DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 09/23/2005    Duedate: 10/20/2005

SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM ARENA

DM-28    TURN-259

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GRIM BLACKSMITH
NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
(28-3961) [14-10-0,114]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GRIM BLACKSMITH                GHOST CHANT
NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)        RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
(28-3961) [14-10-0,114]        (28-4184) [4-2-0,40]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

WYATT BURP                     LE NETTOYE
DODGE BULLETS (126)            THE PENTARCHY (397)
(28-3531) [22-23-0,103]        (28-4069) [12-12-0,96]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. VALHALLA (435)              36
2. THE WARLORDS II (413)       34      THE PENTARCHY (397)
3. RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)    28      Unchartered Team
4. FILIPINA LADYZ (423)        18
5. SISTERS OF SMASH (467)       7      RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2*RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)  18  10  1 64.3   1/ 1 NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)  11  4 0
 2/ 1 THE PENTARCHY (397)      214 144  4 59.8   2/ 4 FILIPINA LADYZ (423)      8  4 0
 3- 4 IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)     128  98  6 56.6   3/ 2 DODGE BULLETS (126)       7  6 0
 4/ 7 VALHALLA (435)            58  45  4 56.3   4/ 6*RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)  6  3 0
 5/ 6 NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)  118  92  3 56.2   5/ 8 THE WARLORDS II (413)     6  6 0
 6/ 8 THE WARLORDS II (413)     86  69  5 55.5   6/13 VALHALLA (435)            5  2 0
 7/ 5 BAD GERMS (430)           77  62  6 55.4   7/ 3 THE PENTARCHY (397)       4  7 0
 8/11 DODGE BULLETS (126)      239 260 11 47.9   8/10 CLASSIC ARCADE (415)      2  1 0
 9/12 CLASSIC ARCADE (415)      54  66  4 45.0   9/ 5 BAD GERMS (430)           2  3 1
10/13 FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)      80 108  5 42.6  10- 7 IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)      2  3 0
11/14 FILIPINA LADYZ (423)      62  87  4 41.6  11/11 FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)      2  6 0
12/10*SISTERS OF SMASH (467)     6   9  0 40.0  12/14*SISTERS OF SMASH (467)    2  8 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[ + ---:--- + ]H[ A Darque Tale #5 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Trocar:

     Raigavor snapped his fingers and part of the floor dissolved, revealing a
staircase spiraling downward.  "My sanctum is below."
     "But we could talk equally well here on the roof," Darque countered.
     Raigavor glanced up at the sky, which was quivering with iridescence.  "My
sanctum is private."
     Darque frowned and studied the sky himself.  Now that the topic was opened,
there was something strange about that shimmer, something more than the disturbance
of the Arcanum.  He didn't like being spied on, and he began to probe for the
identifying characteristics.
     "Priests of Mytori," Raigavor said.  "You may not have encountered them near
Chimlevtal, but we're bothered by them a lot down this way.  Nosy and malicious, but
they won't come here to my island."
     "I have never heard that they report to the Greywand."
     "They don't.  They've got their own ox to roast, but they'll use a fire someone
else has started."  Raigavor stepped down into the stairwell.
     With a final glance at the sky, Master Darque followed him.  A master mage
learned not to engage in needless combat--that kind of thing was the province of the
young and insecure.  He would save his strength for the battles that would make a
difference.  Such as with this Raigavor the Unholy, if it came to that point.
     The sanctum was on the first level below the roof, and it was luxurious.  Money
had been spent freely on the furnishings and the decor.  The only signs that a
magician worked here were the heavy glass-fronted bookcases (all with obvious locks),
and a complex circle-and-star pattern inlaid into the floor, now partly covered by a
rug similar to the flying carpet in pattern and color.
     "Tell me what you know of this sigil," Darque said, "and tell me why you want
it."
     "It's the key to a certain class of Gates," Raigavor said, "and I want it
because I'm a Red Wizard."
     "What does the Nai Shang Academy have to do with it?" Darque asked.
     Raigavor frowned.  "You really don't know?"
     "I know somewhat about the Academy, and it has not, to my knowledge, had much
interest in Gates."
     "Amazing," Raigavor murmured, "you really don't understand, and yet you knew
enough to seize the sigil...."  He shook himself and sighed.  "Some things you will
need to know.  First, that a Red Wizard may become a Nai Shang--it's a good disguise.
But one must be BORN a Red Wizard.  And we are not a numerous people, especially in
this world."
     "In this world," Darque repeated.  Many things were beginning to come into
focus.  "That's why you need the sigil, is it?  To go home."
     "Yes.  I had thought you a demon-lord native to that world, but now...?"
     "I may not be native to that world," Darque said, "but I will be a Demon Lord
there.  How is the sigil to be used?"
     "From Xochithlan."  Raigavor gestured toward one wall of his chamber.  "Trocar
has no points of direct contact, which would make for an easy Gate--we don't want to
arrive with half our powers exhausted."
     Darque nodded.  That made sense.  "So, there are points of 'direct contact' in
Xochithlan?  Good.  I had been going there anyway, to consult the royal library about
the sigil."
     "An excellent choice," Raigavor said.  Darque looked at him closely, but the
man--the Red Wizard--did not seem to be mocking him.  "We can reach there quickly
through the Spirit Land--"
     "Ah, no.  That route is closed now.  I spoke to some...creatures in the Spirit
Land who were very firm on the subject, even after I demonstrated my ability to
compel them.  Apparently there has been some kind of structural damage."  He
shrugged.  No need to admit that he was partly responsible for that damage, and he
wasn't sure that he was to blame anyway.  "What other methods of travel are there?"
     Raigavor sighed.  "I was afraid of that.  The Guardians have been getting more
restive and hostile for some time.  It leaves us with nothing but mundane options, as
my carpet is unreliable over such a distance."
     "Horses."  Darque pursed his lips as though to spit.  "I hate riding horses."

