DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER
Date : 10/13/1999 Duedate: 10/26/1999
SOLVEN ARENA
DM-22 TURN-362
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
STRAW MALT
OLD MCDONALD (621)
(22-5304) [25-6-0,117]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY LUCIFER
THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
(22-5393) [5-1-0,54]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
MR. SINISTER DARKWING DUCK
THE FIERCE FIVE (264) MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
(22-2622) [21-17-3,87] (22-5343) [10-2-1,78]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
CHAIN REACTION (288)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. ROCK ETTS (595) 50
2. THE HELL HOUNDS (629) 34 ROCK ETTS (595)
3. THE FIERCE FIVE (264) 31 Unchartered Team
4. CHAIN REACTION (288) 28
5. OLD MCDONALD (621) 14 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 2*THE HELL HOUNDS (629) 21 11 2 65.6 1/ 1 CHAIN REACTION (288) 10 5 0
2/ 3 ROCK ETTS (595) 234 150 5 60.9 2/ 2 OLD MCDONALD (621) 9 4 0
3/ 1*ASTRAL BODIES (634) 9 7 0 56.3 3/ 4 THE FIERCE FIVE (264) 8 7 2
4/ 6 OLD MCDONALD (621) 83 65 1 56.1 4/ 6 ROCK ETTS (595) 6 5 0
5/ 5 CHAIN REACTION (288) 222 176 20 55.8 5/ 8 MIGHTY DUCKS (604) 5 3 0
6/ 7 MIGHTY DUCKS (604) 120 103 6 53.8 6/ 5*ASTRAL BODIES (634) 5 5 0
7/ 8 WILD OATS (479) 197 180 12 52.3 7/ 3*DRAGONSLAYERS (636) 5 10 3
8/ 9 WEIRD AL (610) 50 52 3 49.0 8/ 7 THE ZOO (205) 5 10 0
9/10 THE FIERCE FIVE (264) 155 176 13 46.8 9/ 9*THE HELL HOUNDS (629) 4 1 1
10/11 THE ZOO (205) 94 121 1 43.7 10/10 WILD OATS (479) 3 8 0
11/ 4*DRAGONSLAYERS (636) 8 11 3 42.1 11/11 WEIRD AL (610) 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
Dragonslayer's Tales #3
Now, don't you just DISLIKE RSI for clipping and cutting just like that? You'd
have to go an extra mile to find the headline of my last turn's spotlight! The
nerve...!
Anyway, suggestions are still being accepted and everyone (except Ziggy) is
invited to join the fray by permitting me to use their teams in my writing.
In any case, read on, valiant visitor.
Shadowfire
*** *** ***
Somewhere near Ardivent:
Supper was utterly uneventful. All of them sat at a massive trestle table laden
with food, exchanging random pleasantries, each one slowly consuming their fill.
The atmosphere was relaxing, yet cold, devoid of all life. Rivendell glanced at
the piece of silverware his hand was holding. The fork bloomed with rust. Silver was
supposed to tarnish.
Dyrrhaal showed him to his quarters as he himself was far too full to remember
the way. His chamber was located at the very heart of the c-shaped keep. The room
lacked any windows.
"Crypt," said Rivendell when Dyrrhaal left.
He unpacked, shaved, and got ready for sleep. The single bed in the room looked
almost...feral. The massive headboard curved into the jaws of a gothic gargoyle and
the feet curved into ursine claws. The behemoth construct looked like it was about to
rush in and swallow Rivendell whole.
He decided to sleep on the floor. His vixen-fur trimmed cape would more than
suffice. He cozied up and slept without dreams until he awoke for no apparent reason.
Even without windows he could tell it was far from morning. He peered into the
corridor. No one there. Like a mink he sneaked out into the shadows.
A midnight walk, he felt thirsty and set off to find something to drink. Simple
as that.
He passed colonnade after corridor after gallery until he reached the main hall.
It seemed even bigger in the flickering light of the torches. Rivendell got into the
seat of the throne. He picked up the scepter and jokingly half-thought, half said, "I
am Lord of Castlereage!"
No response came.
He grasped the handrests to feel their cottony softness and triggered something.
A heavy panel slid into the floor revealing a hidden stairway into the darkness.
"What the...?"
The unknown beckoned him and he gave in to the urge.
The stairway hadn't been used for a very long time indeed. The air had grown
rank and slippery moss proliferated on the walls. Definitely not a "treasure trove"
kind of place. Turn right, turn left, swerve away from a stalagmite to avoid injury.
The passage ended in a clay-walled vault. Several alcoves were incised within.
Obviously enough this was a family crypt. Rivendell bowed his head to honor hallowed
ground as he came closer.
"Dyrrhaal Castlereagh, specimen 117," said the copper plate on the coffin. That
took a second to settle in Rivendell's mind. He ran to a different alcove.
"Lord Castlereagh, specimen 083."
Rivendell's body filled with terror and his extremities trembled. Fear flooded
the vault and woke the earth. Dust fell in bushels and the room quaked as if dancing
a ghostly jig. The entry door slammed like a giant maw. No matter. There was
another one. No matter.
Rivendell put all his weight into it as his body slammed into the crumbling
timbers of the door at the opposite end of the chamber.
