DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 11/09/2005    Duedate: 12/06/2005

STORMCROWE ARENA

DM-45    TURN-236

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

DEATH FOG
SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
(45-4017) [20-7-0,126]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

DEATH FOG                      SANTA
SUPERIOR FORCES (310)          AMOEBA (425)
(45-4017) [20-7-0,126]         (45-3680) [4-2-1,40]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

DEATH FOG                      ZOEY
SUPERIOR FORCES (310)          A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
(45-4017) [20-7-0,126]         (45-4126) [10-5-1,100]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

AMOEBA (425)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SUPERIOR FORCES (310)       35
2. A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)       31      SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
3. DARQUE FORCES (428)         28      Unchartered Team
4. AMOEBA (425)                18
5. NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)       10      AMOEBA (425)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*EDIFICE (413)              1   0  0  100   1/ 3*AMOEBA (425)              8  5 0
 2/ 2 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)     79  56  0 58.5   2/ 1 DARQUE FORCES (428)       8  6 0
 3/ 3 DARQUE FORCES (428)      188 149 10 55.8   3/ 6 A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)     7  8 0
 4- 4 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)   126 117  6 51.9   4/ 4 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)     7  8 0
 5- 5 AVID FANS (65)           135 129 11 51.1   5/ 5 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)     6  3 0
 6/ 6*AMOEBA (425)              13  15  1 46.4   6- 2 AVID FANS (65)            5  5 0
 7/ 7 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)    133 161  3 45.2   7- 7 MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)    2  4 0
 8/ 8 A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)     61  94  5 39.4   8- 8*EDIFICE (413)             1  0 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[ The Black Ship #9 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Near Willaf:

     Lady Protector Goldenrod didn't like rowboats.  Oh, no doubt they were fine in
their place, no doubt they had their uses, but she didn't like being out in the
strait in one.  She said as much.
     "This isn't a ROW boat," Old Gold answered, panting.  Rowing called for a lot
more stamina than a fast arena fight did, and it used different muscles, too.  He had
the sinking feeling, no, cancel that, don't want to think about sinking right now, he
had the unpleasant feeling that he was going to regret this activity tomorrow.  "It's
a, what'd'ye'callit, a fishing punch?"
     "Smack?" Chardinee asked.  For a merchant, he was doing a lot better with HIS
oar.  It seemed unfair.  "Or maybe it's a dory," he added.  "I'm not familiar with
the technical terms.  But it's all the boat the two of us can handle, so...."  He
shrugged.
     "It's a boat, and you're rowing it," Goldenrod stated.  "So it's a rowboat.  And
why you think the Black Ship would bother to accost a ratty little rowboat like this-
-"
     "When you scream, the pirates will know there's a woman on board," Old Gold
said, grunting with exertion.  "Pirates always want to capture women."
     "And women always prefer NOT to be captured!  If you had paid more attention to
landmarks--"
     "Let's not go into that again," Chardinee said quickly.  "The lightning was
deceptive.  What appeared to be reliable landmarks in the storm were not when we went
to check on the ground.  But we still know the general area, and Lady Peach and the
others are watching there to make CLEAR identification of the spot when the Black
Ship emerges to capture us, and they will be there when we are taken back to their
base."  The standby paused and licked his lips.  "Has it occurred to you, Old Gold,
that while the Black Ship may want to capture Lady Goldenrod, they may have no
interest in the two of us?"
     The new-made Lord Protector shrugged, but he looked uneasy.  "It's a gamble," he
muttered.  "It's the scrambled eggs thing.  You know, first you break the eggs."
     Goldenrod smiled, managing to look nasty at the same time.  "And all the king's
horses and all the king's men--"
     "Don't SAY that," Old Gold snapped.  He glanced at the dark water around them,
hoping that there were no sharks in this area.  Then at the sky, stars and a crescent
moon... and a mass of clouds boiling up out of north and spreading southward.  There
had been no clouds when they'd set out.
     "It's going to be a dark and stormy night," Goldenrod said.  She shivered.

