DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/25/1999    Duedate: 11/06/1999

TOBIR ARENA

DM-14    TURN-370

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

WU SUNG
SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)
(14-3561) [13-11-0,79]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

WU SUNG                        BLACK HEART SEEKER
SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)          CEASE TO EXIST (270)
(14-3561) [13-11-0,79]         (14-2371) [3-1-0,54]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

FONG SAI YUK                   DUNBACK
SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)          OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
(14-3560) [12-12-0,55]         (14-3170) [1-0-0,11]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE DOGHOUSE (188)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)     59
2. CEASE TO EXIST (270)        42      CRUSADERS (117)
3. ANGELS OF MERCY (374)       39      Unchartered Team
4. CRUSADERS (117)             21
5. BIRDS OF PREY (377)         11      THE SEMI-SUPERGANG (386)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 0*THE SEMI-SUPERGANG (386)   1   0  0  100   1/ 1 THE DOGHOUSE (188)        8  6 0
 2/ 0*OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)    4   1  0 80.0   2/ 2 BIRDS OF PREY (377)       5  5 1
 3/ 0*CEASE TO EXIST (270)       5   3  0 62.5   3/ 4 SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)     5  8 0
 4- 1 EXCALIBUR (176)          228 166 15 57.9   4/ 0*OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)   4  1 0
 5/ 2 CRUSADERS (117)          344 256 37 57.3   5/ 3 CRUSADERS (117)           4  6 2
 6/ 3 THE DOGHOUSE (188)        18  17  0 51.4   6/ 6 MIKES (156)               4  6 1
 7/ 4 SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)     55  61  2 47.4   7/ 0*CEASE TO EXIST (270)      2  0 0
 8/ 6 BIRDS OF PREY (377)       55  63  5 46.6   8- 8 EXCALIBUR (176)           2  2 0
 9/ 5 ANGELS OF MERCY (374)     46  54  5 46.0   9/ 7 FAINTLY DISTURBING (122)  2  4 0
10/ 7 MIKES (156)               23  36  4 39.0  10/ 5 ANGELS OF MERCY (374)     2 13 0
11/ 8 FAINTLY DISTURBING (122)  15  27  3 35.7  11/ 0*THE SEMI-SUPERGANG (386)  1  0 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[ A Rude Awakening ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
                                  By Angmar the Vet

     It's Hallow's Eve and the moon is almost in alignment.  When the moon is full, 
and directly overhead, the ritual will begin.  At the stroke of midnight the Master 
Magus lifts his knife above the sacrifice tied to the unholy alter.  Her screams 
pierce the night, filled with terror.  She watches as Magnus plunges the knife through 
her heart.  Her blood is caught in a silver bowl as it runs down the sides of the 
alter.
     The fire in the brazier grows higher as the blood is added.  The other Brothers 
of the Foul begin to chant.  The Master Magus starts casting his spell to summon a 
demon lord.  As the chanting grows louder, the Master Magus is shouting at the sky, 
forcing his willpower into the summons.  As expected, the fire grows higher and 
higher, hotter and hotter.  Inside the flames something is starting to form.
     It grows larger, taking on a shape that looks almost human, yet not.  A face 
appears, a horrid, ugly, dog face.  Horns are growing out of the head that is forming 
in the flames, growing a neck, body, arms, legs and bat-like wings to go with it.  At 
the end of the hands, long fingers begin to form claws.  It is almost whole.  It is 
almost alive.
     The Brothers of the Foul are backing away, not taking their eyes off what is 
coming to life right before them.  The Master Magus stands there defiantly, conquering 
his fear of this beast of Chaos incarnate.  There is no backing down now.  If he 
falters, or utters a misplaced word, all of his dreamed up powers will come crashing 
down on him.  He wills his spirit into the final words of the spell.  "Oh Great Demon 
of Chaos, I command you to heed my summons!  You will obey me!  I am your Master!"
     A hollow, mocking, evil laugh comes from a throat that was not meant for such a 
sound.  The flames extinguish with a hiss.  The demon stands ten feet tall, towering 
over the Magus.  It stares down at the puny human that summoned it from a burning 
hell.  "I Have No Master," it rumbles around teeth sharp as daggers.  Reaching down 
with long arms it grabs the Magus in a death grip.  The screams of terror from the 
Magus are louder and more spine-chilling than those of the sacrifice.  Opening its 
large mouth, it bites the head off of Master Magus.  The sight of their Master being 
eaten is enough for the Brothers of the Foul to start a panic.  Running for their 
lives, they give no thought to the massive Evil they brought to this world.
     Stomping after the fleeing humans, the demon grabs another to feed its growing 
hunger.  They cannot run fast enough to get away from it.  With every life swallowed 
by the demon, it grows larger.  Now it stands over twenty feet tall.  Its legs are so 
long it catches more Brothers with every step.  Soon, all but two are captured and 
eaten.  One of them turns to look at the demon, and wishes he had not.  Then there was 
only one.
     The demon's hollow laughter follows the lone Brother.  He runs blindly, crashing 
through thorn bushes, scrambling around trees.  In the moonlight he does not see the 
large shape above him.  Swooping out of the sky, the demon lands on the human, driving 
him to the ground.  His death cries are cut off as the demon's claws pierce his body.
     Eating the last Brother of the Foul was not enough to sate the demon's hunger.  
It craves more humans, more lives, to satisfy his need to feed.  It flies away in 
search of more prey.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Aruaki Clanhold #43 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Aruak City:

