DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 09/13/2005    Duedate: 09/26/2005

KATI-TEI ARENA

DM-41    TURN-468

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

LURLINE GRACE
WANDERERS (329)
(41-4164) [15-8-0,109]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

LURLINE GRACE                  THE SHOCKER
WANDERERS (329)                INQUISITION SL6 (382)
(41-4164) [15-8-0,109]         (41-4206) [2-1-0,25]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

FLUTTERLEE                     FLUTTERLEE
WANDERERS (329)                WANDERERS (329)
(41-4153) [17-12-0,92]         (41-4153) [17-12-0,92]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

WANDERERS (329)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. WANDERERS (329)             14
2. INQUISITION SL6 (382)        6      WANDERERS (329)
3. 072905R (381)                0      Unchartered Team
4. 3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!! (380)     0
5. OLD SCHOOL (368)             0      INQUISITION SL6 (382)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*072905R (381)              2   0  0  100   1/ 1 WANDERERS (329)           9  6 0
 2- 2*3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!! (380)   2   0  0  100   2- 3*072905R (381)             2  0 0
 3/ 4*INQUISITION SL6 (382)      2   1  0 66.7   3/ 5*INQUISITION SL6 (382)     2  1 0
 4- 3 OLD SCHOOL (368)          77  74  2 51.0   4- 4*3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!! (380)  1  0 0
 5/ 5 WANDERERS (329)          374 431  9 46.5   5- 2 OLD SCHOOL (368)          1  5 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[ Storm Season #3 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Off the coast of Convincia:

     "Ships aren't supposed to BURN!" Kurilo Deschan said.  "They're on the water.
We're on the water--"
     "Ships burn.  They're wood.  And this one is definitely burning," Hodag said.
He put one hand on the rail, unfastening his armor with the other and jerking off his
helmet.  "If I was you, I'd get out of that armor and jump over the side before it
burns out from under us."
     "But we may have to fight," the Mercenary protested.
     "You WILL have to swim, Ziffrin," Hodag assured him.  "And for that, armor is
contra-indicated.  Trust me on this."
     Ziffrin Sheel glanced over his shoulder at the ship's crew.  They were jumping
off the far side of the vessel, all except three who were attempting to lower a
smaller boat to the water.  "We'll burn, too, if we get down into that," he said.
     Hodag glanced at the black lace on the waves and nodded.  "We might, but it's
still our best chance."  His armor clattered onto the deck, and the Black Orc jumped,
twisting in mid-air to turn it into a dive.  The two standbys followed him into the
water.
     When they cut through the surface of the lake, the filigree of black foam clung
to them like cobwebs, pulling against them like the meshes of a net.  It was, Hodag
was sure, a trap of some kind, but still better than burning with the ship.  He
spared a moment to hope the crew had been able to jump free of the ship, too.
     And then the net of magic and foam tightened against him and dragged him through
the depths faster than any orc might swim.  As always in a tight place, Hodag's brain
worked quickly.  (This was how he'd moved from Captured Orc up to Black Orc in the
arena system.)  Their bodies were being retrieved, presumably by the demon which had
destroyed the ship, presumably for no good end.  Were their lives being preserved, or
would they drown in a minute or two?  He managed to turn his head to look at his
companions.  Ziffrin Sheel was struggling uselessly but strongly.  He was, after all,
Aruaki:  essentially a cat.  Being in the water would not be something that appealed
to him.  But the important thing from Hodag's point of view was that the Veteran was
gasping for breath and not sucking in a flood of water in the process.  So.  Someone
wanted them alive.
     Hodag grimaced.  He could make a guess as to why.  For use in blood magic.
Because of their privileged position in the arena system, frequently dosed with
magical healing potions and sometimes resurrected, the standbys, and especially
himself, were embued with a low level of magic.  This would probably increase their
value as blood-magic victims.
     What to do about it?  Nothing for now, but when they were taken out of the
water...see what opportunities offered, and seize them with both hands.

Amen-Tei:

     "It's a storm," Maurice Karn said.  He had said this before, and he was getting
tired of repeating himself.  "Gladiators can't do a damned thing against the
weather."  Being an Ambitious Guard did not mean that he was a patient one.
     Dame Mingia pressed her lips together.  Karn wondered idly what comments she was
suppressing and decided he would rather not know.  Finally she said, "This is not
normal weather, as you are doubtless aware, having lived here for years.  The seers
in the employ of the High Thane tell us that it is a Sending, born of magical
operations somewhere out in the lake to the north and west."
     Krego Dehann, the Veteran Mercenary, rubbed his nose.  "Or...from Skaithvarn,
maybe?"
     Mingia spread her hands and shrugged.  "The seers were not exact."  Her tone was
acid.  "They claim that exactness is impossible...under these circumstances.
Something in the nature of the spell, or possibly in the decline of the Arcanum, or
just POSSIBLY in the inadequacy of their arts prevents them from saying more than
'north and west'.  Make of that what you will.  Bonner Kay is prepared to make a ship
available to 'pursue' the storms to their lair."
     Karn and Dehann exchanged glances.  Bonner Kay was the arena's Honest Merchant
this season.  And he WAS honest, but he was also not at all careless with his
property.  So he must be really worried about this weather to risk a ship in it.  And
he must believe that this expedition had a chance of solving the problem.
     "I don't think I like having the prosperity of Amen-Tei's shipping resting on my
shoulders," Dehann muttered.
     "It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it," Karn answered.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     I always knew it was a mistake to spock the huts.  It ruins the insulation, and
at this time of year, with winter looming ahead and unseasonal storms bearing down on
the backs of our necks, we need all the insulation we can get.
     Further and besides, have you CONSIDERED the havelock that strikes the whole
roue when the huts are spocked?  Total disaster.
     And the chameleons hate it.  Some of them end up in bed with stripped and
striped gears.  We must protect our chameleons, they are an endangering species!
     Therefore, because of these three sound reasons, and I'll think of more if I
have to, I strongly urge you to cease and desist that irresponsible spockling of the
huts.  Nothing good will come of it.

