Garden of Mu

**Organization:** *Paramilitary*
**Culture:** *Muaran*
**Religion:** *Spiritually syncretic*
**Operations:** *Independent, goal-oriented*
**Funding:** *Roqirelle Family wealth*
**Spending:** *Interim leadership*
**Recruitment:** *Volunteers & paid*
**Current Focus:** *Heart of Mu*

Garden of MuMembersCharacter Creation

> "*Our world is once more in need of protectors. Not from invading Tesar or Tvolii, but from erosion, exploitation, and the dull ache of apathy. Muara belongs not to the money of investors or the cold laws of bureaucrats, but to a timeless love for life which cannot be bought or codified, it can only be felt. To feel this love is to know Mu, to be a steward of her Garden, whether you see her in service of Rhya or in and of herself. And it is why we fight.*"
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The **Garden of Mu** is a Muaran Ecdysian order which arose in 4 BNE from a mix of smaller Muaran knight-militias, activist groups, and archivist societies, rallying to a common goal of protecting Muara's history, spiritual knowledge, and ecology. It is headquartered in the Sanctuary of Lylel, located on the island of Lylel in northern Muara.

Originally a Rhyanist knighthood with existed during the reign of the Old Aoshanti Empire, the Garden faded into legend with the Fall of Muara to Tesar invasion. While the modern order is more interdisciplinary, it claims to carry forward the mission and spirit of its predecessor.

The current activities of the Garden include safeguarding the Tomb of Erethyl and similar sites, artifact and record retrieval, and paramilitary service as an auxiliary of the Ecumene Army.

## Activities

### Chasing the Heart of Mu

*"For thousands of years, the empyrean Heart of Mu watched over Muara, the crown jewel of the old Kingdom and unrivaled icon of our history and greatest warriors. Whether placed in a crown or the hilt of a sword, bringing it out of its resting place in the Tomb of Erethyl meant something. It meant us, together. It meant drawing on the strength of the Muaran world to ensure its survival for our children.
"Then, we began to falter. In the final days of the Commonwealth, the Heart was used frivolously. When the Arrithi slavers came, it was no coincidence that it was lost to us, whether taken by a pillaging Tesar, a fleeing noble, or some other faction amidst the chaos.
"Now, a rumor has come to Muara saying that this could be it, on Vigila, far from home. This is not the first lead, and likely not the last, but every opportunity is worth pursuing to make Muara whole again."*
In 22 NE, the Garden's archivists received word from a contact on Vigila that the [Heart of Mu], an Empyrean Power Crystal featured prominently throughout Muaran history, may have resurfaced. Echo Castellar took the initiative to meet with their contact and attempt to pin down the crystal's location and confirm its identity.

## Organization

The Garden is headed by a Archprelate and group of senior members known as the **Council of Prelates**, including Prelate-rank Gardeners and the leaders of each of the twelves chapters. These chapters are not necessarily martial in nature, and many, including the Agria and Marcellia chapters, are comprised largely of civilian personnel.

## Ranks

* **Archprelate:** The grandmaster of the Garden, holding supreme command over the entire organization.
* **Prelate:** A Prelate of the Garden is any member, warrior or not, whose talents and experience are deemed to have fully matured—they have transitioned from the active duties of a Knight to the role of a counselor, advisor, and teacher. The Council of Prelates wields an authority second only to the Archprelate, though they convene relatively rarely.
* **Knight-Captain:** Knight-Captains of the Garden are any of the eleven Chapter leaders.
* **Knight-Princeps:** Knight-Princeps of the Garden are intermediary leaders, typically the most senior of a cohort within a Chapter—a Knight-Princeps may be the leader of all the Ecdysi in their Chapter, or the head of a particular group of civilian personnel.

### Ecdysi

* **Knight-Ecdysis:** Knights-Ecdysi are Ecdysi deemed to have mastered their proficiency with the weapon of their choice (often the sword or spear) and sufficiently developed a psionic proficiency or secondary skill. Once knighted by the Archprelate, they become eligible to lead Ecdysi squads in combat.
* **Ecdysite.**
* **Ecdysi Neophyte.**

### Instari

* **Knight-Instar:** Knights-Instari are Instari judged to have mastered marksmanship and stealth. Like their Ecdysi counterparts, they are knighted by the Archprelate and become eligible to lead squads of fellow Instari in battle.
* **Instarite.**
* **Instari Neophyte.**

## Finances

* ASSETS
* INCOME

**Previous Years -** +𝔛8 trillion
**Marcellia 23 NE -** -𝔛26 billion to buy & furnish Garden Mission (Haven)

## Reputation effects

**Benefits**
* Access to:
	+ Garden outposts and sanctuaries.
	+ Garden armories.
	+ Garden information networks and archives.
* Support of Garden warriors in combat.
* Gardener pension (varies by rank).

**Requirements**
* Either:
	+ Mentorship under an extant Gardener of Knight rank or higher.
	+ Direct recruitment by the Archprelate.
* Completion of a Garden recruitment quest on Muara.

**Benefits**
* Access to additional services at Garden facilities.

**Requirements**
* Gaining the trust of a Gardener of Knight rank or higher.

**Benefits**
* Can attempt to make contact with representatives of the Garden.
* General access to the Tomb of Erethyl and Prelate's Watch services.

**Drawbacks**
* Gardeners will typically avoid you (and may prank you).
* The Garden may deny you access to the Tomb of Erethyl.

**Requirements**
* Either:
	+ Membership with a rival organization such as GladreCorp or the Obscurate.
	+ Disrespectful behavior towards Muaran culture and wildlife.

**Drawbacks**
* The Garden may take hostile actions against you.

**Requirements**
* Either:
	+ Illicit activity around Muaran temples, such as sneaking in.
	+ Illicit possession or desecration of Muaran artifacts.
	+ Attacking a Gardener or ally of the Garden.