Image Copyrighted to H.R. Giger

Matriarch
Responsibilities

The Matriarch is responsible for over seeing the day to day management of the Household, making any important decisions, safe guarding the welfare and well being of the Household and its members.

Responsible for representing the needs of the House in the CR.

The Matriarch is the Final Voice and Law in all Household affairs.

Household High Council Body
Duties

The Household High Council is made up of members from the Second Tier.

Over see the management of the Household in the absence of the Matriarch.
Responsible for making any executive decisions in the abscence of the Matriarch and/or as needed.

Responsible for appointing viziers to assist in their individual domains.

Responsible for resolving petty Household squabbles, problems, and other issues. In the absence of the High Council Body, the Matriarch will deal with such issues.

Responsible for serving as advisors to the Matriarch.

In the absence of the Matriarch, the High Council Body will be responsible for Household and all affairs until the return of the Matriarch. The Matriarch will notify the High Council Body and Householf of any foreseen absences.

The Matriarch should be asked to intervene when a problem impacts on the overall well being of the Household.

Household members have a voice within the affairs of the House and may approach the High Council Members and Matriarch freely with questions and concerns. Both the Matriarch and the High Council Members are naught above or removed from the Household laws.

Problems or concerns faced by the Household members are to be handled in the following manner: The parties involved must try to resolve the issue themselves first. If this is naught possible, they will take the issue up with the appropriate Master/Mistress who governs the domain they are under. If still at this point the issues is naught resolved, the Matriarch will step in.

Article I
General Household Provisions

I. Both the CR Charter and Household Laws will be observed.

II. Respect must be shown to all Household Members. Rude, aggressive, or disrespectful behavior will naught be tolerated. Household Members are naught limited to actual Members but extends to the creatures that inhabit Stonehaven.

III. Household Members are naught to actively seek fights or problems with other organizations. Only in cases of self-defense may one employ force with outsiders.

IV. All decisions of the Matriarch and High Council Body are to be upheld and respected. If there is a disagreement over a decree, an appeal can be made. Appeals should be made in the following manner:

a) A letter should be sent to the Matriarch and the High Council Body.

b) The letter should outline the reason for the disagreement.

c) The letter should include a copy of the decree you are questioning and your reasons for the disagreement.

After the Matriarch and the High Council Body meet to discuss the appeal, a meeting will be scheduled with you.

V. It is expected that all Household Members are mature enough to resolve their own problems. Only if problems cannot be resolved or affects the Household, the Matriarch or High Council Body will step in. Issues and problems may be resolved by an Honor Match with two Household Members in good standing--who are impartial--serving as witness. The HM should be encored (logged) to avoid further dispute and sent to the Matriarch and HCB. In order for the HM to be valid, the terms must be stated clearly and the consequences there after. It must be done in accordance with the forum's rules. A proctor is needed to ensure that the match is fought in a fair and clean manner.

VI. Violation of all or any Household laws will result in either expulsion or suspension from the House or a demotion in rank.

VII. Household traitors will be dealt with by a trial. If found guilty, they face: expulsion and forfeiture of rank, titles, and possessions. Depending on the seriousness of the charge, individual may be marked for death or a blood hunt if Kindred. Procedures for trails are as follow:

a) The defendant has the right to present any evidence such as witnesses of memory orbs (logs) to make their case.

b) The opposing party has the right to present any evidence to make their case against the defendant

c) The defendant has the right to be tried by his peers (the Household)
d) The final decision of the Matriarch and HCB will be final.

VIII. All matches such as HMs, DMs, SMs, RMs, and all other matches stated in the CR Charter should be fought in the presence of a certified impartial proctor. It's highly stressed that the one fighting the match should have at least one witness from the House for their own benefit.

IX. All DMs must first be approved and consulted with the Matriarch or HCB.

X. Those Household Members who belong to other organizations may be excused from Household obligations in times of danger such as war and other emergencies. A written request must be made to the Matriarch and HCB requesting a "leave of absence" with a brief explanation for the request of absence and duration of absence.

XI. All those who wish to join the Household must undergo a two month probation period during which the applicatee must interact with the Household. During the two month period the applicatee can be dropped from the Houshold with just justification.

XII. Outsiders are naught to invited into private Household areas and domains which means Stonehaven itself. Stonehaven is a sentient and living creature, and we all are responsible for his well being. This is a rule that is to be observed without exception. If you wish to bring a stranger into the Keep, you must have that person meet with other Household Members. They must interact with the Family for a period of time before being allowed passage inside the Keep itself. By strangers we mean those who are naught known by the family. You can bring them to the main courtyard, the Noir Lotus Courtyard, but nae where else on the grounds off the Keep. If there is an emergency situation where there is someone who is injured for example, you must get other Family Members first before bringing the stranger to the Keep. For some this old rule may seem rather draconic; however, remember that Stonehaven is a place of both magical and divine.

XIII. House ledgers, documents, keys (links to PRs), and rosters are naught to be given out to outsiders. Handing out confidential Household information is an act of treason.

XIV. All House business (official, unofficial, or personal) is to remain within the Household.

XV. Hospitality: Members are to respect each other's private domains within and outside the House's domain. Members must ask permission to enter the private domains of another member. (OOC: You may not save a link to another's members PR without first asking their permission.) Once in that member's private domain, full respect must be shown. All are masters/mistresses in their own domains outside and within the Household.

XVI. Household Members are to be at the House's disposal at all times. There is never a time when this is naught true. If you are needed and are summoned you will show up. If unable to attend upon being called, you must justify your absence by sending notice to the Matriarch or HCB. This applies for Household emergencies and meetings.

XVII. All Viziers are to carry out assigned duties handed out by their individual Masters/Mistresses.

XVIII. Any one naught reading and thrashing (deleting) House related mail three times in a row will be dropped from the Household membership.

XIX. Any one who belongs to another organization is to keep all Household information confidential. Breach of this will be seen as an act of high treason.

XX. Household Members may naught DM against one another. Killing, placing Assassination Contracts against Household Members and plotting murder are grounds for execution. These are acts of high treason.

XXI. Household Members are expected to train in the art of self-defense. We live in a savage garden where anything is possible. Members should be able to stand on their own without the presence of their sentinels (body guards). Sentinels cannot protect their charges 24 hours a day. Noncombatants are also under the CR forum's rules and are open to Assassination Attempts and Kidnapping Attempts.