DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/07/2008    Duedate: 04/03/2008

MORYA ARENA

DM-28    TURN-291

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

VAIDISAVA
THE PENTARCHY (397)
(28-4370) [15-2-0,173]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

VAIDISAVA                      PARKING FEES
THE PENTARCHY (397)            EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
(28-4370) [15-2-0,173]         (28-4535) [2-2-0,31]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

VAIDISAVA                      STORMDANCER
THE PENTARCHY (397)            DODGE BULLETS (126)
(28-4370) [15-2-0,173]         (28-4278) [18-16-1,73]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE PENTARCHY (397)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)    52
2. RAPTOR (508)                36      RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
3. THE PENTARCHY (397)         29      Unchartered Team
4. STEEL AND SILK (495)        22
5. FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)      12      EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*SPACELY'S SPROCKET (503)   6   1  1 85.7   1/ 1 THE PENTARCHY (397)      13  2 0
 2/ 2*EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)     11   3  0 78.6   2/ 2*EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)     8  2 0
 3/ 0 RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)  29  17  2 63.0   3/ 3 THE ANIMALS (475)         8  7 0
 4/ 3 THE PENTARCHY (397)      304 182  7 62.6   4/ 5 FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)    7  8 0
 5/ 4 FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)    51  34  5 60.0   5/ 7 FLYING MONKEYS (493)      7  8 0
 6- 5 CHESSMEN (54)             83  63  6 56.8   6/ 4 DODGE BULLETS (126)       6  9 0
 7- 6 UGLY URBAN ORCS (425)     41  40  1 50.6   7/ 0 RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)  5  0 0
 8/ 7 DODGE BULLETS (126)      326 326 12 50.0   8/ 8 STEEL AND SILK (495)      5  5 0
 9/ 9 THE ANIMALS (475)         77  83  5 48.1   9/ 9 PHANTACITY (480)          5 10 0
10/10 PHANTACITY (480)          54  61  7 47.0  10/ 6 ZULU NATION (501)         5 10 0
11/ 8 ZULU NATION (501)         23  26  3 46.9  11/11 FILIPINA LADYZ (423)      4  3 0
12/12 FILIPINA LADYZ (423)      97 127  6 43.3  12-13 CHESSMEN (54)             2  3 0
13/13 STEEL AND SILK (495)      45  70  1 39.1  13/16*RAPTOR (508)              2  5 0
14/14 FLYING MONKEYS (493)      21  37  1 36.2  14-12*SPACELY'S SPROCKET (503)  1  0 0
15-15*SERPENT_CRUE (494)        15  28  3 34.9  15-10*SERPENT_CRUE (494)        1  4 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
16/16*RAPTOR (508)               2   5  0 28.6  16-15 UGLY URBAN ORCS (425)     0  2 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[ Edge of Night #9 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Between Lapur and Dullens:

     Annie went completely still.  She had heard about the multiple incarnations of
Bindi, it was almost a legend among the Croc teams.  But she'd never thought of it in
those terms before.  A soul?  She didn't know what a soul was, but if Bindi had one,
then... she herself must have a soul, too.  How strange.
     "I don't know about this 'soul' business," Agro said, his voice rough.  "But if 
Annie's at risk, then we get her somewhere warm and safe and she STAYS there.  Your
ghost had no business drawing her into such a mess."
     "No doubt the Ghost Lily had what seemed to her like good reasons."  That was
the one called Math again.  "As to a warm safe place...."  A gesture half-seen
through the fire.  "Do you know where we can find one out here?"
     "There's a cabin about two miles from here."  That was the one behind her,
Redfox.  "I could find it, come morning.  There should be firewood, too.  It was a
stage stop on the old Dullens to Jhans route, before they changed the road, and it's
always been kept supplied, even after it went out of service."
     "Good--" Agro began.
     "No."  Math.  "What if this business needs a Croc involved for some reason?"
     "What reason?"  Agro, skeptical.
     "I don't know.  But it isn't impossible."
     "Hardly persuasive, Math."
     "I don't KNOW.  I've picked up a little about this kind of thing, but I'm not a
shaman."
     Silence for the length of several breaths.  "Okay, if a Croc is that important,
*I* will go along with you," Agro said.  "I'm a Lord Protector, that might help...
somehow.  Gives me a little safety net, anyway.  We'll park Annie somewhere safe--"
     That sounded to Annie like a great idea, but she wasn't going to admit it.  "Why
shouldn't I come along?  I was the one chosen."
     "Graduate and come after us," Agro said.  "This is bound to take longer than
anyone expects."
     Redfox laughed behind her.  "That's for sure!  But seriously, miss, this is
likely to be dangerous in ways that even being a gladiator isn't--"
     "Especially if it involves necromancy," Math finished.  "I agree that we should
arrange a safe refuge for your young teammate, possibly with someone to keep her
company and guard her back.  And then we should be on about our business."
     Annie blinked and accepted another bowl of hot stew.

