DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 05/13/2003    Duedate: 05/26/2003

KATI-TEI ARENA

DM-41    TURN-408

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GWYN AP NUDD
CAER SIDHE (116)
(41-1210) [12-2-0,106]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GWYN AP NUDD                   POSITION IS EMPTY
CAER SIDHE (116)               
(41-1210) [12-2-0,106]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

LORONA                         LORONA
WANDERERS (329)                WANDERERS (329)
(41-3892) [17-20-0,94]         (41-3892) [17-20-0,94]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

WANDERERS (329)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. FLAGG'S FIVE (170)          39
2. CAER SIDHE (116)            11      CAER SIDHE (116)
3. BIRDS (286)                  6      Unchartered Team
4. FIST OF FIVE (325)           0
5. WANDERERS (329)             -6      THE HORDE (282)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 CAER SIDHE (116)          28  14  2 66.7   1/ 1 WANDERERS (329)           6  9 0
 2/ 3 BIRDS (286)               18  14  2 56.3   2/ 2 BIRDS (286)               4  4 1
 3- 4 FIST OF FIVE (325)       195 164 10 54.3   3/ 4 CAER SIDHE (116)          3  0 0
 4/ 5 FLAGG'S FIVE (170)        55  47  2 53.9   4/ 5 FLAGG'S FIVE (170)        3  1 1
 5/ 6 WANDERERS (329)          230 281  4 45.0   5- 3 FIST OF FIVE (325)        2  0 1

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

           + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Andorians Abroad #6 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Zuwayza:

     Tankesh didn't waste time cursing, he had a decision to make, and fast:  fight 
or flight.  He could take the two men that were supposed to "teach him better 
manners," and their captain and the rest of his men as well, come to that.  He wanted 
to.  But would it forward his mission, which was to get into the Kashka, kill the 
traitor, restore Kasarya to her rightful position, make sure the Andorian League came 
out of the whole mess looking good, and get out safely himself?  Or run, change his 
appearance yet again, and try a different approach?  Prudence said he should run, but 
he didn't want to.
     "You leave him alone!" Kasarya screeched.
     Tankesh half sighed, half grinned.  That would do it!  No guard liked taking 
orders from a civilian, and damned few Karnhorns could bear to take orders from a 
woman, and then when you throw in the apparent difference in class....  He turned, 
dropping into a hand-to-hand fighting stance.  No point in killing these men if he 
didn't have to; they were just doing their jobs.
     Party of five, two men dismounted and carrying clubs.  Okay, clubs he would 
fight bare-handed until he could grab one and turn it on the other.  But if either 
one drew a sword, they were dead men.  He feinted to the left, wove right, and then 
darted toward the left-hand man and grappled briefly, seizing his club in time to 
turn and parry the other fellow.  The right-hand man staggered a little when his blow 
met unexpected resistance, but he recovered fast.  So did the one Tankesh had 
disarmed, grabbing him from behind in a bear hug.  Tankesh slammed his head back, 
butting the bear-hugger in the face, stamped on the man's foot, and twisted free.
     By this time, the other two guardsmen had gotten their mouths closed and were 
dismounting, drawing swords.  So much for Mr. Nice Guy.  His sword slid into his hand 
as he turned and moved to put the wall at his back.  If the women had any sense--and 
Kasarya, at least, should--they'd get out of the way.
     Taynisya took a step forward and said, "Do not kill him!  This is the man for 
whom the Vizier has been searching, and he must be delivered to the Kashka alive."
     Tankesh took note, in the back of his mind, that this had been a trap all along.  
Taynisya would pay for that, but later.  Right now... nobody told him that he had to 
keep these Karnhorn Palace Guards alive.  Especially not that captain, sitting on his 
horse and waiting for his men to "teach the peasant manners."  Afraid to do his own 
dirty work?  Or did he just feel that he was above such things?  Whichever, he was 
going to find himself in trouble soon enough....
     Tankesh took out the first swordsman before the man could get set, with a 
slashing sweep to the sword arm that crippled it.  Then spun back to drive off one of 
the club-wielders he'd fought first, back to the second swordsman....  The action 
flowed into a blur guided by instinct and years of training, years that even the best 
of these guardsmen couldn't match.  They were probably good enough to dominate 
peasants, but that wasn't good enough to take HIM.
     Which the captain seemed to recognize, finally.  He drew his own sword and 
leaped down from his horse.  Off-hand shortsword for parrying, Tankesh noted, and 
steel back- and breast-plates instead of the leather worn by his men.  The captain 
moved like a man who knew what he was doing, too, probably trained in one of the 
better local schools, maybe even a local duelist... but could he equal a gladiator?  
And would the other men, the two that weren't badly hurt, stay out of it?  He heard 
the sounds of a scuffle off to the side, and Kasarya cursing, but couldn't turn to 
look.  With luck, she had taken out one of the guardsmen; at the least, she was 
keeping the man busy.

