DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 12/05/2023    Duedate: 01/01/2024

TELORINTHE ARENA

DM-83    TURN-215

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

ONE PIECE
THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
(83-787) [17-12-0,93]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

RUBBER SOUL                    REPUS GROVER
CLASSICS (83)                  CIXELSID HEROES (11)
(83-812) [17-3-0,107]          (83-77) [7-2-0,55]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

ICEWING                        ICEWING
THE DRAGONS (65)               THE DRAGONS (65)
(83-821) [10-12-0,86]          (83-821) [10-12-0,86]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

KAME HOUSE (61)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. LINDISFARNE (86)            41
2. WASTED EFFORT (87)          29      CLASSICS (83)
3. SORCERER KINGS (66)         24      Unchartered Team
4. CLASSICS (83)               23
5. CIXELSID HEROES (11)        12      CIXELSID HEROES (11)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 0*CIXELSID HEROES (11)      32  13  0 71.1   1/ 1 KAME HOUSE (61)           9  6 0
 2/ 1 CLASSICS (83)             70  33  0 68.0   2/ 4 THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)   8  7 0
 3/ 2 BAD SIGNS (24)           414 270 33 60.5   3/ 5 CLASSICS (83)             7  3 0
 4/ 3 THE DRAGONS (65)         187 127 12 59.6   4/ 3*WASTED EFFORT (87)        7  8 2
 5/ 4 THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)  191 151  6 55.8   5/10*LINDISFARNE (86)          7  8 1
 6/ 5 KAME HOUSE (61)          179 146 10 55.1   6/ 7 BAD SIGNS (24)            7  8 0
 7/ 8*LINDISFARNE (86)          19  16  5 54.3   7/ 9 SORCERER KINGS (66)       7  8 0
 8- 7 NFL NETWORK (63)         170 152 10 52.8   8/ 8 THE DRAGONS (65)          6  7 0
 9/ 6*WASTED EFFORT (87)        10  10  2 50.0   9/ 2 SUPER BRASH BROTHER (43)  6  9 2
10/ 9 SORCERER KINGS (66)      158 182 11 46.5  10- 6 NFL NETWORK (63)          4  3 0
11/10 SUPER BRASH BROTHER (43)  54  74 14 42.2  11/ 0*CIXELSID HEROES (11)      3  2 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

*** Fall 789 A.D., in the back alley behind the Telorinthe jailhouse *** 

"WE'RE JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF THESE HOUSES!!" Passerby stopped and stared at the 
three monks, at Aidan's red face. His vision blurred as he shook off Brother Aldred's 
hand on his shoulder, and Father Cuthbert's gentle smile turned stern but his voice 
was soft. "It's been a long day, Aidan. My Son, God has gifted you with intelligence 
more than any of us, but your quick, fine mind right now is running away with you. Our 
Lord has saved you; He has a Plan for you. You must believe. Let us pray." Brother 
Aldred took Father Cuthbert's outstretched hand. "Yes, Father." But Aidan was silent, 
in tears, then turned away and fled! The senior monk called after him. "Bilfrith and 
Finian were men of God!" Aidan covered his ears at the blasphemy. "Your knife..." but 
he was around the corner and far away down the cobbled street.

Yesterday, just after Mynx was killed...

"YOU!" Guardsmen pointed at Elder Finian. "YOU'RE COMIN' MIT US!" They disarmed him, 
cuffed him, and led him away. Father Cuthbert hurried alongside them. "Please, this is 
a misunderstanding; we are men of God." The watchmen clanked along the narrow street. 
"Maybe so, but this one stays in the cell until we get paid...er...things sorted out." 
Father Cuthbert shook his head, sighed, and gave them a knowing look. "Tomorrow our 
host, a House Lord, will make sure you are rewarded for your mercy."

This morning, before dawn...

"AH!" Aidan gasped awake, sat up, and Brother Aldred handed him his knife. "The 
Mountain Troll again?" Aidan stood and strapped on his knife. "A Spirit Dragon!" 
Father Cuthbert handed him a wet cloth. "Your mind is pregnant with dreams as the mist 
is with water." Brother Aldred shouldered his bag and picked up his staff. "Yes, 
Father; the seeds of Life!" But Aidan was silent, wiped his face, and thought of the 
souls lost in the Commons he would save this day. "Your bag, Aidan. Bilfrith's funeral 
is at sunrise, and it is a fair walk. We will eat on the way." Father Cuthbert nodded 
and Brother Aldred said, "Yes, Father." But Aidan was silent. 