     Lady Protector Peach Nutt leaned against a tree, which concealed her silhouette
from anyone who might be looking.  "It's clouding over," she said.  "It's going to be
hard to see what happens out there."
     "We figured on clouds," Lord Protector Fool's Gold told her.  He was sitting
nearby, giving a good impression of a boulder.  He had experience with adventures.
That he wasn't alarmed was reassuring.
     Peach's teammate, Lady Protector Moonjumper muttered something.  It sounded like
"exciting times."
     Fool's Gold laughed.  "Is there any other kind?"  A bolt of purple lightning
streaked across the sky from the headland above them to the clouds.  "Showtime!"

     The lightning hit nearby, striking the mast of a ship the gladiators hadn't
seen.  It was a lot bigger than their vessel, and a lot closer than seemed
reasonable.  How had it even gotten there unnoticed?  Why didn't it catch fire from
the lightning?  The whole thing glowed with purplish foxfire, except the figures
moving on the deck.  They were shadows, dark and shapeless.
     Chardinee glanced over his shoulder at it.  "The Black Ship," he muttered.
"It's headed for us."  He turned back to Goldenrod.  "Maybe you should scream, so he
knows we've got a woman here."
     "Oh, and that's going to be so subtle," she said, "a woman screams for no
apparent reason, of course they won't be suspicious--"
     "You knew the plan," Chardinee said.
     "I hadn't thought it through before, okay?"
     "Oh, great, stage fright.  Just what we need," Old Gold snarled.  "Can't you--?"
     Goldenrod flung out a hand in exasperation as she prepared to tell her teammate
that, no, she couldn't.  And screamed in good earnest as something cold and soft and
slimy curled around her wrist.

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Black Ship #10 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Aljafir:

     "But we didn't DO anything except fight monsters!" Lej Korranjal, the Ambitious
Guard said.  Again.  "Were we supposed to IGNORE the monsters?"
     The chief of the Harbor Guards met his indignant eyes with a cold stare.  "The
stability of our Glorious Empire," he said, "is founded on and maintained by the
principle that for each person there is a place and a proper task, and that no person
shall encroach upon the place and task of another.  The defense of the harbor and
waterfront of Aljafir rests in the hands of the Harbor Guard.  By striking at these
monsters instead of calling for that Guard, you have threatened the stability of the
Empire.  Further, you incited a mob to violence, which is a capital crime in itself."
     "But we just fought MONSTERS--"
     Shagrath jabbed him with an elbow.  "Leave it," the dwarf growled.  "This is a
no-win deal."  To the Harbor Captain, he said, "Where are you going with this?"
     The man tipped his head back slightly, the better to look down his nose at the
two arena standbys.  "That is an impertinent question from a criminal.  I am
enforcing the stability of the Empire."
     M. Konvalh Chardinee, standing at the back of the guardroom, leaned toward his
companion, Arenamaster Kharghal, and muttered, "This is a stacked deck, and you set
it up.  What are YOU getting at?"
     Kharghal shrugged.  "Unless you want to join them, keep quiet and watch."
     It was clear that wherever this was going, the place it arrived at was not going
to be a pleasant one, so the Chardinee closed his mouth.  But this behavior on the
part of the arenamaster was not going to inspire confidence in any of the warriors
under his control.  He returned his attention to the Harbor Captain, who was winding
up a harangue and getting down to verdict and sentence.
     "So," the Captain said, "since your intentions were 'good' so far as they went,
it is judged appropriate to offer you mercy.  You have a choice:  You may serve the
Great Kjarran at the next sacrifice, or you may serve the Glorious Empire in a more
extended fashion under a one-year geas to the Lord Bazidhar of Salamar.  What say
you, criminals?"
     "We'll serve this Bazidhar, of course," Shagrath said.  "As you knew we would."
     The Chardinee glanced sideways at Kharghal.  Bazidhar was one of the
arenamaster's cronies; they went carousing together.  Although Kharghal didn't know
that Konvalh knew, and the Chardinee did not propose to tell him.  The Society of
Chardinee reached into many unlikely places across the length and breadth of
Alastari, but that was no reason to advertise how much information flowed through
their network.

