This update is a large one. Please take some time to look it all over and if you have questions please ask in discord.

One thing to note: Suggestions will be closed until the end of the year.

• Our posting requirement to stay active is now one post every 40 days.


• To help with limbo, multi-lion fights can have a max of three fighters per side.


• Claiming and thefts are now allowed for all, sex no longer matters. This also means that lions will now need to get permission to leave a pride.


• The Fight Club will be moved fully to tallying fights and Sr. Staff will handle any possible defaulting. If you would like to join the Fight Club team, please reach out to Ice.


• Afterlife accounts will no longer be able to keep an OOC account listed as active.
  
  • If you only have an active account of the afterlife as an active character, your OOC will go inactive after 40 days without a post. This will start Nov 1st.
  • If you have active alive characters this will not affect your dead characters being listed on your ooc account.
  
  
• Parents of cubs are now allowed to step into a maim or death match that is made against their cub without penalty as long as the parent's PVP is set properly.
• Only applies to those under a year and can only be protected by a birth or adopted parent (adoption must be official PRIOR to stepping into the fight).
  


• A character can be attacked again, regardless of winning or losing fights (to include DMs) if they remain in a thread and are causing trouble over three posts (taunting, poking at, etc) and have been told to leave, stop, etc in at least three posts.
• The attack can only be a dominance match.


• Discord away messages are best used to simply inform others of your temporary absence. We encourage using this feature thoughtfully, focusing on providing helpful information rather than expressing frustration or discontent. If you're feeling upset about recent events, it's perfectly okay to step back without leaving a message. Taking time for yourself to process emotions is valuable and respected. Let's work together to maintain a supportive and harmonious community atmosphere.


• The guidebook will be undergoing some changes over the next few weeks. We are hopeful that these changes will help with being able to move through the guidebook for all members.

Amaryllis is transitioning to a rating system of 3-3-2 to better align with our on-site culture and redefine what the rating system means to the Sr. Staff team. Additional information and detail will now be included in the Guidebook on what the rating system is, and how it is expected to be interpreted. This does not change any expectations or usage of the Trigger Warning System.

The new ratings and their definitions have been built around various online resources in an attempt to better define what they mean, for everyone’s benefit and understanding.

Language: 3 — Swearing and mature language is permitted. Trigger warnings may be required depending on the content.

   What this means to us: Swearing and vulgar/mature language can be used freely on-site. If language includes subjects that fall within the Trigger Warning System — such as mentions of gore or other egregious acts —, a trigger warning should be included.

Violence: 3 — Graphic violence is permitted. Explicit description or in-game narration of violence is allowed but must adhere to the on-site Trigger Warning System.

   What this means to us: Violence and gore are allowed to be written and played out on-site. However, detailed mentions of gore, violence, mutilation, or other egregious acts must always be prefaced with a trigger warning, as per the Trigger Warning System.

Sexual Content: 2 — Mild sexual content and references are permitted. Minor representations or references to genitalia or sex acts are permitted, but explicit details of acts are not. Must use fade to black for explicit detail.

   What this means to us: You can write about sexual feelings, desires, and your character acting on these things. You can elude to various sexual acts or body parts, but cannot write in detail about them. As per the Trigger Warning System, sexual assault of any kind is not permitted; please refer to that page for more details. Any graphic mention of sex or sexual acts, whether in dialogue or narration, is not allowed - you must use “fade to black” prior to your characters engaging in sex.

If you have a creature character, you may have noticed the new profile field in their profile! This means that, even when they have a rank within a pride, the type of creature they are will still be shown. This will only be on their profile and not the mini-profile in threads. Staff has tried to find everyone and update but please make sure you double-check, this will be closed off and only able to be added when applying on 10/12.


Subspecies Breeding

• As long as it has been documented, subspecies of creatures can breed. No documentation of sizing is required. The only restriction is that the offsprings' sizes must be within the limits of the parents

Non-Natural Mutations

• Non-natural mutations on big cat creatures only are allowed. They will need to be paid for (unlike their natural mutations, which are free). All other creatures will still only be allowed their natural mutations.

Just like for creatures, there will now also be a new profile field to fill out for hybrid characters that will show on their profile only. Please make sure to ONLY fill in the hybrid spot and NOT the creature one. Staff has tried to find everyone and update but please make sure you double-check, this will be closed off and only able to be added when applying on 10/12.

The following are the options available for our hybrids:

• Leopon (Leopard father x lion mother)
• Lipard (Lion father x leopard mother)
• Tigon (Tiger father x lion mother)
• Liger (Lion father x tiger mother)

If you bring in a hybrid via the use of a hybrid pass, you will now have the option to select breed-only sizes as a part of the pass:

• If the creature parent's size has been documented outside the lion sizes (Siberian Tigers (Colossal) or Leopards (X-Small), for instance), the hybrid character being brought in will not need to purchase the breed-only size pass. They must still stay within the limits of our lion sizes and will still use lion-based dice.

