DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 09/28/1999    Duedate: 10/25/1999

ERINIKA ARENA

DM-73    TURN-86

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

MRS. BOBBITT
VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)
(73-998) [5-0-1,103]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              MRS. BOBBITT
                               VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)
                               (73-998) [5-0-1,103]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

LONDON BRIDGES                 BASKET BULL
WORLDWIDE GORE (36)            THE BULLS (43)
(73-1478) [15-15-2,89]         (73-3095) [3-1-0,26]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

THE BULLS (43)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)        27
2. RESTLESS SHADES (108)       24      THE BULLS (43)
3. MEH (299)                   20      Unchartered Team
4. IN THE BEGINNING II (355)   19
5. ZOMBIES W/O HEADS (358)     18      VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)       5   0  1  100   1/ 2 THE BULLS (43)           10  4 0
 2/ 3 THE BULLS (43)            49  26  2 65.3   2/ 1 WORLDWIDE GORE (36)       9  6 1
 3/ 0*ZOMBIES W/O HEADS (358)    5   3  0 62.5   3/ 4 MEH (299)                 6  8 0
 4/ 5 RESTLESS SHADES (108)    235 181 11 56.5   4/ 3 RESTLESS SHADES (108)     5  5 0
 5/ 4 MYSTERIOUS (347)          94  73  5 56.3   5/ 5 THE AVENGERS' (352)       3  8 1
 6/ 6 WORLDWIDE GORE (36)      268 224 17 54.5   6/ 6*VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)      2  0 1
 7/ 0 IN THE BEGINNING I (355)  60  55  5 52.2   7/11 ARROGANCE (237)           2  0 0
 8/ 8 ARROGANCE (237)           13  13  1 50.0   8/ 0*ZOMBIES W/O HEADS (358)   2  1 0
 9- 7*SHADOWSPAWN 4 (292)        1   1  0 50.0   9/ 0 IN THE BEGINNING I (355)  2  3 0
10/ 9 DARK CIRCLE PETS (133)    11  13  1 45.8  10- 9*DARQUE FORCES II (255)    1  0 0
11-10*DARQUE FORCES II (255)     9  11  1 45.0  11/ 7 DARK CIRCLE PETS (133)    1  1 0
12/11 THE AVENGERS' (352)       53  78  4 40.5  12-12*SHADOWSPAWN 4 (292)       1  1 0
13/13 MEH (299)                 20  30  0 40.0  13/10 MYSTERIOUS (347)          1  1 0
14/12 THE DARK FOREST (297)     13  21  2 38.2  14/13 THE DARK FOREST (297)     1  9 0
15-15*MICRO-NOTS (351)           0   2  0  0.0  15-14*MICRO-NOTS (351)          0  2 0
16-16*PUGS GROUPIES (307)        0   1  0  0.0  16-16*PUGS GROUPIES (307)       0  1 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

+ ][ + ---:--- + ][ The Northern Alastari Treaty Organization #13 ][ + ---:--- + ][ +

Near Stormcrowe Bay, between Willaf and Aljafir:

     The Karnhorns had put him to work in a copper mine.  Thurzarn hated it.  It 
wasn't the first time in an active life that he'd found himself doing slave labor, and 
he had never liked it--that was why he was part of the special group that lived to 
oppose the Karnhorn Empire.  But he'd never worked under the ground before, and he was 
a man used to the open waters of the bay.  This was one of the nastier situations he'd 
been in.
     No chance for escape so far, either.  He was one of a group that were always 
chained together, and six men chained together couldn't run.  They were quartered 
underground in a disused side tunnel of the mine and only saw the sky every fifth day 
for a brief recreation period.  And his fellow miners wouldn't be likely to help--
three were Karragit, one was a Shew, and the last was a Karnhorn presumably enslaved 
for debt.  They weren't going to help a part-Orc stranger and risk getting into worse 
trouble.
     If Shkerfvent survived, he would try to arrange a rescue, Thurzarn knew that.  He 
and the Swavant had been friends, close friends, for a long time.  He trusted Shkerf 
more than anybody he could think of.  But even if his friend was alive, organizing a 
rescue would take time.  And then, of course, they'd have to find him....  He'd been 
marched to this mine in darkness.  It was obviously located somewhere on the flank of 
the highland called the Maanbard, the eastern border of the Great Swamp, but where?  
Stormcrowe's observers had reported several mines along the line of the high ground.  
Which one was he in?  How far from the coast and freedom?

