DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER
Date : 10/14/1999 Duedate: 11/10/1999
ARKERS ARENA
DM-8 TURN-184
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
LAUREL
SPICE RACKS (458)
(8-3803) [12-1-1,109]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
LAUREL MONEYPENNY
SPICE RACKS (458) BONDAGE (469)
(8-3803) [12-1-1,109] (8-3921) [5-1-0,57]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
MISS DEE MEANER MISS DEE MEANER
LADIES IN WAITING (115) LADIES IN WAITING (115)
(8-3775) [9-6-0,98] (8-3775) [9-6-0,98]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
BONDAGE (469)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BONDAGE (469) 33
2. CHERRY BOMB (461) 28 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
3. DYSERAY (456) 26 Unchartered Team
4. BLACKTHORN ORCS (425) 24
5. MAX FORCE (332) 19 BONDAGE (469)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1*BONDAGE (469) 22 7 0 75.9 1/ 1*BONDAGE (469) 11 3 0
2/ 2 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425) 102 45 11 69.4 2/ 2 LADIES IN WAITING (115) 8 6 1
3/ 3 SMITHSONIAN (245) 400 261 9 60.5 3/ 4 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397) 7 3 0
4- 4*STRANGE UNIVERSE (455) 9 6 0 60.0 4/ 7 EXCALIBUR (224) 7 5 0
5/ 6 LADIES IN WAITING (115) 215 165 8 56.6 5/ 8 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425) 6 4 1
6/ 5 SPICE RACKS (458) 35 28 2 55.6 6/ 6 SMITHSONIAN (245) 6 6 0
7- 7 NEW ORDER (108) 269 240 10 52.8 7- 3*STRANGE UNIVERSE (455) 5 5 0
8- 8 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406) 125 117 5 51.7 8- 5 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406) 3 2 0
9/ 9 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397) 19 18 2 51.4 9/ 0*CHERRY BOMB (461) 3 2 0
10/10 EXCALIBUR (224) 26 26 1 50.0 10/ 9 SPICE RACKS (458) 3 5 0
11/ 0*CHERRY BOMB (461) 18 19 0 48.6 11/12 MAX FORCE (332) 3 6 0
12/11 MAX FORCE (332) 127 143 16 47.0 12/14 DYSERAY (456) 3 7 0
13/12 DYSERAY (456) 24 34 1 41.4 13-10 NEW ORDER (108) 2 1 0
14/14 RAGE (459) 17 41 0 29.3 14/13 RAGE (459) 1 9 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Aruaki Clanhold #42 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Aruak City:
There were no official announcements, but rumors ran wild through the streets. A
priest, a worshipper, someone who lived just down the street--there was no end to the
list of people who were said to have changed shape for no apparent reason and gone
rampaging among the more orthodox citizenry. Nobody knew personally any of the
unfortunate shapeshifters, but everyone had a second cousin or a friend of a friend or
had stood next to someone in a grocer's line who had seen it happen and could swear to
the truth of the event.
Listening to the swirl of alarmed rumor in the common room of the Bulldog Inn,
Kennelworth was more worried than he'd been in a long time. It seemed unlikely that
all the rumored transformations had occurred, but he knew that at least some had. And
how far would it go? What did it mean?
He knew, in a general way, the history of the Aruaki race and how it had come
about that some of them could assume the physical form of great cats. How a Ratani
wizard, centuries ago, had engaged in magical-biological experiments-- Was it
possible that some spell was destabilizing the artificially created species? Or that
the past centuries of in-breeding had caused an instability? He shook his head. That
was not a field he knew enough about to make guesses. He pinned his hope to Shania
Silverstar.
*** ***** *** ***** ***
At that moment, Lady Protector Shania Silverstar would not have said she was a
sound vessel for any hope. She had determined that there were, in fact, traces of
some potion still in the vial Kennelworth had brought her. It was also clear that the
potion had been magically potent. And there she was stopped. Even her most delicate
analytical spells had failed to identify the magical pattern in the traces; it was
like trying to catch a minnow in a fishnet made for whales. Her alternate line of
approach offered some faint chance of success: if she could identify the physical
ingredients of the potion, she might be able to deduce from that what type of spell
they were suited to support. But she only had a scant drop of the fluid....
Solven:
The trader leaned on the bar and spilled out his tale of tigers running wild in
the temple of Demnat. The patrons of the Striped Pig, mostly lower-level gladiators
and other people associated with the arena, clustered around asking questions and
plying the trader with beer and ale. And then he fell to the floor with a choked cry
and lay writhing in spilled spirits, his clothes tearing as his body changed form.
Presently there was a lion snarling in the middle of an empty barroom....
Not in the Hurinwood:
The gladiators stood in the night and listened for another howl to tell them
where the creature was.
While they were waiting, Mist whispered, "If it's still capable of thought, and
not insane or anything, maybe we ought to try to make an ally of it. I don't like the
sound of this whole set-up."
"I agree the set-up stinks," Malo Muggsie said, "but I'm not sure we'd be helping
ourselves any by taking an ally who's already got a ton of powerful enemies."
"The poor thing should be slain," Wolf-a-Mit said quietly. "It must be in great
pain of spirit, whether its body suffers or not."
"Yeah, but Tolrimor wants us to kill it," Muggsie argued. "Right there, that
makes me wonder if maybe we shouldn't. I never did trust wizards."
"It's a good thing Tolrimor didn't come out with us to hunt this...thing," Chrome
muttered.
"Too much of a coward," Muggsie said. "Ah, there it is!"
The howl seemed to be coming from behind the inn, somewhere outside the walled
yard that surrounded it. The gladiators went around the building. There was a gate
in the rear wall, and they could hear something scratching around the outside of it.
