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Joining the Snowhawk Clan

Petitioners will be held responsible for their actions, though no one will be booted without a tribunal (unless the act is totally egregious). Keep in mind that although we do give in-game guild-invites to our applicants, it does not mean they are full representatives of this clan, although to outsiders it will look and feel that way, so be mindful of how you carry yourself and remember that you bear our name.

To join the Snowhawk Clan you must be 18 years of age or older. If you are younger than 18 and do not have a parent in the guild, you will not be allowed to join us unless you have otherwise proven yourself an able and respectful person in our company.

The following image contains questions you should answer in your application to join our guild. Feel free to let us know more about yourself beyond these questions as well:

Emphasis on Conan lore

Recruitment is open to those who have not read the Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. However, we are a lore centric guild founded by Conan fans, and encourage all members to read at least the following stories. For members to advance within the guild to a leadership position, the following stories are required to be read:

• The Phoenix on the Sword (1932) (Text or HTML)
  
• The Tower of the Elephant (1933) (Text or HTML)
  
• Beyond the Black River (1935) (Text or HTML)
  
• The Hour of the Dragon (1936) (Text or HTML)

You must read Howard's Conan lore in order to advance in the Snowhawk Clan, and it is encouraged that you partake in it while applying. Individuals who have read H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos are also welcome to join our guild.

We are seeking highly qualified and motivated RP-PvPers, and while reading a few stories may not be the most appealing thing to do when your free time could be spent laying your foes to waste in Age of Conan, it will reflect extremely highly on yourself, not to mention you will enjoy the hell out of the stories regardless.

We are a lore-centric, RP-PvP clan focusing on interaction with other Age of Clan role-playing & player-versus-player guilds. We rigidly adhere to the vision of barbaric Cimmerians as depicted by Robert E. Howard. Because of this, we do not allow Mage classes to join the Snowhawk Clan.

You may find HTML/text versions of the Conan tales here:

» "Bone Up On R.E.H."



The Snowhawk Clan - Frequently Asked Questions

1. "What is the Snowhawk Clan?"
2. "Who are the Cimmerians?"
3. "What is purpose of the Snowhawk Clan?"
4. "How do I join the Snowhawk Clan?"
5. "Does the Snowhawk Clan participate in PvP?"
6. "How large does the Snowhawk Clan plan to become?"
7. "Is role-playing in the Snowhawk Clan required?"
8. "Are casual players welcome in the Snowhawk Clan?"
9. "On which server type does the Snowhawk Clan play?"
10. "May European or Oceanic gamers join the guild?"
11. "Who are the Clan Elders and what do they do?"
12. "Who are the War Chiefs and what do they do?"
13. "Who are the Scar Bearers and what do they do?"
14. "How does one earn promotions in the Snowhawk Clan?"
15. "What are the ranks that compose Snowhawk Clan?"
16. "Does the Snowhawk Clan have a voice-chat server?"
17. "Are there any rules concerning the forum avatars?"
18. "Are there any rules concerning sexual images?"
19. "Does the Snowhawk Clan permit double-guilding?"

1. "What is the Snowhawk Clan?"
The Snowhawk Clan -abbreviated as "SHC"- is a Cimmerian themed, Non-Mage, PvP-oriented guild for Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures dedicated to role-playing Robert E. Howard's Conan lore. As part of simulating a barbaric tribe, we utilize proto-Celtic motifs and a close-knit tribal structure governed by an egalitarian council of Clan Elders. The underlying premise is that we are a bloodthirsty clan of northern barbarians who believe in Crom, a gloomy Cimmerian god of war, and take pleasure only in battle.

Becoming an official member of our guild is a tedious process that involves a lengthy evaluation. You must receive accolade from the Clan, and be accepted via an internal vote.

Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan the Cimmerian, envisioned the cruel setting in which Age of Conan occurs: a post-Atlantean ancient world in which cultures both civilized (Aquilonians) and barbaric (Cimmerians) exist asynchronously. In this setting, the primary god of Cimmeria is Crom, whom Howard derived from Irish mythology. His name is derived from Crom Cruach, a strange deity of pre-Christian Ireland who was reputedly propitiated with human sacrifice by the Celts. Thus the Snowhawk Clan utilizes proto-Celtic motifs, as well as cultural flavors from classical Germania and the Vikings.


