DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER
Date : 06/25/2003 Duedate: 07/08/2003
LAPUR ARENA
DM-29 TURN-452
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
MR. YUCK
THE TAKEN (173)
(29-3994) [12-3-0,142]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
MR. YUCK POSITION IS EMPTY
THE TAKEN (173)
(29-3994) [12-3-0,142]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
MR. YUCK MR. YUCK
THE TAKEN (173) THE TAKEN (173)
(29-3994) [12-3-0,142] (29-3994) [12-3-0,142]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
THE TAKEN (173)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. THE TAKEN (173) 58
2. FORCE OF NATURE (312) 49 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
3. DEATH THREAT (376) 30 Unchartered Team
4. SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 27
5. CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 21 LORDS OF THE REICH (53)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 1 SHREW CAN IT BE NO (309) 51 29 5 63.8 1/ 3 THE TAKEN (173) 8 7 0
2/ 0 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 17 10 1 63.0 2/ 5 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 6 4 0
3- 2 METAL MINCERS (256) 492 333 12 59.6 3/ 2 EQUESTORS (158) 6 9 1
4/ 3 CROC FILES (374) 103 79 8 56.6 4/10 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 5 5 0
5/ 4 DEATH THREAT (376) 48 41 6 53.9 5/ 1 CROC FILES (374) 5 10 0
6/ 5 THE TAKEN (173) 576 514 29 52.8 6/ 9 DEATH THREAT (376) 4 2 1
7/ 6 VENUSIANS (321) 96 94 4 50.5 7/ 6 MEN (356) 4 5 0
8/ 7 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 217 233 19 48.2 8- 4 THE GUILD (208) 4 6 0
9/ 8 EQUESTORS (158) 417 470 31 47.0 9/ 0 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 3 0 0
10/10 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 130 152 10 46.1 10/11 VENUSIANS (321) 3 7 0
11- 9 THE GUILD (208) 496 581 20 46.1 11- 7 SHREW CAN IT BE NO (309) 2 0 0
12/12 MEN (356) 94 125 7 42.9 12/ 8 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 2 2 1
13/11 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 143 192 5 42.7 13/ 0 ECHL-EAST (313) 1 0 0
14/ 0 ECHL-EAST (313) 8 13 0 38.1 14-12 METAL MINCERS (256) 0 1 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[(> + -----:----- + <)] Revolt in Veastian #12 [(> + -----:----- + <)]H[(>
By Reverend Boz
Thystle led me across an alley where Ed and Threngir were waiting. The Harkene
and extra-large Shew nodded a greeting. There seemed to be no particular resentment
that A'Krill and I had nearly killed them in a duel a week earlier. Their wounds had
healed remarkably well and neither seemed hampered by his injuries.
"I think it's time you told me who you really are, Thystle," I said.
She cracked a mysterious smile. "Not buying the story about me being a farm
girl from the Shewish Forest, huh?" she answered my question with a question.
"You're not Harkene, you're Karnhorn," I stated. "I've known that since our
meeting with Emir Kyreses. You knew all the proper forms of greeting. I didn't know
half of them myself, but then I'm a commoner. Only a highborn Karnhorn could have
pulled that off. You've dyed your hair and had a few minor alterations done to your
face to make you look Harkene. Why?"
Thystle ran a hand across her short blond hair. "I had to shear off my long
black tresses to pass without suspicion in this city. The sacrifices I have to make
for the Empire! I am Lady Ryu of Karnhorn Intelligence. Perhaps your friend Jack
Wolfspider has mentioned me to you."
I searched my memory of conversations with Jack but could not recall her name
being spoken. "I don't think he has mentioned you," I answered. "What was your
connection with him?
"Jack isn't one to talk about his past. He and I were lovers once, engaged to
be married. I had to use him and his team as cover for a spying mission in Lapur. I
couldn't tell him about my job. Eventually it all came out. He couldn't forgive
what he thought was betrayal. He stormed out of my life in one of those fits of
self-righteous fury he's so famous for. He still loves me though. I'm certain of
that."
My heart sank to the ground. I had become very fond of Thystle and thought she
has some feeling for me. But if she was in love with my friend Jack then there was
no possibility of a romance between us. I tried to say something but words wouldn't
come.
Lady Ryu noticed my discomfiture and gave me a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Boz. In
my business I can't afford to love anyone--not you, not Jack, no one. Like my hair,
it's another sacrifice I have had to made to serve the Empire. I do like you very
much but that is something that's going to have to wait. Right now the Empire needs
our help and we've got to give that our full attention. Okay?"
"Sure," I needed shaking off the disappointment as best I could. "Tell me what
you need."
Ryu nodded and her manner became businesslike. "The Satrap is well aware of the
situation here in Veastian. But the war against the Eastern Invaders must take
priority. Only when they have been crushed and the sieges of our cities lifted will
we be able to turn our attention to the western part of our Empire. Then that
traitorous Emir in Kurukar will pay for his rebellion and the situation here in
Veastian will be stabilized. In fact, the Satrap has been besieged by letters, pleas
and petitions from the competing factions in this city--all of them claiming to be
working in the best interests of the Empire. As if they serve the Empire by ripping
the city to pieces! Anyway, the Satrap sent me along with one of our most powerful
wizards to assess the situation and solve it if we could."
