DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 06/07/2017    Duedate: 06/20/2017

SHADOWSPIRE ARENA

DM-81    TURN-269

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

OSIRUS
CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
(81-2016) [24-21-0,129]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

OSIRUS                         POSITION IS EMPTY
CLAN LONGBEARD (39)            
(81-2016) [24-21-0,129]        

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

JANNA                          NEETA
PRAY THE GODS (155)            PRAY THE GODS (155)
(81-2581) [19-16-1,100]        (81-2702) [12-11-0,75]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

PRAY THE GODS (155)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. FROM THE LEFT (166)         54
2. DARQUE AGES (29)            36      SHANGHAIED (161)
3. SHANGHAIED (161)            36      Unchartered Team
4. KILL EM ALL (173)           30
5. PRAY THE GODS (155)         28      REIGN (109)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 SHANGHAIED (161)         127  93  6 57.7   1/ 4 PRAY THE GODS (155)      11  3 0
 2/ 1 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)      521 398 17 56.7   2/ 6 FROM THE LEFT (166)      10  5 1
 3- 3 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)    701 590 19 54.3   3/ 7 DARQUE AGES (29)          9  6 0
 4/ 4 DARQUE AGES (29)         588 514 21 53.4   4/ 1 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)       8  7 1
 5/ 5 WICKED MARTYRS (148)     233 209 10 52.7   5/ 2 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)       8  7 0
 6/ 9 FROM THE LEFT (166)       34  31  2 52.3   6/15 SHANGHAIED (161)          8  7 0
 7/ 6 OTTO'S DINER (96)        527 492 26 51.7   7/ 5 THE COMMODORES (150)      7  7 0
 8/ 7 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)      537 511 21 51.2   8/11 KILL EM ALL (173)         7  8 0
 9/ 8 THE COMMODORES (150)     202 194  6 51.0   9- 9 DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)     6  4 0
10/11 KILL EM ALL (173)         45  45  3 50.0  10/ 3 OTTO'S DINER (96)         6  9 0
11/10 FURRY FURY (25)          436 444 21 49.5  11/ 8 SEARCH THE SKY (136)      6  9 0
12-12 THE MONSANTIS (112)      142 159 13 47.2  12/14 BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)    5 10 0
13/13 PRAY THE GODS (155)      129 149 11 46.4  13/12 INEBRIATION (27)          4 11 0
14/14 MONSTER MANUAL (87)      459 559 18 45.1  14/17 MONSTER MANUAL (87)       3  5 0
15/15 BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)   362 485 27 42.7  15/10 WICKED MARTYRS (148)      3 11 0
16/16 SEARCH THE SKY (136)     181 257  9 41.3  16-13 WARBOW (170)              2  3 1
17-17 WARBOW (170)              38  57  2 40.0  17-16 THE MONSANTIS (112)       2  3 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
18/18 INEBRIATION (27)         158 248 13 38.9  18/18 FURRY FURY (25)           0  6 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                                   News In the Wind

