DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

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

LYRATILAN ARENA

DM-25    TURN-360

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

CRIMSON SHADOWFIRE
CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
(25-3958) [14-10-0,107]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

KNIGHTSHADE                    LEROY
FACES OF DEATH (122)           GRUNTS (402)
(25-3125) [17-13-6,118]        (25-4222) [2-0-0,33]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

ARMAGEDDON                     ARMAGEDDON
ARCANE MIGHT (376)             ARCANE MIGHT (376)
(25-3893) [14-4-0,96]          (25-3893) [14-4-0,96]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

FACES OF DEATH (122)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. FACES OF DEATH (122)        52
2. CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)    47      ARCANE MIGHT (376)
3. KITCHEN KAPERS (344)        26      Unchartered Team
4. GRUNTS (402)                18
5. A UNIT (374)                14      GRUNTS (402)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 ARCANE MIGHT (376)        57  28  3 67.1   1/ 8 FACES OF DEATH (122)      8  2 4
 2/ 1*GRUNTS (402)               6   3  1 66.7   2/ 1 ARCANE MIGHT (376)        8  7 0
 3/ 3 HOME SWEET HOME (334)    149 105  7 58.7   3/ 6 PRIMATES-R-US (389)       7  4 0
 4/ 4 DARKENED PRIDE (343)     141 104 12 57.6   4/ 3 DARKENED PRIDE (343)      7  7 1
 5- 5*BLOOD WINE (397)           5   4  1 55.6   5- 4 CRIMSON LEGION (377)      5  5 0
 6- 6 WE BEE BAD (130)          55  48  6 53.4   6/ 7 KITCHEN KAPERS (344)      5  9 1
 7/ 9 CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)  49  44  2 52.7   7/ 5 FANG'S CLAN (385)         5 10 0
 8/ 8 FACES OF DEATH (122)     433 398 34 52.1   8/10 CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)  4  0 0
 9- 7 THE RED BLADES (125)     457 423 30 51.9   9- 2 WE BEE BAD (130)          4  1 0
10-10 CRIMSON LEGION (377)      73  72  4 50.3  10/15 HOME SWEET HOME (334)     4  6 1
11-11 GREAT UNKNOWN (332)       91 101  8 47.4  11/11*NEKAWMAH (403)            4  6 0
12-13 ERRATA (323)              87 107  4 44.8  12/ 9*GRUNTS (402)              3  3 0
13/12 CARNIVAL (354)            98 121  5 44.7  13-13 THE RED BLADES (125)      2  1 0
14/16 PRIMATES-R-US (389)       11  14  0 44.0  14/18 A UNIT (374)              2  1 0
15/15 FANG'S CLAN (385)         54  74  8 42.2  15/12 CARNIVAL (354)            2  5 0
16/19 A UNIT (374)              14  26  2 35.0  16-17 GREAT UNKNOWN (332)       1  2 0
17/18 KITCHEN KAPERS (344)      61 115  9 34.7  17-20 ERRATA (323)              0  1 0
18/20*NEKAWMAH (403)             5  14  0 26.3  18-19*BLOOD WINE (397)          0  1 0

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

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

MH:  This is your Morning Herald reporter once again enjoying another wild holiday in 
     Lyratilan as the city celebrates Foot Juggles.  Not only the Duelmaster but the 
     official holder of the Top Warrior titles of TP, AB, PR, PL and PS and is off to 
     the Isle along with the talented Stoker.  I think I see them now being pulled in 
     rickshaws by some warriors.  Hello!  May I have a final word?  Congratulations 
     to you both.

FJ:  Thank you!  And please congratulate these warriors from Darkened Pride pulling 
     our rickshaws.  Don't they look proud in white face paint and a big red cherry 
     nose?

MH:  The Morning Herald agrees.  I understand the Carnival will close for a short 
     time.

FJ:  Yes, must be off to the great Ides of Winter Carnival conclave.  But will be 
     back soon.  I would like to welcome back Errata who has been away and belongs 
     here in this city.  Also a welcome to Grunts.  Do well.  And a hope that 
     Nakwamah hangs in.  Also, I regret I was unable to get a chance to teach the 
     grasshoppers, Primates-R-Us, how to juggle 6 daggers in the air.  And a big 
     welcome back to the great Red Blades and Faces of Death, who kicked the sands 
     with the Carnival of Olde.  Well, I must be off now.  Primus calls.

