Understanding the Law
Before you can continue with your training, you must display an adequate understanding of the laws of the Final Sith Order. We are not Jedi; we are not the Republic; those who break the law will face no mercy, but instead face execution. To that end, please read the rules that govern our Empire, and summarize them in your own words to demonstrate your understanding. When you have finished reading these rules, reply below with your summations and indicate that you understand and agree. If a certain master has taken you as their personal apprentice, please also tag that individual in your response.
Rule 1: Respect the Hierarchy
What does this mean, in practice?
It means we are not an Order of "chaotic evil". It means "A Sith kneels to no one" is not a phrase that you will ever hear uttered in these halls. True, a Sith is not submissive by nature, but any intelligent Sith submits to their superiors, until they have grown strong enough to take their place.
Remember, even Darth Vader knelt to Palpatine.
Whenever greeting your Master (or other higher-ranking Sith), in comment threads, or elsewhere in the Empire, you will kneel before them. The Empress and the Dark Council is always to be hailed by name and title. We desire to keep an immersive, realistic role-playing experience; it adds a lot to the atmosphere of the group, and makes things fun and engaging for all people involved. If you survive, and grow stronger than your superiors, then you can expect those of lower ranks to kneel before you in their turn. Until that time, you will show your superiors respect, or die.
As they say in the military, "you salute the rank, not the man". Even if there is a higher-ranking Sith you particularly dislike out-of-character, you will still afford their rank the respect it deserves; they spent many months or years achieving that position. Leadership flows from the top. While it is important to respect all of your superiors, there is always "a level higher," and those Sith of the highest rank deserve the greatest respect (and if you are given contradicting orders, you must obey those of the higher rank, even if it is against the will of your Master; respecting the hierarchy means refusing to follow your Master, or any other higher-ranking Sith, into treason against the greater hierarchy).
You must not Block any moderator or administrator, or you will be immediately banned from the group.
Rule 2: Separate In-Character (IC) and Out-of-Character (OOC)
While the Empire is a fanclub open to all types of participation, many of our members— including yourself, if you are here— enjoy role-playing. When role-playing, please remember to separate in-character (IC) from out-of-character (OOC).
Do not be offended if your peers are awful to you IC (we are Sith after all), as we encourage an atmosphere of both brutal IC realism and light-hearted razzing, trash-talking and hazing, and feel free to be awful back (so long as it does not violate Rule 1), but please don't let it carry over out-of-character.
This also complements Rule 1. No, obviously "John Smith," Star Wars nerd who likes to role-play a Sith, doesn't automatically deserve your respect. But "Darth so-and-so" does, and that means "John Smith" and his character are your superior in the context of this group; by participating in this Empire, you are agreeing to act as if he is, to keep the system going, to keep the atmosphere immersive, and to not spoil the fun for everyone.
Don't take things too seriously (unless you are fighting for your life in the death pits of Lord against two Terentatek and a pack of Tuk'ata, in which case, take it very seriously), don't take what is said or done in-character to heart, and also be aware that unlike some groups, this Empire has a long tradition of trying to keep a "lightly in-character" overtone to everything, even outside of formal RPGs.
Rule 3: No Cyberbullying or Flaming
Tying into Rule 2, bullying members out-of-character is strictly not allowed, and degrading comments about things such as race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated, unless very explicitly taking place in a mutual role-playing setting (e.g. if you have created a speciesist or sexist character - but do not abuse this exception to get away with things. Please use common sense, or a moderator will have to teach you it).
Rule 4: No Harassment
Don't be a creep. Don't send inappropriate pictures, unwanted sexual private messages, or engage in any form of harassment of members, sexual or otherwise. While mutually role-playing romantic entanglements is fun for some, don't be weird about it, don't be pushy about it, and don't abuse the role-playing context of the group to get away with things. Quite simply, don't be "that guy". Use common sense. Put the comfort of your fellow members first.
Tying into Rule 3, non-sexual forms of harassment are not tolerated either. This includes, for example, private messaging a higher-ranking Sith angry or insulting messages for a certain action they took. This also includes spamming the inboxes of other members when they clearly do not wish to talk to you. Again, common sense applies; do not make moderators teach you the meaning of that phrase.
If you have been temporarily banned from posting or replying to threads, harassing moderators is a sure way to get permanently banned from the forum. Refer to the Communications forum for further information about what to do if you've been banned.
