Roles and Progression

Welcome to the Border Marches! We are happy that you are considering making your Second Life role play home here with us.

BORDER MARCHES GROUP

We enjoy role play, but many of us also enjoy long term friendships in Second Life, some of us knowing each other for five years or more! We love to meet new people and make new friends. You can usually find some OOC (Out of Character) banter and fun, in text and/or voice, going on in the Border Marches group. Feel free to join in if you would enjoy that sort of thing. If you do not, no-one would be offended if you were to click off the group box when it opens. We offer it this way so that people have a choice according to what they want from Second Life.

The Border Marches group is also used for your administration team to send notices and general information out. The Border Marches group is free to join and has open enrollment. Cut and paste the link below into chat in a Second Life viewer, and then click on the link that pops up in chat to join the group. Simply press the “Join” button that appears in the window.

secondlife:///app/group/ae5157b3-f756-5c9c-4d9c-9fad72a4285b/about

STARTING OUT

We invite anyone who wishes to start role playing in the Border Marches to role play their way in. You may simply be visiting, and that is fine. Have some reason in mind about why you are visiting so you can role play that out with us.

If you are considering making this your home, we ask people to role play their way in.

In North March, you would go to the abbey. The monks and nuns offer lodging to travellers and those seeking retreat or sanctuary from the world. You would choose one of the rooms with two cots in it on the second floor and if you like you could log in and out of that room, and then role play on the sim as you like. In character, you could ask anyone for directions to the abbey or to show you the way.

In South March, you would go to the inn. There you would choose a room and you could log in and out of that room, and role play on the sim as you like. In character, you could ask anyone for directions to the inn or to show you the way.

After you have role played staying at the abbey or inn for a few weeks in real time, and given us a chance to role play with you a bit and perhaps get to know you a bit, you could talk to us about more permanent lodging and a role in the Border Marches. Some residences are tied to occupation; for example, the baker lives above the bakery.

FURNISHINGS

No prims will be placed while staying at the inn or the abbey. Once allotted more permanent housing, you will be permitted 10 prims to personalize your home.

Accommodations are fully furnished by the sim owners. This enables us to maintain a high level of quality, a consistent look and feel to the sim, take advantage of newer low prim mesh furnishings, and reduce the number of different textures on the sim which will help to reduce lag.

If you are taking up residence as an outlaw in the Debatable Lands, you should discuss your plans and prim allotment with Vivienne Daguerre.

QUESTS

We will be providing some quests to help people get items that they need, such as a few weapons, or enhance role play. If you see a prim NPC (non-player character) that has a quest to offer or a role to play in a quest, they will have a name floating above their heads. Click on the NPC to interact with it.

PROGRESSION AND ADVANCEMENT

Some roles will be key roles, and how those roles are filled will contribute to the success of the region and quality of role play for everyone. An example of a key role would be that of tavern keeper or inn keeper, but there are several. The inn or tavern keeper would need to be online and on the sim on a regular basis. He or she would need to coordinate with the admin team and be part of it, planning some tavern activity events to coincide with Truce Days (days when court is held to address charges and hear petitions). Other key roles would be Captain of the Castle Guard and Abbot or Abbess.

It is important for all of the role playing community for key positions to be held by those who will commit to doing the actual work of these roles (planning events, training and helping newcomers, researching information about the role, etc.), those who are regularly present, and those who have good social skills to work well with other people and welcome new people.

These roles will NOT be filled on a first come, first served basis. We would ask that you start at the bottom and work your way up to these roles, demonstrating that you are capable of filling and doing the role well. Promotion will be based on merit–a demonstrated willingness to do the work of the role, enthusiasm for it, reliable presence, good people skills, and the support of other role players.

ROLES

All characters must be human. The role play in the Border Marches is about family ties, clan loyalty, love, friendship, political intrigue, religion and superstition, law and order, feuds, reiving (raiding), the feudal system, power imbalances, and more, all loosely based on the history of the English and Scottish border marches in the 16th century.

