The Gilded Orchid
The Order of the Gilded Orchid stood as the main defense force for the cuirizu during the height of the Deep Undergrowth. Whenever the cuirizu race came into conflict with other outsiders, or even mortals, the Gilded Orchid existed as the shield by which the orders could gather behind. When Andronika was slain by Thorne, everything changed.
As the order suffered massive losses at the hands of the Briar Harvest the son of the Primogen, Kaine, struggled to rally the order. Facing the same kind of extinction as was befalling the Deep Undergrowth, Kaine turned to the Golden Sepal and petitioned Alliyah for asylum. In exchange for a place to retreat to, Kaine promised the remains of his Order as vassals to the Sepals in order to protect their holdings in the chaotic days to come. With the two orders united as one, the forward advance of the Briar Harvest was halted and the order was forced to withdraw as the tides of battle took a dramatic turn.
The Gilded Orchid, as a whole, exists now as a vassal order wholly owned by that of the Golden Sepal. Every Golden Sepal Vault has guarded by members of the Orchid, who have all sworn to give their lives in defense of the Sepals holdings, bearing their signature shields at all times. Though Orchids are skilled in a staggering array of martial weaponry, it is their gleaming shields with the symbol of the order emblazoned on the front that they have become known for, every one of which is woven with magic to make them inordinately durable. The magic and durability of the shields has led many of the order to rely on the shields as weapons in their own right, with a vast majority of the orchids having training in shield combat.
Known as professional soldiers among the rest of the orders, there are few cuirizu who would ever take a member of the Gilded Orchid lightly. Even the youngest members of the order are said to be more than a match for experienced members of other orders, leading many to be thankful that there are comparatively so few remaining. Despite their reputation, Orchids are not built largely like the order of the Briar Harvest with many being described as wirey. Most are physically toned and hold a degree of stamina beyond the norm of cuirizu physique with longer limbs and slightly more understated sexual features compared to other orders. Matching their preternatural stamina is an Orchid's agility and athleticism, exhibiting a degree of combat finesse and prowess seldom found among other cuirizu.
Though possessing physically appealing bodies, few can say if cuirizu of the Gilded Orchid are actually beautiful. This is due to the helmets the Orchids are known for wearing, which usually only reveal their mouths. Though the Orchids will march into battle bare chested with little in the way of heavy armor, their helmets remain on at all times. In the rare occasions the helmets are removed, Orchids are known to be sublimely beautiful, with some saying they possess the most beautiful features of any cuirizu. The truth of this is hard to determine, with so few having actually seen the faces and the anticipation of the reveal perhaps lending weight to the final result.
Besides their build and ever-present helmets, the Gilded Orchid is known to bear the tattoos and piercings that so many cuirizu have come to appreciate. Many among the orchids will actually wear more extravagant and eye catching jewelry in their bodies to create a focal point for enemies to focus upon, giving them a smaller window they need to defend in a fight. How effective this is though is subject to great debate among the order, with many believing the strategy to have negligible effect and to be more for show than anything.
Structure
Even before the death of Andronika, the Order of the Gilded Orchid had a structure unique to its militaristic outlook. The Gilded Orchid has some familiar roles, but even those will often perform in different ways than they might in other orders.
Primogen: After the original Primogen of the Gilded Orchid was slain in battle at the hands of her sister, Thorne, Andronika's son took control of the order. Kaine's quick thinking in the midst of the chaos that had taken hold of the order spared it the same fate as the Deep Undergrowth. Today Kaine serves as the Primogen in place of his mother, directing the movement of the order in tandem with the Golden Sepal, often working closely with the Black Lotus of the order. Kaine serves as the ultimate authority within the order, commanding every bit the same level of respect as Andronika once did. Kaine's keen tactical mind and formidable combat abilities are said to be unparalleled within the order, but haven't been enough to sufficiently counter the Briar Harvest.