     The smells swirling in the spring breezes were a surreal mix of the repulsive and 
the provocative.  The odd combination of aromas stemmed from the food cart's location.  
A local stable servicing the Shadowspire arena was only a block away to the West; 
Otto's Diner was just across the twisted cobbled street to the North.  Of course, the 
bustling tumult of diverse patrons jostling in sloppy queues around the food cart 
brought their own unique bouquet.
     The Arcane Kid sat at a smallish, rickety picnic table.  He had dragged it as far 
away from the food cart and the cacophony surrounding it as the shade allowed.  His 
thin face wore a twisted half-frown; his narrowed, glowing eyes were somewhat dimmed 
by the afternoon sun.  The Kid seemed to exude disdain for the swarms of customers, 
elbow to elbow and filling the worn benches and tables around the cart.  A pile of 
melted cheese covered an undetermined meat that bubbled on its greasy wooden plate in 
front of him.  
     "Whew!" Havoc slid onto the bench across from the Kid.  "I hadda bribe some punk 
justa get a decent place in line!"  His plate, loaded with a sizzling slab of meat, 
was in one calloused hand.  A tall ceramic tankard, cracked and stained and full to 
the brim with a foaming liquid, was in the other.  
     The Kid shook his head and pursed his lips in disgust as Havoc took out one of 
his knives, impaled and lifted the meat, and began gnawing at it in earnest 
enthusiasm.  "Yes, I had to spend some money just to get this table to ourselves." 
     Arcane sniffed and shook his head.  "You've hit a new low," he said.  "Strange 
food from an uncertain source -- okay.  It hasn't killed you yet.  But Otto's has that 
angle covered.  How does one explain this?" The Kid waved a slender hand at the other 
tables.  "And why?  Because Otto's was closed for a couple of weeks?  Ha!"  The Kid 
shook his head and pursed his lips.  "Now some peculiar...  creature...  parks his 
cart across the street and all the local vagabonds flock to ingest...  this!"  Arcane 
waved at the sizzling plate before him.  "What's the attraction?" 
     Havoc took the time to chew and savor a mouthful before swallowing and making his 
reply.  
     "First of all, I like the taste of this stuff, 'kay?"  He waved his tankard at 
the tables around them before taking a deep swig.  
     "Second," he said, wiping his mouth on the back of his brawny arm, "It's cheap."  
Havoc raised his knife and twisted the meat in the air, examining it carefully and 
avoiding eye contact with The Kid.  
     "And third, it's my turn to pick where we have our meetin', right?"  
     Havoc took another bite, chewed vigorously, then swallowed hard.  "What do ya 
care for?  Ya don't eat this kinda food, and ain't nobody askin' you sit here and 
stare at everyone with yer 'holier than thou' attitude."  
     The Kid bristled at Havoc's response, but Havoc had already returned his 
attention to the freshly seared meat.  The Kid's frown deepened; he turned toward the 
other tables and ignored his companion in turn.  A bearded ruffian left the cart 
window and advanced to their table.  He was carrying a small bundle wrapped in grease-
stained newsletters and wore the rope sandals of a poor sailor.  He had no cap or hat 
to keep back the wild mass of dark curly hair that framed his tanned face and hid his 
neck.
     He did have on worn, patched breeches of purple silk, and a dark woolen vest 
whose best days were far behind.  An ivory handle poked out from the stained yellow 
sash holding his breeches up.  "Ahoy, mates!  Mind if I drop anchor here for a spell?"  
     The Kid traded a brief glance with Havoc, who made a careless wave at the Kid's 
side of the table.  "There's room enough," Havoc grunted, returning his attention to 
his impaled meat.  
     Arcane rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and found something of interest across 
the street.  He ignored the stranger, who flopped down beside him and eagerly began 
unwrapping his bundle.  
     "Aye, this cart be a welcome addition to the offerings seen in Shadowspire!" the 
stranger declared.  A large pan-fried fish, caked with browned and blackened bread 
crumbs, and unidentifiable without its head, lay across the oil-soaked papers.  The 
sailor made a delicate forceps of his forefingers and thumbs and began picking away 
small chunks of fish.  He made small humming noises of pleasure as he popped the fried 
fish into his mouth.  The Kid sighed.
     Havoc stuffed the last piece of meat into his mouth and, with a deft flick, 
pulled his dagger free from between his teeth without cutting himself.  He seemed 
pleased as he wiped his blade clean and returned it to its sheath.  The Kid sneered.  
Havoc gestured at the cooling mass of congealed cheese covering the unidentifiable 
meat that lay, ignored, in front of The Kid.  "Ya gonna eat that?"
     Arcane made another deep sigh.  He turned his bright eyes to the sailor, who, 
caught off guard, seemed a trifle flustered.
     "What ship are you from?" Arcane asked.  
     "Oh, ahoy!  I was thinkin' I was unwelcome," replied the sailor with a gulp.  He 
dropped his fish and held out a strong calloused hand, only slightly greasy.  The Kid 
ignored it.  "I'm the 2nd mate from the aft deck crew, off the Indomitable, best 
merchant five-mast in the Trier Sea!" 
     "The Trier Sea?" Arcane shifted so that his body faced the sailor.  Havoc's eyes 
roved their periphery.  "But Shadowspire borders an inlet bay that enters the Ferencia 
sea, doesn't it?"
     "Oh, aye," nodded the sailor as he resumed pulling apart his lunch.
     "And on the other side of the Ferenchan Isles lies the Storm Sea, and ye double 
the cape to the West, and there lies the Trier Sea."  The sailor chewed and nodded his 
head; his thick beard ruffled and undulated.  "I know what you're thinkin', that I'm a 
long, long way from home."  He chuckled to himself as he attacked the remaining pieces 
of fish.  He shoved them roughly into his mouth, then wiped his fingers and mouth with 
the ragged end of his yellow sash.  The sailor then worked the corners of his lips, 
pulling away his beard with one hand as he wiped with the other.  The Kid watched him 
with patent disgust.
     "You ARE a long way from home." Arcane wove his fingers together gracefully and 
rested his left forearm on the table.  "What sort of cargo brings you so far?" he 
asked.  
     "Huh!" The sailor dropped his beard and sash and briefly inspected the crumpled, 
grease-soaked papers that had held his lunch.  "Newsletters from a place called 
Noblish?  Is that even anywhere near here?" he asked rhetorically.  With a growl the 
sailor crushed the papers together into a tight ball.  He offered a quick, tight grin 
and a wink, then he tossed it under their table.
     He returned his attention to the Kid.  "The usual brick-a-brack, sir.  The usual.  
Spices, talismans, scrolls and messages and letters from across Alastari..." The 
sailor made another broad wink and made sure to turn his head to include both Havoc 
and The Kid.  Havoc shrugged.  Arcane made a vague gesture with his chin, encouraging 
the sailor to continue.  
     "We've also had the dubious pleasure of human cargo this trip," he said.  
     "Slaves?" Arcane asked.
     "Naw!  More like half-baked sorcerers, would-be gladiators, and a few like 
yourselves, I'm guessin'."
     Havoc and Arcane traded a quick glance.
     "What exactly do you mean by that?" asked Arcane.
     "We ain't the same type o' personality, if ya hadn't noticed," added Havoc.
     "Oh aye, aye, that's true," nodded the sailor as he rose from the bench.  He 
wiped his beard again, this time with the bottom edge of his vest.  "But ye both be 
somehow mixed up in the gladiator game, I'm guessin'."
     Havoc shrugged again; Arcane nodded with a glum frown.
     "What's it to ya, Spud?" Havoc asked as the sailor began walking away.
     "Those others, you mentioned others..." Arcane tilted his head.
     "New managers have come into Shadowspire?"
     "Now don't get yer hopes up," Havoc interjected.  "New blood is nice, but it 
might NOT work in our favor, ya know."
     Arcane waved away his grim expression with a nonchalant gesture.  "Do you have 
any names you can share?"
     The sailor had left the table and was already several paces away; he waved as he 
hurried on in the direction of the bay.
     "Well, that was rude," frowned Arcane.
     "It don't matter anyhow," said Havoc as he slid Arcane's plate towards himself.  
He pursed his thick lips in a speculative manner, than took out his blade again.  
After a brief moment of consideration, another knife magically appeared in his other 
hand.
     Arcane extended a modest smile across the table.  "We might find the balances of 
power realigning in our favor," he said.  
     "Yeah," Havoc nodded as he sliced a criss-cross pattern in the blink of an eye.  
"And we might not," he added before stuffing his mouth with a thick chunk of cheese-
drenched meat.

