DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/09/2003    Duedate: 07/22/2003

LAPUR ARENA

DM-29    TURN-453

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

MR. YUCK
THE TAKEN (173)
(29-3994) [13-3-0,155]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

MR. YUCK                       POSITION IS EMPTY
THE TAKEN (173)                
(29-3994) [13-3-0,155]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

MR. YUCK                       HANGMAN
THE TAKEN (173)                DEATH THREAT (376)
(29-3994) [13-3-0,155]         (29-4357) [8-4-3,65]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE TAKEN (173)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. DEATH THREAT (376)          55
2. CROC FILES (374)            52      SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
3. THE TAKEN (173)             35      Unchartered Team
4. VENUSIANS (321)             26
5. FORCE OF NATURE (312)       24       (153)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)     18  12  1 60.0   1/ 1 THE TAKEN (173)           9  6 0
 2/ 4 CROC FILES (374)         106  81  9 56.7   2/ 6 DEATH THREAT (376)        8  1 2
 3/ 5 DEATH THREAT (376)        53  41  7 56.4   3/ 8 THE GUILD (208)           6  4 0
 4/ 6 THE TAKEN (173)          579 516 29 52.9   4/ 4 FORCE OF NATURE (312)     5  4 0
 5/ 7 VENUSIANS (321)           99  96  6 50.8   5/ 5 CROC FILES (374)          5 10 1
 6/ 8 BLACK SAMURAI (166)      219 233 19 48.5   6/ 3 EQUESTORS (158)           5 10 0
 7/ 9 EQUESTORS (158)          419 473 31 47.0   7/12 BLACK SAMURAI (166)       4  2 1
 8/10 FORCE OF NATURE (312)    132 154 10 46.2   8/ 9 SUPERIOR FARCES (344)     4  2 0
 9/11 THE GUILD (208)          499 583 20 46.1   9/10 VENUSIANS (321)           4  6 2
10/12 MEN (356)                 94 128  7 42.3  10/ 2 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)      4  8 0
11/13 CARDOW HUNTERS (359)     143 196  5 42.2  11/ 7 MEN (356)                 3  6 0
12-14 ECHL-EAST (313)            8  13  0 38.1  12-13 ECHL-EAST (313)           1  0 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[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #64 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Ibizond, Korga, and in between:

     The sun was low in the sky, less than an hour from setting, Fist of Kjarran
calculated.  He glanced at his companions, a hastily assembled group of gladiators
from Murska and hunters from Ibizond.  They had all heard of the killer that stalked
this stretch of road at night--Cadal had insisted on telling them, just to make sure
they all knew, which Fist thought was a mistake--and they were nervous.  Well, it was
time for them to turn back, and their numbers should protect them from attack.
Cadal, with Aghatamar and Zilla, were somewhere ahead, waiting in ambush to attack
the killer if the killer attacked him, Fist of Kjarran.  Not a bad plan, he conceded
privately, even if it had come from a Murskan semi-barbarian.  The man was almost as
good as a true Karnhorn in his thinking....  But Cadal hadn't taken into account the
possibility that the killer might take one look at him and sheer off.  Fist caressed
the hilt of the sword at his side.  Even if the killer had never heard of him, the
Lord Protector knew that he was an impressive, even daunting, sight.  A stir among
his companions drew his attention outward again.
     "About time we turned back," one of the men said.  He seemed to be the leader,
what was his name...Finn, that was it.  "Most of these people aren't Lord Protectors,
and if the killer gets them, they're just plain dead."
     Fist nodded.  "Yes, you should have time to get back to Ibizond before dark," he
agreed.  "And we certainly don't need more deaths along here."
     They all came to a stop.  "Thing is, I don't like leaving you on your own," Finn
went on.  He looked uncomfortable about the whole situation, but of course he had no
belief in Kjarran to sustain him.  "I could stay...."
     "A generous offer," Fist responded, clapping him on the back.  It was good to be
reminded that even non-believers had courage and honor.  "But I'm supposed to be
alone, to be tempting bait for the killer.  That is the way it's planned, you know.
We can't change the plan at this late hour!"
     "I know," Finn agreed gloomily, "but I don't like it.  Well...I guess we turn
back now.  Good luck!"  He gestured to his group, and they turned back readily, even
eagerly, toward Ibizond, sturdy walls, lights, and companionship.  With a last
salute, Finn followed them, leaving Fist of Kjarran alone on the road.
     Fist of Kjarran watched them go and smiled to himself as he turned to go toward
Korga.  That was the best thing about adventures; you made new friends, met good
people you would never have encountered in your regular life.  Doing this service for
the people of the area, ridding the road of its killer, was a good thing, a worthy
effort, but making new friends was a warmer pleasure.  Whistling, he strode eastward
toward the prepared ambush.

