DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER

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

MIROI CHANG ARENA

DM-79    TURN-73

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

TAI-PAN
RISING SUN (97)
(79-706) [19-11-2,143]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

TAI-PAN                        SHADOZE
RISING SUN (97)                SHADOWS (153)
(79-706) [19-11-2,143]         (79-1283) [1-1-0,11]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

TAI-PAN                        RORK-RUHN
RISING SUN (97)                LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)
(79-706) [19-11-2,143]         (79-1218) [6-5-0,60]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. RISING SUN (97)             34
2. CHAPEL ROCK (43)            31      FUZZY BUNNIES (133)
3. BLOCKS (6)                  10      Unchartered Team
4. SHADOWS (153)                9
5. FUZZY BUNNIES (133)          4      SHADOWS (153)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 FUZZY BUNNIES (133)       18   9  0 66.7   1/ 1 LA COMPAGNIE D'AER (114)  9  6 1
 2/ 3 RISING SUN (97)           84  59  5 58.7   2/ 4 CARPE NOCTEM (115)        8  5 0
 3/ 4 LA COMPAGNIE D'AER (114)  98  70  4 58.3   3/ 2 CHAPEL ROCK (43)          8  6 0
 4/ 2 BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)   36  28  3 56.3   4/ 6 RISING SUN (97)           6  5 2
 5/ 5 CARPE NOCTEM (115)        50  39  1 56.2   5/ 5 SAND DANCERS (4)          5  4 0
 6/ 6 THEIR FINEST HOUR (45)   171 173  9 49.7   6/ 7 THEIR FINEST HOUR (45)    4  6 0
 7/ 7 CHAPEL ROCK (43)          90 104  4 46.4   7/ 3 BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)   4  6 0
 8/ 8 SAND DANCERS (4)         153 183  4 45.5   8/11*SHADOWS (153)             3  6 0
 9/ 9 BLOCKS (6)               134 197  3 40.5   9/10 FUZZY BUNNIES (133)       2  1 0
10-10*DIRT WARRIORS (151)        9  16  1 36.0  10- 9*DIRT WARRIORS (151)       2  3 1
11/11*SHADOWS (153)              3   6  0 33.3  11/ 8 BLOCKS (6)                2  7 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 #19 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Tombs of Lio:

     Rosie Grier and Scarlet Hag watched tensely as Malno and Rina approached the hut.  
Neither had any doubt of their ability to beat the two trouble-makers in a fair 
fight--or that Malno and Rina would try to make the fight anything but fair if they 
could.  They were across the clearing now, and one of them was fumbling at the door 
with a key.  Rosie glanced at Scarlet, who nodded and moved closer to the door.  If 
they could get even one of the two coming in, it would be an advantage; failing that, 
they'd be better off if they could move the fight outside.
     The door of the hut was dragged open--outward.  For a long minute, nobody 
entered, and there were no sounds.
     Then Rina's voice floated out of the darkness.  It sounded venomous.  "They've 
gotten loose--they're planning to ambush us," she said.  Green sparks ran across the 
walls of the hut.  "I'll kill them."
     "I want 'em alive," Malno growled.  "For a while...."
     The green sparks flared bright and went out, leaving behind a rose-colored 
afterimage of themselves.  Crossly now, Rina said, "I don't see why men always want to 
play cat-and-mouse games."
     Rosie and Scarlet both moved closer to the doorway.  They could place Malno from 
his voice, but Rina's seemed to drift around vaguely.  Still, if they could take Malno 
out quickly, and then both of them concentrate on the Mountaineer, that would be 
easier--  Without verbal arrangement, they dived through the door, practically on each 
other's heels, one going left, the other right.  That put them on either side of 
Malno, if they'd judged his position correctly.
     Obligingly, a cloud moved away from the face of the moon, and they saw the man 
standing between them, sword out and looking around nervously.  Malno had heard them 
pass, maybe even felt the wind of their movement.  He turned to his right, which put 
him face to face with Scarlet Hag, and his sword whipped forward.  Scarlet was ready 
for him.  She parried that slash and dodged the riposte, moving closer, crowding him 
back toward Rosie.  Where was Rina?  Malno seemed to realize that Rosie was behind 
him, for he darted to the side suddenly.  Both turned with him, ready for anything he 
cared to hand out.
     "Rina!" he yelled.  "Dammit, woman, get over here and help me!"
     "I didn't realize you were a coward, Malno," Scarlet said in a sneer.
     He swore at her, took a hasty swipe at the two of them with his blade, and then 
ran for the trees behind the hut.  In the deep shadows where the path had come up from 
the Tombs, green fire slashed the night like a sword, to be met by a shifting haze of 
gold.
     "A battle of hiu," Rosie whispered.  "Green is Rina--the mountain powers are 
green--but who...?"  She was already hurrying toward the contest, Scarlet at her 
heels.

