DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 04/20/2004 Duedate: 05/17/2004 NORTH FORK ARENA DM-47 TURN-210 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS 100% COLUMBIAN COFFEE RULES! (505) (47-4874) [15-8-2,116] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader 100% COLUMBIAN SHELDON COFFEE RULES! (505) ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) (47-4874) [15-8-2,116] (47-4111) [4-0-1,56] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite 100% COLUMBIAN REGGIE COFFEE RULES! (505) DREAM TEAMS (578) (47-4874) [15-8-2,116] (47-5230) [9-5-1,59] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM LAND OF OZ (217) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. ROYAL FLUSH (48) 56 2. SECOND BANANAS (573) 53 SPOONERTIKS (523) 3. MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) 46 Unchartered Team 4. BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) 41 5. CHEAP THRILLS (580) 39 CHEAP THRILLS (580) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 0*CHEAP THRILLS (580) 4 1 0 80.0 1/ 3 LAND OF OZ (217) 11 3 0 2/ 2 SPOONERTIKS (523) 83 44 7 65.4 2/ 2 COFFEE RULES! (505) 10 4 1 3/ 4 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) 224 133 17 62.7 3/ 7*ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) 9 5 2 4/ 3*ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) 11 7 3 61.1 4/11 DARQUE FORCES (396) 9 6 1 5/ 8 LAND OF OZ (217) 389 267 12 59.3 5- 1 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) 8 2 3 6/ 1 DREAM TEAMS (578) 20 14 1 58.8 6/ 9 ROYAL FLUSH (48) 8 6 0 7/ 9 COFFEE RULES! (505) 98 71 4 58.0 7/29*BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) 7 4 0 8/ 5 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) 81 59 5 57.9 8/ 8 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) 7 5 0 9/ 7 MY DAY (557) 27 20 0 57.4 9/15 THE FEDERATION (539) 7 8 0 10/10 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) 133 101 4 56.8 10/ 5 MY DAY (557) 7 8 0 11/11 ROYAL FLUSH (48) 557 434 29 56.2 11-10 PURE POISON (478) 6 4 2 12/16*SECOND BANANAS (573) 5 4 1 55.6 12/20 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) 6 5 0 13/12 DARQUE FORCES (396) 68 57 4 54.4 13/ 4 SPOONERTIKS (523) 6 7 1 14/19*BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) 17 15 0 53.1 14/13 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) 6 9 0 15-13 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) 278 247 29 53.0 15/26*SECOND BANANAS (573) 5 4 1 16/14 SKELETON KEY (493) 54 52 2 50.9 16/19*STRETSAMLEUD (575) 5 5 1 17-15*OLD HABITS (566) 6 6 0 50.0 17/14*KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) 5 10 1 18/ 6*STRETSAMLEUD (575) 5 5 1 50.0 18/16*RAT SALAD (577) 5 10 0 Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 19/21*KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) 10 11 1 47.6 19/ 0*CHEAP THRILLS (580) 4 1 0 20/18 THE FEDERATION (539) 52 60 1 46.4 20-12*OLD HABITS (566) 4 3 0 21/20 THE JESUITS (524) 45 62 10 42.1 21/27*DUR EDHEL (579) 4 6 0 22/23 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) 88 127 2 40.9 22/22*MIXED-UP MIXERS (558) 4 9 0 23-24 HOME GUARD (402) 22 33 2 40.0 23/23*DREWS CREW (546) 4 11 1 24/22*DREWS CREW (546) 14 21 1 40.0 24-18 HOME GUARD (402) 3 2 0 25/26*DUR EDHEL (579) 4 6 0 40.0 25/17 DREAM TEAMS (578) 3 6 0 26-27*KILL @ WILL (581) 2 3 0 40.0 26/ 6 THE JESUITS (524) 3 7 2 27/34*MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) 2 3 0 40.0 27/21 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) 3 7 0 28-28 PURE POISON (478) 30 47 4 39.0 28/34*MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) 2 3 0 29-29 FANTASTIC FIVE (477) 28 51 2 35.4 29-28*KILL @ WILL (581) 2 3 0 30/25*RAT SALAD (577) 5 10 0 33.3 30/25 SKELETON KEY (493) 2 8 0 31/30*MIXED-UP MIXERS (558) 6 14 0 30.0 31/33*AVENGER HAMMERZ (556) 0 10 0 32/31*AVENGER HAMMERZ (556) 4 21 0 16.0 32-24 FANTASTIC FIVE (477) 0 5 0 33/33*EXALTED PATH (565) 1 13 0 7.1 33/31*EXALTED PATH (565) 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 * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * * * * * TW 3 #1 * * * * First, I'd like to ask all TW3 competitors to tell me in the personals whenever they have a new warrior join their stable. Please address the p-ad to: *TW3 -- New Warrior*.... This will ensure the new warriors being scored as part of their team, not as independent. Those teams not scored should have the reason why next to them; if the reason is not marked as "fixed" then that team will not be scored again for this turn. I don't know what happened to last turn's spot, but I *did* wrote one...as well as an update, which made it--though it was incorrect also. Here are the standings so far: ALLIANCE: High Score *1st: Vendetta Cartel; 2nd: Merced Mafia Most DA Returns *None Most Awards/Honors *1st: Vendetta Cartel (5); 2nd: Merced Mafia (2) Most Stylemasters *1st: Vendetta Cartel (5); 2nd: SCOMSS (2) Most Kills *1st: Vendetta Cartel (4); 2nd: Merced Mafia (2) TEAM: High Score *1st: The Bear's Paw (480); 2nd: All-Star Nana's (385) Most Awards/Honors *1st: The Bear's Paw (4); 2nd: (four tied at 1) Most Stylemasters *1st: The Bear's Paw and Life's Lessons (2 each) Most Kills *1st: The Bear's Paw (4); 2nd: All Star Nana's (2) WARRIOR: High Score *1st: Bear Acuda (160); 2nd: (many tied at 80) Most Awards/Honors *1st: Honey Bear (2); 2nd: (many tied at 1) Most Stylemasters *1st: (many tied at 1) The Mr. Coffee Awards: **Most Kills, Warrior** Bearfoot 1 The Bear's Paw Paul Bearer 1 The Bear's Paw Bear Acuda 1 The Bear's Paw Mike 1 All-Star Nana's Maloney 1 All-Star Nana's **Highest W/L record, Team** 1. The Bear's Paw 5-0-3 14. Pure Poison 2-3-0 2. All-Star Nana's 5-0-2 15. Mixed-Up Mixers 2-3-0 3. Land of Oz 3-1-0 16. Knights Templar 2-3-0 4. Home Guard 3-2-0 17. Dur Edhel 2-3-0 5. Mystic Orc Feast 3-2-0 18. Kill @ Will 2-3-0 6. Coffee Rules! 3-2-0 19. The Middle Way3 1-3-0 7. My Day 3-2-0 20. Drews Crew 1-4-1 8. Life's Lessons 3-2-0 21. Skeleton Key 1-4-0 9. Sretsamleud 3-2-0 22. Spoonertiks 1-4-0 10. Dream Teams 3-2-0 23. The Federation 1-4-0 11. Royal Flush 2-2-0 24. Rat Salad 1-4-0 12. Second Bananas 2-2-0 25. Avenger Hammerz 0-5-0 13. Darque Forces 2-3-0 Now, the scores: Alliance /Mgr/Team/Champ Total (change) Awd. S/M Kills *Vendetta Cartel 5765 (+765) 5 5 4 /Kat/The Bear's Paw/Paul Bearer 480 (+480) 4 2 4 /Fizban/Managerial Mayhem/ -- (Not Declared *Fixed) /Dr. Mabuse/Bordeaux Saintes/Yohan Gene -20 ( -20) 0 0 0 /Master Darque/Darque Forces/Neeva -20 ( -20) 0 1 0 /Phat Phat/Sretsamleud/ -- 10 ( +10) 0 0 0 /Firehawk/Home Guard/Yuri Karlomov (No Cert) /Street Legal/Life's Lessons/Gregola 125 (+125) 0 2 0 /Hammer/Avenger Hammerz/ -- (Not verified) *Fellowship of SCOMSS 4705 (-295) 0 2 0 /Oz/Land of Oz/Hourglass 70 ( +70) 0 1 0 /Slugbait/Mystic Orc Feast/ -- (Not Declared *Fixed*) /Crip/Royal Flush/ -- (Not Declared) /Mannequin/Second Bananas/Kramer (Not Declared *Fixed*) /Soultaker -- F. O'Malley/Old Habits/Mother Superior (Not Declared *Fixed*) /Spawn/Spoonertiks/Tent in Quarantino -375 (-375) 0 1 0 *Beverages, Inc. 5060 ( +60) 1 1 0 /Mr. Coffee/Coffee Rules!/Bombay -75 ( -75) 1 1 0 /The Bartender/Mixed-up Mixers/Tarred Meany 125 (+125) 0 0 0 /Baphomet/Knights Templar/Art Pendragon (Not Declared *Fixed*) *Merced Mafia 5355 (+355) 2 0 2 /The Mun/All-Star Nana's/Anje 385 (+385) 1 0 2 /Sub-Dude/Dream Teams/Campy -40 ( -40) 1 0 0 /DJ Nth/10,001 Maniacs/Concrete Redhead 0 ( 0) 0 0 0 /Centari/???