ADVANCED DUELMASTERS

Date   : 10/16/1997    Duedate: 10/29/1997

THE KAIKWOK GATEWAY

DM-108    TURN-49

RANK TEAMS                    W   L K    %  RANK TEAMS                    W   L K    %
  1 KILLER ABORIGINE 37/58  42   6  1 87.5   14 POWERAGE 52/105         67  69 10 49.3
  2 ANGELS OF PAIN 9/23     41   7 39 85.4      BIBLE BROTHERS 38/64                  
  3 WOLVERINES 18/99        60  23  4 72.3      ABOUNDING AGONY II 29/48              
    MAD SCIENTISTS 18/34                        WAYNE'S WORLD 20/101                  
  4 SWEORDMASTERS 1/6       17   7  0 70.8      WOLFRAVEN REAVERS 10/24               
    THE INANIMATES 38/63                        WOLFRAVEN REAVERS 43/104              
  5 DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 2/9  111  65  7 63.1   15 DEADLY SHADOWS 46/96    53  55  2 49.1
    DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 33/55                     ENGINES OF DOOM 43/95                 
    DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 20/37                  16 UNDERDOGS 60/75        108 122  1 47.0
    DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 26/45                     WILD CARDS 57/73                      
    DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS 21/39                  BIRDS OF PREY 23/41                   
    DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 7/19                      DEATHTONGUE 46/68                     
  6 CCE 60/76              481 331 30 59.2   17 THE BEARS 48/70        144 170  2 45.9
    ZIG ZAG 37/59                               THE BEARS 46/69                       
    GOLDEN HOSTE 6/16                           THE HURT 36/103                       
    NOMADS 14/29                                THE BEARS 43/67                       
    HACK AND SLASH 24/44                     18 JACKSON FIVE 17/30      68  82  8 45.3
    ZIG ZAG 1/5                                 FIRE FIGHTERS 41/65                   
    ZIG ZAG 5/14                                BOOB TUBE RUBES 33/91                 
  7 ROMAN HEROES 32/53      81  58 24 58.3      DOCTORS OF DUEL 10/88                 
    MISCELLANEOUS II 38/62                   19 THOSE WHO RULE 1/121     4   5  0 44.4
  8 RAT PAK 41/82          105  76  2 58.0   20 TRIBAL COUNCIL 4/83     18  27  0 40.0
    RAT PAK 19/80                            21 BRITERON BY 8/20        50  85  2 37.0
  9 DEATH MASTERS 7/18     112  96  3 53.8      PRETTY THINGS 52/93                   
    NINJA TURTLES 22/40                      22 SUPERIOR FORCES 1/120   11  21  2 34.4
    INFERNAL LEGION 9/22                        SUPERIOR FORCES 29/113                
 10 DARK GUARDIANS 1/8     170 152  5 52.8   23 WARLORDS 11/110         11  30  0 26.8
    THE GUARDIANS 19/35                         THE BRIGADE 23/90                     
    THE RED REAVERS 28/47                    24 MOLES 63/118             4  16  1 20.0
    MYTH AND MIGHT 2/10                         CREW MONIKER 76/119                   
 11 FROG PRINCES 18/33      25  24  0 51.0   25 ILLUMINATION 46/116      1   4  0 20.0
 12-TEAM$(150) 1/77         24  24  3 50.0   26 BY THE NUMBERS 51/122    1   1  0 50.0
 13 THUNDR + LITENI 18/100  12  12  0 50.0

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

                            RAMBLINGS FROM WITHIN THE KEEP

     I doubt many of you even noticed me when I arrived with the new warriors last 
split.  I also bet most of you didn't even read that first spy report that I wrote 
myself, rather than dictating for Zontani, a few turns later.  And I know for a fact 
that more than a few of you don't really like me--or the changes I've been trying to 
make.  I hope, at least, that I've made a difference, however.
     Oh, well.  Enough for reminiscing.  
     To begin with, I'd like to thank you all for the high level of enthusiasm 
generated for defeating this menace to our homes.  I would especially like to thank 
the warriors of "Carapace's Crew."  There has been very little interest in the past by 
the Lieutenants of the Gate for defending that gate.  This turn has more than doubled 
my information about how these warriors fare against the Chaos Creatures.  A special 
congratulations, also, to Psycho Scientist, who defeated a Jaccaranda this turn.  
These menaces are possibly the toughest creatures out there that you warriors have 
successfully defeated yet.  Thanks, and congratulations.
     I've been in a data tabulating mood this past week, and I've come to some 
interesting conclusions:

1.  Skek is really lousy at keeping notes.  He really wasn't meant to be a spy 
    reporter.  Any of these later conclusions might have some errors in them.  If any 
    of you notice any, I'd be pleased if you let me know.

2.  Of the 177 warriors who were here in the gate this split, 38 have not achieved a 
    Grandmaster ranking in any category, 90 have one or more Grandmaster ratings, but 
    no Archmaster ratings, and the remaining 49 have one or more Archmaster ratings.

3.  Of the 49 warriors with Archmaster ratings, 1 (William Tell) has one Archmaster, 
    but no other ratings even as high as Grandmaster (I'd really like to know how that 
    happened...), 21 have Grandmaster or Archmaster ratings in all six categories, and 
    1 and only 1 has a Blademaster.  Congratulations, Tagan.  I hear that Psycho 
    Scientist also claims the right to a Blademaster rating.  But then, how much 
    credence can be placed in the claims of anyone named "Psycho Scientist"???  Of 
    these 49, the only inactive ones all belonged to one team; and I'd like to welcome 
    back the interesting and controversial play of the members of Doc Legrand's Labs.

     A compilation of all the fights against the natives of this world, both captured 
and wild, as far back as turn 28 (I can't seem to find any of Skek's notes from before 
then.  If anyone has kept private notes and would like to share them, please do.) 
reveals the following:

4.  We have captured a really lame set of monsters.  The stand-ins have gone 2-25-0-0 
    (nobody killed by, none killed) against our gate defenders.  We could really use 
    some better caliber stand-ins.  If anyone would like to go capture some tougher 
    creatures, I think the whole keep would be better for it.  Stories of such 
    activities would be appreciated.
         By the way, who is Axiquendo, and why does his steed fight as a stand-in 
    occasionally?

