The Stray

[A lore-abiding, good-aligned roleplaying guild with heavy focus on asura and charr.]

Excelsior!
Welcome to the Headquarters of Shaarkhawk Corp.

Please pick a language to continue:

Thank you for your interest!

Whether you were recommended to Shaarkhawk for work or lodging, your journey begins now. Apply to the sectors that hold your fancy, and enjoy varied amenities.Room and board are available, as well as local medical care for most conditions. You will have access to the local and Rata Sum data networks and our multiple libraries. Our village also boasts a remote Priory outpost and research trove. Shaarkhawk Corporation also offers a generous patent development grant to aspiring inventors and tuition reimbursement for those looking to expand their techniques.Employment is dependent on background check; education can be supplemented by firsthand experience. NO FORMER INQUEST OR PIRATE AFFILIATION. (Flame Legion accepted on a case by case basis.)

The Board

Shaarkhawk Corp is curated by the following officers:

Recruitment Information

IMPORTANT: We only recruit asura, charr, and northern kodan (tonic character), as much of our RP revolves around these cultures.Our officers work hard to provide guided RP and ongoing arcs, so we are looking for players who are active roleplayers with a love for interaction and character development. Many of our members have been with us for years, allowing for a guild lore built over the entire span of GW2's existence. We seek out players and characters that mesh well with our ongoing story and OOC vibe. For these reasons, we have the following requirements:- Recruitment starts with an interview; we talk about your RP goals, character, and availability.- We do not allow lamping/lurking - please come ready to interact.- Members are expected to participate a minimum of once a week. Our usual roleplay nights are Fri/Sat/Sun, with a fourth night on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, depending on when folks are available. Sessions run from 9pm EST until around 11pm to accommodate everyone's work schedule as much as possible.- All characters ICly entered into Stray must be "good aligned" and lore solid. No "commander" characters or evil backgrounds, please. 'Criminal' history is considered on a case by case basis. (Pick pocket, petty thief? Might be fine. Serial killer? Nooooo.) We require this as the core of the guild lore is lawful good, and unfortunately, OOC issues have happened in the past over RP consequences.- Due to longstanding guild lore, WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY CHARACTERS WITH INQUEST INVOLVEMENT, PAST OR PRESENT. Inquest is the guild's 'big bad', and much of the roleplay revolves around rescue and rehab of their victims. As the CEO of Shaarkhawk Corp has frequently and enthusiastically mentioned: "This is a place of rehabilitation, not redemption. Find yer forgiveness elsewhere."- Discord required for collaboration and dice use.- We use gaming to try and forget about the real world for a little while, especially lately. TALK OF POLITICS IS NOT ALLOWED IN GCHAT OR DISCORD. Please keep discussions in DM.- Keep anything flirtatious/s*xual to PG levels both IC and OOC. If a player expresses discomfort, all are expected to change direction immediately. Be aware that most Strays prefer to keep it extremely light. (Whatever ya'll do in DM is your own business!)- There is a higher threshold for gore/violence/medical & body horror. There is warband/contract RP, a local clinic/medical research facility, and a vicious rivalry against a megakrewe known for horrors in the name of science. Expect the appropriate levels for a necromancer-heavy group of angy rats with medical degrees and a valid chip on their shoulder.- Please be able to disconnect IC from OOC. Player limits with their characters are discussed before arcs with action/hazards to be sure we are respecting player boundaries. However, please do not offer a character if the above subjects will not mesh with what you prefer in RP.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:- Smaller guild that's easier to connect to, but access to an array of characters since most of us have multiple alts.- Regularly scheduled RP nights - you will know what is coming up well in advance.- Opportunities for individual character advancement.- An array of RP nights that span from dedicated arc groups, a table top hybrid, and 'lesson/lecture' classes to add practical skills to your character's resume or explore their field of interest.- An active guild list and characters who will stick around long-term for making connections.- Assistance with lore and character building for those new to RP.- Different genres of roleplay, from casual tavern RP to hybrid tabletop campaigns for those looking for something more involved.- Our officers have firm boundaries and keep drama to a minimum. Players do not have to worry about harassment, but are expected to reach out to an officer if a problem arises.- We watch movies and play other games together, for those interested.

OOC Information

TL;DRStray is a lore-friendly, med-heavy RP guild with some activity in PvP/WvW/other games. Discord and regular participation is required for membership. Heavy on asuran and charr lore, and we are only recruiting those races at this time. RP is eclectic and varies from "slice of life" to more mission-like arcs, often utilizing tabletop mechanics and dice rolls for outcomes. Interview required for recruitment.

SETTINGThe Stray's RP revolves around an asuran-owned megakrewe called "Shaarkhawk Corp." It is run out of a small western village in the Maguuma Wastes called "Shadowprey" (Lost Precipice guild hall.)* The corporation has sectors that involve:- Medical research (necro-friendly, surgical/clinic/research RP, hires mainly asura and charr).
- Hardlight and AI coding (Data lab RP, R&D, asuran hires only).
- Shipping and Salvage (labor/mechanics intensive, open to any race).Shaarkhawk has "sponsored" a warband by the name of Shade (Maguuma Wastes Chapter) to handle security matters for the corporation. Led by Alto Shattershade, his Olmakhan upbringing has influenced how the warband is run, and is therefore open to all races. Other than running guard work for Shaarkhawk, Alto will seek out contracts by Tyrian authorities and present them to the warband for extra work.The village also hosts a variety of residents that either own their own business, are familiar with the residents, or help with general upkeep of Shadowprey.- The village has a Priory office and a large repository of texts and artifacts, often borrowed for research.
- A small Kodan clan resides there and maintains a flame. They also work the local distillery.
- Residents often host classes on different skills or history.*"Shadowprey" originates from the guild's original home in World of Warcraft.

RP STYLEOur roleplay is scheduled ahead of time and can offer a variety or settings and styles. They can be part of an arc/storyline or stand alone, and the guild will host both in the ghall in open world. Some examples are:- Various classes on skills, hobbies, or academics.
- Sellsword/guard RP with strategy and battle.
- Medical RP, both research and clinical.
- Fast-paced Krewe RP.
- Casual slice-of-life.
- Archaeology/Adventure based Priory outings.

CHARACTER GUIDELINESBecause of long-standing guild lore, there are certain guidelines all incoming characters should follow.We aim to adhere as closely to lore as we can, with both character backgrounds and storylines we form for the guild. Gaps in information are often filled with real-life parallels or "logical for the GW2 universe" explanations. Incoming character backgrounds are expected to align with the guild's lore preferences. We will not take "Commander" characters for this reason.Characters must have "Good" alignment. "Neutral" can be questionable, as most D&D players will understand.Characters should not have a background with ties to "Evil" groups, such as Inquest, bandits, White Mantle, etc."Tonic" characters are allowed, as long as the tonic turns your character into something that is mentioned in lore.