DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 08/08/2012    Duedate: 08/21/2012

SHADOWSPIRE ARENA

DM-81    TURN-146

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GIGI DIVINE
CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
(81-613) [31-15-1,114]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

ROSA KLEBB                     BLUE NOVA
BOND-AGE (133)                 SEARCH THE SKY (136)
(81-1765) [13-8-0,124]         (81-1898) [1-0-0,22]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

BALTAIRE                       BALTAIRE
CULT OF BACCHUS (4)            CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
(81-833) [14-13-0,105]         (81-833) [14-13-0,105]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

BOND-AGE (133)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SEARCH THE SKY (136)        40
2. CULT OF BACCHUS (4)         29      BOND-AGE (133)
3. DARQUE AGES (29)            27      Unchartered Team
4. THE WILLBURYS II (127)      27
5. LA PENTARCHIE (11)          25      SEARCH THE SKY (136)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 BOND-AGE (133)            66  44  2 60.0   1/ 4 BOND-AGE (133)           11  4 1
 2/ 2 LA PENTARCHIE (11)       421 300 18 58.4   2/ 3 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)      10  4 0
 3/ 4 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)      189 154  7 55.1   3/ 6 MONSTER MANUAL (87)       9  5 1
 4/ 5 SUMMERBORN (104)         187 157 18 54.4   4/ 2 LA PENTARCHIE (11)        9  5 0
 5/ 6 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)    394 331 12 54.3   5/ 5 THE WILLBURYS II (127)    8  4 0
 6/ 7 DARQUE AGES (29)         325 288 16 53.0   6/ 1 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)     8  6 0
 7/ 8 OTTO'S DINER (96)        217 198  5 52.3   7/ 0 SAVAGE HORDE (134)        8  7 0
 8/ 3 BRIDGE BURNERS (135)      27  25  3 51.9   8/17 FURRY FURY (25)           6  3 0
 9/ 9 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)      372 354 16 51.2   9/16 DARQUE AGES (29)          6  9 1
10/10 WARMASTERS (15)          364 354 29 50.7  10/ 9 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)       6  9 0
11/13 THE WILLBURYS II (127)    44  49  3 47.3  11/15 LITERATE LOONS (40)       5  7 0
12/11 LITERATE LOONS (40)      339 384 14 46.9  12/ 8 FOOD (130)                5  7 0
13/12 FURRY FURY (25)          223 256 14 46.6  13/11 SUMMERBORN (104)          4  5 0
14/14 MONSTER MANUAL (87)      195 249  8 43.9  14/13 OTTO'S DINER (96)         4 11 0
15/15 FOOD (130)                50  68  3 42.4  15/10 BRIDGE BURNERS (135)      3  7 0
16/ 0*SEARCH THE SKY (136)       2   3  0 40.0  16/ 0*SEARCH THE SKY (136)      2  3 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
17/ 0 SAVAGE HORDE (134)        22  37  2 37.3  17/12 WARMASTERS (15)           1 14 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                             It's Time to See The Squid

