DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 02/06/2009    Duedate: 03/05/2009

MORYA ARENA

DM-28    TURN-303

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

YAU (DARKFACE)
ZULU NATION (501)
(28-4519) [11-5-0,108]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

STORMDANCER                    JENNSEN
DODGE BULLETS (126)            D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
(28-4278) [26-20-1,143]        (28-4604) [6-3-0,49]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

STORMDANCER                    BLOOD HAWK
DODGE BULLETS (126)            DODGE BULLETS (126)
(28-4278) [26-20-1,143]        (28-4621) [5-3-0,34]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

STEEL AND SILK (495)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. PAX CLAN (522)              53
2. D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)        30      EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
3. STEEL AND SILK (495)        24      Unchartered Team
4. PHANTACITY (480)             9
5. ZULU NATION (501)            8      PAX CLAN (522)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)       1   0  0  100   1/ 3 STEEL AND SILK (495)     10  5 0
 2/ 0*PAX CLAN (522)             4   1  3 80.0   2/ 2 PHANTACITY (480)          9  6 1
 3/ 2 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)     30  16  0 65.2   3- 1 THE PENTARCHY (397)       7  3 0
 4- 3 THE PENTARCHY (397)      335 199  7 62.7   4/ 7 ZULU NATION (501)         7  5 1
 5- 4 THE ANIMALS (475)        108 102  5 51.4   5/ 5*D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)      7  8 1
 6/ 5 ZULU NATION (501)         47  47  4 50.0   6/ 6 DODGE BULLETS (126)       7  8 0
 7/ 6 DODGE BULLETS (126)      354 357 12 49.8   7/ 0*PAX CLAN (522)            4  1 3
 8/ 7 PHANTACITY (480)          80  84  8 48.8   8- 4 THE ANIMALS (475)         4  1 0
 9/ 9*D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)      20  25  4 44.4   9- 9*KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)      1  0 0
10/ 8 STEEL AND SILK (495)      70  90  1 43.8  10- 8*GODS & GODDESSES (511)    1  5 0
11-10*GODS & GODDESSES (511)    13  23  2 36.1  11/11 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)     1  6 0
12/12*CHILDREN OF WAR (517)      0   4  0  0.0  12/12*CHILDREN OF WAR (517)     0  4 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 #28 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Off the road:

     Lord Malcorn led the way.  Math op Owain had expected him to go back to the main
road from Malcorn to Murska, but he struck north into the woods, navigating by some
signs or inner compass not available to the Murskan gladiator.  Neither Uncle Wolf
nor the Dark Stranger argued, so Math just hunched deeper into his cloak and trailed
after them.  It didn't seem like any of them were ready to hear about the hazards of
leaving a known route in the dead of winter.  Frostbite was the least of the risks
that Math could think of.
     Something howled, and he couldn't tell what it was--not a wolf, nothing that
ordinary--but it sounded close at hand.  And when had it gotten so late in the day?
It was going to be dark soon.  Okay, maybe those were heavy clouds, not end of the
daylight, but the effect would be the same.  Hard to see, colder.  It might snow,
too.  And here they were out in the woods with no inns at hand.  He could use a good
inn about now.  Math visualized a good inn, warm fire on the hearth, smells of fresh
bread out of the oven and meat roasting, good beer, featherbeds, oh, yes, he could
use a good inn about now.  Camping out was for young people who thought it was an
adventure, not a man old enough to know it was just bad planning and damned
uncomfortable.  Huh, and there wasn't a one in this group who was that young, when
you came down to it.  What were they thinking?

In the woods:

