{ tabula rasa } VERY VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE PG. 217

What kind of clothing and items would you like to see put out first?

Modern-- Japanese street-fashion like	33.6%	[ 95 ]
High Fantasy-- Tunics, chainmail, etc.	17.0%	[ 48 ]
Exotic-- Clothing from around the world	26.5%	[ 75 ]
Historic-- Renaissance gowns, empire waists, ...	23.0%	[ 65 ]
Total Votes:			[ 283 ]

[Zoude]

[W]e have as clear a notion of the substance of spirit, as we have of body; the one being supposed to be (without knowing what it is) the substratum of those simple ideas we have from without; and the other supposed (with like ignorance of what it is) to be the substratum to those operations we experiment in ourselves within... Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? .... To this I answer in one word, from experience.

(II: xxiii:5); (II:i:2)
Dr. John Locke, 456th year of Aasa

Welcome to Tabula Rasa, a breedables/changeables shop based on classical philosophy and drawing inspiration from both the Kingdom Hearts and His Dark Materials series. Feel free to look around and chat with us. We hope you enjoy your stay!

{ index }

{1} Tabula Rasa Welcome & Index
{2} Calendar News & Updates
{3} Decree Rules
{4} Prelude Story
{5} World Setting
{6} Phases Tabula Stages
{7} Portrayal Roleplay & Activity
{8} Union Breeding
{9} Opportunity Availability
{10} Questions FAQ
{11} Notables Player List
{12} Acclaimed Staff
{13} Treaties Links
{14} Proposal Requests & Suggestions
{15} Acknowledgement Credits

[Zoude]

{ news }
Saturday, February 7, 2009 It's Tabula Rasa's first rehoming event! A plus to having a rehomed character is that the intro RP is already done for you, so you can jump right into RP!

Sunday, December 14, 2008 If you haven't already, make your way over to Snowfield, what is passing for Tabula Rasa's holiday event this year, and buy people gifts!

Saturday, October 4, 2008 8-- yes, 8 Tabula are available at the Tabula Rasa Halloween Event! Lots of halloween-themed fun guaranteed, even if you're not trying for a Tabula!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Jyoti's back! Stay tuned!


Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Two Tabula (Penguin and Antique Ice) are available at Frozen in Time, a collaborative B&C winter event thread!


Wednesday, September 5, 2007 The "Birds of a Feather" Concept Contest is now underway! Yay!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Welcome Adara, Damaris, Reginald and Ophelia as our new Alice in Wonderland Tabula! Also welcome Wacoon and cyanidelolli as Tabula Rasa's Official Ink Squad!

Thursday, June 7, 2007 After much delay, the first ever Tabula Rasa auctions are open! Go visit and have some whimsical fun!

Saturday, March 10, 2007 Seiana_ZI, one of our RP Managers, will be going on hiatus from Thursday, March 15th to Monday, March 19th! During this period, Seiana will not be available for any questions as she will have no internet connection, so if you need her for anything, do not expect a response until late Monday at the least.

Friday, March 02, 2007 Congratulations to Jadine Rhine for winning the first proposal contest!

Sunday, February 18, 2007 Welcome Amika and Jadine Rhine, Ashwin and Rainbow Lime, Tanee and zigeunerweisen and Theron and Bloody Anubis!

Friday, February 9, 2007 Tabula Rasa's very first flatsale has begun! Come try out for a chance at the seasons!

Sunday, January 28, 2007 Posts are starting to be filled in!

[Zoude]

{1} All Gaia rules apply.No art theft, no harrassment and nothing over PG-13.

{2} Do not PM staff members.Please post all comments and queries in this thread. Shop mules may be PMed if necessary.

{3} One Tabula for one person.Since these characters are based on roleplay, only one per person will be allowed at this time. There is no co-owning.

{4} This is a roleplay-focused shop.There are a few roleplay rules laid out in post 7 (portrayal) that you should read before trying for a character. Remember, there are roleplay requirements to fulfill in order to keep your character. This is expanded upon in post 7.

If you do not fulfill the minimum requirements, you will receive a warning via PM. It is in your best interests to respond as soon as you are able. If there is no response or there is an expressed desire not to be involved with the shop anymore, your Tabula will be taken away and rehomed.

{5} NO REFUNDS.

[Zoude]

The queen had gone mad. This was what everyone said, whispering incredulously to their neighbours. Their beloved queen, the paragon of compassion, lost to the snapping jaws of the illness ravaging Odisse. The gods were punishing her, they said. And she, drawing her last breaths, prostrate on the death bed, uttered but one word: "Sias".

King Sias, ruler of the Royal City of Odisse, never took another queen. It was the fifth year of mourning when he shed his black robes, embracing the rationality of the philosophes. Odisse exploded into a new era of prosperity, thriving as the royal family came out from under the shadows. The princes were admired as far as Nanshe for their extraordinary talents, and the little princess had proven to be the image of her mother. The king employed renowned philosophes as his trusted council, and many more to explore the wonders of Duniya.