"Are you talking about the wizard who hired you and these other gentlemen to rid
the city of Dwarves? What was that all about?" I asked recalling the incident. "And
wasn't the wizard killed in the Inn explosion?"
"Unfortunately yes," she replied. "You see he was using high level magic, a
spell of Location. Emir Kyreses had been imprisoned by Admiral Arkossa. We wanted
to find out where Kyreses was being held. Unfortunately, Dwarves radiate a strong
anti-magic field. The Location spell is very sensitive to anti-magic. Wherever
there was a Dwarf the spell was blocked out for a half mile radius. There aren't
very many Dwarves in Veastian, but still much of the city was blacked out from the
spell because of them. We couldn't locate Kyreses. In desperation the wizard hired
Ed and Threngir here to clear the Dwarves out of town. I posed as a hired thug and
accompanied them. We were just looking to scare them out; we really didn't want to
harm them if possible. Just our luck the first Dwarf we ran into was the Lord
Protector A'Krill and you were there to take his side. You were too much for Ed and
Threngir and I decided the two of you were more valuable alive so I didn't kill you."
"Kill us?!" I chortled thinking she had made a joke. "I realize you weren't
fighting to your full ability, but you wouldn't have stood a chance against A'Krill
and me."
There was a blur and the next thing I knew Ryu's epee rested uncomfortably
against my throat. Another blur and the slender sword had returned to it scabbard.
I stood dumbfounded. Never in my years in the arena had I witnessed speed and
precision anything like what had just happened.
"Think again," said Ryu. "The trouble with you gladiators who come up through
Greywand's system is that you never even consider that there might be other training
systems available more powerful than the one you know. I have been taught in a very
different school of fighting."
"No amount of training can make a fighter as fast as that. Your blade has to
have some powerful magic worked into it to make it react like that."
"Maybe," replied Ryu with a mysterious smirk. "But magic or not, you'd have
been just as dead if I'd decided to kill you. You were my conduit into the Jaydeite
Temple. I had gathered from my sources that the Jaydeites were planning a rescue of
Kyreses. I wanted to plant myself in the temple and find out why. So I surrendered
meekly and demurely and turned on the charm. Not only did that get medical attention
for Ed and Threngir, but I got myself a job as Temple housekeeper as well. From
there I could snoop to my heart's content."
"What about the wizard? The explosion that destroyed the inn and killed all
those people?"
"Since we hadn't cleared the Dwarves out of town I can only guess that he tried
raising the magical power he put into his spell to an unwisely high level to try to
counteract their presence and it backfired. The explosion came as a shock to me.
Such a waste!"
I sighed. The plot was taking too many twists and turns for me to keep up with
it. "All right. Now what about the Jaydeite Temple assisting in Kyreses' escape. I
was part of the Temple hierarchy and knew absolutely nothing about it."
"No, it seems to have been the idea of Father Vartan. He recruited his friend
A'Krill to help him and they succeeded. As to how and why, you'll have to ask him."
I rubbed my hand wearily over my face. I was getting answers to my questions at
a fast and furious pace and the answers only led to more questions. Only one more
question came to mind and I asked it. "Why does the Satrap continue to support
Kyreses over Arkossa? Kyreses was caught smuggling black kughas. Under law, Arkossa
was required to depose him for that crime and take command of the city. It seem to
me that he had no choice."
Ryu smiled sadly and cooed, "Poor Reverend Boz. So gullible. So innocent of
the way the Empire really works. Do you think the Satrap was unaware that Kyreses
was smuggling black kughas? The smugglers here in Veastian only pose as a criminal
enterprise for appearances sake. In reality it is a business wholly controlled by
the Empire. How do you think we financed the war all these years? Through the sale
of swamprice? The Empire sells black kughas. The Empire also condemns its sale.
Why? Because that drives both the demand and price far beyond reason, and we control
the supply. The stupid sons and daughters of our aristocrats spend fortunes to
obtain black kughas for use in the Pleasure Palaces. That way they spend their
wealth on drugs rather than intriguing and buying political alliances that could be
harmful to the Empire. And the beauty of it is that the proceeds go right back into
the Karnhorn Treasury. Making the drug illegal is good business. But there are
always going to be people like you and Arkossa who buy anti-drug propaganda all the
way. I feel sorry for Arkossa, I really do. He was placed in a difficult situation
and has done his best with it. Unfortunately his best is not what the Empire needs
right now. Kyreses needs to be restored and Arkossa removed. I mean really removed.
Dead. And I need your help to do it."
I really didn't like the sound of what I was hearing.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Charter Cities #88 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Monuntial:
The Usurper's guards hadn't expected their prey to come out fighting, and that
moment's shock and hesitation was time they couldn't spare. 'Steal their
initiative'? Agro snorted as he slaughtered the nearest guard. These fools had
simply dropped it, if they'd ever had any. As gladiators, they would have been
hopeless...and he decided that the closing of Monuntial's arena had benefited his
side in ways nobody had expected. He and the group behind worked half-way around the
arena before they met with a real challenge.
