DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER
Date : 10/22/1999 Duedate: 11/04/1999
ZENSU ARENA
DM-40 TURN-321
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
DEMON SMASHER
SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
(40-3120) [22-27-2,117]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY ENOCH
RELIGIOUS HERALD (306)
(40-2789) [6-2-0,80]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
DEMON SMASHER MUD HEN
SUPERIOR FORCES (226) WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
(40-3120) [22-27-2,117] (40-3378) [12-10-1,76]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. LOUNGE LIZARDS (207) 52
2. SUPERIOR FORCES (226) 41 DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
3. PLAYER'S BAR (354) 37 Unchartered Team
4. RELIGIOUS HERALD (306) 15
5. WIMPS MOST FOWL (355) 13 RELIGIOUS HERALD (306)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 DEMONS OF DEATH (168) 538 380 14 58.6 1/ 1 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207) 10 5 0
2/ 2 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355) 58 51 1 53.2 2/ 4 DEMONS OF DEATH (168) 8 3 0
3/ 6 SUPERIOR FORCES (226) 348 338 17 50.7 3/ 3 EASTON WOLVES (362) 8 7 1
4/ 5 EASTON WOLVES (362) 43 42 5 50.6 4/ 6 SUPERIOR FORCES (226) 7 2 0
5/ 8 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207) 226 284 9 44.3 5/ 5 BEYOND THE PALE (337) 7 7 1
6/ 7 VEGETABLES (283) 26 34 0 43.3 6/ 2 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355) 6 9 0
7/11*RELIGIOUS HERALD (306) 7 10 0 41.2 7/ 7*RELIGIOUS HERALD (306) 4 3 0
8- 9 WITCHHAVEN (326) 12 19 0 38.7 8/ 8 PLAYER'S BAR (354) 2 10 0
9-10*ANAGRAMS (369) 5 9 0 35.7 9/12 VEGETABLES (283) 0 6 0
10/12 PLAYER'S BAR (354) 14 29 2 32.6 10-11*ANAGRAMS (369) 0 5 0
11/13 BEYOND THE PALE (337) 68 153 1 30.8 11-13 WITCHHAVEN (326) 0 1 0
12-14*FRENETIC CREED (365) 0 1 0 0.0 12-14*FRENETIC CREED (365) 0 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
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Frafrejan Empire #20 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Ardivent:
Stepharoo tightened the buckles on her armor and tried to still the butterflies
in her stomach. Master Cho had made no difficulties about the illusion, but somehow,
Steph had expected it to be.... She'd expected to feel different, and she didn't.
She glanced out at the torchlit arena, then across the room at the Dark Champion, who
was making his own preparations. It was one thing to go out to fight knowing she
might get hurt. Every gladiator did that. It was another to go out like this,
knowing that she would get hurt, knowing that she could prevent it but must not.
If only the Dark Champion's longsword over there didn't seem so very long, and sharp,
and deadly.... She had refused the Arenamistress's offer of a drug, but now she
regretted that.
"It's tough, facing the Dark Arena," someone said sympathetically. "Even when
you know your manager's set it up for you to get out alive and retire."
She turned to smile nervously at him. He was no one she'd seen before, at
least, no one that she could remember seeing.
"P. Far Side," he said by way of introduction. "I'm from Caer, here in Ardivent
on business for my manager. And since there's nothing to do in the boarding house at
night, I ended up here...." He shrugged slightly and smiled. One of his eyes was
set crookedly in his face, which looked almost sinister until he smiled. "Feeling
nervous?" he asked. "Mouth dry?"
She nodded.
He pulled out a pocket flask and passed it to her. "That'll put the hair on
your chest. Er, figuratively speaking. Don't take too much, though--we don't want
you going out there drunk!"
Stepharoo took a couple of swallows of the brandy and then handed the flask back
with her thanks. Arenamistress Fandette was calling the fight, and she had no
further time to think and fret. She stepped forward, walking beside the Dark
Champion.
