The administrative staff and the community understand that, sometimes, things just don't work out the way you thought they would. We've all been there: You get excited about a character concept, apply while in the heat of the moment, roll stats, buy equipment, jump in, and soon find yourself disappointed because your PC isn't coming to life quite the way you first envisioned, for whatever reason. That's okay, you're not alone when that happens!

While we really do prefer lasting characters (and require durable players) in Freehold, the bottom line is: It's a game—not a job. Things change, circumstances alter, and we try to be as flexible in our response to that as possible, within the bounds of what's best for the game and the community. We'd much rather a good player switch characters, and stick around with a PC that makes them happy enough to enjoy Freehold, than ask them to ride it out for who knows how long with a character that's just not working anymore. That's not fair or fun. However, it must be said that a lot of work goes into an application and into integrating new concepts from character backstories and wishlists into the game, and it can create a lot of unpleasant paperwork for the GMs (on top of the effort from the original RTJ process) to try and write a defunct or unwanted PC out of the story and plots.

Because of this, we offer an auction option for abandoned or "orphaned" characters, whether they are the result of a player who flounced or flaked and left their PC behind after getting banned, or of a player who politely retired or told the administrators that they wished to try something new, instead. Players who officially inform the GM staff that a PC isn't working for them and that they'd like to discard the concept (or leave the game entirely) always have the option to request that their orphaned character not be put up for auction—the original idea is yours, and you have control over it.

Orphaned characters will be publicly posted to the community and offered up for bid, and existing players may work out amongst themselves who (if anyone) wishes to take the PC over for themselves. Only a player who is eligible to field a second or third PC, as described here, and who is not already at character capacity can volunteer to adopt an orphaned character concept. An adopted character is given over to the new owner with the option to retool under GM supervision, so long as doing so doesn't retcon or drastically alter visible points of the game (as per usual). Adopted characters are expected be played using the same established personalities and elements they have always used.

Orphaned PCs are on auction for up to one week before bids are closed. Any character not claimed by a new player is taken over as an NPC until a good opportunity arises for a write-out by the GMs, after which the character is discarded from the game. Established events of which the defunct character was a part remain in Freehold’s history (in other words, surviving characters in-game shouldn't pretend the departed character never existed), but they are gone from the adventure and will not return.