The Empress is the fount of honours in the Empire. Some cities have their own titles, not all of which are recognised by the Empire; these are generally bestowed by the mayors.
Kelonran honours, bestowed exclusively by the Queen of the Desert, gained recognition in the Empire during the reign of Ioya I, during which time Kelonra also began to recognise Imperial honours.
Tokens of membership in an order generally include horn rings, pendants, brooches, hairpins, chains, and bracelets. Possessing or making counterfeit tokens is punishable by death wherever these symbols have legal recognition. Costume jewellery, worn during dramatic performances, typically need not be sufficiently exact to verge on being forgeries.
Order of the Shadow
Imperial
Introduced: Sampo I
Symbol: black finger ring
For extraordinary service in intelligence gathering. Sometimes awarded on the basis of lifetime excellence, but more commonly issued in response to delivery of critical news or the spread of key state propaganda.
Order of the Flames
Imperial
Introduced: Gegloko I
Symbol: Red or copper laurel (formal); ruby teardrop earring (routine)
For excellence in military command.
Hons Galútría
Imperial
Introduced: pre-Wanisinese (Ksreskézaian)
Symbol: Yellow beryl pendant. Worn on gold chain, brooch, bracelet, or hairpin depending on era.
For outstanding bravery in war. The Queen of the Desert also issues the Galútría; in Kelonra this is called the Order of Tévopío. The Lilitai, under Adm. Ekhessa Salnúkzoa and after resettling Illera, also issued this title. With few exceptions all of these registries were eventually mutually recognised, in spite of the obvious hegemonic paradoxes this implies.
Order of the Hearth
Sur'daro
Symbol: Emerald brooch or pendant
For lifetime achievement in civil betterment anywhere in the Empire; may be awarded to those from other cities.
Order of the Righteous Dagger
Imperial
Introduced: after the War of Inheritance; Klito XIX
Symbol: Wristband of blue and violet wires twisted together.
For service to the Alestidi–Koraktidi faction during the War.
Order of Alestea
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea II
Symbol: Gold hairpin with ruby on end.
Members of this Order hold supreme command of the military. Inductees are usually (but not always) limited to the current Minister of Power and Empress. Rarely, the Vice Minister of Power, Minister of Order, or the leader of the Uravidi will also be inducted, usually following the untimely death of one of the current holders. Membership is only very rarely revoked, but challenging holders from the outgoing government to duels as a means of securing command is not unheard of. The Order was instituted by the Senate to grant Alestea II executive military power during the treasonous abdication of Empress Tevopina.
Indigo Order
Kelonran
Symbol: Indigo horn band.
Distinguished service to the religious police or the state cult of Uravea.
Order of Bones
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea V
Symbol: Ornate pendant disk carved from human bone, or a knife hilt (viro/alesso hilt) of the same.
For the skillful defeat of at least twelve worthy opponents in duels to the death. Of the many individuals who have qualified for membership in the Order of Bones, only a few have actually received recognition for their deeds as relatively few duels have an audience that can corroborate events, and obtaining a dozen such verifiable combats is particularly unusual. Most inductees are thus gladiatrices who have fought in the Grand Royal Viradelia of Sur'daro.
Order of the Ash
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea II
Symbol: Hexagonal glass ampoule containing cremated remains from a human sacrifice. This is normally worn as a pendant around the neck, although at times smaller ampoules have been suspended on short chains from the bearer's horns. The glass is usually tinted violet, but see below.
Extraordinary service in the course of quelling civil war, rebellion, or mutiny; typically the cremated body used in creation of the symbol is of a leader of the rebellion, but sometimes a lesser member or even an unrelated slave may be sacrificed in effigy. If a Cord of Battle is associated with the vanquishing of the leader commemorated, the tint of the glass may be matched to it. This Order is more controversial than most, and in times of power struggles, particularly the War of Inheritance, inductions following from a given war or mutiny have frequently been invalidated with each successive coronation.
Cords of Battle
Imperial
Symbol: The formal symbol consists of variously coloured and patterned loops pinned to the left shoulder. These are typically 40–50 cm in length and hang under the arm. Less formally, smaller loops are worn below the left shoulder as an armband, arranged chronologically from top to bottom.
For service at various military engagements. Thousands of unique cords exist, each corresponding to participation in a particular battle. A "full sleeve" (henuesto pefton) can be used to informally refer to an experienced veteran. The symbology of the battle cords is perhaps the most egalitarian force within the service, as they transcend career paths, which are normally heavily segregated by social status within the caste system.
