Ring of Steel: Sub-Charter and FAQ

[Hroderich Gottfrei]

CHARTER: RING OF STEEL
PURPOSE: ORGANIZING THE RING


Section I: Hierarchy

A: The Ring of Steel is Commanded by the Guardian of Steel, known within the Ring as the Master/Mistress of Steel. Beneath the Mistress/Master of Steel are the Captains of each Company, referred to colloquially as Warlords. The Master/Mistress of Steel is a first among equals, but his or her word carries the weight of law in a time of war. For Visual readers, the Hierarchy may be imagined this way:

B: Each Warlord will be responsible for leading units of up to 25 Keepers/Wardens with two Lieutenants and two File Leaders. Together, a File Leader and a Lieutenant will be responsible for overseeing 10 Keepers/Wardens and delegating tasks (as given to them by their Warlord). Each Warlord will operate independently of the others and answer to the Master/Mistress of Steel.

C: One Warlord, designated by the Master/Mistress of Steel, will be responsible for raising and maintaining the Training Band - a band of 25 recruits with an experienced File Leader for every five recruits and two Lieutenants. These smaller groups will be trained and given a multitude of missions to strengthen their skills, knowledge, and comraderie within the Ring. Recruits will spend five (5) weeks in training, following their File Leader and growing into a unit. Upon graduation from training, the recruits will have the choice to join any established company, pending acceptance by that company (the methods of which may be left to each company).

D: Experienced Wardens of Steel may elect to found a new company of Keepers, but must obtain permission from the Master/Mistress of steel and the endorsement of 3/4 of the standing Warlords.

Master/Mistress of Steel (Guardian, elected position)
<Warlords (Wardens of Steel who chose to found a company or stand for election in an existing company and were confirmed by 3/4+ of standing Warlords)
<Lieutenants (Wardens of Steel either elected or appointed - varies by unit - to lead a File Leader and ten Wardens/Keepers of Steel into combat; Administrative assistant with adjudication authority over his or her own file)
<File Leader (Wardens or Keepers of Steel elected or appointed - varies by unit - to lead ten Wardens/Keepers of Steel into combat and on missions. First line of adjudication for disputes, administrative assistant to their Lieutenant)
<Warden/Keeper of Steel (An individual with no leadership responsibility with some or full rights to vote on issues in their own unit - varies by unit.)


II: Other Rings

A: The Ring of Light will provide, at their own discretion, a number of healers and holy warriors to the Ring of Steel. These Keepers and Wardens alike will pass through the same five week training as members of the Ring of Steel and be passed on to a unit of their (or their Ring's) choice. Keepers of Light will be requested to follow advanced training relating to combat healing, abjuration, and countering specific threats within their purview.

B: The Ring of Crystal will provide battlemages at their own discretion for training within the ring of steel, following a five week training course and then being assigned to a unit at their own discretion. Like Keepers of Light, they will be requested to fulfill advanced training with Keepers of Steel to better hone the organization's efficacy across multiple Rings.

C: Other rings, at their discretion, may send Keepers to advance through the training regimen and become combat certified.


III: Missions

A: Peacekeeping - Keepers of Steel will often be issued writs of Adjudication, sending them to clear an area of hostile creatures and people as well as to fulfill the judgments of local courts and of the Circle when necessary.

B: Escorting - Keepers of Steel will be requested to escort emissaries, traders, foragers, and others - both within and without The Circle - for a time. These missions will often serve to grow The Circle's power or to establish positive relationships with outside groups. Many of these missions will be for-profit, with the money spread amongst the warband by each Warlord.

C: Raiding - Keepers of Steel may be called upon from time to time to raid enemy supply lines and strongholds to harry them and diminish their ability to effectively war against The Circle.

D: War - The main mission of the Keepers of Steel is to prepare for and against the inevitability of war with other factions. In times of war, Keepers of Steel answer directly to their Warlords and will be directed as such.

[Hroderich Gottfrei]

UNIT CLARIFICATION:

It is the intention that each and every unit develop and maintain its own identity. When a Warden chooses to raise a new unit, a great deal of flexibility is granted. The new Warlord may elect to field a unit of Archers backed by shield-bearing plate-wearing axemen, or a unit of spear-cavalry, or an all-arms unit, or a magic-heavy unit, etc.

Further, how each Warlord elects to enforce secondary (ie, non-guild mandated) rules is entirely up to him or her. If a Warlord chooses that his/her unit should be entirely free of foul language or similar, that is his/her right as Warlord of that unit.

The mechanisms for choosing officers within each unit are also up to the unit. Using the fictional Dark Lions as an example:

Warlord Hroderich elects to found a new company and is confirmed by more than three-quarters of the standing Warlords. He puts out a call for volunteers and notes that his company will be organized thus:

There will be two Lieutenants appointed by Hroderich. One will lead The Dark Lion Fangs, the second will lead the Dark Lion Claws.
There will be two File Leaders, one elected by each File.
All Keepers and Wardens will be expected to spend time practicing formation drill - no less than one hour per week.
All Keepers and Wardens will have full rights to vote on missions. All file leaders (regardless of Warden-status) and Lieutenants will have full rights to vote on policy changes, as will three other non-officers within the unit, elected by the remaining Keepers and Wardens to represent them for a period of six (6) months.

The Primary focus of the Dark Lions will be unit-formation warfare and adjudication of hostile groups during peacetime. Members of the unit will be required to face a standing member in a duel and show courage, fortitude, and honor.

All characters in the Dark Lions will be expected to wield a shield and one handed weapon. Preferably, every character will learn proficiency with one-handed swords, shields, and medium armor. Financial aid for acquiring equipment will be available, but the loan must be repaid in full either by performing unit missions or another means.

Every Dark Lion will be responsible for his or her own actions. Disputes between Lions should be brought to his or her file leader. File Leaders will attempt to solve the problem or elevate to their Lieutenant. Lieutenants will solve the problem or elevate to Hroderich.

Gold-Sharing: For any mission undertaken by ONE file of The Dark Lions, 20% of the proceeds will be sent to the circle. 15% will go to the unit bank, 5% will go to Hroderich, 5% each to the respective Lieutenant and File Leader, and the remaining 50% distributed amongst the remaining Keepers/Wardens equally (5% each in a full file). For Missions undertaken by ALL files of The Dark Lions, 10% of the proceeds will be sent to the circle. 5% will go to the unit bank, 5% will go to Hroderich, 5% each to the respective Lieutenants and File Leaders, and the remaining 70% will be split amongst the remaining Keepers/Wardens equally (3.5% each in a full file). Though the percentages are lower in the second case, payment will be much higher for services rendered by the whole unit. Further, being paid the above amounts is contingent upon ACTIVE PARTICIPATION in the mission - if you are not working/fighting, you will not accrue coin.

Giver of Gold: Hroderich will, from time to time and at his own discretion, bestow gifts of coin and plunder upon his followers, rewarding them for service and for valor, for dedication and for cleverness.

^^^The above is a fictional-unit, an example of how a unit charter may be initially conceived.