Rules

## Our Promise

Our co-admins and staff want to foster a fun, engaging environment for writers to create characters and build long-lasting storylines and close-knit relationships amongst each other. We understand and welcome our differences here—even celebrate them. As such, we feel it is important to give you a reason why you should trust us, just as we should trust you. In order to do this, we have built a list of promises we intend to keep during your stay.

### As the co-admins and staff of OA, we promise to:

* Be welcoming to all who wish to write here.
* Encourage the brainstorming of creative and unique ideas.
* Allow you the freedom to write your character(s) however you choose (so long as they follow our established guidelines).
* Give all of our players opportunities to grow their characters through site-wide events.
* Remain active both on the Wiki and in the Discord server.
* Keep people engaged and excited through community events and daily conversation.
* Provide a positive writing environment that helps our players grow and develop better writing habits over time.
* Treat all players with respect, regardless of experience, skill level, and posting speed.
* Maintain a safe environment on our site that promotes inclusivity and intersectionality.
* Treat all players fairly and equally.
* Maintain an open line of communication at all times and keep members informed on any changes that may occur on the site or in the server.

In return, we ask all players (current and potential) to read and review the following guidelines.

## General Guidelines

* Occultis Aperta is a roleplays that deals with mature themes. As such, all of our members are required to be 21 years of age or older. No exceptions.
* Mature language, explicit violence, and sexual content are permitted across the Discord. Generally mature threads are to be marked with the associated tags.
* Respect is at the core of OA. Respect your staff, your fellow members, and the topics you’re writing about. Avoid godmoding/godmodding, power-playing, and metagaming. Also, be proactive about including all members in conversations and plots. OOC nastiness of any kind will not be tolerated.
* We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religious beliefs, age, face claim choice, and so on. We encourage you to report any situation to staff so that it can be handled immediately.
* We are more than just a 'safe space' for LGBTQIA+ individuals. We are LGBTQIA+ positive. Many of the staff and members fall within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. This means that we expect all members to be more than just 'tolerant.' If you have 'personal differences with' or 'don't agree with' the existence of LGBTQIA+ individuals and simply tolerate it, this is likely not the community for you.
* Regarding activity, we want to get to know you! Within a few months' time you should at least have an approved character and one completed thread. If after two months you have not done so, we will check in with you. This may result in removal from the server.
* Your character must have a humanoid form. Faceclaims are optional, artwork is allowed. But faceclaims are first come, first served. Duplicate faceclaims are allowed if all parties consent.
* If you have any questions regarding Discord functionality, guidelines, or lore, please reach out to staff by opening a ticket or direct message!

## Registration

* Your display name on the Discord server must be the alias you want to go by. No exceptions. Please be sure that this is in a plain, easy-to-read font.
* You must use either Plural Kit or Tupperbox for your roleplay posts. Your character display name must be their first name or chosen name only. No emojis, no symbols. You must also give them a sfw icon.
* Be sure to use your Discord alias for your Google Form submission for your character. If you do not include your name and Discord handle, you will be automatically denied.
* Repeat first or last names are allowed, even if the characters are not related. However, you cannot have both the same exact first and last name as an existing character.
* No triggering material in your about me, profile, icon, or any place that other members could access.

## Writing & Interactions

* IC posts should be written in ‘Third Person Past Tense’ POV. We do not allow ‘First’ or ‘Second’ POV for thread interactions. This does not apply to backgrounds/histories on a character's application.
* Plagiarizing/copying another player is strictly forbidden and will result in an automatic ban from the Discord.
* Trigger warnings should be included at the top of every post (starters AND replies). We don’t want to accidentally trigger someone when they click on a recent post!
* No Gods or overpowered characters.
* No beastiality, incest, pedophilia, homophobia, transphobia, and glorification of rape, racism, xenophobia, and abuse in active prose. These topics are on a strict blacklist. It’s one thing if these topics are mentioned in passing as part of a character’s backstory, but if these topics are written out in extensive detail or in a disrespectful fashion, that will result in an automatic ban from OA. No exceptions.
* OA operates on an alternate modern timeline, meaning topics such as COVID-19 and current world events do not exist in this realm of the board. We wish to keep this as an escape for individuals already struggling to cope with these external issues, so please leave this at the OOC door.
* Threads on OA operate on liquid time. This means that characters are permitted to be in more than one thread at a time. However, we highly recommend adhering to a set timeline for your own personal reference, since characters cannot be in two places at once. Players are responsible for maintaining their characters’ timelines.
* We do not have a cap on how many threads you are permitted to write per character. However, we advise that you make sure threads are carried out to completion to avoid thread abandonment. Make sure you only take on as many threads as you can handle!
* When you start a new thread, please make sure it stays within the current open season (spring, summer, fall, winter) on the calendar month.
* The maximum age a playable character can be is 6000 years old. This is because no ancient civilization predates 4000 BCE.

## Canon Characters

* Your canon character may only come to Cedargrove or Lost Cove by way of Supernatural Regulation and Intelligence (SRI). They will have next to no memories of their canon world. Their memories of the people they know may or may not be intact. They will essentially be reincarnated versions of themselves.
* No repeat canon characters. One version per character.
* Do not impose your own canon upon another person's canon (i.e., ships). Always ask for permission before impacting another person's canon.
* OC's with relationships to a canon are only allowed if said canon is in play and that canon's player is okay with it.