Reprints of DoS/Dueling Today

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:::A sword graces the cover of the magazine. Over it reads Dueling Today:::

Dueling Today Volume 3 Issue 3

Table of Contents:

Editorial pg. 2
DoF Report pg. 3
DoF Photos pg. 5
Simini's Swords pg. 8
Interview with Gnimish pg. 10
Plain and Fancies pg. 12
DoM Report pg. 14
Siera Red and Gondar pg. 15

Staff: Hedda Hat Acting Editor
Simini x Reporter
Jake Thrash DoF Correspondent
ShanniCltn DoF Photographer
RLupton Reporter
ARRENDEK DoM Correspondent

Founder: Oscar Madison
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACTING EDITORIAL

Darling readers,

As Acting Editor, I'm supposed to be commenting on something important here.
So...how's this. I am disappointed in the lack of imagination in the clothing worn by the
habituees of the dueling arenas. Really now, how many short kilts and silk gowns do we
need to see to say we've seen enough? And as for the ladies.....heh, heh..pardon an old
joke. But really, folks, can't we find some garb more worthy of the extraordinary
personalities in Rhydin and the skills of the swordspeople, mages, and pugilist
s out there?
.... Oh, dear. I can hear in my mind's ear the voice of my dear departed Oscar yelling in
his customary dulcet tones that if I don't stop writing about fashion in the pages of a
dueling magazine's editorial, he'll arrange for me to be fired. Well, then...what shall we
contemplate? How about the need for a replacement Editor? A true, non-acting Editor?
Let's see.what's the job description?

Dueling Today needs a person with some vision of what the dueling arenas are about...of
how the *games* are much more than games....of how they can bring out the best and
worst in duellers. Someone who spends enough time in the dueling halls to understand the
complexities of the rules and the personalities. Someone who finds people with writing
talent and relevant interests and nurtures them, chivvies them, harangues them, and
browbeats them into meeting deadlines and standards. In fact, herewith a
recipe for a
successful editor of Dueling Today:

Generous helping of love for dueling
1 cup of insight into people and stories
Mix in a dollop of patience - for wayward writers and demanding readers
Add the yeast of humor for leavening
A half cup of the cold water of literary criticism
Sprinkle in the spice of a unique public facade
Combine with several large egos for excitement
Pour the entire concoction into a magazine and bake for the time it takes to put the
publication together
Frost with the ferocity of a lion to fight for and preserve the vision and
independence of the publication.

Know any candidates? Send 'em my way. As dear Walter Lippmann said, "Responsible
journalism is journalism responsible in the last analysis to the editor's own conviction of
what, whether interesting or only important, is in the public interest." In this case, in the
interest of the denizens of dueling. 'Til next time, all.

In the meantime, dearies, remove from heat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Report from the Outback
-------------------------------------
by JakeThrash

Things have been busy in the Outback over the last couple of months. To
begin with for those who are completely out of it, the Duel of Fists has
officially moved into the Red Dragon Hall. It's the still the Outback which
is the confusing part. Percy says it has to do with magic and displacements
and stuff like that which just confuse this orc, but the end result is that
the Duel of Fists can be found every friday and saturday over in the Red
Dragon Hall. We feel this has been a good move for the duel but in order for
it to be the most successful, we need more duellers to come in! Got to build
up that following!

Lots of newcomers and rank improvers over the last few weeks, too many to
name all of them, but some of the most notable have been Foxxen who made it
to Ruby in her first weekend, and Ian R MacK and AragornKoG who made it to
Emerald and then that was followed by Saja Lyons (whom Jake said to keep an
eye on!) and wouldn't ya' know it? Lord Hrvst snuck back in when no one was
looking (must have been that cloak of evil...sorry...the morally
challenged...that let him slip in so unnoticed) who both made Emerald just
this last weekend!

Also in the last few weeks, RDI Percy built a very special ring over in
the Outback that he insists on keeping filled with Jello of all things. And
somehow, at least one duel always manages to make it into the jello before
the end of the night now! Can you believe it? People actually seem to enjoy
duelling there! If you are into that sort of thing, wander on in and have
some fun! If nothing else, it sure makes a nice soft landing zone for when
ya' get tagged by a flying JumpKick!

The end of cycle happened since the last article, which means that it was
time to hold another Diamond Quest to find out who's the baddest of the bad.
Took a while to arrange since some of our duellers and our refs had to
accommodate difficult schedules, but it did finally take place and surprise,
surprise the winner of that tourney was this very same orc!
The Tourney took place in a slightly different format from previous
tourneys, and in a very different way from the Archmage and Overlord
challenges. The Diamond Tourney is a Round-Robin event that makes every
dueller face every other dueller to prove just who's the toughest of the
bunch! The round-robin is also different in that the previous Diamond has no
advantage, they too have to duke it out and try to prove they are the best.
The Tourney went as follows:

Ian R MacK def. ShanniCltn, 5-0
JakeThrash def. SajaIyones 5-1
AragornKoG def. Ian R Mack 5-3
ShanniCltn def SajaIyones 5-2
AragornKoG def JakeThrash 5-3
Ian R MacK def SajaIyones 5-3
JakeThrash def Ian R MacK 5-3
AragornKoG def ShanniCltn 5-3

This last win put Strider (Aragorn) at 3-0, with the best chance of taking
the title. Jake, with his 2-1, still retained some hope if he could manage
to defeat ShanniCltn, the current Diamond, and if Strider were to lose to
Sajalyones, the newest Emerald.
The duels went just that way too!