He fell into Nothing and saw Everything. Worlds. Many of them, some alike, some
utterly alien and monstrous. One sky, two sky, red sky, blue sky, black sky, red,
blue, black, puce where did that come from puce where why what how fangs pain rocks
stumble puce sky how down puce puce puce up up up down down down upside-down fall fall
fall FALL FALL FALL!!!
And then he fainted.
He knelt in a circle of Light surrounded by cohorts of Darkness. Their eyes
glowed and their hair rippled in the fierce wind. No windows to reflect in, rusty
iron disguised as silver, coffins, road stone, "To my beloved Katherine--born 309,
died 420," it was all coming together.
"Murderers! DOPPLEGANGERS!!!!"
"Merely wardens of the gate."
"You killed them!"
"We are beyond law and justice."
"But...."
"Silence! Pressing matters are at hand! Tell your master that the key woke the
hound. Warn him! And now run. You are no longer welcome here!"
He came to on a windswept slope of the birch tree covered hill. He got up and
ran. It was still nighttime, but dawn was on its way. He would warn Shadowfire.
*** *** ***
Solven:
The room was in terrible condition. Blackblade reached through the pile of dirty
clothes and pulled out a luxurious gator skin packet from the bottom of the mail pile.
"To: Blackblade of Dragonslayers in the City of Solven. From: Black Stealth."
That name brought painful memories. "Expect a midnight guest," said the single piece
of parchment within the envelope.
He wasn't alone.
The visitor was an old man with shaggy white hair. He was dressed in dark
thief's garb. He puffed opium smoke from his pipe, the same smoke that gave his
yellowing eyes a dreamy look and withered the skin.
"Why?"
"It's time you did us a favor."
"You didn't give me enough time!"
It was pointless to bargain with servants of the Stealth.
"Spoken like a true youth. There is NEVER enough time."
"Who is it this time?"
"There is a person in Solven who owes us...something. His name is Cadmus. Kill
him and you'll be off the hook...for now."
Blackblade never saw this man before.
"Do it, or share his fate."
There are too many of us.
"We'll find you."
Strangers come and talk. Strangers come and order you. Strangers come and take
your blood. Good gods, WHO IS THIS MAN?!
He killed the silly old man without pity. No remorse would haunt him. He did
all he should have done.
He dragged the body into the street and searched it. Nothing. The Stealth
doesn't leave footprints.
The stolen boat with the body slowly drifted on the surface of the Cat's Eye
River. It would capsize long before it reached Shadowbourne because of the hole in
its bottom, and all would be well.
It was a beautiful night to make a run for it.
*** *** ***
Arkers:
"I think I'm gonna be sick...."
"Whatever did this, it wasna man's kin, I tell ye."
"Why so, Inspector?"
"Whatever 'tis, I ken, nee wot manly ca' crush a man's chest like tha' with but a
seingle fiste. Darke days come, I tell ye...."
*** *** ***
Solven, the next day:
It was a good idea from Dawn's side to invite the whole Wild Oats team for an
evening tea party. The tensions between what was left of the Dragonslayers and the
newly-arrived Ashes to Ashes mounted day by day. The last thing Dawn needed right now
was a fisticuffs brawl.
The "mingling," as Shadowfire used to refer to it, did not go well. Daggerspell,
a lithe Lubanese woman in her twenties, Mighty, an emaciated, sinewy orc, Holy Cow, a
white-clad matron-like shape, Juggernaut, a mountain of muscle, and Midnight Strike, a
well-developed, graceful Karnhorn youth, they all sat and chatted in their own
separate corner. But no one cared.
Cadmus reclined in the soft chair by the fireplace and sipped his zythum.
"How was this Vixen Trim of yours?" he asked Dawn.
"All too human, rash, belligerent. What is she now? A she-corpse six feet below
the ground? May her team pay full honors. I myself feel sorry for the deed, but too
many people die each day to consider any one of them for much."
"Duke just doesn't make them the way he used to. What a pity."
*** *** ***
Ivory Wastes:
In the middle of the glaciers there was a lake, in the middle of which stood a
tiny islet, with only enough room for two to stand on with some gesticulation space
left over.
Shadowfire always found it difficult to outstare Echo. Not that either had
definite EYES, one's face being a hellish blaze, the other's a soothing grey swirl of
stars, but still....
"Here's your packet, just as stated in the Agreement." Shadowfire broke the
silence.
"The Key looks splendid. Good work, good chap."
"Let's just say I wouldn't want to be your next target...."
"You got a guilty conscience?"
Shadowfire bowed his head and omitted the topic. "All the trespassers are to be
dispatched to their respective planes?"
"Not quite. We've had two escapees."
"Where and who are they?"
"The Agreement didn't say anything about escapees!" Echo laughed and laughed as
he faded into thin air with the Key of Old Valamantis in his hands.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Aruaki Clanhold #41 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Aruak City:
Kennelworth took the vial to the Tuft-Tuggers' guildhouse, but Adie wasn't there.
"She's gone to Andor to see the king," Lady Protector Shania Silverstar said.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"Maybe so." The innkeeper opened the small box into which he'd put the vial and
showed it to her. "The contents of this bottle were put into a font in the Temple of
Demnat, and shortly afterward, a priest--who had washed his hands in that font for
ritual purposes--assumed his feline form. The reports I've heard suggest that he
changed shape against his will, and it sounds as though he may have had little or no
intelligent control over himself once he was transformed."