Among the fields just outside of Telorinthe...

Mist filled the cold, damp cemetery. Only a few crows hopped and flapped among the 
headstones, cocking their heads to peer at the monks standing, holding torches in 
front of Hermit Bilfrith's body, wrapped in black atop a tall pile of wood. Aidan 
wondered aloud. "Burning?! Not burying??"

Father Cuthbert turned his gentle smile to the pyre and raised his voice. "We gather 
here to celebrate Life ETERNAL! Bilfrith's ways may not have always been our ways, but 
he LOVED GOD!" A crow cawwed and Aidan looked around and wondered who all this grand 
speech was for. 

Out of the dark mist shuffled a stooped and wrinkled hag leading a large honor guard 
of elves, who spread out and circled the pyre as she sang soft but clear: 

     "My apple tree my brightness
     It's time we were together
     For I smell of the earth 
     And I'm worn by the weather."

Brother Aldred gave her his arm to climb up onto the pile of wood, and she lay down 
next to Bilfrith's body! What? Who was she? Aidan looked from one older monk to the 
other with questioning eyes. They closed their eyes and chanted. "Like our Sister 
Cheshire Moon by the Sun, newcomers are consumed by the established interests." She 
took Bilfrith's hand and sang our and up through the mist:

     "Do you remember the night
     our child was lost?
     Pathskin of Deepwood
     to the land of all frost!"

Ah, but how? Aidan wondered how it was possible to travel so far from Hillwood Isles 
so fast, and as if in response, a blue covered wagon, horseless, rolled up end-over-
end to the ring of elves, and a fine lady dressed all in green stepped out. Her voice 
was light and lyrical. "Bilfrith was a Great Friend of The Green!" Aidan, entranced, 
marvelled at her wagon and her grace. How did it move? (And how was she not dizzy?) 
She moved to his side, gestured from his belt to the pyre, smiled and said, "Return 
what is his." Enthralled, Aidan pulled Bilfrith's knife from his belt and laid it on 
the pyre. A crow cawed and another cocked its head as Aidan stepped away.

Then, the two birds swooped in and clutched the leather scabbard straps, lifting the 
sheathed knife hanging between them! Their talons grew muscular, and their wings 
lengthened and flapped faster. The heavy blade lifted beyond the crone's grasp, but 
still within reach of Brother Aldred's staff. He whirled and knocked down one and then 
the other, crushing their hollow bones! The knife dropped in front of Aidan.

Where the crows had been, two men in black robes pulled themselves to their feet! 
Aidan scooped up the knife and drew it, and Brother Aldred faced off with one of the 
sorcerers, but the Lady of Green lay her hands on Father Cuthbert's arm and closed her 
eyes. He raised his staff and himself to his full height and his voice boomed. 
"ABALACH-RE! TYR! BEGONE!"

The crow-men cringed but raised their hands, and an invisible force blasted the monks 
and elves off their feet, back toward the wagon. Then the men-crows coughed and 
stumbled, scowled and held their broken bones, and shook their beaks. They flapped 
away over the elves, dodging arrows and cawwing in pain into the mist.

The Lady of Green touched Brother Aldred's raised arms to lower his staff, and waved 
the monks into her wagon. Father Cuthbert shook his head, his eyes wide, his smile 
nowhere to be seen. "We cannot!" Then hundreds of caws exploded from the mist, the 
elves knocked arrows, and the Lady smiled. The monks hurried in and she closed the 
windowless door. 

"We do not belong here!" Aidan had never seen Father Cuthbert so alarmed. The Lady 
poured drinks and served the monks. "It's only for a moment; it is not your time and 
that was not your fight."

Aidan looked around at the others seated at the bar and tables. "Is that the famous 
Ironbar?! But isn't he dead?" He marveled at the hundreds of renowned warriors filling 
the Great Hall with their laughter, bellowings, brawls, and belches as the band played 
by the hearth. Father Cuthbert stood up. "They're ALL dead, and we will be too, if we 
stay much longer!" but Aidan was wondering at the size of the place and if Bilfrith, 
Cheshire Moon, and some elves and sorcerer crows were here yet. 