The Primogen is one of the view cuirizu in the order that still has a Garden, having inherited it from Andronika when he took control. Kaine spends only a small portion of his time in his Garden the way other cuirizu do, instead allowing those who have earned breeding rights to make use of it instead, viewing it as a more efficient use of the resource.
Knight Commander: Serving directly under the Primogen, the Knight Commanders stand at the head of each division of the order with each division dividing up the responsibilities of protecting the Golden Sepals. The Vault Division handles only matters pertaining to the protection of the Vaults themselves, the Garden divisions handles protection of Gardens not contained within vaults, and the Field division handles movements of Orchids in the field tasked with proactively protecting the Golden Sepal. The Three Knight Commanders keep one another in the loop on all matters but maintain an degree of autonomy for their commands, only being fully accountable to the Primogen himself.
Knight Commanders each have Gardens of their own the way the Primogen does, making them centers of power for each of their divisions. Orchids on leave from their duties typically take leave in one of the three Gardens when possible, making use of any breeding rights they may be entitled to during this time. Though the regular tasks for the Gardens are left to the Firsts of the Knight Commanders, the cuirizu do take periodic time off as well where they personally manage the Gardens for short periods to ensure everything is going smoothly.
Knight Gallant: Knight Gallants operate directly under Knight Commanders, dealing with the direct assignments and movements of Orchids tasked to Sepals and their holdings. Most Knight Gallants are not attached to Sepals themselves, though some have been known to take on duties with particularly high ranking Sepals in need of the best protection possible. Knight Gallants on such assignments are usually only retained for short periods, often training Orchids up specifically to take their place with a Sepal before they depart.
In times of war, Knight Gallants function as generals that oversee movements of troops and make command decisions in the field. Knight Gallants usually only co-ordinate with other Knight Gallants within their own division but during times of war will designate one Knight Gallant per division specifically with sharing information between each other for rapid updates.
Knight Major: Knight Majors are responsible for commanding individual squads, in instances where squads for Sepals are required. Knight Majors work closely with the Sepal Mistress to which they are assigned and are often tasked with her personal protection while the Sepals under her handle the other guard duties around the Vault or Garden. During times of war, Knight Majors are more common, with many cuirizu being elevated to the rank in order to help management of troops. Knight Majors are valued for maintaining cool heads in combat and making informed decisions even with limited information available to them.
Knight Champion: Though the Gilded Orchid serves primarily as protection for the Golden Sepal, there are some who are assigned with individual tasks or targets. Knight Champions are dispatched to secure areas or eliminate individuals who are a threat to the order or the the Golden Sepal. Cuirizu who serve as Knight Champions are valued for their ability to overcome superior numbers with minimal resources available, operating behind enemy lines for long periods if necessary. Some Knight Champions employ subtle skillsets of stealth and guile but more often times than not prefer to manage their tasks by applying overwhelming force.
Knight Champions don't gain many opportunities for advancement within the order besides who it is they take their orders from. Most Champions are assigned to Majors but can gain assignments working with Gallants or Commanders if deemed worthy. Champions often get priority breeding rights even over other superior officers due to the higher risk they take venturing into the world to accomplish their tasks.
Knight Cavalier: There are few members of the Cavaliers left within the Gilded Orchid, as the Knight Cavaliers used to be a class of Orchid that was assigned to the protection of important figures of other orders, namely the Elysium Apple and Deep Undergrowth. Now that the whole of the Order is dedicated to the protection of the Golden Sepal, there is little room left for the Knight Cavaliers. Those who do remain are relics of the time of Andronika, regarded by their peers as obsolete but with no one willing to strip them of their rank, allowing them to keep it almost as a memorial. Some Cavaliers willingly took other positions early on, becoming either Champions or Gallants, but most were unwilling to let go.
There is a small portion of Knight Cavaliers who were on assignment with other orders when things fell apart and were simply never recalled. These cuirizu remain with their original charges, protecting them to the best of their ability in the hopes that one day their peers will be given renewed purpose once again.