The real challenge was half a dozen guardsmen who dropped down from the
Usurper's box. They were armored, and they were skilled. All Agro had to pit
against that was the numbers and desperate determination of his followers. The crowd
loved it, probably found it a lot more exciting than lions against unarmed prey. And
speaking of lions...where were they? If someone let them out, it could add a lot of
confusion to the situation. Better if that didn't happen, but nothing he could do
about it right now.
The Usurper's men knew their business, Agro could see it in the way they looked
over the situation, identified himself as the core of the problem, and started after
him, ignoring all others. Then he had no more time to think about things. Thrust
and parry, riposte and dodge. Slash. Duck and roll. Thrust again. Didn't dodge
fast enough, but it wasn't a serious cut. Yet. These men were good. It seemed to
go on and on, testing his stamina to the limit. Slash, slash, and parry. How did
the guards stand it? Thrust, parry, dodge. They must be cooking in that armor.
Someone shouted for him to drop flat on the count of five. It took him a few
seconds to realize the command had been in Isle cant, a language born of the cross-
fertilization of Fratsfan, Kannish, and Tathanit, and little known outside the
gladiatorial community. Probably a friend, then. When someone yelled "FIVE" he
dropped.
And an explosion of...light? Fire? Some kind of blast flashed over his head,
taking down anyone still standing. The Usurper's guards, the regular guards, most of
his followers who were still standing. He didn't want to think about Bindi; she was
still a Basic gladiator and hadn't been exposed to Isle cant....
There was a second explosion on the heels of the first, but it was dark and cold
and expanded in a volume instead of a plane. Counterattack? This was a lot of magic
flying around for the time and conditions. Agro recalled that someone had told him
Nishtar, the Eastern ally of the Usurper, was a mage. Maybe a reckless mage, then.
And it probably meant that the Usurper, or at least his ally, had survived the first
blast.
When the air stopped shaking, Agro raised his head and looked around cautiously.
He couldn't hear anything, but that was probably because the two blasts had numbed
his ears. After a look at the stands, he decided temporary deafness was a blessing.
He gathered his limbs under himself and lurched to his feet. A few others down on
the sands were doing likewise--one of them, he saw with relief, was Bindi. If any
were guards, they'd lost their tell-tale armor. He gestured for her to go toward the
exit and started in that direction himself.
>)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #62 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<
Zukal and vicinity:
It was harder to get Veleks into the boat than Ghenis had expected. Dead, it
might have been awkward, but alive...the little thief turned suddenly hysterical,
shrieking and weeping, trashing wildly, and begging not to be given to "the burning
eyes and flashing teeth." Ghenis finally had to knock Veleks out so that he and
Harlund drag him into the rowboat.
"He's nuts," Harlund growled, leaning into his oars as he drove the boat back
toward the shore. "Burning eyes and flashing teeth. Sounds like some kind of kid's
nightmare. He do some kind of drugs?"
"Veleks? No. He's got a few bad habits, but not drugs. He must have seen
something real...but maybe not really what he thinks he saw."
"He couldn't've seen something like that, not on the beach he couldn't. There
aren't any monsters in the woods around here." Harlund paused and looked around
uneasily, looked down into the water, which was filling with the shadows of sunset
faster than the sky was. "Might be different if he'd been in a boat to start with,"
the beach walker muttered. "He might've seen something over the water...."
"Veleks can't swim and had no boat. He was not on the water," Ghenis said
firmly. "Besides, I found what are probably his tracks. He was on the shore road
and left it to run toward the beach, and I do mean run--flat out. Something
terrified him. Veleks is no hero, but he wouldn't run without a reason."
Harlund opened his mouth to argue further, then looked at Ghenis and shut it
again. Smart move.
"Just get us to shore, man. Then I'll pay you, and you can go home. It isn't
your problem."
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Ghenis had the idea that it would have been harder, maybe impossible, to get rid
of Harlund at any time earlier in the day. But it was sunset, and the beach walker
seemed to have a strong aversion to being out on the shore at night. Which probably
meant that the gladiator would be wise to get himself and Veleks off the shore before
dark, too. Besides, he didn't want to meet his henchman's "burning eyes and flashing
teeth" with Veleks on his hands either unconscious or hysterical.
He draped the little thief over the saddle of his rented horse and glared at the
beast. It probably wasn't a bad horse, as horses went, but neither was it
outstanding in any way--it seemed unlikely, for instance, that it would take to
carrying double. Which meant he himself was going to have to walk. He toyed again
with the idea of buying a horse, a really GOOD horse. But, as at other times, he
also thought about how much it cost to keep a horse in the city, whether he was
riding it or not. His resources weren't infinite. And he didn't really leave the
city and NEED a horse that often, so it wouldn't be a savings, not really.
