New Orders

Emperor Shadow · New Orders

The Inquisitors (whether we like it or not), Armed Forces and Royal Guard tend to draw on the more combat-interested Sith.

This leaves the Church for more Force-invested users, some of whom have been expressing desire for more variety in their Orders.

I see no reason why not. We phased out the Alchemists but now we could stand room for one more "noble" Order.

Ideas?

Supreme Commander Alor

Some ideas from an Imperial Government website:

Emperor Shadow

What about some kind of organization devoted to exploration and colonization?

Supreme Commander Alor

That was on the list, actually.

Only problem would be that the Military is already exploring and patrolling the galaxy. Not all of it, but by 84 ABY, we have civilized/colonized much of the galaxy. Either us or the Chiss.

Emperor Shadow

Well a simple retcon can fix that.

The Military may be patrolling, but exploring isn't an exact Naval function.

Supreme Commander Alor

Star Trek Naval Ships were based on defense and exploration... Prime Directive 1... Not to interfere with other planets/species... But to explore the unknown territories...

Emperor Shadow

Well, the Sith Navy crushes... it doesn't observe. Very Happy

Supreme Commander Alor

Sounds good to me... Twisted Evil

But where would they get the ships from? Designate a fleet?

Supreme Commander Alor

Sorry for the double-post but I've been talking with Aequitas on AIM and his internet is down [using his phone to chat] so he asked me to post his idea.

Emperor Shadow

They were going to get shipyards in order to better facilitate it.

We have one of those.

Supreme Commander Alor

Why not have them run through the Military ships?

We already have a fleet we could give them. Instead of removing an entire resource from the Military, we can use all the shipyards to augment the Exploration Fleet, as well as having all the shipyards in times of emergency...

Emperor Shadow

Because then it wouldn't be a separate Order.

Darth Suspiria

This is just a thought. The Supreme Commander listed a whole group of things, and then Aequitas suggested a LOTR style lorekeeper, etc. What about an order say Order for the Investigation of Unusual Phenomenom with a sub directive to explore. They then could have like in Star Trek Science vessels dedicated to their studies.

They could study the galaxy's lore, go see if there is any basis to the myth's and legends, explore where they go to, and then collect what would be useful to the Empire. Kind of LOTR meets Star Trek meets Star Wars meets the X-files. Some cool rp's could come from it to. Someone finding something could find a weapon, a powerful ancient artifact, bring back the plague, etc and so on. Meet a Borg-like species. Lots of endless possibilities.

Supreme Commander Alor

Suspiria: I like that idea.

Emperor: The only reason I don't think getting their own shipyards is good is because the Orders are supposed to be separate AND different. Inquisitors, Guards, and Church don't have shipyards, nor do they share many functions/resources. That would kind of defeat the idea of a separate and different Order, a New Order...

EDIT: Perhaps a new class of ship could be created? Specifically for such a purpose?

Major General Celestial

To comment on Darth Suspirias idea: I love it!

And I could present Onderon as the head for a base or ship creation for the "scouts".

Emperor Shadow

Marix, the Military isn't the only means of ship production. Private corporations still make them.

Suspiria, it would be interesting, but how is that different from the Church/Alchemists?

Major General Celestial

Perhaps the inquisitors also handle investigations of sorts?

Supreme Commander Alor

Darth Suspiria

The Alchemists primarily create and search for things that could be used for weapons don't they?The Church some of that also, but mostly prophesy is their priority. This would be more encompassing. They explore strange phenomenon, also myths, legends that are recorded but haven't been answered as of yet. Go to unexplored planets looking for new plant life, fauna, minerals. Their directive is to EXPLORE, COLONIZE, DISCOVER AND CLAIM FOR THE EMPIRE. It would be kind of a wide imperative but they could have science and research vessels to aid them and a rank system. Science officer, junior researcher, senior researcher, etc.

High Defender Adenn

What about something like a recruitment order? We need some new blood on this site, and the one or two members we get every once and a while usually don't last long or don't even post at all. There are exceptions I know but I think that recruitment would be a good thing for this Empire.

Darth Suspiria

That is a good idea High Protector Adenn.

