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[[File:Obsidian tower.jpg|170px|thumb|right]]
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= Bylaws, Charter, and Joining Information =
== Charter, Bylaws, and Joining Information ==


==STATEMENT OF PURPOSE==
===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 will stand as the proud symbol for the Dhe'nar elves and our culture. It will implement the same ancient and proven governing system used by our homeland in Sharath to uphold our beliefs, and dispel untruths about our people so that we may educate those around us, and enlighten them to our Ways.


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:
The out-of-character purpose of this house is to promote role-playing, and to show others that one can play a "dark" character within the boundaries of Simutronics policy. This house will give younger players something to aspire to, and give guidance to many that would otherwise disregard the laws of Elanthia and Simutronics policy.
<ol>
<li> Promoting unity among its members, each of whom is considered “Family” and is treated accordingly;</li>
<li> Providing enlightenment regarding the Way while dispelling untruths in philosophy;</li>
<li> 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</li>
<li> Standing as an example how to effectively roleplay a “dark” character within the boundaries of Simutronics policy and the laws of Elanthia.</li>
</ol>


==STATEMENT OF GOVERNING==
===STATEMENT OF GOVERNING===


There will be two governing bodies over the Obsidian Tower. The first of which consists of the house officers listed above. The term of the officers is for life. The only purpose of the house officers is to manage the mechanical aspects of the house and its relations with the Elanthian Housing Authority. An officer's position is considered vacant if the officer is not heard from in a period of two months or more.
There are two governing bodies within the Obsidian Tower. These two governing bodies are the Obsidian Council, specifically, and the House Officers, generally. While there may be substantial overlap between the two entities, the primary governing body over the Obsidian Tower is the Obsidian Council.


The Obsidian Council is a kratocracy 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 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 true governing body of the house will be 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.
The Obsidian Council will be formed of 5 members (this is the internal house governing system, which does not conform to the normal house officers. Members may or not be house officers to participate in the Council.) The seats are as follows:


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.
The Warlords Chair<br>
The High Priest/Priestess Chair<br>
The Warlocks Chair<br>
The Balance Chair<br>
The Obsidian Chair<br>


===BYLAWS===
In all matters brought before the Council, each chair will have one vote, except the Obsidian chair, who will only be allowed to vote in the event of a tie or stalemated floor.


====Article I: Definitions====
The term of the council seats is to be for life. The only way one will loose their seat is in the event that a challenger for a certain seat makes a formal proposal to the Council. The Council will then vote to decide if the challenge is valid (i.e. determine if the challenger has the responsibility for the position). The challenger and the chair holder will then be locked in a special room in the tower. One will emerge the new chair holder. It is up to the two to determine who is to hold the seat; this may be by talking it over amongst them by debate, by bribery, or by defeating the other in combat. This is the Way of Dhe'nar elves, a cleric will always be on hand when the two are locked inside. No one is to know what goes on inside the Chamber of Fate except the two inside.


<ol>
==BYLAWS==
<li> ''The Obsidian Tower'': The name of this officially recognized House of Elanthia is the Obsidian Tower. Also: “the House” or “the Tower”</li>
<li> ''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”</li>
<li> ''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”</li>
<li> ''House Officer'': A member of the House who has greater powers and responsibilities related to the CHE system. House Officers are comprised solely of members of the Council. Also: “CHE Officer”</li>
<li> ''House Support Officer'': A member of the House who is not a member of the Council but who has greater powers and responsibilities related to the CHE system. Also: “CHE Support Officer” or “Support Officer”</li>
<li> ''Q’halaesh'': The formal training process for Dhe’nar elves that is utilized by the Obsidian Tower as a method to evaluate the merits of a potential 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.</li>
<li> ''Mis’ra'' (plural: ''mis’rae''): The Dhe’nar elf Obsidian Tower member who is assigned to serve as a master to prospective members and who mentors and evaluates them in various aspects of Dhe’nar culture.</li>
</ol>


====Article II: Membership====
===Membership Requirements/Procedures:===


The Obsidian Tower is dedicated to recruiting and retaining active, contributing members who have a vested interest in the Dhe’nar culture and its affiliated cultures through quality roleplay.
Each initiate must be of Lord or Lady Status before they will be considered for acceptance. Each initiate must also have a proven background that is relative to the Dhe'nar elves and their customs, but not necessarily be a Dhe'nar elf. Each initiate must prove, by reputation, to role-play whenever possible and to consistently stay in character. Each initiate must be in good standing within the realms of Law in Elanthia, and be in good standing regarding Simutronics policy. The initiate upon acceptance into the House will require a 500K fee.


