DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 02/02/2007    Duedate: 02/15/2007

LIN TIRIAN ARENA

DM-78    TURN-342

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

OOKLA THE MOK
SUPER SCIENCE (310)
(78-2719) [9-1-0,94]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

OOKLA THE MOK                  DA OTHA BARKEEP
SUPER SCIENCE (310)            EARL'S TAVERN (100)
(78-2719) [9-1-0,94]           (78-869) [5-1-2,51]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

SHANA THE KNIFE                ILLUSIONIST
SAND DANCERS (68)              MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
(78-2663) [17-21-0,72]         (78-2511) [12-3-0,83]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

EARL'S TAVERN (100)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. DOMINATION (201)            55
2. SUPER SCIENCE (310)         17      SUPER SCIENCE (310)
3. EARL'S TAVERN (100)         14      Unchartered Team
4. ERRATA (312)                 7
5. SAND DANCERS (68)            2      EARL'S TAVERN (100)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 SUPER SCIENCE (310)        9   1  0 90.0   1/ 1*EARL'S TAVERN (100)       8  5 2
 2/ 2 MAGIC ARTISTS (292)       30  14  1 68.2   2/ 2 DOMINATION (201)          7  4 1
 3/ 3 DOMINATION (201)          46  27  5 63.0   3- 5 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225)  4  2 1
 4- 4 THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225)  72  67  3 51.8   4/ 4 MAGIC ARTISTS (292)       4  3 1
 5/ 5*EARL'S TAVERN (100)       18  19  4 48.6   5/ 3 SAND DANCERS (68)         4  8 0
 6/ 6 SAND DANCERS (68)        639 802 22 44.3   6/ 6 SUPER SCIENCE (310)       3  0 0
 7/ 0*ERRATA (312)               0   1  0  0.0   7/ 0*ERRATA (312)              0  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

                               Surprising Discoveries

     "Boss, it's not working!"
     Master Beru laid the cloth over the youthful face on the stone table before him.
Turning, he took the two steps to where Da Otha Barkeep stood over Da Champeen's
still form.  Worry drew his eyes shut as he looked down at the still form on the
table.
     "What's the matter Barkeep?  Did you forget what I showed you?"
     "No sir.  It is too important.  But it is not working.  I've tried three times."
     Raising an eyebrow, the older man reached over to the corpse's exposed chest and
traced the mark on his chest, as he had done all too often since returning to
Alastari.  Nothing happened.  His heart sank as he stared down at Da Champeen.
Drawing his face closer to the markings, he gently ran his hand across them.
     As his fingers brushed over the cold flesh, the skin lifted slightly in several
spots.  The skin was too finely edged to be anything except cuts.  Standing back up,
he lifted the blanket and confirmed the injuries which had taken Da Champeen's life.
The closest was in his ribcage and that was several inches from the critical area
where the mark lay.
     "Where did he get hit in that fight," he asked, nervous tension evident in his
voice.
     "Uh...belly," Barkeep said and pointed to a precise cut to the midsection.  "The
head was next," he said sadly, pointing to a place where the white, cracked bone
beneath could be seen beneath the flesh on the head.  "And final blow was to the
right rib area, laying him open like you see there."
     Meditatively the pair eyed the corpse, different questions in each mind.  Da
Otha Barkeep had seen this expression before though and kept his mouth shut.  The
boss would speak when he had something to say, but he desperately wanted to know.
     "How quick can you pack up everyone?"
     "WHAT!?!  We just got here!!"
     "I know that!  But someone has discovered our secret.  And they already know how
to negate our gift.  His mark has been sliced to bits, likely while he was passed out
in some whore's room.  When did you find out about his matchup?"
     Barkeep's face was drawn in confusion as he tried to take in what his former
general was saying.  He tried to focus on the question at hand, but it was hard with
the realization that Da Champeen was gone.  Permanently gone.
     "Uh....  We got the fight announcements at the normal time, the day before."
     "All of them?  Nothing strange about any of them?"
     He looked up at the older man, seeing eyes boring into his head.  He replayed
the events of that day in his head to be sure.  The courier brought the fights.  They
discussed what they knew about their opponents.  Then he went out to practice a bit,
nervous about his challenge going through.  Then the courier returned....
     His head had dropped in thought and snapped up, as he said, "A second courier!
He arrived just before the door was locked.  He had changes for Da Champ and Da New
Bounsa.  Something about a last minute withdrawal....  I remember the girl was
ecstatic because she felt better about facing Janil than the first pairing and Champ
just belched and got another ale."
     The pieces clicked together in his mind, as Master Beru stared at the wall.  A
knock at the door held his tongue.  One of the children from up stairs poked his
blonde curls through the doorway and then ran the four steps to him with his arm
outstretched.
     "I'se tode to gib dis to you and ony you," he said in barely recognizable
language.  His hand opened to drop four coins into Master Beru's hand along with a
small, folded slip of paper.  With that, the boy turned and ran out.
     Master Beru held each coin up, his nerves straining with what he saw.  He opened
the folded paper and his eyes flared open.  Reading the paper was no better.
     "Barkeep.  Try to avenge them next fight.  I want the pub boarded up within the
month.  You may stay if needed for another fight past that, but then I want everyone
heading for our encampment.  Understood?"
     "Yes sir.  But.  Well, I understand the instructions, but why?  We have worked
so hard here."
     "Just do it," the general almost yelled.  Clenching his fists tightly, he
breathed out slowly.  Taking one of the coins, he handed it to Da Otha Barkeep and
left the room.
     Da Otha Barkeep held the coin up to the light to get a look at it.  His eyes
widened like his bosses had a few moments before.  The coin he held was from the
other side of the gateway.  It was the currency of the Empire of Drashaan.

