DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 05/08/2004    Duedate: 06/04/2004

CHIMLEVTAL ARENA

DM-31    TURN-239

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

INMAR
SOL INVICTUS (469)
(31-4388) [15-13-0,132]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

INMAR                          BLOND MOMENT
SOL INVICTUS (469)             WHY DID I DO IT (540)
(31-4388) [15-13-0,132]        (31-5095) [4-1-2,56]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

OBAN                           BLISTER
SINGLE MALTS (501)             5 BELOW ZERO (518)
(31-4530) [13-15-1,109]        (31-4853) [6-5-0,53]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

WHY DID I DO IT (540)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. WHY DID I DO IT (540)       55
2. 5 BELOW ZERO (518)          50      SOL INVICTUS (469)
3. SINGLE MALTS (501)          38      Unchartered Team
4. SRETSAMLEUD (553)           38
5. KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)       36      WHY DID I DO IT (540)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*WORDS TO THE WISE (545)   30   6  1 83.3   1/ 7*WHY DID I DO IT (540)     9  5 1
 2- 3 UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)   149  72 12 67.4   2/10 OVERLORDS (509)           9  6 0
 3/ 6*WHY DID I DO IT (540)     13   7  2 65.0   3/ 3 SOL INVICTUS (469)        8  4 1
 4- 4*RESPECT THE DEAD (546)     9   6  0 60.0   4/14 ASSASSIN NATION (515)     8  7 2
 5/ 5 SOL INVICTUS (469)        85  63 10 57.4   5/ 8 THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)       8  7 1
 6/ 7 WHAMMO & THUDDA 4  (378) 278 224 11 55.4   6/ 4 STORMWATCH (440)          8  7 1
 7/ 8 NUMBERS GAME (403)       207 169 13 55.1   7/ 9 WILLBENDERS (479)         8  7 0
 8/ 9 THE STORMGUARDS (78)     575 474 22 54.8   8/ 1 WHAMMO & THUDDA 4  (378)  7  5 1
 9/10 LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)  160 135 11 54.2   9/13 5 BELOW ZERO (518)        7  7 0
10/13 BUSHMASTERS (164)        168 145  9 53.7  10/16 LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)   7  8 1
11/12 DARQUE FORCES (422)      125 113  8 52.5  11/ 5 THE STORMGUARDS (78)      7  8 0
12/11 TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)     39  36  3 52.0  12/21 BUSHMASTERS (164)         7  8 0
13/21 5 BELOW ZERO (518)        30  28  0 51.7  13/18 SINGLE MALTS (501)        7  8 0
14/15 LOONY TOONS (206)        176 170 15 50.9  14- 2 UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)    6  4 0
15/14 THE STORMBRINGERS (359)  310 300 24 50.8  15/20 KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)     6  7 1
16/16 SAMURAI KIDS II (551)     95  93  9 50.5  16/15 TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)     6  9 0
17/17 ASSASSIN NATION (515)    353 350 51 50.2  17- 6*WORDS TO THE WISE (545)   5  1 0
18-19*FEMMES FATALES (432)      10  10  1 50.0  18/11 NUMBERS GAME (403)        5  4 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
19/29*DIS TRACTIONS (542)        5   5  0 50.0  19/28*DIS TRACTIONS (542)       5  5 0
20/ 0 SRETSAMLEUD (553)        134 136  5 49.6  20/25 SAMURAI KIDS II (551)     5  8 0
21/20 OVERLORDS (509)          329 337 19 49.4  21/23*STYX AND BEYOND (550)     5  9 1
22/22 STORMWATCH (440)         140 154 10 47.6  22/30 MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)        5 10 1
23/23 WILLBENDERS (479)         77  87  4 47.0  23/22 LOONY TOONS (206)         4  3 0
24/26 SINGLE MALTS (501)        63  80  1 44.1  24/12 DARQUE FORCES (422)       4 11 1
25-27 SOLIPSISM II (458)        67  88  6 43.2  25/17 THE STORMBRINGERS (359)   4 11 0
26/28 THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)      250 329 34 43.2  26/ 0 SRETSAMLEUD (553)         3  2 0
27/25*COUP D'TAT (543)          18  25  3 41.9  27/24*COUP D'TAT (543)          3  6 0
28/30 KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)     37  60  1 38.1  28-26 SOLIPSISM II (458)        2  2 0
29/31 MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)        44  79  2 35.8  29-29*RESPECT THE DEAD (546)    2  3 0
30/32*STYX AND BEYOND (550)      5   9  1 35.7  30-31*FEMMES FATALES (432)      1  4 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                                   vendett@ UNITED

     When CFH opened his eyes, the first thing that popped into his mind was the damn 
Quest.  Abraxis!  Why did that damn druid need such odd components for his spells?  
CFH was a warrior, weapons he could understand.  Wood and steel were the tools of his 
trade.  Magic though, that was something entirely different.
     CFH scratched himself and began to think of ways to get out of this stupid 
Quest.  The easiest way would be to assign warriors to the task and let one of his 
alliance mates deal with the situation.  Normally that's what he would do, since it 
would free up more time to drink, whore and train.  But postivie results were 
critical; failure could mean the end of the young alliance known as vendett@ UNITED, 
and he was not going to let that happen.  Not today, not ever.  He knew he should get 
up and begin preparing for the mission but he was distracted by the two women lying 
beside him.  Both were sleeping and held each other in a tender embrace.  They had 
lost the sheets some time during their extracurricular activities and the morning air 
was frigid.  Smiling to himself he began to pull the sheet up over them.  But he 
stopped.  He'd seen something and quickly double-checked to make sure he'd been 
right.  Yep, a natural blonde.  Smiling, he cursed his luck.  The trip would have to 
wait.  There was work to be done here.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     The rest of the UNITED was already in the inn's common room having breakfast 
when CFH came downstairs.  Abraxis was reading one of his dusty tomes; Goat was 
finishing up his meal and it appeared VooDoo was about to start on his.
     "Ahhh...our weaponmaster arrives!" said Abraxis as he looked up from his book.
     "Whatever!" growled CFH as he dropped all of his gear on the floor with a loud 
clang. 
     "Have you decided what we're going after first?" asked Abraxis.
     "We're going after the Hippogriff feather; Goat and VooDoo will be going after 
the mud," said CFH.  He began to check his gear and weapons, going through a mental 
checklist to make certain that everything was there.  He strapped on his studded 
Leather breast plate and his bracers and then began to check the sharpness of each of 
his blades.  All of the other managers watched with interest.  It was often a topic 
of discussion amongst them about CFH and his weapons.  While generally uncouth and 
slovenly in his actions, he was meticulous about the care and upkeep of his gear.  
Even now the double swordbelt he buckled on held two highly polished and razor sharp 
cinquedas.  He also strapped a brace of throwing knives across his chest.  Finally he 
selected a six foot battlestaff to complete his arsenal.
     "Are you done yet?" asked Abraxis with a grin.  He'd seen this before and knew 
that before they'd actually left his friend might completely change his mind about 
the weapons he carried.
     "Yeah, I think so," said CFH with a scowl.
     "Goat, let me holler at you for a minute."
     Goat got up and walked off a few feet with the other manager.
     "Look, I need you to go with VooDoo and keep an eye on him.  He is prone to 
screwing up and this mission is pretty important.  You two will probably get back 
before Abraxis and I do so make sure that things remain cool there.  Keep the 
warriors in shape and keep our rooms paid up.  When this is all over, we'll check 
into getting a UNITED guildhouse."
     "Don't worry bro," said Goat solemnly, "you can count on me."
     The two men then clapped hands and went their separate ways.  CFH went back to 
the table where VooDoo and Abraxis still sat and Goat headed towards the direction of 
the General store and supply depot.
     When CFH sat back down he nudged VooDoo in the ribs with an elbow.
     "Hey that serving wench really cuts for you," he said while pointing at a bar 
maid.  She was easly 400 lbs and had a head of wild frizzy red hair.  VooDoo looked 
over and frowned.
     "No she doesn't; you're just saying that."
     "No, VooDoo.  I'm serious.  She told me yesterday that you were just about the 
studliest thing in here."
     "Really?" asked VooDoo with a hopeful grin.
     "Yeah man, go for it!"
     VooDoo collected himself and attempted to man swagger over to the wench in 
question.  Arriving at his target he began what appeared to be a lively but one-sided 
discussion.
     "Why did you tell him that?" asked Abraxis with a snicker.  "You know she's out 
of sorts over you."
     CFH gave an evil grin.  "Number one, I'm hungry," he said as he slid VooDoo's 
breakest towards him and began to eat.  "Secondly, as long as he's in her face, she 
won't be in mine."
     Abraxis laughed out loud.  "My friend you are incorregable!"

