DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/13/1999    Duedate: 10/26/1999

MURSKA ARENA

DM-35    TURN-343

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

POSITION IS EMPTY

Chartered Recognition LeaderUnchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              RUSSIAN ROULETTE
                               GAMES OF CHANCE (317)
                               (35-3303) [6-2-0,42]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

NICOLE                         PAN
VIOLENT FEMS (278)             OLYMPIANS (309)
(35-3111) [23-20-0,95]         (35-3267) [5-7-0,35]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

OLYMPIANS (309)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. DEATH JESTERS II (322)      28
2. CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)      21      ONE MAN GANG (301)
3. ONE MAN GANG (301)          20      Unchartered Team
4. GAMES OF CHANCE (317)       16
5. EASTERN HORDE (313)         15      ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 ONE MAN GANG (301)        27  11  0 71.1   1/ 2 OLYMPIANS (309)          11  4 1
 2/ 2*ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)   12   8  0 60.0   2/ 5*DEATH JESTERS II (322)   10  5 1
 3- 3 VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)   35  25  3 58.3   3- 1 THE MARAUDERS (304)       8  2 1
 4/ 4 THE BEARS (253)          214 157 10 57.7   4/ 4 ONE MAN GANG (301)        7  2 0
 5/ 9*DEATH JESTERS II (322)    17  13  1 56.7   5- 3 VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)   6  4 0
 6/ 5 PHILANTHROPISTS (153)    236 189 18 55.5   6- 6 BACKSTABBERS (306)        5  5 0
 7/ 7 OLYMPIANS (309)           57  47  3 54.8   7/13*EASTERN HORDE (313)       4  3 0
 8/ 6 VIOLENT FEMS (278)       154 133 10 53.7   8/ 8*GAMES OF CHANCE (317)     4  6 0
 9- 8 THE MARAUDERS (304)      108  99  8 52.2   9/ 9 THE BEARS (253)           4  9 0
10-11 BACKSTABBERS (306)       102 102  2 50.0  10/15 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)    4 11 0
11-12 SHADOWLORDS (177)        150 174 17 46.3  11/10 PHILANTHROPISTS (153)     4 11 0
12/13 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)   213 360 10 37.2  12/11*ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)   3  4 0
13/14*GAMES OF CHANCE (317)     14  26  1 35.0  13- 7 SHADOWLORDS (177)         3  6 0
14/15*EASTERN HORDE (313)        9  17  1 34.6  14/12 VIOLENT FEMS (278)        2  5 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

+ ][ + ---:--- + ][ The Northern Alastari Treaty Organization #15 ][ + ---:--- + ][ +

Stormcrowe Bay:

     The two fishing boats set sail from Stormcrowe in late morning, sailing eastward 
from the island toward the mouth of the bay and the open waters of the Storm Sea 
beyond.  Several other ships were taking approximately the same course at the same 
time, as this was the season when the tasty little fish called zorring could be found 
swimming near the surface at night.  From now until the onset of the storms, fishers 
would be netting them until their ships were full, taking the cargoes back to the 
island, and then coming out for more.  The reeking pickling vats (located to the north 
and well out of Stormcrowe town) had been scrubbed out, and already people were busy 
preparing the spiced brine in which the fish would soak all winter.
     It was dusk by the time the boats--and the rescue party--reached the beginning of 
the narrow strait that connected the bay with the open sea, and ships going through 
the strait, whatever the time of day, always kept to the middle of that channel, 
because both sides were made dangerous by rocks fallen from the cliffs of the shore.  
They traveled more slowly, too, and in silence so that they could listen for the 
turbulent slosh of waves around the rocks.  Two or three lighthouses would have made 
it a lot safer, and the towers in which lights had once burned for that purpose still 
stood, but they were no longer in use.  Catch the Karnhorns doing something so 
neighborly as maintaining lighthouses where their ships didn't sail at night!  Shewish 
work, the lights had been, and dark three hundred years now, but Shewish stonework was 
only slightly less durable than the mountains.
     As the first black hump of the Maanbard, the highland forming the south side of 
the strait, cut across the evening stars, Werfance let his ship fall behind the line 
of fishers and edge southward.  Whitesnake's ship kept pace smoothly, though the 
lashing of water around the jagged stones grew increasingly loud.  The gladiators on 
the decks could even see, faintly, the tossing white spray.
     "This kind of thing scares me spitless," Ice whispered to her teammate.  "I wish 
we could have done this while there was still enough light to see clearly!"
     "Our captains seem to know what they're doing," Lady Jara said.  If she felt a 
similar alarm, she hid it well.  "And I understand that the Karnhorns keep a close 
watch on this coast.  A daylight landing would see us all captured, I suspect."

