DM 025 Newsletter

DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date : 04/28/2008 Duedate: 05/10/2008

LYRATILAN ARENA

DM-25 TURN-581

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

KEG STAND
BARHOPPERS (429)
(25-5257) [21-2-0,128]

Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader

KEG STAND POSITION IS EMPTY
BARHOPPERS (429)
(25-5257) [21-2-0,128]

Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite

X. ROLPH TUPP CROWN ROYAL
THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464) BARHOPPERS (429)
(25-5287) [17-23-0,74] (25-5274) [11-12-0,53]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

MASTERS OF SIN (119)

TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. DARK FORCES (179) 51
2. MASTERS OF SIN (119) 40 BARHOPPERS (429)
3. BARHOPPERS II (434) 16 Unchartered Team
4. BARHOPPERS (429) 13
5. GOTTA GET A CLUE (498) 0 JAKE'S TUFTS (423)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 BARHOPPERS (429) 121 102 4 54.3 1/ 1 MASTERS OF SIN (119) 10 3 0
2/ 2 MASTERS OF SIN (119) 379 343 25 52.5 2/ 2 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464) 8 7 0
3/ 0 DARK FORCES (179) 147 154 9 48.8 3/ 3 BARHOPPERS (429) 7 8 0
4/ 3 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464) 314 343 10 47.8 4/ 4 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498) 6 7 0
5/ 4 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498) 33 50 1 39.8 5/ 0 DARK FORCES (179) 4 0 0
6/ 5 BARHOPPERS II (434) 11 20 5 35.5 6/ 5 BARHOPPERS II (434) 2 8 2

'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian Succession #4 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Zorpunt:

Fandil stood on one of the town's three intact wharfs and watched the waves of
the Trier lap around the heap of stones that had been Khaldren's Tower. Most of the
soot had been washed off by the rains of the spring, but it was still an impressive
scene of destruction.
A small boat eased up to the wharf, and a lean figure jumped across from the
deck. "Glad you could meet me here," Lenpro said.
Fandil raised an eyebrow. "You said it was important."
Lenpro nodded. "But there's a lot of important trouble around right now."
"This is trouble, then?"
"Of course! I sent Sedalia to the Isle to talk to the king--"
"I'd heard that," Fandil agreed. "What's the word?"
"That's the problem. There is no word, no message at all, and there should be."
Fandil reviewed the map of Alastari in his mind. "Three or four days each way,
and with the roads this muddy, maybe longer," he said. "And it might've taken him a
couple of days to get an audience--"
Lenpro gave him an impatient look. "You're forgetting the pigeons."
Fandil hoped his beard would hide his blush. He had indeed forgotten the
pigeons. The Consortium maintained a homing pigeon loft near the mainland end of the
ferry to the Isle. Messages, if brief, didn't have to wait on travel time.
"Sedalia sent a pigeon just before he boarded the ferry," Lenpro said. "It
arrived eight days ago. Since then, nothing. Eight days."
"Ah. You're correct, there should have been a message, even if only to say
nothing was moving forward." He turned to look around the waterfront. There was
nobody near, but sound carried over water, and it was as well to remember that,
sanctioned or not, the king of Andoria had a whole guild of spies and assassins at
his service.
Lenpro snorted. "I believe that the time for keeping a low profile is past,
Fandil. Something is wrong... with the king. There will be no sweeping this under
the rug."
"And there's no need to start rumors flying too quickly," Fandil countered. "We
need more information first--"
"That," Lenpro growled, "is why Sedalia went to the Isle in the first place!"
"There are other avenues to pursue," Fandil said, "and they can be done here--at
least, here as in, not on the Isle. But they are not going to be talked about here,
on this wharf. That'd be asking for trouble."

