The Rising Sun, touching this land with fearless light for the first time, met with the Soul of the Covenant long before there was a Covenant, in the sands of a distant desert on the night where few stars shown their true light. Those stars that did show their true light were six and not one more. The Sun and the Soul were soon joined by the Ancient Principle as their travels through the desert took them far. These three walked together for many years, until three more walked with them. True Loyalty, Pure Intensity and Ultimate Strength, long before each was forced into revealing their true names, were now amongst the brethren. Again, and still, the six walk this desert, built up, burned down, and reborn as one under the Covenant of the Phoenix. There are a few heroes, a very few knights in shining armor, who light the land like a torch against the darkness. Their creed is honor and service; they face the world not with hot, greedy hands but with the warm hand of friendship. Be one of the few.
The Covenant is best described as a common spirit of camaraderie, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of the Covenant. We are gathered here to continue a quest to fulfill our gaming goals in a family friendly environment catering to gamers of all styles, all genres and with every sort of gaming schedule imaginable. It is a guild environment that asks its leadership to inspire our membership, rather than require anything of them. One that chooses to promote through ability and merit, rather than statistics and elitism....and makes clear it's standard that we are not a gaggle of gamers who happen to be under one tag, but a family of friends who enjoy gaming under a banner of chivalry superseded only by the spirit by which emanates from and is forever guarded by it's membership.
I. If thine true loyalties are still held hostage, you have the right to nothing.
II. Prepared and ready Knights, being necessary to the security of this honorable Guild, the right of said Knights to defend Guild lands and mangle the enemy, shall not be infringed.
III. No official member of the Covenant shall be held to answer for a crime, unless on a first and private indictment of an official appointed to a position of Leadership by and for the Covenant. Nor shall said member be permanently deprived of membership benefits, without due process of law according to the presiding Guardian and established guidelines.
IV. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a private trial, by Guardians partial only to this very document and the spirit by which this Guild exists.
V. The powers not delegated to the Covenant by this document, nor prohibited by said document, are reserved to its official guild chapters respectively, or to the Sacred Circle.
VI. Guardians shall make no law to amend this document without unanimous support from fellow Guardians and Sentinels, three-fourths of the Assembled Elders, three-fourths of the appointed Knights of the Court and a majority of the Sacred Circle.
VII. You have the right to enjoy the benefits of this genuine brotherhood in exchange for genuine loyalty.
VIII. We have received this Covenant as a fair inheritance from our worthy founders: they purchased this for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and preserved them for us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, honorable and intelligent as it is, if we should suffer them to be taken from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. It is the right, in any and all circumstance in which the security of our membership and the spirit of this guild are at risk, that those of the Guardianship wield the sword of absolution. They shall do less whenever they shall believe what they are doing hurts the cause, and they shall do more whenever they shall believe doing more will help the cause. In the end, it is, in fact, their task to secure the triumph of the Covenant.
I. Courage and honour endure, even after mountains have crumbled to dust. Original members know this well, it is our true place of beginning.
II. Give a man a sword and you defend him from rodents, teach him to use the sword and you've defended the Covenant
III. The anger of a moment leads to foolishness and may wreak havoc on the truth.
IV. No act of kindness or generosity, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
V. To expand your horizons, you must lose your fear of being wrong. No Guild expansion has been or will be without mistakes, learn from them.
VI. No leader is wise enough by himself…. the number of original Covenant founders alone proves this to be true.
VII. The greatest of faults, is to be conscious of none.
VIII. When cities burn and armies turn and flee in disarray, cowards will cry: 'Tis best to fly and fight another day. But those of the Covenant know in their marrow: When they die and fall, 'tis best to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.