"We must go." They stepped out (and were not dizzy, Aidan noted), walked to the step 
of the jailhouse, turned, and nodded to the smiling Lady of the Green. Aidan imagined 
he could hear the clank of mugs and tankards toasting from inside as The Blue Marble 
rolled away.

Father Cuthbert dropped the purse on the desk with a thud. "Please, you will release 
the Elder Finian. Our Lord would like to see him." The jailer didn't get up. He 
adjusted his banadages, poured out the gold coins, some fear in his eyes. "Yah, 
well...er...So would I like to see him, well not really actually, but, well, you see, 
he ain't here."

Brother Aldred scooped the coins back into the bag while the jailer explained. "Ones 
called Dupre sneaked in, he did, and beat up that old guy bad, he did. Then the old 
guy was on death's door, he was, ranting all night about gettin' Boop, he said, for 
killin' Filthlip, I think it were..." The monks looked at each other. "Bilfrith."

They changed his bandages, which were soaked with blood. He went on, dazed and light-
headed. "By the morning he was raving mad, I never seen a skinny old man fight like 
the devil, like that... nearly killed me, he did! And he ran out the back door there, 
just a quarter hour ago it were... I called for help..."

Aidan wondered when they would ever get to the Lord's Work saving souls in the 
Commons. They followed Finian's trail out the back, stopped in the alley. Cuthbert 
looked stern. "Let us return to His Holy Island to gather strength in our brotherhood, 
to face these many larger darknesses that beset us." Brother Aldred nodded. "Yes, 
Father." But Aidan was silent... and then... he was not.

"NO! I CAN'T go back! Bilfrith was a HEATHEN! And Finian is a DAMNED MURDERER!! And 
YOU, you JUSTIFY all this SINFUL KILLING! And make us SLAVES to M U R D E R ! !"

After Aidan ran away...

Father Cuthbert now hung his head at these many losses to the city. His voice was 
halting. "Come... Brother Aldred... let us pray." They knelt on the cobblestones. 
"Yes, Father." And bowed their heads. "You move in mysterious Ways, Lord... Your Plan 
is not for us to understand... In... humility... we do violence... only as it seems 
sometimes necessary... for Your Work... as... as the shepherd must sometimes kill the 
wolf..." He stopped for more than a minute, and Aldred looked over at him, then he 
picked up where Cuthbert had left off. "The... uh... Apocalypse to come will vindicate 
our faith! Praise Him!" but Father Cuthbert was silent.

Far away in another Commons back alley...

Aidan slowed to a fast jog and wiped his tears. What had he done? Now where would he 
go?? And... WHO WAS THAT CRYING OUT FOR HELP???! He sprinted toward the noise of a 
fight. It was just around the next corner. He pulled his knife, glanced at the knife, 
and thought of the Lady telling him to return it, of the sorcerer-crows lifting it out 
of reach of the hag grasping for it. He paused and realy looked at the knife for the 
first time in days.

He remembered when Bilfrith had first arrived and given it to him, and he had washed 
it and studied it with such curiosity then. The knife in his hand felt the same and 
looked almost the same, but... he thought, he could tell some DIFFERENCES! but... 
WHERE IS BILFRITH'S KNI--!

"PLEASE! YOU'RE KILLING ME! SPARE MY LIFE! I BEG YOU! O LORD!" Aidan turned the 
corner, saw the brawler stabbing and kicking a man on the ground! Aidan leaped at him 
and knocked him down. Surprised, the brawler scrambled away.

A pool of blood spread out ferom the young man laying there. "Than you, Father!" His 
eyes glowed. "I prayed 'God save me." and He sent you!" He was pale and clammy. 
"Praise Him." Aidan tore his robe into bandages and stopped the bleeding.

"I owe you a life deft; I am forever at your service, Father." Aidan's face darkened. 
He didn't want to be that. "Father?" But this was the Lord's Work. "My name is Aidan. 
What's yours?" And the youth saw Aidan's gentle smile. "Tuda." He saw the tears in 
Aidan's eyes and took his outstretched hand.

"May the Lord's Will be done."

