DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/22/1999    Duedate: 11/04/1999

LIN TIRIAN ARENA

DM-78    TURN-155

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

WISTARIA
SAND DANCERS (68)
(78-1888) [27-10-0,108]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

WISTARIA                       POSITION IS EMPTY
SAND DANCERS (68)              
(78-1888) [27-10-0,108]        

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

BLACKCAT I                     BLACKCAT I
CATS (17)                      CATS (17)
(78-1850) [19-22-0,92]         (78-1850) [19-22-0,92]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

SAND DANCERS (68)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SAND DANCERS (68)           33
2. LLOTH'S WILL (217)          17      SAND DANCERS (68)
3. CATS (17)                    3      Unchartered Team
4. FREAKS OF NATURE (245)       0
5. EXCALIBUR (230)              0      POLYHEDRONS (24)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1 EXCALIBUR (230)           35  14  3 71.4   1/ 4 SAND DANCERS (68)         6  6 0
 2- 2 CHAOTIC PEACE (228)       60  41  5 59.4   2- 2 FREAKS OF NATURE (245)    5  4 0
 3- 3 FREAKS OF NATURE (245)    35  25  1 58.3   3/ 5 LLOTH'S WILL (217)        5  9 0
 4/ 4 SAND DANCERS (68)        336 375 11 47.3   4- 1 EXCALIBUR (230)           4  1 1
 5/ 5 CATS (17)                190 221  4 46.2   5- 3 CHAOTIC PEACE (228)       2  3 0
 6/ 6 LLOTH'S WILL (217)        67 106  3 38.7   6/ 6 CATS (17)                 1  2 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[ Lirith Kai #21 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Jade Mountain:

     He wasn't sure exactly how it had come about, but Tree found himself sitting 
across a table at the expensive Garden of the Twelve Perfections from the exotic young 
woman, listening to her make outrageous statements.
     "This humble one," she said in her soft musical voice, "was an insignificant 
witness to the horrifying events of days past.  Though I shrink from putting my 
unimportant self forward in a most vulgar and unseemly manner, yet the inexorable 
progression of events has made this necessary.  For I cannot hear--though being so 
lowly a person, what has reached your illustrious ears may have escaped mine?--that 
any steps have been taken to correct the flagrant abuses of his position by our 
otherwise no doubt estimable Arenamaster."
     Tree could feel himself starting to sweat.  He knew that there had been some kind 
of trouble over the way in which Arenamaster Kendar had become the head of his family 
and ruler of this district and that the Lord Governor of the province was still 
watching him closely--why else would there be so many temple knights just `passing 
through' Jade Mountain?  It wasn't like the town was on the road to anywhere.  But he 
didn't know any details, and he didn't want to know any details.  Lord Kendar was 
scary.  Lorana said he didn't used to be, but that the death of his wife of a few 
months had turned him cold.  Tree didn't care what had done it, he just didn't want 
anything to do with the man.  The young woman was watching him expectantly.  What the 
heck was he supposed to say?  "Er... ah, it was a long time ago," he offered somewhat 
lamely.  "Years, miss...?"
     "In number, three years," she agreed.  "Yet even one so ignorant as myself is 
aware that some dark deeds are so grave that they do not fade with time."  Till now, 
she had kept her eyes modestly lowered, but now she looked up, meeting his gaze 
squarely.  "Murder," she said.
     The word hung in the air between them.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Tree wiped the sweat from his face.  "That's what she said," he reported.  "I 
didn't know what to say to her, Lorana.  I mean, well, she's right about murder not 
fading, but...  Well, the Arenamaster?  I mean, he's such a, well, such a stickler for 
honor and stuff..."  He looked at his manager hopefully.  "And the Lord Governor 
wouldn't have just let it slide, would he?"
     "I heard Chiana had come back to Jade Mountain," Lorana growled.  "It didn't take 
her long to start making trouble."
     "You know that young woman?"
     "Lao-Mei Chiana," Lorana said.  "She's a graduate of this team.  And she was here 
during the... trouble.  I suppose she might even have seen something, have some 
evidence, that wasn't brought out when the Lord Governor demanded an accounting."
     "But the case is settled!  Isn't it?"
     Lorana shook her head grimly.  "Suspended, not settled.  For lack of conclusive 
evidence.  Kendar could still lose his head for it, if she has new evidence.  Did she 
give you any hint as to what she might know, or claim to know, that would compel a 
reopening of the case?"
     Tree shook his head.  "No, she didn't say...  Oh, but she gave me this."  He 
fished a small paper packet out of his sash and handed it to his manager.
     Lorana opened it, revealing a square of sheer linen embroidered with a delicate 
flowering vine and the daochan, the symbol for a long and fruitful life.  She touched 
one of the tiny flowers, a fanciful thing that never grew on any living plant.  "This 
was--is Eponine's," she whispered.  "Kendar's wife...  What did she say about this?" 
Lorana demanded.
     "Just to give it to you," Tree said.  "That there was some kind of story in it 
that she could tell to you, if you wanted to hear it."

