Obsidian Tower/Charter

Charter, Bylaws, and Joining Information

Charter Revision: July 25, 2021

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Obsidian Tower is a member of the Cooperative Houses of Elanthia that strives to embody the greatest qualities of the Dhe'nar and associated cultures while facilitating quality roleplay opportunities.

The Obsidian Tower stands as a proud symbol and role model for Dhe’nar elves and associated cultures by endeavoring to accomplish four primary objectives:

1. Promoting unity among its members;
2. Providing enlightenment regarding the Way while dispelling untruths in philosophy;
3. Fostering roleplay through interactions from its members and by encouraging those seeking to play a Dhe’nar elf or a character from a culture affiliated with the Dhe’nar; and
4. Standing as an example how to effectively roleplay a “dark” character within the boundaries of Simutronics policy and the laws of Elanthia.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNING

The Obsidian Council is the supreme ruling body of the Obsidian Tower. House Officer positions, while often held by the same individuals, are subordinate to the Council and exist primarily to carry out the management functions of the Obsidian Tower within the CHE system.

The Obsidian Council is an Oligarchy utilizing a democratic voting system to govern the Obsidian Tower. Each Obsidian Council Chair represents the interests of one traditional aspect of Dhe’nar culture and votes accordingly. While all House senior members are encouraged to provide their feedback regarding Obsidian Tower decisions, ultimately all decisions are voted on and held accountable to and by the Obsidian Council.

The House Officers serve administrative functions for the Obsidian Tower as outlined by the terms of membership for the Cooperative Houses of Elanthia. While all members of the Obsidian Council are House Officers, not all Officers are members of the Obsidian Council.

An outline of the roles, responsibilities, restrictions, and term lengths related to each of the Obsidian Council Chairs and to each of the House Officers is detailed in the Bylaws.

BYLAWS

Article I: Definitions

1. The Obsidian Tower: The name of this officially recognized House of Elanthia is the Obsidian Tower. Also: “the House” or “the Tower”
2. The Obsidian Council: The primary governing body over the Tower comprised of House members serving in a position of authority within the Tower. All members of the Council are House Officers. Also: “the Council”
3. Council Chair: An individual role serving on the Council, and the House member serving in that role. The term refers to the physical throne, or chair, in which the Council member is seated. It may also refer to the person who holds that role. Also: “Council member”
4. House Officer: A member of the House who has greater powers and responsibilities related to the CHE system. Also: “CHE Officer”
5. Q’halaesh: The formal training process for Dhe’nar elves that is utilized by the Obsidian Tower as a method to evaluate and establish the merits of a senior member of the House, to ensure they have a solid understanding of Dhe’nar culture, and to verify that their character’s background is suitably compatible with the Obsidian Tower.
6. Mis’ra/i (plural: mis’rae): The Dhe’nar elf Obsidian Tower member who has completed the q’halaesh and may be assigned to serve as a master to prospective members and who mentors and evaluates them in various aspects of Dhe’nar culture.

Article II: Membership

The Obsidian Tower is dedicated to recruiting and retaining active, contributing members who have a vested interest in the Dhe’nar/Khanshael culture through roleplay.

Section A: Requirements

All prospective Dhe’nar elf members must present themselves to a Dhe’nar member of the Tower. At this point the prospective member will either -

a) Undergo a short-term “apprenticeship” (of no less than 2 weeks in length but no longer than 4 weeks) after which their application will be considered and then voted upon by the House Officers, or

b) Be accepted into the “q’halaesh”. While many Dhe’nar elves may have already completed a similar process as part of their roleplayed backstory, this process is tied specifically to the Tower. It serves two purposes: to promote roleplay opportunities through formalized training, and to ensure that the player has a solid understanding of Dhe’nar culture. The “q’halaesh” involves pairing the prospective member with one or more Dhe’nar “mis’rae” for roleplayed training and guidance in Dhe’nar cultural norms. This typically lasts for several months and until the “mis’rae” are satisfied with the prospective member’s progress. It concludes with the prospective member’s Great Hunt and a blood rite performed by a Dhe’nar elf House member of the Temple caste. Completing this process signifies that a Dhe’nar has been found ‘of True Blood’ and is a senior member of the Obsidian Tower. Successfully completing the “q’halaesh” is a requirement for Dhe’nar characters to be considered for a House Officer position.