Aljafir:

     Mursaltej looked down at the Swavant in disgust.  "Flimsy beast," he growled.  
"Dispose of the body, Kathvo."
     The man-at-arms lifted Szoker's body and stuffed it into a coarse sack, then 
lashed the top shut.  "Where, lord?"
     Mursaltej raised one eyebrow coldly.  "What did you say?"
     "Uh...."  Kathvo flushed and darted a glance to either side.  "Uh, dump it in the 
swamp, I guess?"  When the nobleman didn't answer, he heaved the sack over his 
shoulder and slid out of the room quickly.  At least the lord wasn't blaming him for 
the Swavant's death.  Well, he hadn't hit him all that hard, not really.  A human 
wouldn't have died.
     As these and similar thoughts were running through the bravo's head, he left the 
kaliv's palace and made a hurried course through the lowest streets of Aljafir, 
heading for the southern edge of the city where barred watergates gave access to the 
swamplands beyond.
     There was nothing unusual in a man wearing Lord Mursaltej's livery going out of 
the city at night with a large bundle, and the guards on the watergate let him through 
without hesitation.  A footpath threaded between a stream and suspiciously smooth 
stretch of turf.  Kathvo didn't need to test it to know that the smoothness hid a 
deadly mire; he'd lived on the edge of the Great Swamp all his life.  He could have 
heaved the body into the mire and lost it forever, at least, probably--every now and 
again, just often enough to upset the nobs, a body would float to the surface.  Kathvo 
didn't know why, or much care, except that this meant he had to carry his burden 
farther out to dispose of it.  Not that this Szoker was heavy, bones like birds, most 
of the Swavants.  Flimsy.
     As he plodded along the path, his thoughts left the dead man and returned to a 
familiar litany of self-pity.  Working for Mursaltej was hard, he was a hard man, and 
he didn't accept any kind of excuses or make any allowances.  Look at the way the lord 
had sent him, Kathvo, a loyal servant, out into the Great Swamp at night!  No question 
of waiting till daylight when it would be safer to walk this tricky path!
     Ah, this was the place he remembered.  It looked like it, anyway.  The stream had 
wandered off somewhere, but there were a couple of trees on his right, and nothing on 
the left.  That would be another mire.  A wide one, and deep, and, he thought, far 
enough from the city.  He lowered Szoker's body from his shoulder, shifted his grip, 
and then heaved it to the left.  It landed with a splat, though he couldn't see it in 
the pervading murk of mist and darkness.  Job done.
     He turned and plodded back toward the city.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     As soon as the sack hit the edge of the mire, Szoker began to feel for the mouth 
of it.  From the way things felt under him, he could tell that he was at the very 
edge, maybe partly on semi-firm ground.  It wouldn't do to struggle, though--that 
would get him sucked in immediately.  But if that animal of a guard hadn't tied it too 
tightly....

Green Cove, the port nearest Vithicar:

     The small band of gladiators paused on the brow of the hill above Green Cove.  
The village looked ghostly in the moonlight.
     "We buried everybody, all the bodies, you know," Peter Bond whispered.  "It 
seemed like that was the only thing we could do for them, but at least it was 
something we could do.  I really hate feeling helpless."
     "Don't we all," Pere Noel murmured, "don't we all....  I sense that there is 
someone down there now who is alive, someone who is, er, `naughty'--"
     "Someone who can answer questions, I hope," Alice Bond said grimly.  "Let's go 
give him a chance!"
     Without any need for discussion--plans for such a contingency had already been 
made--the gladiators started down the hill, slipping from shadow to shadow and 
watching alertly for the first sight of their quarry.