East Aryai:

     "I wish we could have found our horses," Simiri said, pausing to pant and ease 
the pain in her side.  "I thought I was in good shape, but not even a wall of steel 
could run this long without tiring."
     Penelopy leaned against the tree next to her, panting also.  "Beats whatever that 
stiff-necked bastard back there had in mind.  I never saw such mean eyes on a man--  
There's a horse coming!"
     Both gladiators tried to still their breathing enough to listen.  The hoofbeats 
of a single horse were approaching, not rapidly.  They stared back they way they'd 
come, straining to see through the darkness.
     "No rider!" Simiri said suddenly.
     At the same time, Penelopy exclaimed, "That's the horse we let loose!  He must 
have followed us."
     "Followed you, anyway.  The way you were sweet-talking him, I'm not surprised."
     "It's a good strong horse," Penelopy remarked thoughtfully.  "It could carry 
double, if we didn't push it."
     "And if we're caught with it, we'd be horse thieves, even if we weren't 
trespassers," Simiri warned.
     "We're already in trouble with this Sarnish bastard," Penelopy pointed out, 
moving slowly toward the horse.  She started talking softly to it.
     "True.  And we could turn the horse loose later, if we get away."

Aryai Ling:

     Saduma stared at herself in the mirror uneasily, surprised, almost shocked by 
what she saw.  It was true that her mother wouldn't recognize her; she didn't 
recognize herself!  She didn't much care for it, either.  The thick white paint that 
completely hid her face reminded her of a witchdoctor from one of the deep-jungle 
villages.  And the clothes, a tightly-fitting black body-suit with a loose, 
brilliantly colored smock over it, were simply ridiculous; at least they weren't 
confining.  She could fight if she had to, and she rather hoped for a chance.  She'd 
thought of several things she wanted to do to Oliba.  She glanced at her companion.
     Briza's costume and make-up was similar to hers but included a wig like a purple 
lion's mane.  The man who had brought them into this tent and helped apply the 
disguise handed her a long fly-whisk.  "You're a lion," he said and raised an eyebrow.
     This nonsensical statement seemed to make sense to Briza, who bared her teeth, 
shook her mane, and lashed the whisk back and forth behind her.
     "Great!  My name's--  Uh, call me Tolly."  He glanced over at Saduma.  He seemed 
to expect something from her.
     Saduma wasn't sure what.  Thanks for hiding them?  Now that she gave her 
attention to it, she could hear a change in the tone of the noise outside, as if the 
pursuit had reached the area.  Briza shook her mane again, bared her teeth, and made 
clawing motions with her hands.  There was a sort of faded familiarity about it....  
By the gods!  She had been too long from home if she'd forgotten the Lion Dance!  She 
seized another whisk and held it like a spear, shaking it in mock-threatening gestures 
as her uncle had done when she'd watched him play the clownish part of the Mighty 
Hunter.
     "That's it!" Tolly said.  He strode to the tent-flap and threw it back.  "Go out 
there and--"
     "Out?" Briza asked, suddenly hesitating.  Some of the bellowing voices were 
familiar.
     "Hide in plain sight," Tolly said, "that's the best way.  They'll never look for 
you there."
     "Right."  Briza took a deep breath, then ran out into the crowd.
     It was Saduma's turn to hesitate.  She could see the logic of Tolly's plan, but 
to go capering about in public in this outlandish disguise--  But no one would 
recognize her.  There was a kind of freedom in an impenetrable disguise.  She set her 
teeth and followed Briza.

              + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ Lirith Kai #20 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Jade Mountain:

     Tree looked at the jade-inlaid helm of the Duelmaster sadly.  To have achieved 
the right to wear it should have been a matter of pride, but with the arena's ranks so 
depleted, it had merely been longevity that brought it into his hands.  He wiped a 
trace of dust off of it and put it back on the shelf.  Two years ago, a warrior might 
have worn it everywhere to demonstrate his achievement to all.  Four years ago, a 
Duelmaster wouldn't have needed to wear the helm, because then the arena had been a 
big thing in town, and most of the people would know who he was and what he'd achieved 
without being told.  Now....  He shook his head and stepped out of the arena armory, 
closing the door quietly behind him.
     It echoed down the empty corridors as though he'd slammed it.
     "Oh!  This insignificant one was startled!"
     So was Tree.  He hadn't thought anyone was around, and this slim young woman in 
her gorgeous silks--cut in the form-fitting Southern style, too--was as incongruous as 
a polished ruby in a gravel pile.
     She looked up at him meltingly.  "May this humble one intrusively inquire whether 
in your impressively tall self is seen the august Duelmaster of Jade Mountain?"
     "Uh, well, yeah, I guess I am," Tree admitted.
     She put one small hand on his arm, the nails, in the style of the wealthy and 
pampered, long and lacquered.  "Then it is to you that I, weak female that I am, must 
speak of weighty matters concerning this once-great arena.  If you would deign to 
accompany my unimportant self to some place of refreshment--?"
     "Um, if it's something about the arena, hadn't you better talk to our 
arenamaster, Kendar?"
     A shadow seemed to pass over the delicate face, which was as pale and perfect as 
porcelain, and as expressionless.  "It would not be appropriate for this insignificant 
person, unschooled in the intricacies of politics, to comment upon the arenamaster," 
she said.  "Yet even one so ignorant as I must shrink from confronting that...person."
     Tree barely caught his curse unsaid.  If she was talking about the ghastly 
business with the old Lucan--  But it was over.  It had been over before he'd joined 
the Sand Dancers.  It was over, wasn't it?  Or had his manager, Lorana, herself a 
member of the Lucan clan, said that it was merely "waiting"?  For what?

          + ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ *** **** *** **** *** ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

East Aryai:

     "Be silent, fool!" Belorian ten Sarnish thundered at one of his more vacant-eyed 
guests.  "I say they're poachers!"  He threw down his napkin and rose.  "Continue the 
banquet," he ordered, unsuccessfully striving for a proper host's manner.  "I will 
deal with--"
     "Do let us come too!" Rebina exclaimed, also rising.  Anything to get away from 
this endless and boring meal.
     Before Belorian could respond--and it was plain that his response would have been 
peppery and profane--Restan pushed back his chair and got to his feet in a leisurely 
manner.  "Yes, by all means, Belorian, old chap.  You did promise us a hunt, after 
all, and this will be something quite out of the ordinary!"
     "I say!"  The hapless guest who had provoked the lord's wrath stared at them in 
apparent awe.  "Oh, I say, how intrepid of you all!  I say, I must come along too.  
What a chance!"
     Rebina looked at him sharply, struck by something intangibly familiar.  She could 
have sworn she didn't know anybody that empty-headed--  Mantor!  It was all an act; 
the man was a Lord Protector, though a young one.  He'd been inactive for a long time, 
and he must have used that time to establish this role....  Jerryrig, that was his 
arena name.  She smiled and agreed.  "Oh, yes, I think you should.  It will be a very 
unusual experience, practically unique!"  Now Restan was giving her an `are you crazy' 
look, but she could explain to him later.  A reliable ally was not something to be 
refused.

