First and foremost House Cernus is a story line. The purpose of this story line is two fold. It is to give you a back drop for the personal growth of your character and to provide a avenue of interaction with other players in a Gorean Setting. We rely heavily upon the books for the guidelines of what we term legitimate role-play. This does not mean we frown upon creativity we simply insist it remain within the frame work of the works of John Norman over the 26 books of Gor. Below you will find more specific guidelines that may be changed as time and need arise.
OOC
1) Know your role. Man or woman know the role of that character within Gorean society. Know the Caste you have chosen and portray it correctly.
2) Understand that you do not know everything and be open to learning and instruction. We all learn and grow as players just as our characters experience 'growth' through play.
3) The House is situated in Ar. Couching laws are enforced. Period.
4) Though slaves ARE property on Gor and they can be killed without any real reason do not do so lightly in the RP. Cernus is a slaving house and that is throwing money away. Not to say it won't or can't happen. It would not be done as a first reaction.
5) Respect the other muns in the story line free AND slave. Slave muns portray slaves online. Just because your character owns the slave online does not mean you own the mun in real life. Do NOT try to push slave muns into revealing of personal and private information -- such, if found out, will result in expulsion from the story line. If there is further harassment, then other measures can, and will, be taken.
6) This story line has several 'leaders'...no one specific in charge. If you have ideas to enhance role play or issues arrising -- contact Zia, and Hazen.
7) A story line is only so good as the effort you are willing to put into it. It requires time. We do not expect this to be like a job but we do expect reasonable effort. If you are not going to be online often do NOT collar slaves.
8) Slaver players. You are of the Slavers Caste, not the Theives Caste. Slavers DO NOT steal slaves.
9) We need to try to keep the web page updated. If something needs to be changed, such as a new member of the house, a member left, or a slave was sold, please don't hesitate to contact Zia, and Hazen
10) The "House Tag" is HCGor. Please have it somewhere in your profile.
Free Persons
IC1) Every slave is subject to the punishment of any free person.
2) Reserved slaves should be belted, other wise they are available for use.
3) Slavers: Female slaves brought to be on the House coffle MUST and WILL be branded and collared with a chain and plate collar which reads "I belong to House Cernus." Once they have been reviewed their collars will be changed to locked steel, enameled red or white to reveal their status. Male slaves MUST and WILL be branded and "collared" with a locked or hammered band of steel about their left bicep. This, too, will read "I belong to House Cernus."
4) You break/maim/kill it, you pay for it.
Slaves 1) You chose to make a Gorean slave. Deal with the fact your character will be treated as such. Slaves by Gorean law were the same as animals and in a Slaving hous coddling is less likely than anywhere else on Gor. If you cannot deal with that this is not the storyline for you.
OOC
2) Thought role-play is never acceptable. If your character cannot say it do not think it and if you do think it remember body language is quite revealing. Slavers are Masters of reading body language as that is a tool in the training of their inventory, slaves, so if you think it it will be acted upon in some way.
3) Use of the mail string for OOC bashing of muns -- free or slave -- will not be tolerated.
4) OOC is OOC. IC is IC. Do not confuse the two and do not whine OOC about the treatment of your character IC. It will accomplish nothing but annoy those you whine to. IF you feel the play is not Gorean then that is the time to speak up. Keep in mind those playing the Slavers in this storyline have researched the parts well and know what is, and is not, according to the books. If you think we are wrong we will listen but if we can prove we are right that ends the discussion at that point.
5) Slaves can and will be killed if the situation warrents it. Slavers did not like to do it but they would on occassion. Striking free people, biting, touching weapons, such behavior is quite likely to be met with death or worse and trust the fact there is worse that can and will be role-played.
6) You gain out of a storyline what you put into it. While we accept the fact that real life comes first we also expect you will make an effort to play your character and develope him or her. This cannot be done with interaction. If you are only here to RP with one person we do not need you. It is the interaction with all of the storyline that will shape not only your own character but other characters and the storyline as a whole. Participate. Ideas are welcome at ALL times.
7) While slaves did fight and get jealous and petty IC -- that will NOT extend to OOC. You will be respectful to other slave muns and free muns at all times. We are adults and will treat each other accordingly.
8) No slave roams without an escort. The escort is there to prevent your theft. If you have a character that is allowed beyond the house then you WILL NPC the escort correctly. Otherwise you make the house seem incompetent and that will not be tolerated in our role-play, period. If you are unhappy with the storyline then we will discuss that but do not act in a way that could not feasably have happened. It is poor role-play, it is immature, and it is down right annoying. It will also lead to you as a mun no longer being welcome in the storyline. We will not seek to steal the slave back.
9) Slaves on Gor feared free women and did not antagonise them. Antagonise the women of the house at the risk of your character. This is a book storyline. The women WILL be mean, they will look for reasons to beat the slaves and they WILL occassionally do so without a reason. Why? They are free and they can.
10) Male slaves, don't expect to be coddled and loved by the kajirae. More often than not, the females taunted and teased the males. Though, remember, in any animal species -- and slaves are considered animals -- the male is the dominant. Don't whine if your character keeps being harassed. Show his dominance IC and the "problem" will be dealt with IC. Oh, and females? Don't be surprised should your character be tossed to one of the kajiri for harassing them.
11) The "House Tag" is HCGor. Please have it somewhere in your profile.
This SL is a chance for your character to experience real growth and learning IC. It is not all warm and fuzzy role-play. It will at times be intense, it will at times be harsh, it will at times be frustrating but remember the bulk of personal growth in real life happens in difficult and turbulant times. The same can be said of our character's as well. If you can keep the IC IC and not take it to mean you are not liked OOC you may well find this an enjoyable storyline. Otherwise, please keep in mind we are not here to force anyone to role-playwith us and if you are unhappy we will find a plausable IC out for you. Do not take matters into your own hand. Give us that much respect.
OOC
2) By decree and order of Hazen: all slaves are to eat their rations for the morning, afternoon and evening. If they do not want to eat it, then it will be forced into their system by way of feeding tube and they will be watched to ensure that they do not vomit it up. Any slave caught purging their food will be subject to punishment. There are too many underweight slaves. This will end, now.
OOC
1) We will promote an example of good, book role-play to the rest of AOL Gor.
2) We will respect one another -- large storyline decisions will NOT be made without the input of the other free muns.
3) We will put forth the effort to be here, to role-play with ALL the slaves be they personal or house, to be sold or kept...they are here for RP we are here to role-play. Let's work it.
4) Compromise is often required, it works -- don't be afraid to do it. Egos can at times get in the way and destroy storylines. This is storyline is for very personal reasons very important to me. I will be a very, very unhappy mun if it goes down the tubes.
5) If the slaves are not in the room -- it is not amiss to IM them with a link to get them INTO the room. No mun is a mind reader -- so don't expect them to be.
6) The number of slaves in the house will never exceed the time ability of the free muns to RP with them. Let's not get collar happy folks. Quality over quanitity any day.
I expect respect, maturity, cooperation, communication from each of you to the others and myself. I expect to be included in decisions that affect the flow of the SL and to include others. decisions made may not in the end make everyone happy but they will at least have a voice in them. I expect that Slavers WILL train slaves -- not only spend time with their own slaves but ALL the slaves of the house as their online time permits. It is the job of a Slaver to do that -- and it should be role-played.