The Gauntlet

Summary

• Invitation only event that was was held in February 2000.
• Candidates for 'The Gauntlet' included high level, high ranking monarchs. Potential candidates were challenged by "a presence" and if accepted were sent to the Singularity Caul.
• The challenge was to run to the top of a distant hill and claim the Shadow Stone within 30 minutes whilst avoiding dangerous creatures such as: Shadows, Shadow Lieutenants, Panumbris Shadows, Umbris Shadows and Lag Beasts.
• To successfully complete the challenge, a high run skill was needed to avoid the mobs and also a high jump skill to reach the stone itself.
• Monarchs that completed the challenge received a Shadow Stone, used to improve Atlan Weapons, and the title of Dark Master.
• There are only two known monarchs to have completed the Gauntlet and they were both on the Thistledown server: Vidorian and Blackthorn.
• Two monarchs also refused to take part in the test: Fafhrd of Thistledown and Killean of Morningthaw.

Further reading:

• The Gauntlet and the Dark Masters are mentioned in the ingame text, General History of Dereth Vol. III.

Trivia

• During the Should the Stars Fall event, the two Dark Masters were called upon to help free the Hopeslayer; however, Blackthorn had defected and was now part of the Shard Vigils leaving only Vidorian to assist the Shadow Generals.
• The two monarchs who refused to take part in the Gauntlet were called upon by Asheron during the event when Bael'Zharon was defeated.

Creatures

Shadow

• Shadow
• Shadow Lieutenant
• Panumbris Shadow
• Umbris ShadowShadow/Shadow Lieutenant/Panumbris Shadow/Umbris Shadow/

Unknown

• Lag BeastLag Beast/

Items

Shadow Stone A Glistening Obsidian Chest Hastily Written Note

Possible Rewards

Peerless Shadow Atlan Axe Peerless Shadow Atlan Claw Peerless Shadow Atlan Dagger Peerless Shadow Atlan Mace Peerless Shadow Atlan Spear Peerless Shadow Atlan Staff Peerless Shadow Atlan Sword Superior Shadow Atlan Axe Superior Shadow Atlan Claw Superior Shadow Atlan Dagger Superior Shadow Atlan Mace Superior Shadow Atlan Spear Superior Shadow Atlan Staff Superior Shadow Atlan Sword Fine Shadow Atlan Axe Fine Shadow Atlan Claw Fine Shadow Atlan Dagger Fine Shadow Atlan Mace Fine Shadow Atlan Spear Fine Shadow Atlan Staff Fine Shadow Atlan Sword

Rewards

Sucessfully complete the Gauntlet
Titles:	Dark Master
Items:
Shadow Stone

Images

• 

  How the Singularity Caul would of looked when the Gauntlet took place

• 

  Dark Master Vidorian of Thistledown

• 

  Vidorian using the Peerless Shadow Dagger against the Shard of the Herald

Dialog

Town Crier Rumor (Darkness Ascendant)

Town Crier tells you, "High-ranking monarchs have been approached by an unknown presence and subjected to grueling tests on a distant island. Apparently this entity, whatever it is, does not think much of our monarchs. Might this have something to do with the frightful apparition in the lightning flashes?"

Samuel, Former Guardian

Samuel, Former Guardian tells you, "A few years back - you see? A few years back, this island was found. Apparently, Monarchs had gone there before Bael'zharon walked the world, as a test. Something like that-"