2. "Who are the Cimmerians? Whatchu' talkin' bout Willis?"
There are three playable races you may choose from in Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, and Cimmerian is one of those races. Your character must be roleplayed as Cimmerian to join our guild. We do not allow Stygian mages or priests into our ranks. Known for their ferocity throughout the western world, the Cimmerians are primitive tribesmen to whom war is the only known way of life. Their homeland, Cimmeria, is a somber land of darkly wooded hills, gray skies and dreary valleys. The Cimmerians are the descendants of the vanished Atlanteans. They are tall and powerful, with dark hair and blue/gray eyes. They live in isolated tribes which herd and prize cattle.

Cimmerians respect strength and little else. This belief is best represented by their chief god, Crom, who breathes life into men when they are born, and gives them the strength to conquer all which they must face. Afterwards, the man must rely only upon his own skills to carry him through life.

In Cimmeria, a youth is considered a man when he has killed in battle. For most Cimmerians, this comes before the sixteenth birthday, either in clan-feuds or in battle against the Vanir or Aesir. After this time, he is obligated to uphold custom like any adult. A proper Cimmerian male takes a wife before his eighteenth birthday, then stays to take care of the clan cattle and lands. Few Cimmerians live to old age. Gray hair is a mark of respect, as it indicates that the elder has been skilled enough to survive.


3. "What is overall purpose of the Snowhawk Clan?"
The Snowhawk Clan guild for Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures was founded for carefree enjoyment and as a role-playing simulation of a battle-hardened tribe of northern barbarians. The purpose of our collective is to populate one, specific RPvP guild with well-known role-players that are interested in Conan lore. We are hoping to create a positive environment that is conducive to meaningful storylines between us and other RPvP guilds; thus, have an extra role-playing depth to our wars, battles or skirmishes. We wish to encourage an atmosphere where the wars between guilds have background stories, politicking, alliances and other such details, rather than just mindless fighting. We have a heavy PvP focus and place an emphasis on healthy competition.


4. "How do I join the Snowhawk Clan?"
If you have been in game with us and are at least 18 years old, you may post an application in the "Petitioner's Hovel" sub-forum. After posting an application and grouping with us in-game, you will be elevated to Ceithernn (a "potential recruit"). Note that a Ceithernn is not yet a member of the guild. You must complete the Ceithernn phase and be accepted into the guild via a private internal vote. Only then will you become an official member of the Snowhawk Clan. Please note that our evaluation process and membership procedures may take several weeks. Recent Change we now require new applicants to be level 60+.

To post an application, please visit the Petitioner's Hovel. For more information on the recruitment process and steps to join, please read the sticky topics in that sub-forum. Please remember that...

• Your character must be of a Cimmerian class. (No Demonologists, Necromancers, Heralds of Xolti, Assassins or Tempests of Set allowed.)
  _{NOTE: Cimmerian classes are Bear Shaman, Priest of Mitra*, Guardian, Conqueror, Dark Templar, Barbarian and Ranger.}
  
  • We allow Priests of Mitra on a conditional basis as the class was originally slotted to be allowed for Cimmerian characters.
• Your character should not have a name that is stupid or l337t-boish.
  _{NOTE: When choosing a name, we recommend that you use the following cultures as inspirations: Gallic/Gaelic/Celtic, Germanic/Frankish, Briton/Welsh, Scottish or Viking names.}

5. "Does the Snowhawk Clan participate in PvP (Player-versus-Player) activities?"
Without a doubt, yes, PvP (player-versus-player combat) is of great importance to the Snowhawk Clan. Our guild places a great emphasis upon our PvP activities, ranging from siege battles in the Border Kingdoms to ongoing warfare with other RPvP guilds. In Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures there are many different types of PvP, and the Snowhawk Clan has chosen to participate in all of them.


6. "How large does the Snowhawk Clan plan to become?"
Judging by our current growth rate, we do not plan to exceed a guild population total of ~100. Also, we might "freeze" / "stop" (completely) recruiting if we suddenly become swamped with too many new recruits. In that scenario, the only people who could join our guild would be family members and/or close friends.