"And naturally, you wonder if there is a connection." The slim woman nodded. "I
have heard a tale about this transformation, too, and also that one of the priests
attending the changed man also shifted without volition." She was silent for a
moment, then said, "I have lately been aware of a growing shadow over the city, one so
subtle that any attempt I made to examine it and trace it to its source has failed--
it's been rather like trying to remember a dream. The clue I need to grip this
problem may be here." She closed the box. "I will study it with deep attention and
all my skill."
"And all your care, too, I hope!"
"And with care also, my friend," she agreed.
Celestinvael then:
Boyington and Naevan studied the guards for a moment. There were four of them,
and they were extremely alert, and moreover, their position commanded the corridor the
gladiators had to pass through.
"It's a cinch we can't sneak past them," Naevan muttered.
Boyington nodded. "And we don't speak the language well enough to fast-talk our
way past. We'll have to fight."
"My favorite thing to do," the part-Orc said. "Well, no point waiting around,
let's do it. You take the two on the right, I'll take the left."
With a nod, Boyington sprang forward, Naevan at his side. Two of the guards
advanced to meet them, the other two remaining to guard the corridor. It seemed to
Boyington that time slowed to a crawl as he struck and parried and dodged and slashed.
These guards were good, as good as anyone he'd met in the arena in Zorpunt. Without
the advantage of the peculiar alteration of time-flow--which didn't seem to affect the
guards--the gladiator knew he would have been in serious trouble. He thought he could
have beaten his opponent, but at a cost in injury to himself which might have been
disastrous. As the first pair of guards faltered, the second came forward to support
them. Boyington shook his head over that; it was poor tactics to come forward
piecemeal to be defeated when a group charge might have won the day.
Despite Hanvol's assurance that all who remained in Celestinvael would be dead in
a few hours, Boyington found that once he had the guards down, he couldn't kill them.
He checked to make sure neither would be getting up in the next half hour or so to
attack him from behind, then glanced over at Naevan. The part-Orc had been unlucky.
His opponents were down--dead--but he himself was injured, bleeding badly from a wound
in his side.
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Of course not," Naevan snarled, tearing the sash from one guard's body to bind
up his wound. "I'll do for a while, though. Let's get moving."
Boyington opened his mouth to suggest his companion rest, then realized how
pointless that would be, under the circumstances. He led the way down the corridor.
Apparently the four guards had been deemed sufficient, or maybe there were simply no
more to spare. Anyway, they didn't meet any more. At one point, the air became thick
as syrup so that they had to force their way through it; at another, the sourceless
light seemed to flicker and dim, and out of the corners, shadows flowed toward them
menacingly. Boyington took out Hanvol's pencil-like wand, wondering if it was
supposed to be used here, and how.
"Not that," Naevan gasped. "Cut them. Curving strokes, no straight lines." He
was moving his own blade in tight arcs, and the shadow shapes dissolved whenever it
touched them.
"What are they?" Boyington asked, emulating his companion's strokes.
"Old wives' tale. Don't remember a name."
Boyington glanced at him sharply. Naevan was fighting doggedly, but it was plain
that he was in trouble. He might not make it back to their own time alive, unless
they hurried.
Celestinvael now:
Explicit seemed to regard the catman's plan as a good idea, and Numbya couldn't
think of anything better, so it was agreed. They spent a day exploring the immediate
vicinity, so as to avoid getting boxed into a corner if a pursuit should begin.
Whenever they encountered a party of Kjarran-worshippers small enough to be wiped out
quickly and completely, they did it. Sportsmanship didn't enter into the fight; all
they had to do was remember the body on the altar, and the screams, and no trick
seemed to low to play on the killers.
They put in two days at the bloody game, and it was Numbya's guess that they had
reduced the numbers of the Kjarran-worshippers by half in that time. "But we're up
against diminishing returns," he warned his companions. "We haven't seen a party
small enough to tackle all afternoon. They may not know who we are, or exactly where,
but they're catching on to our tactics. I figure it might be time to cut our losses."
"Not without the Key," the catman said.
"Anyway, we can't." When the others turned to look at her, Explicit shrugged.
"There were a couple of men at the gate this morning. I tried to go out a breach in
the wall and around, to come at them from the other side, but I couldn't pass the line
of the wall."
+ ]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 #24 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Deadpool watched from above as Cable marched into the office of General Kyrican.
His former manager-turned-friend had a blank look on his face, as if being there
didn't concern him in the least. Kyrican rose from behind his desk as the larger man
entered, Deadpool was enjoying the vantage that the Crow's hidden passages provided.
Kyrican smiled disarmingly as he took Cable's hand and they exchanged the time honored
test of strength with a brief handshake. Deadpool noted Cable's reaction to Kyrican's
strong grip more than he noticed Kyrican's reaction. Deadpool knew how strong Cable
was...sometimes he thought he'd known it too well.
Cable took a seat across the Aruaki headmaster's desk when Kyrican offered. He
nodded in thanks, but didn't speak. The large man was doing his level best to appear
disinterested, and Deadpool was himself almost convinced. Deadpool felt a bit of
jealousy as Kyrican offered Cable a fine cigar from a dark wood case. Imported from
the Karnhorn Empire, from the look of the decorative box. Cable accepted and lit the
stogie with one of the dwarven matches he always carried.
