DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/03/2003    Duedate: 07/16/2003

ROCANIS ARENA

DM-56    TURN-328

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

NESSUS
ACT OF MALICE (264)
(56-3622) [14-7-5,89]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

NESSUS                         ROYCE GRACIE
ACT OF MALICE (264)            SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)
(56-3622) [14-7-5,89]          (56-3686) [6-0-0,56]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

SHAYLA                         SANITY'S DEMISE
REDHORSE (207)                 ACT OF MALICE (264)
(56-3640) [11-18-2,55]         (56-3722) [1-4-0,7]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

GENERAL SURGERY (267)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. ACT OF MALICE (264)         28
2. GENERAL SURGERY (267)       23      ACT OF MALICE (264)
3. SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)       12      Unchartered Team
4. MY BATHROOM (378)            0
5. REDHORSE (207)             -10      SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1 MY BATHROOM (378)         10   4  0 71.4   1/ 1 GENERAL SURGERY (267)     8  4 0
 2/ 0*SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)     21  12  1 63.6   2/ 3 REDHORSE (207)            7  8 0
 3/ 3 ACT OF MALICE (264)       63  46  8 57.8   3/ 4 ACT OF MALICE (264)       6  6 1
 4/ 4 REDHORSE (207)           298 347 11 46.2   4/ 2 BAD APPLES (187)          6  9 0
 5/ 5 BAD APPLES (187)         244 349 13 41.1   5- 5 MY BATHROOM (378)         1  0 0
 6/ 6 GENERAL SURGERY (267)     35  61  1 36.5   6/ 0*SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)     1  0 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 #88 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Monuntial:

     The Usurper's guards hadn't expected their prey to come out fighting, and that
moment's shock and hesitation was time they couldn't spare.  'Steal their
initiative'?  Agro snorted as he slaughtered the nearest guard.  These fools had
simply dropped it, if they'd ever had any.  As gladiators, they would have been
hopeless...and he decided that the closing of Monuntial's arena had benefited his
side in ways nobody had expected.  He and the group behind worked half-way around the
arena before they met with a real challenge.
     The real challenge was half a dozen guardsmen who dropped down from the
Usurper's box.  They were armored, and they were skilled.  All Agro had to pit
against that was the numbers and desperate determination of his followers.  The crowd
loved it, probably found it a lot more exciting than lions against unarmed prey.  And
speaking of lions...where were they?  If someone let them out, it could add a lot of
confusion to the situation.  Better if that didn't happen, but nothing he could do
about it right now.
     The Usurper's men knew their business, Agro could see it in the way they looked
over the situation, identified himself as the core of the problem, and started after
him, ignoring all others.  Then he had no more time to think about things.  Thrust
and parry, riposte and dodge.  Slash.  Duck and roll.  Thrust again.  Didn't dodge
fast enough, but it wasn't a serious cut.  Yet.  These men were good.  It seemed to
go on and on, testing his stamina to the limit.  Slash, slash, and parry.  How did
the guards stand it?  Thrust, parry, dodge.  They must be cooking in that armor.
     Someone shouted for him to drop flat on the count of five.  It took him a few
seconds to realize the command had been in Isle cant, a language born of the cross-
fertilization of Fratsfan, Kannish, and Tathanit, and little known outside the
gladiatorial community.  Probably a friend, then.  When someone yelled "FIVE" he
dropped.
     And an explosion of...light?  Fire?  Some kind of blast flashed over his head,
taking down anyone still standing.  The Usurper's guards, the regular guards, most of
his followers who were still standing.  He didn't want to think about Bindi; she was
still a Basic gladiator and hadn't been exposed to Isle cant....
     There was a second explosion on the heels of the first, but it was dark and cold
and expanded in a volume instead of a plane.  Counterattack?  This was a lot of magic
flying around for the time and conditions.  Agro recalled that someone had told him
Nishtar, the Eastern ally of the Usurper, was a mage.  Maybe a reckless mage, then.
And it probably meant that the Usurper, or at least his ally, had survived the first
blast.
     When the air stopped shaking, Agro raised his head and looked around cautiously.
He couldn't hear anything, but that was probably because the two blasts had numbed
his ears.  After a look at the stands, he decided temporary deafness was a blessing.
He gathered his limbs under himself and lurched to his feet.  A few others down on
the sands were doing likewise--one of them, he saw with relief, was Bindi.  If any
were guards, they'd lost their tell-tale armor.  He gestured for her to go toward the
exit and started in that direction himself.

