Words of Wisdom from The ÆSIR

[Craven]

[center][color="#8B0000"][font="century Gothic"][size="7"][b][u]An Announcement from The ÆSIR[/u][/b][/size][/font][/color]
[img]http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/CorbinAtk/gungniredit.png[/img]

Click below for wise words from Odin.
[spoiler]

The Sayings of Hár (The High One (Odin))
from the Poetic Edda
Translated by W.H. Auden and P.B.Taylor

The man who stands at a strange threshold,
Should be cautious before he cross it,
Glance this way and that:
Who knows beforehand what foes may sit
Awaiting him in the hall?

Greetings to the host, the guest has arrived,
In which seat shall he sit?
Rash is he who at unknown doors
Relies on his good luck.

Fire is needed by the newcomer
Whose knees are frozen numb;
Meat and clean linen a man needs
Who has fared across the fells,

Water, too, that he may wash before eating,
Handcloths and a hearty welcome,
Courteous words, then courteous silence
That he may tell his tale.

Who travels widely needs his wits about him,
The stupid should stay at home:
The ignorant man is often laughed at
When he sits at meat with the sage.

Of his knowledge a man should never boast,
Rather be sparing of speech
When to his house a wiser comes:
Seldom do those who are silent
Make mistakes; mother wit
Is ever a faithful friend.

A guest should be courteous
When he comes to the table
And sit in wary silence,
His ears attentive, his eyes alert:
So he protects himself.

Fortunate is he who is favored in his lifetime
With praise and words of wisdom:
Evil counsel is often given
By those of evil heart.

Blessed is he who in his own lifetime
Is awarded praise and wit,
For ill counsel is often given
By mortal men to each other.

Better gear than good sense
A traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man,
Far from his own home.

Better gear than good sense
A traveler cannot carry,
A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry.

Less good than belief would have it
Is mead for the sons of men:
A man knows less the more he drinks,
Becomes a befuddled fool.

"I forget" is the name men give the heron
Who hovers over the feast:
Fettered I was in his feathers that night,
When a guest in Gunnlod's court.

Drunk I got, dead drunk,
When Fjalar the wise was with me:
Best is the banquet one looks back on after,
And remembers all that happened.

Silence becomes the son of a prince,
To be silent but brave in battle:
It befits a man to be merry and glad
Until the day of his death.

The coward believes he will live forever
If he holds back in the battle,
But in old age he shall have no peace
Though spears have spared his limbs.

When he meets friends, the fool gapes,
Is shy and sheepish at first,
Then he sips his mead and immediately
All know what an oaf he is.

He who has seen and suffered much,
And knows the ways of the world,
Who has traveled, can tell what spirit
Governs the men he meets.

Drink your mead, but in moderation,
Talk sense or be silent:
No man is called discourteous who goes to bed at an early hour.

A gluttonous man who guzzles away
Brings sorrow on himself:
At the table of the wise he is taunted often,
Mocked for his bloated belly,

The herd knows its homing time,
And leaves the grazing ground:
But the glutton never knows how much
His belly is able to hold.

An ill tempered, unhappy man
Ridicules all he hears,
Makes fun of others, refusing always
To see the faults in himself.

Foolish is he who frets at night,
And lies awake to worry
A weary man when morning comes,
He finds all as bad as before.

The fool thinks that those who laugh
At him are all his friends,
Unaware when he sits with wiser men
How ill they speak of him.

The fool thinks that those who laugh
At him are all his friends:
When he comes to the Thing and calls for support,
Few spokesmen he finds.

The fool who fancies he is full of wisdom
While he sits by his hearth at home
Quickly finds when questioned by others
That he knows nothing at all.

The ignorant booby had best be silent
When he moves among other men,
No one will know what a nit-wit he is
Until he begins to talk;
No one knows less what a nit-wit he is
Than the man who talks too much.

To ask well, to answer rightly,
Are the marks of a wise man:
Men must speak of men's deeds,
What happens may not be hidden.

Wise is he not who is never silent,
Mouthing meaningless words:
A glib tongue that goes on chattering
Sings to its own harm.

A man among friends should not mock another:
Many believe the man
Who is not questioned to know much
And so he escapes their scorn.

The wise guest has his way of dealing
With those who taunt him at table:
He smiles through the meal, not seeming to hear
The twaddle talked by his foes.

The fastest friends may fall out
When they sit at the banquet-board:
It is, and shall be, a shameful thing
When guest quarrels with guest.