High Prophet Crozeus

That is what the IDC could be developed into. Suspiria - in the Church requirements state that all Prophets must submit 3 prophecies or 1 experiment per week. All must submit one experiment per month. So, your experiments could be what you mentioned above.

Lord Aequitas

Hmmm....

I suppose that's a good idea, Emperor, but how does that help Force-invested users.

High Prophet Crozeus

You could physically branch the Military into two seperate orders - Army and Navy.

Lord Aequitas

He could, but he wanted a more force-oriantated order.

High Prophet Crozeus

How about a system where you have consulars who channel the Force between them, performing all kinds of rituals and the like to better the Sith? They could be strong enough to perform a thought bomb effectively, and could have many strengthening rituals to better us, sort of like really powerful battle meditation.

Lord Aequitas

Could the Church not do that?

High Prophet Crozeus

Yes, in theory, but the Church can do pretty much anything Force-oriented.

Lord Aequitas

That's what you think.

Although, isn't Exploration and discovery kind of what the IDC does?

Darth Suspiria

Sometimes government agencies overlap but also have some criteria which is their own. Such as the CDC and the NIH in the US. Similar missions, but with some differing aspects.

Emperor Shadow

Darth Suspiria, addressing your earlier point, you seek to create both an exploration agency in the "real unvierse" by colonizing and researching planets, as well as a kind of panarmoral investigative squad?

Darth Suspiria

Yes Emperor Shadow that was my thought process. It would all be 'science' just one portion more 'concrete than the other.' Some of the less than concrete would be debunked. Some could be proven to be concrete.

High Prophet Crozeus

But how is this an order relating to the Force? A good idea yes, but this could be done by non-sensitives.

Supreme Commander Alor

Force related paranormal events or documents the Force levels of planets and species?

High Prophet Crozeus

Well, that could be done by people who are slightly sensitive, not full-blown Sith.

Darth Suspiria

Yes, Supreme Commander Marix. That would be the idea.

Lord Aequitas

One could argue, Prophet, that the same could be said for the other Orders.

Supreme Commander Alor

Most of the Military is non-Force Sensitives... The main Commanders happen to be Strongly Force Sensitive though. Inquisitors, agents are more than likely majorly nonFS, along with the Guardsmen. The Church could fit into that, but is less likely to...

Grand Inquisitor Prognie

The inquisitors are both force sensitive and non-force sensitive. I do not discriminate and find both have important qualities to them.

I suppose if this group is created, what exactly are they going to do to further the empire outside and inside? I mean, the Church, Guardsmen, Military, and Inquisitors all serve a purpose in RPs as well as storylines. How can you implement your group to be an important Order such as the rest?

Emperor Shadow

I'll let Suspiria defend this.

Grand Inquisitor Prognie

Good, that's who I was directing it to since I am assuming this is her idea. Razz

Darth Suspiria

In RL science is very important. Study and exploration are very important. Such as our space program and what it is doing on Mars at present. Preparing for hopefully a manned flight in 2020. The Sith should be wanting to explore, search for new planets to colonize, plants, fauna, minerals. There are numerous planets in the Wookie with no details. We could explore those worlds and bring them into the Empire. Search for force-sensitives to join the Empire as the Jedi do. They could be used in RP's to explore and setup for other Orders to go to a particular place. Or Orders such as the Military on patrol could discover something and send for them to investigate. But I think it would add a new aspect to RP's that could be interesting.

Grand Inquisitor Prognie

So basically you just want exploration but in RP forms?

Lord Aequitas

Yes, I fail to see how this could be an Order. A Council, perhaps, but not an Order.

Darth Suspiria

Actually I don't see how it could be a council. If you have force-sensitives and non force sensitives for phenomenon which is entirely scientific, ships etc. it will require quite a bit. There would be ranks researcher, force researcher maybe, assistants, science officers, etc.

Training would be required, hence a school of some type perhaps like a university. Just like any order there would be business to attend to and RP's would just be one piece. Orders from the Empire as to where he wanted explored and for what. The 'intelligence' as of rumors that on such and such a planet there is a person who can do this...or an animal that can do such and such and so on.

Emperor Shadow

I don't see this as a council. If you're familiar with a popular sci-fi group known as the Contact Society in some novels, this is similiar. It's a way to better explore.