     Shania Silverstar, noted for the evenness of her temper, resisted the urge to 
take Kennelworth's vile vial and fling it across the room.  It had been centuries 
since anything had so firmly resisted her ability to know.  She had studied it, probed 
and analyzed it, with the most subtle spells she knew, and there were none who could 
match her in such study, and still it held most of its secrets against her.
     Taking a careful breath, she unclenched her slender hands and backed away from 
the worktable.  For some reason she couldn't have explained, she didn't want to turn 
her back on the little bottle.  There was an undertone of darkness in its emanations 
which disturbed her.  There was also, even more disturbingly, a faint air of... 
familiarity.  Most of the physical components had yielded to her inquiry; they were 
unusual, but known, one of them a modified and apparently inactive form of a plague 
germ.  But two....  They were definitely not Ghean, and yet she felt she should 
recognize--by all the gods!  One, at least, had a flavor of her long-destroyed 
homeland!
     Aeliria, that had been its name--but aeliria had been an herb of healing.  Of 
restoring.  How could it have been so perverted?  She pressed her lips into a thin 
line as memory grew clearer.  There had been a wizard of dark soul, a youth compared 
to those he served, Murthes by name.  His specialty had been taking the natural bounty 
of life and twisting it to the darkest possible shape.  But that had been years ago, 
and in another world; it could not be Murthes himself at work here.  Someone like him, 
though.
     Restoration...twisted.  Could it be that the potion, or the spell behind it, 
regarded an Aruaki's feline form as the `real' form, and attempted to `restore' the 
hapless shape-changer to that condition?  If so, that would go far to explaining the 
action of the...curse, or disease, or whatever it was on the affected persons.  Of 
course!  And the plague germs acted as the carrier, spreading the affect to any who 
came into contact with one already afflicted!
     Her increasing understanding did nothing to ease the elf maiden's tension, 
however, for she had only identified the problem, not found a cure.  How fast and far 
would it spread?  How long would it last in any given victim?  Would it affect only 
those Aruaki who could normally change shape, or all who had some Aruaki blood, 
however thin?  Could those who were not Aruaki--such as herself--act as carriers even 
when themselves unaffected?
     Kennelworth must be told at once, and King Jorian, and the High Priest of Demnat 
as well.  Every mage and physician must set to work to seek a cure.

