Our community ethos is an over-arching set of rules that apply to all interactions, either between characters or members. Our principles apply to members and OOC. They guidelines on how our community operates, how we interact with each other and the communal 'feeling' that we promote. Our doctrines are the universal rules that keep our IC setting intricate, exciting and realistic. Helping us to grow our characters and stories organically. Both our principles and doctrines are unequivocal and binding to all members in our writing community. OOC Principles Equality and Objectivism
No single person, group of people or majority of people are superior or inferior to one another on Aeipathy. We are all equal and all valid. It is that simple.
Writing is a Journey
Everyone is on the path of learning to write. Whether you just picked up a pen or have been roleplaying for thirty years, we are all a work in progress. As such, any form of elitism or judgement based on writing skill is unacceptable here at Aeipathy. Writers do not get better if they cannot learn. And no pupil learns from a patronising teacher. We are all each other's teachers. Some of us might be fantastic wordsmiths, others might nail their dialogue, some might handle descriptions like a pro but then struggle with comedy or action. Some of us might struggle with every element of getting the words on the page but are fantastic character builders or plot creators. No single person's journey follows the exact same route and we can all learn something from everyone. We are a community of equals, on a journey together.
We Are Ignorant
When communicating on the internet, it is impossible to know everything about another, no matter how much we interact. With this in mind: we do not speak on behalf of other members; we do not assume negative connotations to words; we do not pass judgement on behaviour or language; we accept that all members within our community come from different backgrounds, cultures, and education systems and have different values, beliefs and personal preferences. It is therefore impossible for us to assume that 'X member was being rude'. They may not have been being rude within their own culture, language or perspective. Reception does not equal intention. We do not know, we do not judge, we do not assume.
Benefit of the Doubt
Tied into the principle above, if anyone within our community does say something that offends or insults, or is simply incorrect in our eyes, we stop. We pause. We consider. We give the other member the benefit of the doubt and speak to them with politeness and friendliness in a private manner, in order to further understand and address any concerns. We do not react on emotion, we do not act as jury, judge and executioner. We allow for other perspectives or eventualities that we have not yet considered. When in doubt, assume that no harm was meant. This does not negate your feelings but it does open the floor to a clearer and less hostile discussion regarding them.
Make Peace Not War
Positivity is key. We are a large community of passionate people. Do we have drama? Sometimes, yes. We are an eager bunch of enthusiastic creators. We all have a little of the God-complex about us. All great writers do. And when heads are butted regarding characters we've fallen in love with, things can naturally take the turn of heated arguments and hurt feelings. At Aeipathy, we do not allow things to progress this far. We use the above principles to consider the perspective of others as valid suggestions not oppositions to our own. We also know when to call in a member of staff if such a process is not helping. We have no problem with drama here at Aeipathy. Drama means we have passionate writers. However. We handle our drama - and our passion -the right way. Any discourse that, despite all Benefit of the Doubt, appears to be deliberately hostile or unhelpful is unacceptable here.
We Are Generous
We follow the principle of "generous roleplaying". This term means that we are here to write with as many different people, styles and levels of writing, as possible. If we have an on-going plot and a newcomer joins the site who (while not originally planned for) could, in fact, join our story? We invite them and offer them the chance to contribute, change and add to the plot we already have in motion. When someone needs a plot of some kind for one of their characters, we offer up our own to facilitate. Our members are never asked or forced, to have their characters behave out of their nature or in a way that ruins plans of their own. However, we do enforce that newcomers to both the site and to plots or stories, should be welcomed with open arms. To assume we have the perfect plot right from the get-go and an additional creative mind cannot help improve it or make it more fun is the height of hubris. We allow others to come in and add detail and texture to our stories. And we always respond to those changes with eagerness and enthusiasm. Sometimes changes work and sometimes they don't but to be negative from the start is not tolerated. Writing is a fun and positive thing. And we at Aeipathy intend to keep it that way.
We Are Connected
Aeipathy is unique. We may not be the kind of writing forum you are used to. We are not a roleplay forum in which a writer creates a character for a singular purpose or story. Instead of a hundred writers writing a hundred stories in one place, we are a community of writers creating one, enormous story, beautiful in its complexity, dynamism, passion and detail. This means being considerate of other members' characters, participating in in-character events, stories and curveballs and keeping our historical setting in mind at all times. Aeipathy is an exercise in collaboration and community. If you are someone who likes to write alone and to a very specific plotline, you may find it harder to find a home here. We are not solo novelists. We are roleplayers.