     A burly man, wearing black chainmail and a grim expression, paced back and forth
across the flagstone floor.  His thick neck made crackling and popping sounds when he
periodically flexed his shoulders or rolled his head in large circles as he strode to
and fro. The room rang hollowly with the echoes from his heavy tread.
     A spear of light from an upper arrow-port fell against the door, which was shut
and barred.  A large desk, shaped like a giant arrowhead, was fitted neatly into a
corner.  Two chairs of substantial size, each with thick arms and generously
cushioned, stood ready against one wall near a small, round table.  The center of the
room was cleared of everything save for the relentless pacing of its occupant.
     Suddenly, the man stood still and cocked his head.  He turned to face the door
just as a light rapping came from the other side.  He measured the angle of the light
against the door with a glance and frowned.  Moving smoothly and silently now, the
man glided to the door and lifted the iron bar that held it firmly in place.  He
secured it to the doorframe and, taking a deep breath, opened the door.
     A short, dark-complexioned man stood in the doorway.  He was wearing a simple,
unadorned linen tunic that hung to his knees; a wide leather belt and a pair of
sturdy sandals completed his outfit. He was a heavy-set man, with more fat and bone
than muscle.  However, his face was sharply chiseled in strong lines, with arching
cheekbones hinting at some Shadowspire nobility in his blood.  His mouth formed a
small bow; his eyes were large and dark.  Generous black curls of hair spilled down
across his ears and neck, but they were cut and styled so that his features were
unobscured.  It was the face of a mysterious cupid.
     He carried a small, flat, rectangular wooden box in one hand.  The other hand
was draped nonchalantly across the wide hilt of a heavy, broad-bladed knife sheathed
in its scabbard at his waist.
     The man wearing chainmail took all this in with a sweeping glance as he opened
the door.  The knife, with the hand lying across it, caused a shadow of a smile to
flit across his otherwise dour appearance.
     The short man was motioned inside and waved to a chair.  As he stepped across
the threshold he cleared his throat and looked around the small room with undisguised
interest.
     "Well, uh... this is a little awkward," muttered the short man, easing his wide
bottom into the cushy depths of a chair as his host closed the door and barred it
again.  "You're Havoc, right?"
     "Yeah," growled his host.  "You're The Squid, right?"
     "Uh, well," the short man moved uncomfortably, "It's La'Quidd, actually. It
means: 'Great Scholar', or 'One of Great Learning', or---"
     "Never mind!" grunted Havoc as he grabbed a heavy chair and effortlessly pulled
it to face his guest.  "Squiddo, I gotta few friends in the arena biz that tell me ya
make yer livin' as a talent scout."  Havoc stared intently into La'Quidd's wide,
innocent eyes.
     "I do go to the games a lot," he admitted with a small smile and a half-hearted
shrug.  "So that's why you called me here?"
     Havoc tilted his wide head and grimaced as if in pain.  "Let's not waste each
other's time here, buddy.  I called ya here 'cause I know ya worked with The Kid on a
few things."  Havoc sighed as if fighting to control an impulse.
     "And?"
     "So I heard ya see things." Havoc glowered into his guest's puzzled expression
of injured innocence.
     "Yeah. I see things."  The Squid's eyes were as empty and honest as a clean
shot-glass sitting on a shelf, Havoc noted.
     "Ya do, ya sure do!" He nodded to himself and tapped on the armrest of his chair
with a thick finger.  "The Kid's been payin' ya for over a year, right?"
     "Well, uh, yeah, he used to do that, I guess." The Squid looked uncomfortable,
Havoc decided.  It seemed like he was either trying to figure out a complex chess
problem or have an agonizing bowel movement.  "But that was over a year ago."
     "So ya haven't been workin' with The Kid?" Havoc squinted.
     "Well... let's just say I haven't seen Arcane around for a while," came the 
cautious response from The Squid.  "Besides, we didn't usually meet face to face...
and when we did, he usually provided refreshments."  La'Quidd blinked and smiled and
cast a small shrug towards the empty table against the wall.
     "Yeah, yeah, I know."  Havoc leaned back, glanced up at the rough-hewn timbers
in the ceiling, and slapped his palms against the armrests of his chair, causing a
thunderous clap to reverberate in the small room.  The Squid didn't flinch or change
expression.  Havoc met his wide-eyed stare and let a small smile trickle across his
broad face.
     "The Kid ain't runnin' things with this new team we're puttin' together," Havoc
grunted, briefly clenching the armrests.  "I'm the guy in charge," he growled.
     "Congratulations," nodded The Squid, offering a semi-sincere smile that could
mean anything.  "And you need me for..."
     "I need ya to do what ya do!" frowned Havoc hunching up in his chair.  "I gotta
handful of rookies straight outta yer worst nightmare!" Havoc declared.  "I need ya
to play 'em up, let the arena geeks think I'm bringin' in a host straight from hell!"
     La'Quidd shrugged again; his face wore an angelic expression of polite
ignorance.  Havoc looked to the ceiling and sighed again as he forced down the urge
to slap that expression off of The Squid's face.  It took a moment.
     "I need ya to scout my team to the competition," Havoc growled softly.  He
hunched forward and pushed his face closer to The Squid's.  "I need ya to make 'em
SOUND better than I know they are, 'kay?!  It'll help with the challenges and avoids
I KNOW we'll be gettin'.  Might help a little with the side bets, too.  Think ya can
handle it?!"
     "Um, certainly... I suppose that's within my - um - talents," replied La'Quidd.
He fidgeted briefly in his chair, and then opened the rectangular box in his hand.  A
pair of wax tablets was tightly secreted within the bottom and lid of the box.  A
small ivory stylus materialized in his soft, plump hand.  It poised above one of the
tablets.
     "I just need a few quick facts," replied La'Quidd crisply.
     Havoc noted that The Squid's tone and manner had changed; now he was more
business-like.  Havoc leaned back and relaxed slightly.  He clasped his fingers
together in his lap.
     "Wadda ya need?" Havoc asked.
     "First, what's the name of this new team?"
     "It's called: Search the Sky."
     "Uummm," La'Quidd hummed as his stylus flew across the wax. "Why that name?"
     "Uh, well," Havoc scratched his bristly scalp and scowled.  "It's sorta a
tribute to another team I used to work with in Osksi-"
     "Okay, okay," nodded La'Quidd.  "Now, what about the fighters?"
     "What about 'em?"
     "Names, styles, particular idiosyncrasies, that sort of thing."
     "Huh!" Havoc twisted his mouth as he thought.  It looked as if he were chewing
on a sour candy. "First, I gotta give it to Blue Nova.  She's the pick o' the litter
so far."
     "Style?"
     "Well, she's a striker," nodded Havoc glumly.  "But she's fast!"
     "Really?" asked The Squid in a bored tone.  He wrote quickly and deftly,
scratching clear, deep lines into the wax.
     "Yeah, REALLY!" Havoc insisted.  He up sat straight.  "She's so fast she can
blow out a candle and get into bed before it gets dark!"
     "Hhhmmmm," nodded The Squid with another polite smile.
     "Then there's Gravity Vortex.  He's kinda an experiment... but I think he's
gotta lot of potential."
     "Style?" asked The Squid in a monotone, let's-hurry-this-up-so-I-can-get-out-of-
here voice.
     "He's a WASTE," Havoc growled.  He shot a suspicious look at La'Quidd, which the
other ignored. "Look, ya know yer getting' paid for this, right?"
     La'Quidd looked up slowly from his writing and made the first sincere expression
Havoc had seen.  It was a brief, condescending smile.  "Oh, I know, I know."
     Havoc closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he held it for a few moments
before expelling it with a fierce grunt of effort.
     "All right, Squiddo, that's enough for today."  Havoc pushed himself out of his
chair and picked it up.  He tossed the heavy chair back into its place against the
wall.  La'Quidd froze.  This time, the crash of the chair caused him to flinch ever
so slightly.  Havoc's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
     "What about the rest of the team?  And my --- commission?"
     "Never mind about the rest of the team," muttered Havoc as he turned towards the
door.  He unbarred it and cast it back.  "Ya can see 'em in the practice yards.  Make
yer own opinion, just make SURE it's a good one, savvy?!"
     Havoc gestured to the open doorway.  La'Quidd quickly closed the box holding the
wax tablets; it shut with a sharp click.  He pushed himself out of the thick cushions
with effort and straightened his tunic as he stood.  Havoc noted that his hand
strayed towards the knife at his belt.
     "I'll pay ya when I see what ya write.  I seen the boys ya got hustlin' the
crowd with yer 'cheat sheet'."
     "It's a living," murmured La'Quidd with a half-hearted bow.
     "Yeah, well, we'll see, won't we?" Havoc replied in a gravelly whisper.  He
stepped away from the doorway.  The Squid tilted his head and offered another small,
insincere smile as he sailed through the doorway.  Havoc stepped to the door
immediately after La'Quidd left and slammed it closed.  The sound was like a
thunderclap; Havoc hoped it caused The Squid's panties to get a little damp.
     He threw himself into the chair La'Quidd had vacated and wrestled with his
anger.  The Kid had always dealt with the little weasels like The Squid.  Well, The
Kid was part weasel himself, mused Havoc with a fleeting smile.  His face twisted
into its usual, stern expression.
     Maybe, he thought as he ground his teeth, maybe this 'full-time manager' thing
was a little more than he bargained for.  Before, all he had to do was train the
fighters and bitch to The Kid about their poor quality.  Now he was getting a taste
of the other side of management, and it sucked rocks!
     First off, the Gladiatorial Commission controlled the quality of the fighters,
and they weren't near as choosy as Havoc.  Then there was the haggling over weapons,
armor, and food... and now, dealing with the likes of The Squid.
     "Aaarrrgghhh!" Havoc roared into the air beat and beat his palms against the
sturdy armrests.  "I hate ya, Kid!  I really hate ya!"

