In this edition of the Avalon Echo...
Avalon is now free to play with Sponsorship, which now renews automatically for all active players without need to seek it each month
Gamesystem updates continue at a rapid pace with dozens more fixes, balance tweaks and additions including an expanded MAP feature
The quest to become the first LEGEND continues as more and more Avalonians compete over Experiences, Deeds and Feats
Over a hundred tweaks have been made to the TIMELINE of AVALON HISTORY, further documenting events covering over five centuries
Avalon features in an article on The Daily Dot; examining the world through the eyes of three distinctly different players
The defeated Thakrian armies at last turn tables on Mercinae in the Battle for Goblin Town
Zio claims The Fang of Thakria and ascends to Princehood as Alarius takes the crown of Mercinae
A sweep of elections see new guildmasters of the Necromancers, Druids and Warriors guilds
More old faces wake from long dormancy to forge a path in Avalon once again. The professional restoration remains available to returnees at no cost until July 10th 2015
Avalon 'QUIZ NIGHTS' continue with 200 banknotes for the curiosity shops as the grand prize. Four have been held so far with the very special fifth quiz to be presided by Genesis himself on 11th July
Illyism became the first contender in Avalon's twelfth ordination by winning the divine sapphire with Agarwain claiming the divine onyx. Ordination XII continues through the summer with the cornelian, ruby and moonstone quests scheduled for July, August and September.
THE AVALON ECHO: Issue #3
The thunder-roll of war's tempest sounds across the realm; "To arms, brothers! The dark horde approach!" cries the battlements of Mercinae. For now not just on their west but their east, Parrius too sounds the klaxon. The world heaves under the weight of a generation golden-haired, bright-eyed and brilliantine, souls bright with ambition that threatens the legends of hostplay and the Golden Age.
For one is to come again -- the first world war is on the horizon, the greatest events in Avalonian history seem but peas compared to now. The world turns, the apple about to be eaten...
Remember, Avalon is FREE to play and there is an amnesty on old debts (case by case) so nobody need be left behind!
Sponsorship: Avalon is now FREE to play
In January 2015, Avalon finalised its new model based on sponsorship (see HELP SPONSORSHIP) allowing players to play for free at the expense of the divine globe power of their cities, reputation of their guilds or might of their patrons. Even old players may return and play at no cost if they wish. It is our way to let Avalon be FREE with a player-controlled exclusion of the obscene and the abusive.
Dozens return to Avalon, with a professional skills restoration available for returnees until 10th July 2015
The grass is not always greener, and many change profession in haste only to regret their choice soon after. Until 10th July 2015, returning Avalonians can enjoy a one-off FREE OF CHARGE return to their original / ideal profession including a rebuild of skills. Speak to the gods for details. Through the first week of June, many more have returned to Avalon after periods of long dormany; welcome back to Zilveren, Matthias, Cadmus, Eldur, Calagan, Droxon, Vithellia, Draegothe, Strongbow, Moradin, Deadeye, Bralnok, Necrophona, Ruthian, Ashordin, Anthony, Laslow, and even cameo appearances from legends of the past Aerian and Loric.
Gamesystem updates and combat balancing continues apace
Avalon's gamesystem continues to see constant updates, bug fixes, skill tweaks and brand new additions to the land. The last week alone has seen a cornucopia of changes:
It is now possible to use MAP TO followed by the name of an area to determine exact directions from your current position
Guild legions now work alongside city legions where minehunting and minefields are concerned - loyal guilds will not detonate city mines and vice versa
A hundred new ways to gain elemental experience have been added across all four elements
All guild members are now informed when their guild mates enter Avalon - and their rank within the guild
A dozen bugs fixed with legionnaire health and fatigue interplay; ensuring deployment, splitting and merging of legions transfers health properly
Siegetowers have been integrated once again into the warfare battlefield; fortifying, barricading, tactical manouevre including grappling attack strategy all possible
Legion warfare constructing has been updated and streamlined throughout - constructing now much faster for a time to allow all the chance to catch up
Everyone is now able to see all treaties currently in effect (and some past, for historical record), using the TREATIES command
Holy ground and consecration festivals are possible once again, with flexible requirements based on congregation and strength of the holy location
The brewing of essence commodity is possible once again as hefting and usage of the distilling cauldron is fixed and updated.
The SINCE feature has been updated to include UPDATES as well as CALLING, MSGS and TELLS to catch up on missed information
Two hundred new experiences have been added and the list is ever-growing. In addition, all EXPERIENCES and DEEDS may now be bestowed retroactively to those who have completed them in the past
The iridescence potential of the candescent phantasm has been brought into play
The third mosaic comes into play and a new evolution is on the horizon
Experience in Avalon can be thought of as a three-dimensional mosaic; each tile a different colour representing actions and experiences, achievements and deeds, honour and shame, feats and failures, events, successes, duties, meetings, quests, combats and battles, development of skills and standing, exploration and encounters and more. This is how Avalon now builds your character profile, your "mosaic" according to your outlook and defined by what you see and do. No two are alike.