     "Okay," Agro said, hunching into his cold-weather gear.  "That's one thing taken
care of."  He glanced over his shoulder at the old stage building.  It had been
exactly what Redfox said it was:  abandoned, in reasonably good repair, and supplied
with firewood and even basic food staples.  For now, the safest place Annie could be.
"I suspect that was the easiest thing, too.  What now?"
     "You mean, how do we 'go on about our business'?"  Redfox swept the snow off his
horse's saddle and mounted.  "I have no idea.  Math?"
     "We ride north and east until Uncle Wolf finds us," the older man said.  "And
don't bother making remarks, I don't like that plan any better than you do.  But it's
the only one we have."
     "The riding is the part I like least," Agro growled.  "Well, after the 'being
out in the winter snow' part."  He climbed onto his horse.  He had been riding this
particular horse for two days now, but the beast had not noticeably relaxed in his
presence.  Why should it?  To a Croc, a horse was prey, and any sane horse must
realize that.  "Let's get it over with."

             + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #10 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

     The snow storm was an obstacle, but none of the three gladiators was prepared to
let it stop them.  They had good horses, proper gear, and plenty of supplies, and
Math assured Agro that Redfox's sense of location and direction was "utterly
reliable."
     Agro found that...not utterly convincing, but he supposed it was possible.
Mammals were strange.  At least they had come up with a "thermal robe" for him that
was effective, and if worst came to worst, he could always force his mount to the
ground and curl up against its warmth to wait out the storm, if they got lost.  He
could eat it, if he had to.  As far as he was concerned, they were lost already.  He
was unfamiliar with this area, which Redfox claimed was "between Dullens and Riztab."
In a snow storm, it all looked the same to him.  He hunched deeper into the heated
robe.
     They pushed on through the blowing snow for a time that seemed not to end, and a
distance that seemed not to exist.  Agro wondered if they were riding in circles.
The Croc had heard that such things happened in this weather.  His horse stopped
moving.  Agro looked up.  The horse in front of him had stopped, also.  Why?
     Another shape emerging from the murk.
     This had happened before, but the shapes had always turned out to be rocks or
leafless trees or the like.  But this shape became a horse and rider.  Some other
idiot out in the weather when he could be inside where it was warm.
     Ah, Uncle Wolf, who had been manager of the Cardow Hunters and was a shaman.  It
was a surprise that they'd actually been able to meet him as intended.  Agro hadn't
really believed they would.  Perhaps now they would get some answers.  Answers would
be good.
     After a brief conversation that the Croc couldn't hear, they set off again,
Redfox leading the way again.  A shorter ride, and then a looming shadow that turned
out to be a low cliff, undercut so that it was almost a cave, trees growing in front
of it.  Shelter.  They stopped and made camp.  About time!
     At least his human companions were experienced winter travelers, which Agro
definitely was not.  He sat as close to the fire as he could get, gnawing on a chunk
of bloody meat from a deer Redfox had shot.  Things could be a lot worse.
     "Why are we out here, Wolf?  Traveling through this snowstorm when we could be
comfortably at home," Math asked.  "People DIE traveling through snowstorms like
this."
     The old shaman snorted.  "How should I know why you're here?  Redfox I told to
come.  You and your friend?  I don't even know you!"
     "Red Lily's ghost picked a Croc," Redfox said.  "One she had known in life, a
young gladiator.  We substituted Agro, who's a Lord Protector."
     "Okay."  Wolf transfered his gaze to Math.
     The Murskan hesitated, then sighed.  "I had a dream," he said.  "Three nights in
a row."
     "Ah.  Details?  Dreams can be important."
     "A dead teammate crying for help.  A great sense of dread.  Not much in the way
of details.  No...instructions."
     The old shaman nodded.  "It is often so.  Communicating in dreams is difficult;
it takes practice.  Well, this is what I know:
     "Necromancers, probably working each on their own rather than as a conspiracy of
sorts, have weakened the curtain between the living and the dead so that they can
reach through freely and seize souls in transit for their works.  There has always
been some of this, but of late it has grown enormously.  There are huge gaps torn in
the curtain."  He made a slight gesture with one hand.  "We must mend those gaps--"
     "They'll just make new ones," Math predicted.
     "They will try, certainly," the old man agreed.  "Therefore, the worst offenders
must be pursued and stopped."  He hesitated, then added, "The Lords of the Spirit
Lands are greatly concerned.  They have arranged...help for us."
     "Drop the other Shew on us," Redfox suggested.
     "We are invited to call upon the Wild Hunt for assistance in locating and...
chastizing the necromancers."
     Agro had never heard of a "Wild Hunt."  From the stunned silence with which
Redfox and Math greeted this statement, the Croc gathered that it was not necessarily
a good thing to have its assistance.  Well, perhaps they wouldn't need it.  "What's
our first step?" he asked.
     "A good question," Wolf said.  He sounded approving.
     Agro was not sure he wanted the old human's approval, it could lead to all
manner of unpleasant tasks somewhere on down the river.
     "Our first step is to go north.  Near the city of Zuwayza, between there and
Malcorn, are places where certain other entities, the Hunters among them, can be met
on, ah, call it neutral ground.  Reasonably safe ground."
     "Do we *have* to work with the Wild Hunt?" Redfox asked.  "Do we need them?"
     "We may not have to Hunt with them," Wolf said, "but they will have information
we need.  They will know where the worst necromancers can be found--they always know
things like that.  It's one of the reasons for their existence.  They are, among
other things, the outermost guardians of the Spirit Lands.  We could accomplish
little in this matter without their knowledge and consent."

             + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #11 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

In another place:

     "Keep moving!" Nightwind said.  "Movement is your shield, it confuses them."
     Cloudrider staggered onward.  Would the stairs never end?  His legs felt like
bars of stone.  "Did I kill it?" he gasped.
     Nightwind hesitated before answering.  "You eliminated it as a threat," he said
finally.  "And the others will be more respectful."
     He climbed and panted and watched the circling shadows out of the corner of his
eye.  They were holding back farther.  That was good, wasn't it?  He gathered enough
breath to ask, "Are we there yet?"
     "Soon now," Nightwind answered.  "This is the last stairway.  Joan and Selumia
will be waiting for us."  A pause.  "The scavengers may try once more, before we
reach the top and go beyond their range."
     Cloudrider's hand tightened on the hilt of this sword.  "What do they want from
me?"
     "That which makes you alive.  I could not use any words for it that you would
understand.  Ah!  They come--"
     Cloudrider tried to look around without stumbling.  Stumbled.  Focused on the
stairs.  He was near the top, Nightwind said so.  He glanced ahead.  Yes!  Only nine
more steps.  He ran, right, left, right, pivot and slash at a misty something which
shrieked.  Left, right, two patches of mist in front of him.  Slash, lunge.  Left,
right, left, slash, slash.  One more step, a stumble, falling... onto something like
ground.  He flung out his arm so as not to land on the sword.  Pain in his foot that
was still hanging over the edge behind him.  He rolled and twisted, slashing again.
One of the scavengers screamed and fell away into the void beyond the edge.
     "That was close," Nightwind said.
     Cloudrider would have replied sarcastically, if he'd had the breath for it.  His
foot felt like it was on fire, and at the same time it was icy cold.  He crawled
farther away from the edge of the plateau.
     "I sense that Selumia and Joan are near," Nightwind said.  "We must join them
quickly.  This is not a good place to linger.  Better than the stairs, but still not
safe."
     Cloudrider pushed himself to his feet, tested the injured one.  He could limp on
it, at least for now.  "Which way?"
     There was a moment of spinning dizziness, then certainty.  "That way."
     He squinted into the darkness.  It wasn't completely dark, sort of like a
starlit night without stars.  But the terrain was unfamiliar.  He was pretty sure he
would be falling over things, if there were any things.  "Are you ready to tell me
what we're doing here?"
     If Nightwind had still had his own body, he would have sighed.  "I don't like
this," he said.  "We're... bait."