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

                        6 Months Ago -- The Eastern Deserts

     The battlefield was shrouded in darkness, save for the torches carried by a 
number of the soldiers and several magical orbs of light, which circled above lazily 
at the command of the wizards.  The engagement had been a short one, as three huge, 
lumbering Phase Dragons burst from the nearby caverns and ran straight into the fully 
prepared army.  The archers took a savage toll on the beasts before the elite 
gladiators charged in to finish the fray.  As the soldiers cleared the massive bodies 
from the cavern mouth a small group of hooded men gathered a short distance away.
     "There is no question about it.  These are creatures from the Kaikwok Gate." 
said Rillion, thoughtfully stroking his short beard. "I just don't understand how 
they are accessing our world again despite the gate being completely sealed."
     Alongside the mage, the manager known as The Greek Guy sharpened a gleaming 
battle axe.  "The Dark One said something about a rift or tear.  I'm not really up on 
Gate Metaphysics, Rill.  All I know is they're here and they shouldn't be."
     "Managerr said they wouldn't be gone long." Added Rascally Rabbit, looking far 
more sinister than his manager name implied, "and that we needed to hold this area 
until they got back.  So that's what we need to do."
     One of the scouts shouted a brief warning and the soldiers assumed battle 
formation once more.  The three arena managers stepped back behind a shield thrown up 
by Rillion and prepared for a second engagement.  Within a moment, a snarling wave of 
Jaguar warriors erupted from the cavern, pouring out toward the soldiers.
     The Greek Guy took the point and motioned to the troops.  "Move to engage!  Form 
up!  Initiate Shield Wall!  Archers, volley fire!"
     A cloud of enchanted arrows hissed into the night, and then descended to shower 
death upon the charging Jaguar warriors.  Scores of the beast men went down under the 
fire but it was just a small fraction of their overall numbers.  Within a moment the 
first ranks of the jaguars leapt upon the prepared troops, tearing and rending with 
their razor sharp talons and fangs.  Despite the massive numbers, the shield wall 
held, and the gate beasts seemed to be taking the worst of the exchange.  After a 
moment, however, the Jaguar Warriors found some holes in the ranks and burst through, 
creating havoc amongst the defenders.
     "Second line-- advance!  First line-- fall back!"
     The first defensive line fell back in an organized retreat, while a second wave 
of defenders moved up.  Within a moment, they formed up to from a second defensive 
line, while those formerly in the front line moved back to regroup.  At the same 
time, another wave of arrows showered from the sky and cut down the confused Jaguar 
Warriors.
     "We learned a lot from the first Gate incursion." Rillion commented to RR.  "The 
Jaguar Warriors can be a terror one on one, but they don't fight well in organized 
battles.  Those enchanted arrows help a lot, too.  One shot, one kill."
     Despite the confident words, the Jaguars were inflicting a savage toll on the 
soldiers.  It was true, that the majority of the troops were gladiators and former 
gladiators who were now protected by immortality magic, but still if they were 
consumed by the Gate monsters, there would be no return.  As the battle raged, it 
became clear that there were too many Jaguar warriors for the small army to defeat.  
Rillion flicked his staff and sent a fireball into the Jaguar's flank.  It erupted 
into a flaming explosion of heat and pressure, sending scores of the beast men 
flying.  As he did so, the Rabbit gathered a nearby troop and rushed to cut off a 
Jaguar offensive.
     The Greek Guy motioned for the trumpeters to sound the retreat.  "Back up the 
hill!  Form defensive units.  Skirmishers forward to slow the advance."
     "This is not going well." Rillion commented as he blasted away a row of Jaguars 
with a bolt of lightning.
     As he prepared a second bolt, he noticed a large vortex opening nearby.  A 
travelling Gate was being opened.  Which meant either more Jaguars, or...?
     A second small army of heavily armored gladiator-soldiers appeared.  At their 
head rode Managerr, on a white stallion, and the Dark One, on his black gelding.  
They motioned and their warriors charged into the Jaguar Warriors flank.  The numbers 
now more even, the first army charged down the hill.  Within minutes the Jaguar 
forces were destroyed.  Only a handful survived to flee back into the cavern.
     "Good timing."  Rascally Rabbit chuckled, his eyebrow arched, "You couldn't have 
arrived just a touch sooner?"
     "It took us a while to scout out the ruins of our old training grounds on the 
other side of the Kaikwok Gate." Managerr responded, "We stopped by to gather the 
second division, as we thought we might need the manpower.  Apparently we were right.  
The other side of the old Gate is completely empty.  They are all gone."
     "Gone?  There were millions of beings on that world.  You're telling me that 
they're all gone?"
     The Dark One waved his staff and a vision of the Kaikwok Gate world appeared.  
It was decimated.  Forests burned and blasted, temples shattered, riverbeds and lakes 
dried up and shriveled.  "As he said.  All gone.  We detected residual magic.  Gate 
magic.  I am not certain if it was left from an invader that came, exterminated that 
world and enslaved what was left of the population or possibly the denizens of that 
world developed Gate travel on its own and departed a dying world.  We have no way of 
knowing which is the case."
     The Greek Guy received a message from one of the army runners, read it quickly 
and motioned to his fellows.  "The engineers are ready."
     He motioned to a figure high up on the cliffside above the cave.  In a moment, a 
thunderous explosion shook the ground.  Instantly a shower of boulders, shards of 
stone and dirt rained down, burying the cavern opening under half the mountainside.
     Rillion nodded.  "That will do for this Gate access, but I expect there will be 
more."