     Master Darque stood near the edge of Raigavor's island and watched the wizard
lock up his tower.  It was natural that the wizard should want to lock it up--or seal
it in some fashion--when departing for a lengthy journey, and courteous for he
himself to stay out of the way while Raigavor was doing it.  But he didn't have to
like it.  Manners were such a nuisance!  He was sure that the Red Wizard was using
some kind of spell, but he wasn't close enough to distinguish the details against the
island's background of magical static.  A new spell was rare, and probably would be
useful at some point.  Oh, well, he could steal it later if he needed it.
     Raigavor joined him at the shore, striding briskly while slinging a satchel,
almost a backpack in size, over his shoulder.  "The boat is there," he said,
gesturing.  A boat appeared out of a patch of mist and reeds.
     Master Darque conceded that the mist and reeds, if they were real and not
illusion, might have been sufficient to conceal the little boat in a normal, non-
magical way, and that the boat could perhaps be normal and non-magical.  With a
wizard like Raigavor, you couldn't be sure that what you were seeing was actually
there.  The manager followed Raigavor onto the much-too-small boat and sat gingerly
where directed.  The boatman, he saw, was a golem.  Well, fine.  Less likely to
become hysterical if something went wrong.  A well-made golem was the most reliable
servant a magician could have.
     There was a carriage waiting on the shore.  That was a relief; horses did not
get along well with him, and to have to ride one all the way to Xochithlan...no.  His
two dwarvish servants were waiting with it, and one servant for Raigavor.  Hard to
tell what race that one was, perhaps an orc?  But the coachman was human, wearing
Trocaran Royal livery.
     "One of King Samir's coaches," Raigavor said.  "As fast as any we could hire,
and we won't be stopped.  A royal coach is as good as a free pass at the border."

     As promised, there had been no delay at Trocar's formal border, nor at the point
somewhat farther west where the land officially claimed by Xochithlan began.
     "It used to be forest all the way between the borders," Raigavor commented.
"Burned during the Rirorni War.  Replanted four times, and they all failed to take.
I told Samir he should bet a greenwitch for it, but he said the elves didn't like
that idea."  The wizard snorted.  "Typical of elves!  Arrogant through and through,
and they think they know more about growing things than anybody.  That's a load of
fertilizer, if you like!"
     "Plants are over-rated," Darque said.  "Food for cattle."  He bared distinctly
non-herbivorous teeth.  He turned his attention to Xochithlan, spies and domes rising
over the hills ahead of them.  Pastel and delicate.  Very elvish.  Boring.  The sigil
stirred in his mind.  "What do we have to do in Xochithlan to use the sigil?"