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 588): VENTRIIE of DARK WARDS (Dr. Doom, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 588): SISTER Q of CULTS-R-US (?, mgr.)
 DM  13 DULLENS (turn 496): DARKWIND of CARDOW HUNTERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 582): BET TWICE of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 584): TANOSHII of YAMABUSHI (Doc Miracle, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 582): ARTEMIDORUS of FIELDS OF ELYSIUM (Caesar, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 580): JACK HAMMA of FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 290): VAIDISAVA of THE PENTARCHY (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 573): MURRY of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 288): COMMANDER SPUD of MILITARY MAYHEM (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 570): SHEA TANN of DEVIL ADVOCATES (Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 568): THE CLAW of RAVAGING LORDS (?, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 559): TOURNEY SCUMM of BUSY, BUSYTONW (Huckle Cat, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 521): MUSHAD of EASTERN HORDE (Mr. Mojo, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 265): RAGGEDY ANN of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 260): HANTA of DOK SIK KILLERS (Doc Sik, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 246): TRASH CAN of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 449): HAWTHORN of BAD APPLES (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 436): WEEZY DANG of THE BUNKHOUSE (Pauly, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 427): LOCKENLOAD of CLAN GHOST BEARS (Bjorn, mgr.)
 DM  65 DAL SHANG (turn 412): LORIN TEN KORO of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 195): BLACK EYE of BLACK & BLUE (The Mun, mgr.)
 DM  74 DAYLA KIV (turn 384): GREEN DISEASE of INSIGNIFICANCE (Jekyll, mgr.)
 DM  75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 381): GARTH of MANAGER MUSINGS (FTF Manager, mgr.)
 DM  78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 367): NECROMANCER of MAGIC ARTISTS (Houdini, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 474): NEBUCHADNEZZAR of BLADES OF WONDER (The Sandman)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 588): DARK WARDS (Dr. Doom, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 588): CULTS-R-US (?, mgr.)
 DM  13 DULLENS (turn 496): THE TERMAGANTS (Noachian, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 582): GREEWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 584): PUNNY ANIMALS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 582): FIELDS OF ELYSIUM (CaesaR, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 580): TEAM CHAOS (?, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 290): THE PENTARCHY (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 573): WILL DUEL 4 MEAD (Sporkis, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 288): LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 570): DEVIL ADVOCATETS (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 568): RAVAGING LORDS (?, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 559): PHILANTHROPISTS (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 521): THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 265): OF WOLF & MAN (Tripwire, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 260): ROYAL FLUSH (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 246): LIFE IMPACTS (Smitty, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 449): BAD APPLES (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 436): FRUIT OF THE LOOM (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 427): CLAN GHOST BEARS (Bjorn, mgr.)
 DM  65 DAL SHANG (turn 412): MIGHTY DUCKS (Woody, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 195): MIDDLE WAY 18 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  74 DAYLA KIV (turn 384): CORPS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 381): MANAGER MUSINGS (FTF Manager, mgr.)
 DM  78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 367): MAGIC ARTISTS (Houdini, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 474): DIRT DEVILS et al (The Dark One, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 587): NOSFERATU of DARK WARDS (Dr. Doom, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 588): SISTER Q of CULTS-R-US (?, mgr.)
 DM  13 DULLENS (turn 496): SILENT HAWK of CARDOW HUNTERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 582): ARTEMIDORUS of FIELDS OF ELYSIUM (Caesar, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 572): ZERO VISIBILITY of FORCE OF NATURE (Storm Front, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 288): COMMANDER SPUD of MILITARY MAYHEM (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 559): BILDIS of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
               (turn 558): GARTH THE SEAMITE of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 265): RAGGEDY ANN of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
                               THE BRIDE of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 259): TEMPUS of WARHAMMERS (Coyote, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 245): ADRIANN of DARQUE FORCES II (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 448): AARON of AVERAGE GUYS (?, mgr.)
                            MATT of AVERAGE GUYS (?, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 434): THE AVENGING SCROD of 4000 BLOWS (Nuln, mgr.)
 DM  65 DAL SHANG (turn 412): LORIN TEN KORO of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 380): DARQUE of MANAGER MUSINGS (FTF Manager, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Welcome to the Chessmen!  I hope I was not too rude; it's nice to have new
partners....  I like being here, but next turn it could be the day of Scarlet Rose.
Anyway, after Sharapova, I will leave another tennis ball on the throne.

