Category:Order of Excalibur

From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

The Most Distinguished Order of Excalibur is an order of chivalry established on December 10th, 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, in honor of the service to the nation exemplified by Hero One. The members of this Order are all costumed crime-fighters or heroes of some sort who have provided exceptional service to the British empire, though not all of them possess metahuman capabilities. To become a member of the Order, one must make one's civilian identity known to the British monarchy, though if the prospective member in question wishes to maintain a secret identity to the public, knowledge of this identity remains a top state secret, and will not be divulged under any circumstances. To date, only British citizens have been awarded membership in this Order (Statesman was at one point offered membership, but respectfully declined the honor).

The Order comprises three classes in civil divisions. Membership in these orders does not grant one a military position within the British government, though several members do hold such titles. In decreasing order of seniority, these are:

• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Excalibur
• Knight of the Order of Excalibur
• Member of the Order of Excalibur

The two higher ranks automatically confer upon an individual the status of a knight, and allow members of either gender to use the title "Sir" before their first or full name.

In Paragon City, the Order is often associated with the British superheroes Mask and Shining Armour.