Kyrican appeared calm, and even friendly, as Cable lit the cigar. The Aruaki
took his seat in the large chair behind his desk, molding easily into its familiar
confines. Deadpool thought he looked too comfortable for a traitor, for that is what
Cable still suspected of the man who had once conspired with Rirorni against King
Mickael. Deadpool had no reason not to believe in his friend's assessment, but that
was why they were really here. They needed to find out what was going on with Kyrican
and the rest of Tarrgir's council. The best way, near as Cable could figure, would be
to get a position ON that council. Deadpool chuckled inwardly and had to stifle a
laugh at the thought of the stiff necked Cable in the role of politician.
"Welcome once again, Nathan Dayspring," Kyrican said, breaking the silence, but
not the tension. "It has been many years since last I saw you here, in the walls of
my Academy. They have been kind to you."
"I'm happy to be here, General Kyrican," Cable replied, taking a long draw off
his cigar. A light flashed in Cable's eye, a sure sign to Deadpool that he wasn't
pleased to be here.
Kyrican smiled, a warm smile that was somehow condescending. "Your son's
graduation, I believe, was...."
"I'd really rather not talk about that, if you don't mind," Cable said, cutting
in on Kyrican's pleasantries. "I'm a busy man, and I have a campaign to be running,
as you well know. Please, get to the point, as I'm sure you have pressing matters as
well."
Deadpool winced at Cable's lack of diplomacy, which was exactly what he'd feared
in "Nathan Dayspring, Politician". He wasn't alone in discomfort, as Kyrican's ears
had turned red and his eyes were narrowed. "Very well, Nathan," Kyrican replied, his
voice dripping with venom.
"And it's Lord Dayspring, General," Cable interjected, interrupting once again.
Kyrican was fairly fuming now, his ears and cheeks heavily red and his voice a
little bit shaky. "My apologies, milord," he said with the slightest nod of his head.
"I meant no offence, and will come to the point."
Deadpool tensed as he felt a presence behind him. Spinning silently, he drew a
dagger from a wrist sheath and held it back along his forearm. There, below his
vantage from a small shelf above the bookcase access door, stood a woman, tall and
slender, wearing the blacks and grays of an assassin. Deadpool recognized her as one
of his superiors in the Guild, but what was she doing here?
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #25 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Near Tronsha, halfway between Andor and Fratsfa:
Mickeal was glad the ditch wasn't muddy. He rolled up onto one knee, drawing
his sword and raising his head slowly to peer through the tangled grasses that edged
the ditch. There was no one in sight--Khazakh had taken cover somewhere, probably
close by, and the sniper was not visible. Their horses had wandered a little way on
down the road, and the rest of his party was not in sight; they'd fallen behind, but
he didn't know how far.
Now what?
His own impulse was to go after the sniper. He hadn't been paying close
attention but thought the ditch had run along the road for some distance, and there
was a curve not too far back that would make it possible to get to the other side of
the road without exposing himself.... Of course, the sniper might be moving, too.
And, of course, pursuing assassins was not supposed to be part of the king's job.
Even when it was the king who was attacked. This wouldn't be the first time he'd
found his job irksome.
Where was Khazakh?
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Khazakh was belly down in the grasses in an area where no reasonable man would
try to conceal himself. There didn't appear to be cover enough for a rabbit. Which
just showed how little most people knew about concealment. His clothing was of a
color and pattern that would blend in with nearly anything, his slow, careful
movements those of a man who had successfully hunted the extremely wary winter-wolves
of his homeland.
The sniper had been behind a clump of wild berry canes at the roadside, but
Khzakh was not so foolish as to suppose the man had stayed there. Still, he had
assessed the probable routes of escape--to the front, onto the road, was clearly out,
and to the rear, so far as he could tell from here, there were more brambles, possibly
an impenetrable wall of them, from the look of things. To the sniper's right was an
open area on the bank of a small stream. The left, back along the road, was the most
logical way for the man to move. Also, the curve of the road there would allow the
sniper to get to their side of the road unseen, and if he planned to try again, that
would be a good move on his part.
He wanted to pursue the man, catch him and ask him questions, but his primary job
was defending the king. He began to edge toward the ditch.
Skaithvarn:
"Your name is Omavo?" Senator Dole asked. At the Ventan's startled nod, he went
on, "And you're our jailer?"
The young Ventan shrugged. "I guess," he muttered. His gaze, which had wandered
to Bonner Springs, was definitely admiring.
"Rather quiet out here--"
"Vasvo's going to be the death of us!" the young man exclaimed suddenly. It was
as though the Senator's sympathetic presence had pulled a cork or unlocked a door.
Words poured from him as he told of the Ventan leader's insistence that all non-Ventan
were enemies, of his policy of petty theft (or major theft if the chance offered) in
the villages they passed through, of the intimidation of farmers with hints at curses,
and even of real curses sometimes laid on those who annoyed the leader. "We never
have a chance to settle down, never get to be friends with anyone," Omavo finished,
"not even other Ventan! Everyone's an enemy to Vasvo."
"Things are otherwise in the world at large," the Senator said, as though musing
to himself. "Oh, there is trouble, there are enemies, but there are friends and good
times, too. Educational opportunities...chances for young men to meet young women and
get friendly...chances for a young man to choose his own road and walk it freely...."
