DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/01/2005    Duedate: 03/28/2005

FRATSFA ARENA

DM-52    TURN-202

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

BEXLEY
OHIO (350)
(52-3486) [16-3-2,147]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

BEXLEY                         SHY ANN
OHIO (350)                     SITTEES (359)
(52-3486) [16-3-2,147]         (52-3562) [1-0-0,15]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

PANDEMIC                       SALINA REES
DARK RAIDERS (78)              MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)
(52-3319) [4-9-0,37]           (52-3546) [7-5-0,33]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

OHIO (350)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SITTEES (359)               57
2. OHIO (350)                  24      OHIO (350)
3. ASSASSIN NATION (186)       19      Unchartered Team
4. MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)           5
5. THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)       0      SITTEES (359)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 0*SITTEES (359)              4   1  0 80.0   1/ 2 OHIO (350)               10  2 0
 2/ 1 OHIO (350)                50  19  3 72.5   2/ 1 ASSASSIN NATION (186)     8  5 1
 3- 2 THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)   158 135  4 53.9   3/ 3 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)        5  9 0
 4/ 3 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)        73  75  0 49.3   4/ 0*SITTEES (359)             4  1 0
 5/ 4 ASSASSIN NATION (186)    133 154 21 46.3   5- 4 THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)    1  1 0
 6/ 0 DARK RAIDERS (78)        115 142  5 44.7   6/ 0 DARK RAIDERS (78)         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[ The Castle of Storms #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Fratsfa:

     "I never got to see Lady Greywand," Raoul said.  "Just secretaries, clerks, 
assistants, flunkies."  He shook his head.  "I tell you, it was damned frustrating, 
doll.  They gave me a lot of excuses, but what it comes down to is that Sheila won't 
do a thing to help us against Khaldren."
     Crystal Fireblade nodded, suppressing a sigh.  She was no heroine of a Gathic 
romance to wring her hands and bemoan ill fortune, after all.  "That's not much worse 
than the answers I got--or didn't get--in Andor, when I reported the...disruptions in 
the forest between here and Zensu.  The king's got enough troubles springing up on 
every hand that he is 'willing to leave this matter in the capable hands of 
gladiators on the spot'.  Meaning you and me, and whoever we can recruit here or in 
Zensu."
     Raoul ran his hand over his shaven head, then settled his hat in place firmly.  
"Gladiators are fine in a fight," he said, "but we've got magicians to deal with 
here.  We need to 'recruit' a magician or two of our own."
     Now Crystal did sigh.  "I've talked to all the magicians I can reach here in 
Fratsfa, and they're all being very...unhelpful.  They say they've got problems of 
their own, because of the decline of the Arcanum."
     "Well, that's likely true enough."
     "And the two who DID offer to help--"  She grimaced.  "They wanted me to 
authorize them to set up some kind of spell at the arena, to 'collect and channel the 
blood-power' of the arena injuries and deaths."
     Raoul's eyebrows shot up.  "Bold."
     "Yes, it makes me wonder what they know that we don't."  She glanced at his 
blank face and shrugged.  "Why do they assume they can get away with even SAYING 
something like that?  If we were in the Delarquan Federation, sure, it would seem to 
them to be the most reasonable thing in the world to use the arenas to power their 
spells.  But in Andoria?"  She frowned.  "And...they were surprised when I said no.  
They hadn't expected me to refuse.  And I don't know why...."
     Raoul crossed the window of her apartment and looked out over the city of 
Fratsfa.  The rooflines were a jumble of styles, some of them centuries old, gables 
and turrets and slim towers with gargoyles.  "What we think of as the Andorian way 
isn't all that old," he said finally.  "And the people of Fratsfa seem to live more 
in the past than the present...."
     "I've never read of anything like this, blood magic, in Fratsfan history," 
Crystal objected.
     "Would they admit it?  Today, I mean.  We've got an image of the Fratsfans as 
the ultimate noble good guys, doll.  If they had blood magic in their history--"
     "They like being the 'ultimate good guys'," Crystal agreed.  "But even if we 
could find proof that they once used blood magic, and that some magicians still see 
nothing wrong with it, where would that get us?  What would be the point of smashing 
that image?"  Now she stood and went to a different window.  This one looked out on 
the gardens that surrounded Emperor Allonj's palace.  "Allonj and Kitiara are doing 
good work here bringing Fratsfa into the present.  But if people lost faith in the 
image....  I don't know what would happen, but it wouldn't be good."
     Raoul turned to face her.  "One way or another, things aren't going to be good, 
doll.  We just get to pick between Bad and Worse."
     Crystal grimaced.  "How encouraging."  She stared at the garden below for 
several minutes.  Finally she said, "There's a register of magicians in the palace.  
The Bureau of Resources keeps it.  We could get a list of names from that and try 
them all until we find one who will work with us."
     "Sounds like such fun," Raoul growled.  "I'd RATHER fight."
     "Than argue with bureaucrats?  Me, too, but it seems like a reasonable first 
step."  She made an angry gesture.  "We can't just leave the monsters in the woods to 
prey on the peasants and travelers."
     "I never said we should, doll."  He took off his hat again and peered into it as 
though studying an oracular glass.  "We could just...go fight them."
     "It's been tried.  Why do you think so many teams have gone inactive, here and 
in Zensu?  They're recruiting and training replacements for all the gladiators who 
died in the woods."
     "That bad?  I didn't realize--"
     "There's magic involved.  The monsters are....  I've never seen anything like 
them.  They're so alien it's actually hard to SEE them because they don't...their 
shapes don't make sense to our eyes."
     Raoul met her eyes for a long moment, then nodded and put his hat back on.  
"Let's go check this register of magicians, then."