     >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #64 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Ibizond, Korga, and in between:

     The sun was low in the sky, less than an hour from setting, Fist of Kjarran
calculated.  He glanced at his companions, a hastily assembled group of gladiators
from Murska and hunters from Ibizond.  They had all heard of the killer that stalked
this stretch of road at night--Cadal had insisted on telling them, just to make sure
they all knew, which Fist thought was a mistake--and they were nervous.  Well, it was
time for them to turn back, and their numbers should protect them from attack.
Cadal, with Aghatamar and Zilla, were somewhere ahead, waiting in ambush to attack
the killer if the killer attacked him, Fist of Kjarran.  Not a bad plan, he conceded
privately, even if it had come from a Murskan semi-barbarian.  The man was almost as
good as a true Karnhorn in his thinking....  But Cadal hadn't taken into account the
possibility that the killer might take one look at him and sheer off.  Fist caressed
the hilt of the sword at his side.  Even if the killer had never heard of him, the
Lord Protector knew that he was an impressive, even daunting, sight.  A stir among
his companions drew his attention outward again.
     "About time we turned back," one of the men said.  He seemed to be the leader,
what was his name...Finn, that was it.  "Most of these people aren't Lord Protectors,
and if the killer gets them, they're just plain dead."
     Fist nodded.  "Yes, you should have time to get back to Ibizond before dark," he
agreed.  "And we certainly don't need more deaths along here."
     They all came to a stop.  "Thing is, I don't like leaving you on your own," Finn
went on.  He looked uncomfortable about the whole situation, but of course he had no
belief in Kjarran to sustain him.  "I could stay...."
     "A generous offer," Fist responded, clapping him on the back.  It was good to be
reminded that even non-believers had courage and honor.  "But I'm supposed to be
alone, to be tempting bait for the killer.  That is the way it's planned, you know.
We can't change the plan at this late hour!"
     "I know," Finn agreed gloomily, "but I don't like it.  Well...I guess we turn
back now.  Good luck!"  He gestured to his group, and they turned back readily, even
eagerly, toward Ibizond, sturdy walls, lights, and companionship.  With a last
salute, Finn followed them, leaving Fist of Kjarran alone on the road.
     Fist of Kjarran watched them go and smiled to himself as he turned to go toward
Korga.  That was the best thing about adventures; you made new friends, met good
people you would never have encountered in your regular life.  Doing this service for
the people of the area, ridding the road of its killer, was a good thing, a worthy
effort, but making new friends was a warmer pleasure.  Whistling, he strode eastward
toward the prepared ambush.

Near Malcorn:

     Blackie, Lord Malcorn of Malcorn, stood next to the ancient stone and waited for
the moon to rise.  It would be full tonight, and he knew, because he knew most of the
natural world around Malcorn, that when it reached a certain height above the
horizon, it would shine through the hole in a more distant rock and strike squarely
onto the face of the rock beside him, revealing carvings that had been old when the
first Lord Malcorn came to this land.  The records of his ancestors said that the
Dregur were accustomed to gathering here when the moon was just so.
     "I must be insane," Tiljanz muttered behind him.
     "Courage and a sense of responsibility often looks like madness," Blackie
agreed, "even to the people exhibiting it.  You didn't have to come here tonight, but
you felt it was the right thing to do.  I can respect that in a man.  A lot."
     "Will it do any good?" the young Karnhorn asked curiously.  "We've turned the
Dregur loose, and I'd think it hard if not impossible to rein them back in."
     "We turned them loose under terms," Blackie said.  His voice hardened, becoming
the voice of the Lord of Malcorn.  "They have not kept those terms.  They were to
attack only those who came here following Inzolas.  That a few innocents might get
caught in that net by accident was...almost inevitable.  But some of the Dregur have
been actively hunting those not indicated by the terms of their release."  He was
silent for a long moment, then shrugged.  "I'm not certain that we can put an end to
these...excesses.  But I am very certain that if we don't protest, the situation will
become worse.  A failure to protest will be seen as an admission of weakness."

