Charter

Our charter is always a work in progress, but is based upon wisdom gained by our members with years of experience in online games. Much of what you will find below was developed not by our current Grey Council, but past ones. 

Last ratification 04/08/06.

Rank Structure

Page: Probationary member only. Initial recruits to the guild.

Squire: Accepted members of the guild. Primary character level 10 or higher.

Knight: Full member of the guild. Voting member. Rank is given for life (continues to other game worlds). Rank given to "well known" members after approval of the Grey Council. Allowed to wear a grey cloak at guild meetings.

Advisor: An honorary rank granted to past members of the Grey Council from any world.  Past Grey Council members who step down from their position are given this rank, which continues into other game worlds.  They have no official powers beyond that of a Knight, but have access to the officers' forum in order to preserve their wisdom for the current Grey Council.

Templar: Officers of the guild. Along with the guild master, this is the Grey Council. Power of recruitment, promoting, and approval of all Knights and selection of new Templars or Grey Lords. Limited to one per 4 active members in the guild with a minimum of 2 (ratio subject to change).

Grey Lord: Guild master. Chairperson of the Grey Council. The Grey Lord's only additional power over that of the Templar is to decide tie votes (council or general) only as a last resort. There is only one Grey Lord.

Code of Conduct

The seven codes below are to be followed by all members of the guild, no matter what their rank.  Repeated or severe infractions of our Code of Conduct may result in loss of rank or removal from the guild.  Disciplinary actions are resolved by the Grey Council with input from the entire guild. 

1. Kindness. Treat all, guildmates and strangers, with respect. An act of kindness will come back to you ten fold! An act of rudeness or selfishness will haunt you forever. 

2. Maturity. No swearing, spamming, or distasteful jokes. Please do not use foul language. No distasteful jokes in open chat. Internet shorthand (aka doodspeak) is frowned upon. Common sense is the most valuable friend you have when it comes to the words you say.

3. Self-sacrifice. Members must be aware that they are involved in this Order for both personal gratification and the betterment of its members. This means your fellow guild members needs should be as important as your own. This does not mean however that older and more powerful members will powerlevel or spend all their time helping you. Help will be given, but do not abuse the kindness of others. 

4. Obedience. Organization is the key to the success of any group whether hunting or engaging in PvP combat. To this end members shall obey all orders given by their group leaders. 

5. Cheating. We do not support any action that involves knowingly taking advantage of bugs in a game. By cheating you are removing yourself from the game world environment, which runs contrary to the spirit and intent of participating in a virtual game world. 

6. Harassment. We do not support the harassment of ANY player within the game world. Differences of opinion occur frequently and we will not involve ourselves in the personal relationships of its members except when a member’s actions could be construed as harassment or emotional abuse. 

7. Honor. We have long been an honor guild. Many have passed through our ranks only to find that our standards and goal of honor were too high for them. Be honorable in all you do including the way you speak. Your actions reflect not only on you but upon your entire guild. You will be remembered for any action you do, but unfortunately, a dishonorable act will be remembered long after an honorable act. 

Meetings

Location: Mord Plaza (the Park in Stormwind). This area contains the Knighting Pool for promotion of members, Grey Hall for general meetings and merriment, a Grey Guard and armsroom for role-playing purposes, and Templars' Hall, the Grey Council's meeting place.

Occurence: Monthly meetings for both the guild and the Grey Council. All members of any rank are allowed at the general guild meeting. Date and time yet to be determined.

Procedure:

1. If necessary, the Grey Council meets early at Templars' Hall to discuss any matters before the general meeting such as promotions to Knight.

2. Guild Meeting at the Grey Hall, upstairs balcony (alternately outside the Grey Hall near the Knighting Pool). The top ranking member present calls the meeting to order. Someone present will take notes of those present and matters discussed for posting on our forum. Each member that wishes to discuss a matter will get a chance to talk by 'taking the floor". While someone has the floor other discussion will be kept to a minimum. Chat can be in /say or /guild for members that are online, but can not be present. After all speaking members have been recognized the discussion portion of the meeting will be adjorned.

