DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 04/07/2004    Duedate: 04/20/2004

RIZTAB ARENA

DM-12    TURN-487

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

KNOTHEAD
BLOODSUCKERS (416)
(12-5727) [20-9-1,119]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

XXL STRETCH PANTS              POSITION IS EMPTY
HELL-MART (531)                
(12-5634) [15-7-0,143]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

RIFT                           JOSTLING JAGUAR
SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)           ARENA FELINES (177)
(12-3922) [15-13-1,102]        (12-5770) [15-11-1,85]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE CITY (570)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. HELL-MART (531)             37
2. DRAGON RIDERS (588)         33      THE CITY (570)
3. BLOODSUCKERS (416)          30      Unchartered Team
4. ARENA FELINES (177)         30
5. WANDERING MONSTERS (575)    19      MASTER OF DOOM (512)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2*MASTER OF DOOM (512)       8   2  0 80.0   1/ 1 THE CITY (570)           10  5 0
 2- 3 NAUGHTY NYMPHS (521)      15   6  0 71.4   2/ 2 DREAMERS (142)            8  6 2
 3/ 4 THE CITY (570)            65  40  6 61.9   3/ 6 ARENA FELINES (177)       8  6 0
 4/ 5 HELL-MART (531)          127  81  2 61.1   4/ 4 POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)     8  7 0
 5/ 6 SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)     120  80  5 60.0   5/ 7*WANDERING MONSTERS (575)  8  7 0
 6/ 0*DRAGON RIDERS (588)        3   2  0 60.0   6/ 5 TEAM GNASTY (460)         7  3 1
 7/ 8 ARENA FELINES (177)      633 474 60 57.2   7/ 3*HIGH JINKS (584)          7  8 1
 8/ 7 THE LAWMEN (148)         467 350 29 57.2   8/10 SWEET MAGIC (267)         5 10 0
 9/ 9*HIGH JINKS (584)          23  21  2 52.3   9/ 8 BLOODSUCKERS (416)        4  5 0
10/10 DREAMERS (142)           916 962 82 48.8  10/11*MASTER OF DOOM (512)      3  0 0
11/11 BLOODSUCKERS (416)       313 337 28 48.2  11/ 0*DRAGON RIDERS (588)       3  2 0
12/12 TEAM GNASTY (460)         60  68  8 46.9  12/14 HELL-MART (531)           3  3 0
13/13*WANDERING MONSTERS (575)  12  15  0 44.4  13-12 NAUGHTY NYMPHS (521)      2  0 0
14/14 POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)    138 221  4 38.4  14/ 9 THE LAWMEN (148)          2  4 0
15/15 SWEET MAGIC (267)        318 510  9 38.4  15/15 SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)      2  6 0
16/ 0 LEGION OF SQUEE (417)    106 228  2 31.7  16/13 SUPERIOR FORCES 22 (506)  1  4 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
17/16 SUPERIOR FORCES 22 (506)  27  61  2 30.7  17/ 0 LEGION OF SQUEE (417)     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 #78 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Near Barikala:

     Twilight rushed westward, following the sun and leaving darkness in its wake.
The stars gave more light than city people realized, but not enough to tell Artemisia
what was approaching around the blacker curve of Barikala island.  Something was.
Probably the canoes her lookout had guessed: she could see the flicker of starlight
off what might be paddles rising and falling.  That it was to be an attack, she
didn't doubt.  There was no other reason for approaching in the darkness like this.
These waters were too dangerous for--
     Something bumped against the side of her ship, scraped along it.  Other bumps,
maybe a dozen...the canoes.  The Lady Protector drew her cutlass and knew that her
crewmen were doing the same.  Did these attackers really think she would be so
careless as not to notice their approach?
     Something showed over the rail, dark against the dark water, but it gleamed
white briefly in the starlight.  She took one long step forward and brought her blade
down on it.  From close up, she could smell it, a horrible rotten-meat stink.  It
fell away and hit the water and the canoe below with a sodden clunk-splash.  There
was no time to think about it; another one was reaching over the rail beside it.  She
cut sideways, then reversed to cut the other way at a third.  Her crew was lined up
on either side of her, hacking steadily.  There was no sound but their grunts of
effort, and their feet shifting on the deck.
     "Not everyone here!" Artemisia commanded.  "Mr. Horlon, take a half-dozen men
and watch the other rail before they come at us from behind!"
     She could hear her first officer's low-voiced commands, and men moving out of
the line.  The ones still fighting on this rail moved to cover the gaps in their
line; it was actually better now, because they had room to work.
     "These are DEAD men!" one of her sailors exclaimed.  "They're already DEAD!"
     Zombies?  Should that be possible with the Arcanum weakened?  Not that it
mattered.  Dead or alive, she didn't want them on her ship.  "Make them twice dead,
then," she ordered.
     In truth, the zombies were not hard to fight with.  You had to dismember them to
get them to stop attacking, but they had no skill.  Since her crew was more numerous,
the end was not in doubt.
     And whoever had launched this attack must know that....
     A feint?  She wanted desperately to look around for the other attack, the real
one.  But the problem with a really good distraction like this was that it was
dangerous.  If you ignored it, then the distraction became the real attack.
     Artemisia hacked at another zombie trying to climb over the rail and realized
that she had been able to see it very clearly.  Too clearly for a moonless night.
She glanced up quickly and then froze.  The pillar of light over Barikala had become
a roaring torrent, a blaze to match the sun...and there were shapes moving within the
shining column.