An early meal a man should take
Before he visits friends,
Lest, when he gets there, he go hungry,
Afraid to ask for food.

To a false friend the footpath winds
Though his house be on the highway.
To a sure friend there is a short cut,
Though he live a long way off.

The tactful guest will take his leave
Early, not linger long:
He starts to stink who outstays his welcome
In a hall that is not his own.

A small hut of one's own is better,
A man is his master at home:
A couple of goats and a corded roof
Still are better than begging.

A small hut of one's own is better,
A man is his master at home:
His heart bleeds in the beggar who must
Ask at each meal for meat.

A wayfarer should not walk unarmed,
But have his weapons to hand:
He knows not when he may need a spear,
Or what menace meet on the road.

No man is so generous he will jib at accepting
A gift in return for a gift,
No man so rich that it really gives him
Pain to be repaid.

Once he has won wealth enough,
A man should not crave for more:
What he saves for friends, foes may take;
Hopes are often liars.

With presents friends should please each other,
With a shield or a costly coat:
Mutual giving makes for friendship
So long as life goes well,

A man should be loyal through life to friends,
And return gift for gift,
Laugh when they laugh, but with lies repay
A false foe who lies.

A man should be loyal through life to friends,
To them and to friends of theirs,
But never shall a man make offer
Of friendship to his foes.

If you find a friend you fully trust
And wish for his good-will,
Exchange thoughts, exchange gifts,
Go often to his house.

If you deal with another you don't trust
But wish for his good-will,
Be fair in speech but false in thought
And give him lie for lie.

Even with one you ill-trust
And doubt what he means to do,
False words with fair smiles
May get you the gift you desire.

Young and alone on a long road,
Once I lost my way:
Rich I felt when I found a another;
Man rejoices in man.

The generous and bold have the best lives,
Are seldom beset by cares,
But the base man sees bogies everywhere
And the miser pines for presents.

Two wooden stakes stood on the plain,
On them I hung my clothes:
Draped in linen, they looked well born,
But, naked, I was a nobody.

The young fir that falls and rots
Having neither needles nor bark,
So is the fate of the friendless man:
Why should he live long?

Hotter than fire among false hearts burns
Friendship for five days,
But suddenly slackens when the sixth dawns:
Feeble their friendship then.

A kind word need not cost much,
The price of praise can be cheap:
With half a loaf and an empty cup
I found myself a friend.

Little a sand-grain, little a dew drop,
Little the minds of men:
All men are not equal in wisdom,
The half-wise are everywhere

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart.

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace.

Brands kindle till they burn out,
Flame is quickened by flame:
One man from another is known by his speech
The simpleton by his silence.

Early shall he rise who has designs
On anothers land or life:
His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious.

Early shall he rise who rules few servants,
And set to work at once:
Much is lost by the late sleeper,
Wealth is won by the swift.

A man should know how many logs
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires.

Washed and fed, one may fare to the Thing:
Though one's clothes be the worse for wear,
None need be ashamed of his shoes or hose,
Nor of the horse he owns, although no thoroughbred.

As the eagle who comes to the ocean shore,
Sniffs and hangs her head,
Dumfounded is he who finds at the Thing
No supporters to plead his case.

It is safe to tell a secret to one,
Risky to tell it to two,
To tell it to three is thoughtless folly,
Everyone else will know.

Moderate at council should a man be,
Not brutal and over bearing:
Among the bold the bully will find
Others as bold as he.

One should be watchful and wary in speech,
and slow to put faith in a friend.
Often words uttered to another
Have reaped an ill harvest:

Too early to many homes I came,
Too late, it seemed, to some;
The ale was finished or else un-brewed,
The unpopular cannot please.

Some would invite me to visit their homes,
But none thought I
Had eaten a whole joint,
Just before with a friend who had two.

These things are thought the best:
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice.

Not all sick men are utterly wretched:
Some are blessed with sons,
Some with friends, some with riches,
Some with worthy works.

It is always better to be alive,
The living can keep a cow.
Fire, I saw, warming a wealthy man,
With a cold corpse at his door.

The halt can manage a horse, the handless a flock,
The deaf be a doughty fighter,
To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre:
There is nothing the dead can do.

A son is a blessing, though born late
To a father no longer alive:
Stones would seldom stand by the highway
If sons did not set them there.

Two beat one, the tongue is the head's bane,
Pockets of fur hide fists.

He welcomes the night who has enough provisions
Short are the sails of a ship,
Dangerous the dark in autumn,
The wind may veer within five days,
And many times in a month.

