DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/22/1999    Duedate: 11/04/1999

ARUAK CITY ARENA

DM-11    TURN-370

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SPORT
BULLDOGS (157)
(11-3740) [13-12-2,104]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

SPORT                          POSITION IS EMPTY
BULLDOGS (157)                 
(11-3740) [13-12-2,104]        

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

TASHIA                         THE SCREAMING MIME
DEADLY DE-PARTED (270)         GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
(11-2740) [16-14-1,95]         (11-3154) [14-8-1,94]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

IMMORTALS (85)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)      27
2. THE SILENT KILL (365)       27      ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)
3. GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)      23      Unchartered Team
4. WARLORDS (137)              16
5. BULLDOGS (157)              10      BLA (172)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)    32  18  2 64.0   1/ 3 IMMORTALS (85)           10  5 0
 2/ 2 BULLDOGS (157)           544 455 18 54.5   2/ 5 ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)    9  6 1
 3/ 3 IMMORTALS (85)           579 559 55 50.9   3/ 1 BULLDOGS (157)            8  5 0
 4/ 4 THE SILENT KILL (365)     71  73  9 49.3   4/ 2 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)    7  8 0
 5/ 6 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)   343 362 11 48.7   5/ 4 TUFT TUGGERS (305)        6  3 0
 6/ 5 DEADLY DE-PARTED (270)    78  83  2 48.4   6/ 8 THE SILENT KILL (365)     5  5 0
 7/ 7 TUFT TUGGERS (305)       310 331 12 48.4   7/ 6 WARLORDS (137)            3 12 1
 8/ 8 WARLORDS (137)           300 343 21 46.7   8/ 7 DEADLY DE-PARTED (270)    2  1 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                  Gerfel's Friends: Puerco's Past Meets the Present

