DARKHOLM SPORTING JOURNAL

Date   : 08/09/2003    Duedate: 08/22/2003

DARKHOLM

DM-104    TURN-355

RANK TEAMS                  W    L  K    %  RANK TEAMS                  W    L  K    %
  1 THUNDR + LITE 18/309 1125  419  7 72.9   12 THE A TEAM 38/1044    548  555  6 49.7
  2 MONGREL HORDE 10/964  476  232  3 67.2      BIG MEAN FISH 18/292                  
  3-TOTEM 74/1146          40   20  2 66.7      GUANO GROUP 51/1065                   
    DEATH STUDS VIII 82/1086                    ONE SURFING HINDU 97/1071             
    THAT SUCKS! 19/1144                         LOOK OUT BELOW 6/1042                 
  4 THE GUARDIAN 21/1156  163  128  2 56.0      FURNITURE BARN 42/1109                
    THE GUARDIANS II 18/1155                 13 SHAMROCKS 58/424      149  161  3 48.1
    WORTHLESS MANAGERS 5/820                 14 THE MENTORS 10/408     21   26  0 44.7
    PIGS ON PARADE 9/1154                    15-EVIL DEAD 18/1099      90  114  3 44.1
    GUARDIAN'S SLAVES 42/1157                   TORMENTORS 21/571                     
  5 PARENTHOOD 82/1122   1384 1117 14 55.3   16 BEAST MASTERS 37/136   88  121  1 42.1
    MY WIFE'S COSMETICS 82/1038                 ELEMENTS OF PSI 58/423                
    WHAT I ATE FOR XMAS 82/1114                 ACTS OF NATURE 6/415                  
    STREET PIZZA 18/114                      17 SOULTHIEVES 37/416     29   42  0 40.8
    SESAME SPINE 82/1070                        SOUL STRIPPERS II 6/412               
    4-LETTER WORDS 48/1063                   18 CRIMINAL ELE 39/1074   11   16  0 40.7
    CHEAP DENTISTRY 82/1098                     INDULGENT DRINKS 54/1153              
    ROCK BOTTOM 82/1080                      19 NINJAS 7/1107          26   44  1 37.1
    FASCINATIN' RYTHYM 82/1152                  RESURRECTION 2/1143                   
  6 STYROFOAM 82/1090    1114  963  8 53.6      KILLERS 41/1145                       
  7 DOH! 24/1147         1414 1251  6 53.1      GENOCIDE 51/1110                      
    CEMENTIA 61/1112                         20 DELVERS 42/1000       184  317  1 36.7
    DP CLONES 24/1045                           DOGS OF WAR 4/999                     
    WASTELAND 18/468                            GAMES LIBRARY 3/998                   
    DIABLO TOO 23/1037                       21 JOHNS 5/927           707 1268 15 35.8
    PEPPER PRACTICE II 57/1069                  ARROGANCE 18/732                      
    WASTELAND II 7/500                          SCARRY TEAM 36/824                    
    I'M SO SEXY 42/1072                         THE LADY'S LIST 6/917                 
    OUTSIDE IS 48/1061                          LETHAL LADIES 4/768                   
    COOL WHEELS 58/943                          JUST BECAUSE 38/1151                  
    BAD HAND 24/1125                         22 BIG BAD 7/1073        403  765  8 34.5
    THINGSINPUG'SCOOLER 4/1088                  SHEPHERDS 18/432                      
  8 EXODUS! 3/956         414  367  3 53.0      SUPER BASH BROTHERS 6/1067            
    THE TAO 36/923                              NEXT GENERATION 58/1075               
    SPIDERS FROM MARS 21/950                    FOUND IN THE SAND 32/1034             
    THE DARK TEMPLE 18/978                      NEXT GENERATION 18/1150               
    FIANADHA 69/945                             MIGHTY MORALS 51/1120                 
  9 QUBIT 10/1140         517  460  2 52.9   23 TOWNSVILLAIN 10/1089   10   19  0 34.5
    ON A WHIM 82/1014                        24-SADISTS 18/1093         3    6  0 33.3
    SIR AGLIO 10/600                         25 SRETSAMLEUD 37/1134     2    6  0 25.0
 10 DEAD EVIL 18/627       24   22  2 52.2      SRETSAMLEUD 10/1135                   
    TROOPERS 21/1113                            SRETSAMLEUD 21/1133                   
 11 NIGHT TRAIN 37/545      3    3  0 50.0   26 DWARVEN LEGI 21/1139    1    4  0 20.0
    NIGHT TRAIN 6/1158                    

    '##/###' Avoid teams by their Team Id     '-'  Team did not fight this turn

                                  WARRIOR SPOTLIGHT

                                 AS THE TURNS WHIRL

     Khirza the cat-woman leaped from the lamppost to Phetmolge's shoulders and from 
there to the spar holding up the sign that said:

                               TALAHYA MUNICIPAL DOCK
                           No Admittance Without a Ticket.
                        Keep Hands and Feet Out of the Water.