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

     Goat was preparing for his quest, loudly cursing ABRAXIS and CFH.  "How dare 
they stick me, the mighty Goat, in the role of babysitter.  That Voodoo been killed 
years ago!"  Goat was a powerful man, standing 6'8" -- 320 lbs.  His corded muscles 
rippled as he easily lifted his 65 lb great axe in to its sling across his back.  
This axe was of dwarven manufacture, and had been a gift from his father on his 16th 
birthday.  He was 18 before he could lift it with one hand, yet now this robust young 
man wielded it like a toothpick.  He grabbed his backpack that had been filled with 
the freshly curdled goat cheese that had given hm his name.  The many furs and goat 
hides that covered the barbarian may have had something to do with it as well.  The 
cheese was a staple of his diet and its odor announced his presence well before he 
was seen.
     He went next door to retrieve Voodoo from his room.  As he went to knock on the 
door it opened opened before him.  There stood Voodoo 5'6" -- 120 lbs, wearing 
loincloth and carrying his machete.  The stark look of the black and white body paint 
was set off by a powder blue bag that was slung over his shoulder.  Goat had to 
squint to look at the gaudy thing.  It sparkled and glistened  like something a lady 
would wear at a King's court.  
     "What is that thing?" demanded Goat. 
     Voodoo smiled and replied, "It's my medicine bag; it's where I carry my Voodoo 
doll!"
     He reached in the bag and pulled out the doll.  It was a gruesome sight, made of 
bone and hair, with bits of blood and what looked like skin hanging off of it.  The 
disturbing thing was that the bone looked like a human femur and the damn thing 
reeked so badly that the smell even disgusted Goat.  Goat shook his head and said, 
"Put that silly thing away!  Come on or we'll miss our caravan!"  Voodoo pouted and 
did as he was told.
     They easily found their caravan.  It was scheduled to leave at 10:00 and ABRAXIS 
had purchased them fare on the wagonmaster's own wagon.  Voodoo eagerly jumped into 
the back with the wagonmaster's daughter.  He just couldn't wait to show her that his 
bag was real lame and hers wasn't.  He also admired the tassels on her bag and wanted 
to learn how he might add some to his.  Goat, on the other hand, joined the 
wagonmaster on the seat and began to inquire how long it would take to reach North 
Fork from Storm Crowe and was pleased that they would arrive by lunch the next day.  
They traveled through lunch and stopped about half an hour before sundown and set up 
camp.
     Voodoo had bartered for some leather and blue dye, and was happily adding 
tassels to his bag.  Goat purchased some bread and sat down to a meal of bread and 
goat cheese.  A few hours later, he saw Voodoo cuddled up with his doll and sleeping 
soundly with his thumb in his mouth.  He went to sleep cursing ABRAXIS and CFH for 
his mission.
     The next morning, with Voodoo preening over the addition to his bag, they 
completed thier journey to North Fork.
     As soon as they arrived, the remarkable luck of Voodoo came through again.  A 
band of six Karigit (swampdwellers), saw him and fell to their knees in adulation.  
Goat, perplexed, sat back in wonder and Voodoo simply smiled.  The swampmen were 
croaking and prostrating themselves and the sound they were making so ooo -- ooo, it 
sounded curiously like they were chanting Voodoo.  (For those that do not know, the 
Karigit are amphibious, looking very much like bipedal toads.)
     Voodoo held out his hand and what Goat guessed was a female climbed up on his 
lap.  Voodoo looked at Goat and said, "I guess we have just found our guides into the 
swamp."
     The boys from Vendetta United made arrangements to meet the Karigit at dawn and 
headed off to find rooms.
     Goat was blutterbunged at the events of the morning and began to investigate 
what had happened.  Voodoo and the swampwoman went up to his room and Goat shook his 
head in disgust.  Karigit were slimy, smelly and utterly repulsive.  Well this was 
Voodoo we were talking about, so he guessed that it was alright.
     Goat asked around town and found out that the God of Karigit was known as ooo - 
ooo and that he was slender and stark white with black eyes, just like Voodoo in his 
paint.  That putz had  to be the luckiest person that Goat had ever known.

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

                               THE REVENANT (part 19)

     A great calm came upon the land.  The trees, grass and other plants moved not at 
all.  A minor moon of Polaris began to provide a faint light.  The Icelord spoke a 
word of command and a light flared at the top of his staff.  For every death, 
wounding and despair spell The Revenant cast at him and High Lord Bosk, he sent two 
back at the undead being.  He also continued his magical assault on the protective 
shield that enveloped the haunted keep.  The Icelord was impressed, but not daunted, 
by the skills of his foe.  He was patient. It was a matter of time.  Again they heard 
a saber tooth tiger scream in the Dark Forest.  Bosk stood ready with Stormblade in 
his hand and states "Something is coming."
     The Icelord slightly nods and hurls a lightning bolt.  It forks and slams into 
the magical barrier protecting The House of Berrymore.  A great flash and then a 
booming crash fills the night.  The barrier is no more.  The Icelord then quickly 
counters a half dozen more death and wounding spells.  He nods towards Bosk, hurls a 
continual light spell off to his right and says, "You take care of them."
     Bosk sees in the light nearly half a hundred Goblins at the edge of the forest.  
Several dozen are mounted on giant dire wolves.  The stunted and hideous creatures' 
eyes gleam with malevolence.  Their wicked blades glimmer in the continual light 
spell.  The heredity enemy of the Gnomes all stare at Bosk with unbridled hatred.  In 
their tongue he is known as "Goblin's Bane" and with good reason.  They have answered 
The Revenant's summons and begin to howl in a berserk fury.  Bosk quickly locates the 
Goblin Chief.  The bloated figure sits upon a giant jet-black wolf.  His eyes lock 
with Bosk and he raises his club. Before he can utter a word Bosk screams a Gnomish 
war cry and races on foot directly toward the Goblin Army and their Chief!
     The Goblins howling sticks in their throats as they see this lone Gnome charge 
them!  For several seconds they are stunned. Then a dozen Goblins dash from the 
woods, confident they will envelope and kill this suicide attack.
     Then on silent wings a new force enters the fray.  A giant white Snowy Owl 
glides from out of nowhere.  On its back is the Elvin Druidess, Polar Bear. She casts 
an enormous fireball into the ranks of the Goblins as she and her noble steed fly 
past.  Heat, smoke, flames, screams and confusion are all about.  The smell of 
burning flesh assaults the nose and death screams fill the ears.  The Snowy Owl banks 
silently around.  The Goblin Chief points his club at Bosk and barks "Kill him!!"  
More Goblins surge forward to meet the charging Bosk.  The fires all about light the 
battlefield clearly now.  Polar Bear and the giant Snowy Owl, silently fly by and 
once again she casts a fireball spell into the Goblin ranks.  Again the results are 
catastrophic as dozens of Goblins become living torches.  "Leave some for me!" 
screams Bosk.
     Though reeling from the fiery assaults the Goblin army advances and Bosk is 
quickly surrounded by a boiling mass of Goblin swords, spears, sickles and
wolve's fangs.  His blade tears into flesh, lops off heads, spill entrails and begins 
to mow down his hated foes.  The Greatest Swordsman on the planet dodges, parries, 
hacks and slashes as he advances toward the Goblin Chief.  The forest begins to empty 
as more Goblins stream forward.  "Kill the mage!" howls a sub-commander as he leads a 
pack of wolf-riders toward The Icelord.  With that a storm of arrow shafts hiss 
through the air.  Then, emerging from another area of the forest appear several dozen 
large figures.  At first glance the new arrivals look like tall men; long hair, wild 
beards, no shirts, they fire arrows from their long bows with ease. but then it 
becomes apparent these are not just men.  These archers are also half-horse.  The 
fabled Centaurs, led by Chief Clovis Oakclub enter the battle.  The towering Chief 
raises and then lowers his massive club and another volley of arrows are launched to 
tear into the Goblin ranks.  He looks to the sky and catching the eye of Polar Bear 
salutes the Lady.  "Advance!" he commands in the Centaur tongue.  With that his 
warriors gallop
forward.

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

                          -- Chimlevtal, outside a church --

      "Let the women and children eat first!" yelled the Manic Fuhrer as he pushed 
his way forward towards a small group that looked to be outfitted in full plate.
      Blue and gold dyed chicken feathers were stuck in their helms, with what looked 
like some yellowed hide that hung loose and smelt like a "Goat" had urinated on it.  
The Manic Fuhrer smiled as the group of full plate fools formed a half circle.  As 
they banged their shields together he recognized a crude attempt of scratches and 
gouges that formed C.O.L. on their uncared for armor.
      "Back away from the people," the Manic Fuhrer asked as he reached for his 
greatsword.
      "Take him," squeaked a voice.
      The crowd wisely gave him room to swing the sword that was named for moments 
like this.  'Bone Crusher' would handle these scum warriors from the C.O.L., or as 
they were known in Chimlevtal, Council of Fools.
      Goat had coined the phrase well, as he severed the head of one of the fools.  
His buddies ran once they saw the blood.
      "I must get back to North Fork; Goat has joined up with C.F.H., Abraxis and 
Voodoo," he thought as he hit the last 'fooling' with the flat part of 'Bone Crusher' 
knocking him unconscious.
      "Vendett@ United has a real nice sound to it.  Have to deliver Goat's message 
first to the council of fools."
      "Take this message to your foolish leaders," the Manic Fuhrer said as he 
slapped some consciousness back into the 'fooling.'  "Your reign of lies must end.  
You have one full moon to pay your dues.  Leave Chimlevtal to the real warrior types.  
Take your scum to the nearest pit and dine before you leave the homes of Vendett@ 
United.  You will be allowed one last meal, courtesy of the residents of Chimlevtal."
      "Mercy, mercy; I will deliver the Goat's message for you, master Manic Fuhrer," 
the fooling groveled.
      The Manic Fuhrer turned and walked as he put 'Bone Crusher' in its scabbard.
      "Wait my new master, wait," yelled the fooling.  "What must I do to join 
Vendett@ United, my lord," whimpered the fooling as he caught up to the Manic Fuhrer.
      Knowing how the Goat thought he replied, "You could never join.  Your type and 
sense of honor is all wrong.  Safety in numbers only makes you as strong as your 
weakest.  Too many and you will never know who is truly lacking in skill.  Remember 
the 'Manic Union'.  They are the Turf War champions of North Fork.  They had 2 
rookies in their alliance, so take heed of Vendett@ United.  Enough schooling for 
you, 'fooling.'  Begone."

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

                                  War and Whispers

     "If you like dog I will cut out your tounge."
     "No master!  I swears it.  Them of the Council has said that theys are willing 
to listen to yous and are ready to bargain for peace," said a bloody and battered 
Rozzo.
     The two dark cloaked figures considered his words.  Both were initially 
unconvinced when the bruised thief had brought them the news.  They were so 
unconvinced, in fact, that they had both delivered a sound beating to the poor man 
just out of anger and spit.  They had stopped just short of killing the wretch and 
were now involved in a second round of questioning.
     "What do you think?" asked one of the other.
     Lord Protector Dross threw back the hood on his cloak.  "What do I think?" he 
asked.
     "I think I will miss beating those dogs down.  But that doesn't matter.  This is 
what my manager wants and it would not do well to anger him."
     "Aye, I agree," said the Lord Protector, Sir Yder, as he threw his hood back as 
well.
     Sir Yder turned towards Rozzo and grabbed him by his sweatstained collar.
     "Go back to the council and tell them that we extend the following offer."  In 
the passing of one moon, vendett@UNITED will declare peace with the Council of Lords.  
We will cease all hostile acts to include downchallenges and profane p-ads.  Normal 
upchallenges will occur since this is the nature of the arena.  Also the peace accord 
will not include matters of revenge and satisfaction that may occur during bloodfeud.
     That is what we offer.  No apologies, no excuses.  We will plow the past under 
and look towards the future.  Now go, before I decide to chafe thy knuckles upon thou 
dim-witted pate."
     Rozzo began to scurry away, no doubt considering himself Lukcy to be alive.  
However he stopped and turned to address the two Lord Protectors.  "What can I 
promise thems to prove yous are sincere?"
     "You'll promise nothing!" growled Dross.
     "CFH has given his word and that should be enough.  He once promised them he 
would not accost their silly druidess any more and he has lived up to that promise.  
Promise them nothing but remind them of that!"
     "Wait now Dross, let's be a bit more diplomatic," siad Sir Yder with a smile.
     "Rozzo, you will return to the council and extend our current offer and also 
extend the following invite:  In 3 monhts vendett@UNITED will host a banquet in honor 
of the Council.  There the managers of both alliances can sit down to discuss the 
details of this treaty.  If either side wishes to negotiate for more, this would be 
the opportune and proper place to do it.  A meeting of Gentlemen!"
     Dross groaned, "Enough already with the pompous bullsh*t.  Let's just get this 
over with."  He started to walk away but stopped and reached into his cloak pulling 
out a piece of parchment.  "Deliver this to the C.O.L.  This should assure them of 
the UNITED's sincerity."
     Rozzo quickly snatched the parchment ducking as he did so, attempting to avoid a 
blow that did not come.  Grateful, he spun on his heel and ran up the alley, headed 
towards the section of town that council warriors were known to frequent.
     "Do you believe this will work?" asked Sir Yder.
     Dross said nothing for a few moments and then finally sighed before saying, 
"Probably not.  But what harm could it cause us to try?  The Cartel will probably 
label us all as traitors, but in reality you cannot betray something you are not a 
part of.  I fear that the winds of change bring a new era for Chimlevtal with them.  
I smell blood in the air and I hear death whispering the names of many young 
initiates.  Is it all  over or is it just beginning?"