/ -- (Not Declared) /Daehir/Dur Edhel/ (Not Declared) *Strong-arm Senate/Vendett@ UNITED 4830 (-170) 0 0 0 /CFH/Rat Salad/ -- (Not Declared *Fixed*) /Goat/The Jesuits/ -- (Not Declared) /Abraxis/Drews Crew/Kate -170 (-170) 0 0 0 /VooDoo/Kill @ Will/ -- (Not Declared *Fixed*) *61st Precept 5000 ( 0) 0 0 0 /31 Op/The Federation/Belana Forres (Not Declared *Fixed*) /Skullagrim/Skeleton Key/ -- (No Cert) On other notes: Mr. Coffee...please clarify your requirements: Does the team need to be TW3 declared from the first? (Or at all?) Do they need to fight 4 to be eligible for the warrior award or just the one warrior? Check my listing to be sure it is correct! I have extra certs from SCOMSS/Mannequin, and Merced Mafia/Daehir...I know what Oz wants done with his "duplicate", how 'bout the Merced Mafia/Daehir/The Mun? The prize pot now consists of *28* certs (plus many other prizes...and the 5 for The Mr. Coffee Awards). Due to the extra record keeping I must do for the extra prize categories this year, I've eliminated the "Indep" and "Comprus" categories. Any correspondence may be directed to: Diplo: Jason Mazuah (DM 47) Snail: PO Box 339 #924385 Hancock, S.P. "H-2" Sparta, GA 31087-0339 Bloody Sands! Asmo Dius, TCB * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * vendett@ UNITED When CFH opened his eyes, the first thing that popped into his mind was the damn Quest. Abraxis! Why did that damn druid need such odd components for his spells? CFH was a warrior, weapons he could understand. Wood and steel were the tools of his trade. Magic though, that was something entirely different. CFH scratched himself and began to think of ways to get out of this stupid Quest. The easiest way would be to assign warriors to the task and let one of his alliance-mates deal with the situation. Normally that's what he would do, since it would free up more time to drink, whore and train. But positive results were critical; failure could mean the end of the young alliance known as vendett@ UNITED, and he was not going to let that happen. Not today, not ever. He knew he should get up and begin preparing for the mission but he was distracted by the two women lying beside him. Both were sleeping and held each other in a tender embrace. They had lost the sheets some time during their extracurricular activities and the morning air was frigid. Smiling to himself he began to pull the sheet up over them. But he stopped. He'd seen something and quickly double-checked to make sure he'd been right. Yep, a natural blonde. Smiling, he cursed his luck. The trip would have to wait. There was work to be done here. * * * * * * * The rest of the UNITED was already in the inn's common room having breakfast when CFH came downstairs. Abraxis was reading one of his dusty tomes; Goat was finishing up his meal and it appeared VooDoo was about to start on his. "Ahhh...our weaponmaster arrives!" said Abraxis as he looked up from his book. "Whatever!" growled CFH as he dropped all of his gear on the floor with a loud clang. "Have you decided what we're going after first?" asked Abraxis. "We're going after the Hippogriff feather; Goat and VooDoo will be gong after the mud," said CFH. He began to check his gear and weapons, going through a mental checklist to make certain that everything was there. He strapped on his studded leather breast plate and his bracers and then began to check the sharpness of each of his blades. All of the other managers watched with interest. It was often a topic of discussion amongst them about CFH and his weapons. While generally uncouth and slovenly in his actions, he was meticulous about the care and upkeep of his gear. Even now the double swordbelt he buckled on held two highly polished and razor sharp cinquedas. He also strapped a brace of throwing knives across his chest. Finally he selected a six foot battlestaff to complete his arsenal. "Are you done yet?" asked Abraxis with a grin. He'd seen this before and knew that before they'd actually left his friend might completely change his mind about the weapons he carried. "Yeah, I think so," said CFH with a scowl. "Goat, let me holler at you for a minute." Goat got up and walked off a few feet with the other manager. "Look, I need you to go with VooDoo and keep an eye on him. He is prone to screwing up and this mission is pretty important. You two will probably get back before Abraxis and I do so make sure that things remain cool there. Keep the warriors in shape and keep our rooms paid up. When this is all over, we'll check into getting a UNITED guildhouse." "Don't worry bro," said Goat solemnly, "you can count on me." The two men then clapped hands and went their separate ways. CFH went back to the table where VooDoo and Abraxis still sat and Goat headed towards the direction of the general store and supply depot. When CFH sat back down he nudged VooDoo in the ribs with an elbow. "Hey that serving wench really cuts for you," he said while pointing at a bar maid. She was easily 400 lbs. and had a head of wild frizzy red hair. VooDoo looked over and frowned. "No she doesn't; you're just saying that." "No, VooDoo. I'm serious. She told me yesterday that you were just about the studliest thing in here." "Really?" asked VooDoo with a hopeful grin. "Yeah man, go for it!" VooDoo collected himself and attempted to man swagger over to the wench in question. Arriving at his target he began what appeared to be a lively but one-sided discussion. "Why did you tell him that?" asked Abraxis with a snicker. "You know she's out of sorts over you." CFH gave an evil grin. "Number one, I'm hungry," he said as he slid VooDoo's breakfast towards him and began to eat. "Secondly, as long as he's in her face, she won't be in mine." Abraxis laughed out loud. "My friend, you are incorrigible!" + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The North Woods #2 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Somewhere on the Trier: "We should be off Veastian now," Tindel said, studying the water, the sky, and the distant shore. "A little north, but not much, I think." "I don't see how you can be sure," his teammate Lockheart grumbled. Then, seeing that Tindel was about to explain--probably at great length--he raised a hand in surrender. "No doubt you're right. But what I really don't see is why we're going to help out these Karnhorns. And don't hand me the treaty nonsense. Everybody knows that treaty is as dead as yesterday's news." Tindel shrugged slightly. "Not the treaty," he agreed. "But Kurukar's setting up a blockade of all the eastern Karnhorn ports, and North Fork as well. You think Kurukar will STOP with them? Besides, if we're cut off from North Fork, where'll we get timbers for masts? Not to mention all the other timber needed for shipbuilding. And if Amen-Tei's shipbuilding industry is crippled, what'll that do to the rest of the city? And there's a lot of other trade that'll be crimped by a blockade, too." "Oh, gods, logical reasons. I knew you'd have some, and I hate logical reasons." There was no real heat in Lockheart's voice as he said it, though, and he peered through the early morning mist intently. "The rumors said sea monsters," he added, fingering the catapult-mounted harpoon. "You hear more about sea monsters than you see 'em." Tindel glanced down at his shorter companion. "And don't get too eager with that thing if we DO see one. Spearing a sea monster is a last resort kind of effort." Lockheart looked at him in exasperation. "I'm not completely stupid." He returned his attention to the distant shore. "So we're here, altruistically, to protect Convincia's trade?" He paused and then nodded. "If you say so. But how are we going to do it, just the two of us in this boat?" "We're logistical support for a mixed group of Karnhorns and North Forkers going against Kurukar. They're traveling by land, along the coast road. They can move faster with light loads than heavy ones, nobody knows for sure what things will be like--possible food stores and so on--north of North Fork, so we've got as much traveler's biscuit and dried meat as we can carry." Tindel squinted at the low, dark line of the shore. "We might pick up and drop off scouts, too." In the woods north of North Fork: "If we've got North Forkers along," Norpramine growled, "where are they?" "Scouting," Zarthynes said briskly. "They're good at it. And they know these woods a lot better than any of us from Veastian do." Nhavarl, also from Veastian, moved a little closer to Norpramine and Zarthynes. "If there are any," he said quietly. "We haven't seen anyone but the Shew, Galbadan. Maybe the people of North Fork figure they can just sit this one out." "There are warriors from North Fork," Zarthynes said firmly. He wished he could feel as