           Three Months Ago -- The Dark Citadel -- Isle of of the Eye

     The Brotherhood of the Blade sat around the titanic obsidian table where they 
often planned and plotted together.  This occasion was more serious, however, than 
their usual debates over gladiatorial tactics and battle plans.  They were instead 
embroiled in a lengthy discourse regarding the ongoing Gate incursions that had been 
detected.
     "Sheila and her mage council can't figure out how to stop it." Managerr noted.
     "Sheila?"  The Greek Guy chuckled, "First name basis now, are we?"
     Managerr smirked at him.  "They can close the Gate opening when they find it, 
but then another one opens somewhere else within a few days.  At some point they are 
going to get access in a remote area and we won't find it in time.  If they can move 
in a large force, it will be next to impossible to beat them back and close the 
access.  It will be a mess."
     "And we still have no idea who is behind this and what's going on." Rillion 
added.
     "What we do know is that we don't have enough days in the week to keep running 
around closing gates and fighting battles.  We're shorthanded.  Zalgor's missing in 
action and Caesar is off-world fighting wars of his own.  Without their forces it's 
even worse."  Rascally Rabbit shuffled through his roster.  "I've lost 15% of my 
personal troops and I know you all have suffered losses as well."
     Managerr agreed.  "We're definitely short on members.  Mad Max and Tig Toad are 
retired.  With Zalgor inactive and Caesar battling Picts or whatnot, we are at five 
members.  Just barely enough in normal times and way short in these times."
     "We need to recruit some new members." The Greek Guy stated.  "We have a 
tournament coming up and can talk to some managers there.  We need to find those who 
are like-minded and who would get along with the rest of us, which is not always 
easy."
     "Agreed." said the Dark One from beneath his cowl, "We can then announce our new 
members.  We need more men and more troops.  I think we all have some candidates in 
mind.  First, they must have no other allegiances.  Second, they must have the 
martial knowledge we expect from our members.  And, the Greek Guy mentioned, they 
have to be able to deal with us."

                        Present Day -- the Isle of the Eye
     One of the arena scribes rushed into the GC headquarters.  "We need 100 runners 
to travel to every city in the land.  We're being paid 1,000 gold sovereigns to get 
the news out!"
     "What news?"
     "The Brotherhood of the Blade is expanding!!  Here is the announcement!"
              *****                   *****                   *****
     Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!  The Brotherhood of the Blade has chosen to add the following 
new members to our ranks.  Effective immediately, the following managers have been 
offered and have accepted membership to the Brotherhood:
     Bubbaganoosh
     Grimm
     Khisanth

May their successes be great and their victories many under our banner!

