DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 02/16/2018 Duedate: 03/01/2018
TRICORUS ARENA
DM-51 TURN-736
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
30 GRAND
9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
(51-6109) [11-3-2,108]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
30 GRAND B.A.R.S. MURRE
9TH TOMBSTONE (621) ALLIES OF RIFF (622)
(51-6109) [11-3-2,108] (51-6116) [4-0-0,46]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
DEUCE WIGALO CHEETAH
DECEIVERS (597) WILDCATS (594)
(51-5910) [14-4-1,95] (51-5983) [8-1-3,94]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. VENTURE BROS. (585) 34
2. ALLIES OF RIFF (622) 32 WORLD BLADES 13 (595)
3. 9TH TOMBSTONE (621) 31 Unchartered Team
4. POKEMON? (523) 5
5. DECEIVERS (597) 5 ALLIES OF RIFF (622)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1*ALLIES OF RIFF (622) 11 6 1 64.7 1/ 1 9TH TOMBSTONE (621) 7 5 1
2/ 2 WORLD BLADES 13 (595) 13 10 1 56.5 2/ 2 VENTURE BROS. (585) 6 3 2
3/ 4 DECEIVERS (597) 89 74 9 54.6 3/ 3*ALLIES OF RIFF (622) 6 4 0
4/ 6 9TH TOMBSTONE (621) 32 27 5 54.2 4/ 6 WORLD BLADES 13 (595) 3 3 0
5/ 5 VENTURE BROS. (585) 194 165 11 54.0 5/ 4 POKEMON? (523) 3 5 0
6/ 7 WILDCATS (594) 80 103 12 43.7 6/ 7 WILDCATS (594) 2 3 1
7/ 0 GIANTS & GOLEMS (605) 9 13 2 40.9 7/ 8 DECEIVERS (597) 2 3 0
8/ 8 POKEMON? (523) 35 53 5 39.8 8/ 0 GIANTS & GOLEMS (605) 0 2 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
SPY REPORT
If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of
TRICORUS brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too. Of course, we're all terribly
impressed to see GALILEO'S MATH win a fight and gain 11 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk,
DIRT NASTY beat SAND GIANT and SAND GIANT lost 4 points. You're breakin' my heart.
And if variety is the spice of life, TRICORUS may be getting bland, as 30 GRAND stays
top dog in the city. Kickbacks and bribes, kickbacks and bribes, how else do you
think some of these guys win their fights? Skill? Ha!
He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day, the coward. What's
the big D? ALLIES OF RIFF was the most avoided team? Bunch of lily livered...
grumble... mumble... curse... And who led the way in this mass act of cowardice?
Let's see, well, whatcha know? It was POKEMON?. Ha ha ha ha!
Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's
see if anyone's dead or dying. Whoa! I'll even buy CHEETAH a drink tonight! Anyone
who can come back from the Dark Arena, I want to be on hers good side! Bye bye,
warrior, bye bye... CRYSTAL GOLEM, a glorious 4-6-1 fighter, has passed away. Gee,
too bad GIANTS & GOLEMS. A big yahoo goes out to B.A.R.S. MURRE this turn, for
revenging ALLIES OF RIFF's bloodfeud against VENTURE BROS.'s warrior ENTMANN. Heh,
heh, heh. We're all going to die in the end, so why worry if the fate catches up
with you sooner that later?
