DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/23/1999    Duedate: 11/05/1999

WILLAF ARENA

DM-16    TURN-367

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GOLDEN AGE
GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
(16-4082) [24-7-0,105]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GOLDEN AGE                     KATARINA
GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)        FAR TRAVELERS (434)
(16-4082) [24-7-0,105]         (16-4227) [3-0-0,30]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

GARRETT                        MALKAHRAH
AARON'S ANGELS (395)           SAILS OF CHARON (419)
(16-4141) [8-6-1,100]          (16-4104) [6-3-1,43]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

AARON'S ANGELS (395)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. AARON'S ANGELS (395)        66
2. FAR TRAVELERS (434)         42      GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
3. SAILS OF CHARON (419)       32      Unchartered Team
4. GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)     24
5. SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)      9      FAR TRAVELERS (434)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)  182  97  3 65.2   1/ 6 AARON'S ANGELS (395)     10  3 0
 2/ 2 HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)    413 247 31 62.6   2/ 3 SAILS OF CHARON (419)     8  7 0
 3/ 3 SAILS OF CHARON (419)     22  14  1 61.1   3/ 2 GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)   7  3 1
 4/ 4 AARON'S ANGELS (395)      87  79 10 52.4   4/ 5 PUNNY AMINALS (305)       7  8 0
 5/ 5 THE BLACKHEARTS (356)    218 215  9 50.3   5/ 1 HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)     6  9 0
 6/10*FAR TRAVELERS (434)        7   8  1 46.7   6/ 8*FAR TRAVELERS (434)       5  5 1
 7/ 6*LUST MUPPETS (188)        13  15  0 46.4   7/ 9*LUST MUPPETS (188)        5  8 0
 8/ 7 PUNNY AMINALS (305)      185 217  6 46.0   8/ 4 THE BLACKHEARTS (356)     5 10 1
 9/ 8*SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)    5   6  1 45.5   9/10 THE FUN BUNCH (396)       2  1 0
10/ 9 THE FUN BUNCH (396)       42  58  6 42.0  10/ 7*SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)   2  4 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[ Karnhorn Intrigues #6 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