The half wit does not know that gold
Makes apes of many men:
One is rich, one is poor
There is no blame in that.

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But I know one thing that never dies,
The glory of the great deed

Fields and flocks had Fitjung's sons,
Who now carry begging bowls:
Wealth may vanish in the wink of an eye,
Gold is the falsest of friends.

In the fool who acquires cattle and lands,
Or wins a woman's love,
His wisdom wanes with his waxing pride,
He sinks from sense to conceit.

Now is answered what you ask of the runes,
Graven by the gods,
Made by the All Father,
Sent by the powerful sage:
It is best for man to remain silent.

For these things give thanks at nightfall:
The day gone, a guttered torch,
A sword tested, the troth of a maid,
Ice crossed, ale drunk.

Hew wood in wind-time, in fine weather sail,
Tell in the night-time tales to house-girls,
For too many eyes are open by day:
From a ship expect speed, from a shield, cover,
Keenness from a sword, but a kiss from a girl.

Drink ale by the hearth, over ice glide,
Buy a stained sword, buy a starving mare
To fatten at home: and fatten the watch-dog.

No man should trust a maiden's words,
Nor what a woman speaks:
Spun on a wheel were women's hearts,
In their breasts was implanted caprice,

A snapping bow, a burning flame,
A grinning wolf, a grunting boar,
A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,

A flying arrow, an ebbing tide,
A coiled adder, the ice of a night,
A bride's bed talk, a broad sword,
A bear's play, a prince' s children,

A witch' s welcome, the wit of a slave,
A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,

A brother's killer encountered upon
The highway a house half-burned,
A racing stallion who has wrenched a leg,
Are never safe: let no man trust them.

Trust not an acre early sown,
Nor praise a son too soon:
Weather rules the acre, wit the son,
Both are exposed to peril.

To love a woman whose ways are false
Is like sledding over slippery ice
With unshod horses out of control,
Badly trained two-year-olds,
Or drifting rudderless on a rough sea,
Or catching a reindeer with a crippled hand
On a thawing hillside: think not to do it.

Naked I may speak now for I know both:
Men are treacherous too
Fairest we speak when falsest we think:
Many a maid is deceived.

Gallantly shall he speak and gifts bring
Who wishes for woman's love:
Praise the features of the fair girl,
Who courts well will conquer.

Never reproach another for his love:
It happens often enough
That beauty ensnares with desire the wise
While the foolish remain unmoved.

Never reproach the plight of another,
For it happens to many men:
Strong desire may stupefy heroes,
Dull the wits of the wise.

The mind alone knows what is near the heart,
Each is his own judge:
The worst sickness for a wise man
Is to crave what he cannot enjoy.

So I learned when I sat in the reeds,
Hoping to have my desire:
Lovely was the flesh of that fair girl,
But nothing I hoped for happened.

I saw on a bed Billing's daughter,
Sun white, asleep:
No greater delight I longed for then
Than to lie in her lovely arms.

"Come Odhinn, after nightfall
If you wish for a meeting with me:
All would be lost if anyone saw us
And learned that we were lovers."

Afire with longing I left her then,
Deceived by her soft words:
I thought my wooing had won the maid,
That I would have my way.

After nightfall I hurried back,
But the warriors were all awake,
Lights were burning, blazing torches:
So false proved the path

Towards daybreak back I came
The guards were sound asleep:
I found then that the fair woman
Had tied a !@#$%* to her bed.

Many a girl when one gets to know her
Proves to be fickle and false:
That treacherous maiden taught me a lesson,
The crafty woman covered me with shame,
That was all I got from her.

Let a man with his guests be glad and merry,
Modest a man should be,
But talk well if he intends to be wise
And expects praise from men:
Fimbulfambi is the fool called
Unable to open his mouth.104
Fruitless my errand, had I been silent
When I came to Suttung's courts:
With spirited words I spoke to my profit
In the hall of the aged giant.

Rati had gnawed a narrow passage,
Chewed a channel through stone,
A path around the roads of giants:
I was like to lose my head

Gunnlod sat me in the golden seat,
Poured me precious mead:
Ill reward she had from me for that,
For her proud and passionate heart,
Her brooding foreboding spirit.

What I won from her I have well used:
I have waxed in wisdom since I came back,
bringing to Asgard Odroerir ,
the sacred draught.

Hardly would I have come home alive
From the garth of the grim troll,
Had Gunnlod not helped me, the good woman,
Who wrapped her arms around me.