     She looked around as though checking for some other alternative to solid ground, 
grinned toothily at her trollish friend, and said, "I always feel special when I see 
this sign, 'cause WE can get in without tickets."
     "If that's what it takes," Phetmolge responded with a slight smile.  He gestured 
with the small porcelain box that he was holding and said, "I don't think this is big 
enough to heat the boiler."
     He was referring to the Naiad's Nightmare (publicly known as the Naiad's Dream), 
their steam-powered barge that had originally relied on a fire elemental to keep its 
boiler hot.  The creature had quit when all the magical trouble had started on the 
Isle, temporarily grounding the Nightie.  But just recently, in exchange for 
informing Khirza's wizard friend of a source of the priceless magical ingredient 
"soy," they had gotten an artifact that might solve their power problem.
     "Sure it is!" Khirza responded, glancing sharply to the side and down and 
suddenly pouncing counterclockwise in an effort to catch her tail.  "It'll work, 
don't worry.  Ouch!"
     Attributing this judgement to nothing more than his friend's natural optimism, 
Phetmolge continued to worry.
     The Nightie stirred faintly in her moorings like a woman disturbed by an 
unpleasant dream.  Gigantic next to the fishing boats on either side of her, an 
ungainly-looking craft with two big paddlewheels on her sides and a superstructure 
that looked distinctly homemade, she gained an even more forlorn air due to the black 
tarpaulin shrouds that covered most of her above-deck features.  She rested outside 
the covered and warded dock; they had to walk down a side platform and through a 
magical shield to get aboard her.  Mist crawled from her hatches and ports.  They 
walked with hands on hilts, in case there was more than mist.
     "Think the hull glyphs are still protecting her?" Phetmolge muttered.
     "Sure," Khirza said faintly.  She looked around with quick motions.  Above the 
collar of her leather jerkin, the spotted fur bristled outward from her neck.  The 
furless tip of her nose, which so accurately reflected her mood, was crimson.  "We 
should have come to see her more often."
     "Yes, we should have."
     Khirza hopped down from the gangplank onto the deck, did a backbend and 
thoughtfully folded one knee to touch her chest, then extended that foot to the deck 
by her hands, followed it over, and came up standing again.  "On the brighter side, 
the bilge rats have probably been multiplying.  Fun!"
     "Bilge rats at the very least," Phetmolge agreed.  He drew his weapon -- not his 
usual hammer but a greatsword.  He might not wield a blade well enough to win in the 
arena, but he was more than competent with it in the normal course of life.  "I guess 
we'd better do a walk-through before we work on the engine."
     The Naiad's Nightmare had magical glyphs on her hull to repel any creatures of 
the lake, but as they searched the boat they became aware that some of these glyphs 
had indeed weakened.  Thumps and chitters and slithering sounds confirmed that 
wildlife from the Lake of Mists had taken up residence aboard the Nightie.  Phetmolge 
took the upper deck, whipping tarps off passenger seats and surprising half a dozen 
amphibians the size of foxes, which waddled away but not fast enough to escape the 
reach of his long arm and longer blade.  He flung their little bodies into the water, 
where they floated a moment before sinking.  After the third one, something 
apparently realized that appetizers were being served, because the rest of the 
corpses were snatched underwater the moment they hit.  Khirza, searching the main 
deck, found a nest of snakes with humanlike heads; she dispatched them quickly.  Then 
the two partners joined forces to go belowdecks.
     Phetmolge led the way down the stair into darkness, his sword before him.  
"We'll need to get your wizard friend out to refresh those glyphs," he said.  "Or do 
you have to have the boat in drydock to do that?"
     "Don't know," the cat-woman said.  "Weed!"
     Phetmolge ducked as a loop of slimy vegetation reached for his head.  They 
battled it for a while, noses wrinkled against the pungent smell of rotting spinach.  
When they were done, the plant had been extracted from its overhead compartment and 
lay heaped on the floor like a bundle of rags.  It had a head of sorts, which looked 
like brown lettuce.
     "You eat salad, don't you?" Khirza said, kicking at it.
     Phetmolge gave her a pained smile.
     They cleared out the staterooms and galley -- it wasn't too bad, the glyphs were 
obviously still working to some extent -- and then lit a lantern and went down the 
next level to the engine room.
     "I've been waiting for you," said the long-legged blonde who lay half-naked on 
the nest of ropes next to the engine.  Lips curving in a luscious red smile, she 
crooked her pale finger and beckoned to Phetmolge.  "Come here, handsome."
     "Siren!"  Khirza said, advancing with her scimitar up.  "That's a bad critter!  
Don't listen to her, big guy!"
     "That's not a siren," said Phetmolge.  "I don't know what she is, but she's not 
a siren.  She's lonely."  He strode forward, never taking his eyes from the smiling 
gaze of the mysterious woman.
     Khirza darted in front of him, waving her hands in front of his face to break 
the locked gaze.  "Remember our course in lake safety?  The kiss that drowns!  Dead 
boyfriends underwater!  Come ON, Phetmolge, she called you handsome!"
     The blonde rose from her couch of ropes.  "Ever since we met at the police 
station I have known that you would come to help me," she said.
     "What?" said the trollish gladiator.
     "You got my note," said the blonde.
     "You're getting mail from sirens?" Khirza said, looking bewildered.
     "Had we met under other circumstances, I could have fallen in love with you," 
said the blonde.
     "Not likely," Phetmolge responded.  "Ma'am, I think you're mistaking me for 
someone else... Who are you?"
     She looked blankly at him as though trying to remember.  Then -- "Jolane," she 
said.  "I'm Jolane."
     The woman in the boiler room was beautiful, if Phetmolge was any judge of human 
beauty.  Her full lips were as red as blood, her eyes a vivid, almost glowing light 
brown.  Her long, pale hair, dripping with water, was braided with strands of aquatic 
weed that formed strange pink blossoms over her ears.  Her complexion was nearly as 
white as the simple dress that, miraculously, hadn't gotten dirty from the nest of 
ropes on which she'd been reclining.
     She had said that her name was Jolane, a name which rang a bell in Phetmolge's 
awareness, although at the moment he couldn't place it.
     "I've been waiting for you," she repeated, in a soft, inviting voice.
     "How did you know I was coming?" Phetmolge asked, since he and his partner had 
told no one they were coming to check on the boat today.  He was pretty sure she had 
mistaken him for someone else, since she had previously mentioned meeting him in a 
police station; he'd never been in a police station in his life.  But since he was a 
troll, it was pretty hard to mistake him for anyone else on the Isle, and so he 
thought this woman was not right in the head.  He hoped to gently lead the 
conversation around to finding out where she came from and whether she had any 
relatives who could take charge of her.
     Khirza, his partner, was acting strangely.  Always rather hyperactive, she was 
practically manic now, leaping across his field of vision with her arms frantically 
waving, tail straight out and bristling like a bottle-brush.  He glanced at her as 
she landed on all fours next to the boiler.  "What?"
     "She's not human!" Khirza shouted.
     Phetmolge frowned in puzzlement that his friend would make an issue of this.  
She herself was not human but of the Pridefolk, a cat-woman.  And he was a troll.  
What did either of them care that their visitor was not human?  Come to think of it, 
though, Jolane looked human enough.  She had risen from her nest and approached him, 
smiling.  She was graceful and looked quite kissable, which was a little strange 
since he wasn't normally attracted to humans.  From a few inches away, he could feel 
the delightful coolness of her body.
     As he reached for Jolane, something tugged on his arm.  It was Khirza, making a 
pest of herself again.  Her mouth was moving and he realized she was still shouting.  
"...dead, Phetmolge!  She's undead!"
     "I knew that you would come to me at last," said Jolane, her soft voice easy to 
hear above all the background clatter.  "A little late, of course..."  Her tone was 
chiding.  "But better late than never.  Join me, and we'll rest forever in each 
other's arms."
     Even to his infatuated perception, this sounded like something one might see on 
a tombstone.  Jolane must have noticed a change in his expression because she added, 
"Know bliss, I mean.  We'll know bliss forever in each other's arms."
     "Oh," he said.  "Yes, all right."  Again he reached for her as her arms went 
around his neck.  He bent his head down for the kiss--
     --and got a faceful of Khirza's leather jerkin.  The cat-woman had leaped on 
him, wrapping her arms and legs around his head.  He staggered around, struggling to 
free himself while being careful not to hurt his friend.  He stepped on something 
slippery.  There was a scream.
     "You big oaf!" shrieked Jolane's voice.  "You big... you big... troll... you're 
not Galen!  And to think I almost--OHHH!  Fraud!  Despoiler!"
     A moment later, Khirza let go and climbed off of him.  The two partners were 
alone in the boiler room.
     "Perceptive, wasn't she?" Khirza panted.
     "What happened?"
     The cat-woman looked rather satisfied as she explained, "I don't know, maybe 
sirens don't have very good eyesight.  But then you stepped on her.  When you step on 
someone, big guy, they notice that they've been stepped on by a troll.  So she ran 
off, jumped back in the lake I guess."
     Although he still felt rather fuzzy-headed, Phetmolge was beginning to get it.  
"You mean, that woman was a siren?  A drowned woman who lures men to their deaths?  
How could you tell?"
     Cats laugh silently.  Khirza gave him a toothy grin, her tail twitching in 
merriment.

"Dear Mr. Shanmarrik,

You may not remember us, but you were a passenger on our boat, the 'Naiad's Dream,' a 
few months ago.  Maybe it is that slight connection that led to a strange case of 
mistaken identity yesterday.  Our boat had been docked for some time due to the 
magical disturbances around the Isle.  Khirza (my partner) and I had visited the dock 
to do some routine maintenance when we met a person who apparently mistook me for 
you.  She called me by your name, and identified herself as Jolane.

Mr. Shanmarrik, this person seemed quite unnatural and might in fact be one of the 
lake-dwelling undead that we have been warned about.  Therefore if you decide to 
investigate this incident I urge you to use extreme caution.  If you wish further 
information or help, please contact Khirza at the Castaways guildhouse affiliated 
with the Talahya arena, or myself, Phetmolge, at the Up To No Good guildhouse, 
affiliated with the Lirin Kiv arena.  We stand ready to give any assistance within 
our power.

                                                         Your Servant,
                                                          Phetmolge"

     Galen's hands trembled as he read the letter.  She was back.  She was dead.  
Somehow it was his fault.  He had to meet with her if possible.  He would go to the 
Naiad's Dream immediately.

          + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Tides of Magic #11 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Talahya?