Vaidisava

                                      SPY REPORT

     So why do I have this bag over my head?  Because I am The Unknown Spymaster and 
I'm going to give you a spy report!.  It was a tough week for SERPENT_CRUE, to drop 5 
places in the rankings.  Coming up with a solid 2-3-0 outing, RAPTOR has advanced 3 
places in the rankings.  Hey everybody, watch out for SURGICAL, who flew up 21 points 
in the rankings after mashing OWL like a melon.  Keep your eye on this guy.  Ya know, 
some days it doesn't pay to walk out on the sands.  SECI was subdued by GHOST CHANT 
and drops 15 points.  Well here's a duelmaster that doesn't sit back and say 
'Challenge me'!  VAIDISAVA made a challenge against SCARLET ROSE this week.  Our 
battling duelmaster VAIDISAVA has managed to hold the title, fending off SCARLET 
ROSE's none too subtle advances.  Better luck next time, STEEL AND SILK.  Can you 
believe they are paying me 10 gold to deliver this stuff?   
     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 FLOWERED HAMMERZ, please raise you 
hand.  Wow.  Does MORYA really have that many liars?  For those of you who like math, 
try this one:  FLOWERED HAMMERZ + Weapons That go Boom = THE PENTARCHY + Avoid City.  
And who is this RED HAWK you ask, with 47 points and a 8-4-0 record.  Ooh, the tales 
I could tell!  In a touching display by a 'touched' warrior, ZETA went after AARD 
WOLF, who was higher by 20 points.  Well, when the dust settled, ZETA was subdued by 
AARD WOLF.  CASH MEALS of EXPENSE ACCOUNT had better have a good reason for 
challenging down 10 points in a challenge which it won.  I thought CASH MEALS showed 
great skill and promise when it defeated ZOE (DARKFACE).  All right, so I slept 
through it!  Big deal!   
     Death is kind of like a new puppy:  he's always around wanting to play.  (Ha 
Zontani, how's that for a wise saying?).  Ask not the elves for counsel, for they 
will say both yes and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     I think I had better cut this one short.  It's been nice chatting to those of 
you whom I have not offended yet.  Okay, so I may not be the world's best comedian, 
but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors.  See ya next time I'm on this 
circuit!-- The Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VAIDISAVA 4370               15   2  0   173       THE PENTARCHY (397)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TROOPER TED 4443             15   2  1   104       THE PENTARCHY (397)
 XANAX 4384                   12   3  0   102       THE PENTARCHY (397)
 VENUS TRAP HAMMER 4456       13   2  2   100       FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)
 VELVET FINISH 4441           13  10  0   100       STEEL AND SILK (495)
 LADY ELMA 4244               18  19  1    98       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
 SHARAPOVA 4371               14   7  1    96       THE PENTARCHY (397)
-BLACK KNIGHT 469             13  12  0    93       CHESSMEN (54)
 SCARLET ROSE 4440             9  14  0    93       STEEL AND SILK (495)
 LE PLON 4326                 19   8  0    92       THE PENTARCHY (397)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SRAN3E 4382                  13   6  0    87       PHANTACITY (480)
 KASAP 4449                    8   4  0    84       PHANTACITY (480)
 STORMDANCER 4278             18  16  1    73       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 MANKILLER 4279               19  15  0    72       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 LORVANDIS 4402               13   8  0    69       DODGE BULLETS (126)
-DRUNKEN DONUT 3712           13   4  0    68       UGLY URBAN ORCS (425)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-QUEENSRYCHE 2421             10   5  0    66       CHESSMEN (54)
 VIPER 4185                    8   5  1    65       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 PUMA 4294                    15  17  0    62       THE ANIMALS (475)
 AARD VARK 4404               15   5  0    59       THE ANIMALS (475)
 EXPERIENTIA 4483              6   3  0    59       STEEL AND SILK (495)
-STARGRITS 3714                6   2  0    57       UGLY URBAN ORCS (425)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CLOUDRIDER 4424              10   9  0    56       DODGE BULLETS (126)
-CARJACK 4047                  7   3  0    56       UGLY URBAN ORCS (425)
 OPASAN 4381                   9  10  0    54       PHANTACITY (480)
 BLACK ROSE HAMMER 4339       12   6  1    50       FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)