                                      SPY REPORT

Yay! It is time to visit the arena once again, and I cannot think of a more glorious 
day than arena day.  It is hard to explain to someone who does not enjoy the games as 
much as ourselves.  What is better than watching opponents locked in combat with one 
another, knowing that their resolve and training are what keep us safe from the forces 
of Chaos?  I can't think of anything either!  Okay, okay, let's get started with the 
news so I can wrap this all up at a reasonable time.

The Duelmaster is always the best place to start!  I mean, the DM is our champion, so 
he or she deserves the honor of first mention as we start our report.  Icewing 
defended the throne today against the rather forward advances of One Piece.  In the 
end, Icewin could not stand against the might of One Piece.  So, we have a new 
Duelmaster in One Piece.  Speech! Speech! I think the Duelmaster addressing the masses 
has become a lost art.  You rarely see it anymore.  Congrats to Nemesis, who manages 
One Piece and the others over at The Ferocious Five guild.

There are lots of people running away from Kami House. I don't know why, but it 
appears to be the en-vogue thing to do at the moment.  It doesn't matter why other 
teams are avoiding Kame House.  We know it to be true, so who is leading the flight 
from Floyd's squad?  It is none other than Lindisfarne!  Yes, all those brothers and 
aspirants were running for the hills when Kame House showed up at the arena.  Do we 
have lots of hills here?  I rarely leave the arena complex, so my local topography is 
a bit skewed.  Extra Homework stands as the most challenged warrior today. I would 
avoid a warrior with that name like trade store sushi.  Who goes after extra homework? 
Brother Aldred challenged Extra Homework by going up 19 points in the standings! The 
good brother won this bought in 4-minutes.

The curtain fell a bit too low for many people.  Death was scarce but never non-
existent!  We lost 2 fine warriors today in Iron Widow from the Super Brash Bros 
guild. Seam also bid a farewell to Ari the Noodle of The Ferocious Five.  We will have 
to wait and see if anyone wants to retaliate.  Retaliation is always good for arena 
attendance!  Okay, okay, I might be getting a bit overboard with the revenge 
narrative, but it could TOTALLY happen! 

I have to get going from the press box.  I'm sure I will see some of you moving about 
the crowded arena.  Be sure to say hello.  Come back in a few weeks and witness One 
Piece fighting for the honor of another title.  How many deaths do you think will 
occur? Will some of the missing teams come back to visit us?  I do want to welcome our 
new and returning teams if I have forgotten.  Enjoy your stay in Telorinthe and be 
sure to introduce yourselves!  Time to go, see you in 28 days!