     The office of the Bureau of Resources was a large, clean, well-lit room lined 
with shelves down three sides.  There were tables in center.  A man sat at a high 
desk by the door and checked people in and out, making sure nobody carried off one of 
the outsized tomes in which the records were kept.  Despite the fourth wall being all 
windows, the room seemed gloomy, musty, and old.  Very old.  Crystal figured this was 
because so many of the records were old; they exhaled an air of antiquity, and even 
the man at the door, and the clerks who were busy making entries in the current 
volumes, seemed to take it up and become gray and desiccated regardless of their age.  
She always found the place depressing.
     But the man at the desk smiled when she came in, and waved a hand to indicate 
that she was to feel free to look at anything.  It was amazing the doors a royal 
badge would open.  Crystal resisted the impulse to touch it, to make sure it was 
still there on her sword harness, still as bright as daily polishing could make it.  
King Mickeal had given it to her with his own hands, and she did not take it lightly.  
She was a direct agent of the King.
     To the clerk who hurried forward to assist her--or maybe to keep her from 
disarranging the tomes on the shelves, she said, "We want to see the current register 
of magicians."
     "Of course, at once, Lady Crystal!"  His eyes glistened as he bobbed a bow to 
her, his mouth glistened, the bald top of his head glistened.  One of his hands 
fluttered toward her, but she pretended not to notice.
     She supposed it was wrong to resent a man's fantasies when he never DID anything 
about them, but she did wish he'd be less obvious.  As he turned away to the shelves, 
the light from a nearby lamp glinted off the ring on his left forefinger.  She looked 
at it idly, because it seemed so ostentatious for a clerk.  It was gold, and nearly 
as wide as the first joint of his finger; it had a flat, dark stone blotched with 
red, which she didn't recognize.  Odd looking, but why shouldn't a clerk have a ring, 
after all?  Maybe it was an heirloom.
     He laid a book like a fat ledger on one of the vacant tables and bowed toward a 
chair.  "This is the current register, Lady Crystal.  If you should need anything 
else, just as for me, Dreedas, and I will find it for you."  The words were polite, 
but there was something in the way he said them, and the look that went with them, 
that made her nerves creep.
     "That man is trouble waiting for a chance, doll," Raoul said quietly.
     She shrugged.  "I don't give him a chance."  Seating herself at the table, she 
opened the register, turning over the pages with their cramped paragraphs.  Each page 
was headed with a date.  "The last census was just this winter, after the solstice," 
she murmured, so the list should be up to date...."  She scanned down the pages, 
automatically rejecting the magicians who were too old.  Which was most of them, 
unfortunately.  Was there a lower age limit for official magicians?  Forty, maybe, or 
fifty.....  And the ones who listed specialties such as "agricultural enhancement, 
enchantment of mechanisms, necromantic divination," and others more obscure could be 
discarded, too.  That wasn't going to leave many.
     She reached the end of the list, frowned, went back through it again, and looked 
up at Raoul.  "The two magicians I mentioned, Lascoro and Montalji...they're not 
listed here."  She flipped back through earlier census records.  "They're not listed 
at all."
     Raoul went very still, staring at the windows without seeing them.  The reports 
from Aruak City had spoken of wizards brought forward in time to aid Khaldren.  He 
turned toward the shelves of ledgers.  "How far back do the records go?"
     "You think they...?"
     "I think they might be 'sleepers' in Khaldren's service," he said.  "I think 
we'd better find out."