MH:  Thank you and good luck to you both.  Well, they are on their way, and did Foot 
     Juggles say he goes directly to Primus?  I'm sure he meant Gateway.  What 
     modesty.  Another Carnival holiday declared.

                                      SPY REPORT

     Hail LYRATILAN!  Warriors of the arena, prepare to be praised and blamed for 
your deeds.  It seems the training can make the difference, as ARCANE MIGHT is pushed 
out of top team by FACES OF DEATH, who came from 8th with a 5-0-3 this turn.  Now 
keep the taverns open late tonight, for there are sorrows to drown for WE BEE BAD, 
whose 0-0-0 this turn dropped them by 7 into 9th.  FACES OF DEATH stable has parlayed 
this turn's 5-0-3 into a 7 space move up the rankings.  This brings them up to 1st 
place.  Good work, guys!  The CRIMSON DEATH XXXX guild has had a 4-0-0 turn and 
deserves to be watched in the future.  You never know where this kind of thing can 
lead.  And let's see, CRIMSON INTENSITY fought R. R. ONE and gained 24 points and 
contributed to CRIMSON DEATH XXXX's 4-0-0.  MENACE has lost to DILL PICKLE, falling 
10 points, while helping make ARCANE MIGHT a 2-3-0 turn.  We should ask CRIMSON 
SHADOWFIRE about the thrill of victory, and what being the new Duelmaster does for a 
warrior, he's now the one to ask.  Can someone confirm a rumor for me?  I hear the 
top team makes their losing fighters do dishes at The Piper's Rest 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 DARKENED PRIDE stable 
was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on LYRATILAN, what are you afraid of?  And 
guess who avoided DARKENED PRIDE stable the most?  Believe it or not, it was ARCANE 
MIGHT.  Anyone surprised?  The most challenged warrior this turn was DARKENED PRIDE's 
warrior CORRUPTION.  More fighters challenged him than challenged the Duelmaster!  I 
don't know about you, but REV. HORTON HEAT challenging down 23 points to KITCHEN 
KAPERS' SHREDDED LETTUCE, is not really worthy of ARCANE MIGHT.  We're not surprised 
to hear that REV. HORTON HEAT bested SHREDDED LETTUCE, but I bet it would be 
interesting to hear why ARCANE MIGHT made such a challenge.  Well now, what do you 
expect when someone like CRIMSON DREAMER from CRIMSON DEATH XXXX challenges down 19 
points to fight THE CRIMSONS' DOOM of DARKENED PRIDE?  It pains me to see warriors 
take advantage of the system like this.  CRIMSON DREAMER overcame THE CRIMSONS' DOOM, 
as if it surprises anyone.  In a brave attempt, SILVER BACK from FANG'S CLAN 
challenged up 25 points to fight SLINKY from the FACES OF DEATH stable.  SILVER BACK 
perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he was beat by SLINKY and ended up with 81 
recognition points.   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  Banners at half mast, warriors, ARCANE MIGHT has lost LETHAL WEAPON, and 
you might say all of LYRATILAN has felt the loss, except maybe FACES OF DEATH.  
Congratulations go out to GRUNTS, with LEROY revenging a bloodfeud against CORRUPTION 
of DARKENED PRIDE.  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 LYRATILAN, but never good to wear out my welcome.  
Look for me in future turns.  Until you see my quill in LYRATILAN again, farewell-- 
Alarond the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CRIMSON SHADOWFIRE 3958      14  10  0   107       CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 KNIGHTSHADE 3125             17  13  6   118       FACES OF DEATH (122)
 R.D. PUMPKINTOWN 3768        21  14  0   116       HOME SWEET HOME (334)
 SLINKY 3080                  22  13  0   104       FACES OF DEATH (122)
 REV. HORTON HEAT 3892        13   5  0   101       ARCANE MIGHT (376)
-DROG 3897                    21   8  0   100       CRIMSON LEGION (377)
 ARMAGEDDON 3893              14   4  0    96       ARCANE MIGHT (376)
-BRASH 3898                   18  11  1    93       CRIMSON LEGION (377)
 DEATH ELEMENTAL 3894         12   6  2    92       ARCANE MIGHT (376)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HEADHUNTER 3346               7   2  1    90       FACES OF DEATH (122)
 BUTCHER KNIFE 4052            7  10  0    88       KITCHEN KAPERS (344)
 SILVER BACK 4021              9  12  0    81       FANG'S CLAN (385)
-SCARLET MESMER 3686          16  25  1    78       CARNIVAL (354)
 SHREDDED LETTUCE 3989        12  12  2    78       KITCHEN KAPERS (344)
-SHILLY DOLLY 3760            14  23  2    67       CARNIVAL (354)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SISTER SLEDGE 3416            6   4  1    64       THE RED BLADES (125)
 AULIC 3944                    7   6  0    57       A UNIT (374)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CRIMSON INTENSITY 4033        9   6  0    54       CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