Emissary: Similar to Knight Cavaliers, Emissaries were assigned to other orders, albeit in specifically diplomatic capacities. Emissaries were responsible for the main lines of communication between a given Garden and its parent order with that of the Gilded Orchid. If the order required additional defense against a threat, it was the Emissaries job to ensure that they got it while securing whatever the resources was that the Garden was willing to trade for it. Emissaries also enjoyed more diverse breeding despite lacking Gardens of their own at the time, often negotiating rights with whatever Garden they were embedded with. Though not specifically directed to help assist with defense the way Cavaliers were, Emissaries were often known to engage in combat with any threat to a Garden they were embedded with, making them highly sought after at the time.
When Andronika was slain most Emissaries were folded into other ranks within the order, unlike the Cavaliers. Some Emissaries remained with other Gardens and orders if there was a particularly strong bond and were never formally recalled, but few of them exist today. Most Emissaries were known for strong magical talents and extensive knowledge of magical lore in addition to their cool headed brand of diplomacy.
Even before the fall of the Deep Undergrowth, the Gilded Orchid was not making heavy use of the Garden structure due to their unique role in cuirizu society. Traditionally Orchids have central Gardens for their divisions that are considered communal with each of those Gardens being more robust and fortified in order to cater to multiple cuirizu at once. Firsts of such Gardens hold considerable authority over numerous individuals with the role of the Second even holding more power than that of Firsts of other orders. The need for recreation and downtime is high, making Breeders more in demand. Squire: Because members of the order so rarely have Gardens, some have begun the mortal practice of taking squires of a sort. Gilded Squires are mortals who are attached to a cuirizu as their dedicated servant, learning from them while also providing a plethora of every day services to their Orchid. Squires often develop the same talents and specializations of the cuirizu that they are attached to and learn to service them sexually in the most effective ways. Though there is no rule against seeding a squire, most Orchids are loath to take the risk with a squire that has proven themselves truly worthy on the battlefield. Squires sit slightly outside of the normally hierarchy established with the Sepals, with most Orchids taking issue with any Sepal who presumes to discipline, manhandle, or bed their squires. Problems with a squire are expected to be addressed to the Orchid, with the cuirizu taking full responsibility for the actions of their squire and taking any punishment that might be necessary out on them later. While there are orchids who allow liberties to be taken with their squires, these terms are always agreed upon in advance and never taken on the fly. Many inexperienced Sepals have been surprised with how quickly a Orchid will retaliate for having their squire struck in any way, then in turn being punished by their own Sepal superiors after the fact once word has spread. Seedbed: Seedbeds are a classification for a Breeder in a Sepal Garden or Vault, one that designates the breeder specifically as being under Fleshright to an Orchid responsible for guarding that vault. Seedbeds are the primary way in which most Orchids have to breed. Typically the Orchid will find someone within a Sepal's Vault that appeals to her and petition for Fleshright to the Sepal, if awarded the Breeder becomes a seedbed with breeding priority transfering to the Orchid from the Sepal, though the Sepal still maintains secondary Fleshright for other purposes. There are some instances where a seedbed is acquired by the Orchid from outside of the Vault and is transferred into it, in this instance the Orchid must petition the Sepal for the Seedbed's lodging, effectively securing her place in exchange for the shared Fleshright. Knightswain: An incredibly rare role in the years after the fall of the Deep Undergrowth. Knightswains were mortals who had completed their training as squires and been given formal charges of their own within the order of the Gilded Orchid. Knightswains were usually attached to a given Orchid but were trusted in ways that Firsts usually are, albeit with military holdings, tasks, and objectives. Knightswains were allowed to gather their own troops, serving as tasks forces and strike teams under a Gilded Knight of any rank, with some even forming security teams for important individuals inside the order or out of it. Finally Knightswains were valued as consorts to their Knights, who typically preferred to bed proven warriors and soldiers. Since the last War of Trees, the practice of elevating Squires to Knightswains has come almost completely to an end. The reasons for this aren't immediately clear, but much of it has to do with the Gilded Orchid being a vassal order to the Golden Sepal, and functioning less independently as it once did. Knightswains also present two problems for the Golden Sepal, the first being security risks to their vaults and the second being mortals sitting outside of their tightly regulated structure. While Squires are tolerated as a small allowance to the Orchids, Knightswains were viewed as too much independence given to mortals inside Sepal territory. Still, there are a few Orchids who have managed to talk their Sepal Lieges into allowing the practice, though it remains incredibly rare. Some are still held over from before the practice went out, all of which are from the long lived mortal races such as elves and dwarves. Knightswains still in operation today are viewed as strange oddities and curiosities, with a near mythological romanticism about them.
