1 We, the Knights of Carcosa, hereby establish the Order of Selohaar, an initiatory order of chivalry dedicated to the preservation of honor, nobility, arcane wisdom, ancient arts and customs, and martial excellence.
2 The order shall have as the basis of its philosophy the foundation made in Scituate, Rhode Island in the year 1979.
3 The Order's objectives shall be to instill its membership with the magick and majesty of a forgotten age, to encourage noble deeds and ideals, to provide a creative outlet for individuals with unique talents, and to maintain a climate of mutual assistance between members in all matters.
4 The initiatory structure of the Order of Selohaar is comprised of three degrees, plus an associate membership level, as provided for below:
5 The governing body of the Order shall be the Selohaar Council, which shall be composed of all active Master Knights and Councillors. This circle, under the supervision of the Grand Master, shall make all major policy pertaining to the direction and destiny of the Order, and shall decide on the admission of new members.
6 The Grand Master shall be chosen from among the active third degree membership and must embody all the disciplines of the Order and fulfill the roles of warrior, philosopher, and mystic of the Selohaar Way.
7 In the event of the Grand Master's death or abdication, a new Grand Master must be elected by the Council.
8 The Grand Master may be removed from office under extreme circumstances by means of a vote by the Council requiring unanimous agreement with the exception of one dissention.
9 Master Knights, and to a lesser degree, Knights of Selohaar, shall strive to be the ultimate examples of the ethic of warrior attainment. All must be skilled in the arts of war, and Master Knights must also be skilled leaders and mystics. All knights shall wear personal heraldic devices as a part of their formal regalia.
10 A Councilor shall be an individual whose great wisdom is valuable in the making of policy for the Order. Councilors are enlightened individuals who serve the Order in a non-combative capacity.
11 The title of Lord Constable is held by a specially designated member of the Council. His or her function is to assist the Grand Master when deemed necessary and to govern the Order in the Grand Master's absence. The Constable is also responsible for settling disputes between members of the Order, and investigating allegations of misconduct by members.
12 Adepts shall be those members whom the Council has deemed to have attained a working knowledge of the Order's philosophy and disciplines. They shall also be called upon to take an active role in the education of more junior members in regards to the Order's traditions and disciplines.
13 Neophytes shall be those members who have committed themselves to the Way of Selohaar and wish to learn the Order's ways in greater detail.
14 The Free Bretheren shall be comprised of those members who are new to the Order, are only loosely affiliated with it, or who have other commitments which may conflict with full-time involvement in the Order's activities.
15 The title of Honorary Member may be conferred upon revered friends of the Order by the Council.
16 Advancement through the Order's grades shall be by trial and initiation, accompanied by appropriate ceremony. Any member of any degree may request initiation into the next degree by petitioning a member of that degree. This member shall then bring the matter to the Council’s. The Council may demand proof of the initiate's worthiness before granting the appropriate rite of initiation to the member in question.
17 Admission to the Order of Selohaar and progress within its heirarchy shall not be hampered for reasons pertaining to race, gender, or creed.
18 Any member may demand to be heard by the Council concerning a matter of importance involving the Order's policy, the defense of its constituents, or suggestions for its activities.
19 Attire for members, where not directly specified, shall be in keeping with the spirit of the Order and with simple guidelines to be provided by the Order. Formal attire shall be worn at all official meetings of the Order of Selohaar. This requirement is relaxed for training sessions and other Selohaar-sponsored informal activities.
20 Meetings, called Gathers, and ceremonies, including initiatory rites, shall be called or scheduled by the Council. Ceremonious occasions shall include magical holidays and important dates in the Order's history. Suggestions from members of any degree for other revelries shall be welcomed by the Council.
21 The Council may sanction the creation of regional chapters, called Preceptories, as the expansion of the Order warrant such measures.
22 The Council may designate certain members to serve as scribes, chroniclers, tournament marshals, guards, squires, and heralds, as the need for such roles arises.
23 Guards are responsible for security at the Order's meetings and shall also serve in a ceremonial capacity when standard bearers or a color guard are needed. They shall also be responsible for greeting arriving guests at Selohaar meetings and functions. The Guard shall be headed by the Captain of the Guard, who must be a knight and who may appoint other officers as needed. If this office is vacant, the Guard shall fall under the command of the Lord Constable.
24 Squires must have achieved the 1st degree of Selohaar and shall assist a particular knight in his preparation for tournament, the maintenance of his equipment, and as a practice partner so that the knight and squire may both increase in their martial prowess. Squires may wear the livery of the knight they serve and/or bear a modified form of the knight's personal heraldic arms.
25 Each year, the Grand Master may choose a Champion of the Order from among the Knights of the Realm. The champion must serve as a highly visible example of Selohaar knighthood, exemplifying all the virtues and ideals of the chivalrous warrior, particularly to outsiders of the Order. Additionally, he or she may be called upon by the Grand Master to answer a martial challenge issued to the Order or to settle a matter of honor between the Order and some other party.
26 The Lady of the Grail, appointed by the Council, shall serve as a guide in the spiritual education of the membership.
27 These Articles may be modified or amended by the Council as needed.
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