Approaching Niatoli Island:

     Ghenis had settled for a small, fast ship, the kind that was used for smuggling
small cargoes.  He'd been hunted in Zukal; he wasn't sure why.  Had Pelishtekan
somehow guessed that he, Ghenis, had become a deadly enemy?  It didn't seem possible,
since he'd spoken to no one of his plan, but maybe the damned Ferencian had ways....
In fact, the man must be a wizard of some kind to pull of the "divine signs" that had
appeared during the worship performances.  Which was all the more reason not to go
back to Zukal until he had found the TRUE demongod.
     There were men belonging to the cult who owned boats, but Ghenis had not gone to
one of them for transport.  No point in making his trail obvious.  Being a gladiator
gave him contacts Pelishtekan couldn't guess at.  He'd rented the boat from a man who
asked no questions, a man who had been a gladiator on Barikala before the invasion.
     Ghenis leaned back against the low cabin in the middle of the boat and began to
plan his operation on Niatoli.  Contact his teammate, Cousin Og.  Then...other
gladiators.  Potential worshippers for the demongod, when he found It.  And allies.
He'd have to raise some money, you couldn't start a rival cult without money.
Piracy, maybe, or a little treasure hunting.  Maybe raid...Monuntial.  Yeah, no one
would mind, no one that mattered to him, anyway, if he raided the invaders.

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Out of the Past #4 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Near Fratsfa:

     Gladiators sailed up the river from Kati-Tei through Andor, Fratsfa, and Zensu
to the Isle of the Eye.  Some came as tourists, some as newly-graduated warriors,
some to attend and participate in the Spring Tourney.  This was a steady source of
income for boatmen, and many of them made the trip two or three times a month; the
river and its shores were well known to them.
     "I don't remember a castle on that hill," one sailor muttered, squinting at the
shore.  "And I was along here just last week...."
     "There was no castle there," Lady Fern, manager of the Flower Girls in Fratsfa
confirmed.  "And a week is certainly not long enough to build one!"
     "There was one...eight hundred years ago," a voice murmured behind her.
     The statuesque manager glanced back at her gladiatress, Nasty Nasturtium.  The
woman was an Araoi, and elf of the purest blood, and Lady Fern supposed it was
possible that Nasturtium actually REMEMBERED a castle there, but she hoped not.  The
thought of having a warrior that old was unsettling.  "You're sure, Nasty?"
     The elfin blonde nodded firmly.  "Yes, my mother told me about it--one of her
brothers helped to bring the castle down.  The Castle of Storms, that was its name, a
place of the darkest arts.  It was the stronghold of Prince Illrienherthinil
Silverthorn, who was called the Ill Rain."
     Lady Fern glanced at the sky automatically.  It WAS getting cloudy, but that
was, must be, coincidence.  After all, changeable weather was common at this time of
year.
     "That wasn't on Khaldren's list."  The short, stocky man removed his bowler and
extended a hand to Lady Fern.  "Raoul, Lord Protector In Gerfel We Trust."
     "Kennelworth has spoken of you," Lady Fern admitted.  "But what do you know of
this Castle of Storms?"
     "Not a thing, doll.  But I'm wondering if Khaldren's magic isn't raising more
ruins than he planned on--anyplace with enough of the wrong kind of magic
concentrated in it."
     "This Khaldren is...?" Nasturtium asked.
     "A wizard who escaped the sinking of Krael," Raoul explained.  "He wants to
bring Krael forward in time, or back from the dead, or something.  And other places
he knows about from that era."
     "That would take a great magic," Nasturtium protested.  "With the Arcanum in the
current low state, it should not be possible."
     "Adie in Aruak City says he could be using blood magic based on the arena
deaths, doll.  She seems to think that'd do it for him."
     The elf recoiled.  "It would!" she whispered, "and that would call to all sites
where dark magic has sunk deep.  This must be stopped!"
     "Well, I'm taking the warning to Lady Sheila--"
     "She can do nothing, even if she would," Nasturtium snapped.  "She dares not
touch blood magic, even to fight it, except in the most indirect fashion, and
indirection will not serve!  Not soon enough, anyway."
     "Adie will think of some way to fight Khaldren," Raoul said, a little uneasily.
He took a deep breath and put his hat back on.  "And until he's stopped, we will
fight everything he brings up from the past."
     "If we have to fight the Ill Rain," Nasty Nasturtium predicted, "it won't be
easy."