     Blackwind muttered a curse but didn't waste time on it.  His sword was out and
he was moving to intercept the materialized Thing immediately.  He could see the
Croc, Agro, coming from behind it with the same intent.  For his part, Redfox was
throwing himself to the side, trying to get out of the Thing's path, but with his
hands tied and the pack on his back, he was a little slow and a lot clumsy.
     The four of them came together in a tangle of bodies and weapons.  Blackwind
would have cursed again, if he'd the time and attention for it; in this mess, the
Thing had all the advantage.  For it, everyone else was prey.  He and Agro, however,
had to be wary of injuring each other or Redfox.  Someone was heaving, trying to get
on top.  Someone was growling.  Someone made a choked sound, cut off abruptly, that
might indicate injury received.  Someone else growled.  A flash of darkness seared
his vision, leaving bloody afterimages.
     Blackwind felt himself rolling over in the snow, alone, and scrambled to stop
himself and get up.  He still had his sword in hand, and there was something dark on
the blade.  Until his vision cleared, he couldn't tell if it was blood or something
else.  He blinked and looked around.  Agro was on the other side of the clearing, up
on one knee and wiping his bloody claws in the snow.
     Between them, the snow was trampled and stained.  And empty of life.  No Thing
and no Redfox.
     Agro hissed.  Blackwind read annoyance into that sound.  "We will have to
follow," the Croc said.  "Do you suppose Redfox is dead?"
     Blackwind nodded.  "I can feel the link, but I can't tell that.  I guess you
can't either?"
     "If the information is there, neither of us knows how to interpret it."  The
Croc turned, surveying the edges of the clearing.  "The Thing did not leave by normal
physical means.  How do we follow?"
     Blackwind shrugged and bent stiffly to clean his blade in the snow.  "I don't
know anything about travel in the Spirit Land or wherever, but I think... yes.  It
must be something in the link that lets us know where Redfox is.  Where we know, we
can go."
     Agro nodded.  "Yes."  He went back to the edge of the clearing to pick up the
pack he'd dropped before charging in.  "Let us not delay, then."

Somewhere else:

     Necroma realized that she was not breathing.  Not good.  Breathe.  Breathe what?
Was there any air here, wherever here was?  This whole necromancy business was a lot
more complicated than she'd been led to expect.  Strange dimensions completely
separate from the Spirit Lands.  Strange life, or maybe un-life, forms.  Conflict.
Outright villainy.  Probably even politics.  When she got out of here, she would
write a sharp letter of protest to her teachers.  She would--
     Wait a minute.  This stuff was all true, but why was she thinking about it now?
She must be hysterical.  A situation bad enough to make her hysterical--and spotty
training or not, she WAS a trained necromancer--would have to be dire.  A dire
situation needed her full attention.  Pack up that hysteria for later.
     Okay, no hysteria.  Umm.  That was going to be hard to achieve, if she didn't
find some kind of anchor for her senses here.  Hysteria on a tight rein?  Whatever.
First things first.  Where was she?  Some kind of limbo space, if "space" could be
applied to it.  She had got here by going through a door, which must have been a
trap.  She'd lost awareness for a while between the door and the limbo.  Not helpful,
but that's the way it goes sometimes.  There had been voices after the door, during
the early part of the limbo.  At least, she thought there had been voices.  There
weren't any now.
     So, what about breathing?  Was her body here?  Duh, where else would it be?
Unless, of course, she was dead and her current "self" was just her soul.  Didn't
feel like it, but she'd never been dead, so what did she know?  But assume she wasn't
dead.  Suspended animation?  That long-sleep stuff some magicians said they could do
so you woke up and it was years later?  Well, maybe.  She shrugged mentally.
Wherever she was, whatever her condition, breathing didn't seem to be an option.  Or
a necessity, either.
     Okay, then, how about "getting out of here" for an option?  Movement.  Spell-
casting.  Movement was pointless unless, make that until, she could establish some
difference between "here" and "there."  But spells, now... that might be something
she could do.  She began to review her repertoire.

             + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Edge of Night #29 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Off the road:

     What were they thinking? Math op Owain repeated to himself.  They were thinking
of going from an uncanny lake deeper into uncanny woods--and he'd been in the woods
around Murska more than once.  These weren't them.  And on to further and yet more
uncanny places.  In the near dark.  In the almost fully dark.  He squinted at the,
well, something like ruins ahead of them.  Or maybe more like a tomb, one of those
above ground palaces-for-the-dead, what did they call 'em?  Mausoleums.
     Lord Malcorn was dismounting, saying something to Wolf and the Dark Stranger
that Math, at the rear of their party, couldn't hear.  The other two dismounted, and
Malcorn was already starting to unsaddle his horse.  Danesjoh eat their livers!  They
were going to spend the NIGHT in this tomb!  Well, HE wasn't going to--
     Who was he fooling?  He was lost out here, it was going to be totally dark and
very cold in less than an hour, where else would he go?  Math dismounted and led his
horse and their pack horse close to the tomb.  The others were setting up a shelter
of sorts on its porch for the horses out of branches and walls of packed snow.  Their
own gear and packs had already been taken inside.  They'd probably laugh if he said
he wanted to sleep out here with the horses.
     He couldn't let it rest, he had to ask.  When he had a chance to speak privately
to Wolf, he said, "Is it truly safe to camp here?  In this, well, it looks like a
tomb to me!"
     "It is a tomb," the old shaman said.  "Among other things.  As to 'safe', not
really.  But safer than staying out in the woods."  As if to give point to his
statement, something howled in the woods.  Not a wolf, and not far away.
     Math shivered.  "Will our horses be okay out here?"
     Wolf stared into the snow-choked woods for long enough to rouse all Math's
fears.  "I don't know," he said finally.  "But it's the best we can do for them."
     There was unhappiness in the shaman's voice, enough to remind Math that before
all else, the Rirorni were horsemen.  Putting horses at risk would not sit easily
with him.  "Maybe we could bring them inside the tomb, too?" Math suggested.
     Something howled again.
     "What IS that?"  Math tried to look in all directions at once.  "It doesn't
sound like any wolf I ever--"
     "It is no wolf," Lord Malcorn said, appearing in the doorway to the tomb.  He
filled it completely.  Shewish blood aside, he seemed to have gained size in some
way, or maybe it was importance, mythic weight that he had gained.  It was like
looking at a centuries-old tree, or a huge stone monolith.  "No wolf of this world,
at least.  But it will not come into this clearing without long hesitation.  We and
the horses will be gone by then."
     "Gone?"
     "We will remain in the gatehouse till moonrise, getting what sleep we may.  When
the moon rises, the inner door will open, and we can go through, taking the horses
with us--we'll need them for speed.  It's a long road ahead of us, and one that must
be covered as quickly as possible."
     "The Spirit Land?" Math asked.  He didn't like the Spirit Land, but he sort of
understood it.
     "Not... exactly."
     "Not at all," Wolf said.  "But we will go anyway, so let us get that sleep."  He
stepped past Malcorn and went into the tomb.  "Come, Math.  You will need any rest
you can get."
     Math blew out a breath that smoked in the cold air.  "I'm too old for this kind
of thing," he muttered, following.
     "That's why you were chosen," Malcorn said.  He didn't sound mythic now, only
human and weary.  "The young, like your friends Redfox and Blackwind, are too
reckless for this road."
     "Will they be okay?"
     The Lord of Malcorn shrugged.  "Who knows?  It depends on their luck and skill,
as everything does always."

In the woods and away:

     Blackwind made sure his pack was secure and his weapons ready at hand, then
glanced at the Croc.  Agro nodded.  He was ready, too.  The link that bound them to
Redfox was clear in his mind, tugging him forward, but there was no trail.  He
couldn't see how to--  Of course!  He shut his eyes.  In his mind there was the link,
like a blazing shaft of sunlight.  Keeping his eyes shut, which was harder than he
might have imagined, he stepped forward "onto" it.
     This might work.  It would have to work.  He could feel Agro behind him, Redfox
somewhere ahead.  It was going to work.  He kept walking along the shining path in
his head.
     There was no way to guess time, and with his eyes shut he couldn't gauge
distance, but it felt like... ten minutes or so.  You can walk a long way in ten
minutes, even in these woods.  They hadn't run into any trees, though, so maybe they
weren't in the woods anymore.  Did he dare to open his eyes?  Huh, "dare" wasn't the
issue, he was going to--  He opened one eye just a slit.  No trees.  But the path was
clear even to his outer eye, so he opened both and looked around.
     It was a wasteland, a sort of rocky desert with indirect lighting.  Blackwind
could tell that it wasn't flat, but the lack of clear, consistent shadows made it
impossible to judge distance and slope reliably, or even the size of the boulders if
they were more than arm's-length away.
     "This is a hell," Agro said.  He had moved up beside the Malcornishman and was
making his own survey.  "There is no water, and it is cold."
     Blackwind had been thinking it hot, but since it wasn't the world they were used
to, maybe it could be both at once.  "At least our path is clear," he said.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Everything hurt more or less, which was no surprise, but Redfox decided he was
still alive.  Made sense.  The nighthunter wanted him to be afraid, and the dead
don't feel fear.  He'd been dumped face down onto a stony surface somewhere.  Not in
the woods any longer, he couldn't smell trees, or snow either.  He could hear claws
scrabbling on the heavy canvas of his backpack, and the straps cut into his shoulders
as something tugged at it.  The nighthunter must be trying to get the pack off him
and having trouble.  Well, it hadn't seemed very bright, back in the clearing.
Dangerous, but not smart.
     More dangerous because it wasn't smart.  It was making a sound, a kind of
snarling whine, and the sound was getting more frustrated and angry by the heartbeat.
How long before it decided to just kill him for his blood and forego the fear?  And
what could he do about it?

