DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 12/09/2003    Duedate: 12/22/2003

KATI-TEI ARENA

DM-41    TURN-422

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

PELICAN
BIRDS (286)
(41-3949) [10-4-0,87]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

PELICAN                        WHITE RABBIT
BIRDS (286)                    WONDERLAND (358)
(41-3949) [10-4-0,87]          (41-3994) [1-0-0,21]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

PEBBLES                        PEBBLES
THE FLINTSTONES (200)          THE FLINTSTONES (200)
(41-3936) [7-4-0,55]           (41-3936) [7-4-0,55]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE FLINTSTONES (200)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. WONDERLAND (358)            73
2. THE FLINTSTONES (200)       43      BIRDS (286)
3. BIRDS (286)                  9      Unchartered Team
4. WANDERERS (329)            -30
                                       WONDERLAND (358)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 0*WONDERLAND (358)           4   1  0 80.0   1/ 2 THE FLINTSTONES (200)    11  4 0
 2/ 1 BIRDS (286)               47  36  4 56.6   2/ 1 WANDERERS (329)           7  8 0
 3/ 2 THE FLINTSTONES (200)     38  30  3 55.9   3/ 3 BIRDS (286)               6  4 2
 4/ 3 WANDERERS (329)          264 315  5 45.6   4/ 0*WONDERLAND (358)          4  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[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Andorians Abroad #20 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Skaithvarn:

     Raoul glanced over his shoulder, but Dankilvan's mansion was already out of
sight around one of the street's numerous curves.  He wasn't sure Berdan had even
noticed their departure yet; at least, the Fratsfan wasn't coming along behind them.
He shrugged and turned forward again.  As he'd told Hallie, they could do this
mission without Berdan if they had to, and looked like that was the way it was going
to be.  He looked at the Delarquan.  "Tell us more about these vampires in Leemith,
doll.  Are they going to be a problem to deal with?  Do they attack chance
travelers?"
     "Well...not instantly, anyway."  Hallie pulled a couple of pocket-sized leather
folders from a belt pouch, handing one to each gladiator.  "These are passes signed
by Lord Dankilvan and naming you as being on business for Istoreth.  If you get a
chance to show the pass, that should give you some protection.  Of course, if we meet
someone who's working for, oh, Sharvan or Pantiello, or even Ulm, maybe, then the
passes will get us INTO trouble...."
     "Those being other city-states here, I take it?"
     "Yep.  The Ulmers are probably okay, they've got some kind of trade treaty with
Convincia.  But if the Leemin don't want whatever it is your Peranis is selling, I
bet the Sharvanese will."
     "These Sharvanese have Delarquan ties?" Jeri asked.
     "No, ISTORETH has Delarquan ties," Hallie corrected her.  "Sharvan isn't a
player in Trier politics.  Yet.  But they want to be."
     "And Peranis' book of names and blackmail material would give them their ticket
to the party," Raoul finished.  "Damn."  He scowled at the crowded street and the
city gate ahead of them without seeing any of it.  "What's the political stance of
this Leemith place?"
     "Mostly they just want to be left alone," Hallie answered promptly.  "If they
buy the list of names, it would be some lord doing it for personal profit, I would
guess.  Nobody's ever suggested they want to be a power in the Trier."
     Raoul nodded, his attention returning to his companions.  "So Peranis might be
able to sell it in Leemith if he's in a hurry, but he'd probably get more money, and
cause more trouble for Andorian, if he takes it to Sharvan?"
     "Yes.  That'd be how I see it."  Hallie glanced at Raoul.  "Whose names are on
this list?"
     "According to Berdan, noblemen, politicians, merchants, even some arena
managers--people who make a big noise in Andorian politics and the Andorian economy."
     "People with secrets they'd pay a lot--or do a lot--to keep hidden."
     "Right."
     "Hmm."  Hallie showed her own pass at the city's gate and indicated her
companions with a gesture.  "They're with me."  She led the way through the gate and
onto the open road.
     "We might've asked how long ago Peranis went through," Jeri said, urging her
mount up beside Hallie's.
     "I already did.  Two days.  It's one day from here to Leemith, another day to
Ulm, a third to Sharvan, moving at a normal traveling pace.  Peranis may already have
made his deal in Leemith, if he found a purchaser there."
     Raoul glanced at the sky.  It was midmorning, clear and crisp.  Maybe eight
hours of daylight left, he judged.  "Let's pick up our pace a little, then, so we can
make inquiries in Leemith this evening."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     The road hugged the coast, sometimes running along the narrow, stony beach,
sometimes veering inland to cross small, steep-sided valleys, occasionally clinging
to a cliff above the water.  They met no one coming from the south, and were
overtaken by no coming from behind them.  There were no villages or inns along the
road.  A dense pine forest covered most of the land near the road.
     "You could BELIEVE in vampires in a place like this," Jeri muttered, twisting to
reach the cloak tied behind her saddle.  The temperature had dropped steadily all
morning, and now, looking north, she saw why.  A bank of clouds filled the northern
sky with shades of slate and charcoal.
     "Of course.  What's to disbelieve?  I never argue with the facts, doll," Raoul
said.  He glanced over at her--they were riding all three abreast--and followed her
gaze northward.  "Damn.  Any place along here where we could take shelter?"
     "Not that I know of," Hallie admitted, squinting at the clouds uneasily.  "We
might come across something, I suppose, but would YOU trust any shelter you found
along here under these circumstances?  Bound to be a disaster waiting to happen."
     "We don't have much choice," Jeri argued.  "If we can find ANYTHING, a house, a
ruin, a CAVE, even, I'm for it!"  She kicked her horse into a better pace.  "We know
there's no shelter behind us, almost all the way back to Istoreth, so--"  The horse
seemed to share her dislike of storms and willingly shifted into a pounding gallop
down the hill into the next little valley.
     Almost hidden among the trees was the curved stone wall of a stubby tower.