     >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #65 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(<

Near Zukal:

     Ghenis grimaced at the wave of fear but set himself to defend his shelter,
himself, his horse, and Veleks.  The fear, he realized after a moment, was something
outside himself, something the monstrous hunter was attempting to impose on him.
That knowledge did not lessen the icy waves coming at him, but it let him set it away
from himself, make a space between fear and thought.  It would not find him an easy
victim.
     There was what seemed like a very long silence, with Ghenis in the ruined house
beside his fire, and the icy-eyed shadows outside.  The shadows seemed to be waiting
for something--for him to flee, screaming, probably.  And to be disconcerted by his
failure to do so.
     Ghenis reached up to touch his amulet again, then paused before his fingers
reached the cool stone.  It looked like he could handle this on his own, so better
not to invoke the dark powers.  But should he speak, demand what this shadow wanted
of him, or wait and let it be first to break the silence?  Better to wait; in a
contest of nerves, the first to break silence lost points.  He didn't have any
points, whatever they might be in this context, to spare.
     Sooner than he expected, a voice came out of the night.  It was cold, and
hollow, and deep as a cave, sounding distant, somehow, or not quite real.  Oh, it was
real, Ghenis knew that--out of the corner of his eye, he saw his horse flinch at the
sound.  But it was hard to imagine that any creature of flesh and blood might produce
such a voice.
     "Why do you not flee?"
     "Flee?  You think I should run away?"  The gladiator put as much surprise in his
voice as he could.  "Why?  I've got a fine location here, shelter from the wind and
rain, a fire for light and warmth.  Why should I leave before morning?"
     "Do you not fear me?  You should."  The voice dropped to a deeper, darker tone.
"I could rip life and soul from your puny mortal flesh--"
     "Sounds unpleasant," Ghenis agreed.  "But I'm a Lord Protector, and the Greywand
has a deal with Ahringol--he doesn't get to keep us Lord Protectors.  We get
resurrected on a regular--"
     "Ahringol!"  The name crackled like thunder in the darkness.  Scornful thunder.
"That foolish child?  These young gods have no sense of dignity, trafficking with
wizards as though they were mortal merchants!  Ahringol and Greywand are nothing to
me, what I take, I keep."
     "If you say so," the gladiator responded.  The statement that Ahringol, who had
a deal concerning gladiators, was not involved was disconcerting, but this was not
the time to show it.  "But if you could come here and get me, you'd already have done
it.  What's stopping you?" he added curiously.  "The fire, the steel, the fact that
I'm not afraid?"
     "Why should I tell you anything?"  The voice sounded annoyed now.  Almost sulky.
"You think too much."  It dropped to a note of menace.  "But one night you will be
without shelter, and then we will see what your brave words really mean."
     There was a stir in the shadows, a rushing wind of movement, and then Ghenis had
the night to himself.

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

                        ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 468): TREMERE of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 466): LIFE SENTANCE of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 462): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 463): MANAGER TC'S of IT'S JUST WRONG (LHI, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): COL SALOMON of 82ND ILLINOIS (Otto X. Frothingslosh)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz, 
                            acting mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 452): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 448): LIGHTNING of HARBINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 403): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 205): DEBBIE DAHMER of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 327): HAIRY TUB of MY BATHROOM (Nuln, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 307): 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 353):  GNU WORLD ORDER of HELPLESS ANIMALS from WILLAF (

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 468): none
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 466): ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.)
 DM  15 MALCORN (turn 462): UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 463): WAY OF THE BLADE 1 (Vhagar, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.)
 DM  28 MORYA (turn 229): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.)
 DM  29 LAPUR (turn 452): THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.)
 DM  31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
 DM  32 ARVAT (turn 448): THE STORMLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
 DM  33 ANASAZI (turn 446): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 439): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  43 VEASTIAN (turn 403): MEDS (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
 DM  47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.)
 DM  50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  56 ROCANIS (turn 327): GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.)
 DM  61 JURINE (turn 307): BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.)
 DM  73 ERINIKA (turn 134): none
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 353): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   9 ZUKAL (turn 468): INDIGO of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
 DM  12 RIZTAB (turn 465): WILD BILL of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.)
 DM  16 WILLAF (turn 462): IMA MAROON of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.)
                           GINGER BROWN of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.)
 DM  17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): TY BRINSON of  LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.)
 DM  19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz, 
                            acting 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 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.)
                (turn 445): DRY KEG of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.)
 DM  35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, 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