     The Storm Sea air had cooled.  The sky had clouded over, obscuring the stars.  On 
clear nights, the Holy Avenger's navigator used the stars to keep course, but on a 
night like this there was nothing to do but wait for daylight.  Sails were lowered and 
the crew got a well deserved rest from their labors at the oars.  Shrew had been 
taking a regular shift at them and was grateful for the break.  Finding it difficult 
to sleep in the cramped quarters below, he had come to the deck to breathe the fresh 
air.  He noticed a familiar figure sitting near the bow and sat down next to him.
     "When did you start smoking, Crow?" asked Shrew as Crow pulled a long-stemmed 
ivory pipe from under his jacket and began patting pipe weed into place.
     Crow waved his hand with a flourish and produced a small flame that danced on the 
end of his index finger.  He proceeded to light his pipe, then extinguish the flame 
with another extravagant gesture.  "Pipe weed is a favorite among wizards, you know.  
I'm acquiring a taste for it."
     Shrew knew that his friend was no wizard, not yet anyway.  To become a wizard 
took years of study and hard work.  Crow was barely a week into his apprenticeship.  
Very little of Crow had been seen aboard The Holy Avenger since he had been taken on 
as apprentice by Elysse.  The two had spent hours on end sequestered in a small cabin 
below deck.  Flame production was one of the simplest of spells, but that Crow could 
have mastered it in only a week proved that he had tremendous potential for magic.
     "I don't suppose there's been any action since the first day," Crow mused.  That 
had been frightening enough for anyone, with the Zuwayza harbor defenses shooting what 
seemed like enough ballista stones to sink a fleet at them.  But Captain Ljentazh and 
his crew had performed magnificently, dodging one sure hit after another.  "I never 
want to go through anything like that again."
     Shrew shrugged.  "They say that the ballista crews are only trained to fire on 
ships approaching the harbor.  They really had to be lucky to hit a ship that was 
sailing out of it."
     "Lucky or not, we'd have been just as dead.  Have you found out anything more 
about this ship?  Elysse doesn't want to talk about anything but magic."
     "Yeah.  About a year ago the Holy Avenger attacked and boarded a pirate ship.  At 
least, everybody here is convinced that the guy really WAS a pirate, but he claimed to 
be a merchant and managed to produce bills of sale for everything he had on board.  An 
inquest found them guilty of malfeasance.  They were all sentenced to three years of 
doing sentry duty outside the harbor, and not be allowed to leave the ship in all that 
time.  The ship took some damage and lost a couple of crewmen.  They were allowed 
inside the harbor for repairs and to get some convicts as replacement crew.  They 
still weren't allowed on land and had to anchor out near the harbor mouth.  I guess 
Nar got aboard somehow, and convinced them to help him.  How he did that I don't know.  
They're all considered deserters and traitors now."
     "So are we!" exclaimed Crow.
     "If the mission succeeds, we'll be vindicated.  If it fails, we'll be dead.  So 
what's it matter?" asked Shrew philosophically.
     Crow stopped short of answering when Noachain appeared on deck, dressed in an 
officer's uniform.  He was accompanied by a midshipman who had been assigned to him as 
a servant.  Noachian was pointing angrily to his boots.
     "Do you call those boots polished?  They look like something out of a rag bin.  
Take them below immediately.  I want them looking presentable if it takes you all 
night.  Do you understand, Mr. Mujadim?"
     "Yes sir," replied the young officer.  He removed Noachian's boots with a tug and 
disappeared below, but not before shooting a look of undisguised hatred in the Lord 
Protector's direction when he though he was unobserved.
     Noachian looked over at the pair on deck.  "So hard to find good servants these 
days, eh, Shrew?  That fellow was ready to hang me from the yardarm as a thief when I 
first came aboard.  Such insolence to a Lord Protector can't go unpunished.  That's 
the Karnhorn way.  And is that Crow over there with you?  Why, I'd almost forgotten he 
was aboard."
     "Hello, Noachian," said Crow unenthusiastically.  The two had never been friends.  
"Did Nar explain the mission to you?"
     Noachian nodded.  "Yes.  I understand that we have to gain the trust of the 
Serva, and to do that we have to appear as traitors to the Empire.  I still don't 
understand why Nar chose infidels like yourselves for the mission when good loyal 
Karnhorns like me would have been the better choice, but there's nothing I can do 
about that...."
     An anxious whisper from Shrew cut him off.  "I see a ship out there."
     "I don't see anything," said Noachian.
     "If Shrew says there's a ship, then there's a ship," snapped Crow with annoyance.  
"Shrew can see better than anyone in Alastari.  That's why Nar wants us "infidels" on 
the mission.  Because we can do something besides yell at midshipmen and brag about 
what great loyal Karnhorns we are!"
     "You two can pick up your argument later," interrupted Shrew.  "Right now we've 
got an unknown ship to report."
                          ***            ***            ***
     Zuwayza might be a great town for Karnhorns, thought Ottomund as he sat nursing 
his drink at a dockside bar, but for blue dwarves like him it was deadly dull.  
Wolfspider and his friends were off to who knows where, and it sure didn't seem like 
they'd be back anytime soon.  And that Mr. B. Natural could get on ANYBODY'S nerves.  
Maybe it was time go head back to Aljafir.
     The dwarf was startled out of his reverie when a small humanoid pulled out a 
chair and sat down at his table.  It took Ottomund a moment to remember who those 
pointed ears and big yellow eyes belonged to.  "Hello, Habmo," he said.  "You're 
looking a lot better than when last I saw you."
     "The Karragit shamans have a way with swamp fever," grinned the half-Karragit 
swavant.  "When I learned you were in town, I tracked you down.  I wonder if you might 
like to go to a Carnival with me?"
     "A Carnival?" repeated Ottomund with some confusion.
     "Yes.  A small one that operates just outside of town.  You know, games, rides, 
performers."
     Ottomund eyed the swavant suspiciously.  "They're not looking for a blue dwarf 
for their freak show, are they?"
     Habmo raised his eyebrows.  "I never thought of that," he said.  "No, actually 
there's an exhibit there I'd like you to see.  I can explain better after you've seen 
it.  If my theory is correct, it could have important ramifications for the future of 
all Alastari in general and the Karnhorn Empire in particular.  Will you come?  I'll 
buy the popcorn."
     "How can I refuse?" replied Ottomund.

