DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 11/05/2003 Duedate: 11/18/2003 MALCORN ARENA DM-15 TURN-472 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS MAN O' WAR TRIPLE CROWN (382) (15-4517) [11-2-0,112] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader MAN O' WAR RONNIE RAY GUN TRIPLE CROWN (382) POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) (15-4517) [11-2-0,112] (15-4574) [3-0-0,22] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite BURGATORY SPANK-A-SAURASS SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) UNKNOWNS XX (436) (15-4532) [8-17-1,77] (15-4592) [1-1-0,14] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM GREENWARDENS (244) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) 34 2. UNKNOWNS XX (436) 24 UNKNOWNS XX (436) 3. TRIPLE CROWN (382) 17 Unchartered Team 4. THE WAVE (34) 12 5. POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) 9POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1*POLITICALY INCORRE (461) 10 5 0 66.7 1/ 1 GREENWARDENS (244) 9 6 0 2/ 2 UNKNOWNS XX (436) 90 55 3 62.1 2/ 2 UNKNOWNS XX (436) 8 7 1 3/ 3 TRIPLE CROWN (382) 218 194 14 52.9 3/ 3 TRIPLE CROWN (382) 7 2 0 4/ 5 GREENWARDENS (244) 289 389 8 42.6 4/ 4 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) 5 10 1 5/ 6 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) 46 71 3 39.3 5/ 5*POLITICALY INCORRE (461) 3 3 0 6/ 0*THE WAVE (34) 9 17 1 34.6 6/ 0*THE WAVE (34) 1 0 1 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #72 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Between Ibizond and Korga: The hound that Fist of Kjarran had crippled was dragging itself down the road toward its approaching master, whining pitifully. If it had been a proper dog, the gladiator might have regretted the injury. As it was...serve the damned beast right. As the hound had appeared to grow when it charged him, so did the hunter. What might have been a big horse--if it was a horse at all--became huge, and its rider dominated the sky. He...it seemed to wear a crown of cold lights, or maybe there were northern lights in the sky behind its head. No, that wasn't north, that was southeast. Fist shook his own head to clear out the fantasies. As the rider passed the crippled hound, he cried out in a terrible voice, a word Fist didn't know and didn't want to know. An evil word, he was sure. Maybe a spell, or a vow of vengeance. Not that it mattered! He had the protection of Kjarran and Jayde. He raised his sword against the moon-colored blade that was swinging down out of the stars above him. "Kjarran and Jayde guide my hand!" Fist shouted, and then the blow fell against his blade with enough force that it drove him to his knees. The hunter's blade was white as bone, his own turned red as life's blood, and warmth came into his hands from his two-handed grip on it, and down his arms, to counter the icy air that cloaked his opponent. He was a little surprised to find himself still alive after such a blow, more surprised still to find his blade unbroken. Nothing but the direct intervention of his god Kjarran and the god's Daughter Jayde could have preserved his life, he was sure. And the only proper way to show appreciation of that aid was to get up and fight. Which he would do. As the hunter's blade was withdrawn and raised for another blow, Fist lurched to his feet. The hunter was thundering more of his evil-sounding words, they seemed to streak toward him like arrows, like an icy hail or the bitterest wind of winter, and it was hard to stand against them, the coldness and the hate and the fury. Impossible to stand against another powerful sword-stroke delivered in their wake. Fist did the only thing he could think of and threw himself forward under the falling blade, slashing at the horse's forelegs where it reared high, then at its belly as he rolled under it and out into the road. The horse screamed as cold-gleaming coils emerged from its belly and came down on all four feet, stumbled when one of its front legs wouldn't hold, and fell. The hunter leaped free, but the fallen horse was now between him and his prey. Cold light, colder than moonlight and without that clean purity, shivered around him. The intestines that had spilled from the horse writhed like snakes, or like an animated snare, coils twisting toward Fist. If they caught him, the gladiator believed they would be like a snare and would hold him for the vengeance of the hunter. He edged backward, not taking his eyes off the hunter but wondering uneasily what had become of the hounds. The idea of one or two of those hell-hounds coming up behind was enough to shake the steadiest nerves. As though in answer to his worry, one of the hounds howled pain behind him. "We've got your back," Cadal said. At that moment, the barbarian's voice was the sweetest sound Fist could imagine. "Serimna shield us all with her mercy!" Zilla added. There were several butchery whacks interspersed with screams, and Aghtamar