JoshuaR Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 (edited) Greetings friends, It is with great pleasure that I announce three developments within the black sphere and, in particular, the Dark Vows. First, by unanimous agreement among voting signatories, we have amended our hallowed document. The new amendment contains more precise and proactive wording with regard to economics in the sphere. I will include the Official Copy of the Dark Vows with the amendment highlighted in red. Second, and coinciding with the amendment, we now have opened a more comprehensive trading and economic center for all black nations, whether aligned or not, a member of a Dark Vows signatory or not. The new center will serve primarily as a means of connecting black nations to one another within permanent trade circles and will be managed by the economic team as outlined in the amendment. Black nations need only to fill out a form. When the economic team has assigned them a circle, they will be messaged and can then move into their new long-term trading agreements. Of course, the economic area will also be a haven for donation dealing, loan agreements, graphics selling, and general advice. Special thanks go to Myworld of the Dark Templars for heading this new addition. We ask all black nations to visit the Black Conclave (OOC: read, black team forum) where one may communicate with other members of the sphere, senators, and nation leaders; visit the libraries of the Dark Vows signatories; or peruse the economic areas. Any black alliances interested in signing the Dark Vows should also visit and inquire about membership therein, though the Black Conclave forums are hosted for the entirety of the sphere. Visit the Black Conclave HERE and/or submit your nation’s economic information HERE to be assigned a trading circle directly. Third, we don’t often announce the addition of new signatories, so let this be an opportunity for all to take a look at the illustrious alliances who have taken these Dark Vows. Thank you. The Dark VowsPreamble It is understood by all signatories that their status as participants in the Black Sphere is cause for great pride, and that it carries with it the grave obligation of furthering the common interests of the Black Sphere through concerted and honourable efforts toward the peaceful coexistence, coordination, stability, prosperity, and security of all individual member nations therein. It is also understood that coordination and interaction between Black Sphere alliances is best pursued in an all-inclusive manner, that fully accounts for the diverse alignments, political philosophies, and individual alliance interests, and that all signatories to these Vows are therefore bound to respect such differences wherever they may they occur in order to ensure mutual benefit and harmony among all who dwell in the Black Sphere. For Black is the colour of all things deep and dark: the essence of ebony, the hue of the hidden, the mask of the mysterious, the narrative of night. In Black all things are concealed. In Black all secrets are kept. And in this spirit, the noble alliances undersigned do hereby and for the duration of their preponderance in the Black Sphere pledge to the following Vows, and do publish this intent for the knowledge and enforcement of all. The First Vow: On Sovereignty, Trade, and Civility It is agreed that the prosperity of the Black Sphere as a whole is fundamentally linked to the abundance of trading partners and friendly counterparties within it. It is furthermore agreed that the intended mutual prosperity embodied in these Vows can only be attained in an environment where disagreements are candidly addressed through diplomatic channels, and by upholding a civilised and mature attitude to such counterparties, both actual and potential. It is therefore decided that: 1. Signatories to these Vows shall not engage in military action against any nation of the Black Sphere, aligned or otherwise, for the sole purpose of material benefits. 2. Signatories to these Vows shall not commit unjustified acts of hostility towards any other alliance within the Black Sphere, signatory to these Vows or otherwise. 3. Signatories to these Vows shall not engage in military action, or take any other steps to dissuade other alliances from founding within the Black Sphere, altering their preferred location from another Sphere to the Black Sphere, allowing their nations to freely relocate to the Black Sphere, posing a candidacy for a Black Senate seat, or encouraging any nation in any manner to switch their location to the Black Sphere. 4. Signatories to these Vows shall fully recognise and respect the sovereign right of all alliances within the Black Sphere, signatories to these Vows or otherwise, to choose their own political alignment, preferred partners, individual goals, and paths thereto, and shall not take any actions to hinder the pursuit of such goals so long as the methods employed in that pursuit do not conflict with the principles proclaimed herein. 5. Signatories to these Vows shall respect and treasure their privileged relations with all other signatories, and in particular shall treat all other signatory alliances and their individual member nations with the same cordiality and courtesy they would accord to their own alliance members and leadership. 