Chrome shivered. "I feel pretty cowardly right now myself," he confided.
"It's a passing phase," Mist said briskly. "Bend over so I can climb onto your
back."
"Why?"
"So I can look over the wall without opening the gate."
"Oh. Okay." Chrome bent obediently.
Mist scrambled up and gripped the top of the wall, pulling himself up far enough
to look down. "Yep, this is the guy we're looking for," he said.
His words were greeted or answered by a snarly sort of mutter.
"Is that the monster?" Malo Muggsie asked.
"Well...he doesn't look any more monstrous than a few gladiators I've seen here
and there, but yeah, I guess so."
Wolf-a-Mit and Malo Muggsie also climbed onto Chrome's back, ignoring his
muttered complaints, and peered over the wall. The creature peered back up at them.
A lantern hung by the inn's back gate, and by its light they could see that the
creature had, as expected, an ape-like face and body, large and very hairy and
muscular looking. What was surprising was the shrewdness of its gaze.
"He may have the body of a beast," Wolf said, "but his mind has not been
destroyed by the transformation, nor is he insane."
"An ally, then," Muggsie said with satisfaction.
"Oh yeah? How do we communicate with it?" Mist asked. "We can't make ourselves
understood by anybody here except that wretched little wizard."
"Sign language," Wolf suggested. "Let's go out and try."
"How about getting off me," Chrome grunted, wobbling under them.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #23 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Andor and points east:
There had been argument about the form of the cavalcade that set out from Andor
for Murska. Chancellor Bohr had favored a carriage for the king, another carriage for
important members of his retinue, a third for luggage, and a substantial escort, say
forty or fifty men. Mickeal had stated a preference for a horse for himself and one
for his bodyguard. They had compromised, finally, on a single carriage for assorted
luggage, the king, his minimal retinue, and his bodyguard mounted, and an escort of
only ten men. The escort was led by Traal Saru, the head of palace security, at his
own request.
The first day's travel was from Andor half way to Fratsfa, a distance of some
twenty-five miles. Mickeal would have pushed on to Fratsfa, adding another twenty
miles to the ride, but Khazakh and Traal Saru both vetoed it on the grounds that it
would tire him too much, with Khazakh adding that even with relays forty-five miles in
one day would be too hard on the horses. They had arranged to stay the night at the
home of Lord Vanj, just outside the town of Tronsha.
When Saru rode ahead to locate the turning to Vanj's estate, Khazakh guided his
mount closer to the king's. "It is in my mind that Saru intends to try something
here," the warrior said. "Do you know anything of this Lord Vanj we will be staying
with?"
"Ambitious, but with a rigid sense of honor." Mickeal hesitated. Was it this
Lord Vanj he was thinking of, or...? But it shouldn't matter; a scion of the ancient
Van was the same wherever met with. "He would not be party to anything underhanded or
traitorous." Unless Vanj, like a few other men here and there, still believed that
Mickeal was not the rightful king of the Andorian League. In that case, aiding Saru
to kill Mickeal would be an act of loyalty rather than treachery.
Before he could continue, the minotaur spoke, seeming to pluck Mickeal's thought
from the air. "There was a time not so long ago when many men of good faith believed
you an impostor, and there is no dishonor in removing a usurper from the throne."
Mickeal glanced over at him, but there was no expression he could interpret on
the non-human face. "Do you think I'm an impostor?" he asked.
"The question does not arise," Khazakh said calmly. "I have pledged myself to
defend you." The corners of his mouth lifted in a rare smile. "I do not know you
well, except by reputation, and there are differences in behavior. This is not
unheard of in one who has come to the throne unexpectedly and taken up the burden
without preparation. You are the king we have, and you're doing a good job.
Besides...the League might not survive a fight over succession at this time.
"An honest answer, if not straightforward," Mickeal said wryly. "I--"
Khazakh twisted suddenly and thrust the king from his horse, kicking free of his
own stirrups and leaping to the ground as well. Mickeal heard the solid thunk of a
crossbow bolt into a tree as he continued his roll toward the ditch beside the road.
Andor:
"I don't want to stay in Andor," Llud said out of the corner of his mouth. He
was trying to watch in all directions without seeming to do so. "I graduated here,
and the wrong people might recognize me. Besides, I think we'd do better to, uh,
`play the provinces' first--"
Belana glanced at the stocky warrior skeptically. His features were ordinary,
and she would have classed him as distinctly unmemorable, which was a good thing for a
criminal to be. Still, maybe he'd had a following at the arena. You could never tell
what the fans would go for. "Where, then?"
"The Clanhold seems like a place where things are happening," Llud suggested.
"I graduated from Aruak City--I'm as likely to be recognized there as you are
here. Still...there are other cities in the Clanhold, and I know my way around there.
Yeah, okay, let's try down that way."
Skaithvarn:
The Ventan had set up their camp at an abandoned farm, judging by what Senator
Dole and Bonner Springs could see by lantern-light when they arrived. Vasvo shouted
for somebody named Omavo, and when a younger Ventan appeared, instructed him to "put
these two with the woman."
"More prisoners?" Omavo asked. "Will not the Ulmurvians be angered to the point
of attacking us if we continue to take prisoners?"
"You're a fool," Vasvo said coldly. "You have no understanding. Take them and
shut them up securely...if you can manage that difficult task." His tone dripped
sarcasm.