Not in the Hurinwood:

     They let themselves out the back gate of the inn yard, closing it carefully 
behind themselves, and tried to indicate by signs to the creature--it was hard to 
remember that it was really a man who had been transformed by a wizard--that their 
intentions were friendly.
     He must have been--must be, Mist corrected himself--very intelligent, because he 
caught on immediately.  By vigorous gestures and expressive grimaces, he indicated 
that he was innocent and had been wrongly accused and punished.
     Malo Muggsie, for all his eagerness to find an ally, wasn't about to take 
anything for granted, and mimed doubt.
     There was a fast exchange of gestures, increasingly more vehement, which didn't 
clarify anything.  Apparently whatever had caused the creature--the man's punishment 
was not something that could be expressed by so limited a medium.
     "It was politics," Chrome said finally.  "That's what Tolrimor said, remember?  
This guy got crossways of the king, and the top wizard zapped him."
     "I guess that's the best we can hope for," the Tokori Rogue grumbled.  "I wish we 
could really talk to these people."
     "Don't we all," Mist muttered.  "Now what, though?  Our primary goal, remember, 
is to get back to our own time--"
     "For which we need a wizard, and not some tin-pot hedge wizard, either," Malo 
Muggsie said briskly.  "This joker knows where to find the strongest wizard going, and 
he wants to find him, too.  All we gotta do is follow this guy--"
     "Arriving in his company," Wolf-a-Mit pointed out quietly, "will not be likely to 
make us popular and win us favors."
     "We'll ford that stream when we come to it."

Celestinvael, then and now:

     Boyington took out the last of the shadowy things with a corkscrew stroke that he 
planned on trying in the arena if he lived through this, then glanced around at his 
companion.  Naevan was still on his feet, but just barely.  "We're almost there," he 
said encouragingly.  He got one arm around the half-Orc (the other one still held his 
sword at the ready) and headed for what was obviously the door to the treasure room.
     It was one of those double doors designed to impress, wider and higher than even 
a Shew would need and lavishly ornamented with gold and jewels.  The wizard's pencil-
like wand fitted into a small hole, where it acted as a key in a lock, and one half of 
the door moved a little.
     Boyington immediately leaned his weight against it and shoved it open far enough 
to admit himself and Naevan.  They were in a room lined with shelves, the shelves 
loaded down with chests and boxes of all sizes.  How were they supposed to find--?
     "You want the small ebony chest with the gold and ivory inlay."  It was the 
wizard Hanvol's voice, speaking out of the air.  "Events press upon us.  Seize the 
chest, hold it firmly.  Do not bother about opening it now!  There is no ti--"
     There was a soundless flash of light that flickered through all the colors of the 
rainbow and touched on others that Boyington had never seen before and could not have 
named or described now.  A wrench, as though some giant fist had gripped him and 
shoved him through a hole too small.  A gut-twisting feeling of falling endlessly down 
a long spiral.
     Cold stone under him, thick with dust, and the edges of the ebony chest digging 
into his ribs.
     Boyington sat up and looked around.  Several of the shelves were broken, all of 
them were empty save for the dust.  The door hung drunkenly from a broken hinge.  
Naevan lay on the floor beside him.
     "I made it back," Naevan said weakly.  "I'm...glad.  Gonna cash...my chips...now.  
Take care...."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Explicit Sex, Numbya, and the catman slid through the ruins as silently (they 
hoped) as shadows.  They were moving their camp again, because the Kjarran-worshippers 
had started searching the ruins systematically.
     "Bunch of spoilsports," Explicit muttered, scrambling over a broken wall.
     "They're gonna catch us any way they can," Numbya agreed.  "But I know why 
they've gotten so mean and sneaky--did you see who was leading that last party?  A 
woman!"
     Explicit whirled on him, fist cocked.  "That wasn't very funny," she began.
     "We must not fight among ourselves," the catman broke in.  "That would be to do 
their work for them.  Besides, it is reasonable, for have not the greatest sages 
declared that the female is the more deadly sex?  It is so among my people, and I see 
no reason why it should not be so among yours."
     "She's probably a witch," Numbya went on.  "That's what she looks like to me: a 
witch."  He turned sideways to follow his companions through a narrow gap between a 
tree and a piece of stone wall.
     "A wicked witch, if she's hanging out with these Kjarran-worshippers," Explicit 
added.
     "They are attempting to drive us into the open against the river!" the catman 
said suddenly.  "But I think we may be able to climb this wall--"  He reached up, 
found a hold, and raised himself to the top of the wall, which was in much better 
condition than most here, then turned and caught Explicit's hands as Numbya tossed her 
up.
     "Wow!  Big place, wasn't it?" Explicit commented, staring over the wilderness 
that must once have been a large formal garden.  She settled astride the top of the 
wall to wait while the catman helped Numbya up.  "Looks like a palace--  There's 
someone there!"  She pointed.
     A man in dusty, blood-spattered clothing, clutching a small black box against 
himself, was picking his way through the tangled growth.
     "He has the Key of Sea!" the catman exclaimed.

