The Order of the Starbird

The Order of the Starbird, better known as the Starbird Order, is an elite chivalric order, rewarding contributions made to the Sovereignty through public service, military valor, diplomacy, and other acts of service to the realm. The Order is a successor to the former Knights of the Sith Imperium, and was founded by Praetor Veldarius Imperior during the last days of the Sith Imperium. The Order is comprised of five branches, or 'Wings', and five classes, the most senior three of which bestow upon the recipient the title of 'Knight'.

Entrance into the Order is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a citizen of the Fireborn Sovereignty. Nominations for the Order may be made by any standing member of the Dark Council, however the final decision for entry lies with the Grand Master of the Order.

Current Classes
The five classes of appointment to the order are, in descending order of precedence:


 * 1) Knight Commander of the Order of the Starbird of the Fireborn Sovereignty (DFS)
 * 2) Knight Captain of the Order of the Starbird of the Fireborn Sovereignty (CFS)
 * 3) Knight of the Order of the Starbird of the Fireborn Sovereignty (KFS)
 * 4) Officer of the Order of the Starbird of the Fireborn Sovereignty (OFS)
 * 5) Member of the Order of the Starbird of the Fireborn Sovereignty (MFS)

Styles of Address
The senior three ranks of Knight Commander, Knight Captain, and Knight entitle their members to use the styling 'Knight of the Realm' as a suffix to their current titles. Moreover, The senior two ranks are entitled to add their title (i.e. 'Commander of the Order of the Starbird') to their titles in addition to the Knight styling.

Those in the remaining ranks of Officer and Member may add the styling 'Officer [or Member] of the Order of the Starbird' to their titles, or may use the appropriate post-nominal letters at their discretion.

Examples

 * Knight Commander - His Excellency, Veldarius of the Houses Roderick and Imperior, the Undying, Conqueror of Amgarrak, Prince of the Fireborn Sovereignty, Lord Praetor of the Dark Council, Grand Duke of House Imperior of Alderaan, Commander of the Order of the Starbird, Master of the Tutai Qo, and Knight of the Realm.
 * Knight Captain - His Honor, Darth Tyrol of the Hiigaran Kingdom, Lord Councilor of the Dark Council, Minister of Galactic Influence, Captain of the Order of the Starbird, Dark Lord of the Sith, and Knight of the Realm.
 * Knight - Admiral Yagyu'Jubei'Nuruodo, Knight of the Realm.

Duties of the Order
Members of the Order are loyal to the Fireborn Sovereignty as a whole, and as such are expected to represent the values of the Order with constant decorum. Those within the most senior three grades are responsible for the protection of the Lord or Lady Praetor, the Dark Council, and the Sovereignty's interests. They may be sent into battle alongside military forces as elite commandos, or may act as a part of the Sovereignty's constabulary as necessary. Knights may work at the behest of Captains, the Commander, and the Grand Master, and therefore their duties are widely varied and nearly limitless. They are not, however, entitled to work independently of the Order of the Starbird when acting in their capacity as Knights. Above all, the Order is a brotherhood - one built on the principles of loyalty, duty, and honor.

History
Founded in the last months of 26 ATC, Praetor Veldarius Imperior founded the Order to serve as the spiritual successor to the Knights of the Imperium. With the help of the Grand Master of the Imperium Knights, Azu'lae Vizsla, he crafted a more inclusive brotherhood in order to better honor those who had worked tirelessly in the building and betterment of the new Fireborn Sovereignty.

As envisioned by Imperior, the goal of this new Order was to unite Knights and other merit-worthy citizens under a single banner, thus honoring the goals of unity under the old One Sith code as well as encouraging the shaping of the fate of the Sovereignty under the new Tutai Qo. The Order was also meant to serve as recognition to those who could not receive the awards and commendations of the military, or those whose actions did not qualify them for other awards.

To achieve this, Imperior and Vizsla created five branches within the Starbird Order, which were colloquially called 'Wings'. They are awarded upon entry into the in Order, and serve as recognition for an individual's specific meritorious actions:


 * The Wing of the Realm honors those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to the Sovereignty. As the most prestigious wing, this is the most public face of the Starbird Order, and members are most commonly recognized as the 'Knights of the Realm'.
 * The Praetorian Order, in the personal gift of the Praetor, is the second-highest wing. It honors those who had personally served the Lord or Lady Praetor and the Dark Council.
 * The Wing of Amgarrak honors civil servants and those who have contributed greatly to the Sovereignty's citizenry.
 * The Wing of the Blade honors senior military officials and soldiers whose efforts are deemed valorous.
 * The Wing of the Scroll honors diplomats and emissaries working in the name of peace in the ream.

Furthermore, Imperior and Vizsla decreed that the Order of the Starbird would be loyal to the people of the Sovereignty, as opposed to the Lord or Lady Praetor or the Dark Council. This was decided to ensure that members of the Order would act in the best interest of the people as opposed to the interests of a single politician or possible dictator.

