DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 08/21/2003    Duedate: 09/03/2003

VEASTIAN ARENA

DM-43    TURN-407

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SUNGOD DESIGNED ME
WENSINWASIN (428)
(43-4270) [14-1-0,116]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

SUNGOD DESIGNED ME             PENICILLEN
WENSINWASIN (428)              MEDS (432)
(43-4270) [14-1-0,116]         (43-4299) [7-1-0,44]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

RAYEK                          CARLINE
WOLF RIDERS (391)              THE FAMILY (116)
(43-3915) [14-8-0,87]          (43-4266) [8-9-1,42]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE FAMILY (116)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. WOLF RIDERS (391)           20
2. MEDS (432)                  20      WENSINWASIN (428)
3. WENSINWASIN (428)           17      Unchartered Team
4. THE FAMILY (116)            15
5. KORGAN CRUSADE (392)         8      MEDS (432)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 WENSINWASIN (428)         27  11  1 71.1   1/ 1 THE FAMILY (116)          7  8 0
 2/ 4 KORGAN CRUSADE (392)     260 159 14 62.1   2/ 3 WIDOWMAKERS (115)         6  6 0
 3/ 7*MEDS (432)                21  14  1 60.0   3/ 2 KORGAN CRUSADE (392)      6  6 0
 4- 5*EASTERN HORDE (430)        9   6  1 60.0   4/ 7 WENSINWASIN (428)         5  2 0
 5/ 8 WIDOWMAKERS (115)         65  65  2 50.0   5/ 5*MEDS (432)                5  4 0
 6/ 9 WOLF RIDERS (391)         54  60  8 47.4   6/ 9 WOLF RIDERS (391)         5 10 2
 7/10 THE FAMILY (116)         302 371  9 44.9   7- 8*EASTERN HORDE (430)       3  0 0
 8-11*COMIC MISCHIEF (434)       2   3  0 40.0   8-10*COMIC MISCHIEF (434)      2  3 0
 9-12 THE FIVE RONIN (425)      23  35  1 39.7   9-12 THE FIVE RONIN (425)      0  5 0
10-13*FORCE OF NATURE (377)      0   9  0  0.0  10-13*FORCE OF NATURE (377)     0  2 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 #67 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Near Zukal:

     After the thing--shadow, demon, whatever it was--left, Ghenis sat and stared 
into the night for a long time.  He kept the fire up, even though he didn't need it 
for heat; fire might be a defense, and the thing might come back.  He stayed awake 
just in case that happened; this wouldn't be the first night he'd gone without sleep.  
Better to be tired in the morning than dead.  And he had some serious thinking to do.
     He glanced around his campsite quickly.  The horse was calm enough now, no need 
to worry about it running off.  Besides, it would have to get past him to get out of 
the enclosure formed by the broken walls.  Veleks was asleep, or unconscious, and 
just as well.  The little thief was a useful tool, but not for thinking.
     What was this thing that he'd seen, that had driven Veleks, who feared water, to 
risk drowning rather than be caught?  He'd been thinking of it as a sort of demon, 
but what sort?  His defenses here would stop natural predators such as wolves, but 
not demons; for that, he should have needed something magical.  Could his amulet have 
been protection enough?  He didn't think so, especially since he hadn't called on the 
power behind it.  So was this... thing some kind of natural predator?  And if so, 
where had it come from?  Why had it appeared now when there was no indication of such 
a creature prowling the area in the past?
     And what would it DO to its victims besides drive them into a frenzy of terror?  
Was that all it wanted, or would it have killed Veleks if it had caught him?
     And most important of all, what use could he and his masters make of this new 
thing?
     Come morning, and even the gray and rainy light was welcome, though.  Ghenis 
wanted to get back to Zukal as quickly as possible.  With Veleks riding double with 
him on his one horse, that wasn't as quickly as he hoped for.  He thought of leaving 
his henchman at one of the smaller towns outside the city--his cult had contacts in 
several of them, and there were hangouts for thieves in general where the man would 
have been accepted if not welcomed.  But Veleks wouldn't have it.  He would stay with 
his leader who had rescued him from the monster, and not in some flimsy village inn.  
Suggestions that they part company always resulted in the little thief bursting into 
tears, which was damned embarrassing.
     Veleks was being a nuisance, so much so that Ghenis found himself wishing the 
little thief had died yesterday.  The man's nerve had been broken, and Ghenis was 
beginning to wonder whether the break might be permanent.  That would spell trouble 
for all involved.  There was no place for a broken man among the servants of the dark 
cult.
     The obvious thing would be to kill the wretch.  But the gladiator found it hard 
to follow through on that while Veleks was looking at him so gratefully.  It would be 
like kicking a puppy, and while he was prepared, in theory, to kick puppies if that's 
what needed doing, it wasn't an easy thing to contemplate in cold blood.  Perhaps he 
could send Veleks somewhere far away, to some place where the little thief could be 
sure of never meeting one of the monsters again.  Hmm, if water provided safety, 
perhaps he could send Veleks along with a mission to Niatoli Island that was in 
preparation.
     Yes, Niatoli Island would be the place for Veleks now.  He'd see about getting 
the thief onto the next ship headed that way.