     Home for Carmen and Sebastian was a large, somewhat luxurious, two-bedroom 
apartment on the second floor of what was once a gladiatorial stablehouse.  
Apparently, the manager had sold the building in order to move his warriors closer to 
the Darkholm arena, on the other side of the not-so-small fishing village of Willow 
Beach.  They were as comfortable as any young couple had a right to be, with Carmen's 
Protectorship stipend taking care of most of the living expenses.  Formally trained as 
a chef, Sebastian had only been sporadically working temporary jobs since their 
marriage, in order to spend more time with his wife.  They had purchased a pair of 
plain, gold wedding bands to symbolize their marriage bond.  While they had both 
agreed to this, Sebastian had always wanted more for Carmen.  Now, as he saw it, her 
friend Jhordeal had made it possible.
     It was afternoon when they arrived home, and Carmen wanted to spare no time 
paying a visit to Lady Greywand's tower.  She stood with Sebastian just off the porch 
of their building.  "Why don't you come with me?" she asked.
     Sebastian looked at her uncertainly.  "I'm not sure....  It would be so much 
quicker if you just used that device of yours to get there.  Besides, I'd feel really 
out of place there.  Not that I really have any idea what to expect."  Carmen grinned 
in spite of herself, seeing that her husband was up to something.  He continued, "I'd 
really like to spend tonight at home, with you.  If we both went, we wouldn't make it 
back by nightfall."
     "All right, I won't say anything more.  Will you cook a special dinner while I'm 
gone?" Carmen asked, knowing his answer before he gave it.
     "I'll do my best, but I know the pantry is kind of bare and the markets would 
already have closed.  But it'll be good, I promise.  Hey, you'd better get going," 
Sebastian suggested, eager to run an important errand of his own.
     "All right....  I'll miss you," Carmen offered, just as she always did when they 
would be apart.  She stepped close, kissing her husband, and then she asked, "Where is 
the gemstone that Jhordeal gave us?"
     "I've got it right here," Sebastian answered.  "Don't worry, I'll take good care 
of it."  That evoked another grin on the face of his wife as she turned and walked 
into the middle of the street.  She held something unrecognizable in the palm of her 
hand, then an instant later she disappeared in a flash of magic.  As soon as Carmen 
was gone, Sebastian set off to catch the local jeweler before he closed up shop for 
the evening.
     Aglumar Zellaman had operated successfully as a jeweler in Willow Beach for 
nearly twenty years.  After taking over his father's business in Talcama, he promptly 
sold it and moved his young family and aging parents to the Isle of the Eye, settling 
where most Delarquan immigrants did, in Willow Beach.  When he was in Talcama, he 
worked first as an apprentice to his father, then later as a junior partner.  He had 
come to know many other jewelers, gem traders, and collectors from the area, and he 
still traveled back to Talcama with his father once a year for the annual reunion and 
convention.
     When Sebastian stepped through the door, Zellaman was sweeping the floor of his 
small jewelry store in preparation for locking the door for the night and walking the 
two short blocks home for the hot meal he knew would be waiting.  Nevertheless, he did 
not mind seeing a customer, although the look of this young Andorian told him not to 
expect a major purchase.  "Welcome," he said to the young man, "I am Aglumar Zellaman.  
How can I help you?"
     Sebastian started reaching for the bag as he explained, "I have this gem, and I 
would like to get some jewelry made from it.  Like a set."  The jeweler Zellaman 
ushered him over to the counter and lit an oil lamp so that he could clearly see the 
offering.  Sebastian laid the gem on a cloth and could not help but notice when 
Zellaman gasped at the sight of it.
     Zellaman felt his pulse quicken upon recognition of the gem.  "Where did you get 
this?" he asked in disbelief, staring strangely at his client.
     Sebastian recoiled a little at the accusatory nature of the man's question.  "It 
was a gift, given to my wife by an old friend.  What is it?  I must admit that I don't 
know," he explained, hoping to put Zellaman at ease.
     Zellaman stooped to peer at the gem with a jeweler's lens.  As he worked he 
answered, "This is an amre stone, I am positive."  He looked up and seeing the lack of 
response on Sebastian's face, he explained further.  "This is the most rare and 
valuable gemstone that I know of.  I have seen them behind glass and bars in museums, 
but never have I held one!  It is said that they are drops of Karn's blood, dried 
hard."  Sebastian just blinked in response, wondering if the jeweler would refuse to 
serve him.  He then wondered if ANY jeweler would.
     "Look, if this is a problem, I'm sure I can find someone else who will be willing 
to help me," he said, hoping to remind Zellaman of the situation at hand.
     "Uh, no, that won't be necessary my friend.  Let us talk about what you would 
like me to create for...your wife, is it?"
     "Yes," answered Sebastian, smiling at the thought of her.  "I would definitely 
like a ring for her, but maybe another piece that matches it."
          ***          ***          ***
     Zellaman did not go straight home that night, as he normally did.  Instead he 
headed in the direction of the coast, where he arrived at his parents' cottage.  His 
father had chosen the location because he had wanted to live within sight of the lake.
     He entered the residence without knocking and found his father asleep on the 
sofa, with his mother nearby, knitting on a quilt.  Just as his mother started to warn 
him not to wake his father, as she had done when Zellaman was a child, he went up to 
his father and shook him hard on the shoulder.  Ignoring the complaints, he explained 
what had happened when Sebastian had paid him a visit an hour earlier.  He took out 
the amre stone and placed it reverently in his father's hand.  The elder jeweler 
peered at it and shook his head slowly, not quite believing what he was seeing.
     Zellaman senior said to his son, "I'm the one that cut and polished this stone.  
A Talcaman noble named Corvino came to me with an unpolished rock and asked me what I 
could do with it.  He was a collector; didn't even know what he had right there in his 
hand.  So, I put some edges on it and polished it up.  This is what I handed him.  He 
knew what polished amre looked like, and he paid me handsomely for allowing him to own 
such a prize.  But last I heard, a few years back when we were down there for the big 
get-together, it had been stolen.  I guess it was bound to happen eventually.  So, do 
you think this boy is the thief?"
     "I doubt it.  He said his wife got it as a gift."
     The old man chuckled.  "This gem may end up earning you your nest egg as well, 
son.  Just let the nobleman Corvino know that his gem is found, and I'm sure he'll pay 
you the sum of his relief."

To be continued...