Near Malcorn:

     Blackie, Lord Malcorn of Malcorn, stood next to the ancient stone and waited for
the moon to rise.  It would be full tonight, and he knew, because he knew most of the
natural world around Malcorn, that when it reached a certain height above the
horizon, it would shine through the hole in a more distant rock and strike squarely
onto the face of the rock beside him, revealing carvings that had been old when the
first Lord Malcorn came to this land.  The records of his ancestors said that the
Dregur were accustomed to gathering here when the moon was just so.
     "I must be insane," Tiljanz muttered behind him.
     "Courage and a sense of responsibility often looks like madness," Blackie
agreed, "even to the people exhibiting it.  You didn't have to come here tonight, but
you felt it was the right thing to do.  I can respect that in a man.  A lot."
     "Will it do any good?" the young Karnhorn asked curiously.  "We've turned the
Dregur loose, and I'd think it hard if not impossible to rein them back in."
     "We turned them loose under terms," Blackie said.  His voice hardened, becoming
the voice of the Lord of Malcorn.  "They have not kept those terms.  They were to
attack only those who came here following Inzolas.  That a few innocents might get
caught in that net by accident was...almost inevitable.  But some of the Dregur have
been actively hunting those not indicated by the terms of their release."  He was
silent for a long moment, then shrugged.  "I'm not certain that we can put an end to
these...excesses.  But I am very certain that if we don't protest, the situation will
become worse.  A failure to protest will be seen as an admission of weakness."

     >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #65 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Near Zukal:

     Ghenis grimaced at the wave of fear but set himself to defend his shelter,
himself, his horse, and Veleks.  The fear, he realized after a moment, was something
outside himself, something the monstrous hunter was attempting to impose on him.
That knowledge did not lessen the icy waves coming at him, but it let him set it away
from himself, make a space between fear and thought.  It would not find him an easy
victim.
     There was what seemed like a very long silence, with Ghenis in the ruined house
beside his fire, and the icy-eyed shadows outside.  The shadows seemed to be waiting
for something--for him to flee, screaming, probably.  And to be disconcerted by his
failure to do so.
     Ghenis reached up to touch his amulet again, then paused before his fingers
reached the cool stone.  It looked like he could handle this on his own, so better
not to invoke the dark powers.  But should he speak, demand what this shadow wanted
of him, or wait and let it be first to break the silence?  Better to wait; in a
contest of nerves, the first to break silence lost points.  He didn't have any
points, whatever they might be in this context, to spare.
     Sooner than he expected, a voice came out of the night.  It was cold, and
hollow, and deep as a cave, sounding distant, somehow, or not quite real.  Oh, it was
real, Ghenis knew that--out of the corner of his eye, he saw his horse flinch at the
sound.  But it was hard to imagine that any creature of flesh and blood might produce
such a voice.
     "Why do you not flee?"
     "Flee?  You think I should run away?"  The gladiator put as much surprise in his
voice as he could.  "Why?  I've got a fine location here, shelter from the wind and
rain, a fire for light and warmth.  Why should I leave before morning?"
     "Do you not fear me?  You should."  The voice dropped to a deeper, darker tone.
"I could rip life and soul from your puny mortal flesh--"
     "Sounds unpleasant," Ghenis agreed.  "But I'm a Lord Protector, and the Greywand
has a deal with Ahringol--he doesn't get to keep us Lord Protectors.  We get
resurrected on a regular--"
     "Ahringol!"  The name crackled like thunder in the darkness.  Scornful thunder.
"That foolish child?  These young gods have no sense of dignity, trafficking with
wizards as though they were mortal merchants!  Ahringol and Greywand are nothing to
me, what I take, I keep."
     "If you say so," the gladiator responded.  The statement that Ahringol, who had
a deal concerning gladiators, was not involved was disconcerting, but this was not
the time to show it.  "But if you could come here and get me, you'd already have done
it.  What's stopping you?" he added curiously.  "The fire, the steel, the fact that
I'm not afraid?"
     "Why should I tell you anything?"  The voice sounded annoyed now.  Almost sulky.
"You think too much."  It dropped to a note of menace.  "But one night you will be
without shelter, and then we will see what your brave words really mean."
     There was a stir in the shadows, a rushing wind of movement, and then Ghenis had
the night to himself.

