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The Viridian Order is a Knightly Order with a long and troubled history within the Regalian Empire. The Viridian Order started in the early days of the Empire, acting (at the time) as the Regalian Guard, the Imperial Guard, and the leading military officers of the Regalian soldier levies at the same time. Over a century down the line, the Viridians were implicated in a coup against the Regalian Emperor, and had their power severely restricted. Over time, their reputation rebuilt, and they are now known as the Knights who ensure the status of Knighthood across the Empire, though many remain wary of any political or military power they may be given, due to the history of the Order, and the fact that many of them are Nobles, and already predisposed to political intrigue. At the same time, the Regalian Empire does not go to war without the verdant feathers and capes of the Viridian Knights leading the charge in the frontlines, emboldening the spirits and morale of the soldiers who follow into battle. Viridians remain very much the ideal picture of the chivalrous Knight, cut from a different cloth and with the approval of the Emperor's benediction and blessing. The repository of all played Knights can be found here. When you make a new Knight character, please file a ticket in the Discord Ticket Bot to have them recorded. You only need to provide their name and Order.
| Viridian Order | |
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| Order | |
| Pronunciation | Vee-ree-dee-an |
| Origins | City of Regalia |
| Grandmaster | Bohemund II von Drachenburg |
| Colors | White, Black and all shades of Green |
Design
Viridian Knights are the most typical of medieval feudal knights, honor-bound state enforcers, and knights cut from the highest most dignified cloth of all the Knight Orders. Viridian Knights should be designed to be formal to a stiff degree, use eloquent and measured speech, and refrain from outwardly bright or passionate emotional expressions. Viridian Knights are meant to be the crown jewels among the other Knight Orders, and the symbol of Regalian military that so many of the conscripts look up to as their morale beacons. The following design limitations are enforced on the Viridians:
- Viridians can only be Ailor, Eronidas, Fin'ullen, Solvaan, or Urlan, and must be born in the Regalian Empire.
- Viridians should gravitate towards the sword-and-shield in plate armor aesthetic, with green being their predominant color and symbolism.
- Viridians frequently ride on horseback, though this is not a requirement. They often have ornate armor and long green capes with shiny ornaments.
- Viridians can only ever be Mundane (Unionist Godborn are allowed). The Order does not allow any Magic, not even God Magic, or Racial Trait Magic Abilities.
- There is one exception, The Lancyon Chapter of the Viridian Order allows God Magic of Unionism only. They must still wield melee weapons however.
Chapters
All Viridian Knights are members of one single Chapter, which grants them a free non-Combat related Mechanic. Changing Chapters is permitted but only infrequently and only through a Staff Ticket where the request is reviewed.
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Internal Viridian Code
The Internal Viridian Code contains additional Honor and Behavior Codes for Viridian Knights that are supplemental to the Common Code described on the Knights Page.
- All Viridian Knights must ensure no harm comes to the Aristocrats of the Regalian Empire, and intervene if two Aristocratic Families feud by mediating and problem solving.
- All Viridian Knights must act as bodyguards to Titled Nobility, if these Titled Nobles are in good public standing, and request for them to do so while in public or private.
- All Viridian Knights should guard Calendar Events so long as they are hosted by those in good public standing, but this is not an absolute requirement nor can it be failed.
- All Viridian Knights must by all means, prevent any harm to come to foreign dignitaries, or Regalian government officials, and act against blasphemers who insult the Emperor.
- All Viridian Knights must prevent any public reputation harm to come to Aristocrats, should they be found in debauched or insulting behavior, to protect them from public scrutiny.
Viridian Jobs
The Viridian Order, just like other Knight Orders, has so called "Jobs" which are cornerstone occupations of the Knights. Any Knight can engage in these, but they are largely optional.
- Palace Communication: The only way for anyone in the Empire to directly talk to the Imperial Palace (and the Imperial Family) without an explicit introduction or invitation, is through the Viridian Order. Viridian Knights may receive letters of communication from the public, read them, audit them, editorialize them, and then decide to pass them along to Palace or reject this. The Viridian Knight in question is never held responsible for the contents of the letter, but may face disciplinary conduct within the Viridian Order for letting egregiously silly or insulting letters through.
- Petty Grievances Court: Viridian Knights can act as solo-judge or a 3-man judge party to the Petty Grievance Court, which is a place where two Aristocratic families can settle a minor dispute or law violation without having to go through the Metropolitan and face jail time, as there is no court trial for the Metro. In such a case the Viridian Knights are expected to act as mediators and problem solvers whose primary objective is making sure no further vendetta between the families forms, while levying a variety of light punishments without having to ask Lore Staff for permission, within reason.
- Imperial Investigations: Occasionally, the Palace wall pass down Investigation Requests through Progressions or World Announcements. In such instances, any Viridian Knight can either investigate as a group, or multiple individuals (it is important to note not a single Viridian can "claim" an investigation), before passing a report through a Staff Ticket to the Palace with conclusions and recommendations. The Palace does not have staff running around the city and may have to rely on the Viridian Knights to act as their right hand in the city, so as not to grow blind to what happens in the streets.
- Knight Code Enforcement: Viridian Knights are tasked with the duty of ensuring all Knights hold to the Common Knights Code, as well as their Internal Code (to a lesser degree). They are primarily tasked with ensuring the good conduct of Regalian lawful Knights in the Empire, and should secondarily also keep an eye out for Knights who egregiously break their Internal Code. The latter is often more complicated and should not form the basis for an investigation, because Viridians don't always understand the complex nuances of Internal Codes. Investigations should be passed on in Staff Ticket to the respective Order Councils for judgement.