5.  Records of monsters (these don't include the data from the assault):

             Air Dragon:           1-3          Katirrark:            0-2
             Being of Lights:      1-0          Kilorri:              1-0
             Cloud Creature:       0-1          K'Ketti:              1-1
             Dark Daughter:        1-0          Likarera:             0-2
             Earth Dragon:         1-0          Phase Lizard:         1-1
             Eyes of Fire:         1-1          Quezitalla:           0-2
             Fangs of Fire:        1-0          Quetziquatl:          4-0
             Fire Dragon:          2-0          Shadow Being:         2-0
             Fire Lizard:          0-0*         Shadow Demon:         1-0
             Gorgorothor:          1-0          Spirit of the Jaguar: 1-1
             Hechizatl:            0-1          Totatiz:              0-2
             Horoko:               1-3          Totekarri:            1-1
             Ikkellia:             1-1          Tzenori:              2-0
             Invisible:            0-2          Water Lizard:         1-0
             Itsorkarri:           0-1          Xiozorox:             0-1
             Jaccaranda:           2-2          Xozke:                1-0
             Jaguar Priest:        1-2          Yil:                  0-2
             Jaguar Warrior:       3-8          The Ythrr:            1-0
             The Jagurd:           2-0          Zithorixan:           1-1
             Jok:                  3-0          
    
             * One defender claimed he was killed by one, long ago.  
             No one has seen any since.  I think he was hallucinating.

6.  There have been other creatures reported seen out there, but have never been 
    fought.  Some of these include:

             Needle Lizards  (we have captured
             Phase Shades     examples of
             Phantoms         these three) 
             Air Lizards     (fought in the assault)
             Earth Lizards
             Firecats
             Feathered Serpents
             Water Dragons
             Phase Dragons

     Several people have asked me for maps recently.  To be blunt, my cartography 
skills are severely lacking.  If anyone else would like to take a stab at mapping out 
the surroundings, I would be glad to make copies of it for everyone.
     The other question I've been getting involves "strategy sheets" for the upcoming 
"tournament."  No alternate strategies will be accepted, but different training for 
the different rounds will be accepted.

                                 -- Oscar, not as grouchy as when he first got here...

CAPTAIN OF THE GATE               W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
  1) TEETOTALER 38-326          172  80 26  MISCELLANEOUS II (62)      CLIFFHOME

THE GATE COMMANDERS               W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
  2) DELBAETH 6-978             157  83  3  GOLDEN HOSTE (16)          TRANSEL
  3) OPUS 1-1526                152  78  6  ZIG ZAG (5)                MORDANT
  4) VENGEANCE 9-2052           150  37 25  ANGELS OF PAIN (23)        ZUKAL
  5) TAGAN 6-1226               150  67  2  GOLDEN HOSTE (16)          TRANSEL
  6) FALSTAFF 37-899            149  72  6  ZIG ZAG (59)               SIBIKHAS
  7) PSYCHO SCIENTIST 18-697    121  85  6  MAD SCIENTISTS (34)        TALCAMA
  8) RAGE 48-906                109  88  5  THE BEARS (70)             CAER
  9) 3066 14-1351               102  61  2  NOMADS (29)                TOBIR
 10) THE COUATL 2-17             86  54  6  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (9)      NIANIA
 11) GYPSY MOTH 20-704          109  73  4  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (37)     SEAM

LIEUTENANTS OF THE GATE           W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 12) HANGOVER 29-638            150  76 10  ABOUNDING AGONY II (48)    LAPUR
 13) DONATELLO 22-366           217  46  2  NINJA TURTLES (40)         SOLVEN
 14) NODONN 6-866               139  99  1  GOLDEN HOSTE (16)          TRANSEL
 15) QUICKSILVER 14-857         140 103  4  NOMADS (29)                TOBIR
 16) TA'RA 24-1088              120  98  6  HACK AND SLASH (44)        ZORPUNT
 17) NAMELESS TOOK 1-3195       103  44  3  DARK GUARDIANS (8)         MORDANT
 18) REEBOK-RAT 41-432          131  69  2  RAT PAK (82)               KATI-TEI
 19) LEONARDO 22-205            181  86  7  NINJA TURTLES (40)         SOLVEN
 20) REGGIE JACKSON 17-1339     125  88  7  JACKSON FIVE (30)          ALJAFIR
 21) ELLEGON 19-1723             92  55  2  THE GUARDIANS (35)         ZUWAYZA
 22) FURIOUS IMPALER 37-762      96  38  2  KILLER ABORIGINE (58)      SIBIKHAS
 23) TAWNY 24-1369              122  78  2  HACK AND SLASH (44)        ZORPUNT
 24) HAWK 46-554                105 102  1  DEADLY SHADOWS (96)        ARDIVENT
 25) BARON COCKROACH 20-703     109  79  2  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (37)     SEAM
 26) MADAM BUTTERFLY 20-701     126  60  2  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (37)     SEAM
 27) EUSEBIO 6-1456              82  53  2  GOLDEN HOSTE (16)          TRANSEL
 28) PONTIFF PELICAN 21-1569     57  30  1  DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS (39)  SUNSET
 29) HYPER-RAT 19-1170          113  65  3  RAT PAK (80)               ZUWAYZA
 30) JESSE JACKSON 38-747       109  76  4  BIBLE BROTHERS (64)        CLIFFHOME
 31) ALICIA 24-1551             114  72  2  HACK AND SLASH (44)        ZORPUNT

DEFENDERS OF THE KEEP             W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 32) FERNDOK 60-607              90  61  2  UNDERDOGS (75)             ARADI
 33)-CHAR$(3008) 1-3008          97  83  3  TEAM$(150) (77)            MORDANT
 34) BHURAK 60-1081              84  60  4  CCE (76)                   ARADI
 35) LAZAR WOLF 4-1169           67  58  1  TRIBAL COUNCIL (83)        JHELUM
 36) NECRON-99 7-565            164  71  2  DEATH MASTERS (18)         BONSUR
 37) MARIONETTE 1-4093           69  74  1  DARK GUARDIANS (8)         MORDANT
 38) WHIPLASH 19-1221           121  68  1  THE GUARDIANS (35)         ZUWAYZA

