What happens in the Departed Realm, Stays in the Departed Realm

Between the Lines and the Luggage

The room settled into an expectant hush as Kiara stepped forward, a clipboard in hand and an unshakably calm demeanor in place. The walls around them shimmered faintly with the magic of the communal space—neutral ground for the moment, borrowed from the Dragon Estate.

"Thank you for your patience. Now that base assignments are settled, we need to review expectations."

Morro leaned back in his chair, arms folded. Madeline sat cross-legged on one of the cushions, already sipping tea like she'd never left her base. James was seated a little apart, flicking through a glowing logbook as if he'd memorized half the policies already.

Kai blinked. "Wait—there are actual rules? Like a real rulebook?"

"Yes," Kiara said without looking up. "And a well-enforced one."

Cole furrowed his brow. "You mean like... don't explode stuff indoors?"

"Among others," Kiara said.

Lloyd, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation, finally spoke. "I've only ever stayed at the main base. You mean each base has its own system?"

"Exactly," Madeline replied. "Each one reflects the nature of its caretaker. But there are general rules that apply to all."

She gestured, and a scroll unrolled in mid-air.

General Rules (Applicable to All Bases)

Respect Shared Space
– Clean up after yourself. Don't take items without asking. No dumping spirit clutter in common rooms.
– Living or dead, you break it, you replace it.

Mind the Silence Zones
– Some rooms are designated for spiritual restoration, meditation, or reflection. Disturbance is prohibited.

No Haunting, Possessing, or Body-Hopping
– Unless explicitly approved and supervised, even partial possession is banned.
– Skele-pets and ghost service animals are exempt as long as they're behaving.

No Bringing in the Recently Departed Without Intake
– Spirits must be registered and evaluated before staying long-term.
– Day visitors must wear identification bands. Two if they have any known disabilities or chronic conditions.

Respect Power Boundaries
– Don't use elemental powers indoors unless in designated areas.

Reports and Check-Ins Are Mandatory
– Weekly briefings or, at the very least, leave a note.

Emotional Incidents Must Be Logged
– Report emotional breakdowns or flare-ups in shared areas to the coordinator.
– Support is available through Kiara's wellness base.
— Call the mainline at (312) 555‑8432.
— Available 24/7. Holiday schedules may affect availability.

Cole raised a brow. "You really log emotions like... a mission?"

Kiara nodded. "A breakdown is just a crisis without paperwork. We offer support, but we can't help if we don't know. We rate on a scale now."

Lloyd gave her a bewildered look. "There's... a scale?"

Madeline offered a serene sip of tea. "It's color-coded."

Base-Specific Rules

James's Base – Data & Intelligence

All Visitors Must Sign NDAs
– This base handles sensitive data. What happens here stays here.

No Leaking Without His Permission
– Applies to pipes, emotions, or classified intel.

Keep the Noise Down—This Isn't an Influencer House
– Content creation areas are available by reservation only.