Silken Road Stories LLC · silkenroadstories.com · Last Updated: February 7, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using silkenroadstories.com ("the Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Site.
2. Mature Content Disclaimer
This Site contains a personal memoir and related content that includes mature themes, coarse language, references to substance use, sexuality, mental health, trauma, abuse, and other adult subject matter. This Site is intended for users aged 18 and older. By using this Site, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction.
3. AI Interactive Agent — Reverend Ephraim
3.1 Nature of the Agent: The Site features an AI-powered interactive agent known as "Reverend Ephraim" ("the Agent"). The Agent is an artificial intelligence chatbot. It is not a human being. It is not a licensed therapist, counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, physician, or medical professional of any kind.
3.2 Not Medical or Mental Health Advice: The Agent does not provide medical advice, mental health diagnoses, treatment recommendations, or therapeutic services. Nothing communicated by the Agent should be construed as medical advice, psychiatric evaluation, psychological counseling, or a substitute for professional care.
3.3 Not a Crisis Service: The Agent is not a crisis hotline, suicide prevention service, or emergency response system. While the Agent may provide general references to crisis resources such as findahelpline.com, this does not constitute a crisis intervention service. If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call your local emergency number (911, 112, or equivalent) immediately.
3.4 No Professional Relationship: Use of the Agent does not create a doctor-patient, therapist-client, clergy-penitent, or any other professional relationship between you and Silken Road Stories LLC, its owner, or any affiliated persons.
3.5 Limitation of Liability for AI Interactions: Silken Road Stories LLC shall not be liable for any actions taken or not taken based on interactions with the Agent. The Agent may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate responses. You acknowledge that you use the Agent at your own risk and assume full responsibility for any decisions made based on its output.
3.6 No Confidentiality Guarantee: Communications with the Agent are not privileged or confidential. Do not share information with the Agent that you would not share publicly.
4. Tell Your Story Feature
The Site offers a feature allowing users to submit personal stories ("Submissions"). By submitting a story, you confirm that the story is your own or that you have the right to share it, grant Silken Road Stories LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to read, store, and respond to your Submission, and acknowledge that a response is not guaranteed and does not constitute professional advice. Your story will not be published, shared publicly, or used for commercial purposes without your explicit written consent.
5. Intellectual Property
All content on the Site — including text, images, design, code, the globe interface, location descriptions, and associated media — is the intellectual property of Silken Road Stories LLC and/or its owner, Dr. Marco Francesco Ephraim Vespignani, unless otherwise noted. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use is prohibited.
6. User Conduct
You agree not to: use the Site or Agent to harass, threaten, or harm others; attempt to extract personal information about the Site's owner, his family, or associates; attempt to manipulate or override the Agent's safety protocols; or use automated tools to scrape or extract data from the Site.
7. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT, FEATURES, AND SERVICES — INCLUDING THE AGENT — ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
8. Limitation of Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL SILKEN ROAD STORIES LLC, ITS OWNER, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SITE, THE AGENT, OR ANY CONTENT OR SERVICES PROVIDED HEREIN. THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF SILKEN ROAD STORIES LLC FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM USE OF THE SITE SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00 USD).
9. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, United States of America. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of King County, Washington.
10. Changes to Terms
Silken Road Stories LLC reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
11. Contact
For questions regarding these Terms: [email protected]
