Michel Delving Mathom Society
From t2twiki
Founder: Boffo
The founding charter for the Michel Delving Mathom Society
Theme and Function
- Preface
Many would argue that with the exception of Bilbo, Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin no hobbits left the Shire during the War of the Ring. While that 'may' be true, it could also be argued that with the exception of Gimli son of Gloin, all of the dwarves spent the War of the Ring besieged at Erebor. While it doesn't explicitly state that no other dwarves were abroad at the current setting of The Two Towers, that does not mean that there were none. The same is true of hobbits. Remember that The Two Towers MUD is a game, not a perfect replication of Tolkien's world. The Michel Delving Mathom Society is intended to be a place where adventurous hobbits may gather together in fellowship, while being as thematic as possible.
- The Typical Hobbit vs. The Extraordinary Hobbit
The typical hobbit does not adventure. This hobbit considers Bree to be a long journey from the Shire. The typical hobbit is worried about the refugees coming from the East and South. They hope the refugees don't stop in the Shire, or if they do, that they don't prove dangerous.
The exceptional hobbit does adventure. This hobbit is aware of the world outside the Shire. At least as far east as Rivendell and south to Adornas. Probably, this hobbit has travelled as far east as Dale and as far south as Dol Amroth... perhaps even into Mordor. The exceptional hobbit is worried about the refugees passing through the Shire, and wonders what can be done to end the situation that started their migration north and west.
Naturally, members of the Michel Delving Mathom Society are exceptional hobbits.
- The Evolution of the Michel Delving Mathom Society
The Mathom House in Michel Delving required a staff of volunteers to maintain it. The hobbits that came together to maintain the Mathom House found that they had free time on their hands, as well as talent and ambition. The scope of the Mathom Societies activities began to broaden. First, it was small things such as actively acquiring Mathoms. Later, more ambitious undertakings such as exploring lands outside of the Shire. As the War of the Ring approached, and various troubles came along, the Mathom Society took steps to try to help the Shire. In a way, the Mathom Society is very much like a Shadow Government of the Shire. The official government, being the Mayor Will Whitfoot, has no greater worries than managing the Postal Service. The Mathom Society has stepped forward to resist Sauron and protect the Shire. Some of these initiatives such as making contacts with Moral guilds outside of the Shire have been successful. Others, such as finding housing for refugees have failed -legitimate refugees were chased out by Sharkey's men. The MDMS is as involved in the War of the Ring as it is willing and able to be.
- The Activities of the Mathom Society
The Mandate of the Michel Delving Mathom Society can be summed up in the following phrase: to Preserve and Protect the Shire. This begins with the original purpose of the Mathom House, which was to store those objects which were not immediately useful, but too valuable, useful or pretty to throw away. Activities that protect and preserve the Shire can range from the fairly simple and low level as slaying Orcs and Sharkey's ruffians in and around the Shire. It can be more complicated and high level, such as slaying enemies on the Pelennor fields or joining a party of Moral adventurers who are trying to hunt and slay Evil Race players who have ventured into east Arda.
Membership
- Permanent Members
The goal of the Mathom Society is to be a guild with 100% hobbit membership, even though we are allowed as much as 10% non-hobbits in the guild.
- Non-hobbits
Our available space for non-hobbits will be reserved for Ambassadors who may, from time to time, visit us from other Guilds. Also, non-hobbits who are interested in joining the Mathom Society may do so, provided that they are willing to consider a race-change to hobbit.
- Applicants
Hobbits who have achieved 5th or higher level, 24hours of age or older and Moral alignment or better are invited to join the Mathom Society. Priority is given to applicants who have achieved 3 or more days of age. Also, non-hobbits who wish to join the Mathom Society as Intern or Probationary members may do so. Their requirements are: 5th or higher level, Moral or better alignment, and 4 or more days of age. Non-hobbit applicants will be accepted in an order based on how quickly they could become permanent members.
All applicants must have a clear background in terms of Kill Restrictions before they are admitted.
Code of Conduct
Firstly and most importantly, the Michel Delving Mathom Society is a roleplay centered guild. Permanent members of the Mathom Society must behave in a manner most befitting a hobbit. Primarily hobbits value simple comforts such as food, drink, smoke and good company. The soul of the hobbit is courtesy, ceremony and companionship. Hobbits are very detail oriented, whether this means writing exceptionally neat letters or making sure each spoonful of sugar contain the exact same volume. For more adventurous hobbits, this eye for detail might mean being able to pick a lock with really tiny tumblers, fletching arrows with precisely angled feathers, or speaking a magic spell with the perfect cadence.
