DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 05/07/2003    Duedate: 05/20/2003

MURSKA ARENA

DM-35    TURN-436

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

JELIAH BIGABO
PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
(35-3676) [17-1-1,174]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

JELIAH BIGABO                  POSITION IS EMPTY
PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)        
(35-3676) [17-1-1,174]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

BRAN AP CADAL                  BRAN AP CADAL
CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)         CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
(35-3713) [14-5-1,65]          (35-3713) [14-5-1,65]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. THE BEARS (253)             28
2. PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)     26      THE BEARS (253)
3. VITAL BRAWL (332)            0      Unchartered Team
4. LADY OF BATTLES (336)        0
5. CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)     -13      LE BONES (270)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*VITAL BRAWL (332)          3   2  0 60.0   1/ 3 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)    6  6 2
 2- 2 LADY OF BATTLES (336)     16  12  0 57.1   2/ 2 THE BEARS (253)           5  4 0
 3/ 3 THE BEARS (253)          285 217 17 56.8   3/ 1 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)   4  8 0
 4/ 4 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)   36  33  1 52.2   4- 4 LADY OF BATTLES (336)     2  0 0
 5/ 5 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)   383 588 16 39.4   5- 5*VITAL BRAWL (332)         1  1 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

     >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #59 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

On the coast north of Zukal:

     The half hour it took for Harlund to return with his rowboat seemed a lot
longer.  Ghenis had finished his examination of the tracks and returned to the beach
to stare again at Veleks' body on the rock.  He was reasonably sure that the running
footsteps belonged to his thief, Veleks.  But the hoofmarks....  Long and narrow,
almost triangular in outline, and as deep as those made by a galloping horse carrying
a fully armored knight.  He didn't like the possibilities those tracks hinted at.  If
they didn't come from a native and natural beast, what then?
     The rumor was that magic was in a state of major decline due to something or
other--not that he depended on magic for anything important.  He would have expected
that to mean that interdimensional Gates couldn't be opened.  But what if the reverse
was the case, and it meant that Gates couldn't be held shut?  What if they could--
should--expect a growing flood of alien creatures, maybe even another Chaos war?  He
didn't want to think it might be coming to that, but no intelligent, practical man
denied a possibility just because he didn't like it.  And Ghenis hoped that he was
both intelligent and practical.  He frowned at Harlund, who was rowing slowly closer
along the shore.  He'd have to question the beach walker, and from what he'd seen,
Harlund would demand money just to listen, and maybe more to answer.  Greedy wretch.
     Ghenis climbed into the rowboat and sat where Harlund directed him.  The water
was cold, he could feel the chill coming up through the bottom of the boat.  And
clearer than he'd expected.  Not that there was anything of interest to see on the
muddy bottom.  A rock or two, algae furred sticks...a crisp, green curve with a line
of bright gold showing?  He leaned over to look more closely.
     "You trying to tip us over?" Harlund demanded.
     "I thought I saw something down there."  He twisted to look back as the beach
walker kept rowing.
     Harlund glanced at the shore, straight back and to either side.  "You probably
did," he said finally.  "This must be near enough to where the _Light of Els_ went
down."
     "Should we mark the place so you can salvage--?"
     "I wouldn't touch anything out of that ship," the beach walker said flatly.
"Nor would anyone else on this coast.  In the two hundred or more years since the
_Light_ sank, I don't think anyone's touched so much as a piece of driftwood from
it."
     Ghenis raised his eyebrows but asked no more questions.  He didn't think Harlund
would answer them, and better not to show too much interest.  But when he got back to
Zukal, he would find out all he could about a ship named the _Light of Els_.  He
returned his attention to the bottom sliding past under them.  There might be
something he could use down there.
     As they neared the rock, the bottom fell away into opaque depths.  Ten feet,
Harlund had said, but for all he could see, it might as easily have been a hundred.
He looked at Veleks and saw that the thief was moving a little.  Still alive?
Amazing.  And gratifying.  Veleks could answer some questions, then.  He was looking
forward to that.

Ibizond, between Murska and Korga:

     The news from the east was confused, more rumor than definite report, but to
Lord Protectors with time on their hands, rumor was enough.  Aghtamar and Zilla, both
Korgans who had trained in Veastian, hatched the idea between them: that they should
go east toward Zuwayza and find out what really was going on.  There might be action,
and action was something lacking in their lives since graduation.  Fist of Kjarran, a
Zuwayzan visiting the team Korgan Crusade, decided that his duty was to go with them:
there would be a chance to serve the Glorious Empire and acquire merit in the eyes of
Kjarran and His Daughter Jayde.
     The journey south from Veastian to Ibizond, a matter of some thirty miles, was
straightforward but tedious.  Mile after mile of forest, with nothing but the
possibility of a wild Shew to break the monotony, was not exciting.  And apparently
all the wild Shews were hanging out around Veastian and contributing to the troubles
there, rather than keeping travelers from falling asleep on the road to the south.
     Ibizond itself, on the main traders' road from Zuwayza and Malcorn to Murska and
Zensu was bigger than Korga but much like it.  The population was a mixture of
Karnhorn types and Harkeny, the houses were built of stone and logs, and the
government was treading a careful line between independence and Karnhorn domination.
They reached it just before sunset.
     Fist of Kjarran looked at the wooden palisade critically.  "That might stop the
Shews," he said, "but any day the Glorious Empire truly wants to take Ibizond, it
will fall.  No two ways about that."
     Zilla snorted.  "Korga wasn't a pushover, what makes you think Ibizond would
be?"
     "The Glorious Empire needs Ibizond," Fist said calmly.  "Therefore, at the right
time it will take Ibizond."  He shrugged.  "But not today."  He looked around the
main plaza curiously.  "Let's find someplace to eat and then keep going.  We could
make it to Korga tonight, I bet."
     "Too far," Zilla said.  "Close to thirty miles, and it's hilly."
     "And you'd do well not to travel after dark," someone said behind them.
     All three spun around, hands going to their swords but not drawing.  The man
behind them was tall, with gray-streaked reddish brown hair and the indefinable but
unmistakable air of a gladiator.
     "Me and Zilla grew up around Korga," Aghtamar said.  "We know the area.  And
we're all gladiators, Lord Protectors.  Sure, there's more risk at night than by day,
but--"
     "There are new problems on the road," the man said.  "My name's Cadal, gladiator
from Murska, and I'd be glad to tell you about them.  The food at the Red Cow is
good," he added, gesturing toward a modest inn.  "I'll buy dinner.  And then I have a
proposition for you."

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 464): TREMERE of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 462): TONY THE TIGER of ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 458): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 458): HU MI of GEN KHAN (Technogeek, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 456): LAWN DART GOALIE of SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 455): MERRY DEMENTE of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 227): MANUEL TRANSMISSION of OTTO'S MECHANICS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 447): BLUEY of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 225): DROSS of SOLIPSISM II (Abdiel, acting mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 444): TROTLINE of FISHERMAN'S WHARF (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 442): EYE OF THE TIGER of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 435): JELIAH BIGABO of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 398): FLYING MARMOSET of KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 202): DEBBIE DAHMER of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 197): RING D'BELL of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 184): MR. HOOPER of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 323): COLDHEART of REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 304): THE BUM of FAVORITE GUYS (Obscure Source, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 132): UU DOEWANAKNO of DRAKE'S LODGE (Drake, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 348): CHALICE of SUPERIOR FORCES from LAPUR (Manager, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 464): DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 462): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 458): GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 458): WAY OF THE BLADE 1 (Vhagar, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 456): SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 455): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 227): BOXOROX (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 447): EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 225): THE STORMBRINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 444): FISHERMAN'S WHARF (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 442): JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 435): PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 398): KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 202): SPRITE'S ROGUES (Warsprite, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 197): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 184): MIDDLE WAY 6 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 323): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 304): FAVORITE GUYS (Obscure Source, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 132): ALPHABET SOUP (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 348): WOLF PACK II, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 463): HOWLING LOON of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 455): PRIASA SON of LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
                            BRAYL ICECAP of LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 455): MERRY DEMENTE of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 227): WIMPY WIND of THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 225): DROSS of SOLIPSISM II (Abdiel, acting mgr.)
                               VE of LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
                   (turn 224): SAMPSA of SOL INVICTUS (Bobby Bigfoot, mgr.)
                               BLADEFIST of THE STORM REAVERS (?, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 442): EYE OF THE TIGER of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
                            NO CHASER of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 396): LA BELLE SORCIERE of KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 197): INSOLENT IDIOT of MYSTIC ORC FEAST (Slugbait, mgr.)
                               ESPRESSO of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 303): JESSIE of FAVORITE GUYS (Obscure Source, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 132): UU DOEWANAKNO of DRAKE'S LODGE (Drake, mgr.)
                            LACONIC LEMON of GARDEN GUMBIES (Firehawk, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of 
MURSKA brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too.  Later days, PHILANTHROPISTS 3, since 
CHILDREN OF LLYR took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news.  Of course, 
we're all terribly impressed to see KING BEAR win a fight and gain 25 points, 
terribly.  Tsk, tsk, KING BEAR beat FINN and FINN lost 19 points.  You're breakin' my 
heart.  And if variety is the spice of life, MURSKA may be getting bland, as JELIAH 
BIGABO stays top dog in the city.  Kickbacks and bribes, kickbacks and bribes, how 
else do you think some of these guys win their fights?  Skill?  Ha!   
     My mother always told me, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, start 
talking.' I loved that woman.   
     Some people like volunteer work in the hospitals.  I volunteer for MURSKA's 
morgue.  More variety.  Titanium shields and bamboo daggers, guess what brave team is 
developing these kinds of weapons?   
     What does the MURSKA arena have in common with the inns?  It's just as 
comfortable to sleep in either place.  Ha ha ha ha!  Well, I've had enough of this 
drivel, and I'm sure you have too.  Off like a dirty shirt of padded leather.  Paste 
this one in your scrapbooks, you'll need the kindling come this winter-- Snide 
Clemens  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JELIAH BIGABO 3676           17   1  1   174       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BRIGIT 3718                  12   6  0    89       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-INANNA 3537                   8   4  0    87       LADY OF BATTLES (336)
 KING BEAR 3629                7   1  1    83       THE BEARS (253)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BRAN AP CADAL 3713           14   5  1    65       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 FINN 3719                    11   7  1    61       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-NOMAR ELS 3272                6   5  1    59       EASTERN HORDE (313)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CRUEL THUNDER 3306            4   5  0    52       EASTERN HORDE (313)
 DINGO 3716                    5   4  0    41       THE BEARS (253)
-LOCO 3677                     5   3  0    35       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
-MOUNTAIN QUAM 3327            4   1  0    34       EASTERN HORDE (313)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GWALCHMAI 3749                3   0  1    29       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-SAGE 3495                     2   0  0    26       VITAL BRAWL (332)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SHINER 3499                   1   0  0    22       VITAL BRAWL (332)
-HUNTERSTOCK 3667              0   2  0    12       VITAL BRAWL (332)
-GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748        3   2  0    11       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
CONVICTED THIEF 1      0  1 0   1                   GWALCHMAI 3749        436 NONE    
DAI AP BRANDHU 3740    0  5 0 CHILDREN OF LLYR 141  KING BEAR 3629        433         
THE DA 3753            0  1 0 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 347 SPYMASTER 22          436 NONE    
THE DA 2 3752          0  1 0 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 347 STONE GOLEM 26        436 NONE    
FREAK 3686             3  4 0 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 347 BRAN AP CADAL 3713    434         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Jeliah Bigabo -- We're hoping to get you graduated and out of here as quickly as
possible, you see.  Then maybe we can get a duelmaster who'll write a column. --
Brigit

