The Society of Envoys (often simply referred to as the Envoys), is a specialized society within the Dark Brotherhood. It is led by the Knight Commander of the Brotherhood, with oversight from the Headmaster.
With so many new members seeking out the Brotherhood, it is impossible for the Grandmaster to know all of them, or to watch over their progress on the individual level. Most join without knowing anybody personally in the Brotherhood. To this end, the Grandmaster has a number of Dark Jedi serving as his Envoys to the new members. Enjoying, or perhaps burdened by, a dual representation to the Grandmaster and the individual’s own clan and house, Envoys are charged with aiding newcomers during the early steps of their career as Dark Jedi, when the new members are the most vulnerable to delusions of grandeur or the uncertainty that marks a person who is learning to control their natural affinity for the Force.
A History of the Society
The Society of Envoys has been a part of the Brotherhood for many years. The original society, however, did not resemble the current society, except in its basic structure. As time has gone on, the society has adapted to new roles.
The earliest accounts of the Envoys have been lost, so it is only speculation as to where they actually come from. Some believe that the Society began as a special society for elite warriors. These warriors were the envoys of those who controlled them, whether speaking with words or with their swords. Many cite the full name of the society, the Knights Society of Envoys, as proof of this military function. Furthermore, though the ranks of the society have been renamed over time, the leader of the society has remained as the Knight Commander.
What can be said for certain is that the Envoys reemerged from a period of inactivity under the command of Trevarus Caerick. During this time, the Envoys were charged as historians of the Brotherhood, with one Envoy per house in each clan, as well as one Envoy per clan. Despite hard work and the best of intentions, the Envoys as historians ultimately collapsed. For a period of time, the title of Envoy remained merely a title of honor rather than a position of any true meaning. Shortly before Exodus, the Headmaster of the Shadow Academy, Pyralis, presented a new plan for the Society of Envoys. Project: Dark Fury reorganized the Envoys and gave them the mission that they still perform today. The society was placed under the command of the Headmaster (who took the title of Knight Commander) and became part of the Shadow Academy staff. The Envoys adapted well to their new role. During the tenure of Pyralis' successor, Kaiann Yetaru Entar, the Envoys did not undergo any changes and the overall control of the Envoys remained rather loose.
Kaiann's successor was Spears Tarentae. Spears took a more active role with the Envoys, but ultimately handed the position of Knight Commander over to Anshar Kahn Tarentae, his praetor. Anshar, among other positions in the Brotherhood, had been an Envoy under Trevarus, he had been on the team to create Project: Dark Fury, and he had been a clan level envoy since Dark Fury's implamentation. With Spears maintaining oversight, Anshar set out to make the Envoys more active in the Brotherhood. Envoy reports were instituted, and the Knight Commander made regular reports to the Grandmaster and the Headmaster. Envoy challenges, where the clans competed to improve the overall efficiency, were introduced by Anshar, as well as the current ranks of the society. Anshar sought to maintain a careful balance where the Knight Commander, as the Headmaster's representative, retained control over the Envoys, but giving the clans enough latitude to incorporate the envoys into their own systems.
With his appointment as Headmaster, Anshar turned the position of Knight Commander over to Siyavash Kaida.