Being a listing of those groups to which the Citizens of Britannia may apply for Membership, and a little about them.

Player Guilds:

Refer to the information here regarding the setup/approval of a guild.

A guild requires a minimum of three members to be established, and must be ratified under Lord British's decree to work openly. A guild hall can then be purchased along with a guildstone for their use. "Outside" guilds can coordinate with the staff for setup.

The currently visible Britannian player guilds are:

The Pathwarders: Rangers based in Skara Brae.
The Sacred Order of the Wyrm: Followers of Sacrifice and Honor, based near Destard.
Raven Hall: A group based in Trinsic.
The Order of Venetus: Mages and researchers.
The Black Dragon Guardsmen: Hirelings of Lord Cordain, heir to the throne of the Black Dragon.
The Britannian Merchant League: Group of merchants and craftsmen based out of Britain.

For more information about these groups, contact one of their members.

Note that the above may not be the only player organisations active. There have been hints of a hidden guild of thieves and rogues, and rumours of the continued existance of the ancient Resistance formed to oppose Blackthorn still appear once in a while.

NPC Groups:

These groups are those organisations which exist in Britannia regardless of their player membership, such as the guards who patrol the cities. However players may be members of these groups, provided they abide by the rules laid out below.

Membership Rules:

These requirements are subject to change by the GMs:

- Any player wishing to join these above mentioned groups must have played on Ultima Legacy for a period of at least 3 months.

- Any player that joins the above mentioned groups can ONLY be a member of one at a time, and can not be in a player guild.

- A player MUST maintain their character according to the guidelines of the group they are seeking to join (ie, a mage can not join the Order of the Silver Serpent, a fighter can not choose to join the mages of the Lycaeum, etc)

- Players that are members of these groups are still bound by the rules of the server, and will be expected to set a good example for newcomers that join the server. If any player can not roleplay within the boundaries of these groups, they will be asked to leave by the GMs.

- A player can not rise higher than an NPC in rank (ie, a player may become a Captain of the Silver Serpent, but would still be outranked in seniority by the existing NPCs). Rank, titles, and membership in any group will be handled by the appropriate NPC, and will be determined by the GMs, not by the players. (ie, Lord John-Paul - OotSS, Sir Temler - OoM, Shamino - Rangers of Skara Brae, etc)

- Players that are found breaking the rules of the server (ie, exploiting, macroing, etc) will not be allowed to be members of these groups. Membership of these groups is considered a privilege, and can be revoked by the GMs at their discretion.

Each of the three Keeps of the Principles and Cities of the Virtues has a group associated with it.

Serpent's Hold [The Order of the Silver Serpent]:
This is the army of the kingdom, and is directly answerable to the king and his council. Any and all actions taken by their members reflects directly upon the crown, and they are therefore less able to be "open" with their personal feelings, and are restricted under the law before acting.

This group is run on a day to day basis by Sir Jean-Paul of Serpent's Hold, but the ultimate responsibility and authority lay with Sir Geoffrey. The Order acts as Britannia's guards where cities lack their own established organisations of guardsmen and also as the military forces of the realm. As such their membership is composed primarily of warriors and paladins, as rangers disdain the heavy armour worn by the Order's membership.

Members of the Order of the Silver Serpent may be readily identified by the Shields of the order, a silver kite shield marked with the Silver Serpent insignia of Britannia. Those of higher rank and utmost proven discretion and responsibility have been rarely entrusted with a device which can send a criminal directly to a cell in Castle Britannia.

A recruitment office has been established in the Serpent's Hold. It's the southernmost tower/post located at the eastern edge of the island. The recruitment officer is Sir Gilberto.

To apply you must meet the requirements above. After an interview, Sir Gilberto will check if there are any records related your character's past and test your physical aptitude. You will then learn your training oath and be submitted to a battery of trials before you are eligible for your serpent shield.

