The Realm of Azalore

These rules are disclosed to clarify the various responsibilities of all community members here on The Realm of Azalore. They shall be adhered to by everyone to ensure that our board runs smoothly and provides a fun and productive experience for all of our community members and visitors.

1. The Realm of Azalore: Code of Conduct
   
   
   Overview
   
   The Code of Conduct outlines the behaviours we ask that members demonstrate, and those that they should avoid, if they are wanting to join our community and take part in this RPG game.
   
   We ask that all members hold themselves to the highest standards possible when it comes to inclusivity and to engage with good intent. If you have any questions about the Code of Conduct, feel free to ask a member of the site staff for clarification.  #
2. Forbidden Topics
   Under no circumstances should the following be discussed out of character, either in the forums and/or in the chat-box.
   
   1. Anything related to real-world politics/political views
   2. Anything related to real-world religion
   3. Anything that is real-world hatred, discriminatory or prejudice 
   Anyone who does post something about this our of character will have their topic removed and will be given a final warning not to do it again. A repeat offence, or someone who deliberately flouts this rule, will lead to the poster being punished.
   
   These three topics invoke strong emotions when discussed. They have been known to divide a community, drive a wedge between friends and cause intense fall-outs that take a long time to heal. We are not here to discuss politics, or talk about the pros/cons of religion. And we don't want to help spread hatred to others based on their lifestyles. 
   
   Our community is inclusive to everyone. We are brought together through our love of writing, playing RPG's and having fun. To ensure everyone remains safe and has a chance to be themselves, this rule remains in force at all times.
   
   Please note, your character may express in character views and may also express prejudices. However, this should not be done in a way to circumvent this rule. ("My character wouldn't like *insert political view* here if it existed in Azalore,"). #
3. Zero Tolerance Actions
   The following behaviour is explicitly forbidden, as it has the potential to threaten community safety, trust or mental well-being of players.
   
   1. Real-life personal attacks, inflammatory comments or threats directed towards any player or staff member on site.
   2. Harassment and/or bullying of other players - Repeated, unwanted contact, targeting, manipulation, or pressuring of another user. This includes passive-aggressive behaviour, exclusionary tactics, or spreading harmful rumours.
   3. Mental Health attacks - Mocking, shaming, or weaponising someone's mental health, neuro divergence, or trauma.
   4. Doxxing - Sharing or threatening to share another person’s private, personal, or identifying information (real name, address, phone number, social media, etc.) is a serious violation of privacy and trust.**
   5. Deliberately deadnaming or misgendering of anyone - This includes multiple accidental incidents with no serious evidence of attempting to improve.
   6. Sexual Harassment – Includes unwanted advances, sexual comments, unsolicited explicit content, or pressure to engage in romantic/sexual RP. Violation will result in immediate action.
   7. Copyright Infringement - Copying others work and passing it off as your own.
   Violations of the above will result in immediate action taken by site staff, and may result in a ban from the site.
   
   **(On sharing details: You may share your own personal details if you feel comfortable but you never share anyone else's personal details, even if you have their permission. This is to ensure that all personal information remains in control of the person that owns it, and that there are no confusions on oversharing.) #
4. General Code of Conduct
   1. Respect your fellow members.
      Remember that we are all humans. Treat everyone here with kindness, patience and maturity - In Character conflict does not justify real life conflict.
      If a new player makes a mistake, asks a question that you think is silly, or points our perceived flaws in the game, do not be negative to them. New players are to be welcomed as they bring fresh ideas and life to the game.
   2. Keep OOC and IC separate.
      Do not use in-character game actions to retaliate for out of character actions ("meta gaming").
      Actions in the game do not equal the players beliefs or intent in real life - Keep what happens in the game, in the game. Don't let it spill into real-life.
   3. Consent and Boundaries.
      This site is rated as:  
      Characters should never use real-life swear-words. 
      Violence is allowed but should not be gratuitous. Stabbings, beheadings, loss of limbs etc. can happen but should not be described in details, nor over-exaggerated.
      Any themes involving sensitive content (violence, mature themes, etc.) must be content-warned appropriately in the topic description.
      Fade to black is required for adult/explicit content—this is a public, inclusive space.
   4. Roleplaying expectations.
      Use proper spelling and grammar to the best of your ability. If you wish to use generative AI for translation purposes, you may do so.
      Stay consistent with the world lore, unless given prior approval.
      Post in the correct IC areas and avoid using OOC chat in game areas.
   5. Generative AI usage
      Generative AI may only be used in the following scenarios:
      1. To create a character portrait to illustrate what your character looks like
      2. To translate any posts into English if it is not your first language, or you have a disability and require generative AI to assist you
      **
      You may not use Generative AI for any other reason, including the writing of in-character posts. This is a zero-tolerance action.
      If you believe that there is a legitimate reason for using Generative AI for your purpose on this site, you must first contact the site staff and they will discuss it privately. Do not use generative AI for any other reason before seeking permission from staff.
      