      * }%|[-----+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 463): MANAGER TC'S of IT'S JUST WRONG (LHI, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): COL SALOMON of 82ND ILLINOIS (Otto X. Frothingslosh)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): 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 452): 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 403): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 205): DEBBIE DAHMER of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, 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 353):  GNU WORLD ORDER of HELPLESS ANIMALS from WILLAF (

                                      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 463): WAY OF THE BLADE 1 (Vhagar, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 229): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 452): THE TAKEN (Stillgard, 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 403): MEDS (Berylstar, 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 353): 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 461): TY BRINSON of  LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz, 
                            acting 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.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     You elder fighters surely remember me.  The younger ones may call me Olaf 
Modeen.  I return to LAPUR once again!  Hmmmph!  I always thought CARDOW HUNTERS was 
an over-rated team and they proved it with a 0-4-0!  Up 'n down.  Up 'n down.  
Rankings always change.  Up 'n down.  I think I'm gonna be...  Well, THE GUILD's 3rd 
moved them up to 3-2-0 place.  It seems so recently people were saying DEATH THREAT 
was washed up, finished.  But 5-0-1 moved them up 4.  I guess they're washed no 
more...  Laughs were big at EQUESTORS while they watched SCORPUS clobber GERBIL 
MASTER.  He lost 14 points and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  CROC 
FILES' hatred of THE TAKEN surfaced again as BLUEY challenged LAPUR's top dog.  Try 
as he might, BLUEY wasn't good enough at persuading MR. YUCK to step down from the 
Duelmaster's throne...  Wouldn't it be nice to have live subjects to practice on?  I 
hear some team is looking into the uses of convicted prisoners.   
     If at first you don't succeed, avoid.  That'll get you in the Spyreports.  LAPUR 
thinks EQUESTORS and their 419-473-31 is too much!  If at first you don't succeed, 
give up...  Management must be dealin', as the boys at BLACK SAMURAI ain't reelin'!  
EQUESTORS' mad!  What do people see in HOPE?  Hers 11-6-0?  THE TAKEN ain't talkin', 
but she's got 58 points.  PAUL didn't quite know what to make of a challenge he 
received from MONTY of CROC FILES, who is 20 points below him.  MONTY perhaps got his 
just desserts, seeing as he slew PAUL and ended up with 124 recognition points.   
     Warriors of LAPUR unite.  You have only your games to lose!  Hmm...  More 
surprises must remain in store for me, if HANGMAN can return from the Dark Arena.  
PAUL of MEN didn't know when to quit.  When you've got a 19-16-0, that's a good sign. 
Now he's dead.  Is it my imagination, or are fighters getting younger every day?  To 
die so young, so gloriously!   
     Well, I'm pretty much through.  You guys need to get back practicing.  LAPUR is 
a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places.  Time for my 
medication, so I'll leave now.  Practice, practice, practice!-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MR. YUCK 3994                13   3  0   155       THE TAKEN (173)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MONTY 4391                   10   8  3   124       CROC FILES (374)
 JUVENAL 4351                 20  10  3   110       EQUESTORS (158)
 BLUEY 4317                   24  19  0    97       CROC FILES (374)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ENOSHIMA 4349                17   3  0    85       BLACK SAMURAI (166)
 BUZZARD 3995                 13   3  0    83       THE TAKEN (173)
 COBRA 4355                    9   5  0    83       DEATH THREAT (376)