sure of it, but this was no time raise doubts about their allies. And Gabaldan had said there would be warriors from North Fork involved. >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #78 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Near Barikala: Twilight rushed westward, following the sun and leaving darkness in its wake. The stars gave more light than city people realized, but not enough to tell Artemisia what was approaching around the blacker curve of Barikala island. Something was. Probably the canoes her lookout had guessed: she could see the flicker of starlight off what might be paddles rising and falling. That it was to be an attack, she didn't doubt. There was no other reason for approaching in the darkness like this. These waters were too dangerous for-- Something bumped against the side of her ship, scraped along it. Other bumps, maybe a dozen...the canoes. The Lady Protector drew her cutlass and knew that her crewmen were doing the same. Did these attackers really think she would be so careless as not to notice their approach? Something showed over the rail, dark against the dark water, but it gleamed white briefly in the starlight. She took one long step forward and brought her blade down on it. From close up, she could smell it, a horrible rotten-meat stink. It fell away and hit the water and the canoe below with a sodden clunk-splash. There was no time to think about it; another one was reaching over the rail beside it. She cut sideways, then reversed to cut the other way at a third. Her crew was lined up on either side of her, hacking steadily. There was no sound but their grunts of effort, and their feet shifting on the deck. "Not everyone here!" Artemisia commanded. "Mr. Horlon, take a half-dozen men and watch the other rail before they come at us from behind!" She could hear her first officer's low-voiced commands, and men moving out of the line. The ones still fighting on this rail moved to cover the gaps in their line; it was actually better now, because they had room to work. "These are DEAD men!" one of her sailors exclaimed. "They're already DEAD!" Zombies? Should that be possible with the Arcanum weakened? Not that it mattered. Dead or alive, she didn't want them on her ship. "Make them twice dead, then," she ordered. In truth, the zombies were not hard to fight with. You had to dismember them to get them to stop attacking, but they had no skill. Since her crew was more numerous, the end was not in doubt. And whoever had launched this attack must know that.... A feint? She wanted desperately to look around for the other attack, the real one. But the problem with a really good distraction like this was that it was dangerous. If you ignored it, then the distraction became the real attack. Artemisia hacked at another zombie trying to climb over the rail and realized that she had been able to see it very clearly. Too clearly for a moonless night. She glanced up quickly and then froze. The pillar of light over Barikala had become a roaring torrent, a blaze to match the sun...and there were shapes moving within the shining column. Approaching Niatoli Island: Ghenis had settled for a small, fast ship, the kind that was used for smuggling small cargoes. He'd been hunted in Zukal; he wasn't sure why. Had Pelishtekan somehow guessed that he, Ghenis, had become a deadly enemy? It didn't seem possible, since he'd spoken to no one of his plan, but maybe the damned Ferencian had ways.... In fact, the man must be a wizard of some kind to pull of the "divine signs" that had appeared during the worship performances. Which was all the more reason not to go back to Zukal until he had found the TRUE demongod. There were men belonging to the cult who owned boats, but Ghenis had not gone to one of them for transport. No point in making his trail obvious. Being a gladiator gave him contacts Pelishtekan couldn't guess at. He'd rented the boat from a man who asked no questions, a man who had been a gladiator on Barikala before the invasion. Ghenis leaned back against the low cabin in the middle of the boat and began to plan his operation on Niatoli. Contact his teammate, Cousin Og. Then...other gladiators. Potential worshippers for the demongod, when he found It. And allies. He'd have to raise some money, you couldn't start a rival cult without money. Piracy, maybe, or a little treasure hunting. Maybe raid...Monuntial. Yeah, no one would mind, no one that mattered to him, anyway, if he raided the invaders. >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #79 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Near Barikala: The pillar of light over Barikala was not an attack in any obvious way, but Artemisia found no comfort in that. It was probably magical. No, it was definitely magical. No one had been able to explain it in the months, the years since the Invasion, but they'd figured out that early on. Well, what else could it be? And it, or something connected to it, was deadly dangerous, because no ship or single visitor had returned from Barikala after the pillar first appeared. Those ship captains who normally used Zukal's port had long since worked out the limits of safety in the waters around Barikala, and The Golden Moon was well outside that limit. But...the zombies were something new on the chart. A man screamed behind her, along the ship's other rail, and she whirled. There was movement beyond the rail, black on near black, hard to make out. Lanterns lit the ship's deck but cast no significant light beyond it. She could see one of her sailors staggering toward the rail with some kind of dark cable wrapped around the middle of his body, but not what lay beyond and pulled him. She didn't need to see. She crossed to that side of the deck, her cutlass whistling down on the cable. The blade bit, but not deeply, the cable was more rubbery than a normal rope. It wasn't a rope, of course. She saw with disgust rather than fear that it was a tentacle, though what creature would have a tentacle four inches thick at any point was not something she cared to think deeply about. The Lady Protector hacked downward again. There were more cries. Fear, loathing, terror. More tentacles reaching up and over the ship's side. Tentacles on one side of the ship, zombies on the other. Neither group of sailors could abandon their own task to aid the other. Both attacking forces were stronger than Artemisia had expected. She began to wonder if her crew and her ship would survive at all. Niatoli Island: Lord Protector Ghenis walked along the waterfront of the island's only real town and looked over the shipping on hand. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he figured he'd know it when he saw it. Some people might have taken him for a tourist and considered robbing him, or selling him the kind of trash that hustlers always sold to strangers and rubes, but...not here. This town had an arena, and they knew that kind of walk, that assured and dangerous stance. He could be a hick with hay growing out his ears, but as long as he was a Lord Protector, no one would mistreat him so. At least, no one but another Lord Protector. And since he wasn't such a hick.... He smiled, a baring of his teeth that drove human rats out of his path. Ah. There was a man on the street ahead of him, talking to a probably ship captain. A man who, like himself, was unmistakably a Lord Protector. Tall, hard, maybe not quite human, although Ghenis couldn't put his finger firmly on the difference. Something in the way he stood, maybe. Not that it matter. This looked like a man he could work with. When the man turned away from the sailor, Ghenis was there, nodding his head in a move as close to a bow as he ever got. "I'm Ghenis, from Zukal," he said, and raised a questioning eyebrow. The other frowned. Odd, at this close distance, he seemed almost...scaled. "Agro, Lapur," the man said shortly. Ghenis noted that the sailor was moving away, clearly dissociating himself from the two gladiators. "I have control of a ship," Ghenis said, "and I am minded to make a raid on the