I was about to buy a new quill pen the other day, but some fighter took it for
an epee. Forgive me for writing with a dagger. Just wait 'till next time I show up
here, I won't be so nice! So nyaaah! Paste this one in your scrapbooks, you'll need
the kindling come this winter-- Snide Clemens
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
30 GRAND 6109 11 3 2 108 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-A-PEEKABOO? 4671 12 5 1 115 POKEMON? (523)
DEUCE WIGALO 5910 14 4 1 95 DECEIVERS (597)
CHEETAH 5983 8 1 3 94 WILDCATS (594)
GALILEO'S MATH 6108 9 5 1 91 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
INNOCENT GEOMETRY 6111 10 4 0 79 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
MONTENEGRO 5678 8 4 1 77 WORLD BLADES 13 (595)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BANTU 6064 5 4 2 64 WILDCATS (594)
-SOFIA 5777 5 1 0 59 WORLD BLADES 13 (595)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
A-RAPID RASH? 4757 11 5 1 50 POKEMON? (523)
B.A.R.S. MURRE 6116 4 0 0 46 ALLIES OF RIFF (622)
DIRT NASTY 6115 4 1 0 39 ALLIES OF RIFF (622)
PEARL YETI 6011 6 7 0 36 DECEIVERS (597)
ENTMANN 6054 2 1 1 36 VENTURE BROS. (585)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-A-RATTY MATE? 4852 6 6 1 31 POKEMON? (523)
DEAN 6078 3 1 0 30 VENTURE BROS. (585)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SAND GIANT 5886 5 6 1 22 GIANTS & GOLEMS (605)
HANK 6077 3 1 0 22 VENTURE BROS. (585)
A GENGHIS KHAN? 6136 0 2 0 2 POKEMON? (523)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
DABA 6142 0 1 0 9TH TOMBSTONE 621 ADELA RIAN 736 NONE
CHANCE THE RAPPE 6113 0 1 0 ALLIES OF RIFF 622 ADELA RIAN 736 NONE
JADAKISS 6139 0 1 0 ALLIES OF RIFF 622 FREEDOM FIGHTER 736 NONE
SLIM JIMMY 6117 3 1 1 ALLIES OF RIFF 622 ENTMANN 6054 735 JUST REVENGED
THREE-HORN TROLL 0 0 0 DARK ARENA CHEETAH 5983 736 NONE
CRYSTAL GOLEM 5887 4 7 1 GIANTS & GOLEMS 605 30 GRAND 6109 736
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
MINION 6141 0 1 0 VENTURE BROS. 585 ARENAMASTER RAHJ 736 NONE
MINION 6140 0 1 0 VENTURE BROS. 585 ADELA RIAN 736 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
A-Rapid Rash? -- If I could only use the epee (or any weapon) like you do I might've
won that matchup! Maybe next time you'll teach me more?? -- Dirt Nasty
A-Ratty Mate? -- My new strategy worked...at least according to the scoreboard. How
you parried me with that hammer is still beyond me... -- B.A.R.S.
Entmann -- That was rude to do to Slim Jimmy. It would be ruder still to repeat the
feat against my bloodfued. -- B.A.R.S.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
CHEETAH viciously butchered THREE-HORN TROLL in a 2 minute Dark Arena fight.
MINION was murdered by ARENAMASTER RAHJ in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena melee.
DABA was assassinated by ADELA RIAN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena duel.
MINION was butchered by ADELA RIAN in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena fight.
JADAKISS was murdered by FREEDOM FIGHTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena competition.
CHANCE THE RAPPER was butchered by ADELA RIAN in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena duel.
B.A.R.S. MURRE devastated ENTMANN in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud match.
MONTENEGRO was defeated by DEUCE WIGALO in a 1 minute expert's Challenge melee.
PEARL YETI lost to A-RAPID RASH? in a popular 1 minute Challenge duel.
30 GRAND slaughtered CRYSTAL GOLEM in a 1 minute one-sided Title duel.
INNOCENT GEOMETRY savagely defeated BANTU in a action packed 3 minute gory match.
GALILEO'S MATH overpowered VENEMOUS CONCUBINE in a 1 minute one-sided match.
DIRT NASTY devastated SAND GIANT in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
DEAN demolished PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched match.
