DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/09/2007    Duedate: 04/05/2007

TROCAR ARENA

DM-54    TURN-218

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

PENELOTHE
TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
(54-2838) [12-6-0,106]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

PENELOTHE                      POSITION IS EMPTY
TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)        
(54-2838) [12-6-0,106]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

WIMPERETTA                     PENELOTHE
TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)        TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
(54-2655) [23-17-1,87]         (54-2838) [12-6-0,106]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

EYE OF THE STORM (221)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. EYE OF THE STORM (221)      23
2. TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)     12      JANIX (298)
3. FERAL LEGION (314)           0      Unchartered Team
4. JANIX (298)                  0
                                       DOG SOLDIERS (263)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*FERAL LEGION (314)         4   1  2 80.0   1/ 2 EYE OF THE STORM (221)   11  4 2
 2/ 4 JANIX (298)               69  53  7 56.6   2/ 1 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)   9  5 0
 3/ 5 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)  208 184  8 53.1   3- 3*FERAL LEGION (314)        4  1 2
 4/ 6 EYE OF THE STORM (221)    91  87  8 51.1   4/ 5 JANIX (298)               2  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[ Edge of Night #1 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Near Morya:

     Young Joan had asked, "Why are the dead restless, and what can we do to give
them peace?"  And her teammate had agreed to scry an answer for her... in a graveyard
at midnight.
     Haruspek straightened away from his tablet of engraved yew, the movement
abrupt, even alarmed.  It slid a little on the tombstone he was using for a
worktable, and the pattern of... stuff, herbs and bits of bone and fur and feathers,
that he had cast across it shifted, too.
     Young Joan shivered again.  She was no shaman or seer to know exactly what
Haruspek had done, but she could feel the movement of powers in the night, the
twisting of immaterial currents into a pattern that partly responded to, partly
coerced the pattern on the tablet.
     "The Water Gate," Haruspek said.  His voice was thin and strained.  "The Moon's
Path.  The Dark Riders."
     Joan waited.  Surely there was more?  This didn't seem to answer her dilemma.
She counted heartbeats.  Three, four, five, six--
     "Feed the ghosts."  His breath whistled.  "Light into shadow, bring them light.
The Dark Road.  Too many shadows.  Free the ghosts.  Follow the Moon's Daughter to
the Water Gate.  There will be a guide."  Haruspek wobbled and his eyes rolled back
in his head; he fell sideways off the flat surface of the gravestone onto the winter-
killed grass.
     Joan flung herself down beside him, feeling for a pulse at his neck.  Finding
one, and glad of it.  Her young teammate wouldn't have done this if she hadn't asked
him to.  Pressed him to, when he'd been reluctant.
     He had asked her question of... whatever spirits were here.  The dead, she
supposed, since it was a graveyard.  Just because she didn't understand the answers
didn't mean they were wrong.  She just needed to think.  But she did wish Uncle Wolf
was here to explain things.

Near Rocanis:

     "Dark and stormy, of COURSE," Buck Fever said.  "What other kind of night would
we be out in?"
     "Be quieter," Lord Protector Bitter Vetch said.  "We could get killed out here,
you know.  Or worse."
     "What's worse than getting killed?"
     "Any number of things that could happen to someone straying on Spirit Ridge at
night without a shaman," the older man replied promptly.  "Trust me when I say you
don't want to know the details."
     "Okay.  So why ARE we out there, then?"  Buck tripped over... something unseen
on the path, nearly fell, and stiffled a curse.  The path up Spirit Ridge was tricky
in the dark.  Hell, it was tricky in the daylight; in the dark, it was worse.  He
didn't want to think what it would be like coming back down, still in the dark, and
probably raining hard.  It was already beginning to sprinkle.
     After several minutes, Vetch answered, "We're supposed to... meet someone on the
ridge."
     "Meet--!  Who?"
     "I wasn't told."
     "Tricky phrasing," Buck noted.  "You found out some other way?"
     "I don't know, not for sure.  If I'm guessing right... maybe ghosts."