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

                          ---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 254): CHAOS WARRIOR of CHAMPIONS OF STEEL (Blackstorm, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 509): PURPLE PANTHER of ANIMAL FARM (Mino, mgr.)
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 509): I WET MY BED! of I BENT MY WOOKIE (The Muffin Man, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 502): ANTHONY SCALIA of CONSPIRACY INC. (Damion, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 498): STONEFISH of AUSSIE KILLERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 498): TRIMOX of OSCO INTOXICATORS (Osco, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 499): PINK of SEEING RED (Edge, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 491): ADMIRAL ISO of LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 460): BORIS KARLOFF of MEN OF 1,000 FACES (Mad Max, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 453): GREW SOME GRUE of OLD SCHOOL (Otto X. Frothingslosh)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 445): KHORNE SHADOWSPAWN of RUBY DRAGONS (Talon Warsmith)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 201): BEXLEY of OHIO (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  60 ARADI (turn 358): THE-SHOCKER of DEATH STUDS VII (Death Stud, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 347): SELAUNAH of WAYFARERS (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 156): THE SADMAN of THE FURIOUS FIVE (Generalissimo Puerco)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 395): DEADPOOL of X-FORCE from TARRGIR (Talon Warsmith, mgr.)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 254): ACID FIRE HAMMERZ (Hammer, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 509): none
 DM  14 TOBIR (turn 509): THE DEATH SQUAD (Street Legal, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 502): THE POISON CLAN (Master Tazo, mgr.)
 DM  24 ZORPUNT (turn 498): KRILL CAVALRY (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  25 LYRATILAN (turn 498): MADTOWN (Carnage, mgr.)
 DM  26 CALEAM (turn 499): HEADBANGERS (Sablon-O-Vlad, mgr.)
 DM  30 IAYE (turn 491): THE WARLOCKS (Malaquar, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 460): MEN OF 1,000 FACES (Mad Max, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 453): GLAD TO MEAT YOU (Alfredo Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  46 ARDIVENT (turn 445): BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  52 FRATSFA (turn 201): ASSASSIN NATION (Ghab, mgr.)
 DM  60 ARADI (turn 358): DEATH STUDS VII (Death Stud, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 347): WAYFARERS (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 156): THE FURIOUS FIVE (Generalissimo Puerco, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 395): JUST CHILLIN (Mr. Freeze, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                   ----------------
 DM   8 ARKERS (turn 253): L'ORC BLEU of LA PENTARCHIE (The Pentalque, mgr.)
 DM  11 ARUAK CITY (turn 509): PURPLE PANTHER of ANIMAL FARM (Mino, mgr.)
                   (turn 508): STRONGBOW of ELFQUEST (Armalias, mgr.)
 DM  22 SOLVEN (turn 502): SNAKE CHARMER of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo)
                           BLIND ILLUSION of MEDIEVAL CHAOS (Huckle Cat, mgr.)
 DM  40 ZENSU (turn 459): PISTON HURRICANE of AS FAR AS SIAM (Huckle Cat, mgr.)
 DM  41 KATI-TEI (turn 453): PORTERHOUSE ARREST of GLAD TO MEAT YOU (Alfredo
                             Frothingslosh, mgr.)
                             CHICKEN TIGHT JEANS of GLAD TO MEAT YOU (Alfredo
                             Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  63 AMEN-TEI (turn 346): PASSER BY of WAYFARERS (Leeta, mgr.)
 DM  71 KYR'TERR (turn 156): THE SADMAN of THE FURIOUS FIVE (Generalissimo Puerco)
                             WHIPSNADE of THE FURIOUS FIVE (Generalissimo Puerco)
                             DASKINOR of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)