Should you be accepted as a Squire, you will be assigned a trainer in one of the cities. This officer will continue your training until you are ready to be promoted to Knight of the Silver Serpent. In this period you should prove yourself valuable in combat and able to live under the strict code of the chivalry.
Note that existing Squires that have not been assigned a trainer in the past must now visit Sir Gilberto to fall under this same system. It's designed to make the training of a knight more interactive and fun, since it'll require you to respond to assignments and actually take part on events related to the formation of your character.

Note that we reserve the rights to deny membership to characters that lack the proper conduct to follow the code. This applies to all ranks.

Furthermore, existing Knights can now report to Lord John-Paul in order to find out which superior they are responding to. Like Squires they should actively respond to the officers in charge to be eligible for a promotion. The promotion to Defender and Captain of the Silver Serpent should now be practically attainable, though only given to dedicated and outstanding knights. This was possible in the past, but now it should happen more naturally and no longer take many (real) years to happen.

Knights can also be assigned with the training of young Squires as part of their active duties. Knights will now be able to command troops under certain situations. When and how will be left to our diligence.

To schedule an interview, use the page command and be patient, it'll take an available staff member to answer your request. That means it may take from a few minutes to a day or two.

The ranks of the Order are as follows, from highest to lowest:
Commander of the Silver Serpent - (Not a player rank)
Captain of the Silver Serpent
Defender of the Silver Serpent
Knight of the Silver Serpent
Squire of the Silver Serpent

Empath Abbey [Brotherhood of the Rose]:
The leader of this quiet group is Brother Taylor.

Based out of Empath Abbey, the Brotherhood is a benevolent order of monks, male and female, dedicated to peaceful pursuits of knowledge and compassion. The Abbey is of course home of the Candle of Love, and therefore the Brotherhood is especially firm in its adherence to the virtues associated with that principle: Justice, Sacrifice, and above all, Compassion. The monks are typically a studious, thoughtful bunch. However, they are not dry as one might associate with the word “monk”. Perhaps in part to their wine brewing, there are often an extremely welcoming, friendly, high-spirited family.

There are three subdivisions within the Brotherhood. A member does not by any means have to belong to any of these, but it may better suit the interests of the players.

Monks Hospitaller: Following several incidents- the Naga slaughter at Yew, the plague, and the massive Battle of Britain- the Brotherhood recognized the increased need for healers, physicians, apocretharies, and general helpers. The Abbot of the Abbey chose to make official this particular calling of his brothers and sisters and founded this Order within the Brotherhood. A member of the Hospitaller does not necessarily need to be a healer, but the Hospitallers are dedicated to alieving the suffering of anyone in need. This involves anything from tended to the wounded in battle to comforting those in times of grief and sadness to feeding and clothing the impoverished. They travel throughout the land under a crest that is now known across the land as a sign of compassion and support.

Brotherhood Archivists: The Brotherhood Archivists are a small group within the Abbey dedicated to the recording of knowledge, history, and lore. They are known to be scholarly and often dry. They often send their brothers into the Britain Library or the Lycaeum to copy certain texts, or scribes into the world at large to gather material. They are also responsible for the maintenance of the Abbey Archive, containing the history and records of the Abbey as well as their gathered texts. Further, they are also the artists of the Brotherhood: They create and care for sculptures, paintings, and works of music and drama. The Archivists have a reputation as capable natural scholars and alchemists as well: While their kin at the Lycaeum specialize in mystical studies and experimentation, the Brotherhood does a great deal of research into the mundane aspects of the world, being something of a bunch of "natural philosophers". Finally, Archivists are also teachers as well as students, teaching anyone who wishes to learn something of the knowledge they possess.

Abbey Caretakers: These are the monks foremost responsible for the service of the Abbey building itself, and, indeed, the other brothers and sisters at large. Caretakers are often versed in certain crafts including masonry and carpentry, as well as cooking, fishing, and farming. They perform repairs on the building itself and serve the vineyards and grounds of the Abbey. Other tasks include service of burial sites and the brewing of the famed Abbey wine.

Player Monks:

Player monks must, of course, conduct themselves as a monk. This involves a whole-hearted dedication to the Brotherhood and its goals.