Near Lapur:

     Redfox, a Cardow Hunter who had graduated from Dullens, frowned at his manager.
"Uncle Wolf, are you SURE this is a good idea?"
     The old shaman didn't look up from the pattern he was sketching in the snow.  "I
know it is a bad idea," he said.  "Just not as bad as the alternatives."  He looked
up, his eyes colder than the night sky above them.  "Not as bad as doing nothing."
He raised the dagger he was using to draw with and pointed at a spot in the pattern.
"Stand there," he said, "and don't move, don't talk."
     Redfox stayed where he was.  "What happens when you... make this thing work?"
The gladiator knew himself for a simple hunter and warrior; he had no pretensions to
shamanic skills.  He didn't want any such skills.  He didn't want anything to do with
situations that required such skills.
     The shaman sighed.  "This is... a doorway of sorts."
     Redfox tensed.  "To the Spirit Land?"  He had been there, or somewhere connected
with there, before.  It had not been a pleasant experience.
     "No.  The Spirit Land is closed to all but the dead at this time.  This is... a
way around it.  A detour, you might say."
     "To where?"
     The old shaman shook his head.  After a moment, he said, "I don't think I could
explain it in a way that would be meaningful to you.  Just call it... somewhere
else."
     When Redfox opened his mouth to ask another question, Wolf held up his hand.
"No, 'Fox.  You're a good man when it comes time to act.  That will be your job.  I'm
sending you to somebody who needs a man of action, and will give you instructions
when the time comes.  Now, take your position and let's get this done."
     "But--"
     "Your main character flaw," Uncle Wolf observed, "is a tendency to ask too many
questions.  You need to fight that, 'Fox."
     "If you can't tell me where I'm going, can you at least tell me who I'm supposed
to help?" Redfox asked, exasperated.
     The old shaman grinned, looking suddenly very like his namesake animal.  "I'm
sending you to Raigavor the Unholy," he said.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Well, I bet you thought you were rid of me?  In the immortal words of Debby
Totne, as if!  I had the title last time, I won my fight, nobody else is in a
position to take up the title, so I say, heck with little details, such as my
graduation.  *I* will do a column.
     Alas, I have no earth-shaking pronouncements to make from this position.  I know
earth-shaking things, of course, I have a lot of curiosity, and I keep my eyes open
at all times (except when sleeping, and even then, my EARS are open), and I have
picked up a thing or two.
     For instance, I happen to know--that's KNOW, not guess--how the milk got into
the coconut, but I promised not to tell.
     I am privy to the Secret History of no lesser personage than Raigavor the
Unholy.  I did NOT promise to keep this a secret, but since it's Raigavor, I think I
probably should.
     What?  Wait, somebody's trying to tell me something here....  WHAT?  NOW?  Heck.
Well, I guess I have to go now, sorry, I there are lots more things I know that I
can't tell you.