"Chances for others, maybe," Omavo said bitterly, "but not for a Ventan."
"Chances for a Ventan, too, perhaps," the Senator said, his voice soft and
insinuating, "if he were to leave those who confine his life and had a friend or two
to introduce him into new circles. I know a lot of people who would welcome a young
man of promise...."
"Omavo! Omavo, where are you? What's taking you so long?" The voice was
Vasvo's, and at the sound of it approaching the barn door, the young man jumped, then
turned away quickly, hurrying to meet his leader just outside the barn. The prisoners
couldn't hear what words were exchanged, but Vasvo's bullying, complaining, critical
tone was clear.
"He may listen to your blandishments," the woman in the next stall said quietly.
"Lady Elida of Ulmurvian, I presume?" Senator Dole said, bowing courteously. "I
am Senator Dole of Amen-Tei in the Andorian League, and this is my assistant, Lady
Protector Bonner Springs. We've come to rescue you."
"By getting yourselves captured?" she asked in a tone between laughing and
crying.
"Whatever it takes to do the job, fair lady," the manager said. "There are many
options open to us, and young Omavo is only one of them."
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Thank you, Saderite, for the honor of moving you off the throne.
To the great Katana, good luck. Died in peace like me. When I am done, I will
go the same way.
Honor to the TPs in the arena.
Straw Malt
SPY REPORT
It is I, Novgorodny Vir, Spymaster of Spymasters. Look on my work, ye mighty,
and despair! Those betting on DRAGONSLAYERS lost their shirt, as DRAGONSLAYERS lost
their fighting abilities: 0-5-0. Nothing works for a team like victory (How's that
for a perceptive observation?) as MIGHTY DUCKS can attest... THE HELL HOUNDS posted
a nice gain, to come in 9th. Everybody loves a winner... CHAIN REACTION had cause
to celebrate, after GALORNDON KOR got 16 points by beating CHROME. GRIMACE certainly
had a baffled expression on hers face, after losing to HAIL-LITE and losing 14 points
in the process! The arena was more crowded than usual this time, as SAD-ERITE faced
SOLVEN's Duelmaster. SAD-ERITE found out that SOLVEN isn't a democracy. You've
gotta be the best to be Duelmaster here! Word has it one team in SOLVEN is using
psychics to predict wins. They lead a charmed life!
My mother wished me to avoid conflict, and seek the gentle trade of Spyreporter.
But warriors aren't supposed to avoid fights! To quell some nasty rumors, the guys
in CHAIN REACTION are not carrying any incurable diseases. No need to avoid 'em. As
a woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of DRAGONSLAYERS, so did that sorry
team shy from CHAIN REACTION Everyone is famous for fifteen minutes, and LENA is it
right now. Most challenged warrior. Isn't THE ZOO proud! Call 'im brash! Call 'im
brassy! Call 'im brave! Call 'im sassy! SASQUATCH will face QUARTER POUNDER, up by
29. Aaaah, just call 'im dead meat. It's not whether you win or lose, but how many
points you get (3). Right, SASQUATCH? IVORY GUARDIAN challenged LENA! Who says
DRAGONSLAYERS are just a bunch of wimps! IVORY GUARDIAN of DRAGONSLAYERS kept his
wits as he was defeated by LENA.
Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors.
SHAPESHIFTER in the Dark Arena wasn't enough for THE SUCCUBUS of THE HELL HOUNDS.
Maybe that certain serving girl(?) at The Victory Tavern will be! Sober up, young
warriors, and take note of AZURE DRAKE's fate! SPELLBINDER of THE FIERCE FIVE
handily did him in. Experience counts for something on SOLVEN's sands. Ask not for
whom the sword slashes; it slashes for thee.