         + ]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.

Hail Tobir,
     It is I, DeGotti, once again manager of the Duelmaster here in this fine city.  I 
am rather displeased with the manner in which I got the title though, come on Dest 
what are ya doin?  I would rather have gotten it by fighting Leer but oh well.  I 
don't mean to take anything away from you, Moondove, but I did expect you to last 
longer than one hit.  And DAMN if that isn't a 21 wit, geeze.  My warriors do teach 
rather well though.  I am hoping that Tobir does well again in the Mail-In, the last 
one was rather good for this city, of course then Buzzard Bait got hold of the Regular 
DM TV's and put them six feet under.

Well until next time,
DeGotti

                                      SPY REPORT

     Good day, friends and fiends, welcome to your friendly neighborhood spyreport.  
I doubt TOBIR will ever be the same.  Now keep the taverns open late tonight, for 
there are sorrows to drown for ANGELS OF MERCY, whose 1-4-0 this turn dropped them by 
5 into 10th.  On their very first turn, OTAGO HIGHLANDERS had a 4-1-0, and with this 
kind of luck or skill, should do well.  Welcome to TOBIR.  And let's see, BLACK HEART 
SEEKER fought BELLE D'LETTIER and gained 25 points and contributed to CEASE TO 
EXIST's 2-0-0.  BELLE D'LETTIER has lost to BLACK HEART SEEKER, falling 20 points, 
while helping make THE DOGHOUSE a 1-4-0 turn.  Our Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost 
to VIRGINAL CONCUBINE, BUT WU SUNG is still the Duelmaster because he has the most 
recognition points!  Can someone confirm a rumor for me?  I hear the top team makes 
their losing fighters do dishes at The Victory Tavern until they win.  Maybe?   
     I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling.  A basher 
friend of mine assures me this is true.  I also notice that the EXCALIBUR stable was 
the most avoided team this turn.  Come on TOBIR, what are you afraid of?  And guess 
who avoided EXCALIBUR stable the most?  Believe it or not, it was SHAO-LIN HEROES.  
Anyone surprised?   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  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.  Always good to rest in TOBIR, but never good to wear out my welcome.  Look 
for me in future turns.  Until you see my quill in TOBIR again, farewell-- Alarond 
the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WU SUNG 3561                 13  11  0    79       SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-LEER 3504                    10   9  1    83       EXCALIBUR (176)
-MNEMONIC METHOD 3502         12   7  0    69       EXCALIBUR (176)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MOONDOVE 3611                 7   2  0    64       ANGELS OF MERCY (374)
 BILLIE LU  1382               6   6  0    60       THE DOGHOUSE (188)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FONG SAI YUK 3560            12  12  0    55       SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)
 HAU TO 3602                   6   8  0    54       SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)
 BLACK HEART SEEKER 2371       3   1  0    54       CEASE TO EXIST (270)
-BAIT 3503                    14   5  0    52       EXCALIBUR (176)
-MARBLE 3563                   7   4  1    45       EXCALIBUR (176)
 ZEN MASTER 3649               4   2  1    44       CRUSADERS (117)
 SMITH 1282                    6   8  2    38       MIKES (156)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JONES 1283                    4  11  2    33       MIKES (156)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BELLE D'LETTIER 1385          8   4  0    30       THE DOGHOUSE (188)
