DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER
Date : 06/19/2003 Duedate: 07/02/2003
ROCANIS ARENA
DM-56 TURN-327
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
HAIRY TUB
MY BATHROOM (378)
(56-3497) [9-2-0,101]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
HAIRY TUB POSITION IS EMPTY
MY BATHROOM (378)
(56-3497) [9-2-0,101]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
SHAYLA NESSUS
REDHORSE (207) ACT OF MALICE (264)
(56-3640) [11-17-2,65] (56-3622) [13-7-5,82]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
GENERAL SURGERY (267)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BAD APPLES (187) 40
2. GENERAL SURGERY (267) 25 MY BATHROOM (378)
3. ACT OF MALICE (264) 15 Unchartered Team
4. MY BATHROOM (378) 11
5. CARE PACKAGE (370) 0 (-1)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 2 MY BATHROOM (378) 10 4 0 71.4 1/ 3 GENERAL SURGERY (267) 7 5 0
2- 1*CARE PACKAGE (370) 9 4 2 69.2 2/ 4 BAD APPLES (187) 7 8 1
3/ 3 ACT OF MALICE (264) 60 45 8 57.1 3/ 1 REDHORSE (207) 7 8 0
4/ 4 REDHORSE (207) 296 344 11 46.3 4/ 2 ACT OF MALICE (264) 6 6 2
5/ 5 BAD APPLES (187) 243 345 13 41.3 5/ 6 MY BATHROOM (378) 2 0 0
6/ 6 GENERAL SURGERY (267) 32 60 1 34.8 6- 5*CARE PACKAGE (370) 1 1 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 Charter Cities #86 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Morya and vicinity:
Uncle Wolf stood on the shore of the lake and stared across the glassy water
toward Morya. Sometimes the water was a perfect mirror reflecting the sky and the
city; sometimes it shivered for no obvious reason and showed...other things. It was
the other things, the visions of something behind or within or beyond the world as
most know it, as bones are within flesh and give shape to the body without being seen
themselves, that he waited for. Sometimes those things were true, and sometimes they
weren't. Sometimes the information offered was merely...curious, and sometimes it
was important.
Sometimes, such things could be seen this lake.
He felt again the faint tremble, half earth tremor and half something less
physical. The water shivered, breaking up the reflection of Morya, then stilled.
The reflection of Morya reformed.
Differently.
The city's wall, the low domes and sturdy watchtowers of brick, were replaced by
a soaring, glittering rainbow cluster of...it looked like shards of broken glass more
than anything familiar.
The surface of the lake began to ripple like shaken silk, and with each ripple,
the image changed: Morya as he knew it, then the city of broken glass, Morya again,
the glass again. Finally a wind came up and erased all reflections.
"I felt something shake the Web," a voice said behind him. The manager turned
and saw Ghost Dancer, one of his Lord Protectors from Morya and the one most attuned
to the Spirits. "What does it mean?" the young man asked.
"Change. Great changes. I don't know what kind, how soon." The old man
squinted at the lake, which now remained wind-roughened and non-reflective. "More
information must be found and linked together."
"Will you question the spirit bones?" Ghost Dancer asked eagerly. The reading
of the rune-carved bones was an art he hoped to learn, and he never passed up an
opportunity to observe it. Since he now lived in Alastari instead of among the
Maengedai, the Rirorni tribe of his birth, this was something that seldom happened.
Uncle Wolf shook his head. "I tried that earlier. The bones no longer speak."
After a moment's shocked silence, Ghost Dancer suggested, "The weakening of the
Arcanum? There is much talk of it on the Isle."
"Maybe," the old shaman growled, turning away from the lake. "But maybe not.
This isn't the same as all those book-spells they do on the Isle. They don't work
with the same forces, they don't feel the power in their guts, only in their heads."
He made an effort to look at the Isle's wizards impartially. "They have their uses,
I suppose," he admitted grudgingly, "but they're too far from the roots of power. It
no longer talks to them, only obeys their orders. They are more likely to be the
problem than the solution." He set off for the small meadow beside the road where
he'd left his horse.
"Surely the Lady Greywand is working on the solution!" Ghost Dancer half ran to
keep up with his manager.
Uncle Wolf squinted at the sky. "She's part Orc, part Elf, and part Jathkar, an
unlikely combination to begin with," he muttered, "and she's thousands of years old.
