Policies

Use Of Force

Events are held in the geomantic nexus, where physical laws are secondary to the power of a shaper’s will. Save for the ritualised combat of Affronts, nobody can touch a shaper if they do not want to be touched – and their possessions are protected the same way. You may not use any kind of physical force on another character, except to strike them in an Affront. You may not take any equipment or items that are on their person, pickpocket them, or snatch anything from their hands. If you pick up a prop that belongs to someone else, they may command you to return it at any time (“OC RULE: THAT’S MINE.”). This must always be immediately honoured without question.

Physical Contact

You should avoid making more than minimal physical contact with other players, unless you have previously obtained their OC consent to do so. It is always acceptable to briefly drop OC to check whether or not it is okay to initiate contact in a different way (example: “OC: Is it okay to sit on your lap?”). It is always acceptable to briefly drop OC to tell someone to stop physical contact or take a step away from you for any reason (“OC RULE: STOP CONTACT” and “OC RULE: STEP BACK”). This must always be immediately honoured without question.

These rules are to create an environment where players feel secure, with an emphasis on communication and consent instead of prohibition.

Appearance

Humans are the only truly sentient species in the Homeworld. They're a diverse bunch, made even more so by alchemical alteration, cosmetic biomancy, and ritual fallout. You are free to make cosmetic alterations to your appearance (such as unusual skin colours, animal ears, etc), as long as these would not be reasonably confused for the effects of a Soulforge.

Prejudice

Some cultures used to discriminate against one another on the basis of sex or gender, sexuality or promiscuity, skin or hair colour, ear or tail length - the list goes on. Those cultures have since been subsumed by the four we see today, who see such prejudices as a wasteful and embarrassing custom.

It is not appropriate to intentionally play a character who is prejudiced on the basis of physical form, gender, or sexuality. We recognise that people can act like this despite their best efforts: if you believe another character to be acting in this fashion, you are encouraged to react to it in-character with the disgust and disdain appropriate for someone who has retained such backward beliefs.

If you believe that a player is being intentionally or persistently discriminatory in this way, please report this via our complaints procedure.

It is perfectly acceptable to discriminate on the basis of character attributes and beliefs, and we expect that this will give you more than enough to play with. Equally, you may approve or disapprove of a character's decision to undergo a Soulforge, as this is an active choice on their part that has practical ramifications.

These rules are to help everyone enjoy the game without having to experience the kind of prejudice that affects them in real life, and to provide them with a means to address instances of discrimination should it occur.

Assault And Harassment

The Outworld is an artificial plane of reality and, when creating it, the Sublime Concord made some changes. Sexual violence and sex with minors (or subhuman intelligences) is not possible in the gameworld; it is not even conceivable. It is as alien and impossible an idea as "the smell of blue" or "the tune of sand" is for (non-synaesthetic) people in our world. Reality simply doesn't work that way.

You may not reference sexual assault in the game, in backgrounds, or in downtime fiction. If another player does so, they are breaking the rules: please report this via our complaints procedure.

If another player is harassing you, whether IC or OC, please report this via our complaints procedure. The action we take will be dependent on the events that have occurred and your wishes. Typically, it will involve taking the player aside and informing them that a concern has been raised, and how they need to change their IC or OC behaviour in future. They will be monitored by the Apparitions to ensure that they comply. If they do not, they will be removed from the game.

Cases of assault or extreme harassment will result in the offending player being removed from the game and, where appropriate, referral to authorities.

These rules are in place, alongside our other policies, to ensure that we are providing as safe and inclusive an environment as possible.

Complaints Procedure

An Apparition will be present at the Shaping tables, Geomancy tables, Affront grounds and main play area at all times while the game is in progress. These are marked by their distinctive sashes. A Head Apparition will also be available, typically found at the Shaping tables.

If you believe another player to be breaking the rules, you may call for an Apparition’s attention or take them aside afterwards to give a report. The Apparition may make an immediate judgement, or escalate the matter to the Head Apparition.

If you believe an Apparition to have made an incorrect rules call, you may challenge it. If they assert that they are correct, you must obey the Apparition’s ruling without further question. Afterwards, you may report the matter to the Head Apparition. While we do our best to enforce the rules consistently, incorrect rulings may occur and remediation may not be practical in all cases.

If you believe an Apparition to be breaking the rules themselves, please report this to the Head Apparition as soon as possible.