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Black Sword #2 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Jhans:

     Barudai the Rirorni moved sideways until he could put one shoulder against all
that remained of his shelter.  From here he could watch the tunnel that had appeared
in the hillside behind him and the wall of water that fell from the sky in front.
The tunnel beckoned with dryness and warmth, but he was not such a fool as trust
himself to a magical passage.  It was bound to be a trap.  Better to run out into the
storm than to venture into the depths of the hill.
     A disturbance in the glassy smoothness of the falling rain claimed his full
attention.  A man stepped through it, gaunt, clad in a few rain-soaked ribbons and
draggled feathers, clutching a deeply carved staff.  His face and body were tattooed
with the symbols that marked him as a dark shaman, a follower of Mytori.  The priests
of Mytori had spells that could overpower the most accomplished swordsman, but
Barudai raised his sword anyway, prepared to sell his life as dearly as he could.
     The shaman never looked at him.  The burning eyes were fixed on the tunnel, the
thin-lipped mouth stretched wide in the smile of a man who sees his dearest wish made
real in front of him.  The shaman prostrated himself at the entrance to the tunnel,
began to chant, rose and entered it.
     Which meant that Barudai could escape his pursuer, but he was not as happy about
that as he had expected to be.  Whatever the shaman thought to find down there could
not be good news for the ordinary people of the plains.
     The tunnel closed behind the shaman, and Barudai the Rirorni was glad to see
that, even though his horse had vanished with it.  Better to be on foot, better to be
caught in the heart of the storm, than to have stepped into that trap.  And far
better to survive to take the warning to Rocanis where the shamans were gathered than
that the renegade fall upon the tribes and the cities of southern Alastari without
warning.

Rocanis:

     For a bunch of shamans who would be needing all the help they could get to deal
with a major menace, Ghost Dancer thought they looked truculent.  Even hostile.
Nobody actually said out loud that the problem was all Uncle Wolf's fault, but you
could tell they were thinking it.
     Bluesnake, chief shaman of the Saargedai tribe, scowled at Wolf.  His
combination of body-paint and tattoos made this an alarming sight.  "You made good
time.  We just sent the message to Morya."  His look of annoyance deepened to
suspicion.  "And the word we're getting is that everyone ELSE is finding the Spirit
Land closed to travel."
     Wolf looked back at him calmly.  You couldn't tell from his expression that he
distrusted the Saarda.  "Your message must have missed me," he said.  "I was already
coming here for other reasons."
     Bluesnake smiled, baring incisors that had been filed to points and abnormally
long canines.  "Then we won't keep you from your other business--"
     "The good of the Maengedai will always be my first business," Wolf assured him.
He glanced at the other shamans.  "What is the news, Windrider?"
     The young shaman of the Vonsogedai shrugged, causing the feathers on his
bandolier to flutter.  "What you warned us of," he said.  "Everyone has been dreaming
of the Black Sword lately.  I have dreamed it myself, and it is...bad."
     "Mind you, we're not SURE yet," another shaman said.  Rain Caller was his name,
of the Haimgedai, an old man in an embroidered cape sewn with rows of tiny steel
chimes.  "We've sent scouts--"
     "Very wise," Wolf said, cutting across the beginning of Bluesnake's derisive
laugh.
     "What's the use of holding meetings?" another man asked.  He was wearing an
incongruous robe of silk, and his complexion was more golden than typical Rirorni
bronze.  Probably from one of the semi-civilized tribes of the Rithakar area.
"Mytori is a GOD.  No mortal can overcome a god's will."
     "This is true," Wolf said, cutting off the comment Bluesnake was about to utter.
"And no group of a hundred shamans, however united in purpose they might be, could
overcome a god--save by the aid of another god, and at the cost of their own lives.
But Mytori must work through a human tool, and THAT we can fight and destroy."
     Bluesnake made an abrupt gesture, cutting off the buzz of comment that followed
Wolf's statement.  "We can fight it, if we're fools," he said.  "The Black Sword is a
tool?  Well and good.  WE can seize the tool and use it for the good of all Rirorni!
After all, was it not YOU, Wolf, who said that a tool is just a tool, and it is the
intent of the wielder that decides whether it is good or ill?"
     "I may be a fool, Bluesnake, or perhaps not," Wolf answered.  "But I know full
well--as you do--that only one man may wield a Black Sword.  It is not the tool for a
committee.  And even a tool, if consecrated to a god, will have a bias in it to bend
the wielder to the god's will.  Mytori is not concerned with 'the good of all
Rirorni' any more than you are."
     "Words!  Just words--meant to mislead!  You will take the Sword into your own
hand, will you?  Wield it for YOUR ends?  Who are you to judge the interests of the
Saargedai, the Vonsogedai, or any other tribe?  I say we seize the Sword and use it
to make the Rirorni great, to cast down those who have spurned us and warred on us
for generations!"  He turned to the assembled shamans.  "Will you listen to this fool
who wants to DESTROY the most powerful tool that has come into Rirorni hands in
centuries?  Or to me, who says that power comes to those who will use it?  One who
says that WE should use this Sword?"
     Comment and argument erupted among the shamans, who broke down into clusters,
becoming more heated by the moment.
     "That's torn it," Wolf said quietly.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Mr. Chomp Chomp, I think you would be well-advised to learn to fight with your
mouth closed.  It is not actually necessary to chew on your own tongue like that.

