Hierarchy Overview

Black Seed - This is a new members initial rank.

Black Root - After a Black Seed has been active for one week and has performed a minor service on behalf of the guild they are automatically promoted to the rank of Black Root. This minor service may be something as simple as determine the initial path of their character and collect 5 gold for their own personal use, etc.

Black Thorn - After a Black Root has been active for two weeks and has performed a moderate service on behalf of the guild they are automatically promoted to the rank of Black Thorn. The majority of members are of this rank. The moderate service must be performed with an existing officer of the guild. For example, the service may be to go to such-and-such place and gather such-and-such item. It should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.

Elder Thorn - These are second in command to the guild leader hereafter referred to as the Ancient Thorn. For every eight guild members there needs be two Elder Thorns. One Elder Thorn should be available for each group in a raiding party. During raids they are the individuals who communicate in guild chat with the Raid Leader. The Raid Leader need not be the Ancient Thorn.

Outer Circle - This is not so much a rank but rather a division of the collection of individuals referred to as Class Leaders. There is a single Class Leader of the Outer Circle for each class that exists within the guild. She is the assistant to the Class Leader of the Inner Circle.

Inner Circle - This is the advisor to all the members of the guild who share her class. This should be, in the opinion of the guild leader, the most experienced in their class (i.e. the ranger who has done the most research and has the firmest grasp on ranger progression should be of the Inner Circle.

Ancient Thorn - This is the guild leader. There exists within The Thorns of the Black Rose a triumvirate of Ancient Thorns. This triumvirate is to exist under all circumstances. If a member of the triumvirate steps down his position will be immediately filled within two weeks time of his resignation. Changes to guild structure and rank privileges may only be modified with the consent of 2 out of the 3 Ancient Thorns.

Secretary Thorn - The one who maintains the guild website and updates it with minutes from the guild meetings.

Treasurer Thorn - The treasurer should be a trusted member of the guild but not an Ancient Thorn. This is to remove any false impressions that may form in the mind of new members that the triumvirate collects gold for selfish reasons. She will report daily on the amount of gold in the guild fund when she first logs in for a day of playing. This may seem tedious but saves problems for the guild in the future. In addition to monitoring guild funds she will report new items placed in vault for guild use on a regular basis. She will report to the Secretary so he can update the guild vault on-line. New members may then rest assured they can check items out of the guild vault by first reviewing what is available on-line.