growled, "What does it take to kill the damned thing?" The knowledge that his friends were at his back, ready to stand and fight beside him, was more warming than sunlight. "The hounds won't close with us on their own," Cadal reported from close behind him. "If we can take out the hunter, we may be home clear on this." "That won't be easy," Fist of Kjarran observed. "These things can be hurt, but damned if I know what will kill them." He staggered as one foot was dragged out from under him. Someone caught his arm and kept him from falling while he looked down. And swore. A loop of the horse's intestines had wrapped itself around his ankle. He slashed downward to free his foot, then threw himself to the side just as the hunter struck. Blades rang together as one of his comrades parried the blow. The hunter spoke more of his unknown words that might be spells or cursing. Or really cursing, if it came to that, really laying a curse. Fist pushed himself to his feet again and faced his opponent grimly. "Kjarran and Jayde, this has got to STOP." He raised his sword, noting that the blade had gone red again, and advanced on the dark shape of the hunter. The blade burned as hot as the hunter was cold and made a sound like a deep-voiced bell very far away. Fist felt a presence, a force, move through his body, and without willing it he lunged forward, driving the bright-burning blade toward the hunter. There was a roaring around him, and he felt as though he'd been caught in a twist of wind, or an earthquake, something natural and violent and beyond his control. It was a relief to faint. * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 477): GWEN RYDER of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 475): CUNNING CALICO of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 471): MAN O' WAR of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 471): PERSIFLAGE of SHROUD IN MYSTERY (Noachian, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 469): ASH of DELTA DOOM (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 468): ADARA AL ZAHRA of JAGUAR WARRIORS (Noachian, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 234): TERRIBLE TOTOMAC of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 460): BUZZARD of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 232): GAELIN BLACKTALON of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 457): STARBREAKER of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 455): WILD CARD HAMMER of CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 448): KING BEAR of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 411): HEMERA AHKISAR of TERMAGANT VOTARY (Noachian, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 209): BINGE N PURGE of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 203): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 190): MAEGOLOS of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 336): ROYCE GRACIE of SADISTS-OCTAGON (SunGod, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 316): ALPHABETIZED AL of PISSED AT WORK (Nuln, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): MONGOL HORDE of WORLDWIDE GORE (Crip, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 361): NEMESIS of CHAMPIONS from JHELUM (Shadowgate, mgr.) Top Teams --------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 477): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 475): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 471): none DM 16 WILLAF (turn 471): BLACKHEART'S AXE (?, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 469): SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 468): NATURE'S WRATH (?, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 234): KESSEN (Iker, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 460): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 232): WORDS TO THE WISE (Wordsmith, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 457): DEVIL ADVOCATES (Dark One, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 455): CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 448): THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 411): MEDS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 209): MIKES MORGUE (Mike, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 203): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 190): MIDDLE WAY 6 (Jorja, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 336): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 316): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): DHOOMZDEY (Fizban, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 361): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 474): MIKE BELIEVE of POWERPUFF GIRLS (The Narrator, mgr.) EQUALIZER of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 469): INBRED FRED of SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 233): LUCKY LUCIEN of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.) POLARIS of ASTRONOMY DOMINE (Razorback, mgr.) RAPAX of THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 231): DELWYNNDWN of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.) GILGAMESH of THE STORMBRINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 411): HEMERA AHKISAR of TERMAGANT VOTARY (Noachian, mgr.) (turn 410): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 208): IPECAC of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 203): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) (turn 202): THREEKARD of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 189): MR. HOOPER of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 335): DUMPLING of BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 139): SUNGLASSES of FOUND IN THE SAND (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.) (turn 138): I.O.U. of ALPHABET SOUP (Crip, mgr.) DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Burgatory, thanks for the raft of skills and letting me win! Really, you're too kind! No challenges this turn. You're all free to come and get me. Oh wait a minute, no one can reach me. What a shame! Best of luck in the tourney. -- Man O' War 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. Well, everybody's pal MAN O' WAR moved his record to 11-2-0 by defeating BLACKLOCK in the Duelmaster's Title Bout and gaining 9 recognition points. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but an onion a day keeps T.P.s at bay. But enough of that bunch, let's get on to the wimps who like to avoid battle! And hey, kiddies, those of you who didn't avoid SACRILEGIOUS MEAT, please raise you hand. Wow. Does MALCORN really have that many liars? Okay, so I may not be funny, but catch TRIPLE CROWN's act in the arena. Those acrobats seem to be fairly deft at running from SACRILEGIOUS MEAT. In a touching display by a 'touched' warrior, ABRA-HAM! went after STORMCLOUD, who was higher by 18 points. Well, when the dust settled, ABRA-HAM! subdued STORMCLOUD. Death is kind of like a new puppy: he's always around wanting to play. (Ha Zontani, how's that for a wise saying?). Remember: alliances are great, but try and take your ally in the arena with you and see what happens. Well, there's the manager of the MALCORN giving me the 'cut' sign (or is that 'They're going to strangle you in the alley?). C'mon, Leadfoot, let's make some tracks. Its been real, and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun...-- The Unknown Spymaster DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MAN O' WAR 4517 11 2 0 112 TRIPLE CROWN (382) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME NEIGH! 4363 17 17 1 101 TRIPLE CROWN (382) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BLACKLOCK 4459 13 7 1 78 GREENWARDENS (244) BURGATORY 4532 8 17 1 77 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) ABRA-HAM! 4563 8 3 0 77 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) BIRDSONG 4434 11 12 1 72 GREENWARDENS (244) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME STORMCLOUD 4379 14 18 0 60 GREENWARDENS (244) LITTLE CURRENT 4371 12 16 2 58 TRIPLE CROWN (382) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -SLICK BILLY 4576 3 1 0 41 POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WOODWALKER 4433 6 17 1 40 GREENWARDENS (244) STALKING HORSE 4569 4 6 1 35 GREENWARDENS (244) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SMOKED SOLOMON 4589 3 0 0 30 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) -THE GOVERNATOR 4578 3 1 0 26 POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) WARRIOR 4593 2 0 1 26 UNKNOWNS XX (436) TWETTER 4590 3 0 0 25 UNKNOWNS XX (436) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME RONNIE RAY GUN 4574 3 0 0 22 POLITICALY INCORRECT (461) BLOG 32 2 4 1 21 THE WAVE (34) CRUNCH-TIME 4579 2 3 0 15 UNKNOWNS XX (436) VERTIKI 4572 4 2 0 14 UNKNOWNS XX (436) SPANK-A-SAURASS 4592 1 1 0 14 UNKNOWNS XX (436) -GORR 31 2 3 0 13 THE WAVE (34) -REYNARD 35 2 3 0 13 THE WAVE (34) -TRAXIS 269 2 1 0 12 THE WAVE (34) -EXETER 270 0 3 0 3 THE WAVE (34) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? OSKSI NOBLE 436 0 1 0 1 BLOG 32 472 NONE SNAFU 4594 0 1 0 POLITICALY INCORR 461 WURM KIN 460 472 NONE CRUCIFRIED STEAK 4587 0 4 0 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT 456 SPYMASTER 455 472 NONE MARY MAGDALINGUI 4588 1 2 1 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT 456 WARRIOR 4593 472 PERSONAL ADS Vertiki -- An unusual name, what does it mean? My first guess is bipedal mongoose, but that hardly seems likely. -- Stalking Horse Kung-phooey Master. -- Blacklock Right, what he said. -- Stormcloud Little Current -- Some days I really wish someone would make you into a little currant jelly. -- Woodwalker P.S. But it obviously won't be me. The Userous Merchant is a joke. I laugh. -- Birdsong All -- Don't mean to ignore responding to p-ads, but am just a tad too busy these days. Best of luck in the tourney! I hope to be soon more active in the