-PAWN BROKER 2276              7  11  0    50       CHESSMEN (54)
 SURGICAL 4437                 5  11  0    50       STEEL AND SILK (495)
 RED HAWK 4485                 8   4  0    47       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 YAU (DARKFACE) 4519           5   1  0    47       ZULU NATION (501)
 STORM RIDER 4257              7   2  0    45       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 GHOST CHANT 4184              5   4  0    45       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 VORTEX 4423                   7   5  0    44       FLYING MONKEYS (493)
 ZAIRE 4488                    6   5  1    42       ZULU NATION (501)
-BLACK SQUARE 2453             8   6  1    41       CHESSMEN (54)
-PAWNED SCUM 3329              3   0  0    38       CHESSMEN (54)
 AARD WOLF 4411                8  11  1    36       THE ANIMALS (475)
 THE PACIFIST 4420             4   8  0    36       FLYING MONKEYS (493)
 OWL 4453                      8   8  2    34       THE ANIMALS (475)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SECI 4464                     8   5  2    33       PHANTACITY (480)
 PARKING FEES 4535             2   2  0    31       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 ZOD 4525                      3   2  0    30       ZULU NATION (501)
 BRIAR STEM HAMMER 4481        7   6  0    28       FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)
 ARMADILLO 4503                6   4  0    27       THE ANIMALS (475)
 FRED UCCINI 4421              4   8  1    25       FLYING MONKEYS (493)
 THORN STEM HAMMER 4500        6   4  1    24       FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 OTHER 4536                    4   0  0    22       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 PAPER FLOWERS 4182            2   4  0    21       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 OSTRICH 4553                  1   0  0    20       RAPTOR (508)
-LADY_DIRGE 4435               4   5  2    19       SERPENT_CRUE (494)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ELIZABETH STEELE 4517         2   0  0    19       SPACELY'S SPROCKETS (503)
-WRAITH_MOURN 4431             4   5  0    18       SERPENT_CRUE (494)
 INFERNO SERVENT 4191          3   1  0    17       RIDERS OF AHRINGOL (464)
 LADY ANITSIRK 4457            1   8  0    17       FLYING MONKEYS (493)
 CASH MEALS 4532               3   1  0    16       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
-RENTAL CAR 4534               2   0  0    16       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 ZETA 4507                     3   4  1    14       ZULU NATION (501)
-LADY BRENDA 4558              1   0  0    13       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
 ANFERROUS 4508                3   3  0    12       STEEL AND SILK (495)
-SNAOE 4518                    2   0  0    12       SPACELY'S SPROCKETS (503)
-SPACEMAN SPIFF 4516           1   0  1    11       SPACELY'S SPROCKETS (503)
 BONGO BOY 4537                2   2  0    10       FLYING MONKEYS (493)
-KARMA 4499                    1   3  0    10       SERPENT_CRUE (494)
 HAWKEN 4549                   1   0  0     9       RAPTOR (508)
-DEATHSTINED 4498              2   2  0     8       SERPENT_CRUE (494)
-LADY AILYN 4560               1   0  0     6       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-RED FOREMAN 4515              1   0  0     6       SPACELY'S SPROCKETS (503)
 ZOE (DARKFACE) 4538           0   4  0     4       ZULU NATION (501)
 POISON IVY HAMMER 4543        0   3  0     3       FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)
-LADY CHISE 4559               0   1  0     1       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-LADY LULU 4557                0   1  0     1       FILIPINA LADYZ (423)
-MUNCH 4514                    0   1  0     1       SPACELY'S SPROCKETS (503)
 KESTREL 4550                  0   1  0     1       RAPTOR (508)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
GREEN ROSE HAMME 4335   8  7 1 FLOWERED HAMMERZ 481 STORMDANCER 4278      288   
BEZI 4540               0  1 0 PHANTACITY 480       MAU 4430              287  NONE
GOVNO 4562              0  1 0 PHANTACITY 480       HIGH ELF              291  NONE
JUNK1 4568              0  1 0 RAPTOR 508           SLAUGHTER PRIEST      291  NONE
JUNKII 4569             0  1 0 RAPTOR 508           BLACK ORC             291  NONE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Vaidasava, congratulations, Duelmaster. I hope your manager is paying you
well.
     Finance manager