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

                                  Corporate Get-Away

     Havoc rode out of the shadow of the deep forest at an easy, loping gait.  
Although the sun almost touched the leafy horizon behind him, his destination was 
close.  He sighed and then grumbled curses under his breath.  The three-day trip to 
Pandora's Box wasn't difficult or even dangerous, usually.  However, all that time in 
the saddle made him sore and cranky.
     With the benefits from a hefty toll tax, the long, winding trail through the 
Nhirivin Forest was well-maintained.  It was wide enough for a large wagon, and 
cleared of most brush and undergrowth for a few meters on either side.  Havoc slowed 
his horse to a tired walk as the trail widened at the base of a small hill.  When he 
reached the hill the road split left and right.  From out of a small doorway set into 
the hill, six warriors trotted out and formed a semi-circle blocking his way.  They 
wore lacquered leather armor of deep blue, with gold lines etched along the edges, and 
hard suspicious frowns.  Short, thick-bladed swords dangled from wide belts.  Sturdy 
spears with wide barbs at their tips offered a wicked glint as they caught the rays 
from the setting sun.  Havoc's eyes narrowed; he stopped his horse.
     "State your business!" barked the closest spearman.
     "Aw, c'mon..." Havoc growled.  "Patroclus, you idiot!  You can see it's me!"
     Patroclus sighed and lowered his spear.  "Damn it, Havoc! Ya know we gotta go 
through the procedures!"
     "Whatever..." Havoc rolled his eyes and raised his arms up and away from his 
sides.  The reins dangled from his right hand.  "I'm tired and I wanna get somethin' 
to eat, okay?"
     "We gotta see yer coin," rumbled Patroclus.  "You know the rules."
     Havoc tilted his head and frowned.  Patroclus smiled, tilted his head and 
shrugged.  Gently, he waved the glittery tip of his spear for emphasis.  With a 
muttered curse, Havoc reached back with his left arm and fumbled with the straps of 
his saddlebag.  He pulled out a small sack and tossed it at Patroclus, who made a deft 
catch.  He tucked it into his belt and made a sign; the men melted back into the edges 
of the trail.
     "Aren't you going to check that?  Count it?"
     "Naw," grinned Patroclus over his shoulder as he ducked under a branch.  "I trust 
ya!"
     "Cocky little..." Havoc muttered to himself as he urged his horse forward.  "I 
can't believe The Kid got him that job!"
     The horse shambled around the hill and then down into the circular courtyard in 
front of Pandora's Box.  A tall marble statue of a gladiator, mottled with streaks of 
red and black, faced the trail.  Behind him, a flock of bronze birds scattered 
throughout a wide, shallow pool spewed water from their open beaks.  Small knots of 
men and women in lacquered blue leather armor strolled throughout the area.  One came 
forward; he wore a large broadsword across his back.  He waved and gestured.
     Havoc nodded and swung off his horse.  He handed the swordsman the reins and a 
coin before he untied the saddlebags and draped them over his shoulder.  Then he took 
a thick bedroll, wrapped in oiled leather, from behind his saddle and carried it under 
his arm.  He patted the lathered rump of his tired horse affectionately as the guard 
led it away.
     Glancing up at the second-story windows as he made his way to the tavern, Havoc 
noted that the archers were still as vigilant as ever.  He ignored their surveillance 
and pushed hard against the wide, heavy door.  A pair of orcs, clad in scalemail and 
thick helms, waited inside.  Their battle-axes seemed sharp and ready; they twitched 
hopefully in their hands as Havoc laid his saddlebags, bedroll, and sword on the 
scarred wooden counter.  He took care to avoid eye contact.
     A pretty brunette in a clingy canary-yellow toga came from around the rows of 
shelves behind the counter.  The woman offered a bright smile.
     "Checking in?"  Havoc nodded.  "Your usual room?" Havoc nodded again.  The 
brunette wrapped his items in a square of purple felt and tucked them away onto one of 
the shelves behind her.  She then took a pair of leather tags from under the counter 
and gave one to Havoc.  She took the other tag and pinned it to the purple fabric.
     "You're number three, sir.  That's a very lucky number!"
     "No kiddin'?" Havoc allowed a brief smile to slip across his wide face as he 
tucked the leather tab into a small pocket in his belt.  "I still got a tab runnin' 
here, don't I?"
     "Um, yes sir." The brunette offered an uncertain smile.  "Will there be anything 
else?"
     One of the orcs grunted a vulgar sound, but Havoc chose to ignore it.  He shook 
his head and pushed through the door at the far side of the counter.  He entered a 
loud, long room lined with booths on either side.  He ignored the bustling staff as 
they carried trays of food and drink to their raucous guests.  Sauntering through the 
smoke and loud laughter and arguments, Havoc waved to a few rough-looking characters 
he knew well.
     He came to a wide flight of stairs and glided up to a small landing that opened 
to a corridor with three doors on either side.  A pair of elvish-looking guards 
patrolled the corridor.
     Havoc handed a coin to one of the guards, but each kept one hand on his scimitar 
anyway.  They allowed him to pass.  He strolled down the corridor, noting the bright 
brass numbers above each doorway.  He entered the room with a three above it, and came 
into a small, quiet room painted in soft blue and trimmed in gold.  A modest round 
table sat in the middle of the room; a pair of leather chairs were drawn up on either 