Mazgourrah:

     "I think," the slim stranger said crisply, "that you will find that Emir Dahalb 
desires to speak with me.  Tell him it is Suleiran of Alunzar."
     Though it was not at all the Done Thing to intrude on the Emir of Mazgourrah 
until he had broken his fast, there was something about this visitor, despite his 
modest height and plain dress, which impressed the servant and made him feel uneasy.  
He felt that this Suleiran was, indeed, someone who should speak with the Emir, 
however, it was not his task to break a stated rule.  He opened his mouth to indicate 
this to the stranger and suggest a return at a more seemly hour.
     "What's afoot, Sabid?"
     The servant turned with relief to see the Emir's half-sister, the Lady Kemala.  
It was not, of course, the Done Thing for a woman to speak so familiarly with a 
servant, even an upper servant, but the Lady Kemala, having had an Adantri mother, was 
notably informal in her ways, and nothing anybody could say to her had ever succeeded 
in changing this.  "This gentleman," Sabid said, "desires to speak with your brother 
the Emir at once.  As you know, there are orders of long standing that no one shall--"
     "Yes, I know," the young woman agreed.  "He's got to have some privacy, after 
all.  What's your name?" she asked the stranger.
     "Suleiran of Alunzar," the visitor repeated.
     One of Kemala's perfectly arched eyebrows rose.  "I'll tell him," she said.  
"Wait here--I'll only be a few minutes."
     She returned as quickly as promised and said that the Emir would see Suleiran, 
and that she would take him in.  The servant slipped away gratefully.
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     Emir Dahalb was at breakfast on a terrace, toying with the remains of a hearty 
meal and frowning at an espaliered apricot tree.  He glanced around when the Alunzarn 
came out onto the terrace and gestured at a low cushioned bench.  "I have been 
expecting a visit from you," he said, "ever since you took Zin Ahdahal.  Or to be more 
precise, a visit from some agent of yours bearing an ultimatim."
     "Now, how could you think me so unneighborly?" Suleiran asked, assuming a 
patently false air of injured innocence.
     "Quite easily, by watching your conquest of my neighbors," Dahalb answered dryly.
     "And yet, I have come, not with the ultimatim of a conqueror, but with an offer 
of alliance," the visitor said.  "We two now rule the two greatest emirates in 
northern Ratan.  United, we would be greater than our neighbors to the south--Onour 
Amoun, for instance."
     "An alliance!  This is a new line for you, Suleiran.  Don't forget, I have 
watched your rise to power rather closely.  Just how, exactly, would you visualize 
such a joining of states?"
     "As equal partners, of course," the Alunzarn said smoothly.  "But with this 
proviso: that I should marry your half-sister Kemala or one of your daughters, and 
that woman be named your heir, so that in time what is joined by treaty might be bound 
more securely into one nation, the beginning of the rebirth of the Empire of Ratan."
     Dahalb nodded.  "I thought it might be something like that.  Well, this is not a 
decision I feel prepared to make on the instant--"
     "Meaning, you are moved to resist, but aware that with my army at Zin Ahdahal, I 
could be at your throat in three or four days.  I give you that long--four days, let 
us say--to consider the matter.  And then I will come--not alone--to demand your 
answer."
                       ***     *****     ***     *****     ***
     An hour later, the gladiator Sayal was riding for the border of Lirith Kai with a 
request for military aid, and Arenamaster Khazar was drafting a request for 
gladiatorial volunteers to act as guerillas and delay the arrival of the Alunzarn 
army.

