DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/19/1999    Duedate: 11/15/1999

FRATSFA ARENA

DM-52    TURN-132

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

ROTTEN LIVER
OTTO'S PARTS (150)
(52-2902) [8-2-0,109]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

ROTTEN LIVER                   IXNAY
OTTO'S PARTS (150)             CHOSEN FEW (329)
(52-2902) [8-2-0,109]          (52-3208) [2-1-0,18]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

BOTULF                         BOTULF
IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)        IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
(52-2938) [13-10-2,98]         (52-2938) [13-10-2,98]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

OTTO'S PARTS (150)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. OTTO'S PARTS (150)          28
2. 'THE SPELLBOUND'... (328)   28      IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
3. CHOSEN FEW (329)            27      Unchartered Team
4. THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)      26
5. FLOWER GIRLS (189)          12      CHOSEN FEW (329)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)   69  40  5 63.3   1/ 2 OTTO'S PARTS (150)       11  4 1
 2/ 2 FLOWER GIRLS (189)       263 176 10 59.9   2/ 1 FLOWER GIRLS (189)       10  4 1
 3- 3 STONE PONIES (297)       100  84  8 54.3   3/ 3 THE DARK ONES (285)       8  7 1
 4/ 4 THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)   100  91  4 52.4   4/ 8 DARK RAIDERS (78)         7  7 0
 5/ 5 CARNIVAL (148)            54  56  3 49.1   5/ 5 THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)    6  9 1
 6- 6 RESURRECTION CO. (151)    43  48  5 47.3   6/ 7 CARNIVAL (148)            5  6 0
 7/ 7 DARK RAIDERS (78)         76  85  3 47.2   7/ 4 IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)   4  5 0
 8/ 8 OTTO'S PARTS (150)       116 131  6 47.0   8/ 9 HOLY ALLIANCE (257)       3  3 0
 9/ 9 HOLY ALLIANCE (257)       94 109  2 46.3   9/10*CHOSEN FEW (329)          3  7 1
10/10 THE DARK ONES (285)       72  89  5 44.7  10/11*'THE SPELLBOUND'.. (328)  3  7 0
11/12*CHOSEN FEW (329)           4   9  1 30.8  11- 6 STONE PONIES (297)        1  2 0
12/11*'THE SPELLBOUND'.. (328)   8  19  0 29.6  12-12 RESURRECTION CO. (151)    0  6 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 #18 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

In the forest south of Fratsfa:

     Father Bankowski stared at the woman--demoness, probably--blankly for a moment.  
Her beauty was as stunning as a blow on the head--no, not beauty, desirability.  He 
assembled some of his scattered wits and croaked, "Sister?"
     "Golden Fever," she said, moving closer with a languid, hip-swaying grace.  "I'm 
much more interesting than she is, and I can give you...anything...you desire...."  
Her voice dropped to a husky purr.
     Bankowski backed up hastily, sweating, and made the sign of Mantor in the air 
between them.
     "Theletaud!" she spat.  "Vraes ke naul vredon!"
     The ground heaved at her feet and something--larger than a bread box, the priest 
thought almost hysterically, but smaller than a cooking stove--emerged.  Its shape was 
hard to define, but it seemed more serpentine than otherwise.  But it was not black, 
as he had expected, but golden, bright and hot as molten metal.  It moved quickly, 
describing a circle around him.
     The woman smiled, a curling of her lips that revealed the pointed teeth.  "I 
curse you with the golden shadow," she said, "so that everyone who meets you will know 
you are the sole holder of the key to a fortune beyond the wildest dreams, and you 
will never be able to convince them otherwise!"
     It didn't take much imagination to realize what such a curse would do to him, if 
it was real.  "Why have you done this, woman?" he asked.
     "You insult me, threaten me, and are surprised that I strike back?" she demanded, 
feigning indignation.  Her ruby lips curled again.  "It will amuse me to see the 
violence and destruction that will follow you wherever you go, priest."
     "Mantor shall be my shield," he answered.

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Frafrejan Empire #19 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Ardivent:

     It was natural that Wise Old Fandil, as one of the most prominent managers of 
Ardivent, should be on good terms with the Arenamistress.  He had no difficulty 
getting himself and the two Lady Protectors an interview.  Scarlet Fever was surprised 
to see that Arenamistress Fandette bore a distinct resemblance to her host!
     Noting the startled look, Fandette said, "Distant cousins, but it is rather 
striking, isn't it?  Now, what can I do for you?"
     "You have noted, as I have, the disappearance of certain gladiators who attempted 
to enter retirement by way of the Dark Arena," Fandil began.
     "`Attempted'?"
     "The matter is more serious than we had hoped.  Lady Protector Scarlet Fever of 
Zensu has brought us word regarding the ultimate fate of at least some of the 
disappearances."
     "Not the ultimate fate, sir," Scarlet broke in.  "Say rather, the intermediate 
fate, because I suspect that the ultimate end has not yet been reached."
     "Well noted," Fandil said approvingly.  "The immediate or intermediate fate, 
then, is that the gladiators enter a sort of dark twin of the regular arena system, 
something more grim than even the Delarquan version.  Those who were retired early for 
complete lack of appropriate talent are killed--"
     "Sacrificed to some god, maybe Kjarran, but maybe not," Scarlet added.  "Father 
Bankowski thought not, that some other god which he didn't recognize might be 
involved.  Or demons, of course."
     "Of course," Fandette said, grimacing.  "A pretty picture for what was to be the 
most humane branch of the gladiatorial system!"
     "It's abominable," Stepharoo said, figuring she'd been quiet long enough.  "We 
have to get up a party of adventurers and--"
     "More information, first, my dear," Fandil said firmly.  "Those without skill 
die.  Those of moderate skill--?"
     "They're set to fighting each other in death duels for the amusement the 
organizers of this plot.  Some die, but there are others that disappeared while Father 
Bankowski and I were there that may not have died.  We aren't sure what happened to 
them."
     "There I can give information to you, I think," Fandette observed.  "Some 
warriors who belong to that group, the moderately skilled, who had been listed as 
missing, did eventually turn up again.  Questioning them was useless, they were 
affected by a partial but obstinate amnesia, probably of magical origin."
     "Ah.  At least they lived," Scarlet said.  "I hope they bear no hidden commands 
set to go off in the future--it would be like the leading magician of the group to do 
some such thing.  Well, the highly skilled--"
     "Those who went to the Dark Arena on receiving their Invitation to the Isle and 
lost that fight."
     "Right--"
     "Not all disappeared.  And of those who were out of sight, for some it was a very 
brief period, a few days only," Fandette stated.
     "Father Bankowski has given a lot of thought to this question, more than I did," 
Scarlet admitted.  "He thinks that the organizers are seeking Lord Protectors they can 
bend to their will, either by magic or by simple recruiting.  What they want them for, 
we couldn't guess, but a group of Lord Protectors, even a small one, guided by the 
like of Hermes of Zensu and Orbenj of Fratsfa is something to make my blood run cold.  
They must be stopped."
     "Easier said than done," Fandette and Fandil said simultaneously.  Fandil smiled 
and gestured for the Arenamistress to continue.  "We suspect that there is one bad 
apple in our Dark Arena, but I haven't been able to find out who.  Not for sure.  
There are three or four it might be...."
     "And it doesn't have to be one of them who `kills' the missing gladiators, 
either, I bet," Stepharoo suggested.
     "True.  It could be someone in the Infirmary, even, perhaps, someone totally 
without official connection with the arena."
     "But if they only take people who are sent to the Dark Arena, it'd be hard to get 
inside the system to find out what's going on," Stepharoo said slowly, "unless...."
     "Oh, no, Stepharoo, I can guess what you're thinking, and the answer is no," 
Fandil said sharply.
     She smiled at him.  "Nonsense!  It'd be fun.  Next time a woman goes to the Dark 
Arena, someone about my size, I mean, I can pose as her--"
     "The risks are terrible, worse than you realize!" Scarlet interrupted.  "They 
have a powerful magician, a master of the darkest arts--"
     "Well, old Fandil isn't exactly helpless," Steph argued.  "What if he--or 
somebody else on our side--puts a spell on me first that will protect me without 
seeming to?"
     "That is totally crazy," Fandette declared.  "Let's try it."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     "Yeah, but Tess Turbo didn't go to the Dark Arena," Stepharoo pointed out.
     "A mere detail," Arenamistress Fandette said, dismissing it with an airy wave.  
"We've got Master Cho to do illusions, and it will look like she did go."  The 
arenamistress leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling for a moment.  "The 
Dark Champion, I think--"
     "You think he's the traitor?" Scarlet Fever asked.
     "And will Master Cho do anything like that?  He's Adantri, and you know how they 
feel about magic--" Steph interrupted.
     "Haven't a clue," Fandette said to Scarlet.  "But he's a likely one.  Close-
mouthed bastard, and no one will be surprised if he defeats a graduating warrior.  As 
for Master Cho, I think he will, for a good cause."
     "People might be surprised if he really `kills' one of Technogeek's warriors, 
though!" Stepharoo said suddenly.
     "Accidents happen, but graduated warriors are always resurrected.  That is, their 
bodies are shipped to the Isle and raised there," Fandette corrected herself.  "It'd 
give any traitor a fine chance to `steal' you."
     "Uh, what if I win?" Steph asked, trying to look modest.  "I'm not bad, you 
know."
     "What about a drug to slow you down?" Fandette suggested.  "After all, everybody 
knows Tess made enemies, so that won't surprise anybody.  Of course, then I'd have to 
do at least the form of an investigation--can't have people drugging gladiators...."
     "It just gets more and more complicated, doesn't it?" Fandil said dryly.  "Surely 
there is a simpler way to handle this?"
     "If so, I haven't thought of one," Scarlet Fever said.  "And the gods know I've 
tried."
     "We could investigate the sources of income for all the Dark Arena warriors," 
Fandil began.  "It would take a little time, of course, but--"
     "But what if somebody else falls into the trap in the meantime?" Steph asked.  
"I'm willing to do it, and I'm the one putting it all on the line, so what's the 
problem?"
     "Even though you have graduated, my dear," Fandil explained patiently, "I have a 
responsibility for you.  It would ill become me to thrust you into so chancy a 
situation."
     "So who's thrusting?  I volunteered!"

