Riverwatch Rangers [OLD]

[Okami]

Riverwatch Rangers

A ranger order founded by Okami following concerns about the safety of various areas of the continent of Sosaria. The order is heavily focused on keeping any eye out for natural and unnatural threats to Brittania's safety, while trying to remain true to the 3 principles of Virtue. 

The Rankings

Warden

An official charged with supervisory duties and protection of the lands between Britannia's cities. The Elder Warden has final word on all administrative matters; establishing and maintaining ties with the crown, city-states, and other groups; the recruitment and guidance of new rangers; managing membership including the promotion, punishment, or expulsion of rangers; and determining policy for a particular issue.

Duties:

*Runs the organization of the guild.

*Executes the rules and laws of the guild

Sentinel

Second-in-command, and effective leader of the Watchers in lieu of the Warden. The Sentinel is elected every three months (real life time) by ranked individuals of Watcher or higher. Their duties include: training the Seekers/Initiates and possibly assigning them a tutor, organizing hunts and assigning missions to the rangers when needed.

Duties:

*Oversees protection of Riverwatch.

*Resolve disputes, enforce group unity.

Watcher

A Watcher is a veteran ranger tasked with protecting and serving Sosaria, while upholding the oath they took. Responsibilities include undertaking specific missions, leading subordinates in the field, and mentoring a specific Seeker assigned them. When a group of Watchers go on a quest together, it is custom for them to choose a temporary leader in advance if the Warden or Sentinel are not present.

Duties:

*Continuing their service to the Riverwatch Rangers.

*Attending hunts and ranger events.

*Maintaining unity among their peers.

Criteria for Advancement:

*3 months served as a Seeker with reasonably consistent activity and participation.
*Sufficient display of loyalty to the Riverwatch Rangers.
*Achieve the trust of fellow Watchers.

*Pass a test, administered by the Warden.

Promotion Process:
*In order to be eligible for a test, a Seeker must get a vote from a majority of active Watchers, Sentinel, and Warden.
*If the active Watcher vote is unanimous, the Seeker shall be eligible for the test.
*The Watcher votes must be made all at once, and in the presence of the Warden and Sentinel.
*The nature of the test administered by the Warden is secret in nature, and its details must be kept between the Seeker and the Warden, even after the test.

Seeker

Basic Rank. The Seeker is expected to take and follower the Ranger’s Oath, continue to learn the path of a Ranger, act in accordance with the virtues, and get to know their peers. Each Seeker has the discretion of how to carry out their individual assignments, but are encouraged to cooperate with local authorities and expected to act consistently with that of a Riverwatch Ranger. A Seeker is strongly encouraged to seek out a Watcher that is willing to take them under their wing. This Watcher will follow them during the initiation period and show them the way of the rangers.

Duties:

*Beginning their service to the Riverwatch Rangers.
*Attending hunts and ranger events.

Criteria for Advancement:

*30 days of reasonably active service and participation.
*Must take the Ranger oath.
*Sufficient display of loyalty to the Riverwatch Rangers.
*Achieve the trust of fellow Watchers.

Mentoring:

*The Seeker can be paired with a Watcher by the Warden or Sentinel.
*The Seeker and Watcher are required to take on duties and adventures together.
*All duties executed by the pair shall be documented in written report.
*Pairings shall be made only at the request of the Seeker.

*Participation will improve the Seeker's standing in the guild and his or her chances of promotion in the future.

Promotion Process to Watcher:
*When the Watcher assigned (or Sentinel/Warden) feels that the Seeker is ready to become a veteran member, they will inform the Warden and Sentinel.
*Once accepted, the Seeker will then be sent on a personal quest. The success or failure of this task is vital to their promotion to Watcher.
*A ceremony held by the Watchers welcomes the Seeker as a veteran member of the Riverwatch Rangers. At this ceremony, the Seeker will also receive their Forest Cloak (considered the pride of all Rangers and sign of their status).

Initiate

The Initiate is a non-ranking, partial membership for potential recruits that are interested in joining the Riverwatch Rangers. Initiates will be expected to prove themselves worthy of the trust of their peers.

Duties:

*Initiates shall be expected to participate in mandatory training exercises to prove their fitness as a ranger.
*Beginning their service to the Riverwatch Rangers.

Criteria for Advancement:

*Any human, elf or gargoyle of a sufficient physical condition and sound mind may enlist.
*Monsters will not be permitted to join.
*Undead will not be permitted to join.

Promotion Process to Seeker:

*At least 30 days of reasonably active service and participation.

*Meeting with the Warden to discuss whether they should be administered the Ranger’s Oath and officially join as a Seeker.

Uniforms

Higher ranks shall be expected to wear a colored sash according to their rank:
Warden, Sentinel, Watcher: A green sash, matching the color of their forest cloak.
Seeker: A brown sash, along with their newly acquired forest cloak.

Initiate: A grey sash, along with a specific imbued suit. The initiate suit is supplied by the acting ranger quartermaster.

Skill Restrictions (Use of the following skills or spells are prohibited)
*Necromancy: No excuses allowed.
*Magery: Summon Daemon
*Spell Weaving: Summon Fiend

Ranger's Oath

"I am a Ranger, brave and free,
Deep in the world I uphold the truth,
The woods are my love, the forest my protection
I have nothing to fear in my surroundings
for I am one with the Virtues,
I fear not evil, it only fears me,
for my soul is pure and incorruptible,
Beware those who pass through my world,
I shall never be gentle to those who come with malicious intent.
Our cause is precious and I will protect it
until my last drop blood is ebbed.
May my sword be guided by the Ranger's virtues,
may it strike fear into the heart of the enemy.
I am a Ranger and I will do my duty"

Ranger’s Code

Observation before action.
Fight against the disruption and abuse of remaining natural resources.
Fight against disease in all forms.
To slay for the sake of sport is against the law of nature.

Ranger Events and Demotion

*Riverwatch activities shall be considered mandatory.
*All rangers and Initiates are expected to attend, unless excused by the Sentinel or Warden.
*Failing to appear to 5 consecutive Guild events shall be grounds for demotion.
*Should an Initiate be demoted, they shall be dismissed from service.
*Should a Watcher be demoted to Initiate, and then demoted again, they shall be considered an oath-breaker, and dismissed from service.
Note: Informing the Warden or the Sentinel out of character that you will not be able to make an event will be made into an acceptable IC reason for missing an event.

Participation

For promotion criteria, either 30 days of continued attendance and participation in events is required, or if events must be missed due to scheduling conflicts OOC, 10 events total.
Reports
*While not always mandatory, written reports on recent activities and adventures shall always be valued.
*Reports should have a short title and should include in either the title or the body the date it was written (MM/DD/YY).
*Reports will not be graded in any manner, but should focus on getting down the basic facts of the subject.

*Reports are expected in the instance of Sentinel/Watcher pairings in order for the pairing to show value.

Know Landmarks in the Area
British's Reach for the short river
River Ribble for the long river
Riverwatch (or Riverwatch Post) for the name of the outpost