DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/02/2005    Duedate: 03/29/2005

STORMCROWE ARENA

DM-45    TURN-227

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

STORM SERPENT
SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
(45-2416) [20-10-0,114]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

STORM SERPENT                  B.F. GOODRICH
SUPERIOR FORCES (310)          ROAD WARRIORS (476)
(45-2416) [20-10-0,114]        (45-4143) [1-1-0,26]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

ALICE OSBORNE                  FRANCINE KRUGER
MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)         MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
(45-3970) [12-10-1,101]        (45-4015) [8-10-0,87]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

DARQUE FORCES (428)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. A DEAL'S DEAL (457)         54
2. NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)       24      SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
3. ROAD WARRIORS (476)         20      Unchartered Team
4. DARQUE FORCES (428)         20
5. SUPERIOR FORCES (310)       10      ROAD WARRIORS (476)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)     58  47  0 55.2   1/ 1 DARQUE FORCES (428)      12  3 1
 2/ 2 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)   113  94  6 54.6   2/ 3 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)    8  7 1
 3/ 4 DARQUE FORCES (428)      160 134  9 54.4   3- 2*MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)      7  3 0
 4- 5*MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)      24  21  2 53.3   4/ 4 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)     7  4 0
 5- 6 WALKING DEATH (197)       85  76  1 52.8   5/ 5 A DEAL'S DEAL (457)       7  8 1
 6/ 7 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)    111 138  3 44.6   6/ 9*ROAD WARRIORS (476)       3  7 0
 7/ 8 A DEAL'S DEAL (457)       42  68  4 38.2   7/ 8 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)     3 12 0
 8- 9 THE LORDS OF WAR (477)     9  17  1 34.6   8- 6 THE LORDS OF WAR (477)    2  3 0
 9/10*ROAD WARRIORS (476)        3   7  0 30.0   9-10 WALKING DEATH (197)       0  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

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 510): CAT TASTROPHIE of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 510): PLATO of DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 504): CITATION of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 506): FELIX of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 505): 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 492): SAVORY of SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 490): NIMBLE NEUTER of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 483): HUCKLE CAT of BUSY, BUSYTOWN (Huckle Cat, 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 221): RAINBOW of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 208): YAIWE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 371): MECHANISM of TOOLS OF TORMENT (Mad Max, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 350): 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 510): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 510): BLOODSUCKERS (Way Cool, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 504): STARBASE 5 (Zeus, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 506): GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 505): 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 492): SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 490): THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 483): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, 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 221): LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 208): SNOW CALL HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 371): ARNIE'S ARMY (Barnabas, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 350): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, 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 510): BADGER of HIGH JINKS (Jondeaux, 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  43 VEASTIAN (turn 445): DISMAY of HELL'S PAWNS (Harbinger, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 221): RAINBOW of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
                                 DEEP FRIED LARD of MYSTIC ORC FEAST (Slugbait, mgr.)
                     (turn 220): COURAGE of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 349): DRACO EL TANIN of BLADE AND BLOOD (Noachian, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

So I'm walking down to the commission office to check to see if I remembered to take
myself off of maintenance.  Apparently, I became the Duelmaster when I wasn't paying
attention.  I suppose that means I'll have to head down to the isle one of these days
when I'm not looking too.  At least I can nap on the isle.  I'd avoid Master Darque,
but I'm pretty sure he's not paying any attention either.  Talk to you guys later!
(Ok probably not, I'm sure I won't remember to write a column ever again!)

