Took awhile to find.

Dated July of 2007.

Phoebe's charter, the most recent edition I could find.

The intent was to clarify the Guard's subordinate role to the Council, and to make as clear as possible certain things (for instance, the fact that the Guard has no right to appoint its own Grand Marshal, which as you will recall was in an issue in, I believe, 2006 or so).

Also the intent was to have language that was as difficult as possible for malicious people to try and use maliciously.....You know the type.....

Enjoy.

-Galen's player



Article I: Purpose



A. Definition:

The High Guard exists by virtue of the High Council 's Charter. The High Guard is a para-militaristic conglomeration of guilds and individuals (otherwise known as a metaguild) created by and bound
together to serve the High Council, to fulfill the duties assigned to it within the High Council's Charter in the manner defined by the High Guard's Charter.


B. Mission:

In accordance with the specifications outlined by the High Council Charter, the High Guard is responsible for:


1. Investigating criminal activities.

a. The High Guard will investigate reported crimes in a timely manner, strive to prevent and thwart crimes otherwise, and will pursue these tasks to their completion.


2. Arresting individuals with outstanding, Court-issued warrants.

a. The High Guard will pursue lawbreakers with outstanding warrants against their names, to the full extent of applicable law, maintaining the processes and procedures outlined within the High Guard Charter.


3. Protecting the members of the High Council and High Court.

a. The High Guard will stand vigilant at all High Council meetings, and other official functions where requested, to ensure that the High Council may fulfill their duties free of attack. The High Guard will
protect and serve, when requested, the High Council, the High Court, and other institutions of the Crown from attacks originating both from within and without.


In these and all things, the Guard will uphold the Virtues as statements of ideals, tempered with intelligence and common wisdom. In all duties, both named and assumed, the High Guard will maintain a level of professionalism reflecting the prestigious position that has been granted to them.


C. Oaths: All members of the High Guard, as individuals and guilds,
are required to take and adhere to the following Oath:


By the Virtues, we pledge to uphold that which is righteous within the Virtues and the Principles; to be steadfast in our loyalty to the Grand Marshal, the High Council, the High Court, and the Crown; to enforce the edicts and declarations made by the High Council, the High Court, and the Crown; to stand honorably in defense of the People, the Land, and the Law; to follow the orders of the Grand Marshal and any superior officers within the Guard; and to be true to one another. To do this we pledge our lives, our blood, and our sacred honor. May the Virtues guide, but not blind us.


Article 2: Composition


A. Entities. Two types of entities may petition for membership within the High Guard;

1. Guilds

2. Individuals


B. Eligibility of Service: Guilds or Individuals must meet the following prerequisites to serve with the High Guard.


1. Guilds. Any guild that wishes to become a member of the High Guard must:

a. be registered as a guild within Britannia-proper;

b. agree to fulfill the High Guard's Mission;

c. lack personal (extra-familial) and professional ties to known
enemies of the Realm and/or wanted criminals;

d. meet the approval of the Grand Marshal of Virtue.


2. Individuals. Any individual who wishes to become a member of the High Guard must:

a. be a citizen of Britannia-proper without official guild affiliation;

b. have reached the age of majority as defined in Article 4 of the High Council charter;

c. have no outstanding warrants against them;

d. agree to fulfill the High Guard's Mission;

e. lack personal (extra-familial) and professional ties to known enemies of the Realm and/or wanted criminals;

f. meet the approval of the Grand Marshal of Virtue; upon approval, the individual must join the High Guard guild.


3. Special Clauses.

a. Any individual member of a guild approved for High Guard membership according to Article 2 Section B1 must also meet the requirements set forth in Article 2 Section B2. Any individual member of a High Guard guild who does not meet the requirements listed in Article 2 Section B2 will bear no rights or responsibilities normally assigned to High Guard members and shall in no way be considered a member of the High Guard. (Example, a 13 year old character inside a High Guard approved Guild cannot serve as a High Guard.)


C. Removal. When suspended or removed, a guild or individual is alleviated immediately of their position within the High Guard and all rights, responsibilities, and duties thereof and shall in no way be
considered a member of the High Guard. Suspensions may be lifted at the discretion of the Grand Marshal.


1. A guild or individual may be removed/suspended at any time from membership within the High Guard, at the Grand Marshal's discretion, for failure to fulfill the High Guard Mission.