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 610): KEEL HAULER of SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 612): CORIANELLE of SWEET MAGIC (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 606): WIND RIDER of GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 608): CRICKET of LEGENDS (?, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 607): VERCINGETORIX of DEATH INCARNATE (Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 605): ANTONIUS of IDES OF MARCH (Caesar, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 302): OPASAN of PHANTACITY (Omega, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 598): MAD DOG MONTANA of STREET WALKERS (Roadkill, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 300): LOWLY WORM of AVENGERS (Huckle Cat, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 594): EASTER GUARDIAN of SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 592): THE MONGOL of RAVAGING LORDS (General Ikillu, mgr)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 583): ANGUS ARGUS of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 546): JEREMY CAMP of POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 278): SHADOWCAT HAMMER of MUTANT HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 272): BULLPEN ACE of ROYAL FLUSH (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 259): EXTRUSION of LIFE IMPACTS (Smitty, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 473): MOSSIE ROCKTROLL of INCONSISTENT FURY (Banthius, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 460): ENIGMA XXV of DEATH STUDS XII (Death Stud, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 442): XAVAN YOLE of MIDDLE WAY 16 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  65 DAL SHANG (turn 437): MELOST THE GRAY of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 207): GAFFER SMITH of BAD APPLES (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  74 DAYLA KIV (turn 405): KOLBAN TEN TAHL of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 383): MESSALIDA of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 499): SISTER X of CULTS-R-US (?, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 610): SEA DOGS (One-Armed Bandit, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 612): SWEET MAGIC (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 606): DARK CREATION (Herbert Philip Lovecraft West, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 608): GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 607): FIELDS OF ELYSIUM (Caesar, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 605): CUNNING RUNTS (Deep Thought, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 302): THE PENTARCHY (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 598): VENUSIANS (Venus, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 300): LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 594): SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 592): THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 583): LOST CAUSE (Vol, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 546): DEVILED HAM (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 578): MIKES HEROES (?, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 272): SECOND BANANAS (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 259): LIFE IMPACTS (Smitty, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 473): INCONSISTENT FURY (Banthius, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 460): DEATH STUDS XII (Death Stud, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 442): MIDDLE WAY 16 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  65 DAL SHANG (turn 437): SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 207): MONGOL HORDE (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  74 DAYLA KIV (turn 405): SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 383): SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 499): REIGNING DOO et al (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 607): JACK THE RIPPER of DEATH INCARNATE (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 605): ANTONIUS of IDES OF MARCH (Caesar, mgr.)
                            DARDANIUS of IDES OF MARCH (Caesar, mgr.)
                            BLACK BELT of THE MAGNIFICENT MAGS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 302): LE PLON of THE PENTARCHY (Le Pentarque, mgr.)
                          VELVET FINISH of STEEL AND SILK (Michael Eldritch, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 598): MAD DOG MONTANA of STREET WALKERS (Roadkill, mgr.)
              (turn 597): CELADUS of EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 299): BEDLAM of CHAOS (Lord of Chaos, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 594): EASTER GUARDIAN of SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 546): LEO POWERS of MEDAL OF HONOR F1 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
 DM  47 DOUBLE X (turn 272): BULLPEN ACE of ROYAL FLUSH (Crip, mgr.)
                             PIZZA PIE PARTY of THINGS I DROOL IN (Nuln, mgr.)
                 (turn 271): SISTER MERCY of OLD HABITS (Soultaker, mgr.)
                             MAGIC WAND of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
                             BOQ of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  60 COLLUSION COVE (turn 460): ENIGMA XXV of DEATH STUDS XII (Death Stud, mgr.)
 DM  74 DAYLA KIV (turn 405): KOLBAN TEN TAHL of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     It's me, The Unknown Spymaster here with my bag to give you the news on last 
week's fights.  We now have a new top team for all of you guys to dogpile on.  STEEL 
AND SILK now holds the crown and they are betting they can keep it.  It was a tough 
week for THE ANIMALS, to drop 4 places in the rankings.  Coming up with a solid 2-2-0 
outing, ZULU NATION has advanced 3 places in the rankings.  It looks like the guys(?) 
at PHANTACITY had a good week as they went 4-1-0 to put them in 2nd place.  I guess 
steroids help!  PAX CLAN seems to have it's eye on the top team spot, and if they 
continue having 4-1-3 weeks they may get it!  Hey everybody, watch out for BOBBY PAX, 
who flew up 14 points in the rankings after mashing CONVICTED THIEF like a melon.  
Keep your eye on this guy.  And falling like a basher in the top ten was CLOUDRIDER, 
who dropped 8 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with SCARLET ROSE. 
In front of all the crowds, YAU (DARKFACE) took the Duelmaster's crown for his own.  
I give the bum two weeks.  Advice to bashers--never force anything, just get a bigger 
halberd!   
     But enough of that bunch, let's get on to the wimps who like to avoid battle!  
Did you hear that THE PENTARCHY was most avoided team this week?  Well, knowing the 
personal hygiene of THE PENTARCHY's warriors, I'm not surprised!  Okay, so I may not 