                                      SPY REPORT

     I was going on vacation, see?  Surf, sun...  But what do those bums say?  "Hit 
the road, Debby Tonte.  FRATSFA needs a spyreport."  Oh, well.  Like, ASSASSIN NATION 
had to be so embarrassed when they got kicked off #1 spot by OHIO!  Way to go OHIO!  
I just can't say enough good things about SITTEES.  They went 4-1-0 their first time, 
don't slouch, and they've got good oral hygiene!  MVP award for TORMENT?  ASSASSIN 
NATION's proud of him after beating LENA KORIL and getting 15 points.  Talk about yer 
major upsets!  LENA KORIL's match with TORMENT cost her a loss of 13 points!  This 
Duelmaster is like something else!  BEXLEY stopped M. CHARDINEE dead in his tracks!  
Who was the wiseguy that said FRATSFA's Duelmaster was paying for drinks at The 
Victory Tavern?  Don't look at me!   
     Look, you guys stick to fighting, all right?  OHIO was FRATSFA's most avoided 
team.  Is there some award for that?  Is there some deep dark secret why ASSASSIN 
NATION's been avoiding OHIO so much?  Or is it just that they're too scared?  Can 
OHIO's SOUTHPOINT be more popular than me?  She was challenged the most, but is that 
really the same?  People were asking me did MUTILATE REALLY challenge SOUTHPOINT?  
(all right, maybe they didn't, but it sounded good!) It wasn't a spectacular fight, 
or anything, but SOUTHPOINT wants me to write about it since she defeated MUTILATE.  
Satisfied?   
     Man, all these warriors dying and killing each other!  Don't you guys ever give 
it a break?  What if they had a fight and nobody showed up?  I'd be out of a job, 
that's what!!!   
     Remember, blood on a purple robe may stain.  Soak it in cold water, and hand 
wash.  I gotta leave.  FRATSFA is like such a dump, and you guys smell too much!  I 
had a fun time, see you later-- Debby Tonte  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BEXLEY 3486                  16   3  2   147       OHIO (350)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SOUTHPOINT 3492              13   3  0   103       OHIO (350)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TORMENT 3523                  8   3  1    86       ASSASSIN NATION (186)
-STRING BEAN JEAN 3220        16  12  0    82       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
-VICIOUS 3508                  6   2  1    76       ASSASSIN NATION (186)
 MUTILATE 3375                12   9  1    74       ASSASSIN NATION (186)
 TOLEDO 3482                  10   6  0    71       OHIO (350)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RENDOR QUIL 3497             16  14  0    65       MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)
 LENA KORIL 3495              14  16  0    65       MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)
-SEVERITY 3538                 7   3  1    63       ASSASSIN NATION (186)
 TEALIN SALI 3496             15  15  0    60       MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MAYHEM 3537                   8   2  1    51       ASSASSIN NATION (186)
 AKRON 3553                    5   4  1    51       OHIO (350)
 PANDEMIC 3319                 4   9  0    37       DARK RAIDERS (78)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SALINA REES 3546              7   5  0    33       MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)
 GANGRENE 3344                 3   2  1    25       DARK RAIDERS (78)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MALICE 3343                   3   2  0    22       DARK RAIDERS (78)
 SHY ANN 3562                  1   0  0    15       SITTEES (359)
 OAK LEE 3563                  1   0  0    13       SITTEES (359)
 LO DYE 3561                   1   0  0    13       SITTEES (359)
 BYRON 3559                    1   0  0    10       SITTEES (359)
 OLLIE QUONSHAM 3570           0   1  0     1       MIDDLE WAY 8 (351)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
NORVAN PATT 3555       3  3 0 MIDDLE WAY 8 351      SEVERITY 3538         200         
LOCKE 3560             0  1 0 SITTEES 359           STONE GOLEM 26        202 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Assassin Nation, Ohio, Furious Five, Middle Way -- Greetings from v@U of the
"Desolate Empire Alliance".  We have never fought on Andorian soil.  Yet we have
heard that you enjoy fierce competition.  We are establishing a home arena in all of
Alastari's regions.  Out of respect to your ideas of chivalry, we are asking to run a
contest in this arena, instead of invading.  We have been looking for an arena where
there is are a lot of active teams, so that we could try and revive it and make it
our home arena in Andoria.  We see that your current roster for active teams is very
low.  We would like to run a contest on your soil!  We will provide prizes, to be
announced soon.  We already have a format and the contest designed.  It will be a
combination of ideas from past and present contests along with a few of our own!
This contest will be a TEAM contest, NOT an alliance contest.  The exact format will
follow if you are interested.  We would like to start it on T-204 or T-205.  There's
only two requirements to compete.  1.  Teams that are already established in DM-52
must have 3 warriors in the initiates.  2.  All stables entered into the contest can
have only 1 TP on their team.  This warrior will be declared when stable becomes
active for the contest.  This TP will be known as a scout.  For the rest the format
we will announce it in the newsletter after you have contacted Toker at:
darkknighttoker@yahoo.com.  Your prompt response would be highly appreciated, given
the time frame that we want to get this started in. -- Goat/Delarquan Duke of v@U The
Desolate Empire, Dark Knight Toker/Hand of Death in Illis, and Dark Knight Wasby