     >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #79 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Near Barikala:

     The pillar of light over Barikala was not an attack in any obvious way, but
Artemisia found no comfort in that.  It was probably magical.  No, it was definitely
magical.  No one had been able to explain it in the months, the years since the
Invasion, but they'd figured out that early on.  Well, what else could it be?  And
it, or something connected to it, was deadly dangerous, because no ship or single
visitor had returned from Barikala after the pillar first appeared.  Those ship
captains who normally used Zukal's port had long since worked out the limits of
safety in the waters around Barikala, and The Golden Moon was well outside that 
limit.  But...the zombies were something new on the chart.
     A man screamed behind her, along the ship's other rail, and she whirled.  There
was movement beyond the rail, black on near black, hard to make out.  Lanterns lit
the ship's deck but cast no significant light beyond it.  She could see one of her
sailors staggering toward the rail with some kind of dark cable wrapped around the
middle of his body, but not what lay beyond and pulled him.
     She didn't need to see.  She crossed to that side of the deck, her cutlass
whistling down on the cable.  The blade bit, but not deeply, the cable was more
rubbery than a normal rope.  It wasn't a rope, of course.  She saw with disgust
rather than fear that it was a tentacle, though what creature would have a tentacle
four inches thick at any point was not something she cared to think deeply about.
The Lady Protector hacked downward again.
     There were more cries.  Fear, loathing, terror.  More tentacles reaching up and
over the ship's side.  Tentacles on one side of the ship, zombies on the other.
Neither group of sailors could abandon their own task to aid the other.  Both
attacking forces were stronger than Artemisia had expected.  She began to wonder if
her crew and her ship would survive at all.

Niatoli Island:

     Lord Protector Ghenis walked along the waterfront of the island's only real town
and looked over the shipping on hand.  He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he
figured he'd know it when he saw it.  Some people might have taken him for a tourist
and considered robbing him, or selling him the kind of trash that hustlers always
sold to strangers and rubes, but...not here.  This town had an arena, and they knew
that kind of walk, that assured and dangerous stance.  He could be a hick with hay
growing out his ears, but as long as he was a Lord Protector, no one would mistreat
him so.  At least, no one but another Lord Protector.  And since he wasn't such a
hick....  He smiled, a baring of his teeth that drove human rats out of his path.
     Ah.  There was a man on the street ahead of him, talking to a probably ship
captain.  A man who, like himself, was unmistakably a Lord Protector.  Tall, hard,
maybe not quite human, although Ghenis couldn't put his finger firmly on the
difference.  Something in the way he stood, maybe.  Not that it matter.  This looked
like a man he could work with.
     When the man turned away from the sailor, Ghenis was there, nodding his head in
a move as close to a bow as he ever got.  "I'm Ghenis, from Zukal," he said, and
raised a questioning eyebrow.
     The other frowned.  Odd, at this close distance, he seemed almost...scaled.
"Agro, Lapur," the man said shortly.
     Ghenis noted that the sailor was moving away, clearly dissociating himself from
the two gladiators.  "I have control of a ship," Ghenis said, "and I am minded to
make a raid on the invaders at Monuntial.  You look like a man who might be
interested in that."
     Agro's frown deepened, but he smiled, baring pointed, over-large teeth.  "I'm
interested," he agreed.

Rocanis:

     Lady Protector Eleven Blade, Leven to her friends, stood on Spirit Ridge and
stared southward.  What should have been rolling, increasingly arid grasslands to the
distant horizon was now a bank of...fog, maybe.  Dark, sharp as a wall at its base,
the top of it working like porridge boiling in a pot.  And no more than fifteen miles
away, probably less.  Ten.  "I've never seen anything like it," she admitted.
"Strange weather...if it is weather."
     "It's partly weather," her companion said slowly, "but not entirely."  He was a
Lord Protector from Morya, Ghost Dancer by name.  "I have been studying it for two
months now.  It began...I don't know where.  Somewhere in the far south.  It was a
hundred miles south of here when I first saw it."
     Leven glanced at the man sharply.  She didn't really know him, but there was
nothing in his face or manner that suggested he was lying.  "It's moved ninety miles
in two months?  At that rate, it could be on Rocanis within a week!"
     "Its speed is irregular," Ghost Dancer said.  "Some days it moved scarcely a
mile, other days it raced north like wildfire.  But yes, it could be on Rocanis...
any time."  He was silent for a moment, as though debating whether he should say
more.  With a faint shrug, he went on, "I have not been able to find an end to the
line of it and get around behind.  I have no idea what lies behind in the ground it
has already covered.  But I would not expect to find anything really GOOD where that
has passed."
     Obviously not, Leven agreed silently.  The unknown never seemed to be
benevolent.  It was probably a natural law.  "You couldn't get around an end," she
said.  "Did you try going straight through?"
     Ghost Dancer paled a little.  "Yes," he said very quietly.  "I survived, but I
didn't get very far into it.  Or I would never have come back, I think.  It was like
being caught in a whirlwind, in part.  But I was not the only thing in the grip of
the walking storm, and the others were....  Some of them were beasts, mad with terror
and striking blindly.  Others were," he hesitated, "things.  The sort of things a
priest of the Mytori might call out of the Darkness."
     "Do you believe it's a natural phenomenon?" Eleven Blade asked.
     "No."
     "Good.  If it's unnatural, it was made by men.  Or something like men, anyway.
And what men can make, they can undo.  Let's find out how, and then...undo."

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Out of the Past #6 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
                                  Free Blades Edition

Zuwayza:

     Tiberious, newly made a Lord Protector in Aljafir, looked at the capital city of 
the Glorious Empire with curiosity and unease.  While he was a citizen of the Empire 
in good standing, he was also a Dwarf, and the races which weren't strictly human 
were regarded with suspicion throughout most of the Empire.  Especially here at its 
ancient heart.  He hadn't wanted to come here.  But a new law ruled that all Lord 
Protectors desiring a grant of lands or other honors must apply to the Great Palace 
of the Satrap for them, and he WAS a Dwarf.  He would not lightly forego this portion 
of the reward for which he had striven so long and at such risk.  He took a firmer 
grip on the battle axe which custom required all Dwarves to carry and strode up to 
the Western Door.
     Decent metal work, he noted professionally.  To be honest, excellent metalwork, 
although he could not (and this surprised him) even guess at the source.  It was 
unlike anything he'd seen before, not the work of Elf or Human, and certainly not 
Dwarven work.  He was an educated man, in the Dwarven sense, and he would KNOW.  Very 
old, you didn't get that kind of patina on bronze in a day, not even if you employed 
an alchemist.  He leaned closer, trying to make out the individual symbols that 
formed a tangled whole on each panel.
     "Too close a study of those doors can be injurious to your health."
     Tiberious whirled, raising the axe automatically.  But the speaker was an old 
man in the long robe of a Karnhorn scholar, no threat unless he was a wizard.  On 
closer look, it seemed like he probably was a wizard.  There was something about the 
eyes that marked them, as though they saw things that others couldn't.  Probably they 
did.  "If the doors are so dangerous, why use them?"
     "Because of the danger, perhaps, but mostly because they are old, and old things 
lend a legitimacy to what is younger."  The old man shrugged slightly.  "You are a 
gladiator, I think?"
     "Right, from Aljafir, come to see about my Lord Protector grant."
     "Good!  I am Vekhirn, chief wizard to the Satrap, may his days be long, and I 
have need of a gladiator."  He gestured, and the door swung open.  "Come into my 
sanctum, and I will explain what must be done."

Chimlevtal:

     Lord Kinnishan, ruler of Chimlevtal, looked up from a litter of reports as his 
chief adviser entered the study.  "If it's more about the assassination plot--"
     "No, that is grave enough, but we have other problems," Shau'nin Snowbeard said.  
"Deeper ones, perhaps, in the long view.  Have you seen the Ruin Reef lately?"
     The shipping hazard known as the Ruin Reef lay two miles off shore to the 
southeast from Chimlevtal.  It was a rocky barricade just below the surface of the 
lake (most of the time).  When the water was clear, or when wind and waves exposed 
them, the rocks could be seen to resemble a line of ruined buildings, but without a 
closer examination that was normally possible, no one could say if that was a true 
seeming.  There were natural formations that could give that appearance.  The Reef 
was visible from Chimlevtal in good weather, but not from this room.  Without 
comment, Kinnishan got up from the desk and went out onto the balcony, peering 
southward past the end of the building.
     Shau'nin didn't follow him; he already knew what was to be seen.  "It would 
appear that the Reef actually is formed on ancient ruins.  Or was."
     "It would appear," Kinnishan said grimly, "that they are ruins no longer.  I 
presume you have a report from closer observation?"
     "Some gladiators are investigating now," the old Adantri said.  "Others are 
traveling to Arvat and Zukal, even to Monuntial, to discover the faces behind the 
assassination plot.  We should have information soon."
     "And then we will have to make plans.  I will not lose this city-state to the 
forces of Chaos, come what may."

