This event starts on the 26th of SEPTEMBER and ends on the 10th of OCTOBER

Welcome to the Seventh Year of the yearly Rutting Event!

In reality The Rut is a time where does gather and stags attempt to round them up for breeding. In their quest for romance, the stags battle one another to win the attention of the does, who only want the best of the best. It is an impressive spectacle for nature enthusiasts all over to observe.

In The Endless Forest where the rules of nature do not apply so much, The Rut is an organized contest and an annual tradition; a competitive game in which characters of all types and backgrounds gather simply for the thrill and entertainment of reenacting its concept. It is a perfect opportunity for characters to gain development, prove themselves to one another, expand their social circle, and enjoy themselves.

READ ALL OF THE RULES BEFORE APPLYING

• The Event: Participants may engage in activities such as sparring with or fighting one another, gathering in herds, and socializing.
  
  
• Respect & Responsibility: Actions associated with the event only apply to its members, and any poor treatment towards anyone not participating (uninvolved/nameless/newbies) will lead to disqualification. Therefore, please treat non-participants as you would on everyday circumstances. Furthermore, any significant injuries or severe conflicts as a result of this event should always be consented between the players involved. Mindful communication is key.
  
  
• Fairness: You are responsible for your character's fair portrayal. Powerful or not, with activity comes fatigue, and it will affect their performance as time progresses. No character is indestructible. All types and classes are worth taking seriously, if not, it could be at the expense of your own character. Especially fast healing or recovery, even if offered through the means of another character, is not allowed.
  
  
• Play Style: Unlike its natural counterpart that the event is based off of, categories are not gender or even species exclusive; simply pick the position that suits your character most as an individual. While in-character prejudice and preferences are allowed, be aware and understanding of the consequences that could arise in lieu of such. Do not mix player knowledge with character knowledge, and be especially considerate of more ambiguously expressing characters. It should also be noted that characters of all relationship statuses, hormone driven or not, can participate, as any actions less than innocent is not an official aspect of the event. Fluidity in classes, such as characters wishing to participate in more than one, is allowed as long as you prioritize one primary role. If so, state this in your biography and make sure that your in-game behavior is clear and obvious. Finally, have consideration towards your fellow players, and try not to play at the needless expense of anyone.
  
  
• Mature Content: While we recognize that some people will participate in mature themes as a result of this event, it has to be kept discrete. The Rut is supposed to be friendly to all audiences, and we do not want this sort of material reflecting on the event itself. Furthermore, we strictly forbid any associations regarding ideologically sensitive or triggering material. Anyone caught breaking this rule will be kicked out of this year's event immediately. Plots of this nature can be done outside this event.
  
  
• Performance: Due to the notoriously large amount of people the event has attracted in the past - something that has been known to have a negative impact on the server - we ask, for the duration of the event, if you could please refrain from needless idling or from using multiple inactive windows.
  
  
• Sanctuary: There will be no rutting at major locations such as the Twin Gods statues, Ruins, Poppy Patch, Crying Idol, Pond, Old Oak, De Drinkplaats, Blue Bowl, and Playground. These areas will show up in red on the map below.

If anyone is an active breaker of these rules, they may be reported via email to the moderators. We will look into it.

This class is for those wishing to participate in the core role of judging.

Judges dictate where the herds gather and in what locations the conflicts take place. Most importantly, they alone decide which combatants emerge victorious, rewarding them with praise and company. Their preferences are subjective to each individual, whether they value the cunning persistence of Challengers, or the sheer power of Competitors. Their praise and attention is what every combatant strives to gain, so be critical, and enjoy yourself - The Rut revolves around you.

The entire event relies on the active participation of this class. Without their intervention, fights could go on for a needless amount of time, making the combatants lose their purpose, thus rendering their efforts void. Exclusive loyalty and overall passiveness within this class is therefore strongly discouraged.

You may not choose the role of Judge if you are unwilling to pass judgement, as it is crucial, and the whole event is counting on you playing your part.

Reminder: Judges can not wait around to see who will win a fight, they need to step in and decide the winner themselves within a reasonable amount of time.

This class is for those wishing to participate with a show of brute strength.

Competitors are all about direct combat and experience. It is a high stress class centered around holding their own against other Competitors, driving away Challengers, and attempting to maintain the attention of the Judges.

Considering the participants of this class are known to be powerful and sizable, it is important to note that size will have a considerable impact on their performance, for better or for worse. For example, while larger characters would pack stronger blows compared to smaller characters, they also suffer reduced agility and are quicker to tire. The greater the size, the more severe the effect.

To ensure balance and fairness for all, we ask that you take this consequence into account, and allow your character adequate time to rest between sessions. Additionally, anyone choosing to team up in this class may well be perceived as less capable, and could therefore risk being received poorly by the Judges.

Reminder: Competitors compete for the approval of the Judges, however, aberrations can occur as long as it is not the focus.

This class is for those wishing to participate with a performance of perseverance.

Challengers, for whatever reason, are unable to compete with the forward approach of the Competitor. Their advantage may instead lie in endurance and persistence, speed and agility, as well as cunning and tricks. They tend to be highly diverse and flexible in play style.

Participants of this class have their own sets of skills and advantages, giving them the potential to be equally formidable and impressive like their class counterpart. Against all odds, they endure, and are worthy of being taken seriously by Judges and Competitors alike. That being said, their energy is far from limitless. Do not confuse their ways of participating with the methods of Competitors.

Due to the nature of this class, participants benefit from less repercussions when teaming up or being unable to hold an audience.

Reminder: Challengers compete for the approval of the Judges, however, aberrations can occur as long as it is not the focus.

This class is for those not wishing to directly participate as any of the available roles, but still want to be involved in their own way.

Wildcards react as their character would under normal circumstances. Basically, they do not seek to judge, nor to impress the Judges. They simply wish not to be entirely excluded from the interaction and commotion the event brings. Characters of this class should not expect to be treated the same way as the other classes. A Wildcard wishing to receive attention from Competitors and Challengers without having to take on the role of the Judge, or wishing to compete without care for Judge approval, must take their own initiative to. They should not expect to be automatically fought over as, without judgement to declare a winner, fights could become prolonged and pointless.

They are not excused from setting out to disrupt the event as a whole. Minor disturbance towards participants is okay, but in the case of any major harassment, consent between players is obligatory. It is highly advised that you elaborate on how your character will interact in their biographies.

Reminder: Wildcards are not to be mistaken as a fourth class or a combination of all classes. They are simply not exempt from event related involvement the way the unapplied members of the community are. Wildcards are still in The Rut for the same reason as you are - to socialize - so please pay them the same respect as you would your fellow participants.

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This page is run by Veedeer, Unplugged, Aivilo, and Ammy. If you need to contact us for any reason, please don't hesitate to email us at:

Vee: vee-vee-vee@hotmail.co.uk
Aivilo: AiviloTEF@outlook.com
Unplugged: arciawuzhere@hotmail.com
Wind: theslightbreeze@hotmail.com

If you have any suggestions on how to improve the event, please post here.

A special thanks to Aivilo for the Google Spreadsheet, organization, and tutorials.
A special thanks to Unplugged for the new and improved CSS.
A special thanks to J!n for rewriting and refining the rules and descriptions.
And a thank you to the community for making this event an annual success.