     Officially -- Managerr -- Grand High Moose of the Brotrotherhood of the Blade

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Hiya, Shadowspire <Giggle>

     I have returned as promised.  <Giggle>  I must say that Glabrio had more stamina
than I thought he would have!  So that is why it took so long, Snide Clemens!  <Shaa>
I was also fighting Glabrio and a massive hangover at the same time.  Why don't you
try that sometime, Snide?  In other news, looks like Grimm high-tailed it out of the
arena!  Was this do to Vanek or did Grimm go to one of those Furry conventions and
get sidetracked by one of those crazy costume orgies?  One of my other regular
"patrons," while I was dancing, Hombre, took out one of Vanek's guys last round...
will there be retribution?  Who could ever get mad at a guy named Hombre, that's like
getting made at someone named Amigo or Ami!  I guess only time will tell!
     Well, the throne room is back to looking immaculate again, I had fun looking at
all the stuff other Duelmasters and Duelmistresses left behind and what they wrote in
that book thingie!  I feel like this place should be my permanent residence, DeGotti
says it will be if I keep failing my stat trains... oops!  <Giggle>
     Why are people getting on about Word Thief's name?  The guy is a lyrical
plagiarist, and the best one out there!  He's a blast when he has some wine, the
stories never stop, of course you have to weed through what are his thoughts and
those of others!

     Okay, all! I have to go and train some and make sure my breastplate is nice and
shiny for another round with Glabrio!  Ta Ta for now!