2. A guild or individual may be removed/suspended at any time from membership within the High Guard, at the Grand Marshal's discretion, for personal (extra-familial) or professional ties to known enemies of the Realm and/or wanted criminals.


3. A guild or individual may be removed/suspended at any time from membership within the High Guard, at the Grand Marshal's discretion, for failure to follow direct orders of the Grand Marshal of Virtue.


4. A guild or individual may be removed/suspended at any time from membership within the High Guard, at the Grand Marshal's discretion, for any action, or non-action, that may result in harm to the Guard, the High Council, the Realm, or the Crown in the line of duty. The term "harm" here is not limited to the realm of the physical.

5. A guild or individual may be removed/suspended at any time from membership within the High Guard, at the Grand Marshal's discretion, for excessive absences from High Guard functions. This includes High Council meetings (held bi-monthly);

a. Excessive absences shall be considered three (3) consecutive absences without notification to the Grand Marshal or another supervising officer.

b. The suspension may be lifted at the discretion of the Grand Marshal or upon an active presence at three (3) consecutive, subsequent High Guard functions under the supervision of the Grand Marshal or another officer.


The Grand Marshal retains the final right to determine Eligibility, Suspension, and/or Removal of a guild or individual beyond the above listed conditions.

D. Chain of Command


The High Guard shall be comprised of the following designated positions, in order from highest rank to lowest.


1. Grand Marshal

a. The Grand Marshal of Virtue, as defined by the High Council charter, serves as head of the High Guard.

b. The Grand Marshal of Virtue shall always be assigned in accordance with Article 9D of the High Council charter. This includes, but is not limited to instances of Censure, Removal, Disability, and/or Death.


2. Field Marshal

a. The Field Marshal is second in command to the Grand Marshal of Virtue and selected only by the Grand Marshal. A Grand Marshal is not required to name a second in command.

b. The Field Marshal serves as head of the Guard during any absence of the Grand Marshal up to and including instances where the Grand Marshal is being replaced.

c. The Field Marshal is immediately stripped of their position when a new Grand Marshal is instated.

3. Generals

a. Each guild of more than 5 active members shall have a General assigned to it. The General is usually the guildmaster/mistress of their respective guild.

b. Generals are responsible for maintaining contact with the Grand Marshal (and/or Field Marshal), and relating orders from the Grand Marshal (and/or Field Marshal) to their guildmembers.

c. When the Grand Marshal and Field Marshal are absent for an official or field function, the General of the largest participating (i.e., present at that function) guild is considered to be the Ranking
Officer.

d. Guilds of fewer than 5 persons will not have a General, except where determined by the Grand Marshal.

e. In the case where the guildmaster/mistress is unable or unwilling to perform as General (such as in the case where the guildmaster/mistress holds a Seat on the High Council or other position of conflicting interests), another member of the Guild may be assigned that duty. Acceptance or rejection of this member as a General is left to the discretion of the Grand Marshal.


4. Guardsmen

a. Guardsmen are individuals or guildmembers maintaining an active presence within the High Guard.

b. All guardsmen are subordinate to Generals.

i. A guardsman may be court martialed for disobeying a high-ranking official without just cause. The severity of charges and whether to press forward with them are the discretion of the Grand Marshal.

ii. At an official or field function where the Grand Marshal and Field Marshal are absent, a guardsman is to obey the commands the Ranking Officer, as defined in Article 2, Section D-3c.




Article 3: Rules and Regulations


A. The Charter & Charter Alterations


1. The Charter of the High Guard exists by way of the High Council charter. The High Guard charter must not contradict or undermine any part of the High Council charter.

a. If a change in the High Council charter causes a conflict, the conflicting clause must be evaluated and rewritten appropriately within a reasonable amount of time (90 days). This change must be approved by a simple majority vote of the High Council, or a ruling of the High Court.


2. The Charter of the High Guard must be ratified by the High Council, by way of a simple majority vote. Once ratified, changes may only be made in accordance with Article 3, Section A-3.


3. Changes made to the High Guard Charter must be approved by a simple majority vote of the High Council.

a. Provisional, or field, changes may be made by the Grand Marshal when the situation calls for them.

i. These changes, permanent or not, may be taken before the High Court for review by any Citizen of Britannia who feels them to be unlawful at the time of execution.

ii. A temporary provisional change must be challenged within 30 days of its execution.

iii. A permanent provisional change must be approved by a simple majority vote of the High Council.