Valamantis:

     Lord Protector Ka D'Argo, on a brief trip to his home on Kolact, had planned to
take ship at Valamantis.  But the port city was not as he had expected.  There was
always bustle, but now...it reminded him of a disturbed anthill.  And where had those
towers on the landward side come from?  They weren't something that could have been
built in a day, or even a year, and he'd been through here four months ago.
     "It's Old Valamantis," Arenamistress Sitalva said grimly.  "We've had word of
some kind of magic afoot aimed at ruined cities, and with all the blood spilled in
the recent Bloodgames, it would have been more surprising if something had NOT
happened there.  But understanding why doesn't help us now.  The oldest levels of Old
Valamantis," she said grimly, "were Folstrom.  NOBODY wants to see the Folstrom loose
in the world again."
     "Bringing the ruins back is one thing," the tall gladiator argued, "but the
people...?  Surely Ahringol won't release their souls because of a spell and some
blood."
     Sitalva watched the slight wavering of the resurrected towers and shivered,
though the day was already warm.  "We'll find out, when the city stabilizes.  The
Silver Mage says sometime in the next week and a half or two weeks.  But we can see
people moving around in there.  And even if they're zombies, it isn't going to be
good."

Iaye:

     The fishing boats that had fled Iaye when the earthquakes began crept back one
by one as the Trier grew calm again.  Most of them followed the coast down toward
Point, not because they needed the guidance but to see for themselves if drowned
Krael had truly risen from the waves.
     It had.
     Lord Protector Goff, assistant manager of the Red Dog Gang, stood on the gently
rocking deck of his boat and stared through a spyglass at the rampart of buildings
that blocked what had been the strait between Iaye and Point.  He wasn't sure what he
had expected, but not this.
     Krael stood above the water, but not as it must once have looked.  Many of the
taller buildings showed broken tops, and all was slimed with mud and weed.  Here and
there, decaying wrecks lay in the streets or even on the roofs of houses.  The smell
of dead fish was obvious even from a mile away.  Krael LOOKED like a city that had
spent centuries under water.  The people who moved among those ruins didn't.  There
weren't enough of them to represent the entire population of the city at the time of
its disaster, he guessed at no more than two hundred.  But they looked...normal.
Alive.  And their activity--they seemed to be trying to clear one section of the city
of its mud and debris--were just what you'd expect.
     And they seemed to take the whole situation for granted.  They must KNOW, from
the state of Krael now, what had happened, but they just calmly went about cleaning
up.
     That was the most unnerving thing of all.

Xochithlan:

     There were no ruins around Xochithlan to rise up at the wizard's call, because
the modern city was the old city, continuously lived in for longer than most
Alastarian cities had existed.  There was, perhaps, a tendency for certain long-
buried residents to stir in their graves, but if any came out to walk the streets, it
was not immediately obvious.
     What was obvious was the forest.
     There had been a forest around Xochithlan for a long time, but it had been
burned away during the Rirorni War.  Replanting efforts had been ongoing for the last
eight years, but eight years is not long enough to bring back a major forest.  And
what surrounded the city now, pressing in against the walls and disturbing the newer
suburbs, was a major forest.
     Not, however, a forest such as the Xochithlani remembered.
     This was a Forest Primeval.
     This was a forest that might hide...anything.
     And according to the scholars of ancient texts consulted by King Feyen of
Xochithlan, it probably did.

Zuwayza:

     Zuwayza was as old as Xochithlan, and there were as many dark secrets buried
under its streets.  The foundation of the city, Vekhirn knew, went back to the days
before the first humans.  There were Folstrom traces, but there was also something
older.  Maybe more than one something.  And they were all stirring.  Too much blood
had been spilled here, especially in the years since the invasion--during the
invasion itself, and in the slow beating back of the Eastern forces.
     And in other ways, or for other causes, as well.  The court wizard had sensed a
new feeling in the people of the old city.  Harder.  Crueler, perhaps.  Less patient,
less tolerant--and the Glorious Empire had never been noted for tolerance.  The woman
Jayde, who claimed to be the daughter of Kjarran, her death and her mysterious
apotheosis, had that been the start of this dark bitterness that gripped the people?
He shrugged that off.  Whatever the cause for the change of heart, blood had been
spilled.  And somewhere, someone had called on spilled blood to raise old evils, and
spilled blood everywhere had answered.

Aruak City:

     Adeolar stared into the gilt-framed mirror, frowning and twisting a lock of hair
between nervous fingers.  Nothing she was Seeing was good.  Not that the mirror was
the best way to See, but it was the only scrying device she had that was still
working.  There was a bloody film over the glass that could not be washed off, and
that, she suspected, was a sign of just how bad things were.  Blood magic, used to
excess, tainted everything.  There was no doubt that the wizard in Zorpunt was strong
and ruthless, but what he had started seemed to be taking on a life of its own.  And
no one, so far, seemed able to stop him.
     She would have to take steps herself.

