Welcome theeccentric!
For starters, I would say read the setting info about the game and races at
this link if you have not done so already. This will give you a good feel for the planeshift fantasy world, the races, trades, magic system and so on. If you ask me, this is pretty important.
Next, I would say make a character as you would if writing a story. Try to at least have a rough idea of who and what the character is. A good starting place is to figure out what sort of role your character might play. For example, is he/she a tradesman, mage, criminal, healer, bard, etc.. is the character one who follows rules, one who breaks them as desired, or one who flat out rebels against all rules?
Some people prefer to just start playing and figure this out as they go.
Finding people online can be a little tricky if you are on at slow times, or if you are somewhere that people don't typically visit. The Town of Hydlaa is probably your best bet for finding people. People tend to hang around the forge, the tavern, or in the center of the plaza ( where the fountain is ) .
As for your question about crystal and dark way, they are opposing forces but sure, why not. You can train whichever skills you like, and the magical Orders can be joined at any time if you wish. Restrictions on which ways you train do not come into play until much later on in the game, so don't worry about that for now.
If you see me online ( typically as Rigwyn ), then send me a /tell. I'll be glad to introduce you to others or answer questions. The gossip tab on the chat window is a good way to contact people who are logged in too.
As for how to RP, we generally just type a line that represents what our character is saying or doing at the moment. If you start your sentence with /me or /my , then the line will show up as starting with theeccentric or theeccentric's respectively.
I happen to have a sample from my logs here....
Rigwyn rubs his sore wrists as he hides beneath the cellar steps. His wrists and back are raw and bleeding. His breath is slow and silent. With his eyes well adjusted to the darkness, he listens as he looks upwards.
Evirea peers down below, squinting in order to see. "Hello again, Rigwyn," the klyros calls. "Hasn't been terribly long. Not really long enough in my book, honestly."
Sarras holds the door open for Evirea. She looks into the darkness, as if something seems a bit off. "He might be unconscious," she whispers.
Rigwyn feels his heart quickening as the door opens, and Evirea's voice calls down. Careful to control his breath, he waits under the stairs as the sound of his heart beat reverberates in his chest.
Evirea glances briefly back at the dermorian behind her, sighing softly. She then steps downwards, thumping one at a time, using her crutch for support as she goes. "I wouldn't attack me if I were you, Rigwyn," she calls simply. There's a rustling sound, and she pulls a small rod from her pocket, the top aglow with a single stone. She herself flinches slightly at the light it emits, disgruntled, before taking a seat on the stair. "So we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You can come up and hear what I have to say or you can stay down in that darkness, and wallow." She turns her head slightly and nods, indicating that Sarras should shut the door.
Sarras shakes her head to Evirea and takes a few steps into the cellar. "Is he not... Where is he? He should be tied!"