                                    Lurline Grace

                                      SPY REPORT

     Welcome KATI-TEI.  I, Olaf Modeen remember this place well.  Many the fights 
have I fought here.  The celebrations, the disappointments...  What's with 
FLUTTERLEE?  She actually beat KATI-TEI's KHALHUMS DWARF, and walked away with 10 
more points from the fight.  Major screwup at WANDERERS.  PARNIAN lost 5 points to 
KUNG-FU MASTER.  Some new strategies, perhaps?  Maybe PARNIAN will provide more easy 
wins...  VIRGINAL CONCUBINE was reminded on the sands why LURLINE GRACE is 
Duelmaster.  I suppose you want to hear some rumors and dirty gossip about your 
fellow fighters?  Tough!   
     Speaking of cowardly avoiders and unfair challenges...  What do people see in 
WHEREFOUR WILLY?  His 1-2-0?  WANDERERS ain't talkin', but he's got 5 points.  I hate 
going to the effort of writing about the kind of fights that THE SHOCKER gets in.  He 
fights people like WHEREFOUR WILLY, 15 points below.  I thought THE SHOCKER showed 
great skill and promise when he defeated WHEREFOUR WILLY.  All right, so I slept 
through it!  Big deal!   
     A fighter's lot is filled with strife, revenge, and killing.  Some fighters 
don't accept this.  The best do.  Many a warrior has met his fate in a hungover 
stupor.  You young rapscallions, take note!   
     Many other cities have retirement homes for aged warriors.  Any plans here?  
KATI-TEI is a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places.  I don't 
want to overstay my welcome...-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LURLINE GRACE 4164           15   8  0   109       WANDERERS (329)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SPOCKA THE HUTT 4137         12   6  0    95       OLD SCHOOL (368)
 FLUTTERLEE 4153              17  12  0    92       WANDERERS (329)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SATURN 3990                  13  37  0    79       WANDERERS (329)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PARNIAN 4138                 12  20  1    65       WANDERERS (329)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CUDDLY KAHLUA 4139           12   9  0    51       OLD SCHOOL (368)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-5 GOT PICKED 4199             2   0  0    27       072905R (381)
-APOLLO XI 4168                2   0  0    26       3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!! (380)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THE SHOCKER 4206              2   1  0    25       INQUISITION SL6 (382)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WHEREFOUR WILLY 4207          1   2  0     5       WANDERERS (329)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?

                                     PERSONAL ADS

"Noble" Assassin -- Not bad, but try it with apples.  It's better that way. -- Saturn
P.S.  And a little cinnamon, if you can get it.

Kung-Fu Master -- Chopsticks?  Gods, that's awful!  Never, ever, expect me to eat
soup with chopsticks again. -- Flutterlee

Cuddly Kahlua -- Gah!  Too much corn syrup, and what was that stuff?  Peach essence?
It'll take me WEEKS to get the taste out of my mouth.  Go back to the mints, they
were less offensive. -- Parnian

5 Got Picked -- I dunno, I thought the pickle marinade worked okay.  But if you
really think grape juice will give a better flavor, I'll try it. -- Wherefour Willy

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

THE SHOCKER devastated WHEREFOUR WILLY in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
LURLINE GRACE won victory over VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 3 minute expert's Title battle.
PARNIAN was subdued by KUNG-FU MASTER in a crowd pleasing 1 minute uneven fight.
FLUTTERLEE viciously subdued KHALHUMS DWARF in a exciting 4 minute veteran's fight.
SATURN outwaited M. CHARDINEE in a crowd pleasing 9 minute brutal one-sided duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|AIMED BLOW                       1         BASHING ATTACK     1 -   0 -  0     100  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         STRIKING ATTACK   11 -   4 -  0      73  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         AIMED BLOW         5 -   2 -  0      71  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         SLASHING ATTACK   13 -   9 -  0      59  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         TOTAL PARRY       14 -  12 -  0      54  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      5 -   5 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         WALL OF STEEL      3 -   3 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         LUNGING ATTACK     5 -   6 -  0      45  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   0 -  0       0  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 468 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-LUNGE        0 -  0         2  SLASHING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  STRIKING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     0 -  0         2  TOTAL PARRY    
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  0     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  1         2  AIMED BLOW     
                              BASHING ATTACK     0 -  0         1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
                              WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1         1  WALL OF STEEL  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-RIPOSTE    LURLINE GRACE 4164         15   8  0  109 WANDERERS (329)
STRIKING ATTACK  FLUTTERLEE 4153            17  12  0   92 WANDERERS (329)

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is FLUTTERLEE 4153.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was FLUTTERLEE 4153.  The ten other most popular fighters were LURLINE GRACE 4164, 
THE SHOCKER 4206, SATURN 3990, WHEREFOUR WILLY 4207, PARNIAN 4138,  0,  0,  0,  0, 
and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was PARNIAN 4138.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were WHEREFOUR WILLY 4207, SATURN 3990, THE SHOCKER 4206, LURLINE GRACE 
4164, FLUTTERLEE 4153,  0,  0,  0,  0, and  0.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

LURLINE GRACE (41-4164) WANDERERS (329)