The Warlocks' Guild Charter

Revised & Updated - Year 502.

Introduction

As of the year 502, this document stands as the current charter of the Warlocks’ Guild. The policies stated are to be a guideline to all members on the general expectations that you must meet to remain in good standing within the guild. It will also serve as an aid to all guild staff in how to handle matters when relating to introducing new members to the guild.

Ignorance of the expectations put forth in this charter are no excuse for failure to meet the requirements of your current position within the guild.

Please be advised that this charter is always subject to change, although the recommendation is that any changes are put to the membership and indoctrined by a majority vote of members within the guild on a one member one vote basis. This is at the discretion of the Guild Administration however.

Please read the entire document carefully, and voice any and all opinions on these topics freely to the Guild Administration. It will help serve to create a better charter that is befitting all members of this guild.

General Expectations

All members of the guild are expected to, at minimum, meet the general expectations set forth by this charter. While it is up to every Warlock to seek out his or her individual path in which to gain power, you must be aware that all actions you take also represent the guild as one entity. The service, protection and growth of this guild should be the main priority of all Warlocks.

Be advised: This is your only warning, to prevent failure to advance within the “award participation” scheme of the guild. Do not, under any circumstances, destroy items rewarded by ANY guild quest. Doing so may cause failure to obtain future items or rewards, and may not be replaced by guild staff.

There shall be no whining, no begging, no guild shouting for resurrection(s) or quest information.

Know that your conduct reflects upon the guild, in its entirety, and as such it should be clear that poor conduct will be dealt with accordingly.

As a Warlock, you must realise you are above other mortals within the lands. Your only equals reside here, within this guild. There should be no instance in which you feel the need, nor the desire, to bow to another mortal creature.

Personalised titles can be acquired after consulting the GM. Although the GM may grant a title to you, titles are property of your Guild staff and may be changed at their whim. You affirm that you understand this by being a Warlock.

The word of the Guild staff is Guild policy. Policies may be altered, added, or changed without notice by the Guild’s staff, but the Guild’s staff will do its best to ensure all are more than apprised of the present policies.

Violation of Terris Policy will incur further guild penalty.

The Guild Master will set all policy as to tithe requirements, guild level and land level in accordance with their ability to set their own award scheme. It is suggested that a foundation of at least a half guild to land level ratio be in place to gain rewards. The only granted awards that cannot be altered as described in this charter are as follows: The Aura of Malevolence, The Pentagram Tattoo, and the Shadow Dragon.

Any conflict regarding guild policies, members, or staff should not be brought to public knowledge unless all other potential solutions have ran their course with no results. It is suggested you follow proper channels to air grievances, for fear of punishment in the wake of exposing guild affairs to those unworthy of an opinion on our inner workings. (Be advised, during election campaigning period candidates can and will use any and all of your failures against you.)

Penalty for your failures

If you fail to live up to the expectations set by the guild, you will be met with swift and escalating punishment. We do not suffer failure, nor should you be willing to submit to less than achieving greatness.

Minor offences will be first met with private reprimand from guild staff. This may include removal of raw runes from your earned rune total, depending on the offence.

Second, or more serious offences may be met with public reprimand via guild boards or guild notices. Temporary removal of custom title(s) may be included. This stage can warrant a removal of larger quantities, or even higher levels of earned runes.

Be aware that minor violations can add up to greater punishments, depending on the inclination of Guild Staff.

Punishments reserved for Gross Misconduct.

These punishments are reserved for gross misconduct, including acts of treason against the guild itself. Terms of Service violations of a harassing nature against other members of the guild, or other members of the game in general.

Guild Probation

If you have continued to act in a manner inappropriate for a Warlock, guild probation will be the next to final step taken. This step will be taken with all serious offences before continuing to the final level of punishment, which is expulsion. In the event of serious terms of service violations, you will be placed on immediate probation until Game and Guild staff can discuss the issues and determine a final punishment.

Expulsion

After reaching the stage of guild probation, the final step is expulsion. The Guild Master will put forward public notice to the guild on the boards. This will be the one chance for the accused to openly state their case to the entire guild. All members with knowledge relating to the accused may offer their opinion at this point, be it in favour of the accused or the Guild Master. The proposed expulsion will then go to a proper guild vote to determine the outcome.

Guild Hierarchy

To put it simply, we are not a guild of “ranks.”

Guild Master – The final decision of everything in the guild is on the Guild Master. His or her word is the current law of the guild. They should establish their own set of policies within the guild, clearly defining their plans of action and expectations to the members.

Guild Officer – The officers are here to serve the guild by instituting policy and serving what role deemed to them by the GM. They are allowed to act with the authority granted to them by the serving GM.

Warlock – We are all Warlocks, equal to each other and no others within the mortal reaches of the land. We stand together, alone, and above all others. Be proud that you do not need a rank to define your greatness.

Guild Patronage

It is our intent, as a guild in full, to squeeze the best possible result from aligning ourselves with a divine patron.

From time to time, we may select a divine creature to join our guild as “Patron.” This agreement is at the discretion of both the current Guild Master and the proposed Patron, and shall be administered in contractual recognition of the expectations of all parties to maintain, and facilitate a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The Guild Master may put forth a proposal to the guild if desired, and call an open vote in regards to the Patron being chosen. However, it is also the prerogative of the Guild Master, during his or her term, to select and appoint an individual Patron of their own choosing without calling a vote.