DEFENDERS OF THE KEEP             W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 39) SABRE TOOTH 28-1193         94  60  1  THE RED REAVERS (47)       MORYA
 40) URSA 48-1678                76  72  2  THE BEARS (70)             CAER
 41) FIRE DONBELOW 41-101       120 104  3  FIRE FIGHTERS (65)         KATI-TEI
 42) DOOMED 36-1547              92  68  5  THE HURT (103)             JHANS
 43) DON JUAN 24-849            122 110  5  HACK AND SLASH (44)        ZORPUNT
 44) WRAITH 57-2615              77  51  0  WILD CARDS (73)            ANDOR
 45) SLY 18-68                  129  52  4  WOLVERINES (99)            TALCAMA
 46) SGT SLAUGHTER 7-541        166  72  0  DEATH MASTERS (18)         BONSUR
 47) EXECUTIONER 43-1035        112  72  2  ENGINES OF DOOM (95)       VEASTIAN
 48) DANGEROUS 43-842           100  96  2  ENGINES OF DOOM (95)       VEASTIAN
 49) PAPA BEAR 46-1340           83  59  1  THE BEARS (69)             ARDIVENT
 50) MAIMED 36-2213              76  59  4  THE HURT (103)             JHANS
 51) KING CRAB 21-1             140  54  1  DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS (39)  SUNSET
 52) SKYBREAKER 52-756           61  32  1  POWERAGE (105)             FRATSFA
 53) INFLATIBLE DOLL 38-682      91  67  0  THE INANIMATES (63)        CLIFFHOME
 54) NICODEMUS 8-1729            84  57  3  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
 55) JASON CULLINANE 19-1241     78  83  3  THE GUARDIANS (35)         ZUWAYZA
 56) PRIESTESS PYTHON 26-1388    91  77  1  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (45)     CALEAM
 57) STORMBRINGER 1-318         136  44  0  THOSE WHO RULE (121)       MORDANT
 58) THUNDERBIRD 23-2317         78  59  4  BIRDS OF PREY (41)         TI
 59) STEEL DWARF 2-1955          82  63  0  MYTH AND MIGHT (10)        NIANIA
 60) RAGAMOFFYN 1-1943           80  60  1  SWEORDMASTERS (6)          MORDANT
 61) LAZY DRAGON 57-2050         97  61  1  WILD CARDS (73)            ANDOR

GUARDIANS OF THE WALL             W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 62)-ALVARON 8-522              117  83  1  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
 63) MASH 14-1528                85  95  1  NOMADS (29)                TOBIR
 64) TREBONIUS 32-604           116  75  7  ROMAN HEROES (53)          ARVAT
 65) GOLDILOCKS 18-470           98  88  1  FROG PRINCES (33)          TALCAMA
 66) THANATOS 9-1069            139  97  0  INFERNAL LEGION (22)       ZUKAL
 67) RAVEN 23-1526               76  77  0  BIRDS OF PREY (41)         TI
 68) NOELLE 14-2005              87  56  2  NOMADS (29)                TOBIR
 69) NORIEL 51-1488              72  57  0  BY THE NUMBERS (122)       TRICORUS
 70) FARUM 8-1697                71  54  4  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
 71) MAYNARD G KREBS 33-2098     82  69  4  BOOB TUBE RUBES (91)       NIYTYOLE ISLAND
 72) AJAX 23-804                 65  37  0  THE BRIGADE (90)           TI
 73) J 10-939                    98  82  1  DOCTORS OF DUEL (88)       KOLACT
 74) MAMMA 43-1602               70  60  1  THE BEARS (67)             VEASTIAN
 75) COMPLETE CHECK 76-756       68  39  2  CREW MONIKER (119)         SIMTAKKA
 76) WASTE OF STEEL 43-1521      77  46  1  WOLFRAVEN REAVERS (104)    VEASTIAN
 77) JOHN WAYNE 20-1763          45  39  1  WAYNE'S WORLD (101)        SEAM
 78) LIVIUS 32-880               73  46  4  ROMAN HEROES (53)          ARVAT
 79) BILL THE CAT 46-699         90  86  2  DEATHTONGUE (68)           ARDIVENT
 80) DARIUS 32-688              116  86  3  ROMAN HEROES (53)          ARVAT
 81) MOLLY RINGWALD 52-520       82  63  4  PRETTY THINGS (93)         FRATSFA
 82) M'LADY MACAW 21-1006        67  62  4  DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS (39)  SUNSET
 83) PATIENCE 1-2619             62  43  1  SUPERIOR FORCES (120)      MORDANT
 84) AHT THE FERRET 33-608       98  64  4  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (55)     NIYTYOLE ISLAND
 85) G.I. JOE 29-723             79  68  3  SUPERIOR FORCES (113)      LAPUR
 86) TOE JAM 1-3433              33  25  1  SUPERIOR FORCES (120)      MORDANT
 87) SAMONA 46-1469              63  25  0  ILLUMINATION (116)         ARDIVENT
 88)-BREAK 8-599                114  82  0  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
 89) EDWINA 60-517               72  52  2  UNDERDOGS (75)             ARADI
 90) LAND SHARK 7-1466           74  92  4  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (19)     BONSUR
 91) TARAD 18-181               112  71  5  THUNDR + LITENING (100)    TALCAMA
 92)-PUTT 8-518                  83  90  1  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
 93) HASDRUBAL 11-1339           49  37  1  WARLORDS (110)             ARUAK CITY
 94) FER DE LANCE 5-1938         93  83  1  ZIG ZAG (14)               KALTOS
 95) RAPHAEL 22-202              86  54  0  NINJA TURTLES (40)         SOLVEN
 96) PEREGRINE FALCON 21-987     91  92  4  DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS (39)  SUNSET
 97) UNZASTER DIZASTER 10-1424   96  73  2  WOLFRAVEN REAVERS (24)     KOLACT

GUARDIANS OF THE WALL             W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
 98) JUANITA 63-1482             52  41  2  MOLES (118)                AMEN-TEI

