rules and frequently asked questions.
--- 1: The most important thing is for everyone to have a good time! Ultimately, it is a game, and I doubt any of us would involve ourselves in this world if we weren't enjoying it. Try to be both understanding and welcoming as a player here. We're trusting that no one will cause unnecessary trouble, and we know that we won't have any unnecessary issues to deal with.
--- 2: We're hoping for this to become a close and intimate game with a relatively small cast of talented writers. As of current, the character limit is three and it probably won't be extended.
--- 3: Please make sure you've gone through all the rules and information before applying. It's important because we would really love you to cogitatively involve whatever happened in the past into your character's background. Although we are focusing on characters from the next generation, that shouldn't give you reason to disregard basic canon principles. Try to remember that you are not playing American children; spelling and the general use of slang are a bit different. Try to stay away from tiresome clichés and banalities, and the urge for your character to be perfect in every way. We want characters with all sorts of different intellectual capacities! Flaws are excellent! Try to uphold a sense of realism and use your judgment before going forth with anything substantial. There are certain plots that will require authorisation from a moderator. Never hesitate to ask questions -- we're flexible, and we're here to guide and assist you.
--- 4: Activity is crucial to our progression, and it is your responsibility to let us know when you won't be around. Try to post a public journal entry, one that people can respond to, at least once every two weeks. Try to comment and participate in threads more frequently than that. If you are going to be away, please let people know through the OOC community or by emailing the moderators. We understand that absences here hardly compare to anyone's real life problems, but it's still nice to do. We will be doing our best to include everyone and keep everyone as motivated as possible, but just as well, we need you to do your part as a functioning player!
--- 5: This is not a game based on mindless shipping! Please don't allow it be your main focus, especially when there will be so much else to do. Don't ship your character with five characters every week on alternating schedules. If it's even necessary for your character to do it at all, it should be kept to a minimum, unless your character lives on a boat. However, they don't. They live at Hogwarts.
--- 6: NC-17 content is not really welcomed here; there are people who are not comfortable being in a game containing it. We just don't see the need for it to be posted, as it distracts from more important things and takes away from the rather 'lighthearted' Harry Potter universe! There are plenty of other games for that material if that's your cup of tea.
--- 7: All journal entries and threads made in the main community are to be left public! We prefer everything to be nice and open to garner the interests of possible future applicants, and just for people to browse through in general.
--- 8: The journals are the usual sort: black and leather bound with a fancy cover. You write in it and it shows up elsewhere, along with your name. Entries can be hexed private to yourself or other people, but it's a rather complicated trick to accomplish successfully -- it's not a trick that everyone has mastered! Strikeouts cannot be read by anyone but the writer.
--- 9: Both threading and logging are immensely welcomed and encouraged! Don't be shy! For continuity, all threads and logs MUST be written in third-person past-tense, using our beloved storybook format. They should not contain asterisks or screennames. You have no choice in this particular affair. Complete your threads in a timely fashion. We love to read them! Below is an example of how they should be posted in the main community when completed:
Characters: (Self-explanatory!)
Date: (Self-explanatory!)
Location: (Self-explanatory!)
What: (Reason for the log or a short summary!)
Rating: (Self-explanatory!)
Status: (Complete/incomplete.)
--- 10: You cannot insult your mods (or anyone, for that matter!), for they are awesome and Lena will get at you for being stupid. Lena told me to put this here.
--- What year is it?
The year is 2022! The game will pick up in the summery month of August, followed by the 2022 - 2023 term.
--- Is the epilogue being incorporated here?
Yes. We are considering the information from the epilogue as canon, to make things easier for ourselves and everyone else. Rowling's subsequent comments and interviews are also being taken into account. This shouldn't make you feel restricted at all! When all is said and done, this is still a next generation game, and that alone gives you a lot of room to move.
--- But I want to play the offspring of Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy!
As stated above, the epilogue is strict canon here. The relationships and names that Rowling provided are being used with no exceptions whatsoever!
--- How are couples and their children determined if they haven't been mentioned by Rowling?
Some of the families were created by our first string of applicants who -- for a limited amount of time -- were given the option to decide the name of their character. This option is no longer available. The rest were concocted by us, and those are whom you may apply for.
--- I am having trouble coming up with a character concept.
Understandable! It helps to look at what we already have. As with all games, you should always have a look at the characters who are already in play before sending an application. That way, you can form a more solid idea of what the particular game is mostly in need of. So please, take a look around before moving onto the application.
--- Will characters be killed?
Yes. Naturally, we would contact you before it happened.
--- In brief, what is the current state of the wizarding world?