JakeThrash def. ShanniCltn 5-3
Sajalyones def AragornKoG 5-4 in Sudden Death

At the caller's discretion, Jake and Strider finished the tourney in the
Jello ring, the winner taking the title.

Aragorn Jake
------------ --------------
Fancy Dodge Jab Point to Strider
feint Legblock Chop Adv's to both
feint Leap feint Legblock no score
Legsweep Jab Point to Jake
Jab feint Legblock Adv's to both
feint Uppercut feint Hook no score
Jab Jab Points to both
Fancy Dodge Jumpkick Point to Strider
feint legblock Jab Adv's to both
Jab Fancy Dodge Point to Jake
Snapkick Fancy Leap Point to Jake
Flip Jab Point to Strider --
Sudden Death!
Legsweep Snapkick Point and win to Jake!

Percy was quoted as saying it was a masterful match.

The only unfortunate part of the tourney was that Percy himself was unable
to participate as he stepped aside to play referee. The Emerald duellers who
were able to participate are very thankful to Percy and appreciative of his
willingness to step aside and call the event.
I know that when the next Tourney happens, Percy will be itching for his
shot at the Diamond.

Finally a quick word of thanks to all of their duellers for their support
of the Duel of Fists and most especially to all of those who have made
Emerald or are on their way to it! Thanks for making the Outback as much fun
as it has been and how much fun I know the future holds in store.

**************** AP *******************
*** In need of relieving some stress? *** Feel like taking out your
aggressions the old-fashioned way? Or just enjoy throwing an opponent into
the ropes! Well, the little town of RhyDin has just the thing for you! It's
called the Outback! And there's no holds barred! (Well, no holds except
those belonging to Percival) Wander in! Find out why 9 out of 10
supermarket baggers say it's the best thing since the invention of plastic
bags! Come on down and give it a try!
And for those who just like watching grown men and women pound each other
senseless, there's plenty of ale for the enjoying, courtesy of the famed Red
Dragon Inn.
**************** AP ******************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DoF Photospread
by Shanni Colton

Photo: <<SajaIyones sliding out and tangling Kyttn up with a Legsweep, as
Kyttn went to Flip her>>
Caption: "The two newest additions to the Jade rank, Kyttn and Saja, are at
it here!"

Photo: <<Shanni and Saja, lashing out in an attempt to knock each other
silly with iron Jabs>>
Caption: "The Kinder, Gentler new generation of duellists.....sorta."

Photo: <<Ecstacys slides out, as Kyttn's dodge trips over his legsweep>>
Caption: "Familiar face to DoS, Elijah tries out the unarmed side of
things..."

Photo: <<Shanni Colton reaches high, her Jab knocking Ecstacys out of a
Jumpkick>>
Caption: "Here, Elijah prepares for an emergency landing.."

Photo: <<Saja Lyones and Alisa Taryn face off, mirroring each other with
Dodges>>
Caption: "Anyone care to dance?"

Photo: <<A shot of Kestri falling into RDI Percy's lap, in a tingling kiss>>
Caption: "Percy takes time from his work to take newcomer Kestri in hand..."

Photo: <<JakeThrash and Kyttn collide with legsweeps amidst a sea of Jello>>
Caption: "Well, at least they were cushioned...."

Photo: <<Bador leaps high over Aragorn's snapkick, his jumpkick kick sailing
home>>
Caption: "Airmail!"

Photo: <<Shanni Colton goes left in a dodge, Myrlundgod ducks to the other
side>>
Caption: "Defense on display, this round..."

Photo: <<Saja Lyones asleep on the couch, French cut duelling outfit giving
RDI Jake a terrible case of distraction in the background>>
Caption: "Saja takes a break as Jake keeps an eye on her, nice orc that he
is."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simini's Swords
by Simini x

For those of you that have enjoyed reading this column, I thank you.
However, it seems to have run its natural lifetime, and this will be the last
installment of "Simini's Swords". In fact, the only reason there is even one
here today is that Mr. DazingHard was so eager to tell his story that he took
it upon himself to write out the legend of Dark Star and mail it to me. ;o)
I include it here, in its mostly-unedited form, as a final farewell to this
column.