On the Storm Sea coast near Ebansar, halfway between Malcorn and Zukal:

     The ships had nearly reached the shore before the farmer, Jaksho, noticed them.  
Although there were occasional raiding ships along this coast, danger was much more 
likely to come from inland, and his wary attention had been all for the forest beyond 
the road.
     "Serimna!" he exclaimed.  "Hey, Whitebraid!"  He pitched a pebble at his 
companion, a former gladiator now busily felling a sapling that had invaded the field.
     The gladiator looked up and followed Jaksho's pointing finger.  "Serimna save 
us!" Whitebraid said.  "Jak, take the horse and ride like hell for the city--"
     "Which city?"
     "Any one, dammit.  This is the invasion, and it looks like the main landing!  You 
have to take a warning--"
     "What invasion?"
     "Jak, trust me, there's an invasion, and this is it.  Go, man!"

          + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Trading Cities #26 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

On the coast:

     The farmer, Jaksho, steered his sweating horse up the path to the construction 
site on the forested bluff.  He hadn't known anything was being built here, but the 
armed men in the drab colors of Malcorn Regulars were a welcome sight.  It looked like 
they were making a tower, but the stone walls were only about fifteen feet high so 
far.  It stood right at the fork where the Malcorn road parted from the less-traveled 
Coast Road that led to Salirjek.
     The soldiers, both workmen and guards, looked up as he approached.  "Invaders!" 
he shouted.  "Ships, a lot of ships!  About six and a quarter miles south!"  He had a 
good notion of the distance because he'd stopped here often enough on his way to 
market.  There was an old Van well here, and the water was still sweet.  It looked 
like they were enclosing the well inside an extension of the wall.
     One of the soldiers (there were no markings of rank on their uniforms) turned to 
another and said, "Bitry, mount up and carry this news to Malcorn.  Tell him the Fort 
Vanwell contingent is moving south to scout the enemy.  We'll leave a signalman here."
     "Aye, sir."
     "Leeman, get up in a tree and signal Fort Liberty.  Let's see if they've spotted 
anything."

Zukal:

     The thief Jarvaze was too good an actor to look as nervous as he was, but after 
the second attack, there was a distinctly alert quality to his nonchalance as he 
walked down the dark alley.  Doreg, watching from the rear of the apartment over the 
apothecary shop, couldn't really blame him.
     "Third time's a charm," Doreg murmured, as a cloaked shape glided out from behind 
a pile of crates behind the thief.  Another man came out in front of Jarvaze, who 
leaped nimbly onto a crate, then onto a higher one, then pulled himself up into 
Doreg's window.  There were sounds of melee below as Doreg's men came out of their 
hiding places to apprehend the would-be assailants.
     "What the smeg are you doing up here!" Doreg growled, lowering his crossbow.  
"You spoiled my shot!"
     "Give it up," Jarvaze said.  He swung his legs inside and gave the apothecary a 
friendly smile.  "I hear a kettle bubbling.  Could I trouble you for a cup of tea, 
good sir?"  After the old man had gone into the kitchen, the thief dropped onto the 
sofa, and turned the smile on Doreg.  "We've got to assume reasonable competence on 
the part of your prey.  If he were going to take the bait at all, he'd have been the 
first to strike, not the third.  He wouldn't risk letting my secret fall into someone 
else's hands."
     Doreg nodded, frowning.  "I know.  Well, as a last resort then, you've got to be 
captured by me, so he'll think I've learned the way into his keep, and he'll come 
after me.  If he's got the nads for it."
     "Just so you know," Jarvaze said quickly, "I'm a practical, cooperative sort of 
fellow, who would rather sell a secret than be tortured for it.  So if I show up with 
money to spend, that would be a lot more realistic than to have my tortured corpse 
wash up on the riverbank."
     "Yes, yes, I know."  Doreg brooded.  Why hadn't the Midnight Man fallen for his 
ruse?  Surely he must have heard the boasts this thief had spread around Zukal today, 
boasts of finding a safe way into Castle Midnight.  If that were true (which of course 
it wasn't), then the scion of Clan Midnight would have to kill him, to protect the 
Castle.  But the only people to come after Jarvaze tonight were soldiers of rival 
Princes.  Jarvaze was right.  The Midnight Man hadn't taken the bait.
     So, if it looked like Doreg had bought the secret from Jarvaze, then maybe, maybe 
the Midnight Man would worry about it, but only for a little while.  As time went by 
and Castle Midnight remained untouched, he would realize it was only a trick.  But if 
Jarvaze simply disappeared...
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Chullamar's house is a lot different than Doreg's, Jorja thought, as she and the 
abolitionist peered into the conservatory from a skylight.  It was a long way down--
this place had a thirty-foot ceiling.  So many plants, so many pictures on the wall... 
so many statues of naked men.  Well, only two in this room, and one of them was a 
lamp, but it seemed like a lot.
     It hadn't been an unguarded skylight, by any means.  The house was roofed in four 
tiers, like a wedding cake.  Around the perimeter of each tier was a walkway with 
guards.  The guards on this, the fourth, tier, were unconscious.  They'd sneaked past 
the others.  For a clerk or whatever he was, this abolitionist was pretty good at this 
sort of thing.
     "Here we go," said the young man, lifting up a circle of glass that he had just 
cut from one of the panes.  He attached his grappling hook to a convenient gargoyle.  
"I'll go down first and make sure it's safe.  Then you climb down.  All right?"
     He was really awfully good at this stuff.  And he seemed to know his way around 
this place, and was it really luck and skill that had gotten them past the guards?  
The guards which he had refused to kill.  She had never seen Chullamar close up.  This 
could be him.
     Jorja gazed down at the young man as he lowered himself into the moonlit 
conservatory.  He'd told her nothing about himself, except his name, which she had 
promptly forgotten (she was bad with names).  She drew her dagger and placed its edge 
against the taut rope.  A man trying to abolish slavery by political means, how likely 
was that?