Omavo shrugged and gestured for the two Convincians to enter the barn. A single
lantern hanging high under the roof lit the space dimly, showing that three of the
stalls had been converted into cells by the addition of barred doors. There was a
young woman in a fine but rumpled gown in one, and another held a man who looked like
a shepherd. Omavo opened the last door and waited while Dole and Bonner walked
through. Then he closed the gate and laid his hands on it, muttering words that
neither Convincian could understand. Magic locking, presumably.
Dole took those minutes to study the youngster. At first glance, he looked
Ventan, but at second glance his appearance seemed slightly off--a little shorter, a
little sturdier in build, his coloring a little stronger--blond hair instead of milk-
white, healthy color in his skin, and sky blue eyes instead of pale. Half Ventan,
perhaps...? And how would the Ventan treat a hybrid? If Vasvo's attitude was an
indication, then this young man might be fertile ground for subversion. Dole smiled
to himself. And who better to persuade a dissatisfied and intelligent young man that
opportunity lay in daring and disobedience?
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ *** **** *** **** *** ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Tarrgir:
The day was quickly drawing to a close, the sun already set in the western sky.
The air was filled with the sounds of late summer: crickets chirping loudly, the calls
of crows searching for a nightly roost, mothers calling children inside for the night.
The gray color of the sky held no mystery, nor did it inspire thoughts of late summer
romance. It simply threatened rain.
"If I ever see another bright, sunshiny day, it will be too soon," Deadpool
complained. He was smiling for the first time in months, since the summer had brought
heat and bright sunshine he'd been miserable. "I hope I can get to the Isle soon. I
hear it's almost always nice and gray there."
Cable looked at the warrior sidelong but said nothing. Ever since Deadpool had
come back from the dead, winning his way through one of Greywand's Dead Tournaments,
he'd been like this. Cable had finally given up trying to convince the man that the
Isle of the Eye wasn't much different in climate than Tarrgir. He did have to stifle
a laugh, however. Deadpool's mention of the Isle was ironic, for if he managed to be
invited, he and all his opponents would be immortal. Since he'd taken up the worship
of Ahringol, he believed it his solemn duty to send as many people to join the god of
the dead as possible.
The two were walking to the Academy, Cable answering a summons from General
Kyrican, the headmaster there. He knew what it was all about, and didn't trust the
Aruaki any further than he'd trust a Rirorni shaman. He'd brought Deadpool along in
case anything went wrong. The warrior was active as a member of the Andorian
Assassins Guild, and could blend into shadows as well as anyone he'd ever known.
They continued in silence for several blocks, each lost in his own thoughts.
Deadpool was anxious to get back to the arena. He'd been inactive for far too long,
and was anxious to kill a few new recruits, thus making his god all the more powerful,
and earning him new enemies to kill. Cable's thoughts, as seemed typical of late,
were turned towards that distant Isle, and the children he had there. It had been
years since he'd seen them, though news of them, especially his son, reached Tarrgir
from time to time. As they neared the Academy gates, Cable turned to Deadpool to
instruct him to take to the shadows. He stopped dead in his tracks and glanced
around, searching the shadowed doorways and roof-tops around him, for Deadpool was
nowhere to be seen. Or heard, for that matter. It was his turn to smile as he
resumed walking, knowing one of his most trusted, if a bit eccentric, allies was close
by keeping an eye on his back.
In the days to come, he was sure that would be needed more than ever.
-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
Report from the Academy
The smell in the cellar hadn't improved in two years. The smell of blood and
death would probably never come out, just as the floor remained stained with its
blackness.
Kyrican sat easily in the same chair he'd used two years before, the same chair
he'd been sitting in when his daughter, together with three companions, had managed to
capture him and brand him a traitor. Two of those companions he hadn't known at all,
though he later found them out to be members of the Assassins' Guild. The final
member of that group, however, was quickly and quietly becoming his most hated enemy.
He'd had as much from the upstart as he could take, and the time for swift vengeance
was drawing near.
There was a soft knock at the door, bringing the General back to the task at
hand. He'd needed to get his hands on some professionals, and this person was
supposed to have the best line on what he was looking for. Wordlessly, he nodded to
the guard at the door, who in turn raised the bar and pulled the door open.
Standing in the doorway was a cloaked, hooded figure. Tall, but not so tall as
to stand out in most crowds, the person's full height could only be guessed. The
cloak and hood did much to conceal the features of the new arrival. Moving with the
grace of a cat, the cloaked being glided forward, the sound of metal boot heels on the
stone floor seeming out of place and ugly compared to the smoothness of his or her
movements. A table stood between Kyrican and the approaching figure, with a single
stool on the figure's side.
Two delicate, leather clad hands raised up, palms outward, from the confines of
the flowing gray cloak. Reaching up to the hood, the hands grasped it sides, and with
deliberate slowness, pulled the hood back revealing a woman's face, her features
plain, but not unattractive. Her hair was jet black, but had no sheen or life to it.
It was cropped shoulder length and worn hanging straight down. It was just the right
length that she could do just about anything with it, put it up or pull it back in any
number of styles. Her eyes were brown and unremarkable. She was as "plain-Jane" as
any woman Kyrican had ever seen.
She gracefully bowed from the waist, lowering herself to the stool in the
process. Her expression didn't change as the two of them sat, staring at each other
across the table. Kyrican noted how easily she matched his stare, and worried that it
was him who first broke eye contact and cleared his throat to speak.
"I trust..." he began, but was cut off as the woman spoke up, interrupting him.
"Don't," she replied, her voice husky and soft.
Not sure he'd heard her correctly, Kyrican once again nodded to the guard at the
door, who saluted, then left the room, closing the door behind him. The sound of a
latch being thrown from the outside echoed through the cavernous room, then all was
silent once again.