The south of Scotland and the north of England were dangerous places, where lawlessness had reigned for about 300 years. The wardens, appointed by their respective monarchs, were given the difficult task of trying to control the reiving (raiding) populace who gave their loyalty to family and friends first, and to King and country as was practical. Royal politics were at play, with the King of the South (England) trying to make life difficult for the Queen of the North (Scotland) by secretly supporting one side of a feud or another.

ROYALTY/NOBLES/ARISTOCRATS

This is not an area where you would see a lot of nobles, aristocrats or royalty. London was far away to the south, and Scotland had not yet settled on a capital or permanent residence for its Monarch, who travelled from castle to castle.

Nobles, aristocrats and royalty roles will be limited in the Border Marches, and if you wish to play that kind of role you need to discuss that with the sim owners, Vivienne Daguerre and Maverick Schism, or their representatives. Prepare to pitch your idea to them; think about where you would fit in, what your relationship is to the local royalty, where you might live, and what types of role play you are seeking.

The roles of King and Queen are reserved for the sim owners and are not available. They will be rarely played as needed to further or introduce a storyline.

WARDEN

The Warden is appointed directly by the monarch to be the monarch’s representative. This position has been held by aristocrats, nobles, knights, and even members of prominent reiving families. The Warden’s job is to enforce the law, working in liaison with the Warden on the opposing side of the border, holding court, alternating back and forth across the border. A truce is called on court days to permit travel back and forth across the border for people to attend court, seeking redress or answering charges laid against them. These days have come to be called Truce Days.

If you had a complaint against someone, such as the fiend Kerr led a raid in the night and took off your herd of sheep, you would lay the complaint with your local Warden. In advance of the Truce Day, the Warden’s notified each other of complaints they had to address, and the Warden’s would then have to produce those charged in court on that day. They might issue a summons to appear, or in the case where they felt that would not be honoured, arrest and hold the person by force and drag them to court in chains on the given day.

It was also the Warden’s responsibility to defend the march. In time of attack he would command signal fires to be lit to summon men to defend against invaders. On the command of a monarch, or on his own initiative, he might lead or send a foray into the opposing march or against local reiving families.

ABBOT/ABBESS/MONKS/NUNS/PRIEST(S)/PHYSICIAN/HEALER/LAY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Roxeter Abbey is located in the North. It is not only a religious institution, but a profitable business accumulating wealth from patronage, income from peasants land owned by the abbey, and running the local wool trade. People believed that the prayers of monks and nuns had more weight with God, and royalty, lords, knights and high ranking soldiers would pay them to pray for their sins. The abbey provided care for the sick and dying, education, hospitality and lodging to travellers and those seeking retreat or sanctuary, and housed a library to preserve knowledge and support academic research.

The position of Abbot or Abbess was a very powerful and important role in the community, overseeing all of the above.

Playing one of these roles does not necessarily mean that you must play a celibate and holy character. The history books tell us of monks of the time frequenting the local brothel. You might have a Mistress or lover, and even have children who would be raised outside of the abbey by someone paid by you to do so. Lay brothers and sisters did not take vows of celibacy, and were free to pursue romance and could leave the abbey to marry or take up other work. If you have watched the TV series based on Ken Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth” or “World without End”, or “The Borgias”, you will have a good idea of the kind of intrigue and rich storylines that are available to these roles.

HEADMASTER/PROFESSOR/STUDENT/LIBRARIAN/ACADEMIC

Tanninhold College is located in South March. It attempts to bring the light of science into a dark time ruled by religion and superstition. There is rumour of some research into dark arts based upon a strange explosion that took place some years earlier at the college, resulting in “the scar” on the college land.

Arthur C. Clarke said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Venturing into advanced research could be dangerous in these times of supersition and religion, and academics could risk being charged with witchcraft. They would be battling old wives tales, religion and superstition to try to teach students basic science.

Everyone knows that the sun circles the earth. Illness and disease are caused by an imbalance of bodily humors, and the Black Death was a punishment from God for man’s sinfulness. Madness runs wild at the college.

