DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 08/29/2003 Duedate: 09/11/2003 JURINE ARENA DM-61 TURN-312 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS THE BUM FAVORITE GUYS (186) (61-3178) [9-14-0,73] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader THE BUM MMMMMONKEYS! FAVORITE GUYS (186) FUZZY WARRIORS (367) (61-3178) [9-14-0,73] (61-3255) [1-0-1,21] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite THE BUM DARWIN FAVORITE GUYS (186) FAVORITE GUYS (186) (61-3178) [9-14-0,73] (61-3219) [8-6-0,48] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM FAVORITE GUYS (186) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. FUZZY WARRIORS (367) 34 2. PISSED AT WORK (360) 17 SADISTS F2F (353) 3. FAVORITE GUYS (186) 16 Unchartered Team 4. SADISTS F2F (353) 7 5. BLACK PEARL (330) 0 FUZZY WARRIORS (367) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 0*FUZZY WARRIORS (367) 2 0 1 100 1/ 1 FAVORITE GUYS (186) 10 5 0 2/ 1 SADISTS F2F (353) 13 2 0 86.7 2/ 3 PISSED AT WORK (360) 3 1 0 3/ 2 PISSED AT WORK (360) 23 8 1 74.2 3- 2 BLACK PEARL (330) 3 2 0 4- 3 BLACK PEARL (330) 49 60 5 45.0 4/ 0*FUZZY WARRIORS (367) 2 0 1 5/ 4 FAVORITE GUYS (186) 318 397 7 44.5 5/ 4 SADISTS F2F (353) 2 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[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #67 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Near Zukal: After the thing--shadow, demon, whatever it was--left, Ghenis sat and stared into the night for a long time. He kept the fire up, even though he didn't need it for heat; fire might be a defense, and the thing might come back. He stayed awake just in case that happened; this wouldn't be the first night he'd gone without sleep. Better to be tired in the morning than dead. And he had some serious thinking to do. He glanced around his campsite quickly. The horse was calm enough now, no need to worry about it running off. Besides, it would have to get past him to get out of the enclosure formed by the broken walls. Veleks was asleep, or unconscious, and just as well. The little thief was a useful tool, but not for thinking. What was this thing that he'd seen, that had driven Veleks, who feared water, to risk drowning rather than be caught? He'd been thinking of it as a sort of demon, but what sort? His defenses here would stop natural predators such as wolves, but not demons; for that, he should have needed something magical. Could his amulet have been protection enough? He didn't think so, especially since he hadn't called on the power behind it. So was this... thing some kind of natural predator? And if so, where had it come from? Why had it appeared now when there was no indication of such a creature prowling the area in the past? And what would it DO to its victims besides drive them into a frenzy of terror? Was that all it wanted, or would it have killed Veleks if it had caught him? And most important of all, what use could he and his masters make of this new thing? Come morning, and even the gray and rainy light was welcome, though. Ghenis wanted to get back to Zukal as quickly as possible. With Veleks riding double with him on his one horse, that wasn't as quickly as he hoped for. He thought of leaving his henchman at one of the smaller towns outside the city--his cult had contacts in several of them, and there were hangouts for thieves in general where the man would have been accepted if not welcomed. But Veleks wouldn't have it. He would stay with his leader who had rescued him from the monster, and not in some flimsy village inn. Suggestions that they part company always resulted in the little thief bursting into tears, which was damned embarrassing. Veleks was being a nuisance, so much so that Ghenis found himself wishing the little thief had died yesterday. The man's nerve had been broken, and Ghenis was beginning to wonder whether the break might be permanent. That would spell trouble for all involved. There was no place for a broken man among the servants of the dark cult. The obvious thing would be to kill the wretch. But the gladiator found it hard to follow through on that while Veleks was looking at him so gratefully. It would be like kicking a puppy, and while he was prepared, in theory, to kick puppies if that's what needed doing, it wasn't an easy thing to contemplate in cold blood. Perhaps he could send Veleks somewhere far away, to some place where the little thief could be sure of never meeting one of the monsters again. Hmm, if water provided safety, perhaps he could send Veleks along with a mission to Niatoli Island that was in preparation. Yes, Niatoli Island would be the place for Veleks now. He'd see about getting the thief onto the next ship headed that way. 