is it our spotlights have not made it in in several months?  Hmm?  Does HAL and
the commission have a vendetta against us?  They better start getting through or
we'll return the vendetta. -- Tuft Tuggers

White Lie -- Congratulations!  Another Consortium graduate.  Don't you feel special?
<wink> -- Kaelen Thunderheart, for Tuft Tuggers

PPE -- Aruak smells better for you because we secretly plugged your one nostril, it
smells better for us because we followed that up by dousing you in vanilla extract.
Sorry if that was too Andorian for you. -- Kaelen, for Tuft Tuggers

Honor -- Well, not everybody likes meeting Tankesh.  But if you do, or spot him, you
know where to find us.  Thanks. -- Danika

The Scribe -- We're never upset you can't get a spot in, life is busy.  But we are
immensely upset that when we send in spots they don't get posted.  THAT's messed up.
-- Tuft Tuggers

Dartor -- The email you posted bounced.  Email me here and I'll respond with my real
email address: tufttugger at hotmail dot com. -- Tuft Tuggers

Darkover II -- You need to learn a little patience in getting responses to your
personal ads before you go on drooling all over yourself.  As you saw this last
personal round my warrior will always be available for a bloodfeud unless tourney
timing dictates otherwise.  You talk a pretty tough game.  I will be interested to
see if you back it up.  I expect to see some challenges from you; I know I will be
looking for your guys when possible. -- Doc Steele

Margaret Alton -- Well, that feels something-or-other.  Proper?  Appropriate?  I
dunno.  I get the win on my last fight, and I teach you a bunch of skills.  Always a
pleasure to find a good student. -- Windchaser
P.S.  I was NOT trying to "slay my opponent."  Darned melodrama.  I'm just not
terribly accurate.

Callista Alton -- Lady, you're INSANE. -- Horsefly
P.S.  Having a death-wish is insane, right?

One-Eye -- No depth perception. -- Koro Cloud, really enjoying the win

Dirk Darkblade -- Damn, you pretty nearly hamstrung me with that one.  Ouch.  Other
epithets as required. -- Pony

Bark -- You weren't supposed to BITE, too!  Bad Dog! -- Jon Flute

Yeah, genuinely evil probably covers it.  But hey, I'm a gladiator, I like playing
with fire, so...

Fiona Starmantle -- Are you busy this evening? -- Windchaser

Our congratulations to White Lie. -- Krill Cavalry
P.S.  And if you believe that, ahem, there's this bridge....

20 April 2007
All -- I've been...out of circulation for the last couple of months, and my lists
are not up to date.  If you've announced a manager name, a new alliance, or changed
a manager name or alliance since the middle of February, let me know in the ads, via
diplo, or in an e-mail (Sue (at) solberg-mathews (dot) com).  For that matter, if
you just want to make sure I've got things right, you can always do the same. -- The
Saint, keeper of lists

