Order of the eternal dragon

The order is divided into four distinct divisions, each with a different operational function.   The knights of the cleansing fire is made up of military veterans, gangsters and mercenaries, who act as the order's foot soldiers. Their main function is to infiltrate areas on the radar for expansionist elements in the Astasian government, and conduct guerrilla operations to weaken their defences and stoke tensions with Astasia to provoke war and expansion. Though in some cases on behalf of the brotherhood they will carry out invasions and armed insurrections, in an attempt governments to install their own regimes with the aim of confederating with the Astasian realm. Though mostly unsuccessful this tactic has borne fruit on several occasions. They have also participated in election interference at home, Intimidating voters, politicians and electorate into swaying legitimate process to their favour.   The knights of the hidden serpent are the orders covert operations sector. Comprising of renegade or veteran members of I.R.I.S, and other covert agencies they frequently operate in regions targeted for annexation, such as engaging in sabotage, intelligence gathering, assassination, terrorism and assisting aligned militant factions. Though they seem to keep their eyes firmly on domestic politics. Specifically on more liberal and anti war factions within prosperity hall and make sure to have plenty of dirt on a select few members of parliament, real or otherwise. Unlike the other branches, the identities of their membership is kept a secret from other members of the order so they can keep surveillance on order members for any signs of infiltration or treachery.   The knights of the golden vine is the financial and settler decision. Made up of planters, bankers slaveholders and industrialists who control the organisations funding and will industrialise and exploit resources territorial acquisitions. They also induct less wealthy citizens who seek to get first property rights to settle and work newly conquered lands. They draw membership from the house of guilds. Being the corporatist wing of government they are never short of expansionist sympathizers itching to expand their respective businesses.   The knights of the shining dawn is the highest ranking branch of the order. Made up largely of figures from less powerful lineages of the ruling classes, they make up the governing body of the organisation, and are the ones who seek to found the ruling lineages of newly acquired territories and will serve in leadership roles. As such they take an active role in planning out invasions and reconstruction of conquered land. From what racial groups to classify as lower or sable nations, who takes over certain industries, which land to settle even designing flags for future confederation.

The order is made up of members from all walks of the Astasian class system and cultural backgrounds . Any citizen of the realm can join as long as they belong to one of the sable nations, are of good character and believe in the unassailable right of Astasia to dominate and civilise the more degenerate regions of the world. In order to maintain the idea that they are of common kindred, they have cloaked their organisation in a dense veil of secrecy, secured by esoteric rituals and code. This aids too in security as the threat of infiltration, and worse yet exposure is a constant threat.

Though the order firmly denies its direct involvement in any unlawful independent invasion, they are the most vocal supporters of Astasian expansion. Astasia is already a massive globe spanning nation but they subscribe to the belief that constant territorial growth is vital to their nations survival. They frequently petition the government to legalise the practice of independent military expeditionary action and to renew conflict with hostile and unfriendly states. Most infamously they drew up a proposed second charter of large scale annexation to be carried out along with the five seas imperative known as the transcontinental unity imperative. It proposes the invasion and pacification of no less than sixty different lands with the confederation of some as new domains and absorbing others into existing domains. The execution of such a plan would entail violating multiple peace treaties, declaring war on the powerful Tsaranese republic and her allies, undermining their own ideological allies including west Valnosk and Lythodesia and launching a full scale invasion of the Commonwealth of free Auroran territories. This excessive warmongering and willingness to turn on nations considered as friends is one of many reasons why the Astasian public, when polled were found to hold quite a low opinion of the order. Though they frequently champion Astasian tradition, somewhat paradoxically their underhanded actions fly in the face of traditional Astasian chivalric and honourable values. And while no outsider truly knows which members of prosperity hall are secretly members of the order, the existence of a hidden sect of corrupt elitists steering them into constant war and manipulating elected officials is known. And many sectors of the public have made their disapproval very clear.