Kati-Tei:

     "I've never been much for going to bars," Selatina said doubtfully.
     "Teetotaler?" Raef asked.
     She smiled a little shyly.  "Nobody asked me," she corrected, "and I didn't like 
to go alone."
     "Perhaps we won't need to," Lady Protector Crystal Fireblade said briskly.  "We 
may find out what we need to know from the arena staff."
     "If the arena staff knew what was going on," Raef pointed out, "we wouldn't need 
to investigate anything."
     "They may know without knowing, or rather, without putting together separate 
facts and adding them up," the Lady Protector said.  "We can't be sure until we ask 
around."
     "And maybe not then!" Selatina said.  "If they don't know what they know, how can 
we know when they've told us?"
     "Let's not get too tangled up in words here," the Lady Protector warned.  She led 
the way around the curving outer wall of the arena to one of the doors that the paying 
customers seldom noticed: the Infirmary exit.  "We'll start by asking natural 
questions--"
     "Like what happened to Karandel's body," Selatina said, naming a teammate of hers 
who had died in the arena recently.  "We were all set to hold his funeral--the team 
got him the loveliest wreath--and there was no body!  Sonya--our manager--is pretty 
mad about it."
     "A good starting point," the Lady Protector said.  She pushed open the heavy 
door.
     Selatina didn't like the smell of the Infirmary section; it reminded her too 
strongly of her losses in the arena and how close she'd come to death more than once.  
She supposed that once you got to be a Lady Protector, you didn't mind things like 
that any more, but that was a long way into her future, if at all.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     "Dead is dead," the orderly said.  "We've got plenty to do just keeping the 
injured ones alive.  Deaders go to the morgue, and I don't know what happens to them 
after that."  He pulled them out of the main hallway into an alcove to let another 
group of people pass; the Infirmary section and adjacent areas were very busy on fight 
days.
     "Who's that?" Raef whispered, his eyes following the small group that marched--
that was the only word for it--past.  They might be foreigners, but it was impossible 
to tell for sure because they were wearing their cloaks pulled closed around their 
bodies with the hoods hiding their faces.   Black wool cloaks, a gleam of red inside 
the hoods--they looked a little like managers, although those heavy boots seemed out 
of character.
     The orderly shrugged.  "They're off the Pozemon, most likely," he said.  "Seems 
like they're usually in port on fight days."
     "Spectators?  What're they doing down here?"
     "Dunno.  They always come in this way.  Look, I gotta get back to work," the 
orderly said.  He accepted the gratuity Crystal offered and hurried off down a cross-
hall.
     "I could stand to know more about this Pozemon," Raef said.

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #24 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

