Welcome to House Madaras
the manor looms before you...
The letter found you well enough, unassuming, save for the silver seal it was stamped with. You don't know how it found you, just that it was suddenly in your possession, resting in a spot all too strange--too personal. The contents were equally as mysterious; a neatly penned letter complimenting you for a set of skills you hadn't even realized you were displaying. Reading further, a vague offer of employment in the service of a well established - and well funded - old House.And so, seeking answers, you find yourself standing before the threshold of a well-kept manor which, though noble at a glance, maintains an unmistakable air of occult influence that cracks the noble facade. Ghostly shades work around you tending to the grounds of the manor, leading you to wonder what opportunities lie those doors engraved with that same silver seal.
the rules that bind...
Below are the rules we have in place for our setting and the group. These are not negotiable.
| Regarding... | We decree... |
|---|---|
| Stage Respect | Not every RP scene will be your character's time to shine. Accept that you will be a supportive act for many an RP scene and, while people can endeavour to include you, are not obligated to do so. If you wish to be part of something speak up or jump in! There isn't much hand-holding here. |
| Consequences | Because of the more gritty nature of this setting actions to consequences are to be expected. If you are found to be consistently wiggling your way out of said consequences, or placing your characters in spots where the Admins find their hands tied, we will simply small. Your character will not be killed without your permission, but we reserve the right to remove them from the story if you can't behave. |
| Consent | If you are going to do something with another persons character- i.e. injure them, spread rumours, attempt to sabotage their work- you MUST communicate your desire to them first. Other players are not your toys and this includes things done for the Matron's Favour game. |
| ERP/NSFW | While we have no prejudice towards ERP please do it in private and please don't talk about it in public channels. We don't want to know. Keep it to DMs. Keep it respectful. Anything relating to strong/heavy kinks will be removed. If you are uncertain; ask. If you join us solely with the intent to ERP you will be removed. This is not the space for that. |
| Voidsent & Their Hosts | We do not accept these types of characters. The House is lore-wise a hub of ghostly activity and thus full of spirits. Spirits comprised predominantly of aether. This means that anything of the Void is seen as a high threat to the Dead and, in order to keep them safe, the grounds are heavily warded. While Reapers are allowed they are discouraged from summoning their Avatars within the House as it would not be a pleasant experience for either individual and must have full control of their bond at an IC level. |
| Over-powered Characters | As stated before, this setting is intended to be much more grounded and gritty in tone. To that end we do not accept characters that are gratuitously powerful. Some examples of what we consider such would be the canon Warrior of Light, Zenos, or someone who could hold their own against such a character. Those with few limits or drawbacks to their strength or power, those that can conveniently do almost everything perfectly with no explanation, can cast massive Flares as easily as breathing and so on aren't the type of characters we're looking for. The Echo is a gray area and will usually be discussed. |
| Regarding Lore | While we strive for consistency in our setting, an active community of multiple writers means that at times there will be different styles, ideas and approaches to canon, and many an interpretation of the more open-ended aspects of the game's lore. We ask that despite any disagreements that might emerge, you do not police the RP of others, communicate with them. If you truly cannot see eye to eye, then please reach out to one of the Admins for help. |
| Lalafell & Custom Races | Both of these are absolutely welcome here! We are moon friendly for those of you that utilise it, but please be aware that some of us play on Console and therefore cannot see Moonfolk. We ask that if you are something particularly fantastical that it's well thought-out and explainable. |
that which defines us...
House Madaras / Serpent's Warren is a Heavy RP group based on Balmung, Crystal.
Run by the mysterious Madaras family, it is a very old and well established House known for its political espionage and highly efficient assassins.Both reclusive and selective, the House has made a name for itself over the last century with its incredible leniency when it comes to illicit research. With vast on-site archives, bountiful resources and plenty of 'willing' subjects to play with, not much is truly out of bounds within the House.
It is a haven of willful ignorance where the morally ambiguous may thrive. A place of learning where few things are taboo and fewer still are deemed off-limits.
House Madaras' underbelly, the Serpent's Warren, is set up as a place for characters of darker persuasions; assassins, murderers, manipulative socialites, eccentric mages and so on. The counterpart to its scholarly side, it offers spurious training for those with a penchant for trading in lives and re-appropriating items.-=-Our main themes include assassination, eldritch horror, necromancy, manipulation and violence, with a large focus on a more realistic and gritty approach to RP. Roleplay will center both in the House itself and out in the game's Overworld.We encourage people to play with the setting in their RP as much as they wish; add in a ghost, inject your character with frenzied dreams, let a science experiment loose in the halls!Our intent is to give writers a well-crafted setting to explore the darker themes of XIV in a safe environment. We encourage people to play deviously, to use each others characters like pieces on a board and utilise the setting to its fullest.But above all, consent is key and communication paramount.
Anyone found playing the villain beyond the screen will be swiftly removed.
This is a Group, not just a Free Company.
You do not need to join the FC to RP with us.
We utilise Discord and a CWLS for OOC communication with the FC estate functioning as our RP hub.This Group is small and intends to remain so.