*** ***** *** ***** ***
The fight seemed to have been going on for hours. Stepharoo could feel the
sweat running down inside her armor, and her breath burned in her throat. The Dark
Champion was playing with her, luring her into taking wild swings that left her
exposed to his blows, then just pricking her instead of delivering the killing stroke
she was expecting. Teasing her into burning her energies recklessly, tripping her--
She stumbled and staggered several steps before she could recover her balance. He
hadn't been anywhere near her that time. A haze of exhaustion blurred her vision,
and she tried to blink it away. Tried to raise her arm to wipe the sweat from her
eyes and found that the arm was too heavy to lift that far. She stumbled again.
The Dark Champion caught her by a hand around her throat. His face was
completely hidden by the visor of his helm, he might have been a golem for all she
could tell. "Sweet dreams," he whispered, and laughed. She didn't see his other
hand move, but suddenly there was pain, an explosion of pain in her belly that spread
quickly to fill her whole body. And then darkness.
*** ***** *** ***** ***
Darkness and pain. She couldn't move, couldn't even open her eyes. Or maybe
they were open already, and she was dead; that would explain why she couldn't see
anything. But the dead don't feel pain. Do they? Voices nearby.
"Your cat-and-mouse games are not appreciated," a raspy whisper said. "One day
you will damage a body beyond the point of easy repair, and then we will leave you to
pay the price!"
"This one isn't badly hurt," a second voice said. It was smooth and dangerous,
like oiled steel. She thought it might be the Dark Champion.
"Except for your finishing blow," Raspy Voice said. "A clean blow to the heart
would be much preferable to this...butchery."
"You're a fine one to criticize butchery!" Steel Voice said.
"In its place," the other replied. There were several small sounds that she
couldn't place. "If it hadn't been for the drug that ensured she would enter a state
of suspended animation, instead of dying--! Well, I think the body's stabilized now
and ready for transport `to the Isle'." There was laughter, low and mean. A metal
jingle.
"What do you do with the bodies?" Steel Voice asked.
There was a very dead silence for several minutes. "You don't really need to
know that, do you?" Raspy Voice said.
There was another silence, and then footsteps walking away. Then other sounds,
grunts and bumps and footsteps and shuffling sounds. Through it all, she felt
nothing, but she guessed that she was being loaded into one of the coffins she'd seen
in the arena's morgue. Warriors who died on their last fight after Invitation were
loaded into those coffins for easy transport to the Isle. So it must be that she was
going to leave Ardivent `normally' and disappear somewhere on the way.
Kati-Tei:
The ozemon
decrepit dock. There was nothing overtly odd about it, and yet.... Were the masts
just a little too tall, thin as needles and white as bone? You couldn't positively
say so. The sails, hanging limply--and why hadn't they been properly furled, or
whatever it was that one did to sails?--the sails were certainly a peculiar greenish-
gray color, but it must surely be a freak of the light and the wind that made those
drooping panels seem to quiver and ripple as though they were alive. The proportions
of the hull...was it shallower and broader than the norm? The eye painted on the
near side of the black prow had such a knowing look, and it seemed to follow their
approach.
The nearer the gladiators got, the more slowly they walked.
"I don't like it!" Selatina said suddenly. "It's a...it's a nly
evil people could have anything to do with it!"
"Steady on," Raef cautioned her. "We don't actually know that--"
Crystal Fireblade paused, frowning into the twilight. "I was a paladin in
another life," she said quietly, "and some of that remains with me--I can sense the
`wrongness' of that ship, as I could smell evil on the crew members we saw entering
the arena. But...that doesn't mean that these people, this ship, are what we're
looking for. After all," she added with an attempt at humor, "one could find the same
flavor of the Dark around many managers!"
"But you do think that's where-- That the ozemon'shat they're the
body-snatchers?" Selatina asked.
"It would appear to be indicated," Lady Protector Crytal said doubtfully.
"This is too easy," Raef cut in. "It's either a decoy, or a trap."
"That is possible," the Lady Protector agreed, "but we still have to check it
out."