Aljafir:

     Szoker had gotten a job as a kitchen helper and sometime waiter in the palace of 
the Kaliv of Aljafir.  High-ranking Karnhorns seemed to like being waited on by 
Swavants, a race they had created with their foul magics and forced cross-breeding, 
and it pleased Szoker that he could use this attitude to spy on them.  So long as he 
didn't get caught.
     He was supposed to have had leave a week ago, and the plan had been for him to 
swim out to meet a `fisherman' from Stormcrowe to report.  Szoker didn't know why his 
leave had been denied, but he thought he might be suspected.  The tashko, the chief 
person in the kitchen of Kaliv, who governed the activities of the cooks and the 
scullions, oversaw the purchasing, stocking, and dispensing of the food stores, 
counted the silver dishes out of the storage vault and back into it after banquets, 
meted out meager praise and harsh punishment as he saw fit, and was the law among the 
staff, had asked him many questions and watched him closely of late.  The tashko was a 
true Karnhorn by blood and belief, of course--
     "Szoker!  Szoker, you web-footed, misbegotten son of a--!"
     "I am here, great tashko," he said, hurrying out of his corner and producing an 
anxious bow.  "How may I serve, oh tashko?"
     The man favored him with a grim look and indicated a silver tray laden with a 
flagon and goblets that sat on one of the counters.  "Take that to Lord Mursaltej in 
the Red Chamber, and be quick about it."
     The look of alarm which Szoker produced at this announcement was not entirely 
acting.  No one seemed to know exactly what Lord Mursaltej's title was in the 
government of Aljafir, but he was a Power in the land.  The mystery about him made him 
seem a sinister power.  He bowed low again and took the tray, trotting quickly out 
into the maze of little hallways used by the servants.
     The Red Chamber was in the northern corner of the palace, at the base of the 
Tower of the North Star.  It was named from the reddish slate that floored it, Szoker 
supposed, although rumor gave the name a darker origin.  He knocked deferentially on 
the door and opened it, stepping in.
     From either side of the door, men closed in on him, taking the tray, closing the 
door, gripping his arms.
     Lord Mursaltej, seated in a heavy chair that had the flavor of a throne about it 
said, "I have a few questions to ask you...."

Between Veastian and North Fork:

     The Shews had a camp in the forest, a regular fortified village, which they 
called Tabarik, and it was here that Dapal brought his captive maiden.  The gladiators 
trailed along uneasily.  None of them were happy about this; raiding farms to free 
Shewish slaves was one thing, but capturing random and probably innocent women was 
something else.  Everyone knew that Karnhorn women had no power to change things.  And 
besides, this one was young and pretty and shy and frightened but trying to hide it.  
If they'd felt sure they could trust Dapal not to do her an injury, they'd have left 
him in a huff.
     Corn Field was especially distressed, because as the only Lord Protector in the 
group, he felt that the duty of making their position clear was his, and also that he 
should have been able to prevent the situation in the first place.  He wished he had 
time to get his manager's advice on the matter; Oz often gave very odd and obscure 
advice, but it usually ended up being good.
     Geladina, the woman gladiator from Veastian, drew him aside as they entered the 
gate and said, "I'll stay with her--that'll discourage the worst--but do try to talk 
to that wretched Dapal!  He'll spoil everything!  You know the people of Veastian and 
of North Fork as well won't stand for this.  Emir Kyreses won't stand for it, and his 
good will is crucial to the movement to free the slaves."
     "I'll talk," Corn Field said, sighing, "but I don't know if it'll do any good.  I 
mean, look at Dapal!  He's happy about this."
     "He's riding a grudge," Draco said gruffly behind them.  He was also from 
Veastian and had `died' in the arena and was now giving his full efforts to the 
abolitionist movement.  "He hates Emir Kyreses and will do anything to bring him down, 
even at the expense of rescuing slaves."
     "Why?" Geladina demanded.
     Draco shrugged.  "Who knows?"
     "What can we do?" Corn Field demanded in a more practical vein.  "The tacit 
support of the Emir of Veastian is important; without it, we'd have Karnhorn troops 
combing through the woods and the swamp--"
     "Fat lot of good that would do," Al said, coming up behind the trio.  He was 
another gladiator from Veastian, and a teammate of Geladina's.  He was also half 
Karnhorn, half Shewish, the result, presumably, of a violent encounter between a 
Shewish woman and an armed Karnhorn.  He didn't seem to think much of either race, and 
the others surmised that he involved himself in the abolitionist activities more from 
a pleasure in the violence than anything else.
     "Sure, they'd have problems.  But it would make a difference," Corn Field 
insisted.  "At least half the Shewish forces would have to be held back for defense--"
     "So what?" Al snapped.  "What the hell good are they anyway?  Just skulking in 
the forest is all they can do."
     "And what would you suggest instead?" Draco asked sternly.
     "An attack on Veastian.  Cut out the heart of the province, kill the Emir and his 
troops, and the rest will be easy, just mopping up."
     "An attack on Veastian would bring the whole Karnhorn army down on us!" Corn 
Field exclaimed.
     "Nah, they're going to be invaded on the east," Al said.  "I heard some managers 
talking.  We can get 'em while their backs are turned."