The following day the Frost Giants came,
Walked into Hár's 1 hall to ask for Har's advice:
Had Bölverk 6 they asked, come back to his friends,
Or had he been slain by Suttung?

Odhinn, they said, swore an oath on his ring:
Who from now on will trust him?
By fraud at the feast he befuddled Suttung
And brought grief to Gunnlod.

It is time to sing in the seat of the wise,
Of what at Urd's Well
I saw in silence, saw and thought on.
Long I listened to men
Runes heard spoken, counsels revealed.
At Hár's hall, In Hár's hall:
There I heard this.

Loddfafnir 8, listen to my counsel:
You will fare well if you follow it,
It will help you much if you heed it.
Never rise at night unless you need to spy
Or to ease yourself in the outhouse.

Shun a woman, wise in magic,
Her bed and her embraces:

If she cast a spell, you will care no longer
To meet and speak with men,
Desire no food, desire no pleasure,
In sorrow fall asleep.

Never seduce anothers wife,
Never make her your mistress.

If you must journey to mountains and firths,
Take food and fodder with you.

Never open your heart to an evil man
When fortune does not favour you:
From an evil man, if you make him your friend,
You will get evil for good.

I saw a warrior wounded fatally
By the words of an evil woman
Her cunning tongue caused his death,
Though what she alleged was a lie.

If you know a friend you can fully trust,
Go often to his house
Grass and brambles grow quickly
Upon the untrodden track.

With a good man it is good to talk,
Make him your fast friend:
But waste no words on a witless oaf,
Nor sit with a senseless ape.

Cherish those near you, never be
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.

An evil man, if you make him your friend,
Will give you evil for good:

A good man, if you make him your friend,
Will praise you in every place.

Affection is mutual when men can open
All their heart to each other:
He whose words are always fair
Is untrue and not to be trusted.

Bandy no speech with a bad man:
Often the better is beaten
In a word fight by the worse.

Be not a cobbler nor a carver of shafts,
Except it be for yourself:
If a shoe fit ill or a shaft be crooked,
The maker gets curses and kicks.

If aware that another is wicked, say so:
Make no truce or treaty with foes.

Never share in the shamefully gotten,
But allow yourself what is lawful.

Never lift your eyes and look up in battle,
Lest the heroes enchant you, who can change warriors
Suddenly into hogs.

With a good woman, if you wish to enjoy
Her words and her good will,
Pledge her fairly and be faithful to it:
Enjoy the good you are given.

Be not over wary, but wary enough,
First, of the foaming ale,
Second, of a woman wed to another,
Third, of the tricks of thieves.

Mock not the traveler met on the road,
Nor maliciously laugh at the guest:

The sitters in the hall seldom know
The kin of the new-comer:
The best man is marred by faults,
The worst is not without worth.

Never laugh at the old when they offer counsel,
Often their words are wise:
From shriveled skin, from scraggy things
That hang among the hides
And move amid the guts,
Clear words often come.

Scoff not at guests nor to the gate chase them,
But relieve the lonely and wretched.

Heavy the beam above the door;
Hang a horse-shoe on it
Against ill-luck, lest it should suddenly
Crash and crush your guests.

Medicines exist against many evils:
Earth against drunkenness, heather against worms
Oak against costiveness, corn against sorcery,
Spurred rye against rupture, runes against bales
The moon against feuds, fire against sickness,
Earth makes harmless the floods.

Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.

They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down: with a loud cry
I took up runes, then from that tree I fell.

Nine lays of power
I learned from the famous Bolthorn, Bestla' s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odroerir:

I waxed and throve well;
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me,

Runes you will find, and readable staves,
Very strong staves, very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthorn stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic god;

For the gods by Odhinn, for the elves by Dain,
By Dvalin, too, for the dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter.

Know how to cut them, know how to read them,
Know how to stain them, know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them, know how to score them,
Know how to send them, know how to spend them,

Better not to ask than to over-pledge
As a gift that demands a gift;
Better not to sacrifice than to slay too many.

The first charm I know is unknown to rulers
Or any of human kind;
Help it is named, for help it can give
In hours of sorrow and anguish.

I know a second that the sons of men
Must learn who wish to be leeches.

I know a third: in the thick of battle,
If my need be great enough,
It will blunt the edges of enemy swords,
Their weapons will make no wounds.

I know a fourth: it will free me quickly
If foes should bind me fast
With strong chains, a chant that makes
Fetters spring from the feet,
Bonds burst from the hands.