side.  They were his favorite kind: high-backed and thickly padded.  He dropped into 
the empty chair with a sigh.  
     "Really, Havoc, must you jostle the table that way?  Can't you even seat yourself 
with some civility?" complained the Arcane Kid.
     "Spill yer soup?" grunted Havoc.  The Kid gave a mild snort and shook his head.  
He pointed to a bucket of ice on a bronze hook that hung from the edge of the table.
     "I found of a few bottles of that homemade swill you enjoy.  I believe they call 
it 'beer' down in Osksi."
     "Yeah, yeah," muttered Havoc as rooted around in the ice.  "Y'know, I wasn't too 
keen on this bottle business at first, but I have to hand it to 'em.  The way it keeps 
it cold and fresh -- I like it!"
     "Glad you're happy," sighed Arcane as Havoc popped the stopper off a bottle and 
began to swallow.  His eyes glowed bright and unwinking.  "What's the status of the 
new recruits?"
     "Hhhmmmphphph!!"  Havoc choked a little and slapped the bottle on the table.  The 
sound reverberated loud enough to cause one of the guards to crack open the door and 
peer discreetly inside.  A warning look from the guard elicited an insincere smile 
from Havoc.  The guard closed the door.
     "Kid, don't do that to me when I'm swallowin'!" sputtered Havoc.
     Arcane shrugged.  "What about those recruits?"
     "Not too bad, I guess.  Definitely a change for the better."  Havoc held his 
bottle up to the overhead lamplight.  "This last guy, though...  I dunno 'bout him."
     "The cousin of Ferro Chaos?"
     "Yeah, that's him."  Havoc took another healthy swig from his bottle.  "It don't 
matter, though, right, if we don't watch 'em and manage 'em better.  Not if ya let 
Eclipse do somethin' stupid like carry a maul onto the sands!" 
     "I didn't think he wasn't serious about using it," smiled the Kid faintly.  "And 
I suppose I anticipated your intervention."
     "Yeah, well, how did that work out for ya?" grunted Havoc.  "We lost a fight we 
shouldn't-a lost.  I hate that!"
     "I hate it too," nodded Arcane.  "I don't know that we can do much about it, 
though."
     "Huh!  Look, we had a good run there for a while," growled Havoc.  He tapped the 
table with his bottle.  "We hadda good string of wins; our numbers was gettin' better 
'n better.  But hell -- it couldn't last forever!"
     "I realize that, of course," frowned the Kid.  "But still, I was hoping that we'd 
have some fighters who could at least go as far as Challenger Champions.  We haven't 
had anyone that high in the rankings in a while."
     "No we haven't," nodded Havoc.  "But it'll happen.  We've got a solid team now.  
Give 'em time."
     "I know, I know."
     "Look, I'm glad ya got me out of Shadowspire for the weekend.  After sendin' 
someone to the D.A., the team always gets a little gloomy."
     "I'm just glad our blood-feuds worked out."
     "Yeah, I think we made our point already.  Those punks was beat good." 
     "Yes, well..." Arcane rubbed his narrow chin with a slender hand.  "That brings 
us to something else I wanted to discuss.  There have been rumors, of course, as 
always..." 
     "Stop trying to be so dramatic, Kid!"
     "Well, it's hard to call this one," frowned Arcane.  "Managers bickering over how 
many fighters fight?"
     "Hey!  You gettin' political on me now?  And as far as droppin' a guy off the 
roster for a turn, if it's intentional-"
     "Yes, I know, but 'Life' happens," the Kid shrugged.  "And then there are those 
broad innuendos and ugly insults..."
     "Always good for a chuckle, Kid.  I'm sure it'll all work out."  Havoc sighed and 
pushed his large calloused palms in Arcane's direction.  "Got anything more?  I'm 
about ready to turn in."
     "So tired already?"
     "It was a long ride and I'm savin' up my strength for tomorrow."
     "Hhhmm." The Kid eyed Havoc skeptically.  "You've been warned many times about 
harassing the girls here, haven't you?"
     "Hey!  Yer not my mom!  Mind your own business!"
     Arcane raise his hands in surrender.  "Just checking."
     "So let's wrap this up, 'kay?"
     "As you wish.  But this last piece of gossip is a bit more complicated than a 
disgruntled manager.  It seems that another manager has threatened to leave 
Shadowspire due to some quarrel amongst some of the more senior managers."
     "Why not just kill off each other in the arena like men?" sneered Havoc.  "These 
guys act like kids!"
     "This might actually work towards our advantage, you know."
     "Yeah?"
     "Think of it.  The managers quarrel; their teams suffer from in-fighting; their 
weaknesses become easier to exploit..." The Kid rubbed his hands together.  "It would 
be delicious!"
     "Yeah...  but I wouldn't count on that too much.  There are lots of teams in 
Shadowspire, Kid.  Lots of fighters.  It'll take more than a handful of guys with 
knots in their panties to set up the kind of situation yer thinkin' about."
     "Still, there are definite signs of friction.  We would be foolish to ignore 
them."
     "We'd be foolish to bank on it, too.  The way I see it, if they hurt each other, 
great!  If not, then WE hurt them.  Don't matter which.  They're in our way, and 
that's gotta change, and that's flat."
     The Arcane Kid nodded and pushed away from the table.  "Well, then there's not 
much more to talk about, is there?"
     "Nope, I guess not." The two stood up from their chairs.
     "One more thing, Havoc.  Get me the numbers on the next fighter BEFORE you decide 
to send one to the Dark Arena, all right?"
     "Why, Kid?"
     "Do you wish to explain the bills I'm getting for new weapons and armor that I 
KNOW you didn't give these miserable wretches before sending them off?!"
     "Uh, yeah...  never mind."