Non-Cuirizu Roles
Even before the fall of the Deep Undergrowth, the Gilded Orchid was not making heavy use of the Garden structure due to their unique role in cuirizu society. Traditionally Orchids have central Gardens for their divisions that are considered communal with each of those Gardens being more robust and fortified in order to cater to multiple cuirizu at once. Firsts of such Gardens hold considerable authority over numerous individuals with the role of the Second even holding more power than that of Firsts of other orders. The need for recreation and downtime is high, making Breeders more in demand. Squire: Because members of the order so rarely have Gardens, some have begun the mortal practice of taking squires of a sort. Gilded Squires are mortals who are attached to a cuirizu as their dedicated servant, learning from them while also providing a plethora of every day services to their Orchid. Squires often develop the same talents and specializations of the cuirizu that they are attached to and learn to service them sexually in the most effective ways. Though there is no rule against seeding a squire, most Orchids are loath to take the risk with a squire that has proven themselves truly worthy on the battlefield. Squires sit slightly outside of the normally hierarchy established with the Sepals, with most Orchids taking issue with any Sepal who presumes to discipline, manhandle, or bed their squires. Problems with a squire are expected to be addressed to the Orchid, with the cuirizu taking full responsibility for the actions of their squire and taking any punishment that might be necessary out on them later. While there are orchids who allow liberties to be taken with their squires, these terms are always agreed upon in advance and never taken on the fly. Many inexperienced Sepals have been surprised with how quickly a Orchid will retaliate for having their squire struck in any way, then in turn being punished by their own Sepal superiors after the fact once word has spread. Seedbed: Seedbeds are a classification for a Breeder in a Sepal Garden or Vault, one that designates the breeder specifically as being under Fleshright to an Orchid responsible for guarding that vault. Seedbeds are the primary way in which most Orchids have to breed. Typically the Orchid will find someone within a Sepal's Vault that appeals to her and petition for Fleshright to the Sepal, if awarded the Breeder becomes a seedbed with breeding priority transfering to the Orchid from the Sepal, though the Sepal still maintains secondary Fleshright for other purposes. There are some instances where a seedbed is acquired by the Orchid from outside of the Vault and is transferred into it, in this instance the Orchid must petition the Sepal for the Seedbed's lodging, effectively securing her place in exchange for the shared Fleshright. Knightswain: An incredibly rare role in the years after the fall of the Deep Undergrowth. Knightswains were mortals who had completed their training as squires and been given formal charges of their own within the order of the Gilded Orchid. Knightswains were usually attached to a given Orchid but were trusted in ways that Firsts usually are, albeit with military holdings, tasks, and objectives. Knightswains were allowed to gather their own troops, serving as tasks forces and strike teams under a Gilded Knight of any rank, with some even forming security teams for important individuals inside the order or out of it. Finally Knightswains were valued as consorts to their Knights, who typically preferred to bed proven warriors and soldiers. Since the last War of Trees, the practice of elevating Squires to Knightswains has come almost completely to an end. The reasons for this aren't immediately clear, but much of it has to do with the Gilded Orchid being a vassal order to the Golden Sepal, and functioning less independently as it once did. Knightswains also present two problems for the Golden Sepal, the first being security risks to their vaults and the second being mortals sitting outside of their tightly regulated structure. While Squires are tolerated as a small allowance to the Orchids, Knightswains were viewed as too much independence given to mortals inside Sepal territory. Still, there are a few Orchids who have managed to talk their Sepal Lieges into allowing the practice, though it remains incredibly rare. Some are still held over from before the practice went out, all of which are from the long lived mortal races such as elves and dwarves. Knightswains still in operation today are viewed as strange oddities and curiosities, with a near mythological romanticism about them.
