DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 09/10/2003    Duedate: 09/23/2003

MALCORN ARENA

DM-15    TURN-468

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

INNERVISION
UNKNOWNS XX (436)
(15-4431) [15-4-0,116]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

INNERVISION                    SLICK BILLY
UNKNOWNS XX (436)              POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)
(15-4431) [15-4-0,116]         (15-4576) [2-0-0,32]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

HIGH GUN                       HIGH GUN
TRIPLE CROWN (382)             TRIPLE CROWN (382)
(15-4386) [14-12-1,98]         (15-4386) [14-12-1,98]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. TRIPLE CROWN (382)          40
2. POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)  29      UNKNOWNS XX (436)
3. UNKNOWNS XX (436)           26      Unchartered Team
4. SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)     22
5. THE BLACK RIDERS (391)       0POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2*POLITICALY INCORRE (461)   5   2  0 71.4   1/ 3 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)   8  4 0
 2/ 1 UNKNOWNS XX (436)         79  46  2 63.2   2/ 2 UNKNOWNS XX (436)         8  7 0
 3/ 3 TRIPLE CROWN (382)       210 189 14 52.6   3/ 5*POLITICALY INCORRE (461)  5  2 0
 4/ 4 GREENWARDENS (244)       278 380  8 42.2   4/ 4 TRIPLE CROWN (382)        5  7 1
 5/ 6 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)   39  58  2 40.2   5/ 1 GREENWARDENS (244)        5 10 2
 6- 5 THE BLACK RIDERS (391)    14  22  0 38.9   6- 6 THE BLACK RIDERS (391)    1  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 #68 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Riztab:

     "It's moved into the old office building on the waterfront," Spymaster Torric
said.  "The one with the old arena records in it, you know?"
     "They, not it," Jorja corrected absently.  "More than one monster or whatever.
But I wonder why the office building?  It seems so unlikely: the Office Building of
Doom or something."
     Torric laughed but said, "It wasn't always an office building.  Forty or fifty
years ago, it was a merchant prince's palace.  Then the merchant went broke--don't
ask me how, because I do NOT want to know--and Tokken Makrok got the building as part
of the, um, settlement of debts, I guess.  And when the arena opened, he sold the
building to the Gladiatorial Commission, and then the lake rose and drowned the lower
floor...."  He shrugged.  "But it was built on a much older foundation.  Hundreds of
years older."
     "What was it then, hundreds of years ago?" Jorja asked.
     "I've got no clue, I wasn't around then," the Spymaster said.  "Heck, I wasn't
even around when the merchant prince was going broke; I heard about that from my
grandfather."  He topped up his stein from the pitcher on the table.  "What are you
going to do about it?  And where's Garfield--isn't that the guy that with you?"
     "Garfield's got interests all over Alastari, you can't expect him to hang around
Riztab just to investigate a haunted office building.  And besides, why should I, he,
or we do anything at all about it?"
     "It worries people," Torric said.  "There are, well, there are...noises.  At
night.  And sometimes people vanish from the lakefront...."
     "They do that anyway--vanish.  The lakefront isn't the safest place in Riztab
after dark," Jorja pointed out tartly.
     "But--"
     "And if the building belongs to the Commission now, THEY should be responsible
for whatever is going on," she went on relentlessly.
     "But they won't DO anything!"  Torric slammed his tankard down onto the table.
     Jorja shrugged.  "I have my own matters to attend to."
     "At best," the Spymaster went on, "they'll assign some Lord Protectors to
investigate and if possible rid the place of its monsters.  Why wait?  Why not send
some of yours, or call for volunteers, if more are needed and you don't want to go
yourself?"
     "If the Commission sends someone, they'll have to pay expenses," Jorja said.
"If we start on our own, they won't.  And I'm just breaking even as it is."