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 491): ANXIETY of DSM4 (The Sandman, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 489): THE TICK of THE CITY (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 485): LITTLE CURRENT of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 485): CALIAPHUS of BLACKHEART'S AXE (?, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 483): CREME A. SHUN of DELTA DOOM (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 482): BLUE of THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 241): PARADOX of SHADOW GATE (Shadowgate, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 474): BINDI of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): SYWINELL of BUSHMASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 471): STYLISH of SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 469): ASKELIA of LA JOYEUX COCHON (T'Loi, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 462): TOM THUMB of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 425): MISERY of HELL'S PAWNS (Harbinger, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 216): SCORPIUS of KNIGHT BREED (The Omnimancer, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 210): 100% COLUMBIAN of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 197): TOM SMITH DISEASE of STRANGE TUNES (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 350): ANDREW of ROLE MONSTERS (Keldon Blackfang, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 330): FREDDIE of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 146): CROSS CZECH of WORLDWIDE GORE (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 375): E.A.POLECAT of DRAKE'S BAR-B-Q from MALCORN (Drake)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 491): SOLITAIRE (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 489): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 485): TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 485): PUNNY AMINALS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 483): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 482): CURTAIN CALL (?, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 241): SHADOW GATE (Shadowgate, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 474): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (Micky, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 471): DEVIL ADVOCATES (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 469): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 462): LOST CAUSE (Vol, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 425): WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 216): MOJO P@TROL (Master Voodoo, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 210): LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 197): TEAM VIRTUE (Boy Scout, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 350): ROLE MONSTERS (Keldon Blackfang, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 330): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 146): MAGIC MAYHEM (Fizban, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 375): BLACKEST PRIDE (Sylvester Frothingslosh, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 488): FLADRAKEEN OOSCH of TEAM GNASTY (Big Gnasty, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 484): ANTEZEL of WYLDERNESS WYLD (Barnabas, mgr.)
                           MANAGER TC'S of IT'S JUST WRONG (LHI, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 483): CREME A. SHUN of DELTA DOOM (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 482): BLUE of THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 240): LOONY LATEKNIGHT of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
                          IDIOTIC INDIGO of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 474): BINDI of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
              (turn 473): RAGING FIRE of DEATH THREAT (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): UNCAS of THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
                   (turn 237): HUNGRY BONES of UNFIT TO BE ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 468): LIGHT DA' PYRE of WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
                                   CATNIP of VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (Inferno, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 424): FLESHRENDER of WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 210): 100% COLUMBIAN of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
                               BLACK JACK SHELACK of ROYAL FLUSH (Crip, mgr.)
                               TENT IN QUARANTINO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
                   (turn 209): SUGAR CUBE of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
                               101 PROOF!! of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 330): MARTINE of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
               (turn 329): NINNUAM of CHILDREN OF CTHULHU (The Sandman, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 145): CONUNDRUM of MYSTERIOUS (Mad Max, mgr.)
                            PRIZMATYK WAHL of MAGIC MAYHEM (Fizban, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     Welcome CHIMLEVTAL.  I, Olaf Modeen remember this place well.  Many the fights 
have I fought here.  The celebrations, the disappointments...  Biff!  Pow!  
CHIMLEVTAL watched with glee as WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! got knocked off top spot by WHY 
DID I DO IT!  DARQUE FORCES bit the big one as they could not win.  They dropped from 
12th down to 24th!  Are you guy giving lessons or what?  It seems so recently people 
were saying 5 BELOW ZERO was washed up, finished.  But 4-1-0 moved them up 4.  I 
guess they're washed no more...  What's with CALYPSO?  He actually beat MIDDLE WAY 
7's KAMBARD MURH, and walked away with 37 more points from the fight.  Laughs were 
big at SINGLE MALTS while they watched OBAN clobber VOMITO.  He lost 37 points and 
got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  CHIMLEVTAL has a Duelmaster who 
doesn't sit back and get lazy.  She challenged SOL INVICTUS' INMAR (15-13-0), which 
should prove (ahem!) interesting.  I can barely restrain my enthusiam for SOL 
INVICTUS' outstanding member, Duelmaster INMAR.  Advice to fighters with a 1 
will--give up fighting!   
     If at first you don't succeed, avoid.  That'll get you in the Spyreports.  
CHIMLEVTAL thinks STORMWATCH and their 140-154-10 is too much!  If at first you don't 
succeed, give up...  In my day, no team with a 138-151-10 would scare me off!  What's 
the problem, WHY DID I DO IT?  What do people see in ZARENDARGAR?  His 11-13-1?  
OVERLORDS ain't talkin', but he's got 61 points.  Keep challenging up 26 points, 
NAPULAK, and I won't have to write about you much longer.  LAPHROAIG always accepts 
those kind of challenges...  NAPULAK found one way to advance:  challenging LAPHROAIG 
and losing, but getting 1 points.  No brain, no pain.  FAOLAN AP GRYFFYDD didn't 
quite know what to make of a challenge he received from IT FELT GOOD of WHY DID I DO 
IT, who is 18 points below him.  IT FELT GOOD perhaps got his just desserts, seeing 
as he subdued FAOLAN AP GRYFFYDD and ended up with 29 recognition points.  I hate 
going to the effort of writing about the kind of fights that TOBIAS HAWKWIND gets in. 
He fights people like DASKON, 13 points below.  I thought TOBIAS HAWKWIND showed 
great skill and promise when he defeated DASKON.  All right, so I slept through it!  
Big deal!   
     Warriors of CHIMLEVTAL unite.  You have only your games to lose!  NEON SHADOW of 
KOSMOS'S MATRIX didn't know when to quit.  When you've got a 9-11-0, that's a good 
sign.  Now he's dead.  KIRKEN TUORNIN was plum wore out after BLISTER pounded 'im 
silly in a Bloodfeud.  THE NIGHTHAWKS'll have to get a little better before going 
after BLISTER again!  Someone told ALT that WILLBENDERS never Bloodfeuded, that he'd 
have an easy kill.  Well, I'm sure whoever misled you is right sorry.  SVEIN 
FORKBEARD larned his lesson (BLUE taught it well), and we right likely won't be 
seein' 'im fight any 5 BELOW ZERO members with the same gusto.  How long have I been 
here?  I got people to see, places to go...   
     Many other cities have retirement homes for aged warriors.  Any plans here?  Are 
you as tired of reading this as I am of writing it?  Actually, I guess I'm writing it 
before you read it.  Oh, well.  I don't want to overstay my welcome...-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 INMAR 4388                   15  13  0   132       SOL INVICTUS (469)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SIR PELLEAS 4352             18  15  1   120       WILLBENDERS (479)
 LAPHROAIG 4529               15  14  0   119       SINGLE MALTS (501)
 TIGBASA 4868                 19   5  0   115       STORMWATCH (440)
 LUCKY 7 4895                 13   8  0   114       NUMBERS GAME (403)
 OBAN 4530                    13  15  1   109       SINGLE MALTS (501)
-BRILLIANT ORANGE 4961        10   7  0   104       UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)
 VILI 4597                    16  13  1   100       LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)
 TOBIAS HAWKWIND 4941         12   9  1    98       THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
 DIXIE SCUM 2958              23  12  0    97       LOONY TOONS (206)
 CHERRY 2000 4994             12   5  0    96       NUMBERS GAME (403)
 CALYPSO 5286                  7   5  0    94       SRETSAMLEUD (553)
 EVANDIS ETHUM 2462           19  11  0    92       BUSHMASTERS (164)
 SYWINELL 2832                15  12  0    91       BUSHMASTERS (164)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TRASHIUS 4980                14   7  0    90       WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (378)
-STIGMA OF STUPID 4948        11   4  1    90       UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)
 DROKK 4014                   12   8  2    87       WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (378)
 NAPULAK 4467                 21   8  0    85       STORMWATCH (440)
 SUBOTAI 4380                 18  17  0    85       THE STORMGUARDS (78)
 TALISKER 4923                13  10  0    85       SINGLE MALTS (501)
 MALICE 4986                  11   9  2    83       ASSASSIN NATION (515)
 VOMITO 4840                  18   8  0    81       WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (378)
 ALT 4839                     15  11  2    81       WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (378)
 MAGOG 5031                   10   5  1    81       DARQUE FORCES (422)
 HELM HAMMERHAND 5025         11   6  0    80       LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)
 PANTERO 5300                 15  15  0    79       SRETSAMLEUD (553)
 DASKON 4464                  13  17  1    77       THE STORMBRINGERS (359)
 PARADOXE 4287                10  10  1    77       KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)
 MACHISMO 5293                 9  10  1    77       SRETSAMLEUD (553)
 GLENLIVET 4528               10  19  0    75       SINGLE MALTS (501)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BUSTER BUNNY 2862            11  21  2    73       LOONY TOONS (206)
 REZOS THE THRACIAN 4993      12   7  0    72       OVERLORDS (509)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SPATHA 4996                  12   6  2    66       SOL INVICTUS (469)
 RYU-KISHIN 5033              11   5  0    66       OVERLORDS (509)
 ABYSSINIAN 4918              13  10  0    65       THE STORMBRINGERS (359)
 GREYSCALES 4917              14   9  0    63       THE STORMBRINGERS (359)
 NINJATO 5244                 13   8  2    62       SAMURAI KIDS II (551)
 ZARENDARGAR 4888             11  13  1    61       OVERLORDS (509)
 TORNADO 5292                  7   4  0    60       SRETSAMLEUD (553)
 KIRKEN TUORNIN 4849          12  13  2    59       THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
 PLOTINUS 4341                10   7  0    59       KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)
 DEE-DEE 4354                 12  21  1    58       WILLBENDERS (479)
 TAXES 4159                    8   7  0    58       TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)
 LAGAVULIN 5019                9   8  0    57       SINGLE MALTS (501)
 WAR 4160                      8   7  1    57       TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLOND MOMENT 5095             4   1  2    56       WHY DID I DO IT (540)
 TOLEDO 5296                   6   6  1    53       SRETSAMLEUD (553)
 BLISTER 4853                  6   5  0    53       5 BELOW ZERO (518)
-LEXICON 5142                  7   2  0    52       WORDS TO THE WISE (545)
 SIR BREUNIS 5145              5   3  0    49       WILLBENDERS (479)
 RAUNI 5035                    9   6  0    46       SOL INVICTUS (469)
 KAMBARD MURH 5045            10  15  0    45       MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)
 MENDAL OMSHIL 5043            9  11  0    45       MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)
-ARCHETYPE 5140                6   0  0    44       WORDS TO THE WISE (545)
 RUMPLESTILTSKIN 4855          9   3  0    43       5 BELOW ZERO (518)
-IGOMINY 5144                  8   0  1    42       WORDS TO THE WISE (545)
-I'MIC 4583                    5   9  0    40       SOLIPSISM II (458)
 LES NAYLE 5044                7  18  0    39       MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)
 ORCUS 5227                    3   0  0    39       STYX AND BEYOND (550)
 BIJIN 5238                    8   8  0    38       SAMURAI KIDS II (551)
 FAMINE 4157                   7   8  1    38       TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)
-FLORID PSYCHO 5192            2   2  1    37       UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)
 ONE HIT WONDER 5000           7  11  4    36       ASSASSIN NATION (515)
 CALLEIGHT 5128                6   5  0    36       THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
 NORGEN PELH 5042              7  13  0    34       MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLUE 4852                     7   5  0    33       5 BELOW ZERO (518)
-PRODIGIOUS 5141               6   3  0    33       WORDS TO THE WISE (545)
-OPHEELIA 5167                 3   0  0    33       RESPECT THE DEAD (546)
 BARTOFELES 5173               4   3  1    30       THE STORMGUARDS (78)
 GOT HAMMERED 5091             2   2  0    30       WHY DID I DO IT (540)
 FAOLAN AP GRYFFYDD 5152       7   2  0    29       THE STORMGUARDS (78)
 MANI 5102                     3   8  0    29       SOL INVICTUS (469)
 IT FELT GOOD 5093             3   1  0    29       WHY DID I DO IT (540)
 URACCA EVENSTAR 5148          5   5  0    28       STORMWATCH (440)
 THE THING 5189                3   3  1    27       THE STORMBRINGERS (359)
 BAMBOO 5235                   6   4  3    25       SAMURAI KIDS II (551)
 WAS DRUNK 5094                4   0  0    25       WHY DID I DO IT (540)
 WET PAVEMENT 5115             2   0  0    25       DIS TRACTIONS (542)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DAMHAIN THE SATYR 5197        4   1  0    23       OVERLORDS (509)
 SYLVESTER 4154                3   2  0    23       LOONY TOONS (206)
 SVEIN FORKBEARD 5187          3   3  1    22       LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)
-JUANETTE 3836                 4   0  0    21       FEMMES FATALES (432)
 BAALBEROTH 5228               2   1  1    21       STYX AND BEYOND (550)
 TERRIBLE TWO 5195             2   0  0    20       NUMBERS GAME (403)
 IMELDA 5265                   2   0  0    20       COUP D'TAT (543)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 COL. KA DA FEE 5132           4   5  2    19       COUP D'TAT (543)
 TORAST 5269                   3   0  0    19       THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
 DISOBEDIENCE 5209             2   2  1    19       ASSASSIN NATION (515)
 ANDERS DIEMED 5174            2   5  0    19       THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
-CLAUDETTE 3833                2   2  0    19       FEMMES FATALES (432)
-LOCO 4991                     4   5  0    17       SOLIPSISM II (458)
 DUKE GORLOIS 5153             2   7  0    17       OVERLORDS (509)
 FORESHADOW 5186               3   3  0    16       ASSASSIN NATION (515)
 HARALD FAIRHAIR 5188          3   3  0    15       LORDS OF VALHALLA (508)
 JARL FORKBEARD 5280           2   0  0    14       THE STORMGUARDS (78)
-AJIHAD 5168                   2   1  0    13       RESPECT THE DEAD (546)
 DEATH 5218                    2   1  0    13       TRIAL BY COMBAT (460)
 LOVE POTION #9 5151           1   6  0    13       NUMBERS GAME (403)
 UNENDA 5278                   1   1  0    13       BUSHMASTERS (164)
 WARDO BARD 5276               2   0  0    12       BUSHMASTERS (164)
 RYUU DRAGONMASTER 5198        3   2  0    11       STORMWATCH (440)
 TAZ 5200                      2   0  0    11       LOONY TOONS (206)
 GLARE ICE 5112                2   0  0    11       DIS TRACTIONS (542)
-CHUCKLES 5099                 1   1  0    11       SOLIPSISM II (458)
 PIMPZILLA 5282                1   0  0    11       5 BELOW ZERO (518)
 FERNANDO 5266                 1   1  0     8       COUP D'TAT (543)
 TOMBSTONE 5210                1   3  1     7       ASSASSIN NATION (515)
 KOLUM MAROD 5344              1   0  1     7       MIDDLE WAY 7 (536)
 OIL SLICK 5114                1   1  0     7       DIS TRACTIONS (542)
-DOVE FALCONHAND 5201          2   0  0     6       RESPECT THE DEAD (546)
-PAPER CUT KING 5211           1   2  0     5       UNFIT TO BE ORCS (450)
 TRIAD 5342                    1   0  0     5       SAMURAI KIDS II (551)
 SALEM 5222                    1   2  0     5       DARQUE FORCES (422)
-TRIG 5190                     1   2  0     5       RESPECT THE DEAD (546)
 WULFGAR 5281                  1   1  0     4       STORMWATCH (440)
 ENDOR 5275                    1   1  0     4       DARQUE FORCES (422)
 MEPHISTOPHELES 5224           0   3  0     3       STYX AND BEYOND (550)
 ASTEROTH 5225                 0   3  0     3       STYX AND BEYOND (550)
 SIR TRISTAN 5223              0   3  0     3       WILLBENDERS (479)
 SLEET 5116                    0   2  0     2       DIS TRACTIONS (542)
 TWISTED 5337                  0   1  0     1       5 BELOW ZERO (518)
 CHARON 5338                   0   1  0     1       STYX AND BEYOND (550)
 SIR BARNABUS 5324             0   1  0     1       WILLBENDERS (479)
-WHY NOT 5279                  0   1  0     1       WHY DID I DO IT (540)
 ASAENGIE 5283                 0   1  0     1       KOSMOS'S MATRIX (474)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
? 4857                 4  6 0 5 BELOW ZERO 518      KIRKEN TUORNIN 4849   237 JUST REV
NOOKIE 5196            2  2 0 5 BELOW ZERO 518      SVEIN FORKBEARD 5187  238 JUST REV
CAKE 5277              0  2 0 BUSHMASTERS 164       STONE GOLEM 361       239 NONE    
IDI A MEAN 5133        3  6 0 COUP D'TAT 543        LIGHTBRINGER 357      239 NONE    
ROBES-PIERRE 5134      4  3 0 COUP D'TAT 543        FLORID PSYCHO 5192    236         
EUA 5154               1  4 0 COUP D'TAT 543        BLOND MOMENT 5095     236         
UR 5221                0  3 0 DARQUE FORCES 422     HIGH ELF 354          239 NONE    
GOG 5199               0  4 0 DARQUE FORCES 422     THE RAGE MAN 359      239 NONE    
LOOSE SAND 5113        0  2 0 DIS TRACTIONS 542     KOLUM MAROD 5344      239         
BELTHAFORMITT 5284     0  1 0 KOSMOS'S MATRIX 474   BANDIT PRINCE 360     239 NONE    
NEON SHADOW 4290       9 11 0 KOSMOS'S MATRIX 474   SPATHA 4996           239         
VALKYRIE 5229          1  2 0 LORDS OF VALHALLA 508 DISOBEDIENCE 5209     239         
VALKYRIE 4958         10  8 1 LORDS OF VALHALLA 508 MALICE 4986           236 REVENGED
JO LUDAN 5046         10 14 1 MIDDLE WAY 7 536      PARADOXE 4287         238         
DEFCON 1 5267          1  1 0 NUMBERS GAME 403      BAALBEROTH 5228       239         
D.A. 5341              0  1 0 SAMURAI KIDS II 551   LIGHTBRINGER 357      239 NONE    
JIMBOOB 5335           0  1 0 THE STORMBRINGERS 359 BANDIT PRINCE 360     239 NONE    
JAN PREMYSL OTOK 5085  5  6 0 THE STORMGUARDS 78    BLOND MOMENT 5095     237         
PESTILENCE 4556        5  4 1 TRIAL BY COMBAT 460   BANDIT PRINCE 360     239 NONE    