invaders at Monuntial. You look like a man who might be interested in that." Agro's frown deepened, but he smiled, baring pointed, over-large teeth. "I'm interested," he agreed. Rocanis: Lady Protector Eleven Blade, Leven to her friends, stood on Spirit Ridge and stared southward. What should have been rolling, increasingly arid grasslands to the distant horizon was now a bank of...fog, maybe. Dark, sharp as a wall at its base, the top of it working like porridge boiling in a pot. And no more than fifteen miles away, probably less. Ten. "I've never seen anything like it," she admitted. "Strange weather...if it is weather." "It's partly weather," her companion said slowly, "but not entirely." He was a Lord Protector from Morya, Ghost Dancer by name. "I have been studying it for two months now. It began...I don't know where. Somewhere in the far south. It was a hundred miles south of here when I first saw it." Leven glanced at the man sharply. She didn't really know him, but there was nothing in his face or manner that suggested he was lying. "It's moved ninety miles in two months? At that rate, it could be on Rocanis within a week!" "Its speed is irregular," Ghost Dancer said. "Some days it moved scarcely a mile, other days it raced north like wildfire. But yes, it could be on Rocanis... any time." He was silent for a moment, as though debating whether he should say more. With a faint shrug, he went on, "I have not been able to find an end to the line of it and get around behind. I have no idea what lies behind in the ground it has already covered. But I would not expect to find anything really GOOD where that has passed." Obviously not, Leven agreed silently. The unknown never seemed to be benevolent. It was probably a natural law. "You couldn't get around an end," she said. "Did you try going straight through?" Ghost Dancer paled a little. "Yes," he said very quietly. "I survived, but I didn't get very far into it. Or I would never have come back, I think. It was like being caught in a whirlwind, in part. But I was not the only thing in the grip of the walking storm, and the others were.... Some of them were beasts, mad with terror and striking blindly. Others were," he hesitated, "things. The sort of things a priest of the Mytori might call out of the Darkness." "Do you believe it's a natural phenomenon?" Eleven Blade asked. "No." "Good. If it's unnatural, it was made by men. Or something like men, anyway. And what men can make, they can undo. Let's find out how, and then...undo." + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Out of the Past #6 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Free Blades Edition Zuwayza: Tiberious, newly made a Lord Protector in Aljafir, looked at the capital city of the Glorious Empire with curiosity and unease. While he was a citizen of the Empire in good standing, he was also a Dwarf, and the races which weren't strictly human were regarded with suspicion throughout most of the Empire. Especially here at its ancient heart. He hadn't wanted to come here. But a new law ruled that all Lord Protectors desiring a grant of lands or other honors must apply to the Great Palace of the Satrap for them, and he WAS a Dwarf. He would not lightly forego this portion of the reward for which he had striven so long and at such risk. He took a firmer grip on the battle axe which custom required all Dwarves to carry and strode up to the Western Door. Decent metal work, he noted professionally. To be honest, excellent metalwork, although he could not (and this surprised him) even guess at the source. It was unlike anything he'd seen before, not the work of Elf or Human, and certainly not Dwarven work. He was an educated man, in the Dwarven sense, and he would KNOW. Very old, you didn't get that kind of patina on bronze in a day, not even if you employed an alchemist. He leaned closer, trying to make out the individual symbols that formed a tangled whole on each panel. "Too close a study of those doors can be injurious to your health." Tiberious whirled, raising the axe automatically. But the speaker was an old man in the long robe of a Karnhorn scholar, no threat unless he was a wizard. On closer look, it seemed like he probably was a wizard. There was something about the eyes that marked them, as though they saw things that others couldn't. Probably they did. "If the doors are so dangerous, why use them?" "Because of the danger, perhaps, but mostly because they are old, and old things lend a legitimacy to what is younger." The old man shrugged slightly. "You are a gladiator, I think?" "Right, from Aljafir, come to see about my Lord Protector grant." "Good! I am Vekhirn, chief wizard to the Satrap, may his days be long, and I have need of a gladiator." He gestured, and the door swung open. "Come into my sanctum, and I will explain what must be done." Chimlevtal: Lord Kinnishan, ruler of Chimlevtal, looked up from a litter of reports as his chief adviser entered the study. "If it's more about the assassination plot--" "No, that is grave enough, but we have other problems," Shau'nin Snowbeard said. "Deeper ones, perhaps, in the long view. Have you seen the Ruin Reef lately?" The shipping hazard known as the Ruin Reef lay two miles off shore to the southeast from Chimlevtal. It was a rocky barricade just below the surface of the lake (most of the time). When the water was clear, or when wind and waves exposed them, the rocks could be seen to resemble a line of ruined buildings, but without a closer examination that was normally possible, no one could say if that was a true seeming. There were natural formations that could give that appearance. The Reef was visible from Chimlevtal in good weather, but not from this room. Without comment, Kinnishan got up from the desk and went out onto the balcony, peering southward past the end of the building. Shau'nin didn't follow him; he already knew what was to be seen. "It would appear that the Reef actually is formed on ancient ruins. Or was." "It would appear," Kinnishan said grimly, "that they are ruins no longer. I presume you have a report from closer observation?" "Some gladiators are investigating now," the old Adantri said. "Others are traveling to Arvat and Zukal, even to Monuntial, to discover the faces behind the assassination plot. We should have information soon." "And then we will have to make plans. I will not lose this city-state to the forces of Chaos, come what may." * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 489): B. TRAYOR of LETTER BOMBS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 487): KNOTHEAD of BLOODSUCKERS (Way Cool, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 483): BIRDSONG of GREENWARDENS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 483): ANTEZEL of WYLDERNESS WYLD (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 482): TORLYN UNA of MIDDLE WAY (Jorja, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 480): BLUE of THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 240): LOONY LATEKNIGHT of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 473): BINDI of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): SYWINELL of BUSHMASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 469): LOCKED IN of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 467): KEOKOTAH of SACKETT'S & CO. (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 460): INANNA of LADY OF BATTLES (Poison Ivy, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 423): FLESHRENDER of WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 215): ZINDELLA AZRON of MOJO P@TROL (Master Voodoo, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): HONEY BEAR of THE BEAR'S PAW (Kat, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 196): TOM SMITH DISEASE of STRANGE TUNES (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 348): TYI VELWIC of INCONSISTENT FURY (Banthius, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 328): FREDDIE of FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 145): CONUNDRUM of MYSTERIOUS (Mad