Order of the Aurora

Overview
The Order of the Aurora is the military force of the Kingdom of Aurora, a nation located in the realm of Rathnir. The Order gained prominence during the Auroran Exodus, a historical event in which the Order of the Aurora left their homeland of Escharia and established a new kingdom on the continent of Haven.

Throughout its history, the Order of the Aurora has played a crucial role in shaping the identity and unity of Aurora through victories in numerous conflicts across Rathnir.

At its peak, the Order of the Aurora was one of the most successful and powerful military forces in Rathnir, exerting influence over many foreign conflicts. It still plays a key role in maintaining security and stability within the Kingdom of Aurora. However, in recent years, the Order has declined in size and activity due to a decline in population in Rathnir and a prolonged period of peace in Aurora. Despite this, it remains a formidable military force capable of defending the Kingdom of Aurora.

Notable Conflicts
The Order Of The Aurora has been involved in countless conflicts throughout Aurora's many years. A few notable ones include:

Main Article: All Conflicts Involving Aurora

Allium-Coalition War
Main Article: Allium-Coalition War

The Order, then within the army of the Second Empire of Uldarash directly participated in the Battle of New Dorasterrock, providing an estimated 40-50 trained soldiers. The Auroran contingent of the Coalition's army was a primary forward force critical in the capturing of the Bardonian capitol building. The Aurorans took few causalities, besides in minor engagements with the, at the time, feared mercenary group, The Hands. Furthermore, Auroran footsoldiers led the capture of the roof of the capitol building, becoming the subjects of the famous painting depicting the battle.

Uldarashi Civil War/Eldhamite Intervention in the Uldarash Civil War
Main Article: Uldarash Civil War/Eldhamite Intervention in the Uldarash Civil War

Still within the Army of the Second Empire of Uldarash, during the Uldarash Civil War, the Order provided the bulk of manpower for the Imperial Army of Uldarash. Furthermore, Auroran commanders were present in every battle of the Civil War and were heavily involved in all decision making. Auroran Battle Corps were critical in each battle, and represented the majority of attending Imperial troops, often times making up over 80% of the battle forces.

During the Civil War, the Eldham Entente, an alliance of nearly every major power on the world of Eldham, intervened, aiding the loyalists in order to lead a war against Aurora. This eventually led to the Battle of Fornost, the largest battle on the server at the time.

Northport War
Main Article: Northport War

Aurora, now in an age of complete independence following the collapse of Uldarash, was soon thrown into the largest conflict to date. Started initially by a former member of Aurora and Paladin of the Order, Ganeff. Aurora fought a defensive war against the New Dorasterrock Accords, an alliance of many major powers on Rathnir. The war led to the largest battle to date, the First Siege of Northport. Followed by the Second Siege of Northport, and Battle of Savras. Aurora was victorious in each battle, including the offensive strike against the N.D.A city of Savras which had hosted the attack on Northport.

The Southern Incursion
The Order Of The Aurora was originally founded by survivors of the Southern Incursion, an event in which hordes of blighted overran the Escharian military, and forced survivors to flee to the stronghold castle of Gentumar. Led by the Niedene folk hero and Soleannen Saint,

Miria. Within Gentumar, the survivors of the disastrous defeat rallied and held off the blighted horde until reinforcing Escharian regiments arrived and were able to destroy the remaining blighted, and their leader, the Demon Vrizshak.Following the victory at Gentumar, the Order was established by the Escharian government, to operate out of Castle Gentumar. The Order primarily focused on defeating threats related to the unholy, but were also deployed to defend Escharia in military conflicts.

After many years of operation, the Order, which had lost significant amounts of their members, disbanded, and Castle Gentumar fell into disrepair.

Escharian Revival
After a long period of Castle Gentumar being uninhabited, Emperor Severie of Escharia, along with his close friend and advisor, Ortwin Aurelius came across the abandoned castle. The story of the Order was still well known by Escharians well educated in history, and as such, Emperor Severie made the decision for Gentumar to be restored, and the Order established, with Ortwin Aurelius appointed as the Grandmaster. Under Grandmaster Aurelius, the Order quickly began increasing in size and number. Operating out of Gentumar, the Order stayed true to it's original purpose of combating the unholy, mostly blighted and lycanthropes.