=====Section A: Requirements=====
===Membership Services Provided:===


All prospective Dhe’nar elf members must present themselves to a Dhe’nar member of the Tower, who may then accept them for 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. This process serves two purposes: to promote roleplay opportunities through a formalized training process, and to ensure that the player has a solid understanding of Dhe’nar culture before becoming a member of the Tower. The “''q’halaesh''” involves pairing the prospective member with one or more Dhe’nar “''mis’rae''” for roleplayed training and out-of-character 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.
The purpose of this house is to promote unity amongst its members. Each member will be considered "Family" and treated as nothing less. Any member asking for assistance regarding any matter whatsoever, providing that it is moral and within the boundaries of law, is to be assisted by whatever means available. Disputes in-house or out are welcome to be brought before the Council for judgment. Any manner of Magic or Enchantment is to be granted to any house member requesting, provided the necessary mana exists.


An apprenticeship is intended for all other characters seeking membership who are not Dhe’nar 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 before becoming a member of the Tower. Both Dhe’nar and non-Dhe’nar House members may oversee this apprenticeship process. Halflings and gnomes are prohibited from obtaining membership.
===Membership Rules and Regulations:===


Prospective members must have completed their apprenticeship or “''q’halaesh''” to the satisfaction of the “''mis’ra''” or mentor, and be at least level 20. A prospective member must also have at least a majority affirmative vote of 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 or the laws of Elanthia. The Council shall also seek input from the membership at large to ensure that the prospective member has been actively engaging with other members of the House and would be a good addition.
Each member is required to act with as much pride as our Dhe'nar ancestors, and to continually strive for perfection, as is the Way taught to us by the Arkati. Each member must act within the confines of the Law, and to bring their disputes before the Council before they escalate into violence. Abuse of House privileges will not be tolerated. Anyone caught selling items enchanted by the house to nonmembers will be considered by the Council before they are expelled.


Former members who seek reinitiation may be exempted from the apprenticeship or “''q’halaesh''” if the Council votes in favor of this exemption. They are still subject to all other membership requirements.
== The CHE ==

=====Section B: Induction & Dues=====

Approved prospective members shall be inducted by a member of the Council or their designee with a second CHE Officer or a Support 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 full 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:
<ol>
<li> 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.</li>
<li> 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.</li>
<li> 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.</li>
<li> 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.</li>
<li> Open invitation to all Tower-sponsored events and activities open to the general public.</li>
<li> 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.</li>
</ol>

=====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 or Support Officer 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 affirmative vote 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 shall 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 collectively by the House Officers and the House Support officers, although 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:

{| {{prettytable}}
! 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
|-
|}

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, 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 de facto leader of the entire Tower. The other Council members are considered the Tower’s primary CHE Officers. The specific role as recognized by the CHE (“Treasurer”, “Secretary”, Co-Chairs of any of these roles, or “Co-Chair” of the entire House) for each CHE Officer may vary and are dependant on that individual’s interests and strengths and on the needs of the Tower.

In addition to the Council members, one or more Support Officers may be designated from the general House membership. Support Officers are House members identified as having a vested interest in promoting Dhe'nar culture, and in supporting the Tower by helping run House events or providing administrative support for the Tower and the Council. Feedback from Support Officers will be considered by the Council in all Council votes or decisions.

Support Officers shall be assigned by the Council and serve at the Council's behest in the capacity of Co-Officer among the standard recognized CHE roles (“Co-Treasurer”, “Co-Secretary”, and sometimes even “Co-Chair”).

