DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 12/05/2005    Duedate: 12/17/2005

ARDIVENT ARENA

DM-46    TURN-463

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GOLDEN FURY
CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)
(46-3887) [7-0-2,119]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GOLDEN FURY                    POSITION IS EMPTY
CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)        
(46-3887) [7-0-2,119]          

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

BECKER COLLIN                  BECKER COLLIN
BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)        BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
(46-3850) [12-10-1,57]         (46-3850) [12-10-1,57]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)     45
2. BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)      7      CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)
3. RUBY DRAGONS (336)           1      Unchartered Team

                                       ZODIAC (86)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)  192 119 11 61.7   1/ 1 CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)  11  1 1
 2/ 2 RUBY DRAGONS (336)       100  93  2 51.8   2/ 2 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)   6  9 1
 3/ 3 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)  353 529 11 40.0   3/ 3 RUBY DRAGONS (336)        0  3 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[ Nightfall #9 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Valamantis:

     "I don't consider the loss of so many ships and men a 'good development', mage,"
Lord Shanmarrik said.  His dark eyes glittered, and his slit of a mouth was set like
a blade.
     Tensekai shrugged and shook his head.  "It is not the death and destruction, in
itself, that was good, lord.  The 'good' part is that the Tower was not able to
destroy all the ships.  It was not able to strike without a build-up of power.  The
power is not quite like any I am familiar with, but having observed it once, I shall
be able to detect it when it begins again.  Soon enough, I hope, to prevent another
such destructive discharge.  And I think, though I am not certain yet, that I have
discovered the fatal flaw in this invasion--for invasion it is."
     "So you say."  Shanmarrik pursed his lips and stared hard at nothing, then he
also shrugged.  "So it is still in your hands.  So be it."  He paused, then said,
"The invasion...is it...?"
     The Silver Mage nodded.  "Tarot mimes."
     Arenamistress Sitalva twitched.
     "Okay, by forces from the Fifteenth Dimension, called by people of Alastari
'tarot mimes', and we don't know what they call themselves."  Tensekai turned and
squinted out across the bay where the Black Tower had lately been.  His expression
was almost wistful.  "What a chance it would be to study...if we didn't have to fight
them for our lives and our sanity.  We could learn so much...."
     "It's in your hands," Shanmarrik said again.  The old man fixed him with a hard
stare.  "I expect results, Tensekai.  Soon."
     Sitalva listened to Shanmarrik stomping down the stairs of the Silver Mage's
tower, listened to the door slam, saw the ruler of Valamantis stalk across the narrow
strip of grass to his official boat tied up at Tensekai's dock.  When the old man was
definitely out of earshot, she turned to her friend.  "What is this nonsense about
'tarot mimes'?" she demanded.  "The Stronghold Academy on the Isle says--"
     "Says there are no such beings as tarot mimes," Tensekai finished.  For a
moment, he looked as old as rumor called him, instead of the young, vigorous man that
Valamantis knew.  "I know, I read the proclamation.  I don't know whether they lied
or were simply mistaken.  They exist.  Calling them 'tarot mimes' trivializes the
risk they present, though.  It is a very great risk."
     "Granting the danger that Tower represents to shipping, I still wouldn't call it
a 'very great risk'," Sitalva objected.  "A very great nuisance, but--"
     "The tarot mimes work by manipulating archetypes," Tensekai said.  "In this
case, crowned heads falling, citadels and the governments they represent falling.
There are a lot of crowned heads in and around Valamantis Bay, and all are at risk.
Shanmarrik, for a start.  Talissen, since she is the ruler of the alliance to which
Valamantis belongs.  The rulers of the island kingdoms.  Osksi's Council of Rule.
The Baron of Ardivent.  And what if the tower moves inland?"
     "Can it?"
     "I have no idea."
     The arenamistress was silent for a few minutes, turning over facts and
speculations in her mind.  It was an unpleasant mess.  "What do we do?"
     Tensekai paced across the rooftop, then back, across and back, frowning.
Finally he said, "We could invoke the tarot powers ourselves."

Elsewhere:

     Rossanarth, the Ambitious Guard of Valamantis, stood in knee-deep water and
stared at the impossible landscape in front of him.  He KNEW Valamantis Bay, and
there was no such land anywhere around it.  He glanced around at his companion and
fellow standby, M. Kargaed Chardinee.  "What the HECK is going on here?"
     The Rirorni came up beside him.  "We'd better find out," he said.  "Since we
seem to have lost the Black Tower, and Valamantis, too--"
     The throne which floated on the waters of what was not Valamantis Bay drifted
closer.  Or perhaps it was pushed closer by the dolphins that surrounded it.  There
was a pause.  Finally the blonde queen on the throne dragged her gaze away from the
ornate cup she held.  Saw the two Alastarians and blinked.  Even now, her eyes were
dreamy and not quite focused.  "Where did you come from?"
     Rossanarth was stunned, equally by the beauty of her voice and by the fact that
her lips had not moved.
     The Chardinee mastered himself more quickly.  "We were drawn here by the Tower,"
he said.  And his voice seemed to his companion as harsh as the squawk of a crow.
     A faint frown touched her pale forehead and she looked into her cup again.  "The
Council did not authorize this.  Who defies the Council?"
     "My lady, we do not know," Chardinee said.
     "It must be discovered."  A gesture signaled them forward.  "Sit on the step of
my throne, so that you may be borne to the Court to give testimony."

              + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Nightfall #10 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Kaltos:

     The Golden Ship Inn stood on a headland and overlooked the main harbor on
Kaltos.  From the turret on top of the inn, Ironhand, the owner, could look across to
Lord Lindharrow's castle on the opposite horn of the little bay.  He could see all
the shipping sheltered within.
     And he could see the dark tower that had come from nowhere to loom over them
all.  Ironhand didn't like it.  He said as much.
     His companion, Neshkar, the Dark Arena's Black Orc, shrugged and turned his back
on the tower deliberately.  "Nothing we can do about it," he said.  "And so long as
it doesn't do anything to us, why should we?  It just stands there looking gloomy.
Well, fine.  I don't mind."
     "The Black Tower at Valamantis destroyed a lot of ships."
     "I heard about that."  The Black Orc shrugged again.  "They attacked it."
     "So you think we should leave it alone?  Ignore it?"
     "Yeah, why not?"
     Ironhand seemed to expand with the force of his annoyance.  But he kept his
voice level.  "Because we're on an island, you blockhead.  If the tower should choose
to interrupt our shipping, we could starve here.  Or get awfully tired of fish."
     Neshkar twitched his massive shoulders.  "It still isn't our business, Ironhand.
If something has to be done about it, let Lindharrow figure out what."
     "He isn't DOING anything, Nesh."  The innkeeper shook the steel hook that had
replaced his right hand after a bloody engagement between his ship and another ten
years ago.  "The damned fool isn't DOING anything!"  He exhaled through clenched
teeth, then turned and slammed open the door to the building's interior.  "He's
waiting for some gladiator to get a rush of stupidity to the brain and volunteer to
'save' the island from this arcane menace," he snarled over his shoulder.
     Neshkar followed him down the corkscrew stair.  "Gladiators don't do that
anymore," he said.  "All the ones with delusions of heroism have died or gone away.
The current crop is just..." he groped for words, "they're just focused on getting to
the Isle, and they don't care about anything else.  Why should they save Kaltos?
They aren't going to be here."

                                      SPY REPORT

     So why do I have this bag over my head?  Because I am The Unknown Spymaster and 
I'm going to give you a spy report!.  Hey everybody, watch out for GOLDEN FURY, who 
flew up 19 points in the rankings after mashing DEBRA COLLIN like a melon.  Keep your 
eye on this guy.  And falling like a basher in the top ten was HERMY COLLIN, who 
dropped 5 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with RUTHLESS 
JAYWALKER.  Our battling duelmaster ECLIPSE has managed to hold the title, fending 
off FLINT HILLS' none too subtle advances.  Better luck next time, BLUVALLEY 
WARRIORS.  An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but an onion a day keeps T.P.s at 
bay.   
     But enough of that bunch, let's get on to the wimps who like to avoid battle!   
     Being a spy is great--other people die and you spend the rest of the day 
drinking to their memory.  Better tanked than dead!  Well, the arena is no place for 
slow learners (and hopefully T.P.s) and GOLDEN FURY demonstrated that very violently 
on DEBRA COLLIN's body.  Ask not the elves for counsel, for they will say both yes 
and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in ARDIVENT have no 
sense of humor.  Or maybe that they were senseless.  Well, there goes another Spy 
Report.  Good luck in next week's fights.  Its been fun, and I'm sure you enjoyed it 
(boos).  Now that I've got you worked up for Snide Clemens, I'll be leaving-- The 
Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GOLDEN FURY 3887              7   0  2   119       CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VECORDIUS 3870               11   3  0   115       CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)
 SOLARIS 3759                 21  33  0    96       RUBY DRAGONS (336)
 FLINT HILLS 3796             18  38  0    92       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BREAK POINT 2741             15  11  0    84       CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BECKER COLLIN 3850           12  10  1    57       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LORI COLLIN 3888              5   0  0    50       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
-IRONWOLF 274                  5   1  0    42       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HERMY COLLIN 3878             5   4  1    27       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-UG 271                        4   2  1    19       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
-KROKUS 272                    4   2  0    19       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
-TARAMON 270                   3   3  0    18       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
-WEASEL 273                    4   2  0    15       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
DEBRA COLLIN 3816     19 25 0 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS 74 GOLDEN FURY 3887      463         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Solaris -- You're probably just itching to see me leave this arena finally, so that
you can have your crack at the throne.  Well, this is your last shot to bring me
down.  Try hard, try very hard. -- Eclipse

Flint Hills -- Have you seen my brother Plint around????  He was supposed to cheer me
on during our match.  Guess it doesn't matter anyway. -- Vecordius

Debra -- I keep getting the whole Collins family mixed up.  Nice match, though.  I
guess we will just have to get to know each other better, on the field that is. --
Golden Fury

Well, I'm still taking resumes to fill that open fifth position, and soon to be
fourth position as Eclipse goes on to the land of immortality.  Any takers? --
Eclipse

Vecordius -- I wish you wouldn't do that.  It makes me look so useless. -- Flint
Hills
P.s.  I mean, I AM useless, but I don't like it to show.