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Karnhorn Empire #26 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

South of Sarebya:

     As Turlik rode south, only half his mind was occupied with plans for dealing with 
the invaders.  They would be defeated, of course.  After all, they were infidels, 
attempting to intrude on the Kjarran-blessed lands of the Glorious Empire!  Even if 
the odds were much worse than seemed at all likely, it was a known fact that 
unbelievers were not the equal of Kjarran's followers, and besides, he had the Red 
Lion Company, the elite of Sarebya, with him.  At the head of these splendid lancers, 
he would win the renown his soul hungered for.
     As they neared the smoke--coming, Turlik guessed, from burning hayricks in the 
meadows near the coast, he slowed the company to consider how best he might achieve 
his goal.  Even though his victory was a virtual certainty, it would look better to 
accomplish it with flair.  How fortunate that he had recently ridden over this stretch 
of the coast and had it fresh in his mind!
     He judged that the invaders would be landing on the long, gently-curving beach 
between Bluestone Point and Heron Point, where Hulinj Creek emptied into the Storm 
Sea.  From the water, that must look like an ideal landing site: the long beach, the 
gentle rise of the ground beyond, no trees in sight...  He permitted himself a smile.  
What the invaders could not know was that behind the first grassy ridge with its 
hayricks, the land dropped again and formed a marshy swale that would be difficult 
indeed for them to pass!
     He explained this to the aldez* who rode beside him with the Red Lion standard.
     "This is all very well," the aldez said slowly, "and I am sure it shows the hand 
of mighty Kjarran defending us, but Samjal Turlik, a marsh will be no more passable to 
us than it is to the invaders.  How shall we attack them?"
     Turlik was silent for a moment, because he had not fully considered how the 
terrain would affect the defenders.  It was true that his orders were simply to `hold 
the invaders to the beach', which should be an easy matter here.  But that would be so 
inglorious a role--!  "There are paths through the marsh," he said finally.  "I shall 
station ten men to guard the exit of each path from the wet ground, and then examine 
the situation and see how best to use the rest of the company," he decided.

Sarebya:

     At sunset, the invaders finally attacked Sarebya harbor, but it was plainly and 
insultingly an afterthought.  Ten ships, the sun a glare at their back, spread out 
just beyond the reach of the long-range ballistae.  Cadiz Virkaj studied them 
thoughtfully.  They could make a direct assault on the harbor, which would be a bloody 
business with advantage to the defender, and this, now, seemed unlikely.  Or they 
could try another flanking approach, but at closer range than the one he'd sent Turlik 
to deal with--how many men did they have to spend so recklessly, anyway?  He brushed 
that question aside.  Assume, for the sake of argument, that this was the main attack, 
the spearhead of the invasion--
     But why here, the cadiz wondered.  Why not Zuwayza?  Or at least, closer to 
Zuwayza, since he could understand why they hadn't attacked the city of Sarebya 
directly at the first.  Precisely because it was a strongly defended location, and 
Zuwayza, of course, would be even more impregnable.  But by coming here, they'd find 
their army trapped in a corridor along the coast that was never more than ten miles 
wide--  Could it be that they didn't know of the Eastern Shewish Forest that stood 
behind Sarebya like a wall?  Thought it, perhaps, an ordinary sort of forest that 
could be hacked down, burned, or otherwise rendered passable?  Now, that offered 
interesting possibilities!

South of Sarebya:

     From the inland edge of the marsh, they could see across it to the other rim and 
the hayricks that were now smouldering humps.  Only three had been burned, and the 
soldiers who covered that ridge as ants cover a melon rind were tearing the other 
ricks apart and casting the hay into the swampy land below them.  Other men were busy 
with hatchets, cutting such saplings and bushes as came to hand and those, too, were 
cast into the swamp.  Another hour, and the invaders would be able to cross; they 
might arrive muddy-footed at the firm ground, but they would arrive.
     And there were more of them than Turlik had believed possible.  He supposed, in 
the back of his mind, that he had imagined something like the raids of the Northern 
Barbarians--half a dozen ships and a hundred and fifty or two hundred men.  But the 
masts of the invaders, visible over the far ridge, made another forest, and the 
landscape was covered with men, more than he could hope to count--or defeat.  It would 
take luck and skill and the strong support of Kjarran to hold them to the shore with 
only the Red Lion Company.
     Obviously, simply guarding the paths through the marsh wouldn't work; soon there 
would be no marsh, and no barrier.  Nor had he enough men to defend the entire edge of 
the open ground, and even if he did, suppose they moved through the woods, which were 
here thin and open?
     Turlik turned to the aldez and said, "Take two men and go to the right, select 
three more to go to the left.  Fire the woods on both sides of the marsh, and do it 
thorougly.  We must deny that route to the invaders until help has come from the 
city."
     "But will help come, Samjal?" the man asked.  "How will they know we need it?"
     "They'll see the smoke of the burning trees, of course," Turlik snapped.  "That 
will make it obvious that we're in difficulties here."  When the fire-setters had 
gone, Turlik arrayed the rest of his men along the inner edge of the marsh.  This was 
no ground for lancers, but he would do the best he could.