     Deadpool watched from above as Cable marched into the office of General Kyrican.  
His former manager-turned-friend had a blank look on his face, as if being there 
didn't concern him in the least.  Kyrican rose from behind his desk as the larger man 
entered, Deadpool was enjoying the vantage that the Crow's hidden passages provided.  
Kyrican smiled disarmingly as he took Cable's hand and they exchanged the time honored 
test of strength with a brief handshake.  Deadpool noted Cable's reaction to Kyrican's 
strong grip more than he noticed Kyrican's reaction.  Deadpool knew how strong Cable 
was...sometimes he thought he'd known it too well.
     Cable took a seat across the Aruaki headmaster's desk when Kyrican offered.  He 
nodded in thanks, but didn't speak.  The large man was doing his level best to appear 
disinterested, and Deadpool was himself almost convinced.  Deadpool felt a bit of 
jealousy as Kyrican offered Cable a fine cigar from a dark wood case.  Imported from 
the Karnhorn Empire, from the look of the decorative box.  Cable accepted and lit the 
stogie with one of the dwarven matches he always carried.
     Kyrican appeared calm, and even friendly, as Cable lit the cigar.  The Aruaki 
took his seat in the large chair behind his desk, molding easily into its familiar 
confines.  Deadpool thought he looked too comfortable for a traitor, for that is what 
Cable still suspected of the man who had once conspired with Rirorni against King 
Mickael.  Deadpool had no reason not to believe in his friend's assessment, but that 
was why they were really here.  They needed to find out what was going on with Kyrican 
and the rest of Tarrgir's council.  The best way, near as Cable could figure, would be 
to get a position ON that council.  Deadpool chuckled inwardly and had to stifle a 
laugh at the thought of the stiff necked Cable in the role of politician.
     "Welcome once again, Nathan Dayspring," Kyrican said, breaking the silence, but 
not the tension.  "It has been many years since last I saw you here, in the walls of 
my Academy.  They have been kind to you."
     "I'm happy to be here, General Kyrican," Cable replied, taking a long draw off 
his cigar.  A light flashed in Cable's eye, a sure sign to Deadpool that he wasn't 
pleased to be here.
     Kyrican smiled, a warm smile that was somehow condescending.  "Your son's 
graduation, I believe, was...."
     "I'd really rather not talk about that, if you don't mind," Cable said, cutting 
in on Kyrican's pleasantries.  "I'm a busy man, and I have a campaign to be running, 
as you well know.  Please, get to the point, as I'm sure you have pressing matters as 
well."
     Deadpool winced at Cable's lack of diplomacy, which was exactly what he'd feared 
in "Nathan Dayspring, Politician".  He wasn't alone in discomfort, as Kyrican's ears 
had turned red and his eyes were narrowed.  "Very well, Nathan," Kyrican replied, his 
voice dripping with venom.
     "And it's Lord Dayspring, General," Cable interjected, interrupting once again.
     Kyrican was fairly fuming now, his ears and cheeks heavily red and his voice a 
little bit shaky.  "My apologies, milord," he said with the slightest nod of his head.  
"I meant no offence, and will come to the point."
     Deadpool tensed as he felt a presence behind him.  Spinning silently, he drew a 
dagger from a wrist sheath and held it back along his forearm. There, below his 
vantage from a small shelf above the bookcase access door, stood a woman, tall and 
slender, wearing the blacks and grays of an assassin.  Deadpool recognized her as one 
of his superiors in the Guild, but what was she doing here?

         + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian League #25 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Near Tronsha, halfway between Andor and Fratsfa:

     Mickeal was glad the ditch wasn't muddy.   He rolled up onto one knee, drawing 
his sword and raising his head slowly to peer through the tangled grasses that edged 
the ditch.   There was no one in sight--Khazakh had taken cover somewhere, probably 
close by, and the sniper was not visible.  Their horses had wandered a little way on 
down the road, and the rest of his party was not in sight; they'd fallen behind, but 
he didn't know how far.
     Now what?
     His own impulse was to go after the sniper.  He hadn't been paying close 
attention but thought the ditch had run along the road for some distance, and there 
was a curve not too far back that would make it possible to get to the other side of 
the road without exposing himself....  Of course, the sniper might be moving, too.  
And, of course, pursuing assassins was not supposed to be part of the king's job.  
Even when it was the king who was attacked.  This wouldn't be the first time he'd 
found his job irksome.
     Where was Khazakh?
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Khazakh was belly down in the grasses in an area where no reasonable man would 
try to conceal himself.  There didn't appear to be cover enough for a rabbit.  Which 
just showed how little most people knew about concealment.  His clothing was of a 
color and pattern that would blend in with nearly anything, his slow, careful 
movements those of a man who had successfully hunted the extremely wary winter-wolves 
of his homeland.
     The sniper had been behind a clump of wild berry canes at the roadside, but 
Khzakh was not so foolish as to suppose the man had stayed there.  Still, he had 
assessed the probable routes of escape--to the front, onto the road, was clearly out, 
and to the rear, so far as he could tell from here, there were more brambles, possibly 
an impenetrable wall of them, from the look of things.  To the sniper's right was an 
open area on the bank of a small stream.  The left, back along the road, was the most 
logical way for the man to move.  Also, the curve of the road there would allow the 
sniper to get to their side of the road unseen, and if he planned to try again, that 
would be a good move on his part.
     He wanted to pursue the man, catch him and ask him questions, but his primary job 
was defending the king.  He began to edge toward the ditch.