The players may hold four ranks within the Brotherhood:

Initiate: Anyone may become an Initiate. They are often bound to a Novice or Acolyte. During this time the Initiates are expected to begin to make the transition into the order. This period typically lasts about a month before they become a novice. The initiate has no real position within the order, this is simply a way of “breaking them in” into the way of the brotherhood. In this vein, they should be in full compliance of all the obligations and restrictions by the end of their time as initiate.

Novice: A novice is the lowest order of “real” monk. They typically perform mundane tasks in service to the Brotherhood or their sub-order. They are expected to fufill all the obligations and restrictions of the order. Typically, novices will take orders from Acolytes and Elders, and while not having direct command over Initiates, it is expected that Novices will help Initiates make their transition and learn the ropes of the Brotherhood. Novices typically bear the honorific “brother” or “sister”.

Acolyte: Acolytes have been with the Brotherhood long enough to prove their worth. They are full-fledged monks, and only about a third of all Brotherhood members at any given time have achieved this rank. Therefore they have a fair amount of sway at the Abbey. They are expected to perform their appointed duties and aid and guide the lesser ranks. Acolytes typically bear the honorific “brother” or “sister”.

Elder Brother/Sister: A very high rank indeed, there are typically only a handful between the three suborders. While they are largely concerned with the actions of the Abbey overall, they still are expected to perform the services of their sub-order as well, if applicable. Some Elders carry the honorific “mother” or “father”.

Obligations and Restrictions:

Vow of Poverty: All monks are obligated to give up the majority of their possessions and live a simple life. Thus monks are prohibited from possessing amounts of gold beyond what is necessary for them to fufil their duties and sustain themselves if travelling. Pother posessions much be appropriate to their order and role: Typically a simple robe with sandals, a staff if often travelling, and goods necessary to their calling (bandages, reagents, craft supplies, etc.). Jewelry, armor, fine clothing, and baubles are considered wholly unnecessary, and therefore will usually not be allowed. A general rule of thumb is that a monk should be able to take all his worldly possessions on his back in a single rucksack if necessary. Should the monk come across more goods or money than they need, they can hand them over at the Bursar's office for the Abbey treasury.

[OOC: It is important to note that this is -not- an OOC rule that prevents your character from having gold for bandages, reagents, potions, etc. We are, however, asking for players to treat this situation ICly based on the concept of the Brotherhood. If we see "Brother" Bob running around in exotic clothing, carrying a +5 Weapon of Smiting ICly, we're going to boot him =) There will also be a "donation" box within Empath Abbey, for people to donate reagents, bandages, potions, etc. for players]

Vow of Peace: Violence is abhorred by the monks of the Brotherhood. On this note, monks are typically banned from carrying weapons of war and armor. While not obligate pacifists, the monks are required to never strike a blow unless absolutely necessary. Cause or perpetuation of violence is a grave charge indeed among the brothers.

[OOC: Again, if "Brother" Bob is roaming Destard laying the smackdown, we're going to be upset =]

Vow of Servitude: Monks are required to act in service of their fellow man in any way possible. Monks cannot leave someone in suffering, nor can they ignore a plight in which they can be reasonably be expected to aid in. Further, they cannot demand payment for any of their services, and may only accept donations only enough to pay for the expenses of the goods or service they provide. Any additional money is turned into the Abbey’s bursar.

General Behavior: Being a monk is not like being a member of another profession. It is not something a member does for half his time, and spends the rest of his time hunting orcs or swigging ale at a tavern. Rather, it is a full time occupation. At all times the monks are expected to act in accordance with their vows and behave with the interests of the Virtues, especially the virtues of Love in mind. While of course monks are allowed, and in many cases, encouraged to mingle with the general populace, they are also expected to not participate in certain activities. For instance, excessive revelry, hunting monsters for wealth or personal gain, or business and labor for the monk’s personal gain is against the spirit of the Brotherhood. [Attendance of OOC hunts would be allowable to an extent, of course, because this would not be an IC action. In principle, though, all skills and wealth gained on these hunts would be moot because they would have no IC use.]

