Welcome to Avalore! We've laid out a few simple steps here to get started in our community, including learning about our setting and world, and the basics you have to know when creating your first character to get whitelisted! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in our Discord (a join link is available on the homepage!).

Step 1: Learn the Setting

The World

The air itself seems different. We made it to the first settlement by sunset — and have been met by nothing. No signs of life, no signs of a fight, no signs of fleeing. Everyone is just ... gone. We've been looking for wagon tracks in the mud, but so far have found little. We head further south at the break of dawn. . . .

Avalore is set in a medieval, fantasy-touched world filled with curses, magic, and multiple races.

The main setting of the server is one corner of this world known as the Southern Reach, a wild land south of The Wall. While once inhabited by a band of Arsa Sidhe (elves), this group mysteriously disappeared approximately 50 years before the present day. This leaves the Southern Reach open to exploration, discovery, and settlement — but it is also home to many dangers, both above and below ground. With the Reach being something of a 'wild west', the countryside and forests are filled with beasts: while everyday life is not life-and-death, wandering out into the wilds alone is a recipe for disaster.

• Read more about the Southern Reach and The Great Disappearance in the Compendium.

The primary settlement of the server is The Spire, a mysterious artifact discovered by travellers exploring the Southern Reach. A gigantic tower into the sky, it is unclear who exactly built the spire or what its purpose is, though it does seem to be ancient. Now turned into a bustling town, it is the first place many adventurers like yourself visit, before deciding what to make of themselves in this wild land.

• Read more about The Spire in the Compendium.

The People

We came across a band of Fey-Touched and Greatlings from the mountains. It seems they're curious what's going on as well, though I have to admit they're quite a funny group to look at. The shortest of the Touched is no more than 5 foot and covered in leaves, while the elder of the Greatlings has to be at least twice that. I wonder how they keep up? . . .

The world of Avalore has four main races: Humans, the Arsa Sidhe (think elves), Greatlings (think giants), and the Fey-Touched. Each has a rich history and some common ancestry, with all descending from the ancient proto-elves before splitting off at various points. The history between the races has not always been positive, with deep-seated distrust or superstition being common between them — though this is much less common in the modern age. The adventurers visiting the Southern Reach come from around the world, each bringing their own history: in order to thrive, they have to put aside these differences.

• Read more about the races: Humans, Arsa Sidhe, Greatlings, and Fey-Touched in the Compendium.

The world is also home to many cultures which span across races and have unique rituals and histories. Culture varies with where someone is from: while the prosperous Valks rule over much of the midlands and lead a large empire, the more mysterious Mistan keep to their isles, said to be in league with sirens. In the far east, Korami warriors feud over century-old disputes, and in the far ashen north the stalwart Fireborne fight endless hordes of beasts that wander. While existing cultures are not exclusive (i.e. you can make a unique cultural history for your character), any unique backstories should not conflict with the existing ones.

• A full list of cultures is available on the Compendium homepage.

Step 2: Make Your Character

Character Basics

If it is true, if they are truly all gone, this changes everything ... This land will become home to many, many of all kinds. I can only hope it does not lead to another war. . . .

So you know the absolute basics of the world of Avalore. The next step is to create your first character. Don't worry: you aren't stuck with them! You can always make more or swap out your character later on, but you need a rough idea in order to apply for your whitelist.

Here are some key things to consider:

• What is their race? (half-races are allowed, but nothing other than 50/50, children of half-races will have to pick to be 50/50 or 100% one race)
• What is their history? Their culture?
• What do they look like? Are they old? Young?
• What has brought them to the Southern Reach?

Please note: any characters older than a young adult (i.e. older than 20-30) cannot be from the Spire. They have to be a traveler from somewhere else — be creative! This also includes the Aedall, which is an effectively extinct culture — your character have a distant relation to them or seek to emulate their culture, but cannot have grown up as part of it.

Once you have figured out the answers to these questions, you'll know everything you need to submit your whitelist application, and could go right there. But, we encourage you continue reading to learn a little bit about Avalore's systems.

Character Mechanics

What could have done this though, I wonder? With no signs of a fight ... perhaps it was a mage? Or some otherworldly beast? Part of me wonders if this is just a fey playing some cruel trick on us and giggling around the corner. . . .

Avalore uses a unique set of mechanics inspired by TTRPG systems and our experience in Minecraft roleplay communities. A lot of it will seem familiar, but with our unique twist. Here's what you need to know:

• Characters have stats and skills, which represent their abilities. Each of these can range from -3 (very bad) to +3 (very good), and is added to a dice roll for tests on these skills.
• Characters can also have feats (much like D&D!) which are unique features of a character and grant special abilities.
• Characters can, if they wish, become a mage by forming a pact with a patron. This system is a bit more complicated, and we suggest learning the basics first!
• Finally, characters earn XP for attending events. This XP can be used to upgrade skills and stats or to unlock new feats.

There's specific rules for how combat is handled, weapon classes and armour classes work, and so on. All of this is listed on our Mechanics page, but unless you are getting into a fight on day one, focus on reading up on the basics first!

• Read more on the Mechanics page and view all available feats in the Feats Index.

Step 3: Apply!

To get started on Avalore, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you are 18+ (no exceptions!)
2. Read over the rules to understand the basic expectations and what can and cannot be done. You are expected to follow these at all times.
3. Head to the whitelisting template on the forums, copy the format, and make your own thread in the whitelisting section. If you have any questions about lore or want help making your character, ask in our Discord (link on the homepage)!

We hope to see you on Avalore soon!