Somewhere farther east:

     There were worse things than being prisoners of Emir Sirok, Dahlia thought, and 
one of the worse things was being a passive witness to an attempt to tear the Empire 
apart with a civil war.  Though not an Adantri by birth, she was a naturalized 
citizen, and, as she put it to herself, there is no patriot like an immigrant.  She 
had set herself the task of getting the Emir's confidence and learning what he was 
doing, at the request of whom, and for what reward.  It wasn't difficult; apparently 
none of the Emir's three wives understood him.  Or so he said.  Dahlia's willingness 
to listen, as much as her spectacular curves appealed to him strongly.  Come to that, 
she has reason to suspect that Jupiter's gladiatorial fitness appealed just as 
strongly to the Emir's First Wife!
     She pulled her wandering attention back to the Emir's soliloquy, sipping slowly 
at a goblet of wine.
     "I would not have dealings with that son of a camel Belorian," the Emir said 
plaintively, "except that he made an offer so much to my benefit that I could not 
refuse it, truly, I could not."
     Apparently one or more of his wives had told him he should have.  Dahlia smiled 
gently and said, "Why, of course not, if it was to your advantage."
     "Exactly!  The entire Karndiz Steppe, and his backing against any other emir who 
would contest it!  This is wealth, it is power--how could I say no?  I have five sons, 
and each must be given some territory as he comes of age, how was I to carve this out 
of the tiny plot with which I began?"
     He paused expectantly, and Dahlia obligingly murmured, "Impossible.  And in 
return for so little from you...."
     "Well...little."  The Emir shifted uncomfortably.  "Not so little, really--five 
hundred cavalry, over half my force!  If it were not for Belorian's statement of 
reciprocal defense, I wouldn't have dared weaken my own defense.  My neighbors are 
hungry men, unprincipled, ready to attack at the first sign of weakness."
     And just what you deserve, Dahlia thought.  "When do your troops leave?"
     "Oh, yesterday at dawn, they're gone already.  In two or three days, they may be 
across the border...."  He shifted uncomfortably again.  "The gods grant it is true 
that the Border Legion is elsewhere occupied!"
     Mantor grant the opposite, Dahlia thought.  Two or three days to the border yet, 
and they were already a day and a half on the road.  Could two riders travel faster 
than five hundred who must conceal their movement?  She hoped so; she and Jupiter 
would have to escape at once and carry the warning.

Tombs of Lio:

     As the two gladiators approached the swirling contest of hiu, they could see that 
the green power--Rina--was slowly coming to dominate.  That was unacceptable.
     "Can you do this hiu stuff?" Scarlet Hag asked.
     "Not really," Rosie Grier said.  "I've had the basic training, back when I was a 
kid at school, but I never worked at it.  You?"
     "I...my people don't go in for that kind of thing."  Scarlet tightened her grip 
on the sword she held.  "But I can fight with steel, all right!"
     "Rina might use her damned Lucan power to defeat any one of us," Rosie said 
grimly, "but not all three."
     The two women automatically separated as they approached the struggle and moved 
cautiously toward it from either side.  Cautiously, because the storm of hiu distorted 
the sight, and neither wanted to stab their unknown ally.
     Rosie closed in first, and Rina, now faintly visible, whirled, swatting at her 
with a green-glowing sword.  Rosie met the blade with hers, staggering as the shock 
ran up her blade and arm.  "Mantor!" she gasped, "aid me now!"  There was a horrible 
screech of metal where the two blades were in contact, and a shower of sparks.
     Rina backed away from her, then had to twist suddenly and awkwardly to avoid 
Scarlet's determined attack.  She tripped over something and fell.  Scarlet pounced on 
her, sword drawn back for a killing stroke.  More sparks erupted, hot as lightning, 
then vanished.  The moon had gone behind clouds, too, and the whole scene was suddenly 
in darkness, made darker by the afterimage of flashing sparks.
     "Rosie?" Scarlet asked, feeling around carefully.
     "Here, but I can't find Rina."
     "She is gone."  The voice was deeper, masculine, and very tired.
     "Meji-lo!  You're alive!"  Rosie flung herself toward the voice, and the moon 
came out again just in time for Scarlet to see her friend hugging the wrestler.