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
NO IDEA 5092           0  2 0 WHY DID I DO IT 540   TOMBSTONE 5210        237 JUST REV
SIR SAGRAMOR 5146      6  2 0 WILLBENDERS 479       ALT 4839              238 JUST REV

                                     PERSONAL ADS

     This was requested last turn while I was out of town.  On examining my calendar,
      I find I shall be out of town and out of touch this turn as well, so I'm doing
      this before I a) forget and b) leave again.  These are teams listed in last
      turn's newsletter.  If I've gotten anyone's name wrong, just let me know and
      I'll fix it. -- The Saint, keeper of lists

      5 BELOW ZERO       CFH                  SATAN'S KINGDOM    Dark One
      ASSASSIN NATION    Ghab                 SINGLE MALTS       Berylstar
      BUSHMASTERS        Tripwire             SOL INVICTUS       Bobby Bigfoot
      COUP D'TAT         Julius C.            SOLIPSISM II       Abdiel, acting mgr.
      DARQUE FORCES      Master Darque        STORMWATCH         Polar Bear
      DIS TRACTIONS      Slaughter Priest     STYX AND BEYOND    ?
      DJ'S HIT SQUAD     ?                    THE NIGHTHAWKS     Firehawk
      FEMMES FATALES     Soultaker            THE STORMBRINGERS  High Lord Bosk
      KOSMOS'S MATRIX    Kosmos               THE STORMGUARDS    The Icelord
      LOONY TOONS        Rascally Rabbit      TRIAL BY COMBAT    Justice
      LORDS OF VALHALLA  High Lord Bosk       UNFIT TO BE ORCS   Slugbait
      MIDDLE WAY 7       Jorja                WHAMMO & THUDDA 4  Micky
      NUMBERS GAME       Destitute Noble      WHY DID I DO IT    Fizban
      OVERLORDS          The Icelord          WILLBENDERS        Abraxis
      RESPECT THE DEAD   Master Voodoo        WOODPILE           Egil
      SAMURAI KIDS II    Sensei Jan           WORDS TO THE WISE  Wordsmith

     And my thanks. -- Temp Ed, who has no lists at all

COL -- I don`t write much P-ADs but that won`t stop me from having a good time 
clowning you fools.  I`ll just be doing it on the sands.  I run Sretsamleud and fight 
for V.C. -- Phat Phat

The Icelord -- How about another chapter of "The Revenant?"  It is time to finish him 
off. -- Stormwatch (good to see The Stormguards go 5-0)

The Icelord -- If what Crimson Crier says is true and Forgotten Realms "requires 
intuitiveness, intellect, imagination and a strong ability to role-play," you could 
destroy him without reading the rules.  He is a joke in Duelmasters. -- Stormwatch

Manager Dorque -- When you have a lot of "friends" backing you up, you suddenly 
become very vocal and brave.  They must do as you say or you stab them in the back.  
Since you can't back up anything you say, we will turn our attention to others.  How 
pathetic you are. -- Stormwatch

Jumbo -- You didn't learn anything original during your forced exile.  You really are 
pathetic.  "Naked cage dancing?"  Your Cartel "buddies" enjoy seeing you do that 
nightly even though you are a eunuch. -- Stormwatch