                                          -- Ori Starbloom

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ONE PIECE 787                17  12  0    93       THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RUBBER SOUL 812              17   3  0   107       CLASSICS (83)
-TYRANN MATHIEU 783           18  11  0    96       NFL NETWORK (63)
 14 DAY QUARANTINE 699        14  10  1    94       BAD SIGNS (24)
 0-2 COUNT 603                23  12  0    92       BAD SIGNS (24)
 6AM ALARM 706                15   8  0    91       BAD SIGNS (24)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GIBBERS 820                  13   9  0    90       THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
 SALACIA VILE 853             11   6  1    90       SORCERER KINGS (66)
 ICEWING 821                  10  12  0    86       THE DRAGONS (65)
 AJA 854                      12   3  0    79       CLASSICS (83)
 KAMIGAWA 808                 12  12  0    74       KAME HOUSE (61)
 MOM'S MAD 698                12  12  0    72       BAD SIGNS (24)
 VOODOO 811                   12   9  0    68       CLASSICS (83)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SHAMINO 329                  10  16  2    66       SUPER BRASH BROTHERS (43)
 SACHA 772                    16  16  1    65       SORCERER KINGS (66)
-TOMMY MCDONALD 843           12   6  1    62       NFL NETWORK (63)
 YOKAZA 847                   11   7  1    62       KAME HOUSE (61)
 TOYOTOMI 822                 10  11  0    60       KAME HOUSE (61)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SPIRIT DRAGON 846            10   8  1    58       THE DRAGONS (65)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HIRO 848                      9   9  1    55       KAME HOUSE (61)
 REPUS GROVER 77               7   2  0    55       CIXELSID HEROES (11)
-FRED SMOOT 817               10  11  2    54       NFL NETWORK (63)
 WAR WITCH 818                 8  11  2    53       SUPER BRASH BROTHERS (43)
 VIVA LEXA 875                 8   4  0    53       SORCERER KINGS (66)
 RAZORCLAW 833                11   9  1    48       THE DRAGONS (65)
 MR. ELBIDERCNI 74             7   2  0    46       CIXELSID HEROES (11)
 DUPRE 328                     7  19  2    42       SUPER BRASH BROTHERS (43)
 UG NUT 832                   10  10  1    41       THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
 GARFIELD 863                  7   7  0    40       THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
 BOOP 904                      3   1  1    38       WASTED EFFORT (87)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FATHER CUTHBERT 883           5   2  2    33       LINDISFARNE (86)
 BRAD 900                      2   2  1    33       WASTED EFFORT (87)
 READY TO DIE 890              3   2  0    32       CLASSICS (83)
 BROTHER ALDRED 885            5   2  0    30       LINDISFARNE (86)
 TORCHY 906                    2   0  0    28       CLASSICS (83)
 EXTRA HOMEWORK 754            5  12  0    27       BAD SIGNS (24)
 ELDER FINIAN 881              4   3  1    26       LINDISFARNE (86)
 NAMTAB 73                     8   1  0    25       CIXELSID HEROES (11)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ECAPS GHOST 76                5   4  0    22       CIXELSID HEROES (11)
 NAMREPUS 75                   5   4  0    19       CIXELSID HEROES (11)
 TYR 907                       1   2  0    18       SORCERER KINGS (66)
 YAMA SWORDBREAKER 893         2   3  0    15       KAME HOUSE (61)
 LEXI 909                      2   1  0    14       WASTED EFFORT (87)
 THUNDERCLAW 908               1   2  0    13       THE DRAGONS (65)
 BROTHER AIDAN 882             2   5  0    11       LINDISFARNE (86)
 BACK ALLEY BRAWLER 905        2   2  0     8       SUPER BRASH BROTHERS (43)
 ABALACH-RE 899                2   2  0     8       SORCERER KINGS (66)
 MAT 903                       2   2  0     8       WASTED EFFORT (87)
 ASPIRANT TUDA 913             1   1  0     6       LINDISFARNE (86)
 MIMI 912                      0   2  0     2       WASTED EFFORT (87)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
HERMIT BILFRITH 884     2  3 2 LINDISFARNE 86       BOOP 904              213   
IRON WIDOW 910          2  1 2 SUPER BRASH BROTH 43 BRAD 900              215   
MYNX 892                1  2 1 SUPER BRASH BROTH 43 ELDER FINIAN 881      212  REVENGED
FIRECREST 911           0  1 0 THE DRAGONS 65       IRON WIDOW 910        214   
IRONTAIL 874            7  3 1 THE DRAGONS 65       SHAMINO 329           212   
ARI THE NOODLE 895      2  3 0 THE FEROCIOUS FIV 64 FATHER CUTHBERT 883   215   
ERIK 902                1  1 0 WASTED EFFORT 87     IRON WIDOW 910        213  JUST REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Worthy opponents of Telorinthe! -- In these most personal of personal ads, as 
mortality coils like a dragon, I feel the wisdom of the Dark Oracle's advice to "be 
more known." 
Favorite games (besides Duel): Lords of Waterdeep, Wartales, Darkest Dungeon, 
Bloodrage, Age of Rivals. 
Books: Elder Edda, Beowulf, The Heliand, Lord of the Rings, Dune, Grimm's Tales, The 
Last Kingdom. 
-- G, 20% neanderthal DNA, according to 23andMe

Allow me to (re-)introduce myself. Lindisfarne is my re-imagining of an episode of 
Hillwood Isles history. As an Eagle Scout, former monk, now divorced with adult kids, 
51 with brain damage (TBI & CCI), I'm recoering and writing more. -- Graham Summoner

Super Brash Bros -- May your iron live longer than Dragons'! (but probably not) -- G