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Greetings from your new Duelmaster.  Zayla, I salute your effort, but it wasn't 
good enough.  Hope your arm mends quickly.
     Now, according to my boss, Spy Reporter extraordinaire Huard DePriest was correct 
and if I get my invite I will finally complete Clan Longbeard's Round Robin.  So all I 
need to do is stay Duelmaster one more turn, or if I lose, do not die and do not drop 
from the Challenger Champs, and I should receive my invite to the Isle.  May the gods 
be with me this turn.

                                          -- Duelmaster Osirus 

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings, warriors of SHADOWSPIRE!  Once again I've been called out of 
retirement for my abilities and insights into Spyreporting.  Biff!  Pow!  SHADOWSPIRE 
watched with glee as CULT OF BACCHUS got knocked off top spot by PRAY THE GODS!  
Hmmmph!  I always thought OTTO'S DINER was an over-rated team and they proved it with 
a 1-4-0!  Ya gotta be quick on yer feet!  Keep your elbow off the table!  Thrust!  
Block out the pain!  SHANGHAIED is now ranked 6th with a 5-0-0 turn.  Some people say 
I ramble too much, I don't say anything relevant.  I repeat myself.  I ramble.  Well 
DARQUE AGES moved up 4, to 3rd.  What's with PLUG-IN CAR?  He actually beat OTTO'S 
DINER's SONNY CROQUETTE, and walked away with 18 more points from the fight.  Laughs 
were big at FROM THE LEFT while they watched PLUG-IN CAR clobber SONNY CROQUETTE.  He 
lost 13 points and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  KROW was 
reminded on the sands why OSIRUS is Duelmaster.  Advice to fighters with a 1 
will--give up fighting!   
     Speaking of cowardly avoiders and unfair challenges...  The most avoided team 
was SHANGHAIED.  The bums at KILL EM ALL couldn't face the challenges from 
SHANGHAIED!  No excuse for that!  What do people see in MIGHTY MIXON?  His 3-1-0?  
CULT OF BACCHUS ain't talkin', but he's got 17 points.  Maybe SEARCH THE SKY's 
ECLIPSE is one of those guys who likes pain, or something.  That's what he'll get 
next week, after challenging up 26 to JANNA.  ECLIPSE found one way to advance:  
challenging JANNA and losing, but getting 3 points.  No brain, no pain.  STRABO of 
DARQUE AGES knows how to pick 'em.  He challenged ZAYLA of CULT OF BACCHUS who is up 
by 23.  Now was this a wise move?  STRABO perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he 
subdued ZAYLA and ended up with 95 recognition points.  I hate going to the effort of 
writing about the kind of fights that ALPACA SWEATER gets in.  He fights people like 
MIGHTY MIXON, 10 points below.  I thought ALPACA SWEATER showed great skill and 
promise when he subdued MIGHTY MIXON.  All right, so I slept through it!  Big deal!   
     Warriors of SHADOWSPIRE unite.  You have only your games to lose!  Here's some 
advice:  study your opponent, master many skills, fight dirty.   
     Many other cities have retirement homes for aged warriors.  Any plans here?  
SHADOWSPIRE is a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places.  Time 
for my medication, so I'll leave now.  Practice, practice, practice!-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 OSIRUS 2016                  24  21  0   129       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FAST HACK 'EM 9 2653         17  13  0   111       THE COMMODORES (150)
 JANNA 2581                   19  16  1   100       PRAY THE GODS (155)
 SHEM 2719                    11  11  2   100       PRAY THE GODS (155)
 STRABO 2689                  16  10  0    95       DARQUE AGES (29)
 CLARA D'ANDUZA 2780          14   3  0    95       DARQUE AGES (29)
-STORMCLAW 2569               18  14  1    94       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
-TRISTAN 2669                 12  10  1    93       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 KROW 2504                    25  16  0    92       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-PLAN COLUMBIA 1612           19  21  1    86       THE MONSANTIS (112)
 MUTANT CAMEL 2678            16  12  0    84       THE COMMODORES (150)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TWO-TON TIMMONS 2578         21  15  0    81       SHANGHAIED (161)
 HORRID 2659                  16  13  0    81       WICKED MARTYRS (148)
 ZAYLA 2695                   15   8  0    81       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
-DRAGON SCARRED 2644          17   7  0    78       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 NEETA 2702                   12  11  0    75       PRAY THE GODS (155)
-KNIFEFIST 2714                9  10  0    75       WARBOW (170)
 BARSTOOL BRAD 2706           13  11  1    74       INEBRIATION (27)
 ECLIPSE 2565                 17  12  0    73       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 LUXLORD BLACK 2608           14  21  2    71       BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)
 SCHENDLE 2596                17  15  3    69       PRAY THE GODS (155)
 MISFORTUNE COOKIE 2783       10   6  0    67       OTTO'S DINER (96)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-AGENT ORANGE 2762            10   5  3    66       THE MONSANTIS (112)
 BLYTHE 2829                   7   3  1    66       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 POWDER MONKEY 2683           15  10  1    64       SHANGHAIED (161)
 PLUG-IN CAR 2588             10   3  0    61       FROM THE LEFT (166)
-DEATH DOG 2849                5   1  1    61       WARBOW (170)
