Member-in-Good-Standing
Qualifications
The requirements to become a member-in-good-standing within the Explorer's Guild are not well defined, but it is known that it involves a single expedition undertaken by the prospective member, which fulfills some criteria known only to those who have already attained the title. The history of the guild is replete with those who, aiming specifically for advancement, go on multiple enormous expeditions each of which seem inordinately impressive to outsiders but who never achieve the vaunted status of the guild's highest rank. Fewer but even more famous are those who go on a single, outwardly less impressive expedition without thought to rising through the ranks and are immediately made members-in-good-standing upon their return.
Requirements
The only requirement for reaching the pinnacle of the Explorer's Guild is that one who already has recognizes the completion of an expedition meeting whatever secret criteria has long been the sole barrier to entry. It is unknown how this confirmation is achieved, but there are no known instances of mistakes or demotions.
Appointment
Every new member-in-good-standing has denied that there is any secret ceremony or ritual when they take their first steps beyond the platinum doors into the inner sanctum, all maintain that they receive only individual congratulations and welcomes until the monthly pledge social where their new rank is announced and celebrated with all of their brothers and sisters. This does not stop pledges and members from theorizing and gossiping that some secret ceremony does in fact exist.
Duties
Members-in-good-standing are looked to as exemplars and fonts of knowledge by the members and pledges beneath them, but there are no formal duties for them to undertake.
Responsibilities
A member-in-good-standing might be looked down upon by their peers if they do not in anyway support their "subordinate" brothers and sisters, but there is no explicit responsibility put upon them.
Benefits
The only known benefit to reaching the highest rank in the guild is the ability to pass beyond the platinum doors at the heart of each guildhouse. Any benefit enjoyed outside those chambers by the members-in-good-standing is enjoyed also by the regular members.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Each member-in-good-standing is given a platinum device with an individual symbol to denote their status, but it is more a celebratory gift than a true badge of office, many give away or sell the device with no consequence.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
None; the promotion is permanent and cannot be lost or renounced even through betrayal or death.
Type
Professional
Form of Address
Explorer
Source of Authority
Peers
Length of Term
Eternity
Related Organizations
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