                                      SPY REPORT

     Hail and well met warriors of LIN TIRIAN!  Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp 
Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari.  My praise to DOMINATION for their 
5-0-1 week this time out.  Indeed, it was a skillfully fought round deserving of 
notice!  OOKLA THE MOK caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as he 
skillfully bested ILLUSIONIST and was awarded 17 points in recognition.  In one of 
the week's more notable duels, OOKLA THE MOK put down ILLUSIONIST, causing her to 
lose 7 points of recognition in the process.  Due to his absence and inability to 
defend the throne, ORGULLO DIFAMAR has lost the title of Duelmaster.  This time 
victory fell to the grasp of the usurper.  All hail OOKLA THE MOK, Duelmaster of LIN 
TIRIAN!  Informants "close" to the city champion have told me that he never fights 
without pantyhose on beneath his armor.  Watch out!   
     I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently 
transpired.  Indeed there is much I would report.  I saw one fighter that warriors 
avoided when this week's challenge seeking began.  THE LUNATIC FRINGE is feared.  
This much I can say.  Apparently the stalwarts of MAGIC ARTISTS are catching the bulk 
of jests down at the challenging board for their large share of the avoids.  Loose 
talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many 
fighters are after CHALBAEG.  Watch your back!   
     Vendettas.  Bloodied blades and broken spears.  Indeed the city has seen more 
than its fair share of red in recent times.  ROGAR THORFIN has sworn to take up 
religion upon living to tell of his recent bout with the Dark Arena horrors.  A rare 
thing indeed!  Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins.  In the arena there 
is only the brightness of steel.  Keep vigil always!   
     If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times 
already in LIN TIRIAN.  Nice atmosphere you have here!  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 next we meet remember:  a fool flies into a rage quickly and often.  
The wise are angered by the same thing only once.  Zontani Sharp Eyes  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 OOKLA THE MOK 2719            9   1  0    94       SUPER SCIENCE (310)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ORGULLO DIFAMAR 1875         15  16  0   120       THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ABJURER 2534                  6   2  0    86       MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
 ILLUSIONIST 2511             12   3  0    83       MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
 OLAF THORFIN 1720            11   5  0    79       DOMINATION (201)
 SHANA THE KNIFE 2663         17  21  0    72       SAND DANCERS (68)
 ROGAR THORFIN 2255            9   8  4    72       DOMINATION (201)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CONJURER 2512                 4   2  0    63       MAGIC ARTISTS (292)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROLLO THORFIN 2732            5   1  0    56       DOMINATION (201)
 NECROMANCER 2520              6   2  1    55       MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
 DA OTHA BARKEEP 869           5   1  2    51       EARL'S TAVERN (100)
 SOLDIER 1 2733                5   1  0    48       DOMINATION (201)
 CHALBAEG 2705                10  15  2    47       SAND DANCERS (68)
-NIOBE NEPENTHE 1925           7  14  1    40       THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MIRIAL ADAMANT 2729           8   5  1    33       SAND DANCERS (68)
 DA DANCIN GIRL 859            4   3  0    32       EARL'S TAVERN (100)
-JANIL MARTOS 2708             2   1  1    32       THE LUNATIC FRINGE (225)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MEDICINE MAN 2734             2   2  0    22       MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
 DEELAR MARION 2750            2   0  0    20       SAND DANCERS (68)
 DA PAINTED LADY 828           4   4  0    16       EARL'S TAVERN (100)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JORGEN THORFIN 2751           1   0  0    15       DOMINATION (201)
 CUTICLE 2742                  0   1  0     7       ERRATA (312)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
HIGH ELF 19            0  1 0 DARK ARENA 0          ROGAR THORFIN 2255    342 NONE    
DA CHAMPEEN 837        3  1 1 EARL'S TAVERN 100     NECROMANCER 2520      341         
DA NEW BOUNSA 2743     1  1 1 EARL'S TAVERN 100     JANIL MARTOS 2708     341         
KEDRON LOUK 2737       1  1 0 SAND DANCERS 68       DA OTHA BARKEEP 869   340         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Mirial Adamant -- I'm glad I broke your weapon.  I think that helped me tremendously.
-- Da Otha Barkeep