     They found a flagstone path that paralleled the shoreline and flipped a coin, 
turned to the right (as calculated when facing the shore), and strode along briskly 
through thinning fog.
     "It's going to be a hot day once this fog clears," Scarlatti said, with the air 
of one who will make conversation at any cost.  "If we could find a hill or a tower, 
we might see for miles."
     Fizban's eyebrows rose.  "Now that is a good idea, an excellent idea!"  The old 
wizard looked around hopefully.  "I would really LIKE to be able to see for miles.  
We might guess where we are, if we can do that."
     "We won't see anything we recognize," Carris Fallstar predicted.  This is 
somewhere else entirely.  I can feel it in my bones."  The elf shrugged.  "But a long 
view to put ourselves in some kind of geographical context might be useful."
     After five minutes of walking, it became apparent that the geographical context 
was flat, and that if there were any buildings nearby, they were hidden by a belt of 
trees that lay just inland of the path they'd found.  The best they'd managed in the 
way of a height was a hill that rose about ten feet above the beach.  Fog lingered 
under the trees, but over the water to their left, it was clearing fast.  It was 
already clearer than they had ever seen the air between the Isle of the Eye and 
Alastari.  The water went on to the horizon, but it was blotched with wooded islands 
in the middle distance.  Some of the islands had castles on them, shining cream and 
golden and red as coral in the morning sun.  There were boats, too, or perhaps they 
were ships: big vessels and small, with sails, or banks of oars, or less obvious 
means of propulsion.
     "Well, at least it isn't an uninhabited world we've come to, apparently."  
Moonjumper studied the scene critically.  "But--"
     "The path already told us there are people here," Scarlatti said.
     "But," Moonjumper persisted, "it's a damned large one.  We're going to have to 
find someone to talk to, and people aren't exactly lining up on the path to meet us."
     Rogan, who naturally had not been staring around, tensed suddenly.  "Someone is 
coming along the path," he said.

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

                         ---===DELARQUAN REGIONAL NEWS===---

                                     Duelmasters
                                     -----------
 DM   1 MORDANT (turn 475): CIARAN of MANNEQUIN'S BEST (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM   2 NIANIA (turn 361): BIG RED of BIG COUNTRY (Wally the Wacko, mgr.)
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 480): PETE HARNISCH of BOMBAY BUMBLE BEES (Crip, mgr.)
 DM   4 JHELUM (turn 477): BAQA of ABBY NORMAL (Poppa Balrog, mgr.)
 DM   5 KALTOS (turn 475): FOLIE HANNA of THE MIDDLE WAY 5 (Nick, mgr.)
 DM   6 TRANSEL (turn 479): VIZZERDRIX of BATTLE BEASTS (Sensei Jan, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 477): BAYUSHI KACHIKO of CALL TO THUNDER (Ichabod Frothingslosh)
 DM  10 KOLACT (turn 471): HOTTA WATTA of TOWNSVILLAINS (The Narrator, mgr.)
 DM  18 TALCAMA (turn 463): QUEUE of NEXT GENERATION (Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.)
 DM  21 SUNSET (turn 462): CARNIVOROUS CANARY of CARNAGE CANARIES (C. Canary, mgr.)
 DM  36 JHANS (turn 436): BLONDIE of BABES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  38 CLIFFHOME (turn 427): ZAZU of ALL FINESSE (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 184): B.A. TURRY of CRIMINAL ELEMENT (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  42 RODEKI (turn 413): PUDDING PARADE of COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
 DM  51 TRICORUS (turn 362): LURCH of SORROW'S HARVEST (Gergin "Happy Toes"
                             Frothingslosh, mgr.)
 DM  54 TROCAR (turn 171): MICROSOFT of USELESS TOOLS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  59 ILLIS (turn 159): HAMP of ISLANDERS (Nick, mgr.)
 DM  62 VALAMANTIS (turn 311): EURO STEAMER of AS SEEN ON TV (Indimar Fallon, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 136): ANDRO MEDA of FEARSOME LEGENDS (Brewmaster, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 354): MAHI MAHI of BIG MEAN FISH from TALCAMA (Big Wave Dave)

                                      Top Teams
                                      ---------
 DM   1 MORDANT (turn 475): HAWKS (Mr. Monsen, mgr.)
 DM   2 NIANIA (turn 361): BIG COUNTRY (Wally the Wacko, mgr.)
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 480): SIMPLY DESSERTS (Sweet Tooth, mgr.)
 DM   4 JHELUM (turn 477): ABBY NORMAL (Poppa Balrog, mgr.)
 DM   5 KALTOS (turn 475): THE MIDDLE WAY 5 (Nick, mgr.)
 DM   6 TRANSEL (turn 479): SOUL STRIPPERS II (Saucy Jack, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 477): none
 DM  10 KOLACT (turn 471): QUBIT (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  18 TALCAMA (turn 463): WASTELAND (The Muffin Man, mgr.)
 DM  21 SUNSET (turn 462): MINISTRY OF SKA (?, mgr.)
 DM  36 JHANS (turn 436): BABES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  38 CLIFFHOME (turn 427): ALL FINESSE (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 184): CRIMINAL ELEMENT (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  42 RODEKI (turn 413): COLOR ME SUAVE (Suave, mgr.)
 DM  51 TRICORUS (turn 362): SORROW'S HARVEST (Gergin "Happy Toes" Frothingslosh)
 DM  54 TROCAR (turn 171): INDULGENT DRINKS (Fizban, mgr.)
 DM  59 ILLIS (turn 159): HANGOVERS (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  62 VALAMANTIS (turn 311): STRETSAMLEUD (Phat Phat, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 136): ROCKERS OF RAGE (Unforgiven, mgr.)
ADM 104 DARKHOLM (turn 354): THUNDR + LITENING (Doc Steele, mgr.)

                                   Recent Graduates
                                  -----------------
 DM   1 MORDANT (turn 475): CIARAN of MANNEQUIN'S BEST (Mannequin, mgr.)
                            HELLRAISER of UNKNOWNS II (
 DM   3 OSKSI (turn 479): DUNE of SIMPLY DESSERTS (Sweet Tooth, mgr.)
                          MX of THE NUKES (Fusion, mgr.)
 DM   6 TRANSEL (turn 478): ZOT ZIPZIG of NIGHT TRAIN (Teet, mgr.)
 DM   7 BONSUR (turn 477): BAYUSHI KACHIKO of CALL TO THUNDER (Ichabod Frothingslosh)
                           TOTURI of CALL TO THUNDER (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
                           NUTMEG of SUGAR AND SPICE (Mannequin, mgr.)
 DM  10 KOLACT (turn 470): SIR VILE of SIR AGLIO (Sultan, mgr.)
 DM  18 TALCAMA (turn 462): BO PEEP of SHEPHERDS (Assurwhatever, mgr.)
                            MIMIC BLENNY of BIG MEAN FISH (Big Wave Dave, mgr.)
 DM  21 SUNSET (turn 462): CARNIVOROUS CANARY of CARNAGE CANARIES (C. Canary, mgr.)
               (turn 461): STONE KILLER of NASTY MOB (Papa Bear, mgr.)
 DM  38 CLIFFHOME (turn 426): HAR DI'HAR of JINDA-BAN (Nick, mgr.)
                              GAR & BRILL of JUST BECAUSE (A-Sop, mgr.)
 DM  39 XOCHITHLAN (turn 183): HOCKEY DUCK of DUCKS UNLIMITED (Crip, mgr.)
 DM  59 ILLIS (turn 159): HAMP of ISLANDERS (Nick, mgr.)
 DM  72 DRAGONHEAD (turn 136): ANDRO MEDA of FEARSOME LEGENDS (Brewmaster, mgr.)
                               JARRAC of FREELANCERS (Jinx, mgr.)
                   (turn 135): EVE of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)

                                 THE GUARDIAN'S FORUM
                      Reflections by the Keeper of the Runeblade

Well, that was unexpected.  Voldric, you do realize that you are the one style that I 
can consistently beat, don't you?  I'll admit that I was nervous since you do have a 
TV but when it comes down do it, a TP is a TP.  Of course you may be an amazing TP 
(for all I know) but don't forget that I am older than dirt!  And that's pretty 
damned old.  I may have to write my memoirs as I am the only striker in recent 
history to have success in both the Arena as well as tourneys.  Granted it could be 
summed up in one paragraph...get really really old.  Shhhhhh!  Don't tell anyone that 
I let you in on my secret!  It's all very hush hush.
-- Mahi Mahi