In the forest south of the Storm Sea and east of Monuntial:

     The noise grew to large proportions, so that one might imagine nothing less than 
a troop of cavalry forcing its way through the dense forest.  A troop of cavalry 
seemed rather extreme for the pursuit of two escaped slaves, Fern thought, then 
remembered guiltily that she had gelded the slaveholder, which he might consider 
strong provocation!  She would much rather it was a troop of cavalry than a monster 
large enough to sound like one, but how they were to fight off either was a puzzle.  A 
puzzle that didn't seem to be worrying Huw--but she had to remind her self that Huw 
might not be normal, after eating that fruit.  He looked normal enough, but he had 
been talking to a tree, and that wasn't normal.
     "Whoever that is," Huw said in a flat voice, "has no business to be coming here 
in such force.  It's probably Tiraesion.  Uncouth troublemakers, all those Ferencians, 
but Tiraesion is the worst."  He stood squarely in the gateway with his sword drawn.
     "Tiraesion?" Fern asked.  The name was a new one to her.  The slaveholder had 
been called Marfellassar, although he probably had been Ferencian.
     "Yes, Tiraesion," Huw said impatiently.  "How many times do I have to say his 
cursed name?  That damned half-Ferencian lordling who married my sister Olivrena.  He 
seems to think that makes him the equal of a Van!  Confounded upstart!  Olivrena was 
always a fool, and never more so than when she decided to marry the wretch!"  He 
hefted his sword significantly.  "We'll make him rethink his pretensions."
     He was possessed, Fern realized with a sinking feeling.  Huw believed himself to 
be the ancient Van owner of this place, probably thought there were dozens of servants 
or men-at-arms within call to help drive off the `upstart' who had married his 
sister... and there was only her.  She wondered briefly who she might have been, if 
she'd eaten the fruit, too.
     "Huw!" she said urgently, "the servants have all fled in the night, and we're 
alone here.  If... Tiraesion has several men with him, even a warrior of the Van 
cannot hope to defeat them all!  We must flee--seek help--"
     "The servants have run away?" Huw demanded incredulously.  He actually turned to 
look at her.  "That does it," he snarled, heading for the back of the compound.  "I 
don't care what Faldenj wants, this is the last time I hire the local peasants!  Van 
servants wouldn't have run off.  We'll ride straight to Rosemere and tell him 
personally what trouble his damned conciliatory policy has caused!  Though it goes 
sore against my will to let Tiraesion walk in here unopposed..."  He half turned back 
toward the gateway.
     The important thing for the present, Fern had decided, was to keep him moving 
away from their pursuers and away from this place, too.  So she said, rather 
desperately, "Oh, no, think how much greater will be his chagrin when he finds the 
place deserted, makes himself at home, and then you return to drive him out.  After 
all, he, poor fool, will not know the secrets of this place as you do!  In fact," she 
added with sudden inspiration, "let us hide in the trees for a brief period and then 
appropriate two of his horses to ride away on!  That will be a slap in the face to 
him!"