Max, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 373): KREWKUT SAUSAGE of LINCOLNSHIRE from DAL SHANG (The Sandman, mgr.) Top Teams --------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 489): LETTER BOMBS (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 487): THE CITY (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 483): none DM 16 WILLAF (turn 483): WYLDERNESS WYLD (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 482): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 480): THE SIERRAS (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 240): THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 473): CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): WHAMMO & THUDDA 4 U! (Micky, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 469): SARATOGA GLORY (The Trainer, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 467): CASINO HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 460): BLITZKRIEG (Polarius, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 423): THE FAMILY (Don John, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 215): MOJO P@TROL (Master Voodoo, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): THE BEAR'S PAW (Kat, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 196): TEAM VIRTUE (Boy Scout, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 348): ROLE MONSTERS (Keldon Blackfang, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 328): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 145): PERFECTION QUEST II (Mannequin, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 373): MEOW MIX, etc. (Sylvester Frothingslosh, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 488): ALEX GRIFFIN of DREAM PARK (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 487): KNOTHEAD of BLOODSUCKERS (Way Cool, mgr.) HOFFA'S BANE of SPIRITUAL GIFT (Sultan, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 482): ABRA-HAM! of SACRILEGIOUS MEAT (Klep, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 482): TIBERIOUS of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 240): LOONY LATEKNIGHT of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) IDIOTIC INDIGO of IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) (turn 239): POPPY HAMMER of FLOWER HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 473): RAGING FIRE of DEATH THREAT (Papa Bear, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 238): UNCAS of THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.) (turn 237): HUNGRY BONES of UNFIT TO BE ORCS (Slugbait, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 469): LOCKED IN of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.) DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 467): KEOKOTAH of SACKETT'S & CO. (Barnabas, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 422): FACE BREAKER of WIDOWMAKERS (Soultender, mgr.) NHAVARL of THE FAMILY (Don John, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 209): SUGAR CUBE of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.) 101 PROOF!! of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.) (turn 208): UR BRAIN ON EGG of MYSTIC ORC FEAST (Slugbait, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 195): NASSE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 348): NAKHA ADIASO of INCONSISTENT FURY (Banthius, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 145): CONUNDRUM of MYSTERIOUS (Mad Max, mgr.) PRIZMATYK WAHL of MAGIC MAYHEM (Fizban, mgr.) (turn 144): LEE of GODDESSES (LHI, mgr.) GAI-JIN of RISING SUN (Spawn, mgr.) SPY REPORT Well, what are you looking at, NORTH FORK? Ain't you never seen Snide Clemens before? Ah, shaddup and listen to my news. Later days, THE BEAR'S PAW, since LAND OF OZ took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news. With any luck, I can sneak into The Warty Toad and join BORDEAUX - SAINTES' celebration over their good record this turn. 7th place, not bad. If The Warty Toad is buying drinks for SECOND BANANAS' good turn, I'm afraid the place will be dry before long. A 3-2-1 makes for a big thirst. Why not, I'm having a good day, so I feel sorry for THE JESUITS, who went 0-5-0 and dropped 20 into 26th. Here's my pity, for what it's worth. Gee, I'm impressed, a 5-0-0 is nice, but don't get cocky, ROYAL FLUSH, the Fates teach humility, and the Fates are proud. NORTH FORK saw the first turn for CHEAP THRILLS, a 4-1-0, and some teams are scared, others are too arrogant to notice. Take note friends, take note. Of course, we're all terribly impressed to see DASTER MARQUE win a fight and gain 21 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk, DASTER MARQUE beat SAL and SAL lost 15 points. You're breakin' my heart. Due to absence, and inability to defend the throne, HONEY BEAR has lost the Title of Duelmaster. Start setting that alarm earlier! And it's out with the old, in with the new, as 100% COLUMBIAN takes the Title and last week's bar tab from the old Duelmaster. Heh, heh. I'm not in a very good mood today, but why am I telling you this? You want to know what's new, don't you, NORTH FORK? Well, let's take a look at some more misdeeds of you miserable sword-boys. NORTH FORK, I am losing what little hope I had in you. COFFEE RULES! the most avoided team? What insult will suffice, I cannot say. And it looks like MIXED-UP MIXERS avoided them the most this turn. What a pack of would be losers, if you ask me. Hmph. DABO GIRL was challenged more times this turn than the Duelmaster. Now was the DM insulted or feared? Heh, heh. Now look at this. COURAGE challenged down 21 against SKELETON KEY's PAULA BONES. What a weasel! And golly gee, COURAGE overcame PAULA BONES. Aren't we all surprised and impressed? I guess I can give a little credit to VISCIOUSNESS of MY DAY for challenging up by 23 to RONDOL QUIGLO. VISCIOUSNESS lost to get 2 points of recognition. And we have 101 PROOF!! in a challenge, going down 14 points for the fight. Guess what? I thought 101 PROOF!! showed great skill and promise when he defeated FOLMOR GRIGG. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal! Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's see if anyone's dead or dying. COFFEE RULES! has cause to pause today, as SUGAR CUBE was sent to the Dark Arena, and came back--though not in the best of moods, I'll wager. Whoa! I'll even buy MUTUS BRAXIMUS a drink tonight! Anyone who can come back from the Dark Arena, I want to be on his good side! Nipped in the bud, you might say, was TARRED MEANY of MIXED-UP MIXERS this turn. Course, I wouldn't say that, so much as have a belly laugh. Heh heh. A big yahoo goes out to KIRA NERYS this turn, for revenging THE FEDERATION's bloodfeud against THE JESUITS' warrior HUGR. Heh, heh, heh. It's about time GALDR got beat for picking on warriors like CUP OF CAT. Bravo, MYSTIC ORC FEAST. See you at The Warty Toad. Not that I'll be buying the drinks, but I'll be glad to see NEEVA and DARQUE FORCES at The Warty Toad tonight celebrating their bloodfeud victory over DISIR. Titanium shields and bamboo daggers, guess what brave team is developing these kinds of weapons? There's got to be a better place in NORTH FORK to get a drink than The Warty Toad! Any suggestions? Phlllt! Just had to do that before I leave the fine city of NORTH FORK. I feel much better now. Glad to see the back of this place-- Snide Clemens DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME 100% COLUMBIAN 4874 15 8 2 116 COFFEE RULES! (505) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -HONEY BEAR 3032 24 14 0 146 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) NEEVA 3670 17 7 1 115 DARQUE FORCES (396) BLACK JACK SHELACK 4850 15 10 0 102 ROYAL FLUSH (48) COURAGE 4552 10 7 1 97 LAND OF OZ (217) TENT IN QUARANTINO 4816 19 7 0 96 SPOONERTIKS (523) ACE BAILEY 4948 10 10 0 93 ROYAL FLUSH (48) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -BEARFOOT 4875 12 11 1 91 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -SPAWN 4283 9 7 0 90 FANTASTIC FIVE (477) CAPTAIN MARBLE 4634 14 12 0 89 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) RAINBOW 