Green Cove, on the coast south of Vithicar:

     The two Bonds and Tibold walked down the last hill to the coastal village of 
Green Cove, trying to believe that everything was fine and the supplies would be 
waiting for them.  But it was too silent.  There was no slightest sign of human life 
in the village, although a few crows were perched on the rooflines and dotted here and 
there in the fields.  They flapped upward heavily at the approach of the gladiators.
     "There are the supplies," Peter Bond said, pointing slightly to one side.  A 
tarp-covered mound was on the beach, just above the waterline.
     George Bond, on the other side of the little group, stiffened and pointed toward 
the back of one of the huts.  There was a yard fenced in with a scraggly hedge and 
some shirts flapping on a line...and several large crows, impudent and glossy black.  
One rose into the air with a gobbet of meat in his beak.
     More than a little alarmed by what they might find, the gladiators advanced to 
the hedge and looked over.  All three of them backed up immediately.  Injury and death 
in the arena were one thing--the participants were volunteers and they had a fair 
chance, but this was something else entirely.
     Tibold swallowed a couple of times to get his voice under control, then said, 
"What do you think killed her?"
     George, looking rather greenish, answered, "Who can tell...now?  The crows..."
     "Yeah."  Peter looked around, then pointed to a field that had recently been 
plowed.  "That'd be the easiest place to dig graves."
     "You think--the rest of the village?" George asked.
     "Sure."
     "What about the supplies?  They're sitting right there on the beach."
     "We'll have to see.  Maybe those are our supplies, and maybe they aren't."

Vithicar:

     Magister Lodrin faced his fellow members of the Council of Wizards, the rulers of 
Vithicar.  "I have given great study to the Karnhorn cities on the Neck," he said, "to 
Altinrya, Vorofwe, and Kurukar, and I must confess that I am disturbed.  Altinrya 
remains cooperative, but without the acquiescence of either Vorofwe or Kurukar, we are 
strangled; trade cannot reach us--food cannot reach us."
     "Green Cove," another wizard murmured.
     "There are Karnhorn ships in the Bay," a third countered.  "I suppose we could 
pay the extra tariff that Jhuizkhal of Kurukar is demanding."
     "If he'd take it, now, which I doubt," Lodrin snapped.  "He's the kind of man who 
likes to pull the wings off flies--"
     "He has expensive tastes--"
     "Not any more."
     A shocked silence followed that statement, as much from Lodrin's tone as the 
meaning of his words.
     Finally Nokestron, the Chief Wizard, said, "Elucidate this, Lodrin."
     "My information is incomplete, sketchy--you all know the difficulties in 
attempting to scry from Vithicar.  At first, things were as we expected to see them--
as I expected, anyway.  Now...I am not sure, but there seems to be an added note in 
the air of Kurukar--a dark note--"
     "Magical, I presume," Nokestron said.
     "Yes, of course.  I..."  Lodrin hesitated, then shook his head.  "I can make 
nothing of it.  But all the reports I've gotten in the last month indicate that 
Jhuizkhal has neglected all his old `hobbies' and spends much of his time alone in his 
suite in the palace, occupied with unknown pursuits."
     "And any magic practiced by a Karnhorn," another wizard said, "can be supposed to 
be of the darkest stripe."

