Reflections on the Writ: Respect

The rules at the heart of who we are, that make us Vigiles, are of prime importance to every one of us. It is the concern of every Vigiles to see they are upheld, and the special duty of the officers and Council to ensure that this is so.

The official summary of the OOC rules is posted here, and was drafted to be as concise, readable, and clear as I could make it. It was also drafted to fit neatly inside a player-written book in game, so that it could be posted publicly in our guild spaces, and shared with our members easily.

The entirety of the ooc rules can be reduced down to our driving ethic: act with love and justice for your fellow players. 

Or, as Wil Wheaton so eloquently puts it, Don't be a Dick.

From time to time, it is well to expand on a matter in greater detail.
We are surrounded by a world that regularly fails to promote love or justice, and we carry with us all the many wounds from that. Within Vigiles, we strive to re-imagine the structure of our world, together. We do this through our collaborative creative fiction - our role-playing - and we also do it in the community that we have built among us, the humans behind the stories.

We are human - and we will have conflict, and we will all fail to embody the ideals we strive for.

It is not a matter of if, only "when" and "how".
Learning how to move through the tense and uncomfortable places to become better versions of ourselves is an essential, beautiful, difficult, and necessary work. It is of vital importance that we work together in this process, to check in with one another and remind each other of the ideals and friendship that bind us together.

Respect the players. 

That means you.

Every one of us, in joining the Vigiles, has sworn to uphold the Writ and Rules, without exception. You have the same right to a safe and healthy storytelling gamerspace as every other member.

Any insult or harm you suffer is our concern - and at the same time we, the officers, cannot act to resolve the situation if we do not know it exists. We are human, and Real Life comes first. Not every officer can be online and attentive to every channel at every moment, and it would be injustice to expect that from those who serve out of love.

We actively work to build a community that acknowledges the danger and injustice of structural violence. We refuse to allow anyone to seed such harm in our space.

Just as within the Amicae no character is permitted to attack another Amicae for their race/gender/religion/class, no such insults in real life will be permitted among guildmates. Swearing is permissible, but language which has its basis in denigration or oppression of any group will invoke discipline.
Likewise, no discrimination based on account level will be tolerated.

Oppressive language has some obvious examples: slurs and insults, gross generalizations and stereotypes, violence and threats.

These are the even-con, aggro monsters of our world, outlined in bright red and easily seen from a distance for what they are.

There are also subtle, insidious kinds of oppressive language, which cloak their oppression in the veneer of other things. Taken alone, one comment may seem trivial: as part of a pattern, it becomes malignant. Violence may masquerade as reason, or humor, or even concern.

It is important to remember that your inability to see or feel the harm does not erase its danger and hurt for another.

These are the quest npc's that become epic raid bosses, these are the invisible vampires that wait for you in dark corners.

We do not often see such things arise among us, and what does slip through quickly becomes an opportunity for growth. We all carry some level of privilege from our Real Life into the storytelling space, and it is our responsibility to endeavor always to check that privilege.

When we overlook some part of that, we are asking our Amicae to check it for us, so that we may grow. The officers of the Vigiles Amicae have sworn to this duty, to monitor what they hear, and to hold safe space for Amicae to bring their concerns. When that happens, an officer steps forward to remind us all about our rules, and we open a public discussion of what those rules mean in application.

We in the Vigiles believe that this public discussion is essential to the health of our community.

There is a time and place for public and private discourse: privately approaching an officer will of course remain a private discussion between you and the council. Generally, official complaints are made in private, even though frequently they concern public actions. Public reminders also frequently lead to private discussions in greater detail than is feasible in a public forum.

That manner of private discourse is good and healthy.

Reminders are delivered publicly, because we all need to know them. If even one person is unclear as to the application of the rules in practice, it is certainly true that more than one harbors similar confusion. Successful conflict resolution brings us closer together, and actively builds the world we seek.

We of the Vigiles strive to incorporate the practice of Nonviolent Communication, while at the same time working to identify and disarm any structural violence we carry with us from the outside world.

Responding to gentle reminders and critique as though it is a malicious personal attack is a terrible thing for everyone, and actively undermines the health of our community.

Lashing out with violent language at an officer - publicly or privately - for issuing a reminder is a serious transgression: it is disrespect for our rules, and our officers.

Likewise, arguing for exceptions to our rules for any reason whatsoever is an act of violence against the Vigiles, and will be handled as such.

Once, will earn a formal warning, and redirection to review our Writ and Rules for later discussion. Refusal to comply will be considered a second violation.

Twice, will earn a formal rebuke, assignment to review the Writ and Rules, and report to an officer for further discussion. Refusal to comply will be considered a third violation.

