DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 02/23/2005    Duedate: 03/08/2005

MURSKA ARENA

DM-35    TURN-483

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

HUCKLE CAT
BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
(35-3874) [7-2-0,59]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

MORPETH                        HUCKLE CAT
CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)         BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
(35-3862) [8-11-0,35]          (35-3874) [7-2-0,59]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

MORPETH                        DALLOW
CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)         CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
(35-3862) [8-11-0,35]          (35-3872) [4-8-1,30]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)        39
2. DEAD MUSICIANS (362)        25      CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
3. BLITZKRIEG (357)             0      Unchartered Team
4. DIRT DEVILS (363)            0
5. THE BEARS (253)              0      BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1 BLITZKRIEG (357)          62  19  9 76.5   1- 1 BLITZKRIEG (357)          9  1 0
 2/ 2*BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)      28  12  5 70.0   2/ 2 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)    9  6 0
 3- 4 THE BEARS (253)          349 258 25 57.5   3/ 3*BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)      7  4 1
 4/ 3*DEAD MUSICIANS (362)       6   6  2 50.0   4- 4*DIRT DEVILS (363)         2  2 0
 5- 5*DIRT DEVILS (363)          2   2  0 50.0   5/ 5*DEAD MUSICIANS (362)      1  3 0
 6/ 6 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)   469 720 20 39.4   6- 6 THE BEARS (253)           1  4 1

