<![CDATA[By Wit & Whitby - Rules and Guides]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:41:14 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Plot]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=1071 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:26:22 +0000 Jack]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=1071 [Image: xrKqpRR.jpeg]  
 
Welcome to Whitby – a small Yorkshire coastal town. Throughout its history, Whitby has been (among other things) an important religious centre, one of England’s most prolific shipbuilding ports, and a favoured haven for smugglers. Today, in 1895, its main industries are Whitby jet, fishing, and above all - tourism. Its quaint streets and harbour, jet shops and sandy beach draw hordes of vacationing families every summer, while a great many novelists, painters and photographers find inspiration in the town's beautiful surroundings, the seemingly idyllic lives of the close-knit fishing community, and the ruins of the Gothic abbey towering dramatically above the harbour on the East Cliff.
 
It is December 1895 and winter has truly settled in. There is hardly a tourist to be found now. Days are short and dark; the weather cold and damp. When thick fog rolls in from the North Sea, Whitby is truly a dreary place. Icy rains or snow turn the 199 steps to the Abbey into a slippery hazard for the unsuspecting visitor. North-easterly gales occasionally flood the poorly dredged harbour and may even drift passing colliers onto the shallow seabed to the north-east of town, known as Whitby Rock. A disaster for the owner, but a welcome reprieve for the local poor: free coal!
 
Local school registers keep marking the same pupils as absent on snowy days “for want of boots”. Charities and kindly neighbours do what they can to alleviate the worst suffering, but for Whitby’s very poorest, the cold of winter may prove the last push into the workhouse. The local fishermen have exchanged their nets and pots for long-lines to fish for cod, but rough seas do not always permit them to safely leave the harbour. When they do set out, on calmer days, they know the weather can turn quickly. Many fishing families pick up alternative trades during winter to make ends meet.
 
For those with time and money to spare, the approach of Christmas offers a welcome distraction from the dreariness. Hosts plan dinners and balls. Others shop for Christmas presents. Local shop owners see their profits rise. Lets just hope their business will not be the next target of the rumoured serial arsonist who has already claimed the Whitby Gazette’s printing office and that infamous brothel, the Diamond Pony.
 
As for Whitby’s high society, some have gone to winter in more tolerable climates, such as the French Riviera. Those who remain, busy themselves with the usual social calls, concerts, philanthropy and gossip. All the gossip - the only context in which anyone still mentions the name ‘Carrington’, tut, and that most unladylike Lady MacKenzie. Then there are the newcomers, Mr and Miss Du Pond, who suddenly appear high on every guest list although nobody seems to know who first introduced them into their society.
 
With all the gossip, Christmas festivities, possible arson, frostbite, pointing and laughing at visitors slipping down steps, snowball attacks by street urchins, and shipwrecks, December promises to be another eventful month!


Photograph by: Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (1853-1941)]]> [Image: xrKqpRR.jpeg]  
 
Welcome to Whitby – a small Yorkshire coastal town. Throughout its history, Whitby has been (among other things) an important religious centre, one of England’s most prolific shipbuilding ports, and a favoured haven for smugglers. Today, in 1895, its main industries are Whitby jet, fishing, and above all - tourism. Its quaint streets and harbour, jet shops and sandy beach draw hordes of vacationing families every summer, while a great many novelists, painters and photographers find inspiration in the town's beautiful surroundings, the seemingly idyllic lives of the close-knit fishing community, and the ruins of the Gothic abbey towering dramatically above the harbour on the East Cliff.
 
It is December 1895 and winter has truly settled in. There is hardly a tourist to be found now. Days are short and dark; the weather cold and damp. When thick fog rolls in from the North Sea, Whitby is truly a dreary place. Icy rains or snow turn the 199 steps to the Abbey into a slippery hazard for the unsuspecting visitor. North-easterly gales occasionally flood the poorly dredged harbour and may even drift passing colliers onto the shallow seabed to the north-east of town, known as Whitby Rock. A disaster for the owner, but a welcome reprieve for the local poor: free coal!
 
