Policies
From Ordo Dracul
The following are Policy statements made by the Oath of Mysteries as a whole, to guide the global community. Such policy statements are presented from "Vox Dracul" rather than a particular member or faction, and are understood to reflect the consensus of all the Sworn of Mysteries.
- POLICY ACT FOR ELECTRONIC FORUMS, Effective January 23, 2006
The freedom of each Dragon to speak his mind, ask questions, and debate issues is a key component of our covenant. New insights may come from any source, Sworn or Unsworn, and we must encourage and respect the forms of global communication that make such insights possible. The House of Mysteries therefore provides the following guidelines to protect the free exchange of ideas in the Ordo Dracul:
I: TERMINOLOGY The following terminology will be used in this document:
1) "Forum" refers to any permanent or semi-permanent electronic network which permits more than two Dragons to participate in a continuing conversation, including (but not limited to) email lists and IRC "rooms".
2) "Post" refers to any statement made in an electronic forum, including (but not limited to) email letters and comments appearing in a "chat room".
3) "Ordo Forums" refers to the forums provided for the factions defined by our Founder: Ordo, Mysteries, Axe, and Dying Light.
4) "Private Forums" refers to all other forums, that are established by individuals to facilitate communication within a faction or regarding a particular subject.
5) "Moderator" refers to the person controlling membership and access for a particular Forum, including (but not limited to) List Moderators and IRC Ops.
II: AUTHORITY: Regarding commands given to an entire forum: these would require that our normal boundaries of authority be suspended, and that one individual be granted the power to give orders to every member of the covenant. Such a practice is not conducive to the advancement of the goals of the Ordo Dracul, nor is it supported by our traditions. The only individual with such absolute authority is our Founder.
Specific authority is granted by our Founder's mandate to affect the global community. 1. A post which threatens covenant security falls beneath the authority of the Axe. 2. A post which propagates ideas officially pronounced "heretical" by the Dying Light, or any post which breaches an established Judgement, falls beneath the authority of that Oath. 3. A post which threatens the political welfare of the covenant falls beneath the authority of the Mysteries.
When these bodies speak, it is not the whim of one individual that is voiced, but those greater authorities which our Founder established to guide us. Such power should only be invoked when the covenant is directly threatened, and not merely to silence a conversation which is annoying or even offensive to specific individuals.
In order that official proclamations may be accorded the appropriate respect, they should be identified as such when they are posted, so that none may mistake their nature.
III: FORUM MANAGEMENT: In the matter of a private forum, we recognize the right of a moderator to control who may join his forum, to set standards of conduct for its members, and to remove from the forum any individual whose behavior is disruptive to its community or purpose. However: 1. Security of that list must be sufficient to satisfy the Sworn of the Axe. 2. A list may not be created to facilitate studies officially deemed Heretical by the Sworn of the Dying Light. A list may not be created to violate or facilitate violation of an existing Judgement. Any list revealed to be created for such purposes places all participants under the authority of the Dying Light for the appropriate correction and/or Judgment.
No orders may be given to a Moderator to force him to make exceptions to his normal policies, or to subscribe those who do not satisfy the conditions of membership, save when they are official actions called for by the Mysteries, Dying Light, or Axe, under the conditions set forth in section II. In addition, if the physical apparatus required to sustain a global forum threatens the security of the Academy where it is located, that Academy is granted authority over its operation.
Any other interference in forum management is subject to settlement under Juris Draconis, as it violates personal sovereignty as granted by the Principia Draconis.
These conditions refer to private forums only. With the Ordo lists, there are grave social and political ramifications to being denied subscription. Such a member is refused inclusion in his normal community, denied access to news which might impact his scholarship and/or safety, and is encouraged to view himself as an outsider, with a resulting diminished interest in the welfare and security of the Ordo community. Hence, anyone removed from these lists by a moderator, or commanded to unsubscribe by an individual outranking him, may call for a Juris Draconis to evaluate the situation, and determine whether the cause truly justifies their disenfranchisement from the greater community.
Individuals removed from a faction list because they are no longer a member of that faction, or individuals removed from any list as part of a Juris Draconis Judgement after the effective date of this Act, may not appeal those actions.
