Asa-thi lienakhar,

As I have been badgering the Ouranians into scheduling their events, let it not be said that I do not hold myself to the same standard.

I am tentatively scheduling the Infiltrator's Gauntlet for 1 Chronos 1012. Tentatively because setup on this will be a monster, which may delay the contest a pinch. Definitely by the 2nd or 3rd.

If we succeed in starting on the 1st, it shall be under full vibrant lantern of Verthandi.

May the Guardian Mother protect you, as this road may be perilous.

If she does not, may the Crone grant you the wisdom you earn in the attempt.

--- The Infiltrator's Gauntlet ---

The Lady Ourania understands mortals very well, as She was born as one; a rajamalan woman named Elentari.

We consider Her Ascension to Divinity to be a great inspiration, for if a mortal can become a Goddess, then what does 'impossible' even mean?

By what right do we see our dreams out of reach, for nothing stands beyond the grasp of those with courage, focus, and determination.

To honour one so great as to be welcomed amongst the Garden, to praise and worship the Goddess She became, and to embrace the resolve that Her path demands, we are proud to invite those who share the mortal Elentari's profession to prove they are the very best at it; the Serpent.

Event: The Infiltrator's Gauntlet
Date: 1 Chronos 1012, the Full Moon
Venue: Sapience. A lot of it.

Concept: An obstacle race, pitting Serpents against security measures.

First Place: Silver Giftbox or 200 credits
Second Place: Bronze Giftbox or 100 credits
Third Place: Isildur Card or 50 credits

How to Enter: Whether as a Competitor or Blocker, notify Nezaya with your
intent to participate. Questions regarding rules or timing
can also be directed to her. The prizes above will be awarded
to the top three serpents. Blockers who are indiscriminate may
received compensation with our gratitude.

Judges: Shepherdess Nezaya Visindi, your hostess.
Checkpoint Referees.

Entry Fee: Absolutely nothing.

Registrants: 20 maximum.
5 minimum.
If fewer than five compete, contest may be cancelled.

Eligibility:
All cities, faiths, and lack thereof accepted.
Serpent Class is mandatory.
Max Subterfuge highly recommended, by lesson or Lucrescent.
Worm Seek and Evade are crucial.

Help Wanted:
If you are not competing in the race, can be present 1-2 days prior to
start, and are willing to assist us with setting up static defences and
wormholes, we will be happy to compensate. Static defences would include
traps and totems, and if you have more devious ideas, I'd love to hear
them.

Basic Rules:
Beginning in Tasur'ke, serpents will locate a wormhole marked
as a checkpoint. The method of marking will be made clear to
competitors at the race's start, but ideally it'll be graffiti.

Competitors must pass through the wormhole from Area A to Area B.
A judge will be on the Area B side, to record successful checkpoints.

Serpents who enter Area B by any method except the Area A wormhole
will be disqualified.

The course will span will span six areas, that will not be announced
in advance. If Serpents happen to discover them early, that's kind
of a core skill of a Serpent so congratulations.

The race is completed when the serpent passes through the final
wormhole that returns them to Tasur'ke, with all prior checkpoints
confirmed.

All areas are indoors so you can't avoid my funhouse.

The course will not enter any city-state.

Parts of the course may be home to aggressive and potentially
dangerous denizens. The race has no rules on whether you fight them
or flee.

Starbursts are allowed. If a serpent embraces death, they must return
to the beginning of the course, so keep ink or stencils on hand.

The course will be littered with some or all of the following;
traps, totems, piety, gravehands, frozen ground, rubble,
hindering vibrations, icewall, firewall, distortion, and more!

Totems may be binding or pain, so careful with sprints as that may
be fatal.

Adventurer "Blockers" who are authorized to use non-lethal methods
of active hinder.

Whether by skill, talisman, artefact, or card, if it exists and it
can be used to hinder, it is acceptable with few exceptions.

Hamstring is banned because Serpents can't mitigate or cure it,
and it would make for a boring competition.

Any ability that removes a serpent from the course is forbidden,
because I have absolutely no interest in the headache of tracking
that. Teleporting the serpent elsewhere will not result in the
serpent's disqualification so please don't do it.

From the Serpent side, phase is not allowed as it removes the need
for quick thinking and makes for a boring competition. Use of phase
will result in disqualification, no exceptions.

Additions to this list will be made known as early as feasible.

Blockers:
- All interested in playing as a Blocker must receive the approval of
the Shepherdess prior to the race. This will be easy to obtain, but
it is important to ensuring as fair a contest as possible.

- Blockers may freely go from area to area by any method they like.

- Blockers may not FOLLOW Serpents, nor Serpents can FOLLOW Blockers.

- Blockers may not intentionally attack one another.

- Blockers may not attack the serpent with personal lethal intent,
although hindering in a manner where the denizens or hazards get
the job done is perfectly fine. This is to prevent teaming and
ensure this remains a hindered race, not a battle.

- Blockers who are indiscriminate and gleefully hindering all
competitors may receive a reward, amount to be determined.

Conduct:
We ask that all Serpents, Blockers, and Judges remain mindful that the
purpose of this contest is to honour the unique Serpent arts, practiced
by the mortal Elentari, who Ascended to become Lady Ourania.

This is a very ambitious contest and there are many things that could
go wrong, which seems very appropriate for a contest of Subterfuge.

One of the challenges of a contest like this is that the roots of the
art are in deception and trickery. It's literally called Subterfuge.

We will do our best to enforce the rules equally without regard to
competitor or origin, but the course is sprawling and it is unfeasible
for us to monitor every inch of it. Consider this a feature of the race;
a chance to outwit, survive and triumph even if the dice are loaded.

By participating in this contest as a Serpent or Blocker, you promise
to not seek retaliation for injuries, whether small or lethal, obtained
as the rules of this competition authorize. This course is not safe.

If someone intentionally violates the rules to actively attempt your
murder then you are free to retaliate.

As an ironclad truth, I do not like rules lawyers or logical loophole
contortionists so please don't try it as I will reject your argument
purely to free myself from the quibbling.

Instead, I suggest proving preeminent ability.

We honour the Moon with courage and skill, with the elation of victory,
and dignity in defeat. We ask that all abide the spirit of the contest,
proving those who walk unseen have professionalism.

---

Shepherdess of the Stars
Countess Nezaya Visindi
Witch


Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Glacian, in the year 1011 AF.