     Shagrath put his hands on his hips and glared at Lord Bazidar.  With bushy black
eyebrows and a big nose, not to mention a typical dwarvish beard, the assassin did
"glaring" very well.  "Okay," he said, "you've got us.  Now tell us what you wanted
us FOR."
     Bazidar smiled, a slight movement of thin lips that did not make him look
friendly.  "I was told you would be impertinent.  Not that it matters."  He leaned
forward and flipped open a scroll on the table that separated him from the two arena
warriors.  It was a map of the northern part of the Karnhorn Empire, from east of
Aljafir west as far as Kurukar.  "I am the Warden of what is, since the secession of
Kurukar, the Western Marches.  The border I defend is continually assailed by
brigands and beasts and... I am not sure what.  Some are natural hazards that have
existed forever, such as the bears and wolves who prey on isolated farmsteads."  He
shrugged.  "That is the Way of Things, and those who dwell on the edges of settled
lands will always face them."
     Korranjal muttered something under his breath, which Shagrath did not ask him to
repeat.  It was probably inflammatory.  The Guard had come from just such a border
area and had said, more than once, that it wasn't "right" that predators should be
left to prey on the border farmers.
     "The brigands...."  Bazidhar frowned.  "Some are wild Shews and others of that
ilk, some are, I believe, refugees from Kurukar.  Some are alone, and others show
sign of being organized."  He met the dwarf's glare with his own.  "I will not have
organized brigands preying on MY border.  You will go among them in the character of
fugitives from Aljafir, discover who leads the bands and where they are based, and
then return to guide my soldiers to the attack."
     "What about the monsters or demons or whatever that you almost mentioned?"
Shagrath asked.
     "That is a separate problem.  One thing at a time.  When I can be sure my
soldiers will not be attacked by brigands, then I can decide what to do about
monsters.  Or whatever they might be."
     "You say we are to go as fugitives," Korranjal said now.  "Yet your men patrol
that border we have to cross, do they not?  How are we to pass them?"
     "Very carefully.  The arena resurrects those who are so inept as to get
themselves killed.  Be assured that I will not waste my resources in that fashion."

            + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Black Ship #11 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

West of Aljafir:

     "I don't like it," Shagrath muttered.
     "Oh, and you think I DO?"  Lej Korranjal, the Ambitious Guard, glared around at
the landscape, which was, in truth, depressing.  They were following a dirt road,
barely wide enough for carts, which must have been a sea of mud a month ago.  Now it
was frozen into narrow ruts and very hard to walk on.  To either side was forest, the
trees mostly bare of leaves but the ground level a tangle of bushes and woody vines
and deadfallen timber.  It would have made worse walking even than this road.
     "One minute we're fighting monsters off the Black Ship, the next we're in jail
for 'inciting to riot'--I'll incite somebody when we get back, let me tell you!--and
the minute after that we're being sent through these cursed woods to fight bandits!
When we get back--"
     "If we get back."
     "I plan to, what you do is your problem," the Assassin said.  "When I get back,
then, I'm going to protest!  We're employees of the Gladiatorial Commission, and we
shouldn't be treated like this."
     "The arenamaster was in on it," Korranjal said.
     "I noticed."  The way Shagrath narrowed his eyes and stroked his dagger did not
promise well for Arenamaster Kharghal.  "But I'm going over his head.  I'll go clear
to the Isle with my protest if I have to!"
     "I've got an idea the Commission doesn't like the 'going over their heads' kind
of thing," Korranjal said.  "What I plan to do, if I can get to anyplace I like the
looks of, is desert.  Why go back to get beat up all the time and then sent out on
dangerous missions because the arenamaster has a taste for gambling and he lost?"
     Shagrath trudged beside him in silence for a while.  "Something in that," he
admitted finally.  "You have any particular place in mind?"
     "Vithicar, somewhere up there.  Snowbound.  Well away from the Empire's reach.
In one way, I'd rather go south--more comfortable climate!  But all the rumors I
heard before we left Aljafir sounded like the Black Kalive was moving south with his
demons, on land as well as on sea.  I'm tired of demons.  I want a little peace."
     "Ice trolls," Shagrath murmured.  "Wild Northmen."
     "Ordinary foes, fine.  I'll fight 'em.  I'm just tired of demons," Korranjal
repeated.  "And there's always work for a guard."
     "Speaking of ordinary foes," Shagrath said quietly, "I think we're about to meet
some."  With a nod of his head, he indicated a spot ahead of them where the trail
curved.
     "I don't see anything."
     "Naturally.  You're not supposed to, or the ambush wouldn't work.  But there's
something about the look of the underbrush on the north side of the trail...."
     Korranjal couldn't see anything wrong with the brush, but he trusted his
companion on this.  The dwarf was a trained assassin, after all.  He knew about
concealment.  "How many?"
     "Don't know.  More than one, fewer than a dozen."
     "I'm really not liking this," the Guard muttered.  "Really not."
     "Me neither.  But even if they outnumber us, at least the surprise will be on
our side against them," the dwarf murmured.  "It really shakes people up when their
ambush is turned against 'em."
     Before Shagrath could say more, or Korranjal reply, they reached the corner.
Two Shews emerged from each side of the road.  Korranjal stifled a groan of dismay.
Although Shews who entered the arena system, especially those employed by the
Commission, tended to be of low intelligence, they were big and strong.  And "wild"
Shews were big, strong, and smart.  The two of them against four wild Shews was not
good odds.
     The Shews were armed with "clubs," which was a derogatory way of saying
"quarterstaffs and all-wood maces."  The Shews were also eight feet tall.  Even
Korranjal at six foot four felt small next to them.  They stepped out calmly, as men
who were sure of what they could do and who knew the odds were in their favor.  But
there was nothing calm in their faces.  Ferocious scowls.  So fierce, in fact, that
they looked...stagy.
     Shagrath put his hands on his hips and matched them scowl for scowl.  "What's
the deal here, Kolbasa?"
     One of the Shews lowered his mace.  "I could ask the same, 'Grath," he said.
His voice rumbled like a boulder in a deep cave.  "I didn't expect to see you in
these parts."
     "Well, look fast, because I'm not staying around."
     Korranjal heard movement behind them and glanced over his shoulder.  Two more
Shews.  "That dwarf's got more wool than a sheep," one said.  "We could shear 'im."
     "If you kill me...and survive, you could," Shagrath answered.  He didn't put a
hand on his sword, but his voice was cold enough to freeze a prudent man in place.
     Korranjal did not relax as the edgy bantering went back and forth.  Sure,
everything was friendly.  Now.  But that was just on the surface, and he could feel
currents just below the smiling surface.  This confrontation could explode into
violence at the first misplaced gesture.
     "So, what is the deal here?" Shagrath repeated.  "This road can't get enough
traffic to make it worth your while to hang around to rob any chance-met travelers."
     The leader, Kolbasa, looked uncomfortable and shrugged.  "Orders."
     "Whose?"
     "Can't tell you.  But you'll get a chance to meet her, because we're supposed to
take all travelers to her."