be funny, but catch ZULU NATION's act in the arena.  Those acrobats seem to be fairly 
deft at running from THE PENTARCHY.  And who is this CHANDALEN you ask, with 24 
points and a 4-5-3 record.  Ooh, the tales I could tell!  Well, it looks like VELVET 
FINISH wasn't happy with last turn's rank, so she went for broke by challenging up 40 
points.  No guts, no glory.  A Carrion Bird Sellout:  VELVET FINISH 16-16-0 fights 
STORMDANCER 26-20-1.  (BYOB) In a mismatch, our friend JENNSEN of D'HARAN EMPIRE got 
heroic notions and challenged OTHER.  What did it get her?  A 6-3-0 record, that's 
what.  I heard JENNSEN laughed all the way to the inn as hers new point total of 49 
was posted in the arena.  I guess beating OTHER really pays!  ZAIRE (DARKFACE) of 
ZULU NATION had better have a good reason for challenging down 10 points in a 
challenge which he won.  I thought ZAIRE (DARKFACE) showed great skill and promise 
when he won victory over MANGLER.  All right, so I slept through it!  Big deal!   
     Remember that an arena is not always a safe place to be, but it is one of the 
most interesting, though!  In the 'Oops, What Have I Done?' category, CHANDALEN was 
mashed by SECI, who let CHANDALEN know that killing members of PHANTACITY is a no-no. 
Congrats to SCARLET for revenging the death of hers teammate (but more importantly, 
feeding ZZ (DARKFACE) a bit of dirt).  Ask not the elves for counsel, for they will 
say both yes and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in MORYA have no 
sense of humor.  Or maybe that they were senseless.  C'mon, Leadfoot, let's make some 
tracks.  And remember, you can pick your friends and you can pick your--(loud boos), 
oh, you've heard that one already!-- The Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 YAU (DARKFACE) 4519          11   5  0   108       ZULU NATION (501)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STORMDANCER 4278             26  20  1   143       DODGE BULLETS (126)
-PUMA 4294                    19  23  0   105       THE ANIMALS (475)
-ARMADILLO 4503               14   6  0   101       THE ANIMALS (475)
 EXPERIENTIA 4483             11   7  0    99       STEEL AND SILK (495)
-AARD WOLF 4411               15  14  1    97       THE ANIMALS (475)
 MANKILLER 4279               23  23  0    96       DODGE BULLETS (126)
-AARD VARK 4404               21   9  0    91       THE ANIMALS (475)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SCARLET ROSE 4440            14  18  0    90       STEEL AND SILK (495)
 OPASAN 4381                  15  14  1    87       PHANTACITY (480)
 CASH MEALS 4532               9   5  0    78       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 SURGICAL 4437                10  15  0    77       STEEL AND SILK (495)
-OWL 4453                     14  12  2    75       THE ANIMALS (475)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LORVANDIS 4402               16  17  0    65       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 CLOUDRIDER 4424              16  15  0    65       DODGE BULLETS (126)
 SECI 4464                    14   9  2    57       PHANTACITY (480)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ANFERROUS 4508               10   5  0    49       STEEL AND SILK (495)
 JENNSEN 4604                  6   3  0    49       D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
 PIZDA 4599                    7   1  0    48       PHANTACITY (480)
-PARKING FEES 4535             3   3  0    46       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
-ZOD 4525                      9   5  0    45       ZULU NATION (501)
-ASSUNDRIES 4555               4   2  0    45       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 SCARLET 4603                  5   4  0    42       D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
 OTHER 4536                   10   4  0    40       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 ZOE (DARKFACE) 4538           5  10  0    35       ZULU NATION (501)
 BLOOD HAWK 4621               5   3  0    34       DODGE BULLETS (126)
-PATTE DE SAGUAR 4629          5   1  0    34       THE PENTARCHY (397)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-TEZCATLIPOCA 4641             3   0  0    29       THE PENTARCHY (397)
-RENTAL CAR 4534               4   2  0    26       EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
 CHANDALEN 4602                4   5  3    24       D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
-WHITE BECT 4645               2   1  0    24       THE PENTARCHY (397)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MARS 4584                     4   3  1    23       GODS & GODDESSES (511)
 SLOMI 4618                    3   3  0    22       PHANTACITY (480)
 ZZ (DARKFACE) 4628            2   1  1    20       ZULU NATION (501)
-MORPHEUS 4582                 4   3  0    15       GODS & GODDESSES (511)
-HEPHAESTUS 4615               2   2  1    15       GODS & GODDESSES (511)
-CRICTOR UNGERER 4640          1   2  0    15       THE PENTARCHY (397)
 BOBBY PAX 4678                1   0  1    14       PAX CLAN (522)
 SARA PAX 4680                 1   0  1    14       PAX CLAN (522)
 ZAIRE (DARKFACE) 4661         2   0  0    13       ZULU NATION (501)
-KRYDOR DU'MORTE 4665          1   0  0    13       KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
 MELVIN PAX 4681               1   0  0    13       PAX CLAN (522)
 DIANA PAX 4677                1   0  1    11       PAX CLAN (522)
-ATHENA 4616                   2   2  0     8       GODS & GODDESSES (511)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VRTOGLAVA 4684                1   0  0     6       PHANTACITY (480)
 REIBISCH 4683                 1   0  0     6       D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
 CASCELLA 4659                 1   2  0     5       D'HARAN EMPIRE (513)
 MANGLER 4648                  0   2  0     2       CHILDREN OF WAR (517)
 MORGANNA PAX 4679             0   1  0     1       PAX CLAN (522)
-BEAVER 4649                   0   1  0     1       CHILDREN OF WAR (517)
 WHISPER 4650                  0   1  0     1       CHILDREN OF WAR (517)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
CONVICTED THIEF         0  0 0                      SARA PAX 4680         303  NONE
PERSISTENT BEGGA        0  0 0                      DIANA PAX 4677        303  NONE
MEIFFERT 4627           2  4 1 D'HARAN EMPIRE 513   ZZ (DARKFACE) 4628    302  JUST REVENGED
PATULJAK 4590           1  6 0 PHANTACITY 480       CHANDALEN 4602        302  JUST REVENGED
ZUMA (DARKFACE) 4642    1  1 0 ZULU NATION 501      MEIFFERT 4627         300  REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Noble manner though sometimes grating ... Grating?  Grating? -- Finance Manager
P.S.  Mino, who originated his Animal Farm in DM20 and moved it to DM11 when DM20 was
closed is one of The Consortium's best.

