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◣ FAQ ◢
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ❀
Click on each question heading to expand, or click HERE for a mirrored version of the FAQ page with all questions expanded.
APPLICATIONS
What sort of characters can players apply for?
Players can apply for both canon characters and original characters. They will be judged to the same standards.
Applications for CRAU characters are accepted. A canon-fresh version and a CRAU version of a single character may exist in the game simultaneously — both would contribute to their respective cast cap. This is to allow CRAU characters to continue their journey, while still providing a place for those looking to play the vanilla OU version. The mods encourage (but do not require) communication between people looking to play different versions of the same character.
Ethyraia does not and will never accept applications for:
Fandom OCs (e.g., a Rebellion pilot in Star Wars, a random firebender in Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Silent protagonists (e.g., Link from various Legend of Zelda games, Persona protagonists) in material where they are silent. (However, they may be applied for using supplementary material — e.g., the official Zelda manga, the various Persona anime.)
Canon OCs from properties such as World of Warcraft, Guild Wars and FFXIV.
Malleable protagonists (e.g., Hawke, Shephard, etc.) will be permitted so long as their choice paths within the context of their games are clearly delineated and their application meets other standards. However, to protect the comfort and flexibility of those applying for the canon characters from these franchises that serve as romance options, malleable protagonists cannot have a romance route. The mods recognize that this means that certain plot routes may unfortunately be closed off to such malleable protagonists.
What are the rules on apping from a new canon, or canon updating to a new installment?
We ask that players wait two weeks from the international release to apply for a character or to canon update a character to a new installment. This is to protect other players from incidental plot spoilers.
Are there age limits for players? What about characters ICly?
All players must be over the age of 18.
Characters must be over the age of 15. However, players who believe a younger character whom they play might be a suitable fit are invited to discuss it with the mods in the comments below or at MOD CONTACT. A character such as Ellie from the Last of Us, who is 14 at the beginning of the game, would be an example of a character who is capable of learning to survive on her own and be a contributing member of the society. A character such as Hannah Montana would be a harder sell.
Even in this case, we would not accept a character younger than 10.
Players seeking to play a young teen should bear in mind that younger characters will be expected by the crew of the Adamant to attend school and regular 'child-focused' activities. It is possible for them to blow it off, of course — but allowing a young child to participate in dangerous missions may reflect badly on the PCs as a whole.
What about dead characters, characters without bodies, fatally injured, or disabled characters?
All characters will need to take a corporeal form in order to hatch from the eggs. If they do not already have one at their canon point, they will be given a new, fresh, flesh-and-blood body that matches the appearance of their specter, or their appearance in life! If a character already has a corporeal form, even if that form is not human, they may retain it — androids, golems, etc. are fine. Please bear in mind that the acid rain will likely be as dangerous to any non-flesh containers as it is to human beings, so while these characters may be fine without things like food and sleep, they will not be entirely without survival concerns in our setting.Players of fatally injured characters are welcome to choose to have their characters healed during the arrival process and hatch from the eggs like fresh babies. However, players who would rather engage with the injuries associated with their canon point are welcome to have them emerge from their egg with all their various wounds. Such characters would be immediately shuffled off to medical instead of to the cells and provided treatment as best possible. Remember, though, that medical care is limited here. Feel free to frame the status of these injuries around the IC mentality of the character in question while they were inside of the egg.
Disabled characters in possession of an accessibility device are encouraged but not obligated to include it in their inventory. However, should it not be included in a character's inventory, there are very few accessibility options baked into the setting presently due to the constant struggle for resources.
There are NPCs among the Adamant's survivors who have necessitated the implementation — those that have lost limbs or been blinded or deafened by some occurrence in the planet's harsh environment — and NPCs will often help one another to customize the communication devices to suit these needs. However, these options would not necessarily be immediately available due to resource scarcity.
Anything that would have to be built (such as hearing aids, mobility assistance devices, etc) would likely not exist (except by use of NPCs that already need those items) at your character's arrival. If you are interested in playing these circumstances out, you are not obligated to equip or outfit them. We would only ask that you touch on this in your application, and use content warnings when appropriate with your tags. However, you are also free to handwave that a (device of your choice) was built or provided ASAP to accommodate your character, as we understand that not having them may be difficult or even triggering as a character or player to engage with.