-MATSURI 4256                 14  10  0    79       BLACK SAMURAI (166)
-FURY 3872                     7   3  0    70       ECHL-EAST (313)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BINDI 4422                    4   2  0    66       CROC FILES (374)
 HANGMAN 4357                  8   4  3    65       DEATH THREAT (376)
 GOLDIE 4395                   9   7  0    61       CROC FILES (374)
-SAMPO 3897                    8   5  1    60       DEEP 13 (334)
 SCORPUS 4393                 12   5  2    58       EQUESTORS (158)
 HOPE 3988                    11   6  0    58       THE TAKEN (173)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SCRAPPA 4411                  6   1  1    56       CROC FILES (374)
 GALBA 4389                   11   8  0    54       EQUESTORS (158)
 SUE NAMI 4097                 6  13  0    48       FORCE OF NATURE (312)
 LEMMING LEADER 3981           5   1  0    47       SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
 HOPE'S END 4031               6   5  0    42       THE GUILD (208)
 CHUBON 4381                   3   3  0    42       BLACK SAMURAI (166)
 HILARUS 4387                 10  10  1    41       EQUESTORS (158)
 KINSORROW 4051                6   2  0    41       THE GUILD (208)
 GERBIL MASTER 3983            6   4  0    37       SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
 DARK ABYSS 4417               4   1  1    35       DEATH THREAT (376)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TALL TREE 4380                6  16  0    34       CARDOW HUNTERS (359)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ALAN 4397                     7   9  0    33       MEN (356)
-OTARU 4245                    5   4  1    33       BLACK SAMURAI (166)
 MISTY WATERS 4428             2   1  0    33       FORCE OF NATURE (312)
 TYE FOON 4433                 2   0  0    33       FORCE OF NATURE (312)
 LUCIUS 4406                   7   4  2    31       EQUESTORS (158)
 DONKEY DICTATOR 3982          5   2  1    28       SUPERIOR FARCES (344)
 SHAWN 4405                    6   6  1    25       MEN (356)
 FREE FALL 4400                1   1  0    25       DEATH THREAT (376)
 RAGING FIRE 4407              3   0  0    24       DEATH THREAT (376)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VAGAN 4082                    3   4  0    23       THE GUILD (208)
 LYRA 4320                     5   6  0    21       VENUSIANS (321)
-TEMMURO 4237                  5   4  1    20       BLACK SAMURAI (166)
 RAVAGE 4444                   1   0  0    20       THE TAKEN (173)
-DOWN POUR 4323                2   5  0    16       FORCE OF NATURE (312)
 SOLAR FLARE 4427              2   1  0    16       VENUSIANS (321)
 ZARGAS 4425                   2   2  0    15       THE GUILD (208)
 JUMPING SPIDER 4431           2   1  0    13       CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
 MENSA 4442                    1   0  1    13       VENUSIANS (321)
 ASTRIAL 4328                  3   2  0    11       VENUSIANS (321)
 WHIRLWIND 4325                2   5  0    11       FORCE OF NATURE (312)
 SUGARPLUM 4432                2   1  0     7       CARDOW HUNTERS (359)
 DELPHINA 4434                 1   1  1     7       VENUSIANS (321)
 BLACK TIGER 4436              0   2  0     2       CARDOW HUNTERS (359)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
BADGER 4410            3  4 1 CARDOW HUNTERS 359    OTARU 4245            451         
BLACK ORC 385          0  1 0 DARK ARENA 0          HANGMAN 4357          453 NONE    
STARRY NITE 4014      11 14 1 FORCE OF NATURE 312   SCORPUS 4393          450 REVENGED
CINA 4426              1  3 0 THE GUILD 208         MENSA 4442            453         
PAUL 4342             19 16 0 MEN 356               MONTY 4391            453         
FOOK 4443              0  1 0 THE TAKEN 173         DELPHINA 4434         453         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Equestors -- When I avoid your team, I end up fighting one of them.  And when I don't
avoid, the opposite occurs.  Go figure!  Isn't it supposed to work the other way
around?? -- Black Samurai