Darkface and Le Pentarque -- Thank you both.  I feel very licked. -- Finance manager

Zulu -- Nonsense?  What nonsense?  It is a pleasure having you in the arena. --
Finance Manager

Jorja -- What!?  You're not still paying 19 cents a pound for ground beef?  Out West
where the deer and the buffalo roam?  What is this world coming to? -- Finance
Manager

     Not a good question.  I don't think we want to know what it's coming to.

Patte -- You ran me out of gas and left me by the side of the road?  You vixen! --
Rental Car

Seci -- That was cool and I do think you are. -- Other

Such a pleasure it is, indeed, to participate in an arena with many participants.  A
salute to you all. -- Finance Manager for The Expense Account Crew

All -- a note that Rental Car was entered incorrectly and probably inadvertently, by
someone as an AB in Terrablood, so we will correct it.  As a general note, knowingly
entering incorrect data into the master Terrablood database is a serious offense. --
Finance Manager and The Consortium Elders

Le Plon and Velvet Finish -- Congratulations, Lord Protectors, and good luck in The
Big Time. -- Finance manager

Today, Le Plon is leaving.  It's a special day, since this tall, valiant, but not
very brilliant sidekick is the last of the best generation this team ever had.
Let's share some memories with the help of the Old Newsletters section!  Le Plon
fought for the first time on turn 263.  On turn 262, the team was bleeding after the
departure of the first team and the death of two young recruits, and it had to be
rebuilt from scratch.  The team was 238-164-5.  On turn 302, we improved our ratio to
335-199-7. That was an incredible run of 93-46-2....  Days of bliss....  So thanks
for the good days, and lets hope that the new batch will honor their predecessors! --
Le Pentarque.

Tezcatlipoca and White Bect will be sandbagging a few months, so don't bother to
challenge them.  By the way, it's funny to see that Crictor Ungerer, the only rookie
to deserve a nice tourney, is the only one to lose this turn! -- Le Pentarque.