                             REPORT FROM WITHIN THE TOWER

Hello Darkholm,

     We had only a couple of overt TV challenges this turn, but as there is evidence 
that the Commission has been failing to report some of our TV challenges as such, I 
will have to assume that we had at least three times that many, which beats Free 
Blades' paltry five.
     Anyway, Fat Bastard of I'm So Sexy, from Rodeki, TV challenged Miss Honey of 
Scarry Team, from Jhans.  The Bastard beat her in thirty-nine seconds and it wasn't 
much of a fight.
     Lucretia Borgia was our most challenged warrior, so of course it was a TV 
challenge that reached her:  VOLDRIC THE BLUE (18-6259) (55-43-0,198) of THUNDR + 
LITENING TV challenged LUCRETIA BORGIA (4-3563) (89-127-0,230) of LETHAL LADIES.  
VOLDRIC THE BLUE overcame LUCRETIA BORGIA in a popular 4 minute Challenge match.  It 
was a good fight and Lucretia is still our most popular warrior despite her frequent 
and distressing losses.  I think this is because she's such a drama queen.  Every 
blow struck is a major triumph, every hit taken is a despicable crime.  She may not 
be the best warrior around but she is surely the best actress.
     Our beloved Keeper of the Runeblade, Mahi Mahi, who wrote a fine column for us, 
got randomly matched this turn.  However, Whirling Dog didn't have any better luck 
against him than anyone else.  Go Mahi!  Go Mahi!
     Street Pizza (5th in the guild rankings this turn) was avoided by Soulthieves 
(17th).  We had all better get used to the fact that Suave is feared these days.  
Strange.
     Aha!  There were a couple of fights to the death this turn!  BEAR (7-4628) (22-
29-0,91) of BIG BAD challenged MEN WORKING (38-4189) (22-33-1,70) of JUST BECAUSE.  
BEAR slaughtered MEN WORKING in a 1 minute gory one-sided Challenge duel.  And then a 
short time later, COOLER (82-7277) (25-9-0,185) of STYROFOAM fought GREE CHAK (41-
3859) (36-21-2,194) of KILLERS.  COOLER (who is our top-ranked slasher) executed GREE 
CHAK in a 1 minute one-sided fray.  Well done, the four of you, for fighting with 
passion enough to end a life (temporarily at least).
     SHINY PENNY (32-3789) (27-55-2,160) of FOUND IN THE SAND challenged DOC STEELE 
(18-6010) (45-98-6,148) of ARROGANCE.  SHINY PENNY defeated DOC STEELE in an action 
packed 1 minute Challenge melee.  Despite his frequent losses, and certainly not 
because they thought he was scummed, the crowd voted Doc Steele as this turn's 
favorite warrior.  I think the fact that the fried lizard vendor was handing out 
freebies in his name may have had something to do with it.
     THE HUNGER (21-4622) (16-6-1,98) of SPIDERS FROM MARS fought ARSONIST ART (39-
3325) (21-11-0,62) of CRIMINAL ELEMENT.  THE HUNGER devastated ARSONIST ART in a 1 
minute one-sided battle.  This is worth noting only because Arsonist Art is the least 
liked warrior in Darkholm at the moment.
     At least your manager is taking the time to work with you!  PATIENCE (51-4949) 
(16-24-1,29) of MIGHTY MORALS challenged HOCKEY (82-5719) (12-14-0,70) of CHEAP 
DENTISTRY.  PATIENCE was handily defeated by HOCKEY in a 1 minute mismatched 
Challenge bout.  Have... er... patience, dear, I'm sure your efforts will pay off and 
you will climb in the ranks.  That was a good try.  Just keep making wise challenges.
     I like to see how he's doing just because he's an aimed blow and because his 
name is so strange.  LARGE SPINNY GUY (23-4361) (48-27-2,195) of DIABLO TOO fought A 
DIFFERENT GRAPE (82-1258) (29-13-0,198) of MY WIFE'S COSMETICS.  LARGE SPINNY GUY 
overpowered A DIFFERENT GRAPE in an exciting 3 minute one-sided fight.  Well done, 
LSG!  Other people like your fights, too.
     Well, it seems that Barroch is going to start TV challenging Voldric the Blue 
(who is our top Total Parry).  Since Voldric has his own TV challenge, obviously 
Barroch won't always get through.  In any case Barroch's challenges aren't supposed 
to start until next turn.  But let's see how he did today... he got a random matchup.  
BARROCH (18-2684) (82-87-1,201) of SHEPHERDS fought DR NUT (24-4254) (40-22-2,191) of 
DP CLONES.  BARROCH savagely defeated DR NUT in a popular 1 minute gruesome fight.  
And Voldric, of course, beat Lucretia Borgia as previously mentioned.
     I believe there were no stand-ins needed this turn, so we did not see any Debby 
Tonte look-alikes on the sands.  This is just as well, I feel.  However, I am 
perplexed to see that we had two Doc Steeles on the sand, fighting for the same team!  
Look:
          SHINY PENNY (32-3789) (27-55-2,160) of FOUND IN THE SAND challenged DOC 
STEELE (18-6010) (45-98-6,148) of ARROGANCE.  SHINY PENNY defeated DOC STEELE in an 
action packed 1 minute Challenge melee.  This Doc Steele is now ranked 147.
          ETCHED IN STONE (61-3112) (26-10-0,145) of CEMENTIA challenged DOC STEELE 
(18-6808) (35-50-1,163) of ARROGANCE.  ETCHED IN STONE unbelievably bested DOC STEELE 
in a 5 minute Challenge duel.  Now ranked 156.
     You will note that their identification numbers are different.  However, I think 
this may create some confusion.  Mr. 6808 appears to be a less aggressive sort than 
Mr. 6010.  I was unable to catch either of them in the locker room to take note of 
any other distinguishing characteristics.  Does anyone know these two warriors?  Do 
they look alike?  Are they related?  Or is it just that the manager of Arrogance 
wished to give multiple tributes to Doc Steele the manager?  Are there any more Doc 
Steeles of the Arrogance stable on their way here from Talcama?  I wonder which one 
was the intended recipient of Assurnasirbanipal's ad this turn?
     Well, in any case, it's time to wind this up.  Until next turn, honor your 
grandparents but try not to dress like them.

                                                                   Desiree

KEEPER OF THE RUNEBLADE       W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 MAHI MAHI 18-4899           79  58  1  413  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA

GRAND CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS    W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 COOLER 82-7277              26   9  1  256  STYROFOAM (1090)           DWES EG
 SPEEDI 58-3029              86  76  3  247  SHAMROCKS (424)            DELARQ TOR
 FLOATING SWISS 4-4461       20  10  0  246  THINGSINPUG'SCOOLER (1088) JHELUM
-GRIZZLY 74-2710             40  39  0  241  TOTEM (1146)               DAIYLA KIV
 DARK GUMBY 7-4694           40  24  0  240  WASTELAND II (500)         BONSUR
 FAT BASTARD 42-3804         43  20  0  237  I'M SO SEXY (1072)         RODEKI
 BLACK WIDOW 37-1303         51  55  2  227  BEAST MASTERS (136)        SIBIKHAS
 LARGE SPINNY GUY 23-4361    49  27  2  218  DIABLO TOO (1037)          TI
 BARROCH 18-2684             83  87  1  216  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
 MR PIBB 24-4253             48  19  1  213  DP CLONES (1045)           ZORPUNT