Above all, we do not want this to become a large impersonal "zerg" guild. We believe the types of members we have so far and the standards we have set will prevent that. This is why we expanded our officer ranks so that Clan Elders do not become overwhelmed and, in turn, our members do not feel undervalued from lack of personal attention or set adrift due to slow leadership response.


7. "Is role-playing in the Snowhawk Clan required?"
The Snowhawk Clan is an "RP Light" guild. We do not compel our members to role-play; however, every Snowhawk Clan member is expected to understand that there are fervent role-players in our guild and in the server community. They are to be accorded due respect: Those who do not wish to role-play must oblige and tolerate those who do.


8. "Are casual and hardcore players permitted in the Snowhawk Clan?"
Yes, both are welcome to join the Snowhawk Clan. If your character is a Cimmerian then the path to membership is not too difficult. We have very few requirements regarding how much time you must spend playing Age of Conan. All we currently ask is that you peruse our forums and notify us if you will be gone for more than two weeks.


9. "On which type of server does the Snowhawk Clan play?"
The Snowhawk Clan is currently populating the USA based Cimmeria RP-PVP Server.

10. "May European or Oceanic gamers join the Snowhawk Clan?"
Yes. In fact, a portion of the Snowhawk Clan is European and Australian. We even have guild members from Japan, the Middle East and Scandinavia. Several Europeans and Australians hold leadership positions, so there is always a representative of the clan leadership online even during "odd" hours.

11. "Who are the Clan Elders and what do they do?"
At the moment, Entaro, Senta, and Lugh, Mendo & Graff are the elders of the Snowhawk Clan. The Clan Elders symbiotically govern the guild. They contribute to development and management of the guild and collectively assume leadership. The Clan Elders also provide supervisory capacities over all guild affairs; in particular, the recruitment, evaluation and acceptance of new members. The Clan Elders also enjoy the privilege of being able to adopt various leadership projects of their own initiative.

The Canach is currently Entaro. He is the symbolic leader of the guild; however, his role is not that of an autocratic ruler. As the Cimmerians by nature do not respect authority and the Cimmerian society tends to have an egalitarian structure in general, the Canach's role is more of a figurehead to the tribe. The Canach and the Clan Elders have an equal value in determining clan business and comprise a "tribal council" of sorts. When deciding upon clan matters, the Canach and each Clan Elder are allotted one vote. When such a vote concludes, the Canach is responsible for announcing the decision agreed upon by the "Council of Elders."


12. "Who are the War Chiefs and what do they do?"
Vingnir, Kether, Seabhac, Melkorus and Salticus are the War Chiefs of the Snowhawk Clan. They are trusted members possessing loyalty to the Clan, integrity in their dealings and offering wise council are offered the position of War Chief. War Chiefs have responsibility for forum moderation and in-game leadership and take upon themselves additional responsibilities for in-game Clan activities in areas of need or interest (such as organizing raid events, maintaining the Guild Bank, overseeing RP events, Siege Administration, etc.). In AoC, in-game War Chiefs are called Commandants on our guild list. Overall, they function much like a "Lieutenant" or a "Mini-Elder" in times of need. With the title of War Chief comes a responsibility that necessitates both in-game skill and leadership experience.


13. "Who are the Scar Bearers and what do they do?"
A Scar Bearer is typically a grizzled veteran who is the backbone of the guild. They are veteran members with special oversight in the area of recruitment & operations, the Scar Bearers are the lifeblood of the Snowhawk Clan. In AoC, a Scar Bearer is known as a Knight. In essence, the Scar Bearer is the classical "Sergeant" of military antiquity: He is down there in the mud with the grunts and he leads them, solves minor quarrels, informs them of decisions made by the guild leadership, reminds them to show up for guild meetings and, in general, keeps them in order. Clan Elders will appoint this title to deserving and dedicated members. This title can be attained both via the forums and in-game. On a side note: An acerbic, loudmouth or troublesome grouch would be ill-suited for this role as a Scar Bearer must be a mature, disciplined individual who can be liked, respected and trusted by the average guild member. To be a Scar Bearer one must have read the Conan Stories of REH and be a dedicated active member of our community.