Bound to be unstable, after all that time. And bound to have her own agenda that may
not be anything like we think it is. I wouldn't count on her for anything I could do
myself. And if I couldn't do something myself, I'd figure out how to get by without
it."
"Oh." Ghost Dancer was silent for a moment. Then he said, "I saw something in
the lake, at least I think I did, just before the wind came. It looked like...a
broken rainbow, maybe. I couldn't tell what it really was."
The old shaman was quiet for several minutes, mounting his horse and riding
toward the Dodge Bullets encampment without speaking. Finally he said, "It is
another place, another Morya. One city is a reflection of the other."
"A reflection of Morya...?" Ghost Dancer reined his mount closer to the old
man's to hear the quiet comment.
"Unless Morya is the reflection. Or perhaps both are reflections of some third
city. Or--"
"Stop! Three is all I can think about at one time," Ghost Dancer confessed.
"How could you find out which is the real city and which the reflection?"
Uncle Wolf laughed. "There speaks a young man--we who are older feel no need
for that information. It is enough for us to live in the city we have."
"Is there no way to tell?" Ghost Dancer persisted.
The old man sighed and laughed a little. "Yes, there is a way, impetuous youth!
You must walk into the mirage--or the other city--and keep walking until you find the
One Who can answer." He glanced at his companion, still smiling. "There is such a
person. Or persons. I know, because I have met them in my own impetuous youth."
"How do I walk into the mirage?"
"That you will have to discover for yourself." After a moment, he added, "It
would be best if you don't go alone."
At the coruscine mines:
Rokori Klee had chosen their route well, and they got clear of the volcanic area
without meeting any miners. Or anything else. Except for the disgruntled miners
they had left behind, staring at the river of lava which had been their mining
claims, they met nothing alive.
Or anything dead, Iron Talon noted silently. This bizarre landscape of burning
rocks smoky air would be just the place for meeting some kind of undead THING...like
that one! Something that might be a skeleton wavered in the near distance, gleaming
white as bone.
"Don't think!" Bill said sharply. "The coruscine may have left a magical
residue that will take months to disperse, and a careless thought could bring
disaster on us in an instant." When the white-shining thing came closer, proving to
be an animated skeleton such as Iron Talon had imagined, he said sharply, "There are
no animated skeletons here! There are no creatures of undeath!"
The skeleton collapsed in a clatter of bones, then crumbled to dust.
"Oh...." Iron Talon looked down at what remained of her accidental creation.
"If I were to imagine..." she squinted into the smoky clouds, "someone who might be
dead, for instance, if I were to really BELIEVE that I saw Lugard coming out of that
fold of the hills over there...."
"Don't!" Bill yelped.
It was too late. Someone was coming out of the crease in the hills, and it
looked very much like Lugard.
"Why not?" Iron Talon asked, grinning. "If it works...."
"What if he didn't die, and now there are two of him?" Rokori Klee asked.
"And even if there's only the one, made by chance and magic and desire," Bill
said grimly, "it isn't what you think. Not the same person you remember, and not
anyone you want to know."
"You're just an old wet blanket," Iron Talon snapped. "I don't believe you, and
I won't listen."
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Charter Cities #87 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Morya:
"Lapur remains a thorn in our side," Bey Nishtar, new ruler of Monuntial, said.
"Not only do they resist absorption into the Grand Plan, but they encourage and abet
the rebels that still follow the old fool Quetzal. That city must be broken and the
rebels crushed. What are you going to do about it?"
"It's too early for me to break openly with the other Charter Cities," Equestor
Valarrian Kiyle said. "My own people would turn on me if I--"
"Decimate them," Nishtar suggested. "I find that it has a very persuasive
effect if you line up the entire population, men, women, and children, and kill every
tenth person out of hand."
"I dare not at this time!" the Moryan said. "As well hand over control of the
city-state to Minzach directly."
"If you can't help me over Lapur," Nishtar asked softly, "then what good are you
to me, Valarrian? Why should I continue to support you and your puny efforts to
forge an empire?"
"I can find the men to infiltrate the Monuntialese rebel forces," Valarrian said
quickly. "I have contacts in Dullens and Khalani where there are gladiators who
are...displeased at the closing of the arenas. Displeased enough to believe that
Lapur engineered those closings. They'll be good tools to begin the downfall of
Lapur."