By the time Ghenis had reached this point, a familiar one, in his thoughts, it
was twilight and he was back on the coast road, leading the horse. He paused before
stepping out into the open. By the evidence of the tracks, Veleks had been on the
coast road in the dark when he met his monster. Maybe it would be better to get
under immediate cover instead of heading straight back to Zukal tonight. He'd passed
an abandoned farmstead--courtesy of the invasion, most likely--on his way to the
beach to meet Harlund. It wasn't any palace, but it would provide shelter and a
defensive position, and it was nearby, a mile, maybe a mile and a half away. He set
off in that direction, crossing the road and plunging into the brush along an
overgrown track.
The farmstead was as Ghenis remembered it, a stone house with half a roof, two
or three wooden sheds that had mostly collapsed, a cluster of unpruned fruit trees.
He led the horse right into what had been the main room of the house and dumped
Veleks onto the ground. By the dark powers, the little thief had better have
something useful to report after all this trouble! Veleks could sleep now, but by
morning he'd better be coherent.
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Ghenis sat over the fire he'd made from scraps of lumber and watched the full
moon ride across the sky. The night seemed long for the time of year, but that was
subjective, he knew. It was about midnight now, with the moonlight turning the
landscape into silver and soot. There had been owls hooting earlier, some other kind
of night birds, rustlings outside the farmhouse that had nothing to do with the wind,
but the night was silent now. He touched the amulet he wore under his shirt,
wondering if he would see Veleks' monster tonight. That would be...interesting.
A howl? There were wolves around the delta country, they'd come down out of the
hills after the invaders had devastated the area. A chorus of howls, must be a pack.
His horse was moving restlessly. It had a right to be uneasy, a pack of wolves was
no joke. Ghenis wished briefly that he had a crossbow, but he didn't. He drew his
sword and put more wood on the fire, checked to make sure that the remaining walls of
the old house would protect him from the sides and rear.
Another howl, closer, almost a hound-like baying. Other wolf voices answering.
Definitely a pack, hunting in the moonlight. He touched his amulet again. The dark
powers would not protect him if he stupidly put himself in the way of danger. Which
he had not done tonight, he had prudently gotten off the road and taken a defensible
shelter. With one hand on his amulet and the other on his sword, he waited.
Shadows moved in ways that wind and trees could not account for. They gathered
around the shell of the farmhouse; he glimpsed them through the empty doorway and the
gaps in the wall. The shadows blinked at him with eyes that were not burning but
cold as the moon overhead. Wolves. Big wolves, given how far off the ground those
pale eyes were. A lot of big wolves. But they weren't trying to get at him. More
kept arriving, causing an ongoing stir of shadows. He didn't try to count them.
Didn't really want to know how many wolves there were out there.
And then, suddenly, there was something else, with eyes of flame and a spear
tipped with icy moonlight. Human in shape, more or less, and mounted on something
that might be a horse but probably wasn't. It lifted a horn and blew, and the sound
was a wave of fear.
Veleks' monster.
>)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #63 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<
Riztab:
With all the snow of the winter just past, the lake was higher than usual. At
least two feet higher, Spymaster Torric guessed, looking at the water that now stood
waist high in the doorway of the old arena records building. He hadn't liked going
in there to hunt for old records when the water was barely up to his knees. Now...
no. No way he was going in there; anything could be hidden by that dark water.
"What idiot made the decision to leave the records down there, anyway?" Jorja,
manager of Sweet Magic, asked. "It's so stupid!"
Torric shrugged. "Gladiators and managers don't have the copyright on stupid,"
he said mildly. "I'm not sure if it was Arenamaster Rillion or First Citizen Makrok
who made the decision, but the other one concurred in it."
"Sounds like maybe the both had something to hide," Garfield, manager of Arena
Felines, murmured. "I wonder what?"
"Don't we all," Torric responded. That Rillion tA and Makrok should have a
secret they had succeeded in hiding offended him. He was supposed to be able to find
things out, and so far he hadn't scratched the surface on that.
"Are the records even THERE?" Garfield asked. "Maybe Rillion tA just said
they're stored down here to keep you from finding out that they're gone."
"They were here a little while ago." Torric frowned. "Four years? Five?
Something like that, I think--but I know the records still existed back then,
whenever, because I consulted them to find out about the earliest teams here. For
Sleepy, that was. Then something came up--the invasion, I think? Anyway, I didn't
go back. But--" He jumped as a crazy howl floated over the water. "I hate coming
here so late in the day," he muttered, glancing anxiously to the west. The sun was
slipping behind a bank of clouds.
"If somebody's messing around in the records storage, late in the day is the
time to watch for him. Be glad we can't see in the dark and watch after sunset!"
Jorja advised.
"Huh. I wish now I hadn't mentioned that Jaguar saw someone down this way."
Garfield eyed the dark water with disfavor. "Better I should have stayed at the
guildhouse and whacked him a couple of times for wandering around where he shouldn't
be."
The howl came again, from far out over the lake. A chorus, several voices
saluting the coming night.
"Loons," Torric said uneasily. "We always have some loons on this lake.