+ ][ + ---:--- + ][ The Northern Alastari Treaty Organization #14 ][ + ---:--- + ][ +

Stormcrowe Bay:

     The warriors who were going on the rescue mission began to gather before sunset, 
in a fish-drying shed on the waterfront.  The two ships they would be using were tied 
up to the wharf outside the shed.
     Lady Jara wrinkled her nose at the smell.
     Her companion and teammate, Ice, said, "I know, but think how much worse it would 
be if you were in human form."
     Jara glanced down at her hands with their greenish-gray tinge and the webbing 
between the fingers.  "I cast no slur on the Karragit people when I say that I would 
give much, bear much--even this stench--to be myself once again."
     The younger woman nodded silently.  What she didn't say was that maybe the second 
transformation would be fatal.  Her sister had died....  There was no way to be sure 
whether the shape-changing magic had been involved in that death or not.  "Who else 
from our team is coming?"
     "The Klansman may come," Jara said, wrinkling her face with some distaste.  
"Although I question whether he is interested in seeing good done and evil punished."
     "As long as it does and it is, so what?"  Ice noticed the approach of the exotic-
looking Rescue Ranger, Gadget, and smiled.  "Are you going to be part of our team?" 
she asked.
     Gadget nodded shortly.  "For so worthy a goal, no effort shall be spared," the 
Lord Protector said gravely.
     "Pompous twit," The Klansman muttered, coming up behind them.  "Let's get this 
show on the road."
     The Swavant ship-captain, Werfance, came along the beach and hopped onto the 
wharf, nodded briefly to the four gladiators, and boarded his ship.  The Metallord 
Whitesnake soon followed, with his teammate Lord Protector Mustaine.  Zipper, another 
Rescue Ranger, was with them but evidently not happy about something; he and Mustaine 
were ignoring each other pointedly.
     Sherkfvent, who had started it all, was the last to show up.  He motioned for 
everybody involved to come together into the fish-shed and shut the door behind them.
     Gadget nodded approvingly.  "Take no chances," the Rescue Ranger said.  "Sound 
travels too easily over water."
     "Right, and walls have ears, and so on.  We can't make too much of a plan," the 
Swavant said, "because we don't know where, exactly, the man we want to rescue is 
being held."
     "We will doubtless find someone to rescue, wherever we land," Lady Jara observed.
     "Doubtless, but securing Thurzarn is essential to the safety of more than him 
alone; he has too much information that the Karnhorns could use to locate our 
observers."
     "Spies, you mean," Klansman said.
     "Spies, if that's what you want to call them," Shkerf agreed.  "Thurzan was taken 
to shore at the village of Valik, which belongs to the Emir Zelvahd.  I'm pretty sure 
he wasn't kept there, though--most likely, he's been taken to one of the mines up on 
the high ground--"
     "There are more than one?" Jara asked.  "Then, how do we find the correct one?"
     "That's one reason we're only taking a small group for this job," the Swavant 
said.  "We'll have to scout around--spy, if you want to call it that--to locate 
Thurzarn.  The ships'll land us near enough to Valik and go away, and we'll sneak 
around looking in likely places."
     "`One reason'," Mustaine quoted.  "The others?"
     "Well, for one thing, if we landed in force and tried to take anyone away by 
force, the Karnhorns would be sure to carry out reprisals, and we aren't ready to deal 
with reprisals.  Okay?"
     "Sensible," Mustaine agreed.  "What other plans need we make before leaving?"
     "Well...I think we'll have to split up into two groups," Shkerf said slowly.  
"Partly because small groups can hide more easily, and partly to search the area as 
quickly as possible.  There are copper mines up on the slope of the Maanbard, and 
there are bog iron mines along the foot.  Perhaps...Lady Jara and I, Miss Ice, and 
Lord Protector Gadget along the low ground, and you, Lord Protector Mustaine, with 
Zipper and The Klansman--and Captain Whitesnake if he wishes to leave his ship--along 
the high ground?"
     "It'll do," Mustaine decided, and the others nodded agreement.