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Out of the Past #5 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Dal Shang:

     From the top tier of the arena, you could see a long way out to sea, because the
arena was built on a cliff above the harbor.  So was a lot of the rest of Dal Shang,
but except for the governor's palace, it mostly wasn't as high as the arena.
     Lord Protector Wais, who had come home to Dal Shang in a vague effort to boost
that beleaguered arena, was sitting on the top tier brooding.  The arena was
shrinking faster than a pool of water in the desert.  Promising warriors who were
looking for a career in the arena were not looking in THIS arena.  Fourteen active
warriors last time, and two of them had been retiring by way of a Dark Arena
appearance.  His own team, even, had gone inactive!  Something had to be done, but he
had no idea what.  Even the fans had deserted Dal Shang arena.
     With a sigh, he turned away from the empty arena to look out to sea.  And so he
saw the waters of the lake heave as though they were boiling, and a new--or very
old--island rise like a black reef no more than five miles off shore.  Five miles is
too far away to see the details, but there was something disturbingly regular about
the broken ridgeline of that island.  Like buildings....

A note for the people of the Free Cities and Lirith Kai:

     Some people say that if you get rid of magic, the world will be much simpler.
Some people say that the destabilization of the Arcanum will get rid of magic.  Ha!
High Magic, the stuff that highly educated wizards do, falters as the Arcanum
weakens.  But there are other kinds of magic.  Older.  Cruder.  Less vulnerable.
There's Blood Magic.  Spilling blood releases power.  The more blood, the more power.
     And a very powerful wizard of several centuries ago, Khaldren of Krael, who
decided that he didn't want to die when the city around him was dying, has come to
the present.  He's made a spell to bring Krael back from ruins, and he's tied it to
Blood Magic.
     But there's more blood being spilled around Alastari than he realized, and a lot
of Lost Cities that want to live again.  If you have some old ruins near your house,
and there's an arena where people are bleeding and dying, you've got trouble coming.
This is now your story, too.

     It's all a plot, and probably a dark one.  Where is Daylight Savings time when
you need it?