                                     Young Joan

                                      SPY REPORT

     You elder fighters surely remember me.  The younger ones may call me Olaf 
Modeen.  I return to SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM once again!  Hmmmph!  I always thought THE 
PENTARCHY was an over-rated team and they proved it with a 0-3-0!  Ya gotta be quick 
on yer feet!  Keep your elbow off the table!  Thrust!  Block out the pain!  VALHALLA 
is now ranked 6th with a 4-0-0 turn.  It seems so recently people were saying THE 
WARLORDS II was washed up, finished.  But 4-0-0 moved them up 3.  I guess they're 
washed no more...  What's with CLEOPATRA?  She actually beat NORTHERN BADLANDS' 
WASTELAND WARLORD, and walked away with 18 more points from the fight.  Major screwup 
at THE PENTARCHY.  MR. CHOMP CHOMP lost 14 points to WYATT BURP.  Some new 
strategies, perhaps?  Maybe MR. CHOMP CHOMP will provide more easy wins...  
Apparently SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM isn't filled with as many gutless wonders as I 
thought.  The Dreaded Duelmaster got 6 challenges this turn!  NORTHERN BADLANDS' 
hatred of DODGE BULLETS surfaced again as GRIM BLACKSMITH challenged SLAUGHTER PRIEST 
MEM's top dog.  I'm sure SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM is excited about GRIM BLACKSMITH, the 
new Duelmaster from NORTHERN BADLANDS.  (remember?)  But when you've seen as many as 
I have...  I suppose you want to hear some rumors and dirty gossip about your fellow 
fighters?  Tough!   
     Speaking of cowardly avoiders and unfair challenges...  How well I know the 
feeling of being in the most avoided team!  Don't fall out of practive, RIDERS OF 
AHRINGOL!  Management must be dealin', as the boys at RIDERS OF AHRINGOL ain't 
reelin'!  RIDERS OF AHRINGOL's mad!  Fighting is a better craft than farming, OL' 
GRIZ, but you have to pay your dues.  Being challenged by GHOST CHANT, 19 points 
above you, is dues.  GHOST CHANT defeated OL' GRIZ.  I bet GHOST CHANT could beat 
two-year-olds, too.  Well, NORTHERN BADLANDS knows who to set their sights on.  Maybe 
SISTERS OF SMASH's MAELLE is one of those gals who likes pain, or something.  That's 
what she'll get next week, after challenging up 28 to SUN TZU.  I don't get it.  
MAELLE goes and challenges SUN TZU, way above her, but gets 1 points after she loses! 
Is this a new strategy?   
     A fighter's lot is filled with strife, revenge, and killing.  Some fighters 
don't accept this.  The best do.  Someone told CORONAVIRUS that VALHALLA never 
Bloodfeuded, that he'd have an easy kill.  Well, I'm sure whoever misled you is right 
sorry.  Many a warrior has met his fate in a hungover stupor.  You young 
rapscallions, take note!   
     Many other cities have retirement homes for aged warriors.  Any plans here?  The 
end of another Spyreport!  That's cause for celebration in my book!  I don't want to 
overstay my welcome...-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GRIM BLACKSMITH 3961         14  10  0   114       NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WYATT BURP 3531              22  23  0   103       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 CAESAR 3974                  20   8  0   101       THE WARLORDS II (413)
 LADY CONSOLACION 3703        15  17  2    98       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LE NETTOYE 4069              12  12  0    96       THE PENTARCHY (397)
 YOUNG JOAN 3534              24  20  1    93       DODGE BULLETS (126)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CLEOPATRA 3856               17  14  1    89       THE WARLORDS II (413)
 NYALL BLOODGRIN 3963         15   9  2    89       NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
 HENGIST 3788                 13  18  1    85       THE WARLORDS II (413)
 DAISY HAMMER 3317            13  23  1    83       FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)
 MR. CHOMP CHOMP 3620         19  17  0    80       THE PENTARCHY (397)
-FROGGER 3656                 12  13  0    80       CLASSIC ARCADE (415)
 WASTELAND WARLORD 3594       15  13  0    77       NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
