Ah, so you want to join the ranks of Somber Heights do you? Well, first thing you need to do is make a cat. There's many unique breeds and styles to mix and match for your perfect character. Or, perhaps there are adoptable characters found in the group just waiting to go home with you!
All characters in Somber Heights must be semi-realistic
Now, what does that mean? Somber Heights characters must resemble pelts of real world cats or at least look like it could! Small strange markings that are never seen on cats are totally fine! (Just ask if you're unsure!)
Pelt Colors must also be semi-realistic
There is a wide range of pelt colors to chose from. Any color found on a real cat is fair game, but you may also include lightly tinted versions of odd colors like greens, blues or purple-greys. But, vibrant unnatural colors will not be accepted.
Eye colors must be semi-realistic
Acceptable colors: Oranges, yellows, hazels, browns, blues, grays, greens, and other mixtures. (Red/pink is only acceptable for albino characters)
Unacceptable Colors: Neons and Purples
Height Chart
-Link Here-
If you click the link above, the chart will show what counts as normal height in the group and what might require a ban!
If a ban slot is full or you do not wish to have one, please stay within the lines of the middle cats' height. There is wiggle room, but don't stray too far!
And finally, SCARS ARE FREE! Make the tattered baby of your dreams
Now that you have a cat, where in the world are you going to put them?
Once you've decided where you want your character to go, you'll pick a rank! Any rank found on that page above is open for grabs. But high ranks require an open spot and a tryout on the discord. Check out the pinned message in the 'Tryouts' section of the discord to see what's available
High Ranks include:
Commander
General
Herbalist
Herbalist Apprentice
Priests
All other ranks do not require an official tryout, so have fun and be creative!
Oh boy, this is the fun part. It's how your character will be referred to in RP and out of it. So, make sure it's a good one. (No pressure) If you read through this and still aren't sure if a name is accepted, just ask!
Check Limitations for a list of banned or already used names!
Requirements
The world of Somber Heights is a bit different to other worlds. The cats here are smarter and know a lot more in regards to their language. Meaning, names aren't as strict! We want to promote a place for people to be creative. For example, we currently have an 'Okapiheart' in our Priests rank!
Generally, we will look at each name on a case-to-case basis, but for main rules names like "Monstertruckface" or "Skyscraperpaw" are not acceptable. Pretty much as long as it's something that is a descriptor or could be found in nature is fair game. (Breeds of animals are also not accepted. Ex: Dobermanpaw. Because while cats know what a dog is, they most likely don't have the two-leg language for specifics)
Make sure not to use words like Star in your name since that is a suffix used only for commanders! (Names like Moon, Comet, or Eclipse is acceptable) You may also not use the name 'paw' unless you have an apprentice rank!
Nomads are even more lenient than tribe cats since many most likely have a background with twolegs. Most names like human names, human-related foods/items, etc are accepted.
Names cannot contain curse words, drugs, or any offensive/derogatory things. And, unfortunately, meme names are not accepted. Such as 'Mountaindew' or 'Smokeweed'. I'm so sorry gamers.
The biography for your character is almost more important than the visual application! We have a simple template for you to use, but you're welcome to create your own using whatever creative means you wish! Just make sure you keep the same details we have in ours and in similar places to make checking easier.
You are welcome to add on more fun details!
-Click Here for: Simple Google Doc Template-
As you go through this template, it's good to know a few things to make your life easier if you're confused!
Traits
When making traits for your characters, make sure they don't contradict each other! If a cat is heartless they probably wont be loving
If you have countering traits that can be explained, then do so in the description of the traits! For example, maybe your cat is sweet in public but turns into a gossipy jerk behind the scenes.
Make sure the traits match up with their history! If your cat has evil traits, it's best to give them a reason or some kind of event/relationship to show how they developed something like that.
History
When developing your cats history, keep in mind how old they are! When did things take affect in their life? If you have a young character they probably haven't experienced as much as your senior warrior or elder.
PLEASE make sure you have a good understanding of the group history! Even if your character is not a member of a tribe, it's in your best interest to stay updated. If you have any questions, please ask! We are all happy to help.
Keep things realistic but creative!
Keep in mind if you're deciding to give your character a traumatic past, please don't include themes of sexual assault or pedophilia. Violence (and yes, even cannibalism) is acceptable, but keep in mind what might be too much for our younger members! Mentions of physical or verbal abuse is accepted, but please keep it brief and don't go into graphic detail. See below for content warnings.
If you are going to include a scene in your history that may be disturbing or upsetting to read, please put a very clear CONTENT WARNING above that section. (And maybe include what is mentioned) Example; Content Warning! Cannibalism, abuse, etc
Please talk to an admin if a sensitive topic not listed is wanting to be use. We wish to keep our members safe and would like to check these before publicly posted
Ah, I see a dark look in your eyes. You're just like us- endless characters and an endless desire to use them. Thankfully, this is the perfect group for you. Read all the information below on how many characters you can start with, and how you can buy more slots.
Every member will begin with:
- 4 Free Regular Slots
- 3 Free Adopt Slots
Regular slots are used for characters that you have created yourself, while Adopt slots are reserved only for characters that you have adopted from another member within the group. (If you're interested in adopts, please check out the #Group_Adopts channel in the discord!)
Is there a wait time per character?
Yes! Members must wait at least a month between each character. This is to help make sure that you aren't overwhelmed and that you're committed to each character you bring in.
How can I buy more character slots?
Members can purchase more character slots by using pebbles they have earned by creating art, literature, or roleplays! Check out the Pebbles shop to see how much each character slot costs. At the moment we're allowing an infinite amount of slots that get more and more expensive as they get higher.
Can my first character be a group adopt?
Yes! But just be aware that if you join the group with an adopted character, they must be used! If you decide to leave or haven't used the character for a very long time you may be asked to return it to the original creator so that they may find a new home for them.
Fill out this template and send a message containing it into the 'Application-Review' chat every time you make a character! (This template is a bit different from the joining template!)
Place this at the top of your message:
Character for -Faction Name-
Username:
Character name:
Alliance:
Rank:
Biography:
Application Art:
Your character will then be reviewed and you should hear back if they've been accepted! (Please be patient during this process!)