On the Isle of the Eye:

Lord Protector Senator Sedalia looked at the cart with distaste. It was not
new, though it seemed sturdy enough. But the main objection was that it had been
used to haul fish from Willow Beach, where Darkholm was located, up to Talahya, and
it smelled like it. Still, he glanced down at his clothing which was... extremely
utilitarian, it wasn't like his attire would suffer from contact with it. And at
least the ride would be brief; the road went through Lirin Kiv on its way to Willow
Beach. Four miles, maybe five.
"I can't believe there's no other way to get out of Talahya," he muttered,
climbing in beside Gissanniah.
"We're not out yet," she said. "I can't believe THIS way will work, until we're
clear of the last ring of watchers." She pulled the tarp up to cover both of them.
"I can't believe someone is going to this much trouble just to keep us from reporting
that we didn't get in to see the king."
"In itself, that is revealing," Sedalia said. His voice was muffled by the
tarp. "Presumably our failure to see the king would provoke questions that someone
really, really doesn't want to answer."
"Quiet," the driver said. "I could be stopped any time. Don't provoke 'em to
search the wagon."

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

---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

Duelmasters
-----------
DM 8 ARKERS (turn 295): UNHOLY TERROR of BLOOD RITES (Wretch, mgr.)
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 592): CHIEF SITTING BULL of BULLDOGS (Kennelworth, mgr.)
DM 14 TOBIR (turn 591): MOLYNEUX of OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 584): JEROME of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 581): TRAVIS T FLETE of KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 580): KEG STAND of BARHOPPERS (Apex, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 577): MOLDRAUN of GOLDEN CANYON (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 30 IAYE (turn 573): KLINK of THE A'S -- LOSERS II (Malaquar, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 543): PARTICLE MAN of NEUROMANCERS (Rude Buddha, mgr.)
DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 534): RAMBLING OX of WANDERERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 525): CUTTER of DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 243): IGOR MALMORT of BLOOD AND GUTS! (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 427): ATRION of THE EXILED ONES (Darklock, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 196): AYE OF THE NEEDLE of HAZAARDS OF CLONGING (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 477): AXLY HIMSELF of GERFEL'S FRIENDS (Generalissimo Puerco)

Top Teams
---------
DM 8 ARKERS (turn 295): SMITHSONIAN (Curator, mgr.)
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 592): ANIMAL FARM (Mino, mgr.)
DM 14 TOBIR (turn 591): OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 584): KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 581): KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 580): MASTERS OF SIN (Sin, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 577): ULTRA-VIOLENT (Deep Thought, mgr.)
DM 30 IAYE (turn 573): LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 543): BEYOND THE PALE (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 534): WANDERERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 525): BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 243): FLOWER GIRLS (Lady Fern, mgr.)
DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 427): BIBLICAL HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 196): THE ZOO (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 477): SUPERIOR FORCES (Manager, mgr.)

Recent Graduates
----------------
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 592): KORO CLOUD of KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
(turn 591): SLEDGE of NEVERWAKE (Doc Steeke, mgr.)
DM 14 TOBIR (turn 590): ABBOTT of OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 584): JACKSON OF KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 581): TRAVIS T FLETE of KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
(turn 580): MITCHELL PAIGE of MEDAL OF HONOR A3 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 576): UP-CHUCKY of STEEL CRUSADE (Cassius Calvata, mgr.)
DM 30 IAYE (turn 573): KLINK of THE A'S -- LOSERS II (Malaquar, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 543): BORIS KARLOFF of MEN OF 1,000 FACES (Mad Max, mgr.)
DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 524): CADDO SCOT of BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 243): IGOR MALMORT of BLOOD AND GUTS! (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
(turn 242): PAS DE QUARTIER of BLOOD AND GUTS! (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 196): I OF THE KNEE DOLL of HAZAARDS OF CLONGING (Crip, mgr.)

DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.

Well, well, well...here I sit...AGAIN. You know, it's kinda nice up here at the top.
Great view, cleaner air, pretty birds, great beer. Man, what a life!!! Again, no
challenge from me this week, I'll take whomever wants to step up first. Cheers to
all!!! -- Duelmaster Keg Stand