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon KATI-TEI, for 
I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  The boys at WANDERERS left the arena dejected, 
after being kicked out of the top spot by THE FLINTSTONES.  Good show!  I doubt many 
are quaking in their boots, but WONDERLAND comes out of nowhere to get 4-1-0.  What 
does the future hold?  Watch this space...  Practice pays for FRED, who pummelled 
JEHU, to pocket 24 points.  A certain someone should cut down on the drinking and 
practice more, after losing 22 points to FRED.  (Discrete enough, JEHU?) What can be 
a greater victory?  PELICAN has taken his place as the top, as KATI-TEI's new 
Duelmaster.  So who was the warrior seen charging into immovable walls and 
challenging dead trees?  Someone's got a basic problem...   
     My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter. 
But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights!  To quell some nasty rumors, the guys 
in THE FLINTSTONES are not carrying any incurable diseases.  No need to avoid 'em.  
The warriors of THE FLINTSTONES found their efforts at combat frustrated as BIRDS 
apparently had more important things to do than fight.   
     Is there life after death?  Pragmatics (and warriors) know there is death after 
life!  Ask not for whom the sword slashes; it slashes for thee.   
     All good things must come to an end.  As the seasons change, and the creatures 
of the wild change also, so do I feel a yearning to leave this place.  KATI-TEI, I 
leave you now.  The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Swinging Aardvark.  
'Til next time-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PELICAN 3949                 10   4  0    87       BIRDS (286)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BARNEE 3937                   8   3  1    65       THE FLINTSTONES (200)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PEBBLES 3936                  7   4  0    55       THE FLINTSTONES (200)
 FRED 3935                     7   4  2    53       THE FLINTSTONES (200)
 J.L. GOTROCKS 3972            6   1  0    53       THE FLINTSTONES (200)
 MR. BEDROCK 3939              6   5  0    42       THE FLINTSTONES (200)
 BETHANNE GRACE 3984           3   5  1    41       WANDERERS (329)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JEHU 3963                     7   7  0    32       WANDERERS (329)
 OSTRICH 3970                  5   2  0    32       BIRDS (286)
 TORA HAMLIN 3983              4   4  0    29       WANDERERS (329)
 SATURN 3990                   3   1  0    25       WANDERERS (329)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PENGUIN 3951                  6   4  0    22       BIRDS (286)
 MARS 3989                     2   2  0    21       WANDERERS (329)
 WHITE RABBIT 3994             1   0  0    21       WONDERLAND (358)
 MAD HATTER 3991               1   0  0    19       WONDERLAND (358)
 ALICE 3993                    1   0  0    13       WONDERLAND (358)
 THE WALRUS 3995               1   0  0    12       WONDERLAND (358)
 OSPRY 3988                    1   1  1     7       BIRDS (286)
 ROAD RUNNER 3986              1   2  1     6       BIRDS (286)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
LURETTA 3987           2  1 0 WANDERERS 329         BARNEE 3937           418 NOT REVE
HE WAS TRIPPIN' 3992   0  1 0 WONDERLAND 358        SPYMASTER 22          422 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

J.L. Gotrocks -- You sure do--Mine!  Ouch. -- Mars

An Honest Merchant?  Isn't that a contradiction in terms? -- Jehu
P.S.  He doesn't tip worth a damn.