6. Signatories to these Vows shall recognise the mutually beneficial nature of all business transactions arranged in a legal, consensual, and uncoerced manner between nations of the Black Sphere, and shall not restrict their respective members from willingly engaging in such transactions with members of other signatories to these Vows. If during any such transaction one or more members of signatories to these Vows are shown to be in breach of contract, their respective alliances shall recognise and enforce the legal value of such contract, and shall promptly deliver either adequate damage reparations to the counterparty or harsh punishment to the offender. 7. Signatories to these Vows shall host a Market dedicated to the entirety of the Black Sphere, each signatory appointing at least one nation ruler to an Economic Board. Economic Board members will oversee the business transactions between signatories, including, but not limited to, technology acquisition, formation of trade guilds, and large-scale loans between signatories. The Second Vow: On the Black Senate It is agreed that the interests of individual alliances within the Black Sphere are best served by undisrupted access to the wondrous privileges and powers of the Black Senate. It is also agreed that such interest and the limited number of Senatorial positions available may generate conflict within the Black Sphere, that such conflicts are best defused by extensive use of dialogue and political concessions rather than by untamed ambition, and that the mandate of titular nations demands an unwaveringly unbiased and fair stance towards all honourable members of the Black Sphere. It is therefore decided that: 1. Signatories to these Vows shall be free to submit as many candidates to Senatorial positions as they deem best, and such candidacies shall not be subject to any retaliatory behaviour by the countersigned. 2. Signatories to these Vows shall be free to coordinate to elect common Senators, subject only to bilateral or multilateral agreement between them. 3. Senators successfully elected by the undersigned shall not engage in unjustified economic sanctions against any signatory to these Vows. 4. Senators successfully elected by the undersigned shall withhold no efforts to support the common interests of the Black Sphere, and shall therefore grant all reasonable requests for sanctions and public announcements placed by signatories to these Vows. The Third Vow: On Scope and Limitations It is agreed that friendships and political connections within the Digiterran political landscape are extremely complex and unpredictable, and that it would be undesirable to risk the failure of this worthy endeavour by committing signatories to unduly stringent requirements. It is therefore decided that the responsibilities described in the previous Vows shall be subject to the following qualifications of scope: 1. No signatory alliance shall be considered in breach of these Vows should they act in defence of an alliance to which they are linked by an internationally recognised and binding treaty, provided such actions are in response to a legally justified request, obligatory by the terms of the relevant treaty, and strictly defensive in nature. 2. No signatory alliance shall be considered in breach of these Vows should they retaliate against hostile actions perpetrated by any organisation. Such hostile actions shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, overt military action, economic sanctions, espionage, disruption of the flow of information within alliance headquarters, defamation, harassment, hijacking, and/or conspiracy. 3. Signatories to these Vows shall take all reasonable diplomatic steps to maintain the peace and stability of the Black Sphere before seeking exemption from these Vows through these qualifications of scope. The Fourth Vow: On Organisation It is agreed that, through the fluid nature of international alliances and inter-alliance politics, the shape of the Black Sphere shall incessantly mutate, and that any initiative taken to stabilise the Black Sphere may only achieve its goals if it is fully equipped to adapt to such change. It is therefore decided that: 1. Any alliance may be invited to sign these Vows by unanimous agreement of all signatories. Furthermore, any alliance satisfying the following criteria shall be officially and automatically eligible for participation in these Vows, and such eligibility shall not depend on circumstances of their diplomatic relations toward the signatories to these Vows. Alliances may freely choose to become signatories to these Vows if: (i) They are predominantly located within the Black Sphere; (ii) They actively require or encourage their respective member nations to hold membership of the Black Sphere; (iii) At time of signing, their total alliance strength is in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000), and/or their total member count is in excess of twenty-five (25) nations; and (iv) They are not involved in military conflict with any other alliance. 2. Signatories to these Vows shall be free to revoke their signature at any time, by providing all other signatories with formal written notice forty-eight (48) hours in advance. Any member nations of the revoking signatory elected as Senators through the votes of other signatories to these Vows shall be bound by their honour to uphold the Vows until the moment when election votes are reset. 3. Signatories to these Vows that are formally declared to be in breach of these Vows by all other signatories shall be immediately vacated as signatories hereto. Their signature shall be stricken from these Vows, the protections afforded to them by these Vows shall be released, and their eligibility to sign these Vows shall be revoked until and unless all signatories unanimously agree to permit such reinstatement and re-execution. 