DAZING... HARD, as told by the dazed one himself

I am from the land of Protiak. We are a small and inconsequential island
nation located in the Belonesox Sea. Though "small and inconsequential" we
may be, we are not without our heros and villians, and their appropriate
legends.
Before I came to RhyDin, my name was Safai, descendant of Safrex, a
merchant, and Lorai, a thief and a gambler. My father, Safrex, was a trader
who owned two ships that would travel to the mainland to bring goods to our
island, and leave the profits of such ventures with my mother, Lorai, who
would then happily gamble away his earnings. Before he would return, she
would steal back her losses in the form of goods and supplies, thus leaving
Safrex to believe that she had spent wisely.
On one such journey when Safrex was away, during the 7th year of our king
Lorkan, mauraders from the neighboring isle of Kitia (pronounced Keesha) came
and conquered our land, slaying Lorkan. With them came a powerful wizard,
Mebrien, who, in an effort to enslave our people, cast a spell over us,
causing various parts of our bodies to disappear and reappear without
warning, thus making our warriors ineffectual, for as you can imagine, it is
difficult to win a skirmish when various parts of your body take a leave of
absence just as you are about to strike a finishing blow, leaving you
bewildered and lost as you struggle to survive. Those of fighting age would
lose their limbs, while those too young or feeble to fight would lose their
minds and become, in a word, clueless. Lorai was one who became clueless,
and upon Safrex's return, he was afflicted with limbloss.
Many of our men were slain, and our people subjugated to the Kitians who
conquered us in less than two fortnights. As slaves, our people were
terrible servants, for the temporary loss of limbs and such made the serving
of any feast a potentially messy affair. Within a year of our subjugation,
children, myself included, were born with combinations of both.
Time passed, and the Kitians became involved in another war with another
island on the far side of the chain. Troops were mobilized, and only a
skeleton force was left on Protiak.
Seeing that our land was ripe for the taking, a fleet from the island of
Obring arrived, and a long battle ensued between the Kitians and the Obrings,
with the people of Protiak caught between. The Obrings were also led by an
equally adept wizard, Crysus. As the war raged on, the Obrings advanced and
beat back the Kitians. During the last days of the battle, Mebrien created a
most unusual weapon and armed his best warrior, Quinn, with a strange
globe-like device that was unlike any weapon ever seen.
Throughout the battle, the weapon gained a name... Dark Star. It became
named as such because as the battle raged on, Quinn fought as a man posessed,
moving without thinking, striking blows from unbelievable angles, laying
waste to those who stood in his way.
The Kitians, encouraged and rallied by the Mighty Quinn and Dark Star,
halted the Obrings advance and stalled it near our town. Having travelled to
Obring on many mercantile adventures, Safrex believed that rule under them
would be no better than that under the Kitians, and mobilized our people into
a geurilla movement, striking out as best we could, and aiding in the
destruction of whichever nation was losing a skirmish.
After a year of war, the Kitians recovered our island. A great
celebration was arranged, where those who became clueless were ordered to
serve, as this would propose the least chance of a culinary disaster. During
the heat of the celebration, Mighty Quinn was called to make a toast. As he
was speaking, Lorai crept up and snatched Dark Star from his unattended seat,
and made her way back to our home.
At that time I was a youth of 12, and as other children, dreamed of one
day having a weapon like Dark Star and using it to reclaim our land. When
Lorai burst into our home, breathless from her run and flushed with
excitment, it was decided that we would have to flee, for when Mighty Quinn
discovered his loss, many would be slain.
In the dark of the night, the cry of alarm ringing throughout the island,
we rushed out to sea in a stolen boat with Dark Star, and the three of us
made our way to the mainland, where Safrex linked up with his fellow traders
and worked the caravans.
I always thought of Dark Star. I could only wonder what it would be like
to hold such a weapon. It is made of a dull black metal. It is solid,
weighing near thirty pounds. It has affixed to it two shielded handholds,
which allow for it to be used onehanded or two. It has neither scratches nor
dents.
One night while Safrex was away and Lorai gambling, I reached under the
bed and drew out Dark Star. I unwrapped it from its oily cloth, and reached
out a finger to touch it. It vibrated at my touch. At that moment, I became
clueless. But this time, unlike the others, my mind's eye was filled with
longing... to do battle.
I unwittingly grasped the handle, and the sense of cluelessness increased
and was joined by a sense of dexterity. Picking it up was a chore, but as I
grasped the other handhold, my mind was filled with strength, and Dark Star
became weightless in my hands.
At this time Lorai returned home, and upon seeing me holding Dark Star,
which was against Safrex's words, she grabbed a switch and made as if to beat
me. As she brought the thin wood down, Dark Star moved itself and blocked
the blow. Interpreting this as resistance, Lorai swung again and again, and
most of the time, Dark Star moved itself and blocked the blows.
During the flury of blocked blows, I felt bodiless... selfless... like I
wasn't there. My mind raced and flew to everywhere and nowhere, coming to a
point in space where I thought I would have the world's most profound
questions answered, and just as I was about to grasp the answers and say, "I
got it", they slipped from my mind, causing it to fly off again.
Lorai slowly put down the switch and gazed at me, slack-jawed. There I
stood, her boy of 12, with Dark Star held before me, my eyes blazing with
color, Dark Star humming and vibrating in my hands. Nothing was said as she
turned away and wept. I knew then that Dark Star was mine, and from that
night forward, it never left my side.
A week later, Safrex returned, and upon hearing of the event, became
enraged. He tested my abilities, and as he tired, he began to believe that I
could be no son of his. I was not the Safai that he left. With loss in
their eyes, I was cast from the house, and sent to wander the lands.
Time passed, and on my journey, I was assaulted by thieves and brigands
who thought I would be easy prey. Alas, such was not the case. As I
traveled, word spread of a young man who looked as though he were lost and
clueless, dazing hard if you will, but no easy prey was he, and if
encountered, one should find another target to rob.
During my journies and the years that passed, I became comfortable with
Dark Star and the cluelessness, which until that time had been debilitating,
but now was a source of strength and power. I took on the name DazingHard,
as that seemed to be what those who came across my path named me.
And now, 15 years after I first touched Dark Star, I have come here, to
RhyDin. I heard of the dueling from a merchant, and in my first cycle, have
become a Warlord. Liking the dueling community, I have decided to stay and
earn my place amongst those of honor and with talent in the violent arts.
And sometimes when my mind wanders back to where dust is always there, I
remember hearing of Mighty Quinn fighting in the jungles, with lust for
blood, in the air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is our exclusive interview with the respected Overgnome, Gnimish.
by RLupton