All good things must come to an end. As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond
my control, I must take my leave of this place. Do not despair! I shall return!--
Novgorodny Vir
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
STRAW MALT 5304 25 6 0 117 OLD MCDONALD (621)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BRAVO BADAXE 3075 19 13 0 117 CHAIN REACTION (288)
QUARTER POUNDER 5298 19 11 0 110 OLD MCDONALD (621)
SOCIOPATH 5281 14 5 0 107 WILD OATS (479)
HARMONY CHURCH 5056 14 8 1 105 CHAIN REACTION (288)
SAD-ERITE 5320 21 9 0 94 ROCK ETTS (595)
BAALZEBUL 2890 12 11 1 94 THE FIERCE FIVE (264)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
WOLF-A-MIT 5347 12 7 0 89 ROCK ETTS (595)
-DUMB LUCK 5246 15 11 2 88 WILD OATS (479)
MR. SINISTER 2622 21 17 3 87 THE FIERCE FIVE (264)
GALORNDON KOR 5058 11 10 0 86 CHAIN REACTION (288)
CHROME 1469 20 23 0 83 THE ZOO (205)
CRYSTAL GEYSER 5090 11 8 1 81 CHAIN REACTION (288)
SASQUATCH 5274 11 11 0 81 WILD OATS (479)
S.T.L. DUCK 5341 10 3 1 81 MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
MIST 1470 18 25 0 79 THE ZOO (205)
DARKWING DUCK 5343 10 2 1 78 MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
S.K. MUNSTER 1573 16 22 0 70 THE ZOO (205)
SPELLBINDER 5403 7 2 1 68 THE FIERCE FIVE (264)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DRILL ME 5356 11 13 0 63 WEIRD AL (610)
HAIL-LITE 5386 6 3 0 60 ROCK ETTS (595)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
LUCIFER 5393 5 1 0 54 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
WEARY WILLY 5351 7 20 0 41 THE ZOO (205)
GRIMACE 5352 10 10 0 40 OLD MCDONALD (621)
CUTS LIKE A DUCK 5350 5 2 0 38 MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
DUCK TO THE RESCUE! 5358 4 4 0 36 MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
LENA 5402 7 3 0 34 THE ZOO (205)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
THE SUCCUBUS 5395 2 5 2 33 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
ASMODEOUS 5396 6 1 0 30 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
-ETRIGAN 5394 4 2 0 30 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
MUNCH-OUT 5378 3 2 0 30 OLD MCDONALD (621)
-BAELZEBUL 5392 4 2 0 25 THE HELL HOUNDS (629)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
RED GIANT 5419 3 1 0 21 ASTRAL BODIES (634)
ASTEROID 5421 2 1 0 18 ASTRAL BODIES (634)
WHITE DWARF 5423 2 1 0 17 ASTRAL BODIES (634)
AQUAMARIN 5441 1 1 0 16 ROCK ETTS (595)
HAPPY MEAL 5451 2 0 0 13 OLD MCDONALD (621)
HIDEOUS KINKY 5463 1 0 0 13 THE FIERCE FIVE (264)
COMET 5420 1 1 0 12 ASTRAL BODIES (634)
QUASAR 5450 1 1 0 10 ASTRAL BODIES (634)
MAR**BULL 5447 1 1 0 9 ROCK ETTS (595)
BLACKBLADE 5431 2 2 0 8 DRAGONSLAYERS (636)
RIVENDELL SILVERBLAD 5430 1 3 1 7 DRAGONSLAYERS (636)
DAWN TREADER 5445 1 2 1 6 DRAGONSLAYERS (636)
IVORY GUARDIAN 5433 1 3 0 6 DRAGONSLAYERS (636)
DASH CORSAIR 5455 1 1 0 4 CHAIN REACTION (288)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
VIXEN TRIM 5452 0 1 0 CHAIN REACTION 288 DAWN TREADER 5445 360 REVENGED
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
SHAPESHIFTER 402 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 THE SUCCUBUS 5395 362 NONE
AZURE DRAKE 5432 3 1 1 DRAGONSLAYERS 636 SPELLBINDER 5403 362
VOZHD 5462 0 1 0 THE FIERCE FIVE 264 BANDIT PRINCE 408 362 NONE
DA0000034 5454 1 1 0 WILD OATS 479 STONE GOLEM 409 362 NONE
DA0000033 5453 0 2 0 WILD OATS 479 SPYMASTER 405 362 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Lucifer -- How hellish of you to hound me like that. -- Willy
Harmony Church -- (shiver) That was really scary! I was headed for the arena for my
fight, and all the sudden, I turned into a cat! I thought I'd have to default instead
of losing personally, but as I passed under the gateway, or through the gateway, or
whatever is the appropriate phrase, I changed back. What a relief! Of course, my
clothes had been wrecked in the first change, so I had to quick borrow something from
SK, and Lena made rude remarks about my personal equipment, but I guess that's
something I just have to put up with. I hope it doesn't happen again. -- Chrome
Baalzebul -- You were already dazzling in that department. -- S.K. Munster
Ivory Guardian -- Bold fellow, aren't you? Good try, but not an ideal style match for
you. -- Lena
Sociopath -- Does the fact that I had to be sewn after that fight mean I'm a wild oat?
-- Mist
Shadowgate -- Hi. -- Morris, The Zoo
Duke Malibu -- Do we get to see a blow-by-blow account of this epic brawl? -- Morris
Shadowgate -- Challenge gladly accepted. -- Shadowfire
Ziggy -- Just how am I supposed to pronounce "Szlacta?" -- Shadowfire
Cadmus -- Bathing thing? Do you mean DA0000034? -- Shadowfire
Duke -- Now THAT was a COINCIDENCE!! -- Shadowfire
Ed. -- Now let's see, what was in last turn's spotlights...name Dyrrhaal misspelled
three different ways..."e" clipped from "alley"..."get" changed to "bet"..."lane"
wronged into "land"...good gods, who proofreads these things? -- Shadowfire
Cadmus -- Did you send that diplo to intimidate your truly with all those TVs? --
Shadowfire
Duke Malibu -- Please do not take my actions as being dishonorable. I only challenged
Red Giant to clip the SCUM's wings. -- Azure Drake
All -- Does anyone besides Cadmus actually READ my spotlights? -- Shadowfire
All -- Recently cam back from the home arena (oh beloved 93). Have a dollop of news
to share. More or less definitely we'll have two (or more) teams graduating into
Solven once they're past their training at Noblish. Team Ultra Z (489) will be
arriving around turns 364-365 and Hellbenders (499) will be ascending the shuttle
sometime around turn 363. Both have impressive arena records. Let's all clap, stomp,
toot, and hoot as they near that time when they get to come HERE. Does anyone realize
that hellbenders are a type of newt? Does anyone realize that Dragonball F is
overhyped? On a more bewildering note, the newest Noblish Team, Daishi's Duelers,
caught my eye by having two of their fighters earn 50-55 points on their first turn.