I know a fifth: no flying arrow,
Aimed to bring harm to men,
Flies too fast for my fingers to catch it
And hold it in mid-air.

I know a sixth: it will save me if a man
Cut runes on a sapling' s roots
With intent to harm; it turns the spell;
The hater is harmed, not me.

I know a seventh: if I see the hall
Ablaze around my bench mates,
Though hot the flames, they shall feel nothing,
If I choose to chant the spell.

I know an eighth: that all are glad of,
Most useful to men:
If hate fester in the heart of a warrior,
It will soon calm and cure him.

I know a ninth: when need I have
To shelter my ship on the flood,
The wind it calms, the waves it smoothes
And puts the sea to sleep,

I know a tenth: if troublesome ghosts
Ride the rafters aloft,
I can work it so they wander astray,
Unable to find their forms,
Unable to find their homes.

I know an eleventh: when I lead to battle
Old comrades in-arms,
I have only to chant it behind my shield,
And unwounded they go to war,
Unwounded they come from war,
Unscathed wherever they are.

I know a twelfth: if a tree bear
A man hanged in a halter,
I can carve and stain strong runes
That will cause the corpse to speak,
Reply to whatever I ask.

I know a thirteenth if I throw a cup
Of water over a warrior,
He shall not fall in the fiercest battle,
Nor sink beneath the sword,

I know a fourteenth, that few know:
If I tell a troop of warriors
About the high ones, elves and gods,
I can name them one by one;
Few can the nit-wit name.

I know a fifteenth, that first Thjodrerir
Sang before Delling's doors,
Giving power to gods, prowess to elves,
Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn.

I know a sixteenth: if I see a girl
With whom it would please me to play,
I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart
Of any white armed woman.

I know a seventeenth: if I sing it,
the young girl will be slow to forsake me.

To learn to sing them, Loddfafnir,
Will take you a long time,
Though helpful they are if you understand them,
Useful if you use them,
Needful if you need them.

I know an eighteenth that I never tell
To maiden or wife of man,
A secret I hide from all
Except the love who lies in my arms,
Or else my own sister.

[b]The Wise One has spoken words in the hall,
Needful for men to know,
Unneedful for trolls to know:
Hail to the speaker,
Hail to the knower,
Joy to him who has understood,
Delight to those who have listened.[/b]
*Note, if you read the whole thing, please reply with the last line which has been bolded* Thank you![/spoiler]
[/center]
[b][color="#8B0000"]
[size="4"]Greetings from the ÆSIR,[/size]
[/color][/b]
About 6 months ago, we announced ourselves to the community. We had the wonderful backing of OMFG who even to this day is doing so much for us. We, like most new alliances have had our share of drama and have recently shed a lot of fat. We never intended to be the biggest alliance and we understand that others outside of ÆSIR may not find much value in the things we list as accomplishments. We have a lot of competition in terms of what type of alliance we wish to be. Nevertheless, we're still going to keep fighting the good fight. That's what warriors do and we're all about the challenge. We've decided to make some changes to our charter and reintroduce ourselves to the community as well as announce our new forums. Previous guests do not need to re-register as all accounts and topics were transferred over. They may use the email they registered with to reset their password or see myself (Craven) for a temporary password. Before going further, I'd like to turn the spotlight to Ruphus who did the majority of work on our forums. It was a lot of work and I'm happy with what became of it. I'd also like to thank OMFG for being such a great friend to us. You'd have a difficult time finding better people these days and we're quite lucky to have them.

We invite anyone with questions or a thirst for good conversation to visit us at [url=http://www.CN-AESIR.com]the new ÆSIR Forums www.CN-AESIR.com[/url] or our IRC channel #AESIR

[url=http://www.cybernations.net/stats_alliance_stats_custom.asp?Alliance=%C6SIR]We're not here to brag, but for those interested: ÆSIR Statistics[/url]

First of all, we have somewhat of a Creed that we made up to explain our overall plans etc:

[b]Our Goals:[/b]
[list]
[*]Create an elite alliance
[*]Avoid becoming part of the ever intertwined treaty web and the drama that comes with it
[*] Maintain a sense of dignity and honor.
[/list]
[b]These goals were followed by intentions, on how we wanted to achieve the above goals:[/b]
[list]
[*]To be an elite alliance, we must be invite only. We must prepare for the worst by building our nations so that they can survive the longest of wars and quickly recover from them. We must be very active.
[*]To avoid the drama infested treaty web, we must find allies with similar goals who want what we want. We believe that non-chaining treaties are in the best interests of the alliance.
[*]To maintain a sense of dignity and honor, we must encourage our members to be mature and respectful even in the presence of enemies. We must honor our agreements and stick to our word. We will avoid underhanded tactics and only fight in legitimate situations where a proper Casus belli is used or our own/our ally's well-being is threatened.
[/list]

To this day we have stuck to these goals and we're quite proud of ourselves for doing so.