                                        Viret

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon TROCAR, for I, 
Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  TRADERS OF TROCAR?  Who?  EYE OF THE STORM is the top 
team these days, buddies!  Practice pays for PENELOTHE, who pummelled XYCO, to pocket 
17 points.  Win some, lose some.  Speaking of which, GLUM was winsome, after beating 
DARISTAM and seeing him lose 13 points.  Now I can't insult PENELOTHE, as she has 
gloriously dueled to the top.  Oh great new Duelmaster!!!  (Stop me if I lay it on 
too thick) Word has it one team in TROCAR is taking speech lessons to try to bore 
their opponent to death.  I'll bet it works.   
     My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter. 
But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights!  Perhaps the warriors of EYE OF THE 
STORM should take up some hobbies, as they are the most avoided team...  The warriors 
of EYE OF THE STORM found their efforts at combat frustrated as JANIX apparently had 
more important things to do than fight.  Everyone is famous for fifteen minutes, and 
DARISTAM is it right now.  Most challenged warrior.  Isn't TRADERS OF TROCAR proud!   
     Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors.  
Oh hard!  that to strike a flame, the match itself must needs be wasting!   
     Leave me now, you base fools!  As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my 
control, I must take my leave of this place.  Like a mixed metaphor, and an overtaxed 
simile, I now bid TROCAR farewell-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PENELOTHE 2838               12   6  0   106       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WASTELANDER 2134             18  14  1   103       EYE OF THE STORM (221)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WIMPERETTA 2655              23  17  1    87       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
 XYCO 2899                    13   9  1    84       JANIX (298)
 SNIR 2784                    16   8  0    69       JANIX (298)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SKORINDELLE 2742             13   8  1    63       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
 GLUM 2766                     7   5  1    59       JANIX (298)
 RUNE KNIGHT 2915             11   8  0    58       EYE OF THE STORM (221)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DARISTAM 2837                 9   9  0    39       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VAGRANT CUR 2953              5   3  1    33       EYE OF THE STORM (221)
 VIKKI THE VAIN 2946           6   3  1    24       EYE OF THE STORM (221)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-WERETIGER 2965                1   0  1    21       FERAL LEGION (314)
-WEREWOLF 2966                 1   0  1    21       FERAL LEGION (314)
 HELLFURY 2963                 4   0  0    20       EYE OF THE STORM (221)
 WORQ 2956                     4   1  0    20       JANIX (298)
-WERE BEAR 2967                1   0  0    15       FERAL LEGION (314)
-WERERAT 2964                  1   0  0    15       FERAL LEGION (314)
 ROXY 2957                     2   2  0    10       JANIX (298)
-LYCANTHROPE 2968              0   1  0     7       FERAL LEGION (314)
-KENAZ THORSSON 2507           0   2  0     2       ODIN'S CHOSEN (264)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
HAUBERK 2564           2  7 1 THE ABYSMALS 270      BOBBY JONES 2600      214 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Viret -- In french your name means "take a little trip"--Congrats on your invite, I
for one am rather glad to see you go.  You could of left me an extra point to remain
a CC though!, I'll remember that!!!  (smile) -- Wasteland golem

All --- Not that there are many of you, but sorry for the lack of PA's these past few
turns, shouldn't happen again. -- Blackstorm

Feral Legion -- (wry grin)  Glad to see you.  Makes 1-0-0 for me unless we only count
kills.  Should we let NPC's count? -- Blackstorm (EOTS)
P.S.  A were-rabbit showed up here by mistake, is he one of yours?

Skorindelle -- In that case you don't mind me taking this win then.  Most of the
Storm seem to be good teachers, we have the skills, it's the dastardly PPs that are
getting away from us, which means Wastelander is still around for another 13 PPs.
(grin) -- Rune Knight

Lycanthrope -- Hehe, couldn't get me, eh?  I was aiming for the melon, only way to
kill a lycanthrope, since silver bullets don't exist here, haha. -- Hellfury

     Watermelon?  Canteloupe?

INNOCENT BYSTANDERS -- Funny since gladiators are far from innocent!!, anyways this
is to warn everyone that Eye of the Storm and Feral Legion are involved in a kill
kontest to 10 points!!  You may encounter higher levels of bloodlust that usual from
both of these teams.  Thank you. -- Blackstorm

A Wild-Eyed Fanatic?  And unwashed, you can't IMAGINE how awful he tasted.  I was
quite repelled. -- Wimperetta

Ha.  Wimperetta was repelled by and LOST TO the Wild-eyed Fanatic, but *I* won.  So
there. -- Penelothe

Rune Knight -- I didn't realize runes took so LONG.  But all is now clear, and I will
go with cursive in the future.  Count on it. -- Skorindelle