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

THE DEAD                    W   L  K TEAM NAME              SLAIN BY              TURN
AIR DRAGON 108-37           0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           RAGE 48-906             49
INVISIBLE 108-42            0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           OPUS 1-1526             49
ITSORKARRI 108-53           0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           VENGEANCE 9-2052        49
YIL 108-12                  0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           FALSTAFF 37-899         49
JACCARANDA 108-51           0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           PSYCHO SCIENTIST 18-69  49
ZIZ, JAGUAR PRIEST 108-43   0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           TAGAN 6-1226            49
SPIRIT OF THE JAGU 108-61   0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           DELBAETH 6-978          49
EYES OF FIRE 108-59         0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           TAWNY 24-1369           49
KIKI, JAGUAR WARRI 108-45   0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           3066 14-1351            49
QUEZITALLA 108-71           0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           NODONN 6-866            49
YIL 108-12                  0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           TA'RA 24-1088           49
HOKORO 108-15               0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           BHURAK 60-1081          49
QUEZITALLA 108-71           0   1  0 DARK ARENA 0           MASH 14-1528            49
BARON COCKROACH 20-703    109  79  2 DOC LEGRAND'S LAB 37   HANGOVER 29-638         49
ALICIA 24-1551            114  72  2 HACK AND SLASH 44      XOZKE 108-52            49
DON JUAN 24-849           122 110  5 HACK AND SLASH 44      DARK DAUGHTER 108-14    49
QUICKSILVER 14-857        140 103  4 NOMADS 29              QUETZIQUATL 108-16      49
FER DE LANCE 5-1938        93  83  1 ZIG ZAG 14             SPIRIT OF THE JAGU 108  49

                               PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE

Inflatible Doll -- Um... thank you.  Er, for our match, I mean. -- Noriel

All -- Could... could someone please tell me where I am?  And... who I am? -- Noriel, 
feeling as if she'd just woken up from a long sleep.  And unable to remember... 
anything.

Oscar -- Could you be ANY more cryptic?  Just exactly how is this monster tournament 
going to work?  It seems that we could get up to three fights every round, but that 
hardly seems likely.  What are the specifics?  Or am I supposed to be psychic in 
addition to being Psycho? -- Psycho Scientist, Legion7

     Yes.
     It depends on how you fight.  
     No.  No more than two fights in a round.  One versus the Chaos Creatures, and (if 
     you win versus the CC) one versus a warrior.  
     What more specifics would you like? -- Oscar

All -- How about another idea.  As a way of grading ourselves and our capability to 
hold our own in the gate, how about a test.  A single round of fights against every 
one of the available monsters, both the locals used as training dummies and those we 
know of within the gate.  For a nominal Commission fee, and with no learns, a summary 
of all these fights could be generated.  This summary would let you know just exactly 
how you stand in relation to our foes here.  Who knows, some of you might be more 
suited to succeeding against these beasts than you realize.  Any comments? -- Neon 
Necromancer

Darrell -- Good to see you back in the game again, old friend.  I hope you stick 
around a while. -- The Rave

Nodonn -- Loser!! -- Jesse Jackson
P.S.  It's about time I beat you!

     * Several of you have asked about the recovery of the key and how it relates to 
Duelmasters.  In game terms, this adventure will be computer moderated.  However, we 
hope that the storytellers out there will share their adventures with the others in 
the arena.  More information will be upcoming...

10/11/97
Well, it has finally happened.  I have joined the 20th century and can be reached at 
tdavis1753@aol.com.  Thank you all for your patience. -- mouse, Warden of the Dark 
Circle

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

RAGE butchered AIR DRAGON in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
OPUS viciously butchered INVISIBLE in a action packed 6 minute Dark Arena battle.
QUICKSILVER was assassinated by QUETZIQUATL in a 1 minute Dark Arena duel.
VENGEANCE butchered ITSORKARRI in a popular 3 minute gory Dark Arena contest.
FALSTAFF murdered YIL in a crowd pleasing 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena competition.
PSYCHO SCIENTIST savagely slew JACCARANDA in a exciting 4 minute Dark Arena struggle.
TAGAN viciously butchered ZIZ, JAGUAR PRIEST in a 3 minute Dark Arena fight.
DELBAETH viciously butchered SPIRIT OF THE JAGUAR in a 5 minute Dark Arena duel.
ALICIA was slaughtered by XOZKE in a popular 1 minute Dark Arena duel.
TAWNY savagely slew EYES OF FIRE in a action packed 7 minute gory Dark Arena match.
3066 assassinated KIKI, JAGUAR WARRIOR in a exciting 2 minute bloody Dark Arena match.
NODONN easily killed QUEZITALLA in a exciting 2 minute brutal Dark Arena contest.
TA'RA viciously butchered YIL in a crowd pleasing 3 minute bloody Dark Arena bout.
BHURAK assassinated HOKORO in a popular 2 minute bloody Dark Arena duel.
DON JUAN was viciously butchered by DARK DAUGHTER in a 2 minute Dark Arena fray.
FER DE LANCE was butchered by SPIRIT OF THE JAGUAR in a 1 minute Dark Arena brawl.
MASH savagely slew QUEZITALLA in a exciting 2 minute brutal Dark Arena bout.
INFLATIBLE DOLL was savagely defeated by PAPA BEAR in a 6 minute Challenge conflict.
FERNDOK overpowered FIRE DONBELOW in a exciting 2 minute gory uneven Challenge fight.
WRAITH unbelievably bested MAIMED in a action packed 5 minute bloody Challenge duel.
LAZY DRAGON was savagely defeated by RAGAMOFFYN in a popular 3 minute Challenge match.
DOOMED lost to EUSEBIO in a 2 minute Challenge match.
RAVEN was savagely defeated by GOLDILOCKS in a popular 4 minute gory Challenge duel.
BILL THE CAT was demolished by LIVIUS in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge melee.
COMPLETE CHECK was overpowered by MAYNARD G KREBS in a 1 minute Challenge fray.
TARAD overpowered HASDRUBAL in a action packed 2 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
MAMMA handily defeated EDWINA in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
TEETOTALER overpowered THE COUATL in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Title fight.
GYPSY MOTH overpowered ELLEGON in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided fray.
DONATELLO vanquished FURIOUS IMPALER in a exciting 1 minute mismatched fight.
BARON COCKROACH was murdered by HANGOVER in a 2 minute gruesome one-sided struggle.
SGT SLAUGHTER was overpowered by PONTIFF PELICAN in a 2 minute one-sided match.
HYPER-RAT won victory over LAZAR WOLF in a popular 1 minute bout.
MADAM BUTTERFLY lost to REGGIE JACKSON in a crowd pleasing 1 minute brutal bout.
JESSE JACKSON was handily defeated by NAMELESS TOOK in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
EXECUTIONER was demolished by REEBOK-RAT in a crowd pleasing 1 minute uneven duel.
LEONARDO savagely defeated SABRE TOOTH in a action packed 4 minute bloody conflict.
HAWK overpowered SKREEEE, CAPTURED in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
SKYBREAKER viciously subdued SAMONA in a crowd pleasing 5 minute brutal melee.
THUNDERBIRD overpowered WASTE OF STEEL in a 2 minute one-sided fight.
KING CRAB overpowered STEEL DWARF in a popular 1 minute one-sided duel.
JASON CULLINANE was handily defeated by SLY in a 2 minute mismatched bout.
WHIPLASH subdued NOELLE in a exciting 1 minute conflict.
URSA demolished M'LADY MACAW in a popular 2 minute one-sided battle.
DARIUS was viciously subdued by STORMBRINGER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute contest.
AHT THE FERRET was devastated by MARIONETTE in a 2 minute one-sided battle.
UNZASTER DIZASTER was devastated by PRIESTESS PYTHON in a 3 minute mismatched fight.
J was devastated by TREBONIUS in a 2 minute gory one-sided brawl.
THANATOS was vanquished by DANGEROUS in a popular 2 minute bloody one-sided struggle.
NICODEMUS viciously subdued RAPHAEL in a exciting 3 minute brutal contest.
NECRON-99 luckily beat PEREGRINE FALCON in a exciting 1 minute duel.
G.I. JOE was handily defeated by AJAX in a popular 3 minute bloody mismatched battle.
NORIEL overpowered MOLLY RINGWALD in a exciting 1 minute mismatched bout.
JOHN WAYNE viciously subdued PATIENCE in a popular 3 minute gory duel.
JUANITA was defeated by LAND SHARK in a action packed 2 minute fight.
FARUM vanquished TOE JAM in a 2 minute brutal one-sided match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  29         AIMED BLOW        23 -  14 -   3     62  |
|WALL OF STEEL                   18         PARRY-LUNGE       60 -  49 -   4     55  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                     14         LUNGING ATTACK   153 - 130 -  17     54  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  8         WALL OF STEEL     93 -  83 -  10     53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      8         PARRY-RIPOSTE     24 -  25 -   5     49  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    6         TOTAL PARRY       32 -  35 -   3     48  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         PARRY-STRIKE       7 -   9 -   1     44  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         STRIKING ATTACK   24 -  32 -   3     43  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         SLASHING ATTACK    8 -  18 -   1     31  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         BASHING ATTACK     0 -   0 -   0      0  |