4. Signatories to these Vows who are disbanded, become inactive, fall persistently and significantly below the eligibility criteria, or fail to nominate representatives to official acts requiring a vote, may be suspended from these Vows by unanimous agreement of all remaining signatories. Suspended signatories shall be formally afforded all protections and responsibilities described in these Vows, but shall lose their right to representation and vote until such time when their eligibility and diplomatic activity as sovereign entities is restored. 5. These Vows may be amended by unanimous agreement of all signatories. By this seal and on this date we do agree to bind ourselves to these Vows, and by our signature below we do swear to uphold the letter, the spirit, and the promise of all that they set forth and represent. 2 November 2007 For The Mafia: /s/ EMPEROR MARXUS IV, Cappo de Cappos SARMATIAN EMPIRE, Minister of Foreign Affairs SERBERUS, Minister of Internal Affairs EMPEROR NIGEL, Minister of Defense MR.NIBBLES, Minister of Education and Panda Affairs STRIFE__BLADE, Minister of Recruitment COMMANDER MAS, Privy Council Member HERNAN CORTEZ, Privy Council Member LUIS VOLTAIRE V, Privy Council Member POTATOHEAD, Privy Council Member MASTER CONSERVATIVE, Privy Council Member For MrFixitOnline: /s/ JOSHUAR, Leader AGRAPPA, Councillor NINJAJOSH, Councillor KABAN, Councillor For The Order of the Black Rose: /s/ ATERATRA, Queen and Black Rose For The Order of the Dark Knights: /s/ THOAX010, Minister of Internal Affairs MYALAM, Minister of Financial Affairs JOFFREY, Minister of Military Affairs TONY6661001, Minister of Foreign Affairs p.p. The ODK General Assembly of Knights 28 February 2008 For UberCon: /s/ Trinit, Triumvir Kiruzog, Triumvir Alrin, Triumvir Nadreck, Minister of Foreign Affairs Snikt, Elder Statesman 20 May 2008 For Umbrella: /s/ Bossk, Triumvir Sceptor, Triumvir Trepidation, Triumvir 25 September 2008 For The Dark Evolution: /s/ Angryraccoon, Triumvir Coolgreen44, Triumvir Revelation, Triumvir Fort Pitt, Chief of Senate HavoK, Senator Joey67500, Senator Master Nick, Senator Walther, Senator Red Sox King, Senator goalmaster, Senator Panginoon, Senator coolspy, Senator Hunter, Janitor 29 October 2008 For The Trilateral Commission: /s/ T-O-O-L, Chairman GR, Chief Executive Officer arch3004, First Representative Drakedeath, Second Representative, Acting Head of Recruitment Cooksonthegreat, Chief of Staff Trowa, Elder Representative Elac Nonsum, Head of Internal Affairs Tazzy, Head of Military/Security Left Hand of God, Head of External Affairs 11 November 2008 For Apocalypse: /s/ Bad Omen, Emperor King Pomi, Horseman of Internal Affairs Ghostlin, Horseman of Foreign Affairs Pokeikon, Horseman of War 18 November 2008 For The Dark Templars: /s/ Supa_Troop3r, Dark Archon Deathsmile, Twilight Archon Pulse, Patriarch Jewish, Supreme Banker Myworld, High Templar of Development 23 November 2008 For Dark Fist: /s/ Daikos, Diarch Starcraftmazter, Diarch Martinius, Minister of Foreign Affairs 9 December 2008 For The Immortals: /s/ Sarmatian Empire, Emperor (The Chosen One) Wappas, Chief Officer Master Conservative, Commandant 11 December 2008 For Global Republic of Armed Nations: /s/ Outworld, Emperor Germanicus, Elite Council Aryan83, Elite Council 23 January 2009 For The Ravyns: /s/ Sharduke, The Don In Memoriam 2 November 2007 For The Armed Coalition of Disturbed Countries: /s/ CAPT CRAPPY, Triumvir C4TALYST, Triumvir CYBORGBELIAL, Triumvir ZZZPTM, Minister of Foreign Affairs For The Boards Alliance of Protectorate States: /s/ MOSHEA, El Presidente PEADERFI, El Vice Presidente ZILLAH, Minister for External Shenanigans For HeroesOfGaming: /s/ COOLGREEN44, Prime Minister OCHOCINCO, Consul, Minister of War, Maker of Rain RYAN_RYES, Consul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head Terrorist TREPIDATION, Consul ROZALIA, Consul DANIZUHMAN, Consul THREEFINGEREDGUY, Minister of Commerce 7 November 2007 For The Black Peace Society: /s/ SHADOWMAN, King 11 February 2008 For Socialistic Empire: /s/ Silent, SupCom StalinTrotsky, DipCom 24 March 2008 For KGB: /s/ Mr. Teets, Chairman Professor B, First Deputy Chairman 25 March 2008 For League of United Armenians: /s/ Hayastan, Deputy Chancellor, Foreign Minister 18 January 2008 For Black Defense Council: /s/ ZZZPTM, Minister President of State 12 March 2008 For Element: /s/ Danizduhman, Triumvir Coolgreen44, Triumvir Ryan Reyes, Triumvir Caesar833, Internal Minister FFfanaticx, Director of Finance Rickjames, Director of Defense 23 June 2008 For Black Moon: /s/ Johnny Apocalypse, El Presidente and acting Foreign Minister El Coggins, Commander in Chief of Military sp00n-man, Economics Minister Vakirauta IV, Internal Minister 24 June 2008 For Legio X: /s/ Hormones74, Legion Legate - Leader Revelation, Primus Pilus - MoW VIdiot The Great, Camp Prefect - MoIA 5 January 2008 For Federation of Independent Sovereign Territories: /s/ Starcraftmazter, Marshal of FIST Daggarz, Minister of Foreign Affairs 5 August 2008 For The Darkfall Alliance: /s/ Stalwart, Khagan Daikos, Khan of Foreign Affairs 3 December 2008 For Underworld: /s/ Underverse, Hades 2 January 2009 For Black Dragons: /s/ James "The Rick Roll" Maximus, Dark Lord Franz "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together" Ferdinand, Dark Archduke Edited February 2, 