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings, warriors of MIROI CHANG!  Once again I've been called out of 
retirement for my abilities and insights into Spyreporting.  Hmmmph!  I always 
thought BLADES OF DESPAIR was an over-rated team and they proved it with a 1-4-0!  Up 
'n down.  Up 'n down.  Rankings always change.  Up 'n down.  I think I'm gonna be...  
Well, SHADOWS' 8th moved them up to 2-2-0 place.  It seems so recently people were 
saying RISING SUN was washed up, finished.  But 3-1-0 moved them up 2.  I guess 
they're washed no more...  What's with FREYA?  She actually beat BLOCKS' ROAD, and 
walked away with 18 more points from the fight.  Major screwup at THEIR FINEST HOUR.  
WITNEY lost 14 points to WRITER'S.  Some new strategies, perhaps?  Maybe WITNEY will 
provide more easy wins...  Another fighter (ARN SURODIE 12-4-0) challenged another 
Duelmaster (EVRIC THE KEEPER 19-15-0).  Life goes on.  Try as he might, ARN SURODIE 
wasn't good enough at persuading EVRIC THE KEEPER to step down from the Duelmaster's 
throne...  I suppose you want to hear some rumors and dirty gossip about your fellow 
fighters?  Tough!   
     If at first you don't succeed, avoid.  That'll get you in the Spyreports.  MIROI 
CHANG thinks CHAPEL ROCK and their 90-104-4 is too much!  If at first you don't 
succeed, give up...  In my day, no team with a 87-102-4 would scare me off!  What's 
the problem, CARPE NOCTEM?  How well I know the feeling of being the most challenged 
warrior, ARN SURODIE!  Don't make idle boasts, they may come back to haunt you.  Keep 
challenging up 27 points, TAI-PAN, and I won't have to write about you much longer.  
MOGRUHN always accepts those kind of challenges...  MOGRUHN must not been fighting 
well, cause he lost to TAI-PAN of RISING SUN.  Sometimes you just have a bad day 
where things get, um, mixed up.  RORK-RUHN of LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN knows how to pick 
'em.  He challenged ITAN KOLAN of CARPE NOCTEM who is up by 23.  Now was this a wise 
move?  RORK-RUHN perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he won victory over ITAN 
KOLAN and ended up with 60 recognition points.   
     Warriors of MIROI CHANG unite.  You have only your games to lose!  Is it my 
imagination, or are fighters getting younger every day?  To die so young, so 
gloriously!   
     Many other cities have retirement homes for aged warriors.  Any plans here?  Are 
you as tired of reading this as I am of writing it?  Actually, I guess I'm writing it 
before you read it.  Oh, well.  Time for my medication, so I'll leave now.  Practice, 
practice, practice!-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TAI-PAN 706                  19  11  2   143       RISING SUN (97)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ANESO-PAKERO 431             16  50  0    98       BLOCKS (6)
 DEACON BLUE 945              11   8  0    98       CHAPEL ROCK (43)
 ROGER 1094                   14   8  0    94       FUZZY BUNNIES (133)
 MOGRUHN 869                  17  17  2    92       LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)
 POPE RINGO 237               15  25  0    92       CHAPEL ROCK (43)
 ARN SURODIE 927              12   4  0    91       CARPE NOCTEM (115)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PILE OU FACE 1187             9   4  2    86       BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 OUR LADY PEACE 1191           6   1  0    65       CHAPEL ROCK (43)