Without further ado, here is our newly revised charter
[quote][b][color=#ee4a2d] The ÆSIR Charter[/color][/b]



[b] Preamble[/b]

The ÆSIR charter is the 1st of 3 founding documents of the Cyber Nations alliance “ÆSIR”. The ÆSIR’s intent and purpose is to build camaraderie within the alliance and expand our mutual interests within Cyber Nations. The ÆSIR cherish above all else: maturity, personal liberty, discipline and honor. It is our resolute desire to employ all of these traits as we conduct ourselves within the Cyber Nations realm and be true to the edicts and intent of the 3 founding documents of our alliance.

[b]Section I. Government[/b]

[i] [u] Hilmir[/u][/i]

The chief leader of the alliance who determines the fate of all matters at his/her discretion. The Hilmir is appointed for life unless item 7 or 9 of the Danelaw is applied. The Hilmir can appoint Jarls as necessary and only be overridden by a majority vote by the Landvættir.
[i][u]
Jarl[/u][/i]

A member that acts as an adviser to the Hilmir. The Hilmir has the right to appoint Jarls as necessary. In the event that a Hilmir is absent when the Landvættir feels a decision must be made in emergency situations such as war, the Jarl may act as Hilmir and lead the alliance until the Hilmir returns. Situations such as this must be determined by the majority of the Landvættir.
[i][u]
Landvættir[/u][/i]

Is the alternative to the “minister” positions in classic Cyber Nations terminology. The Landvættir run their departments as they see fit and appoint assistants as needed at their leisure. They also make up a council that holds the power to overrule decisions made by the Hilmir.

[i][u]Landvættir of War:[/u][/i] Elected by the Althing, position handles all military affairs with the assistance of the Hilmir.
[i]
[u] Landvættir of Internal Affairs: [/u][/i]Elected by the Althing, duties include coordination of aid programs, forum and IRC maintenance.
[i][u]
Landvættir of External Affairs: [/u][/i]Elected by the Althing, duties include coordination of diplomats, embassies (internal and external), OWF declarations and point person for all diplomatic activities. TBD necessity by Hilmir.

An elected Landvættir term lasts 3 months. Elections will run for 72 hours for all positions every 3 months starting on the first day of the election month. Any member, with the exception of Thralls can run for an electable Landvættir position. After the 72 hour election period has finished the vote is final, any tie vote will be decided by a 2/3 vote of the Hilmir.

[b] Section II. Members[/b]

[i][u]Althing:[/u][/i] The collective body of the alliance. Each member of the alliance with the exception of Thralls has one vote in matters that the Althing must consider.

[i][u]Thrall: [/u][/i]Member not promoted to Einherjar or Valkyrie, a recruit or member waiting for ascension approval. They are given limited access to the forum and do not receive full membership benefits.
[i][u]
Einherjar:[/u] [/i]Male warriors of the alliance. Once a male member passes through the Thrall phase he will be promoted to Einherjar and will be eligible to be appointed, or elected to any Landvættir position.
[i][u]
Valkyrie:[/u] [/i]Female warriors of the alliance. Once a female member passes through the Thrall phase she will be promoted to Valkyrie and will be eligible to be appointed, or elected to any Landvættir position.
[i][u]
Varangian Guard:[/u][/i] Veteran members of the alliance who have completed a minimum of one of the following:

1. Fought in a war for the alliance.
2. Has performed meritorious service as determined by the Hilmir.
3. Has been nominated by the Althing and or a Landvættir for a specific reason.

In all cases the Hilmir must approve the appointment to Varangian guard. Upon appointment Varangian guard will be afforded forum masks that allow them the ability to read and see most government discussions and comment on them at their discretion. The title of Varangian guard may be removed should the Hilmir or majority of Landvættir believe the person unworthy of the title.



[i][b]Section III. Dane law[/b][/i]

1.Membership is a privilege not a right. Members who do not conduct themselves in a reasonable manner will be expelled. Reasons include but are not limited to: breech of CN TOS, disrespectful behavior, inactivity, unwillingness to fight, and disclosure of any internal discussion or documents to an external party.