Composition
While the Order answers to the Lord or Lady Praetor, the Grand Master is the leader and most senior member of the Starbird Order, and is often a lifetime position. Since its founding, Azu'lae Roderick-Vizsla has served as Grand Master of the Order.

The Order is limited to one Knight Commander, six Knight Captains, and (TBD) Knights. There are no limits applied to the total number of members of the third and fourth classes. Appointment to Knight Commander is automatically bestowed to the Lord or Lady Praetor upon their election to the position. Similarly, the bestowment of Knight Captain is automatic upon an individual's appointment to the Dark Council, and former Praetors and members of the Council are granted the honorific RCFS when they step down - they do not, however, lose their standing as Knights of the Realm.

Members and Officers of the Order of the Starbird must have a standing as a Lord, Military Officer, or Journeyman within the Fireborn Sovereignty. Knights and their senoirs must have a standing as a Darth, Flag Officer, or Craftmaster.

From time to time, individuals may be appointed to a higher grade within the order, thereby ceasing usage of the junior post-nominal letters and styles.

Qualifications
Nominees for Knighthood are among the best and brightest in the Sovereignty, and display strong leadership skills. Their loyalty to the Sovereignty is unimpeachable, and many have lain down their lives for it and her people on at least one occasion. Those chosen to join the ranks of the Knights are expected to uphold the values of the Sovereignty, and must be willing to make a lifetime commitment to service.

Ceremony for Knighthood
New initiates to the Knighthood will appear before the Grand Master and the Knight Commander, who are wreathed in a circle of fire. The Grand Master will extend their hand, and ask “Will you follow me into fire, into darkness, into death?”

Those brave enough to take the oath will answer in the affirmative by passing through the flames and kneeling before the Grand Master, the palm of their right hand turned upwards. The Grand Master will step forward, and ask each initiate their name. Upon receiving the names, the Grand Master will declare “From this day forward, you will live by the sacred oath of the Order of the Starbird. Recite the oath, and declare your dedication to the covenant before the flames of the Forge.”

The initiates will then recite the oath:

"“Through the flames I enter this sacred brotherhood. In the light of the Forge my watch begins, and it shall not end until my death. I am the spark of the chain as it is torn asunder, and I shall protect the Sovereignty with honor, dignity and strength. I will lay down my life for her people. We are the Blade, the Shield, and the Shapers of Fate; and never shall I give reason for doubting my fidelity. Never shall I dishonor this office. Never shall I falter in my duty. I am a Knight of the Realm from this day to the end of days.'"

The Grand Master will then cut his own right palm. He will draw the symbol of the Sovereignty on the initiate’s upturned palms and say: “May the Tutai Qo guide you in your path forward.”

Knights are then told "that is your oath" and struck viciously so that they remember it.

Upon swearing the Oath, the newly-initiated Knights will be awarded with a personally-tailored set of armor to be worn when acting in their official duties. They are also awarded with the Insignia of the Order, to be worn when their armor is not donned.

Current Members
Grand Master: Azu'lae Roderick-Vizsla, Praetor of the Fireborn Sovereignty

Demotion and Expulsion from the Order
Members of any grade may be demoted or expelled from the Order by the Grand Master or the Lord or Lady Praetor (Knight Commander) for any and all conduct deemed unbecoming, including but not limited to:


 * Being arrested and/or convicted for the commission of a crime, as defined by Sovereignty Public Law,
 * As stated in SPL 2.1.E.1, those in the most senior three ranks forfeit their lives if they are charged with desertion or cowardice, and are subject to execution. Punishments for other crimes will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
 * Misrepresentation of the Order of the Starbird
 * The Order of the Starbird is a chivalric institution dedicated to public service in the name of the Fireborn Sovereignty. Those within the Order must represent the Order's ideals of loyalty, duty, and honor in all settings of their life, regardless of their grade. Misrepresentation of the Order or its ideals in any way will result in demotion within the Order. Multiple offenses may result in expulsion from the Order.
 * Abuse of power
 * Appointment to the Order of the Starbird is a privileged commendation, not a right. Those in the most senior three ranks are granted power only by the Ministry that requests their aid. They are not considered to be of a higher echelon than their peers within the Fireborn Sovereignty. Any reports of a Knight of the Realm using their status within the Order to elicit power or subservience from a citizen in the Sovereignty will be investigated to the fullest extent possible, and will result in expulsion from the Order upon verification of the claim's veracity.

Former members who were expelled from the Order forfeit all eligibility for future nomination, and members who have been demoted within the Order's ranks forfeit any future promotions to the most senior three ranks within the Order.

In the event an expelled or demoted member is elected as Praetor or is appointed to the Dark Council, they are still subject to the statutes in place. The open grade they may have filled (DFS or CFS), will be left empty until a new Praetor is elected, or a new Dark Councilor is appointed.

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