Skaithvarn:

     "Your name is Omavo?" Senator Dole asked.  At the Ventan's startled nod, he went 
on, "And you're our jailer?"
     The young Ventan shrugged.  "I guess," he muttered.  His gaze, which had wandered 
to Bonner Springs, was definitely admiring.
     "Rather quiet out here--"
     "Vasvo's going to be the death of us!" the young man exclaimed suddenly.  It was 
as though the Senator's sympathetic presence had pulled a cork or unlocked a door.  
Words poured from him as he told of the Ventan leader's insistence that all non-Ventan 
were enemies, of his policy of petty theft (or major theft if the chance offered) in 
the villages they passed through, of the intimidation of farmers with hints at curses, 
and even of real curses sometimes laid on those who annoyed the leader.  "We never 
have a chance to settle down, never get to be friends with anyone," Omavo finished, 
"not even other Ventan!  Everyone's an enemy to Vasvo."
     "Things are otherwise in the world at large," the Senator said, as though musing 
to himself.  "Oh, there is trouble, there are enemies, but there are friends and good 
times, too.  Educational opportunities...chances for young men to meet young women and 
get friendly...chances for a young man to choose his own road and walk it freely...."
     "Chances for others, maybe," Omavo said bitterly, "but not for a Ventan."
     "Chances for a Ventan, too, perhaps," the Senator said, his voice soft and 
insinuating, "if he were to leave those who confine his life and had a friend or two 
to introduce him into new circles.  I know a lot of people who would welcome a young 
man of promise...."
     "Omavo!  Omavo, where are you?  What's taking you so long?"  The voice was 
Vasvo's, and at the sound of it approaching the barn door, the young man jumped, then 
turned away quickly, hurrying to meet his leader just outside the barn.  The prisoners 
couldn't hear what words were exchanged, but Vasvo's bullying, complaining, critical 
tone was clear.
     "He may listen to your blandishments," the woman in the next stall said quietly.
     "Lady Elida of Ulmurvian, I presume?" Senator Dole said, bowing courteously.  "I 
am Senator Dole of Amen-Tei in the Andorian League, and this is my assistant, Lady 
Protector Bonner Springs.  We've come to rescue you."
     "By getting yourselves captured?" she asked in a tone between laughing and 
crying.
     "Whatever it takes to do the job, fair lady," the manager said.  "There are many 
options open to us, and young Omavo is only one of them."