Writing is a Gift
To both the person who creates it and those who read it. Laissez-faire attitudes to plotting or 'bashing out' posts without due care are not permitted here on Aeipathy. Quality always trumps quantity. The same goes for character creation. While we have no character limit per member on the site, we encourage all members to think very carefully before creating a new character and whether they can give that character their all. With all of our stories being inter-connected, all characters are significant and important and deserving of the right attention and love from their creator. IC Doctrines No Action Without Consequence
Everything our characters do has a form of consequence or reaction attached. All characters are related in some way: from familial and bloodline connections to trade or economics. This means that our members must always be prepared for the natural reactions of other characters according to their perspective and position -even if the character who made that choice, did not intend for such an outcome.
No Plot Is Off-Limits
To add to the above principle, we at Aeipathy are open to all kinds of stories. Your character can go fishing alone or they can plot to overthrow a kingdom. The reactions and consequences of such decisions must be considered carefully but do not stop your character from trying. In an anarchy storyline for example: does your character have the ability/power to succeed? Do they have the support to remain in power once there? Do they have a realistic means of ridding the kingdom of its former monarch? Do they have an escape plan if things turn sour? If the answer to any of these questions is no, your character will likely be caught, stopped and executed for treason. The same goes for any young woman wishing to act in an unladylike / socially unacceptable manner. You are more than welcome to have your character run up and down the city streets naked if such a plot is of interest to you. However, depending on the cultural expectations of the land in question, it may be that your character will never be offered a profitable marriage and any characters they are connected with through marriage or blood will immediately be tainted by association. So, be careful in considering how your plot may affect other members' characters. No plot is off-limits. But all plots have realistic consequences.
(Almost) Everything is Reversible
While every action has an equal and opposite reaction, it is also possible to recover. To expand: the lady running naked through the streets might disgrace her family and taint all who know her, causing drama everywhere. But say you now regret that plot choice? Our staff can help you recover the situation: such as characters spreading the rumour that the woman was possessed when she ran naked -by a messenger of the Gods! And such scandalous behaviour is actually a mark of her piety and grace. Suddenly, her reputation is returned. The action does not escape its reaction but members are not saddled for all eternity with that outcome.
Everyone is Someone Else's Enemy
All characters (and people) are individualistic and have their own ambitions. There will be those standing in their way. Your character may be a source of hate or an obstacle to someone else's plotting journey. All characters on Aeipathy are the enemy of someone. It could be as large as a generations-old blood feud. It could be as small as a snub made against them in court. It could be a plethora of reasons or incidents that have gradually built discontent between the characters. It could be as simple as someone being so nice and compassionate that others believe them to be fake or have subconscious envy poisoning their impressions. These feelings and relationships should grow as organically as any romance or friendship. We ask that all our members understand: no realistic character is beloved by all and antagonism or negativity between characters inspires future plots.
Ambivalence and Subtlety
Aeipathy is set in a world and time where great and impressive plotlines are open to your manipulation: political upheavals, mass-scale wars, arranged marriages, cultist attacks, regicide... But, to create an environment for our characters that is both realistic and provocative in key moments of drama, other stories are just as important. Stories that embody complex emotions are vital to building the foundations of larger drama. Not every character needs to be involved in history-altering stories or seek a crown. The death of an unknown makes no impact. The angst or death of a beloved is sacred. Make your stories and characters beloved.
Life Follows No Plan
In connection with our above principles that encourage 'generous' roleplaying it is important to remember that life (even fictional life) does not come with an instruction manual. The longer your plot's timescale, the more chance another player's plot or character will interrupt your plans. If you are looking for somewhere to write out a story exactly as you picture it, please write a book. If you are looking for a constantly changing, twisting and turning story that will test your abilities as a writer and a plotter, then this is the place to be. There is no harm in imagining your character's future and planning long-scale storylines. In fact, we encourage it. But it is essential, here on Aeipathy, that every plot you've had the fun of developing is always open to adaptation and change.
There Is No Winner
In historical dramas, it is tempting want to play the conqueror; the winner of all things. Kings, emperors, sultans and pharaohs. The throne and its crown beckon. And whilst we encourage these ambitions in our IC characters, we emphasise the opposite in long-term story-planning. What, after all, is the fun in winning a throne? Is your character to sit upon it for all eternity and bask in their success? Where is the drama, the conflict? Where is the chance for other members to play the game of the thrones? At Aeipathy, our canons and storylines have been carefully built so that the world is in balance. No single character has the ability to take over as a supreme ruler. Either they have the ambition but not the skill to back up their desires. Or they perhaps have the skill but don't have the kind of personality that seeks fame and glory? Perhaps the character has both but is female, or is missing a limb, or is hindered by the discriminations or expectations of the land from achieving great power? And those who have great power in the first place will be hindered in other ways: an inability to produce a male heir or ruling a land with a broken economy. In one way or another, every character on Aeipathy is hindered and challenged so that no character can rise and rule over all the others. Because to conquer is to run out of reasons to strive. And it's the striving, the fighting for attainment, that makes good drama. Let characters, by all means, think they'll one day win. We, as their writers, know differently.