Between Ibizond and Korga:

     Aghtamar, Zilla, and Cadal sat or knelt, as each preferred, in a shadowy cavern
formed by the drooping branches of a pine.  Cadal had vetoed a fire, but they had
food--thick slabs of bread topped with ham and cheese, and water to drink.  They'd
taken position well before sunset, in case the killer was out early looking for HIS
position of ambush.
     "He doesn't use the same one each time?" Aghtamar asked.
     "No.  There may be some repeating, judging by where the bodies have been found,
but some are too far apart to have been ambushed from the same spot.  There's been a
general progression from east to west, too, as though the killer was coming from the
east coast, maybe from Zuwayza, and heading for the west coast by way of Murska and
Fratsfa.  This seems like about the right distance from the last body--"
     "I just hope the killer doesn't decide this tree would make a good ambush spot
for HIM," Zilla muttered.
     There was a period of silence while the three Lord Protectors alternately ate
and leaned forward to peer through the branches at the road.  Their position was in
the bottom of a small valley where the road crossed a steep, rocky stream on an
arched stone bridge.
     "I wonder where the priests of Kjarran found the monster," Aghtamar asked in a
tone of idle curiosity.  "I wonder if they have any control over it, or if they just
pointed it west at Korga and turned it loose?"
     "You think the priests are responsible for this?" Cadal asked, surprised.
     "Of course," she said.  "Who else?"
     "Some of the invaders might have released something that was caged," Cadal
suggested.  "If it really is a monster of some kind.  If it's just a killer, it could
be anyone.  Besides, if it was set by the Kjarranists, you'd think it would leave
their people alone, and it hasn't.  Well, we can't be sure about beliefs, but all
races have been attacked."
     "The people of Karnhorn race who died might have been followers of Serimna,"
Zilla said.  "The priests of Kjarran hate Serimnists more even than Karragit or Orcs
or Shews.  More even than Elves."
     "It doesn't matter," Cadal said finally.  "Monstrous or mortal, it's a killer
and our job right now is to stop it."
     Aghtamar was taking her turn peering out at the road.  The sun was down, at
least as seen from this location, and the valley was filling with shadows.  She
stiffened and whispered, "Somebody coming!"
     "Fist of Kjarran?" Zilla asked.
     "No, someone coming from the east.  Someone on a horse."
     "Bad time and place for an innocent traveler," Cadal said, moving up to join her
at the edge of their shelter.  "So let's hope it's the killer looking for a place to
set his ambush."
     Zilla crammed the last of her bread and cheese into her mouth, muttered
something indistinct, and began to climb the tree, keeping close to the trunk and
spiraling upward out of sight.
     The road, which was used by traders' wagons as well as foot and horse traffic,
looped back and forth across the steep hillside to get an easier grade, so it most of
it was hidden behind the trees.  All could hear the hoofbeats, though.  One horse,
coming steadily at moderate speed.  The last stretch above the bridge was in the
clear, however, and still lit, more or less, by the ruddy light of the setting sun
reflecting off clouds above the valley.
     A shadow moved at the top of the visible length of road, resolving into a large
hound.  Two large hounds.  Too large to be hounds, but they weren't horses, bears, or
cattle.  The darkness at the edge of the trees stretched out an arm which advanced,
detached, and became a vaguely seen man, or something man-like, on a horse, or nearly
a horse.  A third hound followed on his heels.
     "The killer," Cadal said, his voice little more than a ghost of sound.
"Couldn't be anything else."
     "It could be human and I wouldn't mind," Aghtamar countered as quietly.
"Because THAT surely is no human or any other race I ever met."
     What little they could see of the figure on the horse seemed tall as a Shew but
skeletally thin.  The flame-colored light of the setting sun--or something--made the
eyes of horse, rider, and hounds all reflect redly.  One of the hounds stopped, head
up and turning slowly.  It looked directly at the tree where the gladiators were
hiding and then pointed its nose at the sky and loosed a howl that would freeze the
blood of a salamander.  The rider turned to look toward the tree also, raised a
hunting horn and blew it.  Above them, Zilla gave a startled shriek and slid down in
a shower of bark and needles.
     "We'd better get on the road," Cadal said urgently.  "We're in a trap if we try
to fight from in here."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     The dog charged Fist of Kjarran without finesse, just came straight at him.  It
seemed to grow unnaturally as it came closer, from as big as a pony to a beast that
towered like an elephant, and it bayed continually.  Fist wondered in passing where
it found the breath to keep howling like that as it ran.  No doubt that it was an
unnatural beast of some kind!  He muttered a quick prayer, wished for a boar spear,
and knelt, bracing his sword to receive the plunging monster.
     At the last moment, its breath already cold on his face, the beast swerved to
pass Fist to his left.  Fist twisted quickly and managed to slash across its ribs,
though the cut was only a shallow one.  The dog twisted, too, whining with frustrated
eagerness to kill.  Fist got back on his feet so that he could turn and keep his face
and blade to the circling hound.  Why it didn't leap in to attack, he could not
imagine.  It backed up out of blade's reach and bayed at him.  The sound was
unpleasant, but that was all--what was the fool creature doing?
     It bayed again, with vibrato and tricky overtones.  Abruptly Fist guessed that
it was trying to frighten him.  What the heck?  Could it ONLY kill through fear, or
at least only physically attack those who had been unmanned by fear?  He lunged
suddenly, and it scrambled back out of the way rather than meet the attack and
attempt to fight.  Kjarran and Jayde!  It was like the old motto: the only thing to
be feared was fear itself.  He leaped to the attack again, pressing the infernal
hound relentlessly.  The hound dodged and twisted agilely, and whenever it had a
moment, it howled.  Not the hunting call, but the howl of a dog voicing its woes.
     It was answered by a hunting horn from farther down the valley, and for the
first time since he'd seen the hound, Fist of Kjarran again noticed the sound of
battle down there.  Apparently the hound was calling for help.
     Kjarran and Jayde!  A beast of prey that was at least twice his size and still
needed help to kill him was not something to frighten a child, much less a Lord
Protector!  But there was no telling, the help it summoned might be more formidable.
Better to take care of the hound now, at once, and not have to fight hound and helper
together.  Besides, his assistance might be needed down at the bridge where the other
Lord Protectors were fighting the hound's master.  He made a determined attack on the
hound, pressing it back with his thrusts and slashes, attempting to corner it against
the low bank at one side of the road.  It yelped, snapped, and lunged back at him
desperately.
     "Ah...I shoulda remembered," Fist muttered, dodging.  "Cornered rats and
all...."  He tried one last slash as the beast went by and laid open its hip to the
bone.  It screamed and fell.
     There was a wordless shout of fury from farther along, two human screams,
drumming hooves that approached his position faster than a horse should be able to
gallop up that slope.  Fist moved quickly to put his back to the low bluff beside the
road.  It would hamper his movement, but it would be a worse problem for the
horsemen; at least here he wouldn't have to worry about being ridden down.