                                             Sport

         + ]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 #26 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

                               Report from the Academy

     "And to what do I owe this honor?" Deadpool said through clenched teeth.  He was 
voicing a question but it sounded more like an accusation.  He slipped silently down 
form the ledge, and landed between the woman and the hidden door behind Kyrican's 
large bookshelf.  He still held his dagger at the ready, but worried over having left 
his sword at home.  The woman was wearing her warhammer easily on her belt, and he'd 
heard horror stories about how well she wielded it.
     "You're working Kyrican?" she replied evenly.  Her accent was smoothly 
Convincian, though Deadpool had known her to sound Elvish or Delarquan when needed.  
She was a master of disguise, though he had no idea what she really looked like.  Her 
only truly identifying feature was the intricately woven raven that appeared somewhere 
in all her clothing.  His trained eye had spotted it immediately, even in the dimness 
of the secret halls of the Academy.
     Deadpool shifted uneasily under her careful scrutiny, unsure if he was supposed 
to answer.  One raised eyebrow from the woman known only as Raven was indication 
enough for him.  "Ever since the Crow went back to work directly out of the Guild, 
I've been here," he answered.
     Raven smiled at him, a warm smile designed to set aside his defenses and lower 
his guard.  It didn't work, but he made it look as if it had, sheathing his dagger and 
leaning casually against the wall.  He kept his legs ready to spring away if 
necessary.  He hoped it wouldn't be.
     "I'm here to relieve you of that duty," she said with the same smile, her 
expression not changing in the slightest.  "You are being reassigned on escort duty.  
There is a letter to be taken to a courier south of here.  I want you escorting the 
courier from Tarrgir to the meeting place, and then you are to tail the second courier 
once he has the dispatch.  I want you to make sure he meets a gruesome end just 
outside Aruak City.  Very public, but do not be seen.  The note must arrive at the 
Gates, but the courier must be killed to set an example of our intentions."
     Deadpool looked at Raven in silence.  It occurred to him that perhaps she was 
setting him up, and he didn't like that feeling.  He'd been a member of the AAG since 
well before he became a gladiator, and without exception he'd always been able to 
trust his superiors.  For the first time in his career, he did not trust a superior; 
he was, in fact, afraid of a superior.  That bothered him more than he realized.  "Why 
me?" he dared to ask.
     Raven continued smiling, as it had been obvious to her that she'd brought doubt 
into Deadpool's mind.  Deadpool shifted uncomfortably beneath her scrutiny, moving 
from one foot to the other, obviously nervous about this new assignment.  "Because you 
are here, and so is the letter in question," she said easily.  "The warrior called 
Bullwhip will be the courier.  He's bright enough, and a former instructor at the 
Academy, so he makes the perfect Pigeon.  That's his code name, by the way."
     "Real subtle," Deadpool said dryly.  "I suppose you want him to take the blame, 
as well then...the Fall Pigeon, as it were...."
     Raven's smile didn't change, which unnerved Deadpool further.  Not even a 
brightening in the eyes at his lighthearted banter.  "Keep him alive at all costs, 
until the deed is done.  The courier in Seam is officially sanctioned by the Guild.  
You have you orders, fulfill them and you shall be rewarded beyond your wildest 
dreams."
     Deadpool was once again taken aback by her words; Guild members were paid, but on 
salary, not bonuses and certainly not commissions.  Their work was for the Crown 
alone, and not for hire.  He bowed to hide the confusion he was sure stood plainly 
evident upon his face.  "I live only to serve Ahringol and my King, milady, and you as 
his majesty's agent," he replied smoothly.
     When he rose from his bow, Raven was gone.  A single black feather floated gently 
to the floor, but Deadpool himself was gone by the time it touched down.  He had a lot 
to think about before he found Bullwhip the Pigeon and set out for Seam.
     Too many things were changing to quickly for his liking.

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #27 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Near Tronsha, halfway between Andor and Fratsfa:

     Minutes trickled by, slow as fate.  Crouched in the leafy ditch, Mickeal began to 
get angry.  Really angry.  There should be people around--farmers, travelers, his 
escort.  This was not a howling wilderness!  Khazakh he was not worried about; the 
gladiator's loyalty and competence were not in doubt.  But the prolonged absence of 
the escort that should have been with him and had still not appeared was suspicious.  
More than suspicious--
     A crackling of leaves behind him made him turn.  Standing above him on the far 
bank of the ditch was Traal Saru, head of Palace Security in Andor, and he was flanked 
by two members of the Royal Guard.
     "Behold the Warrior King," Saru said in a voice of savage mockery, "hiding in a 
ditch!"
     Now that the waiting had passed and the time for action arrived, Mickeal's anger 
dropped from him.  He stood, genuinely calm now, and brushed leaves from his clothing.  
"So you are the traitor," he said conversationally.  "How brave of you to come after 
me with only two men to back you up."
     Saru paled.  "You think I don't dare face you?" he demanded.  With a sweep of his 
arms, he drove the two Guardsmen back, then drew his sword.  "I fear no hothouse 
flower!"
     "A fool as well as a traitor, I see," Mickeal said calmly.  He moved toward the 
edge of the ditch to climb up to Saru's level.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Khazakh crouched beside a thin bush.  He had heard Mickeal's challenge with 
approval and turned his attention to the two soldiers.  If they attempted to intervene 
beside their treacherous leader, he would kill them.  But in Mickeal's challenge he 
saw a man worthy of respect, and in a duel between Mickeal and Saru, an evenly matched 
pair of men, he would be merely an observer.  He would not insult the king by 
intruding...unless Saru attempted further treachery--
     As Mickeal reached for an exposed root to hoist himself to ground level, while 
his head was still even with Saru's knees, the traitor suddenly lunged forward, his 
sword sweeping out.  Khazakh half rose, his own blade springing into his grip.  But 
Mickeal might have been expecting the move, so quickly did he respond.  He ducked 
under the whistling blade and grabbed Saru's sword wrist, pulling the man--already off 
balance with his lunge--down into the ditch.
     "Treacherous in one thing, treacherous in all," Mickeal said with satisfaction as 
Saru scrambled to his feet and backed away.  "You do your side no service by exposing 
your cowardice and lack of honor."
     A glance at the two soldiers, who looked surprised and disapproving, assured 
Khazakh that this was so.  It seemed unlikely that they would now even think of 
cutting in to aid Saru, unless they were traitors themselves...and he didn't believe 
they were.  Misled by a plausible man in authority over them, more likely.
     Mickeal had drawn his sword now and was advancing along the ditch bottom toward 
Saru.  The gladiator's eyebrows rose.  This was not the same sword Mickeal had carried 
in Andor, though the scabbard was the same and the hilts nearly identical.  Adantri 
work, he thought: at least, the blade was of dark metal inlaid with symbols in silver, 
after the Adantri style.  There was a shimmer like starshine on the steel.  As well if 
it should be a magic blade, the minotaur realized, frowning, for Saru's blade, too, 
had an abnormal aspect.  It looked oily, with rainbow gleams running up and down the 
flat and a strange glitter along the edges.

Skaithvarn:

     "Well, then, what do we do?" the S'varni woman asked.  She indicated the barred 
gates that turned the stalls into cells.  "How do we get out?  And when we're out, 
what then?  Vasvo may sound like a ranting fool, but he's a Ventan.  Magic is his 
natural element, and he will have spells to stop us, or track us, or--"
     "Vasvo may be a magician," Senator Dole said.  "I don't argue that, but he's a 
man first.  And men...can be defeated."  He smiled blandly and glanced at Bonner 
Springs.
     She flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.  "Oh, no!  Really, Senator, I 
couldn't--!"
     "You will need to do nothing at all," he assured her.  "The whole thing will 
happen in Vasvo's mind, my dear."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Not too far from the abandoned farm, a flying carpet, wobbling out of control, 
dumped its three passengers into a field overgrown with brambles.  Freed of its 
burden, the carpet flapped a couple of times in mid air, then collapsed.
     "What the hell?" demanded a Shew as he picked himself up out of the thorny canes.
     "The twists of Fate are beyond human comprehension," a woman observed 
breathlessly, picking leaves out of her hair.
     "Our carpet was following the wrong wizard's signal," Tynileaus Shadowwood 
stated.  He looked around and spotted the carpet draped over a clump of brambles.  
"Shall we try it agi--"
     "No," the Shew, Dillan the Dog said firmly.  "I begin to understand why Zathrus 
wanted nothing further to do with it.  Let's try walking for a while; it's safer."
     "It might be interesting to explore the immediate vicinity," Tynileaus agreed.  
"I would like to know what the carpet homed in on.  There must be a wizard, or 
something strongly magical, in the immediate vicinity."