Requirements of entry and promotion:

Players may choose to join as an Initiate in one of the three suborders, or may simply join as a member of the Brotherhood in general. [OOC, GMs will decide through the Elders or the Abbot who is worthy of promotion if they meet the requirements; however, a monk already established and in good standing can recommend another, lower-ranked monk for promotion.]
There are a few skills associated with each of the suborders, and being capable in these skills can be considered a requirement of that suborder.
Hospitaller: Healing, Alchemy, Veterinary, Anatomy, Magery, Meditation.
Archivist: Magery, Inscription, Cartography, Alchemy, any “lore” skill, music.
Caretaker: Most craft skills.

To join as an Initiate, all that is required of a person is that they begin the process of giving up their possessions in accordance to the vow of poverty. However, Initiates will be watched during their time, and if they too often break their future vows, then they will probably be asked to not join.

To be promoted as a novice, they simply must take their vows in front of the Abbot and begin service of their order. As a novice, they are expected to fufill their vows and act in the best interests of the brotherhood. There are no skill requirements for becoming a novice, however, they are expected to improve and progess in their skills related to their order.

To be promoted to an Acolyte, a Novice must have at the very least three to four months of service completed, as well as having demonstrated both talent in a skill suited to their role as well as dedication to the order.

To be promoted to an Elder, an Acolyte must have many months experience and demonstrated an unusual wisdom or dedication in performance of their duties, as well as true leadership.

General Life in the Abbey:

Work: The majority of the day at the Abbey is spent performing the labors of the Brotherhood. This includes all the services required to maintain the Abbey (General upkeep of the building, tending the grounds, feeding the animals, tending the vineyards, etc.), support the many members of the Brotherhood (Fishing, laundry, cooking, sewing robes, buying and making the necessary supplies and tools), and performing the works that the monks are dedicated to. Such activities would include binding books, transcribing scrolls and literature, researching, creating works of art, tending to the sick, serving and helping the guests of the Abbey, and meditating on virtue and love.

Leisure: In their ample free time, Brothers and Sisters often read, write, play music, converse and debate amongst themselves, and further their personal meditations on the nature of the world and virtue.

Wine: The famous wine of Empath Abbey does not make itself, and therefore several Brothers and Sisters dedicate themselves to the tending of the vineyard, the pressing of the wine, its bottling, and retailing.

Virtue: A great deal of time is spent contemplating the principles, their virtues, and the will of humans to follow them. Monks typically spend a majority of their personal time researching and meditating on the virtues to try and understand them better. Every week, most novices and acolytes attend a speech service given by an Elder or the Abbot who gives a sermon regarding the virtues and the human aims of attainment. Some are dull, esoteric affairs, but some Elders and guest speakers love to regale the audience with stories of the Avatar’s virtuous and daring exploits.

Hierarchy: Discipline is an important part of Abbey life, but monks are expected to be, and generally are, self-disciplined and controlled. If a monk’s behavior is seen as inappropriate, the Abbot or an Elder will usually speak with them and try to put them back on the good path. Repeated offenses or breaking of vows will be treated harshly however. The hierarchy is usually for decision-making purposes and to increase efficiency in various endeavors. It is also largely informal, though respect plays an important part of Abbey life. Elders are usually the highest ranking members generally speaking, though different parts of Abbey life have their important parts. Different roles include Bursar, Chief Brewer, Head Archivist, Master Hospitaller, Head Steward, and, of course, the Abbot or Abbotess.

