To seize the gauntlet means to take up the challenge - in the Avalon world, to accept and commence a quest challenge requiring you or you-and-companions to overcome the "challenge" as fast as you can.
Syntax: GAUNTLET SEIZE
All gauntlet challenges have a starting location (e..g.. Kenkria's monastery monk cull begins at "Entrance Archway") and if you intend to take up a challenge, type GAUNTLET SEIZE to declare the quest begun. The gauntlet challenge can be done on your own or with others. Two factors are important: the number of 'obstacles overcome' e..g. monks/dwarves/orcs killed and how long it takes for the challenge to be completed.
Syntax: GAUNTLET DOWN
The moment you know the gauntlet challenge has been completed (e..g. all the targets have been killed) you must run to the start location and type GAUNTLET DOWN to stop the timer and declare success. This done all the benefits of your achievement and the time you managed to post will be set in motion.
Syntax: GAUNTLET DISCARD
Use this command to abandon the gauntlet challenge, gaining nothing from it and - sadly - running the risk of appearing like a failure to any assembled crowd watching from one of the magical mirrors.
Kenkria's Monastery MONK culling challenge (type MONKS for summary):
"Entrance Archway" is the start location of Kenkria's Monastery. The gauntlet quest is to slay all of the brown-clad monks.
This challenge can be undertaken in a group with the leader typing GAUNTLET SEIZE and everybody else following in his or her entourage.
SCENT MONK can be used to discern a nearby living monk to direct your attack.
Kenkria does not count in this challenge.
The "Monastery observation tower" location is where audience assembles at the magical mirror.
Thaumacie DWARF culling challenge (type DWARVES for summary):
"Thaumacie Gate" where Balur guards is the start location of Thaumacie. The gauntlet quest is to slay all dwarf-soldier and dwarf-guard types.
This challenge can be done in a group with the leader typing GAUNTLET SEIZE and everyone else following in his or her entourage.
SCENT DWARF shows you the next living dwarf.
Verlakmar, Balur, Thordak and the other dwarf types do not count towards the tally.
The "Observation tower" location atop Thaumacie is where audience assembles at the magical mirror.
Goblin Town ORC culling challenge (type ORCS for summary):
"Before the Wolf Gate" is the start location of the Goblin Town. The gauntlet quest is to slay all orc-guard and orc-warrior types.
This challenge can be done in a group with the leader typing GAUNTLET SEIZE and everyone else following in his or her entourage.
SCENT ORC shows you the next living orc.
The Great Orc, Shargul, Yazghar, the shaman and any other orcs and uruks not of the "guard" or "warrior" types do not count in the tally.
The "Natural hollow" location off Uruk Road south from "The darkened forest" just before it becomes "Deep in the Greenwood" is where audience assembles at the magical mirror.
Those of you actively doing a gauntlet challenge will see your time-so-far and number culled/number remaining added to your prompt. Each profession competes against the best times of others in the profession. Groups gain a final time that takes into account the various members and their professions.
The magical mirrors are in locations close to the action and they reflect all activity in the area of the gauntlet challenge. These mirrors also monitor health of fighters, time elapsed and progress towards completion. These locations are also the assembly points for audience drawn by the courageous questors to watch activity.
The magical mirror locations will gather interested folk from around the land keen to watch the action. This may include players who are free to watch and enjoy the spectacle. More significantly it includes men and women from the villages: enlistables and shopkeepers and farmers and their wives.
The more impressive the spectacle the larger an audience you might expect to find after the gauntlet challenge is complete. Those who have lately shown such prowess as to successfully post a good culling time will find this audience of simple folk very rewarding. You need only go to the observation mirror location to take advantage of these rewards.
Syntax: BECKON on its own in the magic mirror location.
Beckoning is the most common way of bringing enlistables back to homeland barracks to be placed in legions and trained. To gather impressionable young men assembled at the magical mirror, the successful gauntlet victor(s) need to type BECKON on its own to show willingness to let those men of various city/guild type join your military. You will be told how many enlistables your gauntlet prowess converts to your city or guild. This assembled group will then await a second BECKONing in the same way regular enlistables do after having been given a pass or letter. All that remains is for you to bring them to barracks and follow the enlistment procedure for your city or guild. These young men are often from local farms and fields. Those that are enticed to watch are known to bring along the animals they had been tasked with watching over. This is very convenient as the ambitious youngsters will allow you to LEAD their animals to your homeland as commodities.
NOTE: While it is not possible for those not in the gauntlet party to attack the CCCs involved, it IS possible to sabotage the gauntlet-cull and take up the challenge for yourself if no members of the gauntlet party remain within the area. Attacking a CCC while a gauntlet run is in place, and with no members of the seizing party within the area will remove the active gauntlet, allowing a new SEIZE by the successful saboteur.
See also HELP ENLISTING, HELP SEEDS, HELP ANIMALS and HELP BIRDS, then perhaps HELP TRIBUTE, HELP COMMODITIES, HELP EQUIPMENT, HELP CLOTHING and oh so many other fun help files to learn more about your possible gains.