 WRITER'S 1069                11  18  1    64       BLOCKS (6)
 RORK-RUHN 1218                6   5  0    60       LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)
 VHORLYS OF SKON 1245          5   3  0    58       LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SLAN YOKAN 1126              10   6  0    56       CARPE NOCTEM (115)
 FREYA 1189                    9   4  1    56       BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)
 MAXI PRIEST 1060              8   8  2    46       CHAPEL ROCK (43)
 ROAD 1108                    10  15  0    45       BLOCKS (6)
 ITAN KOLAN 1216               6   4  0    44       CARPE NOCTEM (115)
 WITNEY 1194                   8   7  0    42       THEIR FINEST HOUR (45)
 CAROLE POPE 1192              4   2  0    42       CHAPEL ROCK (43)
 DARRON 1154                   7   9  0    36       SAND DANCERS (4)
 GAI-JIN 1263                  4   2  0    36       RISING SUN (97)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 UDALL 1204                    7   7  0    32       THEIR FINEST HOUR (45)
-COTTONTAIL 1081               2   1  0    31       FUZZY BUNNIES (133)
 THORBURN 1193                 5  10  1    26       THEIR FINEST HOUR (45)
 BERENICE D'AERN 1231          5   5  0    24       LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TITUS 1272                    3   2  0    23       BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)
 LOCRIS 1244                   4   5  0    22       SAND DANCERS (4)
 KING RAT 1238                 2   5  0    21       RISING SUN (97)
-BUGS 1093                     2   0  0    17       FUZZY BUNNIES (133)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-SNORRI THE FOUL 1251          3   2  0    16       DIRT WARRIORS (151)
 EMPEGUADUR 1279               3   1  0    12       BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)
 DALIMANI 1303                 1   0  0    12       SAND DANCERS (4)
-SENIOR KRAPHEAD 1255          2   3  1    11       DIRT WARRIORS (151)
 SHADOZE 1283                  1   1  0    11       SHADOWS (153)
-BUTTERNECK 1252               2   3  0     9       DIRT WARRIORS (151)
 FEYZHIN 1273                  1   4  0     7       BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)
-EL ROTUNDO 1254               1   4  0     7       DIRT WARRIORS (151)
 OBSID VENOM 1282              1   1  0     6       SHADOWS (153)
 EDHYRAN IKITA 1292            1   0  0     6       CARPE NOCTEM (115)
 ICESHADOW 1285                1   1  0     4       SHADOWS (153)
-SPINY NODULES 1298            0   1  0     2       DIRT WARRIORS (151)
 BLACK WIZARD 1284             0   2  0     2       SHADOWS (153)
 KOLGAR 1304                   0   1  0     1       SAND DANCERS (4)
 RAN TAN PLAN 1299             0   1  0     1       CARPE NOCTEM (115)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
GREASY SAM 1253        1  3 0 DIRT WARRIORS 151     THORBURN 1193          70         
TWEETIE PIE 1274       3  3 1 RISING SUN 97         DEATHDANCER 24         73 NONE    
MEDARLIT 1031         19 14 1 SAND DANCERS 4        TAI-PAN 706            71         
DARK LIGHT 1281        0  1 0 SHADOWS 153           SENIOR KRAPHEAD 1255   72         
VAUGHAN 1033          18 14 1 THEIR FINEST HOUR 45  MOGRUHN 869            71         
SIDDONS 1158           5  7 0 THEIR FINEST HOUR 45  MAXI PRIEST 1060       69 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