Failure to honor the accords set forth in writing is grounds for removal of the Patron from the guild by its members. If the breach is on the side of the Warlocks, the Patron has the option to voluntarily leave the Guild, with or without prior notice.

In the event of a new Guild Master taking office, the new administration shall meet with the Patron and reassess the terms of the previous agreement. If a new agreement cannot be made between the two parties, the Patron is removed from the guild.

Policies for Nominations, Election and Governing

Nomination Procedure

Length of administration will be broken down into twelve “otherworldly month” terms, with a vote of confidence at the six "otherworldly month" interval as necessary.

At the end of the previous administration, a period of two “otherworldly weeks” will begin. This is the time that any Warlock wishing to hold the prestigious mantle of Guild Master must step up and put their name forward to the guild.

Admonition to Candidates: During this campaign period, all your shortcomings and failures may, and likely will, be exposed in public forum for all the guild, and indeed the world, to bear witness. This process is intended to eliminate the weak and unfitting.

All parties, during this nomination period, are expected to present their platform to the guild. While each individual is allowed to form their own administration as they see fit, it is suggested you make a strong case on just how you can benefit and grow the guild during your time as Guild Master.

Election Procedure

After the campaign period is over, a guild vote will run for a period of one “otherworldly week.” During this time, it is expected that all Warlocks participate in the defining of your guild by casting your vote for your choice as the next Guild Master.

Votes will now be counted as one vote per Account, per active guild. This means that you can only cast one vote for the Warlock general election, regardless of the amount of Warlocks you have on your account. You can, however, cast votes into other elections if you are a part of other guilds.

To vote, you must be a member of the Warlocks’ Guild in good standing. (Note: Registered.)
You must meet the minimum age requirement of twenty-one years. (Character age)
Be aware, guild members who are on probation may not cast a vote.
Votes will be cast via the “Guildvote” command in realm.

At the end of the election period, the Warlock who has gained the most votes will be granted the honor of serving the guild as the next Guild Master.

Guild Officers

Each elected Guild Master oversees the selection of Guild Officers. So long as the Guild Master is living up to the duties of his elected office, he is not required to select a Guild Officer to serve below him. There shall, at no time, be more than three Guild Officers present in any administration.

In the event of a lengthy absence, emergency, or other circumstance arising whereby the Guild Master is unable to participate in the leadership of the guild, it is suggested that an emergency Guild Officer who can fulfil the required duties be put in place.

Governing

It is up to each administration to come up with their own policies and methods of governing the guild during their term. It is expected that each governing body meets the minimum guidelines set forth in this charter, but chooses to excel in their leadership role by far surpassing expectations.

During the transitional period between two administrations, it is up to the previous Guild Master to pass all relevant knowledge onto the newly appointed Guild Master. This knowledge should include the following:

It is your duty to familiarise the newly elected GM with commands required to successfully perform his official duties. These include any hidden phrases, chants or commands required to obtain reward items or open hidden rooms.

You should also inform the newly elected official of any open “award” based quests that members may be actively participating in. This should include the result, as well as what is expected to be completed to obtain that result.

You understand, in leaving office, that you are required to forfeit all items associated with the position of Guild Master or Guild Officer voluntarily. There should be no expectation of return, absent your own return to office.

Access to, and help with, updating the website should also be given. This will allow the new GM to learn how to properly update the Rune Chart and award scheme. Be aware, based on individuals, this may take longer for some than for others.

At absolutely no point in time should a Guild Officer or Guild Master grant themselves reward items that have not been earned in the proper manner. They are subject to the same rules as all members of the guild in regards to participation. A Guild Master may request a task from a Guild Officer, or a member of the guild who has served in office previously, so long as they are willing to grant the task. If you cannot find someone to grant the task, you must wait until your administration comes to an end before obtaining the rewards you seek. (This is in the event of obtaining items such as the Shadow Dragon, Oltravar’s Mark, or the Aura of Malevolence. The unearned granting of any items is strictly prohibited.

The only granted awards that cannot have the criteria to obtain altered in any form from the language in this charter are as follows: The Aura of Malevolence, The Pentagram Tattoo, and the Shadow Dragon. These rewards are not participant to individually created reward programs of varying administration. They must be followed as described in this charter.

Other awards not expressly codified are able to be amended at the discretion of the Guild Master.

Oltravar’s Mark Clause - A minimum guild level of 75 is required for the Pentagram Tattoo to be awarded to any member of the guild. Upon reaching guild level 75, you may approach guild staff to obtain a task. Guild staff will decide the best possible method for each individual Warlock to prove his or her worth in obtaining the mark.

Shadow Dragon Clause - A minimum guild level of 100 is required to obtain the Shadow Dragon. It is up to the Guild Master to decide what tasks you must complete to obtain your dragon, but no quest for reward should begin before the 100th rank.

Aura of Malevolence Clause - Once all guild quests have been completed, including that assigned by an officer for Oltravar’s Mark and Shadow Dragon, and a Warlock has obtained the highest guild title possible (Sovereign of the Damned, guild level 125) they may petition the Guild Master for an opportunity to obtain the Aura of Malevolence.

End of Term Conditions

All Guild Officers under a Guild Master should be aware that at any time, for any reason, if the term of the Guild Master ends their term is effectively cancelled once the next election begins. They are able to be appointed by the newly elected Guild Master, but their position is not reserved regardless of length of service.