=====Section C: Council Membership, Selection, and Responsibilities=====

Comprised of five Council Chairs, 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 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 a dark elf of the Dhe’nar culture who has completed the apprenticeship or “q’halaesh” overseen by the Tower. 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 may determine by whatever method it deems appropriate to evaluate the challenger’s qualifications, be it through application, interview, or any other process. 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. While combat is one method for determining who is to hold the Council Chair, this is not necessarily appropriate or preferable for all challenges. Debate, bribery, or other means of determining who is most suited for the role are all permitted. Only those who participate in the challenge itself may be aware of what has transpired; there is no obligation to report what has happened to the other Council Chairs other than who is the victor. 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, the previous Council Chair shall be divested from their position of CHE Officership immediately thereafter, and the new Council Chair shall be invested in their new position of CHE Officership within the same timeframe. The Council may, at their discretion, vote on whether the previous Council Chair should be reinvested as a Support Officer.

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 inactive for a period of three months (90 days), then that Council Chair shall automatically be considered abdicated by default. 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:

<ol>
<li> ''Highlord'': 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. The Highlord represents the Tower, its members, and the Tower’s culture in a public-facing capacity with the various local and foreign governments and organizations. While all castes aid the apprenticeship or “''q’halaesh''” in some capacity, the Highlord ensures that the Way is properly instructed to potential members of the Tower through the designation of mentors or “''mis’rae''” and the vetting of lessons and trials. The Highlord does not participate in any Council votes except those needing a tie breaking vote, or those needing a unanimous vote with no abstaining votes.
<br>
The Highlord must be exceptionally well versed in all areas of Dhe’nar and related cultures, to include history and lore, philosophies, castes, language, and general culture topics. As a leadership position, the Highlord must be both a charismatic and diplomatic role model to everyone affiliated with Dhe’nar culture. 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.</li>
<li> ''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. Prospective challengers for the role of Emissary must have a thorough understanding of the Temple caste and the Way, and they must be able to demonstrate an appropriate blood rite as utilized for the culmination of the Tower’s “''q’halaesh''” for a Dhe’nar elf.</li>
<li> ''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. The Essence may also provide historical guidance to matters of a philosophical nature in order to apply core tenants of the Way to any problem at hand. Prospective challengers for the role of Essence must have a thorough understanding of the Warlock caste, and have an understanding of various sources of Power throughout the region and history.</li>
<li> ''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. Prospective challengers for the role of Warlord must have a thorough understanding of the Warrior caste and the Obsidian Legion, an understanding of current and recent threats to the region, and they must be able to demonstrate competency on the battlefield and core concepts of leadership through action and example. The Warlord may be called upon to lead Tower forces in the case of invasions and may serve as bodyguard for another Council member.</li>
<li> ''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. Serving as a foil to the three noble castes represented on the Council, the Balance is the counterweight to those Council Chairs and foremost strives to uphold integrity of the Way in all Council decisions. The Balance must be able to provide pragmatic counsel to the Council and the Tower to better facilitate unity. Prospective challengers for the role of Balance must have a thorough understanding of the Worker caste and the role of the casteless within Dhe’nar culture, a comprehensive understanding of the three noble castes, and demonstrate a consistent background of promoting fairness and unity within the Tower. The Balance is also responsible for moderation of Obsidian Council meetings in order to promote fairness and unity.</li>
</ol>

=====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 and Support Officer role are as follows:

<ol>
<li>''Chair'' (1 only): 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. Ultimately is responsible for all decisions made by the Tower.</li>
<li>''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.</li>
<li>''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; 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.</li>
<li>''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.</li>
</ol>

The above roles and responsibilities are concurrent with the additional roles and responsibilities associated with each Officer’s Council Chair. Except for the Highlord, which must be the House Chair, the other Council Chairs may serve in any of the other CHE Officer roles as befitting their individual interests and strengths.