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 509): CAT TASTROPHIE of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 509): CAT TAGIOUS of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 503): CITATION of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 506): FELIX of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 504): PIP THE TROLL of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 503): SIT of VALHALLA (Odin, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 251): LAVA RUNNER of PRIMAL FURY (Sensei Jan, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 495): ENOSHIMA of BLACK SAMURAI (Doc Miracle, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 249): KIRKEN TUORNIN of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 491): TAD DEVILLE of DEVIL ADVOCATES (The Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 489): TATHARLI of THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 482): BARRISTER of BLITZKRIEG (Polarius, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 446): ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER of GIRLS X3 (Non, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 226): STORM SERPENT of SUPERIOR FORCES (Manager, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP(turn 220): COURAGE of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 207): NO-PAIN-4U of EXTREMISTS (Eclipse, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 370): HEDGEHOG of REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 349): COOL CAT of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 156): YANKEE DOODLE of WORLDWIDE GORE (Crip, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 396): PARANOIA of DSM4 from ZUKAL (The Sandman, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 509): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 509): DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 503): GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 506): GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 504): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 503): THE MAGNIFICENT MAGS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 251): NORTHERN BADLANDS (Maximillian, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 495): EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 249): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 491): SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 489): THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 482): BLITZKRIEG (Polarius, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 446): GIRLS X3 (Non, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 226): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP(turn 220): LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 207): SNOW CALL HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 370): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 349): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 156): DUDS (Amy A. Airhead, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 396): LEGION OF DUMB (Carnage, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 508): AGLIBOL of DARKMOON (Bobby Bigfoot, mgr.)
                           JUDGE PARKER of THE LAWMEN (Marshal D, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 505): PEACH NUTT of PUNNY AMINALS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 504): MCARTHUR of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 250): ALARIC of THE WARLORDS II (Fizban, mgr.)
                          RAY D AYTOR of OTTO'S MECHANICS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 249): DROKK of WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (Micky, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 490): TRADEMARK of SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 481): RED FERN of VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (Inferno, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 445): DISMAY of HELL'S PAWNS (Harbinger, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP(turn 220): COURAGE of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 206): VANWAFEA of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 349): DRACO EL TANIN of BLADE AND BLOOD (Noachian, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     So why do I have this bag over my head?  Because I am The Unknown Spymaster and 
I'm going to give you a spy report!.  We now have a new top team for all of you guys 
to dogpile on.  CHILDREN OF LLYR now holds the crown and they are betting they can 
keep it.  It looks like the guys(?) at BUSY, BUSYTOWN had a good week as they went 
4-1-1 to put them in 3rd place.  I guess steroids help!  Hey everybody, watch out for 
BANANNAS GORILLA, who flew up 19 points in the rankings after mashing DANGEROUS 
CRIMINAL like a melon.  Keep your eye on this guy.  Ya know, some days it doesn't pay 
to walk out on the sands.  PADDY was defeated by MORDANT DESERTER and drops 8 points. 
Try as hard as the BLITZKRIEG stable might, they were unable to find their warrior 
(and ex-Duelmaster) BARRISTER before this week's fights.  It's a proud day for the 
BUSY, BUSYTOWN stable, as their warrior, HUCKLE CAT, ascended the Duelmaster's 
throne.  Advice to bashers--never force anything, just get a bigger halberd!   
     Let's dig a little deeper into what's happening in the MURSKA arena.  Here's a 
song for you:  Who's afraid of the big, bad THE BEARS?  Big bad THE BEARS.  Big bad 
THE BEARS.  MURSKA's afraid of the big bad THE BEARS.  Tra la la la la!  Okay, so I 
may not be funny, but catch BUSY, BUSYTOWN's act in the arena.  Those acrobats seem 
to be fairly deft at running from THE BEARS.  Well just about everybody wants a piece 
of MORPETH, who was this week's most challenged warrior.  Well, it looks like JANICE 
JOPLIN wasn't happy with last turn's rank, so she went for broke by challenging up 30 
points.  No guts, no glory.  I don't know about you, but when I saw JANICE JOPLIN 
step out on the sands with MORPETH, I though it was over before it started.  Good 
upset JANICE JOPLIN!  In a touching display by a 'touched' warrior, JIMI HENDRIX went 
after KAI, who was higher by 18 points.  Well, when the dust settled, JIMI HENDRIX 
was bested by KAI.   
     Being a spy is great--other people die and you spend the rest of the day 
drinking to their memory.  Better tanked than dead!  Ask not the elves for counsel, 
for they will say both yes and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     I think I had better cut this one short.  It's been nice chatting to those of 
you whom I have not offended yet.  Okay, so I may not be the world's best comedian, 
but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors.  And remember, you can pick your 
friends and you can pick your--(loud boos), oh, you've heard that one already!-- The 
Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HUCKLE CAT 3874               7   2  0    59       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BARRISTER 3817               13   3  3   139       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-O'MALLEY 3816                11   6  1    94       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-RAZZLE DAZZLE 3863           10   1  1    94       BLITZKRIEG (357)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-KAMA KAZI 3859               11   1  1    90       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-DARLING NIKKI 3842           12   2  2    89       BLITZKRIEG (357)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FATHER CAT 3875               5   1  1    53       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
 BANANNAS GORILLA 3876         7   2  1    52       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
-TAKE COVER 3870               6   2  3    52       THE BEARS (253)
 DINGO DOG 3878                5   2  3    51       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
 JANICE JOPLIN 3891            3   0  1    51       DEAD MUSICIANS (362)
 MORPETH 3862                  8  11  0    35       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DALLOW 3872                   4   8  1    30       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 KAI 3873                      6   6  0    25       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CADAL COONTZ 3901             3   1  0    20       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-TYPHOON 3895                  1   1  0    16       DIRT DEVILS (363)
 BUDDY HOLLY 3890              2   1  1    14       DEAD MUSICIANS (362)
 PADDY 3898                    3   2  0    11       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-NOREASTER 3896                1   1  0    10       DIRT DEVILS (363)
 JIMI HENDRIX 3889             1   2  0     5       DEAD MUSICIANS (362)
 MR. FIXIT 3905                0   1  0     1       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
AMBITIOUS GUARD 9      0  1 0   1                   FATHER CAT 3875       483 NONE    
MR. FRUMBLE 3877       4  4 0 BUSY, BUSYTOWN 360    TAKE COVER 3870       482         
CU-CADAL 3848          7 14 1 CHILDREN OF LLYR 141  DINGO DOG 3878        479 NONE    
VOMIT 3904             0  1 0 DEAD MUSICIANS 362    WURM KIN 27           483 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Banannas Gorilla -- Bananananas make me... (excuse me) (gasp) ill. -- Morpeth

Mr. Frumble -- Ouch, I guess I frumbled that one. -- Kai

Nobody said I had to be KIND to that pest of a beggar, so I wasn't. -- Dallow

Typhoon -- I hate mean little devils like you! -- Paddy

Noreaster -- Right, what he said. -- Cadal Coontz

Polarius -- Always a pleasure, sir. -- Jorja

Typhoon -- Wrong season for you, perhaps?  In this place at this time, it's more a
question of blizzards, I should think. -- Kai

Noreaster -- I don't know where you got your compass, but it's WRONG.  The weather
comes out of the north-WEST. -- Dallow

Banannas Gorilla -- What?  I WON that fight?  Are you trying to break my losing
streak or some chivalrous nonsense?  Pull up your socks, boy.  You should have done a
lot better. -- Morpeth

