[Character Sheets] The Character Corner

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On Seasonal Expenses It's that time of year again! Winter will soon be upon us, and that means you'll be asked to deduct your character's seasonal expenses from his or her ledger. We hope this mini-guide will help clear up any confusion or questions you may have. Helpful links: 1. Founder Announcement - Economy and Living Expenses 2. Price List - Living Expenses 3. Q&A - Income & Expenses What Are Seasonal Expenses? Seasonal expenses are the number of mizas needed to support your PC's lifestyle. They are a cost-of-living expense which takes into account your character's general maintenance (health, home, clothing), shelter, food, and drink. These are the expenses that you may not get to write out in threads, but that rack up every season purely because your PC is alive and (hopefully) well. At the end of every season, you must subtract the cost of your character's seasonal expenses from your ledger. The Five Categories How do you determine the exact cost of expenses to deduct? There are five different levels of seasonal expenses, and each corresponds with a different lifestyle. We ask that you choose the level that either aligns with your PC's lifestyle or aligns with the specific requirements of your domain.* A description of each level has been listed below (taken directly from the Price List). Squalor - 5 gm/season (.05 gm/day) Squalor Description : The lowest form of civilized (barely) living. Includes sleeping on the streets or in the wild with little more than an overhang or tree for cover. Clothing is sack-cloth at best; usually in disrepair. Washing oneself consists of bathing in a stream or street puddle which is where drinking water would also be found. Food is either gathered, such as berries in the wild, eating garbage in a city or possible through begging or stealing. What cost is incurred from this lifestyle includes the occasional coppers one may get from begging or stealing in order to buy a bit of bred or a hunk of cheese or even the occasional sackcloth shirt or pants. Poor - 45 gm/season (.5 gm/day) Poor Description : A common lifestyle found in Mizahar, the poor are overall, much better off than those living in squalor. This form of living includes sleeping in a tent either in or on the outskirts of a city or somewhere in the wilds. It may also include renting the occasional low-end room at an inn. Bathing oneself is often done either in streams and lakes in the wilds or via occasional visits to a bathhouse. Health is still not that great but better than those in squalor. Clothing is somewhat better than that found in squalor with sackcloth, cotton or linen being most common along with fur. Food and drink is usually found in taverns or inns along with a bit of begging and/or stealing. Common - 135 gm/season (1.5 gm/day) Common Description : This form of living is one enjoyed by those possessing some form of relatively steady income. Often one owns their own home even if it is a simple one or involves somewhat regular visits to decent inns. Even those who live in a carriage or coach may fall into this lifestyle. Health is pretty good; mainly due to better food and overall living conditions. Clothing varies from linens and cotton to the occasional bit of silk and finer materials. Food and drink are purchased with mizas either from taverns and inns or from merchants operating food stalls or stores and can even come from skilled hunting and gathering in the wilds when necessary. Growing one's own food is also common. Bathing oneself is usually done in the home or through regular visits to a bathhouse. If in the wild, clean lakes or rivers may also be considered. Good - 450 gm/season (5 gm/day) Good Description : This lifestyle is one envied by many. Those of some wealth enjoy this way of life; well-to-do merchants, successful adventurers, treasure-hunters or anyone else possessing higher than average income. One almost always owns their own home or spends a lot of time in good quality inns. Food and drink are of high quality, clean with a varied diet and are either purchased, grown, or otherwise acquired from good quality venders. Clothing is usually silk, velvet or fine linens and may include rare and exotic furs and hides. Health is very good and includes access and use of healers and medicines. Bathing takes place in one's own home or in some of the finer bathhouses. Exquisite - 675 gm/season (7.5 gm/day) Exquisite Description : This is the lifestyle that most can ever hope to attain. It is the life lived by powerful merchants, racial nobility, politicians or great military leaders. One always owns their own, rather large, home and hardly ever requires use of an inn; they have fancy coaches and massive pavilion tents for that when traveling or find themselves guests of the wealthy and influential. Health is the finest with healers and medicines immediately available. Food and drink are of the finest quality and diets include rare and exotic delicacies. Clothing is nothing short of exquisite quality with some of the most expensive and rarest materials being quite common. Bathing is an amazing experience including the finest soaps and often someone else to assist in the process. *Special circumstances may apply that transcend the above cost of living expenses. This may include things gained in-thread that would affect cost of living either positively or negatively such as being granted free lodging or in the case of Nuit who do not need worry about general health. When such special circumstances are applicable, mention should be made in one's character sheet regarding it. Why Does It Matter? Seasonal expenses are designed to illustrate your character's quality of life. They show storytellers and other characters the type of lifestyle that your PC typically leads, or that he or she is currently leading. They are also designed to give you an idea of your PC's level of health. A character with Exquisite seasonal expenses will undoubtedly be in better health than characters who live a Poor lifestyle. In choosing Squalor simply because it's the least expensive, you may be doing your character a disservice by not playing him or her realistically. If your character truly does live a Squalor lifestyle, great! If not, you may want to reconsider. Remember, if you're short on funds then don't hesitate to speak to your resident Storyteller about obtaining a job for your PC. All domains offer city-specific occupations that will allow your character to earn the mizas necessary to afford certain lifestyles. You'll also find that some domains suggest a certain level of seasonal expenses for characters living in that city. Riverfall, for example, requires every citizen to pay, at minimum, the Common seasonal expense. This requirement exists because the city maintains such a high quality of life that it would be unrealistic for a PC to pay less. Zeltiva is another domain with special circumstances. Zeltivan University students have their living expenses paid for (in addition to rent-free dorm housing), as theses expenses are included in their tuition. In the rest of the city, homelessness is rare if not non-existent, which means that living in Squalor is unrealistic. A PC living in even the most basic of cottages in this city would be paying a Common expense at minimum, and PC's living in inns would likely go no less than the Poor expense. If you aren't sure if your domain has specific requirements for seasonal expenses, don't hesitate to ask the domain's storytellers! They're always happy to help sort you out. As well, if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to contact a liaison and we'll help you get sorted. As always, happy writing!