IV: SCOPE of AUTHORITY: The House of Mysteries recognizes that questions will continue to arise regarding our global forums, and reserves for itself the right to amend or alter these pronouncements at a future date. We encourage anyone with specific concerns to communicate with us privately, in order that our future decisions may reflect the needs of all Dragons. We also encourage our brothers and sisters of the Axe to address the larger issue of list security, and to work with us in developing guidelines to safeguard our community from outside scrutiny.
V: APPLICATION: This document is not intended to alter past policy, but is in effect from this day forth. Existing Judgements not in accordance with this document may be referred to a Juris Draconis for appeal; however, while Twilight Judges are encouraged to consider these new guidelines in their rulings, they are not required to alter any previously existing Judgement to comply with them. Likewise these rules cannot be used to accuse or prosecute any individual for actions taken before this date.
All conflicts arising from issues of authority as described in this document should be referred to the Judges of the Dying Light for resolution, unless otherwise stated.
- MULTIPLE OATHS (Clarification of existing policy)posted 2/5/06
No Dragon may swear two of the Great Oaths at once, that being the Oaths of the Mysteries, Dying Light, and Axe.
This does not prohibit leaving one Oath to swear another.
It does not prohibit Sworn assisting in projects or campaigns or as needed, independent of their Oath. Each of us has many talents that the covenant may wish to call upon. But to swear an Oath is to declare one's *primary* duty, and to attempt to serve two or more Oaths as Sworn is to give yourself over wholly to none and to serve both poorly.
In Service,
House of Mysteries"
Entry Policy to the Ordo Dracul of the Twilight Isle
Terminology
Henceforth in this document:
� The Term "Candidate" will refer to kindred, not yet of the Ordo, who aspire to become Dragons. � The Term "Covenant" shall refer to any Covenant which is not the Ordo Dracul.
Introduction
During the past century our covenant has seen grand changes not only without but also within. The Ordo Dracul transformed from a secret society to an International covenant. Whereas in the past potential Dragons had to search for us in the shadows or be approached by us, today all kindred, even those who are members of other Covenants, may aspire to become dragons with but a night's thought. We, as Sworn of the Mysteries, interested in the welfare of the Ordo Dracul, must always strive to adapt the structure of the Order to modern demands. Furthermore, we wish new members of the Ordo Dracul to have severed all former affiliations which could lead to potential problems. It is with these goals in mind and considering the needs of the Ordo Dracul in these modern tumulus times that we issue the following New Members Acceptance Policy.
Policy
It has been decided by the Sworn of the Mysteries of the Twilight Isle that any Kindred wishing to join our ranks must wait for a probationary period of at least six(6) months before doing so, spending a minimum of six(6) months Unaligned. During this time the Unaligned Candidate will contemplate on his decision to join our ranks and will prove his loyalty to the Ordo Dracul by a variety of ordeals arranged by the local Academy and their would be Mentor. Following the six(6) month period and upon the total and successful completion of any trials by the Candidate, they may be proposed as a Dragon by his or her prospective Mentor and formally be declared so by the consensus of the local Academy. Candidates who are not Unaligned at the time of their petition for induction into the Ordo Dracul may not enter our ranks nor may they enter the stage of the probationary period. Candidates who are members of other Covenants should first become Unaligned by abandoning their former covenant and then seek out a recognised Dragon to mentor them through their probationary period. The probationary period is henceforth implemented in order to help our covenant judge fully the suitability of future Dragons. We understand however, that there are times when extenuating circumstances might warrant its omission. Therefore, if a compelling and important reason arises it shall be within the jurisdiction of the local Sworn of the Mysteries representative to examine the length of the probationary period for a single Candidate and to decide upon a more appropriate period of Mentoring. The protocol is that such a decision not to be made lightly and remind said local Sworn of the Mysteries representative to always take into consideration any affiliations the Candidate might still possess. Admitting a Member in such a way sets no precedent for any other potential Dragon whom may face similar circumstances, all cases need to be decided upon on an individual basis and reported back to the rest of the Sworn of the Mysteries as a whole as to why the decision was made.
Signed The Twilight Isle Sworn of the Mysteries
