Order of the Aurora

Overview
The Order of The Aurora (Aréte: Serma De Ét Aurora), commonly known as The Order is the military of the Kingdom of Aurora, and a Pavlovist military Order. It was founded in the Empire of Escharia and operated there until 16 T.E (Dec. 2020), thereafter being based in Fornost within Aurora, following 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.

The Order of The Aurora arose in the ancient Escharia during a time period in which Escharia and Rathnir as a whole faced increasing threats from “unholy” beings. After a disastrous Escharian military defeat during the Southern incursion, a group of survivors formed the Order to hold off the invading blighted hordes.

The organization became a sanctioned military order under the Escharian Government, charged with the defense of Escharia from those deemed unholy under Soleanenism. The Order was short-lived and collapsed after a short period of operation.

After a long period following the Order’s collapse, the organization was reformed under the Empire of Escharia when Emperor Severie of Escharia appointed first Grandmaster Ortwin Aurelius to restore it. This iteration of the Order continues to operate to this day under the Kingdom of Aurora.

Throughout its history, the Order of the Aurora has played a crucial role in shaping the identity and unity of Aurora through involvement 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 due to a prolonged period of peace within Aurora. Despite this, it remains a formidable military force capable of defending itself.

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 foot soldiers 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 reestablished, 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.

During this time, the Escharian Emperor had become disinterested in the Order of The Aurora, rarely interacting with or supporting the organization in their efforts. This further isolated the organization from the Escharian Government, and largely began the fracture between the two groups.

The Auroran Exodus
Main Article: First 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. Aurelian and the rest of the Order wrote a joint declaration of secession from the Escharian empire in retaliation to the poor choices of Emperor Severie of Escharia. In this movement, they declared neutrality in the main conflict as the Order wished no part in it. Aurelian discussed this at the capital of Yimmu-Audal when he presented Emperor Severie the declaration, who sat on the Audalad throne.

The Emperor Severie told Aurelian that they would talk soon to discuss the matter, offering a peaceful resolution. Aurelian accepted, however swiftly returned to Tessel to prepare against any potential Escharian retaliation. In the coming days after his return home, an Escharian commander by the name of ViewedMarquis would raid the island in an attack against the Order. Although the raid was short lived, it resulted in the deaths of multiple Order members, demoralizing the organization.

In the days following the attack, Escharian Empress Debi came to speak to the Order, Aurelian was fully outraged by the actions of what seemed like an Escharian attack against the Order's home, despite being offered a peaceful discussion the night before. The Empress claimed Viewed had no part in Escharian policy and acted on their own accord. Aurelian was skeptical, fearing the attack was part of a larger ploy against the Order.

The discussion with the Empress was followed by the delivery of an ultimatum to the Order. The Escharian government demanded the Order leave Tessel and Escharia as a whole, or face total destruction. Aurelian attempted a plea for peace as he did not wish to fight with the Empress, having befriended Debi during his time in the Order. The Empress pitied Aurelian, but maintained the Escharian ultimatum.

Aurelian gathered the Order soon after the ultimatum was delivered, and it was decided that the Order would flee the island in order to avoid conflict. After a long journey in search of a place to take permanent refuge, the Order found and settled in Haven.

The Order maintained it's goal of reclaiming Tessel, further fueling tensions, but were unable to make any effort to retake the island due to their small numbers and lack of battle-worthy equipment.

Arrival in Haven
In in the winter of 16 T.E (Dec. 2020), the Aurorans would arrive in Western Haven, quickly settling within a small valley, in which they would create their place of refuge, now known as Fornost. Tensions with the Escharians were still high, as the Escharian Emperor sought to destroy the Order despite the large distance between Nieden and Haven. The Escharian government had publicly denounced the Aurorans, claiming they had desecrated the Castle Gentumar, using this as a justification to hunt the Order. These claims lacked evidence, and as such were disputed by the Aurorans.

The Order, having previously established friendly relations with those in Uldarash would establish close political ties with the Empire, working closely on the development of the Order's new kingdom, and aiding Uldarash in conflict. Tensions with Escharia would slowly die down, as the Escharians never attempted to destroy the Order, while the Order never made any attempts to reclaim Tessel.

Under The Kingdom of Aurora
Main Article: Aurora

TBA

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

Retired Ranks
Templars were a rank within the Order which was created in order to provide a intermediary between Knight and Paladin. The goal of this rank was to allow Knights a period in which they would receive training and experience before becoming a Paladin and full officer. The program largely did not succeed, as the Order failed to keep it active enough to warrant maintaining the rank.

High Sentinel was for a time the equivalent to Grandmaster, which executed the same duties as Grandmaster. The rank was renamed to Grandmaster as the Order wished to maintain the traditional/historical name of the rank.