Hello and welcome to the Temple!
This topic functions as a quick point-of-call for any of you would-be Temple members. It gives you all kinds of useful (and probably useless) information. And yes, it's mostly a guide for the newbie-newbies.
[1] - Your Guild Crew
[2] - Where To Start
[3] - FAQ
[4] - General Rules
[1] First up, some introductions: (The avatar pictures refresh about once a day or so)
This guy is me, Niccolo Salomanos. I'm the current captain of the guild. Call me Nick, Captain, Cap'n or Sir. Not Admiral. That makes no sense. I'm also one of the teachers here at the guild - I teach basic, intermediate and advanced psionics. I may look like a softy, and indeed I can be; I don't like being a harsh master. I love a good joke and humour or wit is a positive trait in my book.
But don't let that make you think I'm a pushover. Once you push me past my limit, I can and will act with impunity and without mercy. Everyone you see around you in this guild is under my protection.
And this girl is Tsume Rokaro, your vice-captain. She responds to her previous username karasureign, Tsume, Rokaro, or most variations of those... or First Mate Tsu, to abuse the ongoing nautical in-joke. She's normally good natured, playful growls not withstanding. She can teach you a fair amount about therianism and, like us other two, knows a smattering of most other topics.
Dynamite comes in small packages, though. Wolves are loyal and Tsu is no exception. If you raise hell here, don't come running to me when Tsume Rokaro decides to go for your throat.
This is Rowan_Wulfram, also known as Rowan or even Ro. She's your local mod and the author of a few of the lessons in the Study. Ro can teach you a fair bit about psionics and therianism.'
She is every bit a wolf as Tsume is. A loyal wolf is a friend and a guardian for life, but God help you if you break that loyalty, 'cause she sure won't.
One of us is generally either online or will be within a couple hours. If you have questions, complaints, advice, etcetera, come to one of us.
Before you ask, yes, we're brother and sisters. No, this is not nepotism.
[2] Where To Start:
It all depends on what you're interested in.
If you want to learn psionics, click on this pretty link: Starting Psionics
If magic(k) is more your thing, go here first: Before You Make Spells
Then here: Writing Spells
The Library has assorted other lessons in it, all in no particular order. I'll get round to ordering it someday (and somehow) but at the moment, it's all a bit jumbled.
[3] The Questions I've Answered a Million Times:
1: What's this guild about?
We teach and we learn. If you're in some way interested in the paranormal stuff, you belong here. You'll learn stuff and you'll teach others.
2: What if we're a fluffy?
Well, we'll fix that, won't we? As much as I don't particularly like fluffies, we'll have to deal with them. Magic and psionics are very real forces here; if you're going to hurt yourself believing it's all cute and innocent... well, you're here to learn, aren't you?
3: What IS a fluffy?
A fluffy is a New-Ager who believes... well, fluff. Whether you believe magic requires mystic chanting in latin ( It doesnt) or you believe that your insignificant tiny power can bind ages-old Fae and demons to your will (You probably cant) you're covered.
4: Can I start a thread on the same topic as one in the archives?
Of course! Archived threads are simply for archiving purposes; banks of information for people to refer to. As it becomes outdated we'll ditch the old threads and replace it with shiny new ones.
Moral of the story? Go right ahead! As long as there's not a similar thread already active, you're welcome to start a new one.
5: Can I write a lesson?
Hell yes! Normally people write lessons when the demand for a particular lesson is noticed, but go ahead.
6: How strict are you and your mods?
Very. One step out of line and we ban you.
I kid. Look, we're pretty easy-going. Keep the ridiculing to a minimum - a little good-natured joshing is acceptable - and you'll be fine. Just be nice. Remember, this place is a sanctuary from mocking.
7: So how DO we get banned?
Simple. Piss one of us off three times. Everyone is on a three-strike deal. First time, we tell you to pull your head in and be nice. Second time, you get a nicely worded PM listing how to be a better person here. Third time in a week or two and you get the boot. Then everyone laughs at you.
The best way to get banned is to break the very simple rules which are listed below. The second-best way is to directly piss me off, since I control the ban-hammer. This includes anything and everything that is involved in being a n00b (Click here for a definition) or posting obtuse, pointless and stupid answers. This includes answers that are roundabout and don't actually tell us anything, answers that are cryptic for the Goddamned hell of it, and answers that make me be unnecessarily sarcastic at you.
8: What do we do if we see a problem?
Well, we're the mods. But that doesn't mean you can't raise your voice. We want to foster a community here, which means the senior members of this community should be listened to.
If you see a problem, feel free to butt in. Politely. If you don't feel comfortable, drop us a PM. You can CC it to all of us if it's that worrying, we don't mind. We're not here for you to be scared of; we're just the older sibling you come running to when the four-year-old is playing with matches.
9: Can we invite others?
Sure, why not? You can't actually send invites, but you're welcome to advertise us. We'll have banners for you at some point, I think. Or you can tell me who to invite and I'll send them one.
10: Can I have your babies?
No.
11: Why not?
