Introduction

The Order of the Knights of Gellea (The Gellean Order in short) is the largest military order on Kélas, based in the city of Gellea, which is located just a few dozen miles east of An Sorania. It has been operating as a training ground for soldiers since the first century of the Old Era, and since then a relatively busy town has grown up in its immediate vicinity, whose inhabitants rely on the apprentices, soldiers, and knights for their livelihood – so it is not surprising that many of the weapons, equipment, and uniforms of the Imperial army come from Gellea.

Unlike The Order of the Knights of the Most Holy Leiki, The Gellean Order is primarily open to the nobility, while commoners must first undergo at least a year of training at one of the imperial training grounds or another order before they are allowed to enter Gellea. Apprentices are divided into grades which are opened every spring and on average several dozen future knights of various ages enter them. The training must last at least three years and is usually completed between the ages of eighteen and twenty. Some can therefore enter the order at a very young age – it is common for nobles to send their heirs to Gellea at the age of twelve, which was the case, for example, with the current Sentian general Venrask Sentangar.

After completing the basic training and being appointed a knight, many continue their training or transfer to the Imperial army. The best few from each year have a unique opportunity to attempt to pass the exam that would open the door for them to The Order of the Knights of the Most Holy Leiki. Nobles have a relatively free hand and can return to their house seat at will, while common knights are forever tied to the order and must answer to it at all times. Gellean knights often form units led by one or more knights from The Order.