Somewhere in the Karnhorn Empire:

     Tankesh crawled farther under the bush, then turned to look out at the rain-
dripping day.  He could no longer hear the patrol they were evading--or hoped they 
were evading--but he had no doubt the Karnhorns were out there somewhere.  He glanced 
around, hoping to spot the High Priestess of Serimna, but couldn't see her.  Probably 
she was under another bush.  If he'd realized that being the Champion of Serimna was 
going to mean spending so much time on his belly in the mud under one or another 
bush--it felt as though he'd been under every bush in the Karnhorn Empire--he might 
have....  No, he wouldn't have refused the job.  Any job that Tankesh Dushanbe 
couldn't handle was beyond mortal ability by a long shot.
     It would be interesting, in an academic sort of way, to know where he was right 
now.  Somewhere north of the road connecting Murska with Zuwayza, he was pretty sure, 
but beyond that....  He just hoped the guides which the High Prietess kept finding 
knew where they were!  And where they wanted to go.

Somewhere in the Aruaki Clanhold:

     The inn was called The Dancing Mare, and it was, to put it mildly, low.  Llud and 
Belana found themselves in the company of as fine a collection of thieves and 
cutthroats as the Aruaki Clanhold could offer.  The two gladiators had settled in 
without difficulty, unless you counted a few trifling incidents such as when Llud 
caught a man going through their possessions and threw him out the second story window 
of their room--without opening the window first, or when Belana beat up two men who 
thought she was a light woman, killing one (she broke his neck) and maiming the other.  
But the company at The Dancing Mare took these incidents in stride and welcomed Llud 
and Belana as worthy companions.
     The most important of the outlaws was a man called Galpur, and after the last 
incident (which involved Llud hanging the innkeeper by his heels over the stair 
railing while Belana went through the man's pockets, due to a disagreement as to the 
price of a room in the Mare), Galpur invited the two to join him at his private table 
for a drink and a meal.
     "My treat," Galpur said expansively, and smiled, showing several gold teeth.  
"Now, you're a fine pair, you are.  Coming here and fitting right in, as they say.  
You might be just the pair I need.  I," he added, with some pride, "am what you might 
call the King of the Thieves hereabouts."
     "King of Thieves in Harn?" Llud asked sarcastically.  Harn was the name of the 
village where the Mare was located, with a population of some six hundred people; it 
was about ten miles east of Aruak City.  "There's an honor!"
     Galpur flushed but kept his smile, now rather fixed and fierce.  "The director 
always stands back from the action," he said.  "Maybe you're too young to know that 
yet.  I have a job I think you two can handle--a little matter of a man who's outlived 
his life, as you might say--"
     "What about the Assassins' Guild?" Belana asked.  "I've heard they don't like 
free-lancers."
     "This is a sanctioned kill," Galpur said coldly.  "You'll take the job, and 
you'll do it right.  See that man over by the fireplace?"  He gestured slightly, and 
one of the loungers near the fireplace sketched a half-bow.  "He'll be your conductor 
--you can call him Shurry.  He'll supply you with whatever you need in the way of 
information or tools--"
     "What if we don't take the job?" Llud asked.
     "Then he'll kill you."

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Really!?  Me?  Wow!  What a surprise!  I NEVER thought I would make it to 
Duelmaster.  Never!  When you see my stats, you'll see what I mean!  Thank goodness I 
drew M. Chardinee, and earned just enough points to come out on top.  I still need 10 
political points and 2 wins to get out of here, and it is not going to be easy!
     Good luck to everyone in The Tournament.  I'll be sitting this one out.

