The complexity and depth of the skills system is a facet of Avalon which sets it apart from other games. Every profession has a multitude of skills and abilities and your skills will be the single-most important reflection of your character's development. A skill is your personal knowledge of a specific art that you have chosen to learn and become proficient in. They range from the commonplace skill of riding horses, to the celestial qualities of Far Sight or magical runes.
All newborn adventurers begin with the basic skills of Fisticuffs, Defence, Riding, Constitution and Perception. Joining an Academy will provide you with five more; Swordplay, Survival, Scholarship, Throwing, and Itemlore. To gain a list of your skills at any time type SKILLS. This will also inform you of the level of proficiency you have attained. You can type ABILITIES (or AB) followed by a skill to gain a list of the special abilities you have attained because of development in a particular skill.
Type HELP SKILLRANKS for a list of skill levels, and HELP <skill name> for detailed information on any of the skills you possess. You can also find out the extent of your progress between skill levels by consulting one of the three oracles of the land - the oracle of the Greenwood in the Room of Stars near Mercinae, the oracle of the Tavern in the Halfway Tavern near Parrius, or Telamon, the Priest of Greeny's Edge near Thakria. To consult an oracle type ASK ORACLE followed by the skill you wish to enquire about, for example, ASK ORACLE SWORDPLAY.