Gnimish RW: ::Wanders on in, Drakhan at my side, Kui-sa'kai at my hip::
RLupton: ::walks into the small room, wood panelled walls, two chairs in the
middle seperated by a
RLupton: table::
RLupton: ::walks over to one of the chairs waiting for him to sit::
Gnimish RW: ::Plops down in a chair:: Pardon me...used to everyone else
sitting first...::Slight smile::
RLupton: ::sits, nods:: Comes with bein' the Overgno--Overlord...
Gnimish RW: Overgnome is much more preferable...but I s'pose Overlord is more
formal.
RLupton: ::nods:: ye don't mind being called "Overgnome?" It is kind of
mocking...
RLupton: ::not questioning but curious::
Gnimish RW: It's what I've been asking people to call me..."Lord" is more of
a human title, and besides.
Gnimish RW: it does not apply to me here in RhyDin.
RLupton: Yes, I suppose...about how long *have* ye been in RhyDin?
Gnimish RW: Hmmmm...I first visited the inn here about 3 years ago, perhaps a
bit more.
RLupton: So, ye've been around since about the start of DoS?
Gnimish RW: Aye...I was visiting DoS sonce the beginning...although I had not
begun dueling until about
Gnimish RW: 2 years ago.
Gnimish RW: In RhyDin time.
RLupton: And I heard ye were a Commoner for quite a while...
Gnimish RW: Aye...I was a commoner for a long period...about 2 years, it was
just recently that I began
Gnimish RW: dueling in earnest.
Gnimish RW: So almost all of my dueling experience has been as a commoner.
RLupton: ::Nods:: Which do ye prefer, Commoner or Overlord, I know both have
their advantages and
RLupton: disadvantages.
Gnimish RW: Good question...as a commoner one can duel rather freely. Anyone
will duel you, there are
Gnimish RW: no challenges or politics to deal with...no fancy problems or
questions of honor win regard
Gnimish RW: to their usage..
Gnimish RW: Being the Overlord, however, forces one to really participate in
DoS. It also gives one an
Gnimish RW: idea just how difficult it is to hold a rank, and gives you more
respect for those who have
Gnimish RW: held it for some time, like Xeno.
Gnimish RW: Being a Baron is simply not the same as being Overlord.
RLupton: How is 't different?
Gnimish RW: As a Baron, you really don't have the feeling that you're being
targeted by everyone...that
Gnimish RW: and as a Baron you still have no obligations to DoS, you can
become a Baron and vanish,
Gnimish RW: as Overlord that is not possible.
RLupton: ::Nods:: Do ye restrict yer dueling only t' higher ranks? And if you
have did ye do this
RLupton: also as a Warlord and Baron?
Gnimish RW: Nay...I will gladly duel anyone of any rank, and always have.
Some say this is not fair to
Gnimish RW: commoners, but being a commoner as I was for so long, I know that
some commoners truly
Gnimish RW: look forward to dueling the Overlord. They enjoy it and feel it
is worth the loss.
Gnimish RW: And of course, they do not have to challenge me in the first
place.
RLupton: ::Nods:: As a Commoner did ye ever expect that ye'd one day have yer
current title?
Gnimish RW: Nope...na'er gave it a second thought. Back then, I could only
visit RhyDin about once
Gnimish RW: a month, and therefore na'er had time to develop any skill. As
the events in Shylasa toned
Gnimish RW: down, I could spend more and more time in RhyDin, though.
RLupton: I know there has been lots of discussion on this lately, do ye think
that DoS needs rule
RLupton: changes?
Gnimish RW: ::Lowers eyes in consideration for a seond:: DoS does not need
any drastic rule changes...
Gnimish RW: There are some sections of the rules that could use a little
modification, but none of them
Gnimish RW: really need to be taken out and no new ones need be added.
RLupton: I heard ye mention once about the large number of Warlords, do ye
think this should somehow
RLupton: be changed?
Gnimish RW: That's a hard one...there are an excessive number of Warlords out
there, that is true....
Gnimish RW: However, whether we should raise the requirement for the rank,
require some sort of test...
Gnimish RW: or create some other rule, I don't know...it is a muti-faceted
issue with too many points
Gnimish RW: and counter-points to consider effectively...
Gnimish RW: Perhaps DoS has just gotten too big for it's britches, so to say.
::Slight smile::
RLupton: ::Nods:: Ok, let's move off of DoS and talk about ye personally...
Gnimish RW: ::Nods::
RLupton: Where originally are ye from?
Gnimish RW: I originally hail from Shylasa...a rather large world in a plane
parallel with this one.
Gnimish RW: It is there that the seat of the Shylean Imperium rests...
RLupton: Why did ye decide t' leave there for RhyDin?
Gnimish RW: I have been wandering the planes for some time now, mainly with
the goal of expanding
Gnimish RW: the Shylean Imperium...most planes I have been able to enter
freely, but RhyDin is an
Gnimish RW: enigma to me...this is the only plane that my powers are
restricted on...
Gnimish RW: Perhaps it is this quality that so attracts me to this place...
RLupton: Are ye still trying t' spread the Shylean Imperium?
Gnimish RW: Aye....::Slight Smile:: It has expanded quite nicely in the last
milennium or so...
Gnimish RW: But I s'pose it will never expand into RhyDin...
RLupton: ::Nods:: Ye have been in RhyDin a very long time...::moving to this
reluctantly:: in yer
RLupton: time in RhyDin have ye ever been involved with anyone? A
relationship of any kind?
RLupton: ::watching him closely for a reaction::
Gnimish RW: ::Slight Chuckle:: I've had some close brushes with that
dangerous subject...but in my many,
Gnimish RW: many years of living, I've na'er had a serious relationship, and
I don't think that will
Gnimish RW: change any time soon.
Gnimish RW: Of course...there are some interesting ladies in RhyDin...but
being a gnome and all...
RLupton: Do ye wish t' ever?
Gnimish RW: ::Slight Chuckle::
Gnimish RW: But then again....being who I am, it could prove quite
incompatible...