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

                          ---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 230): DOMINO of BONDAGE (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 462): SHAIRLINDRIA of TUFT TUGGERS (Tankesh Dushanbe, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 462): CRAIG of OLYMPIANS (?, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 455): TOE-PAZ #2 of ROCK ETTS (Pie-Rite, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 451): JEHANNUM of THE ASININE (Philthy Phil, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 452): VAMPIRE of BARHOPPERS (Apex, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 452): R'AKA of THE DREADLANDS (LHI, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 448): THE FRATSFAN CHEF of ANDORIAN UNIVERSITY (Generalissimo
                         Puerco, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 413): JUDAS PRIEST of THAT 80'S METAL (Street Legal, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 407): GWYN AP NUDD of CAER SIDHE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 399): LH PUTTGRASS of DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 178): LONGARMOFTHELAW of OTTO'S PARTS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  60 ARADI (turn 311): CROW of SHADOW SIGNS (Shadowgate, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 301): AVARICIOUS AVON of TOMATO ENFORCER (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 132): POSITION IS EMPTY
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 347): TIMBER WOLF of CALL OF THE WILD from FIREHOLD (Poison
                            Ivy, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 230): BONDAGE (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 462): TUFT TUGGERS (Tankesh Dushanbe, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 462): THE DOGHOUSE (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 455): THE ZOO (Morris, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 451): AUSSIE KILLERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 452): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 452): MENAGERIE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 448): RED DOG GANG (Goff, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 413): WIMPS MOST FOWL (Wimpy, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 407): WANDERERS (Schendirk, mgr.)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 399): DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 178): IRON CATHEDRAL (Dameon Darkheart, mgr.)
 DM  60 ARADI (turn 311): NATURAL DISASTERS (Soultaker, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 301): WHY KNOT (Clove-Hitch, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 132): SHADOW GOLD (Shadowgate, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 347): BOXES (Doc Steele, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                   ----------------
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 462): SHAIRLINDRIA of TUFT TUGGERS (Tankesh Dushanbe, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 462): CRAIG of OLYMPIANS (?, mgr.)
                          ESOX LUCIUS of DELIVERANCE (Lance Turbo, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 455): TOE-PAZ #2 of ROCK ETTS (Pie-Rite, mgr.)
                           COLOSSUS of BLADES OF WONDER (The Sandman, mgr.)
               (turn 454): SARU SKINK of THE ZOO (Morris, mgr.)
                           TAXES of THE DEMOCRATS (Al Gore, mgr.)
                           NEBUCHADNEZZAR of BLADES OF WONDER (The Sandman, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 451): JEHANNUM of THE ASININE (Philthy Phil, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 452): VAMPIRE of BARHOPPERS (Apex, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 451): COTTONMOUTH of VENOM (Lord Fang, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 406): SMASHNGRAB of FIST OF FIVE (Stik, mgr.)
 DM  60 ARADI (turn 310): HURFOON of SWIFT CURRENT (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 301): AVARICIOUS AVON of TOMATO ENFORCER (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 131): RAVEN of 2ND ARCTIC GUARDS (Yukon Cornelius, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Well, I have to admit that attaining the throne was a surprise.  It's not that I 
didn't want it; I just thought for sure that someone would be ranked higher when 
Smash left the arena.  I'm not going to complain, however.