Lucius -- Got a couple blows on you, but that armor you were wearing must have been
reinforced with some expensive mithril.  Then you come back and stick me in the
'groin' with that long spear.  Geez!  No wonder it was a terrific blow!  You'd wince
with great pain, too, if the family jewels were cut!  Guess I won't be having any
children in this life cycle. -- Temmuro

     There's always adoption. -- Ed.

Hope -- Oh yeah, pal!!  Couldn't be because of twice the FE and 16 Points more than
me that you win so handily.  Will see if I can return the favor to one of yours soon.
-- Otaru

Raging Fire -- Whoa, no fair!  I got burnt to a crisp and was so busy choking on
smoke I couldn't learn anything. -- Delphina

Tye Foon -- I know I have nice legs but you should try caressing them instead
skinning them. -- Solar Flare

Misty Waters -- Well I did not think you could get your weapon quite that high, next
time I will wear better headgear. -- Lyra

Black Tigar -- I believe one fight with you is enough.  Please don't look me up
later, I am afraid the outcome might not be in my favor. -- Astrial

Lyra -- Learn to duck. -- Misty Waters

Scorpus -- While I must admit my victory was unexpected, I have to brag a little
about taking a few good shots from you and giving enough back to revenge Starry. --
Sue Nami

Scorpus -- Scorpus got beat by a girl. -- Storm Front ( in a sing-song voice), mgr.
of Force of Nature

     And what's wrong with that? -- Ed.

Donkey Dictator -- Don't just stand there!  Do something! -- Down Pour

Jumping Spider -- Pick, pick, pick.  That's all you ever do.  Although, I must admit,
your desperation strategy seems to work better than your normal strategy. --
Whirlwind

Solar Fire -- Bring on your sisters.  I will wash over them as well.  I fear no
little girls from Venus! -- Tye Foon

Lapur -- Good luck to any and all who have warriors in the FtF. -- Storm Front

Gerbil Master -- Are you that mean with your gerbils?  If so, I pity them. -- Tall
Tree

Whirlwind -- You may leap to the left like a fast breeze, but NO ONE can out-leap
the...Jumping Spider!

Whirlwind -- You could sure give it another effort.  The guy's insufferable. -- Tall
Tree

Astral -- You're too ethereal for me.  I don't know how to approach a delicate little
thing like you. -- Black Tiger
P.S.  Actually, I'm taller and not a Dwarf.  I don't know the Commission messed this
up.  I'm nearly six feet tall.  Maybe even an inch over.

Free Fall -- (wink)  What did you expect for free, eh? -- Sugarplum

Ed. -- A BUBBLING sound?  Euwh! -- Ghost of Badger

     Maybe so, but how do YOU think it would have sounded? -- Ed., just trying to be
     accurate

26 June 2003
All -- Would you be willing to proxy my lunger Ganglare at the Face-to-Face?  He's
fighting in the champions tourney.  Thanks.  Write:  Michael Rogers #25335-013, PO
Box 6000, Florence, Co 81226 -- Skullagrim