North Fork:

     "I don't know what the gladiators from Veastian are going to do," Corn Field told 
his manager.  "Some of them were very upset with Dapal's tactics, and some thought he 
wasn't going far enough."
     Oz the Worried said doubtfully, "There will be trouble.  More than just a few 
raids.  Crystal Visions predicted--"
     Corn Field covered his ears.  "Don't tell me!" he begged.
     "If you insist," Oz the Accommodating said, shrugging, "but just bear in mind to 
beware the Ambitious Guard, and," he consulted a note, "Mary Lamb when she wears she 
shells and wolf tails.  At least, I think that's what she shaid."
     "Uh, right.  I'll watch out.  But, boss, what are we going to do about this?"
     "Consult the powerful and defend the northern road," Oz the Brisk stated.  "I'm 
sure there was something in the prediction about `Shrouding the Northern Lights', too, 
and that is totally clear.  The danger from Kurukar is greater than that from 
Veastian."
     "Uh, right.  Okay....  Which `powerful' did you have in mind?"
     "The Fuhrer," Oz the Decisive said.
     "He doesn't mix in politics, boss."
     "This isn't politics.  There is obviously some kind of dark magic at work in 
Kurukar, and who more likely to know about it than an enigmatic mage like the Fuhrer?" 
Oz the Insightful said.

Vithicar:

     Peter Bond and Tibold went to make their report to the Council of Wizards, but 
George Bond sought out the warriors of Suddenly Santa who had originally landed the 
supplies in Green Cove.  "Everyone in the village was dead!" he reported.  "We 
couldn't tell how most of them were killed...."  He shuddered, remembering some of the 
bodies.  "Magic, maybe."
     "What about the supplies?" Pere Noel asked.
     "Well...they were there," the gladiator said.  "But we didn't like to touch them, 
somehow.  Just in case, you know."
     "They will have to be examined," the Lord Protector mused, stroking his snowy 
mustache.  "If they are uncontaminated, we need them, and if some evil is at work, it 
must be identified and punished.  I had thought to take your teammate Alice to dinner 
tonight to celebrate her graduation, but this must take precedence.  Will you come 
with me?"
     "Sure!  I bet Alice will, too.  She may look like a lady, but she's a gladiator, 
you know."