Horrible birds."
"It sounds more like wolves to me," Jorja countered, "or even hounds."
"Not on the lake!"
"I know, but--"
Another chorus of howls, this time accompanied by a deep-throated hunting horn.
"It IS hounds!" Garfield backed up a couple of steps. "I don't like dogs."
"And I don't like anything that can hunt on the surface of the lake," Jorja
agreed. She backed up with him. Spymaster Torric was already behind them and edging
farther back. "But I'd like to know what it is."
"It's us cats that are supposed to be curious," Garfield reminded her.
"Yeah, but it kills you cats. Don't want that--who'd I have to talk to?" She
stiffened, staring out over the water intently. With the sun sinking into the clouds
and the forest shadowing the lake anyway, it was hard to be sure, but she thought
something--bigger than any water bird--was moving out there.
The horn blew once more, a long note with more chilling menace in it than
anything either manager had heard. The horn call was backed by the baying of the
unnatural pack. The twilight took the shape of a pack of tall hounds and three lean
horsemen sweeping forward across the glassy surface of the water.
"They're headed for the old records building," Garfield noted in a steady voice.
"I don't think I want to hang around to welcome them."
"Right." Jorja joined his retreat. She shivered a little in the night air.
"This calls for strong drink in a warm, crowded tavern."
* }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *
---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): TREMERE of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 466): LIFE SENTANCE of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 462): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 462): MANAGER TC'S of IT'S JUST WRONG (LHI, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 460): COL SALOMON of 82ND ILLINOIS (Otto X. Frothingslosh)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 459): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz,
acting mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 451): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 448): LIGHTNING of HARBINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 402): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): BINGE N PURGE of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 327): HAIRY TUB of MY BATHROOM (Nuln, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 307): VLADIMIR TALTOS of BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): PUNCH DRUNK of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 352): BLACKMYTH of SHADOWS from ARUAK CITY (
Top Teams
---------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): none
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 466): ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 462): UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 462): WAY OF THE BLADE 1 (Vhagar, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 460): WHEN EAGLES DARE (Talon Volksie, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 459): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 451): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 448): THE STORMLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 402): KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 327): GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 307): BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): none
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 352): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): INDIGO of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 465): WILD BILL of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 462): IMA MAROON of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.)
GINGER BROWN of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 459): SEAR ICECAP of LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
BILLY LILLY of DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
(turn 228): NIGHTSHADE of CRYPT KNIGHTS (?, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.)
(turn 445): DRY KEG of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 185): DR. NO-NOOKIE of MASTER BLASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 133): KAMIKAZE of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Mr. Yuck is green! M r. Yuck is mean! When you see him you'll know quick,
thing marked Yuck make you sick. Sick! Sick! Mr. Yuck is green! Mr. Yuck is mean!
-- The People's Champion, Mr. Yuck
SPY REPORT
Good day, in LAPUR a quiet thief gets rich, but a quiet spymaster gets poor. So
bring me ale and harken to my tidbits of news. It seems the training can make the
difference, as CROC FILES is pushed out of top team by THE TAKEN, who came from 3rd
with a 3-2-0 this turn. Now keep the taverns open late tonight, for there are
sorrows to drown for CROC FILES, whose 0-5-0 this turn dropped them by 4 into 5th.
FORCE OF NATURE stable has parlayed this turn's 3-2-0 into a 6 space move up the
rankings. This brings them up to 4th place. Good work, guys! The DEATH THREAT
guild has had a 3-1-1 turn and deserves to be watched in the future. You never know
where this kind of thing can lead. BLUEY challenged for the Duelmastership this
turn, attempting to dethrone THE TAKEN's warrior. Defending its title for another
turn, MR. YUCK kept CROC FILES' warrior, BLUEY, from claiming the throne. By the
way, was that our Duelmaster that I saw last night, cramped under the table at The
Burning Tree?
He who challenges well, fights well. He who avoids without cause, shall lose
for good reasons. My mama told me that one. I also notice that the EQUESTORS stable
was the most avoided team this turn. Come on LAPUR, what are you afraid of? And
avoiding EQUESTORS more than any other team we find BLACK SAMURAI. LAPUR, are we
going to accept, or respect this sort of thing? The most challenged warrior this
turn was EQUESTORS' warrior SCORPUS. More fighters challenged him than challenged
the Duelmaster! In a brave attempt, BUZZARD from THE TAKEN challenged up 20 points
to fight GOLDIE from the CROC FILES stable. BUZZARD perhaps got his just desserts,
seeing as he defeated GOLDIE and ended up with 88 recognition points.
A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once. Wise men know this to
be true. The Burning Tree declares a free round for SUE NAMI and all of FORCE OF
NATURE, for having revenged EQUESTORS' SCORPUS for killing one of their comrades.
We'd like to remind certain teams not to rob the graves of their enemies. You know
who you are; and it's considered rude.