High Lord Bosk -- How desperate the Criers are.  'S Rioghal Mo Dhream. -- Stormwatch

Icelord -- You ask about Forgotten Realms.  Well here's your answer.  Combine D&D 
with Risk and you have it.  I play all three games and F.R. is my favorite.  Try it; 
I bet you'll like it! -- Abraxis

Willbenders -- Commiserations.  It was a bad match-up... -- ALT

Laphroaig -- Ouch!  I am glad I made it out alive!!! -- DROKK

COL -- One more for me.  That puts me up 4-0-1 against your alliance since I declared 

VC.  Woo Hoo!!!  No I don't hide from bloodfeuds for the most part but I will put an 
avoid down on my strat sheet so if your really intent on the BF then you better 
double  challenge. -- Fizban

Icelord -- No, as a matter of fact I was told the truth about how this whole thing 
started as if something like that would matter to me anyway.  I'm in this game for 
the fun and the rivalries so now I find myself in a ready made rivalry.  How cool is 
that. -- Fizban

Bobby B -- Thank you for the welcome. -- Fizban

Wordsmith -- Always good to see your alter's ugly mug around.  Keep the words to the 
wise coming because I always can use a little help in that department. -- Fizban

Master Darque -- Thanks for your praise but it was the least I could do to help out.  
Too bad I didn't get matched up accross the board with them or I'd have gone 5-0.  Oh 
well, maybe next time. -- Fizban

All -- I correct a mis-communication on my part.  Goat remains VC for as long as he 
desires. -- Master Darque

Ice -- I'm sorry, you must be the only manager that runs 9, 11, and 13 Wit warriors.  
Who was I to ever question?!  Lots of people run those types of warriors, so drop the 
martyr complex!  I run those types of warrior, heck I have 3 Wit warriors that I run 
regularly (and they are not TPs).  Having the occasional 50 FE crap warrior is fine, 
anyone who plays DM for a time will probably have them.  You on the other hand have 
made it an art.  Well, no.  Art is something of beauty, expression, and a breath-
taking display of human instransitives in physical form.  Yours is just bad 
managing.--Master Darque
P.S.  Managerial tip:  you know they let you add up to 6 points to Wit.  Putz!

Ice -- Get the ADHD in check and pay attention when I'm talking to you.  I am not my 
father, nor am I any other member of the VC--I am Master Darque (formerly Dark Son).  
My use and statements about honor do not reflect anyone else but me.  I still hold 
the same opinion about honor, it is useless.  You use it as an excuse to be a jerk 
and hide behind it as a lame excuse.  The Webster's definition of honor is "a keen 
sense of ethical conduct."  Nothing ethical about your conduct.  Oh wait, you're 
gonna give everyone the "I know what is acceptable" speech.  You are wrong of course, 
it should read "I know what is available."  Do whatever you want when it comes to DM, 
but just don't try to convince everyone around you that is honorable and right.  As 
my grandmother used to say, don't pee down my back and tell me its raining. -- Master 
Darque
P.S.  I down challenge and will down challenge you, but then again, I'm not the 
"honorable" one and have never claimed to be.

Bosk -- Knowing what actions are acceptable (or available...whatever helps you sleep 
at night) in times of war, I'm not going to tell you anything about the VC roster.  
Surprise is a key element to any successful campaign.  If they feel compelled to to 
announce their affliation, they can do so at their own leisure.  If not, then you can 
just suck it up and figure it out.  Give me the honor speech and whine now.  Wait!  
Let me get some popcorn, these are always lengthy and entertaining.  They make me 
laugh! -- Master Darque

Dook Gorlois -- Nice challenge.  Let me guess, you have a 9, 11, or 13 Wit.  I'm sure 
there is some excuse other than bad managing on why you suck. -- Salem

Oil Slick -- Not how I expected to win, but I will take it. -- Endor

Fernando -- That pretty much sealed my fate. -- Gog

Disobedience -- I was just style searching, but it looks like I picked wrong.  Nice 
win. -- Ur

Subotai -- 33 arena FE vs 13 arena FE and it still took you three minutes to beat me.  
Tsk, tsk, tsk. -- Magog

High Lord Bosk -- It was great to see you again my brother.  The tour was great, as 
was the leg of lamb and cold ale.  Salute. -- The Icelord

Lord Protector Uncas is the 16th graduate of The Stormguards stable.  His portrait 
joins his fellow Lords in our Hall of Fame in our fortified guildhouse.  He lost his 
3rd and 5th fight to an AB from the Crying Cartel.  This braggart claimed in the 
personal ads he was going to make Uncas cry "uncle."  The braggart was DA'd while 
Uncas went on to go 12-7 against the Crying Cartel.  His stats: 13-13-16-11(2)-18(1)-
7-10.  He learned 66 skills, ADEX in parry, EX in initiative and riposte.  Adept with 
the epee, LO/MO and favors initiative routines.  The Crying Cartel couldn't stop him.  
Salute, Lord Protector Uncas.

Fizban -- In my nearly 20 years of playing Duelmasters I have never been able to 
avoid a BF.  I BF'd Blond Moment last turn.  It didn't go through and both our 
warriors fought.  Did you avoid? I want to know for obvious reasons.  If you did, 
then I'm curious on what the % chance of avoiding a BF is.  If you didn't then I will 
have to talk to the Arenamaster. -- The Icelord
P.S.  (I have read most of the Dragonlance series, certainly you are not that Fizban.  
He would never align with the honorless liars of the Crying Cartel.)

Mani 0- Indeed, Wales it is.  My cousin, Ciaran Ap Gruffydd is also a Lord Protector 
from The Stormguards.  (We spell it the right way! ;)) -- Faolan Ap Gryffydd

The Council of Lords presents Chimlevtal History Facts: On turn #135 on 5/18/96: DM: 
Sir Animal of Black Plague.  CH REC LDR: Sir Animla of Black Plague.  POP LDR: Sir 
Animal of Black Plague.  UNCH REC LDR: Purple Hammer of The Four Horsemen.  WEEK'S 
FAV: Runciman of True Brits.  CURRENT TOP TEAM: Black Plague. #1 TEAM ON THE MOVE: 
Black Plague (41).  TOP CH TEAM: The Devastators.  TOP UNCH TEAM: Dark Heart Inc.  
There were 20 registered teams and 86 fights.  The most popular style was ST with 20.  
The Stormguards earned their 300th win and were 300-238-11 (55.8%).  There were only 
5 Stylemasters listed.  LU: Sir Animal of Black Plague. ST: Marcus of Caesar's Pool 
Hall. TP: VSP! of The Stormbringers. SL: Ranq Barfattack of The Devastators. PL: 
Vaughan of Black Plague.

Magog -- Like your manager, Dorque, you suck. -- Subotai

Bamboo -- Nice try.  Are you another Crying Cartel member who won't proclaim their 
alliance until forced to? -- Bartofeles 

Asteroth -- Like the Crying Cartel, you suck. -- Damhain the Satyr

Pestilence -- Like your manager, Jimblow, you suck. -- Zarendargar

Manager Dorque, Jimboy and Crimson whoever -- That is all you've got? That is the 
best you've got?  Recycled personals, lies and excuses?  That's all you've got?  Weak 
and pathetic.  I realize, one should not expect anything original or constructive 
from you three weaklings.  You can continue to bloviate and I will continue to 
humiliate you.  Dorque, bring back your 2 inactive teams; you three can have 5 teams 
against my two.  You might have a chance, but I doubt it. -- The Icelord

Pestilence -- Oh, next time I beat you down like a chump.  I give you the beatin' 
your mama wishes she had.  Some call me the insecticide when it comes to dealing with 
your type. -- Love Potion #9
P.S.  Don't let the 1-5 record scare you off, challenge anytime!

Uncas and Hungry Bones -- Don't let the door hit you on the way out! -- Lucky 7
P.S.  Nice career, Hungry, but you went out like a punk.

W&T4U -- My, we've come together in the rankings, just mere tenths of percentage 
points stand between my team, and the place you're occupying 4 us... -- D. Noble

I think someone slipped us twenty or so beers--we're all loud and obnoxious today...! 
-- Numbers Game

Uncas -- Well, I see we both aren't scum at least!  Good fight and good luck in ADM. 
-- Evandis Ethum

Thanks for the return welcome all. -- Tripwire

Man, a lot of posturing and bickering seems to be flowing in Chimlevtal lately.  
Who's on what side and why?  Anyone care to elaborate? -- Tripwire

The Icelord -- Indeed it was great doing battle at your side again!  The evil Avatar 
and the hordes of gargoyles were as misguided as the Crying Cartel.  In the end, 
it'll be us, Bud. -- High Lord Bosk

Polar Bear -- What a feast of Roast Axe Beak!  Indeed the feast was one of the finest 
in COL history!  Hussah!  Thank you, Mi'Lady! -- High Lord Bosk

The Icelord -- Concern yourself NOT with the peasants and wretches of the crying 
cartel.  Their mouths are so much sharper than their blades! -- High Lord Bosk

Torast -- What happened?  I had you and then tripped... next thing you know, the 
announcer claims that I bow my head in surrender.  I was just catching my breath... I 
swear !!! -- Baalberoth

Loco -- Well then... I was just getting started. -- Orcus

Damhain -- Interresting challenge... but next time, I plan to win.... -- Asteroth

Foreshadow -- I under-estimated your strength... it won't happen again. -- 
Mephistopheles

ICELORD -- MY DELUSIONAL ADVERSARY!  WHAT COLOR IS THE SKY IN YOUR WORLD?  DOES THIS 
WORLD REVOLVE AROUND YOU?  I ONLY ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS CONFINED TO THE 
GAME.  I HAD INTENDED A MUCH MORE INDEPTH AND BITING RESPONSE, BUT I AM IN A PEACEFUL 
MOOD.  I HAVE IT ALL WRITEN OUT!  I COULD DIPLO IT TO IF YOU LIKE!  I AM ATTEMPTING 
TO GIVE UP THE ACID TONGUED JIMBO ROUTINE AND GO BACK TO THE JOVAIL JIMBO.  YES, I 
WILL STILL POKE FUN AT YOU, BUT NOT AS VICIOUSLY. -- THE KINDER GENTLER JIMBO

MY BELOVED CHIMLEVTAL -- IT SEEMS I HAVE ICELORD'S PANTIES IN A BUNCH, AGAIN!  YOU 
SEE, HE IS ILL-EQUIPPED FOR A BATTLE OF WITS WITH ME.  OF COURSE, HE IS ILL-EQIPPED 
FOR A BATTLE OF WITS WITH YOUR AVERAGE THRID GRADER.  HE RAGES!  HE PRATTLES!  HE 
POSTURES!  HE FROTHS AT THE MOUTH!  HE POUNDS HIS CHEST!  HE LIES! HE CONTRADICTS 
HIMSELF!  BUT IN THE END, HE IS A BUFFOON!  LIKE A STORM, HE WILL, EVENTUALLY, BLOW 
HIMSELF OUT! -- THE JIMBO