Are powers nerfed in Ethyraia?
The mods of Ethyraia understand that playing with a character's innate powers can be part of their draw, and we encourage the unique approaches to problem solving that can arise from these powers as a way of shaping the world. For this reason, we are not nerfing characters' powers upon game entry. Our goal is to allow players to retain as much of this diversity as possible. This means even characters who depend upon some external power (e.g., the Force, Mist, etc.) to channel their magical or super-scientific abilities may still have access to them in game as long as those powers do not remove them from the game environment.
However, powers that impact the game's setting may lead to unexpected consequences. Characters who use reality-warping or conjuring powers to subvert the survivalist nature of the setting may be surprised by their results. On a small scale, we are happy for players to self-manage and play with the range of these mishaps.
For instance, Hermione Granger may try to conjure a tank of potable water, but instead discover that a new species of flower has sprouted inside the cafeteria, and its pollen gives everyone the worst allergies. Please report these instances to the PLOT ENGAGEMENT page as a Tier II plot just to keep us in the loop. Players may use them as a way to discourage their character from attempting larger scale reformation of the setting, or simply as a fun mechanic to play with. (NOTE: These mishaps will ONLY occur when a power engages with the setting of Ethyraia directly — not from mind-reading, super strength, etc.)
Characters who would like to use these reality-warping and conjuring powers to a more substantial effect with successful outcomes must reach out to us via PLOT ENGAGEMENT to arrange a Tier III player plot. The mod team of Ethyraia is happy to work with you on the effects; however, two things are always certain:
(1) The outcome of the character's actions is not guaranteed to last.
(2) The character will be permanently and entirely depowered as a result of a successful attempt to alter the setting.
(2) The character will be permanently and entirely depowered as a result of a successful attempt to alter the setting.
For example, 616!Wanda Maximoff can submit a Tier III plot where she says "no more acid rain," but we do not guarantee the rain will not come back, and Wanda will lose ALL of her canon abilities. The mods will clearly discuss the likely longevity of the characters' alterations when arranging the Tier III plot.
Players should also be aware that there may be events that result in full nerfs so as to level the playing field in a particular scope or setting. These effects will always be temporary and linked to an event.
Is there a way for 'normal' characters to gain powers? What if my normal character already gained powers in a previous game?
Yes. Powers and power-ups are available as activity rewards — for more information on AC reward parameters, see the AC BONUSES page. There is a wellspring surrounding the Central Chrysalis. Players who redeem a power-up via AC reward are able to have their character bathe or drink from it — willingly or unwillingly (though plotting around this should be done by the player). Characters who do will find mysterious abilities born from this contact.
The wellspring will not grant additional powers to anyone who already has them, including those who have powers from a CRAU game environment, which they are welcome to include on their application as part of their powers and abilities. Please be detailed in explaining how the prior game environment bestowed characters with those powers, so we can make informed decisions about how it would intersect with our setting.
My character is a vampire, or has other special dietary needs or unique weaknesses — how will those work on Ethyraia?
Because we are permitting players to keep their characters' powers, we will also be asking that players keep the weaknesses associated with those powers. Vampires who are weak to sunlight in their canon will be weak to the Ethyraia's sun too — this also goes for any other characters with sun-based interactions. Operate as if it were Earth's sun for powers and weakness purposes.
That said, some necessary substances will be easier for these characters to come by than others. While vampires will be hard-pressed to find willing blood donors when in a survival situation (the aid station certainly won't be passing out blood rations when blood for transfusions is short), characters with other specific dietary needs may fill out a flora/fauna submission under our BESTIARY AND HERBIARY to invent a way that their character's essential resource is available on this planet. As a caveat, these resources would need to be sparse or difficult to harvest in the interest of supporting our setting's survival stakes.
If you would rather have your character's biology modified by the Central Chrysalis to align with ordinary human food/water needs, please indicate as much on your application.