Korga:

     "Somethin's all wrong here," Leopold said.  He tossed his knapsack onto the bed.
     Josh looked around the room, puzzled.  It was nothing fancy, but as inns go, this 
room was quite decent.  Reasonably clean, for one thing--
     "I don't mean with this here room," Leopold said impatiently.  "It's fine.  But 
here in this town, somethin's wrong.  I been tryin' to talk to Firanzal's men, an' 
they won't talk.  Carry on like they don't want to be seen with me."
     "Well..."
     "Now, I told 'em plain that I was come from Firanzal.  Mind that.  How I was 
supposed to get some kind of report from 'em.  But they wouldn't talk to me, an' they 
wouldn't tell me who of 'em is the boss."  This seemed to make Leopold particularly 
indignant, and he strode up and down the room, swinging his fists at invisible 
targets.  "Hell, man, these are supposed to be soldiers!  Even if you only got two 
soldiers, one of 'em's senior, you got a chain of command.  What're they playing at?"
     "Well..."  Josh stared at the floor and tried to figure out how to say this.  It 
was probably because he looked part Shewish that one of Firanzal's men had told him 
what was going on.  He hadn't wanted to know--not that, anyway.  He took a deep breath 
and said, "They're deserting."

Aljafir:

     "The Black Orc's hair," Melanie muttered, shaking her head disbelievingly.  
Sweeny Todd was weird, and no two ways about it.  She hurried a little to catch up 
with Sweeny, although the stony beach that stretched eastward from the city was 
awkward to walk on.  The lights of the city were all behind them now, and nothing but 
moonlight to see by, which made the water of the bay, so close at hand, look black as 
oil.  Black as the Orc's hair.  Melanie supposed--hoped--that Sweeny, at least, could 
see the Orc ahead of them.  She couldn't!
     They were passing a row of fishing boats pulled up onto the beach, and the boats 
smelled like, well, like fish.  She hadn't realized how much she disliked the smell of 
fish.  Nasty stuff!
     Sweeny ducked around between a couple of boats, moving so suddenly that Melanie 
nearly lost sight of him.  When she followed, she couldn't see a thing.
     "Why'd you bring her along?" a gravelly voice demanded.
     "Hey, I gotta have some reason for being out here on a deserted beach after 
dark!" Sweeny said.  "She's okay."
     "She'd better be.  Did you bring it?"
     There was a papery rustle, followed by a metallic clink.
     "We better not meet again for a while," the gravelly voice said.  "Kharghal's 
getting suspicious."
     "You weren't followed, I hope!" Sweeny said.
     "Nah, just by you and the dame.  I was watching.  But it's getting risky."
     "You're okay," Sweeny said.  "You're arena personnel, you've got the Greywand's 
shield.  We--"
     "Fat lot of good it'd do me if somebody stuck a knife in my back.  `Oh, Lady 
Greywand, some horrid footpad killed the Black Orc.  Could you please get us another 
one?'" he said in a cynical falsetto.
     "Well, if you don't like the risks," Sweeny suggested, "don't take 'em.  Quit 
this business."
     "I got my reasons," the Orc growled.  "Give me five minutes' haed start before 
you turn back."  There was a slight grinding sound as the beach stones shifted under a 
moving weight.