Kelonran honours, bestowed exclusively by the Queen of the Desert, gained recognition in the Empire during the reign of Ioya I, during which time Kelonra also began to recognise Imperial honours.
Tokens of membership in an order generally include horn rings, pendants, brooches, hairpins, chains, and bracelets. Possessing or making counterfeit tokens is punishable by death wherever these symbols have legal recognition. Costume jewellery, worn during dramatic performances, typically need not be sufficiently exact to verge on being forgeries.
Order of the Shadow
Imperial
Introduced: Sampo I
Symbol: black finger ring
For extraordinary service in intelligence gathering. Sometimes awarded on the basis of lifetime excellence, but more commonly issued in response to delivery of critical news or the spread of key state propaganda.
Order of the Flames
Imperial
Introduced: Gegloko I
Symbol: Red or copper laurel (formal); ruby teardrop earring (routine)
For excellence in military command.
Hons Galútría
Imperial
Introduced: pre-Wanisinese (Ksreskézaian)
Symbol: Yellow beryl pendant. Worn on gold chain, brooch, bracelet, or hairpin depending on era.
For outstanding bravery in war. The Queen of the Desert also issues the Galútría; in Kelonra this is called the Order of Tévopío. The Lilitai, under Adm. Ekhessa Salnúkzoa and after resettling Illera, also issued this title. With few exceptions all of these registries were eventually mutually recognised, in spite of the obvious hegemonic paradoxes this implies.
Order of the Hearth
Sur'daro
Symbol: Emerald brooch or pendant
For lifetime achievement in civil betterment anywhere in the Empire; may be awarded to those from other cities.
Order of the Righteous Dagger
Imperial
Introduced: after the War of Inheritance; Klito XIX
Symbol: Wristband of blue and violet wires twisted together.
For service to the Alestidi–Koraktidi faction during the War.
Order of Alestea
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea II
Symbol: Gold hairpin with ruby on end.
Members of this Order hold supreme command of the military. Inductees are usually (but not always) limited to the current Minister of Power and Empress. Rarely, the Vice Minister of Power, Minister of Order, or the leader of the Uravidi will also be inducted, usually following the untimely death of one of the current holders. Membership is only very rarely revoked, but challenging holders from the outgoing government to duels as a means of securing command is not unheard of. The Order was instituted by the Senate to grant Alestea II executive military power during the treasonous abdication of Empress Tevopina.
Indigo Order
Kelonran
Symbol: Indigo horn band.
Distinguished service to the religious police or the state cult of Uravea.
Order of Bones
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea V
Symbol: Ornate pendant disk carved from human bone, or a knife hilt (viro/alesso hilt) of the same.
For the skillful defeat of at least twelve worthy opponents in duels to the death. Of the many individuals who have qualified for membership in the Order of Bones, only a few have actually received recognition for their deeds as relatively few duels have an audience that can corroborate events, and obtaining a dozen such verifiable combats is particularly unusual. Most inductees are thus gladiatrices who have fought in the Grand Royal Viradelia of Sur'daro.
Order of the Ash
Imperial
Introduced: Alestea II
Symbol: Hexagonal glass ampoule containing cremated remains from a human sacrifice. This is normally worn as a pendant around the neck, although at times smaller ampoules have been suspended on short chains from the bearer's horns. The glass is usually tinted violet, but see below.
Extraordinary service in the course of quelling civil war, rebellion, or mutiny; typically the cremated body used in creation of the symbol is of a leader of the rebellion, but sometimes a lesser member or even an unrelated slave may be sacrificed in effigy. If a Cord of Battle is associated with the vanquishing of the leader commemorated, the tint of the glass may be matched to it. This Order is more controversial than most, and in times of power struggles, particularly the War of Inheritance, inductions following from a given war or mutiny have frequently been invalidated with each successive coronation.
Cords of Battle
Imperial
Symbol: The formal symbol consists of variously coloured and patterned loops pinned to the left shoulder. These are typically 40–50 cm in length and hang under the arm. Less formally, smaller loops are worn below the left shoulder as an armband, arranged chronologically from top to bottom.
For service at various military engagements. Thousands of unique cords exist, each corresponding to participation in a particular battle. A "full sleeve" (henuesto pefton) can be used to informally refer to an experienced veteran. The symbology of the battle cords is perhaps the most egalitarian force within the service, as they transcend career paths, which are normally heavily segregated by social status within the caste system.