"Iron" warriors of Telorinthe -- Ironbar: TP with 13(4)-23(4)-8-13(4)-25(4)-12(3)-
12(3). Favors a broadsword but favors riposte tactic and skills! You can see the flaw; 
weapons experts agree, the heavy broadsword is a terrible choice for dueling. Indeed, 
it is too slow for poor Ironbar to make use of his Master in riposte and his opponents 
continually "slip their weapons around the parry." Sadly, Ironbar retired. Be advised. 
-- G, from The Isle of the Eye

Charts and statistics don't tell the whole story! -- G, summoner of tales

Another honest question: Are our tournament-less Telorinthe warriors at a disadvantage 
in AD? Is there no tournament-less arena on the Isle of the Eye? -- G, the fair-minded

     Yes, the Storm Rock arena (DM 107) is a no-tournament ADM arena. -- GC

Dark Oracle, and others with long memories of yesteryear -- Bombadil, TP of Nemesis 
(32) in North Fork (47):  11(3)-16(1)-8-15(1)-19(2)-5(1)-19(1). Favors epee and 
riposte skills, but not riposte tactic like Ironbar did, and only has an Expert in 
riposte! Just goes to show the unseen combinations that influence our warriors' 
spirits and make this such a fine contest! (and lifelong addiction) -- G, seeker of 
synergy

Greyhairs and Youngbloods of Telorinthe -- While some shake their heads and bemoan 
"the kids these days," I congratulate the young on achieving that elusive Duel/Life 
balance! -- G, mgr. of Tribe Fractal Lux (71) Spearpeople, Lindis Farne, Warmage, The 
Blue Marble, Hillwood Isles, The Long Yonder (32), Otherwood (8), Mythyal (47)

Managers of Telorinthe -- Vote on your favorite team theme or storyline: a) Warmage  
b) Spearpeople  c) The Blue Marble  d) Hillwood Isles  e) Lindisfarne. -- G, summoner 
of tales

Honest Question:  Boop is two classes above all five of my warriors. Am I still 
allowed to bloodfeud Boop? -- G, thanks

     Yes. From the rules:  "Whenever a warrior dies at the hands of another player, it 
     is the right, some say duty, of the fallen warrior's team to avenge the death. By 
     using a Bloodfeud challenge, a team member challenges and attempts to beat or 
     even kill the slayer of their teammate. Any or all team members may make the 
     Bloodfeud challenge, regardless of their, or their newfound enemy's, status in 
     the Class Rankings. By this rule, an Initiate who slays a warrior may find 
     himself facing the wrath of Adepts, Champions, or the Duelmaster himself if such 
     are teammates of the slain warrior. However, the Duelmaster by virtue of their 
     status has some measure of protection against Bloodfeud. Only warriors in the 
     Class just below the Duelmaster may challenge them, even if their team has a 
     Bloodfeud against them." -- GC

Dishonest Question:  Why do we make that noise when we touch someone's nose? "Boop." 
-- G

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

BRAD butchered IRON WIDOW in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight.
6AM ALARM was unbelievably bested by RUBBER SOUL in a dull 25 minute Challenge battle.
14 DAY QUARANTINE demolished KAMIGAWA in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
AJA unbelievably bested MOM'S MAD in a popular 3 minute gory Challenge contest.
FATHER CUTHBERT narrowly killed ARI THE NOODLE in a 5 minute Challenge competition.
ELDER FINIAN viciously subdued YAMA SWORDBREAKER in a 2 minute bloody Challenge fight.
BROTHER ALDRED narrowly defeated EXTRA HOMEWORK in a 4 minute Challenge brawl.
ASPIRANT TUDA overcame MIMI in a action packed 5 minute beginner's Challenge melee.
ICEWING lost to ONE PIECE in a action packed 3 minute expert's Title fight.
VOODOO was overpowered by SALACIA VILE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
GIBBERS handily defeated REPUS GROVER in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
0-2 COUNT subdued SHAMINO in a crowd pleasing 6 minute master's match.
SACHA bested BOOP in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
RAZORCLAW was bested by TOYOTOMI in a 2 minute bout.
YOKAZA slimly won victory over DUPRE in a popular 4 minute gruesome conflict.
GARFIELD was luckily beaten by MR. ELBIDERCNI in a crowd boring 11 minute struggle.
VIVA LEXA overpowered ECAPS GHOST in a 1 minute mismatched brawl.
WAR WITCH viciously subdued THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a exciting 5 minute brutal fight.
UG NUT was overpowered by SPIRIT DRAGON in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
HIRO defeated READY TO DIE in a 2 minute master vs. amateur conflict.
BROTHER AIDAN was luckily beaten by NAMREPUS in a action packed 4 minute fight.
NAMTAB subdued THUNDERCLAW in a 3 minute bout.
ABALACH-RE was handily defeated by TORCHY in a 1 minute uneven duel.
MAT was devastated by TYR in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
BACK ALLEY BRAWLER was defeated by LEXI in a 1 minute beginner's fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|TOTAL PARRY                     11         TOTAL PARRY       38 -  20 -  2      66  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                  10         WALL OF STEEL     11 -   7 -  0      61  |
|AIMED BLOW                       8         AIMED BLOW        33 -  28 -  6      54  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      5         STRIKING ATTACK   23 -  20 -  3      53  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  5         LUNGING ATTACK    51 -  56 -  1      48  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-LUNGE       20 -  22 -  2      48  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         SLASHING ATTACK   14 -  17 -  1      45  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         BASHING ATTACK    17 -  24 -  1      41  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -  15 -  0      38  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       2 -   4 -  2      33  |