Hmm, the Rirorni Slaver is not Rirorni.  What is the meaning of this?  Is this foul
elf an enslaver of Rirorni?  I don't much like the nomads myself, but I'm against
enslaving them.  I believe it might lead to Bad Things happening in the area, because
they're bound to get upset about it. -- Daristam

14 February 2007
RSI is now taking rollups for a slow version of the No-Tournament arena.  Send your
rollup to RSI listing the arena as "Slow No Tournament".  Sign and send in the
following pledge:

* I pledge that I will not send warriors from this team to a Tournament, nor will I
  use a Tournament prize on a warrior from this team.
* I pledge to run a full team when I run turns in this arena.  If circumstances
  preclude my running less than a full team I will notify the Player Committee.
* I agree to abide by the decisions of the Player Committee.
* I understand that any warrior that participates in a Tournament shall be sent to
  the Dark Arena until they are dead.
* I understand that any warrior that receives a Tournament prize shall be send to the
  Dark Arena until they are dead.

The following are the rules for joining this No-Tournament arena 

1.  No tournament play (Dead tournament or otherwise)
2.  One team per manager
3.  Team starts with new rollup (or a zero fight equivalent team is transferred into
    this arena.)
4.  No tourney prizes allowed to modify warriors in the arena
5.  20 teams required, per RSI
6.  Waivers are required to allow self-regulation on tourney ban, granting RSI
    authority to Dark Arena any warrior that participates in a Tournament (until the
    warrior is dead.)
7.  Rotating council to enforce tourney ban and maintain arena integrity.

Hammer will be the focal point for this arena's Player Committee.

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

XYCO was devastated by PENELOTHE in a 2 minute mismatched Challenge Title fight.
SNIR outlasted RUNE KNIGHT in a slow 16 minute gruesome veteran's Challenge melee.
GLUM devastated DARISTAM in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
WORQ was savagely defeated by VAGRANT CUR in a 3 minute bloody Challenge match.
ROXY was bested by HELLFURY in a 5 minute novice's Challenge duel.
WIMPERETTA was devastated by WASTELANDER in a 1 minute mismatched match.
SKORINDELLE overpowered AMBITIOUS GUARD in a action packed 1 minute uneven melee.
VIKKI THE VAIN won victory over TROCARAN DESERTER in a 2 minute duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|WALL OF STEEL                    5         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -   1 -  1      90  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   3 -  1      67  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         WALL OF STEEL     19 -  11 -  0      63  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         LUNGING ATTACK    10 -   6 -  1      63  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   1         SLASHING ATTACK    8 -   5 -  0      62  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   2 -  1      60  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         STRIKING ATTACK   17 -  16 -  3      52  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         BASHING ATTACK     1 -   1 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         AIMED BLOW        14 -  15 -  2      48  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         TOTAL PARRY        9 -  12 -  0      43  |

Turn 218 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
WALL OF STEEL    PENELOTHE 2838             12   6  0  106 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
SLASHING ATTACK  WASTELANDER 2134           18  14  1  103 EYE OF THE STORM (221)
AIMED BLOW       WIMPERETTA 2655            23  17  1   87 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
TOTAL PARRY      SNIR 2784                  16   8  0   69 JANIX (298)
LUNGING ATTACK   GLUM 2766                   7   5  1   59 JANIX (298)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is WIMPERETTA 2655.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was PENELOTHE 2838.  The ten other most popular fighters were VAGRANT CUR 2953, 
WASTELANDER 2134, SKORINDELLE 2742, VIKKI THE VAIN 2946, XYCO 2899, GLUM 2766, WORQ 
2956, WIMPERETTA 2655, DARISTAM 2837, and ROXY 2957.

The least popular fighter this week was SNIR 2784.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were RUNE KNIGHT 2915, HELLFURY 2963, ROXY 2957, DARISTAM 2837, WIMPERETTA 
2655, WORQ 2956, GLUM 2766, XYCO 2899, VIKKI THE VAIN 2946, and SKORINDELLE 2742.