Agarwain and Jashiri and Mysterin were the first Avalonians to attain the "century" and "greatlife" deeds, crossing the rubicon of establishing LEGEND status and unlocking the way for all to build their unique mosaics and perceive the mirrors of their lives so far. In doing so, these pioneers three win the right to command a prize unparallelled - the ability to transform into a new and powerful form. Agarwain chose to become a fearsome mage dragon. Mysterin chose an ethereal phoenix. Jashiri chose to embody the skies; transforming into a terrifying thunderstorm with all its ramifications.
July 2015 marks a turning point in Avalon's evolution with the inception of the shapeforms concept. Little has been revealed of the shapeform metamorphosis but rumours speak of powerful, breathtaking transformations that stretch the bounds of the imagination. Here is a but a taster of the potential, with the ethereal phoenix assumed by Mysterin:
You gravitate toward a pair of eternal black-holes, slowly spiraling in place where eyes would normally rest above the beak of this extraordinary creation. Though once resurrected from ash and flame, all remnants of tangibility have been shed and replaced by swirling luminous blue and purple ether, undulating in the form of a majestic phoenix. The ethereal body cascades into a billowing tail of interstellar wonder, a bottomless void flecked with the glimmer of ancient stars. Particles of stardust dance frivolously from magnificent wings coalesced of dense celestial vapour. The phoenix hovers gracefully above the ground; pulsating nebulous wings causing trails of iridescent mist to pour down from them. An obscured vision of a familiar, reflectionless pool sheltered under a canopy of silver birch trees lingers in the mists for a moment before abruptly flickering and dispersing around you.
Timeline of Avalon history updated throughout
The timeline of Avalon history has been thoroughly updated with over a hundred tweaks made to include historical gem quests, battles, treaties and important events of note. In addition, the timeline is now colour coded for certain events: red for war battles, green for treaties and purple for ordination and divine-related matters.
The rich tapestry of Avalon history is peerless in its longevity and intricacy; it is a history forged by those dynamic legends stepping through the void to emblazon their mark indelible on this most labyrinthine of worlds, fretted with discordant tales of blood and battle, of quests and Kings and Princes, of great riches and ancient treasures, of gods whose stage is mortal life and YOU the oblivious actors. It is a history waiting to be made!
Avalon is featured in a Daily Dot headlining article
Avalon was recently featured in an article by The Daily Dot written by an author examining why - in an age of graphical MMOs, multi-million RPG behemoths and an audience increasingly demanding of newer, bigger, brighter - Avalon persists. Yet persist it does; its peerless longevity, quality and no-consessions challenge unmatched in its twenty five years and over 220,000 hours online since 1989. The article, which can be found here examines Avalon from the point of view of three players, all of differing background and diverse interests.
The Fang of Thakria is claimed and a new Prince is crowned
Three years after his ominous proclamation, Cornelius, Lord of the Void and patron of Thakria, declared The Fang sated -ready to be claimed by the most brutal Thakrian of the decade. During the cold dark of Midwinter, all of Thakria was summoned to an audience before the void-god, his bride the goddess of vengeance and the lords of Time and Stars. Each deity in turn gave blessing to The Fang, awakening its powers and beginning the Blood Rite.
Half a dozen Thakrians cut open their palms, spilling their blood across The Fang's exterior in hope of becoming its wielder . Each was summarily cut down by its gruesome powers and as the death-toll climbed, The Fang began to hiss and spit impatiently, crying out for its true dread master. Zio - Baron of Thakria, Master Thief and Priest of the god of the Stars - stepped forward. Brandishing his twin-sided knife, the thieflord drew the blade across his palm and let his blood fall...
A cataclysmic shadow fell across Thakria; a darkness so thick, so palpable that the deities themselves were blinded. The hissing of The Fang reached a terrible crescendo - striking pain, terror and despair into the minds of mortals - before all fell silent once more; the unholy darkness pierced by glittering starlight. Zio stood victorious, breathless and exhausted, wielding The Fang in his right hand, the crown of Thakria in his left. The Fang had chosen.
Goblin Town faces Thakrian invasion against a weakened, disorganised Mercinae
Invigorated by their recent victories and galvanised to action by their Prince, Thakria at last began its campaign to reconquer Goblin Town from the clutches of Mercinae. In the dead of night, Zio and Satsuki made their strike. With Niun of the cavaliers providing frontline support and Adaryn of the Seers working the ethereal winds to counteract the enemy, the two swiftly marched a contingent of ten thousand Thakrians down the Great North Road, heading directly for the underground citadel, the home of the orcs and for half a century the demesne of Thakria.