14. "How does a Snowhawk Clan member earn promotions?"
A Snowhawk Clan member earns promotions by being "active." Examples of "activity" are as follows:

- Participating in our PvP matches or formal battles against other Age of Conan guilds; also, helping other guild members in-game on a regular basis. As we have a large quantity of members you will need to establish a higher-profile than others if you wish to be noticed and rewarded.

- Posting regularly on our discussion forums, chatting about guild-related topics on MSN Messenger, voice chatting on the Ventrilo server or corresponding via e-mail. Assisting the regiment webmaster maintain the site, forums, roster, helping with in-game projects such as citybuilding, PvE dungeon running, material gathering, Event planning, etc.

- Being consistent and active in our discussions and general guild activities daily. Whether you are leveling up a character or helping our war party stamp out the competition, consistent activity will be viewed as dedication and will reflect well upon the individual.

15. "What are the guild ranks and/or forum groups that compose Snowhawk Clan?"
Ceithernn - Snowhawk - Scar Bearer - War Chief - Clan Elder

» Ceithernn - Provisionary SHC members, on a trial basis pending final vote
» Snowhawk - Guild members who have access to most private forums and membership privileges.

The Council Fire is the decision making body of the Snowhawk Clan, composed of:

» Scar Bearer - Guild veterans who have access to special forums; in particular, leadership councils.
» War Chief - Supervisory members who have access to special boards and help moderate the guild.
» Clan Elder - Administrators who have access to everything and are equal co-leaders of the guild.

Bear in mind that a "Ceithernn" is the equivalent of "a potential recruit," and are not yet members of the guild. They must complete their application phase and then be accepted via an internal vote to become an official member of our guild. If they are unable to do so, their application to join our guild is rejected.


16. "Does the Snowhawk Clan have a Ventrilo or TeamSpeak servers?"
Yes, the Snowhawk Clan uses Ventrilo for voice-chatting. However, this server is semi-restricted to our official guild members, and require a password to access. We will provide our Ventrilo server information and password to all new recruits. A username and password will be created for you with appropriate ranks reflected. Current users with account creation abilities: Entaro, Senta, Kaine (for Legion in Flames members), Mendo.


17. "Are there any rules concerning the forum avatars?"
If you choose to upload a custom avatar, please ensure that avatar that reflects the spirit of the Hyborian Age or the quasi-historical fantasy of Robert E. Howard. A consistent avatar theme helps everyone stay focused on the topic and promotes a specific atmosphere and/or unified motif. There are over 500 different images to choose from in our Avatar Gallery. Most of these avatars reside in the Snowhawk Galleries 1 through 6 categories.


18. "Are there any rules concerning pornographic or sexual images?"
Due to certain Snowhawk members viewing this forum from corporate work stations, you are prohibited from posting pornographic, sexually offensive or lewd images of a type that are unsuitable for a corporate/office environment. You are further prohibited from posting links to such images. Posting or linking to such images may cost certain Snowhawk Clan members their jobs or force them to endure punitive conversations with their boss. When any forum member posts or links to pornographic images in our forums, they place at risk our entire board and its contents. Such a gamble is not theirs to make. In the blink of an eye, our forum can be deleted by the the server administrators. All our thoughts, conversations, pictures and hard work can be lost. Again, no sole individual should have the right to risk this collective forum on a sudden whim to post or link to a pornographic image. From now on, any posts containing or linking to pornographic images will be deleted. This rule is to protect our forum and its contents.

"Not Safe For Work" (NSFW) is a warning posted on the internet before displaying any images that might be deemed questionable or misconstrued as sexual material, so that users may avoid viewing images that they, or others, find objectionable. Before you link to any image that might be misconstrued as sexual material or obscenely gruesome, you must post "NSFW" at the title of your thread or post, or next to any link that leads to such images. Please keep in mind the policy on questionable material when linking and make sure to use this warning: "NSFW."


29. "Does the Snowhawk Clan permit double-guilding?"
No. The Snowhawk Clan does not permit any of its members to be in another guild for Age of Conan with the sole exception of Legion in Flames. Any guild member caught in violation of this rule will be permanently banned without hope of appeal. Any applicant or cetihernn caught merely applying to another guild will likewise be rejected and banned. You have been warned.

Note that the Snowhawk Clan operates in close partnership with many other guilds in the Age of Conan community; hence, we often quickly detect double-guilders and banish them even quicker.