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 473): GWEN RYDER of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 471): CAT FANCY of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 467): INNERVISION of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 467): PA ELL of WAY OF THE SWORD (Vhagar, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 465): PAN of DEITIES & DEMIGODS (DeGotti, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 464): VOO DOO of UNKNOWNS XII (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 232): LUCKY LUCIEN of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 456): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 230): PHOENICIA of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 453): TROTLINE of FISHERMAN'S WHARF (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 451): OLD MAJOR of PIG BATTALION (Kellog, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 444): KING BEAR of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 407): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 207): CAN'T BRING ME DOWN of THE SUNGOD XPERIENCE (SunGod)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 201): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 188): MR. HOOPER of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 332): BESOT of ACT OF MALICE (Carnage, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 312): THE BUM of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 137): JUSTICE of PEACE MAKERS (Solomon, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 357): NEMESIS of CHAMPIONS from JHELUM (Shadowgate, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM  9 ZUKAL (turn 473): CLAN O' WHOOPAS (?, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 471): DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 467): GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 467): SILK AND STEEL (?, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 465): WHEN EAGLES DARE (Talon Volksie, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 464): DRAGON JUNKIES (Youngblood, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 232): BAD GERMS (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 456): THE GUILD (Guido, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 230): OVERLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 453): DEVIL ADVOCATES (Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 451): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 444): THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 407): THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 207): MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 201): COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 188): OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 332): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 312): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 137): WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 357): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 470): DOORSTOP of SWEET MAGIC (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 466): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 467): PA ELL of WAY OF THE SWORD (Vhagar, mgr.)
                           PAZUZU of THE BLACKHEARTS (Nunzio Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 464): KILLIN' STU of MINIONS OF MILO (Kleptov Grenufelbitz)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 463): KANDY KANES of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 231): BATMANNING (28-3402) CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 229):ODYSSEUS of OVERLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
                               KRAC D'CHEVALIERS of THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord)
                               BABBS BUNNY of LOONY TOONS (Rascally Rabbit, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 443): BRIGIT of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 201): GRINNON BEARIT of THE BEAR'S PAW (KAT, mgr.)
                   (turn 200): ZEEL BEBUB of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
                               INCREDIBLE SULK of DRAKE'S COMICS (Drake, mgr.)
                               MARY ANN of SCREEN DREAMS (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 187): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 311): ON MY WAY of SADISTS F2F (SunGod, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 137): JUSTICE of PEACE MAKERS (Solomon, mgr.)
                            SCRAG'S LIZARD of DARK CIRCLE PETS II (Guardian, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Well, here I sit.  It has been many turns since anyone other than Dirt Knap has
been on the throne.  Congrats partner, on your tremendous run in here, and continued
success in Advanced Duelmasters.  As for me, I will not have the chance to hold the
throne more than three turns before my call.  At that time Dark Spirit will have to
wait a little bit for another shot at the throne.  But maybe it will give the other
warriors a go at getting their calls to the isle.  My challenge this time goes to
Blacklock.  Don't believe I will get it because of Sultan's bloodfeud upcoming, but
what the hey.  Good luck to all, and good fight last round to Neigh!