 JET-BOOT JACK 2741           15   4  0    60       THE COMMODORES (150)
-STORMGIRL 2712                6  13  0    60       WARBOW (170)
 BRACKISH 2782                 8   9  0    58       WICKED MARTYRS (148)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PSYCHO STYX 2771              9   9  1    55       KILL EM ALL (173)
 FEAR MONGER 2590              7   5  0    52       FROM THE LEFT (166)
 MELLOW JELLO 2784            12   4  0    50       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 BLOODLUST 2769                7  11  2    50       KILL EM ALL (173)
 ASPIRE 2B GREAT 2750          7  11  0    47       BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)
 DESTINY 2703                 10  14  0    44       WICKED MARTYRS (148)
 MALAKAI 2768                  9   9  0    44       KILL EM ALL (173)
 ALPACA SWEATER 2585           8   5  0    42       FROM THE LEFT (166)
 SONNY CROQUETTE 2799          8   5  0    39       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 QUICK FINGERS 2837            7   3  0    39       BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)
 PAVIL 2270                    9   6  0    38       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 THYME LORD 2752               9   9  0    36       OTTO'S DINER (96)
 CHOKE 2767                    9   9  0    36       KILL EM ALL (173)
-ORLANDO 2688                  8  10  0    35       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 HYDRA 2753                    6   8  0    34       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
-WYRM CRUSHER 2814             4   3  0    34       DRAGONBANE GUILD (13)
 SLAYCIA 2850                  3   5  1    34       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-HALFBUCK 2710                 7  12  0    33       WARBOW (170)
 VIDHI 2840                    4   3  1    33       PRAY THE GODS (155)
 THREE SHEETS 2869             3   2  1    31       SHANGHAIED (161)
 PROTEST FOR HIRE 2597         4   7  1    28       FROM THE LEFT (166)
 SUBPAR SUE 2812               7   6  0    27       WICKED MARTYRS (148)
 TOM COLLINS 2790              5  11  1    27       INEBRIATION (27)
 NO-TEETH KEITH 2852           5   3  1    27       SHANGHAIED (161)
 SPHINX 2755                   5   9  1    25       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
-STARSMILE 2731                4  13  0    25       WARBOW (170)
 SRI PONNA 2874                2   2  0    25       DARQUE AGES (29)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SILENT SPRING 2825            4   4  0    23       THE MONSANTIS (112)
 FERDOWSI 2867                 2   3  0    22       DARQUE AGES (29)
-HARE DOWNER 2843              3   0  0    21       FURRY FURY (25)
-TOMORROWLAND 2841             5   3  0    20       THE MONSANTIS (112)
 PALE AL 2839                  2   8  0    18       INEBRIATION (27)
 PIERCER 2854                  2   2  0    18       MONSTER MANUAL (87)
 STAR STREAK 2872              3   2  0    17       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 MIGHTY MIXON 2870             3   1  0    17       CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
 SIR RACHA 2853                3   3  0    15       OTTO'S DINER (96)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BUCKTOOTH RUTH 2893           1   2  0    15       SHANGHAIED (161)
 FERRO BELUA 2908              1   0  0    15       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 THOK FOLDTEETH 2866           3   3  0    12       BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)
 FERRO CHAOS 2884              3   1  0    12       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 VLAD THE CRYBABY 2911         1   0  0     9       BIG LAKE OUTCASTS (19)
 RED DOG 2878                  2   2  0     8       INEBRIATION (27)
 WHING 2890                    2   1  0     7       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 VELOX DOCIS 2873              1   4  0     7       SEARCH THE SKY (136)
 MODUIN 2909                   1   0  0     6       DARQUE AGES (29)
 ZURRAY 2892                   1   2  0     5       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 HAMM 2879                     0   4  0     4       INEBRIATION (27)
 TARLEE 2891                   0   3  0     3       CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
 ORIN SCRIVELLO 2899           0   2  0     2       KILL EM ALL (173)
-GRAB N STAB 2901              0   1  0     1       THE MONSANTIS (112)
 BENJAMIN 2905                 0   1  0     1       WICKED MARTYRS (148)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
GRIM TICKLES 2838       2  7 0 BIG LAKE OUTCASTS 19 PROTEST FOR HIRE 2597 268   
COMGALL 2868            0  1 0 DARQUE AGES 29       THREE SHEETS 2869     265  REVENGED
DA1 2910                0  1 0 FROM THE LEFT 166    BANDIT PRINCE         269  NONE
MUD X 2913              0  1 0 FURRY FURY 25        ARENAMASTER           269  NONE
GOTTERDAMMERUNG 2787   11  3 0 KILL EM ALL 173      DEATH DOG 2849        267   
STELLA MORTEM 2864      1  1 0 SEARCH THE SKY 136   NO-TEETH KEITH 2852   265  REVENGED
BOB 2906                0  1 0 THE COMMODORES 150   MOUNTAIN TROLL        269  NONE
DAVE 2907               0  1 0 THE COMMODORES 150   DARK CHAMPION         269  NONE
SAMMY LIGHTFOOT 2834    6  3 0 THE COMMODORES 150   BLYTHE 2829           267  JUST REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Powder Monkey -- I learn one thing.  You learn no thing ha ha ha... -- Bloodlust