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." Tiljanz shrugged. It sounded like politics as usual, or at least, the politics of those he dealt with, the lesser lords within the Glorious Empire. Vicious infighting was the order of the day in those circles. "I trust your judgment in this, as I must, of course." He glanced at the sky uneasily. "And I should think we don't have much longer to wait...." "No." Blackie watched the moonlight appear in the eye of the distant stone and slant across the clearing, creeping along the face of the stone beside him. It wouldn't be long now. The finger of light slid across the surface and touched the worn carvings, which leaped into sudden clarity. The little clearing, which had been empty except for the two of them, was suddenly full of shadows. Or something. Tiljanz could feel the weight of a dozen minds thinking about him--calculating minds, hostile minds, hungry ones. He held himself still and quiet with difficulty. This was Lord Malcorn's meeting; he himself was just present as a witness. Words came out of the darkness, hollow as caves, clear as trumpets. "Why are you here, Malcorn?" DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Hmmm, the less than adequate Vladimir Taltos returns only to get his backside handed to him on the sands of Jurine. Here's an idea, maybe you could talk the commission into letting you and your slasher buddy, Stone Dog, double-team me, if you can pull him off of the "stand-in bandwagon" long enough, that is. Doesn't matter, provided Dr. "No" Guts doesn't have his team avoidin' 353, I'll have a shot at the "Dog", and I'm sure the outcome will remain the same. I'll be Duelmaster and everyone else will be where they belong...below me. On My Way -- The Firm SPY REPORT So why do I have this bag over my head? Because I am The Unknown Spymaster and I'm going to give you a spy report!. Hey everybody, watch out for MMMMMONKEYS!, who flew up 21 points in the rankings after mashing EMBEZZLING SCRIBE like a melon. Keep your eye on this guy. Ya know, some days it doesn't pay to walk out on the sands. MARTINE was overcame by SWINGLINED SUE and drops 7 points. Going for the gusto and coming up with aught but bloody knuckles was FAVORITE GUYS' THE BUM, who was turned away from the Duelmastership by ON MY WAY. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but an onion a day keeps T.P.s at bay. Here is other news that is of note. Being a spy is great--other people die and you spend the rest of the day drinking to their memory. Better tanked than dead! Remember: alliances are great, but try and take your ally in the arena with you and see what happens. Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in JURINE have no sense of humor. Or maybe that they were senseless. Okay, so I may not be the world's best comedian, but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors. See ya next time I'm on this circuit!-- The Unknown Spymaster DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME THE BUM 3178 9 14 0 73 FAVORITE GUYS (186) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -STONE DOG 2894 14 7 0 91 BLACK PEARL (330) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -VLADIMIR TALTOS 2896 12 7 1 83 BLACK PEARL (330) -ALPHABETIZED AL 3203 7 3 1 75 PISSED AT WORK (360) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SWINGLINED SUE 3196 8 1 0 66 PISSED AT WORK (360) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME FREDDIE 3096 9 6 0 53 FAVORITE GUYS (186) DARWIN 3219 8 6 0 48 FAVORITE GUYS (186) MARTINE 3231 6 2 0 43 FAVORITE GUYS (186) ANOTHER ONE 3192 7 11 0 42 FAVORITE GUYS (186) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -AEKIR 3246 2 0 0 28 BLACK PEARL (330) -BLADEDANCER 3134 3 3 1 25 BLACK PEARL (330) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -MISTREAVER II 3247 2 0 0 21 BLACK PEARL (330) MMMMMONKEYS! 3255 1 0 1 21 FUZZY WARRIORS (367) SMACKY THE BEAR 3257 1 0 0 13 FUZZY WARRIORS (367) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? EMBEZZLING SCRIBE 5 0 1 0 1 MMMMMONKEYS! 3255 312 NONE BACK-ORDERED BER 3197 0 1 0 PISSED AT WORK 360 BANDIT PRINCE 25 312 NONE PERSONAL ADS Alphabetized Al -- Hmm, I would expect to be still standing when you're long gone. -- Freddie Convicted Assassin? Pooh. -- The Bum Swinglined Sue -- You didn't have to staple me to the wall. *I* didn't do anything. -- Darwin Captured Orc, bah. -- Martine I hope this clears my debt with the Userous Merchant.... -- Another One 1 August 2003 Assurnasirbanipal invites you to Talcama to participate in the third BATTLE ROYAL contest. It is a Delarquan contest so brutal that even some of Talcama's most notable managers will refuse to participate. The rules are simpler than any other contest: You may not avoid any other contest team. There are no silly rules for who can and can't compete. Any team in Talcama is eligible to compete. The scoring is also quite simple (+1 for a win, +1 for a kill (+1 for the win), -1 for a loss) and the first team to reach 25 points is the winner. Scoring will be live--the results for the turn posted in the newsletter. The winner will be able to fight their contest team in Talcama for free for 6 months but more importantly will win a contest against some of the best managers who play the game in one of the hardest contests in the game. First turn for BATTLE ROYAL 3 is Talcama Turn 465, which is due August 30. 