Turn 215 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:

WALL OF STEEL      2 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  3         4  TOTAL PARRY    
TOTAL PARRY        8 -  3     LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  6         2  BASHING ATTACK 
AIMED BLOW         5 -  3     STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  4         2  STRIKING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         1  PARRY-LUNGE    
BASHING ATTACK     2 -  2     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  2         1  LUNGING ATTACK 
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      ONE PIECE 787              17  12  0   93 THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
BASHING ATTACK   14 DAY QUARANTINE 699      14  10  1   94 BAD SIGNS (24)
LUNGING ATTACK   GIBBERS 820                13   9  0   90 THE FEROCIOUS FIVE (64)
STRIKING ATTACK  SALACIA VILE 853           11   6  1   90 SORCERER KINGS (66)
WALL OF STEEL    AJA 854                    12   3  0   79 CLASSICS (83)
AIMED BLOW       YOKAZA 847                 11   7  1   62 KAME HOUSE (61)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is ICEWING 821.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
ICEWING 821.  The ten other most popular fighters were BROTHER AIDAN 882, MOM'S MAD 
698, WAR WITCH 818, YOKAZA 847, EXTRA HOMEWORK 754, SHAMINO 329, MIMI 912, AJA 854, 
ARI THE NOODLE 895, and ELDER FINIAN 881.

The least popular fighter this week was 6AM ALARM 706.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were RUBBER SOUL 812, MR. ELBIDERCNI 74, ABALACH-RE 899, UG NUT 832, ECAPS 
GHOST 76, 0-2 COUNT 603, REPUS GROVER 77, VOODOO 811, ASPIRANT TUDA 913, and KAMIGAWA 
808.

                 MAIL-IN TOURNEY LXXVIII

DEAD CHALLENGERS TOURNEY               W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
BLOODY STOOL 143 (11-6-0)              1  3  0         BAD SIGNS            
3RD AND 98 142 (7-3-0)                 0  3  0         BAD SIGNS            

DEAD ADEPTS TOURNEY                    W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
COP AT YOUR DOOR 505 (5-5-1)           2  3  0         BAD SIGNS            

                            WINTER FACE-TO-FACE IN TEMPE!

We hope you will join us at our winter FTF in Tempe, AZ, January 12-14, 2024! It will 
be held at our usual Embassy Suites Hotel in Tempe, Arizona (480-897-7444).  Room 
rates are $184.00 per night, 1-2 occupancy, which includes full cooked breakfast, 
complimentary manager's reception, free airport shuttle, free parking and free high 
speed internet.  There's a fitness center, jacuzzi, and pool.  The rooms are blocked--
the code is "Duelmasters2023."  

      The official block cutoff is December 12 so make your reservations ASAP!
             The hotel reservation site is:  http://tinyurl.com/FF70inTempe 

Please note that doubles are limited.  As always, if the block is full, please make 
your reservation the best you can (book a king, and/or book at normal rates) and let 
us know and we'll work with the sales office to get them to correct your reservation. 

We look forward to seeing you in January! -- RSI