               Innvervision, The Firm

                                      SPY REPORT

     It's me, The Unknown Spymaster, back to give you this week's Spy Report.  Sit 
back in your seats and we'll have more fun than a barrel of Zontanis.  Say good-bye 
to GREENWARDENS, as they are pushed from the coveted top team spot by the 
SACRILEGIOUS MEAT stable.  A stormcloud is brewing over the GREENWARDENS guildhouse.  
Rumor says any more weeks like this ones 0-5-0 may send the team to the Dark Arena.  
It looks like the guys(?) at TRIPLE CROWN had a good week as they went 3-1-0 to put 
them in 4th place.  I guess steroids help!  Hey everybody, watch out for SLICK BILLY, 
who flew up 19 points in the rankings after mashing WOODWALKER like a melon.  Keep 
your eye on this guy.  And falling like a basher in the top ten was GETHSEMANI 
ALFREDO, who dropped 5 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with 
LITTLE CURRENT.  Our battling duelmaster INNERVISION has managed to hold the title, 
fending off NEIGH!'s none too subtle advances.  Better luck next time, TRIPLE CROWN.  
4 out of 5 gladiators surveyed protect the body, so try and avoid aiming at that 
location.   
     But enough of that bunch, let's get on to the wimps who like to avoid battle!  
Did you hear that UNKNOWNS XX was most avoided team this week?  Well, knowing the 
personal hygiene of UNKNOWNS XX's warriors, I'm not surprised!  Okay, so I may not be 
funny, but catch POLITICALY INCORRECT's act in the arena.  Those acrobats seem to be 
fairly deft at running from UNKNOWNS XX.  Well just about everybody wants a piece of 
WOODWALKER, who was this week's most challenged warrior.   
     Remember that an arena is not always a safe place to be, but it is one of the 
most interesting, though!  In the 'Oops, What Have I Done?' category, BLACKLOCK was 
mashed by MAN O' WAR, who let BLACKLOCK know that killing members of TRIPLE CROWN is 
a no-no.  Congrats to VERTIKI for revenging the death of hers teammate (but more 
importantly, feeding STALKING HORSE a bit of dirt).  Ask not the elves for counsel, 
for they will say both yes and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     I think I had better cut this one short.  It's been nice chatting to those of 
you whom I have not offended yet.  C'mon, Leadfoot, let's make some tracks.  Hasta la 
bye-bye.  (Loud choruses of 'Beat it, ya bum!')-- The Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 INNERVISION 4431             15   4  0   116       UNKNOWNS XX (436)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HIGH GUN 4386                14  12  1    98       TRIPLE CROWN (382)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 NEIGH! 4363                  14  16  1    89       TRIPLE CROWN (382)
 BURGATORY 4532                7  14  1    88       SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)
 BLACKLOCK 4459               11   5  1    71       GREENWARDENS (244)
-THE WITCH-KING 4029          13  11  0    67       THE BLACK RIDERS (391)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MAN O' WAR 4517               7   2  0    66       TRIPLE CROWN (382)
 LITTLE CURRENT 4371          11  13  2    65       TRIPLE CROWN (382)
 GETHSEMANI ALFREDO 4527      10  10  0    58       SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STORMCLOUD 4379              12  16  0    55       GREENWARDENS (244)
 THE HOLY ROAST 4535           9  13  1    52       SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)
 ABRA-HAM! 4563                6   1  0    45       SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)
 BIRDSONG 4434                 7  12  1    34       GREENWARDENS (244)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SLICK BILLY 4576              2   0  0    32       POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)
 WOODWALKER 4433               5  14  1    30       GREENWARDENS (244)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VERTIKI 4572                  2   0  0    18       UNKNOWNS XX (436)
 STALKING HORSE 4569           2   4  1    11       GREENWARDENS (244)
 THE GOVERNATOR 4578           1   1  0    11       POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)
-TRICKY DICK 4575              1   0  0    11       POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)
 CRUNCH-TIME 4579              1   0  0     9       UNKNOWNS XX (436)
-KHAMUL 4033                   1   5  0     8       THE BLACK RIDERS (391)
-RONNIE RAY GUN 4574           1   0  0     5       POLITICALY INCORRECT (461)
-AKHORAHIL 4031                0   1  0     4       THE BLACK RIDERS (391)
-ADUNAPHEL 4032                0   4  0     4       THE BLACK RIDERS (391)
 DEJA VU 4571                  0   2  0     2       UNKNOWNS XX (436)
 CRAZED 4580                   0   1  0     1       UNKNOWNS XX (436)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
GENUINE RISK 4385     10  9 0 TRIPLE CROWN 382      BLACKLOCK 4459        467 JUST REV
PIRANHA 4573           0  1 0 UNKNOWNS XX 436       STALKING HORSE 4569   467 JUST REV