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

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

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 528): COPY CAT of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 528): GROTESQUE ZOMBIE of ALL HALLOW'S EVE (Destitute Noble)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 522): GO AND GO of TRIPLE CROWN (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 524): FLUFFY of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 522): TABETA UNIS of MIDDLE WAY (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 520): DING HAO of JAGUAR WARRIORS (Noachian, mgr.)
 DM  28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 260): WYATT BURP of DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 513): WENDY of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 258): IT FELT GOOD of WHY DID I DO IT (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 510): BEFORE THE DAWN of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 508): TATHARLI of THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 501): LOCO of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 463): DART of WOLF RIDERS (Dr. Guts, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 235): HOT LIPS of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 230): KRAMER of SECOND BANANAS (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 217): YAIWE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 389): BITTER VETCH of BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 368): MUDVAYNE of FEAR FACTORY (Var, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 165): SAIONJI of PERFECTION QUEST II (Mannequin, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 414): SAMOO of DARKENED PRIDE from SIBIKHAS (Ultraist)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 528): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 528): TEAM MARIO (?, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 522): WEST COAST WARRIORS (?, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 524): YAMABUSHI (Doc Miracle, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 522): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 520): THE MAGNIFICENT MAGS (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 260): DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 513): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 258): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 510): CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 508): VEGGIES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 501): PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 463): PHILANTHROPISTS (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 235): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 230): AGE OF EMPIRES (The Historian, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 217): DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 389): BAD APPLES (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 368): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 165): DARK RUNES (Liam the Goth, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 414): DARKENED PRIDE (Ultraist, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 528): GROTESQUE ZOMBIE of ALL HALLOW'S EVE (Destitute Noble)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 524): FLUFFY of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
               (turn 523): GOLD FILLING of GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
                           CAT MAN DO of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 512): TETRICUS of EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 258): ZARENDARGAR of OVERLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
                   (turn 257): HELM HAMMERHAND of LORDS OF VALHALLA (High Lord Bosk)
 DM  33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 508): TATHARLI of THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr.)
                       (turn 507): NIMBLE NEUTER of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 501): LOCO of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 234): MOTHER of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
                               ALICE OSBORNE of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.)
 DM  47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 230): KRAMER of SECOND BANANAS (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 215): GILIA HARN of MIDDLE WAY 6 (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 367): KIT-KAT of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 165): SAIONJI of PERFECTION QUEST II (Mannequin, mgr.)
                (turn 164): VANISH of THE INANIMATES (Mannequin, mgr.)