Rule 5: No Spamming
Make sure your posts and replies are relevant and topical, and do not spam the forum. If you have questions about whether or not something is appropriate to post, please ask a moderator first.
Rule 6: No Trolling
A troll is someone who acts in bad faith, contributing for their own amusement at the expense of others. Don't be a troll. This faction of our overall brand (The Eternal Sith Empire; The Final Sith Order; forums.sithempire.net) is specifically Sith-only; we discourage antagonizing members and preaching anti-Sith rhetoric. If you wish to play as Jedi or other variety of Star Wars character, check out our other roleplaying opportunities on this forum, or ask a moderator for assistance in finding the right niche for you. You should work with the members of the group, not against them.
Don't mock, defy or otherwise go against the grain of the group culture. Don't spoil the fun for everyone else.
Rule 7: No Sock Accounts
Unfortunately, this group does not allow the use of unverified sock accounts. We do not approve any accounts which appear to be obvious socks.
If you would prefer to use a different account with a different username for a more immersive character experience, we encourage you to contact an administrator to make arrangements for an additional account.
Rule 8: This Group Was Here Long Before You
This forum is simply the latest outpost of a Sith fanclub, discussion group, and role-playing group that has existed since 2003, spanning multiple forums, Facebook Groups, websites, social groups, and role-playing games. Those who founded this Order 15 years ago, Dark Lords Darth Cruor (@Darth Cruor) and Darth Vassago (@Lord Vassago), are still present to this day, alongside many other long-time veterans.
This Empire was here long before you. Please act thoughtfully and considerately in recognition of that fact. Please integrate into the group and its ways; don't expect it to integrate around you, just because you would prefer to do things differently. The Empire does not revolve around you. Do not be spoiled or entitled. You will receive no special treatment.
The Empire is exclusive, yet vast; it has drawn as many members as it has, and lasted as long as it has, because of the appeal of its exclusivity. We do not require your membership; being a member of the Empire is a privilege, not a right, and we would rather be rid ourselves of a troublesome member, no matter what their rank, than bend to accommodate them. If this group and its culture, ways and traditions are not for you, then please (peacefully) leave.
Rule 9: Remember– This Group is for Fun
Don't start real life drama, "wars", or "rebellions". Don't cause trouble or create a toxic atmosphere for other members. This group is for fun— keep it that way for other people. If you got demoted or disciplined, you probably deserved it. Other members probably won't (or shouldn't) consider it the great aggrievement or injustice you did. We are Sith. Deal with it.
Don't throw your toys out of the pram, drag others into your drama, or "ragequit," just because things didn't go your way one time.
Instead, consider the effects of your actions on other people. Wait the drama out before making rash moves; drama usually dissipates after a day or two. Take a break from the Empire, or take a break from social media in general. Unwind. Patch problems up, make nice. Don't spoil your own future fun by taking an action (such as leaving) that is difficult to undo. You will likely regret it, and simply giving up after a difficult patch (such as losing a kaggath, or getting in trouble with higher ranks) has a demotivating impact on other members.
If, after careful, thoughtful consideration (after a break for at least 48 hours), you decide this Empire is not for you anymore, don't spoil others' fun by getting them involved in drama or treason.
Instead, leave peacefully and respectfully, and do not tug at other members to follow you or cause trouble; it endangers their positions (and the hard work they put into gaining them), places them in a difficult spot where most would otherwise want to continue having fun without drama, and puts pressure and strain on their friendships with different people. Don't be a selfish friend.
If you are approached by a malcontent of any rank (even your master, or a dissatisfied member of the Dark Council), who seeks to poach you away to a new splinter faction— using what we have all built here for their own selfish gain— then know that, through creating their own false "Empire" and attempting to poach members, they are breaking both this Rule, Rule 5 (No spamming and no unauthorized promotions), and, through committing treason, Rule 1 (Respect the hierarchy). REPORT THEM directly to the Empress of the Sith (@corinthia), who will bring the matter before the Dark Council for review. They are selfishly placing you in a difficult spot, and endangering your future, out of temporary pettiness. Do not feed the flames and expand the drama by going along with them, however pure your intentions might be.
Remember, in the entire history of the Empire, no "rebellion" has lasted more than a couple of weeks, or involved more than 5 people— it will all be over soon.
Most importantly...
HAVE FUN! OR ELSE!
Once you have completed this Task, move on to Task 2: Choosing your Weapon. The next few Tasks will take you through building your first FSO character.
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