28.1 Current info on the divine amethyst.

Ordinations occur, at the very most, every six months though more typically there may be a year or more in between. 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 (see HELP SANDS), until only two contenders remain uneliminated. Those final two will contest the divine amethyst, a three to five hour quest, the victor being the mortal able to step forward and claim the ultimate prize: the sceptre of the divinities. Raising the sceptre stakes an undeniable, irreversible claim to divinity - to ordination - and transforms the mortal into a God.

The fourteen gemstones are quested by various divinities over many months. Some of the quests tend towards the violent competitive nature, while others test the intellect, or an individual's cunning, ability to work in teams, others his or her extensive knowledge of the land. The holders of the fourteen gemstones, it is hoped, will reflect the broad spectrum of excellence within each profession. Ordinations follow a standard format and have, over the decades, been contested by members from all the professions - no one group has a better chance than the next - and so varied is the criteria that the ordained mortal is always an exemplary, supreme mortal whose talent and worthiness to raise the sceptre of the divinities is beyond question.

Leading up to the amethyst Ordination quest are the sands quest. These are detailed in HELP SANDS and involve all contenders in one against one contests, each sands quest eliminated a single contender until only two remain. Then comes the Ordination, where everyone in Avalon may freely take part and influence the course of history both mortal and divine...

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 to five hours (determined by the presiding deity, typically Genesis) and involves as many players as wish to become involved - though they must beforehand state their allegiance to one of the final contenders. For the entire period the contenders and their diverse entourages 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. The first contender to hold the amethyst after the time has elapsed is the victor and some Ordinations have been decided in thee final precious moments.

To declare your support for an individual in the Ordination, type ORDINATION followed by their name, e.g. ORDINATION ESHKADETH to declare support for Eshkadeth. You can view the publicly declared support for a particular contender by typing SUPPORTERS followed by their name, e.g. SUPPORTERS ESHKADETH to list out all declared support for Eshkadeth.

Once a player has won the divine amethyst, they may throw it into the pool atop the Rock Pinnacle. All fourteen gems must have been quests previously, all other contenders must have been dispatched. By the time the amethyst quest is concluded this is alwyas the case. When the fifteenth gem is hurled into the pool (THROW AMETHYST INTO POOL), the victorious contender automatically rises to the level of Ordainable, and - before the assembled audience - the Sceptre of the Divinities will rise from the pool into his or her hand. The winning mortal 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 (typing RAISE SCEPTRE) to set in motion the ultimate apotheosis: the transformation to divinity - forever.

The amethyst quest has existed in its current form for all Ordinations since early times. The first Ordination (as opposed to direct appointment) came as Galahad the Mage faced off against Helkarakse the Sorceer and Grendel the Thief. He stood undefeated, with his second Eshkadeth the Enchanter, and strode across the land - one minute in each location - to gain the amethyst by dint of successfully warding enemy challenge and proving unstoppable in his transit of the continent. Castigere, god of justice was born.

The second Ordination saw Helkarakse of the Sorcerers face off against Urquoth the Astrologer. This ordination took place over two Avalon days and involved larger teams (but still delimited two a handful on eithr side). Helkarakse himself did little but keep Urquoth at bay while Inshallah and Grendel - both illustrious thieves - held the amethyst 'til the end. Helkarakse received the gem and was ordained Mephisto, god of the night.

Thenceforth, the ordinations took on the flavour of modern times with sands quest eliminators leading into amethyst quests over many hours and involving everyone in the land (if they so desire). Nostradamus, god of the stars was the first to be ordained via this most competitive, most thrilling of events, from Blodwyn Mistress of the Seers. He defeated Zollrender, the Master Thief in a climax that saw the amethyst change hands (and thus the history of Avalon altered) with under two minutes remaining. See HELP 23 for details of the various Ordinations, as well as information about Avalon's early history, divine pantheon and creation mythology.

"It is the aim of virtually every Avalon player to, one day, become a God. Most consider it, many actually attempt it, but precious few attain it..."

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