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Here I am again on the lofty throne of Stormcrowe.  The skills are slow in coming and
so I sit here and languish in the glories of Stormcrowe.  I'm awaiting the day when I
get my call from the Isle.  *sigh*  Not sure when that is going to come.  The basic
skills of fighting just keep escaping me.  I'm not a fast learner.  It could be the
seven wit.  I can take a lickin' and keep on tickin' though.  I'll leave the studies
to someone else.

My challenge goes to Avid Fans, but I'm sure another TV challenge is coming my way.
Just teach me the skills that I need and I will gladly give the throne to you.
Parry, Defense, Riposte!  Parry, Defense, Riposte!  If I repeat my new mantra over
and over, maybe it will help.

Your Duelmistress,

Hot Lips

                                      SPY REPORT

     Busy, busy, busy, lots of things happening in STORMCROWE this turn, and let's 
start with a look at some of the teams.  It seems the training can make the 
difference, as DARQUE FORCES is pushed out of top team by AMOEBA, who came from 3rd 
with a 1-3-0 this turn.  Now keep the taverns open late tonight, for there are 
sorrows to drown for AVID FANS, whose 0-0-0 this turn dropped them by 4 into 6th.  A 
DEAL'S A DEAL stable has parlayed this turn's 4-1-0 into a 3 space move up the 
rankings.  This brings them up to 3rd place.  Good work, guys!  And let's see, SANTA 
fought FROSTBITE and gained 16 points and contributed to AMOEBA's 1-3-0.  ICELINIA 
has lost to RAGGEDY ANN, falling 3 points, while helping make NORTHERN LIGHTS a 2-3-0 
turn.  And not without some honor, DEATH FOG now claims the title and throne of 
Duelmaster of STORMCROWE.  Can someone confirm a rumor for me?  I hear the top team 
makes their losing fighters do dishes at The Shadow's Fountain until they win.  
Maybe?   
     He who challenges well, fights well.  He who avoids without cause, shall lose 
for good reasons.  My mama told me that one.  I also notice that the AVID FANS stable 
was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on STORMCROWE, what are you afraid of?  
And avoiding AVID FANS more than any other team we find DARQUE FORCES.  STORMCROWE, 
are we going to accept, or respect this sort of thing?  The most challenged warrior 
this turn was NORTHERN LIGHTS' warrior ICELINIA.  More fighters challenged her than 
challenged the Duelmaster!   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  Is it really true that STORMCROWE has more dishwashers per capita that 
fighters?  Just thought I'd ask...   
     I like this place, STORMCROWE, the taverns have old wine, and young serving 
girls.  Who could ask for more?  Always good to rest in STORMCROWE, but never good to 
wear out my welcome.  Look for me in future turns.  Until the sun next rises and my 
pen sets to paper-- Alarond the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DEATH FOG 4017               20   7  0   126       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HOT LIPS 3743                32   8  0   112       DARQUE FORCES (428)
-COLOUR COMMENTATOR 3951       9   6  1   104       AVID FANS (65)
 ZOEY 4126                    10   5  1   100       A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
 SHARD 3507                   20  29  1    94       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
-JANE THE RIPPER 4096         12   5  0    94       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
 FROSTFLARE 4112              10   7  0    94       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
-THE STATISTICIAN 2309        16  19  0    91       AVID FANS (65)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-A TALENT SCOUT 3950          10   6  0    90       AVID FANS (65)
 PYROTECHNICS 4018            21   6  0    69       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
-THE JANITOR 2545             10  10  0    67       AVID FANS (65)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RAGGEDY ANN 4148             11   1  0    66       DARQUE FORCES (428)
 ICELINIA 4092                11   9  1    61       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
 LULU 4135                     8   5  0    59       DARQUE FORCES (428)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 AUNTY MACASSAR 4137           6   7  0    55       A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
 ASU 4105                      8   2  0    50       SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
-FRANCINE KRUGER 4015          9  16  0    49       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WALRUS 3995                   9  21  0    48       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
 SANTA 3680                    4   2  1    40       AMOEBA (425)
 BERTHA 4168                   7   3  1    37       A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
 FROSTBITE 4014                3  25  0    34       NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROSE GUARD 3684               3   3  0    29       AMOEBA (425)
-AMY YATES 4145                7   4  1    26       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FRANK SINATRA 3683            4   2  0    21       AMOEBA (425)
-AN ARENA DOCTOR 4175          1   1  0    20       AVID FANS (65)
-JEANIE VORHES 4169            2   5  0    11       MORDRED'S MADMEN (409)
 EMILY STRANGE 4177            1   1  0    10       DARQUE FORCES (428)
-EMPEROR 3602                  1   0  0    10       EDIFICE (413)
 LIKE ICE IRENE 4182           1   0  0    10       A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
 VANILLA 3681                  1   5  0     8       AMOEBA (425)
 THE BRIDE 4180                0   1  0     1       DARQUE FORCES (428)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
ROCK HEAD 4181         0  1 0 A DEAL'S A DEAL 457   WURM KIN 27           236 NONE    
THE BEER VENDOR 1975  18 19 1 AVID FANS 65          MOTHER 3741           233 REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Ed. -- I lean away from the deep fried foods now, but I do enjoy them.  After all, I
am Southern, and deep fried is a knitted into our culture.  Chicken, fish,
vegetables, and heck we even do turkeys now.  It's good stuff, but I have to take in
moderation.  I do like fried okra though, hmmm. -- Master Darque