Between Zensu and Fratsfa:
The demoness had taken her golden worm and vanished into the depths of the
forest. Father Bankowski judged it the better part of wisdom not to follow. What,
in Mantor's holy name, could he do, after all? He wasn't even sure that she had
actually cursed him and that the curse would stick. But if she had, and it did...
then the farther he stayed from the average person, the better for all. But he had
to talk to someone; he had warnings to deliver. He thought longingly of his old
manager, Fandil, but Ardivent was too far for him to go now. He considered other
members of the Consortium and immediately rejected Lady Pandora. After all, the
demoness Golden Fever was probably one of hers! But what about Lady Fern, in
Fratsfa? He knew little of her except that she was said to be good-hearted and kept
a disorderly house....
Lady Fern it would be. A little honest human frailty would be a welcome relief
after all this Darkness! He turned to the west and set off briskly.
Zensu:
"I've been so worried about you!" Graciela said, weeping and smiling at the same
time.
"I'm all right," Pooch said, shrugging. He felt uneasy with Graciela's
affection. What had he seen in the woman? Soft-headed, emotional, absorbed with
unessentials.... Well, she'd been willing, so far as he could recall. It was all so
long ago. But a willing woman was nothing to sneeze at, even if she wasn't as
exciting as that Scarlet Fever--how he wished he could have a chance at her! Or
that Lady Protector. If only Hermes hadn't forbidden-- At the memory of the dark
magician, the ex-gladiator's thoughts slowed. He felt a sort of mental jolt, as
though he had missed a stair in the dark. He liked Graciela...she was warm and
comfortable--an unimportant person, one of no interest to those who would shape the
world to their will--kind and compassionate--a stupid, ineffective woman-- He felt
as though there were two people in his head, at daggers drawn with each other. One
or the other must win this debate and vanquish the other self for all time, and until
that happened, he was as good as paralyzed, unable to act.
+ ]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."
SPY REPORT
So why do I have this bag over my head? Because I am The Unknown Spymaster and
I'm going to give you a spy report!. For every winner there is a loser. Speaking of
losers, lets take a look at WIMPS MOST FOWL, who went down to 2nd from 6th. Life is
tough. Coming up with a solid 0-1-0 outing, VEGETABLES has advanced 3 places in the
rankings. Advancing in the rankings was SUPERIOR FORCES who went from last turn's
344-338-17, to this week's record of 348-338-17. Hey everybody, watch out for FTF
TAB, who flew up 23 points in the rankings after mashing BLUE PATRICK like a melon.
Keep your eye on this beast. And falling like a basher in the top ten was MA LARIA,
who dropped 23 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with TACO TASTER.
SUICIDE KING got through to the Duelmaster this turn. No doubt he was more than
anxious to kick DEMON SMASHER's tail out of the throne! Well, everybody's pal DEMON
SMASHER moved his record to 22-27-2 by defeating SUICIDE KING in the Duelmaster's
Title Bout and gaining 10 recognition points. 4 out of 5 gladiators surveyed protect
the body, so try and avoid aiming at that location.
Let's dig a little deeper into what's happening in the ZENSU arena. Did you
hear that WIMPS MOST FOWL was most avoided team this week? Well, knowing the
personal hygiene of WIMPS MOST FOWL's warriors, I'm not surprised! Okay, so I may
not be funny, but catch LOUNGE LIZARDS' act in the arena. Those acrobats seem to be
fairly deft at running from WIMPS MOST FOWL. Well just about everybody wants a piece
of ED GIEN, who was this week's most challenged warrior. In a touching display by a
'touched' warrior, PSYLLOPHRYNE went after ONION RINGS, who was higher by 25 points.
Well, when the dust settled, PSYLLOPHRYNE subdued ONION RINGS. ENOCH of RELIGIOUS
HERALD had better have a good reason for challenging down 8 points in a challenge
which he won. I thought ENOCH showed great skill and promise when he overcame
DOMBEN. All right, so I slept through it! Big deal!
Death is kind of like a new puppy: he's always around wanting to play. (Ha
Zontani, how's that for a wise saying?). Here's some advice: warriors with little
wit and will may encounter problems on the trail to the Isle.
Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in ZENSU have no
sense of humor. Or maybe that they were senseless. C'mon, Leadfoot, let's make some
tracks. Its been real, and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun...-- The
Unknown Spymaster
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DEMON SMASHER 3120 22 27 2 117 SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ED GIEN 3442 11 6 0 117 EASTON WOLVES (362)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SUICIDE KING 3461 11 5 1 96 EASTON WOLVES (362)
GRACIELA 3239 18 23 0 95 BEYOND THE PALE (337)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ONION RINGS 3138 11 19 0 90 VEGETABLES (283)
POULE D'EAU 3376 12 10 0 89 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
GUESS MY STYLE 3407 11 4 0 89 SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
STRIPED GARTER 3026 16 24 0 85 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
POND CROW 3495 7 4 0 84 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
ENOCH 2789 6 2 0 80 RELIGIOUS HERALD (306)
PSYLLOPHRYNE 3391 14 4 0 79 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
MUD HEN 3378 12 10 1 76 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
COOT 3377 13 9 0 72 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
DOMBEN 3176 12 33 0 69 BEYOND THE PALE (337)
TESSA 3441 11 6 1 68 EASTON WOLVES (362)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
FTF TAB 3474 7 5 0 59 PLAYER'S BAR (354)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BLUE PATRICK 3379 11 11 0 48 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
CONCRETE SHOES 3364 7 9 2 48 PLAYER'S BAR (354)
TACO TASTER 3492 5 3 0 46 SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
PIT VIPER 3525 5 3 0 44 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
REPTICULA 3563 4 0 0 42 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MA LARIA 3511 7 3 0 33 DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
HOFTALJ 3411 6 13 0 31 BEYOND THE PALE (337)
ORANGE GECKO 3540 4 2 0 27 LOUNGE LIZARDS (207)
HARJ 3484 6 7 0 26 BEYOND THE PALE (337)
-DARKCHYLDE 3098 3 2 0 25 WITCHHAVEN (326)
-WITCHBLADE 3065 3 4 0 24 WITCHHAVEN (326)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-HA AN ICON 3537 2 3 0 23 ANAGRAMS (369)
-LARA 3067 5 3 0 20 WITCHHAVEN (326)
SOUL STREAKER 3532 2 0 0 19 SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
POISON 3553 3 0 0 18 DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
-CAMEL DOSE 3538 3 2 0 15 ANAGRAMS (369)
DECAPITATION 3510 2 3 0 13 DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
ENVY 3566 1 0 0 13 DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
ENOCH 2814 1 1 0 11 RELIGIOUS HERALD (306)
MARY MAGDALENE 2791 0 5 0 11 RELIGIOUS HERALD (306)
KAYLA 3567 1 1 0 4 EASTON WOLVES (362)
-VIOLATOR 3066 0 4 0 4 WITCHHAVEN (326)
-A BORN RESIGN 3535 0 4 0 4 ANAGRAMS (369)
-GOLDBERG 3352 0 3 0 3 WITCHHAVEN (326)
CRAZY BRAINS 3576 0 1 0 1 EASTON WOLVES (362)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
PIKA 3412 5 13 1 BEYOND THE PALE 337 TESSA 3441 320
PSYCLONE JACK 3501 4 5 1 EASTON WOLVES 362 PIKA 3412 319 REVENGED
SCARLET SKINK 3418 5 8 1 LOUNGE LIZARDS 207 PSYCLONE JACK 3501 317 REVENGED
DAA! 3578 0 1 0 PLAYER'S BAR 354 SPYMASTER 22 321 NONE
DA! 3577 0 1 0 PLAYER'S BAR 354 BANDIT PRINCE 25 321 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Taco Taster -- I would rather face you than Pandora's Diaphragm After all, who knows
where Pandora's Diaphragm has been! -- Orange Gecko
Blue Patrick -- You, you, you WIMP! -- Pit Viper
Coot -- No problem, I hear there is a fresh new up and coming crop for you. --
Stripped Garter
Suicide King -- I consider my loss a small price to pay to keep you earning political
points so we can bid you a not so fond farewell. -- Stripped Garter
Stripped -- Keep that up and you'll be a martyr for peace and quiet. -- Chameleon
Decapitation -- I eat lunch at the Stew House, are you telling me that the secret is
in the sauce? -- Chameleon
Pretty Pandora -- By coincidence we have jewelry cases on sale this week at
Chameleon's Curios. -- Chameleon
Mad Max -- Whoops! Ignore that last personal addressed to you. For some reason I got
you confused with Washee. -- Manager
Poule D'Eau -- Yes! Bet you didn't expect that one! -- Demon Smasher
Hoftalj -- That was really humiliating. -- Taco Taster
Ed Gien -- Don't confuse "old" with "skilled". -- Demon Smasher
Chameleon -- Another excellent episode of the ZE. Did I ever send you back episodes?