Soldier 1 -- I guess that answered my question about my abilities against your style.
Oh well, back to the drawing board. -- Da Painted Lady

Niobe Nepenthe -- Would it have hurt to let me lead ONE time!?!  That's all I wanted!
ONE TIME!!  GEESH!! -- Da Dancin Girl

All -- Unfortunately I must announce that I will be closing down Earl's Tavern again.
A number of factors were considered in my decision, so here are the highlights:  
     1) I am attempting to balance my arenas so that I have roughly even running each
week.  The run date for 78 puts this and one other arena I am running on the same
week as the newly opened No Tourney Arena (DM81) while leaving me with only one team
on the opposite week.  This started my decision making.
     2) The other arena I am currently running on these weeks is a lot more active to
date and has done a better job of drawing me in.  Whether because of size or
personals or story-lines, everything there has clicked with me.
     3) My warriors in my other arena have a lot more potential then those here.
(This includes my two potential replacements this turn.  And don't worry, neither of
you killed any gems.)  This team was primarily run because of Da Otha Barkeep and Da
Dancin Girl.  I may come back later to get them to AD, but it would likely be a while
for that yet.
     So what happens now?  I am getting a team set up in an arena that runs on the
other week.  I will run Barkeep, Dancin Girl, and Painted Lady until then and shuffle
BFs.  So Sand Dancers, if you want a shot at Barkeep, come and get him. -- Master
Beru

For anyone interested -- Da Champeen was 12(2)-5-8-11-17-12-21 LU and had gone 3-3-1
in a tourney back in the 90s prior to entering the arena here.  He might have run
another tourney or two, but is unlikely to get a shot at a dead tourney with me.
     Da New Bounsa was 10-9-8-15-15-16-11 LU.  She would have run to the Isle, but
would have retired then.
     Da Bounsa was 14(1)-5-14-17-9-13-13 SL.  He was one of my first SLers before I
learned the importance of END for his style.  If I had it to do over he would have
been a STer and made lots of people happy with his Great damage (ST train was to get
more armor, not damage.) -- MB

Rollo Thorfin -- Damn, you sound like some kind of monster fish!  I never did like
fish. -- Chalbaeg

Da Otha Barkeep -- (curled lip of scorn)  I have more entertaining things to do than
hang around with someone who can't talk well. -- Mirial Adamant, Chartered Snob

Did you know that M. Chardinee sells defective insurance to gladiators on the side?
He deserved everything I did to him! -- Shana the Knife

Thieves...how petty.  I should at least fight murderers. -- Deelar Marion

Illusionist -- Obviously, Houdini did send in personals, but his own personality so
pervaded them, they escaped in transit! -- Jorja
P.S.  Even from the handcuffs.

Master Beru -- Ah...you mean I have to read the spotlight?  Damn.  Where did I put my
magnifying glass?  Why are these newsletters printed in such minute type?  I'll get
back to you on this, but the odds are that I don't mind.  Too much ice here for me to
generate enough warmth to mind....  No, really, I'll read the relevant spotlight, I
will! -- Jorja, with too many things on hand to be done

Da Dancing Girl -- Why would any sane person want to go to Mordant?  I'm from
Simtakka, myself, and the only reason they call me a "Mordant Deserter" is because
they tried to press-gang me and I ran out on 'em.  The nerve of those people! -- Geo,
not from Mordant

Da Painted Lady -- You are cruel! -- (name withheld by request), Convicted Thief (it
was a bum rap anyway)

Master Beru -- Okay, I got an e-copy and enlarged it to legibility.  That's a fine
use of an arena death, and I don't mind in the least.  The convention on my team here
is that all members are criminals in some degree who chose the arena over other forms
of punishment.  True, some of them were sentenced on a "bum rap," but feel free to
blacken Kedron's character any way you want.  You're also welcome to use other
members of my team.  Mirial and Shana both have reputations for violence on very
little provocation, Chalbaeg is a half-orc with a shaky grasp of what constitutes
"civilized behavior" and a chip on his shoulder, and the new guy is unpersonalized as
yet. -- Jorja

24 January 2007
The Council of Lords would like to propose a rule change in ADM and Primus.  We
propose that Lord Protectors ranked "Grand Champions" and below (ADM) and "The Tower
Guard" and below (Primus) be allowed to fight in the Dark Arena.  This would not
impact the top rankings or title match.  Any managers who never got his fill or shot
at fighting Gateway monsters would have it as an option.  We believe it might spark
some interest in the ADM/Primus realm for some managers.  If interested, speak up in
the newsletters or on forums under the "rules changes" thread and let RSI know.  This
could even be something to try for 12 months and then be re-evaluated.  What say you,
managers of Ghea? -- The Icelord sends....