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

                        ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 488): ALEX GRIFFIN of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 486): KNOTHEAD of BLOODSUCKERS (Way Cool, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 482): ABRA-HAM! of SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (Klep, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 482): ANTEZEL of WYLDERNESS WYLD (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 480): GHENGIS KHAN of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 479): BLUE of THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 239): PARADOX of SHADOW GATE (Shadowgate, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 471): SCRAPPA of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 237): HUNGRY BONES of UNFIT TO BE ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 468): LOCKED IN of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 466): TOMB SCONE of BAD BREAD (Otto X. Frothingslosh)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 459): INANNA of LADY OF BATTLES (Poison Ivy, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 422): FACE BREAKER of WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 214): MING of DYNASTIC (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): HONEY BEAR of THE BEAR'S PAW (Kat, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 196): TOM SMITH DISEASE of STRANGE TUNES (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 347): APPLEMINT of BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 327): FREDDIE of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 144): KASENKO of PERFECTION QUEST II (Mannequin, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 372): SETHRA LAVODE of CASTLE BLACK from KYR'TERR
                                (Shadowgate, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 488): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 486): THE CITY (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 482): TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 482): WYLDERNESS WYLD (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 480): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 479): THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 239): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 471): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 237): STORMWATCH (Polar Bear, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 468): SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 466): CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 459): STRONGHOLD (Silver Stroke, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 422): THE FAMILY (Don John, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 214): P.A.C. (Coach, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): THE BEAR'S PAW (Kat, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 196): TEAM VIRTUE (Boy Scout, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 347): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 327): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 144): MAGIC MAYHEM (Fizban, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 372): MEOW MIX, etc. (Sylvester Frothingslosh, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 488): ALEX GRIFFIN of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 482): ABRA-HAM! of SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (Klep, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 481): HIMEI of YAMABUSHI (Doc Miracle, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 480): GHENGIS KHAN of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 239): POPPY HAMMER of FLOWER HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 471): SCRAPPA of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 237): HUNGRY BONES of UNFIT TO BE ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.)
                   (turn 236): SODOM of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
                               PALLADICE of STORMWATCH (Polar Bear, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 422): FACE BREAKER of WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.)
                             NHAVARL of THE FAMILY (Don John, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): SUGAR CUBE of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
                               101 PROOF!! of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
                   (turn 208): UR BRAIN ON EGG of MYSTIC ORC FEAST (Slugbait, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 195): NASSE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 346): ELEVEN BLADE of GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 144): GAI-JIN of RISING SUN (?, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings warriors!  It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the 
clash and bustle of the weekly RIZTAB games.  Fortune did not smile upon THE LAWMEN 
this time out who this turn suffered a fall into 14th position in the wake of a 0-2-0 
round.  Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner!  Witness how 
this week ARENA FELINES went 3-1-0 to move up 3 in the rankings.  My praise to 
DREAMERS for their 3-1-0 week this time out.  Indeed, it was a skillfully fought 
round deserving of notice!  FLADRAKEEN OOSCH caught the eye of many in the 
gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested BARRY and was awarded 17 points in 
recognition.  In one of the week's more notable duels, SAURON put down JUDGE PARKER, 
causing him to lose 10 points of recognition in the process.  As is fitting, the most 
sought after warrior on the challenge boards this week was none other than Duelmaster 
KNOTHEAD himself.  Who here was not present for the title fight this week as 
BATAAKAPPU boldly challenged KNOTHEAD in order to strive for the Duelmasters honors?  
Not for nothing has KNOTHEAD in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and 
this week he's proven his combat skill yet again.  No confirmation, but my sources 
claim that the top team has gained their position using magical aids.  Charmed 
weapons perhaps?   
     Many and various are the arts of battle.  In RIZTAB "art" is a word that has 
long since passed from the language!  RIZTAB, city of gladiators!  Mighty among the 
names of thy guilds is ARENA FELINES, a guild shunned and avoided by many in the 
weekly duels.  Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent 
the better part of last week avoiding ARENA FELINES.  Indeed it was LEGION OF SQUEE.  
At the gambling halls I have started to bet money on GRAYOLA 64-PACK.  It has got the 
courage it takes.  Witness its TV challenge this turn against BAT MANUAL!  The 
HELL-MART stable will be up late tonight, for indeed it was GRAYOLA 64-PACK who 
claimed victory in the contest, ascending 24 in recognition!  A match that raised a 
few eyebrows at the games this week, it seems that HANOUT posted a challenge against 
the more highly recognized NOREEN.  The results, you ask?  Well, the firebrand HANOUT 
beat NOREEN.  Remember warriors, this is the discipline of steel.   
     Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser?   Warriors, may this counselor stand 
ready at your right hand forever!  My hearty congratulations XXL STRETCH PANTS, for 