     STOP THINKING TOGS!!!!!  It's here.  Well, almost here anyway.  We're looking at
a start date of the first turn in Aradi (DM 60) following the Fall Mail-In.  This
should give everyone sufficient time to study the new ultra-improved T#%S IV rules 
and prep accordingly.  So without further ado, here is your handy-dandy guide to
winning your very own Golden Scrod (and some other very cool prizes to be announced
officially before the start of the tourney that must not be named):
1.  Each T#%S team consists of two managers.  After the tourney starts, there will be
    no switching partners whatsoever, so choose your partners wisely.  T#%S IV will
    last for 13 turns, so pick a partner you can stand for 6 months or so.  The only
    team I know of so far is last TOGS winners:  Ganolus Oakleaf/Hombre of Blood
    Related/Thieves Guild.  Hey, this is fun!
2.  The T#%S entry fee is 2 team setups per manager.  This means 4 setups per T#%S
    team.  This entry fee is required before the start of the tourney with no
    exceptions being made.  This is to ensure that nobody gets screwed if a team or
    manager decides to back out early.  To pay the entry fee either:
    a) send $10 cash/check/money order/ or whatever to me personally at:
       Andy Salveson
       6812 Romanzo Way
       Elk Grove, CA 95758
    b) get RSI to send me 2 team setup gift certificates.  Sorry, no credit cards and
       no old teams you have lying around will be accepted.
3.  T#%S point system:
    10 points for winning on your up-challenge against another T#%S warrior.
    7 points for winning on your even challenge of another T#%S warrior.
    7 points for winning on another T#%S warriors challenge.
    7 points for winning a random matchup against another T#%S warrior.
    4 points for winning on your down-challenge of another T#%S warrior.
    4 points for winning a random matchup against a non-T#%S warrior.  Do not fight
      your team mate, you will not get any points.  Also, you will not get any points
      if you challenge or get challenged by a non-T#%S team, so use your avoids
      wisely if you think someone is out to get you.
   10 points for being the Duelmaster.  This is in addition to all points listed
      above and will begin turn 1, so prep accordingly.
    5 points for every spotlight written by any team member, 1 per manager per turn.
      The minimum length of a spotlight to receive points is 1/2 column in the
      newsletter (that's 31 lines-each line 85 characters across) and I will be
      completely firm on this.  In addition to the length criteria, spotlights will
      not be given points if they are in any way plagiarized or if they are not
      Duelmasters or fantasy related.  I will be the sole judge of this.  If you're
      unsure if I will judge something to be Duelmasters or fantasy related, then
      e-mail me before you write the spotlight and ask me.  I reserve the right to
      take points away from a spotlight after they are given if I judge at a later
      time that the spotlight has been plagiarized.
   -5 points per manager per turn every time a manager does not at least write one
      personal ad.
   -5 points for being the team that avoided the most.
     If you participated in TOGS III, you'll notice some slight changes in the points
structure.  The main things are points for random match ups against non T#%S
warriors, bonus points for being the Duelmaster, new spotlight criteria, and no
points given for being the most avoided team.
4.  I already mentioned this, but T#%S IV will start the first turn in arena 60 after
    the Fall Mail-In runs and it will last for 13 turns.  There will not be a
    Survivor format this time around, meaning no eliminations.  I will still be doing
    the multipliers at the end, however.  This means that all points accumulated by a
    team on turns 10 and 11 will be multiplied by 1.5 and all points accumulated by
    each team on turns 12 and 13 will be multiplied by 2.
5.  Prizes are yet to be determined, but I'll tell you what I know.  There will be
    prizes given out each turn to whichever team scores the most combined points on a
    given turn.  Tie breakers will go to the team with the most wins on that turn and
    then to the team with most overall points.  I have asked RSI for the same prizes
    as last TOGS which were transferring any warrior to arena 60 and renaming Aradi
    for approximately 6 months, but we'll see what they come back with.  I haven't
    decided how to split the prizes up, partly because I don't know how many teams
    will be entering yet, but I do know the prizes will be split among the top 3
    teams at the end.  I will announce the exact breakdown of everything when I know
    more.
6.  And just like TOGS III, Death Stud and I will be the sole arbiters of any dispute
    that may arise.  Whine all you like, but as Nuln told you last time, that's how
    it is.
7.  M & RR Clause (go ahead, read between the capitals):  I reserve the right to
    disallow entry to this tourney if you have a previous history of being a big fat
    mouth about everything.
     I think that pretty much covers it.  I will be accepting team entries as of now
and then posting them in the newsletters as I receive entry fees.  Please feel free
to e-mail me regarding any questions or comments at Ganolus@aol.com.  So everyone don
your best pair of leg warmers, hop on your favorite farm animal, and ride to Aradi
for the 4th kinda-annual Tournament that must not be named for no apparent reason
whatsoever, or T#%S IV, for short.  See ya'll there!