Michael, thanks for the very nice response. "No.  S and S doesn't pick on
newbies, Finance Manager.  Just an unlucky matchup for Parking Fees.  I've
got Andorian roots, so if you really are a newbie, let me know any questions
you might have.  Good luck on the sands! .....Michael Eldritch" I have to
admit that the question to you was meant to be more of a theoretical posing
or prompting, rather than a factual question. Like you, we have deep
Andorian roots, as The Consortium has it's stronghold in Andoria, even
though there are Delarquans and Freeblades in our "collection". I am honored
to know you, and to participate in an arena like this one with some very
fine International Managers. I hope I am up to the task.
     Finance Manager

Zeta of Zulus, I did to you what I do best. I parked you! I will leave the
fees to you. Put them on your expense account.
     Parking Fees

Zoe, I loved our date. It was my pleasure to foot the bill.
     Cash Meals

Lady Anitsirk, at the time it seemed pretty gutsy to challenge one of your
experience, but it all worked out for me. Whew!
     Other

P.S. I want you all to know that I feel cheated! It is all Finance Manager's
fault! Why couldn't he have gotten me a real name! Who wants to be called
"Other"?

Zulu's, a 50-point Top Team On The Move? Where would you have been without
us to pull you back into reality? (wink) Great job, BTW.
     Finance Manager

Stormdancer...You again ? Still trying to blow ? Im not a tree ! -- Xanax

Ah ah this Finance Manager should be dangerous, but we wont mind if he can somehow
manage to get the Flower Girls to visit us... on expense account :) -- Le Pentarque

Michael, dont be too gentle : that Finance Manager is definitely NOT a newbie !! --
Le Pentarque

Sran3E -- You might have gotten up a bit quicker with a little less equipment...then
again, maybe you needed it. *shrug* -- Scarlet Rose

Queensryche -- An old newcomer!  Sorry for the rought welcome, and rock on. -- Velvet
Finish

Mankiller -- Oooo!  Note to self:  don't fight sitting down.  Tought lesson sis. --
Experientia

Seci -- Medic! -- Surgical

Armadillo -- Aha!  A lightly armored critter, who's played a trick on me.  I sense a
god of thieves and trickery at work... -- Anferrous

Once again, my hat goes off to Vaidisava.  That I don't wear one is of little
consequence. *wry grin*  Hopefully, I'll be trying my luck with you soon, as Sran3E
has been inconvienced yet again.  Welcome to Morya, newcomers (or perhaps "oldcomers"
in Chessmen's case).  I wil be trying to keep Morya'a stable active for the
foreseeable future, so good luck to all! -- Michael Eldritch, mgr Steel and Silk

The Sage -- I haven't forgotten the Telorinthe story-arcs.  I should have the heading
to you soon.  Just an update.  Keep up the good work. -- Michael Eldritch

Experientia -- Well... I suppose this is one way to get it. -- Mankiller

Xanax -- You're trying to calm the stormy skies, aren't you?  I can tell, because as
fast as I dance, I just can't keep the winds blowing and the rains falling.  Darn.  I
was hoping for some MAJOR flooding. -- Stormdancer, channeling his evil twin

Owl -- That was a hoot. -- Lorvandis
P.S.  Sorry, I couldn't resist.  Write personals long enough and you get to where you
seize on every thin joke or pun.

The Pacifist -- That name is a lie, sure enough. -- Cloudrider
P.S.  I suppose this is why I got bitten by that THING.

Opasan -- Classy initial attack.  Too bad (for you) that I was ready for it. -- Red
Hawk
P.S.  But the fans loved it.

     As threatened, here is a current manager list for this arena.  Let me know if
     I've gotten anyone's name wrong! -- The Saint, keeper of lists
     BLOOD LEGION         Bones               RAPTOR                 ?
     CHESSMEN             Coach               SERPENT_CRUE           Venom
     DODGE BULLETS        Jorja               SPACELY'S SPROCKET     ?
     EXPENSE ACCOUNT      Finance Manager     STEEL AND SILK         Michael Eldritch
     FILIPINA LADYZ       Lady Martilyo       THE ANIMALS            The Zoo Keeper
     FLOWERED HAMMERZ     Hammer              THE PENTARCHY          Le Pentarque
     FLYING MONKEYS       ?                   UGLY URBAN ORCS        Slugbait
     PHANTACITY           Omega               ZULU NATION            ?