How do you handle headcanon? What am I allowed to do with my character's backstory?
We do ask that players use only what is shown in and/or can be inferred from canon as backstory. Players are free to extrapolate within the scope of canon, but should make it thematically appropriate to the canon itself.
We take no issue with canon characters that have backgrounds that deal with heavily traumatic topics related to abuse and marginalization — but we do ask that people refrain from using those backgrounds as headcanon for characters with no grounding in canon. This policy is to prevent castmates from having to engage with uncomfortable, conflicting, or even triggering interpretations of a canon situation, relationship, or history.
Players who are uncertain as to whether or not a headcanon would be permissible under these rules, please ask the mods for clarification.
What can characters arrive with? What sort of personal items can they have?
Characters will come out of their eggs with whatever they were wearing at the time, as well as up to five other items (that may or may not have been on or around their person at their canon point) holding some importance, significance, or plain usefulness. These items need not have been on their person at their canon point.
Items such as swords, guns, spellbooks, etc, will all be permitted. Items made of special materials that stand in place of a power or ability may retain special qualities, such as considerable sturdiness, but prospective players will need to specify these qualities on your application in the inventory section. The items will be in a separate egg near the character. To retrieve the items, characters will need to break open the eggs.
Items that are frequently found in bulk, such as cigarettes, ammunition, food, and cleaning products may be packaged thusly in an inventory slot. An extra box of ammunition would be one slot — not a single bullet. Please exercise reasonable discretion on this — a quiver of arrows, for instance, can only hold so many, and resource scarcity is a part of the game's setting.
Items not included in a character's inventory may be regained later through AC BONUSES.
Can character companions or pets come as well? What about 'paired' characters, like two people inhabiting one body, or an AI (such as Tony Stark + Friday)?
Pets will be permitted but would count as an item in the character's inventory — so Korra could have Naga and four other items. Please reserve only one of your character's inventory slots for a pet.
Companion characters will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for suitability and acceptability reasons, as the mods cannot be canon familiar with all instances! A character like Master Chief from Halo with Cortana would be permissible if the player is willing to provide samples that reflect writing them both, but the 'primary' character would be expected to be engaging with the bulk of interactions within the game. However: please ask first to give us an opportunity to work with you!
MECHANICS
What is the AC requirement of the game?
Activity may be presented by combining TWO (2) of any of the following types of activity:
☆ A log of 5 or more commentsPlayers may mix and match the above to any effect, as long as it meets the two proof requirement (e.g., 10 network comments and 5 log comments, or one open log and 10 network comments). "Reasonable effort to reply" to an open thread is defined as responses to some or most of the replies accrued on an open thread.
☆ A network thread of 10 or more comments
☆ An open post in the network or log community where the player made a reasonable effort to reply**
Ethyraia has two activity policies designed to discourage insular threading and clique behavior. First, threads conducted in private character journals may be used as activity proofs, but at a 2:1 ratio. Two inbox threads of 10 or more comments counts as a single proof. Second, activity proofs across two months must demonstrate an effort to thread with different characters. For example, if Susan submits threads with Joe and Mike as activity for February, their March activity cannot be with Joe or Mike.
However, mods reserve the right to change this requirement down the line if we find that it is too much or too little. Players will get one full activity period of warning regarding any changes to the activity system.
What is the time ratio of the game? Which timezone does it run on?
Ethyraia is 1:1 and runs on Eastern Standard Time. Applications and reserves will be posted at 21:00 EST, as will any event posts.
Will there be a network or a way for characters to communicate?
Yes! The characters will be given comms devices by the crew of the Adamant. They will have basic functionality for text, video and messaging. However, they will not have an internet feature.
All formats are available for both direct messages (person-to-person) and public messages (person-to-group). The video and voice features can function one of two ways: public messages can be posted as a voice or video recording (the default video/voice message option) or livestreamed (this would be akin to a Zoom conference, Facebook Live video, or FaceTime call). For the latter, please specify LIVE as part of the label.
Network IDs are not static, and characters are able to change them ICly. They can also create multiple sock IDs, although they cannot be anonymous. However, the metadata associated with every device (think IP address or serial number) is static and associated with a given device. Anyone skilled enough with hacking could, in theory (and with player permission), discover if many sock IDs are associated with a single serial number.