Remember, blood on the purple robe does not change it from a purple robe. Dare
to fight bravely. Well, I'm burning daylight here in LAPUR and I've a long road
ahead of me. Happy Trails. Until you see my quill in LAPUR again, farewell--
Alarond the Scribe
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MR. YUCK 3994 12 3 0 142 THE TAKEN (173)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-PYGMY SHREW 3743 11 6 2 136 SHREW CAN IT BE NOW (309)
PAUL 4342 19 15 0 101 MEN (356)
BLUEY 4317 24 18 0 96 CROC FILES (374)
JUVENAL 4351 19 10 3 96 EQUESTORS (158)
-ALUMINUM AWL 4238 8 5 1 91 METAL MINCERS (256)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BUZZARD 3995 13 2 0 88 THE TAKEN (173)
MONTY 4391 9 8 2 81 CROC FILES (374)
-ENOSHIMA 4349 16 3 0 80 BLACK SAMURAI (166)
-MATSURI 4256 14 10 0 79 BLACK SAMURAI (166)
-SILVER SCINTERER 4211 11 6 1 74 METAL MINCERS (256)
COBRA 4355 8 5 0 71 DEATH THREAT (376)
FURY 3872 7 3 0 70 ECHL-EAST (313)
GOLDIE 4395 9 6 0 69 CROC FILES (374)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GALBA 4389 11 7 0 65 EQUESTORS (158)
-SAMPO 3897 8 5 1 60 DEEP 13 (334)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-PLATINUM PEENER 4298 7 5 1 54 METAL MINCERS (256)
SCRAPPA 4411 5 1 1 54 CROC FILES (374)
HOPE 3988 10 6 0 52 THE TAKEN (173)
SUE NAMI 4097 6 12 0 52 FORCE OF NATURE (312)
BINDI 4422 3 2 0 52 CROC FILES (374)
-CHROME CRIMPER 4296 11 5 0 51 METAL MINCERS (256)
-HANGMAN 4357 7 4 2 51 DEATH THREAT (376)
GERBIL MASTER 3983 6 3 0 51 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
-LEAST SHREW 3513 5 3 1 41 SHREW CAN IT BE NOW (309)
SCORPUS 4393 11 5 2 40 EQUESTORS (158)
HILARUS 4387 10 9 1 40 EQUESTORS (158)
ALAN 4397 7 8 0 40 MEN (356)
LEMMING LEADER 3981 4 1 0 40 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
-SHORT-TAILED SHREW 3747 5 3 0 38 SHREW CAN IT BE NOW (309)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
TALL TREE 4380 6 15 0 33 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
OTARU 4245 5 4 1 33 BLACK SAMURAI (166)
-KINSORROW 4051 5 2 0 32 THE GUILD (208)
-HOPE'S END 4031 5 5 0 30 THE GUILD (208)
-SOUTHEASTERN SHREW 3719 4 1 0 30 SHREW CAN IT BE NOW (309)
LUCIUS 4406 7 3 2 29 EQUESTORS (158)
-CHUBON 4381 2 3 0 28 BLACK SAMURAI (166)
DONKEY DICTATOR 3982 5 1 1 27 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
DARK ABYSS 4417 3 1 1 27 DEATH THREAT (376)
-VAGAN 4082 3 3 0 27 THE GUILD (208)
-INCONEL INDENTER 4324 3 1 1 25 METAL MINCERS (256)
JUMPING SPIDER 4431 2 0 0 25 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
SHAWN 4405 6 5 1 24 MEN (356)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MISTY WATERS 4428 1 1 0 21 FORCE OF NATURE (312)
TEMMURO 4237 5 4 1 20 BLACK SAMURAI (166)
LYRA 4320 5 5 0 20 VENUSIANS (321)
RAGING FIRE 4407 2 0 0 19 DEATH THREAT (376)
ASTRIAL 4328 3 1 0 17 VENUSIANS (321)
DOWN POUR 4323 2 5 0 16 FORCE OF NATURE (312)
SUGARPLUM 4432 2 0 0 16 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
WHIRLWIND 4325 2 4 0 14 FORCE OF NATURE (312)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-CINA 4426 1 2 0 14 THE GUILD (208)
TYE FOON 4433 1 0 0 14 FORCE OF NATURE (312)
FREE FALL 4400 0 1 0 9 DEATH THREAT (376)
-ZARGAS 4425 1 2 0 5 THE GUILD (208)
SOLAR FLARE 4427 1 1 0 4 VENUSIANS (321)
BLACK TIGER 4436 0 1 0 1 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
DELPHINA 4434 0 1 0 1 VENUSIANS (321)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
CONVICTED THIEF 366 0 1 0 1 DARK ABYSS 4417 452 NONE
BADGER 4410 3 4 1 CARDOW HUNTERS 359 OTARU 4245 451
STARRY NITE 4014 11 14 1 FORCE OF NATURE 312 SCORPUS 4393 450 JUST REV
BONE 4092 1 4 0 THE TAKEN 173 STONE GOLEM 391 452 NONE
SIGH 4435 0 1 0 THE TAKEN 173 ARENAMASTER KYALL 388 452 NONE
SYNIA 4327 0 4 0 VENUSIANS 321 ARENAMASTER KYALL 388 452 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Vagan -- Interesting novice fight. I would like to try again when we are more
experienced. -- Whirlwind
Hope's End -- I am thinking of changing my name to Hope's End End. -- Downpour
Guido -- I enjoyed that round of combat with you. Fighting your warriors is always
educational for me. -- Storm Front
Scrappa -- You shredded my armor, what am I going to wear next round? Oh well, I
will be bloodfeuding Scorpus next round anyway...armor will most likely not help.