The woman's expression didn't change as the two resumed their staring. She had
to know what was happening here, otherwise she would never get to make that report,
and THEY wouldn't be happy without it. Her life could be over soon if she failed.
But that was the thrill of it for her, the lie and death risk tied to everything she
did.
Kyrican decided quickly that he didn't like this woman, but he couldn't seem to
bring himself to disobey her quiet command. He became angry with this thought,
wondering if perhaps magic had been used on him.
The woman smiled at him as he furrowed his brow, thoroughly enjoying the
situation. The more emotional she could get this pompous man to be, the easier it
would be to figure out the legitimacy of his claims. Her superior was never one to
let an opportunity to slip by, and a powerful man like Kyrican would be the best ally
they could have right now, next to Orn Ohlarin himself.
"Don't trust, General," she said smoothly, her voice deep and haunting. Her
accent was thick, perhaps Caleaman; they often had almost Delarquan accents. "I
wasn't worried about the guard overhearing. If you trust your guards, that's your
concern, not mine."
Kyrican wasn't in the mood for banter, and had half a mind to tell her so. But
he didn't, and instead pulled a scroll case from his belt and handed it across the
table to the woman. "That is to be delivered to an agent in Seam," he said. "You
will meet him at the Shaken Hand Inn. He will be wearing the uniform of a temple
guard. The password is "Priam." Use it in casual conversation. The response you
need to hear is "Tahrriena." Answer back to confirm with "dog days of summer."
The woman's smile was gone the moment she accepted the case. She listened to the
instructions carefully, noting the passwords and committing them to memory. "I'll
dispatch this with one of my best men," she said quietly.
Kyrican raised an eyebrow in surprise at this proclamation. "I'd thought you'd
be delivering these yourself?" he said, though it sounded more like a question. She
rose to her feet even as he was speaking, keeping her eyes locked with his the entire
time.
"My people will be in touch," she said when he finished speaking. "They wanted
me to pass on that they are overjoyed to have found someone who also has the best
interests of the Aruaki in mind. And to say that it will be a pleasure working with
you to further the Aruaki interests in the League."
Kyrican's face took on an even more dour expression as he watched the woman bow
and turn swiftly away. Walking towards the door without a sound. It wasn't until his
guard had closed the door behind her, securing the latch once again, that he realized
her boots hadn't made a sound.
-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
ALL: For those wishing to participate in the upcoming Reports from the Academy, give
ear and listen!!! You will need to send your information (warrior census data) and/or
your permission to me so I can get your warriors involved. Please send me a diplo,
personal ad, note, or e-mail (Armalias@aol.com) ASAP. I'm looking forward to writing
in Tarrgir again, and these recurring Reports will be of a wider scope than normal,
spanning multiple cities within the Andorian League and beyond! So please, come one,
come all! Let's make Tarrgir's role-playing presence something to once again be proud
of.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #24 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Deadpool watched from above as Cable marched into the office of General Kyrican.
His former manager-turned-friend had a blank look on his face, as if being there
didn't concern him in the least. Kyrican rose from behind his desk as the larger man
entered, Deadpool was enjoying the vantage that the Crow's hidden passages provided.
Kyrican smiled disarmingly as he took Cable's hand and they exchanged the time honored
test of strength with a brief handshake. Deadpool noted Cable's reaction to Kyrican's
strong grip more than he noticed Kyrican's reaction. Deadpool knew how strong Cable
was...sometimes he thought he'd known it too well.
Cable took a seat across the Aruaki headmaster's desk when Kyrican offered. He
nodded in thanks, but didn't speak. The large man was doing his level best to appear
disinterested, and Deadpool was himself almost convinced. Deadpool felt a bit of
jealousy as Kyrican offered Cable a fine cigar from a dark wood case. Imported from
the Karnhorn Empire, from the look of the decorative box. Cable accepted and lit the
stogie with one of the dwarven matches he always carried.
Kyrican appeared calm, and even friendly, as Cable lit the cigar. The Aruaki
took his seat in the large chair behind his desk, molding easily into its familiar
confines. Deadpool thought he looked too comfortable for a traitor, for that is what
Cable still suspected of the man who had once conspired with Rirorni against King
Mickael. Deadpool had no reason not to believe in his friend's assessment, but that
was why they were really here. They needed to find out what was going on with Kyrican
and the rest of Tarrgir's council. The best way, near as Cable could figure, would be
to get a position ON that council. Deadpool chuckled inwardly and had to stifle a
laugh at the thought of the stiff necked Cable in the role of politician.
"Welcome once again, Nathan Dayspring," Kyrican said, breaking the silence, but
not the tension. "It has been many years since last I saw you here, in the walls of
my Academy. They have been kind to you."
"I'm happy to be here, General Kyrican," Cable replied, taking a long draw off
his cigar. A light flashed in Cable's eye, a sure sign to Deadpool that he wasn't
pleased to be here.
Kyrican smiled, a warm smile that was somehow condescending. "Your son's
graduation, I believe, was...."
"I'd really rather not talk about that, if you don't mind," Cable said, cutting
in on Kyrican's pleasantries. "I'm a busy man, and I have a campaign to be running,
as you well know. Please, get to the point, as I'm sure you have pressing matters as
well."
Deadpool winced at Cable's lack of diplomacy, which was exactly what he'd feared
in "Nathan Dayspring, Politician". He wasn't alone in discomfort, as Kyrican's ears
had turned red and his eyes were narrowed. "Very well, Nathan," Kyrican replied, his
voice dripping with venom.
"And it's Lord Dayspring, General," Cable interjected, interrupting once again.
Kyrican was fairly fuming now, his ears and cheeks heavily red and his voice a
little bit shaky. "My apologies, milord," he said with the slightest nod of his head.