"Perhaps," Nishtar said. "Let me see some action on this and I might be
convinced to continue my support of your cause. But if there is no action SOON,
Valarrian, you had better put your affairs in order and prepare your graveclothes."
Monuntial:
Agro and Bindi emerged from the underground room at the head of the double line
of laborers who had carried the float. The men standing at the door were armed, but
they seemed to have no special training in combat. Professional bullies, Agro
guessed, taking out the nearest man with a quick thrust. He caught the guard's
weapon as the man fell and tossed it back to one of his unarmed followers. On the
other side, Bindi cut a guard's throat and danced past to menace the next one.
They weren't out in the arena yet, but just entering a sort of cavernous foyer.
Several hallways opened into it from under the stands, and the far wall was all open;
the sunlight came from there, and the roar of the crowd. The big Croc tipped his
head to the side and listened grimly for a moment. The crowd wanted to see blood and
death, did they? He grinned, displaying a lot of very sharp teeth; he and his
followers would oblige them--not in the way they expected.
He killed two more guards before reaching the wide archway into the arena
itself. He felt no remorse about them; they had chosen to support the usurpers,
Quelsarrain and Nishtar, and their new, bloodier arena, so he figured they'd asked
for whatever happened to them. But it meant two more of the men with him would now
be armed, and that was good.
Monuntial arena was built on an ancient foundation, oval and larger than arena
in Lapur. Someone had mentioned once that it was an old Van arena where they had
held chariot races. This entry was near the middle of one long side, and directly
across, Agro saw the box seating of the wealthy, especially the fancy raised box with
its gold-fringed awning where Quelsarrain sat with his personal attendants. The
barrier wall around the arena was ten feet high except at that point; the Usurper sat
twenty feet above the sands. Smooth marble, too, the Croc noted with displeasure; he
would have liked to get up there and deliver some blood and death directly to
Quelsarrain. Oh, well, another time. There were soldiers stationed around the edge
who would make a good bloody show.
Agro pivoted sharply and engaged the one nearest the entry arch. The rest of
his group, remembering his brief instructions before they were freed from the
underground holding chamber, remained close enough together to support each other as
they began to fight their way around the open space.
>)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #62 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<
Zukal and vicinity:
It was harder to get Veleks into the boat than Ghenis had expected. Dead, it
might have been awkward, but alive...the little thief turned suddenly hysterical,
shrieking and weeping, trashing wildly, and begging not to be given to "the burning
eyes and flashing teeth." Ghenis finally had to knock Veleks out so that he and
Harlund drag him into the rowboat.
"He's nuts," Harlund growled, leaning into his oars as he drove the boat back
toward the shore. "Burning eyes and flashing teeth. Sounds like some kind of kid's
nightmare. He do some kind of drugs?"
"Veleks? No. He's got a few bad habits, but not drugs. He must have seen
something real...but maybe not really what he thinks he saw."
"He couldn't've seen something like that, not on the beach he couldn't. There
aren't any monsters in the woods around here." Harlund paused and looked around
uneasily, looked down into the water, which was filling with the shadows of sunset
faster than the sky was. "Might be different if he'd been in a boat to start with,"
the beach walker muttered. "He might've seen something over the water...."
"Veleks can't swim and had no boat. He was not on the water," Ghenis said
firmly. "Besides, I found what are probably his tracks. He was on the shore road
and left it to run toward the beach, and I do mean run--flat out. Something
terrified him. Veleks is no hero, but he wouldn't run without a reason."
Harlund opened his mouth to argue further, then looked at Ghenis and shut it
again. Smart move.
"Just get us to shore, man. Then I'll pay you, and you can go home. It isn't
your problem."
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Ghenis had the idea that it would have been harder, maybe impossible, to get rid
of Harlund at any time earlier in the day. But it was sunset, and the beach walker
seemed to have a strong aversion to being out on the shore at night. Which probably
meant that the gladiator would be wise to get himself and Veleks off the shore before
dark, too. Besides, he didn't want to meet his henchman's "burning eyes and flashing
teeth" with Veleks on his hands either unconscious or hysterical.
He draped the little thief over the saddle of his rented horse and glared at the
beast. It probably wasn't a bad horse, as horses went, but neither was it
outstanding in any way--it seemed unlikely, for instance, that it would take to
carrying double. Which meant he himself was going to have to walk. He toyed again
with the idea of buying a horse, a really GOOD horse. But, as at other times, he
also thought about how much it cost to keep a horse in the city, whether he was
riding it or not. His resources weren't infinite. And he didn't really leave the
city and NEED a horse that often, so it wouldn't be a savings, not really.