 ULTIMATE ONE 2367             2   2  0    30       CEASE TO EXIST (270)
 GOOSE 3591                    6   8  1    27       BIRDS OF PREY (377)
 HUMMEL 1404                   7   5  0    26       MIKES (156)
 INCREDIBLY AVERAGE 991        6   7  1    26       FAINTLY DISTURBING (122)
-MOTHER HEN 3610               6   4  0    25       BIRDS OF PREY (377)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-IVORY ZEALOT 3656             1   0  0    20       CRUSADERS (117)
 LORD KARAK 3658               3   1  1    19       CRUSADERS (117)
 BALCLUTHA 3169                1   0  0    19       OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
 WAIMATE 3172                  1   0  0    18       OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
 SIR DRAKE 3654                2   1  0    15       BIRDS OF PREY (377)
-NIGHTWING 3662                1   0  0    14       BIRDS OF PREY (377)
 YU TI 3661                    1   1  0    13       SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)
 VICAR IN A TUTU 3640          2   5  1    12       FAINTLY DISTURBING (122)
 DUNBACK 3170                  1   0  0    11       OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
 PINE SCENTED WONDER 3682      1   0  0    10       THE SEMI-SUPERGANG (386)
 HAMPDEN 3171                  1   0  0    10       OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
 VAN QUISSER 1386              2   2  0     8       THE DOGHOUSE (188)
 SADIE FAN 1383                1   3  0     6       THE DOGHOUSE (188)
 THE TRAMP 3673                1   1  0     4       THE DOGHOUSE (188)
 LUMSDEN 3168                  0   1  0     1       OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (348)
 GOLIATH 3675                  0   1  0     1       CRUSADERS (117)
 HSING I 3669                  0   1  0     1       SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
FLASH 3678             0  1 0 ANGELS OF MERCY 374   DARK CHAMPION 515     370 NONE    
NOT QUITE 3679         0  1 0 ANGELS OF MERCY 374   WURM KIN 518          370 NONE    
NOT EVEN CLOSE 3676    0  1 0 ANGELS OF MERCY 374   BLACK ORC 511         370 NONE    
SCATTERSHOT 3677       0  1 0 ANGELS OF MERCY 374   ARENAMASTER VASHK 514 370 NONE    
DIVE BOMBER 3668       0  1 0 BIRDS OF PREY 377     LORD KARAK 3658       370         
BALTIN MAGRU 1384      0  1 0 THE DOGHOUSE 188      VICAR IN A TUTU 3640  367 REVENGED
KIDD 1281              5  8 0 MIKES 156             ZEN MASTER 3649       368         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Apollo M. -- You don't seem to be the quitter type to me.  I know death from an NPC 
sucks but please don't leave this fair city.  The competition you bring only enhances 
the pleasure of the games.  And besides that damn Dwarf is tough, he beat Sun Hou Tzu 
three times when he was DM. -- DeGotti

Angmar -- You shall never expect a down challenge from me, well at least no more then 
a few points anyway.  And I would only do that to the person I intended to bloodfeud. 
-- DeGotti

Moondove -- Maybe all that jumpin' around tuckered you out! =) -- DeGotti

Apollo & DeGotti -- It is unfortunate the RUGs are so cruel.  That is the way of gods, 
is it not?  Try giving them a sacrifice...or at least put it in words, it seems to 
help.  (Hail O'Mighty Roll Up Gods)  Like that.  If this doesn't help, then you can 
always fall back on the night fights. -- Angmar

Apollo -- I am hiring an attorney to look in to the death of Faith.  I believe there 
was a conspiracy to murder her. -- Angmar
P.S.  I wouldn't be surprised if Buzzard Bait paid off the killer. (shrug) Who knows?