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Con-FOUNDED? Where Founders talk about stuff & we link you to it. Mizahar's lore is wonderfully extensive. You can find everything from the warfare methods of the Pycon to the preferred mount for a Charoda, but sometimes, you just want more. Maybe even a "candid, behind-the-scenes peek at your favourite race, god, or city" type of more. Luckily, Miz's Founders have already read your mind and posted some wonderful background info on a number of lores most dear to them. Below, you'll find a compiled list of links to these posts. We strongly encourage you to check them out if you're interested in entertaining & helpful reads! Races Benshira [Colombina] Mer-Badger Thoughts On Benshira - An insightful post on the Benshira, their inspiration, and Yahal (yeah, "that guy"). Ethaefal [Colombina] Mer-Badger Thoughts On Ethaefal - The Ethaefal: Mizahar's most beloved tragedy. Bina discusses her thoughts behind the creation of this race, as well as their core motivations and (of course) their flawless good looks. Jamoura [Gillar] The Jamoura - This noble race was created with a focus on the themes of knowledge and wisdom. A great piece on their origins, core traits, and how they have little to fear from the likes of you (and mean that in the best way possible). Symenestra [Colombina] Sym Venom - An informative and hilarious treatise on Symenestra venom. What it is, what it does, and where it comes from! Zith [Gillar] The Zith - A great post on the reasons why the Zith-next-door probably won't be making your guest list anytime soon. Gillar writes on their motivations, their primitive culture, and their practice of slavery. Gods & Goddesses Gnora [Colombina] Mer-Badger Thoughts On Gnora - Gnora, goddess of balance, order, and logic. AKA. "a henchman of equality." In this post, Bina addresses what makes Gnora tick, and dives into a riveting discussion on the Ano Cult and Gnora's gnosis along the way. Krysus [Gillar] Krysus - Who is this mad goddess, and how did she become so sadistic? Gillar also discusses how Krysus decides who to grant a gnosis mark to. The Mortanis - On Krysus' elite group of assassin's, and why becoming an assassin may not be for everyone. Rhysol [Gillar] Rhysol - Gillar discusses the god everyone loves to hate. A brilliant discussion on Rhysol's motivations, followers, and ethics. Cities Ravok [Gillar] The Black Sun & The Ebonstryfe - An intriguing piece on the differences between the two most powerful organizations in Ravok, and why they aren't evil in the ways you might expect. Ravok - Gillar provides the reader with a fascinating first-hand account of how an individual might experience the beautiful city of Ravok. The Voice - On Gillar's inspiration behind The Voice, and the question that's really on everyone's mind: what kind of person could love a god like Rhysol? Please note that this is an ongoing list and is subject to change the more Mizahar's Founders talk about stuff.