SPY REPORT

The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon LYRATILAN, for
I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned! Practice pays for BLOODFEUD MAN, who pummelled X.
ROLPH TUPP, to pocket 18 points. Win some, lose some. Speaking of which, ANEURISM
was winsome, after beating NIGHTFALL and seeing her lose 10 points. KEG STAND found
out being LYRATILAN's Duelmaster isn't all nuts and berries, receiving 2 challenges!
The arena was more crowded than usual this time, as NARCISSISTIC faced LYRATILAN's
Duelmaster. Those who hoped for a new Duelmaster were disappointed by NARCISSISTIC,
of MASTERS OF SIN, who despite a 9-7-1 couldn't overcome LYRATILAN's Number 1. So
who's the team that's been walking into taverns last week and ordering milk? Sounds
like a PR stunt to me.
My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter.
But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights! To quell some nasty rumors, the guys
in BARHOPPERS are not carrying any incurable diseases. No need to avoid 'em. As a
woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of MASTERS OF SIN, so did that sorry
team shy from BARHOPPERS Them's the breaks, TRELLIN XISS. Expecting fair challenges
from MASTERS OF SIN is evidently too much to ask. JUST A WIN bested TRELLIN XISS
with a point difference of 20. So this is what LYRATILAN calls a duel. This will
make an interesting tale. ELINDOR IMARDA found herself challenged by a warrior 18
below: MOJITO. MOJITO of BARHOPPERS kept his wits as he was defeated by ELINDOR
IMARDA. Mismatched by 9 points, CROWN ROYAL was beat by OCEAN BLUE. Is this really
worth noting? I thought OCEAN BLUE showed great skill and promise when she subdued
CROWN ROYAL. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal!
Ah, the duel! The roar of the oppenent, the smell of the crowd! Sober up,
young warriors, and take note of GUNSER JEBON's fate! PINOT GRIGIO of BARHOPPERS II
handily did him in. Experience counts for something on LYRATILAN's sands. Ask not a
spymaster for counsel, for he will pontificate long after you have fallen into an
unconscious stupor.
Leave me now, you base fools! More important duties call me. LYRATILAN, I
leave you now. The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Mourngrym Inn and
Tavern. 'Til next time-- Novgorodny Vir

DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
KEG STAND 5257 21 2 0 128 BARHOPPERS (429)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
NARCISSISTIC 3594 9 7 1 102 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
JUST A WIN 3369 24 8 0 93 MASTERS OF SIN (119)

CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
AIKIDO 3179 14 6 1 83 DARK FORCES (179)
BLOODFEUD MAN 3595 10 6 1 82 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
RAVING LUNATIC 2797 16 15 1 80 DARK FORCES (179)
X. ROLPH TUPP 5287 17 23 0 74 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464)
TRELLIN XISS 5321 16 15 0 72 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
OCEAN BLUE 3677 9 6 0 65 MASTERS OF SIN (119)

ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MISS SCARLET 5413 9 8 0 55 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498)
CROWN ROYAL 5274 11 12 0 53 BARHOPPERS (429)
FEDER JORNIS 5360 8 15 0 49 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464)
ANEURISM 4934 8 3 0 49 DARK FORCES (179)
ICE PICK 5420 4 0 0 47 BARHOPPERS (429)
KRAKEN 4928 5 7 0 40 DARK FORCES (179)

CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
NIGHTFALL 5414 8 9 0 33 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498)
ELINDOR IMARDA 5381 7 11 0 32 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 (464)
PINOT GRIGIO 5333 4 3 2 30 BARHOPPERS II (434)
PINOT NOIR 5335 4 3 1 30 BARHOPPERS II (434)

CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GUDGE 5410 5 12 1 28 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498)
COL. MUSTARD 5411 5 9 0 24 GOTTA GET A CLUE (498)

INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ENVY 5438 1 0 0 13 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
MOJITO 5421 1 3 0 11 BARHOPPERS (429)
PINA COLADA 5434 1 0 1 8 BARHOPPERS II (434)

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

THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
SHOOTER GIRL 5324 5 5 0 BARHOPPERS 429 LIZARD MAN 581 NONE
DANDY LION 5346 0 1 0 BARHOPPERS II 434 TOMBSTONE 581 NONE
MR. BODY 5436 0 1 0 GOTTA GET A CLUE 498 PINA COLADA 5434 581
FLAGITIOUS 5419 0 1 0 MASTERS OF SIN 119 PINOT GRIGIO 5333 577 REVENGED
FOIRENE ILMER 5353 8 13 1 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 464 PINOT NOIR 5335 578 JUST REVENGED
GUNSER JEBON 5435 2 1 0 THE MIDDLE WAY 4 464 PINOT GRIGIO 5333 581