Shortly after the Order's re-establishment, Escharia came into possession of Western Tessel. The Order was tasked with protecting this island, as prior to Escharia acquiring the island, the locals had utilized Tessel to open an entrance to the Void, which was used for ritual sacrifices. These actions were seen as unholy under the law of Escharian Soleannenism.

Naverechniyan Influences
Near the same time that the Order had been deployed to Tessel, a large number of Naverechniyan refugees fled to Escharia following the Naverechniyan Civil War, in which they established the town Mluadopol. This resulted in a significant number of former Naverechniyans becoming members of The Order of The Aurora. As a result, a large amount of Naverechniyan culture and religion was introduced to members of the Order, most notably, Pavlovism. Pavlovism would quickly catch on within The Order as a result of the Order's isolation from the rest of Escharia and Soleannenism.

The Order adopting Pavlovism as it's religion became the first cause of tensions between the Escharian Government and The Order, as Escharia's national religion was strictly Soleannenism.

Leadership Under Grandmaster Aurelian
During the Order's deployment to Tessel, former Grandmaster Ortwin Aurelius stepped down. This left a major gap in the command structure of the Order. As such, the Escharian Emperor designated a well regarded Knight of the Order to become the military governor of Western Tessel, and shortly after promoted Aurelian to Grandmaster of the Order, in hopes that Aurelian would bring the organization back to the level of success it achieved during the first iteration of the Order.

Aurelian and the Order as a whole would struggle to find Escharian citizens willing to join the Order, and as such would remain as a relatively small group, most of which being close friends.

First Rathnir Coalition War
Shortly following Aurelian's promotion, he would establish contact with Athaz The Traveler, who spoke and educated Aurelian on foreign affairs, global politics, and the many sights and awes Athaz had come across on his travels across Rathnir. This would result in Aurelian learning of the conflict brewing between Escharia and the neighboring Yimmu-Audal.

Aurelian, having learned the full extent of the Escharian offensive against Yimmu-Audal, became strictly opposed to the Escharian decision to wage war, and as such declared his support for Yimmu-Audal. In this declaration, Aurelian and other members of the Order wrote a joint statement, in which they demanded Escharia halt their offensive against Yimmu-Audal, threatening to secede from Escharia and declare Tessel independent.

In addition to Aurelian's demands, tensions had been growing between the Escharian government and the Order throughout the past months, as a result of growing discontent with the Escharian Emperor's treatment of Order members, which disagreed with the Emperor on domestic policy.

The Escharian emperor quickly requested a private meeting with Aurelian to resolve the issue, however as negotiations failed, and Aurelian returned home to declare independence, Escharia sent a military detachment to raid and destroy the Order on Tessel. This raid was largely successful, resulting in the destruction of the Order's former base, the Iron Spire. This forced Aurelian and other Order members to flee Tessel, as they were unable to compete with the Escharian military.

Arrival in Haven
TBA.

Structure and ranking
The Order of the Aurora is a military organization with a hierarchical rank system. The ranking system is as follows.

Grandmaster: The de-facto leaders of the Order and leads the military. This is the highest rank achievable in the Order.

Sentinel: The rank responsible for planning battles, managing military information, and handling logistics for equipment and supplies. Sentinels serve as a secondary to Grandmasters in leading the Order.

Paladin: Paladins lead groups of Wardens into battle, manage the training of new members, and work with Sentinels in battle planning. They also have the authority to manage promotions and demotions within the Order.

Templar: Templars are responsible for developing strategies and practicing war tactics under the supervision of Paladins, can be called upon to fill in for Paladins in times of war.

Guardsman: A members of the Order who have proven their dedication to the organization and have been with the Order for at least 10 months. Knight: Knights are experienced Wardens who have proven themselves in battle and have served in war.

Chaplain: The rank for members of the Order who show leadership qualities, and promise in administrative roles. Chaplains are usually responsible for carrying wartime supply for the Order during combat engagements.

Warden: Wardens are the standard foot-soldiers of The Order, critical to combat engagements.

Auxiliary: Auxiliaries are dual citizen fighters who are equivalent to Wardens and are the highest achievable rank until they fully join the Order and leave their previous nation.

Trainee: Trainees are newly enlisted members of the Order.