FAQ
What is the purpose of the guild?
See the "Our Purpose" section of side menu.
When was the guild started? How did it come to be where it is today?
Please use the menus above to navigate to the history page.
Where may I apply for the Guild if I am interested in joining?
We VERY HIGHLY suggest that you completely read this FAQ and all other pages on the web site before joining. Admission at the moment is currently by invitation of the Guild Master only.
Who runs the Guild of Dark Haven
While we consider all of ourselves to be an equal level team, for the purpose of logistics and organization we have an elite staff that functions as the backbone for guild operations. Click HERE to see their profiles.
Do all guild members have a profile on this web site?
No. Only the command staff has full profiles, as a necessity for knowing the structural organization of the Guild. However, once you become a member, the forums are the best way to meet and contact your fellow guild mates. Another reason we did this method was to protect the privacy of certain guild members who may or may not have wished their information being in public access as a requirement of membership.
Okay, you just mentioned privacy. Why hide being in Dark Haven?
The reason our members area is -- well -- members only -- is because while the organization is no secret, this is still the internet, and as the leader of Dark Haven I absolutely refuse to make everyone publicize any personal information for their own safety and security.
There is a member’s area? I didn’t see a link here for a member's area.
The forum is considered the members area.
How often are most of the members in contact with each other?
How often can you get on the internet?
I hear the guild master is kind of strange -- almost borderline lunatic . . . . . .
And . . . .? By the way that is a LOVELY left nostril you have there.
I hear a lot of members talking about a "war". This is not a militia, is it?
We are not a militia, and we have nothing to do with any military, pseudo-military or political affairs. HOWEVER as an organization we do sometimes band together to take votes in political affairs such as a while back when we voted against the oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Now . . . as for this war . . . as a mere coincidence and only a coincidence a great number of our guild mates believe in an upcoming war. The Kindred call it Jihad. The Christians are calling it The Apocalypse. I call it "The Great War". While as a unit we do NOT, I say again do NOT have an official purpose for this belief, and that the guild is NOT centered on this war, we DO believe that our codes of conduct and honor do relate to how our world will shape itself. This would include behavior that could prevent such a bad event from happening.
Okay, so . . . clarify how the guild would react if this "war" ever came true.
We have simply taken an oath to be there for each other as a family in such dreadful times. Some guildmates even train personally for such an event, but that is not an official Guild function.
Speaking of training -- do you have a training program?
The last time I checked, one did not need to train to be nice to one another. However if you are asking about our medieval weapons sparring sessions, we do not as yet have an official training program . . . yet. We ARE going to install a medieval arms training program at a later date.
Medieval arms?
Yes. By that I mean Swords, staves, katanas, axes, maces, bras and other medieval type weaponry.
What about firearms?
No, we will not be working with any firearms for safety reasons. The closest you will see to a projectile weapon in our sparring and practice sessions will be bows and arrows. Crossbows are acceptable. We will only be allowing crossbow and longbow practices on approved fields where there are safety measures set up for "range standards".
Training sessions? I thought you just said there was no training program.
Correct. There is no universal program . . .yet. However some of the local regional groups have formed their own schedules and practices, sort of SCA style.
Regions?
The United States is divided into regions. As far as international relations, each country is it's own region.
How much does it cost to join Dark Haven?
At the moment . . .nothing. But that may change in the future as our resources grow. Right now everything used for the Guild like this site is being provided either free of charge or out of the pocket of whomever is providing the resource. This web site costs me 100 dollars a year just for the hosting, plus expenses for domain names and graphics-- my own contribution to the family. However, if we choose to expand our resources we may choose one of two options: Putting the guild on a donation status to help out or -- making a membership fee and having the fees go into a treasury to be used for these resources. If I do that it will probably be like the Lundgaarde Armoury site and be a lifetime 35 dollar membership fee. But . . . as I said before . . . for now it is free.
Is there a guild uniform or something like that?
Yes, but it is voluntary. We have a belt sash that hangs from the right front side of a belt. It's colors state the section of the guild you are in. We recommend wearing this sash to public events. I make the sashes personally for the cost of the fabric and the shipping fees. Since I make the sashes out of simple cotton/polyester blendes, and it takes less than 2 yards total to make the entire sash, it is relatively cheap. See the colors area from the menus above to see the sash colors and an explanation of their use.
Two yards? Wow seems like a lot for a small sash like that.
One yard of black and one yard of your department color. Most fabric stores sell material in yard increments. I require the minimum of 1 yard each color anyway as the sashes are folded and multi-layered for durability.
Why so much material?
Room for mistakes. Ask Morgan Dragonstar. She'll verify this from experience.
Wait -- what is this Old Code mentioned in the Guild Purpose page?
A Knight is sworn to valor.
His heart knows only virtue.
His blade defends the helpless.
His might upholds the weak.
His word speaks only truth.
His wrath undoes the wicked.
I have other questions not answered here or elsewhere on the site.
Ask me. I'll be more than happy to answer your questions and possibly even add them to this FAQ.