 DILL PICKLE 4121              6   6  1    54       KITCHEN KAPERS (344)
 MONKEY BUSINESS 4040          5   4  0    52       PRIMATES-R-US (389)
-STRIFE 4026                  11   8  1    48       CRIMSON LEGION (377)
 SILVER CLAW 4018             11  11  3    47       FANG'S CLAN (385)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 R. R. ONE 4020                9   7  0    46       HOME SWEET HOME (334)
 MENACE 4050                   9   6  0    43       ARCANE MIGHT (376)
-CRIMSON QUICKENING 3956       6   6  0    42       CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
 CORRUPTION 4053              10   4  1    41       DARKENED PRIDE (343)
-LYRA RUMBLE 3970              7   3  0    37       GREAT UNKNOWN (332)
 RACINE 4025                   7   9  0    36       HOME SWEET HOME (334)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TOUCH OF CLASS 4109           7   4  0    33       DARKENED PRIDE (343)
 LEROY 4222                    2   0  0    33       GRUNTS (402)
 CRIMSON DREAMER 4113          7   5  1    32       CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
-RUBY RED 4095                 2   3  1    28       BLOOD WINE (397)
-SKIN 3653                     4  13  0    25       ERRATA (323)
 ROTTEN EGGS 4145              3   6  1    25       KITCHEN KAPERS (344)
-BEE BEE KING 4211             2   0  0    25       WE BEE BAD (130)
 MONKEY SEE 4150               2   2  0    24       PRIMATES-R-US (389)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CANNIBAL 3377                 3   0  1    22       FACES OF DEATH (122)
-WICKED LADY 4099              3   1  0    22       BLOOD WINE (397)
-BAD LENNY 3524                1   1  0    21       THE RED BLADES (125)
-KILLER BEE 4209               2   0  0    20       WE BEE BAD (130)
-SHEZA BANSHEE 4008            2   0  0    20       GREAT UNKNOWN (332)
 MONKEY DO 4152                3   2  0    19       PRIMATES-R-US (389)
-WORKER BEE 4212               2   0  0    17       WE BEE BAD (130)
 DEBORAH 4179                  3   1  0    16       NEKAWMAH (403)
 CREVE COEUR 4188              1   2  1    16       HOME SWEET HOME (334)
-ACHE 3883                     3   4  1    14       A UNIT (374)
 CRIMSON EVOLVER 4189          3   1  0    13       CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
-CORAL EDEN 4065               1   0  0    12       GREAT UNKNOWN (332)
-STEVIE BEE 4213               2   0  0    11       WE BEE BAD (130)
 SANDRA 4193                   2   3  0    10       FANG'S CLAN (385)
 CROAKER 4228                  1   0  1    10       FACES OF DEATH (122)
 THE CRIMSONS' DOOM 4197       2   3  0     9       DARKENED PRIDE (343)
-STUMPJUMPER 3518              0   3  0     9       THE RED BLADES (125)
-GRACK 4192                    2   2  0     8       CRIMSON LEGION (377)
 IRON SKILLET 4221             2   1  0     8       KITCHEN KAPERS (344)
-ONELEGGED STILTS 4194         2   1  0     7       CARNIVAL (354)
-ABJECT 3881                   1   3  1     7       A UNIT (374)
 JINX 4196                     1   4  0     7       DARKENED PRIDE (343)
-SPARK 4015                    1   1  0     6       ERRATA (323)
-DIRTY BEE 4210                1   1  0     5       WE BEE BAD (130)
 SHAGMAR 4181                  0   4  0     4       NEKAWMAH (403)
 OTHNIEL 4180                  0   4  0     4       NEKAWMAH (403)
 CANNIBAL 4225                 0   2  0     2       DARKENED PRIDE (343)
-RINGO KIDD 4208               0   2  0     2       CARNIVAL (354)
-VAL MIRA 4064                 0   1  0     2       GREAT UNKNOWN (332)
 MOON-SHEA 4227                0   1  0     1       FANG'S CLAN (385)
-AUTISTIC 4142                 0   1  0     1       A UNIT (374)
-AVERSE 4002                   0   1  0     1       A UNIT (374)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
LETHAL WEAPON 3891     9  6 1 ARCANE MIGHT 376      HEADHUNTER 3346       360         
CLAVUS 4214            0  1 0 DARKENED PRIDE 343    NASH 4165             357 REVENGED
HALLOWEEN 3962        12  6 0 ERRATA 323            KNIGHTSHADE 3125      359         
ZERO 4153              2  7 1 FANG'S CLAN 385       TOMBSTONE 362         360 NONE    
CHARLIE 4167           2  2 0 GRUNTS 402            CANNIBAL 3377         360         
NASH 4165              2  1 1 GRUNTS 402            CORRUPTION 4053       358 JUST REV
GIDEON 4182            1  3 0 NEKAWMAH 403          ROTTEN EGGS 4145      360         
EHUD 4178              1  2 0 NEKAWMAH 403          CROAKER 4228          360         
CARDIZEM 4175          1  1 0 OSCO INTOXICATORS 346 BARAK 4017            356 NONE    