HEIDSMAN/CHIEF/LAIRD

Head of a family on either side of the border. He would not likely live any better than other members of the family or clan, but he would lead them in raids and battles, and they would come to him for advice and guidance. If you would like this role, it would be up to you to recruit family members or bring friends with you. You should have a following to play your family before asking for this role. A chief with no followers is no chief at all.

PEASANT/SERF/FARMER/CROFTER/REIVER

There are some shielings about, very humble homes of stone with thatched straw roofing. Some had fireplaces and chimneys and some did not, and would be very smoky and dark inside. These residences providing housing for livestock and humans living together. Those in the north are located close to the abbey, and the land they are on may be owned by the abbey and most of the income they produce given to the abbey as rent to the landlord, but one or two could be independently owned by crofters.

These farmers, peasants and serfs would be members of a family or clan and would give their loyalty first to the family. They would reive, or raid, neighbours and those across the border to support themselves. They would extort local trades and business people for money as a protection racket, kidnap and hold people for ransom, steal sheep and cattle. They could also be called upon by the local royalty or warden for military service, as part of the feudal system of the time, to fight against the south in times of war or hostilities. They were practical people with a keen sense of humour, passionate love for family, who lived by their wits in a dangerous environment and viewed the law as more of a guideline.

OUTLAWS

To be declared an outlaw was a serious thing, and occasionally the worst reivers were declared outlaws. This meant that they could be killed with impunity by anyone, and their capture (dead or alive) rewarded by the local authorities. An individual may be declared an outlaw, or an entire family on rare occasion.

There are some hidden places for outlaws to dwell. If you are interested in this role, or it happens to you in the course of role play, talk to the sim owners or representatives about places to hide out, or find them on your own!

BROTHEL OWNER/MADAME/PROSTITUTE/WHORE MASTER

There are two brothels in the Border Marches, “The Maiden Head” in Roxeter and the “The Tall Mast” in Tanninhold. Both are located on the docks to be convenient to sailors and travelers, and at a distance from respectable town dwellers. Both are known for their discretion, and it is said that even the “holy” might be seen there on occasion.

CASTLE GUARD

Roxeter Castle in North March and Tanninhold Castle in South March both have barracks and an armory within their walls, and need men and women to serve as the Castle Guard.

They would:
– defend the castle, and serve as guard to local royalty, wardens and their representatives;
– serve as an army to defend North March against the south, or lead a justified foray into the south;
– serve as an army to defend South March against the north, or lead a justified foray into the north;
– serve as local law enforcement to serve summons to appear at court on Truce Day or arrest and hold those who may not appear on their own;
– patrol, police the area and respond to complaints to maintain order.

Promotion to higher ranks would be granted based on merit. To join the guard you would start out as a soldier and progress through the ranks of private, corporal, sergeant, warrant, lieutenant and captain.

KNIGHTS

Knighthood could be awarded by the Queen or Countess for outstanding military service or bravery. Knighthood in the Middle Ages was closely linked with horsemanship (and especially the joust) from its origins in the 12th century. Knights of the medieval era were asked to “Protect the weak, defenseless, helpless, and fight for the general welfare of all.” They also had to protect women. These few guidelines were the main duties of a medieval knight, but they were very hard to accomplish fully. Knights trained in hunting, fighting, and riding, amongst other things. They were also trained to practise courteous, honorable behaviour, which was considered extremely important.

TRADES

Some shopkeepers and tradespeople have housing associated with their place of business, with living quarters usually on the upper floor and the business operating below. In Roxeter and Tanninhold this would include the following positions:

– Butcher
– Baker
– Tavern Keeper (Roxeter only)
– Blacksmith (Roxeter only)
– Restauranteur (House of Cod, Tanninhold only)
– Harbourmaster
– Dress Maker (Roxeter only)
– Chemist (Roxeter only)
– Miller (Roxeter only)
– Herbalist/Witch (Cursed Isle in the Debatable Lands)

Other trade occupation roles would include:

– candle maker
– weaver
– sawmill owner/operator
– ships crews
– traveling merchants
– jesters/bards/entertainers
– vintner/distiller/brewer
– laundress

If you have a role in mind not listed here, we would be willing to consider it and make an effort to accommodate you.