All -- Hallows Eve is upon us.  It is a time of great and powerful magic.  Some 
ancients believe it is a time when the dead can be risen to walk the earth, again in 
life.  Let's hope not!!  The death rate here in Tobir will probably come back to haunt 
us! -- Angmar

Hummel -- Watch where you point that thing.  I may want to have children later in my 
life. -- Sir Drake

Sadie Fan -- That was a good beginning.  We were trading blows, then you gave up. -- 
Nightwing

Vicar in a Tutu -- That was very disturbing.  Hope I didn't scare you with my down 
challenge.  I needed a win. (smile) I think the tutu is cute on you. -- Mother Hen

DeGotti -- Thanks for the invite online.  It was enlightening. -- Angmar

Happy Halloween Everyone -- I intend to scare the sh** out of some trick or treaters.  
Hehehe. -- Angmar

Fong Sai Yuk -- Well, tell Fong to try peppermint tea.  It will often settle the 
stomach.  Oh...you didn't mean...?  That's your NAME?  Oh, my goodness.  I am so 
sorry, I wouldn't for the WORLD have you realize that I thought...er, well, you know!  
Er, good fight. -- Belle

Jones -- Am I ever glad you didn't DIE on me! -- Billie Lu

Lord Karak -- Y'know, a crusade sounds like it oughta be some kind of sword, or maybe 
a special kind of move, like a "crusade lunge" or something.  That would have CLASS, 
man.  Let's invent it! -- Van Quisser
P.S.  Or a fruit drink.  Tell me it's not a fruit drink.

Nightwing -- Oh, you're so masterful!  Your hands are so STRONG...you moveso 
gracefully....  Oh, my!  (fans herself with her hand)  Oh, my.  Let us make beautiful 
moves together, you handsome thing! -- Sadie

Yu Ti -- Great.  Next time, you get to win.  This is fair, no? -- The Tramp

Angmar -- For those kind words, we thank you. -- Leeta, The Doghouse

Apollo -- Isn't it a crying shame, sometimes?  It seems like the very best warriors we 
get hanging on until they're within, oh, three or four turns of graduation, and then 
they die.  ALWAYS.  Well, nearly always.... -- Leeta (been there, done that)

All -- Oops, I guess I was so upset I missed Faith's skills.  She learned 53 in 18 
tries. -- Apollo Maximillious

Leeta -- Don John, you say?  Oh yes, I know the lad well. (grin) -- Apollo Maximillous

Wu Sung -- Ouch.  Well fought, good sir.  I did not expect that shot.  Hopefully we 
will meet again soon. (smile)  Congrats on the throne, Sir Duelmaster. -- Moondove

All -- This Dark Arena mess is going to ruin my record here. -- Apollo Maximillious

DeGotti -- I understand your problem with the RUGS. (snicker)  My four didn't have a 
wit higher than eight.  Perhaps if we stopped paying homage to the RUGS, they would 
shape up?  How about that, oh not-so-mighty RUGS? -- Angels of Mercy

RUGS -- Please pay no attention to the obvious madman behind the curtain.  I don't 
know who he is, but I assure you, whoever he is, he does not speak for me or my team. 
(big smile) -- Apollo Maximillious

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

23 October 1999
All -- Noblish Island (93) has a number of new teams who are looking to graduate to 
other arenas in the next few turns.  Now is the time to sing your arena's praises, 
number of teams, quality of competition, and whether Debbie T. frequently visits 
(wink) are the questions most asked by our managers.  We hope to hear from you. -- The 
Shadowlord, Sacco's Shadows (93)

