DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 02/09/2018 Duedate: 03/08/2018
MORYA ARENA
DM-28 TURN-419
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
THE FIXER
BIG LAKE PURE (568)
(28-5664) [15-3-1,167]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
THE FIXER GRESHA THE BASHER
BIG LAKE PURE (568) KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
(28-5664) [15-3-1,167] (28-4666) [3-1-0,51]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
LIZARD GRAVITY
FORCE OF FIVE (524) BIG SHOTS (574)
(28-4693) [15-17-1,76] (28-5599) [14-8-0,99]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
BIG LAKE PURE (568)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BOOK OF THOMAS (584) 33
2. BIG LAKE PURE (568) 26 BIG SHOTS (574)
3. FORCE OF FIVE (524) 25 Unchartered Team
4. MAGICAL MADNESS (417) 21
5. KRYDOR'S ELITE (519) 18 BOOK OF THOMAS (584)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 0 BIG SHOTS (574) 178 119 8 59.9 1/ 1 BIG LAKE PURE (568) 9 6 0
2/ 1 BASH BROS BODY (541) 130 98 2 57.0 2/ 2 BASH BROS BODY (541) 8 5 0
3/ 0 FORCE OF FIVE (524) 86 73 7 54.1 3- 3 AMONG THE LIVING (589) 4 1 0
4- 2 PANDORA'S CARDS (570) 104 89 5 53.9 4/ 0*BOOK OF THOMAS (584) 4 1 0
5/ 4 BIG LAKE PURE (568) 113 106 9 51.6 5/ 0 FORCE OF FIVE (524) 3 2 0
6/ 0 MAGICAL MADNESS (417) 80 77 2 51.0 6/ 5*KRYDOR'S ELITE (519) 3 7 0
7- 5 AMONG THE LIVING (589) 21 23 2 47.7 7/ 0 MAGICAL MADNESS (417) 2 3 0
8/ 0*BOOK OF THOMAS (584) 14 17 0 45.2 8/ 0 BIG SHOTS (574) 1 3 0
9/ 6*KRYDOR'S ELITE (519) 5 16 0 23.8 9- 6 PANDORA'S CARDS (570) 1 4 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
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!. Hey everybody, watch out for GRESHA THE BASHER,
who flew up 21 points in the rankings after mashing WACKY WICCAN like a melon. Keep
your eye on this gal. Ya know, some days it doesn't pay to walk out on the sands.
CRALE OF THE SWIFT was subdued by MORYA CHAMPION and drops 6 points. Our battling
duelmaster THE FIXER has managed to hold the title, fending off RECEDING HAIR LINE's
none too subtle advances. Better luck next time, BASH BROS BODY. 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 BIG LAKE PURE, please raise you hand.
Wow. Does MORYA really have that many liars? For those of you who like math, try
this one: BIG LAKE PURE + Weapons That go Boom = BASH BROS BODY + Avoid City. Well
just about everybody wants a piece of CRALE OF THE SWIFT, who was this week's most
challenged warrior. Challenging down 16 points was GIDREK THUMBTOE. Pretty soon
he'll be using two shields and selling 'T.P.: The only way to clean up' pins.
Definition of petty: GIDREK THUMBTOE beat WORN OUT, a mismatch of 16 points.
Being a spy is great--other people die and you spend the rest of the day
drinking to their memory. Better tanked than dead! There's got to be more reason
for the sending of SLOW MOTION to the Dark Arena than his record (3-1-0). Anybody
got any ideas BOOK OF THOMAS? Here's some advice: warriors with little wit and will
may encounter problems on the trail to the Isle.