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Genuine Risk -- (puzzled look)  What did you get out of that? -- Blacklock

Little Current -- I had a big current, lightning all over the place, and you were
just no match for it.  Odd, in a way. -- Stormcloud

Gethsemani Alfredo -- That's made with spinach, isn't it?  I mean, no tomato-paste
stuff, I want it GREEN. -- Birdsong

Abra-Ham -- (hack, cough)  Too salty! -- Woodwalker
P.S.  Got any honey-cured?

Ghost of Piranha -- Heck and darn.  That's what happens when you come out with no
armor, though. -- Stalking Horse
P.S.  I hope you weren't a warrior of unusual potential.

All -- Here are Piranha's numbers.  11-9-15-17-6-13-13. -- D.S., The Firm

All -- 924 to go. -- Dark Spirit, mgr. of Unknowns XX, The Firm

Politic Incorr. -- Welcome!  Please announce your manager name and the alliance
you're in (if you are in one). -- Dark Spirit, mgr. of Unknowns XX, the Firm

Stalking Horse -- Nice fight!  That's my first dead in Arena action!  But here come
the bloodfeuds. -- D.S.

19 August 2003
     Citizens of Ghea (only the ignorant fail to note Lirith Kai is not in Alastari),
no new day is rising, but the sun is setting on just another beautiful evening.
While you were sleeping, an irksome rabble has entered the always fair Aruak City.
Of course they fought alongside our warriors, most not so treasured, as all
gladiators do.  They drank with themselves, and slept with themselves.  Whether they
had masks, who cares.
     Warriors, don't be afraid.  For years Aruak has been one of the safest cities in
Ghea, and that custom has been continually cultivated, and will continue to be by
those who have called it home for years and those who live, fight, and die by the
same ethics.  There is no contest, nor has there ever needed to be one for many
years.  A conflict of personalities has arisen, and the city has been 'invaded' by
pests.
     Any rules that are annouced will be purely for the joy of the lemmings' own
little world.  Those who are being targeted have no interest in participating except
to defend the integrity of an arena that is different from others.  Whether you
choose to come to Aruak, do it for your own reasons, not theirs.
    Competing in Aruak City has never been for the faint of heart or the weak willed.
Combat is combat, wherever you go.  Blood will flow as always, and now many innocents
will be caught in the middle, but those who defend Aruak's traditions never target
those who bring respect of Aruaki customs with them to our home.
    So ignore the private ranting announcement brought by the stuporous
Frothingsloshers.  If you choose Aruak City, do not choose it for an unsanctioned and
bogus 'contest', choose it for the tradition.  Choose it because Aruak is different.