Bucktooth Ruth -- Luckily for you I know a good dentist. -- Choke

Slaycia -- Wow!  THAT was embarrassing... -- Malakai

Den -- I have given your gracious offer some thought and have decided to accept.  
Indeed I will claim the seat vacated by the great General Ikillu and take my place on 
the High Council of the AA next to you and Bill.  My acceptance comes with the 
stipulation that Philthy be demoted from 9th in command, effective immediately.  I 
just can't tolerate him holding such a prestigious position.  Also, as is custom with 
you AA guys, I will need a ridiculous title.  I will leave the creation of such to you 
and the Chief Justice.  Now that I think of it, I will also need to be reminded of 
what AA stands for again, hopefully it does not involve a twelve step program.  Maybe 
you can provide a list of who is in the AA as well, it can be quite confusing.  I 
certainly won't ask who our enemies are as it's obvious no one likes you guys. -- 
Shadowthrone, member of the AA
The first step is admitting you are AA

Malakai -- My only regret with that fight is that I didn't save your manager the time 
and effort needed to send you to DA this turn! -- Slaycia

Osirus -- Not an ideal match-up for me, especially with your FE advantage! Good luck 
holding onto the throne as Krow wants a shot at you! -- Zayla

Tristan -- No weapon?  No Problem!  Wouldn't have expected me to to pull that one off, 
now did ya? -- Krow

Mighty Mixon -- It's always nice to have the sun at your back, the fans on your side, 
and your challenge dictate the time & opportunity.  You'll find out it sucks from the 
other side--the sun in your face and facing a foe right after guzzling a liter of iced 
tea! -- Velox Docis

Jonna -- A maul?!  I hadda use a maul?!  That just don't seem fair! -- Eclipse

No-Teeth Keith -- You can take a lot of punishment and dish it out, too, I must admit. 
-- Star Streak

Grab N Stab -- Hey, this is mortal combat, not some lame company picnic!  Try to make 
it more interesting next time, willya? -- Ferro Chaos

Weirdo -- I'm gonna toss my 2c at you.  Don't presume.  Diplo players about touchy 
topics.  Maybe you'll be ignored, but maybe you won't.  I get the feelin' there's more 
goin' on here than meets the eye. -- Havoc
P.S.  Gotta love your willingness to step up, though.

Ferdowsi -- I won but I feel so used. -- Pavil

Thok Foldteeth -- How the # did you... -- Zurray

Orin Scrivello -- For a big guy you're pretty damn quick.  'Til we meet again. -- 
Whing

Piercer -- I am beginning to think I have made a bad career choice. -- Tarlee

Vlad -- Holy moses, you are not going to cry are you?  Oh my goodness, I pick on you 
in the PA's and you are about to break down into a fit.  Yikes, you are a delicate 
little snowflake, aren't you?  Maybe I am crazy, but I guess that since you signed the 
arena pledge you would adhere to what you signed.  But, now we all realize that you 
are totally void of any shred of integrity whatsoever.  Nope, not one shred can be 
found--we could look within all the crusty socks that litter your basement abode, none 
will be found.  We could look in the pocket of your favorite torn sweatshirt, none 
will be found.  We could look under the lawnchair where you sit in the basement 
muttering to yourself for hours, none will be found.  I know you are trying to be so 
much more, but yet you are just Vlad the crybaby who is void of integrity.  It does 
not matter how many times you watch Roadhouse today and dream about standing shoulder 
to shoulder with Dalton helping him take on the evil minions of Brad Wesley.  It does 
not matter how long you stand there frothing at the mouth clicking your heels together 
and chanting "there is no place like the Double Deuce, there is no place like the 
Double Deuce", you won't be magically transported there little fella, instead you will 
still just be Vlad, in search of relevance and a sniff of integrity.  You are a loser, 
little fella--I know it, you know it, and now everyone knows it.  It is truly sad that 
you have to resort to calling me out on down challenges.  Did I ever sign a pledge 
that I would not down challenge?  Nope.  Have I ever signed a pledge that I would not 
pick on little guys like you?  Nope.  Did you sign a pledge that you would fight a 
full team?  Yes.  Do you?  No.  You are garbage. -- Den
P.S.  I diplo'd you a tissue to help with your tears, you little crybaby.

DeGotti -- I wish I could get the Commission to post a restraining order against you 
so I didn't have to sleep with one eye open.  Pervert. -- Den

Darque -- Well, let me simplify that for a simpleton like yourself.  You suck. -- Den