3. Knighting Ceremony. If someone is to be promoted to Knight, it will be announced at the Guild Meeting (step 2). Members will then gather at the Knighting Pool for a brief ceremony, promotion of the member, and delivery of their Grey Knights' Cloak.

4. Conclusion of Events. Feasting and merriment in the downstairs area of the Grey Hall. This may include the old tradition of a Poor Knight's and Rich Knight's raffle if the guild needs a treasury. Festivities can be moved into the Plaza if needed. Dueling festivities would need to be moved outside of Stormwind (location to be determined). After all events are over, members are encouraged to go hunting together.

Note: For ease of travel, members may wish to move or create a rarely used character to be camped in the Park at Stormwind for meetings.

Voting 

From time to time votes may need to be taken by the guild or the Grey Council.  On many matters, an unofficial sense of what the guild wishes is all that is needed.  If an official vote is needed, a poll will be created at our forum. 

Guild Voting: All members of Knight rank or higher may vote on general matters affecting the guild. This includes charter approval and changes.  Pages and Squires may voice their opinions in game or at the forum, but only Knights or higher are allowed to vote.

Council Voting: Votes by the Grey Council are done so in secret.  Only the outcome of the vote will be announced to the guild.  Council votes may be called for such things as promotions to Knight ranks and higher or disciplinary actions.

Promotions

Promotion to Squire: A Squire must have a primary character of level 10 or higher.  A Squire must have posted a character and/or player background on our forum.  A Squire must pass the Squire's Test.  All members of Knight rank or higher may voice their opinion of a new Page.  Their opinion should be expressed at our forum and/or the monthly guild meeting.  Pages are promoted only if no one disapproves of them. A unanimous vote or a vote by all members is not required. A Page meeting all of the previous criteria is promoted to Squire unless someone voices such a disapproval. Pages may be promoted to Squire at the guild meeting following their recruitment if those present feel the member has had enough time to get to know other member's of the guild.

Promotion to Knight: Knights and higher may nominate a Squire to be promoted either in-game and/or at our forum. Candidates must be a well known member and should be active at our forum. Knights must have passed the Knight's Test.  Knights must have a character of level 30 or higher. The Grey Council will then discuss the promotion at their monthly meeting and/or our forum. Only the Grey Council (Templar and Grey Lord ranks ) votes on promotions to Knights.  A Squire is promoted to Knight only with no dissenting opinions from the Grey Council.  Past Knights automatically receive the rank of Knight when entering a new game world (also see Advisor above).

Promotion to Templar: Templars (officers) are selected from Knights in good standing who are very active in the guild. The Grey Council selects and approves all Templars. There is a limited number of Templars so these will be filled when vacated or the guild expands. Templars are limited to one per 4 active members in the guild with a minimum of 2 (ratio subject to change).

Promotion to Grey Lord: If our Grey Lord steps down, a new one will be selected from the ranks of the Templars. Vacanies in Templars will be filled before any vacany in Grey Lord. All voting members of the guild vote on the new Grey Lord choosing from Templars. If no Templar is willing to accept this position, then the Templars must vote to make a willing member of Knight rank the new Grey Lord.

Uniform

Grey Knights should make it a point to wear a uniform during all guild meetings and ceremonies.

Pages and Squires: Common Gray Shirt, Plain Robe (both available in Stormwind), and Guild Tabbard.

Knights and higher: Icy Cloak (given when knighted).  Silver-Thread armor.  Option of suit or cloak for chest piece.

Role-Playing

Role-playing is encouraged within our guild. We believe role-playing adds another level of enjoyment to massively multiplayer games. We encourage members to participate in role-playing events for their own enjoyment.

Role-playing is encouraged, but not required, in /guild chat. We understand staying in character is sometimes difficult and we are group of friends whom may wish to discuss real-world events. Role-playing is mandatory, due to the RP server we reside on, in /say chat. Role-playing is encouraged in /group chat based upon the nature of the group you find yourself in.