Shinibana was founded the 18th of February 2005, a few weeks after World of Warcraft was released. Since then we have fought on the Alliance side on Skullcrusher EU.

Glorious death

Shinibana is a Japanese word and an be translated into both A blooming cut flower and Glorious death.

The double meaning of the word Shinibana works well with our guild. In the Japanese culture a blooming cut flower is a sign of an artist and a philosopher. Artist not perhaps in the meaning of someone who paints, but more in the sense of a person who tries to make art of everything he does. An artist of life. The second meaning, glorious death, is a statement of mentality.

A family guild with history

Before World of Warcraft was released the founders of the guild, Fredrik, Kristian, Robert, Maria and Nick played the rts game Warcraft III together. We never got the ten players needed to make a clan, but we called ourselves Shinibana when we teamed up to beat our opponents.

The 18th of February 2005 we founded our World of Warcraft guild, Shinibana. At that time the guild consisted of the five mentioned above and four of Kristian and Roberts friends from school. In order to get the charter fully signed, we needed a tenth member and luckily we found a nice walesian player, Bakke, that wanted to join. And by that making the guild international rather than Swedish.

Over the years Shinibana has had both periods of prospering and regression. But we have always kept the core of the guild intact.

All play styles are welcome

Our goal is to keep the guild open for all play styles. Raiding, pvp-ing, achievement hunters – you name it. We have room for everybody as long as they are friendly and helpful. The calendar is open for all members to plan their events. No one is obligated to sign, but if you have you are expected to show up, prepared and on time.

Shinibana have raided Zul Gurub and Molten Core in Vanilla Wow. We have mastered Karazhan in burning Crusade and we have moved into Ulduar in Wrath of the Lich King. Under the name the Pvp pact we have downed the Horde bosses. We have had big parties in Bruuk's Cornor in Ironforge, an inn we used as a meeting point after hard gaming evenings in Vanilla Wow.

The structure

The Daimyos were the high lords of feudal Japan. They were in charge of keeps, castles or even entire regions. They had their own armies, and wars fought between these lords were often won by calling in an allied Daimyos or making use of alliances.

The Daimyos are the reminding founders of the guild and are trusted officers.

In the game the Daimyos can invite, promote and demote members, see and speak in the officers chat.
On the forum they have moderator status and access to all parts.

The Hatamoto was the elite of the Samurai, often functioning as special forces or personal bodyguards for a Daimyo. To be given the rank of Hatamoto was a great honour, and was not easily achieved.

The Hatamoto are veterans who have shown a devotion to the guild above what we expect of our members, or an unusually high spirit and/or maturity in their ways of dealing with their fellow guild members.

Hatamotos can voice their opinion in the officers chat.
On the forum they have moderator privileges and have access to the hidden moderator forum, discussing members and the organisation from a moderating perspective.

The Samurai is the term for the military nobility of old Japan, they served close to the Daimyo. Most samurai were bound by a code ot honour and were expected to set an example for those below them.

Samurai are active members that follow the Shinibana ethos. They have proven themselves to fit in a mature,casual guild and are trusted to guide newcomers to the right path.

Samurai can type in the officers chat but not see it.
&On the forum they can welcome new members and approve posts in the Membership application sub-forum.

In feudal Japan, it was illegal for everyone but the Samurai to carry any kind of weapon. The punishment for not obeying was death. There were exceptions when a Daimyo for a short period of time would grant the farmers permission to use hay forks, pole arms or bows to temporarily boost their army. The farmers militia were then called Ashigaru.

The Ashigaru is the trial rank of Shinibana. About a month after joining Shinibana you will get promoted, if you are suited, to be a Samurai.

Ashigaru can type into the officers chat, but not see it.