thy revenge upon SONADOR, slayer of thy fallen comrade.  Next time he will know 
better, eh?  BADGER must hold silent, for this week he was humbled in the arena by a 
successful Bloodfeud won by DROMMARE of DREAMERS.  Hail DROMMARE for thy victory!  
Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins.  In the arena there is only the 
brightness of steel.  Keep vigil always!   
     A thought before I go.  Each warrior practices one style, but must not the wise 
manager learn the secrets of them all?  Sadly warriors, now longer can I keep thy 
company nor savor the ale of thy fine city.  Depart I must and soon!  Till we meet 
again, remember:  a turtle walks slow, hides head in a shell, and harms no one; a 
lion runs to slay its prey.-- Zontani Sharp Eyes  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 KNOTHEAD 5727                20   9  1   119       BLOODSUCKERS (416)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 XXL STRETCH PANTS 5634       15   7  0   143       HELL-MART (531)
 PHANTAST 5737                16  16  3   109       DREAMERS (142)
 FLADRAKEEN OOSCH 4396        17  14  1   108       TEAM GNASTY (460)
-CALLISTO 4974                 5   2  0   104       NAUGHTY NYMPHS (521)
 THE TICK 5659                15   4  0   103       THE CITY (570)
 HOFFA'S BANE 3554            22  18  0   102       SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
 RIFT 3922                    15  13  1   102       SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
 SOMNUS 5708                  15  22  1   102       DREAMERS (142)
-METIS 4971                   10   4  0    99       NAUGHTY NYMPHS (521)
 BARRY 5663                   18  12  0    98       THE CITY (570)
 DROMMARE 5755                17  13  2    96       DREAMERS (142)
 BATAAKAPPU 5698              17  17  1    92       POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)
 SONADOR 5769                 14  12  1    92       DREAMERS (142)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-AISLE GET YOU! 5100          18  14  2    90       HELL-MART (531)
 TILLOUISA 5680               22  21  1    88       SWEET MAGIC (267)
-97 ITEM EXPRESS 5153         21  13  0    86       HELL-MART (531)
 JOSTLING JAGUAR 5770         15  11  1    85       ARENA FELINES (177)
 BLOOD BUD 5774               14   6  0    83       BLOODSUCKERS (416)
 CHAINSAW VIGILANTE 5775      11   3  2    80       THE CITY (570)
-G.I.I.L. 5155                14  13  0    79       SUPERIOR FORCES 22T (506)
 BARBARIAN 4783                4  31  0    75       SUPERIOR FORCES 22T (506)
 ARTHUR 5662                  10   9  1    73       THE CITY (570)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-AF BOX GNASTY 5417           10   1  0    64       TEAM GNASTY (460)
 GRAYOLA 64-PACK 5839          6   4  0    63       HELL-MART (531)
 SAURON 4847                   7   0  0    62       MASTER OF DOOM (512)
 SCREAMING PIXIE 5797          5   2  0    62       WANDERING MONSTERS (575)
 BAT MANUAL 5660               9  10  1    60       THE CITY (570)
-SUVAL MASIR 4154             13  18  0    57       LEGION OF SQUEE (417)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-TOM SMITH 5876                4   3  0    52       THE LAWMEN (148)
-DIRTY SANCHEZ 5725            5   2  0    48       TEAM GNASTY (460)
-ULF ULBRECHT 4418             9  12  0    45       LEGION OF SQUEE (417)
 CROUCHING TIGER 5899          5   3  0    45       ARENA FELINES (177)
 BADGER 5940                   3   1  1    45       HIGH JINKS (584)
 JUDGE PARKER 5845             5   7  0    43       THE LAWMEN (148)
 DASTARDLY DAN 5887            7   2  0    42       HIGH JINKS (584)
 CAT TAGIOUS 5900              5   3  1    40       ARENA FELINES (177)
-FREAKY BARBER 5283            7   7  2    38       TEAM GNASTY (460)
 STEADY EDDIE 5785             9   9  0    37       BLOODSUCKERS (416)
 HAMSTER GIRL 5911             4   1  0    37       POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)
 TWIGGY 5912                   3   2  0    35       POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-WILSIE 5415                   4   1  0    33       SUPERIOR FORCES 22T (506)
-STANK SHANK 5863              5   4  0    32       BLOODSUCKERS (416)
 SONG OF SUMMER 5790           4  17  0    32       SWEET MAGIC (267)
-CAT MAN DON'T 5893            4   4  0    32       ARENA FELINES (177)
 NOREEN 5783                   3  20  0    29       SWEET MAGIC (267)
 OLAF RUSTKETTLE 5115          5   5  0    28       LEGION OF SQUEE (417)
 HANOUT 5922                   2   2  0    27       POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)
 GNASTY EDGAR 5867             3   3  1    26       TEAM GNASTY (460)
-FAST TRACK 5820               3   4  0    26       SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
 DREB 3 5947                   2   1  0    26       THE LAWMEN (148)
 SNARLING GNOLL 5793           3   1  0    25       WANDERING MONSTERS (575)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WAX HOSTILE 5888              5   4  0    24       HIGH JINKS (584)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BILL TILGHMAN 5854            3   4  0    22       THE LAWMEN (148)
 JULIE BEAN 5869               5   5  0    20       POWERPUFF GIRLS (522)
 POT BELLY 5819                2   7  1    18       SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
 SUGAR JANE 5948               2   1  0    18       SWEET MAGIC (267)
 LUNGING PIRATE 5795           2   3  0    17       WANDERING MONSTERS (575)
 LILLIANA 5930                 1   0  0    15       DRAGON RIDERS (588)
 FELINE GRIN 5956              2   0  0    13       ARENA FELINES (177)
 SKULKING THIEF 5794           1   4  0    13       WANDERING MONSTERS (575)
 KRUSK 5931                    1   0  0    13       DRAGON RIDERS (588)
-BASS REEVES 5901              1   1  0    12       THE LAWMEN (148)
 DANCING ELF 5919              1   3  0    12       WANDERING MONSTERS (575)
-MORGOTH 4850                  1   2  0    11       MASTER OF DOOM (512)
-NON-FACTOR 5519               1   0  0    11       SUPERIOR FORCES 22T (506)
-CERISE 5422                   1   0  0    10       LEGION OF SQUEE (417)
 TWANGY TONYA 5959             1   1  0     6       HIGH JINKS (584)
 RESSER 5933                   1   0  0     3       DRAGON RIDERS (588)
 SPLAT 5955                    0   2  0     2       BLOODSUCKERS (416)
 VALTOR 5929                   0   1  0     1       DRAGON RIDERS (588)
 LITTLE EM 5961                0   1  0     1       SWEET MAGIC (267)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
GALLITEA 5932          0  1 0 DRAGON RIDERS 588     HEZASH THE MOUTH 478  487 NONE    
SEER 5909              2  3 2 DREAMERS 142          BADGER 5940           486 JUST REV
PIZZARRHEA 5750        7  5 0 HELL-MART 531         SONADOR 5769          484 JUST REV
BOMBER 5957            1  1 0 HIGH JINKS 584        HEZDLAT THE GIANT 494 487 NONE    
DREG 5939              1  1 0 HIGH JINKS 584        SEER 5909             485 REVENGED
DREBIN 2.0 5844        5  5 0 THE LAWMEN 148        CHAINSAW VIGILAN 5775 484         
NANETTE 5629          10 39 2 SWEET MAGIC 267       PHANTAST 5737         486         
MERINDA 5828           4  8 0 SWEET MAGIC 267       POT BELLY 5819        483 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Freaky Barber -- That was sheer luck.  You should have won that fight....  Thanks for
the skills. -- Sauron