         + ]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

     You elder fighters surely remember me.  The younger ones may call me Olaf 
Modeen.  I return to FRATSFA once again!  Biff!  Pow!  FRATSFA watched with glee as 
FLOWER GIRLS got knocked off top spot by OTTO'S PARTS!  Phhbltt!  Too much drinking 
and too little dodging gave STONE PONIES a 0-0-0!  I got a good laugh out of it!  Up 
'n down.  Up 'n down.  Rankings always change.  Up 'n down.  I think I'm gonna be...  
Well, DARK RAIDERS' 4th moved them up to 3-2-0 place.  What's with JULIO?  He 
actually beat FRATSFA's POLITE BEGGAR, and walked away with 16 more points from the 
fight.  Laughs were big at FLOWER GIRLS while they watched SWEET PEA clobber SHADOW.  
She lost 6 points and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  LUSTRA was 
reminded on the sands why DESPAIR is Duelmaster.  Advice to fighters with a 1 
will--give up fighting!   
     Speaking of cowardly avoiders and unfair challenges...  FRATSFA thinks CARNIVAL 
and their 54-56-3 is too much!  If at first you don't succeed, give up...  In my day, 
no team with a 54-55-3 would scare me off!  What's the problem, FLOWER GIRLS?  How 
well I know the feeling of being the most challenged warrior, BRAIN TUMOR!  Don't 
make idle boasts, they may come back to haunt you.  FRIER didn't quite know what to 
make of a challenge he received from DARK ANGEL of THE DARK ONES, who is 20 points 
below him.  DARK ANGEL perhaps got hers just desserts, seeing as she was beat by 
FRIER and ended up with 81 recognition points.   
     Warriors of FRATSFA unite.  You have only your games to lose!  BLACK WIDOW, with 
hers forgettable 5-4-1,  was put to death by PYROTECHNICIAN in a forgettable match.  
THE DARK ONES didn't seem to mind very much.  BLACK WIDOW larned hers lesson 
(PYROTECHNICIAN taught it well), and we right likely won't be seein' 'im fight any 
THE FURIOUS FIVE members with the same gusto.  Is it my imagination, or are fighters 
getting younger every day?  To die so young, so gloriously!   
     Who knows what the future holds for a warrior.  More fights, there's no doubt.  
FRATSFA is a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places.  I don't 
want to overstay my welcome...-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROTTEN LIVER 2902             8   2  0   109       OTTO'S PARTS (150)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-GRANDALF 3073                16   3  0   122       IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
-BEOWULF BREITLING 2937       15   4  0   114       IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
 DISSIDENT 2369               26  12  0   104       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
 FRIER 2920                   18  11  0   100       HOLY ALLIANCE (257)
 BOTULF 2938                  13  10  2    98       IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
 ULVERIC 3074                 16   6  3    93       IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)
 BRAIN TUMOR 2584             16   8  0    93       OTTO'S PARTS (150)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CEREBRUS II 892              12   9  1    87       RESURRECTION CO. (151)
 THE BLOODLETTER 2834         15  13  2    83       THE DARK ONES (285)
 DARK ANGEL 2946              12  13  1    81       THE DARK ONES (285)
 CRAFTY CARNATION 3172         6   2  0    80       FLOWER GIRLS (189)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LUSTRA 2674                   9  11  0    76       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
 HUR 2919                     10  19  0    75       HOLY ALLIANCE (257)
 TVEBULT KVAHLE 2939           9  14  0    73       IN QUEST OF DEATH (307)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ARGON II 1051                 7   7  3    66       RESURRECTION CO. (151)
-RAZZBERRY 1137               11   6  0    65       CARNIVAL (148)
 BLOODDANCER 2906             13  14  0    63       THE DARK ONES (285)
 WHACKING WILLOW 3167          9   2  1    58       FLOWER GIRLS (189)
 RAVISHING REDBUD 3197         6   1  0    58       FLOWER GIRLS (189)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PYROTECHNICIAN 2847           5   7  1    53       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
-TESSA 3131                    7   5  0    52       STONE PONIES (297)
 BLIGHT 2163                   9   9  0    50       DARK RAIDERS (78)
-IVERSON 3157                  7   3  0    43       STONE PONIES (297)
 SWEET PEA 3198                5   1  0    43       FLOWER GIRLS (189)
 BLOODY NOSE 3175              4   3  0    43       OTTO'S PARTS (150)
-PLUGGER II 987                9   9  0    42       RESURRECTION CO. (151)
-RING TOSSE 3162               7   6  0    36       CARNIVAL (148)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CHUCKLES 3160                 8   5  0    33       CARNIVAL (148)
 LONGARMOFTHELAW 3218          3   0  1    30       OTTO'S PARTS (150)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CLANCY 3209                   3   0  0    23       STONE PONIES (297)
 FAMINE 2520                   4   6  0    22       DARK RAIDERS (78)
 HELL BENT 3176                5   4  0    21       THE DARK ONES (285)
-JAMEL THOMAS 3189             1   1  0    19       STONE PONIES (297)
 ADAM'S APPLE 3203             3   3  0    18       OTTO'S PARTS (150)
-VILA 3132                     2   6  0    18       HOLY ALLIANCE (257)
 IXNAY 3208                    2   1  0    18       CHOSEN FEW (329)
-SHAVISHTAR II 1496            3   1  1    17       RESURRECTION CO. (151)
 JULIO 3226                    1   0  1    16       CHOSEN FEW (329)
 ELONIA 3206                   1   2  0    16       CHOSEN FEW (329)
 SHADOW 2590                   4   2  0    15       DARK RAIDERS (78)
-MONTY 3210                    1   2  0    15       STONE PONIES (297)
-OYA 3166                      1   1  0    10       HOLY ALLIANCE (257)
-SMALL GORE II 3134            1   0  0    10       RESURRECTION CO. (151)
 'DRACCO SILASSON' I 3193      1   6  0     9       'THE SPELLBOUND'... (328)
 CY-LUTH 3224                  1   0  0     9       'THE SPELLBOUND'... (328)
 AGONY 3219                    1   1  0     8       DARK RAIDERS (78)
 MAL-RAH 3223                  1   0  0     6       'THE SPELLBOUND'... (328)
 STRING BEAN JEAN 3220         1   1  0     4       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
 FIONA 3204                    0   3  0     3       CHOSEN FEW (329)
 TORI 3207                     0   2  0     2       CHOSEN FEW (329)
 ACID JED 3227                 0   1  0     1       THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
-GIGGLING DICE 3221            0   1  0     1       CARNIVAL (148)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
POLITE BEGGAR 4        0  1 0   1                   JULIO 3226            132 NONE    
TAHL-RETH KA-IN 3192   1  5 0 'THE SPELLBOUND'. 328 DARK CHAMPION 24      132 NONE    
AH AN-ZAIR 3194        2  2 0 'THE SPELLBOUND'. 328 DARK CHAMPION 24      132 NONE    
BASHIER 3233           0  1 0 CARNIVAL 148          WURM KIN 27           132 NONE    
BOFFO 860              7 10 2 CARNIVAL 148          THE BLOODLETTER 2834  128 NOT REVE
GLEE MAN 3164          6  5 0 CARNIVAL 148          WHACKING WILLOW 3167  131         
GWEN 3205              0  1 0 CHOSEN FEW 329        LONGARMOFTHELAW 3218  130         
BLACK WIDOW 3177       5  4 1 THE DARK ONES 285     PYROTECHNICIAN 2847   132         
OWEN MEANEY 3201       3  2 0 THE FURIOUS FIVE 262  BLACK WIDOW 3177      131 JUST REV