- Lifeguard Knights: Viridians can be attached as so-called Lifeguard Knights to specific Title-holding Nobles, which temporarily absolves them of all other obligations of Viridian Knighthood, and tasks them with the long-term duty to bodyguard a particular person who is at risk from attack in public. It is important to choose title holders who have a good public standing or fulfill a crucial role for the Empire, and are also good reputable people without social scandal. The Viridian should be housed in the Noble's household, and stay with them most of the day, to be released from service by them later.
- Blasphemy Trials: Blasphemy Trials are somewhat unique as they can only be performed by the Lancyon Chapter, and are a holdover from the old Inquisition. Blasphemy Trials involve investigating the "moral right" of using weapons on Holy Ground (Temples, Dragon Sites), to hold a court trial where the accused must make their case why they had legitimate reason to use weapons or be punished. Additional Blasphemy Trials may also involve investigating whether someone offended the Emperor's image or person, and in how far that is punishable short of revocation of citizenship rights.
History
The Viridian Order is the second oldest Knightly Order in the Empire, and the grandfather of both the Bloodcast Order. Only the Aelrrigan Order is older than the Viridian Order, predating the founding of the Regalian Empire. The Viridian Order was founded by loyalists under the Five Families during the Five Family Rebellion, acting as the first Imperial Guard for the Ivrae dynasty, the Regalian Guard (for the capital), and the leading officers and commanders of the Regalian Military. This arrangement worked well for several decades, until it became common practice for the upper classes of the Empire to send their sons to the Viridian Order for training.
With the sharp increase of noble inclined members of the order, scheming and noble plotting became part of the daily activities of the Knights. Many Knights went on to become courtiers and Dukes in their own right, and many noble recruits brought politics into the hallowed halls of the Viridian Castles, which set in a slow but insidious moral rot. The honor guiding principles established by the first Grandmaster slowly eroded for the idea that Viridians were somehow better than everyone else, and also more suitable in keeping a strangle-hold on military power. As the Empire grew and annexed more territories, the Viridians were always on the front line establishing military governors in the early absence of proper annexation, allowing them first pickings in looting or establishing power in an area long before the government could grant the land to loyal Dukes.
While no hard evidence has ever been found, the Viridians were implicated in a variety of assassinations at the Imperial Court, beginning with the death of Emperor Henri I, which was immediately followed by the Years of the Three Emperors. These Emperors were so short-lived, and died under such odd circumstances, while Viridian power at court was paramount, that the accusation quickly fell on them as kingmakers. Indeed, the suspicion seemed confirmed when Leomar I became Emperor, who was a great supporter of the Viridians, and a period of peace followed, only to be succeeded by more chaos when Leomar died and was succeeded by people who quarreled with the Viridians, before Henri II restored things to a more peaceful paradigm (though giving the Viridians all they wanted).
Henri III was the first to take drastic actions, removing many of the Viridian powers in 122 AC, intent on reforming them. It is known at this point that many of the Elders conspired against the Empire’s top leadership, intent on imprisoning the Emperor if not outright forcing abdication, and establishing a military junta under their leadership. Despite his loyalty to the Emperor, Grandmaster de Montverrat could not stop this plot, and fell on his own sword in atonement for his crime. This was the closest the Empire ever came to losing the Imperial system, as the Knights nearly succeeded, but five Knights in their ranks betrayed the Order and warned the Emperor, who was able to maneuver his supporters to outdo the Viridians who were rounded up and executed.
When the Order was remade under the new Grandmaster personally appointed by Henri III after the Viridian Coup Attempt, it was stripped of the vast majority of its power, having Henri III establish the Tyrian Order which would later become the Imperial Guard, and the Violet Order, which would later become the Regalian Guard and State Metropolitan subsequently. With the power of the Viridians largely neutered, they spent the next 100 years re-establishing and re-branding themselves, though they could never quite get away from the stain of nearly ending the Empire so soon. It was Grandmaster de Chattelois who re-established the order with dignity and respect, and was able to bring them back into the graces of the nobility, once-more resulting in a large flow of cash and recruits into the order.
In 198 AC, with the death of Grand Marshal Marianne Cadar, the question of Viridian chauvinism became a hot topic of debate, because the order was all-male up until that time. The order eventually opted to allow women into the Order, ostensibly as gate-guards for their castles, but eventually as full members, who took on a more specific role of protecting the honor and sanctity of women across the Empire, a matter that had largely been ignored in the many paternalistic cultures within the Empire. This culminated in the first (and only) female Grandmaster of the Viridian Order, d’Arcoulais, who is remembered for penning many notable treatises on the role of women in the Regalian Military.
The Viridian Order took a great deal of damage during the Lo Occupation, which saw both the Viridian Castles demolished, and many of the Knights perish as a particular target from Freya Lo. Nearly all the Elders and the Grandmaster died, with only many of the younger recruits and Knights who happened to be outside of the capital at the time surviving, some speculate as few as 30% of the total Knights before the Lo Occupation. This resulted in the Cedromarite reforms under Emperor Cedromar I, who appointed himself co-Grandmaster with a relative of von Drachenburg, changing up aspects of the honor code and modernizing many of the functions and roles within the Order.
- For more info on notable Viridian Grandmasters, read this Expanded Lore.
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