An apprenticeship is intended for all other characters seeking membership who are not Dhe’nar dark elves. While not as formal or structured, it serves a similar purpose: to provide roleplay opportunities through apprenticeship with others of a similar background or cultural interest, such as for Khanshael dwarves or Obsidian Legion, and to ensure that the player has a solid understanding of their character’s role within the greater Dhe’nar culture. Both Dhe’nar and non-Dhe’nar House members who have completed their own apprenticeship may oversee this apprenticeship process. Halflings are prohibited from obtaining membership.

Prospective members must be at least level 20. A prospective member must also have at least an affirmative vote of a majority of active Council members to be initiated into the Tower. Prospective members must have a roleplayed background appropriate for the character and membership in the Tower. Potential members may be excluded if they have violated or continue to violate Simutronics policy.

Former members who seek re-initiation are accepted and are still subject to all other membership requirements. Their second initiation fee will be refunded to them as soon as possible.

Section B: Induction & Dues

Approved prospective members shall be inducted by a member of the Council or their designee with a second CHE Officer present as witness. Additional witnesses may also be present. New members must provide one-time, non-refundable 500,000 silver dues as part of the initiation process. No additional dues are required for membership.

Once initiated, the character is considered a member of the Tower, is afforded all of the benefits of membership and agrees to all terms of membership.

Section C: Membership Services & Benefits

Membership benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Use of the Engraver’s Shop for display of the House insignia. The House insignia is a black rose on a field of purple, trimmed in silver. This symbolizes one of the few flora that survived the Great Fire and represents the ability of the Tower and its members to adapt and survive. The House colors are black, purple, and silver.
2. Increased locker capacity of 30 items per locker. House lockers are located inside the Tower and inside all other town CHE annexes, with the exception of River’s Rest, where the House locker is located in the Sea Caves.
3. Access to all Tower grounds, annexes, and their facilities. This includes the lockers/vaults, workshop, forge, private rooms, food storage, recreational facilities, Tower Great Room, and museum. Some facilities of a highly specialized nature may require Council approval.
4. House pin access, which may be purchased for 25,000 silvers in the Tower Great Room. The House pin provides an ESP thought channel, easy access to all House annexes through their respective towns, and a once per month transport back to the Obsidian Tower.
5. Open invitation to all Tower-sponsored events and activities open to the general public.
6. Dispute arbitration and resolution with other members of the Tower in a fair and impartial venue by a member of the Obsidian Council or the entire Council.

Section D: Terms of Membership

Members are expected to treat other Tower members with respect and uphold the Tower’s Statement of Purpose and all bylaws. They are expected to promptly resolve disputes with other Tower members or seek assistance with dispute resolution through the Council before this escalates into violence or an ongoing cycle of negative behavior or conflict.

Disruption of Tower events, abuse of House privileges, harassment or bullying, flagrant disregard of the laws of Elanthia, or violation of Simutronics policy are all grounds for reprimand. Repeated or egregious violations may result in dismissal.

Section E: Resignation & Dismissal

The Tower is committed to retaining active and contributing members. As such, all members are welcome to discuss any concerns they have with any Council member in order to mitigate or resolve those concerns. Resignation and dismissal are considered last resorts.

The Council may vote to dismiss any member from Tower membership with at least a majority of affirmative active votes and with documented cause. Ongoing abuse of privileges or facilities, conflict instigation, or violations of the Charter are all grounds for dismissal by Council vote. No Tower member shall be dismissed without notice or investigation except in extreme circumstances of egregious conduct warranting immediate expulsion. Character sale or transfer may result in immediate dismissal without notification.