personals. Til then.... -- Sultan 31 October 2003 Come one, come all, to the greatest contest in Alastari! The Third Annual Turf War will be in North Fork (DM 47) starting in about 6-7 turns.... C'mon and get your team some experience, and get declared! More info available in North Fork's newsletter. Bloody Sands. -- Asmo Dius, TCB LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS CRUCIFRIED STEAK was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. SNAFU was butchered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute Dark Arena duel. BURGATORY was demolished by NEIGH! in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge melee. ABRA-HAM! overpowered STORMCLOUD in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel. RONNIE RAY GUN bested SPANK-A-SAURASS in a exciting 5 minute novice's Challenge fight. MAN O' WAR devastated BLACKLOCK in a 1 minute uneven Title brawl. LITTLE CURRENT was overpowered by BIRDSONG in a 2 minute one-sided struggle. WOODWALKER was unbelievably bested by THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 2 minute competition. STALKING HORSE slimly won victory over CRUNCH-TIME in a 2 minute gruesome melee. BLOG slaughtered OSKSI NOBLE in a 1 minute one-sided duel. MARY MAGDALINGUICA was slaughtered by WARRIOR in a 1 minute one-sided duel. VERTIKI was overpowered by SMOKED SOLOMON in a 1 minute uneven match. TWETTER overpowered MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided fight. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 5 STRIKING ATTACK 12 - 4 - 2 75 | |STRIKING ATTACK 3 TOTAL PARRY 13 - 5 - 0 72 | |PARRY-STRIKE 3 LUNGING ATTACK 33 - 22 - 1 60 | |AIMED BLOW 2 AIMED BLOW 9 - 10 - 0 47 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 8 - 9 - 1 47 | |SLASHING ATTACK 2 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 7 - 1 46 | |BASHING ATTACK 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 10 - 14 - 0 42 | |TOTAL PARRY 1 SLASHING ATTACK 5 - 10 - 1 33 | |WALL OF STEEL 1 BASHING ATTACK 10 - 20 - 0 33 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 | Turn 472 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: STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 2 - 3 4 LUNGING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 2 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE WALL OF STEEL 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 1 PARRY-STRIKE AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 BASHING ATTACK 0 - 2 1 AIMED BLOW 1 BASHING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK MAN O' WAR 4517 11 2 0 112 TRIPLE CROWN (382) SLASHING ATTACK BLACKLOCK 4459 13 7 1 78 GREENWARDENS (244) AIMED BLOW ABRA-HAM! 4563 8 3 0 77 SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (456) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is BURGATORY 4532. The most popular warrior this turn was SPANK-A-SAURASS 4592. The ten other most popular fighters were WOODWALKER 4433, CRUNCH-TIME 4579, BIRDSONG 4434, STALKING HORSE 4569, SMOKED SOLOMON 4589, ABRA-HAM! 4563, MAN O' WAR 4517, TWETTER 4590, NEIGH! 4363, and LITTLE CURRENT 4371. The least popular fighter this week was VERTIKI 4572. The other ten least popular fighters were MARY MAGDALINGUICA 4588, BLACKLOCK 4459, RONNIE RAY GUN 4574, STORMCLOUD 4379, BURGATORY 4532, SNAFU 4594, CRUCIFRIED STEAK 4587, WARRIOR 4593, BLOG 32, and LITTLE CURRENT 4371. TOURNEY FREEZE CHANGE -- ADVANCE NOTICE Beginning at the Winter Face-to-Face in Tempe (January 2004), we will implement several changes affecting tournaments. The tournament announcement for the upcoming FTF and future tourneys will reflect these changes. First, we will eliminate the tourney freeze for all regular DM warrior classes. Regular DM warriors will not be classed ahead of the tournament, but instead will fight according to their FE on the date of the tourney. There will still be a freeze for the ADM classes, occurring on the same timeline as before, approximately 6 weeks before the tournament. In addition to the above change, the warrior classes will be slightly altered. The new tourney classes will be as follows: DM Tourney Classes ADM Tourney Classes ====================== ====================== 0 FE: Rookies Freshmen 1-4 FE: Apprentices ADM 5-10 FE: Initiates Eligibles 11-20 FE: Adepts ---induction--- 21-30 FE: Champions Contenders 31+ FE: Challengers Primus All regular DM tourney classes will remain solely FE based. All ADM classes will now be based on warrior characteristics (i.e., the ADM split algorithm), including the Freshmen class. The Gateway and Primus arenas will be merging before the FTF to form one top arena. These warriors will be split into two tournament classes, the Contenders and the Primus classes, again based upon their characteristics. More information on this will be published in the newsletters for those arenas. If you have any questions about the above changes, please contact Customer Service. Good luck in your games. -- Green Eyes and the RSI staff