Because I said so. And that's weird. Who asks that, anyway? Come to think of it, what's it even doing here?
12: What about if we're a girl, though?
...
Well, I'm not going to have a kid with another guy, so I'm assuming that a guy is not going to be asking me that.
The answer is still no, no, no, no, good gravy NO.
Weirdo.
[4] How to Behave Here:
Before you read on, I should point out one thing: following these rules is easy. They're just printed here, plain as day, so that if someone does something wrong I can say "Please don't do that again, it says so here."
If you act like a normal, sane person and treat others as you want to be treated, you'll do fine.
If you understand that, then skip to the FAQ. Otherwise look below for some specific clarification.
1: Obey the Gaia ToS
Yeah yeah, standard stuff.
2: Constructive criticism is good
You remember in third grade how you said something that was blatantly wrong (although you didn't know that at the time) and everyone laughed at you and called you stupid? Nobody here likes being made to feel like an idiot.
3: You have power, use it properly
This is a rule unique to paranormal guilds. You have come here to learn something, and that something may involve gaining the power to cause tremendous harm. I'm not even being funny here: you can hurt someone easily. If I find you abusing that, I will come down on you like a tonne of bricks.
I am the captain of this guild, which means I am effectively accountable for your physical, mental, astral and psionic wellbeing while you are a member of this guild... and I take my responsibilities as a protector very seriously. If you hurt one of my charges, there will be no mercy. Unless, you know, they seriously deserve it.
This rule has a few corollaries:
- Experiments should be conducted upon willing participants
- People's minds are sacred ground
- Normal people are no less than you
- You are welcome to protect yourself and others
4: If you're a vampire, there's no need to tell us if you don't want to. But we are not your unwilling foodbanks either
Psi-vampires and emotional vampires can feed over a long distance. But and however, we are not batteries for you to gorge yourself upon without our permission. Many of us may well have safeguards in place that'll hurt you if you try.
5: Your soul may have been in a different body, or you may have the power to do amazing things, but you are still a human
This is pretty self-explanatory. You may have a therian or an otherkin soul. Maybe you can walk the astral plane as easily as you breathe. Maybe you converse daily with fae, angels, demons, what have you.
But you still live, breathe, eat, sleep and (eventually) copulate as a human being. Just like everyone else here. Expect to be treated as a human.
Really, this is to discourage arrogance. I've met some really arrogant people and I have decided to not tolerate them in the Temple. They're no fun to talk to, never letting you forget how much better than you they are.
If you have no desire to be a team player, don't expect to be welcomed in these halls. I have no qualms about getting rid of people who refuse to be nice.
This topic functions as a quick point-of-call for any of you would-be Temple members. It gives you all kinds of useful (and probably useless) information. And yes, it's mostly a guide for the newbie-newbies.
[1] - Your Guild Crew
[2] - Where To Start
[3] - FAQ
[4] - General Rules
[1] First up, some introductions: (The avatar pictures refresh about once a day or so)
This guy is me, Niccolo Salomanos. I'm the current captain of the guild. Call me Nick, Captain, Cap'n or Sir. Not Admiral. That makes no sense. I'm also one of the teachers here at the guild - I teach basic, intermediate and advanced psionics. I may look like a softy, and indeed I can be; I don't like being a harsh master. I love a good joke and humour or wit is a positive trait in my book.
But don't let that make you think I'm a pushover. Once you push me past my limit, I can and will act with impunity and without mercy. Everyone you see around you in this guild is under my protection.
And this girl is Tsume Rokaro, your vice-captain. She responds to her previous username karasureign, Tsume, Rokaro, or most variations of those... or First Mate Tsu, to abuse the ongoing nautical in-joke. She's normally good natured, playful growls not withstanding. She can teach you a fair amount about therianism and, like us other two, knows a smattering of most other topics.
Dynamite comes in small packages, though. Wolves are loyal and Tsu is no exception. If you raise hell here, don't come running to me when Tsume Rokaro decides to go for your throat.
This is Rowan_Wulfram, also known as Rowan or even Ro. She's your local mod and the author of a few of the lessons in the Study. Ro can teach you a fair bit about psionics and therianism.'
She is every bit a wolf as Tsume is. A loyal wolf is a friend and a guardian for life, but God help you if you break that loyalty, 'cause she sure won't.
One of us is generally either online or will be within a couple hours. If you have questions, complaints, advice, etcetera, come to one of us.
Before you ask, yes, we're brother and sisters. No, this is not nepotism.
[2] Where To Start:
It all depends on what you're interested in.
If you want to learn psionics, click on this pretty link: Starting Psionics
If magic(k) is more your thing, go here first: Before You Make Spells
Then here: Writing Spells
The Library has assorted other lessons in it, all in no particular order. I'll get round to ordering it someday (and somehow) but at the moment, it's all a bit jumbled.
[3] The Questions I've Answered a Million Times:
1: What's this guild about?
We teach and we learn. If you're in some way interested in the paranormal stuff, you belong here. You'll learn stuff and you'll teach others.
2: What if we're a fluffy?