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
THE FIXER 5664 15 3 1 167 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BOOMERANG 4696 21 10 1 143 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
PORCUPINE 4717 18 13 0 120 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
RECEDING HAIR LINE 5125 25 16 0 107 BASH BROS BODY (541)
GIDREK THUMBTOE 5615 13 8 1 107 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
RESTRAINED CONTEMPT 5472 19 19 1 99 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
GRAVITY 5599 14 8 0 99 BIG SHOTS (574)
-THE CHARIOT 5555 8 4 0 93 PANDORA'S CARDS (570)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SABRETOOTH 4692 17 15 2 88 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
HEADACHE 5609 15 7 0 88 BASH BROS BODY (541)
WORN OUT 5606 10 12 0 88 BASH BROS BODY (541)
NUTTY NECROMANCER 5328 9 4 1 79 MAGICAL MADNESS (417)
LIZARD 4693 15 17 1 76 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
JUGGERNAUT 4694 15 17 3 71 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
RUNE 4083 10 11 0 69 MAGICAL MADNESS (417)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MAN'S HANDS 5634 13 5 0 56 BASH BROS BODY (541)
INCANTATION 5057 8 5 0 56 MAGICAL MADNESS (417)
GRESHA THE BASHER 4666 3 1 0 51 KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
WACKY WICCAN 4314 10 5 0 45 MAGICAL MADNESS (417)
-SUBJUGATOR 5707 9 1 1 40 AMONG THE LIVING (589)
SPINE EATER 5585 2 2 0 36 BOOK OF THOMAS (584)
OLIVE OIL 5546 4 2 0 34 BOOK OF THOMAS (584)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MEZCAL MAESTRO 5670 6 6 0 31 BIG SHOTS (574)
-WAKE UP DEAD 5709 5 5 1 24 AMONG THE LIVING (589)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SPELLWEAVER 5487 3 4 0 23 MAGICAL MADNESS (417)
SIMPLY AMAZING 5693 4 7 1 20 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
CAROUSEL 5696 2 0 0 18 BOOK OF THOMAS (584)
1942 5713 1 0 0 17 BIG SHOTS (574)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
FRECKLES 5695 1 0 0 13 BOOK OF THOMAS (584)
MORYA CHAMPION 5723 2 1 0 12 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
ANEJO 5678 2 4 1 11 BIG SHOTS (574)
-DEATH ANGEL 5715 1 0 0 10 AMONG THE LIVING (589)
-ALISON HELL 5714 1 0 0 10 AMONG THE LIVING (589)
ACNE 5722 1 0 0 9 BASH BROS BODY (541)
CRALE OF THE SWIFT 4663 1 3 0 6 KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
KRAVEN DU'ET URDEN 4662 0 4 0 4 KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
KRSDORA DU'MORTE 5728 0 1 0 1 KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
KRYDORA DU'MORTE 5729 0 1 0 1 KRYDOR'S ELITE (519)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
RIK PAINFUL 5712 2 2 0 BIG LAKE PURE 568 CAL LIPPER 5710 416
SLOW MOTION 5572 3 1 0 BOOK OF THOMAS 584 SHEWISH GIANT 419 NONE
VAL VALINE 5477 10 11 1 OTTO'S MECHANICS 226 GIDREK THUMBTOE 5615 415 NOT REVENGED
PERSONAL ADS
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
SLOW MOTION was butchered by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
GIDREK THUMBTOE won victory over WORN OUT in a 1 minute expert's Challenge battle.
MORYA CHAMPION outlasted CRALE OF THE SWIFT in a 10 minute beginner's Challenge fight.
THE FIXER overpowered RECEDING HAIR LINE in a 1 minute one-sided Title fight.
GRAVITY lost to PORCUPINE in a exciting 3 minute master's fight.
BOOMERANG devastated VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute one-sided competition.
RESTRAINED CONTEMPT won victory over LIZARD in a popular 2 minute expert's duel.
SABRETOOTH vanquished RUNE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
HEADACHE overpowered INCANTATION in a 1 minute one-sided melee.
NUTTY NECROMANCER savagely defeated JUGGERNAUT in a exciting 1 minute bloody match.
MAN'S HANDS overcame MEZCAL MAESTRO in a exciting 1 minute contest.