     Thankyouthankyou.  It's great for me, The Unknown Spymaster to be back in 
ROCANIS.  Hope you enjoy the show.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I already got paid!  Hey 
everybody, watch out for TENACULUM, who flew up 22 points in the rankings after 
mashing JAVELINO like a melon.  Keep your eye on this guy.  And falling like a basher 
in the top ten was JAVELINO, who dropped 16 points after a disappointing (to say the 
least) bout with TENACULUM.  Well, if ya don't shows up at the laundromat, ya can'ts 
wash yer clothes.  HAIRY TUB did not fight this week so his title was forfeit.  In 
front of all the crowds, NESSUS took the Duelmaster's crown for his own.  I give the 
bum two weeks.  Advice to bashers--never force anything, just get a bigger halberd!   
     Let's dig a little deeper into what's happening in the ROCANIS arena.  And hey, 
kiddies, those of you who didn't avoid GENERAL SURGERY, please raise you hand.  Wow.  
Does ROCANIS really have that many liars?  Okay, so I may not be funny, but catch ACT 
OF MALICE's act in the arena.  Those acrobats seem to be fairly deft at running from 
GENERAL SURGERY.  Well just about everybody wants a piece of SHAYLA, who was this 
week's most challenged warrior.   
     Death is kind of like a new puppy:  he's always around wanting to play.  (Ha 
Zontani, how's that for a wise saying?).  Ask not the elves for counsel, for they 
will say both yes and no.  Silly buggers, eh?   
     I think I had better cut this one short.  It's been nice chatting to those of 
you whom I have not offended yet.  C'mon, Leadfoot, let's make some tracks.  Its been 
fun, and I'm sure you enjoyed it (boos).  Now that I've got you worked up for Snide 
Clemens, I'll be leaving-- The Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 NESSUS 3622                  14   7  5    89       ACT OF MALICE (264)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-HAIRY TUB 3497                9   2  0   101       MY BATHROOM (378)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GAZELLE 3701                 12   5  0    80       REDHORSE (207)
 BESOT 2449                   12  11  0    75       ACT OF MALICE (264)
 4-0 PROLENE 2570             16   9  0    68       GENERAL SURGERY (267)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DUMPLING 3684                11   9  0    61       BAD APPLES (187)
 GERITH GRIMEYE 3661           8   6  1    61       ACT OF MALICE (264)
-DAN SEVERN 3690               6   1  0    59       SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-PAT MILETICH 3688             6   1  1    56       SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)
 ROYCE GRACIE 3686             6   0  0    56       SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)
 SHAYLA 3640                  11  18  2    55       REDHORSE (207)
 MOUNTAIN GOAT 3700            8   9  2    45       REDHORSE (207)
 BROKEN TOE 3683              11  10  1    44       REDHORSE (207)
 WORMY 3706                    7   8  2    42       BAD APPLES (187)
 ELEVEN BLADE 3721             5   1  0    41       GENERAL SURGERY (267)
-NINDIL SOL 3679               4   0  1    36       ACT OF MALICE (264)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 APPLE FRITTER 3708            8   6  0    32       BAD APPLES (187)
 DEADFALL 3685                 3  17  0    26       BAD APPLES (187)
 TENACULUM 3735                1   1  0    24       GENERAL SURGERY (267)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MATT HUGHES 3717              3   0  0    21       SADISTS-OCTAGON (397)
 APPLEMINT 3736                2   0  0    16       BAD APPLES (187)
 CHUX 3726                     3   1  0    14       GENERAL SURGERY (267)
-FRANKIE 2204                  3   2  0    11       OF MICE AND MEN (4)
 JAVELINO 3728                 2   1  0     7       REDHORSE (207)
 SANITY'S DEMISE 3722          1   4  0     7       ACT OF MALICE (264)

'-' 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

Shayla -- Sorry that 4-0 Prolene had to practically scum you like that.  She can't
seem to learn attack skills though she's not sneering at the 3 she did learn from
you.  Thanks! -- Darkfist

Gazelle -- If my challenge goes through, let's have a scum-fest! -- 4-0 Prolene

Javelino -- Now that I've improved my damage rating maybe you'll actually feel it the
next time I hit you 11 times in one minute! -- Tenaculum

Hairy Tub -- Nice performance.  Your style is at a disadvantage against mine, so that
was impressive. -- Gazelle

4-0 Prolene -- For someone using a weapon they're not suited to, you are quite
competent. -- Shayla

Wormy -- Sometimes I write personals.  Did you want one?  Here: you're kinda cute for
fishbait. -- Shayla

Besot -- Nicely done... oh hell, I'm tired of being gracious.  Scum!  Scum! -- Broken
Toe
P.S.  Scum!