Storm Serpent

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon STORMCROWE, 
for I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  What's a move up by 3 you ask?  (alright, 
maybe you didn't ask)  Cause for celebration, according to ROAD WARRIORS.  Say what 
you will about blind luck and dirty fighting, but A DEAL'S DEAL will tell you 42-68-4 
is nothing to laugh at...  Practice pays for WALRUS, who pummelled PYROTECHNICS, to 
pocket 24 points.  Win some, lose some.  Speaking of which, ZOEY was winsome, after 
beating ICELINIA and seeing her lose 18 points.  STORM SERPENT found out being 
STORMCROWE's Duelmaster isn't all nuts and berries, receiving 4 challenges!  Well, 
Duelmaster STORM SERPENT challenged DARQUE FORCES' MOTHER.  Is a 19-10-0 good enough? 
MOTHER found out that STORMCROWE isn't a democracy.  You've gotta be the best to be 
Duelmaster here!  Word has it one team in STORMCROWE is using psychics to predict 
wins.  They lead a charmed life!   
     My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter. 
But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights!  Like the noble eagle soaring amongst 
the mountaintops, so stand the warriors of MORDRED'S MADMEN, alone and unchallenged.  
Like a pup with its tail between its legs, SUPERIOR FORCES scurried away from 
MORDRED'S MADMEN.  Oh, the shame!   
     Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors.  
BOMBSHELL of DARQUE FORCES spared NORA BATES (13-17-0) from having to lose any more 
fights.  What's your next plan, MORDRED'S MADMEN?  Never one to advocate diplomacy 
and restraint, I was pleased to see A DEAL'S DEAL retaliate against MORDRED'S MADMEN 
in bloodfeud!  Oh hard!  that to strike a flame, the match itself must needs be 
wasting!   
     Do not think spyreporting in STORMCROWE is the highlight of my life.  As the 
seasons change, and the creatures of the wild change also, so do I feel a yearning to 
leave this place.  Can anything compare to the pleasure of writing Spyreports for 
STORMCROWE?  On that giddy note I take my leave-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STORM SERPENT 2416           20  10  0   114       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BOMBSHELL 3914               14  10  3   113       DARQUE FORCES (428)
 HOT LIPS 3743                25   6  0   105       DARQUE FORCES (428)
 MOTHER 3741                  19  12  1   101       DARQUE FORCES (428)
 ALICE OSBORNE 3970           12  10  1   101       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FRANCINE KRUGER 4015          8  10  0    87       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
 DEATH FOG 4017               12   6  0    77       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
 JANE THE RIPPER 4096          8   2  0    77       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
-WRECKER 1402                 18  14  0    71       WALKING DEATH (197)
 SHARD 3507                   14  26  1    69       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SHADOW STALKER 4155           7   3  0    64       THE LORDS OF WAR (477)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WALRUS 3995                   7  14  0    56       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CANNONBALL HAMMER 3960        6   3  0    49       MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)
 PYROTECHNICS 4018            15   3  0    48       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
 ZOEY 4126                     5   1  1    46       A DEAL'S DEAL (457)
-SKORG 1804                   11   7  1    44       WALKING DEATH (197)
-JOGLI 1902                   10   4  0    43       WALKING DEATH (197)
-ANGEL HAMMER 3962             6   3  2    40       MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)
-BEAST HAMMER 3963             5   4  0    38       MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MALDROIT MABEL 4161           2   0  0    33       A DEAL'S DEAL (457)
-BISHOP HAMMER 3993            4   3  0    30       MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)
 ICELINIA 4092                 5   6  1    27       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
 FROSTFLARE 4112               3   5  0    27       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
 B.F. GOODRICH 4143            1   1  0    26       ROAD WARRIORS (476)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FROSTBITE 4014                2  17  0    23       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
-SHADOWCAT HAMMER 3961         3   6  0    20       MUTANT HAMMERZ (456)
 AUNTY MACASSAR 4137           1   3  0    17       A DEAL'S DEAL (457)
 RAGGEDY ANN 4148              3   0  0    16       DARQUE FORCES (428)
 GREZELDA 4131                 2   3  0    15       A DEAL'S DEAL (457)
 AMY YATES 4145                3   1  1    14       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
-MASOJ 2603                    2   1  0    13       WALKING DEATH (197)
 HITCH 4167                    1   0  0    13       ROAD WARRIORS (476)
 LULU 4135                     3   1  0    10       DARQUE FORCES (428)
-JARA 4160                     1   0  0     6       THE LORDS OF WAR (477)
 WINSTON 4141                  1   1  0     6       ROAD WARRIORS (476)
 ASU 4105                      1   0  0     6       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
-SMOKE 4154                    1   1  1     5       THE LORDS OF WAR (477)
 BERTHA 4168                   1   0  0     5       A DEAL'S DEAL (457)
 T.A. 4139                     0   2  0     2       ROAD WARRIORS (476)
 LEAD PEDAL 4142               0   2  0     2       ROAD WARRIORS (476)
-CARA 4159                     0   1  0     1       THE LORDS OF WAR (477)
-HENGIST 3460                  0   1  0     1       WALKING DEATH (197)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
MAYOR BILL 4138        0  2 0 A DEAL'S DEAL 457     AMY YATES 4145        225 JUST REV
NORA BATES 3883       13 17 0 MORDRED'S MADMEN 409  BOMBSHELL 3914        227         
DABABY 4104            0  1 0 SUPERIOR FORCES 310   SHEWISH GIANT 21      227 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Warrior Lord -- Welcome to our humble arena, Stormcrowe.  Make yourself at home and
enjoy the sights.  We hope you have a long and productive stay here. -- Master
Darque, mgr. Darque Forces

Frostflare -- Must be someone different.  I'm a Darque disciple and arena diva (that
can be read as not a very nice lady).  Can your Lulu make such a claim or are the
similarities in name only? -- Lulu of the Darque Forces