WACKY WICCAN was demolished by GRESHA THE BASHER in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
OLIVE OIL handily defeated ANEJO in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
SPINE EATER won victory over FRATSFA SLAVE in a 1 minute master vs. beginner bout.
SIMPLY AMAZING was viciously subdued by SPELLWEAVER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute bout.
KRAVEN DU'ET URDEN was devastated by FRECKLES in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
CAROUSEL subdued KRSDORA DU'MORTE in a 1 minute novice's bout.
1942 overpowered CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
ACNE bested KRYDORA DU'MORTE in a 1 minute novice's contest.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 10 BASHING ATTACK 24 - 14 - 1 63 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 5 PARRY-STRIKE 5 - 3 - 0 63 |
|BASHING ATTACK 4 LUNGING ATTACK 34 - 28 - 1 55 |
|WALL OF STEEL 4 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 5 - 1 55 |
|AIMED BLOW 3 WALL OF STEEL 18 - 15 - 2 55 |
|TOTAL PARRY 3 PARRY-LUNGE 9 - 9 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 STRIKING ATTACK 8 - 10 - 0 44 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 SLASHING ATTACK 8 - 10 - 0 44 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 TOTAL PARRY 10 - 13 - 0 43 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 1 AIMED BLOW 11 - 16 - 0 41 |
Turn 419 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 LUNGING ATTACK 4 - 6 2 BASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 1 TOTAL PARRY 1 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 3 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
AIMED BLOW 2 - 1 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE
PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY
WALL OF STEEL 2 - 2 1 WALL OF STEEL
1 PARRY-LUNGE
1 SLASHING ATTACK
1 AIMED BLOW
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
BASHING ATTACK THE FIXER 5664 15 3 1 167 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
PARRY-RIPOSTE BOOMERANG 4696 21 10 1 143 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
PARRY-STRIKE PORCUPINE 4717 18 13 0 120 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
TOTAL PARRY RECEDING HAIR LINE 5125 25 16 0 107 BASH BROS BODY (541)
LUNGING ATTACK GIDREK THUMBTOE 5615 13 8 1 107 BIG LAKE PURE (568)
SLASHING ATTACK SABRETOOTH 4692 17 15 2 88 FORCE OF FIVE (524)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is LIZARD 4693. The most popular warrior this turn was
GRAVITY 5599. The ten other most popular fighters were LIZARD 4693, SPELLWEAVER
5487, THE FIXER 5664, NUTTY NECROMANCER 5328, MAN'S HANDS 5634, BOOMERANG 4696,
RESTRAINED CONTEMPT 5472, PORCUPINE 4717, SABRETOOTH 4692, and GRESHA THE BASHER
4666.
The least popular fighter this week was CRALE OF THE SWIFT 4663. The other ten least
popular fighters were MORYA CHAMPION 5723, SIMPLY AMAZING 5693, KRYDORA DU'MORTE
5729, KRAVEN DU'ET URDEN 4662, ANEJO 5678, WACKY WICCAN 4314, INCANTATION 5057, RUNE
4083, ACNE 5722, and 1942 5713.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
GRAVITY (28-5599) BIG SHOTS (574)
Mission to the Twisted Lands
Episode One
Old Brown could run pretty fast if properly motivated, but mostly he walked with
a long-legged, distance-devouring stride. He was a huge horse, a half-giant's
warhorse, shaggy and self-assured, with muscles like half-buried boulders in his
shoulders and hips. Lounging in the saddle was the motivating force, the half-giant,
Keel Woodhaven. Although in his mind he was slouching and half-asleep, he sat up
straight in the saddle since that is more comfortable for riding.
It was twilight, stars coming out above and lights in farmhouse windows below.
They traveled through vineyards, brown and fallow now in the winter, descending gently
toward the tree-crowded coast. The distant trees, not just pines, were green. They
stayed green because the marsh that surrounded the city-state of Bonsur had hot
springs in it.