"I meant no offence, and will come to the point."
Deadpool tensed as he felt a presence behind him. Spinning silently, he drew a
dagger from a wrist sheath and held it back along his forearm. There, below his
vantage from a small shelf above the bookcase access door, stood a woman, tall and
slender, wearing the blacks and grays of an assassin. Deadpool recognized her as one
of his superiors in the Guild, but what was she doing here?
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #25 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Near Tronsha, halfway between Andor and Fratsfa:
Mickeal was glad the ditch wasn't muddy. He rolled up onto one knee, drawing
his sword and raising his head slowly to peer through the tangled grasses that edged
the ditch. There was no one in sight--Khazakh had taken cover somewhere, probably
close by, and the sniper was not visible. Their horses had wandered a little way on
down the road, and the rest of his party was not in sight; they'd fallen behind, but
he didn't know how far.
Now what?
His own impulse was to go after the sniper. He hadn't been paying close
attention but thought the ditch had run along the road for some distance, and there
was a curve not too far back that would make it possible to get to the other side of
the road without exposing himself.... Of course, the sniper might be moving, too.
And, of course, pursuing assassins was not supposed to be part of the king's job.
Even when it was the king who was attacked. This wouldn't be the first time he'd
found his job irksome.
Where was Khazakh?
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Khazakh was belly down in the grasses in an area where no reasonable man would
try to conceal himself. There didn't appear to be cover enough for a rabbit. Which
just showed how little most people knew about concealment. His clothing was of a
color and pattern that would blend in with nearly anything, his slow, careful
movements those of a man who had successfully hunted the extremely wary winter-wolves
of his homeland.
The sniper had been behind a clump of wild berry canes at the roadside, but
Khzakh was not so foolish as to suppose the man had stayed there. Still, he had
assessed the probable routes of escape--to the front, onto the road, was clearly out,
and to the rear, so far as he could tell from here, there were more brambles, possibly
an impenetrable wall of them, from the look of things. To the sniper's right was an
open area on the bank of a small stream. The left, back along the road, was the most
logical way for the man to move. Also, the curve of the road there would allow the
sniper to get to their side of the road unseen, and if he planned to try again, that
would be a good move on his part.
He wanted to pursue the man, catch him and ask him questions, but his primary job
was defending the king. He began to edge toward the ditch.
Skaithvarn:
"Your name is Omavo?" Senator Dole asked. At the Ventan's startled nod, he went
on, "And you're our jailer?"
The young Ventan shrugged. "I guess," he muttered. His gaze, which had wandered
to Bonner Springs, was definitely admiring.
"Rather quiet out here--"
"Vasvo's going to be the death of us!" the young man exclaimed suddenly. It was
as though the Senator's sympathetic presence had pulled a cork or unlocked a door.
Words poured from him as he told of the Ventan leader's insistence that all non-Ventan
were enemies, of his policy of petty theft (or major theft if the chance offered) in
the villages they passed through, of the intimidation of farmers with hints at curses,
and even of real curses sometimes laid on those who annoyed the leader. "We never
have a chance to settle down, never get to be friends with anyone," Omavo finished,
"not even other Ventan! Everyone's an enemy to Vasvo."
"Things are otherwise in the world at large," the Senator said, as though musing
to himself. "Oh, there is trouble, there are enemies, but there are friends and good
times, too. Educational opportunities...chances for young men to meet young women and
get friendly...chances for a young man to choose his own road and walk it freely...."
"Chances for others, maybe," Omavo said bitterly, "but not for a Ventan."
"Chances for a Ventan, too, perhaps," the Senator said, his voice soft and
insinuating, "if he were to leave those who confine his life and had a friend or two
to introduce him into new circles. I know a lot of people who would welcome a young
man of promise...."
"Omavo! Omavo, where are you? What's taking you so long?" The voice was
Vasvo's, and at the sound of it approaching the barn door, the young man jumped, then
turned away quickly, hurrying to meet his leader just outside the barn. The prisoners
couldn't hear what words were exchanged, but Vasvo's bullying, complaining, critical
tone was clear.
"He may listen to your blandishments," the woman in the next stall said quietly.
"Lady Elida of Ulmurvian, I presume?" Senator Dole said, bowing courteously. "I
am Senator Dole of Amen-Tei in the Andorian League, and this is my assistant, Lady
Protector Bonner Springs. We've come to rescue you."
"By getting yourselves captured?" she asked in a tone between laughing and
crying.
"Whatever it takes to do the job, fair lady," the manager said. "There are many
options open to us, and young Omavo is only one of them."
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Holy Sherwood! What am I doing up here? For a simple forest monk who is hosed
in parry (and who knows what else) this is near ultimate. Well, maybe Robin and Maid
Marion's wedding is the ultimate, but this is cracklin' close!
I'm not much worth spoutin' about, but my brother-in-arms, Honest Abe, is. Lord
Protector Abe is 15(+2)-17(+2)-11-9(+2)-21(+2)-6(+1)-15(+1), with a Master in Parry.
Lady Sheila granted him a favored medium shield and a rhythm of VL/VL coupled with a
parry favorite. His great 16-4 record goes with a 20-14 tournament record with 4
Duelmaster titles.
Some tough competitors coming at me next turn. Inigo and 3 beautiful, busty
babes. (Daniel Webster taught me that word, "babe.") We'll see. We'll see.