4553 11 7 0 89 LAND OF OZ (217) FOLMOR GRIGG 4501 18 28 0 88 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) GREGOLA 5101 18 10 0 86 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) CUP OF CAT 4926 12 10 0 86 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) FRUSTRATION 5067 9 1 0 84 MY DAY (557) BELANNA TORRES 4898 11 12 0 83 THE FEDERATION (539) -BEAR ACUDA 4995 7 6 1 80 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) DEEP FRIED LARD 4975 14 3 0 77 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) KIRA NERYS 4941 10 8 1 77 THE FEDERATION (539) KALYPSO 3603 15 10 0 72 DARQUE FORCES (396) QUEEN OF DENIAL 4896 11 12 0 71 ROYAL FLUSH (48) PAULA BONES 4414 14 7 1 70 SKELETON KEY (493) THE FISHER KING 5104 14 14 1 69 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) LATTE 4667 16 13 0 67 COFFEE RULES! (505) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME OSLOBEN BENBOBEN 4561 10 7 0 66 SKELETON KEY (493) KING CRAB 4983 9 7 0 66 ROYAL FLUSH (48) MASS STUPIDITY 5068 10 0 0 65 MY DAY (557) -INCREDIBLE HULK 4280 10 6 0 60 FANTASTIC FIVE (477) REGGIE 5230 9 5 1 59 DREAM TEAMS (578) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -STRYCHNINE 4838 10 5 1 56 PURE POISON (478) SHELDON 4111 4 0 1 56 ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) -YURI KARLOMOV 4215 8 1 0 53 HOME GUARD (402) -ARSENIC 4285 5 9 1 51 PURE POISON (478) LAYTON 5098 7 5 1 48 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) -BEAR NEKKID 5126 6 1 0 48 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) JENNA 5099 8 4 3 47 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) WITCHCRAZE 5201 3 0 1 43 DARQUE FORCES (396) HOURGLASS 5127 6 1 0 41 LAND OF OZ (217) ART PENDRAGON 5151 4 1 0 39 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) DREW 4993 5 2 1 34 DREWS CREW (546) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MUTUS BRAXIMUS 5095 7 3 3 33 SPOONERTIKS (523) LEVIATHAN OF LARD 5113 6 3 0 33 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) -HENBANE 4289 5 11 1 33 PURE POISON (478) TEN C-0 METER 5141 4 1 0 33 ROYAL FLUSH (48) -PAUL BEARER 5187 3 0 1 33 THE BEAR'S PAW (150) IVAN POISY 5112 5 4 0 31 SPOONERTIKS (523) MAYHEM 5066 4 6 0 31 MY DAY (557) ANJE 4109 3 1 0 31 ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) DABO GIRL 5023 5 7 0 30 THE FEDERATION (539) JEAN-LUC DELPECH 5089 5 3 0 29 BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) RONDOL QUIGLO 4978 5 12 0 29 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) NEER BEAR 5073 4 1 0 28 MIXED-UP MIXERS (558) -PAVEL MOLARI II 3665 5 6 1 26 HOME GUARD (402) YOHAN GENE 5165 2 2 0 26 BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) -TAKALEREIHN II 4260 3 5 1 25 HOME GUARD (402) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DISIR 5168 3 1 1 23 THE JESUITS (524) BALKI 5193 2 0 1 23 SECOND BANANAS (573) GALDR 5171 2 2 1 23 THE JESUITS (524) THE RAMPAGING BULK 5133 4 1 0 21 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) SIR GALAHAD 5148 3 1 0 21 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -SISTER MARY SARAH 5137 3 0 0 21 OLD HABITS (566) DA TING 5129 1 0 0 21 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) DASTER MARQUE 5196 1 0 0 21 MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) GET THE POINT? 5097 3 4 0 19 LIFE'S LESSONS (562) HUMBUG 5199 2 1 0 19 LAND OF OZ (217) HUGR 5170 2 2 1 17 THE JESUITS (524) CORPULENT CORPSE 5250 2 0 0 17 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) NORTON 5192 2 0 0 17 SECOND BANANAS (573) AHURA MAZDA 5152 1 3 1 17 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) KRAMER 5191 0 1 0 17 SECOND BANANAS (573) KATE 4992 4 3 0 16 DREWS CREW (546) WYRD 5167 2 2 0 16 THE JESUITS (524) OSKI 5206 1 1 1 16 STRETSAMLEUD (575) LISSUIN 5238 1 1 0 16 DUR EDHEL (579) TONYA PHARDING 4924 4 3 0 15 SKELETON KEY (493) JEN HADAR 5181 3 1 0 15 THE FEDERATION (539) -BORIS MARKOV 4540 2 3 0 15 HOME GUARD (402) RODEKI 5208 2 0 0 15 STRETSAMLEUD (575) T'POL 5248 1 1 0 15 THE FEDERATION (539) FILTHY SANCHEZ 5244 1 0 0 15 CHEAP THRILLS (580) HEX ON THE LEACH 5072 0 3 0 15 MIXED-UP MIXERS (558) ELDHWEN 5236 2 0 0 14 DUR EDHEL (579) -THE PUNISHER 5172 2 1 1 13 FANTASTIC FIVE (477) -PAVEL MOLARI III 4539 1 4 0 13 HOME GUARD (402) DONAVAN 4112 2 2 0 12 ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) BURNS 5190 1 1 0 12 SECOND BANANAS (573) NICOLAS ANDRE 5166 1 3 0 12 BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) ANGRY DRAGON 5243 1 0 0 12 CHEAP THRILLS (580) BABY 5224 2 1 0 11 RAT SALAD (577) FAT-BOY 5221 2 1 0 11 RAT SALAD (577) MISFORTUNE COOKIE 5275 0 1 0 11 MYSTIC ORC FEAST (416) RAGNAROK 5169 3 1 0 10 THE JESUITS (524) CRASHGHOUL 5202 1 2 0 10 DARQUE FORCES (396) ILLIS 5207 1 1 0 10 STRETSAMLEUD (575) SIR GAWAIN 5149 1 3 0 10 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) BRONS 5150 1 3 0 10 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (568) FIGHTING TREE 5235 1 1 0 10 LAND OF OZ (217) -GRIZZLE BOC' 5256 1 0 0 10 KILL @ WILL (581) SPAWING OF SPEWN 5197 1 0 0 10 MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) NIN QUIRE 5281 1 0 0 10 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) -TALON KAARDE 5253 1 0 0 10 KILL @ WILL (581) BELLILAUD 5204 1 0 0 10 BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) -WARFARIN 5231 2 0 0 9 PURE POISON (478) -CURARE 5132 1 4 0 9 PURE POISON (478) ESTADIEU 5205 1 0 0 9 BORDEAUX - SAINTES (561) -NAKAMURI 5180 1 0 0 9 EXALTED PATH (565) DREW SCRIVER 5200 0 3 0 9 MIXED-UP MIXERS (558) CURSESHOCK 5234 1 1 0 8 DARQUE FORCES (396) FE MALE 5211 2 1 0 7 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) THE TONY DANZA 5242 1 0 0 6 CHEAP THRILLS (580) GREEDY 5223 1 2 0 5 RAT SALAD (577) MANANA 5241 1 0 0 5 CHEAP THRILLS (580) IGNATOWSKI 5274 0 1 0 5 SECOND BANANAS (573) DRASTARDY DAKE 5198 0 1 0 5 MANEGERIAL MAYHEM (574) VIDA 5228 1 1 0 4 DREAM TEAMS (578) SAL 5226 1 1 0 4 DREAM TEAMS (578) -SISTER MARY ELEPHANT 5219 1 1 0 4 OLD HABITS (566) BONSUR 5210 1 1 0 4 STRETSAMLEUD (575) WASTED EFFORT 5153 0 4 0 4 MY DAY (557) SINISTER 5123 0 4 0 4 EXALTED PATH (565) PENTACLE SILK 5122 0 3 0 3 EXALTED PATH (565) HELLUIN 5237 0 2 0 2 DUR EDHEL (579) VISCIOUSNESS 5251 0 2 0 2 MY DAY (557) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -KIA 5125 0 2 0 2 EXALTED PATH (565) -DAJA LUST 5121 0 2 0 2 EXALTED PATH (565) KENSAI 5267 0 1 0 1 RAT SALAD (577) -SKYWALKER 5255 0 1 0 1 KILL @ WILL (581) CATFISH HUNTER 5279 0 1 0 1 DREAM TEAMS (578) DIRTY FLORES 5245 0 1 0 1 CHEAP THRILLS (580) -MARA JADE 5252 0 1 0 1 KILL @ WILL (581) PELLA REES 5280 0 1 0 1 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 (506) ANGEL HO-LEEN 5282 0 1 0 1 SKELETON KEY (493) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? MIKE 4110 1 3 1 ALL-STAR NANA'S 457 BALKI 5193 210 IRON MAN HAMMER 5063 1 4 0 AVENGER HAMMERZ 556 MOUNTAIN TROLL 18 210 NONE GIANT MAN HAMMER 5278 0 1 0 AVENGER HAMMERZ 556 SHEWISH GIANT 21 210 NONE BEAST HAMMER 5277 0 1 0 AVENGER HAMMERZ 556 SPYMASTER 22 210 NONE BLK KNIGHT HAMME 5276 0 1 0 AVENGER HAMMERZ 556 SHEWISH GIANT 21 210 NONE MOUNTAIN TROLL 18 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 SUGAR CUBE 4617 210 NONE DARK CHAMPION 24 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 MUTUS BRAXIMUS 5095 210 NONE FOULBANE 5203 0 1 0 DARQUE FORCES 396 DISIR 5168 208 JUST REV WHATAPUTZ 5265 0 1 0 DRAKE'S COMICS 463 SHEWISH GIANT 21 210 NONE CATFISH 5229 0 1 0 DREAM TEAMS 578 MALONEY 5247 209 NONE OSWALD 4991 2 5 0 DREWS CREW 546 SHEWISH GIANT 21 210 NONE LEWIS 4989 2 5 0 DREWS CREW 546 ARENAMASTER OKEL 23 210 NONE MR. WICK 5264 0 1 0 DREWS CREW 546 HIGH ELF 19 210 NONE GALVORN 5239 0 2 0 DUR EDHEL 579 SPYMASTER 22 210 NONE GROND 5240 1 1 0 DUR EDHEL 579 OSKI 5206 210 ARTIC PROPHECY 5124 0 2 0 EXALTED PATH 565 THE PUNISHER 5172 206 NOT REVE DAREDEVIL 5173 0 3 0 FANTASTIC FIVE 477 DREW 4993 208 SEVEN OF NINE 4940 8 8 0 THE FEDERATION 539 STRYCHNINE 4838 208 REVENGED EZRI-DAX 5140 1 1 0 THE FEDERATION 539 HUGR 5170 206 JUST REV BAZNIF 5263 0 1 0 MANEGERIAL MAYHEM 574 HIGH ELF 19 210 NONE NEDDIE OGIL 