Happy New Year and good luck on the Isle, Velvet Finish!

Hum, Darkface, I'd like to know what it's like to be a cherished "cute woman", but
I'm more like a plain bald manager. --Le Pentarque.

Jennsen -- Please be gentle with something else! -- Crictor

ZZ -- Congratulations.  Didn't see that coming.  But everyone's not that weak or
drunk. -- Lord Rahl

Pizda -- If I had your luck, I would be DM now.  Keep a candlelight vigil.  I'll see
you again soon. -- Jennsen

Phantacity -- Sorry about Patuljak.  I was just looking for a close matchup I could
win on.  With that said, if you feel a need for greed, I take on all avengers. --
Chandalen

Tezcatlipoca -- That weapon must have a diamond edge.  I should have just went out
"au naturel" the amount of protection I received. -- Cascella

Meiffert -- I guess you did not have time to sober-up!!  After all that bar-hopping
you plan on doing. -- ZZ (Darkface)
P.S.  By the way, good night!!

D'haran Empire -- The time to honor yourself will soon come to an end. -- Darkface

Crictor Ungerer -- I expected a much better fight from you since I know that le
Pentarque is your manager. -- Zoe (Darkface)
P.S.  After all you guys & woman might not be the team to beat.

Surgical -- Wow wow what else can I say, but I did not have a chance. -- Zod

Michael Eldritch -- Salute to you as well and to all your warriors. -- Darkface

Velvet Finish -- Good luck in the AD -- Yau (Darkface)
P.S.  I wanted my revenge but I guess I will seek revenge from one of your
brothers...

Experientia -- I didn't need that!  I just heard that my thread in the story is being
picked up again, and I did NOT need a loss! -- Cloudrider
P.S.  Hey, I'll use any handle I can get, and skill at fighting doesn't seem to be
one of them.

Anferrous -- Fair enough.  I get out with my life and two skills, you get the win. --
Blood Hawk
P.S.  You want skills, challenge someone with more experience than you have.

Scarlet Rose -- What, is this our day to fight Steel and Silk?  Not that I'm
complaining, since I won AND got the edge on skills. -- Stormdancer
P.S.  If you want to go beat up the handicapper for giving you such a mismatch, just
say the word.  I'll come along and hold your coat.
P.P.S.  Better armor than a shield.  I never knew anyone whose helmet fell off in
mid-fight.

Le Plon -- What?  Did anyone get the number of the bus that ran me down? -- Lorvandis

I have no quarrel with the Venomous Concubine.  Heck, I nearly WAS her! -- Mankiller

Cash Meals -- I'm saving them for an emergency.  I feel an emergency coming on. --
Cloudrider

Patte de Saguar -- And fearsome they are, too!  Thorns like you wouldn't believe. --
Blood Hawk

Yau (Darkface) -- What would I want with your wallet?  It doesn't go with my shoes,
and besides, there's no money in it. -- Mankiller

Our congratulations to Le Plon and Velvet Finish. -- Jorja and Dodge Bullets

Michael Eldritch -- Figure out where you've got the best group of readers and post
there.  We'll find room. -- the Scribe

Cloudrider -- Sorry, but I needed a morale booster after my last few fights. --
Experientia

Zod -- You were my second challenge choice, but the new tactics seem to be working.
-- Surgical the Hopeful

Blood Hawk -- In all honesty, fighting you always worries me.  Well fought. --
Anferrous

Stormdancer -- Nice rating... you graduating anytime soon? -- Scarlet Rose

Opasan -- Neither of my challenges fought, and so, out of left field, you swooped in
and stole my glory!  I give you credit in a clinch though.  Tha was a vicious retort.
A salute to you and all, Crysalis Beckons. -- Velvet Finish

Well, Velvet is certainly not my best warrior, but she is the first to achieve the
Isle.  11-14-15-13-12(11)-7-14(13).  She managed to gain an expert in init and dec
with adex in att.  Seems her weapon was the epee, though I'd only used it once.  Very
high, moderate rhythm and a favorite learn of decise.  She is an original member of
Steel and Silk, of which only Scarlet Rose now remains.  That said, congrats to
Opasan and greeting to the newcomers! -- Michael Eldritch, mgr Steel and Silk
P.S.  Darkface, no hard feelings.  *shrug*  It's all for fun, and I like you better
already.  *wry grin*  Let me know if you need (or want) any tips or pointers.  I DO
NOT have all the answers, but a lot of my contacts are REAL veterans and could
probably help out.  Good luck on the sands... and in life.  Salute!