The wizarding world has been 'at peace' for two decades. While there was a lot of tension floating around until the completion of the trials, when those involved were finally sentenced and brought to justice, things quieted down considerably.
--- What big changes did Hogwarts go through after Voldemort's defeat? Was it completely refurbished?
Yes! It took a while, but by 1999, Hogwarts was completely rebuilt! For more information, please continue reading about it in detail here!
--- What happened to his remaining supporters, and those with similar ideals?
Most Death Eaters were either killed during the Second Wizarding War, or captured and later executed by the Ministry of Magic. Some of those who were around to witness them found the executions to be a bit inhumane. Blood purists are still out there, becoming more bold with their once subliminal propaganda. It's not too bizarre to find mentions of them in the Prophet with a positive spin. Old-fashioned views and prejudices have NOT completely died out. Not at all. As a matter of fact, they're finally starting to take advantage of being the minority.
Blood purism, though often pushed aside by other issues, is still a topic of dissension. There are several pure-blood families who have become increasingly more protective of their precious ancestries, and for the most part are left alone to do so. Some believe very strongly that the 'rules' have latterly changed -- that families who were once considered pure are now undeserving of that prestigious title due to their beliefs becoming more liberal. The few who continue to restrict themselves to pure-blood marriages are held in higher esteem. If true pure-blood families were rare before (true, to some, meaning without any Muggle ancestors whatsoever), they have all but totally vanished now. The propaganda that has been spread throughout the past few years is simply a more civilised version of Voldemort's rather barbaric philosophy; it is being preached that magic itself will die out along with those ideals if liberalism allows it to.
Pure-blood -- In order for one to 'officially' be considered a pure-blood, the wizard's grandparents must have both been wizards, too. The term is more commonly applied to wizards who claim to have no Muggle blood at all in their genealogical pedigree. Nowadays, with families giving in and abandoning their old faiths, such a thing is incredibly rare.
Half-blood -- A witch or wizard with at least one wizarding parent but at least one Muggle parent or grandparent.
Muggle-born -- A witch or wizard borne of two non-magical parents. Muggle-born children are not looked down upon as much as they used to be. They are expected, by just about everyone, to be on same magical 'level' as anyone else.
--- The Muggle world?
In 2022, the United Kingdom's form of government is still a constitutional monarchy without a written constitution. The current sovereign and Head of State of the United Kingdom is King George VII (the former Prince Charles), although at his advanced age, it is expected that he will be succeeded by his eldest son, William, Prince of Wales, within the next few years at the most. The last General Election took place in August 2020, with the Labour Party under the leadership of current Prime Minister Walter Martin managing a narrow victory over the Conservative Party that had been in power for the prior five-year term; the latter is now His Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons, although the Liberal Democrats managed a decent show themselves this time around.
On the whole, Muggles continue to be generally unbeknown to the existence of wizards, even as they migrate into their communities. Though the Ministry has abandoned its disinterested attitude, taking an incredibly active role in all issues regarding its people, the decision whether or not to merge two opposing worlds is still up in the air. No longer is the Muggle Prime Minister treated in a patronising manner, and as such, there is a stronger bond between the two leaders. The Ministry is more sensitive to the well-being of Muggles and their daily lifestyles.
--- Hey! Is there any new technology? Have wizarding lifestyles in general changed at all throughout the decades?
Life for wizards is to some degree the same, though perhaps more relaxed.
--- Quidditch?
Quidditch has become more popular, if that's ... even possible. With a retired professional Quidditch captain at the school the sport is repeatedly talked about, which may or may not irritate certain students. In general, the houses are incredibly competitive at their matches, to the point where signs and banners are no longer allowed due to some of the vulgar and profane language used to create them. No matter! As should be expected, the students have learned to discover other ways to show their support.
--- The journals? How did my character get one?
Your character has known about the journals for quite awhile now! Daisy Hookum introduced them to the school during her initial year of teaching. Since then they have been given out to every sixth year, and they are 'required' to write in them until they finish school. The journals were originally Muggle objects, but Daisy, being the clever, Muggle-loving witch that she is, found a way to make them interconnected. They sort of mimic Muggle devices of intercommunication as far as the way they work, while still incorporating the rather antiquated quill and inkwell. As of now, the journals aren't 'monitored' by anyone but Daisy, and poor Daisy is often too distracted to pay much attention to them and what is written in them. If you take a peek into her office, you'll find that her journal is currently being used as a paperweight. Additional charms and hexes are VERY difficult to perform properly. It has been advised by Daisy herself not to try them unless you know what you're doing! She means it!
--- Who on earth is narrating the premise?
We do not know. :(