Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is where everyone can se what stage their Herald is at, if they are due for a growth, and how many playdates they have completed. The RP Managers will update this as much as often as they can. Feel free to ask questions here as well.

Now, the method of getting the Herald is only for determining how the appearance of the Herald will look. If it a Custom, Trade, or Gift, then it is completely up to the Guardian and the RP Managers will not submit anything to the artist as to the appearance of the Herald's next stage(s). If it is a flatsale, semi-custom, raffle, or event, Herald that was not a full custom, then the RP Manager is the one who determines the appearance. The artists also have some ideas as to what they want to do. Just remember, for anything not a C/T/G uses Role-Play to determine the Herald's appearance.


Fallen Messenger - Messenger Reborn
--- Journal Set-up Complete :: because different people have different ideas as to what constitutes a journal, the way this will be determined is to have the owner PM a message to the Herald mule stating that they have finished setting up their journal. Basics should be done, having some reserved posts is okay.
--- 2 Standard Prompts :: There are two (2) standard prompts for this stage.
Messenger Reborn - Child
--- 2 Standard Prompts :: There are two (2) standard prompts for this stage
--- 5 RP Playdates :: Defined below
Child - Teen
--- 2 Standard Prompts :: There are two (2) standard prompts for this stage
--- 10 RP Playdates :: Defined below
Teen - Adult
--- 2 Prompts :: There is one (1) standard prompt, and one (1) unique prompt
--- 15 RP Playdates :: Defined below
Adult/Teen - Breed
--- 2 Prompts :: There is one (1) standard prompt, and one (1) unique prompt in order to breed
--- RP Playdates :: At discretion of the staff and artists... we will contact the owners
Adult - Mystery Stage?
--- 2 Prompts :: same as breeding requirements
--- 100 RP Playdates :: Because no one has reached this stage, or even come close.... this is still undecided. But, as this is a rare stage, expect it to be pretty exclusive

*RP Playdate :: There are three options to fulfill one RP playdate. They are as follows:
1) RPing with... someone else. It can be in groups, it can be with one person. As long as you RP at least 6 posts, it counts. It is per thread per time IC. For example, if you are RPing with someone else in the "Our Town" thread, and it last seven days IRL, but IC it is one day, it counts as one RP no matter how many times you post.
2) Prompt Think-Tank. There is a thread in the guild that has a whole bunch of prompts. Some of them will be age-specific, and some will be open for all ages. But, unless the prompt can apply to many things (i.e. holidays), you can only use a prompt ONCE.
3) Participate in an event. The event itself will define what is required in order to get credit.


If a Herald has had no RP-activity in 12 calendar months or more, then the shop will be flash-growing the Herald to their adult stage. Any stage-art in between their current stage and adult stage will not be completed unless it has already been done by the artist.

+ After 12 calendar months of inactivity, an adult growth form will be sent to the Herald's artist.
+ The artist will get the art done as soon as they can (note: it is low priority).
+ If the Guardian has a change of heart and starts the RP after this point, but before the artist has finished their Heralds adult art, they will still not be eligible for any other stages.

For example, if Herald A's last RP activity was on February 3, 2007, then on March 1, 2008 (after the full 12th calendar month is complete), s/he will have their form sent to their artist and their only/last growth will be to the Adult stage.

NOTE ON RETURNING GUARDIANS (after inactive for 12+ months)
Some people may be worried about coming back, and that they have nothing to work for with their Herald. This is not the case. Even if your Herald was flash-grown to adult, there is still much that you can do. Like any other Adult-premade Herald, your Herald can still breed (with the required RP that anyone who wants to breed must meet) and is still eligible for the mysterious 6th stage (which is not guaranteed for any Herald).

EXCEPTIONS
There are exceptions to this policy....
1) If your Herald is at the teen stage, they will NOT be flash-grown. There really is not point. And by-the-by, teens can be eligible to breed, but as always extensive RP is required... so if you are aiming for breeding then you'll have put enough work in for an Adult-growth anyways.
2) Pet-trades will be done in a case-by-case manner. This is because the 'contract' done between two people is not really between the new-Guardian and the shop. These cases will be settled between the Guardian and the person the trade was done with (and the artist if it is not the person who made the trade).
3) If a Herald has been waiting for their growth art for more than a year, and this is why the Guardian has not RP-ed, then they are also excempt. We know that waiting for growths is frustrating and can destroy motivation to RP. So, because it is not the fault of the Guardian, they will not be flash-grown. Note: there is only one person approaching 1 year of waiting, and she's been active so this doesn't apply.
4) If the Guardian requested that there Herald not grow. This is a non-changeable desicion, so make sure it is what you want.