Persistent Beggar?  Pooh. -- Cadal Coontz

Yep, what he said. -- Paddy

31 January 2005
     My fellow duelists I come before you bearing a sad and unfortunate message.
Several months ago our group, the Vendetta Cartel, had lost contact with one of our
friends.  Since he was in contact or correspondence on an almost daily basis there
was concern amongst us.  With some research two of our members discovered why contact
was lost with him.
     On November 10, 2004, Richard Hammes was taken from us in a senseless act of
violence during a robbery attempt at a friend's store where he sometimes worked.  He
was watching the store so his friend could go home to tend to his son who had taken
ill.  You may have known Rich as Abarsis, The Slaughter Priest ; richh10 on the RT;
or gameogre on the Duel2 messageboard.  You may not have known that he spent 13 years
serving the United States in the Navy.
     Rich dearly loved this game and all it encompassed.  He may not have been the
best or most experienced manager but he loved to interact with others and was quick
to offer advice whenever anyone asked for help.  He was always kind and gracious and
tried to strengthen our game, often by helping new players feel welcome or give them
a chance to compete.  With his prolific posting I know that I am simply speaking the
obvious about what he did for our game.  Many, like me, were drawn to him, perhaps
for his kind nature or his sense of humor, and it appears he lived his life as he
played this game.  Always willing to help or do right by others.
     I realize that he had many friends outside the VC so I will include the link to
the news story in case any of his other friends would like to know more of what
happened.  We're all dealt a hand in life but it's not the strength of the hand
you're dealt but rather how you play it that really matters.  Rich played his hand to
the very best of his human ability and for this I admire him greatly.  I know we all
choose to like or dislike managers but I believe deep down we are all good and
decent, in this game, and will drop party (alliance) lines and will show the proper
respect.
     http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041112/news_7m12clerk.html
     Rich was taken from us all to soon and with so much left to offer the community
around him.  He spoke of a desire to run a contest on the Duel2 site which I hope to
uphold in his name.  Some of the people I have spoken with think it would be a nice
gesture to do one final good act in Rich's name, though it could never match what he
would've done within his community, for his community of San Diego.  I hope that with
this contest we might raise a little money to donate to an appropriate charity within
San Diego in his name.
     In conclusion I send a message to Rich:
     "Rich, though I'm sure you gathered this I never really told you how much I
admired you and what a friend I considered you.  I thank you for being my voice of
reason and always reminding me of why we both loved this game so much!  You have
taught me one final valuable lesson in learning more of you.  There are things far
more valuable in life than material possessions such as character and kindness.  That
nothing going on in your life means that you cannot find a way to be kind and giving
to others.  We always spoke of meeting someday and until we finally do know that you
will live on in with me and the rest of your brothers and sisters in the Cartel:
Master Darque, Kat, Bum, Sensei Jan, Maximillian, Hammer, Fizban, Firehawk, Phat
Phat.  You increased all of our enjoyment of this game, you were a true ambassador of
Duelmasters, and the game will not be quite the same without you.  A farewell battle
cry from the ZalCon:  'Confusion to our enemies'.  May your soul rest in peace, my
friend."
     Should anyone wish to correspond about Rich feel free to contact myself, or
anyone else within the Vendetta Cartel.
     Street Legal
     Jeff Bura
     The Death Squad(63) in Tobir or triumph1971@hotmail.com

31 January 2005
     Be it known throughout Alastari that Hammer is no longer a member of the
Vendetta Cartel alliance.
     A difference of opinion with another highly respected member of the VC due to my
recent vocal actions in DM 47 can only be resolved by my resignation from the VC as
of January 29, 2005.
     I leave of my own accord, in good standing with all members and with no hard
feelings towards anyone in the Vendetta Cartel.
     There was a time when I felt that my membership in the VC made the alliance
stronger.  I know that my resignation today makes the Vendetta Cartel a stronger
alliance with my absence. -- Hammer

1 February 2005
                           St. Valentine's Massacre update
My apologies, the Kill Contest starting on turn 476 in Jhans will run for 10 (ten)
turns ending on turn number 486.
                                                                   Azrael

5 February 2005
On behalf of the ILLUMINATI Confederation of Alliances (The kLk, CHAOS, Inc. and The
Company of Brothers) I would like to express our sympathies concerning the tragic
loss of Rich Hammes to both the DM community and to the real life world.  Surely our
loss has been Heaven's gain. -- Talon Darkhart, deeply sorrowful
                                kLk God of War, Illuminati Alliance, Puppetmaster

