Freedom takes
a little care.

Before you begin

We are happy to have you here. Oulbury is a community for friendship, creativity and shared days. Roleplay is an optional activity within it. These rules protect the people who spend time here. Both players and characters must be at least 21 years old. Characters portrayed as minors, teenagers, high-school students or intentionally underage are not permitted.

Visitors may explore and attend public events. Ask before joining a scene when you are unsure whether it is open. You can live here and join community life without roleplaying. No character application is required for freeform roleplay. Coordinate roles that control shared institutions or official storylines with the people responsible for them. Respect active roleplay even when visiting or living here out of character.

A living world

Oulbury has a history, geography, folklore and supernatural mythology. The island archive and official stories are optional creative references. Use what inspires you; there is no lore exam or requirement to follow an official plot.

Create your own character, personal histories, relationships and stories. Agree on shared scenes with your writing partners. Before an idea changes a public location, an island-wide event or someone else’s story, coordinate with the people responsible and everyone affected. Freeform gives each person creative freedom alongside respect for the space we share.

The supernatural

The supernatural is real, but it is not simple or safe. Forces such as the Veil, the Mist, the Well and the Ferry belong to the wider setting. If you bring these elements into a scene, agree on an interpretation with your partners and avoid imposing changes on the wider island.

Agree on abilities and limitations with your scene partners. Existing Oulbury lineages are optional inspiration; original supernatural concepts and anthropomorphic shapeshifters are welcome. Do not invent powers during a scene, automatically detect secrets or lies, ignore injury, control another character without consent or resolve major plots alone. Supernatural traits should create complications and meaningful choices, not automatic victories.

Tone & storytelling

Our setting favors atmospheric mystery, folk horror, human drama, imperfect information and ordinary lives interrupted by extraordinary things. Character-driven conflict, folklore and slow-building consequences help the town feel alive.

There is room for comedy, romance, celebration, work, combat and quiet everyday scenes. Oulbury is a town, not a permanent horror sequence. Keep characters grounded in the world and leave other players room to respond.

Roleplay fairness

Write what your character attempts, not what they automatically accomplish. Avoid godmodding, forced outcomes, writing another character’s thoughts or injuries without permission, and repeatedly escaping every consequence without a believable reason.

When an outcome is uncertain, agree on it together, use the Oulbury dice system or pause to discuss it. Losing a confrontation does not mean losing your character. It can create the next chapter of their story.

IC & OOC knowledge

What you know as a player is not automatically known by your character. Use information learned through roleplay, an agreed connection or an established part of their history.

Do not use private Discord conversations, applications, profiles, another character’s experiences or OOC conflicts as automatic IC knowledge. Alternate characters may not transfer information between stories. Characters can investigate, misunderstand and reach incorrect conclusions.

Consent & player agency

Consent belongs to the players. A character may experience fear, conflict or danger while the people writing remain informed and comfortable. Players may pause, redirect, fade out or leave a scene at any time.

Discuss sensitive themes beforehand, including graphic violence, lasting injury, intimate content, captivity, coercion, psychological distress, stalking, major damage to homes or businesses and permanent character consequences. Consent to conflict is not consent to every possible outcome. When uncertain, ask.

Adult content

Oulbury is an adult community, but it is not centered around erotic roleplay. Consensual adult intimacy must remain appropriate to its location and must not dominate shared public spaces. Explicit sexual roleplay belongs in private.

Sensitive intimate themes require clear prior OOC agreement from every player involved and must comply with platform rules. No one is obligated to participate in sexual or romantic roleplay.

Community conduct

Treat the person behind the character with respect. Harassment, intimidation, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, personal attacks, deliberate humiliation, retaliation for IC outcomes, unwanted contact, sharing private information and evading boundaries or moderation are not accepted.

Disliking a character is not permission to mistreat their player. Step away from disagreements that cannot be resolved calmly and contact staff privately. Do not turn community channels into public trials or recruit others into personal disputes.

OOC chat & emotional boundaries

Community channels are shared spaces for conversation and connection. Personal updates and difficult days are welcome. Avoid prolonged or repeated venting, graphic traumatic detail and bringing private interpersonal conflicts into general channels. Do not pressure others to comfort you, respond or take sides.

Respect requests to stop or move a discussion to an appropriate private setting, with everyone’s consent. Volunteer moderators are not crisis counselors. Asking for help or disclosing distress is not itself a disciplinary offense. Emergencies call for a compassionate, safety-focused response.

Immersion & shared spaces

Help preserve the atmosphere around active roleplay. Avoid extended disruptive OOC conversations or behavior designed to ridicule the setting while others are writing. Occasional OOC communication is normal; use brackets or private messages for longer conversations.

Nobody is expected to perform constantly. Residents and visitors who are not roleplaying are welcome. Remain considerate of the scenes happening around you and respect other people’s homes, privacy and boundaries.

Moderation

Most problems begin with conversation. Depending on context, severity and previous behavior, staff may clarify expectations, request adjustments, issue warnings, set restrictions or remove access. Serious safety violations may require immediate action.

For repeated OOC chat boundary violations, the usual progression is gentle redirection, a private formal warning, a one-hour timeout if ignored, and a 24-hour timeout for further violations, preferably reviewed by two staff members. Persistent violations may lead to administrative review. Formal actions are documented and these guidelines are not applied retroactively.

Staff should explain decisions clearly when this does not expose someone else’s private information. Raise questions respectfully through the appropriate private channel. Repeatedly reopening resolved cases, pressuring individual staff members or turning moderation into public conflict is not acceptable.

Second Life rules

All activity must comply with the Second Life Terms of Service and Community Standards. Platform violations may also result in removal from Oulbury, particularly when they endanger a person, the community or the continued operation of the regions.

By participating, you agree to extend the same agency, communication and respect to others that you expect for yourself.

If a rule feels unclear, a scene becomes uncomfortable or you need help, contact the team privately. You do not have to solve everything alone.