HANK overpowered A GENGHIS KHAN? in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK 6 SLASHING ATTACK 10 - 4 - 0 71 |
|AIMED BLOW 4 LUNGING ATTACK 15 - 7 - 2 68 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 3 STRIKING ATTACK 18 - 11 - 2 62 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 2 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 4 - 3 60 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 2 PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 2 - 0 50 |
|BASHING ATTACK 2 AIMED BLOW 12 - 14 - 0 46 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 2 - 0 33 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 BASHING ATTACK 2 - 16 - 0 11 |
|WALL OF STEEL 1 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|TOTAL PARRY 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 2 - 0 0 |
Turn 736 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are:
LUNGING ATTACK 2 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 3 LUNGING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 4 - 2 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 3 AIMED BLOW
AIMED BLOW 2 - 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 2 STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 1 BASHING ATTACK 0 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 1 PARRY-LUNGE
WALL OF STEEL 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
LUNGING ATTACK 30 GRAND 6109 11 3 2 108 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
PARRY-LUNGE DEUCE WIGALO 5910 14 4 1 95 DECEIVERS (597)
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK GALILEO'S MATH 6108 9 5 1 91 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
AIMED BLOW INNOCENT GEOMETRY 6111 10 4 0 79 9TH TOMBSTONE (621)
WALL OF STEEL BANTU 6064 5 4 2 64 WILDCATS (594)
SLASHING ATTACK DIRT NASTY 6115 4 1 0 39 ALLIES OF RIFF (622)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is DEUCE WIGALO 5910. The most popular warrior this
turn was CHEETAH 5983. The ten other most popular fighters were INNOCENT GEOMETRY
6111, BANTU 6064, B.A.R.S. MURRE 6116, DEUCE WIGALO 5910, A-RAPID RASH? 4757,
GALILEO'S MATH 6108, 30 GRAND 6109, DIRT NASTY 6115, DEAN 6078, and ENTMANN 6054.
The least popular fighter this week was A GENGHIS KHAN? 6136. The other ten least
popular fighters were SAND GIANT 5886, CRYSTAL GOLEM 5887, CHANCE THE RAPPER 6113,
JADAKISS 6139, MINION 6140, DABA 6142, MINION 6141, HANK 6077, PEARL YETI 6011, and
MONTENEGRO 5678.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
DEUCE WIGALO (51-5910) DECEIVERS (597)
SUMMER FACE-TO-FACE IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
We have planned our summer FTF for July 13-15, 2018, in Arlington, Virginia, only 7
miles on a quick Metro ride from Washington, D.C.!. It will be held at the Holiday
Inn Arlington at Ballston. Room rates are $79 per night on 7/12 and 7/15 and $129 on
7/13 and 7/14, 1-2 occupancy. There's free wireless throughout the property as well
as a fitness center, outdoor pool, and business center, as well as a resturant and bar
inside the hotel. There is no airport shuttle and parking is $7/day. The rooms are
blocked -- ask for the Reality Simulations block. Reservations must be made by 6/12.
(As always if you have issues making reservations, please let us know!)
Hotel site: http://www.hiarlington.com
Look for the tournament info sheet and minioverviews some time in June. We hope
you're all looking forward to it and that we will see you there!
-- RSI
Mission to the Twisted Lands
Episode One
Old Brown could run pretty fast if properly motivated, but mostly he walked with
a long-legged, distance-devouring stride. He was a huge horse, a half-giant's
warhorse, shaggy and self-assured, with muscles like half-buried boulders in his
shoulders and hips. Lounging in the saddle was the motivating force, the half-giant,
Keel Woodhaven. Although in his mind he was slouching and half-asleep, he sat up
straight in the saddle since that is more comfortable for riding.
It was twilight, stars coming out above and lights in farmhouse windows below.
They traveled through vineyards, brown and fallow now in the winter, descending gently
toward the tree-crowded coast. The distant trees, not just pines, were green. They
stayed green because the marsh that surrounded the city-state of Bonsur had hot
springs in it.