 GARDENIA HAMMER 3871         14  15  3    73       FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 REDWIND 4099                 13   9  1    66       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 GALAXIAN 4188                 9   4  1    62       CLASSIC ARCADE (415)
 IDUN 4169                     8   7  0    59       VALHALLA (435)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CONJUNCTIVITIS 4129           8   7  0    54       BAD GERMS (430)
 LADY DOMINGA 3702            10  22  0    53       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-STREPTOCOCCUS 4186            8   2  0    45       BAD GERMS (430)
 LADY EVELYN 4194              7   5  0    44       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-QIX 4245                      3   1  0    43       CLASSIC ARCADE (415)
 GHOST CHANT 4184              4   2  0    40       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
-FRAIL FREEBIRD 4192           7   4  0    38       IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)
 SALMONELLA 4228               4   2  0    37       BAD GERMS (430)
-PATHETIC PICACHU 4258         3   0  0    37       IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)
 SUN TZU 4234                  4   4  1    35       THE WARLORDS II (413)
 STORM RIDER 4257              3   1  0    34       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VIPER 4185                    4   3  0    32       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 LE GROS AUJALD 4173           8   7  0    31       THE PENTARCHY (397)
-PRINCESSE ADELAIDE 4248       3   1  0    28       THE PENTARCHY (397)
-CRYPTOSPORIDIUM 4229          3   2  0    28       BAD GERMS (430)
-INFERNO SERVENT 4191          2   0  0    25       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ZAXXON 4172                   4   7  1    22       CLASSIC ARCADE (415)
 LADY ELMA 4244                3   2  0    21       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-STINK WEED HAMMER 4232        3   3  0    20       FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)
 MARIE ALICE 4215              2   1  0    20       SISTERS OF SMASH (467)
 UGLY KID JOE 4246             3   0  0    18       NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
 CORONAVIRUS 4259              3   2  3    16       BAD GERMS (430)
-LOOPY LIEVELING 4210          1   8  1    16       IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)
-DANDELION HAMMER 4116         0  16  0    16       FLOWER HAMMERZ (372)
 MAGNI 4287                    1   0  0    15       VALHALLA (435)
 DONNAR 4275                   1   0  0    14       VALHALLA (435)
-CREAKY CHRONOS 4261           1   1  0    12       IDIOTIC ICCERS (398)
 OL' GRIZ 4250                 3   2  0    11       NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
 CHANTAL 4218                  2   1  0    10       SISTERS OF SMASH (467)
-PAPER FLOWERS 4182            1   3  0     6       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 CATHIE 4217                   1   2  0     5       SISTERS OF SMASH (467)
 MAELLE 4214                   1   2  0     5       SISTERS OF SMASH (467)
 HEIMDALL 4286                 1   0  0     5       VALHALLA (435)
 STORMDANCER 4278              1   1  0     4       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 MANKILLER 4279                1   1  0     4       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 PAULETTE 4216                 0   3  0     3       SISTERS OF SMASH (467)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
NIGHTSHADOW 4231       2  4 0 DODGE BULLETS 126     SUN TZU 4234          256         
CROOKED WIND 4251      0  2 0 DODGE BULLETS 126     CORONAVIRUS 4259      255 NOT REVE
RED CACTUS HAMME 4032  7 14 0 FLOWER HAMMERZ 372    GALAXIAN 4188         256 REVENGED
BRAGI 4171             0  1 0 VALHALLA 435          CORONAVIRUS 4259      258 JUST REV
HANNIBAL 4235          3  2 0 THE WARLORDS II 413   CORONAVIRUS 4259      256         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Maximillian -- Yeah, two years is a long time with a lot of work.  Hands up to the
two of you. -- Liam the Goth