Darth Suspiria

I haven't heard of the Contact Society, but I was thinking of some of the other sci-fi venues that have this type of exploration.

Supreme Prophet Praxeum

What about the idea of the Emperor of a HoloNet order. I really like that idea and think we should do it.

Darth Suspiria

I like that idea as well.

Supreme Commander Alor

But then we get back to the "What would people do?" part. How would the HoloNet offer RP opportunities?

I can see its usefulness, but it doesn't seem to be as much as an Order as the Exploration Idea...

Emperor Shadow

Forget the HoloNet. I have plans for that.

Darth Suspiria

Okay.

Emperor Shadow

But I like the exploration idea.

Darth Suspiria

Good. Did you have particular pieces of it you preferred, like a mission statement?

Emperor Shadow

I like the general purpose of both supernatural and cosmic. The broad mandate would allow those more interested in exploring the mysteries of the Force to find an Order. Every planet holds secrets, and in addition to simply mapping the stars, the group would develop new strategies, forge new hyperspace lanes, breed Meditation Spheres, etc.

High Prophet Crozeus

And can my idea of artifacts and rituals be inco-operated into it?

Emperor Shadow

The Church has a monopoly on creepy artifacts. The proposed Order could discover and research existing artifacts from their exploartions, but the Church has a pretty big cache as it is.

Lord Aequitas

Supreme Commander Alor

Got my vote too.

It'll call for some new ship designs and stuff, but that can be a co-Order job and the Military's contribution to setting this up...

High Prophet Crozeus

I think the Church should be given records of any "supernatural" uncoverings and actual artefacts for further research.

Lord Aequitas

I think the Order's own researchers would be comptant enough to do that.

Supreme Commander Alor

I think Crozeus means that the Church should be given records to study on their own. To "augment the research" as well as keeping the Church in the loop.

High Prophet Crozeus

There are only two people in it. And the original decorum was giving all found holocrons to the Church first.

Emperor Shadow

This Order would be independent and not at the whim of the Church or the Armed Forces, though you may offer to the head of this team whenever they are appointed to work on new designs for their private yards to manufacture.

Supreme Commander Alor

Lord Aequitas

And I'm sure holocrons would be examined by the High Historian and kept in the Holocron Room...

But, I digress. I was a bit confused to the idea at first, but I totally understand now and cannot wait until it's implementation.

High Prophet Crozeus

I too, am very excited about it. I only hope new recruits will buy into it. (If you accept the term)

Lord Aequitas

I'm sure it will have a competant leader.

Emperor Shadow

Yes. Now I get to announce it and seek applicants. Razz

Lord Aequitas

Yes you do.

Darth Suspiria

I had a bit of time to think while I worked today, and I thought of the 'school part' of it. Different Sith Lords and Masters know lots about the force, planets, cultures ect. that will be part of the exploration. Such as say the Supreme Commander wanted to give a lecture on what would be considered a militarily strategic place. Once the explorers found such a place they could give it over to the military. Or say what artifacts would be considered important? Someone from the church could give a lecture on that. Ect and so on. It would be part of the training of the explorers, and give the present members a chance to highlight their knowledge. Emperor Shadow could speak on a subject. Shadow Protector Tarna.

Emperor Shadow

So the Order would collect the writings of experts and catalog them?

High Prophet Crozeus

That is an excellent idea, Moff Suspiria. Are you suggesting that eahc lecture should be given in a roleplay form? As an efficient lecture might be quite long.

Emperor Shadow

I imagine it could have a Lecture Series sticky thread on various subjects.

Lord Aequitas

So what? The Military give a discription of a planet they would like and the Explorer go off and find it?

Darth Suspiria

I meant give lectures as part of the training. We could keep records of the posting of the lectures as well. Yes Crozeus like a lecture in RP form.

The lecturer could say give an outline of 'this is the best strategic place with all the information. Oxygen rich atmosphere, secluded valleys for military bases, etc and so on. Then allow the trainees to ask questions, and the lecturer answer.

Lord Aequitas

Training for what?

This is an Order?

Emperor Shadow

I think it'd be an interesting function of the Order if the lectures are clearly labeled as they are roleplayed.