Local school registers keep marking the same pupils as absent on snowy days “for want of boots”. Charities and kindly neighbours do what they can to alleviate the worst suffering, but for Whitby’s very poorest, the cold of winter may prove the last push into the workhouse. The local fishermen have exchanged their nets and pots for long-lines to fish for cod, but rough seas do not always permit them to safely leave the harbour. When they do set out, on calmer days, they know the weather can turn quickly. Many fishing families pick up alternative trades during winter to make ends meet.
 
For those with time and money to spare, the approach of Christmas offers a welcome distraction from the dreariness. Hosts plan dinners and balls. Others shop for Christmas presents. Local shop owners see their profits rise. Lets just hope their business will not be the next target of the rumoured serial arsonist who has already claimed the Whitby Gazette’s printing office and that infamous brothel, the Diamond Pony.
 
As for Whitby’s high society, some have gone to winter in more tolerable climates, such as the French Riviera. Those who remain, busy themselves with the usual social calls, concerts, philanthropy and gossip. All the gossip - the only context in which anyone still mentions the name ‘Carrington’, tut, and that most unladylike Lady MacKenzie. Then there are the newcomers, Mr and Miss Du Pond, who suddenly appear high on every guest list although nobody seems to know who first introduced them into their society.
 
With all the gossip, Christmas festivities, possible arson, frostbite, pointing and laughing at visitors slipping down steps, snowball attacks by street urchins, and shipwrecks, December promises to be another eventful month!


Photograph by: Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (1853-1941)]]> <![CDATA[Discord]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=157 Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:57:47 +0000 Somniac]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=157 You can find us on Discord here!]]> You can find us on Discord here!]]> <![CDATA[Character Creation]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=4 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 02:27:33 +0000 Somniac]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=4 CHARACTER CREATION
Welcome! This board is open to players who are 18+. If you are under 18, please come back when you are over 18.

We have an open, in-profile character application process. As long as it makes sense for a real-world location, follows the rules, and isn’t game-breaking, you can probably play it here. We are a real-world historic roleplay, so that does mean tangible supernatural or magical beings are not what this site caters to.

Our features include...
  • Unlimited characters
  • No activity checks
  • A general default trust in your sensibilities
  • An open approach to face claims, including drawn, aesthetic, and no face claims required

To get started, register an OOC account. This will be the account that you attach your characters to, which can then be switched between within posting areas.

For each character you would like to post with, create a new account. Click your account name up top to access your control panel. At the bottom of the functions list is the Account Switcher: click that, and add your new account to the OOC account. Presto! Your entourage grows.]]> CHARACTER CREATION
Welcome! This board is open to players who are 18+. If you are under 18, please come back when you are over 18.

We have an open, in-profile character application process. As long as it makes sense for a real-world location, follows the rules, and isn’t game-breaking, you can probably play it here. We are a real-world historic roleplay, so that does mean tangible supernatural or magical beings are not what this site caters to.

Our features include...
  • Unlimited characters
  • No activity checks
  • A general default trust in your sensibilities
  • An open approach to face claims, including drawn, aesthetic, and no face claims required

To get started, register an OOC account. This will be the account that you attach your characters to, which can then be switched between within posting areas.

For each character you would like to post with, create a new account. Click your account name up top to access your control panel. At the bottom of the functions list is the Account Switcher: click that, and add your new account to the OOC account. Presto! Your entourage grows.]]> <![CDATA[Rules]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=3 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:05:48 +0000 Somniac]]> https://bywitandwhitby.com/showthread.php?tid=3 RULES & ETIQUETTE
We try to keep it simple here at By Wit & Whitby. Our goal is a community that builds each other up and makes collaborative writing together something to look forward to.
  1. 18+ only, please.
  2. Be respectful to your fellow players, including staff. This includes being mindful of other players' boundaries.
  3. We all accidentally cross lines sometimes. However, abusive behavior is not tolerated here. Repeated disrespect of your fellow players and staff, abuse, and boundary crossing will result in banning after all other intervention measures have been exhausted.
  4. It is recommended to tag your threads to the best of your ability with anything that writing partners and readers might appreciate a heads-up for (racism, sexism, common discriminatory phobias, violence, etc.); [CW] tags for your grittier/gorier threads' titles, please.
  5. Please take notice of your partner's comfort levels and consent before including sexual and/or potentially disturbing content in your threads.
  6. We do not allow graphic rape threads on our forum - such content must Fade to Black.