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings warriors!  It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the 
clash and bustle of the weekly SHADOWSPIRE games.  Former top team DRAGONBANE GUILD 
was unseated this week as BOND-AGE moved up from 4th ranking to take the top spot 
with a 4-1-0 record for the round.  Fortune did not smile upon DRAGONBANE GUILD this 
time out who this turn suffered a fall into 6th position in the wake of a 2-2-0 
round.  Warriors--remember that glory waits always around the corner!  Witness how 
this week FURRY FURY went 3-2-0 to move up 9 in the rankings.  Did only my eyes note 
the 4-1-1 record which DARQUE AGES managed to post this round?  I don't doubt that 
such a record will draw challengers!  DROW caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial 
commission as he skillfully bested CAZADOR and was awarded 23 points in recognition.  
In one of the week's more notable duels, BLUE NOVA put down LONGFANGS, causing him to 
lose 15 points of recognition in the process.  Unwilling to wait upon the will of 
others, Duelmaster GIGI DIVINE Bloodfeuded GLABRIO last week in a match to decide the 
fate of the throne.  Although GLABRIO made a valiant effort, it did not suffice to 
topple the reign of victorious GIGI DIVINE.  Informants "close" to the city champion 
have told me that he never fights without pantyhose on beneath his armor.  Watch out! 
     But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades 
that is city SHADOWSPIRE.  I saw one fighter that warriors avoided when this week's 
challenge seeking began.  CULT OF BACCHUS is feared.  This much I can say.  Methinks 
more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent the better part of last 
week avoiding CULT OF BACCHUS.  Indeed it was BOND-AGE.  Loose talk at the arena has 
reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters are after 
JAKLAK.  Watch your back!  ODDJOB must really be harboring a grudge against the 
SUMMERBORN guild!  Merciless, 19 challenged down LITTLE DARLING points this week to 
duel with he.  Few would not have guessed the outcome of the bout as LITTLE DARLING 
was overcame by ODDJOB.  Is this what passes for courage in SHADOWSPIRE?  I can not 
but mention with disdain the name of KRONSTEEN who this week posted a challenge to a 
warrior a full 11 points below in the rankings.  I thought KRONSTEEN showed great 
skill and promise when he beat FEOHR.  All right, so I slept through it!  Big deal!   
     What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his 
foe's mortality?  I must report the passing of TUKWILLA, veteran of many duels.  
9-12-2 final record Its was not illustrious--but death plays no favorites.  Fate is a 
fickle mistress.  She showers the miserable with fortune but sets enemies against the 
victorious.  Remember this!   
     If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times 
already in SHADOWSPIRE.  Nice atmosphere you have here!  Sadly warriors, now longer 
can I keep thy company nor savor the ale of thy fine city.  Depart I must and soon!  
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                  
 GIGI DIVINE 613              31  15  1   114       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROSA KLEBB 1765              13   8  0   124       BOND-AGE (133)
 ODDJOB 1766                  13   8  0   123       BOND-AGE (133)
 FISH TACO 1687               17  10  1   121       FOOD (130)
 BALTAIRE 833                 14  13  0   105       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 GREMLIN STEW 1710            21   6  0   104       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 MEDA 854                     18   7  0   101       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 JAKLAK 1430                  26  22  0   100       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 TAMERLANE 1764               12  10  1    96       DARQUE AGES (29)
 KRONSTEEN 1748               14   8  0    92       BOND-AGE (133)
 NICK NACK 1750               11  11  2    92       BOND-AGE (133)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JULIETTE 1630                21  12  0    88       SUMMERBORN (104)
 LITTLE DARLING 1700          15  13  0    87       SUMMERBORN (104)
 MARTILN 1742                 15   8  0    86       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 SUMNER 1624                  12   9  0    85       THE WILLBURYS II (127)
 DROW 1774                    13   9  0    83       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
 KNUT SUNDERHELM 1569         16  21  3    78       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 CAZADOR 1578                 20  16  0    76       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 BRUSSEL SPROUTS 1688         13  14  2    73       FOOD (130)
 JOSEPH MITCHELL 1746         10  14  1    73       LITERATE LOONS (40)
 CLERLEON 1796                11   7  1    71       LA PENTARCHIE (11)
 IRONHEAD 1722                18   8  0    69       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 JULIAN OF NORWICH 1783       10  10  1    68       DARQUE AGES (29)
 FEOHR 1737                   13  12  1    67       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RENTON 1623                  10  11  1    66       THE WILLBURYS II (127)
 PURPLE WORM 1775             11  11  1    64       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
 HARE BINGER 1790             10   8  1    60       FURRY FURY (25)
 SORRY 1891                    6   5  0    59       BRIDGE BURNERS (135)
 ZADIE SMITH 1701             15  13  0    58       LITERATE LOONS (40)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GLABRIO 1800                  8   9  1    56       WARMASTERS (15)
 PASTA ALL DENTY 1837          6   6  0    55       OTTO'S DINER (96)
-MIDSUMMER WREATH 1793         8   5  1    52       SUMMERBORN (104)
 HOMONCULOUS 1851              6   2  0    51       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
 HONEY BEE 1860                3   3  1    51       FURRY FURY (25)
 LADY GODIVA 1782             13   7  0    50       DARQUE AGES (29)
 ONION RINGS 1684             11  16  0    49       FOOD (130)
 REDDIG 1838                   9   3  0    46       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 TRUTTS 1889                   6   5  0    45       BRIDGE BURNERS (135)
 IRWEHN 1785                  10  10  0    43       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 AGORIX 1842                   7   4  2    43       WARMASTERS (15)
 TROLL HAND 1825               6   6  1    43       SAVAGE HORDE (134)
 TURDUCKEN 1784                8  12  0    42       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 KALAM 1888                    6   1  1    41       BRIDGE BURNERS (135)
 TOSSED SALAD 1686             6  21  0    39       FOOD (130)
 FAILED DOG TRICK 1798         7   9  0    38       FURRY FURY (25)
 THE BLACK PRINCE 1841         6   5  0    36       DARQUE AGES (29)
 INGRAT 1805                   6  10  0    35       LA PENTARCHIE (11)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STORM GIANT 1819              7   7  0    28       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
 EDNA MILLAY 1834              7   6  0    27       LITERATE LOONS (40)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ORTING 1815                   7   5  0    27       THE WILLBURYS II (127)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WORD THIEF 1849               3   4  0    23       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 AL ZHEIMER 1886               2   0  0    23       LA PENTARCHIE (11)
 STORMY 1892                   5   6  1    22       BRIDGE BURNERS (135)
 THE DRONE 1862                4   3  1    22       LA PENTARCHIE (11)
 SYFTAR TRAFF 1876             2   2  0    22       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 BLUE NOVA 1898                1   0  0    22       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 KAMAL KHAN 1883               2   1  0    21       BOND-AGE (133)
 SKULLCLEAVER 1877             2   2  0    20       SAVAGE HORDE (134)
 PICKER 1890                   4   6  1    19       BRIDGE BURNERS (135)
 EURYMEDON 1865                4   2  0    18       LA PENTARCHIE (11)
 COMET BOY 1899                1   0  0    15       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 CAT N TONIC 1870              1   3  0    13       FURRY FURY (25)
 HENRY MILLER 1846             1   9  0    12       LITERATE LOONS (40)
 CAEDMON 1873                  2   3  0     9       DARQUE AGES (29)
 REAVER 1879                   2   2  0     8       SAVAGE HORDE (134)
 LONGFANGS 1881                2   1  0     7       SAVAGE HORDE (134)
 BAD BORSCHT 1894              1   1  0     7       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 RATHELM 1893                  1   1  0     7       SAVAGE HORDE (134)
 HITTIUS 1880                  1   1  0     6       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 SCIPIO 1900                   0   1  0     1       WARMASTERS (15)
 1ST NULL ZONE 1896            0   1  0     1       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 GRAVITY VORTEX 1895           0   1  0     1       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 2ND NULL ZONE 1897            0   1  0     1       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
-SUMMER BAY SHOT 1884          0   1  0     1       SUMMERBORN (104)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
JAX LE BLUE 946         8  9 0 CULT OF BACCHUS 4    GLABRIO 1800          143  JUST REVENGED
BORO BLOODHUNTER 1854   5  2 0 DRAGONBANE GUILD 13  PURPLE WORM 1775      145   
JUNK A 1885             0  1 0 FURRY FURY 25        BANDIT PRINCE         146  NONE
GET BENTO 1863          1  5 0 OTTO'S DINER 96      HIGH ELF              146  NONE
BONESNAPPER 1826        2  6 0 SAVAGE HORDE 134     TIBERIUS 1853         143  REVENGED
GROND 1852              2  2 0 SAVAGE HORDE 134     AGORIX 1842           142  NOT REVENGED
WELLAWELLAWELLUH 1843   4  4 0 SUMMERBORN 104       AGORIX 1842           143  REVENGED
TUKWILLA 1627           9 12 2 THE WILLBURYS II 127 TAMERLANE 1764        146   
EBORIUS 1799           10  6 0 WARMASTERS 15        NICK NACK 1750        145   
KOPITAR 1871            1  4 0 WARMASTERS 15        MOUNTAIN TROLL        146  NONE
TIBERIUS 1853           2  6 1 WARMASTERS 15        BLACK ORC             146  NONE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Bad Borscht -- I may have got a bit lucky there.  My manager keeps telling me not to
plan on being around for a long time.  Not sure what that means... -- Fearsome
RatHelm