Near Malcorn:

     Blackie, Lord Malcorn of Malcorn, stood next to the ancient stone and waited for 
the moon to rise.  It would be full tonight, and he knew, because he knew most of the 
natural world around Malcorn, that when it reached a certain height above the 
horizon, it would shine through the hole in a more distant rock and strike squarely 
onto the face of the rock beside him, revealing carvings that had been old when the 
first Lord Malcorn came to this land.  The records of his ancestors said that the 
Dregur were accustomed to gathering here when the moon was just so.
     "I must be insane," Tiljanz muttered behind him.
     "Courage and a sense of responsibility often looks like madness," Blackie 
agreed, "even to the people exhibiting it.  You didn't have to come here tonight, but 
you felt it was the right thing to do.  I can respect that in a man.  A lot."
     "Will it do any good?" the young Karnhorn asked curiously.  "We've turned the 
Dregur loose, and I'd think it hard if not impossible to rein them back in."
     "We turned them loose under terms," Blackie said.  His voice hardened, becoming 
the voice of the Lord of Malcorn.  "They have not kept those terms.  They were to 
attack only those who came here following Inzolas.  That a few innocents might get 
caught in that net by accident was... almost inevitable.  But some of the Dregur have 
been actively hunting those not indicated by the terms of their release."  He was 
silent for a long moment, then shrugged.  "I'm not certain that we can put an end to 
these... excesses.  But I am very certain that if we don't protest, the situation 
will become worse.  A failure to protest will be seen as an admission of weakness."
     Tiljanz shrugged.  It sounded like politics as usual, or at least, the politics 
of those he dealt with, the lesser lords within the Glorious Empire.  Vicious 
infighting was the order of the day in those circles.  "I trust your judgment in 
this, as I must, of course."  He glanced at the sky uneasily.  "And I should think we 
don't have much longer to wait...."
     "No."  Blackie watched the moonlight appear in the eye of the distant stone and 
slant across the clearing, creeping along the face of the stone beside him.  It 
wouldn't be long now.
     The finger of light slid across the surface and touched the worn carvings, which 
leaped into sudden clarity.  The little clearing, which had been empty except for the 
two of them, was suddenly full of shadows.  Or something.  Tiljanz could feel the 
weight of a dozen minds thinking about him--calculating minds, hostile minds, hungry 
ones.  He held himself still and quiet with difficulty.  This was Lord Malcorn's 
meeting; he himself was just present as a witness.
     Words came out of the darkness, hollow as caves, clear as trumpets.  "Why are 
you here, Malcorn?"