                                        Salute,
                                             Sport

                                      SPY REPORT

     Good day, in ARUAK CITY a quiet thief gets rich, but a quiet spymaster gets 
poor.  So bring me ale and harken to my tidbits of news.  It seems the training can 
make the difference, as BULLDOGS is pushed out of top team by IMMORTALS, who came 
from 3rd with a 3-2-0 this turn.  ANDORIAN KNIGHTS stable has parlayed this turn's 
3-2-1 into a 3 space move up the rankings.  This brings them up to 2nd place.  Good 
work, guys!  And let's see, SANDBLASTER fought KAELEN THUNDERHEART and gained 19 
points and contributed to ANDORIAN KNIGHTS' 3-2-1.  CAL BOSTICK has lost to COMBAT 
BUSINESSMAN, falling 9 points, while helping make IMMORTALS a 3-2-0 turn.  The 
attempts to dethrone the Duelmaster have failed, and SPORT remains ARUAK CITY's top 
warrior for another turn.  By the way, was that our Duelmaster that I saw last night, 
cramped under the table at The Bulldog Inn?   
     The crowd's roar, the smell of iron and leather, mixed with sweat, what more 
could a warrior ask of life?  Well, besides that.  I also notice that the IMMORTALS 
stable was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on ARUAK CITY, what are you afraid 
of?  And guess who avoided IMMORTALS stable the most?  Believe it or not, it was 
ANDORIAN KNIGHTS.  Anyone surprised?  Well, sports fans, take notice that RUFF from 
BULLDOGS was ARUAK CITY's most challenged warrior this turn.   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  KAELEN THUNDERHEART has departed ARUAK CITY, leaving TUFT TUGGERS without 
their 4-5-0 warrior.  Question, just what was his team doing at the taverns last 
night?  I guess it was coming sooner or later, ANDORIAN KNIGHTS has lost UNCLE BEN, 
and ARUAK CITY is bound to miss him.  For a little while, at least.  A brave warrior 
does not carry a red shield, he has nothing to cover or hide when the fight is over.  
Consider well.   
     Thought for the day, a new sword shines bright, but the notched sword sings the 
sweetest.  Well, I'm burning daylight here in ARUAK CITY and I've a long road ahead 
of me.  Happy Trails.  Until the sun next rises and my pen sets to paper-- Alarond 
the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SPORT 3740                   13  12  2   104       BULLDOGS (157)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HOUND DOG 3874               15   2  0   101       BULLDOGS (157)
 TASHIA 2740                  16  14  1    95       DEADLY DE-PARTED (270)
 THE SCREAMING MIME 3154      14   8  1    94       GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
 DURGA 3818                   15  14  0    91       THE SILENT KILL (365)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RUFF 3856                    15   7  0    77       BULLDOGS (157)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SAM SOOTHSAYER 3873          15   3  0    71       IMMORTALS (85)
 ORDEL CAUSEWAY 3846          16   5  0    70       IMMORTALS (85)
 ZEIR BESADII 3820            14  15  3    70       THE SILENT KILL (365)
 DARK GHOST 3858              14   6  1    69       IMMORTALS (85)
 COMBAT BUSINESSMAN 3767      11   9  1    69       GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LIVY 3889                     7   6  0    64       WARLORDS (137)
 JHADZIA SHIMMERMOON 3921      7   3  0    63       TUFT TUGGERS (305)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-PRIME RIB 3841               10   9  0    56       BULLDOGS (157)
 HANZO THE BESERK 3822         7  11  2    56       THE SILENT KILL (365)
 ICEMAN 3898                   7   3  0    53       ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)
 CENTRIFIGAL 3845             12   9  0    48       IMMORTALS (85)
 CAL BOSTICK 3877             10   7  2    47       IMMORTALS (85)
 OLD BOSSY 3857                9   8  0    47       BULLDOGS (157)
 SILANUS 3885                  6   8  2    46       WARLORDS (137)
 SANDBLASTER 3899              7   3  1    43       ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)
-CHI'EN HUAN LI 3882           6   7  0    37       TUFT TUGGERS (305)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STONEWALL 3900                7   3  1    33       ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)
 SANDMAN 3923                  6   3  0    33       ANDORIAN KNIGHTS (369)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VALERIUS 3888                 5   8  0    23       WARLORDS (137)
 VERY IMPORTANTPERSON 3930     4   2  0    21       GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
 SAYN VANN TALUNEA 3931        3   3  0    21       GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
 GOURMET COWBOY 3944           3   1  0    21       GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
 MEI KAGERO 3904               2   5  0    20       THE SILENT KILL (365)
 VENUSIA 3896                  2  10  0    16       WARLORDS (137)
 JASEEN HULDRYN 3936           2   1  0    16       THE SILENT KILL (365)
 KHAMAL SHOOMANI 3945          1   0  0    14       TUFT TUGGERS (305)
 SOLOMON 3946                  0   4  0     4       WARLORDS (137)
-MARIO PENDRAGON 3939          0   2  0     2       TUFT TUGGERS (305)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
UNCLE BEN 3897         5  5 0 ANDORIAN KNIGHTS 369  SILANUS 3885          370         
KAELEN THUNDERHE 3922  4  6 0 TUFT TUGGERS 305      SANDBLASTER 3899      370         
PIMILICO 3872          4 11 1 WARLORDS 137          STONEWALL 3900        366 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Cal Bostick -- Well done.  You are an up and coming great. -- Chi'en