*Aldez: a military title approximately equivalent to "sergeant"; it is usually held by 
a very minor member of the nobility, such as the third son of a third son of some 
Emir.  Above the aldez is the samjal, approximately a lieutenant, and above both of 
them the cadiz or captain.  These ranks are recognized throught the Karnhorn Empire 
but should not be taken as indicating something absolutely fixed.  The hierarchy is 
fixed--an aldez would never give orders to a cadiz.  But the prestige and authority of 
any particular cadiz may vary widely compared to that of another.  For example, Cadiz 
Virkaj of Sarebya is a man of considerable importance, commander of all the military 
forces of the province of Sarebya, with many samjalan under him; there is no other 
cadiz in the province.  But the neighboring province of Tharkandya (located on the 
coast between Sarebya and Zuwayza), though it has about the same number of troops, has 
half a dozen cadizan, all of much lower prestige than Virkaj.  Also, while the normal 
thing is for an emir or kaliv to select a man and confer on him the rank and 
responsibility of cadiz, in some of the more `backward' provinces, a man may declare 
himself to be a cadiz.  If he can back it up, if he has the loyal men, the military 
skill, and has demonstrated his loyalty to the ruler of his province, he can often get 
away with this.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

This is it!  The golden age.  The battle with Grimmy was a grand one--very, very 
close.  No wonder he was Duelmaster.  And no wonder he has defeated me before.  But 
this time, my gold shone through.

I think we have some potential Halloween TV's here in Willaf.  Look at some of those 
fine records.  Shagger @ 8-4-1; Caela @ 10-6; Elsmeir @ 6-2; Goldilocks @ 12-3-1; 
Residual Gecko @ 11-6; Malkahrah @ 6-2-1; Joy Patrol @ 4-1.  And I wouldn't count out 
any Blackheart, any Aaron's Angel, any Sails of Charon, any Helpless Animal, or any 
Fun Bunch.  And then there is the bottom collection!  Amazing.  Willaf in its golden 
glory.

So let's all go out and show 'em.  Bring home the gold!

