Shattered Kingdoms

Generally, in the "olde days of yore" (around 2000 - 2002) and before the ambiguous Cabal Raid System was implemented, there were only cabals. No tribunals.

Also, membership in most cabals was a very very well guarded secret and people used to play longer lived characters so this sort of information didn't quite leak so often as it does now. It felt truly a privilege to join one of these "prestigious" organizations and it was a major milestone for every character. Also, walking up to any of the members of a Cabal and saying "hello, I want to join" - however politely - was considered to be "bad form" from the majority. In a way, the theme ran like "In Pyrathia, you do not choose a Cabal. A Cabal chooses you".

Because the above led to quite a few incidents of people being asked to wait for impossible amounts of RL time before a decision on their worth was made, the "Two Weeks Induction Policy" was created. Under this policy, Faction leaders are expected to have replied to every supplicant to their faction within two weeks from when they made their desire to join known.

It has always been one of the most strictly enforced rules because Factions, along with Religions, are major deciding factors for a character.

Now, there are still some people of the "Old School" that might consider it bad form to walk up to them and ask them outright, but regardless of what every person thinks, a player's best bet to have an answer is to somehow make it very clear they wish to join. Very clear. If you can pull it off without being blunt, kudos for your roleplay skills. If not, resort to bluntness.

Not any real reasons to post this as to offer some more history and weight on the above posts.