      **(If you need to use Generative AI for this reason, it must be declared to staff upon registration so that a note can be made on your account. Staff will never disclose the reasons as to why you are using generative AI and you do not need to go into full details about why you require to use generative AI if you don't want to.)
   6. Activity and posting etiquette
      Respect the posting order in group threads and avoid ghosting - communicate if you need more time, or have to step away.
      If you are inactive for a prolonged period of time, you will be removed from time-sensitive threads with no rewards gained.
      Do not spam, double-post (without reason), or bump threads excessively.
   7. OOC Conduct and Community Behaviour
      Follow staff instructions and decisions respectfully—disputes can be raised privately through the proper channels.
      Keep OOC discussions friendly and on-topic
      Do not advertise other games, whether yours or someone else's. Affiliates are currently closed but may be opened at a later date.
   #
5. Enforcement and Disciplinary Action
   This is a community-driven space. Everyone shares responsibility for maintaining a respectful and enjoyable environment.
   
   If you see something that is against the code of conduct, do not confront the player yourself ("known as back-seat modding"). 
   
   Every post has a report button that is located at the bottom. Click on that and detail why the post goes against the code of conduct.
   
   Enforcement methods include:
   1. A gentle talking to; affirming why the action is against our code of conduct and educating the player on how to avoid repeating it. (Level 1)
   2. A direct instruction to cease further behaviour and/or official warning recorded on account. (Level 2)
   3. Minor suspension of account (ranges from 1 week to 3 weeks). (Level 3)
   4. Major suspension of account (ranges from 4 weeks to 6 months). (Level 4)
   5. Permanent Ban (Level 5)
   Responsibility for enforcing the code of conduct falls to the staff of the site, who consist of the following:
   1. Storytellers - Game Masters who help run the game and are in-charge of a certain part of the game (often a city, or village). They may take Level 1 actions against players who violate the code of conduct.
   2. Moderators - They enforce the code of conduct board-wide and are allowed to take actions up to Level 2.
   3. Staff Member - Moderators who have access to tools that allow them to take actions from Level 3 onwards.
   4. Administrator: The leaders of the site who have access to all tools and all areas of the site. Administrators do not get involved with enforcing the code of conduct except for extremely serious breaches that threaten community safety as a whole. 
   5. Site Owner: The owner of the site who oversees the entire game and has access to the site hosting. Does not get involved with enforcing the code of conduct except for extremely serious breaches that threaten the site itself and require immediate action.
   Decisions from Level 2 are discussed amongst the staff beforehand, and final action decided by as a collective. All incidents are logged in the staff forum and documented, with evidence to support the decisions made.
   
   In an emergency, a staff member may take immediate action in order to protect Community Safety. If this happens, all staff will reconvene and decide on further actions.
   
   If you, as a player, are asked to stop a certain behaviour by a member of staff, you are expected to comply immediately. Players that directly refuse to comply with staff could face suspension from the game.
   
   
   Appealing a Decision
   It is a fact of life that everyone makes a mistake and staff are no exception. 
   