Breeding Post Count Requirements

• The post count in order to produce hybrid offspring has been reduced to 150 posts by both parents
• Our requirements when coming back from inactivity (as noted in the breeding guidebook) must still be followed

Marking/Mutation Inheritance

• Global markings from the creature parent are required (and free) on dice-rolled offspring (tiger stripes, leopard rosettes)
• The half-maned mutation is required on dice-rolled biologically male (AMAB) offspring
• Natural markings from either parent and natural mutations from the creature parent can be auto-inherited for free
• The creature's natural markings, while free, will still need to be counted on the offspring if they are not also considered natural for lions (leopard's dark ear backs and white ear dots, for instance)
• They won't count as a genetic marking when designing dice-rolled cubs but they do need to be listed
• This is so they're accounted for in future hybrid x lion pairs where the markings may no longer be considered natural for a lion character

Breeding Pairs and Their Offspring

• Hybrid x Creature Pair
• Normal creature breeding requirements will apply (no minimum posts, etc)
• Offspring will be considered creatures
• Offspring will not determined via rolls and everything will be freeform but will need to be paid for (creature pass plus any premium items) as per the guidebook
• Sizing and fight dice will be based on creature sizes and dice
• The offspring will NOT have low fertility


• Hybrid x Lion Pair
• Normal breeding requirements will apply (50+ minimum posts, use of breeding threads, etc)
• Offspring will be considered lions
• Offspring will be determined via the dice-roll or custom litter systems
• Cub sizes will follow the lion size chart
• The offsprings' fertility will return to normal (females can have cubs every 6 IC months, males can breed whenever within the normal IC Year cub limits)


• Hybrid x Hybrid Pair
• Hybrid breeding requirements will apply (150+ minimum posts, use of breeding threads, etc)
• Offspring will be considered hybrids
• Offspring will be determined via the dice-roll or custom litter systems
• Cub sizes will follow the lion size chart
• The offsprings' low fertility will be maintained (only one litter every other IC year and only a max of 2 cubs per litter)
• Can only be liger/tigon or leopon/lipard pairings (ie no leopon/liger pairings, for instance)

We have made the Absence system a little clearer and updated the Absences thread in the Maintenance forum with all the information. There are no major changes but please take a look to refresh yourself so you understand everything clearly.

We are adding Hiatuses into the system to account for longer times away! One thing to note as you read the information below is that if you roll into a hiatus off an absence, the time from your absence will be counted towards your total hiatus time. You also may NOT start a hiatus if you do not currently have an active IC account.

• For example, you cannot take the full 3 months allowed for an absence and then upgrade to a hiatus and take the full 6 months allowed there. If you reach the end of your 3-month absence and realize you need more time, you can remain on hiatus status for an additional 3 months max (for 6 months total)

Hiatuses — A hiatus is any time from 3 months to 6 months. During this time you are not allowed to post ICly, but can post OOCly.

You should have your characters in a "neutral" spot so that their time away does not hold up anyone else. Once you return, you can pick things up without the need to rejoin. If you do not return by the end of your hiatus, your accounts will need to be re-auditioned.

• Fights — Any active fights will need to be completed before the hiatus begins or they will automatically default


• Pride Leadership
• Pride and band leaders cannot go on a hiatus. They will need to forfeit their pride, either by passing it onto someone else or having it disbanded.
• They will NOT automatically be reinstated as the leader upon their return.


• Pregnancy/Cubs
• If your lioness is pregnant, she will lose the cubs if due to give birth during your hiatus.


• If there is an adoption clause in place for your cub character:
• The parent player(s) are allowed to readopt out the cub to another player to keep them actively a part of the family if they would like to. We encourage you all to talk with each other on this if you anticipate needing to take a hiatus!
• The parent has 4 OOC weeks after the hiatus is posted to adopt out the cub (or take the cub themselves)
• Rules on content rights of the original owner will be followed.


• If there is not an adoption clause but you do not return by the end of six months:
• The parent player(s) will have 4 OOC weeks to adopt out the cub to another player (or take the cub themselves)
• Rules on content rights of the original owner will be followed
• Even if the cub turned into a yearling while the player is on hiatus but the player did not come back, the yearling can be adopted out still. The parent player(s) will only have 4 OOC weeks to do so.


• Coming back from hiatus
The site uses a plug-in that automatically moves characters without a post made based on our activity requirements to inactive. It does not distinguish those with posted hiatuses.

• If you come back early, please edit your post letting us know but do not delete the original dates.
  
• After coming back from your hiatus, you will have 1 OOC week to request your characters' reactivations/posts with them, before they will need to be re-auditioned. Please post in General Maintenance or in Discord/Help/Misc Requests for this.
• You cannot take a hiatus back to back or go from a hiatus into an absence. You MUST return for 8 OOC weeks before taking another hiatus and 4 OOC weeks to take an absence.
• If you do extend your time away, your characters will have to be re-auditioned upon your return

We have had two systems for pride claims for a while now. Sr Staff has been watching and feeling the two systems out and we have decided to move to a full lotto system for all claims.