Mr. Redrock -- You didn't seem red enough, so I tried to fix that. -- Bethanne Grace

Penguin -- Somebody misled you.  This was not a "white tie and tails" event. -- Tora
Hamlin

Fred -- You may feel that you're superior on the sands, but when it comes to
celestial music, I can sing rings around you. -- Saturn

13 November 2003
Let it be known far and wide, that the Warrior TUM 18-7380, the Champions Runner-Up
for the recent Tournament, is managed by none other than Shocking Toad.  I named this
fabulous warrior after my friend and mentor, TUM, a.k.a. Don!  Sorry TUM didn't get
me my first TC; however, a runner-up with all those sandbaggers is pretty impressive,
if I do say so myself. -- Shocking Toad, The Manager

13 November 2003
All -- This is to announce that I am no longer a member of the Vendetta Cartel
Alliance.  I have enjoyed my time there, and I've made some great friends.  Their
company will be missed, but they will endure.  I wish them well. -- Apex

2 December 2003
ZalCon2, ZalCon Reloaded
Where:  Jhelum, DM 4
When:  February 9th or 23rd, 2003 (TBA when Mail In date set)
How Long:  20 Turns

Restrictions:  Zero FE at start of contest.  Must announce warrior styles by second
arena fight to receive points.  No prize modified warriors.  No entry to July Face,
No TV Challenges.  All prizes to be used exclusively on warriors from the contest
team only.

Awards:
     First Initiate Duelmaster (FID):  First warrior announced in the contest to
          reach the throne.
     Prize:  Limited Damage Potion, increasing damage for 1 warrior by one rating to
          max for ST/SZ.
     Warrior MVP:  Top warrior based on MVP points accrued in the contest.
     Prize:  Limited Damage Potion, Favorites Knowledge for any warrior on team, +1
          to bonus in any skill area up to max for style for 1 warrior on team, 2
          nights stay at Winter FTF Hotel.
     Team MVP:  Top Team based on MVP points accrued in contest by all the teams
          warriors.
     Prize:  Limited Damage Potion, Favorites Knowledge, +1 to Bonus, 6 Months Free
          Play, 20 Rollups.
     Warrior MVP Top 11:  Next 10 warriors on MVP list at the end of the contest.
     Prize:  +1 to Bonus
     Style Master:  Top warrior in each style based on Style Master points accrued in
          the contest.
     Prize:  Favorites Knowledge of any warrior on team.
     Iron Manager Award:  Minimum 95 fights in contest by any team.
     Prize:  Choice of free entry for team to 2005 Winter Face or +1 to Bonus for one
          warrior.

MVP Point System:  +1 for Win, Fight, Kill, Recognition Leader (after Round 3), -1
Death, +2 Duelmaster, +2 each 3 Consecutive turns as DM, +1 Quality Win (any win over
opponent with 5 or more Rec), +1 for each 10 Rec points over 5 in win (+1 for 5-14
above, +2 for 15-24 above, +3 for 25-34 above).
Style Master Point System:  +2 Style Master, +1 Win vs. Same Style Opponent, +1 Win
vs. Same Style Master, +1 for 3 Consecutive Turns as Style Master (rolling).

     Please direct any question about rules or clarifications to me, Robert
Occhipinti, via Diplo to DM74, 1988 Dodgers or email to zalgor@hotmail.com.  All
rules decisions made by me are final and binding within the confines of this contest.

8 December 2003
Greetings!  I would like to invite everyone to Jhans (DM 36) for the first annual kLk
St. Valentine's Day Massacre (kill contest).  We will start the contest off with the
ceremonial burning of the Andorian flag on turn 450.  (Six turns away.  Roughly mid-
February.)  The contest will run for 10 turns.  On turn 461, 3 separate victors will
be announced.  Team with the most kills, warrior with the most kills, and alliance
with the most kills.  Prizes will be awarded to the manager of the team with the most
kills and to the manager of the warrior with the most kills.  The prizes will
probably be team roll-ups.  The number of roll-ups has yet to be determined.  The
contest is sponsored by Jhans' newest, (but by the time the contest starts) largest
alliance, the kLk (pronounced "klick"). -- Polarius, mgr. of Blitzkrieg DM 36