Turn  49 was great if you     not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

PARRY-LUNGE       11 -  3     LUNGING ATTACK    14 - 15         4  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    6 -  2     PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  2         3  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL     11 -  7     PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  5         2  STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         2 -  2     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  0         2  PARRY-LUNGE    
SLASHING ATTACK    2 -  2     
TOTAL PARRY        4 -  4     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   RANK WARRIOR                     W   L  K TEAM NAME                  
WALL OF STEEL      1) TEETOTALER 38-326         172  80 26 MISCELLANEOUS II (62)
STRIKING ATTACK    3) OPUS 1-1526               152  78  6 ZIG ZAG (5)
LUNGING ATTACK     4) VENGEANCE 9-2052          150  37 25 ANGELS OF PAIN (23)
PARRY-LUNGE        6) FALSTAFF 37-899           149  72  6 ZIG ZAG (59)
PARRY-RIPOSTE     16) TA'RA 24-1088             120  98  6 HACK AND SLASH (44)
TOTAL PARRY       17) NAMELESS TOOK 1-3195      103  44  3 DARK GUARDIANS (8)
PARRY-STRIKE      19) LEONARDO 22-205           181  86  7 NINJA TURTLES (40)
AIMED BLOW        22) FURIOUS IMPALER 37-762     96  38  2 KILLER ABORIGINE (58)
SLASHING ATTACK   37) MARIONETTE 1-4093          69  74  1 DARK GUARDIANS (8)

The overall popularity leader is THANATOS 9-1069.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was TAWNY 24-1369.  The ten other most popular fighters were OPUS 1-1526, MAIMED 
36-2213, PAPA BEAR 46-1340, SKYBREAKER 52-756, DELBAETH 6-978, TAGAN 6-1226, PSYCHO 
SCIENTIST 18-697, GOLDILOCKS 18-470, LEONARDO 22-205, and WRAITH 57-2615.

The least popular fighter this week was QUICKSILVER 14-857.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were TOE JAM 1-3433, J 10-939, STEEL DWARF 2-1955, JESSE JACKSON 
38-747, THE COUATL 2-17, EDWINA 60-517, COMPLETE CHECK 76-756, MOLLY RINGWALD 52-520, 
NOELLE 14-2005, and FER DE LANCE 5-1938.

Arena(Number)        W  L K  Arena(Number)        W  L K  Arena(Number)        W  L K  
MORDANT(1)           5  2 1  ZUWAYZA(19)          2  2 0  SIBIKHAS(37)         1  1 1  
NIANIA(2)            0  2 0  SEAM(20)             2  2 0  CLIFFHOME(38)        1  2 0  
JHELUM(4)            0  1 0  SUNSET(21)           2  2 0  KATI-TEI(41)         1  1 0  
KALTOS(5)            0  1 0  SOLVEN(22)           2  1 0  VEASTIAN(43)         2  2 0  
TRANSEL(6)           4  0 3  TI(23)               2  1 0  ARDIVENT(46)         2  2 0  
BONSUR(7)            2  1 0  ZORPUNT(24)          2  2 2  CAER(48)             2  0 1  
ARKERS(8)            2  0 0  CALEAM(26)           1  0 0  TRICORUS(51)         1  0 0  
ZUKAL(9)             1  1 1  MORYA(28)            0  1 0  FRATSFA(52)          1  1 0  
KOLACT(10)           0  2 0  LAPUR(29)            1  1 1  ANDOR(57)            1  1 0  
ARUAK CITY(11)       0  1 0  ARVAT(32)            2  1 0  ARADI(60)            2  1 1  