                                      SPY REPORT

     It's me, The Unknown Spymaster here with my bag to give you the news on last 
week's fights.  We now have a new top team for all of you guys to dogpile on.  THE 
BULLS now holds the crown and they are betting they can keep it.  It was a tough week 
for DARK CIRCLE PETS, to drop 4 places in the rankings.  Coming up with a solid 1-0-0 
outing, ARROGANCE has advanced 4 places in the rankings.  Hey everybody, watch out 
for KURT COBAIN, who flew up 18 points in the rankings after mashing A BOMB IN A BULL 
like a melon.  Keep your eye on this guy.  And falling like a basher in the top ten 
was A BOMB IN A BULL, who dropped 15 points after a disappointing (to say the least) 
bout with KURT COBAIN.  Unlike most arenas, NORWAY JOSE managed to get his challenge 
off against the 4-0-1 MRS. BOBBITT.  In front of all the crowds, MRS. BOBBITT took 
the Duelmaster's crown for hers own.  I give the bum two weeks.  4 out of 5 
gladiators surveyed protect the body, so try and avoid aiming at that location.   
     But enough of that bunch, let's get on to the wimps who like to avoid battle!  
And hey, kiddies, those of you who didn't avoid THE BULLS, please raise you hand.  
Wow.  Does ERINIKA really have that many liars?  For those of you who like math, try 
this one:  THE BULLS + Weapons That go Boom = MEH + Avoid City.  Well dang howdy, but 
if challenges were votes, CHILDE HAROLD would be president.  Although it may be a 
contest he doesn't want to win.   
     Being a spy is great--other people die and you spend the rest of the day 
drinking to their memory.  Better tanked than dead!  Knowing when to use the right 
tactics at the proper time is a very important step on the road to Duelmaster.   
     Well, there's the manager of the ERINIKA giving me the 'cut' sign (or is that 
'They're going to strangle you in the alley?).  Okay, so I may not be the world's 
best comedian, but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors.  Hasta la bye-bye. 
(Loud choruses of 'Beat it, ya bum!')-- The Unknown Spymaster  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MRS. BOBBITT 998              5   0  1   103       VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WASP 3114                    14  12  0   101       THE AVENGERS' (352)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 AIRBISCUIT BERNSTEIN 2770    14   6  0   101       MEH (299)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LONDON BRIDGES 1478          15  15  2    89       WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
 SCRAG'S LIZARD 1504          10   7  1    89       DARK CIRCLE PETS (133)
 CHILDE HAROLD 2245           15  14  0    87       RESTLESS SHADES (108)
 THE FIRST DAY 3149           10   0  0    86       IN THE BEGINNING II (355)
 I AM GOD 2164                11   5  1    80       ARROGANCE (237)
 NORWAY JOSE 2543             13   5  0    79       WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
 KENYA KILL ME 2431           14  13  0    78       WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
 SUB-MARINER 3110              6  10  1    67       THE AVENGERS' (352)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HAWKEYE 3113                 12  14  2    66       THE AVENGERS' (352)
 KURT COBAIN 3185              5   3  0    66       ZOMBIES W/O HEADS (358)
 FATHER INIRE 2788            11   3  0    58       RESTLESS SHADES (108)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 COUNT BRASS 2484             13   7  0    56       RESTLESS SHADES (108)
-LEVIATHAN 2358                6   2  1    53       DARQUE FORCES II (255)
 CAP 3115                      9  17  0    50       THE AVENGERS' (352)
 A BOMB IN A BULL 503          4   3  0    44       THE BULLS (43)
 DEPLORE A BULL 493            7   0  0    35       THE BULLS (43)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THE EARTH 3146                3   0  1    33       IN THE BEGINNING II (355)
 BASKET BULL 3095              3   1  0    26       THE BULLS (43)
 BASE ON BULLS 3101            3   0  0    24       THE BULLS (43)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THE HEAVENS 3142              3   4  0    19       IN THE BEGINNING II (355)
 EYE BOOGER 2803               2   1  0    19       MEH (299)
-MORARTY'S MONKEY 2230         1   0  0    18       DARK CIRCLE PETS (133)
 AXLE GREECE 3165              2   0  0    17       WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
-CARAPACE 2509                 2   0  0    16       ARROGANCE (237)
-BAAL 2351                     3   0  0    15       DARQUE FORCES II (255)
 GOLIATH 3108                  2   3  0    14       THE AVENGERS' (352)
 C.R.U.B.S. 3096               2   1  0    12       MEH (299)
 GOLDENWRYN 2992               1   3  0    12       THE DARK FOREST (297)
 EUROPEAN HAND BULL 3099       1   2  0    10       THE BULLS (43)
-PEACE 3070                    1   0  0    10       MYSTERIOUS (347)
 CONUNDRUM 3100                1   1  0     9       MYSTERIOUS (347)
-FRAU WELT 2724                1   1  0     8       SHADOWSPAWN 4 (292)
 L.M.L.P. 3098                 1   3  0     6       MEH (299)
-NEMESIS 3104                  0   2  0     2       MICRO-NOTS (351)
-TRYAD 2837                    0   1  0     1       PUGS GROUPIES (307)
 CALL ME ISHMAEL 3186          0   1  0     1       IN THE BEGINNING II (355)
-PROSPERITY 3071               0   1  0     1       MYSTERIOUS (347)
-BELIAL 2354                   0   1  0     1       DARQUE FORCES II (255)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
FOOT BULL 3054         1  1 0 THE BULLS 43          THIRD EYE BLIND 2944   83         
DEAD MEAT 01 3178      0  1 0 THE DARK FOREST 297   GRONDATH 18            86 NONE    
LET THERE BE LIG 3143  0  2 0 IN THE BEGINNING  355 KENDROL LIGHTFINGE 26  86 NONE    
DA 1 3187              0  1 0 MEH 299               LEN-KEVRALA 20         86 NONE    
THNKSGIVING TURK 3180  0  1 0 WORLDWIDE GORE 36     FRELEN 21              86 NONE    
BRUSSEL SPROUTS 2783   6  4 0 WORLDWIDE GORE 36     MRS. BOBBITT 998       85         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Sub-Mariner -- Pulled that rabbit out from under my top hat, not under the water. -- 
London Bridges
P.S.  Nice rating, I'm envious.