These devices also house a connection to the remainder of the Adamant's intranet, but PC access is currently restricted. PCs who come to be trusted by the Adamant's crew will be provisioned access to in-universe logs, bestiaries, maps, and other IC information. This information could also be accessed via hacking by skilled characters. Players who wish to go this route should go to plot engagement and submit a request.
Additionally, characters may bring their own devices — iPhone, Android, commlink, etc — and have them modified to access the local network. Characters with relevant skills can do the modifications themselves, or any character can take their devices to one of the tech experts in the Engineering division to have it modified.
What about language/communication barriers?
This one is quite mysterious... Everyone on Ethyraia seems able to understand each other, regardless of their native language. It seems like it might have something to do with the Central Chrysalis, perhaps?
How is death handled in Ethyraia?
Death in Ethyraia is permanent. If a character is killed or dies in-game, they are considered to be dropped from the game. Players may reapply for a character who died in game, but that character will be considered canon-fresh and cannot retain or regain any memories of the game.
In addition, applications for characters who died in-game will not be accepted in the application cycle following their in-game death. This is to drive home the finality of death, and allow characters still in-game to grieve. After this 'mourning period' app round is over, the character will become available again.
Can characters get pregnant in Ethyraia? What about characters who are pregnant on arrival? (cw: fertility, menstruation)
Menstruating characters may become pregnant in Ethyraia. All pregnancy plots must be discussed with the mods via plot engagement, as they require mod approval. Please bear in mind that limited resources and nutrition may affect a character's menstrual cycle, and that limited supplies includes contraceptives and sanitary menstrual products.
Players of menstruating characters who are not interested in engaging with these topics may have the Chryalis affect their fertility — either by lowering the frequency or outright eliminating the ovulation/menstruation cycle. The degree to which characters become ICly aware of these changes to their fertility is up to player discretion, but any discussion should bear appropriate content warnings.
If a character is already pregnant at their canon point and arrives in game, players can handle it in one of two ways:
(1) Players may essentially 'freeze' the pregnancy in stasis, or
(2) Players may play out the pregnancy and the character can give birth.
Players of pregnant characters who are interested in another option may contact the mods.
SETTING AND PLOTS
What sort of content is allowed in the game?
Ethyraia places no restrictions on in-game content. Players can feel free to engage with the setting however they wish. However, logs containing any adult content must be locked and appropriately labeled. The same goes for any content that may be considered triggering. Failure to respect the boundaries of other players is grounds for removal from the game. If someone requests that you warn for content, we would ask that you please respect that request.
What sort of plots can I expect from the game, and how often will they be run?
Presently, the majority of plots will be focused on survival in a hostile world. They may include a need to navigate the surrounding area, explore the old ruin of the Adamant, make contact with the Thessyx, etc. They may involve attacks from hostile creatures, meteor showers and dreamscape worlds. There may also be aspects of events (though it will generally not be a focus) with an aphrodisiac type effect. This will always be an optional part of the plots, but it will be occasionally present should people wish to use it to engage with. Such content should always be properly marked and locked.
Events will generally be aimed at giving a broad variety of characters something to do (characters geared towards fighting will have things to fight, characters geared towards research are encouraged to work closely with the moderation team to find out world secrets or weaknesses of alien fauna, characters who are doctors or healers will be able to tend to both PCs and NPCs in aid tents, etc).
There are elements of an overarching story to Ethyraia, but it isn't a grand mystery as that tends to provide an unfair advantage to early adopters of the game. Rather, Ethyraia emphasizes a balance of conflict and CR-building events that will encourage characters to rely on one another in ways that facilitate growth.
What kind of opt-outs will be provided for game-wide plots?
Complete opt-outs for game-wide plots will not be provided. However, any triggering content related to game-wide plots will be clearly avoidable on an OOC level. Players who feel that material which is triggering to them is not sufficiently avoidable, or who feel they have a compelling reason to entirely avoid a game-wide plot, should contact the mods here.