Pride claim pass changes
The following changes are being made to how the pride claim passes will be allowed to be used:

• Passes that were a GIFT
There WILL be a fight. Entering your pass into the lotto will give you a spot in the fight. Whoever posts their pass FIRST (even if other members have posted for normal entry) will have one spot in the fight. After that, no more passes will be allowed to be used and the other half of the fight becomes a normal lotto that characters who are entered are drawn from.


• Bought passes via fundraiser
These passes are now the only auto-claim passes. They must be the VERY FIRST to post to the lotto with the pass (stating that it is a bought pass) to have the auto-claim. If they are not the first, they have the option to fall into the Gift route if they want (this must be stated when posting).

Prides have the following options to take part in to gain or remain at their current level. All of the options need to be tracked using the same tracker that has been used for hunts and TWO successful items are still required to count towards your tier level

Ways To Gain Pride Tiers

• Hunts
• Same as before!
• You may choose to do two hunts like normal in lieu of any of the below options


• Pride events (meetings, training events, etc)
The purpose of the thread needs to be very clear when the thread is started. These threads will only need 30% exits before the end of the month (down from 50%) and the required number of members and posts is based on the pride size:

• Under 10 members = 3 members & 10 posts total needed
• 10-19 members = 5 members & 15 posts total needed
• 20-35 members = 10 members & 20 posts total needed
• 36+ members = 15 members & 25 posts total needed


• Recruitment
Attempt to recruit 2 new members into the pride. This will not include members born/stolen/claimed; only actively invited in characters

• Threads completed by the end of the month, with exits, count toward one element of the pride tier


• Diplomacy/Alliances
This is to help new prides get started by attempting to make TWO different alliances with other prides or bands.

• Two threads must be made to count toward ONE element of the pride tier.
• These can be made by the leaders or those with the appropriate perks
• Threads completed by the end of the month, with exits, count toward one element of the pride tier

New Pride Tier!
Level SIX = +5 exp to trade threads within the pride lands. Only threads started while you have the level 6 tier will be able to gain the extra exp

• There is only one way to earn level 6 and that is through pride membership posting!
• You must be at level 5 and HOLD it for ONE OOC month before being able to try for level 6.
• The number of posts needed to gain level 6 is based on the number of adult and yearling members a pride has at the end of each month, not counting the leaders.
• Take the total number of adults and yearlings x 5 = the number of posts needed to gain and keep level 6.
• This number will change each month as prides gain and lose members.
• If you drop under the needed amount, you will lose level 6 for that month but will be able to try again by posting during the month you don't have the level to gain it for the following month.
• The tally is only run after the month change (ie. you will be able to see the Oct post tally starting Nov 1).

You will be able to see the totals here — Monthly Pride Member Count

• All prides are shown each month and as bands are made, they will show also.

A reminder that we require threads that contain trigger warnings in them to use the content warning tag (selected when creating the thread). Please read our trigger warning rules page to know what topics require the tag’s use. We require each post with the trigger warning topic MUST use one of our trigger warning codes at the top of the post.

The use of a TLDR at the top of the post under your trigger warning to help those who are reading know what is happening without having to read the full post is highly encouraged! We don’t want anyone missing out on important info if they don’t feel comfortable reading the full post.

If you notice that there is a post that is not properly marked, please bring it to the Sr Staff's attention! We don’t see everything!

• You can do this through the use of the Heads Up Ticket in Discord or by messaging a member of Sr Staff on site. The Heads Up Ticket is there if you don’t want a full ticket but don’t want to have a follow up after with anyone from the Sr Staff team.

If a thread has a trigger warning that you are not ok reading about, do not read that post. If there is a content warning, check to see if it is something you are ok with.

As much as possible, keep trigger warning items out of large group threads. If there is no way around it, keep it short.

You may have already seen it, but during thread creation, there is now also a text field that can be filled out with the trigger warnings the thread contains. It will show up as red text beneath the title of the thread. If you know the thread will contain trigger warnings or if it seems to be heading that way, you MUST add the tag. You can edit this by editing the first post in the thread.

Changes
In your user CP you will see a spot for individual triggers.

• When adding triggers, please stick to the following format:
  H: trigger, trigger, trigger T: trigger, trigger, trigger
  H = Hardstop & T = Talk with me first
• Please keep things short and sweet.
• All members should make every possible effort to keep these triggers out of smaller threads with the member.
• Members who have triggers that are listed in any way on a thread should make every effort to stay out of threads with them already listed.

Squid has stayed around to help with this update and get a few things in place. She will be leaving us shortly to start her break.

Squid,

After four incredible years of working together (here and on Valoria), it's hard to imagine our team and the site without you. Your contributions to the site have been invaluable, and I wish there was a better way to say thank you! While we will miss you tremendously, enjoy your well-deserved break, and know that you'll always have a place here if you choose to return.

Thank you for everything, my friend.

See You Later Squid! <3