Hero of the Golden Empire

Hero of the Golden Empire was the second highest military decoration of the Golden Empire and the highest for combat valor, equivalent in criteria and prestige to the 's Cross of Glory.

It was awarded "to a servicebeing who performs an action of extraordinary heroism, in the face of the enemy, at the risk of death, above and beyond the call of duty". It was theoretically second in prestige to the never-awarded Crown of Deliverance, but as the rarest of all decorations which had actually been awarded and the highest which specifically required personal valor, it carried enormous honor in the Glorious Armada of the Golden Empire.

The Hero of the Golden Empire was one of only two s in the Empire's military, and the senior of the two. It was worn as a chain of silver and gold links; the center pendant featured a gold Abstalian Phoenix. Though no ribbon version of the award was authorized, a ribbon-style version was created for digital signatures, featuring a gold-and-silver ribbon with a gold Royal Emblem in the center.

Once the award was given, the recipient was himself referred to as a "Hero of the Golden Empire", making the award not only a decoration, but also a personal title. The Hero of the Golden Empire could be bestowed only by the Sovereign of the Golden Empire, a Royal Executor, or the Prime Legate. Recipients were entitled to the HGE, and were customarily saluted by all military personnel of all ranks, including the Prime Legate.

Behind the scenes
The Hero of the Golden Empire is based on several real-life gallantry awards, including the and the. The name itself it based on the and several similar awards in Eastern Europe.