'Til next time we meet,
Friar Tuck
SPY REPORT
Like the magnificent Sun, rising upon the Dawn and exiling the Night for a Day,
I, Novgorodny Vir, return once again! STRANGE UNIVERSE after a sorry 0-0-0 might
want to consider abandoning the sands and taking up singing the 'Can't fight no more'
blues! What's a move up by 3 you ask? (alright, maybe you didn't ask) Cause for
celebration, according to EXCALIBUR. Like a flirtacious debutante, ARKERS'
Duelmaster FRIAR TUCK found himself the man of the hour, being "invited to dance" 3
times! Duelmaster FRIAR TUCK from SMITHSONIAN is going for the gold, as he
challenged SPICE RACKS' LAUREL. Ooh, the excitement! Now I can't insult LAUREL, as
she has gloriously dueled to the top. Oh great new Duelmaster!!! (Stop me if I lay
it on too thick) So who's the team that's been walking into taverns last week and
ordering milk? Sounds like a PR stunt to me.
A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn? And do not the
little birds cry out?' Any ideas? Like a horde of jackals fleeing from the lion, so
did the "warriors" in ARKERS avoid LADIES IN WAITING. Like a pup with its tail
between its legs, SMITHSONIAN scurried away from LADIES IN WAITING. Oh, the shame!
JAWS challenged TIMBER WALKER! Who says BONDAGE are just a bunch of wimps! JAWS of
BONDAGE kept his wits as he subdued TIMBER WALKER.
The moving sword slashes, and having slashed, moves on... Ask not for whom the
sword slashes; it slashes for thee.
Do not think spyreporting in ARKERS is the highlight of my life. More important
duties call me. Can anything compare to the pleasure of writing Spyreports for
ARKERS? On that giddy note I take my leave-- Novgorodny Vir
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
LAUREL 3803 12 1 1 109 SPICE RACKS (458)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MISS N PERSON 3568 21 14 0 99 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
MISS DEE MEANER 3775 9 6 0 98 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
TREASON 3539 17 10 0 96 MAX FORCE (332)
FRIAR TUCK 3662 16 11 0 96 SMITHSONIAN (245)
-INIGO 3678 13 13 0 93 NEW ORDER (108)
DANIEL WEBSTER 3784 11 4 0 93 SMITHSONIAN (245)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BALBOA 3617 13 7 0 86 SMITHSONIAN (245)
DONNIE BRASCO 3620 9 12 2 73 MAX FORCE (332)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MONEYPENNY 3921 5 1 0 57 BONDAGE (469)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MISS KAY L QULATE 3867 7 0 0 55 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
-ASTORATH 3695 14 11 1 54 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406)
SCARAMANGA 3918 5 1 0 54 BONDAGE (469)
-MEDUSA 3835 7 4 0 50 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406)
-AUSTIN 3845 4 7 0 47 NEW ORDER (108)
NYALL BLOODGRIN 3151 5 3 1 46 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397)
DIRTCHAW 3876 4 1 0 44 EXCALIBUR (224)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-FRANKEL 3844 5 6 1 42 NEW ORDER (108)
LAUNDREEN SABBA 3824 4 3 0 42 CHERRY BOMB (461)
SAGE 3804 7 6 0 41 SPICE RACKS (458)
JAWS 3917 5 1 0 41 BONDAGE (469)
ODDJOB 3920 4 2 0 36 BONDAGE (469)
THYME 3802 8 5 0 35 SPICE RACKS (458)
WILYOUN 3786 7 5 1 35 DYSERAY (456)
ANDA 3790 8 4 0 34 DYSERAY (456)
TIMBER WALKER 3147 5 4 1 34 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ERIK THUNDERHEAD 3148 7 3 0 33 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397)
-CASTOR 3836 5 5 0 31 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406)
AUBURN 3935 1 1 0 29 MAX FORCE (332)
LEAF SLIVER 3924 3 1 1 26 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MOUSE NIBBLE 3922 3 1 1 23 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
ASTOR LAMAMBO 3825 5 3 0 22 CHERRY BOMB (461)
ANAKYN LLERKO 3821 5 3 0 22 CHERRY BOMB (461)
FULLMETAL JACKRABBIT 3905 3 1 0 21 EXCALIBUR (224)
-HARKON 3900 2 5 1 21 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406)
-PAPRIKA 3929 1 1 0 21 SPICE RACKS (458)
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE 3865 5 5 0 20 SMITHSONIAN (245)
MACHINE 3812 4 8 0 20 RAGE (459)
ALANKOMAAT 3823 2 5 0 20 CHERRY BOMB (461)
STORM II 3915 4 2 0 19 RAGE (459)
TRIBAL ACT 3875 2 3 0 19 EXCALIBUR (224)
-BLOPE 3781 2 1 0 18 STRANGE UNIVERSE (455)
UNDARARK 3827 4 5 0 17 DYSERAY (456)
-KEE 3780 2 1 0 17 STRANGE UNIVERSE (455)
-JAK SAZZ 3777 2 1 0 16 STRANGE UNIVERSE (455)
-ESPO 3778 2 1 0 16 STRANGE UNIVERSE (455)
BRUNTAL 3789 2 10 0 16 DYSERAY (456)
FESTEN VLAM 3871 1 3 0 15 CHERRY BOMB (461)
FELIX LIGHTER 3919 3 2 0 14 BONDAGE (469)
THOR RAVENBLADE 3932 2 0 0 14 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397)
-CLOVER 3912 1 3 0 14 SPICE RACKS (458)
-ROTTEN LADY 3913 3 2 0 12 ZOMBIE DOLLS (406)
RYNYE 3903 2 2 0 12 DYSERAY (456)
TITAN 3933 1 1 0 12 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
GRAND BLUE 3947 1 0 0 9 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
GRACE 3930 0 3 0 9 MAX FORCE (332)
ROAD RAGE BUDDHA 3934 2 1 0 8 BLACKTHORN ORCS (425)
TROLL 3925 1 4 0 7 RAGE (459)
STAB'YA WESTWARD 3874 1 4 0 7 EXCALIBUR (224)
ARC 3927 1 3 0 6 RAGE (459)
-YAKA 3779 1 2 0 5 STRANGE UNIVERSE (455)
-KAMEN THE SWIFT 3149 0 4 0 4 NORTHERN BADLANDS (397)
VOL 3948 0 1 0 1 RAGE (459)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
GIRLY MAN 3950 0 1 0 LADIES IN WAITING 115 MOUNTAIN TROLL 402 184 NONE
LOCKE 3769 7 11 0 NEW ORDER 108 TIMBER WALKER 3147 181
AMITAI 3843 4 6 0 NEW ORDER 108 HARKON 3900 181
WAR 3928 1 2 0 RAGE 459 LEAF SLIVER 3924 182
PERSONAL ADS
Kaz -- Ouch! You've improved.... -- Arthur Itis
C-64 -- Congrats on the invite...thanks for the skills! -- Al Beano
Ohm's Lawyer -- Congrats also...fine record. -- Spawn
Newton the Newt -- I thought you'd be more resilient.... -- Al Koholic
Newts are pretty scrawny, mostly. -- Ed.