Apple Fritter -- Ugly?  My toes you mean?  I have long, shapely toes.  One of them is
a little crooked, that's all.  It got that way one evening while I was performing
some very necessary and righteous butt-kicking.  That was before I became a
gladiator, of course.  My butt-kicking days seem to be over. -- Broken Toe

Gerith Grimeye -- So that's how you killed Apple Blossom, eh?  Multiple shots to
the...well, I'd better not say.  We'll all miss her. -- Mountain Goat

Tenaculum -- You General Surgery guys have the strangest names!  Hmm, after that
train of yours I doubt I'd be able to beat you again.  Don't know how I'm going to
keep from facing you in such a small arena, though.  Oh well. -- Javelino

Care Package -- Where did you go?  We need you! -- Mila, mgr. Redhorse, on behalf of
Rocanis Arena

Scribe -- Week after week you turn out columns of really excellent story episodes.
After reading the last installment involving Ghenis (where he is surrounded by
wolves) I am again struck with admiration.  Well done! -- Mila's chronically blocked
author

Eleven Blade -- Amazing that you could even cut wood with that.  Ouch! -- Deadfall

If there are many of these Rabid Gophers around, I think we ought to start putting
out poison. -- Dumpling

We could do that for the Rirorni Soldiers, too! -- Wormy

And the Ambitious Guard, though he's just dumb, not vicious. -- Apple Fritter

The Rirorni Archer is underhanded. -- Applemint

Gerith Grimeye -- It is the fate of all blossoms to fade and fall. -- Ghost of Apple
Blossom

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.

26 June 2003
All -- Would you be willing to proxy my lunger Ganglare at the Face-to-Face?  He's
fighting in the champions tourney.  Thanks.  Write:  Michael Rogers #25335-013, PO
Box 6000, Florence, Co 81226 -- Skullagrim

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

4-0 PROLENE was outwaited by GAZELLE in a unpopular 12 minute Challenge fight.
BESOT vanquished SHAYLA in a 2 minute uneven Challenge battle.
GERITH GRIMEYE demolished WORMY in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
SANITY'S DEMISE was bested by APPLEMINT in a 2 minute novice's Challenge contest.
NESSUS overpowered DUMPLING in a 1 minute mismatched Title match.
ROYCE GRACIE devastated BROKEN TOE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
APPLE FRITTER was bested by MOUNTAIN GOAT in a 2 minute bloody match.
ELEVEN BLADE overcame DEADFALL in a action packed 1 minute fight.
CHUX won victory over RIRORNI ARCHER in a 2 minute beginner's duel.
JAVELINO was vanquished by TENACULUM in a 1 minute gruesome uneven fight.

                                    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         SLASHING ATTACK    6 -   2 -  1      75  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         WALL OF STEEL     13 -   8 -  0      62  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         LUNGING ATTACK    24 -  18 -  2      57  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         STRIKING ATTACK    5 -   4 -  1      56  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   5 -  0      55  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         AIMED BLOW         8 -   7 -  0      53  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      4 -   5 -  1      44  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-LUNGE        4 -   6 -  0      40  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         BASHING ATTACK     5 -  17 -  1      23  |

Turn 328 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:

SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  1         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     5 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  1         2  TOTAL PARRY    
WALL OF STEEL      2 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         2  WALL OF STEEL  
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         2  STRIKING ATTACK
                              STRIKING ATTACK    0 -  1         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                              BASHING ATTACK     0 -  2         1  PARRY-LUNGE    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  NESSUS 3622                14   7  5   89 ACT OF MALICE (264)
TOTAL PARRY      GAZELLE 3701               12   5  0   80 REDHORSE (207)
WALL OF STEEL    BESOT 2449                 12  11  0   75 ACT OF MALICE (264)
LUNGING ATTACK   GERITH GRIMEYE 3661         8   6  1   61 ACT OF MALICE (264)
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 
SANITY'S DEMISE 3722.  The ten other most popular fighters were MOUNTAIN GOAT 3700, 
ELEVEN BLADE 3721, BESOT 2449, SHAYLA 3640, GERITH GRIMEYE 3661, APPLEMINT 3736, 
NESSUS 3622, ROYCE GRACIE 3686, CHUX 3726, and DEADFALL 3685.

The least popular fighter this week was 4-0 PROLENE 2570.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were GAZELLE 3701, JAVELINO 3728, APPLE FRITTER 3708, BROKEN TOE 
3683, DUMPLING 3684, WORMY 3706, TENACULUM 3735, DEADFALL 3685, CHUX 3726, and ROYCE 
GRACIE 3686.

The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:

NESSUS (56-3622) ACT OF MALICE (264)