Tower members may resign of their own volition at any time and for any reason, however no refund of the initiation fee will be provided.

Article III: Leadership

The Tower is led by the Obsidian Council, supported by the House Officers. The Obsidian Council has final authority on all House decisions.

Section A: Council Composition & Designation

The Council shall be formed of five Dhe’nar elf Tower members, all of whom also serve as the primary CHE Officers of the Tower. The Council shall also include one representative from the Khanshael dwarves, who serves in an advisory capacity.

CHE Officer Title & role	Throne designation	Council Chair role
House Chair	Obsidian Throne	Highlord
CHE Officer at large	Black Ora Throne	Emissary/High Priest(ess)
CHE Officer at large	Onyx Throne	Essence/High Warlock
CHE Officer at large	Rolaren Throne	Warlord
CHE Officer at large	Clear Glaes Throne	Balance
CHE Officer at large	Invar Throne	Armsmaster (Khanshael only)

Note: While the Armsmaster will be referred to as occupying the "Invar Throne" there will be no actual physical Throne present on the Council Dais.

Council members shall be Dhe'nar elves with a roleplayed background appropriately representing their respective Council Chair's sphere of influence or caste. CHE Officers at large may be Co-Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Co-Secretary, Treasurer, or Co-Treasurer.

Section B: House Officer Designation

All members of the Council shall be CHE Officers. The individual designated as “Highlord” is the House Chair and the leader of the entire Tower. The other Council members are expected to serve as CHE Officers. The specific role as recognized by the CHE (“Treasurer”, “Secretary”, Co-Treasurer, Co-Secretary, or “Co-Chair” of the entire House) for each Council member may vary and are dependent on that individual’s interests and strengths and on the needs of the Tower. House Officers filling any role other than Chair may be of any race and serve in any role the Chair deems appropriate.

Section C: Council Membership, Selection, and Responsibilities

Comprised of five Dhe’nar Chairs and one Khanshael advisor, the Council serves as representatives of different areas of Dhe’nar culture and castes within the region under the Tower's influence. While ultimately the Tower strives to align with the larger Dhe’nar civilization and cities, the Tower has its own separate method of governance as befits its role of a northern stronghold.

Council members must be active senior members of the Tower in good standing, have no major Simutronics policy violations, and must maintain these statuses for the duration of their terms. They must have a known history of consistent roleplay in the spirit of their respective Council Chair. They must be drawn from the ranks of Dhe'nar Mis'rae or, in the case of the Armsmaster, a Khanshael dwarf who has completed a similar apprenticeship. The standard term of a Council Chair is for life until abdication or defeat through a legitimate challenge.

Prospective Council members must meet all minimum qualifications to serve in their desired Council Chair and have been an active member of the House for at least three consecutive months (90 days) immediately prior to a petition to challenge for a Council chair. They shall formally petition the current seated Council with an intent to “challenge” for a specific Council Chair. The Council shall vote on whether it accepts the challenge as legitimate. If the challenge is accepted as legitimate, both the challenger and the current Council Chair shall agree to the time and terms of the challenge, which shall take place within the “Chamber of Fate” located in the Obsidian Tower. There shall be one victor for a challenge for

Council Chair. The victor shall be the first of the two to emerge alive from the Chamber of Fate with the other either dead or conceding defeat. In the event multiple individuals issue a challenge for the same position and are all approved, lots will be drawn at random and everyone will be paired off, until there is one remaining victor.

Upon designation of a new Council Chair by challenge, and if deemed appropriate by the Chair, the previous Council member may be divested from their position of CHE Officership immediately thereafter, and the new Council Chair may be invested in their new position of CHE Officership within the same timeframe.

If a Council member is inactive for a period of one month (30 days), then that Council Chair may be considered abdicated by Council vote from the remaining Council members. If a Council member is locked out as a result of a ban imposed by Simutronics or has sold that character to another player, then that Council Chair shall be considered abdicated by default immediately upon lockout or sale/transfer of the character. If a Council member is determined to no longer be serving in the best interests of the Tower or in the spirit of their designated Council Chair, then the Council may hold a hearing and vote on if the Council Chair should be considered abdicated. An abdication by Council vote must be a unanimous vote consisting of all other Council members and with no abstaining votes.