Culture
The Gilded Orchid has always been a militaristic order, focusing more on the defense of the cuirizu than anything, often securing its breeding stock from other order that it supplied protection to. The order spent ages defending the cuirizu as a whole from outside threats, working close to home near the Gardens of the other orders, while orders like the Briar Harvest or the Scarlet Thorn ventured into the field. During the largest wars, the Gilded Orchid was often credited with being the rock on which other armies broke.
The order's role during the Wars of Trees was less clear however. When orders went to war with one another, many would have Orchids embedded within their numbers that they would try to use against one another, a practice that Andronika moved swiftly to undercut. Within a short time, the Primogen had instilled a rule that any orders who sought to use Orchid defenses against each other would both lose the benefit of Orchid protection, a policy that was upheld by the ruling Deep Undergrowth at the time.
As the ages went on, the Orchid began to shift it's stance however, pulling its protection from the rebellious orders in general and only offering protection to those aligned with the Deep Undergrowth. This shift led to the Orchids becoming increasingly specialized in countering the tactics of the Briar Harvest. It was perhaps due to this hyper specialization that the Briar Harvest chose to specifically target the order alongside the Deep Undergrowth as it did.
Today the order still maintains a sparse few Gardens, using them communally within their divisions rather than having Gardens for each and every cuirizu. The Gilded Orchid relies on the Golden Sepal for most things, including breeding, accepting these things in exchange for the constant protection they offer to the Sepals. There are those within the order however that wish to break from this format, viewing the Sepals as taking advantage of the arrangement and dragging their feet with any form of repayment at nearly every opportunity. Those who wish to break from the Sepals would prefer to return to offering their services to a few of the other orders who remained loyal to the Deep Undergrowth during the last War of Trees, seeing the offer as a possible means of binding the orders back together once more.
The Night of Broken Blades
On the night that Andronika faced Thorne on the battlefield, everyone present knew it was history in the making. Andronika is said to be the only one among the Primogen who truly offered Thorne and a challenge and that the battle between them was one of a handful of events that Thorne ever got to meeting her own demise. The Orchids believe that Andronika had the opportunity to slay Thorne during the fight but hesitated, ultimately giving Thorne the opening she needed to kill her. Those within the Briar Harvest insist Thorne only took so long to best Andronika because she had spent most of her energy on Dionaea. Whatever the truth of the final battle is, it is remembered as the Night of Broken Blades. After Andronika fell the Orchids suffered losses the likes of which they had never seen before, with nearly all of the Elder members of the order being slain at their Primogen's side. Every year the Orchids go silent at the same hour the Primogen was slain, remembering her loss, with the Sepals they are assigned to affording them time to themselves in order to grieve. Some Sepals have taken on the policy of repurposing their Gardens to cater to the Orchid for a day long recognition of what the order gave, often with free reign on breeding. Those not attached to Sepals at the time find solace of their own, even with each other, hoping that some day the new Primogen will lead them back to their former greatness.
On the night that Andronika faced Thorne on the battlefield, everyone present knew it was history in the making. Andronika is said to be the only one among the Primogen who truly offered Thorne and a challenge and that the battle between them was one of a handful of events that Thorne ever got to meeting her own demise. The Orchids believe that Andronika had the opportunity to slay Thorne during the fight but hesitated, ultimately giving Thorne the opening she needed to kill her. Those within the Briar Harvest insist Thorne only took so long to best Andronika because she had spent most of her energy on Dionaea. Whatever the truth of the final battle is, it is remembered as the Night of Broken Blades. After Andronika fell the Orchids suffered losses the likes of which they had never seen before, with nearly all of the Elder members of the order being slain at their Primogen's side. Every year the Orchids go silent at the same hour the Primogen was slain, remembering her loss, with the Sepals they are assigned to affording them time to themselves in order to grieve. Some Sepals have taken on the policy of repurposing their Gardens to cater to the Orchid for a day long recognition of what the order gave, often with free reign on breeding. Those not attached to Sepals at the time find solace of their own, even with each other, hoping that some day the new Primogen will lead them back to their former greatness.
