DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 09/30/2003 Duedate: 10/13/2003 AMEN-TEI ARENA DM-63 TURN-312 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS RAZORTOOTHROTEY TOMATO ENFORCER (284) (63-2360) [19-17-0,109] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader RAZORTOOTHROTEY POSITION IS EMPTY TOMATO ENFORCER (284) (63-2360) [19-17-0,109] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite SPEEDBUMP GORDIAN WAYFARERS (248) WHY KNOT (201) (63-2376) [19-33-0,90] (63-2104) [13-7-0,81] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM WAYFARERS (248) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. WHY KNOT (201) 18 2. WORKING MEN (289) 9 WORKING MEN (289) 3. TOMATO ENFORCER (284) 7 Unchartered Team 4. THE EXILED ONES (31) 3 5. WAYFARERS (248) 2 SPORTS GUYS (274) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 2 WORKING MEN (289) 16 5 0 76.2 1/ 1 WAYFARERS (248) 6 9 0 2- 3 WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (287) 27 18 4 60.0 2- 2 WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (287) 4 3 0 3/ 4 THE EXILED ONES (31) 371 311 13 54.4 3/ 3 WORKING MEN (289) 3 0 0 4/ 5 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) 85 92 4 48.0 4/ 4 WHY KNOT (201) 3 3 0 5/ 6 WAYFARERS (248) 339 405 7 45.6 5/ 6 THE EXILED ONES (31) 2 1 0 6/ 7 WHY KNOT (201) 135 218 7 38.2 6/ 5 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) 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[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Andorians Abroad #15 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Istoreth, Skaithvarn: From the ship, Istoreth was a city of spires, white marble and dark pines climbing a cliff together above a crowded harbor. Silent, beautiful, not quite familiar. Close up, with the Iayen ship moving restlessly against the worn stone of a wharf, it was more familiar, less beautiful, and not at all silent. The basic nature of a waterfront is not changed by the language of the people inhabiting it. Goff was arguing with somebody who acted official, probably a harbormaster, Raoul decided. No doubt there would be docking fees or something of that kind, and they might have to identify themselves and their purpose, register somewhere as visiting foreigners. None of that stuff was his problem. Goff could handle the harbormaster, he was doing that already. And Berdan could make himself useful dealing with any other officials. The Fratsfan looked like somebody who could deal with officials, maybe even enjoyed it. If he'd been a gladiator, he would probably have been a total parry.... The ex-assassin was talking to another man a little farther along the dock. Raoul saw money change hands, and Berdan accepted a package from the stranger. The gladiator frowned, watching the stranger walk away quickly. Berdan wasn't supposed to know anybody here...except the other assassin, Peranis. And that man was not Peranis. Was this an indication of the wide contacts Raoul had suspected all along that Berdan had? Probably. But was it a sign of treachery, or at least that Berdan was playing his own game as well as theirs? Possibly. The man was an ex-assassin, which automatically made him...not exactly untrustworthy, perhaps, but someone to be watched carefully. The assassins had been spies, as well as killers. Concealing their purposes was second nature. And he was a Fratsfan, besides, a race noted for the labyrinthine complexity of their thoughts and schemes. But he and Jeri and Goff, and by extension King Mickeal, had to trust somebody. Still, Raoul watched very closely as Berdan came back toward Goff's boat. The man was holding his package, still unopened, very carefully, on the palm of his opened hand and well away from his body. "I need a bucket of water," Berdan said quietly. "I need it rather quickly," he added when the others gaped at him. "I don't think this will explode until I open it, but I can't be sure...." Jeri jumped and reached for a bucket, Raoul took it from her and dunked it over the side, then held it out. "Set it over there, away from us all," the ex-assassin said. "There are even a few explosive devises which are activated by water, though I don't think this is one." He wasn't quite whispering. "They're...tricky to handle, and Peranis had to leave this in the hands of a stranger who might be careless. It should be something simple, perhaps not even magical." When the bucket was positioned to his satisfaction, and Goff had drawn the staring harbormaster out of the way, Berdan lowered the package gently into the water and sprang back. "If it's magical, what difference will water make?" Jeri asked. "More than you might think," Berdan answered. "Water is amazing stuff and washes out many things." The bucket suddenly erupted into a plume of dark foam. "Ah! I wondered what Peranis might have available. That he would risk using black ice tells us that he is truly desperate." As he spoke, the plume reached the height of a man, collapsed, and dissolved the end of the dock before falling into the harbor. "The other ships!" the harbormaster exclaimed, looking around frantically. "They're not in danger," Berdan said. "The black ice has exhausted itself. You see?" He pointed downward. "It is dissipating." "You said it would be safer to put the package into water," Jeri muttered in a shaky voice. "It is, it was, young lady. Had black ice been exposed to air before water, the results would have