Biography Format and Guidelines

[Jagen Sedai]

This post shows the format we are asking all character biographies to be in. This is so we can keep information clear and organized among many writers, and anyone can come quickly reference your bio when needed.

 

Please read the reply post below this main one for further guidelines before submitting a biography.

 

Biographies, as well as RP in general, are required to be written in the third-person point of view/ perspective. In other words, no "I" or "you"s that would be found in first-person.

• Third-person written sentence example:
  • "Jagen embraced the One Power and lifted her hands as she began a weave."
  • A first-person PoV would read like this: "I embraced the One Power and lifted my hands as I began a weave." This is what we want to avoid, as popular fantasy series including the Wheel of Time are written in third-person perspective, with character internal thoughts written in first-person.

 

Biographies must also contain proper punctuation and spelling to the best of your ability. Internet slang, abbreviations, constant run-on sentences, etc. will result in your bio failing to be approved.

 

Characters cannot be named after major characters in the series, but you may possibly chose a more minor character name to use. Please ask upon submitting a biography.

 

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Title of Thread:

Organization - Character Full Name - Specific Group and/or (Rank) (if Applicable)

 

Organization will be what group (out of three) your character falls under generally:

• The White Tower - For all Aes Sedai, Accepted, novice, and Warder characters.
• The Freelanders - This is our most diverse group in that it covers all normal folk (townspeople, innkeepers, etc) as well as the following Specific Groups, of which you should always list one:
  • Children of the Light
  • Seanchan
  • Aiel
  • Tuatha'an (The Traveling People)
  • Atha'an Miere (Sea Folk)
  • Wolfkin
  • Westlander (This is for any character who lives in the Westlands as we know them who does not fall under the other groups).
• The Shadow - Those freelander members who are Darkfriends will conduct all nefarious planning in the Shadow.
  • If you are a Shadow character, please also list your Specific Group as listed above.

 

Some Bio Title examples:

• White Tower - Theodrin Mercean - Aes Sedai
• Freelanders - Setale Anin - Westlander (Innkeeper)
• Freelanders - Linyn Kiumo - Seanchan (So'jhin)
• Shadow - Uriel Septim - Westlander (Assassin Trainee)

 

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Name:

[Full Character Name]
Age:

[Age in the current timeline / Character's current age]
Place of birth:

[City/Town, Country. If you don't have a small town name, you can make one up or list a general geographical reference; i.e., "southern Arad Doman." City and country names, as well as facts, are found in our Geography Information Thread.]

 

Physical Description:[A full physical description so we know what your character looks like.]

 

Personality:

[Your character's personality. "A character’s personality is more than just a list of traits; it’s a complex web of interrelated characteristics that determines how a character thinks and operates, as well as how they perceive and interact with the world around them." (quoting the author Kristen Kieffer) Here you can also add things like hobbies and idiosyncrasies.]

 

Character History:

[This is when your character was younger and what lead them to where they are today.]

 

Character Reputation

[This is applicable to characters who have been in any area for a certain amount of time, ranging from between a month to many years. How is your character perceived by others? What rumors might others have heard about them? Are there past incidences your character might be known for? (i.e., your character might be known for how they like to dance all day or night at festivities, or for their pickiness about clothing or other such behaviors).]

 

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When biographies are approved, you'll get a reply saying so and the bio will be locked to prevent further edits.

 

After you begin to RP, you can start a Character Development Thread, titled as such:

 

Character Development Thread: [Character Full Name] [Organization/Group]

Edited December 18, 2021 by Jagen Sedai

[Jagen Sedai]

Role-playing Rules and World Cannon to Keep in Mind for Biographies

• To role-play and post on the In-Character boards, you must create a character by making a biography for them and submitting it on the biography board. Only after your character is approved may you begin role-playing.

 

• You can ask to play a full rank Aes Sedai or Warder only if you have read the books up to finishing, or past The Great Hunt, and/or have previously RPed full-rank characters at DM. The reason for this is because people who play full rank characters must have a basic understanding of the Wheel of Time universe and its idiosyncrasies, as well as the White Tower (our most popular in-character group), and a fair grasp of both is obtained by the end of book two. Otherwise, you must go through a character apprenticeship period. [This rule may change before RP is opened.]

 

• Characters in positions of great power will, at this time, not be allowed; for example, Princes/Princesses/Heirs/Heiresses, Queens/Kings, Panarchs, Sitters in the Hall or Ajah Heads, warrior society leaders (Aiel), Wavemistresses or Windfinders to Wavemistresses and above ranks (Sea Folk); officers or anyone above a file leader of the Children of the Light. Such positions will be taken by NPCs and TTPCs (see below for abbreviations and acronyms).
  • Aiel Wise Ones are allowed, but should start out as apprentices. If you want to play a full rank Wise One, please make the case for it. You should have at least read through to the end of book four (The Shadow Rising) to play a Wise One.

 

• All roleplay is conducted in third-person point-of-view. Please look this up if you do not know the difference between first-person and third-person POV. (WoT, LotR, and Harry Potter are all examples of books written in third person perspective).

 

• Please know that some nationalities' physical attributes are limited by their race; for example, Atha'an Miere are all dark of skin with black hair ("darker than Tairens") while Aiel all have either red, blonde, dirty blonde hair and blue, green or gray eyes, and are taller than other people in the world, Cairheinins are short and pale, etc. This information will also be included in our geography section.

  • Characters who have a parent from two different countries and therefore come from two different cultures are welcome, within the "realistic" confines of the WoT universe, and your physical appearance can reflect this. In other words, someone having a parent from Arafel and another from Arad Doman is realistic, whereas a half Aiel character would not be accepted.
  • Characters from Shara are not allowed.
  • Seanchan characters must be in Seanchan until the Forerunners arrive.
  • Sea Folk characters who leave their ships lose the rights to all earned ranks and are treated more lowly than deckhands by their own people as a result.
  • Children of the Light can come from any country in the Westlands, as can Aes Sedai and Warders. Sea Folk Aes Sedai will be extremely limited due to being so rare. Aiel cannot become Aes Sedai and non-Aiel cannot become Wise Ones. Non Sea Folk cannot join Sea Folk ships in any capacity.

 

• Scores for One Power use will be randomly assigned to each character you make. That said, minimum scores will not go below a certain number for certain ranks. For example, Aes Sedai must have a OP score of at least 45(33) to even be tested for the shawl; thus, no Aes Sedai will be below this number.
  • OP Scores can be increased through certain types of RP; i.e., writing out your Aes Sedai's three-arches test and test for the shawl would each give a boost. If you begin as a novice or Accepted, this still applies. Certain types of RP for male/Aiel/Sea Folk/Seanchan channelers will be accepted as well.
  • Weapons Scores and Dreamwalking Scores will be based on RP and can be increased through various RP.
• Scores for weapons have their own guidelines and can be viewed here.
• Scores for dreamwalking are TBD.

Edited October 19, 2022 by Jagen Sedai