I. Whatever ye do, make sure that it is done with Honour
II. Treat thine brethren with dignity and respect at all times
III. Speaketh in both live and written chat with pristine tongue
IV. Lest thine tongue publicly malign needlessly, all initial chastisement must be made with the utmost in privacy
V. Beggeth not in the public; this brings dishonor upon your name and your fathers
VI. Help thine brothers and sisters of the Covenant of the Phoenix above all others
VII. If ye pledge to the Covenant, follow the orders of the Leaders of the Covenant
VIII. Bring not defilers and miscreants into our fellowship, be it temporary, or not
IX. Maketh every effort to engage in fellowship of the Covenant forums and voicechat servers whenever possible
X. Treat enemies of this Covenant as such: With the highest respect and with no mercy or quarter
XI. When thou hast given little to nothing, ask for little to nothing
XII. A knight shall not be arrogant or boastful in their ways; they shall practice modesty in all aspects of their being; while maintaining pride in one's accomplishments
XIII. Thou art charged to remember that any action creates a reaction. Therefore, what you must do, certainly expect to receive
XIV. A Knight's word must be the word of truth and counted more trustworthy than a legal contract. Therefore, when you must give your word in bond, keep it
XV. Do not speak ill of others, for ye may yet know the whole truth. Similarly, do not gossip, for unverified words are hearsay and in large part a thing of falsehoods. Be honest with others, and have them know that honesty is likewise expected of them
XVI. Consider the consequences of your actions for others. Strive to do no harm.
XVII. Give genuine loyalty and expect a genuine brotherhood
XVIII. Pledge thine friendship to those who warrant it and support thine brethren in their time of need that they might support you when thou art in need
XIX. Uphold the right, even at the cost of thine life
XX. Mete out even handed justice, tempered with mercy
XXI. Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.
XXIII. Assist and defend others; and to strive to act with honour at all times
XXIV. Any Knight following this High Path of Chivalry must be above reproach in the eyes of the world. Only then will the darkness be lifted
XXV. Always stand for the Spirit of the Covenant, even if you stand alone. Count that your brethren will stand beside you, no matter the odds
XXVI. Be steadfast in your adherence to the code and the ideals it sets forth.
XXVII. Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them.
XXVIII. The Knight of the Covenant is sworn by oath to defend the spirit of the Phoenix and those who depended upon him. Seek always to defend your guild, your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty
XXIX. Being a knight often means choosing the more difficult path, the personally expensive one. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. At the same time, a knight should seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, or the pure truth can bring grief.
XXX. A knight must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and gives hope against the despair that human failings create.
XXXI. Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds. In this way the office of knighthood is well done and glorified, helping not only the gentle spoken of but also all who call themselves knights.
XXXII. Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done in the service of rightness.
XXXIII. Above all, enjoy your life in the Covenant and help others enjoy theirs.
XXXIV. Seek to emulate the words and ideals written above as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue.
Traditional charge:
Guards the spirit of the Phoenix and ensures the Covenant is reformed in every new guild expansion in a manner befitting of the Covenant and it's defined expectations therein.
Duties:
- Administrates all new guild expansions.
- Administrates guild webspace, forums and voicechat servers
- Manages guild financing
- Appoints all new Hand of the Covenant members.
- Can recruit and approve all new official guild members.
- Judiciary of serious disputes via interpretation of the guild charter and/or forum rules
- Executrix of all guild removals regarding disputed charter violations
- Dismissed only via repeated Charter violation or treason
Minimum Requirements:
- 4 Years a Member of the guild
- 1 as a Sentinel of the Covenant.
- 3 Years combined leadership
- Completed stage 4 Leadership training.
Traditional charge:
Steward of the Guardian also defending the Phoenix against all who wish to contradict the Covenant and the spirit by which it exists.
Duties:
- Can administrate new guild expansions.
- Administrates guild webspace, forums and voicechat servers
- Can found, lead and manage all functions of a new or existing guild branch
- Can recruit and approve all new official guild members.
- Appoints all new Templars
- Dismissed only via repeated Charter violation or treason
Minimum Requirements:
- 3 Years member
- 2 Year combined Leadership experience
- Completed stage 4 Leadership training
Traditional charge:
Leaders who enable the growth of the community through knowledgeable and supportive roles.
Duties:
- Can administrate new guild expansions.
- Administrates guild webspace, forums and voicechat servers
- Can found, lead and manage all functions of a new or existing guild branch
- Can recruit and approve all new official guild members.
- Appoints all new Paladins
- Dismissed only via repeated Charter violation or treason
Minimum Requirements:
- 2 Years member
- 1 Year combined Leadership experience
- Completed stage 3 Leadership training
Paladin of the Covenant
Traditional charge:
Leaders who are the eyes of the Phoenix as it is looked to by those seeking direction.
Duties:
- Can administrate new guild expansions.
- Administrates and/or Moderates guild forums and voicechat servers
- Can found, lead and manage all functions of a new or existing guild branch
- Appoints all new Knights
- Can recruit and approve new official guild members for their particular branch.
