Ordinations occur, at the very most, every six months. They are the singlemost important events in the land, involving most of the best players - they are both emotional and highly competitive, since the stakes for victory are so high, and the penalty for losing so great. The contenders for a new God are those who have gained at least one of the fourteen divine gemstones. Those contenders will compete with each other, one against one, in hour-long quests, until only two contenders remain uneliminated. Those final two will contest the divine amethyst, a three hour quest, the victor being the mortal able to step forward and claim the ultimate prize. The fourteen gemstones are quested by various divinities, some of the quests tending towards the violent competitive nature, while others testing intellect, cunning and knowledge of the land. The holders of the fourteen gemstones, it is hoped, will reflect the broad spectrum of excellence within each profession.
The elimination quests undertaken by the contenders involve keeping possession of the sands of time, an elusive artifact which vanishes from sight whenever it is taken out of view of the skies, or when it is held by a non-human form. The sands of time quests involve two contenders (no help is allowed from outside), and last for one hour - the contender holding the sands after the house is up is the winner, and the contender without the sands is eliminated. Contenders may use any means at their disposal and within their conscience to obtain the sands of time from their opponent, or prevent their opponent from taking them back. The sands of time quests continue until all but two of the final contenders have been eliminated.
The Ordination Quest involves the divine amethyst. Like the sands of time, it cannot be taken outside full view of the skies, or held by any player not possessing human form. The Amethyst quest lasts for three hours and involves as many players as wish to become involved - though they must beforehand state their allegiance to one of the two final contenders. For three hours the contenders must compete for possession of the divine amethyst, and, when the time is up, it is the contender in possession of the last gem who is victorious. If the gem is held by a team member, they must get it to the contender quickly, before it is stolen by the opposing players.
Syntax: ORDINATION <contender name>.
This command is issued to declare your public support for a particular contender in the Amethyst Ordination Quest. It can be issued at any point, prior or during the amethyst quest.
Syntax: SUPPORTERS <contender name>.
You may review a list of the supporters as declared for a specific contender using this command.
Once a player has won the divine amethyst, they may throw it into the pool atop the Rock Pinnacle. It can only be hurled into the pool by one of the level of Avalonian or above. When it is hurled into the pool, the character automatically rises to the level of Ordainable, and the Sceptre of the Divinities will rise from the pool and float into his or her hand. The person who holds the Sceptre will then type CHANT ORDINATION to utter the final denial of mortality, and then, to complete the greatest achievement any mortal can wish to undertake, they will raise the sceptre above their heads and await the eternal transformation to touch the divine.
The first Ordination was won by procession as Maedhross Allendil took up immortal status retaining his name as he took occupation of the forests realm. Then Castigere, god of justice rose from Sir Galahad of Mercinae, the mightiest Mage of his time. He defeated Helkarakse and Grendel to attain immortality, backed by his loyal second, Eshkadeth. They strode across Avalon from Astrea's Delta to the Rock Pinnacle (when it was by Mt Olympus) waiting a while in each location before claiming the ultimate prize. Ordination III saw Mephisto, god of the night was born of Helkarakse. He completed the amethyst quest detailed above over two Avalon days. It was Grendel and Inshallah who held the gem for Helkarakse against the dogged pursuit of Urquoth (the opposing contender) and his allies.
Ordination IV was the first using the amethyst finale still contested today - Nostradamus, god of the stars, was ordained from Blodwyn, Mistress of the Seers. Her allies, Vanion the Astrologer and the Guild of Sorcerers were eventually victorious, wresting the amethyst from her opponent with but two minutes left of the three hour quest. She defeated Zollrender, the Master Thief, with his allies, Snowlock, Xpor and the combined might of the Enchanters Guild.
Orthwein, the god of fate rose from Snowlock - Master of the Thieves and Conquerer of Mercinae, and Lazarus, god of pain came from The Lord Shaitan, Master Sorcerer, Prince of Thakria and Chosen One of Mephisto, god of the night. Sturge, the Bandit-Baron of Coriona became Damocles, the god of chaos, defeating Threap the Sorcerer in a one-sided contest for Ordination VII. Xandamere the Thief defeated Kodiak of the Thakrian Loremasters to become Malhavok, the god of doom and, one of the most thrilling Ordinations ever, Kodiak against faced off against Fistandantilus of the Mages Guild. This time, however, Kodiak prevailed in a frenetic denouement and thus was born Loki, the god of fire. It was an incredible Ordination IX.
Aethon, the Sun-God was borne of a thrilling contest between Edgtho, the Knight Paladin and Salvador, Prince of Parrius and Master Astrologer. The battle ebbed and flowed and came down to the last second - closer than ever before - when Edgtho prevailed. Ordination X saw the birth of the Sun-God. Ordination XI was a walkover: Elmaethor, god of the stars came into being from the soul of Salvador, full well recovered from his defeat by Edgtho in the five years between Ordinations X and XI. His victory was the easiest imaginable, his 'opponents' worsted to such an extent their very names need not be written in this record.
"... The hardest thing I've ever done, ever, ever f****g ever!"
(Kodiak/Simon B after winning Loki Ordination)
"We were roaring and cheering and going bonkers and poor Zoll and his brother were sitting across the room and when I say they didn't share the fun it's like saying it'd get a bit warm on the surface of the sun."
(Rack/Richard Parry after helping win Nostradamus Ordination)
It is the aim of virtually every Avalon player to, one day, become a God. All consider it, many attempt it, but precious few attain it.
