Charter Notice and open Call
| First Signed to words and by Witness, Crow of the Crow - at - Arms, Sun of the Wayfarers of the Southern Reach; and Iselle, First Chair of the Southern Free Charter. |
|
Southern Free Charter |
Who we are: Common Contracts include:
|
What we are not:
- We swear no fealty
- We do not enforce Law
- We do not judge morality of a contract, only its feasibility
However, The Charter reserves the right to refuse work that threatens its long-term survival, exposes members to needless bloodshed, or risks drawing unfathomable forces upon the Southern Reach.
Member Structure
The principal structure of the Charter surrounds its member groups; The Wayfarers and the Crows-at-Arms. Each holds a single Chair in the Charter's Direction and future signatories are offered the same.
Free Members are those not affiliated with any member group.
All members are those who take on commissions they deem feasible for themselves, and are ranked according to their level of skill, experience and history of success or failures. A member's rank may be denoted by a visible ring or necklace bearing the Charter's mark.
Clients are any and all who offer sufficient payment for Charter Services.
Member Ranks:
| D - Rank | Steel | Bearing a dull steel badge, this rank is for recruits still in training with the Charter. Reserved for those new to the way of life. |
| C - Rank | Silver | Bearing a simple silver ring, these are the initiate members who have yet to prove the full extent of their capabilities. |
| B - Rank | Opal | Bearing a silver ring inlaid with an opal gem, these are proven members of the charter and are growing their skills and capabilities with every contracted completed. |
| A - Rank | Diamond | Bearing a silver ring inlaid with a diamond, these are the proven and dependable veterans of the charter, the backbone. |
| S - Rank | Gold | Bearing a gold chained necklace, they are the Exemplary. And hold a number of achievements each proven difficult for even veteran members of the Charter. Hold an Honorary Chair in the charter. |
| S+ - Rank | Moonstone | Bearing a gold amulet inlaid with a colourful moonstone, they are the Idols. What they have achieved are unlike any other and are unlikely to be achieved again. |
| EX - Rank | Obsidian | Bearing a gold amulet inlaid with a shard of obsidian, they are the Legends. |
Reputation, Pay and Rising through the ranks.
- Payment for a commission is awarded in its entirety to the Member(s) upon successful completion.
- Marks are an internal metric penned to a ledger in order to track member achievements.
- After a sufficient number of marks, a member may be elevated to their next suitable rank. Beyond S - Rank requires additional recognition of noteable achievement by every Chair of the charter.
Membership and Affiliation
Interested persons or groups are to speak with Crow, Second Chair or Iselle, First Chair. You will be required to provide some proof of skill or capability, and then on satisfying that condition, accept a trial contract.
Attached are the membership contracts. You are recommended to read through or have someone read for you.
Membership Contract:
# SFC Member Contract
## Contract of Service and Commission
**Southern Free Charter**
Let this writing stand as bond and witness.
---
I. Parties Bound
This Contract is entered between the Southern Free Charter, hereafter the Charter, and the undersigned individual, hereafter _the Signatory_.
By mark or name below, the Signatory is recognized as a **Charter Member in Good Standing**, subject to the terms herein.
---
II. Right of Commission
The Charter grants the Signatory the right to:
- Accept contracts negotiated or approved by the Charter
- Act in the Charter’s name while under commission
- Claim payment, Marks, and standing as agreed upon fulfillment
This right is **conditional**, not absolute, and may be withdrawn under breach.
---
III. Conduct Under the Charter’s Name
While acting under commission, the Signatory shall:
1. Uphold the agreed **terms of contract**
2. Avoid actions that bring material harm to the Charter’s reputation
3. Refrain from theft, coercion, or violence against fellow Charter members
4. Declare conflicts of interest when known
Personal morality is not governed. **Professional accountability is.**
---
IV. Payment & Marks
Payment may take the form of coin, goods, favors, materials, or knowledge, as negotiated.
The Charter records service through **Marks**, which reflect:
- Reliability
- Competence
- Risk undertaken
- Contract outcome
Marks may be gained, lost, or suspended at majority Chairs' Discretion
---
V. Failure, Withdrawal, and Loss
Failure to complete a commission does not constitute breach **if good faith effort is proven**.
However, the following constitute **Breach of Contract**:
- Abandonment without cause
- Willful deception of client or Charter
- Betrayal of Charter interests
- Use of Charter name for unauthorized work
Breach is answered by:
- Forfeit of payment
- Loss of Marks
- Banishment from the Charter
- Or settlement by steel, coin, or binding oath, as ruled by the Charter Chairs.
---
VI. Death & Liability
The Charter does not guarantee survival.
In the event of the Signatory’s death:
- Unpaid wages are awarded to Signatory's next of Kin
- Equipment issued by the Charter is to be returned if recoverable
Those who sign do so **of free will and sound mind**.
---
VII. Signatures
Name:
Next of Kin:
Affiliate Contract
## Accord of Affiliation
**Southern Free Charter**
Let this Accord be set between the **Southern Free Charter**, hereafter _the Charter_, and the undersigned collective, hereafter _the Affiliate_.
By seal or mark the Affiliate seeks recognition, and operation beneath the charter.
---
### I. Recognition of the Affiliate
The Charter recognizes the Affiliate as an **Independent Body in Affiliation**, retaining its:
- Internal hierarchy
- Customs and rites
- Membership governance
So long as such practices do not conflict with this Accord.
The Affiliate while completing comissions shall be known publicly as operating **“Under the Banner of the Southern Free Charter.”**
---
### II. Rights Granted
While this Accord stands, the Affiliate is permitted to:
- Accept commissions brokered by the Charter
- Claim Charter protection in contract disputes
- Trade, travel, and negotiate using the Charter’s seal
- Share in Charter intelligence, routes, and safeholds as approved
No exclusivity is implied unless expressly written.
---
### III. Obligations of Affiliation
The Affiliate agrees to:
1. Honor all contracts accepted under the Charter’s name
2. Provide truthful accounting of outcomes and losses
3. Refrain from actions that would draw reprisal upon the Charter
4. Render aid to Charter members **when reasonable and able**
5. Submit disputes with other Affiliates to Charter arbitration
Failure of one member reflects upon the whole.
---
### IV. Marks, Tithe, and Standing
For each completed commission under Charter banner:
- Payment in full shall be rendered as agreed
- The Affiliate accrues **Collective Marks**, reflecting reliability and worth. This is separate from individual member Marks.
High standing may grant:
- Priority contracts
- Increased payment
- Independent negotiation rights
Low standing invites scrutiny.
---
### V. Breach and Consequence
The following constitute **Severing Breach**:
- Betrayal of Charter contracts
- Sale of Charter intelligence to rivals
- Impersonation of Charter authority beyond remit
- Internal acts that fracture regional stability
Upon breach, the Charter may:
- Revoke affiliation
- Claim restitution
- Publicly denounce the Affiliate
- Or place a **Black Mark**, rendering the Affiliate fair game to Charter agents
---
### VII. Duration & Severance
This Accord stands until:
- Mutually dissolved
- Severed by breach
- Or rendered void by annihilation of either party
Severance does not absolve debts incurred.
---
### VIII. Signatories
Let this Accord be bound in good faith.
**Name of Affiliate:** __________________________
**Seal / Mark:** __________________________
**Representative(s):** __________________________
**Date & Place:** __________________________