GRAND CHAMPIONS               W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 HARLEQUIN TUSKFISH 18-6977  37  29  0  208  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA
 VOLDRIC THE BLUE 18-6259    56  43  0  207  THUNDR + LITENING (309)    TALCAMA
 FACEMAN 38-4129             37  33  2  207  THE A TEAM (1044)          CLIFFHOME
 T-BONE 18-3402              30  21  3  207  DEAD EVIL (627)            TALCAMA
 JACK BOY 82-2030            61  49  0  203  ON A WHIM (1014)           DWES EG
 LEE AT TOURNEY 4-3565      100 117  1  201  LETHAL LADIES (768)        JHELUM
 LUCRETIA BORGIA 4-3563      89 128  0  200  LETHAL LADIES (768)        JHELUM
 GEO METRO 58-5740           56  60  2  199  COOL WHEELS (943)          DELARQ TOR
 SIR ENE 10-4360             38  22  3  199  SIR AGLIO (600)            KOLACT
 DUSKY JAWFISH 18-6978       35  32  1  199  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA
-SYPHILIS 19-3085            81  48  2  198  THAT SUCKS! (1144)         ZUWAYZA
 CHICK WITH A STICK 23-4365  38  38  1  198  DIABLO TOO (1037)          TI
 OSCAR THE SLOUCH 82-1316    36  27  3  198  SESAME SPINE (1070)        DWES EG
 MISS HONEY 36-4850          56  51  0  196  SCARRY TEAM (824)          JHANS
-TORMENT 21-3121             44  33  3  196  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
 WHIRLING DOG 10-4177        55  29  1  195  MONGREL HORDE (964)        KOLACT
 SHOCKING TOAD 7-310         46  57  1  195  NINJAS (1107)              BONSUR
 CLEANER WRASSE 18-6495      56  54  2  194  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA
 MUCKER 42-3596              45  51  1  193  DELVERS (1000)             RODEKI
 SELENA STEELE 37-2010       42  13  0  193  SOULTHIEVES (416)          SIBIKHAS
-MISTRESS OF EVIL 18-3565    28  16  3  193  EVIL DEAD (1099)           TALCAMA
 WHIRLING WORD 48-3815       46  30  0  192  4-LETTER WORDS (1063)      CAER
 BUUL THE BULL 2-4840        34  35  1  192  RESURRECTION (1143)        NIANIA
 A DIFFERENT GRAPE 82-1258   29  14  0  192  MY WIFE'S COSMETICS (1038) DWES EG
-HE-MAN 21-3112              45  34  0  191  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
-TERROR 21-3267              41  23  0  190  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
 JANET RENO 42-3823          31  30  1  190  I'M SO SEXY (1072)         RODEKI
 DR NUT 24-4254              40  23  2  189  DP CLONES (1045)           ZORPUNT
 SLAYER II 10-2125           32  22  1  189  THE MENTORS (408)          KOLACT
 SCHYLER 6-4866              47  77  1  188  THE LADY'S LIST (917)      TRANSEL
 DR DAZZLE 57-4485           39  24  0  188  PEPPER PRACTICE II (1069)  ANDOR
 HOT 48-3858                 37  37  2  186  OUTSIDE IS (1061)          CAER
 3-7-2-D-S 82-5727           32  24  0  186  FASCINATIN' RYTHYM (1152)  DWES EG
 SMILES 21-3207              24  14  3  185  TROOPERS (1113)            SUNSET

GRAND CHAMPIONS               W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 TORNADO 6-2249              24  27  2  185  ACTS OF NATURE (415)       TRANSEL
 GREE CHAK 41-3859           36  22  2  183  KILLERS (1145)             KATI-TEI
-DARK ORIGIN 42-2770         25  16  0  182  GUARDIAN'S SLAVES (1157)   RODEKI

GRAND CHALLENGER ADEPTS       W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 CHRISTIANITY 51-4965        35  30  0  180  GENOCIDE (1110)            TRICORUS
 TOLAIS DEEPHEART 42-1620    76  91  0  176  DELVERS (1000)             RODEKI
 OBSESSIVE 58-2447           36  32  1  176  ELEMENTS OF PSI (423)      DELARQ TOR
 MOJO JOJO 10-4643           26  22  2  175  TOWNSVILLAINS (1089)       KOLACT
 BRAHMA 97-731               23  27  4  175  ONE SURFING HINDU (1071)   SHADOW GROVE
 ZALTAN 6-4616               52 104  2  174  THE LADY'S LIST (917)      TRANSEL
 BASS 5-3666                 46  81  1  173  JOHNS (927)                KALTOS
-AGONY 21-3413               34  11  0  173  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
 SILK 5-3342                 29  36  2  173  WORTHLESS MANAGERS (820)   KALTOS
 SPLURGE ON WAX LIP 18-6485  47  35  1  172  STREET PIZZA (114)         TALCAMA
 BLINKY 18-2683              70 112  4  170  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
 RYGEL 18-7142               35  26  0  170  WASTELAND (468)            TALCAMA
-STORM XCIX 82-14095         17   6  1  167  DEATH STUDS VIII (1086)    DWES EG
 SHINY PENNY 32-3789         28  55  2  165  FOUND IN THE SAND (1034)   ARVAT
 SINISTER MIDGET 6-5113      33  39  5  163  LOOK OUT BELOW (1042)      TRANSEL
 DRUNK AND AT DENNY 82-2255  33  30  2  162  ROCK BOTTOM (1080)         DWES EG
 ETCHED IN STONE 61-3112     27  10  0  160  CEMENTIA (1112)            JURINE
 EXCREMENTO 51-4968          37  29  1  158  GUANO GROUP (1065)         TRICORUS
 LUIGI 6-5142                27  28  2  158  SUPER BASH BROTHERS (1067) TRANSEL
-BEDLAM'S BARD 2-4144        28  21  2  157  MYTH AND MIGHT (163)       NIANIA
 DOC STEELE 18-6808          35  51  1  156  ARROGANCE (732)            TALCAMA
 SILAS 18-6796               31  53  2  155  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
-IRON HEAD LEE 18-6563       11   3  0  154  THE GUARDIANS II (1155)    TALCAMA
 SUE E. SYDE 39-3240         34  25  1  152  CRIMINAL ELEMENT (1074)    XOCHITHLAN

GRAND ADEPTS                  W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
-TORTURE 21-3293             26  29  3  149  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
 DOC STEELE 18-6010          45  99  6  147  ARROGANCE (732)            TALCAMA
 A NEW PONY! 82-1306         14  13  0  146  WHAT I ATE FOR XMAS (1114) DWES EG
 LIFE 3-4196                 34 116  0  144  GAMES LIBRARY (998)        OSKSI
 STRANGER RANGER 6-2878      24  20  3  130  SOUL STRIPPERS II (412)    TRANSEL
 OH WELL 10-2205             24  21  4  129  THE MENTORS (408)          KOLACT
 LINK 6-5144                 24  29  2  111  SUPER BASH BROTHERS (1067) TRANSEL
 BEAR 7-4628                 23  29  1  109  BIG BAD (1073)             BONSUR
 SLEEPLESS PARANOIA 82-2252  10  11  1  104  PARENTHOOD (1122)          DWES EG

GRAND CHALLENGER INITIATES    W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 THANOS 37-1406              22  26  2  100  NIGHT TRAIN (545)          SIBIKHAS
 ROB A. REE 39-3241          26  13  0   99  CRIMINAL ELEMENT (1074)    XOCHITHLAN
 QUID PRO QUO 10-4794        22   5  1   91  QUBIT (1140)               KOLACT

GRAND INITIATES               W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 BRADEN 6-4867               45  79  0   89  THE LADY'S LIST (917)      TRANSEL
 MAGINOT MIKE 4-4509         48  51  1   88  DOGS OF WAR (999)          JHELUM
-BO PEEP 18-7392             25  13  0   88  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
 SLAYER 3 10-2530            22   7  1   83  THE MENTORS (408)          KOLACT
 ELI 18-7272                 18  20  3   82  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
 THE WICKER KING 42-3904     17  16  0   80  FURNITURE BARN (1109)      RODEKI
 JOB 18-6129                 16 121  0   80  SHEPHERDS (432)            TALCAMA
-SUNGOD'S FOLLY 18-7199      19   9  3   77  SADISTS (1093)             TALCAMA
 MY1STADMWARRIOR 37-4668     18   6  1   76  SRETSAMLEUD (1134)         SIBIKHAS
 TRUMP 24-4359               23  17  1   73  BAD HAND (1125)            ZORPUNT
-MIMIC BLENNY 18-7541        20  12  1   73  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA
 HOCKEY 82-5719              13  14  0   72  CHEAP DENTISTRY (1098)     DWES EG
-THUG 21-3426                22  18  2   65  TORMENTORS (571)           SUNSET
 MEN WORKING 38-4189         22  34  1   65  JUST BECAUSE (1151)        CLIFFHOME
-FROG SLAYER 21-4021         16  17  0   65  THE GUARDIANS (1156)       SUNSET
 ARSONIST ART 39-3325        21  12  0   64  CRIMINAL ELEMENT (1074)    XOCHITHLAN

