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Foreword

"We are what the southlanders tell their children about when they wish to inspire fear. We are the hard men of the unforgiving northlands. We are the kin of barbarians and kings alike.

We are The Snowhawk Clan...

The blood of our Atlantean fathers is strong and fierce in our veins, and their Cimmerian sons remain unconquered, or conquerors, depending on what paths we take.

We stand for honor and hearth; for kith and kin. Let none gainsay our word, and let none of our clansmen bring reproach upon our tribe.

We slay often and easily, but not without reason. We are savages but we are not fools, so we honor our allies as well as our honest foes, and trample the shiftless and fork-tongued without hesitation or remorse."


Snowhawk Clan Guidelines

1. NO EXCESSIVE RPK! (Random Player Killing) Do not maliciously kill anyone just because you feel like it. We are barbarians, but we are honorable. This rule applies unless:

a. They attack first. You may always defend yourself without question.
b. If they are known enemies of the guild.
c. If they kill, steal, loot or similar offenses.
d. If they disrespect you. Note that just because someone sticks their tongue out at you doesn't mean they should die, but if they keep pushing you, push back... with a yard of steel.
e. It is permissible to kill Stygians, but don't be OOCly vindictive about it.


2. The Clan is there for you and you are there for the Clan.

a. When a Clansman is in need it is your duty to help. When you are in need it is our duty to help you. While not ALWAYS possible, it should be the norm that help is available.
b. If the Clan is in GvG combat you will be expected to drop everything and haul ass to add your sword to the fray.
c. Clansmen should always receive preferential treatment on loot. If someone has a need for something and you have one, gratis will be usual, though if you have serious need for some funds asking for a donation is OK.


3. The Leaders are there for a reason! While we do not expect mindless subservience, there are times when the Clan Elders will speak and you should listen.

a. PvP is the most crucial of those times! It is our hope that we can field multiple groups, each with a specific purpose: the group leader will be in charge of keeping it organized, and depending on the situation call targets, and other coordination. Guild chat would be reserved for high priority messages and from the Battle Commander to coordinate groups.
b. The Leadership is there for you. Never hesitate to contact a Clan Elder if you think something this trivial (in the case of a Clansman slighting you, it may have been a small thing to you, but if it shows a pattern it WILL be dealt with SEVERELY).
c. We're surly bastards, and the leadership of the Clan is no exception: Ignore them at your peril.

Supplemental Guidelines

The Snowhawk Clan is a role-playing guild (RP-PvP) for Age of Conan and governed by an egalitarian council of Clan Elders. The clan is dedicated to the Conan lore of Robert E. Howard and is a simulation of a Cimmerian tribe. Every person will conduct themselves in an honorable manner befitting a tribal hetman. You will behave as if you were in an actual barbaric tribe and your life depended upon being courteous. Discipline and self-restraint should be displayed by clansmen and clanswomen at all times.

The following articles are supplemental guidelines for our guild:



Failure to abide by any of these regulations may result in punitive action and possibly expulsion from Snowhawk Clan. Once again, do not publicly complain about the actions or attitude of another Snowhawk member on these forums or in-game. All complaints about fellow members should be made privately via a forum message or e-mail to a Clan Elder.


New Applicant Behavior

When a new applicant posts in our public forums, their messages are in full view of the general populace. As such, please conduct yourself accordingly. As a new petitioner attempting to join our guild, you must impress us with your value to the Clan and display a good-natured personality...

Does this mean bowing and scraping?

HELL, NO!

However, you are trying to become a representative of this Clan and your behavior should reflect this. On the other hand, if some outsider gives you shit, we expect to stick up for yourself and the Clan WITH STYLE! Nevertheless, please realize that internet text is not the best medium for nuance and make sure other posters know if you ribbing them in a good-natured way.


Do Not Publicly Complain About Other Members

If someone offends you or needles you on a personal subject in a manner that you will not tolerate, privately inform them to cease and desist. If they apologize, it is then your duty to realize they meant no harm, and not hold it against them in the future. However, if they continue harassing you, immediately contact a Clan Elder via a private forum message or a private e-mail.

Again, if you have a problem with another clansman or clanswoman, even a moderator, War Chief or anyone, you should privately contact a Clan Elder before making any grandiose statements like being "sick of the Clan" and demanding your account be removed or membership status revoked. Such "loud decisions" will not be taken lightly by the Clan Elders, and such pettiness will not be tolerated.