<ol start="5">
<li>''Support Officers'' (no minimum) : A Tower member who is interested in serving in the role of Support Officer may petition the current seated Council. If the petition is accepted, the Council may vote to invest the Tower member as a Support Officer. The process by which a Tower member is evaluated for service in the role of Support Officer is determined by the current seated Council, and it may include invitation into that role if the Council deems it appropriate.
<br>
Support Officers must have a known history of consistent roleplay as part of or associated with Dhe’nar culture. There are no race, culture or profession restrictions on serving as a Support Officer. Support Officers are not tied to any specific traditional background or titles within Dhe’nar culture, however they may be individuals who strive toward event development, roleplay inclusion, and leadership opportunities within the Tower. The function of Support Officers is to assist with the administrative CHE duties in the capacity of a non-Council CHE Officer role, specifically Co-Treasurer, Co-Secretary, or sometimes even Co-Chair.
<br>
Support Officers who are inactive for a period of one month (30 days) may be considered abdicated by Council vote. Support Officers who are inactive for a period of three months (90 days) shall automatically be considered abdicated by default. A Support Officer who has been locked out as a result of a ban imposed by Simutronics or has sold that character to another player shall be considered abdicated by default immediately upon lockout or sale/transfer of the character. Support Officers may be divested from their role through a Council hearing with all Council members voting unanimous and with no abstaining votes.</li>
</ol>

In addition the individual duties outlined above, all Officers shall maintain involvement in organizing, planning, and otherwise supporting House events.

=====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 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.

In the case of insufficient Council members to satisfy the minimum requirement of CHE Officers, the remaining active Council members shall convene to vote on investing additional CHE Officers from the entire Tower membership to serve in the role of Support Officer. In the case of no active Council members, the active Tower membership shall have a general vote on who shall be invested as additional CHE Officers to serve in the role of Support Officers.

In the case of a Council consisting of two or fewer Council Chairs, petitions to challenge for a Council Chair may be made to the entire current Tower membership in lieu of to the Council. A minimum of two consecutive weeks (14 days) shall be afforded to the entire Tower membership to ensure that any other member has the opportunity to petition for a counterchallenge to the same Council Chair. A sixty six percent (66%) majority of votes submitted from the current membership shall be considered acceptance of any petition to challenge or counterchallenge, with a minimum of two weeks (14 days) allowed for current members to submit their votes. Use of the in-game CHE commands shall be used for the purposes of communicating these petitions to challenge and counterchallenge, and to vote. At this point, the challenge shall progress as normal. If there are multiple challengers to the same Council chair, the challengers will take turns drawing lots to enter the Chamber of Fate in pairs, repeating this process until only one challenger is recognized as the victor. In all cases, prospective Council members must still adhere to all minimum requirements of the Council Chair for which they intend to challenge.

====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.

Leadership meetings, attended by CHE Officers and Support Officers, shall be held monthly to better facilitate planning of Tower events, House expenditures, and other related House business. Leadership meetings are intended to focus on the administrative and planning roles associated with CHE Officers and Support Officers, however they shall be open to the entire Tower membership. They may shift to be either in-character or out-of-character in nature depending on the topic discussed. Leadership meeting dates and times shall be announced at least one week (7 days) in advance using all possible methods of communication, including the in-game CHE messaging system. Any matters involving membership changes or expenditures shall be voted upon by the Council. All matters involving House expenditures, including those involving Influence Points, shall have an opportunity to be heard and discussed by the active House membership prior to a vote. This discussion may be held during General House meetings, Leadership meetings or via other mediums, such as the Tower’s internal email list.

Additional Council Meetings shall be held on an as-needed basis to promote cultural roleplay within the Tower. The focus of this type of meeting can vary greatly depending on the topic at hand. Council meetings may be held concurrent with Leadership meetings.

General House meetings, Leadership meetings, and Council meetings may all be held concurrently. Abbreviated meeting minutes shall be made available on the official forums in the Obsidian Tower folder, and more detailed minutes or logs shall be made available to the Tower membership 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 Council with no abstaining votes. Prior to holding a vote on Charter revisions or amendments, the Council shall provide the entire House membership an opportunity to read and comment on the proposed changes for a timeframe consisting at least two weeks (14 days).

In the case of one or more Council Chairs being vacant, all revisions or amendments must instead be approved through a three-part process consisting of:
<ol>
<li> A unanimous vote of the current active Council, including Highlord, with no abstaining votes; and</li>
<li> A sixty six percent (66%) majority vote of all individuals holding Officer positions; and</li>
<li> A sixty six percent (66%) majority of votes submitted from the current House membership, utilizing the in-game CHE commands and allowing all members a voting timeframe of at least two weeks (14 days).</li>
</ol>
In all cases, all Charter revisions or amendments must then be submitted to the GM Controller for review and final approval before taking effect.