How often will events happen?
The mod team will run events on a bi-monthly basis. Plots will usually run for 1-2 weeks at a time. Large-scale player plots may occasionally be substituted for World Events, if they have far-reaching affects and will impact a large enough number of PCs. For information on how to do this, please check the PLOT ENGAGEMENT page.
As an example: if a plot begins on January 20th, it will end roughly on January 31st and the next one will be roughly March 20th. This is to give people an opportunity to finish threads without feeling as if they're hurrying from one event to another.
However: there will be options for mission-based threading in-between plots based on AC BONUSES. There will also be room for player plots and lighter happenings that lean more slice of life — a small Christmas festival would be an example of a slice of life intermission between world events.
If we find this balance to be lacking once the game is underway, we will reevaluate our position at that time and incorporate player feedback.
What about the flora and fauna in the area? Can you describe it?
The BESTIARY will be updated periodically. Players are encouraged to submit any animal, real or imagined, that they wish to see in the world to this page.
Please remember that this information will not immediately be made IC knowledge! PCs will have to work for the clearance levels on their communication devices to gain access to the information. A character who immediately knows that a snorflak can spit acid on sight is probably verging into infomodding territory and would be discouraged.
The flora in the world can be described as hostile, be it overtly violent, poisonous, or interacting strangely with PC biology. Similar to the bestiary, there is a list of plant-life (HERBIARY) that will also be periodically updated. As with the bestiary, players are strongly encouraged to submit plants they wish to see! Feel free to give them strange effects as well (ie: a character who gets plant sap on their skin may hallucinate their worst nightmares! Breathing spores from this flower will cause temporary blindness!). As this is a very alien world with science fantasy overtones, the sky really is the limit.
What about characters with special requirements to life? Or non-humans that are different in size/require different diets? Transformers, vampires, etc.
Your characters do not have to be humanized. However, it is acceptable for players to choose to humanize their characters with the option for in-world power-ups via AC bonuses.
Vampires will be treated cautiously by the crew of the Adamant, and will be given access to local blood banks. However, please remember: the Adamant's crew is human, and they are from Earth and are aware of standard Earth-lore. While some crew-members may be perfectly willing to accept vampires/elves/fae/etc, some may express bias towards these creatures, or skepticism about their inherent decency. Please do not abuse this mechanic. It is there to generate light conflict and friction with the crew, but any desire to escalate this disdain should go through PLOT ENGAGEMENT
Players who wish to app a character that is considerably larger than a human are not expected to size them down. However, they will find themselves at something of a disadvantage, as everything within the Adamant is built for humans — from clothing to communication devices to beds. Players who wish to size their characters down may do so, but players may also play with the difficulties inherent in their size discrepancy.
Are drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and other stimulants available on Ethyraia?
Yes! The engineering crew of the Adamant runs a distillery. The liquor is said to double as a paint stripper, so there is plenty of room for improvement there. If any enterprising PC wanted to step up to the plate...
There are also a variety of drugs. Some are made from compounds native to the planet, others are modified from Earth strains. Cannabis, opiates, and hallucinogenics are available through means both legal and not. There are also plenty of plants outside of Basecamp Leviathan for any characters curious enough to sample them!
There may be a few independent or black market cigarette-sellers growing it on the down-low willing to make a deal... for the right price. Feel free to create or hand-wave these NPCs as existing and assume a reasonable quantity of cigarettes (hand-rolled!) is available for purchase, but keep in mind that they will not be overly abundant, be cognizant of rationing!
Tobacco, cannabis, and other Earth-native plants will not grow outside the Leviathan due to their lack of resistance to the acid rain. However, while the topsoil is somewhat damaged and degraded as far as growing Earth-based plants would go, if you dig down about a foot, the soil is quite fertile and heavy with nitrates and can be used to grow if there is: a) a sufficient light source within the proper spectrum and b) adequate watering and space, as well as troughs or 'plots' he would need to justify using for such an endeavor. There is, of course, also the matter of finding seeds. Any character looking to get a cut of the illegal substances business should submit a request to PLOT ENGAGEMENT.
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