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 471): BLUE DUCK of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 469): EQUALIZER of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 465): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 466): PA ELL of WAY OF THE SWORD (? mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 464): DUSK of DELTA DOOM (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 463): KANDY KANES of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 231): RAPAX of THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 455): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 229): DELWYNNDWN of THE NIGHTHAWKS (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 451): PICKLED PIGSKIN of BUFFY'S DINER (Alfredo Frothingslosh)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 449): APATHY of WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 442): KING BEAR of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 406): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 206): SUNFLASH of NORTHERN LIGHTS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 200): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 187): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 330): 4-0 PROLENE of GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 310): ON MY WAY of SADISTS F2F (SunGod, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 136): JUSTICE of PEACE MAKERS (Solomon, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 356): NEMESIS of CHAMPIONS from JHELUM (Shadowgate, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 471): DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 469): BLOODSUCKERS (Way Cool, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 465): UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 466): WYLDERNESS WYLD (?, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 464): KINDRED OF KAOS (PTFT, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 463): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 231): UGLY URBAN ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 455): DEATH THREAT (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 229): UNFIT TO BE ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 451): DEVIL ADVOCATES (Dark One, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 449): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 442): COMIC MAYHEM (Phantasm, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 406): THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 206): DYNASTIC (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 200): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 187): DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 330): GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 310): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 136): WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 356): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 471): BLUE DUCK of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 468): LIFE SENTANCE of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 464): MALASION of THE BLACKHEARTS (Nunzio Frothingslosh, mgr.)
                           N.D. GRASSE of PUNNY AMINALS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 464): KILLIN' STU of MINIONS OF MILO (Kleptov Grenufelbitz)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 463): KANDY KANES of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 231): BATMANNING (28-3402) CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 229):ODYSSEUS of OVERLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
                               KRAC D'CHEVALIERS of THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord)
                               BABBS BUNNY of LOONY TOONS (Rascally Rabbit, mgr.)
                   (turn 228): SIR YDER of WILLBENDERS (Abraxis, mgr.)
                               BONEGRIN DEVAR of BUSHMASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 450): LIGHTNING of HARBINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 448): RYANATOR of OBSIDIAN HALL (Dameon Darkheart, mgr.)
                            LEMON DROP of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 205): DEBBIE DAHMER of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 200): ZEEL BEBUB of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
                               INCREDIBLE SULK of DRAKE'S COMICS (Drake, mgr.)
                               MARY ANN of SCREEN DREAMS (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 187): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 135): PUNCH DRUNK of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
                            MOONSTONE of FLAMING FIST (Firehawk, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Well, it looks like my column fell on deaf ears last turn so, I will move on.  
Treestump, I will start with you.  I hope that there was nothing personal with my 
challenge to you even though I won the match I wanted to kill you, so you got lucky.  
Cutter, I know you got shafted out of the DM fight but, hmmm lets see, who cares, you 
got beat by Nhavarl whom I have beaten repeatedly, so why should you have a shot at 
my title after one turn back anyways, whatever.  Nhavarl, congrats.  It appears that 
you have proven yourself to have another shot at my title, so here is to a good 
match.  Everyone else, I know that I jumped through the ranks to where I am now and I 
just want to say that I hope I stay around long enough to challenge most of you that 
are moving up in this arena.  When I came to Veastian, there were only 5 active teams 
and since I have been here it has more than doubled so keep it up, and good luck.