Keel Woodhaven had always liked Bonsur. It had a relaxed feel about it, the
women seemed prettier, the music was great, everyone thought about having fun. And
the booze was excellent, of course. He passed the arena at the edge of town, and
paused to read the current statistics, posted on the gate and lit by a lantern. So,
an elven cobbler was the Duelmaster? Why would a shoemaker take up such a painful
profession? Then he noticed the team name: Shewish Picnic. He snorted. That
explained it, all right. As a half-Shew, he was kind of bothered by that team theme,
which was present in Home Guard as well. It was sort of funny though. He saw that
Elf Cobbler was headed for the Isle. Probably not bound for Home Guard just yet,
though.
They passed a small chicken ranch. A rooster uttered an untimely crow. At about
that time, Old Brown took exception to something and bolted. Cussing, Keel hauled on
the reins, to little effect since the horse was stronger than him and apparently
frightened. He didn't see the masked men coming out of their hiding places behind
him, looking frustrated. At least not until a crossbow bolt thunked into the backside
of his leather cuirass. His horse screamed and ran faster.
Hauling Old Brown to the left as they passed a set of big open gates into a well-
lighted courtyard, Keel got them behind the shelter of the high stone wall, and patted
the horse's sweaty neck. "You're okay now, friend. I'll go take care of those
bozos."
As he dismounted, he noticed he was becoming surrounded by uniformed men, some
with swords and some with halberds.
"Howdy?" he said, hoping they were friendly.
"Your horse has been shot," said someone, pointing at a bolt sticking out of Old
Brown's butt.
"Well damn!" Keel laid a comforting hand on the horse's flank, which quivered.
"So have you," the guard continued.
"Yeah, thought so. Doesn't feel like it got through the armor though." Keel
tried to look over his shoulder, but could only see the feathered end of the bolt.
"Who are you guys?"
"We are the Queen's Guard."
"What? Queen Gemra? Okay, please take care of Old Brown here, and I'll go find
the ***holes that shot him."
"Sir, you are mistaken. You will be taken to a doctor. We will arrest the
assailants."
"Hey! I'm on a mission from Sheila Greywand. Anyway, they shot my horse. My
HORSE! I'm gonna get 'em." Unslinging his huge sword, Keel strode toward the gate.
Four Guardsmen came with him, flanking him like the trailing ends of a flock of
geese. They might have intended a different formation, but he had the longest legs
and walked the fastest. The one who'd spoken to him before said, "I'm Corporal Brat
Langerman. And you are?"
"Keel Woodhaven."
"I've heard of you! The Queen will want to meet you."
"That's fine. Let's stick to the sides of these buildings. If they're still
around, we'll be targets in the middle of the street."
They weren't quiet, exactly, since the guards wore highly polished chain mail
which jingled. However, Bonsur had a lively night life. Music and laughter came from
bars and nightclubs on adjacent streets, people lingered on corners chatting and
sometimes playing instruments, and children hawked newssheets, shoeshines, flowers, a
selection of rouges, and offered to carry packages. So the sounds the guards made
weren't too noticeable.
Keel led the way back to the chicken ranch. He was thinking that the bad guys
wouldn't have waited around to be hunted. They might have left clues, though.
Perhaps even a discarded, crumpled note offering a cash reward for his head, and
signed by a notorious crimelord. Or distinctive cigar stubs, monogrammed hankies...
personalized masks. Tracks of boots made by elven cobblers. Anything. Witnesses,
even.
There were no people on the street near the chicken ranch. It was full night
now, a bit chilly although there was a warm and slightly funky breeze from the marsh.
Corporal Brat Langerman said quietly, "Is this where it happened?"
"Yup."
"Well, I don't think they're here anymore."
Keel was about to agree, when a crossbow bolt appeared in the Corporal's arm.
The young man hissed, "Everybody down!"
The guardsmen hunkered against the wall of a hardware store, which didn't offer
anything resembling good cover except that they were in shadow there. Keel crouched a
little, but he knew he was a pretty big target, plus his sword gave off a faint
greenish glow. He looked around, searching the darkness for signs of their foes.
