Sisters of Surrea

The Sisters of Surrea are an all-female organization of fighters centered in the Empire of Trynser, though there is another branch in Tasadeon and in Millisymph (where they're called Las Hermanas de Surrea). There are tens of thousands of women trained by the Surrean Academy in Lydaelia and its branches. These women work in all-female military units, bodyguard teams, free roving adventurers, and as courtesans.
== History ==
Surrea was a noble girl in Lydaelia fifteen hundred years ago. The city was the seat of the ancient Lydaelian Empire that had just fallen to the First Empire of Trynser years before. As a native noble girl in a conquered land, she was poorly treated by the incoming nobility. After she was assaulted and raped by one of the city's overlords, she and a dozen members of her all-female retinue escaped to the mountains of Micoöm, the island Lydaelia is located on.
Surrea and her ladies studied the fighting arts, remembering the legends of great female warriors of the Lydaelian Empire. In time, the women formed a group of hundreds, mostly men, but with dozens of fighting women, that waged a ruinous guerilla campaign across Micoöm. Other independent groups resisted as well.
Imperial Crown Prince Julian (later Julian III), arrived with Imperial reinforcements. During several more years of fighting, the Crown Prince realized that the attitudes of his nobles on the island were the main cause of the resistance. The prince sacked the worst of the nobles and demanded the Lydaelians be treated as fellow Trynsern. In the meantime, his forces continued its campaign against the resisters. At length, a meeting was arranged between the prince and Surrea.
Surrea presented her grievances, the Prince his demands, and Surrea's honorable surrender was arranged. More notably, the warrior woman and the Crown Prince discovered a mutual attraction. A year later they were wed and upon the death of Julian's father, Surrea was Empress of the Empire. After a number of happy years of marriage, Julian passed on and Surrea was in sole command of the Empire.
She commanded that an Academy for women be started in Lydaelia, where they were to be educated to the standards of men, and weapons and defense training was not to be neglected. This became the Surrean Academy in Lydaelia.
The Academy was shut down during the Sanassian Occupation, though individual groups of women kept the traditions alive in unoccupied portions of the former Empire. When Lydaelia was liberated, the new Academy was built in several months.
== Empire of Trynser ==
Today, the Surrean Academy is not the only path to women's education and martial training. It has, however, set the precedent as Surrea had wished. Less than a quarter of armswomen in Trynser are Surreans, though the organization is still so prevalent that Trynsern female warriors are known as "Surreans". The Trynsern Imperial government is still closely tied to the Sisters of Surrea, with Surreans serving in several military units, and as bodyguards for several prominent nobles. Most notably, the Imperial Crown Princes through the years were served by the Surrean Guard, though many see this as nothing more than a battle-harem.
== Millisymph ==
In Millisymph, Las Hermanas de Surrea as women fighters are more exceptional than they are in the more egalitarian Empire of Trynser. Most armswomen here are members of the order, although there are a few female knights. They are followers of Grebonia, goddess of both knowledge and women warriors. Consequently, they are expected to have "cerebros, así como la fuerza" ("brains as well as brawn.") Most of them would highly resent any implied connection between the sisterhood and courtesans.
== GURPS templates ==
=== Las Hermanas de Surrea ===
==== Minimum Requirements ====
Attributes: IQ 10, DX 10
Skills: Melee Weapon (Reach 1+) 12, Teaching 12, Theology (Lamadien) or Philosophy (Grebonian) 12
Two of the following: Combat Reflexes; Communication and Empathy, Knowledge, or Mind Control spell at 14+ (2 spells qualify); Eidetic/Photographic Memory; Melee Weapon (Any with Reach 1+) 14; Religious Ritual (Lamadien); Riding (Equines or Pegasi) 12+; Trained by a Master; High Pain Threshold may be accepted in some circumstances
May not have: Compulsive Lying, Confused, Cowardice, Gullibility, or Pacifism (Total Nonviolence). Fearfulness is questionable.
== Noteworthy Sisters of Surrea ==
*Feyannyha Lacourbeshay
*Ivory Drachea
*Jade
*Karen "Chastity" Markall
*Silvestra Korrina
*Theresa Stormwind
*Queen Astoria Igonza of Tasadeon
== See also ==
Sister of Surrea Prestige ClassCategory:Sisters of Surrea
Category:Grebonia