4663 13 16 0 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 506 BEARFOOT 4875 209 LUNIEA MILAND 5147 3 2 0 THE MIDDLE WAY 3 506 PAUL BEARER 5187 209 TARRED MEANY 5115 2 1 0 MIXED-UP MIXERS 558 WITCHCRAZE 5201 210 PUDWEISER 5074 0 3 0 MIXED-UP MIXERS 558 AHURA MAZDA 5152 210 MUDDY BLARIE 5071 0 2 0 MIXED-UP MIXERS 558 MUTUS BRAXIMUS 5095 206 REVENGED CARNAGE 5069 2 6 0 MY DAY 557 HENBANE 4289 208 REVENGED HUMBLE PIE 5188 1 1 0 MYSTIC ORC FEAST 416 GALDR 5171 208 JUST REV PUNK 5266 0 1 0 RAT SALAD 577 SHEWISH GIANT 21 210 NONE PITY WIN 5222 0 2 0 RAT SALAD 577 MIKE 4110 209 ANGEL HOLIE 5233 0 2 0 SKELETON KEY 493 HIGH ELF 19 210 NONE STROKE BROKER 5094 5 4 1 SPOONERTIKS 523 BEAR ACUDA 4995 209 TOBIR 5268 0 1 0 STRETSAMLEUD 575 ARENAMASTER OKEL 23 210 NONE PERSONAL ADS United -- I may be in the Dark Arena for a while. Stand fast and hold the line until I can get my team together and I PROMISE a showing better than last turn's 1-4. -- CFH/Rat Salad Mr. Coffee -- Any idea if/when Horus ONE-EYE will be returning? His presence is missed. -- CFH/Rat Salad A.D. -- Rat Salad declares 'Baby' as their champion. -- CFH/vendett@ UNITED Jorja -- Wanna run with us for TWIII? I'll put up your cert. if you want to. -- CFH/ Rat Salad/vendett@ UNITED Ping Kin -- Tell your boss not to use any drink names, and I'll not send warriors to be slaughtered by his men...then he'll avoid bloodfeuds! -- The Bartenders Drake -- Well, I tried this last turn, but for some reason my personals didn't make it...come join us! If you'd care to declare, Mr. Coffee and I would be more than welcoming...how's a tabasco shooter with anchovies and mustard sound?! ;-) -- The Bartender P.S. I'll even fry up a spam sandwich, with that jelly stuff you like for gravy over it! *ugh* I have indigestion just thinking about that! -- Ed. AD -- We here at Bev. Inc accept Drake into our ranks if he wishes to join us. -- The Bartender and Mr. Coffee Humbug -- Ouch! At least now I have your style. -- Drew S. Sister Mary Sarah -- Oh...let's both just TELL everyone our styles! -- Hex on the Leach P.S. Up for a rematch? Slaughter Priest -- As you might tell by the corny name I'd meant Neer Bear for the DA...but he does well! He almost was a Bear's Paw--didja see their 3 kills? Sheesh! -- The Bartender Curare -- Let me guess...you're a very responsive individual right? Seems it must be so, by our fight! -- Pudweiser Mutus Braximus -- So THERE! Teach ya to kill TWO of us! -- Tarred Meany (standing behind The Bartender) Fizban -- I don't know what kind of contest Asmo is running. Negative points for a positive turn? Go figure. -- Mr. Coffee Oz -- On what turn will your fellowship go for a record 11 awards? -- Mr. Coffee Jorja -- Do "they" ask you to go for coffee? Thanks...I'll remember that around January. Rat Salad -- I guess if you're out of roast chicken or ham strips that RAT would work. Do you roast them or tear them into strips? -- Mr. Coffee The Punisher -- Rondol Quiglo is correct. An unbroken record makes you a target for warriors who already had their unbroken record broken. -- Bombay P.S. Of course a poor challenge also breaks unbroken records as well. All/Asmo -- Greetings from Daehir, manager of Dur Edhel, who will be fighting with the MERCED MAFIA in TURF WAR III. My champion will be Lissuin. -- Daehir AD -- Again I declare for Vendetta United. I am no longer part of the Vendetta Cartel. My team is Drews Crew; my champion is Kate. I sent this same ad last cycle! -- ABRAXIS *AD* -- My Spotlight and P-ad declaration for my Champion [Iron Man Hammer] DID NOT see print last cycle. Therefore, when Giant Man Hammer arrives he will serve as our Champion for Avenger Hammerz! -- Hammer of Avenger Hammerz and Vendetta Cartel Captain of the Crimson Ascension Family of the Vendetta Cartel Bear Acuda -- Nasty result for Stroke B that. Shamefully it was largely due to manager incompetence as I *stoopidly* ticked the wrong challenge/if challenged box and he ended up running response against you.... *sigh* Still...the death needs avenging, prepare thyself! -- Spawn the careless All -- Stroke Broker, RIP: 17-3-12-17-9-15-11 ST. Promising but fragile and unable to withstand gross negligence from the boss...a sad loss. -- Spawn the culpable Ace Bailey -- See...a lot closer when I wasn't specially 'primed' for you. -- Tent IQ Bear Nekkid -- Well...at least I lived. Congrats on all the Bears for an impressive turn last cycle! -- Ivan Poisy Tarred Meany -- Congrats on regaining team honour. Now I feel free for a night fight. -- Mutus B Tonya Pharding -- Always good to see new blood in the arena...or so I'm told. Don't foresee me seeing much of yours though!! -- Ping Kin Baphomet -- Got your note. Don't have any direct experience for you but your idea looks like a decent starting point. Will be sending a more detailed reply ASAP! Looks like an interesting idea to me though. G'luck! -- Spawn Cup of Cat -- Ah, very tasty. Yes, the touch of garlic and feta cheese was just the thing. -- Folmor Grigg P.S. Cats go very well with feta cheese for some reason. Bearfoot -- I was thinking of retiring, true. But that was NOT the way I had in mind! -- Ghost of Neddie Ogil Paul Bearer -- Well, I expect you to bear MINE for free! -- Ghost of Luniea Miland Queen of Denial -- Say it isn't so! -- Rondor Quiglo Strychnine -- Hits hard, doesn't she?! -- 31 Leviathan of Lard -- You weren't what I was expecting. -- 31 Mugs -- That's twice in a row with a 33 rec pt mismatch followed by a 17 point mismatch--whadya tryin to do, get me killed?! -- Kira Nerys (beat to hell) Mother Teresa -- Good fight; you know I always like to come out on top, if you know what I mean. -- Sheldon Pity Win -- Me smash you. Me kill you. -- Mike Asmo -- How many Certs do you have for Merced Mafia? Because I sent you 5 and then I talked to one of the managers in my alliance, and he said that he also sent you one also. Just wondering. Thanks. -- the Mun 31 -- If you want to join our alliance with one of the other ones, it's ok with me. You're the captain. I'll follow your lead. We will have a better chance to win more awards with a bigger alliance. -- Skullagrim 27 March 2004 This notice is to inform the DM world that CHAOS INC. has added CHEETO to its ranks. He joins APEX, FLAGG, MATRIX, ASSAMITE, and RUDE BUDDHA as the 6th member. May your chaotic wings spread disaster and CHAOS for all your days! Welcome CHEETO!! 27 March 2004 Has anyone seen it in print that the "Goat" is leaving the "Cartel"? There were some diplos to the effect of a special branch of the Cartel being formed, like secret societies, governmental agencies and alliances certain agendas are developed. To obtain the desired effect of any agenda only key personnel can be used. The "Goat" is "Cartel" so until you see it with me announcing that I am not Cartel, remember, "The Agenda of the Core is for you to fight for." I hope this stops the confusion. -- Goat 8 April 2004 CLICK (KLK) -- Remember, you asked for it. Chaos is coming.... 