Red Blade Ranks

[Kozgugore]

  ¤  Orcish Lore  ¤  Orcish Timeline  ¤  Red Blade History  ¤  Great Spirits  ¤  Red Blade Culture  ¤  FAQ  ¤ 

Traditionally referred to as the Wolfking and sometimes Matriarch, the Chieftain is the highest authority of the clan, in charge not only of the bigger decisions and the clan's next destination or hunting grounds, but also the appointments of any ranks subordinate to him.

Whether a master tactician or a renowned fighter and leader, the Rrosh-tul, or Blood Guard, have been hand-picked by the Chieftain and are trusted to lead his orcs into battle when the need arises. However, even outside of the battlefield does a Rrosh-tul's labor continue. It is the Rrosh-tul's charge to ensure that the Nag'Ogar serving underneath them in the Path of Strength continue to perfect their skills, training them in all manners of warfare and seeking to bring the best out of every single one of them.

The Varog'Gor are known as some of the finest that the clan has to offer. Old orcish for Wolf Claws, the Varog'Gor are the eyes and ears of the Chieftain, remaining a constant vigil over not only his safety, but also the clan's. In addition to the clan's safety, they also ensure that the clan's customs, laws and codes are upheld by each of its orcs. In the event of a conflict within, it is the Varog'Gor who ensure law and order is maintained. The same goes for external threats, however. Be it bigger threats or the more subtle ones, the Varog'Gor are always on the lookout for the things that may threaten the pack's security.

Due to their dedication to the clan and its Chief, Varog'Gors are expected to put everything aside in favor of both. In exchange, they earn the respect from those inferior to them, serving as an example for others to strive for. To help them with their duties, Sharguul, son of Akashok restored the Path of Cunning to the clan, entrusting the Varog’Gor to lead it in his name. There is no direct path in becoming a Varog’Gor and only those worthy enough are chosen by the Chieftain, the Nag'Ogar, Gosh'kar and Gul’thauk are all eligible in joining the Varog'Gor.

Both in the times of the old clan as well as the present, it is the Thur'ruk, or Spirit Speakers, who often serve as the chief advisers of the Wolfking. In addition to this, however, they are responsible for the Gosh'kar that are in their charge within the Path of Wisdom, ensuring they never tarry in their never-ending search for wisdom and enlightenment and aiding them in doing so.

The Nag'Ogar, Iron Warriors in the Red Blade tongue, are considered to be among the finest warriors that the clan has to offer and, together, they form the backbone of the Red Blade's martial strength. In addition to acting as a single military unit, the Nag'Ogar may be called upon for a wide variety of tasks, limited not only to the front lines, but also guard duty, patrols, reconnaissance, fortifying the clan's positions as well as other support tasks. As such, the Nag'Ogar come in many shapes and sizes, from the archetypal warrior and the lightly armored raider to even magi and battle shaman.

Cunning, deception and subterfuge; the Dark Knives, or Gul'thauk in archaic orcish, are most at home in the shadows. The Gul'thauk's duties are numerous. Though orcs typically place great value in honour and honesty, subterfuge is sometimes a necessary evil to get things done. In concert with the Varog'Gor, the Gul'thauk discreetly ensure the tribe's safety through scouting, gathering intelligence and research. Whether poring through ancient tomes or interrogating the enemy, the Gul'thauk must use all their cunning to win the day both on and off the battlefield.

The Gul’thauk must also show their devotion and faith in Sharguul, a Gul’thauk should never lose sight of the Path of Cunning’s new divine purpose. Daily chores revolving around the wolf of death are commonplace amongst those in the Path of Cunning. Like the Nag’Ogar and Gosh’kar, the Gul’thauk is spilt in to four ranks, each rank is a improvement on the other. Eventually through experience they may become a Shadow, the highest rank available in the Path of Cunning.

The Gosh'kar, or Disciples of the Totem, form the spiritual center of the clan. It is by their guidance that the clan remains true to the spirits and the elements, and by their hand that its orcs remain in good health and do not give in to the malevolent influences of Azeroth. As such, the Gosh'kar are multifaceted in their roles and fill in a myriad of positions within the clan.

The New Blood are the newcomers to the clan. They are expected to learn the ways of the clan and prove that they are competent enough to keep pace with the rest of the pack. They do these things under the vision and guidance of a tutor. This tutor may be anyone above the rank of New Blood, and chosen either by the New Blood themselves or appointed to them on a Clan Gathering.

Throughout their training, New Blood are expected to earn three Marks of the Red Blade from their tutor, tokens of their skill and progress. Not only do they learn of the clan's culture, its codes, laws and creed, but they also learn of the clan's Paths - Strength and Wisdom. Upon the day that they have been awarded all three Marks and their tutor deems them ready for the Oath of Blood, they may be taken in front of the Wolfking and the Great Spirits to be judged - usually during a Clan Gathering - and are expected to recite the Oath of Blood and announce which Path they wish to dedicate themselves to.

As they're not considered to be true members of the Red Blade yet, New Blood will not be allowed to carry the colors of the Red Blade clan just yet. Nor are they a part of the spiritual link that binds the clan's orcs together.