RLupton: ::Smiles slightly:: Who do ye think will take yer seat? No offense
but ye will lose 't
RLupton: eventually...
Gnimish RW: Aye...that is true...all the Overlords have lost the title
eventually, but there is a first
Gnimish RW: time for everything. ::Slight Chuckle::
RLupton: But suppose ye did lose 't who do ye think would be the taker?
Gnimish RW: There's a Baron who may have their eye on the seat....no names
will be mentioned here..
Gnimish RW: ::Chuckle::
Gnimish RW: And there are a few extraordinary Warlords..
RLupton: ::Smiles:: But ye won't give us a name of who ye think will take 't?
Gnimish RW: Naw...don' wanna provoke anyone. ::Grins::
RLupton: ::grins slightly:: ok...
RLupton: Do ye have anything else ye'd like t' say? T' new duelers, Warlords,
or whoever?
Gnimish RW: Well....first off, to the new duelists...have patience, be
persistant...I was just like you
Gnimish RW: for a *long* time, and here I am now.
RLupton: ::not putting in his usual smart alicky remark::
Gnimish RW: And there are a few of you who are already on the way up...Darick
HowlsNNite and
Gnimish RW: a few others...
RLupton: So's that 't?
Gnimish RW: ::Considers:: Aye...I believe so...Unless there is anything else
you'd like to know.
RLupton: Nope, covered 't all...
Gnimish RW: ::Nods:: All righty, then. ::Rises, offering hand::
RLupton: ::stands, extends a hand:: Well, thank ye fer yer time.
Gnimish RW: Aye, thankee for the privilege to be in your publication.
::Shakes hand::
RLupton: ::returns the shake and drops his hand to his side;;:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLAIN AND FANCIES
by Hedda Hat

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
I'll make thee glorious by my pen,
and famous by my sword.
James Graham, 1612
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

The death of Jayne LaMer was bad enough, but hearing that Bapheloc was responsible for
it is
simply too much. She was a lovely and charming lady who did not deserve to die,
particularly in
such a grueseome manner. To have the foul deed committed by someone hired by her
husband
makes it too appalling to contemplate. In fact, I have trouble believing it. However,
those in the
know assure me it is so. I pray the truth will be found out soon and that it will not be
Baph who
perpetrated this evil deed.