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
MONKEY AROUND 4205     1  1 0 PRIMATES-R-US 389     CREVE COEUR 4188      360         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Bill the Bard -- Welcome back, old man!  I hope your stay is long and as successful as 
your first! -- Ultraist, mgr. Darkened Pride

Blackheart the Impaler -- It is good to see you back in action as well.  Be sure to 
stop by the Silver Saloon and say hey.  BTW, Ungodly sends his regards. -- Ultraist, 
DOOMcorps

Crimson Vengeance -- I no longer wish to feud with you guys.  The only one I have a 
beef with is the "Strategist" and he isn't here enough to fuel a good war.  So I 
hereby declare this a no-contest.  Now go play with people on your own level, arena 
stand-ins perhaps.... -- Ultraist, the Mightiest Crimson leader ever

Knight Shade -- With that kill, you have become the deadliest warrior ever from 
Lyratilan!  You are tied with someone in Talahya, but they have 40x your FE.  
Congrats! -- Ultraist

All -- Look what happens when I start talking again and go 0-5. -- Drachir

Knightshade -- Drachir says that since I don't have a kill I get to fight you and 
maybe someone will die.  What do you think he means? -- Butcher Knife

R.D. Pumpkintown -- I never cared from pumpkins with Bleu Cheese. -- Drachir

Monkey Do -- No, I won't do the grooming thing with you. -- Iron Skillet

Touch of Class -- Yes, I suck. -- Rotten Eggs

Monkey Business -- Your name should be "Lucky Punk." -- Dill Pickle

Foot Juggles -- I could have used a couple more of each of those skills. -- Butcher 
Knife
P.S.  Congrats on your retirement.

Racine -- Wrong!!! -- Aulic (with a "c")

Armageddon -- Whew!  When I saw you with your exciting record, I panicked.  But it is 
the Halloween season, and pumpkins rule! -- R.D. Pumpkintown

Fang's Clan -- Your Silver Werewolf packs a punch!  I didn't know what hit me.  
Salute. -- R.R. One