Ace O'Spades -- I was experimenting with double tactics, sure seemed to confuse us
both! -- Anne
William Wallace -- So nice to meet again...KNOT! -- Shirley
Curator -- Many thanks for your generous praise...if after 650 or so fights I'm still
running at around 60% win/loss then I feel it will have been well deserved.... For
now my record represents little more than a flash in the pan.... -- Spawn
Erik Thunderhead -- I think the boss figured if you were so good against Felix you
might struggle against little 'ol me. -- Moneypenny
Astorath -- Wow...*gulp*...it's results like that that make me believe in the power of
random number generation! -- Scaramanga
Yaka -- Too slow dude...very strange! -- Oddjob
Kee -- You related to Yaka at all? Just you both stay the course so well. Good
effort, hope the skills help. -- Jaws
Daniel Webster -- If I beat you, does this mean I get one of your TC prizes? -- Miss
Dee Meaner
Friar Tuck -- I'll have to alter that strategy & try, try again. -- Miss N. Person
Arkers -- Please be patient, I'm holding out one new lady for the rookies tourney.
Shouldn't do that well, but should still be fun. -- Crip, mgr. of Ladies in Waiting
Money Penny -- Don't be too quick to smile! I double-challenged Miss Kay with a far
lower strategy than normal. As luck would have it I didn't get my challenge and you
did. One at a time, please. -- Erik Thunderhead
Harken -- I fear for your future. -- Tomblin Walker
Dietchar -- Thank the gods for the Arenamaster. The way I was feeling that day I
would have buried you, planted a stone and gone to lunch. -- Nyall Bloodgrin
Har dee har, Miss N. Person! How'd you like your visit to Sherwood Forest? Not a
trip in the park, eh, wench? -- Friar Tuck
Miss Dee Meaner -- Your challenge was well timed and your strategy well executed. You
deserve the title. Salute! -- Daniel Webster
Espo -- You probably need to go a little longer than THAT! -- Sir Frances Drake
M. Chardinee -- That was a mere waste of time. -- Honest Abe
Scaramanga -- My pleasure, I'm sure. -- Sir Francis Drake
Miss Creant -- You did all THAT in Minnesota? You must have been sitting at the Dark
Circle or Legion Six table, you dastardly wench! -- Daniel Webster
P.S. The boss says the only thing he remembers is your manager's and his own
despicable showings!
Bondage -- Congratulations on your great showing! -- Curator of Smithsonian
Luck to all of you in the Mail In. Let's get 'em, Crip! -- Curator
Miss Cast -- You brute, you! How could you do that to poor little Shewish Giant? You
cad! (wink) -- Curator
11 October 1999
All -- Talon Volksie has finally entered the 90's on the verge of the millenium. I
have e-mail. You may email me at TalonVolksie@aol.com. -- Talon V.
Everyone now knows that DM-33 is one of the "Fiercest & Best Free Blades Arena"
around. The Hammer and others have done wonderful things for that arena. With 50 or
so teams, DM-33 is fun, challenging and a joy to play in. However, I am not here to
talk about DM-33. I want to talk to you about DM-43, Veastian.
DM-43 is not a large arena, we have only 8 teams here right now. It is small,
and not the greatest arena around...yet. We need YOU to help make this a great
arena. Since it's so small, this is your chance to get in on the ground floor and
become a cornerstone of this arena. Not many have this chance. DM-33 is great, but
it is crowded. Here in DM-43 you will not be one of the many, you will be one of the
best. For all of you Noblish Island managers, this is your chance to transfer your
team to an arena where you will have an immediate impact on the game. This is an
arena where you can continue to hone your skills and be a contender for the
Duelmastership. Veteran managers...do you want to make Duelmasters the best it can
be? Help newbies and make an arena of your own?
This is a wonderful chance for everyone. For the newer players to make a
serious impact on an arena and veteran players to be a "founder" of an arena.
Managers like Don John, Mutt Lange, The Rake and myself want you to help make DM-43
the best arena out there. We don't want just "anyone" to come here, we want managers
who want to play hard and have fun. If that is you, then come to DM-43, Veastian.
If anyone has any questions at all, please diplo me and I will reply as soon as
possible. Now is your chance, now is the time. DM-43. -- Apollo Maximillious, mgr.