On a lighter note, if you missed the charity auction at Red Star Lounge earlier this month,
you
missed a wonderful and fascinating evening. It was very crowded, and the orphans of
Rhydin are
the beneficiaries of the crowd's largesse. The guests included MissKate, Gavilean and
LadyCarrie
(his latest wife), Cymbelyne, Darl Skylr, Ashton Zapf, Marx - the surprisingly competent
auctioneer for the evening, Miss Lura, Kerwin, Kahlluin, Mixx, Jareth SB, Harlequin,
MDJSawyer, and Arrett. I'm sure I missed some folks. Kay Anders was there, of
course, and in a
dress and heels, amazingly enough. And she looked quite stunning. Another one in
wonderful
garb was the adorable Rolan Tali decked out in top hat, bowtie, and cane. Then there was
the
chivalrous, handsome Fin Solo who can recognize a lady and treat her right. Although
he's not
such a great father, having left his son Zach floating in a ship in a wormhole. He and
Nova found
the child, fortunately. On the other hand, there was Moraxian. SheighBrke also attended
as did
Seeker and Artsblood. And of course the night could not be a social success without the
presence
of Rayn and Ree...who did some strange bidding. And what did Mixx want with Miss
Lura,
whom he did not know? And Cymbelyne bid strongly for her supposedly ex-boyfriend
Marx.
Wonder what Ryan thinks of that.....

As you've all heard by now, Xenograg and Amaltea are proud parents of a 6-pound, 11-
ounce
baby girl, born in late October and named Amanda! Both mother and daughter are healthy
and
doing fine.

That charming cleric, Athlstan, requested his community to release him from his vow of
chastity.... from what I can learn, he has not yet had occasion to take advantage of that
dispensation. Keep an eye on him.

The continuing murders of various ladies in Rhydin deserve more attention than current
law
enforcement is giving them. Shame!! Ladies being stalked and killed after leaving Red
Star
Station? Surely, our men in blue can do more than they are.

GoldenLyon is apparently looking for female companionship. Watch the charming
prince.
And as always, keep an eye on the dangerous Najiba....

Remember to check out Mermaid's Tale Tavern when you have a free moment from
dueling.

Til next time, dearies...... by Hedda Hat

The most delightful Nebraska football player visited me on All Hallow's Eve.....but that's
a story
for another time. And this just in.... is it true that the charming player has married a
pirate? As
always, dearies, Hedda knows first.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***Report on the Duel of Magic***

by Arrendek

"The demons of your mind may haunt the unwary." ~Unknown

Hello again. As you all most likely know, our archmage is currently
MikeXXVII. I met Mike on a wonderful Sunday dueling night of the 8th of
October. As I was very happy to finally become a magician, I was not when
Mike said that the only way I could interview him was in the ring.
Unfortunately, I lost and stayed a sorceror for another week. Here's what he
had to say:

Arrendek: Hail Archmage!!
Ar: So, Mike, how long 'ave you been duelin' in the Duel of Magic?
MikeXXVII: About 8 months.
Ar: How long were you a mage before becoming the archmage?
Mk: One cycle.
Ar: In other words, you became a mage at the end of Connor's archmage-ship?
Ar: ...or the beginning of Lord Harvest's?
Mk: My first win was Harvey's win as archmage, he barely beat me.
Mk: So I guess I was mage for 2 cycles.
Ar: So you had two shots and made one.
Mk: Yep.
Mk: Harvey and I don't like each other much as you may know... ow!
<He was mind whipped by me, as to not cause confusion with the readers,
that's where the ow! came from.>
Ar: Oh. How many wins have you accumulated during this time?
Mk: I don't know Arren, 80 or so.
Ar: So you're basically the best?
Mk: I have the best numbers, but I cannot say I am the best until I have
beaten all the other mages.
Mk: I have never beaten Mamusia, and I will never say I am the best until I
do.
Ar: So you're on a "quest" so to speak, for the defeat of all the mages?
Mk: It is not a quest, just the truth.
Mk: I do not turn down any duels, Arren.
Ar: Will you stop dueling when you have defeated all of the mages?
Mk: Arren, I do not duel because I want to beat people, I do it because I
enjoy it.
Ar: Yes, of course. So you have any strategy for beating the Zingo out of
duelers, like you seem to do often?
Mk: ::chuckles:: You want that I should give away my secrets?
Ar: Well, I'm sure our readers want to know...
<The duel ended>
Ar: Hail Archmage! Well done.
Mk: Come, let's finish this in a better place. ::displaces himself and Arren
to the mages section::
Mk: ::points to harvey's chair:: Have a seat.
Ar: ::sits himself in "Harvey's" chair::
Mk: Now then, strategy.
Ar: So your strategy is kind of like a family secret?
Mk: It's not a secret. If it were, I wouldn't have over 100 duels.
Ar: What do you mean?
Mk: With every duel I participate in, my strategy is revealed.
Ar: Oh, yes.
Mk: Every duel is an argument as to how to play this game.
Ar: How've you been doing lately, from about the time you've been archmage?
Mk: I haven't been doing all that well Arren.
Ar: What do you mean? Have you been losing consistently?
Mk: Not entirely Arren, in my last 5 duels I am 1-2-2.
Ar: So you aren't doing all that bad? Unless you consider the fact that you
are the all-powerful archmage.
Mk: I'm not all powerful. That is what Harvey would have you believe. That's
the only way he can accept that he lost to me.
Ar: Do you dislike Lord Harvest (Harvey)?
Mk: Well....no, I really don't care much at all about him.
Ar: So you just don't like him?
Mk: I didn't say I disliked him, I said I didn't care about him, one way or
the other. That requires effort.
Ar: Yes, I'm sure. What do you think the future for you as the archmage
holds?
Mk: Well... I don't know. I'd like to think I've been able to get more folks
into the Dueling, but I don't think that is true. I show up at Swords every
so often to hype this place, but there are few takers in there.
Ar: I know about the DoSer's, never want to try anything new, just "Thrust
this" and "Lateral Parry that", wish they'd try it.
Ar: Who do you think has been the hardest challenge for you?
Mk: ::Laughs:: That's easy. Mamusia. Haven't beaten her in 8 tries.
Ar: Do you like or dislike anyone above them all?
Mk: I don't really dislike anyone, Arren, unless they personally threaten
myself, Kresh, or Radella.
Ar: Kresh or Radella...?
Mk: ::Smiles:: Kresh...Kreshentia, my lovely wife. And our daughter Radella
Michaela Jessica.
Ar: How did you and Kreshentia meet?
Mk: ::Smiles:: Kresh and I met at the Inn one night. We just started talking
about things. We became friends at that point.
Ar: Ah, how long have you been with her?
Mk: Well, I met her over a year ago, but in that time I was married briefly
to Kaleah. But Kresh and I became serious together about 8 months ago.
Mk: And before you get some ideas, Radella is adopted.
Ar: Ideas? Who? Me? No, that's Hedda's job.
Mk: ::Grumbles at the mention of Hedda::
Ar: Who's Kaleah, and how long were you together?
Mk: Kaleah Wintersoul is the leader of the Wintersoul clan. We were not
married very long.
Mk: ::SMiles:: It didn't work out.
Ar: Does she duel?
Mk: Kresh occasionally duels in here, but with Radella she has trouble
finding the time.
Mk: I take care of Radella in the daytime, Kresh does so at night. ::Smiles::
Ar: How long do you expect to hold on to the ArchMage seat?
Mk: That depends on how long I can keep it, Arren. There current Mages are
all good, and there are plenty of up an coming young magicians who will make
it interesting in the near future.
Ar: Yes, I know that feeling... I'm almost one!
Ar: Thank you, unless you have anything to add, that will be all...
Mk: I guess there's nothing else then. ::smiles::
Ar: Hail Archmage! And thanks for your time.
Mk: You're welcome Arren, and thanks for the duel.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEARD AT THE HEARTH
by Simini x

Fall has a way of sneaking up on you... at first, you don't notice much of
a change. Except perhaps a bit of a respite from the summer heat, the pace of
your life remains the same. Then suddenly one day you notice that the trees'
leaves are competing with each other for your attention; lemon yellows
contrasting with bright oranges and a few remaining dark greens. A sapling
sheds blood red tears that blanket the ground below it. All of these colors
contrast with a serene blue sky, as if the artist had started a painting on a
pale blue canvas but had yet to paint the background.
That's when you realize that this is a day to be savored... one of those
rare fall days with the warmth of summer and the crisp, clear clarity of
autumn.
Your thoughts turn to the upcoming seasons and holidays, and you realize
Halloween is just around the corner.
I myself experienced one of those days recently, and the thought of
Halloween brought to mind a story. A dueling story, of course, told to me
more than once by various elders of the ring. All who told it spoke with a
grave tongue, making me glad I wasn't yet a duelist, and forced to witness
such a horrible test of honor.
Most of the story's characters have passed; it is Siera Redwin's to tell
now. I spotted her one cool fall evening in the Inn, and we sat, warming
ourselves with drink beside the fire, and she told me her story.