Hi everyone, this is Shadow.  I hope this finds you all well.  I have missed most of 
you. <smile>  I don't know if or when, if ever, I will come back to the game but RSI 
has notified me (by negative account balance) that all the teams and warriors I sold 
were not paid for or payments were not correctly made to my account.  I would like to 
settle these matter please.  For those that did pay I would like to buy back any and 
all the teams and warriors I sold and compensate accordingly.  Thanks so much, my 
address is:
                James Vance
                907 Greenleaf Dr
                Copperas Cove, Tx 76522
                phone 254-547-8603

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

FLASH was dealt death by DARK CHAMPION in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
NOT QUITE was slaughtered by WURM KIN in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
NOT EVEN CLOSE was murdered by BLACK ORC in a 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight.
SCATTERSHOT was butchered by ARENAMASTER VASHKU in a 1 minute Dark Arena contest.
ZEN MASTER overpowered INCREDIBLY AVERAGE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
GOOSE was devastated by JONES in a 2 minute uneven Challenge brawl.
SIR DRAKE luckily beat VICAR IN A TUTU in a 2 minute brutal Challenge struggle.
YU TI devastated SADIE FAN in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge competition.
WU SUNG was overcome by VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 2 minute expert's Title melee.
MOONDOVE won victory over HAU TO in a 1 minute gory duel.
SMITH was vanquished by BILLIE LU  in a popular 1 minute one-sided duel.
BELLE D'LETTIER was overpowered by BLACK HEART SEEKER in a 1 minute one-sided melee.
FONG SAI YUK overpowered THE HONEST MERCHANT in a 1 minute one-sided match.
HUMMEL was bested by ULTIMATE ONE in a 2 minute conflict.
VAN QUISSER was bested by DUNBACK in a crowd pleasing 1 minute gory novice's battle.
LORD KARAK viciously butchered DIVE BOMBER in a 2 minute gruesome novice's conflict.
THE TRAMP was overpowered by WAIMATE in a action packed 1 minute uneven struggle.
BALCLUTHA beat GOLIATH in a 1 minute brawl.
HSING I was devastated by HAMPDEN in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
LUMSDEN was overpowered by PINE SCENTED WONDER in a 1 minute one-sided match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|SLASHING ATTACK                  9         LUNGING ATTACK    26 -  21 -   1     55  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   6         AIMED BLOW        19 -  16 -   3     54  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     5         PARRY-LUNGE       20 -  19 -   4     51  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         WALL OF STEEL      8 -   8 -   1     50  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   3         SLASHING ATTACK   30 -  30 -   1     50  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         PARRY-STRIKE      14 -  15 -   3     48  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      8 -  10 -   0     44  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         STRIKING ATTACK   11 -  17 -   0     39  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         TOTAL PARRY        8 -  13 -   0     38  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         BASHING ATTACK     4 -  17 -   1     19  |

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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       WU SUNG 3561               13  11  0   79 SHAO-LIN HEROES (379)
SLASHING ATTACK  MOONDOVE 3611               7   2  0   64 ANGELS OF MERCY (374)
STRIKING ATTACK  BLACK HEART SEEKER 2371     3   1  0   54 CEASE TO EXIST (270)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is FONG SAI YUK 3560.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was DUNBACK 3170.  The ten other most popular fighters were WAIMATE 3172, ZEN 
MASTER 3649, JONES 1283, SIR DRAKE 3654, VICAR IN A TUTU 3640, MOONDOVE 3611, BILLIE 
LU  1382, BLACK HEART SEEKER 2371, ULTIMATE ONE 2367, and LORD KARAK 3658.

The least popular fighter this week was LUMSDEN 3168.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were HSING I 3669, GOLIATH 3675, THE TRAMP 3673, DIVE BOMBER 3668, BELLE 
D'LETTIER 1385, HAU TO 3602, SADIE FAN 1383, GOOSE 3591, INCREDIBLY AVERAGE 991, and 
SCATTERSHOT 3677.

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