Housing Addendum

[OOC: Although a Brotherhood player character can ICly claim residence within Empath Abbey, they will not receive any additional OOC housing or storage for their characters for membership. However, if someone wishes to purchase secondary housing for their Brotherhood character, it will be treated in the same manner as Inn suites. A room will cost 30k, and are not refundable, and includes 1 lockable container. Also, room decorations will be determined by the staff based on your IC title and ranking]

The Lycaeum [Scribes and Astronomers]: (Zelda)

These are the librarians, scholars, scribes of the kingdom. A member of this group would IC have little ability in combat, and would be more a bookish type

The Rangers of Skara Brae: (Shamino)

Dedicated to the virtue of Spirituality, these woodsmen are excellent archers and bowcrafters. They shun the use of metal armor (chain, plate) due to the noise it carries in the woods. Their favored weapon is a bow or crossbow.

The Paladins of Trinsic: (Johnson)

Dedicated to the virtue of Honour, and identifiable by their honour sashes and brightly hued armor, the paladins are constantly concerned with the safety of Trinsic, and with the welfare of their citizens. They are each bound by their personal honour, and are answerable to their current guard captain. They favor any weapon or armor, and are minor magic users.

The Fighters of Jhelom: (Master Syria)

Dedicated to the virtue of Valour, these warriors disdain magic, trusting in the power of metal in combat. They use most weapons and armor, but tend to like chain for its flexability and movement in combat. They are answerable to the current head of the Library of Scars, Master Syria, and oft like to duel in the Jhelom Pits.

The Mages of Moonglow: (Mariah)

Dedicated to the virtue of Honesty, these mages control the mysteries of the Ether at their fingertips. They refuse to wear anything heavier than leather armors, as they find themselves unable to properly breathe and move in metal bindings, although they do favor the wearings of serpent or dragonscales for their protective strength. They often carry staffs with them for magic use and support, and are known to wield their staffs when spellcraft fails.

The Bards of Britain: (Judith)

Dedicated to the virtue of Compassion, bards are the entertainers and chroniclers of Britannia. Often ready to offer a moment of wit or humor in brevity, they are also fierce warriors who normally favor a good crossbow. As with other professions, it is very difficult to breathe and sing properly in heavy plate armor, favoring lighter metals or leathers.

The Tinkers of Minoc: (Julia)

Dedicated to the virtue of Sacrifice, the tinkers are the craftsmen of the lands, creating fine clothing, armor, weapons, and other sundries found useful by many. They favor a heavy hammer (which often doubles as a smithing tool in a pinch) in combat, and rely on stout chain or ring armor for their protection.

The Druids of Yew: (Fitan Mac Bochra)

Dedicated to the virtue of Justice, the druids oversee the High Court of Yew, guiding the laws of the land subtly. They are also in touch with nature closely, bonding themselves to the caretaking and safety of the land itself. They are marked by their staffs, embued from a rare wood found from a single tree, and normally wield them in the defense of nature, but despise the senseless killing of any creature for mere pleasure or profit. As with the rangers, they favor leather armors, along with the scales of serpents or dragons, finding protection from living things, rather than cold dead metal.

The Shepherds of New Magincia: (Katrina)

Dedicated to the virtue of Humility, these gentle shepherds look to the taming and care of the animals of Britannia. Remembering the lessons of Old Magincia, and their fall from pride, they tend to avoid combat if possible, but will defend themselves when pressed. Their tool of choice is a sheperd's crook, but they rely on only the strength of their robes and clothing for protection, shunning other armors.

Menton's Keep [The Order of Menton]: (Sir Temler)
Former bodyguards of the mage Menton, now a loose grouped collection of warriors dedicated to serving the lands. They are distrustful of magic by nature, and are more concerned with the townspeople and their personal honour than titles of nobility or rewards. They are filled with many ex-OotSS knights who grew disillusioned with the limitations upon them. They respect Lord British, but would rather see him retire, and allow the cities to rule themselves. They are presently allied with the Order of the Silver Serpent.

Their ranks are:
Captain of the Order of Menton (Not a player rank)
Guard of the Order of Menton
Initiate of the Order of Menton

New Magincian Guardsman: (Captaincy currently unfilled)
These are the guards hired by the New Magincian Tribunal to keep order now that the city has declared independance and no longer relies on the OotSS.

The Britannian Archeology Society:

This group is in a category of its own, following it's own rules here.