Well, we'll fix that, won't we? As much as I don't particularly like fluffies, we'll have to deal with them. Magic and psionics are very real forces here; if you're going to hurt yourself believing it's all cute and innocent... well, you're here to learn, aren't you?
3: What IS a fluffy?
A fluffy is a New-Ager who believes... well, fluff. Whether you believe magic requires mystic chanting in latin ( It doesnt) or you believe that your insignificant tiny power can bind ages-old Fae and demons to your will (You probably cant) you're covered.
4: Can I start a thread on the same topic as one in the archives?
Of course! Archived threads are simply for archiving purposes; banks of information for people to refer to. As it becomes outdated we'll ditch the old threads and replace it with shiny new ones.
Moral of the story? Go right ahead! As long as there's not a similar thread already active, you're welcome to start a new one.
5: Can I write a lesson?
Hell yes! Normally people write lessons when the demand for a particular lesson is noticed, but go ahead.
6: How strict are you and your mods?
Very. One step out of line and we ban you.
I kid. Look, we're pretty easy-going. Keep the ridiculing to a minimum - a little good-natured joshing is acceptable - and you'll be fine. Just be nice. Remember, this place is a sanctuary from mocking.
7: So how DO we get banned?
Simple. Piss one of us off three times. Everyone is on a three-strike deal. First time, we tell you to pull your head in and be nice. Second time, you get a nicely worded PM listing how to be a better person here. Third time in a week or two and you get the boot. Then everyone laughs at you.
The best way to get banned is to break the very simple rules which are listed below. The second-best way is to directly piss me off, since I control the ban-hammer. This includes anything and everything that is involved in being a n00b (Click here for a definition) or posting obtuse, pointless and stupid answers. This includes answers that are roundabout and don't actually tell us anything, answers that are cryptic for the Goddamned hell of it, and answers that make me be unnecessarily sarcastic at you.
8: What do we do if we see a problem?
Well, we're the mods. But that doesn't mean you can't raise your voice. We want to foster a community here, which means the senior members of this community should be listened to.
If you see a problem, feel free to butt in. Politely. If you don't feel comfortable, drop us a PM. You can CC it to all of us if it's that worrying, we don't mind. We're not here for you to be scared of; we're just the older sibling you come running to when the four-year-old is playing with matches.
9: Can we invite others?
Sure, why not? You can't actually send invites, but you're welcome to advertise us. We'll have banners for you at some point, I think. Or you can tell me who to invite and I'll send them one.
10: Can I have your babies?
No.
11: Why not?
Because I said so. And that's weird. Who asks that, anyway? Come to think of it, what's it even doing here?
12: What about if we're a girl, though?
...
Well, I'm not going to have a kid with another guy, so I'm assuming that a guy is not going to be asking me that.
The answer is still no, no, no, no, good gravy NO.
Weirdo.
[4] How to Behave Here:
Before you read on, I should point out one thing: following these rules is easy. They're just printed here, plain as day, so that if someone does something wrong I can say "Please don't do that again, it says so here."
If you act like a normal, sane person and treat others as you want to be treated, you'll do fine.
If you understand that, then skip to the FAQ. Otherwise look below for some specific clarification.
1: Obey the Gaia ToS
Yeah yeah, standard stuff.
2: Constructive criticism is good
You remember in third grade how you said something that was blatantly wrong (although you didn't know that at the time) and everyone laughed at you and called you stupid? Nobody here likes being made to feel like an idiot.
3: You have power, use it properly
This is a rule unique to paranormal guilds. You have come here to learn something, and that something may involve gaining the power to cause tremendous harm. I'm not even being funny here: you can hurt someone easily. If I find you abusing that, I will come down on you like a tonne of bricks.
I am the captain of this guild, which means I am effectively accountable for your physical, mental, astral and psionic wellbeing while you are a member of this guild... and I take my responsibilities as a protector very seriously. If you hurt one of my charges, there will be no mercy. Unless, you know, they seriously deserve it.
This rule has a few corollaries:
- Experiments should be conducted upon willing participants
- People's minds are sacred ground
- Normal people are no less than you
- You are welcome to protect yourself and others
4: If you're a vampire, there's no need to tell us if you don't want to. But we are not your unwilling foodbanks either
Psi-vampires and emotional vampires can feed over a long distance. But and however, we are not batteries for you to gorge yourself upon without our permission. Many of us may well have safeguards in place that'll hurt you if you try.
5: Your soul may have been in a different body, or you may have the power to do amazing things, but you are still a human
This is pretty self-explanatory. You may have a therian or an otherkin soul. Maybe you can walk the astral plane as easily as you breathe. Maybe you converse daily with fae, angels, demons, what have you.
But you still live, breathe, eat, sleep and (eventually) copulate as a human being. Just like everyone else here. Expect to be treated as a human.
Really, this is to discourage arrogance. I've met some really arrogant people and I have decided to not tolerate them in the Temple. They're no fun to talk to, never letting you forget how much better than you they are.
If you have no desire to be a team player, don't expect to be welcomed in these halls. I have no qualms about getting rid of people who refuse to be nice.