If you're looking for a massive RP Group with high traffic and numbers, this isn't us. We prefer a more personal touch.
The House Above
Shrouded in both rumour and misdirection the Madaras Estate is difficult to pin down. Tucked away in the foothills of the Peaks it can easily be dismissed as a Noble's country retreat; house staff populate the grounds and rooms, dressed in clothes of regal blues and wrapped in an air of business.A tributary of the Velodyna River flows peacefully behind the cliff the building rests on and the gentle climb of verdant forest cradles the outer grounds in solitude.Located ICly along the Southern Western foothills of Gyr Abania, House Madaras masquerades as a noble's estate and prestigious school for specialised training. Kept secure by both reputation and nameless benefactors from all over, its doors are open to those seeking to learn specific skills that are oft frowned upon by the wider world.Indeed, there are not many subjects that remain sacrosanct in these marbled halls. Many varieties of research that would be spurned in most- if not all- City States are studied here. Chief among them is the binding and working with the Dead, and the push to explore evolution itself. There are no limits to the scholars of House Madaras, only problems to be solved.
The Warrens Below
Its ties to the infamous band of Assassins known as the Serpents is tenuous at best. Any House can have blue and silver motifs, after all.
Though, not all have such a high disappearance rate of visiting guests or such abhorrent house staff...House Madaras' best kept secret. The Warrens, as it is known amongst its Serpents, consists of a vast network of subterranean tunnels beneath the estate. The vaulted door stands under the unwavering vigil of two large Dulluhans whose dark armour is embossed with the silver crest of the House. Accessible only from the basement levels of the mansion, beyond pantries, storage rooms and training spaces, its doors hide things only for the most trusted of eyes.Prisoners of war, traitors, rapists- many forsaken souls rot in the bowels of the House. Would that they were lucky enough to be forgotten. Granted brief excursions into the Warrens by Staff and Serpent, they lend "help" to their captors by way of living test subject, punching bag or torture practice to name a few.But there are things deeper still.
Heavily warded doors of heavier iron can be found at the very center of the Sepulcher, easily missed amongst warped cages and abandoned corpses.
Standing too close tickles the mind and warps the vision. Shadows turn in on themselves and the air shimmers like an oil slick...
Best to leave that well alone, don't you think?
Anyone is welcome to poke at these areas! Ask the admin if your curious.
But be warned, unwelcome visits come with consequences~.
OUT OF CHARACTER
| Member Driven: | Though the group has dedicated admins and we set up contracts and events, the group relies on you and the other members for that immersive experience to hold, and we highly encourage personal story arcs and member-run mini-events. As long as it is cleared with admin, you are free to tell whatever tales you wish! |
| What is a Heavy RP Group: | A heavy RP group is one that places a heavy emphasis on the immersive aspect of roleplay. Very little will be shared OOCly, encouraging members to interact with each other to find out the latest juicy bits of gossip and character story. It also comes with an emphasis on well-rounded characters with their own internal arcs running alongside the main group story. |
| Who Are We: | Known by the wider world as House Madaras, the Serpent's Warren has long been a place of prestigious learning for Assassins, dangerous Mages and those with an interest in darker subjects as a whole. Having ties to no nation and a willingness to aid all keep it politically neutral- and blessedly secure. That said, we won't restrict applicants to just characters of those themes. If you are interested, then we can absolutely make it work! |
| What Do We Do: | We are a small group and aim to stay that way. Our member cap is 30, so if you're looking for a huge bustling community, it's not us. We run the groups main story, alongside heists and member plots, content nights and movie nights! |
| Lore-Bending & Themes: | At an IC level, most denizens of the House believe it to simply be a shifty place of learning with the lower levels outfitted to hold criminals from various Nations. At an OOC level those in the House are often the unwitting experiments of others and there are heavy rumours of unsettling things in the Warrens beneath. Twisted dreams are common, hallucinations, unsettling whispers to name a few. All of these things are free for you to utilise in your RP as scene props. |
| The Restless Dead: | It is no small secret that the halls of House Madaras are inhabited by more than just the living. Spirits and Ashkin bound to the house take care of various tasks from delivering messages, to surveillance, to small work tasks to save the living Houseborn time. These are NPC's for use in RP scenes and snippets by anyone. Playing one of these beyond an NPC role needs to be cleared by admin. |
| The Setting | Though FFXIV is a high-fantasy setting, we aim for something much more grounded in the Warrens. There are no over-powered characters here, no Voidsent Lords, no Warriors of Light and no god-like combatants. We are scientists, alchemists, rogues and murderers. While magic still works the same and some of the House are trained, they can absolutely be stopped. We want there to be consequences for your actions and for your characters to feel challenged. Think of it like a level 5 tabletop character attempting a level 9 encounter; it's doable, but at what cost? |
If you have any questions about anything listed here, or the group itself, feel free to reach out to one of the officers in game or Discord!We do not accept characters belonging to the game's main canon.
Discord: Anamsgith
Discord: cheerfulcryptid