Dirty Sanchez -- That's that and that verifies/debunks them stra-ta-gians, plus we've
had another think too.  (send home the research team)  Sap'd my honorees. -- Wax

Seer -- The finger of fate, in all its fickle glory.  We're not normally assassins.
We know there's more to life than just gold. (and the bodies of women)  I'll retain
knowledge of your record and exploits, as I'm sure you interested yourself in the
records of the fighters you killed. -- Badger

Splat -- With a name like that, you've got it coming, Bloodsucker. -- T Tonya

Cat Man Don't -- I have yet to find something you "don't."  Especially on the sands.
Ouch! -- Noreen

Hanout -- We have passed the corner of the year, and all songs are of summer now. --
Song of Summer

Phantast -- (grumbling)  Do you know that all Jorja said is that I'm "well served,
after killing two warriors myself"?  Like I did it on purpose!  (growling and
grousing) -- Ghost of Nanette

Barbarian -- My, with a record like that, maybe you should be on OUR team! --
Tillouisa

Snarling Gnoll -- I hate it when gnolls wander along and snarl at me.  It makes me
nervous.  Don't DO that, okay? -- Sugar Jane

I was most challenged, and this is supposed to make my ego swell?  More likely to
make me sick to my stomach. -- Noreen

We have more than twice as many lungers as the next most numerous style?  This is
perverse! -- Jorja

It's not only perverse, the girls don't like it.  Stop lunging at 'em, okay? --
Surfer Sam

Sweet Magic -- Condolences of the loss of Nanette.  She will be missed. -- Sleepy

High Jinks -- I will be bloodfeuding with my lowest warrior in the standings.  Due to
the large fight difference I will limit him to a 1 kill desire. -- Sleepy

Good luck to everyone in the tourney! -- Sleepy

18 March 2004
St. Valentine's Day Massacre Update

     We are pleased to announce that the kLk sponsored St. Valentine's Day Massacre
kill contest in DM 36 is off to a great start.  We are also pleased to announce that
in addition to the 10 team rollups we are also able to offer the renaming of a dark
arena warrior as a prize to the manager with the most kills.  The contest is only 2
turns old and is still wide open.  There are currently 5 managers tied with one kill
each.  Anything can still happen so hurry up and get into the arena.
     On a personal note, no other alliances have entered the arena in force to
challenge the kLk dominance.  We were expecting The Firm to put up a fight for their
supposed home arena.  But, they were a no show.  Guess they proved what they are
really made of.  *evil grin*
     Perhaps another alliance would like to step in to give us a challenge.  We are
throwing down the gauntlet.  Perhaps the Chaos Inc. boys I keep hearing about would
like to step in and challenge the kLk for arena dominance.  If you don't show up,
Chaos, don't feel bad.  FAR better managers than you have been invited into Jhans but
have chosen to pass on the offer.
     So if you consider yourself worthy to compete, like fierce competition, and
enjoy arenas where the personals are as fierce as the fighting, come visit JHANS DM
36.  We're already planning our next contest, "Capture the Flag," and have a
storyline being actively worked on in the arena.  Whatever you like about DM you can
find it in JHANS.

Bookie
mgr. of Suicidal Dreams
and Director Jhans Board of Tourism
kLk Alliance

27 March 2004
     This notice is to inform the DM world that CHAOS INC. has added CHEETO to its
ranks.  He joins APEX, FLAGG, MATRIX, ASSAMITE, and RUDE BUDDHA as the 6th member.
May your chaotic wings spread disaster and CHAOS for all your days!  Welcome CHEETO!!

27 March 2004
     Has anyone seen it in print that the "Goat" is leaving the "Cartel"?  There were
some diplos to the effect of a special branch of the Cartel being formed, like secret
societies, governmental agencies and alliances certain agendas are developed.  To
obtain the desired effect of any agenda only key personnel can be used.  The "Goat"

is "Cartel" so until you see it with me announcing that I am not Cartel, remember,
"The Agenda of the Core is for you to fight for."  I hope this stops the confusion.
-- Goat