What Do I Need to Do?

Where most of us begin is with the creation of an OOC account using the name you would like us to refer to you by. Technically, you could do that and only that and engage with various NPCS, tangents, and what have you. There's also the option of a main character account - or for the hardcore separatists, logging in individually to each of your accounts when you want to post with them.

That said, most of us are going to create characters (likely multiple characters) who will be attached to the OOC account through the Account Switcher in your control panel (accessed by clicking your name).

Each field in your character's profile (edited through your Control Panel) is optional, but intended to give information that can be used for plotting. Fill in as much or as little as you please.

What are the Prefixes?

Prefixes here are used to indicate three things:
CW: Content warning. Like movie ratings, but more specific. A general list can be found under spoiler here - if you have something you would like tagged, it is a good idea to let your partner know. Content warnings can be added either preemptively or at the time of content addition.
Common Content Warnings:

Open: Anyone can join, including after someone else has joined. If you consider the thread full, simply go to the beginning and remove the [Open] tag.
Complete: The thread is done. No further posting is expected. Enjoy that nice, clean Complete feeling.

No Prefix can be assumed to mean A. ask before joining, or B. follow any given instructions within the thread for posting.

Avatars

Face claims, aesthetic avatars, and no avatars are all accepted here. We gently recommend a size of 395x250 for best fit.

Edits & Updates
2/28/2020 - Tweaked language in Rule #4 to clarify expectations; tweaked language in Need to Do section to be more inclusive of various sign-up preferences.]]> RULES & ETIQUETTE
We try to keep it simple here at By Wit & Whitby. Our goal is a community that builds each other up and makes collaborative writing together something to look forward to.
  1. 18+ only, please.
  2. Be respectful to your fellow players, including staff. This includes being mindful of other players' boundaries.
  3. We all accidentally cross lines sometimes. However, abusive behavior is not tolerated here. Repeated disrespect of your fellow players and staff, abuse, and boundary crossing will result in banning after all other intervention measures have been exhausted.
  4. It is recommended to tag your threads to the best of your ability with anything that writing partners and readers might appreciate a heads-up for (racism, sexism, common discriminatory phobias, violence, etc.); [CW] tags for your grittier/gorier threads' titles, please.
  5. Please take notice of your partner's comfort levels and consent before including sexual and/or potentially disturbing content in your threads.
  6. We do not allow graphic rape threads on our forum - such content must Fade to Black.

What Do I Need to Do?

Where most of us begin is with the creation of an OOC account using the name you would like us to refer to you by. Technically, you could do that and only that and engage with various NPCS, tangents, and what have you. There's also the option of a main character account - or for the hardcore separatists, logging in individually to each of your accounts when you want to post with them.

That said, most of us are going to create characters (likely multiple characters) who will be attached to the OOC account through the Account Switcher in your control panel (accessed by clicking your name).

Each field in your character's profile (edited through your Control Panel) is optional, but intended to give information that can be used for plotting. Fill in as much or as little as you please.

What are the Prefixes?

Prefixes here are used to indicate three things:
CW: Content warning. Like movie ratings, but more specific. A general list can be found under spoiler here - if you have something you would like tagged, it is a good idea to let your partner know. Content warnings can be added either preemptively or at the time of content addition.
Common Content Warnings:

Open: Anyone can join, including after someone else has joined. If you consider the thread full, simply go to the beginning and remove the [Open] tag.
Complete: The thread is done. No further posting is expected. Enjoy that nice, clean Complete feeling.

No Prefix can be assumed to mean A. ask before joining, or B. follow any given instructions within the thread for posting.

Avatars

Face claims, aesthetic avatars, and no avatars are all accepted here. We gently recommend a size of 395x250 for best fit.

Edits & Updates
2/28/2020 - Tweaked language in Rule #4 to clarify expectations; tweaked language in Need to Do section to be more inclusive of various sign-up preferences.]]>