Any individual who has abdicated their Council Chair shall be divested from their CHE Officership immediately thereafter. An abdicated Council Chair is considered vacant for the purposes of voting and CHE Officership. Challenges for an abdicated or otherwise vacant Council Chair shall be made in the standard manner. The roles and responsibilities of the individual Council Chairs are as follows:

1. Highlord/Highlady: Representative of the entire Tower, the Highlord serves as the embodiment of the Dhe’nar ideal and is a figurehead of Dhe’nar culture from the Obsidian Tower to others in the region. The Highlord is not restricted to any specific caste member. Prospective Highlords must first serve in the role of their current Council Chair for a period of three months (90 days) before they may petition the Council to challenge for the Highlord position.
2. Emissary or High Priest(ess): Representative of the traditional Temple caste, the Emissary is restricted to one of its members. The Emissary is the voice of the entire Temple caste within the Tower. Matters of spiritual guidance, bloodlines, and divine intervention fall under the purview of the Emissary. The Emissary ultimately oversees all spiritual rites carried out within or by the Tower.
3. Essence or High Warlock: Representative of the traditional Warlock caste, the Essence is restricted to one of its members. The Essence is the voice of the entire Warlock caste within the Tower. Retention of knowledge, both arcane and historical, is the governance of the magi as overseen by the Essence.
4. Warlord: Representative of the traditional Warrior caste, the Warlord is restricted to one of its members. The Warlord is the voice of the entire Warrior caste within the Tower. While the tactical security of the Tower is overseen through coordination with the Obsidian Legion, over which the Warlord commands, the Warlord is most concerned with the potential of foreign threats against the Tower. The Warlord may utilize information networks to gather intelligence on potential threats and allies, taking actions as appropriate on behalf of the Council or Tower as a whole.
5. Balance: Representative of the traditional Worker caste and of the non-Dhe’nar who adhere to the Way, the Balance is not restricted to any specific caste member. The Balance is the voice of both the Worker caste within the Tower and the casteless members of the Tower who are not of Dhe’nar blood. The Balance is also responsible for moderation of Obsidian Council meetings.
6. Armsmaster: Representative of the Khanshael dwarves, the Armsmaster (is restricted to dwarven characters with the Khanshael culture flag selected. The Armsmaster is the voice of the Khanshael dwarves within the Tower. Serving primarily as an adviser to the Highlord/Highlady, the Armsmaster is entrusted to participate in the Obsidian Council. Projects involving design and decoration of the Obsidian Tower, as well as special items, are often asked of the Armsmaster.

Section D: Officer Membership, Selection and Responsibilities

Requirements for holding a CHE Officer position are outlined in the official CHE documentation. While there are race, culture, and some profession requirements for holding CHE Officer roles that are associated with the Obsidian Council, there are no race, culture, or profession restrictions on who may serve in the capacity of a Support Officer, as long as the prospective Support Officer meets all other member requirements.

All CHE Officers and Support Officers must be active members of the Tower in good standing, with no major Simutronics policy violations, and they must maintain these statuses for the duration of their terms. A CHE Officer or Support Officer is considered active if they adhere to the minimum monthly requirements of their position as outlined in both the Charter and the CHE regulations. The standard term of a CHE Officer and of a Support Officer is for life until abdication or character transfer.