Assets
Andronika's Tomb
Located to the east of the Imperium there is a place where a large unusual Willow grows twisted from a collection of standing stones. Below the stones, in chambers amid the roots of the tree, is Andronika's Tomb. Erected in the exact place where her body fell, the tomb serves as the final resting place for the Primogen and each of the orchids who died at her side. The stones, which used to hold the names of the orchids have begun to erode with the names being worn away. The Willow never blooms, but seems to continue to grow even to this day, dwarfing other willows of its kind by an immense degree. The Tomb itself has become neglected as well over the years, with few of the Gilded Orchid being able to get out to it and perform the tasks of upkeep needed to preserve it. But for those who can make the journey, the remains of the Primogen can still be found among the roots, with many attributing the massive scale of the willow atop the site to it's feeding upon the corpse. Few know this to be only a portion of the truth. The willow itself draws upon not just the body of the Primogen, but all of those who were entombed there, and that the collective experiences and perhaps even the minds of those cuirizu remain stored within the tree. There is a small group of Knight Cavaliers who have meditated and slept Among the roots of Andronika's Willow and discovered that they can hear her voice when doing so. So far the voice comes only in whispered fragments and the Cavaliers are trying to find a way to refine the process. Aegis Hall
Before the Gilded Orchid was forced to become a Vassal Order to the Golden Sepal they were organized mostly into Halls, Gardens that were heavily fortified and functioned as command centers for operations the order took for other orders. Most also contained the means of producing weapons and armor of some kind, but none of which was quite as renowned as Aegis Hall. Located in the Thicket of Ivalia, Aegis Hall is legendary for its defensive fortifications and it's production of the Shields the Gilded Orchid has come to be known for. The Orchid Shields produced here are sent to members all over the order, being carefully crafted with powerful magic and Viridium mined from the great trees of the plane. During the last War of Trees, Aegis Hall was one of the last remaining holdouts against the Briar Harvest and was where Kaine met with Alliyah to petition her for her aid. Aegis Hall is made almost entirely of materials imported to Ivalia from outside of the plane, though it had not started that way. As the ages passed and friction between the orders grew, Andronika had become increasinly concerned with using materials that could conceivably be manipulated by the Phyllomagic of a powerful enough cuirizu. New materials were brought in from Alkotas and other Planes to create a structure that could not be bypassed so easily. The towering fortress stands today as a testament to the former Primogen's wisdom and remains under the command of a Knight Gallant of the Garden division. Aegis Hall is also one of the few places where one will find Orchids who are not attached to Sepals and is one of the few holdings of the Gilded Orchid that remains free of the Golden Sepal's influence. Stonewall Garden
Located in the forests of central Caledonia, Stonewall Garden is perhaps the largest Garden the order has available to it. Functioning as the main Garden for the Vault Division of the order, this Garden would have likely been designated a Hall in the days before the last War of Trees due to the level of defense surrounding it. Stonewall Garden houses a large amount of mortals to accommodate the visiting cuirizu of the Vault Division and provide them with relaxation, resources, and breeding. Because the security of the Vaults of the Golden Sepal is of the utmost importance to the Sepals, a great deal of the Golden Sepal's wealth has been invested into ensuring the Stonewall Garden has everything it needs to operate smoothly. The Garden operates so efficiently that the Vault division's numbers continue to grow more steadily than those of the other divisions, with more and more of the Orchids being born into the division or cuirizu wanting to transfer into it due to the level of breeding made available to it. Stonewall Garden enjoys a great deal of magical protection as well, allowing it to be overlooked by those not actively looking for it and shielded from divination by those who are. Each of the walls is fortified with powerful wards and Ballistas along the walls modified and enchanted to deliver bolts deadly enough to puncture dragonhide from staggering distances.