Arena(Number)        W  L K  Arena(Number)        W  L K  Arena(Number)        W  L K  
TOBIR(14)            2  2 2  NIYTYOLE ISLAND(33)  1  1 0  AMEN-TEI(63)         0  1 0  
ALJAFIR(17)          1  0 0  JHANS(36)            0  2 0  SIMTAKKA(76)         0  1 0  
TALCAMA(18)          4  0 1  

TOP WARRIOR OF EACH ARENA         W   L  K  TEAM NAME                  CITY           
  3) OPUS 1-1526                152  78  6  ZIG ZAG (5)                MORDANT
 10) THE COUATL 2-17             86  54  6  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (9)      NIANIA
 35) LAZAR WOLF 4-1169           67  58  1  TRIBAL COUNCIL (83)        JHELUM
 94) FER DE LANCE 5-1938         93  83  1  ZIG ZAG (14)               KALTOS
  2) DELBAETH 6-978             157  83  3  GOLDEN HOSTE (16)          TRANSEL
 36) NECRON-99 7-565            164  71  2  DEATH MASTERS (18)         BONSUR
 54) NICODEMUS 8-1729            84  57  3  BRITERON BY (20)           ARKERS
  4) VENGEANCE 9-2052           150  37 25  ANGELS OF PAIN (23)        ZUKAL
 73) J 10-939                    98  82  1  DOCTORS OF DUEL (88)       KOLACT
 93) HASDRUBAL 11-1339           49  37  1  WARLORDS (110)             ARUAK CITY
  9) 3066 14-1351               102  61  2  NOMADS (29)                TOBIR
 20) REGGIE JACKSON 17-1339     125  88  7  JACKSON FIVE (30)          ALJAFIR
  7) PSYCHO SCIENTIST 18-697    121  85  6  MAD SCIENTISTS (34)        TALCAMA
 21) ELLEGON 19-1723             92  55  2  THE GUARDIANS (35)         ZUWAYZA
 11) GYPSY MOTH 20-704          109  73  4  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (37)     SEAM
 28) PONTIFF PELICAN 21-1569     57  30  1  DOC LEGRAND'S AVIANS (39)  SUNSET
 13) DONATELLO 22-366           217  46  2  NINJA TURTLES (40)         SOLVEN
 58) THUNDERBIRD 23-2317         78  59  4  BIRDS OF PREY (41)         TI
 16) TA'RA 24-1088              120  98  6  HACK AND SLASH (44)        ZORPUNT
 56) PRIESTESS PYTHON 26-1388    91  77  1  DOC LEGRAND'S LAB (45)     CALEAM
 39) SABRE TOOTH 28-1193         94  60  1  THE RED REAVERS (47)       MORYA
 12) HANGOVER 29-638            150  76 10  ABOUNDING AGONY II (48)    LAPUR
 64) TREBONIUS 32-604           116  75  7  ROMAN HEROES (53)          ARVAT
 71) MAYNARD G KREBS 33-2098     82  69  4  BOOB TUBE RUBES (91)       NIYTYOLE ISLAND
 42) DOOMED 36-1547              92  68  5  THE HURT (103)             JHANS
  6) FALSTAFF 37-899            149  72  6  ZIG ZAG (59)               SIBIKHAS
  1) TEETOTALER 38-326          172  80 26  MISCELLANEOUS II (62)      CLIFFHOME
 18) REEBOK-RAT 41-432          131  69  2  RAT PAK (82)               KATI-TEI
 47) EXECUTIONER 43-1035        112  72  2  ENGINES OF DOOM (95)       VEASTIAN
 24) HAWK 46-554                105 102  1  DEADLY SHADOWS (96)        ARDIVENT
  8) RAGE 48-906                109  88  5  THE BEARS (70)             CAER
 69) NORIEL 51-1488              72  57  0  BY THE NUMBERS (122)       TRICORUS
 52) SKYBREAKER 52-756           61  32  1  POWERAGE (105)             FRATSFA
 44) WRAITH 57-2615              77  51  0  WILD CARDS (73)            ANDOR
 32) FERNDOK 60-607              90  61  2  UNDERDOGS (75)             ARADI
 98) JUANITA 63-1482             52  41  2  MOLES (118)                AMEN-TEI
 75) COMPLETE CHECK 76-756       68  39  2  CREW MONIKER (119)         SIMTAKKA

                      The 3rd Annual Mordanti Alliance Olympics

     YES!  It is time, my courageous colleagues, to pull out that folder containing 
your team in Mordant.  Or, for those of you without such a folder, time to create one!  
For in the not-to-distant future, there will be the gala event of the year:  The 
Mordanti Alliance Olympics!
     What, you ask, is the Mordanti Alliance Olympics?  Simply put, it is a grouping 
of alliances (and Independents) within the city of Mordant, that compete against each 
other for ten grueling turns.
     How does the ranking system work?  By totalling the records for each member 
within the alliance, ranks are based on overall winning percentage.  Independents will 
be ranked according to their singular records.
     Is there recognition for other than winningest alliance/Independent?  Sure!  
Longest Winning/Losing Streak, Most/Least Team Wins, Best/Worst Warrior Record, and 
others.  Those, however, are awarded at the end of the Olympiad, so our Chairman may 
compile such records.
     How will we know how we are doing?  Each newsletter, the Olympic Chairman 
(myself) will publish a report on the standings of the past turn.  Alternately, for 
those of you with access to the WWW, the same report will be published there, usually 
within a couple of days after the Olympic Chairman receives his newsletter.
     When will this grand event take place?  This Olympiad will start on the first 
turn in January, and will last until the end of May.
     Who is the defending Champion?  The Delarquan Rebel Confederation is last year's 
Gold Medalists.
     What happens if I run only sporadically?  How often an individual team runs is 
unimportant, as it is the alliance as a whole that is judged.  
     Are there any qualifications for the awards?  Yes.  Alliances/Independents must 
run for a minimum of 5 turns to qualify for any of the awards.  There must also be a 
minimum 25 fights to qualify.  This will avoid persons who will run a one warrior team 
and get a 90% record.
      Well, there you have it!  All the questions that have been asked in the past 
concerning this competitive match!  If you have any questions not answered above, feel 
free to contact me at Wind Storm DM-1, or email me at lord_xiang@hotmail.com for more 
details.