?!?!? Yes, I know. -- Shadowfire
Duelmaster Sad-Erite -- Congrats on defending your title! Besting a previous
Duelmaster is proof that you earned your spot as the City's Champion. -- Duke Malibu
P.S. Of course, that doesn't mean that some on my team won't want to challenge you
for the throne.... :)
Katana -- Congratulations on your invite! I remember well when you sat in the
Duelmaster's chair after slaying the previous DM, Natalie. Carry on the good fight at
the Isle and we wish you the best of luck for your last fight here under the lights.
-- Duke & The Chain Gang
Ziggy -- I would like to see you in 100. -- Old McDonald
Cadmus -- With luck of the arena, I thank Katana for using two weapons not one. --
S.M.
Pie-Rite -- Saderite is a little younger than me. -- Straw Malt
Chrome -- The neatest faces aren't the prettiest. -- Grimace
Harmony Church -- The three was one skill. Good luck the rest of the way. -- Quaterpd
Comet -- Nicely done but how about teaching some? -- Mar**bull
Galarndon Kor -- I expected to lose but I did it for the skills. -- Hail-Lite
Grimace -- Why are you still here? -- Wolf-A-Mit
Straw Malt -- Can't I get rid of you? -- Sad-Erite
White Dwarf -- How can you do this to a rookie? -- Aquamarin
Bravo -- What did you think of my desperation strat? Me too. I think Cadmus wants me
dead. -- Sasquatch
Katana -- (c/o Ziggy) -- Like any good TP (spelled m-a-s-o-c-h-i-s-t), I loved it!
Look for a fellow aimer to show up in 100 soon. Name of Lafayette. Give him a warm
welcome, won't you? It'll probably be a one sided affair but, what the hey. Fist
fights ARE fun to watch, so maybe Ziggy and Cadmus should do lunch. -- Sasquatch
Mist -- You're such a good sport. -- Sociopath
P.S. I hate good sports.
Bravo -- I'm stalking you. I win and I'm off to the adepts as an immortal. I think
Zodiac's tongue would look good in my refrigerator. -- Sociopath
Pie-Rite -- Let's match up Sad-Erite and Sasquatch in ARM/H, no shield and 10-X-X as I
would very much like to show you the difference. She could probably also scum Sad-
Erite, but why? I have more compassion for mail carriers than that. -- Cadmus
P.S. The mail was late again, so maybe she will.... She's a foxy pixie and if she
shows up in lil' leather things, the crowd shouldn't be bored.
Shadowgate -- Welcome to Solven! I hope the down-challenge you experienced doesn't
discourage you! -- Ziggy
Sad-Erite -- I graduated, you podling! Something that won't happen you to until you
hit 50 fights! CHECK! -- Katana
Shadowfire -- You're a funny little man! I neither asked nor needed your "permission"
to respond to what you wrote. I didn't characterize your persona in any way, so shove
off! Oh yeah...if you down-challenge like you did with Azure Drake vs. Red Giant
again, I'll assume you don't mind it and I'll do it to you! -- Ziggy
11 October 1999
All -- Talon Volksie has finally entered the 90's on the verge of the millenium. I
have e-mail. You may email me at TalonVolksie@aol.com. -- Talon V.
Everyone now knows that DM-33 is one of the "Fiercest & Best Free Blades Arena"
around. The Hammer and others have done wonderful things for that arena. With 50 or
so teams, DM-33 is fun, challenging and a joy to play in. However, I am not here to
talk about DM-33. I want to talk to you about DM-43, Veastian.
DM-43 is not a large arena, we have only 8 teams here right now. It is small,
and not the greatest arena around...yet. We need YOU to help make this a great
arena. Since it's so small, this is your chance to get in on the ground floor and
become a cornerstone of this arena. Not many have this chance. DM-33 is great, but
it is crowded. Here in DM-43 you will not be one of the many, you will be one of the
best. For all of you Noblish Island managers, this is your chance to transfer your
team to an arena where you will have an immediate impact on the game. This is an
arena where you can continue to hone your skills and be a contender for the
Duelmastership. Veteran managers...do you want to make Duelmasters the best it can
be? Help newbies and make an arena of your own?
This is a wonderful chance for everyone. For the newer players to make a
serious impact on an arena and veteran players to be a "founder" of an arena.
Managers like Don John, Mutt Lange, The Rake and myself want you to help make DM-43
the best arena out there. We don't want just "anyone" to come here, we want managers
who want to play hard and have fun. If that is you, then come to DM-43, Veastian.
If anyone has any questions at all, please diplo me and I will reply as soon as
possible. Now is your chance, now is the time. DM-43. -- Apollo Maximillious, mgr.
Cult of the Dragon (339), DM-43
All -- By Seefe's name, am I tired of looking at such team names as Inyo Eye and
Eggnog Warriors. Please, in the name of all that is decent on the face of Ghea, give
your teams and fighters APPROPRIATE names!! I know it can be challenging and
demanding to make up TRULY GOOD names like Boneshredders and Aerie Fire, but please,
don't call your guys something that causes me to dirge in disgust!! It really hurts
your (and my) gaming experience when my warriors have to stand against someone named
"Underwear Gnomes". After all, I can come up with ten names like Bust-a-Plumber and
Chococroc in a single minute, but why don't I do it? -- Shadowfire, mgr. of
Dragonslayers (636) in Solven (DM 22)
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
THE SUCCUBUS delivered the death blow upon SHAPESHIFTER in a 1 minute fight.