                                      SPY REPORT

     Hail MURSKA!  Warriors of the arena, prepare to be praised and blamed for your 
deeds.  It seems the training can make the difference, as THE MARAUDERS is pushed out 
of top team by OLYMPIANS, who came from 2nd with a 4-1-0 this turn.  Now keep the 
taverns open late tonight, for there are sorrows to drown for SHADOWLORDS, whose 
0-0-0 this turn dropped them by 6 into 13th.  EASTERN HORDE stable has parlayed this 
turn's 2-0-0 into a 6 space move up the rankings.  This brings them up to 7th place.  
Good work, guys!  The DEATH JESTERS II guild has had a 4-1-0 turn and deserves to be 
watched in the future.  You never know where this kind of thing can lead.  Due to his 
absence and inability to defend the throne, SALISZAR has lost the title of 
Duelmaster.  By the way, was that our Duelmaster that I saw last night, cramped under 
the table at The Fire Dragon Inn?   
     I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling.  A basher 
friend of mine assures me this is true.  PHILANTHROPISTS has cause to stand tall, as 
they were MURSKA's most avoided team.  A smart manager knows this is a team to beat.  
And avoiding PHILANTHROPISTS more than any other team we find GAMES OF CHANCE.  
MURSKA, are we going to accept, or respect this sort of thing?  Well, sports fans, 
take notice that HUW AP HUW from CHILDREN OF LLYR was MURSKA's most challenged 
warrior this turn.  Building dreams on hope, SUICIDE KING challenged up 31 points 
this turn to take on HUW AP HUW from CHILDREN OF LLYR stable.  And crowds were on 
their feet when SUICIDE KING claimed a victory from HUW AP HUW, and now has 91 points 
for his efforts.  In a brave attempt, RUSSIAN ROULETTE from GAMES OF CHANCE 
challenged up 21 points to fight PAN from the OLYMPIANS stable.  RUSSIAN ROULETTE 
perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he defeated PAN and ended up with 42 
recognition points.  ARES of OLYMPIANS had better have a good reason for challenging 
down 11 points in a challenge which he won.  I thought ARES showed great skill and 
promise when he subdued BELTRON.  All right, so I slept through it!  Big deal!   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  Is it really true that MURSKA has more dishwashers per capita that 
fighters?  Just thought I'd ask...   
     I like this place, MURSKA, the taverns have old wine, and young serving girls.  
Who could ask for more?  Always good to rest in MURSKA, but never good to wear out my 
welcome.  Look for me in future turns.  Until you see my quill in MURSKA again, 
farewell-- Alarond the Scribe  