== The [[CHE]] ==


The Obsidian Tower is a player run organization based around the [[Dhe'nar]] culture of [[dark elf|dark elves]]. It is the oldest of the Dhe'nar focused houses and its members have contributed to the creation of lore for the culture, some of which has been adopted and officially made canon.
The Obsidian Tower is a player run organization based around the [[Dhe'nar]] culture of [[dark elf|dark elves]]. It is the oldest of the Dhe'nar focused houses and its members have contributed to the creation of lore for the culture, some of which has been adopted and officially made canon.


==External Links==
==Resources==
* [http://obsidiantower.com The Obsidian Tower] Official Site
* [http://obsidiantower.com The Obsidian Tower] Official Site
*[http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Cooperative%20Houses%20of%20Elanthia%20(CHE%60Great%20Houses)/Obsidian%20Tower/view Officials folder]


[[Category: CHE]]
[[Category: CHE]]

Revision as of 15:09, 25 September 2017

Obsidian tower.jpg

Charter, Bylaws, and Joining Information

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, each of whom is considered “Family” and is treated accordingly;
  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

There are two governing bodies within the Obsidian Tower. These two governing bodies are the Obsidian Council, specifically, and the House Officers, generally. While there may be substantial overlap between the two entities, the primary governing body over the Obsidian Tower is the Obsidian Council.

The Obsidian Council is a kratocracy 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 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. House Officers are comprised solely of members of the Council. Also: “CHE Officer”
  5. House Support Officer: A member of the House who is not a member of the Council but who has greater powers and responsibilities related to the CHE system. Also: “CHE Support Officer” or “Support Officer”
  6. Q’halaesh: The formal training process for Dhe’nar elves that is utilized by the Obsidian Tower as a method to evaluate the merits of a potential 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.
  7. Mis’ra (plural: mis’rae): The Dhe’nar elf Obsidian Tower member who is 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 culture and its affiliated cultures through quality roleplay.

Section A: Requirements

All prospective Dhe’nar elf members must present themselves to a Dhe’nar member of the Tower, who may then accept them for 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. This process serves two purposes: to promote roleplay opportunities through a formalized training process, and to ensure that the player has a solid understanding of Dhe’nar culture before becoming a member of the Tower. The “q’halaesh” involves pairing the prospective member with one or more Dhe’nar “mis’rae” for roleplayed training and out-of-character 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.

An apprenticeship is intended for all other characters seeking membership who are not Dhe’nar 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 before becoming a member of the Tower. Both Dhe’nar and non-Dhe’nar House members may oversee this apprenticeship process. Halflings and gnomes are prohibited from obtaining membership.

Prospective members must have completed their apprenticeship or “q’halaesh” to the satisfaction of the “mis’ra” or mentor, and be at least level 20. A prospective member must also have at least a majority affirmative vote of 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 or the laws of Elanthia. The Council shall also seek input from the membership at large to ensure that the prospective member has been actively engaging with other members of the House and would be a good addition.

Former members who seek reinitiation may be exempted from the apprenticeship or “q’halaesh” if the Council votes in favor of this exemption. They are still subject to all other membership requirements.

Section B: Induction & Dues

Approved prospective members shall be inducted by a member of the Council or their designee with a second CHE Officer or a Support 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 full 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 or Support Officer 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 affirmative vote 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 shall 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 collectively by the House Officers and the House Support officers, although 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:

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

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, 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 de facto leader of the entire Tower. The other Council members are considered the Tower’s primary CHE Officers. The specific role as recognized by the CHE (“Treasurer”, “Secretary”, Co-Chairs of any of these roles, or “Co-Chair” of the entire House) for each CHE Officer may vary and are dependant on that individual’s interests and strengths and on the needs of the Tower.

In addition to the Council members, one or more Support Officers may be designated from the general House membership. Support Officers are House members identified as having a vested interest in promoting Dhe'nar culture, and in supporting the Tower by helping run House events or providing administrative support for the Tower and the Council. Feedback from Support Officers will be considered by the Council in all Council votes or decisions.

Support Officers shall be assigned by the Council and serve at the Council's behest in the capacity of Co-Officer among the standard recognized CHE roles (“Co-Treasurer”, “Co-Secretary”, and sometimes even “Co-Chair”).