   If you believe that an incorrect action is taken against you, you have the right to appeal. The appeals process is simple:
   
   
   1. You post in the "support ticket" section of the forum declaring that you are wanting to appeal.
   2. Staff will gather the following information from you:
      • What the incident was.
      • The original enforcement action taken.
      • History of player behaviour (was it first offence or is this a common occurrence.)
      • Any remorse that is shown for the behaviour.
      • Accountability for actions: Does the player know WHY we took the action we took.
      • Any mitigating circumstances that led to the incident.
   3. For Level 2 or below, these will be discussed with the moderator who took action and site staff. A consensus will be reached and the player will be informed via email of the decision. Any action taken will be carried out immediately. If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to ask for a re-examination by the administration team.
   4. For Level 3-4 decisions, or re-appeals, these will be discussed with the administrator team. They will examine all the evidence gathered by the site staff, take into account anything mentioned by the player making an appeal. Taking all this into considering, Administrators will come to a final decision, which will then be communicated to the player in question. This decision is final, cannot be appealed and the matter is considered to be closed.
   When making your appeal, you should state your case politely and calmly. Frivolous and angry tickets will not be looked upon positively by staff, who you are asking to reconsider their actions. Remember, personal attacks are prohibited and a ticket containing these may actually increase your punishment. 
   
   Players who are banned from the site DO NOT have the right to appeal and cannot submit a ticket. Players are only banned from the site if staff believe their behaviour will not improve, or if the offence was so egregious that it has caused severe damage to the safety of the community. #
6. Staff Conduct and Expectations
   Our moderators and storytellers are here to support the community—not control it.
   The following guidelines exist to ensure staff remain fair, respectful, and accountable to the players they serve.
   
   1. Staff Follow the Same Rules as Everyone Else
      Staff are subject to the same Code of Conduct and community expectations as all members. Being a moderator does not grant immunity from consequences.
   2. Staff Set the Tone
      Staff are expected to lead by example in how they communicate and engage with others.
      Kindness, neutrality, and professionalism are expected in all situations—public or private.
      No favouritism, cliques, or special treatment for friends.
   3. Fair and Transparent Moderation
      All moderation actions (warnings, bans, etc.) will be based on facts and reported behaviour—not personal bias.
      Players have the right to understand why a moderation decision was made.
      If a moderator is directly involved in a conflict, another staff member will handle the situation.
   4. Confidentiality Is Mandatory
      Reports, user concerns, and private messages are never shared outside the staff team.
      Any breach of trust, especially leaking sensitive information, may result in removal from the team.
   5. No Abuse of Power
      Staff may not use their role to gain in-character advantages, force outcomes, or settle personal disputes.
      Moderator permissions are only for moderation—not for spying, intimidating, or snooping.
      Players will never be punished in-character for out-of-character behaviour. 
   6. Responsible, Present, and Respectful
      Staff are expected to respond to questions, reports, and concerns in a timely manner.
      Inactivity is understandable, but unexplained disappearances affect the team and community—let us know if you need a break.
      Staff are volunteers—we balance compassion with boundaries.
   We are committed to a safe, fair, and creative environment for everyone.
   
   
   If you ever feel uncomfortable with how a staff member has acted, please report it privately to another team member or use the designated report system. All concerns will be handled with care and confidentiality. #
7. Final Words and Thoughts...
   This community is built on storytelling, creativity and mutual respect. The Code of Conduct is not here to tell you "what not to do" - it exists to protect this space that everyone helps build, so that everyone can enjoy playing in a safe, inclusive, drama-free environment.
   
   Great stories and adventures are created from trust, collaboration, and feeling welcome. With these rules in place, I hope to create a space where:
   
   • Everyone feels safe to be themselves, and express themselves
   • Conflict stays in-character, not out of character
   • Players and Storytellers can collaborate to create adventures together without fear or pressure
   • No one feels targeted, excluded or ignored.
   It doesn't matter whether you're a veteran writer, brand new to play by post role playing, or someone who is unsure and just wants to give it a go - we want you to feel respected and valued as a person.
   
   And when things do go wrong, staff will always aim for understanding over accusation and clarity over control. If you ever have questions, concerns, or need help navigating a situation, our staff are here to help. 
   
   Welcome to The Realm of Azalore. 
   Now create your character.
   Embrace their destiny.
   Become a legend!
   
   -Carver: Site Creator #