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SALISZAR 3137                21  15  0   121       THE MARAUDERS (304)
 THE TURK 3240                13   4  0   110       THE BEARS (253)
 TREE 3249                    11   6  0   110       PHILANTHROPISTS (153)
 MA GOG 3040                  22  35  0   107       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-BED OF ROSES 2565            13  15  1    97       SHADOWLORDS (177)
 OWAIN HARLSON 3130           18  20  1    96       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 NICOLE 3111                  23  20  0    95       VIOLENT FEMS (278)
 SUICIDE KING 3104            10   5  0    91       ONE MAN GANG (301)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LYNETTE 3110                 17  26  1    80       VIOLENT FEMS (278)
-WINGHEAD 3156                15  26  0    77       BACKSTABBERS (306)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SHEWISH MIDGET 3100           9   5  0    65       ONE MAN GANG (301)
 ARES 3208                    10  11  1    61       OLYMPIANS (309)
 HERMES 3211                  12   9  2    60       OLYMPIANS (309)
-TIGER LILY 3215               7   5  0    60       VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ATHENA 3210                  13   8  0    56       OLYMPIANS (309)
 VULCAN 3251                  12   5  0    51       OLYMPIANS (309)
-NINEBARK 3214                 8   4  0    50       VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)
-POLGARA 3239                  9   9  0    47       BACKSTABBERS (306)
-NOR SSOR 3253                 8   6  2    44       THE MARAUDERS (304)
 RUSSIAN ROULETTE 3303         6   2  0    42       GAMES OF CHANCE (317)
-THE CLEANER 3286              5   4  0    36       SHADOWLORDS (177)
 PAN 3267                      5   7  0    35       OLYMPIANS (309)
 BELTRON 3355                  4   2  0    34       PHILANTHROPISTS (153)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CRUEL THUNDER 3306            3   4  0    34       EASTERN HORDE (313)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TOURNEY CLASS SCUM 3101       8   1  0    33       ONE MAN GANG (301)
 HOT POTATO 3302               5   3  1    33       GAMES OF CHANCE (317)
 NEWSGROUP TROLL 3337          3   3  0    33       ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)
 VEGA LEXI CONN 3247           4  14  1    31       PHILANTHROPISTS (153)
 AOL 3336                      5   1  0    29       ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)
-CHYNA 3288                    8   1  0    28       BACKSTABBERS (306)
-MR. FUN 3262                  4   6  0    27       SHADOWLORDS (177)
-RED FERN 3371                 3   0  0    27       VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)
 MOUNTAIN QUAM 3327            3   0  0    27       EASTERN HORDE (313)
 BAD CONNECTION 3335           4   2  0    26       ONLINE ATROCITIES (320)
 LUSIPHUR 3351                 4   2  0    24       DEATH JESTERS II (322)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MERCYFUL FATE 3349            6   0  0    22       DEATH JESTERS II (322)
-NOMAR ELS 3272                3   3  1    20       EASTERN HORDE (313)
-TAP 3348                      5   0  0    19       THE MARAUDERS (304)
-SWEET AMMONIA 3260            3   8  1    18       SHADOWLORDS (177)
-TEN STEP HIGH 3369            2   1  0    18       SHADOWLORDS (177)
-FAUNA 3381                    2   0  0    17       BACKSTABBERS (306)
 WAMBA 3364                    2   3  0    16       DEATH JESTERS II (322)
 HARLEQUIN 3353                4   2  1    15       DEATH JESTERS II (322)
 MORIOBI 3324                  3   5  0    14       PHILANTHROPISTS (153)
 BRAVE BEAR 3358               1   4  1    14       THE BEARS (253)
 ADIOS AMIGOS 3372             1   3  0    12       THE BEARS (253)
 THE LAST ROLL 3382            1   1  0    11       GAMES OF CHANCE (317)
 FINE PRINT 3330               1   6  0     9       GAMES OF CHANCE (317)
-GARRA 3386                    1   0  0     7       THE MARAUDERS (304)
-MANFREDO 3363                 1   3  0     6       THE MARAUDERS (304)
 MORGANA 3383                  0   3  0     3       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 BDEB THE PICT 3384            0   3  0     3       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-OKRA 3389                     0   1  0     1       VOLUNTEER FLOWERS (310)
-MOE 3387                      0   1  0     1       BACKSTABBERS (306)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
THE ROCK 3332          2  2 0 BACKSTABBERS 306      BRAVE BEAR 3358       340 REVENGED
FAT AS 3378            0  3 0 THE BEARS 253         DARK CHAMPION 24      343 NONE    
AVATAR 3352            1  5 0 DEATH JESTERS II 322  SHEWISH GIANT 21      343 NONE    
PEEKABOO 3354          1  4 0 GAMES OF CHANCE 317   SHEWISH GIANT 21      343 NONE    
ANOTHER UGAVULT 3391   0  1 0 PHILANTHROPISTS 153   MOUNTAIN TROLL 18     343 NONE    
MOREL 3213             6  5 1 VOLUNTEER FLOWERS 310 NOR SSOR 3253         341 REVENGED
SPIDERWORT 3380        0  1 0 VOLUNTEER FLOWERS 310 HARLEQUIN 3353        341         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

All -- I was depressed about my losing streak, so I went and took it out on Wurmy.  I 
feel much better now. -- Hermes

Mr. Fun -- Yes, it was fun! -- Pan

Newsgroup Troll -- Let that teach you to keep your opinions to yourself! -- Vulcan

Lynette -- One hit!  I'm not even frail! -- Athena

Cruel Thunder -- You've challenged me three times in a row and lost three times in a 
row.  Don't you think you should let someone else have a shot at me.  BTW, you went to 
the infirmary after two of those fights, next time I might kill you. -- Ares

Wardancer -- [blush] Why, thank you.  I actually had a pick of several names but, 
believe it or not, Tourney Class Scum was the least vile.  Straightforward and to the 
point, that's me.  Try me again in the near future when I promise to use something 
other than a shield! -- Scum, working on his image
P.S.  I can hear the questions now, "Who would take the word of a scum?"