Red Wind -- Nice moves you have there.  Will see you again when my skill base is
better. -- Ghost Chant

Ol' Griz -- Had so much fun our first dance, just had to do it again...you teach so
well, love. -- Stormy

Ugly Kid -- Ahhhhhhh! -- Paper Flowers

Hammer -- Well three more turns for me before I must go once again.  I'm needed in
other arenas.  You know how it is, master of one's way, yet forces beyond me pull at
my being. -- Liam
P.S.  Buddy Lee tells everyone he's a dwarf, but I can tell you he's really a KENDER
with a fake beard.  *grin*

Sun Tzu -- That was truly the art. -- Viper]

Lady Dominga -- Hopefully you'll be lingering a little longer in our little town, for
I do so love our little dances. -- Idun (Valhalla)

Ghost Chant -- I believe your problem lies in your golem-hood.  And, of course, with
magic in this wretched state, you can't get some wizard to come along and turn you
real with a blast of power.  Or if you do, well, no telling WHAT kind of real you'll
have, is there? -- Redwind

Nyall Bloodgrin -- I'm afraid Wyatt can't write you a personal today, because he
burped just as you were burying him in the sand and choked on it.  He'll be all
right, or as much as he ever is, but today, no personal from Wyatt. -- Redwind

That's IT?  The whole, entire sum of my first arena fight, and that's IT?  I'm
disappointed. -- Stormdancer

I'd've killed that thief if some idiot hadn't stopped me. -- Mankiller

Paper Flowers and Comany -- Oooo-kay. -- Young Joan

Liam the Goth -- You should have gotten my diplo by now. -- Uncle Wolf

Liam the Goth -- There's been a hitch at the scriptorium and will be no episode
today, but your generous offer is appreciated.  Can you send me a little information
on those of your forces who are most eager to be involved? -- LP Amelia
P.S.  A diplo to Scribe, no team or arena specified, will probably reach me fastest.

15 September 2005
                             HAMMER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

     Be it known from the highest mountains to the darkest alleys of Alastari that
the veteran manager known far and wide as Hammer has now officially retired from
sponsoring contests as of September 15, 2005.
     What a long time ago was a fun motivated activity to help promote our common
DM/D2 gaming interest in an effort to promote the growth and competitiveness of
selected arenas has become a far from fun experience.
     In other words Hammer has had it!
     The combination of real life situations interfering with the time needed to
effectively sponsor a contest, plus the attitudes expressed during such sponsorship
interference has led to Hammer closing his personal coin coffers and retiring from
his planned sponsorship of any future contests.
     There are others in our close knit gaming community who are well able to step up
to the plate and continue sponsoring contests that make the basic game a fun
experience for all those who choose to compete and interact in such future endeavors.
     Hammer thanks all managers both active and inactive who helped to make the
Hammer sponsored contests a historical and entertaining experience well worth the
time, effort and money spent over the past several years.
     May the Cheers and the Jeers of future contests build upon the legacies of those
who have paved the way in years gone by to help make this game what it is today.
     Hammer has no regrets for the part he has played in that history.