The order is officially financed through membership fees and donations in the form of cuts of profits from plantations, mines and other business of members. Especially if they have profited from land seized by the orders interference. However there are persistent rumours of their involvement in various illicit activities such as the trade of opium and arms sales. As a result they are well funded, heavily armed and able to finance their ambitions.

For all the sway the order holds today, their founding is deceptively humble. In 1424 in a small hunting cabin nestled in the mountains of Avell dominion, prominent planter Eli Marshal had gathered fellow planters as well as contacts in the government, financiers, activist groups, military officers and even figures of the Kardo crime family to put forward a project of national importance. In a passionate speech before his peers, he emphasised the great destiny sought by the realms founding generation. A destiny to spread the ideals, identity and prosperity of Astasia throughout the world and serve as the dominant power over lower peoples. This destiny he said was being threatened by inaction, and bureaucracy as well as an increasing anti war voice in prosperity hall, and if the government were not going to prioritise the expansion vital to their survival as a nation then people like them would have to do it themselves. And so with Under Marshal's leadership the order would go from a fringe group of expansionists into a major political faction in just ten years. Over the course of the 1420s and 30s, the order had successfully launched nineteen incursions into different nations and were directly responsible for the invasions and confederation of Redwyke , Casambra, Highmyre, Vandari, the cradle reef and Transvalka. As the lands were resettled and restructured to Astasian standards, order members were given the best shares of land and resources, with some who joined the order as farmers going on to own slave estates. The order also made sure their criminal contacts were given assistance in setting up operations in newly conquered cities. For a time it seemed that their secretive hold offer prosperity hall was absolute, and that Astasia was firmly in the grip of those who wanted war. but in the 1470s this would prove a double edged sword. Directly inspired by Astasia's own rise to nationhood, sub Songjin Tsaran and the wider Tsaranese empire declared independence from it's newly formed republic to form the Union of celestial kingdoms. Following an almost identical doctrine, Astasia would seem a natural ally and the cry went out to recognise it and send the might of Astasia to their aid. However in a complete reverse of the order publicly petitioned prosperity hall in favour of neutrality. Order backed politicians who would before scream from the mountains for war began to preach caution and restraint much to the confusion of the nation. The order held the belief that a vast Celestian empire controlling most of the Henshian continent would not only force them to share global influence, but also end any colonial aspirations in the region. Facing fierce opposition from public figures and defecting politicians the order had to rely even more heavily on violent action and criminal connections to keep the tide in their favour. Many union members were arrested and many others left the order to join the Astasian celestial army, an Astasian volunteer force fighting for the union in Tsaran. In response order gangs started to attack politicians and pro intervention activists. As the years dragged on and it became clear that the union could not win the order put their ultimate plan in motion. They gave the all clear for the government to recognise the Union as a sovereign nation but weeks later four Astasian merchant navy were sunk in the Astasian Garda port of Nimi. Astasia immediately blamed the union and declared their own war on the union. By refusing to join in alliance with the republic, Astasian law could legitimise any land grabs made on union territory. They occupied the Kishinai island of Shibi jima before it's imperial army could liberate them from the union, they reduced the great port city of yung Tai to the ground before occupying it and conquered the entire Provence of Hanjai before the republic cut them off from going further. By the end of the war the republic was financially and militarily depleted and was in no shape to stop the Astasian annexation. The league of nations recognised the territories as a mandate, as the conquest was done in accordance with Astasian law. The republic of Tsaran and the Commonwealth of Aurora both vocally denounce the invasion and the two nations finalise a joint military and economic bloc to counter the Astasian realm. The order's reputation never recovered and neither did their influence. While still a powerful and influential force that denies any involvement, it could not silence every whistle blower. Nonetheless modern Astasia is still on the course the order spilt so much blood to keep it on. Ruled by those who will pursue conquest and the supremacy of the realm whatever the cost. And the order have plans to take it to greater heights.