Three acts of violence against the Vigiles, IC or OOC*, will result in formal charges of treason, and may invoke a sentence of Exile.

There is a time, place, and manner in which to bring your concerns and questions to the council, and learn about our Writ and Rule. Take time to center yourself, and approach the issue with clear language, and without value judgments. We, the officers, have sworn to uphold the Writ and Rule, and also to educate the Amicae in it. Come to us with any questions or concerns you have.

Your feelings are yours, and you have the right to feel them.

Notice your fear, your anger, your sorrow: these arise within you to tell you valuable things about your experience. Respect yourself as a player, as an Amicae, and speak up. Trust that you will be heard. Your officers are there to help you process your feelings and experiences among us, and to take action in the community when necessary.

Not every character or player will feel comfortable in the space we have created. Our work is sometimes exactly that: work. We believe that even - perhaps especially - in the context of a game and storytelling space we all love, that this work is good, and right, and rewarding. We invite you to remain with us in this good work, but we accept that the difficult road is not one all souls may walk.

We, the officers, have sworn our time and our hearts to the work of holding the banner on that long and difficult road.

We welcome you among us:

stand with us, and our strength and wisdom together 

shall be greater than the sum of all we had alone.

---

* Yes, in-character treason and exile is a story you can write. Those plots are deeply complicated, and require excellent out of character communication to play out, while guarding the health of the players.

History

Once, we were all refugees.
Whatever tyranny or danger we had faced, we had survived to see another mark, another day-cycle, another season, another year. We swore vengeance, we swore memory, we swore our hearts and hands to survive and to fight.
We, who have survived, we See you.
We know your path and your challenge, even if we do not yet know you, for we have been on that trail, alone. We have known that trudging back from the battle, wondering what will be at the end of that road, and questioning the virtue of every tortured step.

We say to you: the time is done for walking alone.

You have sought a haven, a refuge, a place of rest and healing.
We welcome you among us: stand behind our shields, and we will raise our hands together to defend you.
You have sought a cause that has meaning, that has value beyond mere gold and mortality.
We welcome you among us: stand beside us and together let us raise our hands to protect those who need it, and bring judgment or release to those who need that.
You have sought a shield-mate, an ally to stand beside you, to help you on your path.
We welcome you among us: stand before us, and swear your hand to ours, and receive ours in return.
You have sought a lesson, a tool, armor, arms, or aid.
We welcome you among us: stand with us, and our strength and wisdom together shall be greater than the sum of all we had alone.


Remember that the amicae were formed first from those who survived, and who would remain free. They bound themselves to one another in freedom, and they watched and guarded each other at need,for the good of all.
From the bones and ash of the long wars, we remain. In the days after the citadel fell, many were lost. Some remained in the City, amid the chaos, others left to prepare a place of greater safety, for Xiphos, too had been lost. In the stuggles of the barons, the alliance pushed back, guarding their liberties fiercely. When the Overlord returned, it was first thought that the excesses would be curbed, and the liberty of citizens restored to what it had been, and perhaps more. Though the City had always owned flaws, the Citizens had their rights, and at least in that City, there was truth. It is not evil to recognize that the Truth is not always lovely, whatever some partisans have always said.
The hopes of many were in vain: the third brigade has greater reach to police orthodox thought as well as action, and cull those who look or think or speak in any way which diverges from the mold. It was no longer enough to guard only each other, and remain away from the walls: those who did not care for the changes were no longer free even to leave.
And so, and so. We who knew the City deeply... carried word of the secret ways, and hope of liberty. Some chose that path, some did not: the road of freedom is not an easy one, and can only be walked by those who have chosen it for themselves. Those who left, some of them sought Haven.
And so, and so. The Amicae grew.

The codes are older than the Vigiles, handed down over centuries. The spear and shield of the Vigiles, the walls and wards which guard us are the prizes of many victories, given freely for the good of all Amicae. War has changed, as the land has been changed. The old Gates and rings of stone have been rebuilt, and the art of bending time to the will or mortals has been brought into the Pattern. The very warp of the world is meddled with. The flow of magic is changed: much is taken, and little returned. The weavings of the powerful shake the pattern of every mortal soul and society.
Those who remember, and those who learn know that it was not only the war of the gods which broke the moon, and threw the seas into turmoil.

And so, and so. It becomes ever more rare to find a place of haven, or of liberty. Yet even our own refuge is not held for the wishing of it, but by the strong arm of those Amicae who are also Vigiles. Yet without the other Amicae, there would be no purpose nor support for that arm.

We are become many, and the word of our existence spreads. The shadows which have cloaked our shield and our purpose begin to fall away: it is good.

Vai Z'ress.