Lin Tirian:

     "What do you think?" Wistaria asked.
     Talice Rrostarr wiped the rain from her face and squinted into the dripping 
aisles of the forest.  "I think this is a rotten time to be out here," she muttered.  
"What am I supposed to be looking for, anyway?"
     "Foxes.  See them?"
     "Oh.  Yeah.  So?"  The worshipper of Lloth glanced at her companion suddenly.  
"Not that old tale!"
     "It isn't an old tale," Wistaria said.  "Why, one of my own teammates is supposed 
to be a... you know.  One of them."
     "A were-fox?" Talice asked.  "That'd be some fox--I may not be a highly educated 
magician, but I know something about how things work, and she'd have to change into a 
woman-sized fox.  Rather obvious, don't you think?  And if any of those foxes are 
were-foxes, well, they'd have to be as small as a child if they changed, wouldn't 
they?"
     "I suppose," Wistaria said, shrugging slightly.  She kept her attention on the 
three foxes in the little clearing ahead of them.  "It's what they're doing that 
worries me."
     "They're just--"  Talice stiffened.  "By the Eyes of Lloth!  I never knew foxes 
to dig up treasure chests!"  She half stood to get a better look.  "Unless one of them 
changes to a human form, they aren't going to be able to get that open," she added.  
"Maybe we should... offer to help!"

                                      SPY REPORT

     Hail and well met warriors of LIN TIRIAN!  Know me for who I am, Zontani Sharp 
Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari.  Former top team EXCALIBUR was 
unseated this week as SAND DANCERS moved up from 4th ranking to take the top spot 
with a 3-1-0 record for the round.  Warriors--remember that glory waits always around 
the corner!  Witness how this week SAND DANCERS went 3-1-0 to move up 3 in the 
rankings.  KARA RROSTARR caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as she 
skillfully bested LINARA ZELIN and was awarded 23 points in recognition.  In one of 
the week's more notable duels, KARA RROSTARR put down LINARA ZELIN, causing her to 
lose 11 points of recognition in the process.  The city has turned out in honor of 
WISTARIA, for with hers arena victory she may now lay claim to the highest position 
in the city!  No confirmation, but my sources claim that the top team has gained 
their position using magical aids.  Charmed weapons perhaps?   
     Many and various are the arts of battle.  In LIN TIRIAN "art" is a word that has 
long since passed from the language!  I saw one fighter that warriors avoided when 
this week's challenge seeking began.  FREAKS OF NATURE is feared.  This much I can 
say.  Apparently the stalwarts of LLOTH'S WILL are catching the bulk of jests down at 
the challenging board for their large share of the avoids.  Loose talk at the arena 
has reached my ears and it but confirms the knowledge that many fighters are after 
LINARA ZELIN.  Watch your back!   
     Vendettas.  Bloodied blades and broken spears.  Indeed the city has seen more 
than its fair share of red in recent times.  Dark alleys may hide both secrets and 
assassins.  In the arena there is only the brightness of steel.  Keep vigil always!   
     If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times 
already in LIN TIRIAN.  Nice atmosphere you have here!  Ahh, but I can hear the 
spires of a far off city calling to me.  I must away!  Till next we meet remember:  a 
fool flies into a rage quickly and often.  The wise are angered by the same thing 
only once.  Zontani Sharp Eyes  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WISTARIA 1888                27  10  0   108       SAND DANCERS (68)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SILENT FORCE 1985            15   3  0    98       CHAOTIC PEACE (228)
 TALICE RROSTARR 1935         13   3  0    96       LLOTH'S WILL (217)
 BLACKCAT I 1850              19  22  0    92       CATS (17)
-BLIND EAGLE 2070              8   4  0    92       FREAKS OF NATURE (245)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-INFINTE JEST 1950             8   2  2    84       EXCALIBUR (230)
 KARA RROSTARR 2033            5   1  0    80       LLOTH'S WILL (217)
 LINARA ZELIN 1790            16  31  0    79       SAND DANCERS (68)
-BALD BEAVER 2073              8   3  0    76       FREAKS OF NATURE (245)
-RED HAT 1930                 12   9  1    75       CHAOTIC PEACE (228)
-EVERCHARM 1927               13   8  1    74       CHAOTIC PEACE (228)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BJORK OAKBROAD 2034           9   5  0    65       CHAOTIC PEACE (228)
-CLUMSY KITTY 2051             9   3  0    64       FREAKS OF NATURE (245)
 HAMBRO 1922                   9  20  1    59       SAND DANCERS (68)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SHINYMONKEYTHEORY 1948        7   3  0    56       EXCALIBUR (230)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MAN EATING COW 2053           8   5  0    52       FREAKS OF NATURE (245)
 QUIRE 2015                    6  13  0    44       SAND DANCERS (68)
-RABID GOOSE 1951              6   3  1    40       EXCALIBUR (230)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MALLADY 1947                  6   4  0    33       EXCALIBUR (230)
-HYDROLIC CHUMP 1949           8   2  0    26       EXCALIBUR (230)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BUSHIDO 2126                  1   1  0    14       CHAOTIC PEACE (228)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
BASHER 2141            0  1 0 LLOTH'S WILL 217      HIGH ELF 19           155 NONE    
STRIKER 2139           0  1 0 LLOTH'S WILL 217      MISTRESS MIGONELLE 23 155 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