Foot Juggles -- Yuh shore be fitin' good, champ! -- Homer

Bill the Bard -- Howdy, bud. -- Homer

Stoker -- Nope!  But it were grande!  Yup. -- Homer

Butcher Knife -- Shore 'nuff.  This ole boy unnerstands.  Luck atchu. -- Homer

Yon Cannelton, yer 14-19-8-13-6-11-13 basher done bit yer dust.  Yup. -- Homer

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

ZERO was dealt death by TOMBSTONE in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
LEROY slimly won victory over CORRUPTION in a 8 minute Bloodfeud battle.
REV. HORTON HEAT bested SHREDDED LETTUCE in a popular 1 minute gory Challenge contest.
ARMAGEDDON was subdued by R.D. PUMPKINTOWN in a 4 minute Challenge competition.
BUTCHER KNIFE was devastated by KNIGHTSHADE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
SILVER BACK was overcome by SLINKY in a 1 minute expert's Challenge fight.
MENACE was viciously subdued by DILL PICKLE in a 2 minute gruesome Challenge duel.
RACINE was savagely defeated by MONKEY BUSINESS in a 2 minute gruesome Challenge duel.
SILVER CLAW was overpowered by AULIC in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
CRIMSON DREAMER handily defeated THE CRIMSONS' DOOM in a 1 minute Challenge bout.
TOUCH OF CLASS subdued MONKEY SEE in a crowd pleasing 5 minute bloody Challenge match.
CHARLIE was dealt death by CANNIBAL in a 1 minute Challenge battle.
SANDRA subdued CANNIBAL in a 3 minute novice's Challenge brawl.
CREVE COEUR easily killed MONKEY AROUND in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge conflict.
FOOT JUGGLES was savagely defeated by CRIMSON SHADOWFIRE in a 2 minute Title struggle.
DEATH ELEMENTAL devastated VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 1 minute mismatched brawl.
HEADHUNTER assassinated LETHAL WEAPON in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
R. R. ONE was overpowered by CRIMSON INTENSITY in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
ROTTEN EGGS assassinated GIDEON in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
MONKEY DO viciously subdued OTHNIEL in a popular 2 minute gruesome bout.
EHUD was killed by CROAKER in a crowd boring 8 minute beginner's bout.
DEBORAH viciously subdued JINX in a 5 minute brutal novice's contest.
SHAGMAR was defeated by CRIMSON EVOLVER in a 5 minute beginner's fight.
IRON SKILLET luckily beat MOON-SHEA in a popular 5 minute gory beginner's fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  14         AIMED BLOW         9 -   6 -   1     60  |
|TOTAL PARRY                     10         STRIKING ATTACK   27 -  24 -   0     53  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    7         LUNGING ATTACK    90 -  80 -   3     53  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         TOTAL PARRY       37 -  36 -   0     51  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         WALL OF STEEL     35 -  36 -   2     49  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         PARRY-STRIKE      15 -  16 -   1     48  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         SLASHING ATTACK   25 -  27 -   4     48  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         BASHING ATTACK    33 -  36 -   6     48  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -   2 -   0     33  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  17 -   0     11  |

Turn 360 was great if you     not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         5  LUNGING ATTACK 
SLASHING ATTACK    4 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         3  TOTAL PARRY    
BASHING ATTACK     3 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    0 -  4         2  BASHING ATTACK 
TOTAL PARRY        7 -  3     WALL OF STEEL      0 -  7         1  SLASHING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         1 -  1     
LUNGING ATTACK     7 -  7     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   CRIMSON SHADOWFIRE 3958    14  10  0  107 CRIMSON DEATH XXXX (383)
SLASHING ATTACK  KNIGHTSHADE 3125           17  13  6  118 FACES OF DEATH (122)
TOTAL PARRY      R.D. PUMPKINTOWN 3768      21  14  0  116 HOME SWEET HOME (334)
BASHING ATTACK   HEADHUNTER 3346             7   2  1   90 FACES OF DEATH (122)
WALL OF STEEL    MENACE 4050                 9   6  0   43 ARCANE MIGHT (376)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is ARMAGEDDON 3893.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was ARMAGEDDON 3893.  The ten other most popular fighters were MONKEY SEE 4150, 
CRIMSON SHADOWFIRE 3958, MOON-SHEA 4227, REV. HORTON HEAT 3892, MONKEY DO 4152, DILL 
PICKLE 4121, CANNIBAL 4225, MONKEY BUSINESS 4040, CROAKER 4228, and ZERO 4153.

The least popular fighter this week was LEROY 4222.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were EHUD 4178, CRIMSON EVOLVER 4189, CORRUPTION 4053, GIDEON 4182, R. R. 
ONE 4020, LETHAL WEAPON 3891, CHARLIE 4167, THE CRIMSONS' DOOM 4197, SILVER CLAW 
4018, and BUTCHER KNIFE 4052.

The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn:

FOOT JUGGLES (25-3687) CARNIVAL (354)
STOKER (25-3971) CRIMSON LEGION (377)

Main Rules Contents Order a Setup

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