***

The honourable king has sent for me; I cannot begin to imagine a reason. His messenger waits impatiently as I gather my most recent notes and carefully, so that she does not see, check on the shard. It is as it was minutes ago, when I last examined it. She taps her foot in an anxiety-ridden anthem and leads me out of the chamber to an expansive hall, glittering with light and mirrors. The wealth here will never cease to astound my eyes. She opens a heavy wooden door edged with gold and I am before him.

"Tell me what you have learned of the Rasa."

And I shuffle awkwardly through my notes, as months of research pours from my mouth like wine. The king seems weary as my word taper off. The lines of his face are deepening before my eyes, an invisible sculptor forcing a wedge into the skin and etching a tale of sorrow.

The dark-haired messenger leads me back the way we came, coming to a halt before my door. She wrinkles her nose at me as I open it, and replace the notes I had taken with me. I hear another sniff, and go to the door to see what the woman wants.

But raven hair is not what greets me. Hair like the moon spills across her penetrating blue eyes and her pale skin glitters. Sitting on my bed is a woman of no regular composition, and with no modesty, seeing as she displays a disturbing lack of clothing. But that thought is in the back of my mind, for it is another of her features I find far more disturbing: the large void in the middle of her chest, in which rests the shard.

[Zoude]

Duniya

Duniya is but one plane of many, a hub through which the shadows of travelers pass, leaving but the faintest trace. Divided into ten sovereign states, Duniya is a diverse world. To the northwest is the kingdom of Dieme, rules by the house of Treuse. The royal palace of Treuse, situated in the capital of Odisse, overlook a prosperous nation, grounded in the enquiries of the philosophes. The palace houses Duniya’s most famed library, filled with numerous volumes of scholarly writing produced by the perpetual students of the nearby Diatriba, attracting great minds. Odisse’s liberal views make it a haven for beings of all shapes and sizes, who flock to its gates.

To Dieme’s south lie the forested expanses of Dyeus, land of the Phyta. Being Phytan sacred ground, no other race dare walk its paths. It is here that the fabled Kansawoods lay; filled with unearthly beauty and ancient secrets buried years ago. Through Dyeus the will of the earth resounds strongest and it is here the earth mother is revered most greatly.

Further south still can be found the peninsula of Elyon, where the landscape is dotted with hallowed grounds and shrines are commonplace. Dedicated to serving the pantheon, the people of Elyon enjoy the blessings of the gods. Sought by many, Elyon is reached by few, being surrounded by peaks piercing the sky.

Asherah is known throughout Duniya as the state of textiles, producing more cloth than all other nations combined. Yards of brightly-coloured silk accompany the laughs of its people wrapped in joyous melody. Music and dance is an integral part of the culture, and the Asheri performing arts have found popularity all over Duniya.

With a culture similar to Asherah’s, Inkasi is often grouped with its neighbour. Inkasi, however, cultivates a more refined and quiet taste. The people of Inkasi are appreciators of beauty, and the aesthetic ranks high on the list of priorities. As a result, the Inkasian arts have drawn praise from even the gods.

The plains of Mandelo are home to the Nagani, a race of snake-like beings. While the Nagani are in all probability the most intelligent and charismatic group to grace Duniya, their exotic appearance often drives a wedge between the Nagani and the other native races of Duniya. Mandelo is comprised of two halves weaving seamlessly into a whole—Mandelese metropolises sprawl across never ending plains that stretch past the horizon into planes beyond.

The islands of Yenne and Yasna are never spoken of apart from each other—the histories of the tropical isles are intrinsically tied. A sunny, idyllic spot of Duniya, their sovereignty depends on skillful diplomacy on part of the Yennese council.

Nanshe, often shrouded in mists and impenetrable fog, is geographically isolated from the rest of Duniya. Its inhabitants, mysterious and enigmatic, come infrequently to the mainland, but do a brisk business as a port nation.

Barisai is the land of rains, monsoons drenching the thirsty land for most of the year. It is home to the Barisay, beings who make their home in the waters. The hilly land is inhospitable to most, but the Barisay thrive in low lands where water tends to pool.

Rasaya

To most, Rasaya is nothing but a myth, the culmination of ageless tales woven together to form a plane of a thousand stories. Rasaya is said to be where the Pantheon convenes; where the gods enjoy themselves in its eternal serenity, seated by the stream, the Rasaya by which the plane takes its name; so called because of the heavy concentration of Rasa running through it. Of Rasaya are heard only tales; there are none who give their word that they have experienced it.

[Zoude]

Awakened

As Rasa breaks off the heart, it wanders, in an unnatural state of detachment from matter. But sometimes, it seems Rasa crystallizes and forms a shard; it is one of these shards I had found the day before. From Rasa arise all things immaterial: our thoughts, memories and emotions. I believe that as Rasa crystallizes, a piece of the heart it broke off from is carried with the shard. Aquinas is just now yelling at one I imagine contains the essence of anger—it seems to be yelling back in a sort of thundering hum.