Furthermore, let the Clan Elders know YOUR side of things, and perhaps they can resolve the issue. If you truly want to leave the guild, a viable alternative is to just stop posting and quietly egress.


Do Not Infer Malice Unless Malice is Implied

The Snowhawk Clan is full of barbarous, politically incorrect bastards. We are also jovial and should be thick-skinned. If someone makes a personal attack on your religion, your loved ones, your pets, your taste in liquor, food, games, women, men, clothes, or your sexual orientation, it is your duty as a Snowhawk to interpret their remarks as good-natured ribbing. You must assume their puns to be friendly poking, unless in explicit terms they leave no uncertainty as to their intent (i.e. "And I'm not joking about that, you suck!").

In the eyes of the Snowhawk Clan, those who take offense to those who did not mean any harm and refuse to forgive are ALWAYS in the wrong. Now, if the person who offended you did NOT sincerely apologize, this should be reported to a Clan Elder. Also, leaving in a huff is not acceptable and do not expect to have your side heard if you choose to flip everyone off and leave in a temper tantrum.

If someone really is screwing with you DO NOT for one second think we will think less of you for reporting it as we want things like this nipped in the bud. Nevertheless, you must realize that people around here have a rough sense of humor, but are at heart good natured, and are only trying for a laugh.

REMEMBER: Once again -- Someone harassing or persecuting you is an ENTIRELY different matter, and will be handled accordingly. We have a zero tolerance policy towards malicious assholes and denigrating bullies.






Cimmerian Code of Honor

Recently the "code of honor" that Conan the Cimmerian was known to follow has been mentioned. Some have wanted an overview and others have delved into its psychological elements. I am posting this here because the code is one which all members of the Snowhawk Clan should be aware of. It contains important elements which can be used to garner a more insightful look into some of the motivating factors Cimmerians live by.


A character adhering to the Cimmerian code of honor will:

1: Respect alliances with other honorable characters.

2: Ignore an alliance with a dishonorable character, even pre-emptively, if it suits him.

3: Abide loyally by a contract of employment, even with a dishonorable employer, so long as the character is well treated and shown loyalty in return.

4: Slay a dishonorable foe, even if that foe is helpless.

5: Slay an honorable foe who is not helpless.

6: Protect those weaker then himself, at least from physical dangers, if such protection is requested. This includes ordinary folk such as peasants captured for interrogation. who will be set free once it is safe to do so and rewarded if they were of assistance, as well as children and most women.

A woman who has demonstrated herself to be more capable in war then the average man need not be protected, though the typical male with a barbaric code of honor will probably attempt to protect her anyway.

7: Offer his allegiance only to a honorable leader who is clearly stronger and better suited for power then himself, or to a greater cause of some kind; once allegiance is granted, the character must be utterly loyal , so long as his leader remains honorable and loyal to him in return. Note that a character need not retain an allegiance that was always intended to be temporary, such as a mercenary contract, after the conditions are fulfilled.

8: Grudgingly respect genuine piety but despise venal priests and the typical civilized 'religion'.

9: Like or dislike others based on their honor and their actions, not on their religion or race.

10: Be hospitable and generous to those in need, even to strangers. It is said that no man starves in Cimmeria, unless there is a famine and all starve, because every family will give of their own food to anyone without.

11: Respect the hospitality shown him.

12: Avenge any intended insult with immediate and lethal force, if at all possible. Note that barbarians new to civilization are likely to avenge even a jesting insult in the same way, not having yet learned the subtleties of civilized behavior, which can allow a man to insult another without the imminent danger of having his skull split.

13: Avenge any physical harm done to him at the earliest opportunity, in a manner fitting his sense of balance and justice.

14: Will not by any means force himself upon women or children.



A character adhering to the Cimmerian code of honor will not:

1: Slay a wild animal, or any other creature, for sheer cruelty. He may slay in self defense, or for revenge, or to get food or other resources, or slay a sworn enemy.

2: Slay or steal from one who has shown him hospitality unless the other breaks hospitality first.

3: Harm anyone currently under his protection or receiving his hospitality, even if they turn out to be any enemy, unless the other breaks faith first.

4: Assist authorities with any information about his friends or allies, even if refusing to do so puts him at risk.

5: Desert his henchmen or retainers, even if they appear to desert him. If he ever achieves the position of chieftain or similar authority, he feels he must set an example to his followers. Even if they doubt him, he must prove himself to them, particularly if they need him.