Cult of the Dragon (339), DM-43
All -- By Seefe's name, am I tired of looking at such team names as Inyo Eye and
Eggnog Warriors. Please, in the name of all that is decent on the face of Ghea, give
your teams and fighters APPROPRIATE names!! I know it can be challenging and
demanding to make up TRULY GOOD names like Boneshredders and Aerie Fire, but please,
don't call your guys something that causes me to dirge in disgust!! It really hurts
your (and my) gaming experience when my warriors have to stand against someone named
"Underwear Gnomes". After all, I can come up with ten names like Bust-a-Plumber and
Chococroc in a single minute, but why don't I do it? -- Shadowfire, mgr. of
Dragonslayers (636) in Solven (DM 22)
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
GIRLY MAN was dealt death by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
FRIAR TUCK was viciously subdued by LAUREL in a 4 minute Challenge Title battle.
DANIEL WEBSTER vanquished DONNIE BRASCO in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
MONEYPENNY defeated NYALL BLOODGRIN in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
JAWS luckily beat TIMBER WALKER in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Challenge competition.
ODDJOB overpowered TRIBAL ACT in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge struggle.
LEAF SLIVER handily defeated UNDARARK in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
MOUSE NIBBLE vanquished BRUNTAL in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
FELIX LIGHTER was vanquished by WILYOUN in a 3 minute uneven Challenge fight.
THOR RAVENBLADE viciously subdued GRACE in a 2 minute gory Challenge fight.
MISS DEE MEANER was luckily beaten by HONEST ABE in a 7 minute veteran's melee.
MISS N PERSON demolished KUNG-FU MASTER in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
BALBOA was unbelievably bested by TREASON in a 3 minute veteran's battle.
MISS KAY L QULATE viciously subdued SAGE in a 5 minute gory conflict.
SCARAMANGA won victory over HONEST MERCHANT in a 1 minute bout.
THYME was viciously subdued by LAUNDREEN SABBA in a action packed 4 minute duel.
ANDA bested ASTOR LAMAMBO in a 3 minute brawl.
ANAKYN LLERKO was devastated by DIRTCHAW in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE was savagely defeated by AUBURN in a 2 minute brutal bout.
ERIK THUNDERHEAD overpowered TITAN in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
ALANKOMAAT bested ROAD RAGE BUDDHA in a 4 minute contest.
MACHINE was luckily beaten by FULLMETAL JACKRABBIT in a crowd boring 8 minute fight.
STORM II demolished SHIFTYEYED VOLUNTEER in a 1 minute uneven bout.
STAB'YA WESTWARD lost to RYNYE in a 2 minute amateur's fray.
TROLL was overpowered by FESTEN VLAM in a 1 minute one-sided match.
ARC was defeated by GRAND BLUE in a 2 minute novice's duel.
VOL was overpowered by STRAY CATMAN in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK 10 WALL OF STEEL 44 - 28 - 1 61 |
|TOTAL PARRY 9 LUNGING ATTACK 56 - 41 - 6 58 |
|AIMED BLOW 6 TOTAL PARRY 62 - 50 - 2 55 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 6 STRIKING ATTACK 30 - 27 - 0 53 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 6 PARRY-LUNGE 10 - 10 - 0 50 |
|WALL OF STEEL 5 AIMED BLOW 28 - 28 - 1 50 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 3 SLASHING ATTACK 18 - 19 - 2 49 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 2 BASHING ATTACK 31 - 52 - 5 37 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 11 - 0 31 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 11 - 25 - 0 31 |
Turn 184 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 1 - 0 TOTAL PARRY 4 - 5 3 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 3 - 7 2 STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 4 - 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY
LUNGING ATTACK 4 - 2 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 3 2 BASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 4 - 2 1 LUNGING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL 3 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
LUNGING ATTACK LAUREL 3803 12 1 1 109 SPICE RACKS (458)
WALL OF STEEL MISS N PERSON 3568 21 14 0 99 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
STRIKING ATTACK MISS DEE MEANER 3775 9 6 0 98 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
TOTAL PARRY TREASON 3539 17 10 0 96 MAX FORCE (332)
BASHING ATTACK DANIEL WEBSTER 3784 11 4 0 93 SMITHSONIAN (245)
SLASHING ATTACK BALBOA 3617 13 7 0 86 SMITHSONIAN (245)
AIMED BLOW DIRTCHAW 3876 4 1 0 44 EXCALIBUR (224)
PARRY-STRIKE ANDA 3790 8 4 0 34 DYSERAY (456)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is MISS DEE MEANER 3775. The most popular warrior this
turn was MISS DEE MEANER 3775. The ten other most popular fighters were LAUREL 3803,
TIMBER WALKER 3147, BALBOA 3617, LAUNDREEN SABBA 3824, GRAND BLUE 3947, GIRLY MAN
3950, ODDJOB 3920, THOR RAVENBLADE 3932, ANDA 3790, and AUBURN 3935.
The least popular fighter this week was FULLMETAL JACKRABBIT 3905. The other ten
least popular fighters were VOL 3948, TROLL 3925, MACHINE 3812, TITAN 3933, ANAKYN
LLERKO 3821, THYME 3802, GRACE 3930, FELIX LIGHTER 3919, BRUNTAL 3789, and UNDARARK
3827.
The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:
MISS N PERSON (8-3568) LADIES IN WAITING (115)
The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn:
HONEST ABE (8-3767) SMITHSONIAN (245)
| P.O. Box 22400 Tempe, AZ 85285 (602) 967-7979 fax (602) 894-2028 | GPO Box 1066 Brisbane, QLD 4001 (07) 3899 8612 fax (07) 3899 8613 |