BOSK -- SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE SAYING THAT ICELORD HAS EARNED YOUR RESPECT BY 
CONSISTENTLY BEING A BUFFOON!  YOU HAVE AN ODD SET OF VALUES, BUT I RESPECT LOYALTY--
EVEN IF IT IS MISPLACED! -- THE JIMBO

RAUNI -- DAMN, YOU'RE GOOD!  REAL GOOD!  I FIGURED WITH THE STYLE MAYCH UP YOU'D BE A 
WALKOVER!  I SURE AS HELL GOT FOOLED! -- FAMINE

BLOND MOMENT -- BAD STYLE MATCH UP FOR YOU.  BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME! -- TAXES

BIJIN -- WAR!  HHUUHHNN!  GOOD GOD!  WHAT AM I GOOD FOR? -- ABSOLUTELY NUTHIN'!  SAY 
IT AGAIN!!! -- WAR

THE THING -- GOOD JOB! -- DEATH

ZARENDARGAR -- MY 9 FE AGAINST YOUR 22 ARENA FIGHTS; MY 34 RECOGNITION VS. YOUR 61-- 
WHO DID YOU PAY OFF!  OH WELL, I'M OFF TO THE DARK ARENA!  SEE YA IN A COIUPLE OF 
TURNS! -- PESTILENCE

POLAR BEAR -- COME ON, GIRL!  WE HAVE A COSTUME ALL PICKED OUT FOR YOU!  A NICE PAIR 
OF DIAMOND EARRINGS! -- WAR, PESTILENCE , FAMINE, DEATH AND TAXES (APEARING NIGHTLY 
AY THE CHOIR)
P.S.  WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO TO ANY OTHER HORSE-PISS BAR?

POLAR BEAR -- YOU CAN HAVE THE POLE NEXT TO MINE!  WE'LL ADVERTISE YOU AS POLE R. 
BARE.  IT WILL BE FUN! -- FAMINE

COL -- Let's see... am I someone important?  Apparently I was important enough 10 
years ago when Icelord tried a feeble attempt at bullying me when he found out I was 
a newbie to the game.  And then, while continually thrashing his warriors in the 
arena, his fascination with me grew to an unsurmountable level.  He plotted, schemed, 
and threatened war against me.  I drew my line in the sand, and dared him to cross.  
You can deny it all you want,  I have kept detailed records and all of the original 
newsletters from RSI.  A clone you say?  No, I am definitly the original.  And you 
claim that I will have a losing record against you?  NEVER !!!  I never have, and I 
never will.  As it stands currently, my total record against you stands at 32-18.  
That is including ALL of you just against me.  And I know that win-loss gap that you 
guys suffer between Jimbo and Master Darque is even greater.  And what's this about 
your most junior gladiator beating me and my horse while bound and blindfolded? As 
for a junior gladiator, they don't allow managers to fight in the arenas.  If they 
did, I would welcome you to meet me upon the sands to test your inflatuated beliefs. 
-- Crimson Knight

Licelord -- Be warned !!!  If I see you trying to bully another known newbie in the 
game, CARTEL member or not, I will see to it that they are enlightened to your 
unethical and unsportsman like attitude.  I will share with them all the documented 
info that I have on you and the COL alliance.  Constantly downchallenging a newbie's 
team by 16+ points per challenge, how cowardly.  I bet that's how you got most of 
your wins to date.  I don't know who is more pathetic, you or your warriors.  Most of 
your wins against me were from downchallenges themselves.  The biggest one to date 
being by 23 points.  That will be the only way that you could beat my new team that 
I'm bringing in.  Bring it on !!! -- Crimson Knight

Pole R. Bare -- Like your new name?  It's in tribute to you coming to work for us at 
the CHOIR. I'm looking forward to seeing you.  I get tired of looking at the same 
succubi of Jimbo's dancing every night.  We need some fresh talent up on the stage.  
You are coming to work for us, right? -- Crimson Knight

Bosk -- I still can't figure out why you follow a rude, arrogant, beligerent, simple-
minded idiot named Icelord.  You would be a much better manager if you removed 
yourself from his self-absorbed actions.  Not once have I ever held a grudge against 
you, and I regretted having to group you in the "guilty by association" class.  Same 
goes for Polar Bear.  Best of luck to you and Polar Bear on the sands against me and 
the rest of the CARTEL. -- Crimson Knight

COL members -- Save you some time.  I'm a member of the Vendetta Cartel.  They say a 
man's stature may be measured by the quality of his enemies.  So I have high 
expectations for you!  To start, I'm expecting three veteran managers with five teams 
to choose from to do especially well against me.  Later, well, let's just say I 
expect something different down the road.  Keep your blades sharp and watch your 
backs.  It wouldn't be worth it if it were easy.  Let's have some fun! -- Slaughter 
Priest for the Dis Tractions stable

Kambard Muhr -- Well, you almost sealed my fate...Ghab is reluctant to send me to the 
Dark Arena due to my 4 kills, but my sub-par record and learning capabilities have 
been trying his patience.  I am a bonused, average fighter, I'll admit it...  He has 
given me notice that I am now on probation. -- One Hit Wonder

Mani -- You seem to have gained some skills in initiative, despite the record.  It 
all came down to a chance of fate in the end.  You got the first hit in, I couldn't 
recover.  Well fought! -- One Hit Wonder

Mephistopheles -- A valiant effort.  You'll have to hit much harder, however, to see 
me on my back! -- Foreshadow

Got hammered -- Good bloodfeud!  Well done! -- Tombstone

Ur -- I look forward to matching up with you again some day.  Good luck until then!
-- Disobedience

Sywinell -- Congratulations on becoming top dog! -- Ghab/Assassin Nation

Micky -- Very nice record to, claim the current top team spot.  Very nice! -- 
Ghab/Assassin Nation

Tigbasa -- I am not really sure how I made it through our fight. -- Inmar

Famine -- Thank you for the challenge; I was thrilled to pass the trial by combat. -- 
Rauni

Lexicon -- Well met!  Victory, again evaded me. -- Mani

One Hit Wonder -- Er, which hit was that?  I wondered. -- Kambard Murh

Paradoxe -- No fair!  There were TWO of you! -- Ghost of Jo Ludan

Igominy -- And I go down to an ignominious defeat.  Rats. -- Les Nayle

Calleight -- Ah... I was too busy teaching to fight? -- Mendal Omshil

I'mic -- If you're a true solipsist, shouldn't you be writing this personal to 
YOURSELF? -- Norgen Pelh

Rauni -- Always a worthy goal, but often easier said than done. -- Les Nayle

Sir Breunis -- The Council of Fools hired some low down dowlife to steal my APA, F.  
My mistake!  They didn't hire a lowlife; it was one of them.  So I went naked.  Glad 
to see that you are a real warrior and not a bath shark looking for a meal as the 
council does.  May the torches burn bright. -- Idi A Mean

Florid Psycho -- Good use of tact.  See you next round. -- Col. Ka da fee

Sleet -- What were you looking at?  Never seen such tight armor?  Nice battle. -- 
Imelda

GoG -- I am really slow; thought for sure you would get the jump on me.  I train at 
the newly painted big red and white and black house. You'll see the banner-- red with 
a white circle and black "V" inside of it outside of the front entrance.  It's about 
two blocks south of the Council's bar "The Blue Oyster" which, by the way, we shut 
down, refurbished and made a nice complex for the homeless.  Always need volunteers 
to help run the shelter.  Good luck. -- Fernando

Council of Fools -- Yes, the lease was in only two of your names.  The wenches had a 
good laugh trying to figure out who is "Red Buns" "Down Low."  All the gerbils were 
set free.  Your sickness, twisted morals will not be tolerated here in Chimlevtal. -- 
Coup D'Tat

Crimson Knight -- Welcome back.  An enemy of the Council of Fools has a bucket of any 
drink on me.  You choose the watering hole. -- Goat

All -- I am Noreiga.  I am from the Twisted Land.  I came to pound Council of 
fffools. -- (his mark) X Noreiga

14 April 2004
CHAOS Inc. proudly announces our newest member, Silver Stroke.  He becomes the
seventh brother of Chaos.  We shall indeed be better for his joining.

6 May 2004
                                     DEATH FEST

     The ferocious ghosts of former glories whispered across the wind swept sands of
DM 59; agonizing incessantly due to the diminutive demise of the Delarq arena known
as Illis.
     Tattered banners and forgotten memories wailed in the wind for a dynamic death
march to dawn once more upon the blood stained sands of the Delarq slow arena.
     The distant call crying for  a declaration of restoration amidst the ruin of the
all but forgotten Delarq arena carried to the far corners of Alastari; drawing the
Devious, the Diabolical, the Dangerous and the Down Challenging to cross blades and
wage warfare among an assemblage of new stables managed by the Known and Unknown;
willing to spill fresh blood, while carving their destiny during 15 Rounds of contest
driven combat to be known as the "Illis Incredibly Diabolical Delarq Death Fest".
     A lone cloaked figure huddled by lamplight in a remote outpost near the
crossroads of ElseWhere and ElseWhen; feverishly formulating the foundational
framework for the dawning of the Delarq Death Fest in DM 59, complete with
Gladiatorial Commission sanctioned prizes to promote the growing thirst for a Delarq
Slow Arena Death Festival.

