This official news post is copied verbatim from the WoTMUD website. It is copyrighted by wotmud.org.
All,
We're introducing a new feature so people will not have to wait for immortal assistance as frequently.
If you have been placed at rank 0, as of now you can go to the Master Blacksmith and say "rerank me please". He will then check your qps and put you back at the rank that is appropriate for your qps, up to rank 5. Those who have rank 6, 7 or 8 qps will also be placed at rank 5 and will still require imm assistance to get back to their previous rank.
If you're a Novice or Accepted, you cannot advance beyond rank 4, for obvious reasons.
Note, this only works if you are rank 0, it's not a way to avoid council or immortal ranking if you are of any other rank.
~WoTmud Staff