14 April 2004 CHAOS Inc. proudly announces our newest member, Silver Stroke. He becomes the seventh brother of Chaos. We shall indeed be better for his joining. LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS SUGAR CUBE viciously butchered MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 3 minute Dark Arena fight. OSWALD was killed by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena melee. IRON MAN HAMMER was killed by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight. MUTUS BRAXIMUS butchered DARK CHAMPION in a popular 1 minute gory Dark Arena contest. LEWIS was murdered by ARENAMASTER OKEL in a 1 minute Dark Arena competition. GALVORN was assassinated by SPYMASTER in a exciting 1 minute Dark Arena struggle. ANGEL HOLIE was easily killed by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. WHATAPUTZ was easily killed by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena melee. MR. WICK was slaughtered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute Dark Arena duel. PUNK was assassinated by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena duel. TOBIR was assassinated by ARENAMASTER OKEL in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena fight. BAZNIF was put to death by HIGH ELF in a popular 1 minute Dark Arena bout. GIANT MAN HAMMER was killed by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena match. BEAST HAMMER was easily killed by SPYMASTER in a exciting 1 minute Dark Arena contest. BLK KNIGHT HAMMER was murdered by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl. NEEVA beat DISIR in a 2 minute gory mismatched Bloodfeud conflict. KIRA NERYS vanquished HUGR in a action packed 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud bout. CUP OF CAT viciously subdued GALDR in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud bout. CAPTAIN MARBLE was defeated by BLACK JACK SHELACK in a 2 minute Challenge bout. 101 PROOF!! overpowered FOLMOR GRIGG in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge bout. 100% COLUMBIAN savagely defeated TENT IN QUARANTINO in a 2 minute Challenge conflict. DEEP FRIED LARD outlasted THE FISHER KING in a 11 minute veteran's Challenge duel. COURAGE viciously subdued PAULA BONES in a 1 minute expert's Challenge duel. QUEEN OF DENIAL demolished LAYTON in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight. LEVIATHAN OF LARD was vanquished by SHELDON in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match. KING CRAB overpowered JENNA in a 2 minute uneven Challenge match. OSLOBEN BENBOBEN overpowered LATTE in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel. TARRED MEANY was executed by WITCHCRAZE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fray. DREW overcame DABO GIRL in a exciting 1 minute gory Challenge duel. ANJE overpowered TONYA PHARDING in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel. CORPULENT CORPSE overpowered GREEDY in a 2 minute gory one-sided Challenge match. BRONS was savagely defeated by NICOLAS ANDRE in a exciting 1 minute Challenge bout. YOHAN GENE viciously subdued FAT-BOY in a crowd pleasing 3 minute Challenge match. WYRD was defeated by JEN HADAR in a exciting 3 minute Challenge struggle. LISSUIN savagely defeated HEX ON THE LEACH in a exciting 3 minute Challenge struggle. NORTON luckily beat DONAVAN in a 3 minute brutal Challenge match. BALKI barely slew MIKE in a 1 minute gruesome Challenge match. KATE was narrowly defeated by JEAN-LUC DELPECH in a 1 minute Challenge bout. OSKI easily killed GROND in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match. VISCIOUSNESS was vanquished by RONDOL QUIGLO in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge match. ILLIS was luckily beaten by SIR GALAHAD in a 5 minute gruesome Challenge duel. CRASHGHOUL was bested by THE RAMPAGING BULK in a 4 minute Challenge match. WASTED EFFORT was vanquished by NEER BEAR in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge conflict. RAGNAROK was viciously subdued by T'POL in a 2 minute amateur's Challenge match. RODEKI handily defeated DREW SCRIVER in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match. BONSUR was defeated by ELDHWEN in a popular 1 minute Challenge battle. FIGHTING TREE won victory over HELLUIN in a 1 minute novice's Challenge bout. BABY slimly won victory over SIR GAWAIN in a 2 minute Challenge bout. BELANNA TORRES was viciously subdued by ACE BAILEY in a 3 minute veteran's duel. RAINBOW slimly won victory over GREGOLA in a monotonous 9 minute veteran's bout. KALYPSO was savagely defeated by FRUSTRATION in a unpopular 11 minute bloody bout. REGGIE was overcome by MASS STUPIDITY in a crowd pleasing 4 minute match. IVAN POISY was subdued by ART PENDRAGON in a 2 minute bloody battle. HOURGLASS narrowly defeated MAYHEM in a exciting 5 minute brawl. GET THE POINT? was demolished by TEN C-0 METER in a 1 minute mismatched contest. AHURA MAZDA savagely slew PUDWEISER in a action packed 2 minute bloody bout. HUMBUG savagely defeated HAWKEYE HAMMER in a crowd pleasing 3 minute bloody fight. FE MALE outwaited MISFORTUNE COOKIE in a tiresome 26 minute bout. SAL was overpowered by DASTER MARQUE in a 1 minute one-sided duel. VIDA was handily defeated by FILTHY SANCHEZ in a 2 minute mismatched battle. BURNS overpowered PENTACLE SILK in a 1 minute one-sided struggle. CURSESHOCK beat KENSAI in a 2 minute novice's brawl. SINISTER was vanquished by ANGRY DRAGON in a 1 minute one-sided duel. IGNATOWSKI was overpowered by BELLILAUD in a 1 minute one-sided fight. DA TING vanquished KRAMER in a 1 minute one-sided duel. SPAWING OF SPEWN demolished PELLA REES in a 1 minute uneven battle. DRASTARDY DAKE was overpowered by NIN QUIRE in a 1 minute mismatched fight. ESTADIEU narrowly defeated DIRTY FLORES in a 4 minute brutal amateur's duel. THE TONY DANZA savagely defeated ANGEL HO-LEEN in a 2 minute gory novice's match. MANANA defeated CATFISH HUNTER in a 2 minute amateur's fight. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 23 TOTAL PARRY 86 - 45 - 0 66 | |BASHING ATTACK 23 WALL OF STEEL 75 - 56 - 2 57 | |STRIKING ATTACK 22 LUNGING ATTACK 87 - 94 - 8 48 | |TOTAL PARRY 20 STRIKING ATTACK 58 - 72 - 11 45 | |WALL OF STEEL 11 PARRY-LUNGE 15 - 19 - 2 44 | |AIMED BLOW 11 BASHING ATTACK 56 - 73 - 4 43 | |SLASHING ATTACK 6 SLASHING ATTACK 24 - 35 - 1 41 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 AIMED BLOW 20 - 30 - 1 40 | |PARRY-LUNGE 3 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 22 - 1 33 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 9 - 26 - 1 26 | Turn 210 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: WALL OF STEEL 8 - 3 STRIKING ATTACK 10 - 12 4 LUNGING ATTACK SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 2 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 2 3 TOTAL PARRY LUNGING ATTACK 12 - 11 BASHING ATTACK 7 - 16 2 WALL OF STEEL PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 1 AIMED BLOW 3 - 8 1 SLASHING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 10 - 10 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 3 1 AIMED BLOW TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK 100% COLUMBIAN 4874 15 8 2 116 COFFEE RULES! (505) SLASHING ATTACK COURAGE 4552 10 7 1 97 LAND OF OZ (217) AIMED BLOW TENT IN QUARANTINO 4816 19 7 0 96 SPOONERTIKS (523) TOTAL PARRY CAPTAIN MARBLE 4634 14 12 0 89 DRAKE'S COMICS (463) STRIKING ATTACK KIRA NERYS 4941 10 8 1 77 THE FEDERATION (539) WALL OF STEEL LATTE 4667 16 13 0 67 COFFEE RULES! (505) BASHING ATTACK SHELDON 4111 4 0 1 56 ALL-STAR NANA'S (457) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is 100% COLUMBIAN 4874. The most popular warrior this turn was REGGIE 5230. The ten other most popular fighters were AHURA MAZDA 5152, 100% COLUMBIAN 4874, CRASHGHOUL 5202, MAYHEM 5066, HUMBUG 5199, COURAGE 4552, YOHAN GENE 5165, WYRD 5167, LISSUIN 5238, and CUP OF CAT 4926. The least popular fighter this week was FE MALE 5211. The other ten least popular fighters were MISFORTUNE COOKIE 5275, FRUSTRATION 5067, KALYPSO 3603, DEEP FRIED LARD 4975, RAINBOW 4553, THE FISHER KING 5104, GREGOLA 5101, ESTADIEU 5205, SIR GALAHAD 5148, and ANGEL HO-LEEN 5282. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: 100% COLUMBIAN (47-4874) COFFEE RULES! (505) BLACK JACK SHELACK (47-4850) ROYAL FLUSH (48) TENT IN QUARANTINO (47-4816) SPOONERTIKS (523) The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn: 101 PROOF!! (47-4495) COFFEE RULES! (505) SUGAR CUBE (47-4617) COFFEE RULES! (505) NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS) For those of you who keep track of such things, 14 additional warriors graduated from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament: ABE SIMPSON (9-4453) SPRINGFIELD PB-LEAD (23-4385) ROCK-ETTS IV RATTLESNAKE SHAKE (60-4242) METAL MELTDOWN CHIP (60-4413) RESCUE RANGERS SLAKE (82-12993) WORD OF THE DAY DIS-COMBOBULATE (63-2222) DIS-TEAM RETARD (68-7501) POLITICALLYINCORRECT DARKSIDE (22-2714) LOST SOULS 1 ZHARRA TYL MEDAN (40-2586) SUPERIOR FORCES SMOOGIE (82-2247) STREET PIZZAD III ARATHEA (13-3318) THE ELITE PX (82-14364) SUPERIOR FORCES 1203 MIKE, POWERFUL (82-7051) MIKE THE HUNTER DIS-FUNCTIONAL (63-2223) DIS-TEAM -- Green Eyes