It is perhaps unusual to start a rules document with Character Death, but it's such an important element to this game that we need to cover it first and foremost, as the rules surrounding death at this system differ from many other larps that people may have played.

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Death is Optional

At The Flamel Academy, we want to encourage people to play very three-dimensional characters that a good deal of time and effort has gone into. Because of that, we feel it is only fair that you get the opportunity to fully explore that character without the risk of getting blown up into a thousand pieces just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

As such, the only 'fatal' damage that can be inflicted upon your character is "Mortally Wounded". You, the player, choose if your character is Dead. You will never be told by a ref that your character is unavoidably deceased.

The states your character can be in are as follows:
Alive and Well - You still have at least 1HP
Unconscious - You are on 0HP 
Mortally Wounded - You are on -1HP and are bleeding out
On Death's Doorstep - Your bleedout timer has reached zero, and you must now choose to be Dead or Dodge Death

Dead - You have opted to allow your character to die
Dodged Death - Your bleedout timer reached zero and you've chosen to survive


Dodging Death Comes At A Price...
Just because death is optional, that does not mean that the game isn't without it's risks.

 

Being injured or cursed to a point where death is a realistic option will have consequences for your character. For example, they may lose hit points, become weak to certain types of magic, or forget one or more of their spells/skills. Whenever you choose to have Dodged Death, the Head Ref will determine what the downside of your survival will be.

Should it get to a point where your character has died so many times that they no longer possess any magical abilities, there is no logical reason why they would be permitted to remain at The Flamel Academy. However, if you can think of a viable reason why the character would be welcome to stay, we will happily discuss this with you. 

 

Death Should Still Be Avoided!

Just because a player knows OC that they can choose when their character dies, this should not affect how their character acts IC. As far as all characters are aware, death is a very real and dangerous option, and one from which there may be no return. Having a character who happily runs face-first into swords or gets into staring contests with Gorgons for fun and somehow never dies is considered to be breaking the spirit of the game, and may result in us asking you to kill or retire the character. In extreme cases where the spirit of the game is being broken, despite warnings from the Game Team, you may not be welcome to continue playing. Please treat character death with respect/

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PvP Is Permitted, Though Discouraged
Given the setting, there is not much reason why any player student or player faculty member should want to kill another. However, this is larp, and people tend to find reasons to use fatal violence as a solution to their problems! Should you wish to enact a PvP hit on another player, please discuss this with KJ in advance so it can be determined that your reasons for doing so are valid, have no OOC motivations, and that the rules surrounding PvP are followed. 

However, be aware that the "Death is Optional" rule still applies. While you may mortally injure your target, they still get to decide whether the character survives or dies.

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You Don't Have To Die To Lose Your Character...
If your character breaks one of the Immutable Laws, or acts in another way where there is no logical reason why they'd be permitted to remain at The Flamel Academy, you may be asked to retire your character. Just because we will not force your character to die, please do not think this gives you a free pass to have your character act as evil as possible!