Mutilate -- What an unpleasant concept!  Surely you can think of something more
enjoyable for two people to do. -- Tealin Sali

My, the Khalhums Dwarf is such a fine figure of a man!  So tall, so bearded.  (sigh)
-- Lena Koril
P.S.  I really hated to keep hitting him.

Severity -- Sometimes that is necessary, yes, but not with ME.  I mean, you can RELAX
with me.  I'm your FRIEND. -- Rendor Quil

Akron -- You leave a bad taste in my mouth. -- Salina Rees

Torment -- Yeah, but it made a scar.  I don't think I want a scar there.  Let's not
do that again, okay? -- Rendor Quill

Ok...So Vicious is sitting out, with 20 FE and Severity just hit 10 FE (and looks
promising, so will sit as well now).  This turn Mayhem hits 10 FE, so he'll sit next
turn, until the next Mail-In.  You'll have Torment and Mutilate to beat on for the
next 4-5 turns or so.... -- Ghab/Assassin Nation (setting up his tournaments now)

Tealin Sali -- Well fought!  You came back there, as your style likes to do, and I
was glad to pull out the victory.  Until next we meet. -- Mutilate

Southpoint -- Thanks for all of the skills!  I thought I had you in the beginning
there, especially when I landed a critical attack. You're a tough nut, which I will
not have time to crack for the time being.  Maybe I will see you after the next Mail-
In tournament, although you might graduate by then. -- Vicious

Bexley -- What can I say, you outmatch me!  That's only the second time I've lost the
initiative at the beginning of a fight.  I can see why though, after your learns.
Congrats! -- Torment

Toledo -- Very nice!  What else can I say? -- Mayhem

     How about "great hat"? -- Ed., feeling helpful

Rendor Quil -- I'm glad you and I matched up.  This way, at least I feel you had an
attempt to bloodfeud.  Ghab didn't realize how close I was to the break for tourney
classes.  I have to sit now, to prepare for the next Mail-In Tournament.  I wish I
could fulfill my obligation to your bloodfeud, but this team is a team for tournament
(as the arena is so small).  Good luck! -- Severity

5 February 2005
On behalf of the ILLUMINATI Confederation of Alliances (The kLk, CHAOS, Inc. and The
Company of Brothers) I would like to express our sympathies concerning the tragic
loss of Rich Hammes to both the DM community and to the real life world.  Surely our
loss has been Heaven's gain. -- Talon Darkhart, deeply sorrowful
                                kLk God of War, Illuminati Alliance, Puppetmaster

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

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

Tripwire
kLk Bringer of Pain

Hammer
kLk WordSmith and WeaponSmith
Minister of War
Illuminati Idealist

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

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

LOCKE was viciously butchered by STONE GOLEM in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
MUTILATE was vanquished by SOUTHPOINT in a 1 minute uneven Challenge battle.
TORMENT demolished LENA KORIL in a crowd pleasing 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
BEXLEY overpowered M. CHARDINEE in a 1 minute one-sided Title fight.
TEALIN SALI was bested by TOLEDO in a popular 1 minute expert's brawl.
RENDOR QUIL devastated PANDEMIC in a 1 minute mismatched match.
MAYHEM handily defeated MALICE in a 1 minute uneven fight.
AKRON vanquished GANGRENE in a 1 minute uneven duel.
SALINA REES vanquished POLITE BEGGAR in a action packed 2 minute gory uneven fight.
SHY ANN overpowered SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute uneven match.
LO DYE overpowered SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
BYRON demolished OLLIE QUONSHAM in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
OAK LEE devastated SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute one-sided battle.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         AIMED BLOW        18 -   6 -  2      75  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         TOTAL PARRY        4 -   2 -  0      67  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   3         WALL OF STEEL     13 -   8 -  0      62  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         LUNGING ATTACK    17 -  11 -  1      61  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         SLASHING ATTACK   16 -  12 -  1      57  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         STRIKING ATTACK   13 -  12 -  2      52  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         BASHING ATTACK    14 -  14 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      7 -   9 -  0      44  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   1 -  0       0  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   2 -  0       0  |