19 September 2005
I'd like to say hello to everyone I know that is still around after my being gone for
five years.  Hope to see you all on the sands, and may your weapons strike true and
your shields protect you (except, of course, against MY warriors *grin*)!! -- Lord
Xiang, D2-101

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

IDUN devastated CORONAVIRUS in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight.
GRIM BLACKSMITH vanquished YOUNG JOAN in a 1 minute uneven Challenge Title battle.
SALMONELLA was unbelievably bested by LADY DOMINGA in a 2 minute Challenge brawl.
GHOST CHANT overpowered OL' GRIZ in a 1 minute bloody one-sided Challenge fight.
MAELLE was devastated by SUN TZU in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
CHANTAL was devastated by VIPER in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
PAULETTE was overcome by LADY ELMA in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
MR. CHOMP CHOMP was handily defeated by WYATT BURP in a 1 minute uneven melee.
LE NETTOYE lost to CAESAR in a action packed 4 minute expert's fight.
WASTELAND WARLORD was defeated by CLEOPATRA in a 1 minute veteran's fight.
GARDENIA HAMMER was beaten by HENGIST in a exciting 1 minute veteran's fight.
NYALL BLOODGRIN bested REDWIND in a exciting 1 minute master's conflict.
DAISY HAMMER was demolished by LADY CONSOLACION in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
GALAXIAN slimly won victory over LADY EVELYN in a popular 3 minute gruesome conflict.
STORM RIDER luckily beat LE GROS AUJALD in a 5 minute struggle.
CATHIE was bested by UGLY KID JOE in a 4 minute amateur's brawl.
MARIE ALICE overpowered MANKILLER in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
STORMDANCER was beaten by DONNAR in a popular 1 minute novice's bout.
HEIMDALL unbelievably bested CONVICTED THIEF in a 7 minute amateur's competition.
MAGNI defeated JAR JAR BINKS in a 1 minute novice's duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   8         PARRY-LUNGE       23 -  12 -  0      66  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   8         TOTAL PARRY       33 -  26 -  0      56  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    5         PARRY-RIPOSTE     19 -  17 -  1      53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      4         LUNGING ATTACK    42 -  39 -  2      52  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         AIMED BLOW        15 -  14 -  1      52  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         STRIKING ATTACK   39 -  39 -  3      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         WALL OF STEEL     22 -  23 -  2      49  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         BASHING ATTACK    36 -  41 -  5      47  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         PARRY-STRIKE      15 -  21 -  0      42  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         SLASHING ATTACK   17 -  27 -  2      39  |

Turn 259 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     LUNGING ATTACK     3 -  5         3  SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        4 -  0     BASHING ATTACK     3 -  5         2  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         2  BASHING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  2                                       1  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1                                       1  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  2                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  GRIM BLACKSMITH 3961       14  10  0  114 NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
TOTAL PARRY      CAESAR 3974                20   8  0  101 THE WARLORDS II (413)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    YOUNG JOAN 3534            24  20  1   93 DODGE BULLETS (126)
SLASHING ATTACK  CLEOPATRA 3856             17  14  1   89 THE WARLORDS II (413)
PARRY-STRIKE     MR. CHOMP CHOMP 3620       19  17  0   80 THE PENTARCHY (397)
PARRY-LUNGE      WASTELAND WARLORD 3594     15  13  0   77 NORTHERN BADLANDS (337)
WALL OF STEEL    REDWIND 4099               13   9  1   66 DODGE BULLETS (126)
AIMED BLOW       GALAXIAN 4188               9   4  1   62 CLASSIC ARCADE (415)
LUNGING ATTACK   LADY EVELYN 4194            7   5  0   44 FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is WYATT BURP 3531.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was LE NETTOYE 4069.  The ten other most popular fighters were GALAXIAN 4188, LADY 
EVELYN 4194, LE GROS AUJALD 4173, CATHIE 4217, GRIM BLACKSMITH 3961, CLEOPATRA 3856, 
NYALL BLOODGRIN 3963, GHOST CHANT 4184, LADY ELMA 4244, and WYATT BURP 3531.

The least popular fighter this week was HEIMDALL 4286.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were MANKILLER 4279, STORM RIDER 4257, DAISY HAMMER 3317, REDWIND 4099, 
PAULETTE 4216, CHANTAL 4218, MAELLE 4214, OL' GRIZ 4250, YOUNG JOAN 3534, and 
CORONAVIRUS 4259.