Dark Ghost -- ONE?!  ONE friekin SKILL?!  You know, it's one thing to pull the same 
lucky win as last time.  But to totally trash my learning average?!  I've never 
learned one skill.  No no, it's OK.  Just know that your experience advantage, and 
luck, is going to run out real quick, then you'll be the one getting challenged. -- 
Jhadzia

Uncle Ben -- Not exactly the devastating victory I was looking for, but I'll take it. 
-- Kaelen

Old Bossy -- Of course you meant it THAT way!  That's the point.  But don't worry. 
Your bullying tactics don't work on me.  I'm immune. -- Jhadzia

Scribe -- It seems I've got a petition going from Kennelworth and his business 
contacts.  As soon as it's all signed, I guess I'll make a copy for both the Aruaki 
and Andorian Kings.  Again it looks like you're going to be busy reporting on their 
business. :) -- Adie

Kennelworth -- I don't know.  That Bob the Russian doesn't look so successful.  I know 
he was a bit before my time, but he looks like a lazy, pot bellied wimp to me. Not to 
mention an alcoholic.  He may not be rich, or take part in a greater cause that I know 
of, but he should at least respect himself.  You know, believe in yourself and try to 
stay in shape.  He's a Lord Protector. -- Tankesh
P.S.   I'm enjoying the spot too.

Puerco -- You know, I still prefer her gladiatorial name.  Cranapple.  It just 
instills a sense of sweetness with a tang to it.  And that wholesome goodness of fresh 
juice.  Fine metaphors, for fine quality, in a fine person. -- Tankesh
P.S.  Her real name is cool too.  Like mine.

Ordel -- Impressive! -- Combat Businessman

Stonewall -- What was that move?  It certainly did the job. -- Sayn Vann

Valerius -- I have heard that at one time it was possible for the victor to die from 
his wounds in the infirmary.  Considering the beating you gave me, I am very glad this 
is no longer the case. -- VIP

Kennelworth -- You'd come back too if your record in AD was as bad as mine.  I don't 
have the exact figures in front of me, but 8-18 sounds about right. -- Bob the Russian
P.S.  Enjoying the ale.

Sport -- <grumble, grumble>  Aren't you the humble victor....  I'm in a bad mood and I 
hadn't planned on speaking this turn, but what the hey.  To "mime scream" like me, 
just open your mouth as wide as it'll go, so the skin at the corners is pulled tight.  
Wait 'til a few veins bulge out of your forehead or neck, and there you go!  Now, I'd 
recommend not doing this while fighting in the arena.  It's really hampered my 
performance of late.  Cheers! (to quote the Jest-master) -- Mime

Convicted Assassin -- How'd you like my rendition of "Jail House Rock?"  Gotcha! -- 
Hound Dog

Iceman -- I guess there was too much meat on the table for you? -- Prime Rib

Great fight, Sam Soothsayer.  It was my lucky day. -- Ruff

Livy -- You made me feel like a big-old-cow! -- Old Bossy (crying profusely with big 
brown eyes)

Jhadzia -- And I hope you keep getting better and better. -- Old Bossy

Tuft Tuggers -- Thank you.  Glad it gave you a chuckle or two.  Enjoyment is sometimes 
difficult to find.  Salute! -- Ruff

My, Adie & Tankesh, thank you for the comments. -- Kennelworth

All -- I'd offer Sport his free drinks and The Bulldog for earning the DM Crown, but I 
know he is a teetotaler.  So everyone come on over Saturday night to help us celebrate 
it.  Ale is free all night. -- Kennelworth, Proprietor

Mime -- Right now I'm feeling real fine! -- Sport, Duelmaster

Generalissimo -- Thanks for the info on Gourmet Cowboy.  What I really think is that 
the thought process was intelligent and ingenious.  Salute! -- Kennelworth

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)