     Well, I suppose I shouldn't reject it without having tried it.  Next time I'm in
     fried okra country, I'll give it a go.  Deep fried turkey is just wrong though.
     Not as wrong as deep fried twinkies--nothing is THAT wrong--but still. -- Ed.

Arenamaster Nhor -- I don't care where the lands come from just as long as I get
them.  They don't have to be in Stormcrowe.  However, the invitation that I received
to the Isle says and I quote, "You have been granted title and land."  I would hate
to tie up Stormcrowe in years of legal maneuvers and litigation then would come the
other suits for lost wages, pain and suffering, etc, etc.  And before you ask, no, I
don't have any ethics--just look who trained me. -- Lady Protector Mother

A Talent Scout -- I was going to fight in the Dark Arena, but two things happened.
First, Master Darque wanted Crip to have another shot at avenging his fallen warrior.
Second, Master Darque apparently didn't get the strategies in on time.  It worked out
either way.  I hope your lust for vengeance is satiated. -- Lady Protector Mother

Walrus -- You really should do something about that breath. -- Raggedy Ann

Icelina -- Cold, cold woman. -- Lulu

Santa -- You are pretty fast, but then again you have to be with all the traveling
that you have to do in a single evening.  What are you bringing me this year?  I've
been good...well, compared to some people. -- Emily Strange

Zoey -- Well, at least it was fast.  But I didn't enjoy it anyway. -- Shard

Pyrotechnics -- Flashy, fun, but it doesn't get the job done. -- Frostflare

Lulu -- (smug look)  Ha! -- Icelinia

Raggedy Ann -- Did you know that you've been cited as "doll most frequently involved
in copyright violations"?  Although you're too tall for me to see you as a doll to my
guy, so to speak.  Guess I need to look for someone shorter. -- Walrus

Asu -- Darn, you wore gloves!  That makes things harder for me.  I'll have to go for
your nose next time. -- Frostbite

Zoey -- Why, thank you.  I've been working on it for years. -- Walrus

Ed. -- In a spirit of consolation, I offer you fresh spinach and really dark green
peppers. -- Walrus

     Mmmmmm...may I have some broccoli too? -- Ed.

