DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 09/01/2003 Duedate: 09/13/2003 ALJAFIR ARENA DM-17 TURN-466 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS DUSK DELTA DOOM (492) (17-6119) [14-7-0,149] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader DUSK GNOCCHI DELTA DOOM (492) DOUGH BOYS (518) (17-6119) [14-7-0,149] (17-6412) [3-0-0,37] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite JORRAM TORLYN UNA MALICIOUS INTENT (372) MIDDLE WAY (484) (17-6018) [15-13-1,96] (17-6288) [10-10-1,77] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM SPECIAL ED (499) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. SPECIAL ED (499) 39 2. MIDDLE WAY (484) 33 DELTA DOOM (492) 3. DOUGH BOYS (518) 14 Unchartered Team 4. MALICIOUS INTENT (372) 10 5. KINDRED OF KAOS (213) 0 DOUGH BOYS (518) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1*DOUGH BOYS (518) 5 1 0 83.3 1/ 3 SPECIAL ED (499) 7 5 0 2- 3*WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) 25 15 2 62.5 2/ 4 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) 6 9 0 3/ 4 DELTA DOOM (492) 80 62 4 56.3 3/ 8*DOUGH BOYS (518) 5 1 0 4/ 6 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) 146 122 5 54.5 4/ 9 MIDDLE WAY (484) 5 10 0 5/ 5 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) 21 18 1 53.8 5- 2 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) 4 0 0 6/ 7 SPECIAL ED (499) 175 152 6 53.5 6/ 7 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) 4 3 1 7/ 8 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) 161 186 6 46.4 7/ 5 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) 4 4 0 8- 9 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) 244 291 21 45.6 8- 1*WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) 4 6 0 9-11 MINIONS OF MILO (318) 235 361 25 39.4 9/ 6 DELTA DOOM (492) 3 1 0 10/12 MIDDLE WAY (484) 130 235 3 35.6 10-10 MINIONS OF MILO (318) 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. Greetings Aljafir, I would like to thank Inbred Fred for putting up a fine showing last turn. Slasher vs. Slasher can be a fun fight. I know Pip probably has him on maintenance but I'll take the victory anyway. I believe that this is the first time I have ever held a throne in a Free Blades arena and who would have thunk it would be a half goat half boy who likes to play a recorder that made it so? I honestly hope someone takes Pan off the throne though since if he holds onto it for too many rounds he may get sucked off before he gets a chance at a champs tourney. I don't believe I put out any challenges for Pan this turn and I don't really fear any people are below him enough to avoid so we shall see what luck brings this turn. Judge, I miss the little challenges we had going back and forth there for a while; maybe if I get a decent replacement from the DA we can resume it. What happened to Destitute Noble and his Fund Family team, they just disappeared? Talon, any insight there? Well, I suppose I should be heading out fights are about to begin. Fight fierce and fight often. DeGotti Mgr. of Pan and Deities and Demigods SPY REPORT Like the magnificent Sun, rising upon the Dawn and exiling the Night for a Day, I, Novgorodny Vir, return once again! The boys at WHEN EAGLES DARE left the arena dejected, after being kicked out of the top spot by SPECIAL ED. Good show! He who laughs last didn't get the joke. Speaking of laughing at jokes, observe WHEN EAGLES DARE. Last week they got 0-0-0 to drop by 7! What's a move up by 5 you ask? (alright, maybe you didn't ask) Cause for celebration, according to DOUGH BOYS. SPECIAL ED had cause to celebrate, after INBRED FRED got 25 points by beating ADOBE. Win some, lose some. Speaking of which, TWO GLASS EYES was winsome, after beating CAESAR and seeing him lose 15 points. The arena was more crowded than usual this time, as DUSK faced ALJAFIR's Duelmaster. In ALJAFIR, nothing is permanent (except Death), and we find ourselves a new Duelmaster, DUSK. Word has it one team in ALJAFIR is using psychics to predict wins. They lead a charmed life! A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn? And do not the little birds cry out?' Any ideas? To quell some nasty rumors, the guys in SPECIAL ED are not carrying any incurable diseases. No need to avoid 'em. Like a pup with its tail between its legs, HEROESANDFOUNDONES scurried away from SPECIAL ED. Oh, the shame! If challenges were horses, SPARTACUS could open up a fast food joint! Them's the breaks, TIBERIOUS. Expecting fair challenges from MALICIOUS INTENT is evidently too much to ask. JORRAM defeated TIBERIOUS. The whole thing leaves a bitter memory. Willing to win at any cost is GNOCCHI, who challenged SPARTACUS, 9 points junior. Our sympathies, SPARTACUS! I thought GNOCCHI showed great skill and promise when he defeated SPARTACUS. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal! The moving sword slashes, and having slashed, moves on... Questions are being raised about the disposing of severed body parts in the arena. A certain tavern in ALJAFIR would I avoid! Leave me now, you base fools! As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my control, I must take my leave of this place. ALJAFIR, I leave you now. The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Vile Vizier. 'Til next time-- Novgorodny Vir DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DUSK 6119 14 7 0 149 DELTA DOOM (492) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -FOGGY DEW 6235 18 8 1 115 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) INBRED FRED 6253 16 9 0 112 SPECIAL ED (499) TWO GLASS EYES 6272 14 10 0 103 SPECIAL ED (499) -ASH 6145 12 4 0 100 DELTA DOOM (492) -ABATIS 5940 19 13 0 96 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) JORRAM 6018 15 13 1 96 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) PAN 6292 11 6 0 92 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ADOBE 6033 25 7 0 90 DELTA DOOM (492) CAESAR 6258 12 11 0 82 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) TORLYN UNA 6288 10 10 1 77 MIDDLE WAY (484) GHENGIS KHAN 6205 15 11 0 72 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) -EAGLES LAIR 6310 5 3 0 71 WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TIBERIOUS 6209 14 14 0 66 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) MOUSE NOYLE 6252 12 14 0 65 MIDDLE WAY (484) KARO LEE 6133 9 27 0 59 MIDDLE WAY (484) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -DIRTY OLD MAN 6391 4 1 0 56 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) -CREME A. SHUN 6152 10 7 1 47 DELTA DOOM (492) -CLINT EASTWOOD 6376 6 1 1 45 WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) -JUNIOR VASQUEZ 6313 5 3 0 43 WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) -OMG-STFU 6390 5 0 0 40 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) TE'LAS THE SPIRE 6153 9 10 0 37 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) GNOCCHI 6412 3 0 0 37 DOUGH BOYS (518) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -POOP IN A SOCK 6389 4 1 1 35 KINDRED OF KAOS (213) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SNOTMAN'S CAT 6356 4 6 1 31 SPECIAL ED (499) -GOUGED GRIMEYE 6401 4 0 0 31 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) WASTELAND WENDY 6355 6 4 1 30 SPECIAL ED (499) IDUN 6396 3 0 1 27 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -GREY MOUSER 6290 1 4 0 16 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) -DUMB BLONDE 6377 4 3 0 15 WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) CIABATTA 6409 2 1 0 13 DOUGH BOYS (518) PERICLES 6523 1 0 0 12 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) SPARTACUS 6413 2 2 0 11 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) -PHILLY STEAK 6406 2 1 0 10 WHEN EAGLES DARE (509) DARON EL 6414 1 3 0 6 MIDDLE WAY (484) TABETA UNIS 6405 0 5 0 5 MIDDLE WAY (484) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? PERSISTENT BEGGAR 629 0 1 0 1 IDUN 6396 466 NONE ARTEMIS 6289 0 2 0 DEITIES & DEMIGOD 507 SPYMASTER 647 466 NONE SULA 6378 3 2 0 HEROESANDFOUNDONE 475 SNOTMAN'S CAT 6356 463 REVENGED DIE DIE DIE! 6522 0 1 0 MALICIOUS INTENT 372 MOUNTAIN TROLL 643 466 NONE CARLO DEAN 6402 0 2 0 MIDDLE WAY 484 POOP IN A SOCK 6389 462 NOT REVE PERSONAL ADS Spartacus -- I wish you'd go be a rebel in a volcano. -- Daron El the Disgruntled Who Thinks He Should Have Won But Couldn't Manage It Clint Eastwood -- Nobody told me I had to fight politicians! Erg. Talktalktalk. Erg. -- Karo Lee P.S. Good fight. Junior Vasquez -- Ah! I like it--the Mouse defeats the Eagle! -- Mouse Noyle, savoring the novelty Dangerous Criminal? Pooh. -- Torlyn Una Philly Steak -- Oh, yuck. I don't LIKE philly steak. It's too much like eating wads of meat-flavored tissue paper. -- Tabeta Unis Kindred of Kaos -- I can't bloodfeud you when you're inactive, so I take this as an indication that you do NOT expect a bloodfeud after all. -- Jorja, Middle Way Snotman's Cat -- There you have it. A bloodfeud toss. Be thankful that we are only bloodfeuding one turn. -- HEROESANDFOUNDONES Daron El -- I figured that we might match up well. Thanks for the skills. -- Spartacus 