I can't remember. -- Manager
Lady Pandora -- That must explain why you and your hubby are so popular with the crowd
then. And I thought it was just because of your legs. -- Demon Smasher
Beyond The Pale -- The killing of Pika was nothing personal...just business. If you
kill one of ours then we must kill one of yours. I respect your team and look forward
to your bloodfeud. -- Tessa
Wurm Kin -- Excellent job ridding the world of Soul Reaver. Clearly he was a fool. --
The General, mgr. Easton Wolves
Goldberg -- Well fought and I will count myself lucky to get a win against you while I
can! -- Kayla
Coot -- Just a bad match up for you. I wish you the best in the future and kill a few
scum for me!! -- Ed Gein
Striped Garter -- Your encounter with The Great One no doubt left you with butterflies
in your stomach and fantasies on your mind. In review, The King's favorite moment of
the fight was at the conclusion when The King's millions and The King
meeeeaaaannnnnsssss millions of fans were stunned by the Great One's brilliant move to
finish you! -- Suicide King
RSI Typist -- The King says this...if you ever and The Excellence of Execution means
ever mistype one of The Great One's personal ads again, The King will take your
writing instrument...turn it sideways...and stick it start up your candy ass! --
Suicide King
Suicide King -- Boy, I barely know where to start with this one. Okay, here's a
good place. I'm assuming you meant "straight" not "start." Tell me, were you
hoping I would correct that one, hence "mis-typing" the ad, or was that just a
screw up? Beyond that, you do know that annoying me is a good way to make sure
that all your warriors get renamed things like "Lilac Sniffer", don't you? --
Merciless Typist, absolutely the wrong guy to bluster at
Demon Smasher -- Congrats on Duelmaster but if all goes well one of my boys will be on
the throne by the time this ad is typed! -- The General
Guess My Style -- I am sure you love hearing yourself talk but your words are
misplaced. I am 5-1 against your "kind" and would LOVE to fight your type ever turn.
A warrior of my "class" matches up very well with scum like you and I hope your kind
challenges me every turn. I will not stop talking about your "kind" but you will have
to wait until the bloodfeuding is over if you want to fight again! -- Tessa
Chameleon -- I appreciate the thoughts on Psyclone Jack but his 3 will just wasn't
going to get the job done in the long run. Also, I just wanted to add that I enjoy
the Zensu Enquirer. Keep up the good work. -- The General
Pandora -- If your "Soultaker" has left you then maybe you should join Kayla and I for
a little "girl on girl" fun. We could start by hunting down Soultaker and teaching
him a lesson. -- Tessa
Onion Rings -- So you thought you could strangle me, huh? I'll have you know I'm the
one who chokes out your last foul breath! Me! -- Asphyxia
Going soft on me, Asphyxia? You brought me one lovely kill. Get me another before
you leave! Blood! -- Lady Pandora
Asphyxia, Demons of Death's newest Lord Protectoress, led a difficult life:
15(+1)-10(+1)-13-14(+1)-18(+1)-15(+1)-6(+2). Earned 45 skills in 41 fights (no
tournaments). Hosed in Init (-4). Great damage. 62/261/24 with WH, 0/8/0 with
the maul. AdEx Attack, Expert Decise, Riposte, Initiative. High/Mod/maul, bash
tactic & riposte technique. -- The Demon Chronicles
Concrete Shoes -- I just love to infect you experienced types. You're still looking a