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International Census: Winter 512 The International Census for Winter 512 is out! 1st Place: Human, Human (Mixed) (1381) 30% 2nd Place: Kelvic (741) 16% 3rd Place: Inarta (277) 6% 4th Place: Mixed Bloods (246) 5% 5th Place: Konti (215) 5% 6th Place: Drykas (203) 4% 7th Place: Vantha (174) 4% 8th Place: Ethaefal (119) 3% 9th Place: Symenestra (117) 3% 10th Place (Tie): Ghost (106) 2% 10th Place (Tie): Dhani (106) 2% 11th Place: Benshira (97) 2% 12th Place (Tie): Nuit (96) 2% 12th Place (Tie): Svefra (96) 2% 13th Place: Zith (89) 2% 14th Place: Akalak (88) 2% 15th Place: Isur (82) 2% 16th Place: Chaktawe (66) 1% 17th Place: Pycon (61) 1% 18th Place: Myrian (60) 1% 19th Place: Eypharian (56) 1% 20th Place (Tie):Charoda (55) 1% 20th Place (Tie):Jamoura (55) 1% 21st Place: Akvatari (27) <1% Total: 4613 Changes from Fall 512: Dhani numbers increased to tie with Ghost. Benshira passed Nuit. Svefra numbers increased to tie with Nuit. Zith passed Akalak. Pycon passed Myrian. Eypharian passed Jamoura and Charoda. Jamoura numbers increased to tie with Charoda.

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Character Development Prompt iv. Our prompt for today is all about ethics and morality: Where does your character sit on the ethical spectrum? What type of ethical person is he or she, and why? What are the primary values that guide your character's actions? Bonus: Write a thread where your character has to make a decision that conflicts with his/her values or ethics. If you'd like to post your answer publicly, feel free to answer these questions in your Character Sheet, in your Plotnotes, in a Scrapbook post, or even in your character's Journal. Double bonus points if you post your answers to Gossamer's ethics exercise straight to the discussion thread. If you enjoyed this prompt, stay tuned for more coming in the near future! As well, if you have suggestions for future prompts, please don't hesitate to PM myself or the other liaisons. We'd love to hear 'em. And remember, we also offer Character Development Questions to further inspire you. As always, happy writing!

[Kraken]

At A Glance: Character Sheet Checklist This suggested checklist is meant to help you keep track of the various links you might want to read before creating your character, as well as the actual requirements of a character sheet! We hope it helps. Before getting started, did you read the… Rules Terms of Use Things You Need To Know Character Sheet Explanation Starting Guide Starting Package Before choosing your character, did you read about the… Races Cities Skills Gods & Goddesses Magic On your character sheet, did you include your character's… Name? Race? Gender? Age? Birthday? Appearance? Concept? (Optional, but recommended) History? (Optional, but recommended) Starting Skills? Racial Bonus Skill? Lores (2)? Languages? Heirloom (see: Price List)? Starting Possessions? Housing? Ledger? After creating your character sheet, did you… Submit it for review? Post in your starting city's entrance thread? Post in your starting city's OOC thread? Look for someone to write with in the Matchmaking Forum? Create or join your first thread? As always, happy writing!