DA0000034 was narrowly killed by STONE GOLEM in a 3 minute brutal Dark Arena melee.
DA0000033 was assassinated by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena duel.
VOZHD was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena contest.
LUCIFER overpowered WEARY WILLY in a 1 minute bloody mismatched Challenge match.
SAD-ERITE was outwaited by STRAW MALT in a 19 minute master's Challenge Title fight.
SASQUATCH was viciously subdued by QUARTER POUNDER in a 4 minute competition.
GALORNDON KOR vanquished CHROME in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
WOLF-A-MIT overpowered MIST in a popular 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
HAIL-LITE overpowered GRIMACE in a tiring 3 minute uneven Challenge match.
ASTEROID was defeated by ASMODEOUS in a 1 minute Challenge match.
COMET was demolished by CUTS LIKE A DUCK in a 1 minute Challenge competition.
IVORY GUARDIAN was devastated by LENA in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge battle.
DAWN TREADER was overcome by MAR**BULL in a 4 minute novice's Challenge conflict.
QUASAR bested RIVENDELL SILVERBLAD in a 3 minute brutal beginner's Challenge duel.
HAPPY MEAL viciously subdued DASH CORSAIR in a 3 minute amateur's Challenge brawl.
SOCIOPATH savagely defeated KHALHUMS DWARF in a exciting 3 minute veteran's match.
HARMONY CHURCH overpowered MR. SINISTER in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
BRAVO BADAXE devastated S.T.L. DUCK in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
S.K. MUNSTER was viciously subdued by DARKWING DUCK in a 4 minute one-sided match.
BAALZEBUL overcame CRYSTAL GEYSER in a 1 minute contest.
SPELLBINDER slew AZURE DRAKE in a popular 2 minute match.
DRILL ME overpowered DUCK TO THE RESCUE! in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
WHITE DWARF was defeated by MUNCH-OUT in a 2 minute duel.
RED GIANT luckily beat TRUSTWORTHY SCRIBE in a 2 minute bout.
AQUAMARIN demolished BLACKBLADE in a 1 minute one-sided melee.
HIDEOUS KINKY vanquished FRIENDLY CONSTABLE in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 9 SLASHING ATTACK 35 - 11 - 2 76 |
|BASHING ATTACK 7 WALL OF STEEL 22 - 17 - 1 56 |
|TOTAL PARRY 7 LUNGING ATTACK 32 - 26 - 3 55 |
|AIMED BLOW 6 PARRY-LUNGE 13 - 13 - 0 50 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 5 BASHING ATTACK 22 - 25 - 1 47 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 5 AIMED BLOW 19 - 23 - 1 45 |
|WALL OF STEEL 4 STRIKING ATTACK 16 - 22 - 1 42 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 3 TOTAL PARRY 25 - 35 - 0 42 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 2 - 1 33 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 2 - 0 0 |
Turn 362 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 3 - 0 BASHING ATTACK 3 - 4 3 BASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 1 STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 3 3 SLASHING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL 3 - 1 TOTAL PARRY 2 - 5 2 TOTAL PARRY
LUNGING ATTACK 6 - 3 AIMED BLOW 1 - 5 2 LUNGING ATTACK
PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
TOTAL PARRY STRAW MALT 5304 25 6 0 117 OLD MCDONALD (621)
BASHING ATTACK BRAVO BADAXE 3075 19 13 0 117 CHAIN REACTION (288)
WALL OF STEEL QUARTER POUNDER 5298 19 11 0 110 OLD MCDONALD (621)
SLASHING ATTACK SOCIOPATH 5281 14 5 0 107 WILD OATS (479)
LUNGING ATTACK BAALZEBUL 2890 12 11 1 94 THE FIERCE FIVE (264)
STRIKING ATTACK CRYSTAL GEYSER 5090 11 8 1 81 CHAIN REACTION (288)
PARRY-LUNGE HAIL-LITE 5386 6 3 0 60 ROCK ETTS (595)
AIMED BLOW CUTS LIKE A DUCK 5350 5 2 0 38 MIGHTY DUCKS (604)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is MR. SINISTER 2622. The most popular warrior this
turn was DARKWING DUCK 5343. The ten other most popular fighters were SOCIOPATH
5281, DAWN TREADER 5445, QUARTER POUNDER 5298, SPELLBINDER 5403, DA0000034 5454,
RIVENDELL SILVERBLAD 5430, WOLF-A-MIT 5347, MAR**BULL 5447, DASH CORSAIR 5455, and
MUNCH-OUT 5378.
The least popular fighter this week was STRAW MALT 5304. The other ten least popular
fighters were SAD-ERITE 5320, GRIMACE 5352, HAIL-LITE 5386, BLACKBLADE 5431, DUCK TO
THE RESCUE! 5358, AZURE DRAKE 5432, MR. SINISTER 2622, COMET 5420, ASTEROID 5421, and
MIST 1470.
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