Manifest

All beings are made of two things—Rasa and matter. When the Rasa shards had been awakened, they were but solid Rasa. It seems that these shards call for matter, and it returns the call, concentrating around the shard until a full being is produced. They are but white pages, pale and sapped of all colour and emotion. Great voids grace their chests, revealing the shard set where the heart should rightly be.

Rebirth

Born blank, the beings have begun to take on distinct characteristics due to their experiences in this world. I call them the Tabula Rasa, a fitting name in honour of their mystical beginnings. They are like children, learning the ways of the world and discovering the deep corners of themselves. The gaps of their bodies closed, the Tabula are no different from those who were conceived of worldly means.

Ascended

I have never before seen anything like it. It is simply astounding.

-From the Journal of J. Locke, 455th Year of Aasa

[Zoude]

{ roleplay }

Tabula Rasa is a roleplay-focused shop. This means that except for non-roleplay required Tabula (which will be VERY CLEARLY denoted), you must roleplay in order to keep retain your Tabula. The minimum requirements are that you participate in one roleplay per month, be it a journal entry or dedicated posting in an environment with multiple players. This does not mean you must complete an entire roleplay within one month; only dedicatedly participate. (One or two posts do NOT count!)

Growth requirements are not set numerically. Instead, as you roleplay and participate in shop activities, your Tabula will gain experience. At set checkpoints, your Tabula will advance to a new phase. For detailed growth requirements, check this thread.

Tabula Rasa is fully literate and expects you to be. This does not mean you'll get penalized if you misspell the occasional word, miss a period or make a typo. It does mean that you are expected to take the time to check over your posts and make sure they are understandable. Contrary to popular Gaian belief, grammar and good English are very important in getting any point or idea across in a clear way.

This needs to be clarified. Literate, in this sense, DOES NOT mean you have to write a certain length in each post/response. It means you write your responses like you would write a narrative, and that you show good control of the English language.

All formal roleplay should take place in the guild. It helps keep things organized, and prevents the staff from going crazy. Thus, there is no need for OOC brackets.

[Zoude]

I fear I do not even want to think about thinking about this at the moment.

-J. Locke

[Zoude]

Current


Rehoming flatsale!


Upcoming




Spicy flatsale. Stay tuned for details.


Customs


Unavailable at the moment.

[Zoude]

None yet!

[Zoude]

Tabula | Gender | Essence | Player | @ - Journal
Sephiroth | Male | Cosplay | KaelinJennis | @ | Manifest
Dantes | Male | Revenge | Yiiei |@ | Manifest
Sokka | Male | Cosplay | ??? |@ | Manifest
Albel Nox | Male | Cosplay | ??? |@ | Manifest
Aisling | Female | Dream | Seiana_ZI | @ | Manifest
Theron | Male | Winter | Bloody Anubis |@ | Manifest
Ashwin | Male | Autumn | Rainbow Lime | @ | Manifest
Tanee | Female | Spring | romantic wishes | @ | Manifest
Amika | Female | Summer | Jadine Rhine | @ | Manifest
Adara | Female | Alice | Rhaw | @ | Manifest
Ophelia | Female | Queen of Hearts | Glass Crow | @ | Manifest
Cheshire | Male | Cheshire Cat | Hikari_of_Genesis | @ | Manifest
Reginald | Male | The (Mad) Hatter | NinetailedNightmare | @ | Manifest
Damaris | Male | The Mock Turtle | Persephone13 | @ | Manifest
Antoinette | Female | Affection | sunaa | @ | Manifest
Gavin Archemedes | Male | Flamingo | giftwrapped | @ | Manifest
Lenneth | Female | Dove | Teh Angel Yuna | @ | Manifest
Jaydon | Male | Penguin | CrispyWonderMint | @ | Manifest
Real | Male | Forgotten | TomiTora | @ | Awakened
Zero | Male | Faded | Marushii | @ | Awakened
Calipse | Female | Bones | Indecisive Yohko | @ | Awakened
Shannon | Male | Rag Doll | hostel_en_frunk | @ | Awakened
Sernye | Male | Devilish | Lumenne | @ | Awakened
Astra | Female | Manic | Elda-chan | @ | Awakened
Aletheia | Female | Antique Ice | fairie lore | @ | Awakened

[Zoude]

Jyoti





Seiana_ZI





giftwrapped

[Zoude]

[url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12470924] [IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g92/Zoude/malelink.jpg[/IMG] [/url]

[url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12470924] [IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g92/Zoude/femlink.jpg[/IMG] [/url]

[Zoude]

If you have a suggestion for a feature or an item for Tabula Rasa, we'd love your feedback! You may submit all proposals via PM to Zoude.


November

No proposals for this month!


Past Proposals

February :: Starter Outfits :: Jadine Rhine

[Zoude]

kkamagi For some wonderful concept sketches!

Numerous philosophers throughout the ages This shop is built around their ideas, and without them thinking up this crazy stuff, we wouldn't have this crazy shop!

Kingdom Hearts I & II For the idea of hearts and divisions within beings (better known as Dualism).

His Dark Materials Dust and religious subtexts.