So what happened to all you people who were going to make Lin Tirian a hotbed of role-
playing?  How come no spots (I don't count the absence of the Lirith Kai spot, as it 
was the Scribe who fell down on that one), no Duelmaster's column, NO PERSONALS, even? 
-- Jorja

Bald Beaver -- You didn't even say anything during the fight.  Come on, don't go 
silent on us.  Talk!  Boast about having a TV-challenge, insult my record, invite me 
out for dinner and dancing, do something, okay? -- Linara

Blackcat -- I'm surprised that I won such a short fight.  It was rather interesting, 
actually, to have energy left over after the fight was done.  Maybe I'll have to try 
that again.... -- Wistaria

Man Eating Cow -- But, Ms Cow, I am not a man.  There is no need for you to "bite me." 
-- Quire

Clumsy Kitty -- You just stumbled into that win, huh?  Yeah, right.  So just stumble 
out of my life, chick.  More like that I don't need. -- Hambro

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

BASHER was butchered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
STRIKER was slaughtered by MISTRESS MIGONELLE in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle.
TALICE RROSTARR was overcome by WISTARIA in a 1 minute veteran's Title match.
LINARA ZELIN was viciously subdued by KARA RROSTARR in a 2 minute one-sided contest.
BLACKCAT I savagely defeated CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 3 minute mismatched competition.
HAMBRO devastated DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute mismatched match.
QUIRE handily defeated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute uneven fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-STRIKE       3 -   1 -   2     75  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         SLASHING ATTACK   17 -  10 -   0     63  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         TOTAL PARRY       26 -  19 -   0     58  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         LUNGING ATTACK    43 -  33 -   2     57  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -   1 -   0     50  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         STRIKING ATTACK   11 -  15 -   0     42  |
|AIMED BLOW                       0         WALL OF STEEL      9 -  15 -   0     38  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         AIMED BLOW         7 -  12 -   1     37  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         BASHING ATTACK     4 -   9 -   0     31  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   6 -   0      0  |

Turn 155 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     4 -  0     AIMED BLOW         0 -  0         4  LUNGING ATTACK 
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         2  TOTAL PARRY    
                              PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  WALL OF STEEL  
                              PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                              SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  1         1  STRIKING ATTACK
                              STRIKING ATTACK    0 -  1         1  AIMED BLOW     
                              BASHING ATTACK     0 -  1     
                              WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
TOTAL PARRY      WISTARIA 1888              27  10  0  108 SAND DANCERS (68)
SLASHING ATTACK  TALICE RROSTARR 1935       13   3  0   96 LLOTH'S WILL (217)
LUNGING ATTACK   KARA RROSTARR 2033          5   1  0   80 LLOTH'S WILL (217)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BLACKCAT I 1850.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was BLACKCAT I 1850.  The ten other most popular fighters were KARA RROSTARR 2033, 
HAMBRO 1922, TALICE RROSTARR 1935, WISTARIA 1888, QUIRE 2015, BASHER 2141, STRIKER 
2139, LINARA ZELIN 1790,  0, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was LINARA ZELIN 1790.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were STRIKER 2139, BASHER 2141, QUIRE 2015, WISTARIA 1888, TALICE 
RROSTARR 1935, HAMBRO 1922, KARA RROSTARR 2033, BLACKCAT I 1850,  0, and  0.

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