The responsibilities of each CHE Officer role are as follows:

1. Chair (1 minimum): Primary duties include presiding over House, Council, and Officer meetings; inducting new members; and representing the Tower at CHE sponsored events. Responsible for ensuring that all members of the Tower uphold its Charter and Bylaws and adhere to both the spirit and the letter of its Statement of Purpose. Ensures that Council decisions made impacting the Tower membership adhere to its Charter, to CHE rules, and to Simutronics policy. Ensures that the Tower meets all minimum requirements for CHEs. Ultimately is responsible for all decisions made by the Tower.
2. Co-Chair (1 minimum): Assist with the primary CHE duties of the Chair or stands in for the Chair, under direction of the Chair or the Obsidian Council, when the Chair is unable to serve in that capacity. Responsible for ensuring that all members of the Tower uphold its Charter and Bylaws and adhere to both the spirit and the letter of its Statement of Purpose. Ensures that Council decisions made impacting the Tower membership adhere to its Charter, to CHE rules, and to Simutronics policy. Ensures that the Tower meets all minimum requirements for CHEs.
3. Treasurer / Co-Treasurer (1 minimum): Responsible for managing and maintaining the Tower finances within the purview of the CHE system. Ensures that dues are properly collected for new members; appropriate refunds issued to returning members upon reinitiation; account records are available if requested by another CHE Officer or the GM Controller; receives and deposits funds into the Tower treasury; records, tracks, and maintains any House loans; and records, tracks, and makes funds available for any Tower expenditures.
4. Secretary / Co-Secretary (1 minimum): Responsible for all official correspondence with the GM Controller and record keeping as it pertains to the CHE system. Reviews, manages, and oversees all written documentation needing to be submitted for the purposes of quarterly newsletters, announcements, events, criers, etc.; maintains a current House roster list; and supports the Chair in administrative functions.

Section E: Leadership Contingencies

The Council shall consist of active members of the Tower, thereby ensuring that the required minimum number of CHE Officers is active and present at all times. However, the Council is not obligated to fill vacant Council Chairs if no suitable candidate is active within the Tower.

In the case that the Highlord chair is vacant, the role of interim House Chair shall be voted on by all remaining active Council members. In the case of a stalemated vote, the role of interim House Chair shall fall to the Council member with the greatest seniority for their active term in their current Council Chair. In the case of no active Council members, the role of interim House Chair shall fall to the co-chair with the most seniority for their active term in the CHE officership, or, if no active co-chairs, the CHE Officer with the greatest seniority for their active term in their current CHE Officer role. In all cases, the role of interim House Chair shall be immediately relinquished upon confirmation of a new Highlord. The Council shall be responsible for ensuring that the minimum required number of active CHE Officers exist within in the House.

Article IV: Administration

Section A: Meetings

General House Meetings will be held at least twice a year to better foster collaboration among the entire Tower membership. General meetings are hosted by the House Chair. Attendance is voluntary but encouraged for all Tower members. General meeting dates and times shall be announced at least two weeks (14 days) in advance using all possible methods of communication, including the in-game CHE messaging system.

Abbreviated meeting minutes shall be made available on the official forums in the Obsidian Tower folder, and meeting logs shall be made available to the Tower membership if requested through use of an internal mailing list.

Section B: Voting

The Council is the voting body for all matters of House business, be they of an administrative or roleplayed nature. For any matters requiring a vote, all Council members shall be notified of the vote and provided an opportunity to be present for a hearing to present relevant facts prior to casting a vote.

All Council members shall participate in the vote even if the participation is to abstain. Votes may require a majority of affirmative votes. Matters of substantial impact to the Tower may require unanimous support. Typically, the Highlord only casts a vote in the case of a tie. In the event that a majority of Council members abstain from voting on an issue, voting on that issue will be suspended until the reasons for abstaining from the vote are resolved.

Exceptions to these voting standards are limited to extenuating circumstances outlined in the Charter.

Section C: Charter Revisions

Due to the potential impact that revisions or amendments to this Charter may have on the entire Tower membership, all revisions or amendments must be approved through a unanimous vote of the entire active Council with no abstaining votes. Prior to holding a vote on Charter revisions or amendments, the Council shall provide the entire House senior membership an opportunity to read and comment on the proposed changes for a timeframe consisting at least two weeks (14 days).

In all cases, all Charter revisions or amendments must then be submitted to the GM Controller for review and final approval before taking effect.