16 October 1999
To anyone starting a new team -- No good sales pitch or gimmicks (yet).  If you're 
adding a team, please put it in Jurine, DM-61.  We only have one unchartered team and 
eight teams total.  So why come to Jurine?  Simply put; WE ARE BEGGING YOU!!! -- 
Wardancer, mgr. War Party

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

HOUND DOG unbelievably bested TASHIA in a 3 minute master's Challenge fight.
THE SCREAMING MIME viciously subdued RUFF in a 5 minute veteran's Challenge match.
SAM SOOTHSAYER unbelievably bested LIVY in a popular 4 minute brutal Challenge fight.
CAL BOSTICK was devastated by COMBAT BUSINESSMAN in a 1 minute uneven Challenge brawl.
SAYN VANN TALUNEA was defeated by SANDMAN in a 2 minute Challenge struggle.
SPORT beat DURGA in a 1 minute master's Title brawl.
ZEIR BESADII was savagely defeated by ORDEL CAUSEWAY in a 8 minute expert's melee.
JHADZIA SHIMMERMOON won victory over CENTRIFIGAL in a 2 minute fight.
DARK GHOST viciously subdued OLD BOSSY in a popular 3 minute gory duel.
HANZO THE BESERK savagely defeated STONEWALL in a popular 1 minute gory melee.
KAELEN THUNDERHEART was murdered by SANDBLASTER in a 1 minute mismatched match.
ICEMAN handily defeated VERY IMPORTANTPERSON in a exciting 1 minute one-sided contest.
SILANUS executed UNCLE BEN in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
VENUSIA was defeated by JASEEN HULDRYN in a 2 minute veteran vs. amateur upset duel.
VALERIUS slimly lost to MEI KAGERO in a 3 minute fray.
GOURMET COWBOY beat SOLOMON in a 2 minute amateur's brawl.
KHAMAL SHOOMANI devastated CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute one-sided fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   9         TOTAL PARRY       42 -  22 -   1     66  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      6         LUNGING ATTACK    43 -  29 -   1     60  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         PARRY-LUNGE       17 -  16 -   1     52  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         AIMED BLOW        12 -  13 -   0     48  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-STRIKE      17 -  19 -   0     47  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         SLASHING ATTACK   17 -  24 -   1     41  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      4 -   6 -   1     40  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         WALL OF STEEL     12 -  18 -   1     40  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         STRIKING ATTACK    4 -   6 -   0     40  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         BASHING ATTACK     4 -   6 -   0     40  |

Turn 370 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-STRIKE       3 -  0     SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  2         5  TOTAL PARRY    
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
AIMED BLOW         3 -  1     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  1         1  STRIKING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     5 -  4     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  3         1  BASHING ATTACK 
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  3                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   SPORT 3740                 13  12  2  104 BULLDOGS (157)
TOTAL PARRY      HOUND DOG 3874             15   2  0  101 BULLDOGS (157)
STRIKING ATTACK  THE SCREAMING MIME 3154    14   8  1   94 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
BASHING ATTACK   DURGA 3818                 15  14  0   91 THE SILENT KILL (365)
AIMED BLOW       DARK GHOST 3858            14   6  1   69 IMMORTALS (85)
PARRY-STRIKE     COMBAT BUSINESSMAN 3767    11   9  1   69 GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    CAL BOSTICK 3877           10   7  2   47 IMMORTALS (85)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is TASHIA 2740.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
THE SCREAMING MIME 3154.  The ten other most popular fighters were TASHIA 2740, DARK 
GHOST 3858, LIVY 3889, HANZO THE BESERK 3822, JHADZIA SHIMMERMOON 3921, CENTRIFIGAL 
3845, ICEMAN 3898, SAM SOOTHSAYER 3873, SANDMAN 3923, and VALERIUS 3888.

The least popular fighter this week was ZEIR BESADII 3820.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were ORDEL CAUSEWAY 3846, JASEEN HULDRYN 3936, KAELEN THUNDERHEART 
3922, STONEWALL 3900, CAL BOSTICK 3877, UNCLE BEN 3897, VERY IMPORTANTPERSON 3930, 
SANDBLASTER 3899, OLD BOSSY 3857, and DURGA 3818.

The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:

THE SCREAMING MIME (11-3154) GERFEL'S FRIENDS (253)

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