                               Golden Age

                                      SPY REPORT

     Oh, hi.  Its just little 'ol Debby Tonte.  Thought I'd check out WILLAF to see 
what's new.  Like, HELPLESS ANIMALS had to be so embarrassed when they got kicked off 
#1 spot by AARON'S ANGELS!  Way to go AARON'S ANGELS!  Uncool, HELPLESS ANIMALS.  I 
mean 2-3-0 is bad.  Will they will be allowed to fight?  I say use 'em for training 
practice!  The guys at AARON'S ANGELS like really pulled together to get a 4-1-0 this 
turn, moving up by 5.  MVP award for CAELA?  AARON'S ANGELS' proud of her after 
beating GNU WORLD ORDER and getting 21 points.  Talk about yer big time losers!  
GRIMTHANE got smashed by GARRETT, and lost 13 points!  This Duelmaster is like 
something else!  GOLDEN AGE stopped SHAGGER dead in his tracks!  I hear the top team 
insists all their warriors get nine hours sleep.  They want photogenic fighters for 
PR photos.   
     Look, you guys stick to fighting, all right?  HELPLESS ANIMALS was the most 
avoided team.  Is a 413-247-31 record really that scary?  Hhmph!  What kind of 
warriors are THE BLACKHEARTS?  HELPLESS ANIMALS, an easy team to beat if I ever saw 
one, can't get them to accept an invitation!  Like, is GNU WORLD ORDER popular, or 
what?  He was challenged the most in all of WILLAF!  He's got a 18-17-1, is that 
good?  For sure, I was holding my breath when I found out HASAN  AL-AZRAD challenged 
CHER O'LAY.  After all, haven't FAR TRAVELERS and PUNNY AMINALS had a long standing 
duel in WILLAF?  It wasn't a spectacular fight, or anything, but CHER O'LAY wants me 
to write about it since she beat HASAN AL-AZRAD.  Satisfied?   
     What does a fighter fight for?  I mean, the crowds don't give a hoot if someone 
gets killed.  Not after four more fights.  D'ya think SIEGFRIED is feeling guilty for 
killing SHROUD IN MYSTERY's MYSTAGOGUE, a mere boy?  Naah, I doubt it.  SIEGFRIED 
really fought hard against MYSTAGOGUE.  That'll teach SHROUD IN MYSTERY not to go and 
kill any of FAR TRAVELERS' guys again, huh!  What if they had a fight and nobody 
showed up?  I'd be out of a job, that's what!!!   
     Remember, blood on a purple robe may stain.  Soak it in cold water, and hand 
wash.  I'm getting tired of writing this stuff, so I'm calling it quits.  Its been 
really albendranius!  Later, guys-- Debby Tonte  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GOLDEN AGE 4082              24   7  0   105       GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GARRETT 4141                  8   6  1   100       AARON'S ANGELS (395)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SHAGGER 4163                  8   5  1    98       THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
 CAELA 4142                   11   6  0    92       AARON'S ANGELS (395)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GNU WORLD ORDER 3948         18  17  1    88       HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)
 GRIMTHANE 3957               19  14  0    77       THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
 ELSEMEIR 4108                 7   2  0    69       SAILS OF CHARON (419)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MOJO'S MONKEY 4101            7   7  0    64       THE FUN BUNCH (396)
 RESIDUAL GECKO 4144          12   6  0    63       HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)
 ERIN 4165                     7   3  1    58       AARON'S ANGELS (395)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GOLDILOCKS 4159              12   4  1    55       GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
 GOLDEN FLEECE 4152            6   2  0    55       GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
 ZARATHAS 4103                11  16  2    52       THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
 DANIEL 4210                   3   2  0    52       AARON'S ANGELS (395)
-OLD GOLD 3878                 6   6  0    48       GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
 ROWARDENN 4105                6   4  0    46       SAILS OF CHARON (419)
 MALKAHRAH 4104                6   3  1    43       SAILS OF CHARON (419)
 CHURNEI 4100                  6  24  1    43       PUNNY AMINALS (305)
 BRANGUS 4162                  7   8  0    40       PUNNY AMINALS (305)
 GREW SOME SHREW 4135          9  11  0    38       HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 NIRFAUNA 4214                 3   3  1    32       HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)
 KATARINA 4227                 3   0  0    30       FAR TRAVELERS (434)
 JOY PATROL 1723               4   2  0    28       LUST MUPPETS (188)
 RATHMOG 4235                  2   1  1    27       THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
 CHER O'LAY 4224               4   0  0    25       PUNNY AMINALS (305)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SIEGFRIED 4233                1   1  1    22       FAR TRAVELERS (434)
 SNUFFLEUPAGUS 1722            4   2  0    20       LUST MUPPETS (188)
 SIMON ST. JOHN 4231           2   1  0    18       FAR TRAVELERS (434)
 KEYLA 4236                    1   1  0    17       SAILS OF CHARON (419)
 GOLD COAST 4212               2   1  0    16       GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
-GLUGG 4124                    1   0  1    14       THE FUN BUNCH (396)
 WALLY DRAIGLE 4217            1   2  0    14       SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)
 FLESH TORNADO 1725            3   3  0    12       LUST MUPPETS (188)
 KILLMEPLEZ! 4198              2   5  0    11       THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
 LAYETTE 4225                  2   1  0    11       SAILS OF CHARON (419)
-HOPELESS 4126                 1   0  0    11       THE FUN BUNCH (396)
 MUSTANG SALLY 4220            2   3  0     9       HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)
 DAWGLESS 4222                 2   2  0     8       PUNNY AMINALS (305)
-THE QUAMSTER 4125             1   0  0     7       THE FUN BUNCH (396)
 HASAN AL-AZRAD 4230           1   2  0     5       FAR TRAVELERS (434)
-CRAVEN CROW 4218              1   1  0     4       SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)
-PERSIFLAGE 4219               1   1  0     4       SHROUD IN MYSTERY (433)
 HEFF R. 4223                  0   4  0     4       PUNNY AMINALS (305)
 ANGUS MACDOUGAL 4229          0   3  0     3       FAR TRAVELERS (434)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
FIONA 4234             0  1 0 AARON'S ANGELS 395    BANDIT PRINCE 541     367 NONE    
TORREY 4173            3  2 1 AARON'S ANGELS 395    MALKAHRAH 4104        363 JUST REV
MORTIS 4213            2  1 0 THE BLACKHEARTS 356   NIRFAUNA 4214         364         
TATYA 4228             0  1 0 FAR TRAVELERS 434     MYSTAGOGUE 4216       364 JUST REV
BO VINE 3893          14 24 0 PUNNY AMINALS 305     SHAGGER 4163          363 NOT REVE
MYSTAGOGUE 4216        2  1 1 SHROUD IN MYSTERY 433 SIEGFRIED 4233        367         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Malkahrah -- I never did care for sailing.  Now I know why. -- Churnei

Snuffleupagus -- Listen, you!  Blow your nose! -- Brangus

Flesh Tornado -- If you'd been a woman, we might have had fun. -- Heff R.
P.S.  Or if I had been.

