7.15 Restrictive but useful protection while still learning.

The concept of the duellist is not one of the original components of the
Avalon gameworld but a late addition by the pantheon to mitigate the
impact of bullying and sadistic tactics thwarting the early progression
of youngsters, preventing them from fulfilling their promise - or even
testing the limits of their ability. It is not too difficult for a
mighty individual to persecute a fledgling apprentice until that small
fry feels helpless to the point of despair - and with despair comes
surrender; potentially permanent surrender from the battlefield of
Avalon life. To lose those of great promise is not the aim of the
divinities, although to mollycoddle their early months is far from the
divine way forward either. Instead there is the status known as
'duellist'. Here find listed a few of the main pros and cons of this
partially-protected status:

- you cannot be attacked by another mortal except in a mutually agreed
challenge or duel.
- you cannot attack another mortal without mutual agreement (challenge
or duel).
- you cannot be attacked by creatures/minions of another player unless
as part of the agreed duel or challenge
- you cannot attack creatures/minions of another player unless as part
of an agreed duel of challenge, nor minions of a city or guild save
under special circumstances.
- you are able, under duellist status, to attack those minions of towns,
villages and small enclaves (such as Kenkria's Monastery or Pangyron's
Halls).
- the protection offered by duellist status does NOT apply when you are
standing on foreign city soil and have been declared an enemy of that city.
- you will be restricted in various ways interfering with the actions of
those who are without any special protection (such as seeing stone spheres of
influence, troop mustering). It is for you to discover the precise extent
of these limits.
- you can be affected by brewed herbs but not poisons.
- you cannot slay enlistable men, those capable of being enlisted and thereby
turned into city or guild soldiers.

Type CHOOSE DUELLIST to select duellist status (which cannot be
reversed) for the period of one whole Avalon year. Careful that you make
this decision with great forethought for without rarely given divine
aid, once the duellist status is selected, it cannot be discarded until
the Avalon year (two real weeks) has passed. It is certainly a safety
net from ambush or bullying, a way to hone one's skills against
well-matched enemies, but conversely denies a mortal the thrill of
uncertainty when travelling the land, of sudden unexpected heroism, of
aiding allies or thwarting enemies (should they not wish it also). A
double-edged sword then; to be sure. See also: DDW to lists those nearby
with duellist status, HELP CHALLENGES and HELP DUELS.

Back to section index