Section C: Council Membership, Selection, and Responsibilities

Comprised of five Council Chairs, 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 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 a dark elf of the Dhe’nar culture who has completed the apprenticeship or “q’halaesh” overseen by the Tower. 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 may determine by whatever method it deems appropriate to evaluate the challenger’s qualifications, be it through application, interview, or any other process. 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. While combat is one method for determining who is to hold the Council Chair, this is not necessarily appropriate or preferable for all challenges. Debate, bribery, or other means of determining who is most suited for the role are all permitted. Only those who participate in the challenge itself may be aware of what has transpired; there is no obligation to report what has happened to the other Council Chairs other than who is the victor. 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, the previous Council Chair shall be divested from their position of CHE Officership immediately thereafter, and the new Council Chair shall be invested in their new position of CHE Officership within the same timeframe. The Council may, at their discretion, vote on whether the previous Council Chair should be reinvested as a Support Officer.

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 inactive for a period of three months (90 days), then that Council Chair shall automatically be considered abdicated by default. 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: 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. The Highlord represents the Tower, its members, and the Tower’s culture in a public-facing capacity with the various local and foreign governments and organizations. While all castes aid the apprenticeship or “q’halaesh” in some capacity, the Highlord ensures that the Way is properly instructed to potential members of the Tower through the designation of mentors or “mis’rae” and the vetting of lessons and trials. The Highlord does not participate in any Council votes except those needing a tie breaking vote, or those needing a unanimous vote with no abstaining votes.
    The Highlord must be exceptionally well versed in all areas of Dhe’nar and related cultures, to include history and lore, philosophies, castes, language, and general culture topics. As a leadership position, the Highlord must be both a charismatic and diplomatic role model to everyone affiliated with Dhe’nar culture. 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. Prospective challengers for the role of Emissary must have a thorough understanding of the Temple caste and the Way, and they must be able to demonstrate an appropriate blood rite as utilized for the culmination of the Tower’s “q’halaesh” for a Dhe’nar elf.
  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. The Essence may also provide historical guidance to matters of a philosophical nature in order to apply core tenants of the Way to any problem at hand. Prospective challengers for the role of Essence must have a thorough understanding of the Warlock caste, and have an understanding of various sources of Power throughout the region and history.
  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. Prospective challengers for the role of Warlord must have a thorough understanding of the Warrior caste and the Obsidian Legion, an understanding of current and recent threats to the region, and they must be able to demonstrate competency on the battlefield and core concepts of leadership through action and example. The Warlord may be called upon to lead Tower forces in the case of invasions and may serve as bodyguard for another Council member.
  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. Serving as a foil to the three noble castes represented on the Council, the Balance is the counterweight to those Council Chairs and foremost strives to uphold integrity of the Way in all Council decisions. The Balance must be able to provide pragmatic counsel to the Council and the Tower to better facilitate unity. Prospective challengers for the role of Balance must have a thorough understanding of the Worker caste and the role of the casteless within Dhe’nar culture, a comprehensive understanding of the three noble castes, and demonstrate a consistent background of promoting fairness and unity within the Tower. The Balance is also responsible for moderation of Obsidian Council meetings in order to promote fairness and unity.
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 and Support Officer role are as follows:

  1. Chair (1 only): 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. 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.
  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; 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.

The above roles and responsibilities are concurrent with the additional roles and responsibilities associated with each Officer’s Council Chair. Except for the Highlord, which must be the House Chair, the other Council Chairs may serve in any of the other CHE Officer roles as befitting their individual interests and strengths.