2.Membership is invite only: A nation can be invited by any member of the althing, the applicant has to be vouched for by the person issuing the invite. At that time, the althing may conduct a Q&A session and the applicant attains the title of Thrall. Applicants without a Manhattan Project Wonder will always have to have a 2/3 majority of the Landættir approve their membership. Applicants who are engaged in any wars will be automatically rejected until peace is achieved. Applicants who are subject to a ZI order or are an enemy of another alliance must disclose that information. Once disclosed the Hilmir will make a reasonable effort to resolve the issue with the 3rd party. Until a satisfactory end is reached the application process cannot proceed. The application process can be as long as a month, or as short as an hour. Until membership is approved, the nation/ruler is considered a Thrall and protected under the AA from offensive attacks only. Should a Thrall declare a war, the membership process is terminated. Should a person apply without a vouch or fail to achieve the approval of the Hilmir or Landvættir, he or she may be invited to remain on the Midgard AA where he or she is given a chance to show good morals, intentions and loyalty to ÆSIR and live the life of a Thrall. Nations may remain on this AA for a period of time determined by the Hilmir. During this time, any member of the althing may step forward and vouch for them and by doing so give them a second chance to become a member of ÆSIR. If the Thrall is unable to receive a vouch during the period of time set by the Hilmir and Landvættir, they will be asked to leave the AA.

3. Raiding is considered an act of war and doing so without permission from the Hilmir will not be tolerated.

4.Wars can only be declared by the Hilmir.

5.Treaties can only be signed by the Hilmir.

6.Hilmir action: The Hilmir has the ability to change the charter, Landvættir decisions, forums or any other alliance issue at their discretion. The Landvættir may overrule such decisions by majority rule.

7.Succession: Should a Hilmir be inactive for a period of 30 days or more that Hilmir sacrifices his/her position. A new Hilmir is appointed by the Landvættir, should the Landvættir be unable to make an unanimous decision, the decision passes to the althing where an election must be held to determine the person best suited for the role of Hilmir. Should the Hilmir decide to step down he may appoint his own replacement or pass the decision on to the Landvættir who via a 2/3 majority may appoint a new Hilmir.

8.Absences of Landvættir: If any Landvættir is absent from the alliance forums for more than 30 days at a time, they are automatically removed from their position. The Hilmir will replace that member with a person of his/her choosing for the remainder of their term.

9.Removing a Hilmir: From time to time it is necessary for an alliance to remove a leader. Should a situation arise where 2/3 of the Landvættir feel the Hilmir must be replaced or step down, and he/she chooses not to, 2 additional votes are taken. The first vote includes the Landvættir whereby 3/3 must vote for removal to get to the next vote. The second vote is brought to the Althing, where by a 2/3 majority must approve the removal. The Althing vote will include Hilmir and Landvættir. Upon completion of all 3 votes in succession and in the affirmative the Hilmir is removed from office.

10.Charter Change: In the event a change to the charter is needed the same voting procedure as removing a Hilmir applies, except it is done in reverse order. (althing- landvættir-Hilmir). Any member of the althing can propose a charter change but that proposal must be supported by no less than 2 other members before the vote process begins.[/quote]
[size="4"]
[center][color="#8B0000"][font="Century Gothic"][i][b]/s/
ÆSIR
Hilmir:
Craven
Jarl:
James

LoFA: Gingervites
LoW: Decedere
LoIA: Craven

VG: Midas[/size]

[size="5"]The Wise One has spoken words in the hall,
Needful for men to know,
Unneedful for trolls to know:
Hail to the speaker,
Hail to the knower,
Joy to him who has understood,
Delight to those who have listened.[/i][/font][/color][/center][/size][/b]

[James Maximus]

The Wise One has spoken words in the hall,
Needful for men to know,
Unneedful for trolls to know:

Hail to the speaker,
Hail to the knower,
Joy to him who has understood,
Delight to those who have listened

Yay new charter and gov.

Edited September 12, 2011 by James Maximus

[Kill Joy]

Onwards and upwards ÆSIR o/

[autosave36]

Congrats to my favorite protectorate on their new charter and gov.
o/ÆSIR

[D34th]

Your goal is be an elite alliance, your alliance is invite only and since hardly elite nations are flying "None" AA, do you invite people who are already in other alliances? If yes, do you consider that you're poaching members?