A shadow on top of a shaded walkway across the street shifted a little. Keel
pulled a weighted dart out of his pocket and hurled it. He was good at tavern darts,
but it was dark, the distance was too great, and he just wasn't lucky. The little
missile clattered against the shingles of the porch roof. There was a startled twitch
from the half-seen form. At that instant, Keel lunged across the street. His long
legs carried him across to the opposite shadows in three bounds. More bolts came out
of the darkness, one lodging in his calf, the others missing him altogether.
Now the Guardsmen had a good idea where their foes were, and it takes a while to
reload a crossbow. The four men charged, yelling wildly. Tucking his sword under his
arm, Keel grabbed one of the posts holding up the porch roof, strained, and dislodged
it. After a moment he yanked it out of the structure entirely. The roof sagged,
there was a yelp of surprise, and someone's foot appeared off the edge of it. Keel
grabbed him by the ankle and hauled him the rest of the way down.
There were brief sounds of fighting, then footsteps that rapidly receded down an
alley. Three Guardsmen raced off in pursuit. Keel's prisoner started to try to get
away, so the half-Shew tossed him up, grabbed him by the arms and bashed him against
the wall.
"Are you okay?" asked Brat, sheathing his sword.
"Took one in the leg, but it's not too bad I think," Keel said, shifting his
unconscious prisoner to one hand and bending to pick up his sword.
"I'll help you tie that one up," Brat said. "There's a dead one here. I think
there were two more." He grunted slightly, trying to reach something with his injured
arm. "Got some ties in my right-hand belt pouch. If you could get them for me?"
They bound the prisoner, then bandaged each other.
"What did they want?" asked the Corporal.
Keel shrugged. "No clue. Let's get him somewhere safe and we can ask him..."
He listened. "Your guys are coming back."
"Yeah."
The Guardsmen hadn't been able to track their assailants in the darkness, but at
least there were no further injuries. The group of them returned warily to the
courtyard of the Guard House, where a woman was smearing some kind of ointment on Old
Brown's wound. After the horse was bedded down in the stable, the Guardsmen led Keel
into their office, where there was a welcome scent of fresh coffee. The medic set
about binding Keel's wound and that of the Corporal, who turned out to be an extremely
handsome man. Keel remembered hearing that Queen Gemra required her Guardsmen to be
good looking. That didn't mean they weren't competent, though. Brat had done pretty
well.
The medic roused their prisoner with smelling salts. They all sat in the main
office, Corporal Langerman facing the miscreant, who was seated in a cushioned chair,
looking reasonably comfortable except for his bandaged head. "All right," said Brat.
"Now I want you to tell me that you're going to turn Queen's Evidence."
"Not on your life, pretty boy!" The man had, perhaps, some excuse for hard
feelings since he was more homely than not, with a crooked nose and eyes set too close
together. He and Keel looked shabby and ill-favored amongst all these gleamingly
handsome Guardsmen.
Keel leaned forward. "You guys shot my horse."
"Oh. Sorry, didn't mean to do that. We were just shooting at you."
"Why?"
"Glowing sword."
"What?"
"Duh, it's a magic sword! We saw it when you drew it in Delarq Tor, and figured
we could sell it so we followed you."
The half-Shew snorted. "The Dentless isn't magic. It was in a Chaos Gate for
five hundred years and it picked up some energy, that's all. All it does, is glow.
And cut things."
The bandit looked chagrined. "But... it's got to be magic."
"Ain't. Sorry kid."
After that, Keel was taken to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the Palace. Queen
Gemra was a definite babe, with long, silken black hair, a delicate pouty face, and
luscious curves. She asked him about his mission, which was to go to the Twisted
Lands and shut down a leaking Chaos Gate. He entertained her with the story of his
adventure on the Two-Shew Express, and she gave him a brown velvet cloak to show her
appreciation. She did not invite him to her bed, which was fine because his heart
belonged to another, always and forever.
* * * * *
This is a continuing adventure.
Watch for future chapters in the Bonsur and Home Guard newsletters!