been disastrous." "It's disastrous as it is!" the harbormaster wailed. "My dock!" He turned on Berdan fiercely. "You brought this here--" "I did nothing of the sort," the ex-assassin answered coldly. "It was handed to me but moments ago by one of YOUR men." Before the harbormaster could respond, a squad of soldiers thundered onto the dock. "Everyone here is to see Lord Dankilvan immediately!" the leader commanded. + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Andorians Abroad #16 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Possibly Zuwayza: It seemed to take Tankesh forever to fall out of the Gate, his motion slowed to the point where he wasn't even sure he was moving at all. And then there was a sort of soundless click, and the floor came up fast and hard, knocking the breath out of him as he hit and rolled. Voices speaking akkhadic, upper-class accents. Shouting. No time to sort things out. Gasping for breath but too well-trained to pause, he rolled to his feet with his sword out, ending crouched and ready for anything. By the grace of all the gods, he was face to face with the Karnhorn vizier, Khannarth. The man who had betrayed his city and his ruler, plotted with the Satrap's First Wife to turn over the Zuwayza to the minions of Inzolas, tried to have the Satrap's Second Wife and Tankesh killed..... Ah, it was GOOD to be here, now, and ready. The Vizier was looking past him and commanding someone to "get him!" Right, voices, plural. Other people in the room. Probably guards. Tankesh took a quick slash at the retreating Vizier; not a killing blow, but he felt the resistance of clothing and flesh. Continued the motion into a turn. Right, guards. Two...three. Startled by his arrival out of nowhere, not expecting him to come around so fast. The first man would never have a chance to adjust his thinking; the slash aimed at HIM gutted him and nearly cut him in two. The second was a little farther back. He might recover, if he got the bleeding stopped in time. But with only one hand left to use, that wasn't likely. Shocked by the unexpected and extreme violence, he was out of the fight. Khannarth was screaming orders behind him, and the third man was leveling his spear for a charge. Stupid weapon to carry indoors, maybe it was tradition, maybe it was just ornamental, didn't matter. Tankesh edged to the right, drawing the spearman's attention with him. When the man was fully committed, all his momentum focused into the charge, Tankesh ducked to the left. Tripped over his first victim but rolled and came up again, whacked the spear in two in passing, kicked the man in the belly as his charge brought him within range, and turned to face Khannarth again. The Vizier was holding his robes against a bleeding chest wound with one hand and tugging on a bell-pull with the other. Tankesh lunged closer and cut through bell rope. And then froze as a man with a cocked and ready crossbow appeared in the doorway behind the Vizier. More than one man, and several with crossbows. Karnhorns, of course. Damn. They were all dressed alike, no doubt a uniform, but not the same as worn by the three guards he'd just dealt with. Khannarth began babbling out accusations and orders. The first of the newcomers silenced him with a curt word. "You will BOTH explain yourself to the Exalted Satrap, may His justice be swift and sure," the man said. He gestured them out into the hallway with his crossbow. "Now." SPY REPORT Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the clash and bustle of the weekly AMEN-TEI games. HANGMAN caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested HOBO JO and was awarded 13 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, HANGMAN put down HOBO JO, causing her to lose 12 points of recognition in the process. Not for nothing has PIPE LAYER in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and this week he's proven his combat skill yet again. Heed this! A seer has warned that if exactly 6 die in duels this week, the whole city shall perish! Just remember...5 or 7! I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently transpired. Indeed there is much I would report. My inside sources tell me that the team to beat in AMEN-TEI these days is TOMATO ENFORCER. At least, most blades in town are looking to avoid them. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part of last week avoiding TOMATO ENFORCER. Indeed it was WORKING MEN. RAZORTOOTHROTEY must really be harboring a grudge against the WAYFARERS guild! Merciless, 22 challenged down WANDERING JO points this week to duel with she. The weight of the challenge fell hard upon WANDERING JO and predictably she was overcame by RAZORTOOTHROTEY. This is how to arouse the anger of an entire guild! What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his foe's mortality? Fate is a fickle mistress. She showers the miserable with fortune but sets enemies against the victorious. Remember this! The girls are as pretty in AMEN-TEI as ever I remembered them....and the fighters as ugly! Don't let your reputation slip! More than a sharp eye must I keep, indeed a stout pair of legs must I keep as well! The endless paths of Alastari await me! Till we meet again, remember: a turtle walks slow, hides head in a shell, and harms no one; a lion runs to slay its prey.