EmKay
Well-Known Member
INTRODUCTION TO THE OBSIDIAN ORDER
ARTICLE HRI-O-101
____________________
PREFACE AND ALIGNMENT
The Obsidian Order is a group of Force Users who excel in various fields. While their roots lie in many divisions of the term "Neutral Force User", one truth has become abundantly clear: that the galaxy will not stand idly by while one preaches peace, and yet to throw one's weight and power around like a pregnant Bantha gains no favours. This fuels the philosophy. This drives the engine. That the ideas of good, evil, peace, and war are subjective and open to interpretation. Through this, the Order doesn't believe in the instilment of doctrines, dogmas, and lessons on morality or how to govern the self. Those are to be lessons learnt in the real world, through experience and hardship. The Galaxy is a place that can and will make or break a person. Who the individual becomes is a matter for them to decide.
That is not to say that the Knights of the Order are lawless and free to do as they see fit. Consider a ship's crew. They are all of different backgrounds, different ages, different sexes, and they all see the universe differently. It is not their past that drives them in the ship. It is their task and their duty that drives them, and their desire to be there that empowers them. The Order could be looked at similarly. Those within its folds are expected to maintain a decorum befitting such a well-oiled machine, but their selves are their own.
And for those of you who want a more black-and-white alignment to compare yourself to, it would be somewhere in the range of Lawful Neutral. The Order obeys its regulations and expectations, but it doesn't perceive the world through red or blue lenses.
ROLE
The Order has many roles, in truth. On the surface, they appear to be a massive group of sophisticated warriors, who all specialise in finding the best way to kill. While this is true enough, and every Knight of the Order is trained in combat per their original intent under the ASA banner to be elite soldiers, there are more positions than simply 'another soldier in the fold'. In all honesty, there are as many positions in the Order as there are like-minded members. There are designated positions and focus groups, but in the spirit of the Corporate Alliance and the freedom given by the Order, a Knight is free to do as they wish outside of their position. A warrior may go hunting Force artifacts, a healer may make the next big gun, and the list goes on. Interest typically outweighs the focus group unless the situation requires acts of duty, rather than whim.
Within the confines of the Order's doctrine, however, the Obsidians are to hold up two key goals since their inception long ago as the Templar Order. First, to protect the innocent and provide shelter to those incapable of protecting themselves. This means that no member of the Order, regardless of how much they draw upon the Dark Side, should intentionally harm or kill an innocent life. It also means that, should people require shelter, it is the duty of the Order to take them into the protection of one of the Obsidian Enclaves. These are places established in, and sometimes out of, Abrion Corporate Alliance space in order to care for the needy and destitute, and find them a place either in society or the military.
The second duty of the Obsidian Order is to uphold Justice and Freedom. The most blatant expression of fulfilling this duty is to fight slavery. This practise is the most counter-intuitive to these two ideals, and so they are often the most hunted for their crimes.
POSITIONS AND HIERARCHY
Once an Initiate of the Order attains recognition as a full Obsidian, they are offered to join one of three primary sects. Those who decide to not choose a sect are free to live that way, or to specialise later. It is, however, recommended to belong to a group in order to be more readily called upon and to have a sense of camaraderie within the Order. On the surface and through the ACA, their titles are very plain, very common. Knights, Shadows, and Scholars. Within the Order, however, they have adopted their own names. Bha'Lir, Taozin, and Zillo, respectively, are the three Networks of the Order. One of the best ways to tell a member from a non-member is how they refer to the sects.
The sects are as follows:
Naturally, an order of this size cannot be led by a single individual. As such, there are two primary means of governing the order: Exotic Administration and the Obsidian Court. Exotic Administration, or the X-Net Supervisors, consists of the overlapped branch leaders. Knights would typically take commands from an ACA commander, Shadows would answer to the Spymaster, and Scholars would report to Techno Union CEOs if they were involved in such ways. This allows for the bodies of the Order and the ACA to cooperate smoothly and with minimal communication error.
The Obsidian Court is something wholly different. It is comprised of the three Lords of Ladies of the Order, the Archon of the Order, and the Magistrates. This council governs the Order separately from the ACA and handles all internal affairs. Should the time ever come that the Order must become its own entity, the Court would claim total rule. Each position is explained in greater detail below.
ARTICLE HRI-O-101
____________________
PREFACE AND ALIGNMENT
The Obsidian Order is a group of Force Users who excel in various fields. While their roots lie in many divisions of the term "Neutral Force User", one truth has become abundantly clear: that the galaxy will not stand idly by while one preaches peace, and yet to throw one's weight and power around like a pregnant Bantha gains no favours. This fuels the philosophy. This drives the engine. That the ideas of good, evil, peace, and war are subjective and open to interpretation. Through this, the Order doesn't believe in the instilment of doctrines, dogmas, and lessons on morality or how to govern the self. Those are to be lessons learnt in the real world, through experience and hardship. The Galaxy is a place that can and will make or break a person. Who the individual becomes is a matter for them to decide.
That is not to say that the Knights of the Order are lawless and free to do as they see fit. Consider a ship's crew. They are all of different backgrounds, different ages, different sexes, and they all see the universe differently. It is not their past that drives them in the ship. It is their task and their duty that drives them, and their desire to be there that empowers them. The Order could be looked at similarly. Those within its folds are expected to maintain a decorum befitting such a well-oiled machine, but their selves are their own.