Located to the east of the Imperium there is a place where a large unusual Willow grows twisted from a collection of standing stones. Below the stones, in chambers amid the roots of the tree, is Andronika's Tomb. Erected in the exact place where her body fell, the tomb serves as the final resting place for the Primogen and each of the orchids who died at her side. The stones, which used to hold the names of the orchids have begun to erode with the names being worn away. The Willow never blooms, but seems to continue to grow even to this day, dwarfing other willows of its kind by an immense degree. The Tomb itself has become neglected as well over the years, with few of the Gilded Orchid being able to get out to it and perform the tasks of upkeep needed to preserve it. But for those who can make the journey, the remains of the Primogen can still be found among the roots, with many attributing the massive scale of the willow atop the site to it's feeding upon the corpse. Few know this to be only a portion of the truth. The willow itself draws upon not just the body of the Primogen, but all of those who were entombed there, and that the collective experiences and perhaps even the minds of those cuirizu remain stored within the tree. There is a small group of Knight Cavaliers who have meditated and slept Among the roots of Andronika's Willow and discovered that they can hear her voice when doing so. So far the voice comes only in whispered fragments and the Cavaliers are trying to find a way to refine the process. Aegis Hall
Before the Gilded Orchid was forced to become a Vassal Order to the Golden Sepal they were organized mostly into Halls, Gardens that were heavily fortified and functioned as command centers for operations the order took for other orders. Most also contained the means of producing weapons and armor of some kind, but none of which was quite as renowned as Aegis Hall. Located in the Thicket of Ivalia, Aegis Hall is legendary for its defensive fortifications and it's production of the Shields the Gilded Orchid has come to be known for. The Orchid Shields produced here are sent to members all over the order, being carefully crafted with powerful magic and Viridium mined from the great trees of the plane. During the last War of Trees, Aegis Hall was one of the last remaining holdouts against the Briar Harvest and was where Kaine met with Alliyah to petition her for her aid. Aegis Hall is made almost entirely of materials imported to Ivalia from outside of the plane, though it had not started that way. As the ages passed and friction between the orders grew, Andronika had become increasinly concerned with using materials that could conceivably be manipulated by the Phyllomagic of a powerful enough cuirizu. New materials were brought in from Alkotas and other Planes to create a structure that could not be bypassed so easily. The towering fortress stands today as a testament to the former Primogen's wisdom and remains under the command of a Knight Gallant of the Garden division. Aegis Hall is also one of the few places where one will find Orchids who are not attached to Sepals and is one of the few holdings of the Gilded Orchid that remains free of the Golden Sepal's influence. Stonewall Garden
Located in the forests of central Caledonia, Stonewall Garden is perhaps the largest Garden the order has available to it. Functioning as the main Garden for the Vault Division of the order, this Garden would have likely been designated a Hall in the days before the last War of Trees due to the level of defense surrounding it. Stonewall Garden houses a large amount of mortals to accommodate the visiting cuirizu of the Vault Division and provide them with relaxation, resources, and breeding. Because the security of the Vaults of the Golden Sepal is of the utmost importance to the Sepals, a great deal of the Golden Sepal's wealth has been invested into ensuring the Stonewall Garden has everything it needs to operate smoothly. The Garden operates so efficiently that the Vault division's numbers continue to grow more steadily than those of the other divisions, with more and more of the Orchids being born into the division or cuirizu wanting to transfer into it due to the level of breeding made available to it. Stonewall Garden enjoys a great deal of magical protection as well, allowing it to be overlooked by those not actively looking for it and shielded from divination by those who are. Each of the walls is fortified with powerful wards and Ballistas along the walls modified and enchanted to deliver bolts deadly enough to puncture dragonhide from staggering distances.
Founding Date
The Age of Fire
Alternative Names
The Broken
Demonym
Orchids
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
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