Storm Front told me I can either bloodfeud Scorpus or partake in the Dark Arena...
fine choices, if you ask me. -- Sue Nami
Scorpus -- While I do not have the warriors to give you a real challenge in a
bloodfeud, I do plan on controlling your next four turns. Good luck in your future
contests. -- Storm Front
Solar Flare -- Mean mean Venusian. -- Misty Waters
Lapur -- Ahh, it is nice to be back on the sands again. I have had to replace my
girls that had been chosen to be Lord Protectors and it has been hard. I hope my new
warriors are up to the challenge, I am sure you will all let me know. -- Venus,
Manager of Venusians
Badger -- Venus warned me that I was out of shape, it took you to strike that fact
home. I hope to give you more of a challenge when next we meet. -- Lyra
Misty Waters -- Well done, I was sweating it all the way to the end. -- Solar Flare
What is it with the gladiators of Lapur, anyway? They have a slow day and say, "Oh,
well, let's go kill some Cardow Hunters." Do you know what this kind of thing does
to my recruiting program? -- Uncle Wolf, Cardow Hunters
Vagan -- Considering the way things have been going for this team lately, thanks for
not killing me. Although I figure it's my awfulness as a gladiator that's protecting
me--twenty fights and no ratings, who'd bother to kill ME? -- Tall Tree
Otaru -- Now there's an oddity, how could I call on the gods for strength to finish
the fight after you cut my throat? I must have been demented. -- Ghost of Badger
Hey, at that point it couldn't hurt, right? And I'm sure it was more of a
bubbling sound than an actual CALL anyway. -- Ed.
Bone -- Gotcha! -- Jumping Spider
P.S. I like this stuff.
Zargas -- Poor boy, you should learn from this not to stay out carousing late on the
night before the fights. -- Sugarplum
P.S. Although I do know some people who can't bring themselves to enter the arena
unless they're, um, not in full possession of their senses. I hope you're not like
that.
Bone -- Why shouldn't they like you? Are you mean-spirited, or do you have
disgusting habits which you're concealing? -- Tall Tree
Goldie -- Convinced now? Hee hee. -- Mr. Yuck
Scorpus -- This is sooo fun! -- Buzzard
Shawn -- Well, that was a nice fight. -- Hope
Jumping Spider -- Ack! I think I have to prepare myself for the Dark Arena now! --
Bone
Spartucus -- Just like old times. *grin* -- Stillgard
Sensei Jan -- Well spoken swordsister. Salute! -- Jack Wolfspider
Everybody sticking around for Slaughterhouse 2? We have some prizes now. One member
of the winning team learns his or her or its favorites. Plus some rollups and stuff.
Donations are always appreciated. -- Jack Wolfspider
27 May 2003
A note to everyone regarding manager names and manager lists -- If you're running a
team incognito, all you have to do is let me know and I won't put your name on any
manager lists. It has seemed though, that more people want their names listed, even
if they do not announce themselves, than the other way around. Also, I do maintain
the list more or less by hand and errors do creep in. You have but to say I've made
an error and no one will be the wiser (except thee and me, of course). -- The Saint,
keeper of lists
30 May 2003
Duelmasters Friends and Friendly Foes -- I am returning to the United States for the
summer. Please direct any Snailmail to:
Devon Hagy
Open Skies Ministries
Att: Hammer
1515 E 7th St
Okmulgee, OK 74447
USA
Bro De is the founder and president of Open Skies Ministries [Prison Ministry] and a
newcomer to the world of Duelmasters. We minister together when I am in the area.
See you on the sands!
-- Daryl P Holloman aka Hammer
Flower Hammerz DM 28
Casino Hammerz DM 33
Fish Hammerz DM 54
3 June 2003
The Company of Brothers want to take this opportunity to formally introduce
ourselves to all players. Our play is NOT based on smack, rudeness, or anything less
than fair play (well...as fair as it gets!) and improving the knowledge base of the
game and the sharing of experimentation and information. We are not concerned with
personal politics, ideals, etc. We are players who enjoy the game.
Currently, our membership includes:
Asmo Dius, Baphomet, and Fahkry.
We wish to welcome our newest member...Suiside. May the gods smile upon you and
victory rest well on your team. Any who wish to join us may contact one of our
members for info.
4 June 2003
ANNOUNCING THE RETURN OF STORMCROWE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
The last Stormcrowe Slaughterhouse was one of the closest and most exciting
contests ever held in Alastari. Such an epic demands a sequel. Therefore, Master
Darque and Jack Wolfspider are pleased to announce the return of the Stormcrowe
Slaughterhouse.