By the time Ghenis had reached this point, a familiar one, in his thoughts, it
was twilight and he was back on the coast road, leading the horse. He paused before
stepping out into the open. By the evidence of the tracks, Veleks had been on the
coast road in the dark when he met his monster. Maybe it would be better to get
under immediate cover instead of heading straight back to Zukal tonight. He'd passed
an abandoned farmstead--courtesy of the invasion, most likely--on his way to the
beach to meet Harlund. It wasn't any palace, but it would provide shelter and a
defensive position, and it was nearby, a mile, maybe a mile and a half away. He set
off in that direction, crossing the road and plunging into the brush along an
overgrown track.
The farmstead was as Ghenis remembered it, a stone house with half a roof, two
or three wooden sheds that had mostly collapsed, a cluster of unpruned fruit trees.
He led the horse right into what had been the main room of the house and dumped
Veleks onto the ground. By the dark powers, the little thief had better have
something useful to report after all this trouble! Veleks could sleep now, but by
morning he'd better be coherent.
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Ghenis sat over the fire he'd made from scraps of lumber and watched the full
moon ride across the sky. The night seemed long for the time of year, but that was
subjective, he knew. It was about midnight now, with the moonlight turning the
landscape into silver and soot. There had been owls hooting earlier, some other kind
of night birds, rustlings outside the farmhouse that had nothing to do with the wind,
but the night was silent now. He touched the amulet he wore under his shirt,
wondering if he would see Veleks' monster tonight. That would be...interesting.
A howl? There were wolves around the delta country, they'd come down out of the
hills after the invaders had devastated the area. A chorus of howls, must be a pack.
His horse was moving restlessly. It had a right to be uneasy, a pack of wolves was
no joke. Ghenis wished briefly that he had a crossbow, but he didn't. He drew his
sword and put more wood on the fire, checked to make sure that the remaining walls of
the old house would protect him from the sides and rear.
Another howl, closer, almost a hound-like baying. Other wolf voices answering.
Definitely a pack, hunting in the moonlight. He touched his amulet again. The dark
powers would not protect him if he stupidly put himself in the way of danger. Which
he had not done tonight, he had prudently gotten off the road and taken a defensible
shelter. With one hand on his amulet and the other on his sword, he waited.
Shadows moved in ways that wind and trees could not account for. They gathered
around the shell of the farmhouse; he glimpsed them through the empty doorway and the
gaps in the wall. The shadows blinked at him with eyes that were not burning but
cold as the moon overhead. Wolves. Big wolves, given how far off the ground those
pale eyes were. A lot of big wolves. But they weren't trying to get at him. More
kept arriving, causing an ongoing stir of shadows. He didn't try to count them.
Didn't really want to know how many wolves there were out there.
And then, suddenly, there was something else, with eyes of flame and a spear
tipped with icy moonlight. Human in shape, more or less, and mounted on something
that might be a horse but probably wasn't. It lifted a horn and blew, and the sound
was a wave of fear.
Veleks' monster.
>)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #63 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<
Riztab:
With all the snow of the winter just past, the lake was higher than usual. At
least two feet higher, Spymaster Torric guessed, looking at the water that now stood
waist high in the doorway of the old arena records building. He hadn't liked going
in there to hunt for old records when the water was barely up to his knees. Now...
no. No way he was going in there; anything could be hidden by that dark water.
"What idiot made the decision to leave the records down there, anyway?" Jorja,
manager of Sweet Magic, asked. "It's so stupid!"
Torric shrugged. "Gladiators and managers don't have the copyright on stupid,"
he said mildly. "I'm not sure if it was Arenamaster Rillion or First Citizen Makrok
who made the decision, but the other one concurred in it."
"Sounds like maybe the both had something to hide," Garfield, manager of Arena
Felines, murmured. "I wonder what?"
"Don't we all," Torric responded. That Rillion tA and Makrok should have a
secret they had succeeded in hiding offended him. He was supposed to be able to find
things out, and so far he hadn't scratched the surface on that.
"Are the records even THERE?" Garfield asked. "Maybe Rillion tA just said
they're stored down here to keep you from finding out that they're gone."
"They were here a little while ago." Torric frowned. "Four years? Five?
