Sometimes the behaviour of certain players will excite such antipathy - such unending disgust that the only solution will be a dose of ostracism. For this purpose Avalon allows you to do that most clear and harsh of acts: turning your back on a person. To do this type BACKTURN followed by the player. This will cause you to rotate slowly, inexorably and pointedly 'til your face is turned away an your back turned towards the person you have chosen to disregard. Type BACKTURNS to review those Avalonians you have turned your back on. You can reverse this premeditated disregard by typing FACETURN followed by the ostracised player.

Turning your back on someone has a few significant effects. First, a mutual turning of backs (i..e. both of you turns your backs on one another) will bring about the total ignoring of the other person. It will be as if that person is not in Avalon. Shouts, says, even OO callings: none will be heard. This is known as the personal ostracism.

Second, you may join together with fellows from either your city or your guild or your profession and - as a group - turn your back on an individual. This group ostracism does not require the other person to do likewise. Its effect will be similar to the personal type: Shouts, says, OO callings etc - all will be unheard; and it will be as if the ostracised person is deaf and dumb to city, profession or guild. This deaf-and-dumbness will not be revealed to the person ostracised unless you choose to do so. The effect of the group choice (providing that group represents a suitable majority) will be felt by all others in the group. For example: a quorum of Sorcerers turn their backs on a rogue of the profession and for the duration of the 'turned backs' the ostracied rogue's communications and actions will be as if unknown to everyone else in the profession though to the rogue it will seem like everything is as normal.

You can type OSTRACISMS to view any 'active' group ostracisms: to know the consequences of any groups of citizens, professionals or guild-members having turned their backs on some unfortunate but doubtless well-deserving player. You can also type OSTRACISMS followed by a fellow citizen or guildmember/professional to see whether he/she has been ostracised by any particular community.

See also HELP IGNORING for a more mild form of ostracism.