          -- Sungod Designed Me

                                      SPY REPORT

     It is I, Novgorodny Vir, Spymaster of Spymasters.  Look on my work, ye mighty, 
and despair!  What's a move up by 3 you ask?  (alright, maybe you didn't ask)  Cause 
for celebration, according to WENSINWASIN.  Good things come to those who fight well, 
as MEDS can attest, moving up by 0.  Practice pays for RAYEK, who pummelled FACE 
BREAKER, to pocket 21 points.  FLESHRENDER certainly had a baffled expression on his 
face, after losing to SKYWISE and losing 9 points in the process!  Those who hoped 
for a new Duelmaster were disappointed by VENOMOUS CONCUBINE, of VEASTIAN, who 
despite a 0-0-0 couldn't overcome VEASTIAN's Number 1.  So who was the warrior seen 
charging into immovable walls and challenging dead trees?  Someone's got a basic 
problem...   
     And how sociable are VEASTIAN's warriors?  Come, let us see.  To quell some 
nasty rumors, the guys in WENSINWASIN are not carrying any incurable diseases.  No 
need to avoid 'em.  The warriors of WENSINWASIN found their efforts at combat 
frustrated as WOLF RIDERS apparently had more important things to do than fight.  If 
challenges were horses, NHAVARL could open up a fast food joint!   
     Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors.  
Oh hard!  that to strike a flame, the match itself must needs be wasting!   
     All good things must come to an end.  More important duties call me.  Can 
anything compare to the pleasure of writing Spyreports for VEASTIAN?  On that giddy 
note I take my leave-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SUNGOD DESIGNED ME 4270      14   1  0   116       WENSINWASIN (428)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 NHAVARL 4222                 12  15  0   113       THE FAMILY (116)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RAYEK 3915                   14   8  0    87       WOLF RIDERS (391)
 CUTTER 3864                  15   9  3    80       WOLF RIDERS (391)
 SKYWISE 3868                 13  11  1    73       WOLF RIDERS (391)
 FACE BREAKER 1099            17   8  0    67       WIDOWMAKERS (115)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SWORDBREAKER 1087            17  10  0    66       WIDOWMAKERS (115)
 FLESHRENDER 1108             11  14  0    64       WIDOWMAKERS (115)
-MUSHAD 4287                   4   1  1    58       EASTERN HORDE (430)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DART 3865                     8  16  1    54       WOLF RIDERS (391)
-SWAMPY THE GOBLIN 4310        4   1  0    48       KORGAN CRUSADE (392)
 PENICILLEN 4299               7   1  0    44       MEDS (432)
 CARLINE 4266                  8   9  1    42       THE FAMILY (116)
 SILVER BELLE 4269             5   4  0    42       WENSINWASIN (428)
 NORPRAMINE 4296               6   3  1    34       MEDS (432)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STILTZ 4265                   8   9  0    33       THE FAMILY (116)
 LIFETAKER 1520                4   8  0    33       WIDOWMAKERS (115)
 BIL BALROGG 4273              6   9  0    27       KORGAN CRUSADE (392)
-PEACE 4306                    3   0  0    24       EASTERN HORDE (430)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-INZOLAS 4288                  2   3  0    23       EASTERN HORDE (430)
 WINTER WITCH 4283             4   9  0    22       KORGAN CRUSADE (392)
 TREESTUMP 4159                2   3  2    21       WOLF RIDERS (391)
 SPACE BABOON 4313             2   1  0    21       KORGAN CRUSADE (392)
 PREDNIZONE 4298               2   6  0    19       MEDS (432)
-BARRET 4328                   1   0  0    16       COMIC MISCHIEF (434)
 THE NAUGHTY POPE 4332         2   0  0    15       KORGAN CRUSADE (392)
-GALO THE RED 4268             2   2  1     9       WENSINWASIN (428)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BISHOP 4272                   2   3  0     9       WENSINWASIN (428)
 TIRO COCOCO 4314              1   4  0     7       THE FAMILY (116)
 TIRO CUCKOO 4329              1   2  0     5       THE FAMILY (116)
-AERIES 4326                   1   0  0     5       COMIC MISCHIEF (434)
-SEPHIROTH 4325                0   1  0     1       COMIC MISCHIEF (434)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
TRONJI-ZAR 4303        3  4 0 THE FAMILY 116        SHRILL BALROGG 4289   404         
AUGUST 4271            4  1 0 WENSINWASIN 428       TREESTUMP 4159        405 JUST REV

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Hey everybody, greetings from the Naughty Pope!  Not that I'm exactly naughty, I just 
like a good time like anybody else.  I don't really like spending my time on boring 
stuff like praying, so I thought I'd relax a little and try my hand at arena 
fighting.

I never really wanted to be the Pope, but you know how it is--it runs in the family.  
My father was the Pope, my grandfather was the Pope--even my father's sister was 
pope.  I used to call her Auntie Pope.  So when the College of Carndinals elected me
--what could I do, eh?