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

JUNKII was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
JUNK1 was slaughtered by SLAUGHTER PRIEST in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle.
GOVNO was easily killed by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena match.
VAIDISAVA vanquished SCARLET ROSE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge Title brawl.
KASAP was defeated by VENUS TRAP HAMMER in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
EXPERIENTIA subdued RED HAWK in a 1 minute Challenge competition.
ZOD was bested by VORTEX in a exciting 1 minute novice vs. master Challenge duel.
YAU (DARKFACE) viciously subdued THE PACIFIST in a 2 minute Challenge competition.
ANFERROUS was viciously subdued by THORN STEM HAMMER in a 8 minute Challenge melee.
ZETA lost to AARD WOLF in a action packed 1 minute Challenge fight.
OTHER unbelievably bested LADY ANITSIRK in a 3 minute Challenge fight.
CASH MEALS beat ZOE (DARKFACE) in a exciting 1 minute novice's Challenge fight.
TROOPER TED viciously subdued KHALHUMS DWARF in a 2 minute bloody conflict.
XANAX demolished CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 1 minute mismatched match.
LE PLON savagely defeated KHALHUMS DWARF in a 2 minute gory master's conflict.
MANKILLER was vanquished by LADY ELMA in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
STORMDANCER lost to SRAN3E in a crowd pleasing 3 minute veteran's fray.
SHARAPOVA devastated M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
VELVET FINISH overpowered LORVANDIS in a 1 minute one-sided match.
PUMA was beaten by CLOUDRIDER in a 2 minute match.
ARMADILLO was overpowered by OPASAN in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
STORM RIDER viciously subdued BRIAR STEM HAMMER in a 5 minute gory bout.
VIPER vanquished ZAIRE in a 1 minute one-sided match.
AARD VARK overcame DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 5 minute duel.
BLACK ROSE HAMMER overcame PARKING FEES in a 1 minute veteran vs. novice contest.
OWL was overpowered by SURGICAL in a popular 1 minute one-sided duel.
SECI lost to GHOST CHANT in a 1 minute fight.
FRED UCCINI was defeated by PAPER FLOWERS in a 2 minute gruesome match.
BONGO BOY beat POISON IVY HAMMER in a 2 minute beginner's duel.
INFERNO SERVENT overpowered KESTREL in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
OSTRICH handily defeated JAR JAR BINKS in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
HAWKEN defeated MORDANT DESERTER in a 2 minute beginner's fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                 10         PARRY-RIPOSTE     21 -  11 -  3      66  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   9         STRIKING ATTACK   47 -  33 -  3      59  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    8         SLASHING ATTACK   28 -  20 -  3      58  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      6         BASHING ATTACK    15 -  11 -  1      58  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  5         WALL OF STEEL     26 -  24 -  1      52  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         TOTAL PARRY       25 -  27 -  0      48  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     4         AIMED BLOW        21 -  24 -  1      47  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      3         LUNGING ATTACK    45 -  53 -  0      46  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         PARRY-LUNGE        9 -  14 -  0      39  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         PARRY-STRIKE      10 -  21 -  1      32  |

Turn 291 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  VAIDISAVA 4370             15   2  0  173 THE PENTARCHY (397)
LUNGING ATTACK   XANAX 4384                 12   3  0  102 THE PENTARCHY (397)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    VENUS TRAP HAMMER 4456     13   2  2  100 FLOWERED HAMMERZ (481)
SLASHING ATTACK  VELVET FINISH 4441         13  10  0  100 STEEL AND SILK (495)
BASHING ATTACK   SHARAPOVA 4371             14   7  1   96 THE PENTARCHY (397)
TOTAL PARRY      SRAN3E 4382                13   6  0   87 PHANTACITY (480)
WALL OF STEEL    STORMDANCER 4278           18  16  1   73 DODGE BULLETS (126)
AIMED BLOW       CLOUDRIDER 4424            10   9  0   56 DODGE BULLETS (126)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is VAIDISAVA 4370.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was STORMDANCER 4278.  The ten other most popular fighters were LADY ANITSIRK 4457, 
CLOUDRIDER 4424, VORTEX 4423, YAU (DARKFACE) 4519, CASH MEALS 4532, TROOPER TED 4443, 
LE PLON 4326, PUMA 4294, POISON IVY HAMMER 4543, and VAIDISAVA 4370.

The least popular fighter this week was ANFERROUS 4508.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were KESTREL 4550, FRED UCCINI 4421, SECI 4464, AARD VARK 4404, ZAIRE 4488, 
ARMADILLO 4503, LORVANDIS 4402, MANKILLER 4279, THE PACIFIST 4420, and ZOD 4525.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

SHARAPOVA (28-4371) THE PENTARCHY (397)