And for those of you who want a more black-and-white alignment to compare yourself to, it would be somewhere in the range of Lawful Neutral. The Order obeys its regulations and expectations, but it doesn't perceive the world through red or blue lenses.
ROLE
The Order has many roles, in truth. On the surface, they appear to be a massive group of sophisticated warriors, who all specialise in finding the best way to kill. While this is true enough, and every Knight of the Order is trained in combat per their original intent under the ASA banner to be elite soldiers, there are more positions than simply 'another soldier in the fold'. In all honesty, there are as many positions in the Order as there are like-minded members. There are designated positions and focus groups, but in the spirit of the Corporate Alliance and the freedom given by the Order, a Knight is free to do as they wish outside of their position. A warrior may go hunting Force artifacts, a healer may make the next big gun, and the list goes on. Interest typically outweighs the focus group unless the situation requires acts of duty, rather than whim.
Within the confines of the Order's doctrine, however, the Obsidians are to hold up two key goals since their inception long ago as the Templar Order. First, to protect the innocent and provide shelter to those incapable of protecting themselves. This means that no member of the Order, regardless of how much they draw upon the Dark Side, should intentionally harm or kill an innocent life. It also means that, should people require shelter, it is the duty of the Order to take them into the protection of one of the Obsidian Enclaves. These are places established in, and sometimes out of, Abrion Corporate Alliance space in order to care for the needy and destitute, and find them a place either in society or the military.
The second duty of the Obsidian Order is to uphold Justice and Freedom. The most blatant expression of fulfilling this duty is to fight slavery. This practise is the most counter-intuitive to these two ideals, and so they are often the most hunted for their crimes.
POSITIONS AND HIERARCHY
Once an Initiate of the Order attains recognition as a full Obsidian, they are offered to join one of three primary sects. Those who decide to not choose a sect are free to live that way, or to specialise later. It is, however, recommended to belong to a group in order to be more readily called upon and to have a sense of camaraderie within the Order. On the surface and through the ACA, their titles are very plain, very common. Knights, Shadows, and Scholars. Within the Order, however, they have adopted their own names. Bha'Lir, Taozin, and Zillo, respectively, are the three Networks of the Order. One of the best ways to tell a member from a non-member is how they refer to the sects.
The sects are as follows:
- THE KNIGHTS (BHA'LIR NETWORK)
Perhaps the most recognisable of the Obsidians, they are the warriors, fighters, strategists, and overall conflict bearers of the Order. Most of the time they will be continually training, sparring, and testing their combat prowess in order to become the ultimate Lords and Ladies of War. As a group, they pride themselves on being the original and the best sect. They're often viewed as the more arrogant of the three.
- THE SHADOWS (TAOZIN NETWORK)
The most secretive and lesser-seen of the Obsidian Order's members, these Shadows typically weave themselves deep into the Spynet. They train just as hard as the Knights, but they train in entirely different affairs. Deception, illusion, manipulation, and how not to be seen. Their duties even expand into 'behaviourally corrective activity' and such related tasks for the betterment of the ACA.
- THE SCHOLARS (ZILLO NETWORK)
These Obsidians are a little more curious. They typically research different aspects and arts of the Force, seek out artefacts and relics, and such quests. Others still are alchemists, and yet more will join with the Techno Union to create companies or invent new devices. Apart from the creative side, yet more are politicians and healers. The Scholars are perhaps the least-focused group.
Naturally, an order of this size cannot be led by a single individual. As such, there are two primary means of governing the order: Exotic Administration and the Obsidian Court. Exotic Administration, or the X-Net Supervisors, consists of the overlapped branch leaders. Knights would typically take commands from an ACA commander, Shadows would answer to the Spymaster, and Scholars would report to Techno Union CEOs if they were involved in such ways. This allows for the bodies of the Order and the ACA to cooperate smoothly and with minimal communication error.
The Obsidian Court is something wholly different. It is comprised of the three Lords of Ladies of the Order, the Archon of the Order, and the Magistrates. This council governs the Order separately from the ACA and handles all internal affairs. Should the time ever come that the Order must become its own entity, the Court would claim total rule. Each position is explained in greater detail below.
- THE LORDS AND LADIES
The Lords and Ladies of the Order are the governors of each Network. They are referred to Lord or Lady Bha'Lir, Taozin, or Zillo, and are tasked with fulfilling the duty of caring for, maintaining, and otherwise administrating their Network. They can volunteer for the position, be elected by the members of the Network they wish to govern, or be chosen by the Archon of the Order. It is a leadership position and requires great responsibility.
- THE ARCHON
The Archon is the highest point of leadership of the Obsidian Order. He or She oversees the Lords and Ladies and helps to keep the Order organised. The Archon could nearly be viewed in a parental light, where the members are his or her children to nurture and help grow. The duties set forth unto the Archon are great and many, and this role is not fit for those who shy from responsibility.
- THE MAGISTRATES
The Magistrates are supplemental advisors to the Court on either a volunteer or election basis. They are required to be of Master rank, and attend Court meetings and hearings as mediators between the Order memberbase and the Order leadership. This position is more like being called into jury duty than having a full-time occupation.