B. Conduct


1. Guardsmen and Officers are expected to, at all times, maintain Virtue, order, discipline, professionalism, and decorum, as defined by the Grand Marshal and this Charter.


C. Uniform


1. Colors: The official colors of the High Guard are Red and Gold.


2. Attire: When in formation, or participating in High Guard activities, High Guard members are expected to appear presentable.

a. What is 'presentable' may be determined by the Grand Marshal, or, in the Grand Marshal's absence, the Field Marshal, or, in the Field Marshal's absence, the ranking officer.

b. Failure to be properly attired will result in a Guardsman being
excused from duty for the duration of the activity, or otherwise be
required to make alterations to appear in uniform.


D. Formation


1. High Guard formations will be determined by the Grand Marshal. In the case of High Council meetings, the proper formation shall be as depicted in the High Guard Formation Document.

2. Alterations to formation may be made as needed and are beyond the purview of this document, given solely to the Grand Marshal's need and discretion.


E. Jurisdiction


1. Britannia: The High Guard has full jurisdiction within the borders of the realm-proper of Britannia. This shall be defined as any territory over which the High Council or the Crown claims jurisdiction, defined at the time of writing as Britannia (not including the Lost Lands) in Trammel, except for Bucaneer's Den and Nujel'M. The Guard's jurisdiction shall change as the High Council's and the Crown's does.


F. Warrants


1. Requesting Warrants

a. If a Guardsman wishes to have a warrant issued, that request and any accompanying evidence should be provided to their commanding General. The General is then to contact the Grand Marshal with the information.

b. If the Grand Marshal finds the evidence sufficient, the Grand Marshal and the Guardsman will take the documentation to the High Justicar to request a warrant.


2. Serving Warrants

a. The High Guard will take any necessary measures and cautions in serving warrants upon wanted criminals and enforcing them.


G. Arrests


1. Any individual with a standing warrant issued by the High Court may be arrested at any time by a High Guardsman, when within the jurisdiction of Britannia.


2. Any individual witnessed committing a crime by the Grand Marshal may be arrested immediately, without a warrant.


3. The responsibility of "prisoner rights" rests solely with the High Court, which maintains the prisons.


H. Arrest procedures


1. Upon arrest, prisoners are to be stripped of all of their belongings and supplied with a simple robe. The prisoner is not to be humiliated, but may be pressed reasonably to comply.

a. Prisoners' belongings become the holdings of the High Court, except in the case of items to be considered important to any ongoing High Guard investigation. At no time should any prisoner be given access to their belongings by the High Guard.


2. Prisoners are to be transported as quickly and efficiently as possible to the nearest prison. The prisoner may be subdued by reasonable force if they resist. Reasonable force is here defined as force in equal measure to the prisoners' efforts at resistance.


3. The Grand Marshal, and either the High Justicar or King's Counsel must be notified as soon as feasibly possible, in writing, of the capture of the prisoner. In the case of an arrest without a warrant, the Grand Marshal must submit documentation to the High Justicar to justify the arrest as soon as feasibly possible.


I. Internal & External Complaints


1. Internal Complaints; Complaints made by Guardsmen about the workings of the High Guard shall be called internal complaints.

a. Internal complaints should be made via the Chain of Command.

b. Internal complaints should never be made to other High Council members, instead of the Grand Marshal. Internal issues are not the purview of the High Council.

c. If an internal complaint is not handled sufficiently via the Chain of Command, then a Guardsman may file a report with the High Council, through the Chancellor. A copy of this report must be provided to the Grand Marshal.

d. Improperly handling an internal complaint may justify dismissal from duty, temporarily or permanently.


2. External Complaints; Complaints made by Citizens of Britannia about the actions/workings of the High Guard are external complaints.

a. External complaints should be filed directly with the Grand Marshal.

b. If an external complaint is not handled sufficiently, a Citizen may file a report with the High Council, through the Chancellor. A copy of this report must be provided to the Grand Marshal.

Was this version ever ratified by the High Council?
I may of missed it if it has been,but if it hasn't perhaps its something that the High Council should put to a vote and get a solid HC Guard charter in place.

Yes. Sometime around Phoebe's funeral.

-Galen's player

Thanks.