Turn 202 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:

AIMED BLOW         3 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  2         4  SLASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  WALL OF STEEL  
BASHING ATTACK     2 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         2  BASHING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     3 -  2     TOTAL PARRY        0 -  0         1  AIMED BLOW     
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  LUNGING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
WALL OF STEEL    BEXLEY 3486                16   3  2  147 OHIO (350)

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       SOUTHPOINT 3492            13   3  0  103 OHIO (350)
SLASHING ATTACK  TORMENT 3523                8   3  1   86 ASSASSIN NATION (186)
BASHING ATTACK   TOLEDO 3482                10   6  0   71 OHIO (350)
LUNGING ATTACK   MAYHEM 3537                 8   2  1   51 ASSASSIN NATION (186)
STRIKING ATTACK  AKRON 3553                  5   4  1   51 OHIO (350)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is PANDEMIC 3319.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was SALINA REES 3546.  The ten other most popular fighters were LOCKE 3560, TOLEDO 
3482, TORMENT 3523, AKRON 3553, SOUTHPOINT 3492, BEXLEY 3486, RENDOR QUIL 3497, SHY 
ANN 3562, OAK LEE 3563, and LENA KORIL 3495.

The least popular fighter this week was OLLIE QUONSHAM 3570.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were GANGRENE 3344, MALICE 3343, PANDEMIC 3319, MUTILATE 3375, BYRON 
3559, LO DYE 3561, MAYHEM 3537, TEALIN SALI 3496, LENA KORIL 3495, and OAK LEE 3563.

                                  Name-Change-O-Rama

     The winter tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there 
normally.  This included Commission employees.  Half a dozen arenamasters regarded 
each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack.  The Pig was 
obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking 
for.  They saw gladiators every day.  Most arenamaster were convinced that this was 
some kind of punishment.
     You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd.  There were superficial 
differences:  One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two 
were female.  But there were, in significant ways, alike.  The same size, the same 
hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness.
     The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute.  "I'm Zrof One-
Eye from Zukal.  Sugar of Arvat--"  One of the women bowed slightly.  "I know Sugar.  
The rest of you...?"
     The Adantri matched his salute.  "Dernal of Dayla Kiv."
     "Daiyla Kiv?  Ah...."
     "No, without the 'I' in it.  These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they 
thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic."  Disgust dripped from his voice.
     "Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement.  "Khagal of Niatoli, and 
what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!"
     "I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now," 
Arenamistress Sugar said.  "The arena, at least, because of a contest?"
     "Chavez Ravine."  Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company 
for spitting on the floor.
     Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness.  He wouldn't have minded a contest 
in Zukal, and damn what they called the place.  "It's only temporary, though."
     "Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered.  He seemed well into his drinking, 
although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well.  "They do it all the time 
in Aradi.  No reshpect.  Go around changing thish, changing that.  I wish I could 
change shome thingsh."  He signalled the bartender for a refill.
     The second woman put her hand over his mug.  "You've had enough, Harkon.  Try the 
coffee, instead."
     "You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said.  "They're going to do shtuff 
like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?"
     Ripples Dorrigan shrugged.  All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to 
watch.  "It's the way things are," she said.  "Not much we can do about it."
     "You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes.  Fix the 
spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--"
     "The Commission hates changes."  Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and 
drained it gloomily.
     "Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a 
general Name-Change-O-Rama!  Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would 
notice or mind."

                  *-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------* 

     By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of March.
If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please contact RSI Customer 
Service.  The charge for a name change is $1, unless you're in DOOMCorps, in which 
case you take your chances.  (Just kidding, guys! *snicker*)