little jaundiced. My, my. -- Malaria
Don't taunt them, Malaria, you Bimbo! Kill them. Get me some blood! -- Pandora of
the Pretty Legs
I'm sorry, Lady Pandora. I tried to kill Persistent Beggar. I'll do better next
time, I promise. -- Poison
Humph! Oh for the days of Heart Attack and Werewolf! -- Pretty Pandora
Tessa! Perhaps you would like to join Demons of Death. Your manager must appreciate
your new killing ways. -- Pandora of the Pretty Legs
Manager -- You old devil dog! I congratulate you on your killing and bloody ways. It
is a pleasure to see you mature into an item of worth. Perhaps there is value in you
yet. -- Lady Pandora
Mud Hen -- A curse on you, you ugly and foul wimp! -- Ma Laria
Gosh, we're On the Move. Now if only I had some idea where we were going.... --
Graciela
Blue Patrick -- Can't do it, my dark vision isn't good enough. Probably I need to eat
more carrots. -- Hoftalj
Poule d'Eau -- Gosh, I wish I could say I *did* do that, but it was just one of those
things. -- Graciela
Tessa -- But how about OFF the sands? -- Domben
The General -- If I had someone who could reach Tessa, I might be tempted to prolong
this cycle of death and revenge-death. As it is, I hope it stops here and now. Tessa
has nothing to boast of in the death of Pika. -- Graciela
Tessa -- THAT was no Infirmary death. -- Ghost of Pika
Enoch -- Did you know that Hark and Harold's angels swing? -- Domben
Psyllophryne -- What a freaky fight! I was so dizzy the whole time--those op art
shields are SOMETHING ELSE!--and every time I staggered, I hit you! Talk about weird.
-- Graciela
Mary Magdalene -- I thought Magdala was a kind of wine? Or do I mean Marsala? Or
maybe something else entirely.... Uh, good fight. -- Harj
Taco Taster -- No, seriously, guy, try gorditas. The ones with the sour cream, you
know? -- Hoftalj
No time to get the replacement registered today, sorry. Look for her next time. --
Graciela
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
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
DAA! was butchered by SPYMASTER in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
DA! was murdered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena melee.
SUICIDE KING was defeated by DEMON SMASHER in a 1 minute Challenge Title duel.
ENOCH bested DOMBEN in a exciting 1 minute bloody veteran's Challenge fight.
STRIPED GARTER was devastated by ASPHYXIA in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
PSYLLOPHRYNE outwaited ONION RINGS in a unpopular 18 minute Challenge match.
POND CROW viciously subdued TESSA in a action packed 2 minute Challenge fight.
PIT VIPER vanquished HOFTALJ in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
REPTICULA luckily beat CONCRETE SHOES in a 3 minute uneven Challenge duel.
ENOCH defeated KAYLA in a action packed 3 minute novice's Challenge fight.
ED GIEN beat POULE D'EAU in a 2 minute veteran's fight.
GUESS MY STYLE luckily beat MUD HEN in a crowd pleasing 6 minute bloody competition.
COOT was subdued by GRACIELA in a popular 1 minute master's match.
BLUE PATRICK was handily defeated by FTF TAB in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
MA LARIA slimly lost to TACO TASTER in a unpopular 22 minute gruesome bout.
HARJ overcame MARY MAGDALENE in a 2 minute bloody bout.
ORANGE GECKO devastated DECAPITATION in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
POISON overpowered CONVICTED THIEF in a tiresome 7 minute one-sided match.