Bed of Roses -- I apologize for using your name as the proper epithet for a scum like 
myself.  I just picked it out of the air, and did not mean it to refer to you.  But 
your harsh words make me wonder, are you insecure with your defensive nature?  Maybe 
you should come to one of my scum parties?  I've got some beautiful decorative swords 
I plan to wear as backup weapons which I can sell to you. -- Tourney Class Scum, 
multi-level marketer

Texeira -- Thank you for the welcome back!  I plan to stay at least long enough for 
Suicide King and Shewish Midget to graduate.  I might stay longer, depending on how 
long it takes the arena to run Scum out on a rail. -- Ben Doolin

Hey!  I thought you all were going to tar and feather me!  I've got a special rooster 
full helm to wear for just that occasion! -- Scum, listening in on others' 
conversations (I am scummy, after all)

Mr. Fun -- Don't get too cocky.  Remember, someday you may have to face Shewish 
Midget, and you wouldn't want to give HIM any extra incentive to beat you.  We're very 
good friends, he and I. -- Scum, in good with the Towering and Lofty crowd

The Taskmaster -- Congrats on your Lord Protectors.  If you're running them in Free 
Blades, I hope to see you there in a few months.  I'm waiting for my new crowd to 
graduate before I start running Wailin' Van Halen and White Lion (my old Lord 
Protectors) again.  Maybe I can fight some of your good ol' boys, then. -- Ben Doolin, 
the new batch

Polgara -- I developed a terrible case of postal amnesia, but it looks like you did 
much better the second time around.  Really nothing you can do managerially about 
tremendous damage, though, is there? -- Suicide King, one shot, two shot, head shot 
master

Vega Lexi Conn -- Okay, here's a clue.  Always avoid the scum who beat you the last 
turn.  If you're in range, scummy characters always challenge again. -- Tourney Class 
Scum, who hopes this gets to you in time [evil laughter]

Nicole -- I believe we've shown that you can defeat me whenever you like.  Now, 
GRADUATE, you old fart! -- Shewish Midget, 8-2 against everyone else

Tree -- I hate it when trees fall on me.  Well done, sonny. -- Ma Gog
P.S.  You're a big handsome fellow, aren't you?  Busy tonight?

The Turk -- So, are you a bear, or a turk?  Is a turk a bob-tailed turkey? -- Huw

Winghead -- I've checked you front and back, and you're a hot number on both sides. -- 
Owain

Lusiphur -- Damned dwarf! -- Bdeb
P.S.  How come you don't have a dwarf name?  How'm I supposed to be ready for you if 
you don't have a dwarf name?

Wamba -- You cur!  Bards have sung songs to the face you so wantonly hacked up!  I am 
not one to be lightly antagonized, and you will PAY for this! -- Morgana

ALL RIGHT!!!  Graduation!  Hey, you guys, get me rescued quick so I can party! -- Huw, 
who never expected to make it out alive
P.S.  Small shield?

All -- Too bad Swifty didn't read his mail or messages.  I can't lead Troop 709 
because I quit weeks ago. -- Chance

Mr. Fun -- I don't like your kind of fun. -- Russian Roulette

Peekaboo -- Hold this torch and walk down this long hallway. -- Chance

Fauna -- I just can't think of anything to say.  My performance, or more to the point, 
the lack thereof, speaks for itself. -- Avatar

Moe -- Is a 4-0 fight advantage fair? -- Merciful Fate

Morgana -- Thank you, thank you, thank you. -- Wamba

Adios Amigos -- Please no more special moves, okay?  This is not professional 
wrestling; you do not need a finisher. -- Harlequin

Bdeb the Pict -- One skill, is that too much to ask for? -- Lusipher

Mr. Fun -- I would call Mr. Scum all sorts of things but he'd just challenge me and 
beat me, so I'll hold my tongue.  It would be different if I could bring my electric 
can opener, but they always make me leave it at the door. -- Wamba

Manfredo -- No problem.  I'm always doing requests.  That's one of the reasons people 
like me, I'm just so easy to work with. -- Wamba

Ma Gog -- Nice one! -- Tree

Salizar -- Let's go at it!  I want the throne! -- Tree

Nomar Els -- Nice fight.  Thanks for the rating and you're welcome for yours. -- 
Beltron

TC Scum -- I lasted four minutes.  Do you really feel pride in your heart when you 
scum? -- Vega