As the Thakrians began to smash down the town's modest fortifications, generals Cid and Lleu heard the cry and rallied; marching counter forces in the direction of the Crescent Army. Niun and Zio reacted instantly, charging the two Mercinaens head on, leaving their forces vulnerable as the two generals rode the ships of death. Thakrian troops peppered the disorganised Mercinaens with volley after volley of arrows while still others continued to harry the forts with battering-ram and mortar-bomb.
The forts began to reach their breaking point. With but a thousand strength remaining, Lleu and Cid were joined by Alarius - senior Mercinaen and truefighter - and the three tried desperately to mount a defence. But it was not to be. Thakrians struck the final hammer-blow on the fortifications in the same minute that Zio, Satsuki and Niun cut down the Mercinaen officers; each of them watching as ghosts while the forts fell, allowing the Thakrians to march through, cutting down a thousand Mercinaen soldiers in their path.
With few options left and their counter-forces scattered, Lleu sounded the retreat and began to withdraw the remaining troops from the fray while Cid of the Bards - hated universally by all of Thakrian stock - pled with Thakria for a cease fire. In a hastily arranged meeting with Zio and Satsuki, the chancellor of Mercinae agreed to give over Goblin Town to Thakria in exchange for a six month ceasefire. Victory on the battlefield almost assured and the Mercinaens routed, Thakria seized the opportunity, allowing the Mercinaens to withdraw and for the armies of the Crescent Moon to claim what was rightfully theirs.
Alarius becomes Prince of Mercinae
The sudden departure of Prince Dunccan had left a vacuum within the government of Mercinae. The city - only weeks ago enjoying unparallelled success in almost all fields - was rudderless and growing lax without its leadership. In the wake of the Battle for Goblin Town, Alarius, long time Baron of Mercinae, arranged a meeting with his fellow leaders to stake his claim. With baronial consensus, before all of Avalon did Alarius make his declaration: swearing unto himself the oath of office, and becoming Prince of Mercinae. The Priest of the Sun promises a period of unparallelled growth in Mercinae, but only time will tell if this bears fruit...
Test your knowledge in the monthly Avalon quiz on 11th July
Each month, the grand prize of two hundred Avalon banknotes is up for competition in the Avalon quiz. Four have taken place so far - all close contests - with Arund, Agarwain (twice!) and Laramyn the victorious quiz-winners.
July's quiz will be presided by none other than Genesis himself. The Creator guarantees a multi-faceted, challenging quiz with prizes at stake higher than ever before - a divine artifact for the victory and runner up prizes yet to be unveiled. The quiz will take place on Saturday 11th July at 10PM by the Avalon clock (5PM EST).
JOIN QUIZ in Avalon to sign up.
Ordination XII continues with three more gem quests scheduled for Summer 2015
Ordination XII began with Illyism claiming the divine sapphire and becoming the first contender.
The second gem quest of the season - the Onyx - was presided over by Elmaethor, god of the stars in a ferocious contest on the Battleisle involving the sands of time. After a gruelling series of heats, Agarwain of the Enchanters finally claimed victory over Droxon of the Thieves with one of the narrowest margins the Gods have ever seen. In keeping with a newly ignited competitive, bloodthirsty atmosphere, there will be further gem quests throughout summer 2015, with still more to come.
Elmaethor, god of the stars will be hosting the quest for the divine cornelian on Saturday, 25th July, beginning at 10PM by the Avalon clock. The format is as yet undisclosed, but the star-god promises a challenging, combat-centric event for the gem of evil - now boasting the powers of dark forms, vampiric embrace and hypnotic command.
The divine ruby will be quested beginning Saturday, August 15th at 10PM by the Avalon clock. The ruby is the gem of war, its wielder gaining control over the powers of martial artistry and mindsets. Tts quest format will be the traditional 'Ruby League' - a two week bloodbath of pure combat in search for the land's greatest fighter.
The quest for the divine moonstone will take place on Saturday 19th September, commencing 8PM by the Avalon clock / 5PM EST. The gem of Justice will involve a quest like no other - a strategic warfare contest with all welcome and no inter-personal player combat. Each competitor will begin with an army and lead their troops to romp or ruin around the regions of the battleisle in a series of competitive contests to find Avalon's military legion commander par excellence. This mighty general shall claim the powers of the moonstone (newly enhanced to include silmarillion sight and the trinity of battle senses) and contender status for Ordination XII.
To compete for a chance at Avalon's greatest prize, JOIN GEMQUEST in Avalon to sign up!
Do you still have the courage and fortitude to face to face Avalon's unique challenge?
The oldest, most immersive roleplaying game in the world awaits.