But there are some perks to the job, I'll admit.  I mean, when I'm particularly 
naughty I can write myself an indulgence and sign it and keep myself out of Hell.  
Not bad.  And I can bless my sword and make it a +4 Holy Weapon.  And if I kill 
anybody I can make them a Saint--it will make your mother a little happier.  Oh yeah, 
one last thing.  You're ALL EXCOMMUINICATED!  Ha, ha--just kidding.  See ya around 
the sands. -- Your friend, The Naughty Pope

Cutter -- It is not enough to cut.  You must also endure cutting. -- Nhavarl

Norpramine -- An unfortunate match for you, sir, though I was surprised that it 
turned out that way.  Just goes to show, doesn't it? -- Carline

Penicillen -- I hope your manager is paying attention to you. -- Stiltz

Space Baboon -- Nobody said I'd be fighting monkeys! -- Tiro Cococo

The Naughty Pope -- Naughty indeed!  How dare you? -- Tiro Cuckoo

Manager of The Five Ronin -- A discipline problem? -- Don John, The Family (hoping 
Jorja isn't around to call him on his claim of authority....)

26 July 2003
     Citizens of Alastari, a bright dawn has risen.  While you slept, a pernicious
force has entered the once-fair City of Aruak.  It fought alongside their treasured
warriors, it drank with their fans, and it slept with their women.  Now the masks are
coming off.
     Warriors, be afraid...be very afraid.  After years of Andorian managers ranting
that Aruak is the safest city in Alastari, the Frothingslosh Syndicate has selected
Aruak City as the home for its next epic 'contest'--Murder by Numbers II.  Our spies
have selected the warriors for extermination, and the executioners have had several
months to prepare.  Now a new age of darkness will descend upon Aruak, as the
Syndicate and its allies bring an entirely new level of competition to the arena!
Downchallenges!  Assassinations!  Small poodles as hors d'oeuvres!
     The Murder by Numbers II 'rules' will be announced next cycle.  However, we
invite all managers, from all corners of Alastari, to come to Aruak City and take
part...in one way or another.  Help defend the honor of a long heralded haven for the
pure, or join the forces of change in their siege of the ice-cream and cake
stronghold of the Dukes of Nerf-Dueling!
     This exercise is not for either the faint of heart or the weak willed.  Blood
will flow, brains will leak, and beer will be chugged.  Either way, we welcome you
with open arms and gleaming blades.
     This public service announcement has been brought to you by Frothingslosh Epic
Contests (tm), the number 86, and the letter 'K'.

The Frothingslosh Syndicate

29 July 2003
           *     *     *     *The Third Annual Turf War*     *     *     *
     Yes, it's time again for alliances to go to war!  TW3 will be held in DM 47
(North Fork) at a date to be  specified later--right after Crip's Incomprehensible
Contest is over...but I'm sure everyone wants to get their teams there soon!  Here
are the rules:

1.  Each alliance must have a leader declare the arrival of his alliance.  The leader
    will be responsible for verifying any and all teams/managers who declare to the
    alliance he/she is leading.
2.  Each manager, team declaring for the contest must have approval of the leader,
    donate one Roll-up Certificate ($5) to the prize pot (send it to me by diplo, by
    snail, or a note to customer service), and declare his/her team by diplo, p-ad or
    snail.
3.  Each team may declare one warrior as champion.  All points scored by a champ are
    double!
4.  Prizes are as follows (mostly...there WILL be some things added as the prize pot
    grows with entry donations--this list is not final!)
    *  Highest scoring alliance -- Rename Arena 47 for a period of 6 months, one half
       of the total prize pot donated; roll-up certs.
    *  The Alliance with the most returns from the DA will get to re-name the DA
       monsters for a period of 6 months.
    *  The alliance with the most warriors listed as style masters will get to pick
       the Alastari city/arena to host the next Grand Tournament.
    *  The warrior with the most front page honors/awards will have the Arenamaster
       named after him for a period of 6 months.
    *  The Alliance with the most front page Honors/Awards will have the honor of
        picking the *slow* arena to host the Fifth Annual Turf War.
    *  The team with the most listings as Style Master will find out the favorites of
       one of their warriors.
    *  The warrior with the most listings as Style Master will fight at my expense
       for five turns (I will transfer to the manager's account).
    *  The Alliance with the most kills will be able to re-name the stand-in warriors
       for a period of 6 months.
    *  The warrior that scores the most total points will fight at my expense for 5
       turns (I will transfer $7.50 to the manager's account).
    *  The team that scores the most total points will receive an extra share of
       roll-up certs from the prize pot.
     There may be more categories to come, and the prize pot still has to be
divided...I'm open to category/prize ideas--and further donations to the prize pot.
     The contest will run for *TEN* turns; prizes will be awarded at the end of the
11th turn.
     Scoring will be as follows:
* 5 points per fight, doubled for each of the following conditions met:
     -- Two Alliance     -- Champion
     -- Challenge        -- Two Champions
     -- Bloodfeud        -- Challenger losing
     -- Kill
     (Note:  DA losses are exempt, but DA wins will be *tripled*!!!  Ex:  Happy
Slasher goes to the DA and dies, no points are lost.  If he wins, his team scores 60
points!  If he was a champ, he scores 120 points!)
     Use the following chart to calculate scores:
Conditions Met:       0     1     2     3     4     5     6     7
Points Per Fight:     5    10    20    40    80   160   320   640
* Awards/Honors and Style Masters will each be awarded points also.  Find the total
number of each (do note add Awards and Style Masters together) and consult the graph
below.  Champs that score an award or style master count as two.
     1 --   5      7 --  320
     2 --  10      8 --  640
     3 --  20      9 -- 1280
     4 --  40     10 -- 2560
     5 --  80     11 -- 5280
     6 -- 100     (x2 for each extra)
Note -- These categories *count as "triple"*--they will be figured for each team,
*AND* again for each alliance *as well as* for each warrior!
*  Each and every mention in the Spy Report is worth 5 points...period.
*  TVs will be scored on the same scale as Awards/Style Masters, but the total points
will be x10.  TC's will be scored as TV's, but x10 more.
Number of TV/TC's          Points Scored (TV/TC)
     1      50/ 500
     2     100/1000
     3     200/2000
     4     400/4000
     +     x2/ x2 (for each extra)
     Each alliance will start with 5000 points, scores for *fights* will be added to
the winner's total *AND* deducted from the losers.
     Come  one and all, defend your turf and the honor of your alliance...or your
own!
                    Asmo Dius, TCB
                    Arenas, DM 47, DM 73

1 August 2003
     Assurnasirbanipal invites you to Talcama to participate in the third BATTLE
ROYAL contest.  It is a Delarquan contest so brutal that even some of Talcama's most
notable managers will refuse to participate.  The rules are simpler than any other
contest:  You may not avoid any other contest team.  There are no silly rules for who
can and can't compete.  Any team in Talcama is eligible to compete.  The scoring is
also quite simple (+1 for a win, +1 for a kill (+1 for the win), -1 for a loss) and
the first team to reach 25 points is the winner.
     Scoring will be live--the results for the turn posted in the newsletter.  The
winner will be able to fight their contest team in Talcama for free for 6 months but
more importantly will win a contest against some of the best managers who play the
game in one of the hardest contests in the game.
     First turn for BATTLE ROYAL 3 is Talcama Turn 465, which is due August 30.

19 August 2003
     Citizens of Ghea (only the ignorant fail to note Lirith Kai is not in Alastari), 
no new day is rising, but the sun is setting on just another beautiful evening.  
While you were sleeping, an irksome rabble has entered the always fair Aruak City.  
Of course they fought alongside our warriors, most not so treasured, as all 
gladiators do.  They drank with themselves, and slept with themselves.  Whether they 
had masks, who cares.
     Warriors, don't be afraid.  For years Aruak has been one of the safest cities in 
Ghea, and that custom has been continually cultivated, and will continue to be by 
those who have called it home for years and those who live, fight, and die by the 
same ethics.  There is no contest, nor has there ever needed to be one for many 
years.  A conflict of personalities has arisen, and the city has been 'invaded' by 
pests.
     Any rules that are annouced will be purely for the joy of the lemmings' own 
little world.  Those who are being targeted have no interest in participating except 
to defend the integrity of an arena that is different from others.  Whether you 
choose to come to Aruak, do it for your own reasons, not theirs.
    Competing in Aruak City has never been for the faint of heart or the weak willed.  
Combat is combat, wherever you go.  Blood will flow as always, and now many innocents 
will be caught in the middle, but those who defend Aruak's traditions never target 
those who bring respect of Aruaki customs with them to our home.