[Craven]

[quote name='D34th' timestamp='1315867978' post='2799407']
Your goal is be an elite alliance, your alliance is invite only and since hardly elite nations are flying "None" AA, do you invite people who are already in other alliances? If yes, do you consider that you're poaching members?
[/quote]
I don't plan on arguing what poaching is, but simply said..
People generally come to us privately and inquire about joining. Those who are clearly leaving their alliance and meet the standards by which we judge are invited/vouched for. We don't go about trying to get people to leave their present AAs. The most I've done personally is let a person know if they ever need a new home, we'd be happy to have them. I usually do this after someone complains about their present alliance or mentions leaving. A quick look at our membership count might suggest we don't poach and if we did.. we're not very good at it.

Thank you for your inquiry!

Edited September 12, 2011 by Craven

[Dochartaigh]

Craven can attempt to poach me anytime.

also, congrats on the new charter and gov guys. ((great, now I need to learn how to do that Ae thingy...))

[frosniper13]

Looking good ÆSIR! and congrats on the new forums!

[Lord Cyvole]

James told me I had to post here. So there you go.






But no really, any alliance with James in government is okay in my book. Congratulations on everything guys, and good luck!

[dev0win]

I had to go utf-8 because of you guys. Gl with the new charter.

[jayhova804]

Nice chater

Gingervites

[jayhova804]

[quote name='jayhova804' timestamp='1315871359' post='2799443']
Nice charter

Gingervites
[/quote]


edit wont work for me

[Jens of the desert]

Create an elite alliance
Avoid becoming part of the ever intertwined treaty web and the drama that comes with it

Waste.

[Sephiroth]

[quote name='Jens of the desert' timestamp='1315871517' post='2799447']
Create an elite alliance
Avoid becoming part of the ever intertwined treaty web and the drama that comes with it

Waste.
[/quote]
Its not a waste if they are willing to take action without a treaty forcing them to, they have a freedom to get involved wherever they want if they aren't tied to part of the treaty web limiting their actions. The whole mentality that people need treaties to tell everyone what they will do in any given situation and not straying far from it is better suited for those who don't like to think and have their actions predetermined.

Nice Avg NS and good luck with the alliance. The charter looks nicely written and well thought out.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Methrage

[Wes Walz Pants]

[quote name='Dochartaigh' timestamp='1315868824' post='2799421']
Craven can attempt to poach me anytime.

also, congrats on the new charter and gov guys. ((great, now I need to learn how to do that Ae thingy...))
[/quote]
Craven has been warned about you.


Solid work on the charter guys, and keep striving forward.

[Titus Pullo]

Congratulations on your new charter and such.

I look forward to your future attempts to poach me.

[Dochartaigh]

[quote name='Calderone' timestamp='1315872650' post='2799452']
Craven has been warned about you.


Solid work on the charter guys, and keep striving forward.
[/quote]

Oh you, you just want me all to yourself.

[James Maximus]

[quote name='Dochartaigh' timestamp='1315876816' post='2799492']
Oh you, you just want me all to yourself.
[/quote]
I know I do!

[Steve Buscemi]

Congrats. That's a pretty awesome flag too. Normally I don't post in DoE threads, but that flag is one of the best I've seen. Who made it?

[Craven]

[quote name='Steve Buscemi' timestamp='1315877410' post='2799502']
Congrats. That's a pretty awesome flag too. Normally I don't post in DoE threads, but that flag is one of the best I've seen. Who made it?
[/quote]

Not a DoE, but thanks. The flag was made by [ooc]James A. Kirk (not the one you're thinking of). He's a graphic designer.. He doesn't play CN [/ooc]

Edited September 13, 2011 by Craven

[lonewolfe2015]

I like you guys, I hope you keep going strong and stick to your guns.

What do you see as the biggest challenge to Aesir going forward?

[James Maximus]

[quote name='lonewolfe2015' timestamp='1315877832' post='2799509']
I like you guys, I hope you keep going strong and stick to your guns.

What do you see as the biggest challenge to Aesir going forward?
[/quote]
Acquiring a steady flow of active and knowledgeable nation rulers, they seem to be in short supply these days.

EDIT:

Hey LW, haven't seen you since my BD days in the Ragnablok

Edited September 13, 2011 by James Maximus

[Schattenmann]

I'm glad to see you have not lost focus; your reserve is your strength. Keep up the good work.

[Gingervites]

[quote name='jayhova804' timestamp='1315871359' post='2799443']
Nice chater

Gingervites
[/quote]
Hi Jayhova
Thank you for the nice replies people and yes it seems active and knowledgeable nations are in short supply but we still roll full steam

[pd73bassman]

I like your flag, it is pretty sweet