     Delarq Death Fest Opening Round debuts the first turn immediately following the
Summer 2004 F2F Tourney and continues through the completion of 15 consecutive
rounds.
     Death Fest points are Won or Lost ONLY in the DM 59 Delarq Slow Arena [Tourneys
DO NOT Add or Subtract from the Death Fest Point Scoring System]:

Death Fest Scoring Format:
Win =3D +2 pts
Loss =3D -1 pt
Kill =3D +5 pts [in addition to +2 pts for Win]
Death =3D -3 pts [in addition to 1 pt for Loss]
Dark Arena Kill =3D +10 pts [in addition to +2 pts for Win]
Dark Arena Death =3D -5 pts [in addition to 1 pt for Loss]
Revenged Blood Feud =3D +5 pts [successful Revenged Blood Feud provides Death Fest
contestants the opportunity to cancel out 3 pts for Death and 1 pt for Loss; while
gaining +1 pt overall for the Revenged Blood Feud in addition to the +2 pts for Win]

    DEATH FEST PRIZES will be awarded to the Top Ten Death Fest Stables on the basis
of Total Points*** accumulated during the 15 rounds of competition as follows:

1.  Favorite Weapon Knowledge for 1 (one) warrior ranked Initiate or higher on the
Final Round to be revealed by RSI to each of the Top Ten Death Fest Stables
2.  Renaming of Dark Arena Monsters and NPCs [yet to be determined according to how
many DA Monsters and NPCs are available in DM 59 for Renaming]
3.  The Top Five Death Fest Stables will receive New Team Rollup Certificates as
follows:  1st (10), 2nd (8), 3rd (6), 4th (4) and 5th (2)
4.  Renaming Illis Arena for 6 months plus Receiving 6 months Free Play courtesy of
RSI will be awarded to the manager of the 1st Place Death Fest Stable
5.  Discussions are underway regarding a possible Special Award granted to the Illis
Iron Stable qualifiers who compete in 67 of a possible 75 fights during the course of
the 15 consecutive rounds of the Death Fest [Key Factor is How Many (?) stables will
be competing in the Death Fest without drawing away participation by current managers
in the remaining slow arenas!]  Therefore, it is important for all managers entering
stables in DM 59 for the upcoming Death Fest to contact RSI as soon as possible
regarding their participation in this contest so that a Final Ruling on the proposed
Illis Iron Stable Award can be issued by RSI.

***TieBreaker is determined on the Final Round by the DM 59 Newsletter Recognition
Rankings.  The stable with the Highest Ranked Active Gladiator is granted the
decision.  [Example: Warrior A and Warrior B are both listed in the Recognition
Rankings with 87 pts; however, because Warrior A is listed in the Recognition
Rankings ahead of Warrior B, then Warrior A is granted the TieBreaker Decision for
His/Her stable!]

     Opening Round Team Spotlight Bonus [minimum 15 paragraphs!]  Each Delarq Death
Fest competitor who writes a Team Spotlight featuring their Stable (Name) and
Managerial Alias [Gladiatorial Names Optional] in regards to competing in the Delarq
Death Fest will receive 25 pts added to His/Her opening round score.
     Illis Iron Stable Bonus [in addition to the proposed award awaiting RSI
approval!]  Any manager whose stable competes in at least 67 of the possible 75
fights during the 15 rounds of Death Fest receives 25 points added to His/Her final
overall score [this allows each stable the cushion of missing one round of
competition; plus up to 3 additional fights due to waiting for replacement rollups
from Deaths suffered either in Tourneys or during the Death Fest contest in DM 59
over the course of 15 rounds of competition!]

Delarq Death Fest
Hosted by Hammer
[Who Else?]

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

PESTILENCE was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
IDI A MEAN was butchered by LIGHTBRINGER in a exciting 1 minute Dark Arena duel.
UR was savagely slain by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight.
CAKE was dealt death by STONE GOLEM in a 2 minute Dark Arena contest.
GOG was assassinated by THE RAGE MAN in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena fight.
D.A. was butchered by LIGHTBRINGER in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl.
BELTHAFORMITT was dispatched by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
JIMBOOB was executed by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl.
SIR PELLEAS handily defeated ALT in a action packed 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud fight.
SUBOTAI lost to BLOND MOMENT in a 2 minute uneven Bloodfeud duel.
GOT HAMMERED defeated TOMBSTONE in a 1 minute expert vs. novice Bloodfeud duel.
BLISTER savagely defeated KIRKEN TUORNIN in a action packed 9 minute Bloodfeud match.
BLUE defeated SVEIN FORKBEARD in a exciting 1 minute Bloodfeud match.
SYWINELL was devastated by INMAR in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge Title conflict.
TOBIAS HAWKWIND demolished DASKON in a 1 minute gory mismatched Challenge match.
ABYSSINIAN was outwaited by TALISKER in a 18 minute veteran's Challenge conflict.
NAPULAK was defeated by LAPHROAIG in a 1 minute expert's Challenge struggle.
DEE-DEE was beaten by REZOS THE THRACIAN in a 2 minute master's Challenge brawl.
TAXES was bested by RYU-KISHIN in a exciting 1 minute veteran's Challenge fight.
WAR was overpowered by HELM HAMMERHAND in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge bout.
PARADOXE overpowered ZARENDARGAR in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge conflict.
NEON SHADOW was killed by SPATHA in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
RAUNI lost to PLOTINUS in a popular 1 minute Challenge match.
ONE HIT WONDER was handily defeated by MENDAL OMSHIL in a 1 minute Challenge duel.
RUMPLESTILTSKIN defeated CALLEIGHT in a popular 4 minute Challenge match.
BAMBOO was defeated by THE THING in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
SIR BREUNIS overpowered MANI in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
WAS DRUNK narrowly defeated HARALD FAIRHAIR in a 4 minute brutal Challenge bout.
ANDERS DIEMED lost to URACCA EVENSTAR in a 5 minute Challenge bout.
FORESHADOW viciously subdued FERNANDO in a popular 6 minute gruesome Challenge fray.
DAMHAIN THE SATYR overpowered SALEM in a 5 minute brutal uneven Challenge competition.
IT FELT GOOD savagely defeated FAOLAN AP GRYFFYDD in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
JARL FORKBEARD outlasted SIR TRISTAN in a tiresome 12 minute Challenge match.
DISOBEDIENCE assassinated VALKYRIE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
DEATH beat RYUU DRAGONMASTER in a 3 minute beginner's Challenge bout.
MEPHISTOPHELES was subdued by DUKE GORLOIS in a 3 minute Challenge contest.
UNCAS devastated GLENLIVET in a 2 minute one-sided battle.
VOMITO was devastated by OBAN in a 1 minute uneven bout.
VILI defeated MAGOG in a 1 minute match.
DIXIE SCUM was demolished by TIGBASA in a action packed 2 minute one-sided conflict.
LUCKY 7 overpowered TRASHIUS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided duel.
PANTERO was subdued by EVANDIS ETHUM in a exciting 2 minute gory expert's competition.
MACHISMO was demolished by CHERRY 2000 in a crowd pleasing 1 minute uneven duel.
DROKK demolished LAGAVULIN in a 1 minute uneven conflict.
MALICE viciously subdued GREYSCALES in a exciting 3 minute bloody master's fight.
CALYPSO handily defeated KAMBARD MURH in a exciting 1 minute gory one-sided conflict.
NINJATO demolished FAMINE in a 1 minute uneven fight.
LES NAYLE beat SYLVESTER in a 2 minute uneven bout.
TOLEDO defeated BIJIN in a 1 minute competition.
TORNADO vanquished BARTOFELES in a 1 minute one-sided match.
ORCUS handily defeated NORGEN PELH in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
LOVE POTION #9 was luckily beaten by TORAST in a 3 minute fight.
COL. KA DA FEE was beaten by TERRIBLE TWO in a crowd pleasing 1 minute conflict.
ASTEROTH slimly lost to TAZ in a 2 minute amateur's match.
BAALBEROTH murdered DEFCON 1 in a 1 minute mismatched battle.
IMELDA overpowered ENDOR in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
WARDO BARD subdued CHARON in a popular 1 minute amateur's contest.
UNENDA overpowered CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched duel.
SLEET was overpowered by PIMPZILLA in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
WULFGAR was handily defeated by WET PAVEMENT in a 2 minute one-sided contest.
OIL SLICK beat SIR BARNABUS in a exciting 1 minute beginner's fight.
LOOSE SAND was put to death by KOLUM MAROD in a 2 minute amateur's battle.
GLARE ICE beat ASAENGIE in a 6 minute novice's struggle.
TWISTED was luckily beaten by TRIAD in a 3 minute novice's brawl.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                 22         TOTAL PARRY      103 -  69 -  2      60  |
|TOTAL PARRY                     18         STRIKING ATTACK   99 -  92 -  7      52  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                  16         AIMED BLOW        29 -  30 -  3      49  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                 14         SLASHING ATTACK   48 -  51 -  7      48  |
|BASHING ATTACK                  13         BASHING ATTACK    39 -  43 -  4      48  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                    13         PARRY-STRIKE      46 -  51 -  3      47  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    8         WALL OF STEEL     40 -  46 -  6      47  |
|AIMED BLOW                       6         PARRY-LUNGE       14 -  17 -  0      45  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      5         LUNGING ATTACK    84 - 107 -  5      44  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    4         PARRY-RIPOSTE     12 -  32 -  0      27  |

Turn 239 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:

TOTAL PARRY       12 -  6     BASHING ATTACK     6 -  7         5  LUNGING ATTACK 
AIMED BLOW         3 -  3     PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  3         2  SLASHING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     8 -  8     PARRY-STRIKE       5 -  8         1  PARRY-STRIKE   
SLASHING ATTACK    7 -  7     STRIKING ATTACK    8 - 14         1  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL      4 -  4     PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  3         1  STRIKING ATTACK
                                                                1  TOTAL PARRY    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-STRIKE     INMAR 4388                 15  13  0  132 SOL INVICTUS (469)
WALL OF STEEL    SIR PELLEAS 4352           18  15  1  120 WILLBENDERS (479)
LUNGING ATTACK   LAPHROAIG 4529             15  14  0  119 SINGLE MALTS (501)
STRIKING ATTACK  TIGBASA 4868               19   5  0  115 STORMWATCH (440)
SLASHING ATTACK  TOBIAS HAWKWIND 4941       12   9  1   98 THE NIGHTHAWKS (43)
TOTAL PARRY      DIXIE SCUM 2958            23  12  0   97 LOONY TOONS (206)
PARRY-LUNGE      CALYPSO 5286                7   5  0   94 SRETSAMLEUD (553)
BASHING ATTACK   ALT 4839                   15  11  2   81 WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (378)
AIMED BLOW       RYU-KISHIN 5033            11   5  0   66 OVERLORDS (509)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    RAUNI 5035                  9   6  0   46 SOL INVICTUS (469)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is OBAN 4530.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
BLISTER 4853.  The ten other most popular fighters were CALLEIGHT 5128, MALICE 4986, 
TAXES 4159, FERNANDO 5266, TIGBASA 4868, PANTERO 5300, BLOND MOMENT 5095, LAPHROAIG 
4529, SYLVESTER 4154, and LOVE POTION #9 5151.

The least popular fighter this week was TALISKER 4923.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were ABYSSINIAN 4918, SIR TRISTAN 5223, JARL FORKBEARD 5280, GLARE ICE 5112, 
KIRKEN TUORNIN 4849, FORESHADOW 5186, URACCA EVENSTAR 5148, ASAENGIE 5283, SLEET 
5116, and ENDOR 5275.

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

UNCAS (31-4189) THE STORMGUARDS (78)