    So ignore the private ranting announcement brought by the stuporous 
Frothingsloshers.  If you choose Aruak City, do not choose it for an unsanctioned and 
bogus 'contest', choose it for the tradition.  Choose it because Aruak is different.

Defenders of Aruak

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

SILVER BELLE devastated TREESTUMP in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight.
CUTTER was vanquished by NHAVARL in a exciting 2 minute gory uneven Challenge battle.
SKYWISE won victory over FLESHRENDER in a 3 minute master's Challenge brawl.
RAYEK overpowered FACE BREAKER in a 2 minute bloody one-sided Challenge fight.
DART was bested by SWORDBREAKER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute veteran's Challenge duel.
SUNGOD DESIGNED ME overpowered VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a 1 minute Title brawl.
CARLINE was luckily beaten by THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a action packed 7 minute melee.
PENICILLEN vanquished WINTER WITCH in a 6 minute one-sided duel.
BIL BALROGG was vanquished by LIFETAKER in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
NORPRAMINE defeated STILTZ in a 1 minute match.
PREDNIZONE viciously subdued TIRO CUCKOO in a popular 3 minute brutal bout.
THE NAUGHTY POPE subdued TIRO COCOCO in a 2 minute bloody amateur's competition.
SPACE BABOON demolished PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         TOTAL PARRY       14 -   6 -  0      70  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   4 -  0      60  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         SLASHING ATTACK   19 -  13 -  2      59  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         LUNGING ATTACK    40 -  29 -  1      58  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     14 -  12 -  1      54  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         WALL OF STEEL     13 -  12 -  0      52  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         BASHING ATTACK    13 -  12 -  0      52  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         STRIKING ATTACK   25 -  32 -  3      44  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -  11 -  0      21  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         AIMED BLOW         1 -   5 -  0      17  |

Turn 407 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     4 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  1         3  STRIKING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  2         3  WALL OF STEEL  
SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         1  SLASHING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  1         1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  2                                       1  LUNGING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      2 -  2                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   
                                                                1  PARRY-LUNGE    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  SUNGOD DESIGNED ME 4270    14   1  0  116 WENSINWASIN (428)
LUNGING ATTACK   RAYEK 3915                 14   8  0   87 WOLF RIDERS (391)
STRIKING ATTACK  CUTTER 3864                15   9  3   80 WOLF RIDERS (391)
WALL OF STEEL    SKYWISE 3868               13  11  1   73 WOLF RIDERS (391)
PARRY-STRIKE     FACE BREAKER 1099          17   8  0   67 WIDOWMAKERS (115)
TOTAL PARRY      PENICILLEN 4299             7   1  0   44 MEDS (432)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is RAYEK 3915.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
CARLINE 4266.  The ten other most popular fighters were PREDNIZONE 4298, NHAVARL 
4222, DART 3865, RAYEK 3915, CUTTER 3864, SKYWISE 3868, SWORDBREAKER 1087, 
FLESHRENDER 1108, WINTER WITCH 4283, and THE NAUGHTY POPE 4332.

The least popular fighter this week was PENICILLEN 4299.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BIL BALROGG 4273, FACE BREAKER 1099, TREESTUMP 4159, TIRO COCOCO 4314, 
STILTZ 4265, SUNGOD DESIGNED ME 4270, SPACE BABOON 4313, TIRO CUCKOO 4329, NORPRAMINE 
4296, and LIFETAKER 1520.