PERSONAL ADS

Narcissistic -- Have you ever thought about doing some good cardio work? You'd last
longer if you would stick to a strict heart pumping cardio routine. I mean, I do. I
sit in a nice comfy chair, and continuously drink beer. One in each hand to even out
the weight of course. But this would be a big benefit for you. Trust me. -- Keg
Stand

Trellin Xiss -- Fruit is a great thing, you're right about that. A nice Pinot Noir
should be paired with a perfectly cooked piece of beef or lamb. Something that would
bring out the deep rich flavors that I have. I personally prefer my meat medium-
rare. Except in the arena that is. In which case I prefer to still see the "meat"
rare and bleeding. -- Pinot Noir

Ocean Blue -- Can't you just go on a vacation into the dark depths of some far away
sea? I'd like to get out of this arena SOMETIME soon. And you certainly aren't
helping me accomplish that. Give a guy a break!!! -- Crown Royal

Keg Stand -- Will you PLEASE go to AD already. -- Narcissistic

Pinot Grigio -- Your good attitude has earned you one less Bloodfeud. -- BFM

Crown Royal -- Close one. Good fight. -- OB

Trellin Xiss -- I think we put the whole town to sleep. -- JAW

Apex -- Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other. -- Sin

Elindor Imarda -- I never had a blue dress, but I got blue eyes. Does that count?
Oh, and don't get me started on theme team names. Why couldn't I have been on a team
named "Watercolors" or "Wackykidnames". No I get "Masters of Sin". Great....
Losers...oh hey Boss.... -- OB

Ice Pick -- Didn't anybody tell you not to run with that? You could hurt yourself or
anyone else! -- Elindor Imarda

Just a Win -- They all say that. -- Trellin Xiss

Noble Assassin? As if! -- X. Rolph Tupp

Pinot Noir -- I was just following the instructions on this wine-making kit. It
says, "First, crush the grapes." -- Feder Jornis

That "Friendly" Constable patted me on the butt! I don't take that from ANY guy. --
Gunser Jebon

Shooter Girl -- No shoe scuffing. We'll do "barefoot in the park." -- Elindor

LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

SHOOTER GIRL was butchered by LIZARD MAN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
DANDY LION was slaughtered by TOMBSTONE in a dull 2 minute Dark Arena battle.
NARCISSISTIC was luckily beaten by KEG STAND in a 3 minute Challenge Title fight.
JUST A WIN outwaited TRELLIN XISS in a monotonous 14 minute veteran's Challenge fight.
BLOODFEUD MAN devastated X. ROLPH TUPP in a 2 minute gory uneven Challenge brawl.
OCEAN BLUE viciously subdued CROWN ROYAL in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Challenge match.
PINOT NOIR was defeated by FEDER JORNIS in a 2 minute Challenge melee.
PINOT GRIGIO dispatched GUNSER JEBON in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
MOJITO lost to ELINDOR IMARDA in a 1 minute novice vs. expert Challenge duel.
RAVING LUNATIC defeated VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 1 minute veteran's fight.
AIKIDO savagely defeated KHALHUMS DWARF in a 3 minute brutal fight.
MISS SCARLET demolished VISITING ORC in a 2 minute mismatched competition.
NIGHTFALL was devastated by ANEURISM in a 2 minute bloody one-sided battle.
ICE PICK overpowered GUDGE in a popular 1 minute mismatched conflict.
COL. MUSTARD was vanquished by KRAKEN in a 6 minute gruesome mismatched bout.
PINA COLADA put to death MR. BODY in a 2 minute amateur's bout.
ENVY devastated SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.

BATTLE REPORT

MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|TOTAL PARRY 5 BASHING ATTACK 15 - 8 - 0 65 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 4 WALL OF STEEL 27 - 16 - 3 63 |
|WALL OF STEEL 4 AIMED BLOW 13 - 8 - 0 62 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 4 TOTAL PARRY 23 - 19 - 0 55 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 1 - 0 50 |
|AIMED BLOW 3 LUNGING ATTACK 29 - 29 - 1 50 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 8 - 9 - 1 47 |
|BASHING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 14 - 19 - 1 42 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 11 - 17 - 1 39 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 4 - 0 0 |

Turn 581 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:

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

TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
TOTAL PARRY KEG STAND 5257 21 2 0 128 BARHOPPERS (429)
SLASHING ATTACK NARCISSISTIC 3594 9 7 1 102 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
AIMED BLOW AIKIDO 3179 14 6 1 83 DARK FORCES (179)
BASHING ATTACK BLOODFEUD MAN 3595 10 6 1 82 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
WALL OF STEEL OCEAN BLUE 3677 9 6 0 65 MASTERS OF SIN (119)
LUNGING ATTACK ICE PICK 5420 4 0 0 47 BARHOPPERS (429)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is X. ROLPH TUPP 5287. The most popular warrior this
turn was CROWN ROYAL 5274. The ten other most popular fighters were NARCISSISTIC
3594, OCEAN BLUE 3677, FEDER JORNIS 5360, MISS SCARLET 5413, ANEURISM 4934, BLOODFEUD
MAN 3595, ICE PICK 5420, PINA COLADA 5434, ELINDOR IMARDA 5381, and RAVING LUNATIC
2797.

The least popular fighter this week was TRELLIN XISS 5321. The other ten least
popular fighters were JUST A WIN 3369, DANDY LION 5346, COL. MUSTARD 5411, SHOOTER
GIRL 5324, MR. BODY 5436, GUDGE 5410, NIGHTFALL 5414, MOJITO 5421, GUNSER JEBON 5435,
and PINOT GRIGIO 5333.

THE STOMPING GROUNDS

The new all-basher arena will be in Seam, DM 20. Only new teams (0FE) may
participate. The only rule is that all of your warriors must be bashers.

The first turn of the contest will be due on Monday, April 28. It will be a slow
turn-around arena. If you wish to enter a team, please submit your new team and first
turn strategies before then. Only one team per manager, please.

This arena will stay open indefinitely, providing there is interest (i.e., this is not
a contest that runs a set number of turns, although there are prizes scheduled after
the first 15 rounds). For more information, see details in the first newsletter or on
the forums.

-- RSI

Zeb Karan looked around the table at the rest of Dwes Eg's staff. Arenamasters,

standby and Dark Arena warriors, stewards and infirmarians, even the maintenance crew.
There was wine and beer on the side-table, even sandwiches, but no one was partaking.
"Stop looking like your dog died," Lew Voth said. He had once been the
arenamaster of Sentern and had taken his turns overseeing the fights in Dwes Eg. "We
all knew this day would come. When are they closing us down?"
"Immediately after the tourney, according to the information I was given."
"Short notice," Jame Rinvar, another arenamaster commented.
"No offense intended, these things just creep up on people. Tourneys make it
worse, I suppose, all the new teams being entered." Zeb grimaced. "Some of the file
cabinets have exploded from over-stuffing, you know, and it takes so long to run
through all the registered gladiators to find those who are planning to fight on any
given day that the day is OVER by the time we're ready to start."
"Which is why they closed down Sentern, Cimmeriac, and Firehold," Lew pointed
out. "This is the same thing all over again."
"Cycles," Jame said. "Things happen, and then later they happen again. We live
with it. And Dwes Eg did last for, what, eight and a half years before it reached the
explosion point. That isn't bad. That's forever, speaking practically."
"Eight or nine years is not forever--"
"The only thing that's real is today, and maybe, up to a point, tomorrow. I
don't see a problem with this. What are the new parameters, Zeb?"
"Dwes Eg remains open, existing teams can run and can recruit new members. BUT,
no new teams will be accepted. New teams will go into a new arena, DM 84, running its
first turn on the seventh of May. A regular two-week cycle."
"So Dwes Eg isn't actually being closed, just closed to new teams. Okay. This
works," Jame said again. "Number 84... does this mean it'll be out at that Blackstone
place? Rotten weather half the year, but I suppose you could say that about any site.
What about regional allegiance?"
"None specified in the data I received. Probably a personal-choice situation,"
Zeb said.
"Transfers?" Lew asked.
"I don't know about transfers IN," Zeb said, "but I'd guess yes, they would be
allowed. No transfers OUT, though. None out of DM 82, for that matter. Once you're
in 82 or 84, the only way out is death or graduation."
"That fairly describes most arenas," Jame said. "Anyone who takes up the
gladiatorial life has already accepted that."