Something like that, I think--but I know the records still existed back then,
whenever, because I consulted them to find out about the earliest teams here. For
Sleepy, that was. Then something came up--the invasion, I think? Anyway, I didn't
go back. But--" He jumped as a crazy howl floated over the water. "I hate coming
here so late in the day," he muttered, glancing anxiously to the west. The sun was
slipping behind a bank of clouds.
"If somebody's messing around in the records storage, late in the day is the
time to watch for him. Be glad we can't see in the dark and watch after sunset!"
Jorja advised.
"Huh. I wish now I hadn't mentioned that Jaguar saw someone down this way."
Garfield eyed the dark water with disfavor. "Better I should have stayed at the
guildhouse and whacked him a couple of times for wandering around where he shouldn't
be."
The howl came again, from far out over the lake. A chorus, several voices
saluting the coming night.
"Loons," Torric said uneasily. "We always have some loons on this lake.
Horrible birds."
"It sounds more like wolves to me," Jorja countered, "or even hounds."
"Not on the lake!"
"I know, but--"
Another chorus of howls, this time accompanied by a deep-throated hunting horn.
"It IS hounds!" Garfield backed up a couple of steps. "I don't like dogs."
"And I don't like anything that can hunt on the surface of the lake," Jorja
agreed. She backed up with him. Spymaster Torric was already behind them and edging
farther back. "But I'd like to know what it is."
"It's us cats that are supposed to be curious," Garfield reminded her.
"Yeah, but it kills you cats. Don't want that--who'd I have to talk to?" She
stiffened, staring out over the water intently. With the sun sinking into the clouds
and the forest shadowing the lake anyway, it was hard to be sure, but she thought
something--bigger than any water bird--was moving out there.
The horn blew once more, a long note with more chilling menace in it than
anything either manager had heard. The horn call was backed by the baying of the
unnatural pack. The twilight took the shape of a pack of tall hounds and three lean
horsemen sweeping forward across the glassy surface of the water.
"They're headed for the old records building," Garfield noted in a steady voice.
"I don't think I want to hang around to welcome them."
"Right." Jorja joined his retreat. She shivered a little in the night air.
"This calls for strong drink in a warm, crowded tavern."
* }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *
---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 467): TREMERE of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 465): WILD BILL of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 461): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 461): POSITION IS EMPTY
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 459): KILLIN' STU of MINIONS OF MILO (Kleptov Grenufelbitz)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 458): POSITION IS EMPTY
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 450): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 447): LIGHTNING of HARBINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 445): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 438): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 401): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): BINGE N PURGE of EMETICS (Berylstar, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 198): RING D'BELL of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 185): DR. NO-NOOKIE of MASTER BLASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 326): NESSUS of ACT OF MALICE (Carnage, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 306): VLADIMIR TALTOS of BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): PUNCH DRUNK of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 351): STEVE DALLAS of BLOOM COUNTY from NIYTYOLE ISLAND
(Rillion, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 467): BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 465): ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 461): UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 461): BLACKHEART'S AXE (?, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 459): SPECIAL ED (PTFT, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 458): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 450): EQUESTORS (Spartacus, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 447): THE STORMLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 445): PATH OF THE BLADE (Vhagar, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 438): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 401): KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 198): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 185): OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 326): REDHORSE (Mila, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 306): FAVORITE GUYS (Obscure Source, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): none
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 351): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 465): WILD BILL of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
(turn 464): TONY THE TIGER of ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 460): BUBU of GEN KHAN (Technogeek, mgr.)
HU MI of GEN KHAN (Technogeek, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 459): SEAR ICECAP of LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
(turn 458): BONEY OLD BEHIND of KINDRED OF KAOS (PTFT, mgr.)
10-11-8-15-17-14-9ST of KINDRED OF KAOS (PTFT, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 457): NUTT BRITTLE of CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
BILLY LILLY of DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
(turn 228): NIGHTSHADE of CRYPT KNIGHTS (?, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.)
DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 445): DRY KEG of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 436): JELIAH BIGABO of PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (Aragorn, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 400): FLYING MARMOSET of KORGAN CRUSADE (Jack Wolfspider)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 197): INSOLENT IDIOT of MYSTIC ORC FEAST (Slugbait, mgr.)
ESPRESSO of COFFEE RULES! (Mr. Coffee, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 185): DR. NO-NOOKIE of MASTER BLASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 133): KAMIKAZE of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.)