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

VOMIT was butchered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
JANICE JOPLIN devastated MORPETH in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
JIMI HENDRIX was overcome by KAI in a 1 minute novice vs. expert Challenge match.
BUDDY HOLLY was viciously subdued by DALLOW in a 4 minute Challenge contest.
HUCKLE CAT viciously subdued AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute gory Title duel.
DINGO DOG bested THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 2 minute bloody match.
FATHER CAT easily killed AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute gruesome uneven fight.
BANANNAS GORILLA vanquished DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute uneven duel.
PADDY was defeated by MORDANT DESERTER in a 2 minute beginner's duel.
CADAL COONTZ defeated MR. FIXIT in a 2 minute novice's fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         TOTAL PARRY        2 -   1 -  1      67  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         STRIKING ATTACK    8 -   4 -  1      67  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         SLASHING ATTACK   17 -  10 -  3      63  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         LUNGING ATTACK    39 -  23 -  5      63  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      3 -   2 -  0      60  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         WALL OF STEEL      7 -   6 -  1      54  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         AIMED BLOW         6 -   7 -  0      46  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   5 -  0      44  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  0         BASHING ATTACK     3 -   6 -  0      33  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    0         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   8 -  0      27  |

Turn 483 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:

AIMED BLOW         1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         6  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         3  SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    0 -  0         1  STRIKING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     3 -  2     TOTAL PARRY        0 -  1         1  WALL OF STEEL  
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  0     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   HUCKLE CAT 3874             7   2  0   59 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
SLASHING ATTACK  FATHER CAT 3875             5   1  1   53 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is MORPETH 3862.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was DALLOW 3872.  The ten other most popular fighters were DINGO DOG 3878, CADAL 
COONTZ 3901, HUCKLE CAT 3874, FATHER CAT 3875, KAI 3873, BANANNAS GORILLA 3876, 
JANICE JOPLIN 3891, BUDDY HOLLY 3890, MR. FIXIT 3905, and VOMIT 3904.

The least popular fighter this week was PADDY 3898.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were JIMI HENDRIX 3889, MORPETH 3862, VOMIT 3904, MR. FIXIT 3905, BUDDY 
HOLLY 3890, JANICE JOPLIN 3891, BANANNAS GORILLA 3876, KAI 3873, FATHER CAT 3875, and 
HUCKLE CAT 3874.

                                  Name-Change-O-Rama

     The winter tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there 
normally.  This included Commission employees.  Half a dozen arenamasters regarded 
each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack.  The Pig was 
obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking 
for.  They saw gladiators every day.  Most arenamaster were convinced that this was 
some kind of punishment.
     You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd.  There were superficial 
differences:  One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two 
were female.  But there were, in significant ways, alike.  The same size, the same 
hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness.
     The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute.  "I'm Zrof One-
Eye from Zukal.  Sugar of Arvat--"  One of the women bowed slightly.  "I know Sugar.  
The rest of you...?"
     The Adantri matched his salute.  "Dernal of Dayla Kiv."
     "Daiyla Kiv?  Ah...."
     "No, without the 'I' in it.  These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they 
thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic."  Disgust dripped from his voice.
     "Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement.  "Khagal of Niatoli, and 
what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!"
     "I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now," 
Arenamistress Sugar said.  "The arena, at least, because of a contest?"
     "Chavez Ravine."  Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company 
for spitting on the floor.
     Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness.  He wouldn't have minded a contest 
in Zukal, and damn what they called the place.  "It's only temporary, though."
     "Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered.  He seemed well into his drinking, 
although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well.  "They do it all the time 
in Aradi.  No reshpect.  Go around changing thish, changing that.  I wish I could 
change shome thingsh."  He signalled the bartender for a refill.
     The second woman put her hand over his mug.  "You've had enough, Harkon.  Try the 
coffee, instead."
     "You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said.  "They're going to do shtuff 
like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?"
     Ripples Dorrigan shrugged.  All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to 
watch.  "It's the way things are," she said.  "Not much we can do about it."
     "You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes.  Fix the 
spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--"
     "The Commission hates changes."  Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and 
drained it gloomily.
     "Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a 
general Name-Change-O-Rama!  Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would 
notice or mind."

                  *-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------* 

     By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of March.
If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please contact RSI Customer 
Service.  The charge for a name change is $1, unless you're in DOOMCorps, in which 
case you take your chances.  (Just kidding, guys! *snicker*)