Where? Stormcrowe DM 45 (slow). When? The Slaughterhouse returns on Turn 207,
due August 19. How can you get into the action? Bring a team (one per entrant
please) to arena 45 and announce your intention to join the contest in the Personals.
Rules: This time around the rules are very simple. Each warrior win against a
higher rated opponent (one or more points higher in the ratings) brings you 10
points, against even rated opponent 7 points, lower rated 5 points. Wins against
NPCs or by a warrior who downchallenges are worth 0 points. Points are doubled for
kills. All warriors in the arena whether participating in the Slaughterhouse or not
are fair game. Points are totaled weekly, and the contestant whose team has racked
up the most points at the end of 10 turns is declared Slaughterhouse Champion.
Prizes: To be announced; we're still talking with RSI about it. Figure it will
be something pretty good. But hey, who needs prizes when the honor of being
Slaughterhouse Champion awaits!
More info: Master Darque, MasterDarqueDM@aol.com, or Jack Wolfspider,
russtulp@aol.com. Or diplo Darque Forces (428) or Dynastic (433) in Arena 45.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
SYNIA was butchered by ARENAMASTER KYALL in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
BONE was dealt death by STONE GOLEM in a exciting 3 minute gruesome Dark Arena duel.
SIGH was murdered by ARENAMASTER KYALL in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
SUE NAMI won victory over SCORPUS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Bloodfeud brawl.
BLUEY was savagely defeated by MR. YUCK in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge Title fight.
MONTY lost to PAUL in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge fight.
BUZZARD overpowered GOLDIE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
SCRAPPA was defeated by COBRA in a 2 minute gruesome Challenge melee.
JUVENAL won victory over DEADLY ASSASSIN in a popular 1 minute uneven duel.
GALBA was viciously subdued by DEADLY ASSASSIN in a popular 2 minute gory duel.
FURY savagely defeated BINDI in a exciting 1 minute brutal veteran vs. novice melee.
HILARUS was bested by ALAN in a 1 minute conflict.
GERBIL MASTER devastated TALL TREE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute gory one-sided battle.
HOPE overcame OTARU in a 2 minute gory conflict.
SHAWN was vanquished by LEMMING LEADER in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
DONKEY DICTATOR won victory over DOWN POUR in a 3 minute fray.
TEMMURO was beaten by LUCIUS in a 1 minute brawl.
LYRA was devastated by MISTY WATERS in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
DARK ABYSS executed CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute one-sided match.
WHIRLWIND was beaten by JUMPING SPIDER in a popular 1 minute match.
ASTRIAL overcame BLACK TIGER in a 2 minute amateur's competition.
RAGING FIRE overpowered DELPHINA in a 1 minute uneven fight.
SOLAR FLARE was demolished by TYE FOON in a 1 minute uneven bout.
SUGARPLUM vanquished FREE FALL in a 3 minute mismatched fray.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 12 TOTAL PARRY 20 - 12 - 0 63 |
|BASHING ATTACK 7 BASHING ATTACK 27 - 23 - 2 54 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 5 LUNGING ATTACK 43 - 37 - 8 54 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 5 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 6 - 0 50 |
|AIMED BLOW 4 SLASHING ATTACK 14 - 15 - 1 48 |
|TOTAL PARRY 4 STRIKING ATTACK 18 - 20 - 0 47 |
|WALL OF STEEL 3 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 8 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 AIMED BLOW 6 - 8 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 5 - 1 38 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 4 - 0 33 |
Turn 452 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 1 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 1 - 2 3 TOTAL PARRY
PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 2 - 5 2 STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 3 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 4 2 LUNGING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK 8 - 4 STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 4 2 BASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 2 - 2 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 1 SLASHING ATTACK
1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK MR. YUCK 3994 12 3 0 142 THE TAKEN (173)
LUNGING ATTACK PAUL 4342 19 15 0 101 MEN (356)
TOTAL PARRY BLUEY 4317 24 18 0 96 CROC FILES (374)
BASHING ATTACK JUVENAL 4351 19 10 3 96 EQUESTORS (158)
PARRY-LUNGE FURY 3872 7 3 0 70 ECHL-EAST (313)
AIMED BLOW HOPE 3988 10 6 0 52 THE TAKEN (173)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is MR. YUCK 3994. The most popular warrior this turn
was MR. YUCK 3994. The ten other most popular fighters were BONE 4092, HOPE 3988,
COBRA 4355, FURY 3872, GERBIL MASTER 3983, PAUL 4342, ALAN 4397, DOWN POUR 4323,
JUMPING SPIDER 4431, and RAGING FIRE 4407.
The least popular fighter this week was FREE FALL 4400. The other ten least popular
fighters were SOLAR FLARE 4427, DELPHINA 4434, LYRA 4320, DONKEY DICTATOR 3982, SHAWN
4405, OTARU 4245, HILARUS 4387, BINDI 4422, SIGH 4435, and SYNIA 4327.