SPY REPORT
Hail ROCANIS! Warriors of the arena, prepare to be praised and blamed for your
deeds. It seems the training can make the difference, as REDHORSE is pushed out of
top team by GENERAL SURGERY, who came from 3rd with a 3-1-0 this turn. The BAD
APPLES guild has had a 4-1-0 turn and deserves to be watched in the future. You
never know where this kind of thing can lead. And let's see, GERITH GRIMEYE fought
MOUNTAIN GOAT and gained 15 points and contributed to ACT OF MALICE's 2-2-0.
MOUNTAIN GOAT has lost to GERITH GRIMEYE, falling 11 points, while helping make
REDHORSE a 1-4-0 turn. Our last turn's Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost to RIRORNI
SPY, and NESSUS has made the way for a new Duelmaster! With NESSUS clearing the
throne, MY BATHROOM of HAIRY TUB takes a proud seat as ROCANIS' new Duelmaster, by
virtue of recognition points. Can someone confirm a rumor for me? I hear the top
team makes their losing fighters do dishes at The Wanton Troll until they win.
Maybe?
I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling. A basher
friend of mine assures me this is true. I also notice that the REDHORSE stable was
the most avoided team this turn. Come on ROCANIS, what are you afraid of? And guess
who avoided REDHORSE stable the most? Believe it or not, it was ACT OF MALICE.
Anyone surprised? The most challenged warrior this turn was REDHORSE's warrior
BROKEN TOE. More fighters challenged him than challenged the Duelmaster! BESOT of
ACT OF MALICE had better have a good reason for challenging down 12 points in a
challenge which he won. I thought BESOT showed great skill and promise when he
bested BROKEN TOE. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal!
The Dark Arena is for those who cannot win, not who cannot lose with grace.
Dignity in life or death is the warrior's creed. A brave warrior does not carry a
red shield, he has nothing to cover or hide when the fight is over. Consider well.
Thought for the day, a new sword shines bright, but the notched sword sings the
sweetest. Well, I'm burning daylight here in ROCANIS and I've a long road ahead of
me. Happy Trails. Until you see my quill in ROCANIS again, farewell-- Alarond the
Scribe
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HAIRY TUB 3497 9 2 0 101 MY BATHROOM (378)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
NESSUS 3622 13 7 5 82 ACT OF MALICE (264)
GAZELLE 3701 11 5 0 75 REDHORSE (207)
4-0 PROLENE 2570 16 8 0 73 GENERAL SURGERY (267)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SHAYLA 3640 11 17 2 65 REDHORSE (207)
BESOT 2449 11 11 0 65 ACT OF MALICE (264)
DUMPLING 3684 11 8 0 64 BAD APPLES (187)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-CARE-LESS 3423 4 1 1 53 CARE PACKAGE (370)
WORMY 3706 7 7 2 51 BAD APPLES (187)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GERITH GRIMEYE 3661 7 6 1 51 ACT OF MALICE (264)
BROKEN TOE 3683 11 9 1 46 REDHORSE (207)
APPLE FRITTER 3708 8 5 0 42 BAD APPLES (187)
-CARE-FREE 3420 5 0 1 40 CARE PACKAGE (370)
ELEVEN BLADE 3721 4 1 0 39 GENERAL SURGERY (267)
-NINDIL SOL 3679 4 0 1 36 ACT OF MALICE (264)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MOUNTAIN GOAT 3700 7 9 2 32 REDHORSE (207)
DEADFALL 3685 3 16 0 25 BAD APPLES (187)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
JAVELINO 3728 2 0 0 23 REDHORSE (207)
APPLEMINT 3736 1 0 0 13 BAD APPLES (187)
-FRANKIE 2204 3 2 0 11 OF MICE AND MEN (4)
CHUX 3726 2 1 0 10 GENERAL SURGERY (267)
SANITY'S DEMISE 3722 1 3 0 6 ACT OF MALICE (264)
TENACULUM 3735 0 1 0 2 GENERAL SURGERY (267)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
APPLE BLOSSOM 3703 3 11 1 BAD APPLES 187 GERITH GRIMEYE 3661 326
COLDHEART 3639 11 15 1 REDHORSE 207 NESSUS 3622 325
PERSONAL ADS
Join us as we mourn sweet Apple Blossom. Perhaps it could be said that, while she
tried to be hard, she was too gentle for the rough life of a gladiator.