-- Zontani Sharp Eyes DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME RAZORTOOTHROTEY 2360 19 17 0 109 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -MALICHAI 2396 8 2 0 103 WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (287) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SPEEDBUMP 2376 19 33 0 90 WAYFARERS (248) WANDERING JO 2411 20 19 2 81 WAYFARERS (248) GORDIAN 2104 13 7 0 81 WHY KNOT (201) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME HANGMAN 1631 10 10 1 51 WHY KNOT (201) -CURVACEOUS CORRY 2387 8 7 0 39 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME HOBO JO 2520 4 3 0 29 WAYFARERS (248) PASSER BY 2513 4 7 0 28 WAYFARERS (248) -SEVERIN 2394 3 3 0 24 WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (287) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -JOKER'S WILD 2533 1 0 0 21 WAY OF THE BLADE 2 (287) JOE CHILL 2527 3 1 0 19 WAYFARERS (248) -KILLER KINCY 2512 2 2 0 8 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) -BRUTAL BIRDSMAN 2514 1 1 0 4 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) -SINISTER SANDRO 2462 0 1 0 1 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? PERSONAL ADS Malichai -- Ah, I SEE, the way of YOUR blade is to go "snicker-snee." Ouch. -- Speedbump the uninspired Razortoothrotey -- Gods, graduate already! -- Wandering Jo P.S. Or at least stop stropping your teeth on ME. Hangman -- Is that a suggestion that I should hang YOU? I would be GLAD to. -- Hobo Jo, feeling moderately hostile today Beggars, pooh. -- Passer By Joker's Wild -- (wince) I don't know about the joker, but your aim sure is! -- Joe Chill 9 September 2003 WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MANAGERS! If you think you have what it takes to match wits and blades with some of the best managers in Alastari, then WE WANT YOU! The Tournament Of The Golden Scrod #4 will begin in Aradi (DM 60) the turn after the Fall Mail-In. It's not too late for you to sign up. I realize that many of you may be hesitant after seeing that myself and Hombre have teamed up again, but we'll try to take it easy on you guys a little bit. For more information on T#%S IV, please contact me at ganolus@aol.com. We're looking for a few good managers...the few, the proud, the TOGS! -- Ganolus Oakleaf, T#%S IV Commish 15 September 2003 An Announcement Concerning the Brotherhood of the Blade Alliance: I have chosen to withdraw my membership from the Brotherhood of the Blade alliance. The years I have spent in the alliance have been the best of my DM career. I leave the alliance with many great friends and will always remain close to my former brethren. The Brotherhood of the Blade will not skip a beat without my membership. It remains in very capable hands and its roster is among the strongest in the game. With the return on some of its founding members to DM, I know the BOB will continue to grow in strength and prestige in the years to come. -- The Sandman 29 September 2003 All -- Let it be known that the Firm accepts SOL into its ranks. The Firm is: SunGod, Dark Spirit, Youngblood, Tripwire, and SOL. LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS RAZORTOOTHROTEY devastated WANDERING JO in a 1 minute Challenge Title fight. PIPE LAYER vanquished SPEEDBUMP in a 1 minute uneven battle. XINGARA subdued GORDIAN in a crowd pleasing 2 minute uneven fight. HOBO JO was devastated by HANGMAN in a 1 minute one-sided fight. PASSER BY demolished SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute mismatched competition. JOE CHILL vanquished POLITE BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched fight. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 5 LUNGING ATTACK 36 - 21 - 0 63 | |AIMED BLOW 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 - 3 - 0 57 | |BASHING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 5 - 0 55 | |TOTAL PARRY 1 SLASHING ATTACK 12 - 12 - 3 50 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 AIMED BLOW 7 - 8 - 1 47 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 STRIKING ATTACK 7 - 8 - 1 47 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 TOTAL PARRY 5 - 7 - 0 42 | |PARRY-STRIKE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 3 - 0 40 | |STRIKING ATTACK 0 BASHING ATTACK 4 - 6 - 0 40 | |WALL OF STEEL 0 PARRY-STRIKE 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 6 LUNGING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 1 SLASHING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 1 BASHING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 2 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE WALL OF STEEL 0 - 0 1 AIMED BLOW TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK RAZORTOOTHROTEY 2360 19 17 0 109 TOMATO ENFORCER (284) SLASHING ATTACK WANDERING JO 2411 20 19 2 81 WAYFARERS (248) FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is SPEEDBUMP 2376. The most popular warrior this turn was GORDIAN 2104. The ten other most popular fighters were RAZORTOOTHROTEY 2360, JOE CHILL 2527, HANGMAN 1631, PASSER BY 2513, WANDERING JO 2411, SPEEDBUMP 2376, HOBO JO 2520, 0, 0, and 0. The least popular fighter this week was HOBO JO 2520. The other ten least popular fighters were SPEEDBUMP 2376, WANDERING JO 2411, PASSER BY 2513, HANGMAN 1631, JOE CHILL 2527, RAZORTOOTHROTEY 2360, GORDIAN 2104, 0, 0, and 0. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: RAZORTOOTHROTEY (63-2360) TOMATO ENFORCER (284) The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn: XINGARA (63-2352) THE EXILED ONES (31) PIPE LAYER (63-2406) WORKING MEN (289)