Knights of Terra

The **Knights of Terra**, also known as the **Terran Knights**, are an order of Force-sensitive former Jedi who serve the Monarchs of the Terran Imperium. Created from the remnants of Imperial Jedi following the end of the Jedi Civil War, and while philosophy wasn't all that different from the Jedi, the Knights largely didn't view things from their view of the force, only caring about protecting the monarch and their family. But they still view the force not as a tool, but as an ally, aiding them in their service to the Monarch of the Imperium.

Following the death of Lelouch and the abdication of Liana, the Knights became to become more philosophical about their view of the Force and their relationship with the Monarchs of the Imperium, as well as their role in the Imperial government, espesially in light of the Imperial Family's force-sensitivity following the birth of Lucina and future generations of force-sensitivities. During the reign of Emperor Nicholas, the Knights slowly started to debate and discuss what their role is within the post-Lelouch Imperium, but within 65 years into Nicholas's reign, the Knights finally formalize their beliefs and views into a distinct yet complex set of philosophies and beliefs and soon thereafter partitioned the government to allow the Knights to exist as a semi-independent entity of the Imperial Government, one that still follows the orders fo the Monarch and Parliament of the Imperium but can decide and determine their internal affairs in a manner similar to the Jedi Order of the Republic. This, in turn, sparks over two decades of debates that eventually ended in the Knights gaining its' semi-independence.

All the while the Knights were debating and reforming itself, Lucina was trained in the ways of the Force by the Knights assigned to her, each one giving their views and interruptions of the Force to her, allowing her to understand what the Force is and in turn know how to use it to the best of her abilities. This rather informal training became something of a tradition with later Imperial family members who all became trained in the ways of the Force by the Knights who try and well round the Princes and Princesses of the Imperium. Over time, it wasn't entirely unexpected to see the near entirety of the Imperial family being trained as a Knight.

While originally a grey-based organization (or rather apathetic in their view of the Force) the Knights slowly started to develop a very narrow view of the Force, often ending up denouncing the Dark Side entirely, and strictly follow the Light Side of the Force, in a manner similar to the White Jedi and Blue Jedi but with their own view on things, one of which is their view that the Emperor or Empress of the Imperium is an avatar of the Force, an embodiment of the Light namely. However, one aspect that often puts them in conflict with the wider government is their belief that should the monarch of the Imperium falls to the Dark Side, it was their duty as a Knight of Terra to either remove him or her from power or to bring them back to the light, as ultimately, it was the Force to which they owe their allegiance, not to whoever sits on the throne at any giving time

## Leadership

### Ranks

Knights of Terra ranks are not that dissimilar to the Jedi Order's ranking and how they operate, however there is still clear differences between the two to be unique.

* Initiates: Not too dissimilar to Jedi Initiates and also made up almost entirely of younger children and are the youngest members of the Knights of Terra, where the differences occur is the more individual approach the Knights of Terra takes, although still communal in nature but instead of being put into large clans, its' split into smaller, more numerous Septs instead, each one limited to four to six initiates per septs with a teacher assigned to each one, typically a Knight or a Paladin. They are recruited from any and all worlds within the Imperium, in fact, it was a Imperial law that require all Force-Sensitives born in the Imperium be sent to the Terran Knights to be trained regardless of their parents views on the matter, though this aspect was eventually done away with and replaced with a system more similar to the Republic's and Order's more consensual approach.
* Aspirants: Knights of Terra's equivalent to a Jedi Padawan, they are Initiates taken in by a single Knight, Paladin, or Elder and then given the title of Aspirant. However, unlike their Padawan counterpart, they are all universally trained to become a Aspirant from the age of 10 on with the training meant to reinforce the teachings the Aspirant had during their Initiate days while also lacking the tradition of a Padawan's braid. Knights, Paladins, and Elders can have more then one Aspirant but typically only have one Aspirant but frequently they can take on more Aspirants.
* Knights: Following nearly a decade of one-on-one training with a Knight of Terra master, a disciplined Aspirant can be picked to take the Knight Trails and once they successfully complete the tests they are given the title of Knight. Now given more freedom in their activity, they are given assignments and tasks by the Council of Elders and can take on their own Aspirant to train.
* Paladins: Following another decade of personalized training and refinement as a Knight, a experience Knight can take the Paladin Trails and if they are successful in completing the tests they are given the title of Paladin. Afterword they are given special missions to reflect their now higher rank within the Knights of Terra.
* Elder: A Paladin who have considerable training and wisdom of the Force and trained and instructed at least five Aspirants to knighthood they are elevated to the rank of Elder by the Council of Elders, but self-declaration of such a title is deeply frowned upon but does occur. Among these Elders, a select few can be appointed to the Council of Elder made up of the most wise, experienced Elders but one design to ensure fresh perspectives are taken, being made up of 16 Elders with six life time positions, five long and short term positions.
* Grand Elder: Only one Elder are ever elevated into the rank of Grand Elder and they in turn serve as the leader of the Knights of Terra.