GRAND INITIATES               W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 MUCS 21-1992                26  13  0   62  SRETSAMLEUD (1133)         SUNSET
 JOHN ASHCROFT 24-4355       16   7  2   58  DOH! (1147)                ZORPUNT
 PROFFESSOR GRIM 10-2613     14   9  0   56  THE MENTORS (408)          KOLACT
 TYRONE 21-1769              27  19  1   55  DWARVEN LEGION (1139)      SUNSET
 LUC STARWALKER 58-6100      23  29  0   54  NEXT GENERATION (1075)     DELARQ TOR
 NUMBERED WON 18-7434        16  16  0   52  NEXT GENERATION (1150)     TALCAMA
 ZOT ZIPZIG 6-5688           13  11  0   50  NIGHT TRAIN (1158)         TRANSEL
 BOUGHTANDPAID 4 10-4809     15  11  4   41  SRETSAMLEUD (1135)         KOLACT
 PATIENCE 51-4949            16  25  1   29  MIGHTY MORALS (1120)       TRICORUS

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

THE DEAD                    W   L  K TEAM NAME              SLAIN BY              TURN
MEN WORKING 38-4189        22  34  1 JUST BECAUSE 1151      BEAR 7-4628            355
GREE CHAK 41-3859          36  22  2 KILLERS 1145           COOLER 82-7277         355

                               PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE

T-Bone -- Yes, the humor of it was not lost on me.  Good win. -- Syphilis

Lucretia Borgia -- Did I mention how much I apparently suck?  No?  Well, my manager 
sure did after the last couple turns. -- Syphilis

Tormentors -- If there was a point in us challenging you last turn, we don't remember 
what it was. -- Grizzly and Storm

He-Man -- Yes, you took some damage there, my friend. -- Grizzly

Darkholm -- What an embarrassment.  Our team goes 6-6 for the turn? -- Assur
To those who lost to my warriors:

     Assur -- You just have to face the fact that your warriors have some competence.
     -- Desiree

Buul The Bull -- You have an excuse, facing the only good warrior on this stable.  
And it was intended to be a TV challenge, not just some normal challenge, but 
apparently the challenge department at the Commission didn't get my paperwork 
transferred to the TV challenge department and so the TV part of the challenge was 
ignored. -- Assur

Tolais Deepheart -- Maybe you should be commended for your heart, giving a win to 
Silas after so many beatings, but in Delarq, I'd recommend doing as the Delarquans, 
since you won't see any such kindness in return. -- Assur

Doc Steele -- You're just bad.  Always have been, probably always will.  You would 
fit right in here at our stable -- oh, except we're all bashers.  Maybe you should 
petition for a style change.  Then at least you can blame your poor abilities on your 
style. -- Assur

Men Working -- Welcome to life as a Basher in Darkholm.  Let the losses keep on 
rolling! -- Assur

Trump -- You, my friend, truly should be embarrassed! -- Assur

Arsonist Act -- Not much more to say about that one!  You lost to probably the worst 
warrior in all Alastari. -- Assur

And to those who beat my warriors:

Lee At Tourney, Maginot Mike, Braden, Agony, Hockey, and last, but certainly not 
least, Debby Tonte -- Thanks for keeping us from surpassing .500.  I can only guess 
what kind of medical emergency would have occurred had the shock of a winning turn 
been subjected to me.  Thanks! -- Assur

Doc Steele -- I want Voldric starting turn 356.  I want you to eat those words of 
yours about Barroch not being good enough to face Voldric the Blue, even after the 
tourney.  I'll be TVing you -- count on it.  While I can't see you running, I will 
remind you that we have a no avoids pact here in Darkholm.  You can certainly send 
your TV elsewhere, but you might as well avoid if you're gonna do that!  I'll be 
TVing Voldric every turn from now until the end of the split.  Time for you to earn 
your wins rather than get them for free!  Oh, and Barroch still has easy training to 
do... -- Assurnasirbanipal

Muffin Man / Big Wave Dave -- It was a tough decision to not use Barroch's TV (since 
it'll likely be a long time before my next ADM TV) to abuse your guys, but I figure 
Doc Steele's record is just too ridiculous!  I know he'll always send his best here, 
to keep his record high, but I'm not going to sit around and let him walk freely in 
the arena when I actually have a choice!  Geo Metro gets my TV this turn. -- Assur

Silas -- Your record is 31-52, and you say "yet again" you are victorious?  Well, 
okay.  I like a man with self-confidence. -- Toalis Deepheart

Eli -- I just LIVE for you guys.  And I love it, too. -- Maginot Mike, striker of 
blows

Dark Gumby -- You have an icky, rubbery texture, not at all what I am accustomed to.  
I am designed to work on crisp, firm rock. -- Mucker

Hot -- You have an UNFAIR advantage in that the veritable GODS (if They actually 
exist, which is debateable) are on your side in this HORRID weather. 
But since you were so RUDE besides, I REFUSE to teach you ANY SKILLS AT ALL. -- Life 
of Osksi

Desiree -- That was not, like, really me, you know?  As if!  It was somebody totally 
apocryphal. -- Debby Tonte
P.S.  We had five TV challenges a couple of days ago.  I thought you might, you know, 
want to know that.

     Debby -- Don't worry, dear, I knew she wasn't you the minute I saw her naturally
     blonde roots. -- Desiree

18 July 2003
To All Managers -- I would like to take this time to announce that my alliance, The
Association, is no more.  Due to the dead weight managers of the alliance and their
lack of participation, DarkSpirit and I have formed a new alliance:  The Firm.  We
have taken on two members so far and are looking for a few more.  If you would like
to find out more about The Firm, you can diplo Dark Spirit, Unknowns XX in arena 15
or myself, Sungod, Sadists F2FII in arena 62.
                               --*  The Firm *--
                    Sungod -- Sadists F2FII -- 62
                    Dark Spirit -- Unknowns XX -- 15
                    Youngblood -- Wensinwasin -- 43
                    Tripwire -- Of Wolf and Man -- 1

26 July 2003
     Citizens of Alastari, a bright dawn has risen.  While you slept, a pernicious
force has entered the once-fair City of Aruak.  It fought alongside their treasured
warriors, it drank with their fans, and it slept with their women.  Now the masks are
coming off.
     Warriors, be afraid...be very afraid.  After years of Andorian managers ranting
that Aruak is the safest city in Alastari, the Frothingslosh Syndicate has selected
Aruak City as the home for its next epic 'contest'--Murder by Numbers II.  Our spies
have selected the warriors for extermination, and the executioners have had several
months to prepare.  Now a new age of darkness will descend upon Aruak, as the
Syndicate and its allies bring an entirely new level of competition to the arena!
Downchallenges!  Assassinations!  Small poodles as hors d'oeuvres!
     The Murder by Numbers II 'rules' will be announced next cycle.  However, we
invite all managers, from all corners of Alastari, to come to Aruak City and take
part...in one way or another.  Help defend the honor of a long heralded haven for the
pure, or join the forces of change in their siege of the ice-cream and cake
stronghold of the Dukes of Nerf-Dueling!
     This exercise is not for either the faint of heart or the weak willed.  Blood
will flow, brains will leak, and beer will be chugged.  Either way, we welcome you
with open arms and gleaming blades.
     This public service announcement has been brought to you by Frothingslosh Epic
Contests (tm), the number 86, and the letter 'K'.