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

DA4 was dealt death by SHEWISH GIANT in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
HONOR vanquished SLEDGE in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud battle.
SHOTGUN GANDHI demolished HORSEFLY in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
DRACULA was unbelievably bested by TANGERINE TOAD in a 4 minute Challenge contest.
YOUSEFF bested MARGARET ALTON in a action packed 1 minute Challenge brawl.
FARSHOT was defeated by VIOLET VULTURE in a 3 minute Challenge struggle.
FLEA BAG outlasted DELIA'S GONE in a slow 24 minute gruesome master's Challenge brawl.
GOLDEN GLOW won victory over KORO CLOUD in a 5 minute expert's Challenge duel.
TOBIUS lost to ZYN'KYR in a popular 2 minute brutal veteran's Challenge duel.
MAXIM SOREL was handily defeated by PONY in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge bout.
BENJAMIN was luckily beaten by CHIEF SITTING BULL in a 3 minute Challenge competition.
KAELEN THUNDERHEART devastated WOLFBROTHER in a 2 minute one-sided battle.
DONALD DUNSEN slimly won victory over TWO-S0PEAR in a 2 minute master's bout.
FIONA STARMANTLE was vanquished by JACKHAMMER in a 3 minute mismatched bout.
MAN'S BEST FRIEND won victory over SARAYA STEEL in a 6 minute veteran's fray.
SPECIAL! was devastated by JUMPIN' in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
WALK THE LINE was outlasted by ARVIN LARN in a tiresome 17 minute bout.
BLUE SMASH was overpowered by JOHNNY ASH in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
DIRK DARKBLADE devastated ONE-EYE in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
LON BRADDOCK was luckily beaten by AUTOMATON in a 2 minute brutal duel.
THRISS was beaten by JOE THE SPLICE in a 2 minute expert vs. beginner upset fray.
JON FLUTE bested CALLISTA ALTON in a 1 minute bout.
BARK narrowly defeated LUSTIG BROKLAW in a 4 minute fight.
BROWN NOSE overpowered EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
WHEAT WILDEBEAST overpowered MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  12         PARRY-STRIKE      14 -   5 -  1      74  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      9         BASHING ATTACK    37 -  23 -  5      62  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    5         AIMED BLOW        24 -  15 -  0      62  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   5         PARRY-RIPOSTE     12 -   9 -  1      57  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         WALL OF STEEL     22 -  17 -  3      56  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         TOTAL PARRY       53 -  44 -  0      55  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-LUNGE       10 -  11 -  1      48  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         SLASHING ATTACK   20 -  24 -  3      45  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         LUNGING ATTACK    48 -  62 -  1      44  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         STRIKING ATTACK    9 -  33 -  0      21  |

Turn 567 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

PARRY-STRIKE       3 -  0     SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  2         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      4 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  3         2  TOTAL PARRY    
TOTAL PARRY        6 -  3     BASHING ATTACK     1 -  4         2  PARRY-STRIKE   
LUNGING ATTACK     7 -  5     AIMED BLOW         0 -  2         1  SLASHING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  2         1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  
                                                                1  BASHING ATTACK 

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      TANGERINE TOAD 6603        22   3  0  136 ANIMAL FARM (510)
LUNGING ATTACK   DRACULA 6319                9   5  0  103 UNIVERSAL HORROR (552)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    KAELEN THUNDERHEART 6777   12   6  1  102 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
WALL OF STEEL    JACKHAMMER 6613            11   4  4   97 NEVERWAKE (508)
PARRY-STRIKE     DONALD DUNSEN 6787         15   6  1   94 TUFT TUGGERS (305)
AIMED BLOW       FARSHOT 6713                8   5  0   80 NEVERWAKE (508)
SLASHING ATTACK  WOLFBROTHER 6706           17  16  1   68 SCARLET KNIGHTS II (507)
BASHING ATTACK   SPECIAL! 6526              14   5  2   67 MANIACAL TUFTS (431)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is DONALD DUNSEN 6787.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was DRACULA 6319.  The ten other most popular fighters were KORO CLOUD 6618, 
ZYN'KYR 6579, SARAYA STEEL 6545, TWO-S0PEAR 6700, GOLDEN GLOW 6803, DONALD DUNSEN 
6787, JACKHAMMER 6613, TANGERINE TOAD 6603, YOUSEFF 6906, and FIONA STARMANTLE 5022.

The least popular fighter this week was DELIA'S GONE 6707.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were FLEA BAG 6804, WALK THE LINE 6708, ARVIN LARN 6904, LUSTIG 
BROKLAW 6929, BARK 6915, CALLISTA ALTON 6937, ONE-EYE 6711, BLUE SMASH 6553, SPECIAL! 
6526, and MAN'S BEST FRIEND 6694.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

TANGERINE TOAD (11-6603) ANIMAL FARM (510)

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

WHITE LIE (11-6659) COLORIFIC (511)