Thiasa is a totally original RP. :) That is, if you don't count the way I've plundered history and anthropology books to create it... we're based on medieval Italy and mesoamerica. We've got two groups on one island: one, a Bronze Age tribe, and the other, your more-or-less typical medieval kingdom. Genocide is on the menu. War is on the menu. A serf rebellion, political intrigue, and taboo-breaking romantic relationships--they're all there, too. Oh, and though we're labeled 'fantasy,' we don't have magic... I feel the world is complicated enough without it! We do have some interesting technology (our resident mad scientist just made some primitive mines) and a hallucinogenic drug (datura, it's a real plant), which makes some people believe in magic/miracles.
If you like your age group, the average age of players at Thiasa is 20; some are older, and I think only one or two are younger than 18... a great many characters are older. (We have a decent pool of 30 + soldiers, and I play a 50-year-old, but since we're historical, going too old would just result in doddering characters :p ).
We're technically rated PG-13, R with labeling, but we're really more like R. Lots of violence, some sex, lots of cursing, and mature themes (drug dealing, whores, war, etc.).
You didn't ask, but we're extremely active (20-80 posts a day, 70ish members, 122 characters), IC and OOC--our chatbox moves very quickly, and there's usually someone around to talk to. Our members are pretty good about answering questions, too, even if I'm not there. Generally, I try my best to stay on the site as close to 24/7 as I can (obsessive, much?) but with a fulltime summer job, it's a little harder. Still, I'm often there, and I ALWAYS make a point of talking to every new member personally and helping them to find people to RP and plot with; I also RP with every new member myself (or at least offer; same for most of the members).
Now, here's the part where I ask something from
you. I know--that's unusual in a response to an advertisement. I ask that you read the site information--yes, we have information; it's to get people settled in our rather unique world, and for anyone of college age, it's not at all challenging. I also ask that you approach your character creation with an eye to the site plot; we love original characters (we also allow our members to add freely to the so-called 'canon' list, requesting family members, etc.), but we do emphasize characters who have some reasonable place on the site (say, in the army; as a maid at the garrisons; as a serf, part of our burgeoning rebellion; as a thief, as a transient, etc.... something realistic for the 'time period,' in short--no 'wandering womyn warrior in a chainmail bra' ;) ), and characters who are fleshed out and realistic.
I hope you're not daunted by my requests--I promise, on-site I'm very friendly (and silly--read our chatbox quotations for proof of this).
Oh--here's our site link:
thiasa.org.
Best of luck with your search. I hope you find a home that suits.