New Member Guide
From Portalstones.com
Contents |
Portalstones Site
Portalstones is mainly a site for Roleplaying/Writing. Currently, all of our Roleplaying is set in the world of Robert Jordan`s fantasy series The Wheel of Time. However, we are beginning to develop our own, original world everyone is welcome to share. The beginning of world development is ongoing here. You are welcome to join the discussion and help us shape the new world. We hope we will be able to start RPing in Vaerra around New Year`s Eve.
Site Map
Social
This section is meant for talking to each other out of character. The Meeting Place (aka Tavern) is where we post everything from birthday wishes for other Portalstones members to suggestions for a thread. The Art Gallery is meant for any art that isn`t related to the Wheel of Time or Vaerra. And last but not least we have our chat room (Live Chat), a colorful place to talk about almost anything, where the cat may be your host and the statues along the wall talk back at 3am.
Vaerra
This section contains links to everything related to Vaerra, our own, original world; currently it`s mainly the Discussion.
Wheel of Time
As you can probably guess, here`s everything that has to do with WoT.
You can start or join Discussions about the books.
The Bio Critique forum is where people go to post new character ideas and get feedback on the idea and their writing.
Stories is where all WoT roleplay happens. Tales are short or small stories. Sagas have more people involved, and usually have several threads - sometimes each thread follows a different plot, and sometimes separate threads are used for the beginning, middle, and end. An Epic is a super-Saga, requiring participation from leaders of several groups like the White Tower, Aiel, Black Tower, Seanchan, and Shadowsworn. Epics become major events in history, affecting many characters and being mentioned in stories and bios for years afterward. We have not held an Epic yet, but you will certainly hear about it when one comes.
Factions forums are places you can go to meet and plot with other people who have characters in the same groups as you do.
What do I need to do to join?
Just fill out our registration form. Please pay attention to the site rules that will be shown to you. After you have registered, you will be able to post on our forums.
Anyone who would like to talk to us is welcome to use the Tavern or the Web Chat. Please do not be offended if you enter the Chat and you're not greeted right away. There are always people online, but they are not always paying attention to the chat. Some times are more active than others: people usually stop in to talk in the evenings, US time.
Anyone who would like to add to Vaerra, the original world being made at Portalstones is welcome to join and post in the world Discussion. It helps if you are a fantasy fan and have read some different series, so you know what else is out there and what interests you. Do keep in mind that we are building the world by discussion and persuasion; not all ideas will make it into the final form of the world.
For the Wheel of Time section, it helps if you’ve read at least some of the Wheel of Time series. The first Wheel of Time book is The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan. We recommend finishing it before beginning to roleplay in our Wheel of Time stories. The more you read of the novels, the more little references you will understand throughout the Wheel of Time.
What are the rules?
You agree to some of the rules – our Terms of Service – when you register. Breaking any of those Terms can lead to being banned from the site. There is also a Code of Conduct, which covers how to get along well with other people. If you break the Code, you will probably be contacted by a moderator who will explain your mistake (and may ask you to help fix it). If a moderator or administrator warns you about your behavior or asks you to correct an offense, you are expected to cooperate. Disregarding warnings may lead to your posts being edited or deleted, or sometimes even a ban.
Where do I go first?
We suggest the Tavern - introduce yourself, let people know there’s someone new in the house and get to know them. If you have any questions, you're welcome to post them there!
Then start thinking about your character and where you want to RP. Would you prefer the world of the Wheel of Time or our original world? Mold your character as you would like her/him. If you would like feedback on your character ideas, post a biography for your character under the world you're interested in (WoT or Vaerra).
Once you have a character, start RPing. Look around for threads you`d like to join. When you find one, send a private message to the person who started it, and ask whether that would be ok. If there are no threads that interest you, consider what you`d like and ask the Tavern whether anyone else would be interested.
WoT Roleplaying Resources, Resources for Developing Your Writing, and the Guide to Writing and Roleplaying on PortalStones are packed with information and hints to help you.
Who’s in charge?
Who runs the site? Administrators and Moderators do. You can find a list of these people here.
Who runs the stories? There is no one person who plots out all our stories. If you have a story idea, you can start your own forum thread for that story any time. Usually, the person who started the thread is in charge of that story, because it was their idea. If you want to know whether it’s okay to join, or to have something surprising happen, send them a message and ask.
Vaerra
As stated above, we`re currently developing our own world. The creation process is in progress. When final decisions have been made, a short summary will appear here.
Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is the name of the fantasy series of late Robert Jordan. There have been eleven books and one prequel so far; the twelfth and last book is scheduled for fall 2009. For names and summaries of the books, see Novels. The following is an attempt at describing what this is about without spoilers, so it won`t actually describe the storyline.
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. Each book begins with these sentences. The Wheel of Time has seven spokes, each representing one age. It turns and turns like a mill-wheel, driven by one force: the One Power, consisting of a female half, Saidar, and a male half, Saidin. Female and male, they are called for some people are born with the ability of tapping into this source. Women can touch Saidar, men can touch Saidin. Using the One Power, they can manipulate the five elements Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Spirit. Yet powerful though they are, they are still human, torn between Light and Shadow, good and evil.
The books are set about three thousand years into the Third Age. The very embodiment of evil, Shai`tan, (a proper name never spoken for fear of drawing bad luck - he is variously called The Dark One, Sightblinder, Leafblighter, and other ominous names), is stirring again in his prison at Shayol Ghul where he was locked away three thousand years ago, at the end of the Second Age. His counterpart, the Creator, has left the world to never interfere, yet he chose a champion to fight the Dark One. That champion was known as the Dragon.
Three thousand years ago, the Dragon and his Hundred Companions managed to seal the Dark One back into his 'prison' away from the known world, yet they paid a high price. In one counterstroke, the Dark One tainted Saidin, the male half of the Source, causing all men using it to go mad sooner or later. The Dragon Reborn, Lews Therin Telamon, turned against his own blood in his madness, killing all he loved, all who were related to him before committing suicide while the world was in a turmoil as madmen used their powers indiscriminately. New mountains rose, countries were literally torn apart. Later, it was known as the Breaking.
Now the Dark One is stirring again, and prophecies speak of the Rebirth of the Dragon. The rebirth of a man doomed to madness. The rebirth of the world`s only hope. Men who can channel have for three thousand years been a rare but powerful menace, to be hunted down and neutralized by women who can channel - Aes Sedai. They are the most powerful women in the world, living in the White Tower in Tar Valon. It is said thrones dance to their tune.
The Wheel of Time turns, weaving the Pattern of the Age out of threads that are human lives. And it weaves towards Tarmon Gai`don, the Last Battle of the Third Age, another confrontation of the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One. Those who stand for Light shall once again fight Darkfriends more openly and on a scale far more massive than they have for three thousand years. And the world may be rent apart again.
How do I bond someone in Wheel of Time Roleplay?
All you need to do is agree with the other writer to have your characters bond, and then announce the bond by changing your profiles and/or signatures (in your User Control Panel). Most people like to write how their chars bonded, but it`s not obligatory.
Although you may want to find someone to bond right away, we suggest taking your time to find a person you really like to write with, and whose character goes well with yours. It also helps to find someone who will stay around to write with you, and not leave unexpectedly!
If you have any other questions and can't find the answers in the above links, please ask a moderator.