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

SECI devastated CHANDALEN in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight.
SCARLET vanquished ZZ (DARKFACE) in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud battle.
VELVET FINISH was demolished by STORMDANCER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
CASH MEALS was bested by EXPERIENTIA in a popular 1 minute Challenge fight.
SCARLET ROSE demolished CLOUDRIDER in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition.
SURGICAL vanquished LORVANDIS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
JENNSEN outlasted OTHER in a unpopular 7 minute Challenge brawl.
SLOMI overpowered CASCELLA in a 1 minute gruesome uneven Challenge melee.
ZAIRE (DARKFACE) won victory over MANGLER in a 1 minute novice's Challenge duel.
OPASAN was vanquished by YAU (DARKFACE) in a 1 minute one-sided Title duel.
MANKILLER overpowered M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute uneven match.
BLOOD HAWK was beaten by ANFERROUS in a 3 minute fight.
PIZDA subdued ZOE (DARKFACE) in a crowd pleasing 1 minute match.
WHISPER was overcome by VRTOGLAVA in a 3 minute brutal novice's contest.
DIANA PAX delivered the death blow upon PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 3 minute bout.
BOBBY PAX easily killed CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute uneven fight.
MORGANNA PAX was defeated by REIBISCH in a 2 minute beginner's struggle.
SARA PAX easily killed CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
MELVIN PAX devastated MORDANT DESERTER 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|
|BASHING ATTACK                   8         SLASHING ATTACK   33 -  24 -  1      58  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  6         AIMED BLOW        31 -  24 -  1      56  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         TOTAL PARRY       26 -  23 -  0      53  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         LUNGING ATTACK    42 -  40 -  4      51  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      3         BASHING ATTACK    26 -  27 -  6      49  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         WALL OF STEEL     21 -  23 -  1      48  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-STRIKE      14 -  16 -  0      47  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         STRIKING ATTACK   35 -  43 -  1      45  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-LUNGE        8 -  10 -  1      44  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -  12 -  1      43  |

Turn 303 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-STRIKE       1 -  0     STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  3         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  2         2  PARRY-STRIKE   
LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  0                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  1                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
SLASHING ATTACK    4 -  2                                       1  SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        2 -  1                                       1  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-LUNGE    
BASHING ATTACK     4 -  4                                       1  STRIKING ATTACK

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   YAU (DARKFACE) 4519        11   5  0  108 ZULU NATION (501)
WALL OF STEEL    STORMDANCER 4278           26  20  1  143 DODGE BULLETS (126)
SLASHING ATTACK  EXPERIENTIA 4483           11   7  0   99 STEEL AND SILK (495)
PARRY-LUNGE      OPASAN 4381                15  14  1   87 PHANTACITY (480)
STRIKING ATTACK  CASH MEALS 4532             9   5  0   78 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (506)
AIMED BLOW       CLOUDRIDER 4424            16  15  0   65 DODGE BULLETS (126)
TOTAL PARRY      ANFERROUS 4508             10   5  0   49 STEEL AND SILK (495)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is STORMDANCER 4278.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was BLOOD HAWK 4621.  The ten other most popular fighters were STORMDANCER 4278, 
PIZDA 4599, EXPERIENTIA 4483, SLOMI 4618, YAU (DARKFACE) 4519, MANKILLER 4279, 
VRTOGLAVA 4684, REIBISCH 4683, SCARLET 4603, and CASH MEALS 4532.

The least popular fighter this week was WHISPER 4650.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were JENNSEN 4604, OTHER 4536, DIANA PAX 4677, OPASAN 4381, MANGLER 4648, 
CASCELLA 4659, ZZ (DARKFACE) 4628, CHANDALEN 4602, MELVIN PAX 4681, and SARA PAX 
4680.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

STORMDANCER (28-4278) DODGE BULLETS (126)
SCARLET ROSE (28-4440) STEEL AND SILK (495)

The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:

LE PLON (28-4326) THE PENTARCHY (397)
VELVET FINISH (28-4441) STEEL AND SILK (495)

                 FACE-TO-FACE TOURNEY XLII

PRIMUS TOURNEY                         W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
GRIM REAVER 1356 (211-118-4)           4  3  0         THE RED REAVERS      

ELIGIBLES TOURNEY                      W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
GREMLIN 2132 (29-13-0)                 2  3  0         THE RED REAVERS