Lord Aequitas

But why would the lectures be given my people not in the Order? I don't get it..

Emperor Shadow

If a single thread contained the information and the questions, it'd be hard to locate individual lectures if they're in the same thread. BUT, I could see space for the lectures in the Order forum.

Supreme Commander Alor

Because who would have a better grasp of a strategic planet than the Supreme Commander?

He would be "training" the members of the Exploration Order as to what features to look for to categorize the planet as strategic.

Lord Aequitas

Right, you've lost me.

Emperor Shadow

I'm moving this thread to the Assembly Hall. There's no private information. I'm going to let people thumb through it if they wish to apply for the Order Head position of this group.

Supreme Commander Alor

Where?

The lecturers would be experts in their field/area, and would pass the knowledge onto the members of the Exploration Order. Then they, in their explorations, would know what to declare certain planets. And who to send the reports to.

At least that is what I grasp on the matter.

Lord Aequitas

Ok, so this Order has to do what the other Order's tell them?

How does this make them an Order?

Supreme Commander Alor

it doesn't have to do what other Orders tell them. But just like the Church confers with the Military on security and defense, the Guard with the Inquisitors on "spying" and information gathering, and the Guard with the Military on Naval and perhaps Army movements/training... This new Order would confer with EXPERTS, not Orders, in the different fields present.

Being efficient, to put it one way. Instead of coming up with your own definitions for planets and such things, it would look for expert opinions/definitions instead and work off of them.

Emperor Shadow

If I'm right, I think Moff Suspiria meant to highlight that the Order INVITES lecturers to talk about a topic in which they are currently working.

High Prophet Crozeus

Surely the experts in a field are in the order that field represents?

Lord Aequitas

OOOOOH.

I get it know...

Darth Suspiria

No we haven't lost you. Follow the reasoning. As the Emperor said we could find a place to post the lectures, and they would need to be labeled which is easily done. As the Supreme Commander said, he would best know what a strategic place is, so he would give that lecture. Each subject addressed could be lectured by someone with knowledge in the subject matter.

Grand Inquisitor Prognie

I think it's an interesting way of uniting the orders together or being like a base requirement for joining an order. This way people are getting the actual "learning about orders" before joining them. I think this will give the order even greater purpose because it is pushing people to an even greater future. Suspira seems like she'd be good for teaching so whatever better than to being the teacher of students for their future positions in the Empire. Though that's just my slight suggestion to this order.

Supreme Commander Alor

I would assume that this new Order would also be involved with species/cultures?

So the Procurate [or Justice Council member] would lecture on the different forms of "Justice" in the many cultures.

This new Order could also be in charge of keeping the many species of the galaxy in Order. Perhaps involved with checking bios for correct use of a species?

The Church [a Prophet] would lecture on "Force-powerful" planets/places [such as Dagobah and Coruscant where the old Jedi Temple was]...

Emperor Shadow

I think we're forgetting that the current Order in proposition is one of exploration and discovery, and that lecturing is a part of THAT, not career development courses.

High Mage Serratus

Seeing as we're comparing this to fictional organisations, perhaps we should add some aspects of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense of Hellboy fame. In addition to its current research functions and such, it would also be responsible for the prevention and redression of outbreaks of massive Force power or Sith alchemy gone wrong, such as the Behemoth from the World Below. To this end, the group should be given special weapons specifically designed to combat the Force and Sith alchemical monsters, such as the Church-designed Ysalimiri grenade.

Emperor Shadow

... That's actually a very valid duty for a group of explorers.

High Mage Serratus

Why thank you Emperor.

Darth Suspiria

Excellent discussion on all of this. Parameters part of the finalizing process Emperor Shadow?

Lord Aequitas

I still think that this sounds like something out of the Military. I still think there is no need for a new Order based on exploration and discovery.

High Prophet Crozeus

I think there should be less on scouting and more on actually looking for Force-oriented things. As Moff Aequitas rightly said, scouting is a military matter. If teh scouts were to be looking solely for Force-based things, such as sources of power or artefacts, that would be more acceptable as a Force order.

Lord Aequitas

We are not in the Moff Council anymore, use my title.

I think we rushed into this too quickly. We should have discussed more ideas.