19 August 2003 Citizens of Ghea (only the ignorant fail to note Lirith Kai is not in Alastari), no new day is rising, but the sun is setting on just another beautiful evening. While you were sleeping, an irksome rabble has entered the always fair Aruak City. Of course they fought alongside our warriors, most not so treasured, as all gladiators do. They drank with themselves, and slept with themselves. Whether they had masks, who cares. Warriors, don't be afraid. For years Aruak has been one of the safest cities in Ghea, and that custom has been continually cultivated, and will continue to be by those who have called it home for years and those who live, fight, and die by the same ethics. There is no contest, nor has there ever needed to be one for many years. A conflict of personalities has arisen, and the city has been 'invaded' by pests. Any rules that are annouced will be purely for the joy of the lemmings' own little world. Those who are being targeted have no interest in participating except to defend the integrity of an arena that is different from others. Whether you choose to come to Aruak, do it for your own reasons, not theirs. Competing in Aruak City has never been for the faint of heart or the weak willed. Combat is combat, wherever you go. Blood will flow as always, and now many innocents will be caught in the middle, but those who defend Aruak's traditions never target those who bring respect of Aruaki customs with them to our home. So ignore the private ranting announcement brought by the stuporous Frothingsloshers. If you choose Aruak City, do not choose it for an unsanctioned and bogus 'contest', choose it for the tradition. Choose it because Aruak is different. Defenders of Aruak 25 August 2003 To any that care -- The CDC is back; our current roster is: Malaquar -- Minion of Guardian Pip the Troll -- Burly Enforcer Type mouse -- Official Sneaky Bastard Papa Bear -- Elder Statesmen The Sealer says, "Hi, I'm the dealer." Papa Bear says, "It's not my f****n fault." Guardian -- Paper Figurehead LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS BACK-ORDERED BERNICE was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. ON MY WAY vanquished THE BUM in a 1 minute uneven Title battle. MARTINE was demolished by SWINGLINED SUE in a 1 minute uneven fight. ANOTHER ONE bested FRATSFA SLAVE in a 3 minute veteran vs. novice contest. FREDDIE demolished FRATSFA SLAVE in a 1 minute mismatched competition. DARWIN vanquished AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute mismatched fight. MMMMMONKEYS! executed EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute mismatched brawl. SMACKY THE BEAR overpowered CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute uneven melee. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 3 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 0 - 1 100 | |STRIKING ATTACK 2 PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 0 - 0 100 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 AIMED BLOW 3 - 0 - 1 100 | |AIMED BLOW 1 PARRY-STRIKE 7 - 3 - 0 70 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 LUNGING ATTACK 12 - 6 - 0 67 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 13 - 7 - 0 65 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 WALL OF STEEL 12 - 7 - 0 63 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 STRIKING ATTACK 14 - 9 - 0 61 | |BASHING ATTACK 0 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 5 - 0 17 | |TOTAL PARRY 0 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 - 0 0 | Turn 312 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 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 3 SLASHING ATTACK PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 2 LUNGING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 STRIKING ATTACK STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 BASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 2 WALL OF STEEL WALL OF STEEL 1 - 1 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 1 PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-LUNGE TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK SWINGLINED SUE 3196 8 1 0 66 PISSED AT WORK (360) PARRY-STRIKE FREDDIE 3096 9 6 0 53 FAVORITE GUYS (186) WALL OF STEEL DARWIN 3219 8 6 0 48 FAVORITE GUYS (186) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is THE BUM 3178. The most popular warrior this turn was DARWIN 3219. The ten other most popular fighters were SWINGLINED SUE 3196, FREDDIE 3096, MMMMMONKEYS! 3255, SMACKY THE BEAR 3257, BACK-ORDERED BERNICE 3197, THE BUM 3178, MARTINE 3231, ANOTHER ONE 3192, 0, and 0. The least popular fighter this week was ANOTHER ONE 3192. The other ten least popular fighters were MARTINE 3231, THE BUM 3178, BACK-ORDERED BERNICE 3197, SMACKY THE BEAR 3257, MMMMMONKEYS! 3255, FREDDIE 3096, SWINGLINED SUE 3196, DARWIN 3219, 0, and 0. The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn: ON MY WAY (61-3154) SADISTS F2F (353) FACE-TO-FACE XXXII Our next Winter Face-to-Face will be held on Martin Luther King weekend, Friday through Sunday, 16-18 January 2004, at the Embassy Suites in Tempe, Arizona (4400 S Rural Rd). Room rates are $119.00 per night, 1-2 occupancy, which includes breakfast. The rooms are blocked. The reservations number is 480-897-7444; tell them you're with the "Reality Simulations Face to Face Convention" block. Our room block will be released in mid-December, so please make sure you reserve your room before then. There is a free shuttle to the airport, as well as free parking. The hotel is located down the freeway in Tempe. All rooms have high speed internet (for an extra charge). There is a fitness center, jacuzzi, and pool, and of course a bar and restaurant inside the hotel. And there's Denny's right across the street. Look for transportation info in the tournament information sheet. The tournament information sheet/strategy sheet should be out sometime in late November/early December. If you haven't been to a Face-to-Face before, you're overdue. If you have, you'll be back. Don't miss this one, it'll be a blast! See you there! -- Green Eyes and the RSI Staff