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 LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS ARTEMIS was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. DIE DIE DIE! was dispatched by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 2 minute Dark Arena battle. DUSK handily defeated PAN in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title match. JORRAM vanquished TIBERIOUS in a popular 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl. TE'LAS THE SPIRE was overpowered by KARO LEE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match. GNOCCHI overpowered SPARTACUS in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge struggle. CIABATTA bested DARON EL in a 3 minute gruesome novice's Challenge competition. ADOBE was viciously subdued by INBRED FRED in a action packed 2 minute expert's duel. CAESAR was vanquished by TWO GLASS EYES in a 1 minute one-sided duel. GHENGIS KHAN was savagely defeated by TORLYN UNA in a action packed 4 minute match. MOUSE NOYLE overpowered WASTELAND WENDY in a 1 minute one-sided match. SNOTMAN'S CAT was unbelievably bested by CAPTURED ORC in a 2 minute conflict. IDUN executed PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 4 minute mismatched conflict. TABETA UNIS was overpowered by PERICLES in a 1 minute one-sided duel. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |SLASHING ATTACK 6 WALL OF STEEL 32 - 19 - 2 63 | |LUNGING ATTACK 4 LUNGING ATTACK 49 - 42 - 2 54 | |WALL OF STEEL 3 BASHING ATTACK 18 - 19 - 3 49 | |TOTAL PARRY 3 SLASHING ATTACK 44 - 50 - 2 47 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 TOTAL PARRY 13 - 16 - 1 45 | |STRIKING ATTACK 2 PARRY-STRIKE 7 - 9 - 1 44 | |BASHING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 28 - 36 - 1 44 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 9 - 12 - 0 43 | |AIMED BLOW 0 AIMED BLOW 12 - 19 - 1 39 | |PARRY-STRIKE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 8 - 0 33 | Turn 466 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: LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 1 TOTAL PARRY 1 - 2 3 SLASHING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 2 - 1 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 2 STRIKING ATTACK SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 3 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 2 LUNGING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 3 1 PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME STRIKING ATTACK DUSK 6119 14 7 0 149 DELTA DOOM (492) SLASHING ATTACK INBRED FRED 6253 16 9 0 112 SPECIAL ED (499) LUNGING ATTACK JORRAM 6018 15 13 1 96 MALICIOUS INTENT (372) TOTAL PARRY ADOBE 6033 25 7 0 90 DELTA DOOM (492) PARRY-RIPOSTE CAESAR 6258 12 11 0 82 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is JORRAM 6018. The most popular warrior this turn was TORLYN UNA 6288. The ten other most popular fighters were INBRED FRED 6253, SNOTMAN'S CAT 6356, KARO LEE 6133, JORRAM 6018, GNOCCHI 6412, DIE DIE DIE! 6522, ADOBE 6033, TWO GLASS EYES 6272, MOUSE NOYLE 6252, and PERICLES 6523. The least popular fighter this week was DARON EL 6414. The other ten least popular fighters were IDUN 6396, WASTELAND WENDY 6355, GHENGIS KHAN 6205, CAESAR 6258, SPARTACUS 6413, PAN 6292, ARTEMIS 6289, TABETA UNIS 6405, CIABATTA 6409, and TE'LAS THE SPIRE 6153. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: DUSK (17-6119) DELTA DOOM (492) FACE-TO-FACE XXXII Our next Winter Face-to-Face will be held on Martin Luther King weekend, Friday through Sunday, 16-18 January 2004, at the Embassy Suites in Tempe, Arizona (4400 S Rural Rd). Room rates are $119.00 per night, 1-2 occupancy, which includes breakfast. The rooms are blocked. The reservations number is 480-897-7444; tell them you're with the "Reality Simulations Face to Face Convention" block. Our room block will be released in mid-December, so please make sure you reserve your room before then. There is a free shuttle to the airport, as well as free parking. The hotel is located down the freeway in Tempe. All rooms have high speed internet (for an extra charge). There is a fitness center, jacuzzi, and pool, and of course a bar and restaurant inside the hotel. And there's Denny's right across the street. Look for transportation info in the tournament information sheet. The tournament information sheet/strategy sheet should be out sometime in late November/early December. If you haven't been to a Face-to-Face before, you're overdue. If you have, you'll be back. Don't miss this one, it'll be a blast! See you there! -- Green Eyes and the RSI Staff