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Carny -- Thanks for the luck, you seem to be doing well.  Therefore, I hope we do not 
meet on the sands.  I do not wish to lose. -- The Overseer, Chosen Few

Starry Astral -- Your horoscope said to befriend a rabid fox.  It seems it put us all 
in the infirmary for a turn.  Thanks, any more advice? -- The Overseer, mgr. Chosen 
Few

Wreaker -- We may be across the sands from each other but I do not think we are not 
real gladiators.  Congrats on team and point gain! -- The Overseer

Longarmofthelaw -- I will avenge my teammate and turn your parts to pieces. -- Ixnay, 
Chosen Few

Longarmofthelaw -- The Few have chosen to be convicts when the death of a teammate 
comes into play.  Murder and mayhem will prevail, revenge or murder, either one will 
do. -- The Few

Adams Apple -- I've always liked to play a little rough.  Will you teach me how a 
little more?  I kinda like the way you play, only I would like to learn how to dish it 
out, you big hunk of apple.  Will you let me slice a piece next time?  (wink) (grin) 
-- Elonia

Flower Girls -- Carnations, Red Buds, Willows and Peas, are you all here just to 
please or would you help if I ask?  Please, I just love flowers, willows and peas, all 
so shapely and nice as you please.  Please don't make me beg for help thrice. -- The 
Overseer, mgr. Chosen Few

All -- I am locked in a dungeon and am having trouble getting diplos and would like 
advice.  If you are willing to give it, send an ad to Chosen Few and I'll send you a 
diplo with my address. -- The Overseer, Chosen Few

All -- Please don't diplo me.  I won't get 'em, I'm stuck in a dungeon.  But if you 
would like to get ahold of me, put an ad in the personals and I'll diplo you with my 
address.  The powers that be won't allow me to have diplos.  Sorry for the 
inconvenience.  My team shall continue, even though I can't be in the arena with them. 
-- Wrecker, The Spellbound

Lady Fern -- Thank you very much, if I can repay you in any way...let me know. -- 
Wreaker

All -- Thanks for all your helpful advice.  If I can help any of you, let me know. -- 
The Spellbound

Oh my!  I told Fierce Foxglove not to be "messing with" those Dark Arena types.  Oh 
my!  The Stone Golem used her up and tossed her away.  The cad!  She was a 21-13-8-17-
7-11-7 basher with only good damage and massive hosing.  Perhaps it was for the best! 
-- Lady Fern

Tvebult Kvahle -- You stud!  You are built like a bull.  Let's meet again at The 
Flower Shoppe and try that again in a different position. (wink) -- Crafty Carnation

Blight -- Isn't it such fun when we gals work together?  I just had a great time!  You 
know so many different things to pass the time.  I have to get more of you. -- 
Ravishing Rosebud

Glee Man -- How could you do that to me?!  You just up and give out on me right at the 
moment of great ecstasy!?  Didn't you have your mandatory physical before you took me 
on?!  I wish you were alive so I could kiss your pain away. -- Whacking Willow

Carny -- Indeed, we apologize for the untimely demise of Glee Man.  I can assure you 
that all my girls would never intentionally do such a thing.  May he fight well in 
that great arena in the sky. -- Lady Fern, Flower Girls

Adams Apple -- That wasn't the only part of you I caressed! (wink) -- Sweet Pea

Pyrotechnician -- Do you have one?  I didn't notice. (smirk) -- Whacking Willow

Blooddancer -- Ooooh!  I like revenge!  And I like it hard and rough!  I can hardly 
wait.  You have so much to learn. -- Ravishing Redbud

Despair -- You on top again?  Come on over to The Flower Shoppe and we'll all let you 
be on top. (gigglingly) -- The Flower Girls

Carny -- We have everything your heart desires at The Flower Shoppe. -- Lady Fern

Carny -- We see nothing suspicious from on top of the walls, but we're having fun!  
Otto hasn't quite got the sand bags in place; he seems to be spending his spare 
moments with Sweet Pea and loving every minute of it. -- Flower Girls

Despair -- Please don't, you look like you're more than ready to make the trip to the 
Isle. -- Brain Tumor

Dark Angel -- You and your stable don't seem to be able to figure out what to do about 
me. -- Rotten Liver

Chuckles -- No more laughing in my face, Mr. Clown. -- Bloody Nose

Sweet Pea -- Perhaps you need to be locked up in isolation for an extended period of 
time. -- Longarmofthelaw

Fratsfa -- Looks like tourney-time again.  Watch out for Longarmofthelaw, which will 
be looking out for Otto's Parts in the novices. -- Crip, mgr. of Otto's Parts

Naja/Ophidian Order -- You made it, congratulations. -- Dachir

Rumble!!! -- Sorry to make you cry like that!  Perhaps all those skills will help? -- 
Lonalilta

Jinda -- Another win, 5 skills and a "Master" whatever that is?  All this can only 
mean one thing.  PARTY!!! at Kalandra's estate.  R.S.V.P. to Kickin' Asp.