Airbiscuit Bernstein -- Watch out for those banana peels, they make it difficult to 
dodge. -- Norway Jose

Goliath -- Another tower of power with monstrous attack.  This place is getting scary. 
-- Deplore A. Bull

Nemesis -- Back to back 3 point shots!  I think I like this schedule. -- Basket Bull

Conundrum -- You've left me confused about what to do. -- European Hand Bull

LMLP -- What a name, Lose Many, Lose Profusely. -- Axle Greece

Mrs. Bobbitt -- No great loss, a basher, after all.  14-9-9-17-15-9-11.  36 skills, 
AdEx Attack, Expert Decise.  Obviously not as developed as you are. -- Crip, mgr. of 
Worldwide Gore
P.S.  Of course the replacement is a witless and willess turkey.

London Bridges -- One heck of a fight.  I was pretty sure I had you there, but that 
was quite a turnaround.  Thanks for the skills, we'll meet again. -- Sub-Mariner

Father Inire -- Good fight for you, man.  I'm on a bad streak. -- Cap

Deplore A. Bull -- You live up to your name. -- Goliath

6 September 1999
LISTEN UP!  YES YOU!  A Carnival tip you "might enjoy."  It's in no way the ARENA.  
Dueling in the PR,PL style.
     A novel.  New in the library or $24 hardcover.
     Published: 1999 Harcourt Brace
     Author:  Arturo Perez-Reverte
     Name:  The Fencing Master
     Year 1848,dangerous times.  A fencing master, long seeking the unstoppable 
tactic, accepts a new student.  A mysterious woman with a small dueling scar.... 
-- Carny

13 September 1999
Hey rookie managers -- Stormcrowe (45) currently has only one unchartered team so 
those awards are practically being given away!  If you think that ;your newbies have 
the stones to face the likes of MHC & Hearts of Oak, Dark Overlord & Descendents of 
Darkness, the Fuhrer & Aryan Assassins, Seamus & Irish Marauders, GraveDiggers and 
many other hardcore teams and managers then by all means bring them on over.  This 
invite is extended to all veteran managers as well, but we figure that you are smart 
enough to avoid our killing grounds.

All -- Spreading the word about PBM 'zines and newsletters:
     Paper Mayhem--has suspended publication.  Dave is selling the magazine (due to 
illness, I've heard).  Looking for someone to assume close to $10k in subscriber debt 
and maybe cash on top of it.
     PBM Report--has a new editor, Chuck Miro, and owner Madhouse USA.  Submissions 
should be sent to: Chuck Miro/ASHRAE
                   1828 L St. NW  suite 906
                   Washington DC 20036-5104
     Submissions may also be emailed (no address available).
     New! Free! Rains Adventure Journal--send submissions or requests to:
         Kyu Seong Lee
         PO Box 979137
         Unit D 29145-037
         Miami, Fl 33197-9137
                                   -- Asmo Dius mgr. the Horsemen DM 47

All Mangers (well the ones that care....) -- Swifty McSwift has died.  That's right 
D-I-E-D.  The poor little guy took his own life after a hellish week of DM turns.  
That's right, you are all rid of him for good.  No more October Rust teams running 
around, no more unending ICQ chat invites, no more annoying PA's.  He had two last 
wishes:  First, Chance takes over Troop 709 and second he had some choice words for 
choice people.
          Chance -- Rock on, bro.
          Crow -- You win.
          Nithril/Lerch -- Thanks for being pals.
          Manager/Soultaker/UC -- Thanks for all the help you gave me.
          R/RR -- Thanks for being such cool guys.
          Troop 709 -- Live on, kill often.
          DOOMcorps -- BITE ME!!!
          RSI -- Thanks for the fun.
          And to anyone else who helped me over the years, I say thank you.
     Well that's all.  Happy Dueling -- RIP Swifty