B.F. Goodrich -- Have a few tourney fights under the belt don't you?!  Impressive
display of skill with the blade in that match.  A few more swings and the outcome may
have been in your favor.  Better luck next time, but I'll be keeping my distance from
you. -- Raggedy Ann

All -- GEEZ, I go 5-0 and don't even make into the Teams on the Move category. --
Master Darque

Tha Saint, Keeper a Lists -- Dey should'a been so lucky. -- Applejack, mgr. A Deal's
a Deal.  A team what is gettin ugly.  N' believe me, I knows ugly. <grin>
P.S.  Please revert da team name ta it's original title durin tha upcomin name-
change-a-rama.  Yer missin a "a" ...an as dat was da original title sent in wif it's
explanatory explanational p-ad, ya'd be mighty low ta charge me fer dis convenience.
Thanks.

     Applejack -- Whoops!  My list is changed; I must have had a sip too many before
     doing that.... -- The Saint, keeper of sometimes-accurate-sometimes-not lists
     P.S.  I've passed your name correction request on to those who do such things,
     but the charge depends on them.

Frostflare -- A rouser, by rickity.  N' take that! -- Grezelda

Smoke -- Yes'n Ya'n n' I'm an Ork, too.  How could you tell?  <leer> -- Mabel

Shadowcat Hammer -- Lost again.  Drat!  Trial n' error, an I trialed that one and it
errored.  If you had any brains we wouldn't be in this mess. -- Aunty

Angel Hammer -- So much for the unblemished record.  Quality skill trade, though. --
Zoey

All -- Two orks onna same team.  Euuuuuu-kay -- A.

Francine Kruger -- And you could, of course.  There isn't a live houseplant in your
whole house.  You probably kill them just by looking at them. -- Shard

Amy Yates -- I always knew you orcs were nasty, and now I have proof. -- Frostbite

Jane the Ripper -- Listen, sister, if *I* got into your bathtub, you wouldn't have a
chance to face anything, because it would FREEZE SOLID. -- Icelinia

Beast Hammer -- You might as well call yourself "Walrus Hammer," because you surely
did hammer on this one.  Ouch. -- Walrus

Grezelda -- I thought there was supposed to be some kind of special virtue, patience
or something, associated with your name.  But I never met a more IM-patient woman! --
Frostflare

Hammer -- Well, one manager is easy to guess:  if there are ALWAYS personals from
that team, it's probably me! -- Jorja, Northern Lights

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

1 March 2005
                                    The Contract
                         [as retold by Hammer the WordSmith]
     What had begun as a contract for swords and armor between a well known name in
the DM community and the former VC Captain/WordSmith and WeaponSmith of the Vendetta
Cartel Tarantula Tribe was destined to impact and altar the landscape of the dueling
community for years to come.
     The following is but a condensed retelling of history in the making.

    Hammer continued sipping his tankard of Elven Tonic as the mysterious hooded
figure quietly seated himself across the table from the Veteran Manager whose back
was against the wall; allowing for a subtle, but effective surveillance of the dimly
lit tavern.
     Recent events in both Illis and North Fork/SCOMSS Swamp Arena had stunned the DM
managerial world with the announcement that Hammer had resigned from his position as
a well respected member of the Vendetta Cartel Alliance.
     Those managers and associates closest to Hammer were shocked and dismayed that
there seemed to be NO Rational Explanation for Hammer making such a seemingly
irrational, hasty and extremely illogical decision; by what seemed to be a spur of
the moment reaction following the Declaration of War by Hammer in the DM 47 P-ads.
     This is what stirred the mysterious hooded figure to seek Hammer with a request
that would change the managerial course of both men; ultimately Rocking the
Managerial World of Alastari as a result of the forthcoming decisions reached by the
two Veterans.
     Time passed swiftly as both Veteran Managers discussed how the landscape of the
DM game on the sands of Alastari had changed over the years both in Basic and Tourney
play; producing a new breed of managers who would of necessity band together in an
alliance with a common goal; waging war against antagonists while improving the
managerial skills of each participating member in their glorious quest for DM
excellence.
     Hammer listened intently as his unexpected guest inquired about the situation in
North Fork/SCOMSS Swamp Arena; revealing his desire to participate in the upcoming
Turf War 4 contest in DM 47 with an alliance that would accept him on a more
permanent basis other than for just fighting together as a TW4 alliance to win fame
and Gift Certs.
     Here was a Veteran Manager, seeking the advice of Hammer regarding an alliance
to join on a permanent basis; plus extending a sword arm of friendship and requesting
that Hammer join him as an alliance mate with those who would welcome their
membership.
     The Iron in the Words of Hammer had produced this opportunity as a result of the
recent conflicts witnessed first hand by the manager seated across the table from
Hammer.  This Veteran Manager had been secretly searching and scouting around
Alastari for someone worth his mettle to fight alongside; someone who would know
where to find the perfect gang of rebels who were unafraid of waging war against
anyone.
     Hammer knew exactly where to look and in a matter of days the two newcomers were
welcomed into the ranks of a group of managers who received them as war waging equals
in an alliance that had joined a Confederation of Alliances for the TW4 contest.
     Fighting under the banner of The Illuminati Confederation of Alliances alongside
members of Chaos Inc, kLk and The Company of Brothers during the TW4 was more than
either of the two Veteran Managers had envisioned a few months ago.
     Hammer was now entering a new journey with a new attitude.
     Perhaps you readers may have noticed that new attitude by now since this
announcement by Hammer is uncharacteristically Exclamation Point Free.
     Except for the famous quote by Hammer at the end of this announcement.
     Now that Hammer and the Mysterious Hooded Figure have agreed to join forces with
an alliance whose members have welcomed them enthusiastically; let those who desire
to be antagonistic be forewarned as to the identities of these newly welcomed wagers
of war:

Tripwire
kLk Bringer of Pain

Hammer
kLk WordSmith and WeaponSmith
Minister of War
Illuminati Idealist

     "May Your Blades Be Sharp and Your Wits Sharper!"

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

DABABY was butchered by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
MALDROIT MABEL devastated AMY YATES in a 1 minute one-sided Bloodfeud duel.
STORM SERPENT overcame MOTHER in a 3 minute veteran's Challenge Title match.
ALICE OSBORNE devastated DEATH FOG in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
BOMBSHELL assassinated NORA BATES in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
JANE THE RIPPER devastated SHARD in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
B.F. GOODRICH bested FROSTBITE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge match.
RAGGEDY ANN overcame WINSTON in a 2 minute beginner's Challenge fight.
AUNTY MACASSAR won victory over LULU in a 2 minute beginner's Challenge duel.
HOT LIPS unbelievably bested FRANCINE KRUGER in a action packed 10 minute fight.
ICELINIA was overpowered by ZOEY in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
PYROTECHNICS was handily defeated by WALRUS in a exciting 4 minute one-sided bout.
FROSTFLARE devastated GREZELDA in a 2 minute brutal mismatched conflict.
T.A. was subdued by ASU in a 1 minute novice's brawl.
LEAD PEDAL was outwaited by BERTHA in a crowd boring 8 minute gory novice's conflict.
HITCH devastated CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute uneven duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   8         TOTAL PARRY       38 -  17 -  0      69  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  5         SLASHING ATTACK   24 -  19 -  1      56  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         PARRY-STRIKE      15 -  15 -  3      50  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         LUNGING ATTACK    29 -  29 -  3      50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         STRIKING ATTACK   33 -  35 -  1      49  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         BASHING ATTACK    14 -  16 -  1      47  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -  13 -  0      41  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         WALL OF STEEL     10 -  15 -  1      40  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         AIMED BLOW        13 -  22 -  0      37  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-LUNGE        5 -  10 -  0      33  |

Turn 227 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        1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  6         2  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  2         2  STRIKING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1         2  AIMED BLOW     
PARRY-STRIKE       2 -  1                                       2  SLASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  2                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  2                                       1  LUNGING ATTACK 
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  BASHING ATTACK 

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      STORM SERPENT 2416         20  10  0  114 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
PARRY-STRIKE     BOMBSHELL 3914             14  10  3  113 DARQUE FORCES (428)
LUNGING ATTACK   MOTHER 3741                19  12  1  101 DARQUE FORCES (428)
STRIKING ATTACK  ALICE OSBORNE 3970         12  10  1  101 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
AIMED BLOW       DEATH FOG 4017             12   6  0   77 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
SLASHING ATTACK  JANE THE RIPPER 4096        8   2  0   77 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is ALICE OSBORNE 3970.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was FRANCINE KRUGER 4015.  The ten other most popular fighters were WALRUS 3995, 
MOTHER 3741, HOT LIPS 3743, B.F. GOODRICH 4143, WINSTON 4141, FROSTFLARE 4112, 
MALDROIT MABEL 4161, ALICE OSBORNE 3970, JANE THE RIPPER 4096, and AUNTY MACASSAR 
4137.

The least popular fighter this week was LEAD PEDAL 4142.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BERTHA 4168, T.A. 4139, PYROTECHNICS 4018, ICELINIA 4092, SHARD 3507, 
NORA BATES 3883, DEATH FOG 4017, AMY YATES 4145, DABABY 4104, and HITCH 4167.

                                  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*)