I found The Garden SMP and it is a relaxed survival roleplay server for Java 1.21.11. It is made to be new player friendly and it has no join restrictions.
The main focus is worldbuilding and adventure with roleplay. Players make towns and nations in the overworld then go on bigger trips in alternate dimensions and build stories together.
It uses Towny so you can settle a town and protect your builds. You can make chest shops to sell goods and there is no forced economy. There is also a Devotions system where you can be a priest cultist or devoted worshipper of a god and get rewarded for piety. Multiverse is there so you can explore your gods realm and there are lots of quality of life features too.
The server says it is not pay to win and it is a passion project. Staff are active and attentive and the community is a small thriving group.