That Venomous Concubine may be mean, but wow, does she know tricks! -- Finn

Inanna -- Will you still be here in the morning?  No, wait, that doesn't sound
right....  But I'm sure it was SOMETHING about the morning. -- Bran ap Cadal

I bet the Mordant Deserter was actually thrown out and should be called an Exile
instead.  He's worthless. -- Gwalchmai

30 April 2003
All -- Remember to put your arena number on your strategy sheets.  Strategies turned
in without an arena number run the risk of missing the turn. -- NAIEI

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

THE DA was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
THE DA 2 was dealt death by STONE GOLEM in a 2 minute Dark Arena duel.
JELIAH BIGABO demolished BRIGIT in a 1 minute one-sided Title melee.
FINN was overpowered by KING BEAR in a 1 minute mismatched duel.
BRAN AP CADAL bested DINGO in a popular 2 minute fight.
GWALCHMAI murdered CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched competition.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   3         TOTAL PARRY        3 -   0 -  0     100  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         SLASHING ATTACK    2 -   0 -  0     100  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         LUNGING ATTACK    26 -  14 -  2      65  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         AIMED BLOW        11 -   8 -  0      58  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-LUNGE        4 -   3 -  0      57  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         STRIKING ATTACK   13 -  15 -  2      46  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         WALL OF STEEL      5 -   8 -  1      38  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  0         BASHING ATTACK     1 -   2 -  0      33  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   1 -  0       0  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -   6 -  0       0  |

Turn 436 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   JELIAH BIGABO 3676         17   1  1  174 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
AIMED BLOW       BRIGIT 3718                12   6  0   89 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
STRIKING ATTACK  FINN 3719                  11   7  1   61 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
WALL OF STEEL    DINGO 3716                  5   4  0   41 THE BEARS (253)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BRAN AP CADAL 3713.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was BRAN AP CADAL 3713.  The ten other most popular fighters were THE DA 2 3752, 
KING BEAR 3629, JELIAH BIGABO 3676, GWALCHMAI 3749, DINGO 3716, THE DA 3753, BRIGIT 
3718, FINN 3719,  0, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was FINN 3719.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BRIGIT 3718, THE DA 3753, DINGO 3716, GWALCHMAI 3749, JELIAH BIGABO 
3676, KING BEAR 3629, THE DA 2 3752, BRAN AP CADAL 3713,  0, and  0.

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

JELIAH BIGABO (35-3676) PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)