Defenders of Aruak

25 August 2003
To any that care -- The CDC is back; our current roster is:
     Malaquar -- Minion of Guardian
     Pip the Troll -- Burly Enforcer Type
     mouse -- Official Sneaky Bastard
     Papa Bear -- Elder Statesmen
                     The Sealer says, "Hi, I'm the dealer."
                     Papa Bear says, "It's not my f****n fault."
Guardian -- Paper Figurehead

9 September 2003
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MANAGERS!  If you think you have what it takes to match
wits and blades with some of the best managers in Alastari, then WE WANT YOU!  The
Tournament Of The Golden Scrod #4 will begin in Aradi (DM 60) the turn after the Fall
Mail-In.  It's not too late for you to sign up.  I realize that many of you may be
hesitant after seeing that myself and Hombre have teamed up again, but we'll try to
take it easy on you guys a little bit.  For more information on T#%S IV, please
contact me at ganolus@aol.com.  We're looking for a few good managers...the few, the
proud, the TOGS!

-- Ganolus Oakleaf, T#%S IV Commish

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

MAN O' WAR bested BLACKLOCK in a 1 minute Bloodfeud fight.
VERTIKI devastated STALKING HORSE in a 1 minute one-sided Bloodfeud duel.
DEJA VU was handily defeated by THE GOVERNATOR in a 1 minute Challenge match.
SLICK BILLY vanquished WOODWALKER in a popular 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
INNERVISION defeated NEIGH! in a crowd pleasing 1 minute master's Title match.
HIGH GUN overpowered KUNG-FU MASTER in a crowd pleasing 2 minute one-sided struggle.
BURGATORY overpowered STORMCLOUD in a 2 minute uneven melee.
GETHSEMANI ALFREDO slimly lost to LITTLE CURRENT in a popular 8 minute expert's duel.
THE HOLY ROAST vanquished KARNHORN SPY in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
BIRDSONG was overpowered by ABRA-HAM! in a 1 minute one-sided melee.
CRUNCH-TIME defeated PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a unpopular 5 minute novice's match.
CRAZED was handily defeated by EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute one-sided contest.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   6         STRIKING ATTACK   10 -   3 -  0      77  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   5         TOTAL PARRY       19 -  10 -  0      66  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         LUNGING ATTACK    29 -  19 -  1      60  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         WALL OF STEEL      6 -   4 -  1      60  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         SLASHING ATTACK    6 -   5 -  1      55  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         AIMED BLOW         9 -   8 -  0      53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         PARRY-LUNGE        2 -   2 -  0      50  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   8 -  1      43  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -  14 -  1      39  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  0         BASHING ATTACK     6 -  22 -  0      21  |

Turn 468 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   INNERVISION 4431           15   4  0  116 UNKNOWNS XX (436)

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  BLACKLOCK 4459             11   5  1   71 GREENWARDENS (244)
AIMED BLOW       ABRA-HAM! 4563              6   1  0   45 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is HIGH GUN 4386.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was HIGH GUN 4386.  The ten other most popular fighters were LITTLE CURRENT 4371, 
INNERVISION 4431, SLICK BILLY 4576, BURGATORY 4532, MAN O' WAR 4517, VERTIKI 4572, 
THE GOVERNATOR 4578, NEIGH! 4363, ABRA-HAM! 4563, and STORMCLOUD 4379.

The least popular fighter this week was GETHSEMANI ALFREDO 4527.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were CRUNCH-TIME 4579, BIRDSONG 4434, WOODWALKER 4433, DEJA VU 4571, 
STALKING HORSE 4569, BLACKLOCK 4459, CRAZED 4580, THE HOLY ROAST 4535, STORMCLOUD 
4379, and ABRA-HAM! 4563.

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

HIGH GUN (15-4386) TRIPLE CROWN (382)