Myisi sten Hetairoi
After spending many years as a Hypaspist, in which they serve under and learn from a Hetairos tutor, it may be determined by said tutor that the student is ready to become a master, joining the ranks of the Hetairoi order. The initiation into the Hetairoi is a highly secretive and mysticized affair held behind locked doors in one of the three palaces of the Hetairoi.
Execution
During the tutelage of a Hypaspist, it may be determined by their master that the student is ready to be promoted to the ranks of Hetairos. This usually happens in the hypaspist's early twenties, though it has happened as early as seventeen in one situation. Shortly after, preparations are made and the hypaspist is taken to the Palace of the Hetairoi. The ceremony is held in the inner sanctums of the palace with only the hypaspist, their hetairos master, and the Magalos Promachos of the Hetairoi present. There are three parts of the ceremony, with the first being the Megalos Promachos confronting the hetairos master, asking a series of question to determine the hypaspist's worth, confirming the decision made by the hetairos in starting this initiation. Second is an oath, stated by the Megalos Promachos and repeated by the hypaspist, followed by a renunciation of all previous loyalties by the hypaspist and swearing complete loyalty to the Hetairoi. Finally, the Megalos Promachos challenges the hypaspist to a duel armed with kopides, not to the death but until the Megalos Promachos is satisfied. The mentality behind the duel is that the Megalos Promachos is protecting the integrity of the order while the initiate is seeking to improve the order by their inclusion. After all this is done, the hypasipist is officially made a hetairos, and given all the honors and prestige that come with the title.
Participants
Obviously, the most important figure in this ceremony is the Hetairos initiate, but other noteworthy participants are the initiate's former master who is meant to vouch for the initiate, as well as the Grand Promachos of the Hetairoi, who leads the ceremony and spars with the initiate.
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