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

HE WAS TRIPPIN' was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
BARNEE was devastated by PELICAN in a 1 minute one-sided Title duel.
J.L. GOTROCKS handily defeated VISITING ORC in a 4 minute one-sided match.
TORA HAMLIN was bested by MR. BEDROCK in a 2 minute fight.
BETHANNE GRACE was savagely defeated by PEBBLES in a crowd pleasing 2 minute match.
JEHU was vanquished by FRED in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
MARS was beaten by OSTRICH in a 1 minute brawl.
PENGUIN was unbelievably bested by SATURN in a 2 minute fight.
ROAD RUNNER was overcome by THE WALRUS in a 3 minute beginner's melee.
OSPRY was vanquished by MAD HATTER in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
ALICE vanquished FRIENDLY CONSTABLE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
WHITE RABBIT overpowered TRUSTWORTHY SCRIBE in a 1 minute uneven match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         TOTAL PARRY        4 -   1 -  0      80  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-RIPOSTE      7 -   3 -  0      70  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         PARRY-LUNGE        8 -   4 -  0      67  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         AIMED BLOW         2 -   1 -  1      67  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         LUNGING ATTACK     7 -   4 -  0      64  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         BASHING ATTACK     5 -   3 -  0      63  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         SLASHING ATTACK   10 -   7 -  0      59  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         STRIKING ATTACK   14 -  11 -  1      56  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         WALL OF STEEL     12 -  11 -  2      52  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   1 -  0       0  |

Turn 422 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  PELICAN 3949               10   4  0   87 BIRDS (286)
WALL OF STEEL    BARNEE 3937                 8   3  1   65 THE FLINTSTONES (200)
SLASHING ATTACK  PEBBLES 3936                7   4  0   55 THE FLINTSTONES (200)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    J.L. GOTROCKS 3972          6   1  0   53 THE FLINTSTONES (200)
PARRY-LUNGE      MR. BEDROCK 3939            6   5  0   42 THE FLINTSTONES (200)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is PEBBLES 3936.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was PEBBLES 3936.  The ten other most popular fighters were J.L. GOTROCKS 3972, 
PENGUIN 3951, MR. BEDROCK 3939, ROAD RUNNER 3986, WHITE RABBIT 3994, PELICAN 3949, 
TORA HAMLIN 3983, FRED 3935, SATURN 3990, and MAD HATTER 3991.

The least popular fighter this week was OSPRY 3988.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were THE WALRUS 3995, MARS 3989, JEHU 3963, BARNEE 3937, HE WAS TRIPPIN' 
3992, OSTRICH 3970, BETHANNE GRACE 3984, ALICE 3993, MAD HATTER 3991, and SATURN 
3990.

                  MAIL-IN TOURNEY XXXII

ADM TOURNEY                            W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
DUNCAN 1994 (34-24-1)                  1  3  0         THUNDERSTRUCK        
GREE CHAK 3859 (37-26-2)               1  3  0         KILLERS              

FRESHMEN TOURNEY                       W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
AFRICAN GREY 3317 (14-9-1)             1  3  0         BIRDS                

CHAMPIONS TOURNEY                      W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
SELENE 3676 (12-5-0)                   6  3  0         LADY OF THE MOON     
DIANA 3674 (11-7-1)                    4  3  0         LADY OF THE MOON     
ARTEMIS 3675 (12-8-1)                  0  2  0         LADY OF THE MOON     

ADEPTS TOURNEY                         W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
NYPD 3886 (12-5-0)                     3  3  0         FLAGG'S FIVE         
BARNEE 3937 (6-2-1)                    1  3  1         THE FLINTSTONES      
JEHAN 2262 (11-8-2)                    0  2  0         FLAGG'S FIVE         
PEBBLES 3936 (5-3-0)                   0  2  0         THE FLINTSTONES      

INITIATES TOURNEY                      W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
PELICAN 3949 (8-4-0)                   5  3  0         BIRDS                
RICK EMMETT 3932 (0-0-0)               3  3  0         METAL GODS           

APPRENTICES TOURNEY                    W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
J.L. GOTROCKS 3972 (3-1-0)             4  3  0         THE FLINTSTONES      

ROOKIES TOURNEY                        W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
OSPRY 3988 (0-0-0)                     0  2  0         BIRDS                

DEAD CHAMPIONS TOURNEY                 W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
BLISTER 2351 (0-3-0)                   2  3  0         LOST SOULS           
DRAGON EYES 3746 (5-5-0)               0  2  0         READY AND ABLE       
TYRANT 3321 (6-4-0)                    0  2  0         BIRDS                

DEAD INITIATES TOURNEY                 W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
GA-ZOO 3942 (1-2-0)                    2  3  0         THE FLINTSTONES