It's natural to wish to play a powerful character. To some extent, it's possible to fulfil this wish by careful maneuvering within the politics of the game, or by gaining skills and abilities directly; however, certain forms of power are rooted in a character's concept. A character not created as the jarl of a human city or the matriarch of a mysrra band is unlikely to become one.
These roles are thematically sensitive, however, and represent an unearned advantage over other players. For this reason, they require approval, and such approval is not granted lightly. Despite the name of this file, incidentally, such character concepts need not be hereditary nobility; a member of a council of elders or the commander of a military force can have as much power as a major feudal lord, and the requirement for approval is just as strict.
Characters with extraordinary authority must be approved by the staff before that character enters the IC world.
Anyone playing such a character is also expected to have a good grasp of regional theme, and generally to serve as a good example of roleplaying to less privileged characters. Approval may be revoked at any time. Characters claiming extraordinary authority without approval may be deleted; additional punishment for breaking this rule is at the discretion of the creator handling the case.
Some additional details:
- Authority need not be overt. Advisors to royalty, or junior members of noble houses, nonetheless have enough implied power that they require approval. This is true even for characters estranged from noble relatives, in disgrace, etc.
- Characters with authority only over other player characters are exempt from this rule. This includes the leaders of player-operated merchant houses, mercenary groups, mysrra prides, and so forth.
- Characters not claiming lawful authority, likewise, are exempt from this rule. Regardless of other circumstances, however, characters of elevated birth possess some lawful authority.
- The staff is not obliged to provide powerful characters with areas, props, RP events, or other products of development, with or without approval.
- Characters with extraordinary authority may be rejected for any reason. Rejections are not subject to appeal.
- Extreme authority, such as membership in a royal house, will never be granted under ordinary circumstances.