Nessus -- Hey now, keep losing to NPCs and they might repossess our arena throne.
Some of the younger glads want to be sure it will stay around for them to try on
someday! -- Darkfist
Deadfall -- Woah! You...big! -- Eleven Blade
Darkfist -- What can I say? Yeah, I lost to a deserter but I'm just emulating our
Duelmaster. Isn't that what we're supposed to aspire to? -- Chux
Mountain Goat -- Hey, I was surprised as you that I could ignore the incredible blow
to the chest like that. It's not like I'm well-endowed for cushioning in that
department. Now why a wimpy shot to the knee would make me panic like that I have no
idea. Hope you're feeling better. -- 4-0 Prolene
Gerioth Grimeye -- Your eye was more than grim, it was Evil! Ah, the cruelty of
fate, slain by an Evil Eye. -- Ghost of Apple Blossom, expiring decoratively
P.S. I curse you with despairing dissatisfaction. No victory henceforth will bring
you satisfaction, no prize will seem good to you. Never will your prowess be
glorious or the wine of success be other than ashes and vinegar in your mouth. Never
will you know the freshness of enthusiasm and joy, such as I could have brought you
had I lived.
Eleven Blade -- Hmm, you trimmed me good! Or bad, from my point of view. And where
the heck did you find four skills? I didn't use any four skills out there. -- Deadfall
Shayla -- Huh, bet you didn't do any personals! Well, just watch out, 'cause one of
these days, this worm is going to turn! -- Wormy
Nothing like a standby when teammates are dying right and left. -- Dumpling, not
dying
Broken Toe -- Ugly ugly ugly. -- Apple Fritter
4-0 Prolene -- Oh, definitely! No pantyhose for me. -- Wormy
P.S. It makes my leg hairs itch.
27 May 2003
A note to everyone regarding manager names and manager lists -- If you're running a
team incognito, all you have to do is let me know and I won't put your name on any
manager lists. It has seemed though, that more people want their names listed, even
if they do not announce themselves, than the other way around. Also, I do maintain
the list more or less by hand and errors do creep in. You have but to say I've made
an error and no one will be the wiser (except thee and me, of course). -- The Saint,
keeper of lists
30 May 2003
Duelmasters Friends and Friendly Foes -- I am returning to the United States for the
summer. Please direct any Snailmail to:
Devon Hagy
Open Skies Ministries
Att: Hammer
1515 E 7th St
Okmulgee, OK 74447
USA
Bro De is the founder and president of Open Skies Ministries [Prison Ministry] and a
newcomer to the world of Duelmasters. We minister together when I am in the area.
See you on the sands!
-- Daryl P Holloman aka Hammer
Flower Hammerz DM 28
Casino Hammerz DM 33
Fish Hammerz DM 54
3 June 2003
The Company of Brothers want to take this opportunity to formally introduce
ourselves to all players. Our play is NOT based on smack, rudeness, or anything less
than fair play (well...as fair as it gets!) and improving the knowledge base of the
game and the sharing of experimentation and information. We are not concerned with
personal politics, ideals, etc. We are players who enjoy the game.
Currently, our membership includes:
Asmo Dius, Baphomet, and Fahkry.
We wish to welcome our newest member...Suiside. May the gods smile upon you and
victory rest well on your team. Any who wish to join us may contact one of our
members for info.
4 June 2003
ANNOUNCING THE RETURN OF STORMCROWE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
The last Stormcrowe Slaughterhouse was one of the closest and most exciting
contests ever held in Alastari. Such an epic demands a sequel. Therefore, Master
Darque and Jack Wolfspider are pleased to announce the return of the Stormcrowe
Slaughterhouse.
Where? Stormcrowe DM 45 (slow). When? The Slaughterhouse returns on Turn 207,
due August 19. How can you get into the action? Bring a team (one per entrant
please) to arena 45 and announce your intention to join the contest in the Personals.
Rules: This time around the rules are very simple. Each warrior win against a
higher rated opponent (one or more points higher in the ratings) brings you 10
points, against even rated opponent 7 points, lower rated 5 points. Wins against
NPCs or by a warrior who downchallenges are worth 0 points. Points are doubled for
kills. All warriors in the arena whether participating in the Slaughterhouse or not
are fair game. Points are totaled weekly, and the contestant whose team has racked
up the most points at the end of 10 turns is declared Slaughterhouse Champion.