Lord Xiang
Olympic Chairman

                                    KEEL'S MISSION

     "Keel, I have a job for you!"
     The grizzled warrior rolled over and opened one eye--the silver one.  "You should 
knock, wench."
     Sheila considered turning him into a small pig, but thought better of it--his 
chaos aura could make the spell backfire.  "It's all right, I don't mind that you're 
entertaining a trollop," she said, glancing at the sleeping form beside him.  "There's 
a tourney coming up, and the prize is a golem designed to the winning manager's 
specifications."
     The ex-spyreporter twirled one finger in the air.  "Woop-de-do.  Thanks for the 
info.  Bye now."  He pulled the sheet up around his chin and closed the eye.  After a 
few seconds the other eye opened--the blue one.  "You're still here."
     "I want you to meet with three potential manufacturers and report back to me 
about them.  Here are directions to their laboratories."  She held out a sheet of 
paper.
     "Sheila, honey, think back a few years.  A warm summer night in the tower, you're 
briefing me on a mission, I give your butt a friendly squeeze and mention how firm it 
is for bein a few thousand years old... ring any bells?...  Then you cast a spell at 
me, it backfires, all the sudden you're a mangy yellow tomcat... yeah, I see it's 
comin back to you now...  You pop back to yourself, start yelling stuff like `You're 
fired, pack your stuff, never darken my door,' plus a lot of orcish cussing.  I'm 
remembering that right, ain't I, Sheila?  So if I've got this figured out correctly, I 
don't work for you."  He sat up, accepted the paper from her hand, tore it into 
several pieces, and dropped them on the floor.
     The mage tossed her black hair back over her shoulder.  "Work for me once, work 
for me always.  You know that, Keel.  Please have your report back to me by the end of 
next week."  She turned, unlocked the door with a casual spell, and walked out.
     After she was out of sight, he nudged the sleeping woman.  She woke with a groggy 
groan and lifted her head, peering at him through tangled black hair.  She was a bit 
past her prime, and not as pretty in the morning light as she had been the night 
before.
     "Time to go home, honey," he said.
     "But... last night you said...   I'm too old, that's it, isn't it?"
     "No, kid, you're nowhere near old enough."  He hesitated.  In a much gentler 
voice he added,  "I'm sorry.  Real sorry."  He turned away from her, reached over the 
edge of the bed, and started gathering up the scraps of paper.

                                  *   *   *   *   * 

     Sheila,

          All right, I went and talked to the damn wizards and here's what I 
     found out.
          First off, Valandia the Ingenious, right here in town at the Stronghold 
     Academy.  She's got a nice, clean, sunshiny laboratory with all the latest 
     equipment.  Showed me some samples of her work--sleek looking thingies, fast 
     and accurate, and she said she could make em look human easy enough.  
     Personality, I don't know, since she ain't got one herself.  These golems 
     are gonna be gladiators and sooner or later you're gonna send em into the 
     Chaos Gates, right?  So they'll need guts, commitment and imagination, 
     right?  Plus they'll need to be a little bit crazy.  These things don't have 
     what it takes.
          Next I rode the teleporter over to Lirith Kai and went to the Nai Shang 
     Academy to talk to Master-Artificer-Elect, Garvail the Less Than Reputable.  
     I was lucky--got there right when he was bringing one of his golems to life.  
     I noticed some spare body parts in a bin, and I think they were from 
     corpses.  Smelled like it.  Anyway, his assistant was turnin this big wheel 
     and the table with the golem on it rose up through the roof and got struck 
     by lightning, and when it comes back down, instead of bein fried to 
     charcoal, the thing is twitching, and Garvail starts yelling, "It's alive!  
     It's alive!"  It was, too, and it was big and strong, good for real fighting 
     although I know it ain't to your taste... but it was real ugly and it 
     smelled like something a dog would roll in.  Could be interesting in the 
     arena, but I'd give it a thumbs down based on odor.
          So then I rode the teleporter over to Valamantis, paid a tugboat 
     captain 45 astrums for him to carry me out to an island in the bay, which 
     you owe me, and I went to see Tensekai the Silver Mage.  He was animating 
     golems by sticking in wandering spirits drawn from the Chaos.  I saw three.  
     They were all short.  One was plain nuts and mean as a rabid weasel, one was 
     sorta peaceful and lazy but it could parry real good, and the third one just 
     wanted to get drunk all the time until it puked.  Tensekai said they'd 
     mature as time went on.  They looked like gladiator material to me.  We 
     haggled over the price, hypothetically, in case you wanta buy them.  He said 
     he'd be happy to do it for fifty thousand astrums each but I told him no, 
     they were worth twice that to you.
          So that's my report, and may it keep you warm at night.