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

BOMBER was butchered by HEZDLAT THE GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
DROMMARE devastated BADGER in a action packed 1 minute one-sided Bloodfeud duel.
GRAYOLA 64-PACK demolished BAT MANUAL in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
BATAAKAPPU was devastated by KNOTHEAD in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title fight.
BLOOD BUD subdued ARTHUR in a action packed 1 minute master's Challenge competition.
JOSTLING JAGUAR was unbelievably bested by THE TICK in a 5 minute Challenge match.
TWIGGY was handily defeated by SCREAMING PIXIE in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
SAURON overpowered JUDGE PARKER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
WAX HOSTILE was luckily beaten by STEADY EDDIE in a 2 minute brutal Challenge fight.
HANOUT handily defeated NOREEN in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge bout.
TWANGY TONYA luckily beat SPLAT in a 2 minute bloody amateur's Challenge match.
FELINE GRIN unbelievably bested SKULKING THIEF in a 5 minute brutal Challenge battle.
TILLOUISA was devastated by RIFT in a crowd pleasing 1 minute mismatched bout.
BARRY was savagely defeated by FLADRAKEEN OOSCH in a 2 minute veteran's duel.
XXL STRETCH PANTS handily defeated SONADOR in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
HOFFA'S BANE was savagely defeated by PHANTAST in a 2 minute brutal veteran's bout.
SOMNUS overpowered BARBARIAN in a 1 minute one-sided match.
CHAINSAW VIGILANTE overcame ANGRY ROSETTA in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition.
CROUCHING TIGER savagely defeated LEOVAR THE PROUD in a 1 minute gruesome fight.
DASTARDLY DAN subdued DREB 3 in a 2 minute bout.
HAMSTER GIRL overcame GNASTY EDGAR in a action packed 1 minute duel.
CAT TAGIOUS bested OLAF RUSTKETTLE in a 2 minute bout.
SONG OF SUMMER savagely defeated JULIE BEAN in a 3 minute gory fight.
SNARLING GNOLL won victory over POT BELLY in a popular 3 minute gruesome match.
LUNGING PIRATE was defeated by SUGAR JANE in a exciting 1 minute bout.
DANCING ELF vanquished VALTOR in a 1 minute uneven bout.
RESSER viciously subdued LITTLE EM in a tiresome 7 minute bloody beginner's bout.
GALLITEA was dispatched by HEZASH THE MOUTH in a 1 minute novice's bout.
KRUSK overpowered SIBATA THE THIEF in a 1 minute uneven duel.
LILLIANA luckily beat HEZASH THE MOUTH in a popular 5 minute gory novice's match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  18         WALL OF STEEL     12 -   4 -  0      75  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   9         PARRY-STRIKE      20 -   8 -  0      71  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     6         SLASHING ATTACK   13 -  10 -  1      57  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         LUNGING ATTACK    77 -  64 -  5      55  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         TOTAL PARRY       16 -  14 -  0      53  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         BASHING ATTACK    47 -  44 -  2      52  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         STRIKING ATTACK   34 -  32 -  4      52  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-LUNGE        4 -   8 -  0      33  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     11 -  25 -  1      31  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         AIMED BLOW        10 -  27 -  0      27  |

Turn 487 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:

WALL OF STEEL      1 -  0     AIMED BLOW         1 -  3         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
PARRY-STRIKE       4 -  2     STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  3         2  BASHING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK    11 -  7     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  3         2  TOTAL PARRY    
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  2                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   
BASHING ATTACK     5 -  4                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-LUNGE    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
BASHING ATTACK   KNOTHEAD 5727              20   9  1  119 BLOODSUCKERS (416)
PARRY-STRIKE     XXL STRETCH PANTS 5634     15   7  0  143 HELL-MART (531)
AIMED BLOW       FLADRAKEEN OOSCH 4396      17  14  1  108 TEAM GNASTY (460)
TOTAL PARRY      THE TICK 5659              15   4  0  103 THE CITY (570)
PARRY-LUNGE      HOFFA'S BANE 3554          22  18  0  102 SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
LUNGING ATTACK   RIFT 3922                  15  13  1  102 SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)
STRIKING ATTACK  SONADOR 5769               14  12  1   92 DREAMERS (142)
WALL OF STEEL    SCREAMING PIXIE 5797        5   2  0   62 WANDERING MONSTERS (575)
SLASHING ATTACK  BADGER 5940                 3   1  1   45 HIGH JINKS (584)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is RIFT 3922.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
JOSTLING JAGUAR 5770.  The ten other most popular fighters were POT BELLY 5819, 
FLADRAKEEN OOSCH 4396, XXL STRETCH PANTS 5634, PHANTAST 5737, GRAYOLA 64-PACK 5839, 
THE TICK 5659, WAX HOSTILE 5888, SPLAT 5955, DREB 3 5947, and DROMMARE 5755.

The least popular fighter this week was RESSER 5933.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were LITTLE EM 5961, GALLITEA 5932, VALTOR 5929, BARBARIAN 4783, FELINE GRIN 
5956, NOREEN 5783, JUDGE PARKER 5845, BATAAKAPPU 5698, BOMBER 5957, and LILLIANA 
5930.

The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:

KNOTHEAD (12-5727) BLOODSUCKERS (416)
HOFFA'S BANE (12-3554) SPIRITUAL GIFT (402)

               NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS)

     For those of you who keep track of such things, 14 additional warriors graduated 
from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament:

                           ABE SIMPSON (9-4453) SPRINGFIELD 
                            PB-LEAD (23-4385) ROCK-ETTS IV 
                      RATTLESNAKE SHAKE (60-4242) METAL MELTDOWN 
                            CHIP (60-4413) RESCUE RANGERS 
                           SLAKE (82-12993) WORD OF THE DAY 
                          DIS-COMBOBULATE (63-2222) DIS-TEAM 
                        RETARD (68-7501) POLITICALLYINCORRECT 
                           DARKSIDE (22-2714) LOST SOULS 1 
                      ZHARRA TYL MEDAN (40-2586) SUPERIOR FORCES 
                         SMOOGIE (82-2247) STREET PIZZAD III 
                             ARATHEA (13-3318) THE ELITE 
                          PX (82-14364) SUPERIOR FORCES 1203 
                       MIKE, POWERFUL (82-7051) MIKE THE HUNTER 
                          DIS-FUNCTIONAL (63-2223) DIS-TEAM 

                                          -- Green Eyes