- Dismissed only via serious Charter violation or treason.
Minimum Requirements:
- 1 Year Member
- 6 Months combined Leadership
- Completed stage 2 Leadership training
Traditional charge:
Officers assigned to assume the driving force behind the Phoenix through adventures in lands known and unknown as it ever expands the spirit of the Covenant.
Duties:
- Can recruit and approve new official guild members for their particular branch.
- Moderates guild forums and voicechat servers
- Can manage all functions of an existing guild branch
- Dismissed only via serious Charter violation or treason.
Minimum Requirements:
- 4 Months Member
- 3 Months consecutive Sentry
- Completed stage 1 Leadership training
Traditional charge:
Leaders assigned to assist the membership of the covenant in their individual goals as well as the goals of the chapter as a whole..
Duties:
- Can recruit and approve new official guild members for their particular branch.
- Can manage most functions of an existing guild branch
- Dismissed only via serious Charter violation or treason.
- If moving to a new CotP chapter, must be re-appointed by Chapter Leader of new chapter.
Minimum Requirements:
- 1 Month Member
- Completed stage 1 Leadership training
Traditional charge:
Members of the Phoenix who are charged to be the change they wish to see in the Covenant and it's Empire.
Duties:
- Can help vote on future guild and forum changes
- Involved in all guild financial expenditures
- Can help design new guild events
- Can help lead ingame quests, events and adventures
- Real life friends and relatives are OK to recruit into guild
- Dismissed only via Charter violation or treason.
Minimum Requirements:
- Ingame interview
- Forum application
- Agreed to all terms and conditions of the guild charter and forum rules
Writers of the Charter: Throne, Oonagh, Jassid, Fantomas, Damis Fajer, Killercod, Leah, Lysander, kaobang, Ifisa, Disro.
Guild Structure courtesy of: Throne, Oonagh, Jassid, Fantomas, Damis Fajer, Lysander, Disro, Fozzie, Spclk, Lazerith, Arus, Faradii, Doomsdealer.
Quotes courtesy of the following: Thomas Carlyle, Titus Macchius Plautus, Joseph Chilton Pierce, Aesop, John Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, Throne, Gouverneur Morris, Leah, Brian R. Price, Edmund Randolph, Roger Sherman, King Arthur, Damis Fajer, James Wilson, Jesus Christ, George Wythe, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Anonymous.
I. A Member of the Sacred Circle or of the Knight's Court, in good standing and of sound mind, deemed necessary to the survival of an official Covenant of the Phoenix Chapter, be it existing or that of expansion, will be, in accordance to the judgement of the Guardianship in unanimous form, allowed succedaneum with regard to terms defined under the Minimum Requirements for promotion of both the Knight and Elder positions set out in article VI of the Covenant of the Phoenix Guild Charter, save and except the stipulation with cognizance to specific leadership training.
II. Addition of the Sentry rank. One rank below that of Knight and the first rank above CotP member. Helps lead groups, events at the chapter level. Read-only access to Parliament. Highest rank attained by new officers in a new CotP chapter expansion. Suggested by Chapter Leadership and/or Guardianship, Appointed by Chapter Leaders. One month membership or Article VIII Section I. Must pass Sentry Exam. Position does not transfer between chapters but title remains on forums. If moving to a new CotP chapter, must be re-appointed by Chapter Leader of new chapter. Must use voip/forums.
III. Addition of the Templar rank. One rank below Sentinel and one rank above Elder. Everything an Elder currently requires in addition to significant (Finished project of lasting use to the community) effort put forth as a member of the CotP workforce or 6+ months as Chapter Leader of Major Chapter (50+ active 30 day members) or 1+ years as Chapter Leader of minor chapter. Must use voip/forums. Must pass Templar Exam.
IV. Changes the "Elder" rank to "Paladin". Brings this particular rank in line with the soldierly emphasis on the rest of the ranks. Rank order will be as follows:
Guardian
Sentinel
Templar
Paladin
Knight
Sentry
V. Guardian minimum requirements changed to 4 years as member, 1 years as a Sentinel with 3 years combined leadership. Sentinel set to 3 years member, 2 years combined leadership. Templar set to 2 years member, 1 years combined leadership. Paladin set to 1 year member, 6 months combined leadership. Knight set to 4 months member, 3 consecutive months active Sentry in a single CotP chapter. Sentry set to 1 month member or Article VIII Section I.