Iteration Rules

character Creation & Starting Packages

Varrowynd is the beginning of a three part story where players are encouraged to submit a character application for a starting package. It is not required to do so, though the experience may be more difficult without it.

Characters themselves will not carry between the three parts, but each player that has a character that has completed the previous book(s) will have a bonus for the next iteration. Character creation options are as shown below:

• • Peasant – Characters who have not done the application will begin play as a Peasant and have 7 RL Days to submit a character application if they choose
  • Villager – A set of 60Q tools to fit their craft (2 tools), 75 Silver Coins, Simple Clothes, (5) Five Ingredient Food, Sack, Primitive boots.
  • Landowner – Land Deed, Tax Slip, 50 Silver Coins, (5) Apple Buns, Pouch, Primitive Boots.
  • Wanderer – Backpack, 100 Silver Coins, Staff, Primitive Boots.
  • Knight Of Kheldir – Begin play as part of a Faction known as the Knights of Kheldir. Knights start with T1 Armor, T1 Weapon, and 25 Silver Coins.

2 Characters per Player

During Varrowynd players can have 2 characters, though 1 must be a peasant. To avoid metagaming issues these two characters have the following requirements to be observed by all players.

• • Known Relationship – Both of your characters are known to be somehow linked in relationship, through marriage, family, mentor/apprentice, or other such relation. It is common in character knowledge that both of your characters are familiar with one another and talk to each other. If you find yourself in a situation where one of your characters might be getting information that shouldn’t be getting back to your other character, or if any player asks in ((OOC notes)) you are required to post in local ((FYI – My other character is ___)) so that players are aware to avoid accidental knowledge share.
    Shared Loyalties: Both characters on a Players account must have the same loyalties. If one character is loyal to Ebrya or another faction, then the other character must share this. You cannot play both sides of a conflict or spy with one character for your other character.
  • Shared Information – Your characters live together, meet up randomly, or otherwise find a way to communicate information between each of your characters. This is assumed to happen alone between the two on a semi-regular basis to avoid the juggle of which character knows what information.
  • Shared Legal Responsibility – If one Character has a Bounty or is in other legal trouble with Ebrya, your other character can be captured and will automatically give up the other Character. You cannot cause trouble with one character, and then swap over to your other character to avoid repercussion.

Guilds

Starting guilds are assigned based on your starting package of Citizen or Knight. Characters can choose to leave their guild and will be considered a Peasant, or to create their own guild. There are two types of Guilds based on the existence of a Guild Monument or not.

• • Physical Guild – If a guild monument is established with clear boundaries of a Guild’s land ownership, this is a Physical Guild. Physical Guild claim boundaries have the Queen’s Protection for combat purposes and require RP before PVP.
  • Professional Guild – A Guild that is brought together of professions or like minded individuals under a certain cause are considered a Professional Guild. Professional Guilds need to proclaim their base of operations, and any holdings or land they may declare. If it’s within Eastbourne Village it needs to have the approval of the Queen.

Claims

Claims during the Varrowynd iteration will lean more heavily on personal claims over guild claims. Eastbourne Village will be the central guild claim where characters will have varying degrees of access according to their role.

• • Guild Claims – are achievable through two options:
    • • Acts of Loyalty & Heroism – Some quests may include a reward to bestow the Queen’s Favor on a character that has shown loyalty and has the support of their peers. The character can then take their volunteers along with the Queen’s favor to settle under the Ebryan banner.
      • Sizable Donation – A large sum of money being donated to the Queen of Ebrya can also persuade the Queen to provide her favor to settle on Varrowynd. The favor can then be used to settle a claim, though under an independent banner. Though it is preferred that the new claimant makes a promise of peace with Eastbourne Village, it is not required. This route allows players to create their own claim, and aren’t necessarily required to be loyal to Ebrya or beholden to their laws and protection.
  • Personal Claims are the recognition on or off guild claim, of a person’s right to land. For the personal claim to have the Queen’s Protection (See Combat below), it has to be on a guild claim. Certain rules apply to personal claims:
    • • Cost – Personal Claims will be more expensive to build, though cheap to maintain, to make the decision to claim land more impactful.
      • Guild Claiming – Using a guild claim to take other player(s) personal claims is not allowed. If placing a guild claim where personal claims currently exist, local chat RP proving their consent must be supplied in a GM ticket.
      • Usage – Personal claims can be used to claim your own constructions individually, or combined by teaming up with other characters. Four people could have four personal claims out in the wilds, protecting their gates and warehouses as an example. Or, it can be used to secure yourself a small house or shop in Eastbourne Village under the Queen’s protection. They can be used to claim resource plots, groves, or whatever a player wishes, though they cannot be used to claim things belonging to other characters.

Combat & Consequence

The rules for combat in Varrowynd provide much more freedom for combat, though it is balanced by Ebryan law. Combat rules are defined below:

• • On Guild Claim Combat – On claim is considered to be under the Queen’s Protection. All combat within the boundaries of a guild claim requires mutual role play between the involved parties. Drawing a weapon, running away, or contrary/antagonizing RP response constitutes a reason for PVP to continue. Yielding on claim (Guild or Personal) or otherwise agreeing to the terms of the aggressor should be knocked out only.
  • Off Guild Claim Combat – Without the Queen’s Protection, there is no one watching to prevent crime. Role play is not required before engaging in role play, known as Kill on Sight (KoS), though this does not supersede the community rule that all actions should be in the spirit of role play.
  • Crossing Onto Claim – Fleeing onto claim causes a Hide Timer of 30 minutes for the fleeing character to hide on claim where the pursuers must wait off claim. Once the hide timer is over, the pursuers can enter the claim to look for the hidden character, and/or the hidden character can flee the claim. Engagement thereafter has to apply to the standard on/off claim rules again. Yes, characters may log off during this time as we will not police people’s time, but griefing of this mechanic will be handled on a case by case basis.

Law

Those who break the laws and can be reported to a Noble Council or otherwise in RP to notify the authorities that a crime has been committed. As usual, this requires in character information, and having screenshots to back it up if necessary is helpful. The laws are detailed in ⁠ebryan law and justice is carried out by the Noble Council. PC Councilors will make determination of guilt and can provide court dates, investigations, or apprehend criminals. Councilors can also hire mercenary, knights, or other muscle to help apprehend troublesome criminals if they see fit.

• • Recognition – Full helms that cover your face can disguise a character’s identity, so trying to get the helmet off, or otherwise find an identifying factor will help. We want this to be kept as IC as possible, but screenshots as backup can be helpful.
  • Character Memories – A character that is knocked out via non-lethal damage, or “killed” by lethal damage, still retains their memories. If the character ca provide evidence, charges still may occur.

Injustice – If characters believe they are being treated unjustly can appeal to the Noble Council for a trial or other solution.

• Renegade Knights – A Knight of Kheldir who is convicted of betraying the Knight’s Oath, can be branded as a Renegade Knight. Per the faction rules for the Knights of Kheldir, one that is labeled as a Renegade Knight adheres to the rule of permadeath. For the rest of the iteration the player is not allowed to have a character in the faction Knights of Kheldir.

Fines & Punishment – According to ⁠ebryan law each crime has a Fine and Punishment. A criminal can pay the fine OR do the punishment. If they cannot afford the fine, they have to take the punishment. Unless indicated otherwise, they do not have to suffer both consequences.