Tap -- Scum!  You're mine next time we meet, scum! -- Moriobi

Huw Ap Huw -- Congrats on your graduation!  Some to Free Blades! -- Aragorn

Salizar -- Graduate already! -- Tree

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

AVATAR was dealt death by SHEWISH GIANT in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
FAT AS was slaughtered by DARK CHAMPION in a 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle.
PEEKABOO was killed by SHEWISH GIANT in a action packed 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
ANOTHER UGAVULT was butchered by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
SUICIDE KING defeated HUW AP HUW in a crowd pleasing 3 minute bloody Challenge match.
ARES vanquished BELTRON in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
TOURNEY CLASS SCUM outlasted VEGA LEXI CONN in a 8 minute Challenge brawl.
RUSSIAN ROULETTE unbelievably bested PAN in a action packed 4 minute Challenge melee.
MORIOBI lost to MERCYFUL FATE in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
ADIOS AMIGOS was vanquished by CRUEL THUNDER in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
BRAVE BEAR was defeated by LUSIPHUR in a 2 minute gruesome Challenge match.
TREE overpowered KUNG-FU MASTER in a exciting 1 minute one-sided fight.
MA GOG slimly won victory over NICOLE in a 2 minute brutal master's conflict.
THE TURK demolished LYNETTE in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
OWAIN HARLSON handily defeated SHEWISH MIDGET in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
ATHENA viciously subdued AOL in a 2 minute bloody bout.
HERMES vanquished HOT POTATO in a 2 minute one-sided fray.
VULCAN unbelievably bested NEWSGROUP TROLL in a crowd pleasing 4 minute brawl.
BAD CONNECTION overpowered FINE PRINT in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
HARLEQUIN savagely defeated MORGANA in a 3 minute brutal bout.
MOUNTAIN QUAM defeated THE LAST ROLL in a 3 minute conflict.
WAMBA devastated BDEB THE PICT in a 1 minute one-sided contest.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   9         TOTAL PARRY       51 -  14 -   0     78  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      6         SLASHING ATTACK   39 -  28 -   1     58  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    6         LUNGING ATTACK    54 -  55 -   3     50  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  6         WALL OF STEEL     27 -  31 -   1     47  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  5         BASHING ATTACK    13 -  17 -   1     43  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         AIMED BLOW        11 -  15 -   0     42  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         STRIKING ATTACK   34 -  57 -   1     37  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         PARRY-LUNGE       14 -  24 -   1     37  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      9 -  16 -   1     36  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         PARRY-STRIKE       8 -  26 -   1     24  |

Turn 343 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-RIPOSTE      1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  5         4  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0     STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  4         2  STRIKING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        4 -  2     AIMED BLOW         0 -  2         1  SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK    3 -  2     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  1         1  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  3     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  2         1  BASHING ATTACK 
                                                                1  PARRY-STRIKE   
                                                                1  AIMED BLOW     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   THE TURK 3240              13   4  0  110 THE BEARS (253)
SLASHING ATTACK  TREE 3249                  11   6  0  110 PHILANTHROPISTS (153)
BASHING ATTACK   SUICIDE KING 3104          10   5  0   91 ONE MAN GANG (301)
AIMED BLOW       SHEWISH MIDGET 3100         9   5  0   65 ONE MAN GANG (301)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    HERMES 3211                12   9  2   60 OLYMPIANS (309)
TOTAL PARRY      VULCAN 3251                12   5  0   51 OLYMPIANS (309)
STRIKING ATTACK  BELTRON 3355                4   2  0   34 PHILANTHROPISTS (153)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is NICOLE 3111.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
PAN 3267.  The ten other most popular fighters were SUICIDE KING 3104, VEGA LEXI CONN 
3247, NEWSGROUP TROLL 3337, AVATAR 3352, PEEKABOO 3354, MOUNTAIN QUAM 3327, MA GOG 
3040, MORIOBI 3324, CRUEL THUNDER 3306, and TREE 3249.

The least popular fighter this week was TOURNEY CLASS SCUM 3101.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were BDEB THE PICT 3384, THE LAST ROLL 3382, FINE PRINT 3330, 
SHEWISH MIDGET 3100, LYNETTE 3110, ADIOS AMIGOS 3372, BELTRON 3355, ANOTHER UGAVULT 
3391, FAT AS 3378, and WAMBA 3364.

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

NICOLE (35-3111) VIOLENT FEMS (278)

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

HUW AP HUW (35-3030) CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)

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