Guild Charter, OOC v.2

The in-character concept of the Vigiles Amicae also applies to the relations between the players themselves: we're about watching each others' backs and putting the good of all ahead of the good of the one, or the few.

Below, in no particular order, are the rules for player conduct within Vigiles Amicae.

- Real Life Comes First.
Always, and forever.

- No drama.
It's just a game, and we play to have fun. Have as much drama and intrigue as you want (and fellow players agree to!) in character, but remember real life and roleplay are separate.

- We are a mature guild.
Players must be 18+. Both IC and OOC interaction often contains mature content: language, violence, sexuality, religion, political philosophy...
It is recommended for a full experience that characters be 18+ as well, though under-age characters may be brought in on civilian status if their age is clearly marked.

- Respect the players.
Just as within the Amicae no character is permitted to attack another Amicae for their race/gender/religion/class, no such insults in real life will be permitted among guildmates.  Swearing is permissible, but language which has its basis in denigration or oppression of any group will invoke discipline.
Likewise, no discrimination based on account level will be tolerated.

- Respect the stories.
Invite people to play with you, but don't force your character or story on anyone if they're not cool with it. Also, agree on duel methods ahead of time out of character. Roll method is recommended.

- You are responsible for your RP.
You have agency in your RP - don't let another player dictate your story, and don't rely on another player to write you into their story for you. The guild is not responsible for your RP - you are.

- Logs are a great resource.
By typing "/log" or "/log filename" You can turn chat logs on and off in game. This means you can have a record of conversations, fights, loot, anything! These are fun to read back over when cleaned up. Additionally, if there is an issue, an unedited selection of relevant logfile can be used towards resolution.

- The RP rules are there for a reason, and they are part of the concept of the guild.
If those rules don't work for the character you want to play, maybe that character's not a good fit for the Vigiles. The intention is to have a fluid, flexible structure that many varied characters and stories can flourish in, but your freedom ends at the tip of someone else's nose.

- Remember your actions IC and OOC will reflect on the guild - treat other players with respect whether they're guild-mates or not.

- Need before greed - that goes for loot and mobs both.

- Obey the EULA.

- Have Fun!

- - -

Note on long absences -
Please let us know if you can, just so we don't worry, but no one's going to be removed for not logging on. Be aware that absence during an active story may cause other characters to move on as if your character is Missing In Action. Checking in once a week is generally advised for RP purposes, but is only required for Officers.

Officers addendum:
Yes, you are held to an even higher standard of behavior. You are a walking example. Violations of rules in an officer will be dealt with more severely. You're also asked to actively provide training, guidance, and help maintain the fun, active environment through rp and hunting events.

- - -

Vigiles Amicae exists in similar, though divergent, arcs on both Freeport and Antonia Bayle. You are welcome to participate in one or both, as it suits you.

As of 3.12, the Freeport date is 20-odd years ahead of AB, time-wise, but the plots diverged at the point of the Freeport Citadel falling.

Guild Charter, OOC

(still under construction)

The in-character concept of the Vigiles Amicae also applies to the relations between the players themselves: we're about watching each others' backs and putting the good of all ahead of the good of the one, or the few. Below, in no particular order, are the rules for player conduct within Vigiles Amicae.

- Real Life Comes First. Always, and forever.
- No drama. It's just a game, and we play to have fun. Have as much drama and intrigue as you want (and fellow players agree to!) in character, but remember real life and roleplay are separate.
- Respect the players. Just as within the Amicae no character is permitted to attack another Amicae for their race/gender/religion/class, no such insults in real life will be permitted among guildmates. Likewise, no discrimination based on account level will be tolerated.
- Respect the stories. Invite people to play with you, but don't force your character or story on anyone if they're not cool with it. Also, agree on duel methods ahead of time out of character. Roll method is recommended.
- The RP rules are there for a reason, and they are part of the concept of the guild. If those rules don't work for the character you want to play, maybe that character's not a good fit for the Vigiles. The intention is to have a fluid, flexible structure that many varied characters and stories can flourish in, but your freedom ends at the tip of someone else's nose.
- Remember your actions ic and ooc will reflect on the guild - treat other players with respect whether they're guild-mates or not.
-Need before greed - that goes for loot and mobs both.
- Obey the EULA.
- Have Fun!

Note on long absences - please let us know if you can, just so we don't worry, but no one's going to be removed for not logging on. Be aware that absence during an active story may cause other characters to move on as if your character is Missing In Action. Checking in once a week is generally advised for RP purposes, but is only required for Officers.

Officers addendum:
Yes, you are held to an even higher standard of behavior. You are a walking example. Violations of rules in an officer will be dealt with more severely. You're also asked to actively provide training, guidance, and help maintain the fun, active environment through rp and hunting events.