Knight of the Southern Star

Recently, Queen Tatsu Tachibana Larssen has prevailed on her husband, King Einar Tachibana Larssen, to allow her, with the concurrence of The King's Council, to award outstanding soldiers and guardians of the Tachibana-Larssen Royal Guards and Royal Escorts of the Southern Star with a medal and honors as Knights of the Southern Star.   Being honored as a Knight of the Southern Star does not come with an increase in rank or salary, but marks the soldier or guardian as having been of particular service to the Queen, princesses, or other noble women, usually by protecting them from an attack of some kind. It also marks the Knight as someone favored by the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Sudland and likely to be promoted in the future.   Knights of the Southern Star are typically awarded by Queen Tatsu Tachibana Larssen personally during a session of the royal court in Citadel Larssen. It is a tradition of the award ceremony that the recipient does not know beforehand of the award, and so being summoned to the Citadel is usually accompanied by some fear and nervousness - all suddenly relieved, sometimes with a great deal of laughter by all present, by being presented by one of the highest honors that a member of Royal Guards can receive.   During the awards ceremony, the member of the Royal Guard or Royal Escorts is given a special medallion that is allowed to be affixed to his or her uniform and wear at all times, identifying the wearer as a Knight of the Southern Star. Knights of the Southern Star are also allowed to suffix their signature with "K.S.S."