Our most important Kill Restriction is Moral Hobbits. Members must have very, very good reasons for breaking this Kill Restriction if ever they do so. Also, members must do their best to abide by the following Kill Restrictions: Moral residents of Adornas, Belegost, Bree, Combe, Grey Havens, Rivendell and Staddle. If we are able to do so, we will also add Impartial Hobbits and Moral Rangers to our list of Kill Restrictions.
Note: Hobbit towns such as Bywater and Tuckborough are not included on our list residential Kill Restrictions, because the residents of these places are already covered as they are hobbits.
- Membership Dues
To maintain membership in good standing, MDMS members must pay monthly dues equal to 50gold per character level. If during a month, if a member is inactive or hibernating for the majority of month, a maintenance payment of 250 gold would be appropriate.
One solid unyielding rule cannot me made and kept over player killing, because RP is not always filled out. Not all "moral" players are moral and not all hobbits are decent. Moral players who act Moral, such as those that are members of Moral Guilds should not be pkilled by our hobbity selves either by Contract or in Person.
Finds, hunting, tracking, investigation, contracts, and deputizing against a moral player should be at each member's own discretion.
Members who are thieves should consider PStealing against noobish players, especially Morals or Shirelings to be Frowned Upon. For the most part, PStealing is adequately protected by the Lawsys. In a case where a PSteal is clearly a part of a PKill attempt should be governed by the same guidelines as for Playerkilling.
- Shiriffing
During the time The Two Towers is set in (help Setting) all of the hobbit Shiriffs are the lackeys of Sharkey, also known as Saruman. While it is not explicitly a duty of the Mathom Society to serve a role of Shiriffs, hobbits do love Law and Order. Any member who chooses to act in a role of Shiriff by performing investigates or deputizing to make arrests must do so with integrity and to the best of their ability. Any MDMS member who investigates a crime and discovers a fellow member has commited the crime, must put their duty to Law before their duty to their guildmate. In a situation where the Guild has sanctioned action against an enemy, such as PKilling or a Ptheft against an enemy, it is best to avoid volunteering to Investigate the crime at all.
- Secrecy
The Michel Delving Mathom Society is a Secretive (not Secret) Guild. The following rules on secrecy should be maintained:
- Members are strongly encouraged to keep their own membership secret.
- A member may choose to set their status public, if they really, really want to. However, see point I. above.
- A member may choose to divulge their own status to select individuals at their own discretion.
- A member may not reveal any other member to anyone outside the Guild. This is a serious breach of trust.
- Probationary members, and those members who have performed unfavourable actions may be forced to hide their status.
Clan Theme:
Clan Leader: Boffo Description: There are thousands of Hobbits who live and work in the Shire, day in day out, never giving a thought to what lays beyond the Shire -if indeed they think about anything beyond their own yards, their next meal, and the meal after that.
There are, however a group of Hobbits who do look beyond the borders of the Shire, who have read old legends, who know that the Enemy is stirring. The Michel Delving Mathom Society has the courage to look to the East, the Lore to understand the Enemy, and the will to defend the Shire.
The Michel Delving Mathom Society protects both the culture of the Hobbits the lands they live in, and the Hobbits themselves. From Curators, who find and store mathoms in the Mathom house, Librarians who record the Lore and Catalog the mathoms, and the Explorers who travel far afield.
Mission: To protect the culture and lifestyle of the Hobbits in the Shire.
Entrance Requirements: The Mathom Society is only open to Hobbits, who possess interesting skills or attributes, or who have an aptitude for gathering knowledge or exploring (eg: virtually any Hobbit Player). Also, members must have enough experience to travel to east Arda (eg. be 5th level or higher). Finally, all Hobbits of the Michel Delving Mathom Society must be of good Moral fibre (or better) [Hobbits 5th level or higher, older than 24hours, Moral or higher]
Ultimately, the Mathom Society has guild aspirations, and so any aspect of our current theme that is unacceptable to Valinor will be changed in order to meet their approval.
[edit] History
The Michel Delving Mathom Society made a good run of it, but finally merged with Ranhoth when it seemed that there was only room for one hobbit guild.