Keyla -- Does that make me a "sea dog"?  Good fight, but it was my day. -- Dawgless

Ho, an embezzling scribe!  Easy meat. -- Cher O'Lay

Grimmy -- A great battle!  You fought well.  I fought lucky.  Salute. -- Golden Age

Caela -- Whoa!  You almost did me in with that?  One swat?  On my elbow?  What can I 
say but, "wow." -- Golden Fleece

Erin -- I'll take that!  No more!  I'm avoiding. -- Goldilocks

Brangus -- Me too!  What a surprise! -- Goldilocks

May you all fight golden in the upcoming mailer. -- Midas

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

FIONA was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
DANIEL unbelievably bested MALKAHRAH in a 3 minute Bloodfeud duel.
SIEGFRIED assassinated MYSTAGOGUE in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud duel.
CAELA devastated GNU WORLD ORDER in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
GOLDILOCKS slimly lost to RESIDUAL GECKO in a slow 32 minute expert's Challenge brawl.
MOJO'S MONKEY beat ZARATHAS in a popular 1 minute master's Challenge brawl.
ROWARDENN handily defeated CHURNEI in a action packed 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
KILLMEPLEZ! was vanquished by NIRFAUNA in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
WALLY DRAIGLE vanquished HEFF R. in a exciting 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
HASAN AL-AZRAD was savagely defeated by CHER O'LAY in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
GOLD COAST bested DAWGLESS in a 2 minute amateur's Challenge conflict.
LAYETTE was demolished by BRANGUS in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
GOLDEN AGE beat SHAGGER in a popular 3 minute mismatched Title conflict.
GRIMTHANE was vanquished by GARRETT in a action packed 1 minute mismatched bout.
ELSEMEIR overpowered THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 1 minute mismatched brawl.
ERIN devastated GREW SOME SHREW in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
GOLDEN FLEECE demolished JOY PATROL in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
RATHMOG was beaten by AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 2 minute bloody fight.
SNUFFLEUPAGUS devastated ANGUS MACDOUGAL in a popular 1 minute one-sided contest.
FLESH TORNADO was subdued by KEYLA in a action packed 2 minute bout.
MUSTANG SALLY was vanquished by KATARINA in a 2 minute mismatched fray.
SIMON ST. JOHN overpowered PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 2 minute one-sided match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   9         PARRY-RIPOSTE     10 -   7 -   0     59  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  8         LUNGING ATTACK    35 -  27 -   5     56  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  5         SLASHING ATTACK   29 -  23 -   2     56  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         TOTAL PARRY       32 -  26 -   2     55  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-LUNGE        6 -   5 -   0     55  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         PARRY-STRIKE       7 -   7 -   0     50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         STRIKING ATTACK   21 -  22 -   2     49  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         BASHING ATTACK    13 -  20 -   0     39  |
|AIMED BLOW                       0         WALL OF STEEL      7 -  23 -   0     23  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         AIMED BLOW         0 -   1 -   0      0  |

Turn 367 was great if you     not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      GOLDEN AGE 4082            24   7  0  105 GOLDEN GLADIATORS (362)
SLASHING ATTACK  GARRETT 4141                8   6  1  100 AARON'S ANGELS (395)
WALL OF STEEL    GNU WORLD ORDER 3948       18  17  1   88 HELPLESS ANIMALS (73)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    GRIMTHANE 3957             19  14  0   77 THE BLACKHEARTS (356)
LUNGING ATTACK   ERIN 4165                   7   3  1   58 AARON'S ANGELS (395)
PARRY-LUNGE      ROWARDENN 4105              6   4  0   46 SAILS OF CHARON (419)
STRIKING ATTACK  MALKAHRAH 4104              6   3  1   43 SAILS OF CHARON (419)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is GARRETT 4141.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was MALKAHRAH 4104.  The ten other most popular fighters were SHAGGER 4163, FLESH 
TORNADO 1725, WALLY DRAIGLE 4217, CHER O'LAY 4224, CAELA 4142, MOJO'S MONKEY 4101, 
ROWARDENN 4105, GARRETT 4141, ERIN 4165, and RATHMOG 4235.

The least popular fighter this week was GOLDILOCKS 4159.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were RESIDUAL GECKO 4144, SIMON ST. JOHN 4231, JOY PATROL 1723, GREW SOME 
SHREW 4135, LAYETTE 4225, HEFF R. 4223, KILLMEPLEZ! 4198, CHURNEI 4100, GNU WORLD 
ORDER 3948, and MYSTAGOGUE 4216.

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