§§§§ Seraphs, Servitude and Sorcery §§§§

"'Twas, I suppose, one of the greatest tests of the meaning of honor as I
know't that I met with upon venturing to this land. For I was some newly come
to't, having completed a campaign to the east of my homeland's border. I was
also newly come to the duels.
"'Tisn't the same as the hacking that preserves us upon the field, the
duels. Nor is't the same as the tavern-brawling that lands us with all seemly
sorts of purple--no matter that the Outback has a place for that sort these
days. Nay, the duels are a different sort of combat and because a lout finds
success upon the field does not mean he shall do so well within the ring.
For, if nothing else, there are rules there, and gads--but there is only the
one area in which to fight. Mayhap that is not ever the case and some that
find glory on the field do so easily in the ring, but my pride hopes it to be
true for the most."
Chuckling softly, she continues. "I was the lowliest commoner. Nay--but
were my losses only wins, I might have been a Warlord within the rings as I
had been already without, so miserable was I!" Her soft chuckle becomes a
hearty laugh, amber eyes bright with the memory. I myself can't help rolling
my eyes... the emotion she describes is all too fresh in my own memory. After
a moment, she becomes a bit more serious, perhaps as she recalls the face of
a man now dead. "As Province would have't, 'twas during this time that I
became the comrade of a man named Cymranger--Cullyn to some that knew him." I
nod, Cullyn being one of my first teachers in the art of steel. Her demeanor
becomes even more solemn as she downs a swig of ale, then looks down to pluck
at the knee of her breeches as she speaks. "And while I will not say why it
should not have been so, we became closer.
"It was at that time that Gondar took into his possession the sword of
Falon." A wry smile, and another sip of ale. "It was because of this that
Cullyn challenged Gondar to a duel for the sword of his friend. 'Twasn't a
duel for rank or any sort of standing, you needs must understand, for duels
of honor were fought more oft than they are now--and with high wager. Did
Cullyn prevail, he would take back from Gondar the sword. Did Gondar find
victory, however, all that was Cullyn would be forfeit.
"I thought he was mad when he told me, for Gondar was not one to find
defeat easily, even did he search for't. And did Cullyn lose, slavery was the
slightest portion of the fate waiting him. It was with honesty that I said to
him I would sooner see him pass afore undertaking such a sentence from the
hand of the mage. And so we made a pact, something of a terrible promise,
betwixt us.
"The day of the duel dawned too quickly and the night stole in too
quickly. And though Cullyn fought well, Gondar prevailed. I was gone numb
from the knowledge of what it meant for him... for me. However, as Gondar
pronounced his claim and reached to close the gold collar about his neck,
Cullyn nodded to me. Bane's song was too swift from my sheath for the slow
hand of realization resting upon the shoulders of the others." Here she stops
for a moment, and the soft hiss of the low fire beside us seems rudely loud.
"The blade slid unhindered through his heart.
"Gondar was quick to turn to me for retribution--for I had damaged his
property and he expected payment in kind." Her carefully composed face
imparts a very dry look that is not quite a smile. "And while the stroke of
my sword fell short of its purpose--for he had closed the collar and Cullyn's
soul remained in stasis--Cullyn was a broken man at best after that. Sooth, I
do not understand these things, for we know naught of magics in my homeland.
"So it was that I came to wear gold, which I normally shun. It was
uncanny, for to pull at it caused it not to break but to sever through the
fingers as deeply as 'twas pulled at. And so that night I entered into
another bargain of a different vein: I would be the slave of Gondar until All
Hallow's Eve, upon which night I might fight him in the ring for my freedom.
"Gods, was there ever a more pitiful hope than mine?" Laughing ruefully,
she shakes her head. "For All Hallow's was two months away.
"In the meanwhile, I dreaded Gondar, though oddly enough it was the
thought and idea of losing my freedom that wore on me the most, for he asked
naught but one task of me and that was to deliver to the man MacHeath an
item. I did not understand it, but it was some matter betwixt them and so I
did not think on't overmuch. In other times I might find Gondar in the inn
and we might sit at a table together and share an ale. It was an odd
circumstance overall. Methinks he asked me on my family some and I ventured
to ask of his dueling but other than that I found myself simply within his
company some bit. Sooth, it might have been much worse, though I was
restricted at that time from leaving the area of the town.
"I had no choice but to take to the rings with the same fervor with which
I learned to gain the field. I pity the lout from whom I took my first win,
for methinks I bore him to the ground with such acts that would send those
who know me into fits." The memory elicits more laughing. "And 'twas just
past a month afore I became a warlord. From thence I dueled without ceasing,
for I dreaded All Hallow's Eve.
"It was during this time that my friendship with Cullyn waned. For he
passed unhindered and as he might from the duels to the inn and whatnot and
greeted me cheerily when we met. He would disdain and belittle Gondar when he
saw him, but in the end I came to believe Gondar the more noble of the twain.
Isn't it ironic?" She pauses to sip pensively.
"When the day dawned and night approached there gathered my friends as
well as the warlords that I had consulted and turned to--Xenograg,
JSVRamirez, and FantasyRC most notably. Had I ever been so nervous for a
match afore, I wonder? I doubt it. Through the match it was their
presence which leant strength to my hand and set victory upon my brow. I
could not help but foolishly weep my relief.
"I know 'tis odd, but I retain the collar yet with my few cherished
belongings--it was given over without magics to me by Gondar. And though I
chafed beneath it's slight weight for those two months I shall not forget his
words on the heavy price of honor."

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