Keel Woodhaven had always liked Bonsur. It had a relaxed feel about it, the
women seemed prettier, the music was great, everyone thought about having fun. And
the booze was excellent, of course. He passed the arena at the edge of town, and
paused to read the current statistics, posted on the gate and lit by a lantern. So,
an elven cobbler was the Duelmaster? Why would a shoemaker take up such a painful
profession? Then he noticed the team name: Shewish Picnic. He snorted. That
explained it, all right. As a half-Shew, he was kind of bothered by that team theme,
which was present in Home Guard as well. It was sort of funny though. He saw that
Elf Cobbler was headed for the Isle. Probably not bound for Home Guard just yet,
though.
They passed a small chicken ranch. A rooster uttered an untimely crow. At about
that time, Old Brown took exception to something and bolted. Cussing, Keel hauled on
the reins, to little effect since the horse was stronger than him and apparently
frightened. He didn't see the masked men coming out of their hiding places behind
him, looking frustrated. At least not until a crossbow bolt thunked into the backside
of his leather cuirass. His horse screamed and ran faster.
Hauling Old Brown to the left as they passed a set of big open gates into a well-
lighted courtyard, Keel got them behind the shelter of the high stone wall, and patted
the horse's sweaty neck. "You're okay now, friend. I'll go take care of those
bozos."
As he dismounted, he noticed he was becoming surrounded by uniformed men, some
with swords and some with halberds.
"Howdy?" he said, hoping they were friendly.
"Your horse has been shot," said someone, pointing at a bolt sticking out of Old
Brown's butt.
"Well damn!" Keel laid a comforting hand on the horse's flank, which quivered.
"So have you," the guard continued.
"Yeah, thought so. Doesn't feel like it got through the armor though." Keel
tried to look over his shoulder, but could only see the feathered end of the bolt.
"Who are you guys?"
"We are the Queen's Guard."
"What? Queen Gemra? Okay, please take care of Old Brown here, and I'll go find
the ***holes that shot him."
"Sir, you are mistaken. You will be taken to a doctor. We will arrest the
assailants."
"Hey! I'm on a mission from Sheila Greywand. Anyway, they shot my horse. My
HORSE! I'm gonna get 'em." Unslinging his huge sword, Keel strode toward the gate.
Four Guardsmen came with him, flanking him like the trailing ends of a flock of
geese. They might have intended a different formation, but he had the longest legs
and walked the fastest. The one who'd spoken to him before said, "I'm Corporal Brat
Langerman. And you are?"
"Keel Woodhaven."
"I've heard of you! The Queen will want to meet you."
"That's fine. Let's stick to the sides of these buildings. If they're still
around, we'll be targets in the middle of the street."
They weren't quiet, exactly, since the guards wore highly polished chain mail
which jingled. However, Bonsur had a lively night life. Music and laughter came from
bars and nightclubs on adjacent streets, people lingered on corners chatting and
sometimes playing instruments, and children hawked newssheets, shoeshines, flowers, a
selection of rouges, and offered to carry packages. So the sounds the guards made
weren't too noticeable.
Keel led the way back to the chicken ranch. He was thinking that the bad guys
wouldn't have waited around to be hunted. They might have left clues, though.
Perhaps even a discarded, crumpled note offering a cash reward for his head, and
signed by a notorious crimelord. Or distinctive cigar stubs, monogrammed hankies...
personalized masks. Tracks of boots made by elven cobblers. Anything. Witnesses,
even.
There were no people on the street near the chicken ranch. It was full night
now, a bit chilly although there was a warm and slightly funky breeze from the marsh.
Corporal Brat Langerman said quietly, "Is this where it happened?"
"Yup."
"Well, I don't think they're here anymore."
Keel was about to agree, when a crossbow bolt appeared in the Corporal's arm.
The young man hissed, "Everybody down!"
The guardsmen hunkered against the wall of a hardware store, which didn't offer
anything resembling good cover except that they were in shadow there. Keel crouched a
little, but he knew he was a pretty big target, plus his sword gave off a faint
greenish glow. He looked around, searching the darkness for signs of their foes.