The Frothingslosh Syndicate

29 July 2003
           *     *     *     *The Third Annual Turf War*     *     *     *
     Yes, it's time again for alliances to go to war!  TW3 will be held in DM 47
(North Fork) at a date to be  specified later--right after Crip's Incomprehensible
Contest is over...but I'm sure everyone wants to get their teams there soon!  Here
are the rules:

1.  Each alliance must have a leader declare the arrival of his alliance.  The leader
    will be responsible for verifying any and all teams/managers who declare to the
    alliance he/she is leading.
2.  Each manager, team declaring for the contest must have approval of the leader,
    donate one Roll-up Certificate ($5) to the prize pot (send it to me by diplo, by
    snail, or a note to customer service), and declare his/her team by diplo, p-ad or
    snail.
3.  Each team may declare one warrior as champion.  All points scored by a champ are
    double!
4.  Prizes are as follows (mostly...there WILL be some things added as the prize pot
    grows with entry donations--this list is not final!)
    *  Highest scoring alliance -- Rename Arena 47 for a period of 6 months, one half
       of the total prize pot donated; roll-up certs.
    *  The Alliance with the most returns from the DA will get to re-name the DA
       monsters for a period of 6 months.
    *  The alliance with the most warriors listed as style masters will get to pick
       the Alastari city/arena to host the next Grand Tournament.
    *  The warrior with the most front page honors/awards will have the Arenamaster
       named after him for a period of 6 months.
    *  The Alliance with the most front page Honors/Awards will have the honor of
        picking the *slow* arena to host the Fifth Annual Turf War.
    *  The team with the most listings as Style Master will find out the favorites of
       one of their warriors.
    *  The warrior with the most listings as Style Master will fight at my expense
       for five turns (I will transfer to the manager's account).
    *  The Alliance with the most kills will be able to re-name the stand-in warriors
       for a period of 6 months.
    *  The warrior that scores the most total points will fight at my expense for 5
       turns (I will transfer $7.50 to the manager's account).
    *  The team that scores the most total points will receive an extra share of
       roll-up certs from the prize pot.
     There may be more categories to come, and the prize pot still has to be
divided...I'm open to category/prize ideas--and further donations to the prize pot.
     The contest will run for *TEN* turns; prizes will be awarded at the end of the
11th turn.
     Scoring will be as follows:
* 5 points per fight, doubled for each of the following conditions met:
     -- Two Alliance     -- Champion
     -- Challenge        -- Two Champions
     -- Bloodfeud        -- Challenger losing
     -- Kill
     (Note:  DA losses are exempt, but DA wins will be *tripled*!!!  Ex:  Happy
Slasher goes to the DA and dies, no points are lost.  If he wins, his team scores 60
points!  If he was a champ, he scores 120 points!)
     Use the following chart to calculate scores:
Conditions Met:       0     1     2     3     4     5     6     7
Points Per Fight:     5    10    20    40    80   160   320   640
* Awards/Honors and Style Masters will each be awarded points also.  Find the total
number of each (do note add Awards and Style Masters together) and consult the graph
below.  Champs that score an award or style master count as two.
     1 --   5      7 --  320
     2 --  10      8 --  640
     3 --  20      9 -- 1280
     4 --  40     10 -- 2560
     5 --  80     11 -- 5280
     6 -- 100     (x2 for each extra)
Note -- These categories *count as "triple"*--they will be figured for each team,
*AND* again for each alliance *as well as* for each warrior!
*  Each and every mention in the Spy Report is worth 5 points...period.
*  TVs will be scored on the same scale as Awards/Style Masters, but the total points
will be x10.  TC's will be scored as TV's, but x10 more.
Number of TV/TC's          Points Scored (TV/TC)
     1      50/ 500
     2     100/1000
     3     200/2000
     4     400/4000
     +     x2/ x2 (for each extra)
     Each alliance will start with 5000 points, scores for *fights* will be added to
the winner's total *AND* deducted from the losers.
     Come  one and all, defend your turf and the honor of your alliance...or your
own!
                    Asmo Dius, TCB
                    Arenas, DM 47, DM 73

1 August 2003
     Assurnasirbanipal invites you to Talcama to participate in the third BATTLE
ROYAL contest.  It is a Delarquan contest so brutal that even some of Talcama's most
notable managers will refuse to participate.  The rules are simpler than any other
contest:  You may not avoid any other contest team.  There are no silly rules for who
can and can't compete.  Any team in Talcama is eligible to compete.  The scoring is
also quite simple (+1 for a win, +1 for a kill (+1 for the win), -1 for a loss) and
the first team to reach 25 points is the winner.
     Scoring will be live--the results for the turn posted in the newsletter.  The
winner will be able to fight their contest team in Talcama for free for 6 months but
more importantly will win a contest against some of the best managers who play the
game in one of the hardest contests in the game.
     First turn for BATTLE ROYAL 3 is Talcama Turn 465, which is due August 30.

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

FAT BASTARD devastated MISS HONEY in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
VOLDRIC THE BLUE overcame LUCRETIA BORGIA in a popular 4 minute Challenge match.
MOJO JOJO lost to OSCAR THE SLOUCH in a 1 minute Challenge brawl.
SILAS was devastated by TOLAIS DEEPHEART in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
LUIGI was devastated by LEE AT TOURNEY in a popular 1 minute uneven Challenge brawl.
BLINKY was viciously subdued by BUUL THE BULL in a 2 minute Challenge match.
SHINY PENNY defeated DOC STEELE in a action packed 1 minute Challenge melee.
ETCHED IN STONE unbelievably bested DOC STEELE in a 5 minute Challenge duel.
BEAR slaughtered MEN WORKING in a 1 minute gory one-sided Challenge duel.
JOB was savagely defeated by QUID PRO QUO in a 2 minute gory Challenge melee.
TRUMP was overpowered by LINK in a crowd pleasing 2 minute one-sided Challenge match.
MUCS was viciously subdued by BRADEN in a exciting 4 minute bloody Challenge battle.
NUMBERED WON was overpowered by ROB A. REE in a 1 minute Challenge conflict.
ELI overpowered TYRONE in a 1 minute uneven Challenge struggle.
PATIENCE was handily defeated by HOCKEY in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge bout.
JOHN ASHCROFT was devastated by MAGINOT MIKE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge brawl.
MAHI MAHI overpowered WHIRLING DOG in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Title match.
BLACK WIDOW overpowered JANET RENO in a crowd pleasing 1 minute mismatched fight.
SPEEDI bested GEO METRO in a popular 2 minute gruesome bout.
DARK GUMBY demolished CLEANER WRASSE in a 1 minute uneven bout.
BODHISATVA vanquished WHIRLING WORD in a popular 1 minute mismatched fray.
LADY STARDUST subdued SIR ENE in a popular 1 minute fight.
FLOATING SWISS vanquished BUNNY WAILER in a action packed 1 minute one-sided match.
SPLURGE ON WAX LIPS was overpowered by DUSKY JAWFISH in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
T-BONE vanquished MAJOR TOM in a action packed 1 minute gory uneven bout.
HARLEQUIN TUSKFISH handily defeated DIERDRE in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
BARROCH savagely defeated DR NUT in a popular 1 minute gruesome fight.
BASS was overcome by TORNADO in a exciting 2 minute brutal fight.
LARGE SPINNY GUY overpowered A DIFFERENT GRAPE in a exciting 3 minute one-sided fight.
CHICK WITH A STICK overcame SCHYLER in a crowd pleasing 3 minute gruesome match.
MR PIBB overpowered TRANQUILITY in a exciting 1 minute bloody one-sided struggle.
COOLER executed GREE CHAK in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
JACK BOY savagely defeated CHRISTIANITY in a crowd pleasing 2 minute brutal match.
SLAYER II was viciously subdued by FACEMAN in a popular 2 minute gruesome bout.
SHOCKING TOAD overpowered EXCREMENTO in a 1 minute one-sided competition.
SELENA STEELE unbelievably bested SID VICIOUS in a exciting 3 minute gory duel.
ZALTAN was savagely defeated by 3-7-2-D-S in a action packed 2 minute bloody duel.
HOT subdued SILK in a action packed 1 minute conflict.
MUCKER handily defeated SINISTER MIDGET in a exciting 1 minute mismatched fight.
BRAHMA handily defeated OH WELL in a 1 minute mismatched melee.
DR DAZZLE demolished DRUNK AND AT DENNYS in a exciting 1 minute one-sided match.
OBSESSIVE overpowered LIFE in a 2 minute gory one-sided duel.
RYGEL was viciously subdued by SMILES in a crowd pleasing 1 minute gruesome bout.
A NEW PONY! subdued THANOS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute match.
STRANGER RANGER was savagely defeated by SUE E. SYDE in a exciting 2 minute battle.
SLEEPLESS PARANOIA overpowered THE WICKER KING in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
THE HUNGER devastated ARSONIST ART in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
SLAYER 3 devastated ZOT ZIPZIG in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
PROFFESSOR GRIM savagely defeated BOUGHTANDPAID 4 in a crowd pleasing 1 minute battle.
MY1STADMWARRIOR beat LUC STARWALKER in a 2 minute bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  29         SLASHING ATTACK   50 -  38 -  4      57  |
|WALL OF STEEL                   16         TOTAL PARRY       61 -  52 -  0      54  |
|BASHING ATTACK                  13         LUNGING ATTACK   148 - 128 -  0      54  |
|AIMED BLOW                      11         PARRY-LUNGE       24 -  21 -  0      53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                     10         STRIKING ATTACK   22 -  20 -  0      52  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  8         WALL OF STEEL     66 -  62 -  0      52  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      5         AIMED BLOW        50 -  57 -  0      47  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  5         PARRY-STRIKE      11 -  17 -  1      39  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         BASHING ATTACK    31 -  61 -  4      34  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 355 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:

SLASHING ATTACK    5 -  3     BASHING ATTACK     6 -  7         5  LUNGING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK    17 - 12     AIMED BLOW         5 -  6         2  SLASHING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        5 -  5     WALL OF STEEL      7 -  9         2  AIMED BLOW     
                              PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  3         1  STRIKING ATTACK
                              STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  3         1  WALL OF STEEL  
                              PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  2     
                              PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  MAHI MAHI 18-4899          79  58  1  413 BIG MEAN FISH (292)
SLASHING ATTACK  COOLER 82-7277             26   9  1  256 STYROFOAM (1090)
LUNGING ATTACK   SPEEDI 58-3029             86  76  3  247 SHAMROCKS (424)
WALL OF STEEL    DARK GUMBY 7-4694          40  24  0  240 WASTELAND II (500)
AIMED BLOW       LARGE SPINNY GUY 23-4361   49  27  2  218 DIABLO TOO (1037)
TOTAL PARRY      VOLDRIC THE BLUE 18-6259   56  43  0  207 THUNDR + LITENING (309)
PARRY-LUNGE      LEE AT TOURNEY 4-3565     100 117  1  201 LETHAL LADIES (768)
PARRY-STRIKE     SHOCKING TOAD 7-310        46  57  1  195 NINJAS (1107)
BASHING ATTACK   BUUL THE BULL 2-4840       34  35  1  192 RESURRECTION (1143)

The overall popularity leader is LUCRETIA BORGIA 4-3563.  The most popular warrior 
this turn was DOC STEELE 18-6808.  The ten other most popular fighters were LARGE 
SPINNY GUY 23-4361, SID VICIOUS 18-6054, SUE E. SYDE 39-3240, VOLDRIC THE BLUE 
18-6259, BUUL THE BULL 2-4840, BRADEN 6-4867, LUCRETIA BORGIA 4-3563, SPEEDI 58-3029, 
TORNADO 6-2249, and SCHYLER 6-4866.

The least popular fighter this week was ARSONIST ART 39-3325.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were OH WELL 10-2205, EXCREMENTO 51-4968, GREE CHAK 41-3859, 
WHIRLING WORD 48-3815, JOHN ASHCROFT 24-4355, PATIENCE 51-4949, TYRONE 21-1769, MEN 
WORKING 38-4189, BOUGHTANDPAID 4 10-4809, and ZOT ZIPZIG 6-5688.

Arena (Number)       W  L K  Arena (Number)       W  L K  Arena (Number)       W  L K  
NIANIA(2)            1  0 0  TI(23)               2  0 0  CAER(48)             1  1 0  
OSKSI(3)             0  2 0  ZORPUNT(24)          1  3 0  TRICORUS(51)         0  3 0  
JHELUM(4)            3  1 0  ARVAT(32)            1  0 0  ANDOR(57)            1  0 0  
KALTOS(5)            0  2 0  JHANS(36)            1  2 0  DELARQ TOR(58)       2  2 0  
TRANSEL(6)           3  6 0  SIBIKHAS(37)         3  1 0  JURINE(61)           1  0 0  
BONSUR(7)            3  0 1  CLIFFHOME(38)        1  1 0  CIMMERIAC(69)        0  1 0  
KOLACT(10)           3  6 0  XOCHITHLAN(39)       2  1 0  DWES EG(82)          7  2 1  
TALCAMA(18)          7 10 0  KATI-TEI(41)         0  1 0  SHADOW GROVE(97)     1  0 0  
SUNSET(21)           3  3 0  RODEKI(42)           3  2 0  

TOP WARRIOR OF EACH ARENA     W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 BUUL THE BULL 2-4840        34  35  1  192  RESURRECTION (1143)        NIANIA
 LIFE 3-4196                 34 116  0  144  GAMES LIBRARY (998)        OSKSI
 FLOATING SWISS 4-4461       20  10  0  246  THINGSINPUG'SCOOLER (1088) JHELUM
 BASS 5-3666                 46  81  1  173  JOHNS (927)                KALTOS
 SCHYLER 6-4866              47  77  1  188  THE LADY'S LIST (917)      TRANSEL
 DARK GUMBY 7-4694           40  24  0  240  WASTELAND II (500)         BONSUR
 SIR ENE 10-4360             38  22  3  199  SIR AGLIO (600)            KOLACT
 MAHI MAHI 18-4899           79  58  1  413  BIG MEAN FISH (292)        TALCAMA
 SMILES 21-3207              24  14  3  185  TROOPERS (1113)            SUNSET
 LARGE SPINNY GUY 23-4361    49  27  2  218  DIABLO TOO (1037)          TI
 MR PIBB 24-4253             48  19  1  213  DP CLONES (1045)           ZORPUNT
 SHINY PENNY 32-3789         28  55  2  165  FOUND IN THE SAND (1034)   ARVAT
 MISS HONEY 36-4850          56  51  0  196  SCARRY TEAM (824)          JHANS
 BLACK WIDOW 37-1303         51  55  2  227  BEAST MASTERS (136)        SIBIKHAS
 FACEMAN 38-4129             37  33  2  207  THE A TEAM (1044)          CLIFFHOME
 SUE E. SYDE 39-3240         34  25  1  152  CRIMINAL ELEMENT (1074)    XOCHITHLAN
 GREE CHAK 41-3859           36  22  2  183  KILLERS (1145)             KATI-TEI
 FAT BASTARD 42-3804         43  20  0  237  I'M SO SEXY (1072)         RODEKI

TOP WARRIOR OF EACH ARENA     W   L  K PNTS  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 WHIRLING WORD 48-3815       46  30  0  192  4-LETTER WORDS (1063)      CAER
 CHRISTIANITY 51-4965        35  30  0  180  GENOCIDE (1110)            TRICORUS
 DR DAZZLE 57-4485           39  24  0  188  PEPPER PRACTICE II (1069)  ANDOR
 SPEEDI 58-3029              86  76  3  247  SHAMROCKS (424)            DELARQ TOR
 ETCHED IN STONE 61-3112     27  10  0  160  CEMENTIA (1112)            JURINE
 COOLER 82-7277              26   9  1  256  STYROFOAM (1090)           DWES EG
 BRAHMA 97-731               23  27  4  175  ONE SURFING HINDU (1071)   SHADOW GROVE