Upon its travels, the Red Blade clan has often happened upon fellow travelers or commoners who admire the pack well enough to show a desire to follow it. Though there may not be a place for them within the clan's inner structure, they have, on occasion, been allowed to accompany the clan as followers. These are usually orcish commoners who employ no particular craft that may suit either the Path of Strength or the Path of Wisdom, but their skills are nonetheless welcomed as a 'civilian' of sorts. Only very rarely does it occur that an outsider, a non-orc, is found worthy to be considered a Clan Follower. Nor is it an impossibility, however. A rare - and honorary - position.

Orc society has known many outcasts and undesirables. The name 'Pariah' is exactly that: the exiled, outlawed and the dishonored. Moreover, however, they are also newcomers to the clan who are not yet trusted, such as (former) criminals, warlocks and death knights. They stand below even the New Blood, and only after a prolonged period of having proven to be trustworthy and genuine in their intentions will they be given a chance to take the New Blood trials following a Rite of Cleansing.

This rank is reserved for alts of existing members of Orcs of the Red Blade, should anyone have a desire to rest their alts in a familiar environment. Bear in mind that, other than the calendar events, the guild bank and the guild perks, there will be no additional privileges reserved for this rank. OOC Members are still expected to abide by the guild's OOC rules, including the rule regarding OOC interactions in IC channels.




A more thorough description of the various ranks in the Red Blade tribe can also be found in the Tribe Annals:

• The Path of Strength
• The Path of Cunning
• The Path of Wisdom

• Chieftain
• Rrosh-tul
• Varog'Gor
• Thur'ruk
• Nag'Ogar
• Gul'thauk
• Gosh'kar
• New Blood

[Kozgugore]

Tutors and Trainees
The tutor/trainee system serves to encourage the creating of additional random RP and take some responsibility into our members' own hands. In addition, however, its purpose is to encourage the forming of (long-term) bonds with each other throughout the course of the player interactions.


Tutors:
Orcs may only start becoming tutors to other orcs after they have sworn the clan's Oath of Blood. Tutors may have a maximum of three trainees under their wing at a time and are regularly expected to make time for those under their charge, ensuring progression does not grind to a halt.

During this time, they are expected to show the trainee what it takes to be an orc of the Red Blade. Whether this is through conversation, action or both will be up to the tutor himself to decide. If the tutor is not able to be active in-game as much as he is required to, it is advised to decide along with the trainee when the best time would be to meet each other in advance. Both random RP and pre-planned events can come in handy to progress.

There are several aspects tutors are expected to teach their trainees in full. Note that these aspects are central to the clan's theme, so they are not to be neglected!

• The teachings of the Paths and which would suit the New Blood best;
• The clan's Oath of Blood;
• An introduction to the clan's culture and beliefs;
• The clan's laws and Code of Honor.

These tasks should be done both through individual teaching by the tutor, as well as tasks that are either individually given or through the two Paths themselves.

Note that if your trainee has been inactive for at least a month, please let an officer in charge know and you will be given clearance to accept a new orc as your trainee (should you have reached the limit of three orcs total). The same counts for any inactive tutors, however. Should you expect to be inactive for a certain time, try to let us, and especially your trainee, know!


Trainees:
Trainees are expected to listen and heed everything their tutors say, in addition to treating them with the respect they deserve. The tutor's approval will be required in order to eventually take the clan's Oath of Blood, so it will be in the trainee's best interest not to provoke the tutor's ire. The tutor will be the trainee's source of knowledge as they develop their reputation, increase their lore on the clan and get to know other orcs, so a decent synergy between the two is key in order to make good progression.

If a trainee expects to be inactive for a select amount of time, they should ensure to let their tutors know in advance. This is particularly important, as New Blood may be kicked due to inactivity if they have not logged on for six months or more unless they have given a valid reason in advance.

The same thing should be mentioned for inactive tutors, however. If trainees find themselves without an active tutor for at least two weeks, it's imperative they report this to an officer so that they may be appointed a new tutor if necessary.

[Kozgugore]

Marks of the Red Blade - Cutting Your Teeth in the Tribe


How does the system work?
- Marks of the Red Blade are awarded to New Bloods by tribe elders and the New Blood's appointed tutor.
- A New Blood must amass three marks and present them to the Chieftain with their intent to take the Oath - if the Chieftain accepts this, the Oath will be taken at the next Clan Gathering or other significant occasion.
- Tutors will still function as guides for any questions the New Blood may have and are a beacon where one might find help on certain matters. They also provide the tools - namely tasks and trials - through which to earn the Marks.

Earning your Marks
- They are awarded to those that complete a clan-wide New Blood training event that may be held at least twice a month, if not weekly. They can be hosted by any orc above the New Blood rank.
- New Blood training could emphasise key skills like hunting together, crafting essential supplies, and learning clan ranks and history.
- Marks can also be awarded for a New Blood’s significant contributions in the process of an event or other RP - for example, performing well in a battle or skirmish, fulfilling a given duty, assisting an elder in some task, or otherwise aiding or serving the clan in an above-average capacity.

Nature of the Marks
- The Marks are specific animal bones that have the tribe's insignia carved into them in a specific manner. If they are to be falsely reproduced, it's possible that they may be recognized.
- In the event of fraud or cheating the amount of Marks earned, immediate demotion or even exile will follow.