12 October 2005
Magic Man -- You are a fellow Canadian, are you not?  Where do you hail from?  I live
in Kelowna, B.C. -- Maximillian, 8,13, 28, 47, 54

5 November 2005
It is with a proud heart that I announce the newest member of the Desolate Empire
alliance.  Dok Sik will be known from here forth as Dark Knight Dok Sik, of the
Desolate Empire.  May he be blessed with victory and courage.  May his enemies' blood
flow freely! -- The Dark Knights Wasby and Toker

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

ROCK HEAD was butchered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
RAGGEDY ANN won victory over ICELINIA in a action packed 4 minute Challenge battle.
LULU demolished WALRUS in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
EMILY STRANGE bested VANILLA in a 2 minute Challenge contest.
HOT LIPS was overpowered by DEATH FOG in a 2 minute one-sided Title fight.
FROSTFLARE vanquished CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
PYROTECHNICS was savagely defeated by ZOEY in a crowd pleasing 4 minute gory brawl.
SHARD handily defeated M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute uneven melee.
ASU viciously subdued THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 2 minute gory duel.
AUNTY MACASSAR won victory over ROSE GUARD in a 2 minute gory duel.
FROSTBITE was overpowered by SANTA in a 2 minute uneven match.
BERTHA savagely defeated FRANK SINATRA in a 2 minute brutal fight.
THE BRIDE was demolished by LIKE ICE IRENE in a 1 minute mismatched competition.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|TOTAL PARRY                      4         TOTAL PARRY       28 -  17 -  0      62  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-LUNGE        6 -   4 -  0      60  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   3         PARRY-STRIKE      16 -  11 -  2      59  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         SLASHING ATTACK   14 -  11 -  0      56  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     11 -   9 -  0      55  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         LUNGING ATTACK    31 -  27 -  1      53  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         WALL OF STEEL      9 -   9 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         STRIKING ATTACK   15 -  23 -  0      39  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         AIMED BLOW        12 -  20 -  0      38  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         BASHING ATTACK     2 -   5 -  0      29  |

Turn 236 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     AIMED BLOW         1 -  2         2  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  0     TOTAL PARRY        1 -  3         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  0     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  2         2  SLASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  1                                       1  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  
                                                                1  PARRY-STRIKE   

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       DEATH FOG 4017             20   7  0  126 SUPERIOR FORCES (310)
TOTAL PARRY      HOT LIPS 3743              32   8  0  112 DARQUE FORCES (428)
STRIKING ATTACK  ZOEY 4126                  10   5  1  100 A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    FROSTFLARE 4112            10   7  0   94 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
WALL OF STEEL    ICELINIA 4092              11   9  1   61 NORTHERN LIGHTS (393)
LUNGING ATTACK   LULU 4135                   8   5  0   59 DARQUE FORCES (428)
PARRY-STRIKE     BERTHA 4168                 7   3  1   37 A DEAL'S A DEAL (457)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is DEATH FOG 4017.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was ZOEY 4126.  The ten other most popular fighters were ICELINIA 4092, DEATH FOG 
4017, LULU 4135, EMILY STRANGE 4177, ASU 4105, SANTA 3680, BERTHA 4168, FROSTFLARE 
4112, SHARD 3507, and AUNTY MACASSAR 4137.

The least popular fighter this week was THE BRIDE 4180.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were HOT LIPS 3743, VANILLA 3681, WALRUS 3995, RAGGEDY ANN 4148, ROCK HEAD 
4181, FRANK SINATRA 3683, FROSTBITE 4014, PYROTECHNICS 4018, LIKE ICE IRENE 4182, and 
ROSE GUARD 3684.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

DEATH FOG (45-4017) SUPERIOR FORCES (310)

               NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS)

     For those of you who keep track of such things, 12 additional warriors graduated 
from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament.  

                          PETER (4-1642) of THE BAD BUNNIES
                    PHILLIP THE BIRD (40-3708) of CRUEL PET NAMES 
                  MILES HITS THE ROAD (69-7270) of CRUMBLING LEAGUE
                         ROCKWELL (7-5003) of UNDEAD ARTISTS
                          FURRY BOX (72-4314) of BRIAN LOCK
                            0001 (82-12389) of OCT 2001 1
                            0002 (82-12390) of OCT 2001 1
                      SACRIFICE (82-12669) of GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
                      HARRY SELDON (82-18333) of FOUNDATION ARMY
                         PSYCHO BITCH (82-18670) of SANDY TOO
                     ??RADAR?? (82-20310) of DYSLEXICS UNTIE! II
                          LITA (82-27080) of DARK TOADS 04D

Congrats to the grads. -- Green Eyes