-- Ganolus Oakleaf, T#%S IV Commish

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

HANGMAN viciously butchered BLACK ORC in a crowd pleasing 2 minute Dark Arena fight.
BLUEY was demolished by MR. YUCK in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title melee.
MONTY butchered PAUL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
GOLDIE was overpowered by COBRA in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
BINDI viciously subdued GALBA in a 2 minute gory Challenge duel.
SUE NAMI was bested by HOPE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge match.
WHIRLWIND was overcome by RAGING FIRE in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
MISTY WATERS handily defeated JUMPING SPIDER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
TYE FOON vanquished DONKEY DICTATOR in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
JUVENAL overpowered BUZZARD in a 1 minute uneven match.
ENOSHIMA luckily beat VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a exciting 5 minute brutal fight.
SCRAPPA viciously subdued LUCIUS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute brutal conflict.
GERBIL MASTER was demolished by SCORPUS in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
LEMMING LEADER handily defeated SHAWN in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
ALAN lost to KINSORROW in a crowd pleasing 1 minute bout.
HILARUS lost to HOPE'S END in a 2 minute fray.
DARK ABYSS savagely defeated VAGAN in a crowd pleasing 2 minute bloody brawl.
TALL TREE was overpowered by CHUBON in a 2 minute one-sided bout.
FREE FALL overpowered LYRA in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
ASTRIAL was overpowered by RAVAGE in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
ZARGAS devastated BLACK TIGER in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
CINA was dispatched by MENSA in a 3 minute novice's match.
SOLAR FLARE overcame SUGARPLUM in a 1 minute beginner's duel.
DELPHINA delivered the death blow upon FOOK in a 1 minute novice's bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  12         TOTAL PARRY       22 -  15 -  1      59  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  7         PARRY-LUNGE        4 -   3 -  0      57  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      7         LUNGING ATTACK    47 -  40 -  9      54  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   5         BASHING ATTACK    27 -  24 -  2      53  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   4 -  1      50  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         STRIKING ATTACK   21 -  22 -  1      49  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         AIMED BLOW         8 -   9 -  0      47  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         SLASHING ATTACK   15 -  17 -  2      47  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      4 -   7 -  0      36  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         WALL OF STEEL      5 -  11 -  0      31  |

Turn 453 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        2 -  0     TOTAL PARRY        3 -  4         3  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         3  TOTAL PARRY    
AIMED BLOW         2 -  1     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  4         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     3 -  2                                       1  BASHING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     7 -  5                                       1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
STRIKING ATTACK    4 -  3                                       1  PARRY-LUNGE    
SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  2     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  MR. YUCK 3994              13   3  0  155 THE TAKEN (173)
BASHING ATTACK   JUVENAL 4351               20  10  3  110 EQUESTORS (158)
TOTAL PARRY      BLUEY 4317                 24  19  0   97 CROC FILES (374)
LUNGING ATTACK   COBRA 4355                  9   5  0   83 DEATH THREAT (376)
AIMED BLOW       HOPE 3988                  11   6  0   58 THE TAKEN (173)
PARRY-LUNGE      HOPE'S END 4031             6   5  0   42 THE GUILD (208)
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 HANGMAN 4357.  The ten other most popular fighters were DARK ABYSS 4417, BINDI 
4422, CINA 4426, MR. YUCK 3994, HOPE 3988, TYE FOON 4433, SCRAPPA 4411, ALAN 4397, 
CHUBON 4381, and COBRA 4355.

The least popular fighter this week was SUGARPLUM 4432.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BLACK TIGER 4436, ASTRIAL 4328, LYRA 4320, TALL TREE 4380, SHAWN 4405, 
GERBIL MASTER 3983, LUCIUS 4406, BUZZARD 3995, DONKEY DICTATOR 3982, and JUMPING 
SPIDER 4431.

The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:

JUVENAL (29-4351) EQUESTORS (158)
BLUEY (29-4317) CROC FILES (374)