All -- The Carnival is off to ponder our revenge.... -- Carny
P.S.  Will return soon.  Tremble.

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

TAHL-RETH KA-IN was dealt death by DARK CHAMPION in a 2 minute Dark Arena fight.
AH AN-ZAIR was butchered by DARK CHAMPION in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena duel.
BASHIER was easily killed by WURM KIN in a 1 minute Dark Arena match.
PYROTECHNICIAN assassinated BLACK WIDOW in a 1 minute mismatched Bloodfeud duel.
IXNAY was viciously subdued by LONGARMOFTHELAW in a 2 minute novice's Bloodfeud fight.
RAVISHING REDBUD was bested by HUR in a action packed 1 minute gory Challenge brawl.
DISSIDENT bested BOTULF in a crowd pleasing 5 minute master's Challenge match.
CRAFTY CARNATION was luckily beaten by BRAIN TUMOR in a 8 minute Challenge melee.
THE BLOODLETTER was vanquished by ROTTEN LIVER in a 1 minute Challenge Title duel.
DARK ANGEL slimly lost to FRIER in a 2 minute gory veteran's Challenge duel.
BLIGHT was beaten by BLOODDANCER in a 2 minute veteran's Challenge melee.
SHADOW was overpowered by SWEET PEA in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match.
ADAM'S APPLE was outwaited by HELL BENT in a unpopular 7 minute Challenge conflict.
DESPAIR demolished LUSTRA in a popular 1 minute mismatched match.
ULVERIC handily defeated KUNG-FU MASTER in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.
TVEBULT KVAHLE was overpowered by VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 1 minute uneven struggle.
BLOODY NOSE was luckily beaten by WHACKING WILLOW in a crowd pleasing 6 minute brawl.
FAMINE savagely defeated TORI in a 4 minute brutal veteran vs. novice bout.
'DRACCO SILASSON' I was overpowered by ELONIA in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
FIONA was bested by AGONY in a 1 minute gruesome novice's bout.
STRING BEAN JEAN was subdued by CY-LUTH in a 1 minute beginner's bout.
JULIO slaughtered POLITE BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched fray.
ACID JED was defeated by MAL-RAH in a 2 minute novice's match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  10         TOTAL PARRY       48 -  25 -   2     66  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         LUNGING ATTACK    62 -  41 -   3     60  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    5         SLASHING ATTACK   14 -  12 -   0     54  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      4         PARRY-STRIKE      11 -  13 -   0     46  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-LUNGE       16 -  19 -   1     46  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  3         WALL OF STEEL     27 -  34 -   1     44  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         AIMED BLOW         7 -  11 -   1     39  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         BASHING ATTACK    14 -  27 -   0     34  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         STRIKING ATTACK   13 -  26 -   1     33  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      3 -  10 -   0     23  |

Turn 132 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:

LUNGING ATTACK     8 -  2     WALL OF STEEL      2 -  3         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
TOTAL PARRY        4 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  2         3  TOTAL PARRY    
PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  2     AIMED BLOW         0 -  2         2  BASHING ATTACK 
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  3         2  WALL OF STEEL  
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  4         1  STRIKING ATTACK

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   ROTTEN LIVER 2902           8   2  0  109 OTTO'S PARTS (150)
TOTAL PARRY      DISSIDENT 2369             26  12  0  104 THE FURIOUS FIVE (262)
WALL OF STEEL    FRIER 2920                 18  11  0  100 HOLY ALLIANCE (257)
STRIKING ATTACK  THE BLOODLETTER 2834       15  13  2   83 THE DARK ONES (285)
PARRY-LUNGE      BLOODY NOSE 3175            4   3  0   43 OTTO'S PARTS (150)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BOTULF 2938.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
BOTULF 2938.  The ten other most popular fighters were CRAFTY CARNATION 3172, BLOODY 
NOSE 3175, HUR 2919, MAL-RAH 3223, ROTTEN LIVER 2902, DARK ANGEL 2946, BLOODDANCER 
2906, ELONIA 3206, TAHL-RETH KA-IN 3192, and LONGARMOFTHELAW 3218.

The least popular fighter this week was HELL BENT 3176.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BRAIN TUMOR 2584, ADAM'S APPLE 3203, ACID JED 3227, FIONA 3204, 'DRACCO 
SILASSON' I 3193, TORI 3207, WHACKING WILLOW 3167, TVEBULT KVAHLE 2939, SHADOW 2590, 
and RAVISHING REDBUD 3197.

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

DESPAIR (52-406) DARK RAIDERS (78)

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