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

LET THERE BE LIGHT was dealt death by KENDROL LIGHTFINGER in a 2 minute fight.
DEAD MEAT 01 was butchered by GRONDATH in a 1 minute Dark Arena duel.
DA 1 was murdered by LEN-KEVRALA in a 1 minute Dark Arena melee.
THNKSGIVING TURKEY was murdered by FRELEN in a 2 minute gruesome Dark Arena fight.
NORWAY JOSE was devastated by MRS. BOBBITT in a 1 minute Bloodfeud Title contest.
LONDON BRIDGES was savagely defeated by WASP in a 7 minute master's Challenge match.
HAWKEYE was overpowered by CHILDE HAROLD in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge struggle.
SUB-MARINER was savagely defeated by I AM GOD in a 4 minute Challenge melee.
C.R.U.B.S. lost to BASKET BULL in a popular 4 minute Challenge duel.
EUROPEAN HAND BULL won victory over L.M.L.P. in a 2 minute novice's Challenge duel.
AXLE GREECE luckily beat CONUNDRUM in a popular 4 minute novice's Challenge melee.
SCRAG'S LIZARD was subdued by AIRBISCUIT BERNSTEIN in a 1 minute master's competition.
THE FIRST DAY savagely defeated CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a crowd pleasing 2 minute match.
KENYA KILL ME handily defeated COUNT BRASS in a 1 minute gruesome one-sided conflict.
A BOMB IN A BULL was overpowered by KURT COBAIN in a 1 minute uneven struggle.
FATHER INIRE handily defeated CAP in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
GOLIATH was devastated by THE EARTH in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
DEPLORE A BULL overpowered GOLDENWRYN in a exciting 6 minute one-sided match.
THE HEAVENS was beaten by BASE ON BULLS in a crowd pleasing 2 minute bloody fight.
EYE BOOGER slimly won victory over CALL ME ISHMAEL in a 4 minute novice's bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                  10         STRIKING ATTACK   16 -  10 -   2     62  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      6         PARRY-LUNGE       22 -  15 -   1     59  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         WALL OF STEEL     19 -  14 -   0     58  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         TOTAL PARRY        9 -   7 -   0     56  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      3         SLASHING ATTACK   10 -  10 -   1     50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         LUNGING ATTACK    28 -  33 -   2     46  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         BASHING ATTACK     6 -   8 -   0     43  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         AIMED BLOW         5 -  10 -   0     33  |
|AIMED BLOW                       1         PARRY-STRIKE       1 -   5 -   0     17  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -   6 -   0     14  |

Turn  86 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:

AIMED BLOW         1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  6         4  PARRY-LUNGE    
SLASHING ATTACK    3 -  1     TOTAL PARRY        1 -  2         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  SLASHING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE        3 -  3     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  3         1  BASHING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  1     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  2         1  AIMED BLOW     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  MRS. BOBBITT 998            5   0  1  103 VISCIOUS FEMMES (99)
PARRY-LUNGE      WASP 3114                  14  12  0  101 THE AVENGERS' (352)
LUNGING ATTACK   AIRBISCUIT BERNSTEIN 2770  14   6  0  101 MEH (299)
BASHING ATTACK   SCRAG'S LIZARD 1504        10   7  1   89 DARK CIRCLE PETS (133)
AIMED BLOW       KENYA KILL ME 2431         14  13  0   78 WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
WALL OF STEEL    COUNT BRASS 2484           13   7  0   56 RESTLESS SHADES (108)
TOTAL PARRY      DEPLORE A BULL 493          7   0  0   35 THE BULLS (43)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is LONDON BRIDGES 1478.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was BASKET BULL 3095.  The ten other most popular fighters were WASP 3114, I AM 
GOD 2164, GOLDENWRYN 2992, LONDON BRIDGES 1478, CONUNDRUM 3100, THE FIRST DAY 3149, 
THE HEAVENS 3142, CALL ME ISHMAEL 3186, LET THERE BE LIGHT 3143, and CHILDE HAROLD 
2245.

The least popular fighter this week was DEPLORE A BULL 493.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were EYE BOOGER 2803, GOLIATH 3108, CAP 3115, A BOMB IN A BULL 503, 
COUNT BRASS 2484, HAWKEYE 3113, NORWAY JOSE 2543, THNKSGIVING TURKEY 3180, DA 1 3187, 
and DEAD MEAT 01 3178.

                          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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