Kamal Kahn -- One and out.  You pack a mean punch. -- Skullcleaver

Hitius -- Longfangs missed his train for the 2nd straight turn.  More beatings for
him!   I mean, increased workout program designed to improve endurance as approved by
Shadowspire Manager Federation of course. -- Hawk

Al Zheimer -- They tell me I lost.  For some reason I don't remember a thing. --
Reaver

Vanek -- I consider our BF over. -- Hawk

I'm deeply entangled in holidays, so I could miss this turn... would be horrible and
the first one... ack! -- LP

Thanks to Gigi for her splendid column.  She deserves a long stand upstairs! -- LP

Yup, beautiful Godiva, I guess I'm one more lucky slasher in this team... and I will
always enjoy a few minutes with you anywhere... -- Clerleon

Bridge Burners -- Welcome to Shadowspire!  Fight hard and quick and you shall be
successful! -- DeGotti

     Promises, promises.

Thanks to the spy commission for sending us a real spy report!  I would love to see
it more often! -- DeGotti

     Odd-numbered turns.

The Drone -- That was a pleasant battle!  It was a blind challenge so a win and some
nice learns are always a nice return! -- DeGotti

LP & Visionist -- Keep the PAs coming! -- DeGotti

There sure was a bunch of number crunching and percentages thrown out last turn!

HAL -- Big night drinking before the last newsletter was published?  Seemed like a
lot of errors in my long post last turn.  Indentations and paragraphs were all wrong
and you even managed to misplace a set of quotes that slightly changed the meaning of
my post.  The overall meaning of the post was there, but I was disappointed to see it
look so sloppy. -- Vanek, Manager of Warmasters

     No more disappointed than I was to find the whole thing embedded in some kind of
     formatting code that hal doesn't recognize and so garbles further.  If you could
     manage to send your material in plain text (dot txt), no fancy fonts, no colors,
     no underlines, no curly quotes, five spaces instead of a tab, etc, I can see
     what you intended and keep it so. I suggested to the Commission staff that I
     send samples of incompatible formatting to the Face to Face as a teaching tool,
     but that was vetoed.  As an alternative, you could send your material directly
     to me (jputney at zianet dot com) and I can use the clear-formatting command in
     my mail client to render them readable.  Otherwise, I have to guess, because hal
     doesn't understand "clear formatting." -- the Editor

Bond-Age -- What's the old saying?  Don't get mad, get even?  I may not be able to
retaliate for Eborius' death now, but I do have a long memory (ask Grimm) and I will
make it a point to even the score sometime in the future. -- Vanek

Troll Hand -- Congrats on the Bloodfeud victory.  Unfortunately, your bloodfeud is
about to be cut short.  Tiberius hasn't lived up to expectations and will be fighting
with a torch in hand this round.  Sorry. -- Vanek

Bridge Burners -- Welcome to Shadowspire.  We hope you enjoy your stay! -- Vanek

Grimm -- Did you need a tissue, buddy?  You seemed to be doing a lot of whining on
the forums about big bad managers like me actually challenging your warriors when you
had them on maintenance (as if we had any way of knowing).  Maybe you should grow "a
pair," ya big sissy.  Jeez, you have more excuses for your pathetic record than
anybody I know.  Threatening me with other managers coming after you comments was
also a nice touch.  That really emphasised what a coward you truely are to send your
"minions" after me rather than maning up and dealing with me yourself.  You, sir, are
pathetic! -- Vanek

Kid Arcane -- "If I have any complaints at all, it's with the use of the forums for
EVERYTHING.  Sure, it's convenient and faster than the mail, but much of the dialogue
(not all of it (cough, Vanek, cough, Grimm) should find its way into the
newsletters."  I took your quote above from the forums and used it as inspiration to
make sure I called out Grimm for the pathetic loser he is in the personal ads just
for you!  Just trying to keep things entertaining around here.  :) -- Vanek

All -- After a brief stopover tour over in Noblish Island, the Bridge Burners have
landed at Shadowspire.  We may be new to these shores but we are used to overcoming
seemingly overwhelming opponents.  However, we are still humble enough to understand
there is much we don't know and are still looking to learn and improve. -- WJ