2009 by JoshuaR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Flinders Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Black team is pretty chill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobiashiy Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaR Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 And just before any confusion starts, on first page... Note that partway down the list of signatories, it says, "In Memoriam." Those signatories are dead or moved color etc. On Black Conclave forums, there's a tag that creates a line. I should probably have made hyphens as Sceptor suggested after I posted... Anyway, if I notice any confusion, I'll just change the color of "In Memorian" to unreadable bright yellow. Then you can't comment on it if you try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotOne Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobiashiy Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 KGB how??? Didnt they merge into Nebula X? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoomzoomzoom Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 And just before any confusion starts, on first page... Note that partway down the list of signatories, it says, "In Memoriam." Those signatories are dead or moved color etc. On Black Conclave forums, there's a tag that creates a line. I should probably have made hyphens as Sceptor suggested after I posted... Anyway, if I notice any confusion, I'll just change the color of "In Memorian" to unreadable bright yellow. Then you can't comment on it if you try. You should probably move SE there. Also congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaR Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Yep, forgot to move 'em. Looks better now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobiashiy Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 arnt The Boards Alliance of Protectorate States like purple? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaR Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 arnt The Boards Alliance of Protectorate States like purple? Yep, but they were black prior. Way back, a GOONS protectorate. After that, a founding DV signatory. After Tumingate, and after old foes offered a hand, they moved to purple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobiashiy Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Oh ok, thanks for clarifying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Glad to see this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strykewolf Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Good to see Nice to see it evolving as needed as well o7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodivine Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Congrats to all those new to the DV's o/ o/ for change The economic staff in the DV's look forward to working with more of the nations in the black sphere. We welcome anyone that wishes to seek economic ventures in the black sphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharduke Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 A welcome change in the natural order of things, I'm confident it'll help provide that extra push to the land of prosperity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supa_Troop3r Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hell it's about time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daikos Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I think I speak for everyone when I say... Black Powah!!! o/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schattenmann Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I am talking in a JoshuaR announcement because it's the first one I've seen. Also, this is awesome to see. Go, Black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carter Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Way to go black team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D34th Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I see a lack of Sparta and Old Guard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prodigal Moon Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I remember early last year when everyone thought Black was "unstable" etc. etc. Here's to proving them wrong (or at least putting in the diplomatic work to appear to prove them wrong for so long ) o/ Black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobiashiy Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I remember early last year when everyone thought Black was "unstable" etc. etc. Here's to proving them wrong (or at least putting in the diplomatic work to appear to prove them wrong for so long )o/ Black Also do to the fact of sparta moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar833 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Lol coolgreen dan and ryan signed this three times. Good stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arhctheshark Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I think I speak for everyone when I say...Black Powah!!! o/ Amen brotha, preach on!! and celebrate good times with the dark vows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schattenmann Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I see a lack of Sparta and Old Guard Sparta already had an exhaustive internal trade and tech system when they moved from Pink, Old Guard thinks it's stuff doesn't stink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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