Since I'm a new face to all of you, let me give you some background.  My name, of 
course, is Gwyn ap Nudd.  My boss, Ichabod Frothingslosh, says that he named me 
after some mythic god from someplace else.  As you may have noticed, I'm a parry-
riposte, and I personally feel a fairly good representative of a much-maligned 
style.

Our team arrived here approximately 13 years ago, but never really fought all 
that much, as the boss (going by a different name then) could only afford to run 
so many teams.  Most of my teammates aren't very good (not even the 9-0-2 TP), so 
we were left by the wayside while Ichabod developed his Night's Guardians, 
Menagerie, and Silmarilliad stables.

I wasn't forgotten, though, and have been allowed to fight in many, many 
tournaments.  In fact, despite only having 13 arena fights, I have 40 tournament 
fights and 34 total fights' experience to my credit, as well as attaining 
tournament victor status in an adepts tournament just before the boss decided to 
vanish for 11 years.  That means that if (and it's a HUGE if) I win my next three 
bouts, I'm probably off to the Isle.  At that point, don't be surprised to see 
Caer Sidhe (pronounced Kire Shee) vanish back into the mists of obscurity.

I believe the boss told me he was setting me up to challenge Lorona and Footsore.  
Sorry, African Grey, but he seems a bit leery of sending me after bashers, even 
ones as young as you.  Maybe next time.

Your Duelmaster,
Gwyn ap Nudd

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon KATI-TEI, for 
I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  FOOTSORE certainly had a baffled expression on his 
face, after losing to AFRICAN GREY and losing 2 points in the process!  ZEPHYRE found 
out that KATI-TEI isn't a democracy.  You've gotta be the best to be Duelmaster here! 
Word has it one team in KATI-TEI is taking speech lessons to try to bore their 
opponent to death.  I'll bet it works.   
     A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn?  And do not the 
little birds cry out?'  Any ideas?  To quell some nasty rumors, the guys in FLAGG'S 
FIVE are not carrying any incurable diseases.  No need to avoid 'em.  The warriors of 
FLAGG'S FIVE found their efforts at combat frustrated as BIRDS apparently had more 
important things to do than fight.  Everyone is famous for fifteen minutes, and MIDL 
OFTHE ROAD is it right now.  Most challenged warrior.  Isn't WANDERERS proud!  JEHAN 
challenged MIDL OFTHE ROAD!  Who says FLAGG'S FIVE are just a bunch of wimps!  JEHAN 
of FLAGG'S FIVE kept his wits as he killed MIDL OFTHE ROAD.   
     Is there life after death?  Pragmatics (and warriors) know there is death after 
life!  Congratulations, JEHAN.  The manager of WANDERERS should have sent MIDL OFTHE 
ROAD to the Dark Arena for having a 13-33-0 long ago.  Ask not a spymaster for 
counsel, for he will pontificate long after you have fallen into an unconscious 
stupor.   
     Leave me now, you base fools!  As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my 
control, I must take my leave of this place.  Like a mixed metaphor, and an overtaxed 
simile, I now bid KATI-TEI farewell-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GWYN AP NUDD 1210            12   2  0   106       CAER SIDHE (116)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 AFRICAN GREY 3317             9   3  1    95       BIRDS (286)
 LORONA 3892                  17  20  0    94       WANDERERS (329)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FOOTSORE 3910                16  14  0    84       WANDERERS (329)
 ZEPHYRE 3917                 16  10  0    81       WANDERERS (329)
 NYPD 3886                    11   5  0    81       FLAGG'S FIVE (170)
 FARMER'S GIRL 3884           17  27  1    79       WANDERERS (329)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JEHAN 2262                   10   8  2    79       FLAGG'S FIVE (170)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-LAVO VAUGN 1892              11   6  0    57       FLAGG'S FIVE (170)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-DONAL MAC AVERA 1209          9   0  2    54       CAER SIDHE (116)
-FDNY 3887                     8   5  0    50       FLAGG'S FIVE (170)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-JACANA 3324                   2   5  1    30       BIRDS (286)
-ARTHUR AP ARVON 1214          4   3  0    27       CAER SIDHE (116)
-GLASGOW 3882                  1   2  0    27       FIST OF FIVE (325)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-GWYDION AP ARAWN 1215         2   1  0    13       CAER SIDHE (116)
-PELICAN 3949                  1   1  0    13       BIRDS (286)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
MIDL OFTHE ROAD 3873  13 34 0 WANDERERS 329         JEHAN 2262            408         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Footsore -- Not that I remember.... -- Gwyn ap Nudd, lord of Annwyn