  1. Support Officers (no minimum) : A Tower member who is interested in serving in the role of Support Officer may petition the current seated Council. If the petition is accepted, the Council may vote to invest the Tower member as a Support Officer. The process by which a Tower member is evaluated for service in the role of Support Officer is determined by the current seated Council, and it may include invitation into that role if the Council deems it appropriate.
    Support Officers must have a known history of consistent roleplay as part of or associated with Dhe’nar culture. There are no race, culture or profession restrictions on serving as a Support Officer. Support Officers are not tied to any specific traditional background or titles within Dhe’nar culture, however they may be individuals who strive toward event development, roleplay inclusion, and leadership opportunities within the Tower. The function of Support Officers is to assist with the administrative CHE duties in the capacity of a non-Council CHE Officer role, specifically Co-Treasurer, Co-Secretary, or sometimes even Co-Chair.
    Support Officers who are inactive for a period of one month (30 days) may be considered abdicated by Council vote. Support Officers who are inactive for a period of three months (90 days) shall automatically be considered abdicated by default. A Support Officer who has been locked out as a result of a ban imposed by Simutronics or has sold that character to another player shall be considered abdicated by default immediately upon lockout or sale/transfer of the character. Support Officers may be divested from their role through a Council hearing with all Council members voting unanimous and with no abstaining votes.

In addition the individual duties outlined above, all Officers shall maintain involvement in organizing, planning, and otherwise supporting House events.

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 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.

In the case of insufficient Council members to satisfy the minimum requirement of CHE Officers, the remaining active Council members shall convene to vote on investing additional CHE Officers from the entire Tower membership to serve in the role of Support Officer. In the case of no active Council members, the active Tower membership shall have a general vote on who shall be invested as additional CHE Officers to serve in the role of Support Officers.

In the case of a Council consisting of two or fewer Council Chairs, petitions to challenge for a Council Chair may be made to the entire current Tower membership in lieu of to the Council. A minimum of two consecutive weeks (14 days) shall be afforded to the entire Tower membership to ensure that any other member has the opportunity to petition for a counterchallenge to the same Council Chair. A sixty six percent (66%) majority of votes submitted from the current membership shall be considered acceptance of any petition to challenge or counterchallenge, with a minimum of two weeks (14 days) allowed for current members to submit their votes. Use of the in-game CHE commands shall be used for the purposes of communicating these petitions to challenge and counterchallenge, and to vote. At this point, the challenge shall progress as normal. If there are multiple challengers to the same Council chair, the challengers will take turns drawing lots to enter the Chamber of Fate in pairs, repeating this process until only one challenger is recognized as the victor. In all cases, prospective Council members must still adhere to all minimum requirements of the Council Chair for which they intend to challenge.

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.

Leadership meetings, attended by CHE Officers and Support Officers, shall be held monthly to better facilitate planning of Tower events, House expenditures, and other related House business. Leadership meetings are intended to focus on the administrative and planning roles associated with CHE Officers and Support Officers, however they shall be open to the entire Tower membership. They may shift to be either in-character or out-of-character in nature depending on the topic discussed. Leadership meeting dates and times shall be announced at least one week (7 days) in advance using all possible methods of communication, including the in-game CHE messaging system. Any matters involving membership changes or expenditures shall be voted upon by the Council. All matters involving House expenditures, including those involving Influence Points, shall have an opportunity to be heard and discussed by the active House membership prior to a vote. This discussion may be held during General House meetings, Leadership meetings or via other mediums, such as the Tower’s internal email list.

Additional Council Meetings shall be held on an as-needed basis to promote cultural roleplay within the Tower. The focus of this type of meeting can vary greatly depending on the topic at hand. Council meetings may be held concurrent with Leadership meetings.

General House meetings, Leadership meetings, and Council meetings may all be held concurrently. Abbreviated meeting minutes shall be made available on the official forums in the Obsidian Tower folder, and more detailed minutes or logs shall be made available to the Tower membership 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 Council with no abstaining votes. Prior to holding a vote on Charter revisions or amendments, the Council shall provide the entire House membership an opportunity to read and comment on the proposed changes for a timeframe consisting at least two weeks (14 days).

In the case of one or more Council Chairs being vacant, all revisions or amendments must instead be approved through a three-part process consisting of:

  1. A unanimous vote of the current active Council, including Highlord, with no abstaining votes; and
  2. A sixty six percent (66%) majority vote of all individuals holding Officer positions; and
  3. A sixty six percent (66%) majority of votes submitted from the current House membership, utilizing the in-game CHE commands and allowing all members a voting timeframe of 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.

The CHE

The Obsidian Tower is a player run organization based around the Dhe'nar culture of dark elves. It is the oldest of the Dhe'nar focused houses and its members have contributed to the creation of lore for the culture, some of which has been adopted and officially made canon.

Resources