Golden Fury -- Yes, well, I am like totally furious at YOU, too.  That was my BEST
pair of gloves! -- Debra Collin

Ah, an Ambitious Guard.  Makes you wonder. -- Becker Collin

The Visiting Orc doesn't make me wonder, he just makes me bored. -- Lori Collin

And the Fratsfan Noble is SUCH a stuck up pain in the you know what! -- Hermy Collin

Lord Protector Eclipse of Cynical Delusions -- I hope you are sufficiently cynical
and NOT deluded to realize that no lands will be forthcoming?  If you want a grant
from the Baron, you must do something FOR the Baron (and don't hold your breath).
Becoming an Advanced Gladiator is merely of benefit to the Lady on the Isle.  Let HER
give you lands. -- Arvendon, Secretary to the Baron and feeling testy today

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

ECLIPSE devastated FLINT HILLS in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
GOLDEN FURY slaughtered DEBRA COLLIN in a 1 minute brutal uneven Title battle.
SOLARIS was savagely defeated by BREAK POINT in a unpopular 16 minute master's duel.
VECORDIUS overpowered NOBLE ASSASSIN in a 1 minute mismatched match.
BECKER COLLIN viciously subdued AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 2 minute gory duel.
LORI COLLIN bested THE HONEST MERCHANT in a 2 minute bloody match.
HERMY COLLIN was handily defeated by RUTHLESS JAYWALKER in a 1 minute uneven fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                  3         SLASHING ATTACK    5 -   0 -  0     100  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         STRIKING ATTACK   24 -   6 -  2      80  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      3 -   1 -  0      75  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         WALL OF STEEL      5 -   2 -  0      71  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         PARRY-LUNGE        6 -   4 -  1      60  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         AIMED BLOW         5 -   4 -  1      56  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   6 -  0      40  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         BASHING ATTACK     7 -  12 -  0      37  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   0         TOTAL PARRY        6 -  12 -  0      33  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    0         LUNGING ATTACK     0 -   2 -  0       0  |

Turn 463 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         0 -  1         3  STRIKING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         2  TOTAL PARRY    
STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         2  BASHING ATTACK 
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  1     LUNGING ATTACK     0 -  0         2  PARRY-LUNGE    
                              BASHING ATTACK     0 -  1         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                              WALL OF STEEL      0 -  0         1  AIMED BLOW     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  GOLDEN FURY 3887            7   0  2  119 CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)
TOTAL PARRY      BREAK POINT 2741           15  11  0   84 CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)
PARRY-LUNGE      BECKER COLLIN 3850         12  10  1   57 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
SLASHING ATTACK  LORI COLLIN 3888            5   0  0   50 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BECKER COLLIN 3850.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was BECKER COLLIN 3850.  The ten other most popular fighters were LORI COLLIN 
3888, GOLDEN FURY 3887, VECORDIUS 3870, HERMY COLLIN 3878, FLINT HILLS 3796, DEBRA 
COLLIN 3816, SOLARIS 3759, BREAK POINT 2741,  0, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was BREAK POINT 2741.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were SOLARIS 3759, DEBRA COLLIN 3816, FLINT HILLS 3796, HERMY COLLIN 
3878, VECORDIUS 3870, GOLDEN FURY 3887, LORI COLLIN 3888, BECKER COLLIN 3850,  0, and 
0.

The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:

ECLIPSE (46-2740) CYNICAL DELUSIONS (218)

                   MAIL-IN TOURNEY XL

ADM TOURNEY                            W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
FLINGLEBITS 2836 (52-18-0)             6  3  0         TUFT-TASTIC!         
TYNILEAUS SHADOWWOOD 2763 (49-33-1)    6  3  0         TUFT-TASTIC!         

APPRENTICES TOURNEY                    W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
ANGELIC 3883 (0-2-0)                   4  3  0  DEAD   INQUISITION SL8      

DEAD CHALLENGERS TOURNEY               W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
TRINKET 1939 (5-6-0)                   4  3  0         RIVER WARDENS        
TROLL TUSK 1760 (18-10-0)              3  3  0         AZURE CLOUDS         

DEAD ADEPTS TOURNEY                    W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
VILLI 3285 (0-0-0)                     1  3  0         SPIT 'EM OUT