All -- Due to a diabolical performance (and complete lack of time!) Rising Sun shall 
be saying little this turn! -- Spawn

Berenice d'Aern -- Steady does it, sword-sister. -- Locris

Tweetie Pie -- You were scuttled by your name.  No one takes you seriously. -- Darron

Tai Pan -- 'Fraid so. -- Medarlit

Spawn -- (shrug)  It happens.  There are worse warriors than Medarlit was (remember 
Lokar?) and better ones.  I can live with it. -- Ko Tenne

Skarran -- We'll try to find you some more interesting opponents. -- Ko Tenne

Arn Surodie -- Mon Dieu!  I seem to be having recurring visions. -- Pope Ringo

Writers -- Many thanks, I believe I'm unstuck now. -- Our Lady Peace

King Rat -- Are you sure you're the big cheese on the squad like people have been 
telling you? -- Carole Pope

Pope Ringo -- Been there before, done that before. -- Arn Surodie

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

TWEETIE PIE was viciously butchered by DEATHDANCER in a 4 minute Dark Arena fight.
TAI-PAN demolished MOGRUHN in a popular 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title melee.
ARN SURODIE was vanquished by EVRIC THE KEEPER in a 1 minute Challenge brawl.
PILE OU FACE was outlasted by ROGER in a unpopular 12 minute Challenge match.
MAXI PRIEST was bested by VHORLYS OF SKON in a popular 1 minute Challenge duel.
RORK-RUHN viciously subdued ITAN KOLAN in a crowd pleasing 5 minute Challenge match.
SLAN YOKAN overpowered DARRON in a 1 minute gruesome uneven Challenge melee.
FREYA vanquished ROAD in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
GAI-JIN won victory over THORBURN in a popular 2 minute Challenge duel.
CAROLE POPE overpowered LOCRIS in a 1 minute uneven Challenge match.
TITUS was beaten by UDALL in a 4 minute novice vs. veteran Challenge fight.
KING RAT handily defeated ICESHADOW in a 2 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
ANESO-PAKERO was savagely defeated by DEACON BLUE in a 1 minute veteran's brawl.
POPE RINGO was defeated by SILVER FAN MASTER in a 2 minute one-sided duel.
WRITER'S devastated WITNEY in a 2 minute uneven duel.
OUR LADY PEACE overpowered FOLRUAR ONE-EYE in a 1 minute bloody mismatched brawl.
BERENICE D'AERN outlasted EMPEGUADUR in a 7 minute brutal bout.
FEYZHIN was beaten by DALIMANI in a 2 minute novice's bout.
OBSID VENOM defeated KOLGAR in a 1 minute amateur's conflict.
SHADOZE devastated RAN TAN PLAN in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
BLACK WIZARD lost to EDHYRAN IKITA in a 3 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                   8         WALL OF STEEL     31 -  20 -   0     61  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  6         TOTAL PARRY       32 -  23 -   2     58  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         PARRY-STRIKE       9 -   7 -   1     56  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      5         AIMED BLOW        16 -  13 -   2     55  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         LUNGING ATTACK    35 -  33 -   1     51  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         STRIKING ATTACK   32 -  32 -   2     50  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         PARRY-LUNGE       17 -  20 -   1     46  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         SLASHING ATTACK   10 -  17 -   1     37  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         BASHING ATTACK    15 -  29 -   2     34  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  10 -   0      9  |

Turn  73 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     6 -  2     PARRY-LUNGE        2 -  3         2  STRIKING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL      3 -  1     AIMED BLOW         1 -  2         1  AIMED BLOW     
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  2     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         1  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  3     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  4         1  TOTAL PARRY    
                                                                1  BASHING ATTACK 
                                                                1  PARRY-LUNGE    
                                                                1  PARRY-STRIKE   
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  
                                                                1  SLASHING ATTACK

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       TAI-PAN 706                19  11  2  143 RISING SUN (97)
LUNGING ATTACK   DEACON BLUE 945            11   8  0   98 CHAPEL ROCK (43)
TOTAL PARRY      ROGER 1094                 14   8  0   94 FUZZY BUNNIES (133)
PARRY-LUNGE      ARN SURODIE 927            12   4  0   91 CARPE NOCTEM (115)
PARRY-STRIKE     PILE OU FACE 1187           9   4  2   86 BLADES OF DESPAIR (143)
STRIKING ATTACK  OUR LADY PEACE 1191         6   1  0   65 CHAPEL ROCK (43)
SLASHING ATTACK  RORK-RUHN 1218              6   5  0   60 LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is TAI-PAN 706.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
RORK-RUHN 1218.  The ten other most popular fighters were TITUS 1272, GAI-JIN 1263, 
DEACON BLUE 945, TAI-PAN 706, MAXI PRIEST 1060, VHORLYS OF SKON 1245, SLAN YOKAN 
1126, FREYA 1189, CAROLE POPE 1192, and UDALL 1204.

The least popular fighter this week was ROGER 1094.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BERENICE D'AERN 1231, EDHYRAN IKITA 1292, BLACK WIZARD 1284, RAN TAN 
PLAN 1299, ANESO-PAKERO 431, LOCRIS 1244, THORBURN 1193, ROAD 1108, DARRON 1154, and 
ITAN KOLAN 1216.

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

TAI-PAN (79-706) RISING SUN (97)

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

EVRIC THE KEEPER (79-871) LA COMPAGNIE D'AERN (114)

                          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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