Prizes: To be announced; we're still talking with RSI about it. Figure it will
be something pretty good. But hey, who needs prizes when the honor of being
Slaughterhouse Champion awaits!
More info: Master Darque, MasterDarqueDM@aol.com, or Jack Wolfspider,
russtulp@aol.com. Or diplo Darque Forces (428) or Dynastic (433) in Arena 45.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
HAIRY TUB devastated GAZELLE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge Title fight.
4-0 PROLENE won victory over SHAYLA in a 4 minute expert's Challenge battle.
BESOT subdued BROKEN TOE in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
GERITH GRIMEYE vanquished MOUNTAIN GOAT in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
ELEVEN BLADE overpowered DEADFALL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
SANITY'S DEMISE was bested by CHUX in a 1 minute beginner's Challenge brawl.
NESSUS was luckily beaten by RIRORNI SPY in a exciting 3 minute bloody struggle.
DUMPLING viciously subdued RABID GOPHER in a 3 minute expert vs. beginner fight.
WORMY viciously subdued RIRORNI SOLDIERS in a action packed 1 minute gruesome fight.
APPLE FRITTER defeated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 2 minute fight.
JAVELINO beat TENACULUM in a 2 minute gory novice's melee.
APPLEMINT demolished RIRORNI ARCHER in a 1 minute mismatched match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 6 TOTAL PARRY 17 - 3 - 0 85 |
|WALL OF STEEL 3 PARRY-STRIKE 7 - 4 - 0 64 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 7 - 4 - 1 64 |
|BASHING ATTACK 2 AIMED BLOW 9 - 6 - 1 60 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 WALL OF STEEL 12 - 9 - 0 57 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 3 - 1 57 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 1 LUNGING ATTACK 21 - 20 - 2 51 |
|AIMED BLOW 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 - 6 - 1 40 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 6 - 0 40 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 BASHING ATTACK 6 - 16 - 2 27 |
Turn 327 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 - 1 4 LUNGING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY
WALL OF STEEL 3 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 2 WALL OF STEEL
LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 3 1 SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 PARRY-LUNGE
BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 BASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
LUNGING ATTACK HAIRY TUB 3497 9 2 0 101 MY BATHROOM (378)
SLASHING ATTACK NESSUS 3622 13 7 5 82 ACT OF MALICE (264)
TOTAL PARRY GAZELLE 3701 11 5 0 75 REDHORSE (207)
WALL OF STEEL DUMPLING 3684 11 8 0 64 BAD APPLES (187)
PARRY-STRIKE APPLE FRITTER 3708 8 5 0 42 BAD APPLES (187)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is SHAYLA 3640. The most popular warrior this turn was
NESSUS 3622. The ten other most popular fighters were DUMPLING 3684, SHAYLA 3640,
WORMY 3706, TENACULUM 3735, 4-0 PROLENE 2570, BESOT 2449, GERITH GRIMEYE 3661, APPLE
FRITTER 3708, JAVELINO 3728, and HAIRY TUB 3497.
The least popular fighter this week was DEADFALL 3685. The other ten least popular
fighters were MOUNTAIN GOAT 3700, GAZELLE 3701, APPLEMINT 3736, SANITY'S DEMISE 3722,
ELEVEN BLADE 3721, CHUX 3726, BROKEN TOE 3683, HAIRY TUB 3497, JAVELINO 3728, and
APPLE FRITTER 3708.
NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS)
For those of you who keep track of such things, 13 additional warriors graduated
from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament:
STRYSON (12-1368) SHADOW LORDS
STEFEN (15-2052) WILD BOYS
FROG SLAYER (21-4021) THE GUARDIANS
VICTOR CALDERONE (60-5223) CLUB CULTURE
TYBALT (62-3696) GRAPHIC VIOLENCE
WESTON (65-5719) SUPERIOR FORCES 4I
FOGGY (72-4595) DARQUE FORCES
NORAF (82-3856) ENVENOMED
CHEOPS (82-4451) LEGENDS OF EGYPT
THE SCREAMING FANS (82-6495) WHY I PLAY DM
CRAB (82-11880) 4-LETTER STDS
BRAND (82-13289) TOADS OF AMBER III
SHERRI (82-15114) SUPERIOR FORCES 3201
-- Green Eyes