A shadow on top of a shaded walkway across the street shifted a little. Keel
pulled a weighted dart out of his pocket and hurled it. He was good at tavern darts,
but it was dark, the distance was too great, and he just wasn't lucky. The little
missile clattered against the shingles of the porch roof. There was a startled twitch
from the half-seen form. At that instant, Keel lunged across the street. His long
legs carried him across to the opposite shadows in three bounds. More bolts came out
of the darkness, one lodging in his calf, the others missing him altogether.
Now the Guardsmen had a good idea where their foes were, and it takes a while to
reload a crossbow. The four men charged, yelling wildly. Tucking his sword under his
arm, Keel grabbed one of the posts holding up the porch roof, strained, and dislodged
it. After a moment he yanked it out of the structure entirely. The roof sagged,
there was a yelp of surprise, and someone's foot appeared off the edge of it. Keel
grabbed him by the ankle and hauled him the rest of the way down.
There were brief sounds of fighting, then footsteps that rapidly receded down an
alley. Three Guardsmen raced off in pursuit. Keel's prisoner started to try to get
away, so the half-Shew tossed him up, grabbed him by the arms and bashed him against
the wall.
"Are you okay?" asked Brat, sheathing his sword.
"Took one in the leg, but it's not too bad I think," Keel said, shifting his
unconscious prisoner to one hand and bending to pick up his sword.
"I'll help you tie that one up," Brat said. "There's a dead one here. I think
there were two more." He grunted slightly, trying to reach something with his injured
arm. "Got some ties in my right-hand belt pouch. If you could get them for me?"
They bound the prisoner, then bandaged each other.
"What did they want?" asked the Corporal.
Keel shrugged. "No clue. Let's get him somewhere safe and we can ask him..."
He listened. "Your guys are coming back."
"Yeah."
The Guardsmen hadn't been able to track their assailants in the darkness, but at
least there were no further injuries. The group of them returned warily to the
courtyard of the Guard House, where a woman was smearing some kind of ointment on Old
Brown's wound. After the horse was bedded down in the stable, the Guardsmen led Keel
into their office, where there was a welcome scent of fresh coffee. The medic set
about binding Keel's wound and that of the Corporal, who turned out to be an extremely
handsome man. Keel remembered hearing that Queen Gemra required her Guardsmen to be
good looking. That didn't mean they weren't competent, though. Brat had done pretty
well.
The medic roused their prisoner with smelling salts. They all sat in the main
office, Corporal Langerman facing the miscreant, who was seated in a cushioned chair,
looking reasonably comfortable except for his bandaged head. "All right," said Brat.
"Now I want you to tell me that you're going to turn Queen's Evidence."
"Not on your life, pretty boy!" The man had, perhaps, some excuse for hard
feelings since he was more homely than not, with a crooked nose and eyes set too close
together. He and Keel looked shabby and ill-favored amongst all these gleamingly
handsome Guardsmen.
Keel leaned forward. "You guys shot my horse."
"Oh. Sorry, didn't mean to do that. We were just shooting at you."
"Why?"
"Glowing sword."
"What?"
"Duh, it's a magic sword! We saw it when you drew it in Delarq Tor, and figured
we could sell it so we followed you."
The half-Shew snorted. "The Dentless isn't magic. It was in a Chaos Gate for
five hundred years and it picked up some energy, that's all. All it does, is glow.
And cut things."
The bandit looked chagrined. "But... it's got to be magic."
"Ain't. Sorry kid."
After that, Keel was taken to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the Palace. Queen
Gemra was a definite babe, with long, silken black hair, a delicate pouty face, and
luscious curves. She asked him about his mission, which was to go to the Twisted
Lands and shut down a leaking Chaos Gate. He entertained her with the story of his
adventure on the Two-Shew Express, and she gave him a brown velvet cloak to show her
appreciation. She did not invite him to her bed, which was fine because his heart
belonged to another, always and forever.
* * * * *
This is a continuing adventure.
Watch for future chapters in the Bonsur and Home Guard newsletters!