29 January 2007
     HDFA Mission Statement
     "Show me the money!"
     This is the battle cry of a newly formed collection of like-minded individuals:
The High Dolla' Free Agent$.  We are not a tough guy alliance:  No...we offer no
battle without reward.  We search for victory and the prizes and accolades that
follow.  We are motivated by winning and will freely use whatever means necessary to
obtain our currency.  No stuffy rules, no mandates, no constitutions, no leaders,
only a few objectives:
     1) Win as often as possible
     2) Celebrate freely and revel in your victories; the more meaningless the
victory the more we celebrate.  Highsiding and chest thumping are encouraged.
Ostentatious endzone celebrations with prop usage are encouraged, regardless of
fines, penalties, suspensions or arrest by local authorities.  It is important to let
your opponent know how great you are; more importantly, you must let your own
alliance mates know how great you are.
     This is a 1-up alliance, let the performance of your fellow Free Agent$ motivate
you.  If a Free Agent wins a TV, win 2; if a Free agent wins a contest, win a more
prestigious one.
     Current members of the HDFA include:  CFH and Abraxis.  Inquires can be directed
to:  CFH/Rat Salad DM 47

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

ROGAR THORFIN butchered HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
DA PAINTED LADY was vanquished by NECROMANCER in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud battle.
OOKLA THE MOK luckily beat ILLUSIONIST in a 3 minute Challenge Title fight.
SOLDIER 1 bested CHALBAEG in a popular 1 minute gory Challenge contest.
SHANA THE KNIFE was subdued by OLAF THORFIN in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition.
DA OTHA BARKEEP won victory over MIRIAL ADAMANT in a 1 minute fight.
ROLLO THORFIN bested AMBITIOUS GUARD in a crowd pleasing 1 minute bloody match.
MEDICINE MAN was luckily beaten by DA DANCIN GIRL in a action packed 1 minute melee.
DEELAR MARION vanquished CUTICLE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
JORGEN THORFIN vanquished PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a slow 3 minute one-sided duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   6         TOTAL PARRY        7 -   1 -  0      88  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         PARRY-LUNGE        6 -   2 -  0      75  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     10 -   7 -  0      59  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         LUNGING ATTACK    25 -  18 -  5      58  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-STRIKE      11 -   9 -  0      55  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         SLASHING ATTACK    6 -   5 -  2      55  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         STRIKING ATTACK    3 -   3 -  1      50  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         BASHING ATTACK     4 -   4 -  1      50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         WALL OF STEEL      6 -   7 -  2      46  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         AIMED BLOW         2 -   7 -  0      22  |

Turn 342 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-LUNGE        1 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  1         3  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         1  TOTAL PARRY    
TOTAL PARRY        2 -  0     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1         1  PARRY-STRIKE   
LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  2                                       1  PARRY-LUNGE    
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1                                       1  STRIKING ATTACK
                                                                1  SLASHING ATTACK

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      OOKLA THE MOK 2719          9   1  0   94 SUPER SCIENCE (310)
LUNGING ATTACK   ILLUSIONIST 2511           12   3  0   83 MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
PARRY-LUNGE      ROLLO THORFIN 2732          5   1  0   56 DOMINATION (201)
STRIKING ATTACK  NECROMANCER 2520            6   2  1   55 MAGIC ARTISTS (292)
SLASHING ATTACK  DA OTHA BARKEEP 869         5   1  2   51 EARL'S TAVERN (100)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is SHANA THE KNIFE 2663.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was ILLUSIONIST 2511.  The ten other most popular fighters were SOLDIER 1 2733, 
OLAF THORFIN 1720, ROLLO THORFIN 2732, NECROMANCER 2520, DA OTHA BARKEEP 869, 
MEDICINE MAN 2734, ROGAR THORFIN 2255, OOKLA THE MOK 2719, DA DANCIN GIRL 859, and 
DEELAR MARION 2750.

The least popular fighter this week was JORGEN THORFIN 2751.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were CUTICLE 2742, MIRIAL ADAMANT 2729, CHALBAEG 2705, DA PAINTED 
LADY 828, SHANA THE KNIFE 2663, DEELAR MARION 2750, DA DANCIN GIRL 859, OOKLA THE MOK 
2719, ROGAR THORFIN 2255, and MEDICINE MAN 2734.