DB:Dark Side Compendium Clans and Houses

Clans and Houses are the organizational units of the Secret Order. Every member of the Secret Order (outside of the Dark Council) are assigned to a House, and each House is assigned to a clan.

Clans

Clans are the largest unit in the Secret Order. They are comprised of Houses in a loose confederation.

At present, only Clan Drakonan is active.

Houses

Houses are currently the basic organizational unit in the Secret Order. Each House is led by a Quaestor and (optionally) a Praetor to the Quaestor, or Praetor: Quaestor. The Quaestor is the primary command position of the House, with the Praetor: Quaestor acting as an assistant whom also serves as acting commander when the Quaestor is on leave. The House is otherwise made up of House Members, currently the lowest organizational position in the Secret Order.

Houses can receive titles through victories in competitions, such as a Rite of Supremacy Vendetta. These titles are based upon the House's placing. For example, the first placed house in a Rite of Supremacy Vendetta would receive the title "First House of the Order". These titles are kept by the unit until another Rite is held and the House is displaced.

Formation

New Houses are formed when other Houses within the Clan have surpassed an acceptable level of capacity. A House may have anywhere between twenty to fifty members. When the size of a House is large enough to warrant creating a new one (either from splitting one House or pulling members from multiple Houses), a new House will be formed, but this is done at the determination of the Dark Council.

Changes to House Words (mottos, nicknames) must be approved by the Master-At-Arms. Any changes to House Imagery (logos, heraldry) must be approved by the Herald. Changes to House name and/or clan affiliation may only be approved by the Grand Master.

Positions

House Quaestor

The House Quaestor is charged guiding the activities of their members, as well as integrating their House into the Order as a whole. As such, this position is important in mediating between the wills and needs of those above and below in the command of chain.

Duties

• Making promotion and/or award recommendations
• Releasing House reports and events
• Running competitions within the House and with rival Houses
• Setting standards of both conduct and activity (i.e. following the Articles of War, participating in competitions, communicating etc.)
• Forwarding any communications from higher in the chain of command to House members
• Develop and maintain a House "identity" including a House history, list of possessions, etc.
• Promote other competitions and events within the Secret Order.

Powers

The House Quaestor has the power to award all General Award medals for activity. In addition, the Quaestor may award Crescents for approved competitions. Lastly, the Quaestor may recommend promotion for members of their House based upon previous achievements.

Appointment

The House Quaestor is appointed by the Master-at-Arms, with consultation with the Dark Council. The appointment rank for Quaestor is Chosen (CHSN).

Praetor to the Quaestor

The Praetor to the House Quaestor is charged with assisting the House Quaestor as the Quaestor sees fit. They may fulfill any of the duties of the House Quaestor and are equipped with the same powers as the House Quaestor, but cannot act without the House Quaestor's explicit permission and/or direction, unless otherwise told to do so by the Dark Council.

Duties

• Assist the House Quaestor as directed
• Fulfill the role of House Quaestor as needed

Powers

The Praetor to the House Quaestor may perform any of the actions of the House Quaestor, but may not use them without permission from the Quaestor or the Dark Council.

Appointment

The Praetor to the House Quaestor is appointed by the House Quaestor, with approval by the Dark Council. The appointment rank for Praetor: Quaestor is Acolyte (ACO).

House Member

Upon completing initial onboarding, new members are assigned to a House with the rank of Novice. Further ranks and awards can be gained by active participation in the Order. Members must be in a House to participate in Vendettas, Feuds and most competitions. If a member is not in a House or elsewhere in the structure of the Secret Order, they are placed within the Rogues while retaining their ranks and awards.

Duties

• Taking part in competitions they have access to (competitions from their House or SO-wide)
• Staying in contact with and informing House Quaestor of status and activity
• Replying to Absent without leave (AWOL) checks
• Reporting in at least once a month to the House Quaestor

Powers

House Members are authorized to run competitions, provided they are approved by the Master-At-Arms. As such, they may award Crescents for approved competitions.

Appointment

Members are placed into a House either upon completion of initial onboarding or via requested transfer (whether that be from the Rogues, a Dark Council position being vacated, or from another House).

Inactive Units and Positions

Battleteams

In previous iterations, a Battleteam was the lowest unit of the Secret Order, with a House containing multiple battleteams. Battleteams are currently defunct, and not presently intended to be used again in the future.

Clan Leadership

Previously, a Clan was lead by a Consul, whom could optionally appoint a Praetor to the Consul (or Praetor: Consul) to assist in clan leadership. At present, clan leadership positions are not active.