Farmer's Girl -- That looked like it hurt. -- Gwyn

This is strange.  Apparently the printer stopped half way through Lorona's fight, 
right in the middle of a line, and decided that was all I needed to know about events 
in Kati-Tei two weeks ago.  I'm hoping for a reprint any hour now, so maybe you'll 
get personals after all. -- Schendirk, Wanderers

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

10 May 2003
To All -- Fellow managers, I humbly request your help.  My team (Ex Oblivione) was
started in Monuntial (DM 34) back in '92.  They were active for seven months.  I have
lost all early traces of them.  If any of you can help with copies of relevant
newsletters or, if you fought one of my warriors, copies of the fights, I would
greatly appreciate it.  I only have one of my original warriors left from the early
team now active in DM 60.  You can diplo me with any info here in the wonderful city
of Aradi.  Thank you in advance. -- Enigma, manager Ex Oblivione

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

JEHAN butchered MIDL OFTHE ROAD in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
NYPD vanquished FARMER'S GIRL in a 1 minute uneven Challenge battle.
GWYN AP NUDD demolished ZEPHYRE in a 1 minute uneven Title fight.
LORONA bested M. CHARDINEE in a popular 4 minute one-sided contest.
AFRICAN GREY subdued FOOTSORE in a 1 minute master's competition.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   0 -  0     100  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         LUNGING ATTACK     7 -   3 -  0      70  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -   4 -  0      69  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         BASHING ATTACK     6 -   3 -  0      67  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         STRIKING ATTACK   17 -  12 -  4      59  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         TOTAL PARRY        6 -   5 -  0      55  |
|AIMED BLOW                       0         SLASHING ATTACK   12 -  10 -  1      55  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         WALL OF STEEL      8 -   7 -  0      53  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-STRIKE       1 -   9 -  0      10  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         AIMED BLOW         0 -   1 -  0       0  |

Turn 408 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-RIPOSTE    GWYN AP NUDD 1210          12   2  0  106 CAER SIDHE (116)
BASHING ATTACK   AFRICAN GREY 3317           9   3  1   95 BIRDS (286)
STRIKING ATTACK  FOOTSORE 3910              16  14  0   84 WANDERERS (329)
WALL OF STEEL    ZEPHYRE 3917               16  10  0   81 WANDERERS (329)
SLASHING ATTACK  NYPD 3886                  11   5  0   81 FLAGG'S FIVE (170)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is LORONA 3892.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
LORONA 3892.  The ten other most popular fighters were JEHAN 2262, GWYN AP NUDD 1210, 
AFRICAN GREY 3317, NYPD 3886, FOOTSORE 3910, MIDL OFTHE ROAD 3873, FARMER'S GIRL 
3884, ZEPHYRE 3917,  0, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was ZEPHYRE 3917.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were FARMER'S GIRL 3884, MIDL OFTHE ROAD 3873, FOOTSORE 3910, NYPD 3886, 
AFRICAN GREY 3317, GWYN AP NUDD 1210, JEHAN 2262, LORONA 3892,  0, and  0.