SOUL STREAKER overpowered CRAZY BRAINS in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
ENVY devastated CONVICTED THIEF 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 13 PARRY-STRIKE 6 - 4 - 0 60 |
|TOTAL PARRY 7 PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 - 2 - 0 60 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 6 SLASHING ATTACK 38 - 27 - 1 58 |
|BASHING ATTACK 3 TOTAL PARRY 50 - 38 - 0 57 |
|WALL OF STEEL 3 LUNGING ATTACK 71 - 70 - 3 50 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 2 AIMED BLOW 12 - 14 - 0 46 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 WALL OF STEEL 18 - 24 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 BASHING ATTACK 17 - 24 - 1 41 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 STRIKING ATTACK 20 - 30 - 2 40 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 12 - 0 14 |
Turn 321 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:
TOTAL PARRY 5 - 2 BASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 5 LUNGING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK 7 - 6 WALL OF STEEL 1 - 2 3 TOTAL PARRY
SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 3 AIMED BLOW 0 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 1 WALL OF STEEL
PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 1 STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
LUNGING ATTACK ED GIEN 3442 11 6 0 117 EASTON WOLVES (362)
WALL OF STEEL POULE D'EAU 3376 12 10 0 89 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
TOTAL PARRY GUESS MY STYLE 3407 11 4 0 89 SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
STRIKING ATTACK POND CROW 3495 7 4 0 84 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
AIMED BLOW COOT 3377 13 9 0 72 WIMPS MOST FOWL (355)
BASHING ATTACK TESSA 3441 11 6 1 68 EASTON WOLVES (362)
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is DEMON SMASHER 3120. The most popular warrior this
turn was MUD HEN 3378. The ten other most popular fighters were POND CROW 3495,
KAYLA 3567, ED GIEN 3442, MARY MAGDALENE 2791, ENOCH 2789, HARJ 3484, SUICIDE KING
3461, DEMON SMASHER 3120, CONCRETE SHOES 3364, and ENOCH 2814.
The least popular fighter this week was MA LARIA 3511. The other ten least popular
fighters were TACO TASTER 3492, PSYLLOPHRYNE 3391, ONION RINGS 3138, POISON 3553,
CRAZY BRAINS 3576, DECAPITATION 3510, POULE D'EAU 3376, REPTICULA 3563, HOFTALJ 3411,
and STRIPED GARTER 3026.
The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn:
DEMON SMASHER (40-3120) SUPERIOR FORCES (226)
The following warriors have traveled to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after fighting this turn:
ASPHYXIA (40-3121) DEMONS OF DEATH (168)
The Dawn Always Follows the Night
It can be easily said that the game of Duelmasters has changed greatly over the past
decade or so. Many aspects of the game have changed in recent years: the creation of
Advanced Duelmasters, Primus, regional ADM, Gateway. Modifications to the game have
made it very different since the early days. Some for the good and some not no good.
The Dark Circle has been a major driving force in every aspect of Duelmasters since
very early on. It goes without saying that there is no alliance past or present that
has matched the accomplishments of the Dark Circle. The list of names that have graced
the rolls of the Dark Circle has been a who's who of Duelmasters: Scrag, Neon
Necromancer, Guardian, Papa Bear, mouse, Mr. Animal, Merlin, Sharky, Moriarty, Doc
Steele, Mongo, Boss Rat, Blood Wizard and many more. The alliance has seen many
changes in its time, and now it is time for The Dark Circle to make one last "change".
We have decided to hang up our hats and call and end to this fine alliance. We have
done it all. We can't do any more. The membership of the Dark Circle has done more in
the learning and teaching of the game than any other group before or since. We have
been reviled more than almost any other group since the game's inception, mostly by
those who didn't understand us yet still used what we taught them. We have
accomplished very much indeed, but we, as an alliance, have nothing more to give to
the Duelmasters game or community.
The Dark Circle has officially disbanded and its Wardens are now all independent
managers. With malice towards none and good will towards all, we part company knowing
we have reached the pinnacle of success. We have nothing left to prove. We part as
friends going their separate ways. Think of us as the Beatles of Duelmasters. We did
it right. We did it the way we wanted. We did it in such a way that our
accomplishments are beyond reproach. We part as winners.
Sincerely,
Scrag
Guardian
Merlin
Mongo
Mr. Animal
Papa Bear
Rhialto
Blood Wizard
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