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

GET BENTO was viciously butchered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
TIBERIUS was slaughtered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
KOPITAR was murdered by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
JUNK A was slaughtered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl.
GIGI DIVINE devastated GLABRIO in a 11 minute one-sided Bloodfeud Title fight.
NICK NACK was devastated by FISH TACO in a 1 minute uneven Challenge brawl.
ODDJOB overpowered LITTLE DARLING in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge struggle.
KRONSTEEN devastated FEOHR in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge competition.
BALTAIRE viciously subdued JAKLAK in a popular 9 minute expert's Challenge duel.
SORRY was unbelievably bested by KNUT SUNDERHELM in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
PASTA ALL DENTY was luckily beaten by IRONHEAD in a tiring 13 minute Challenge melee.
KALAM was outlasted by LADY GODIVA in a crowd pleasing 7 minute Challenge match.
HARE BINGER viciously subdued AGORIX in a 2 minute brutal Challenge contest.
TURDUCKEN was demolished by JULIAN OF NORWICH in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge brawl.
TRUTTS slimly won victory over TOSSED SALAD in a popular 3 minute Challenge conflict.
WORD THIEF was defeated by THE BLACK PRINCE in a 1 minute Challenge struggle.
TROLL HAND viciously subdued STORM GIANT in a exciting 8 minute bloody Challenge fray.
STORMY slimly lost to ORTING in a tiring 11 minute Challenge brawl.
PICKER was savagely defeated by EDNA MILLAY in a exciting 6 minute Challenge match.
RATHELM was beaten by KAMAL KHAN in a 2 minute amateur's Challenge fight.
REAVER was bested by EURYMEDON in a popular 5 minute gory Challenge contest.
CAT N TONIC was vanquished by INGRAT in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match.
SKULLCLEAVER vanquished CAEDMON in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fray.
GREMLIN STEW luckily beat JULIETTE in a popular 6 minute gruesome veteran's match.
ROSA KLEBB beat BRUSSEL SPROUTS in a 1 minute expert's fight.
MEDA overpowered CLERLEON in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
CAZADOR was vanquished by DROW in a 1 minute uneven bout.
PURPLE WORM was handily defeated by SUMNER in a 2 minute uneven bout.
TAMERLANE savagely slew TUKWILLA in a 2 minute brutal expert's competition.
MARTILN overpowered VETERAN MERCENARY in a 2 minute uneven fight.
ZADIE SMITH was viciously subdued by RENTON in a exciting 3 minute veteran's fight.
JOSEPH MITCHELL overpowered IRWEHN in a popular 1 minute one-sided bout.
ONION RINGS was handily defeated by HONEY BEE in a 1 minute mismatched match.
REDDIG vanquished SYFTAR TRAFF in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
HOMONCULOUS demolished THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 1 minute brutal mismatched match.
FAILED DOG TRICK handily defeated HENRY MILLER in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
THE DRONE demolished OSKSI NOBLE in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
LONGFANGS was vanquished by BLUE NOVA in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
AL ZHEIMER vanquished GRAVITY VORTEX in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
HITTIUS luckily beat SCIPIO in a 2 minute brutal beginner's competition.
BAD BORSCHT savagely defeated 1ST NULL ZONE in a 2 minute gruesome beginner's battle.
2ND NULL ZONE was devastated by EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute mismatched match.
COMET BOY overpowered PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                 16         SLASHING ATTACK   33 -  24 -  1      58  |
|BASHING ATTACK                  10         TOTAL PARRY       46 -  34 -  2      58  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    9         PARRY-RIPOSTE     13 -  10 -  0      57  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  8         STRIKING ATTACK   92 -  83 -  2      53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      8         PARRY-STRIKE      45 -  48 -  3      48  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     8         AIMED BLOW        23 -  25 -  1      48  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   7         BASHING ATTACK    38 -  45 -  5      46  |
|AIMED BLOW                       6         LUNGING ATTACK    28 -  35 -  0      44  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         WALL OF STEEL     32 -  41 -  5      44  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-LUNGE        7 -  19 -  0      27  |

Turn 146 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:

STRIKING ATTACK   12 -  4     BASHING ATTACK     4 -  6         4  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -  1     WALL OF STEEL      3 -  6         3  TOTAL PARRY    
SLASHING ATTACK    5 -  3     LUNGING ATTACK     2 -  5         1  PARRY-STRIKE   
TOTAL PARRY        5 -  3     PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  7         1  SLASHING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         3 -  3                                       1  BASHING ATTACK 
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      GIGI DIVINE 613            31  15  1  114 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
PARRY-STRIKE     ROSA KLEBB 1765            13   8  0  124 BOND-AGE (133)
SLASHING ATTACK  ODDJOB 1766                13   8  0  123 BOND-AGE (133)
STRIKING ATTACK  FISH TACO 1687             17  10  1  121 FOOD (130)
BASHING ATTACK   KRONSTEEN 1748             14   8  0   92 BOND-AGE (133)
LUNGING ATTACK   JULIETTE 1630              21  12  0   88 SUMMERBORN (104)
WALL OF STEEL    LITTLE DARLING 1700        15  13  0   87 SUMMERBORN (104)
AIMED BLOW       DROW 1774                  13   9  0   83 MONSTER MANUAL (87)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BALTAIRE 833.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was BALTAIRE 833.  The ten other most popular fighters were TROLL HAND 1825, KALAM 
1888, JULIETTE 1630, TOSSED SALAD 1686, PICKER 1890, GLABRIO 1800, RENTON 1623, 
TRUTTS 1889, REAVER 1879, and HARE BINGER 1790.

The least popular fighter this week was STORMY 1892.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were ORTING 1815, IRONHEAD 1722, PASTA ALL DENTY 1837, GIGI DIVINE 613, 
STORM GIANT 1819, 2ND NULL ZONE 1897, 1ST NULL ZONE 1896, GRAVITY VORTEX 1895, HENRY 
MILLER 1846, and SYFTAR TRAFF 1876.