     				          -- Keel Woodhaven

                            A Pre-Tournament Scouting Trip

                        by the Dark One and Mad Max

     The Dark One pushed aside the heap of papers atop his overburdened desk and held 
aloft the official parchment from the Gladiatoral Commission--it was time.  The Face 
to Fact Tournament was approaching.  A deep chuckle escaped the cowl which always 
concealed his features.
     Shouting to the servants, he commanded his winged chariot be made ready, then 
shouted for a runner to seek out Mad Max, who had not been seen or heard from in a 
great deal of time.  Ever since the event which had come to be known as "The Merger", 
took place, Mad Max had left the management of the partnership fall to the Dark One 
and his wizardly ways, prefering to send short notes with ideas and tactics for their 
joint forces.  But this was a special occasion.  It had been three years since Mad Max 
had attended one of the Tournaments, and word was that he would, at last, returen to 
survey the gaming community.
     "Is the chariot ready?" The Dark One hissed at a scuttling slave.  "I wish to be 
off at once."
     From the doorway of the dark study a deep voice boomed, "Let us take mine.  If a 
scouting of this otherworldly tourney site is to be undertaken, I'd hate to see how 
many of the locals you would run over, given your 'limited' driving ability."  Mad Max 
was dressed in his customary gear of armor and leather, and bristling with weapons.
     The Dark One chuckled evilly.  "You think it's an accident when I hit the 
peasants?  But...as you wish.  You may drive.  I shall open the portal to this... 
Hartford."
     A few moments later, Mad Max's vehicle hurtled through an interdimensional rift, 
streaking towards the coordinates programmed into his navacomputer.  Landing silently 
in the lot designated for alternate universe 'automobiles' the pilot and passenger 
leaped forth and the Dark One cast a simple spell of form-shifting upon them, allowing 
them to blend in to the simple dress and appearance of the locals.  Mad Max verified 
the coordinates.
     "I was told that the best way to get to the Tournament site is to take I-95 to 
Route 8 North, take 8 to 84 East, take 84 East to Exit 48A--the Asylum St. exit.  At 
the light off the ramp, go left.  Go up a slight hill, then veer left at the fork at 
the top of the hill.  Go straight until you pass the Aetna building on the left, then 
turn left at the next light.  That is Sigourney St.  The Hastings Hotel and Convention 
Center is the first building on the right.  I understand that it is not difficult to 
find, even without a navacomputer."
     "What if the mundane travelers are coming from the west, or have chosen to fly in 
one of those 'aeroplane' devices?" The Dark One wondered aloud.
     "Then they should contact the hotel and ask, as anyone with common sense would."
     "Indeed.  Shall we get on with our tour of the facility?"
     "After you."
     They walked around the outskirts of the large, elegant hotel, seeking hte main 
entrance.
     "Impressive", Mad Max nodded.  "This area is in one of the nicer sections of 
Hartford and is in walking distance to numerous landmarks, eateries and bars.  The 
Hartford Civic Center is only a mile or so distant."
     "You appear to have done some research.  In any event, it is certainly nicer than 
being out in what they call 'cow country' in a place called Kansas City, where we were 
last year.  There was no activity as far as the eye could see."
     They found the doors and entered, eyeing the obsequious desk clerk with disdain.  
The main lobby was quite handsome, with trees reaching up to a second level and 
several comfortable chairs.  Amusingly, it was very quiet and elegant.
     "That will change once the others arrive, for certain," The Dark Once smirked 
within his cowl.  "Managers tend not to pass unnoticed."
     Mad Max looked about carefully as they moved through the high-ceilinged building.  
"You know, I think this hotel rivals the one in Orlando.  Do you remember the trip we 
took with Caesar in the...'
     "Silence!!!  You promised never to mention the..."
     "Geo."
     "AAAARRRRGHHH!!!"  The Dark One shook his head from side to side as if to shake 
the hated word from his ears.  "That hell-spawned vehicle!  It was all Caesar's fault!  
Leave him to procure transportation!!!"
     Mad Max wisely changed the subject.  "Are these ALL convention halls down this 
corridor?  There must be eight of them."
     The Dark One opened a door labeled 'Amphitheatre B'.  Before him a huge classroom 
like room filled with intent businessmen yawned like a chasm.  The audience abruptly 
turned and stared at the wizard, who smiled sheepishly and departed the room.  "That 
was a pretty weird thing to have in a hotel."
     Mad Max, meanwhile, had discovered the door to the gymnasium and pool.  
Unfortunately, it was locked, requiring a key pass to get in.  Though the Dark One 
offered to blast it open, they decided it would be wiser to wait a month to determine 
what waited within.
     They moved back down the length of the hotel, passing over the lobby and taunting 
the desk clerk from above, until they came to several huge, glass walled convention 
rooms.  Both noted that they would be ideal places for the tournament to be held.  
Tens of small room labeled 'classroom' were nearby, apparently for the convening of 
smaller groups.
     The Dark One paused to examine an exposed courtyard, which was completely 
surrounded by the hotel.  It seemed an ideal place to rest, or to cast an 
interdimensional summoning spell, if needed.
     Mad Max confronted a hotel lackey and forced information from him.  "It seems 
that this hotel is much larger than, though not as tall as, the others we have invaded 
for the games.  It is 8 stories, 6 of which are for sleeping accomodations.  The third 
floor is reserved for those addicted to tobacco."
     The Dark One spied a bar which was simply built into the hotel hallway.  He 
wxamined a nearby pool table and array of lounge chairs.  A passing lackey, when 
noticing his interest, commented that each of the floors had its own lounge and that 
some of these had pool tables for guests to use.
     "Caesar will be quite pleased," Mad Max noted.
     "Likely we won't see much of him.  He will probably spend most of his time trying 
to hustle the gullible.  Of course, most will see his professionally-crafted cue and 
realize not to confront him."
     "The fascination some have for foolish games!" Mad Max laughed.
     "There appears to be a barber shop built into this hotel.  I wonder what is on 
the other side of the building?"
     "We don't have much more time here, the dimensional rift seems to be closing."
     The Dark One nodded.  "It requires Greywand's powers to hold it open for an 
entire Tounament.  Let us see if we can get a look at the rooms before we go."
     They moved off in search of an elevator, but instead locataed the hotel 
restaurant.  It was clean and seemed well-appointed, but unfortunately, due to the 
time of day, it was not open for business and thus prices could not be scouted.
     Mad Max spotted an elevator, and they traveled up to the fourth floor, hoping to 
find one of the cleaning women at work, so they could get a look at the 
accommodations.
     The Dark One smiled as the carriage rose.  "Ah!  At least here we need not fear 
an imminent plunge to our deaths!  The Elevator is in excellent working order!"
     Mad Max nodded wisely.  "Chicago.  That accursed, overpriced Allerton Hotel."
     Unfortunately as they stepped out onto the fourth floor, none of the doors seemed 
to be open and, though one of the customary linen carts was in sight, the housekeeper 
was not.
     "These hallways are a bit smallish and warren-like," The Dark One noted.
     "But clean and secure-looking.  Though these soda machines cost at least a dollar 
to get something to drink!  I hope the others are wise enough to bring lots of change.  
Now, should we go up to the next floor, or should we depart."
     "I'd like to get a look at a room, but we have no time left."
     In agreement, the two descended to the main floor, then departed through an open 
side door.
     Mad Max looked back appreciatively.  "All in all, an excellent facility.  I'm 
probably going to come..."
     The Dark One nearly growled as they climbed into Max's chariot.  "Probably?  
That's it!  I'm going to DA all your warriors!"
     With a thunderous roar, the chariot soared into the air, leaving the Hastings 
Hotel in peace, for another month, at least!