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

BOB was barely slain by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
DA1 was slaughtered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
MUD X was murdered by ARENAMASTER in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight.
DAVE was dealt death by DARK CHAMPION in a 2 minute Dark Arena contest.
FAST HACK 'EM 9 overpowered BLYTHE in a 1 minute one-sided Bloodfeud fight.
ECLIPSE was viciously subdued by JANNA in a 4 minute veteran's Challenge duel.
MUTANT CAMEL was viciously subdued by SHEM in a 3 minute Challenge competition.
STRABO won victory over ZAYLA in a 2 minute gory expert's Challenge duel.
BARSTOOL BRAD slimly lost to CLARA D'ANDUZA in a slow 9 minute gory Challenge duel.
PLUG-IN CAR overpowered SONNY CROQUETTE in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge melee.
MELLOW JELLO was savagely defeated by NEETA in a exciting 5 minute Challenge match.
ASPIRE 2B GREAT was viciously subdued by POWDER MONKEY in a 10 minute contest.
ALPACA SWEATER demolished MIGHTY MIXON in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge brawl.
TOM COLLINS was handily defeated by MALAKAI in a 2 minute Challenge conflict.
PROTEST FOR HIRE vanquished VELOX DOCIS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge bout.
SIR RACHA lost to VIDHI in a 2 minute Challenge fray.
PALE AL was narrowly defeated by SLAYCIA in a 2 minute Challenge brawl.
BUCKTOOTH RUTH devastated ZURRAY in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Challenge brawl.
SRI PONNA subdued THOK FOLDTEETH in a exciting 1 minute Challenge bout.
THREE SHEETS narrowly defeated FERDOWSI in a 3 minute amateur's Challenge fight.
HAMM was devastated by STAR STREAK in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge bout.
OSIRUS vanquished KROW in a action packed 4 minute one-sided Title match.
HORRID viciously subdued SCHENDLE in a popular 2 minute brutal master's fray.
TWO-TON TIMMONS overpowered BRACKISH in a 5 minute uneven fight.
LUXLORD BLACK was luckily beaten by CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 3 minute fight.
MISFORTUNE COOKIE overpowered PAVIL in a 1 minute uneven match.
JET-BOOT JACK overpowered SUBPAR SUE in a 5 minute gory uneven duel.
THYME LORD was handily defeated by FEAR MONGER in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
HYDRA was vanquished by PSYCHO STYX in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
CHOKE was defeated by QUICK FINGERS in a action packed 1 minute duel.
BLOODLUST defeated DESTINY in a exciting 1 minute match.
SPHINX was defeated by NO-TEETH KEITH in a 2 minute brutal fight.
RED DOG was beaten by PIERCER in a exciting 3 minute bloody beginner's bout.
FERRO CHAOS won victory over ORIN SCRIVELLO in a 2 minute amateur's fight.
WHING was subdued by FERRO BELUA in a exciting 3 minute amateur's match.
TARLEE slimly lost to VLAD THE CRYBABY in a exciting 4 minute bloody novice's fight.
MODUIN subdued BENJAMIN in a 3 minute novice's duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  15         TOTAL PARRY       62 -  45 -  0      58  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                 10         PARRY-RIPOSTE     25 -  21 -  0      54  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      9         AIMED BLOW        42 -  43 -  1      49  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    8         WALL OF STEEL     31 -  32 -  2      49  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   8         LUNGING ATTACK    58 -  62 -  2      48  |
|AIMED BLOW                       6         PARRY-STRIKE      10 -  11 -  1      48  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      5         BASHING ATTACK    64 -  71 -  5      47  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    4         PARRY-LUNGE       27 -  35 -  2      44  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         SLASHING ATTACK   17 -  23 -  0      43  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         STRIKING ATTACK   23 -  45 -  0      34  |

Turn 269 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         4 -  2     BASHING ATTACK     3 -  5         4  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
WALL OF STEEL      5 -  3     STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  7         2  PARRY-LUNGE    
PARRY-LUNGE        3 -  2     TOTAL PARRY        2 -  7         1  STRIKING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     9 -  6     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  2         1  LUNGING ATTACK 
PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  1                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -  2                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  
                                                                1  TOTAL PARRY    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-RIPOSTE    OSIRUS 2016                24  21  0  129 CLAN LONGBEARD (39)
STRIKING ATTACK  FAST HACK 'EM 9 2653       17  13  0  111 THE COMMODORES (150)
LUNGING ATTACK   JANNA 2581                 19  16  1  100 PRAY THE GODS (155)

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-LUNGE      STRABO 2689                16  10  0   95 DARQUE AGES (29)
WALL OF STEEL    KROW 2504                  25  16  0   92 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
TOTAL PARRY      MUTANT CAMEL 2678          16  12  0   84 THE COMMODORES (150)
AIMED BLOW       MISFORTUNE COOKIE 2783     10   6  0   67 OTTO'S DINER (96)
BASHING ATTACK   BLYTHE 2829                 7   3  1   66 CULT OF BACCHUS (4)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is JANNA 2581.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
NEETA 2702.  The ten other most popular fighters were JANNA 2581, SHEM 2719, OSIRUS 
2016, HORRID 2659, LUXLORD BLACK 2608, WHING 2890, PIERCER 2854, TARLEE 2891, VLAD 
THE CRYBABY 2911, and JET-BOOT JACK 2741.

The least popular fighter this week was SUBPAR SUE 2812.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BARSTOOL BRAD 2706, ASPIRE 2B GREAT 2750, CLARA D'ANDUZA 2780, BENJAMIN 
2905, HYDRA 2753, THYME LORD 2752, PAVIL 2270, TWO-TON TIMMONS 2578, HAMM 2879, and 
VELOX DOCIS 2873.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

OSIRUS (81-2016) CLAN LONGBEARD (39)

               NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS)

For those of you who keep track of such things, several additional warriors 
graduated from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament. 

                     RUFF RUFF (47-8860) SPROUT OF MY MIND  (816) 
                        SECURE DEFENS (75-490) CRITICALS  (13) 
                    DARKBLADE (60-8827) SUPERIOR FORCES 60  (654) 
                      PEARL (82-44728) SUPE FORCES 7609  (7525) 
                 WAKE FOREST (82-54796) SUPERIOR FORCES 1802  (9245) 
                     CHERUB ROCK (84-29155) SIAMESE DREAM  (5164) 
                   HOMECOMING QUEEN (84-34481) DM:EPISODE 2  (6034) 
                     EXPENSIVE KIND (85-696) PILL-BOX HAT  (136) 

Congrats to the grads. -- Green Eyes