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| {{Krath charinfo| | | {{Character |
| |image=[[Image:Manji2.jpg]] | | |order = Sith |
| |name=Nekura Manji Keibatsu | | |firstname=Manji |
| |birth=[[2 ABY|25/11/2ABY]] | | |lastname=Keibatsu Sadow |
| | |image=[[Image:Nekura26aby.jpg|250px]] |
| | |homeworld=Kyataru |
| | |birth=[[1 ABY to 10 ABY|25/11/2 ABY]] |
| |death=N/A | | |death=N/A |
| |homeworld=Kyataru | | |species=Kyataran [[starwars:Human|Human]] |
| |species=Human (Kyataran) | |
| |gender=Male | | |gender=Male |
| |height=1.94m meters | | |eyes=Green |
| | |height=1.94m |
| | |weight=60 kg |
| |hair=Black with silver highlights | | |hair=Black with silver highlights |
| |eyes=Green | | |allies=* [[Keibatsu]] |
| | * [[Sons of Sadow]] |
| | |enemies=*[[Tang'va Dynasty]] |
| | * [[Eojin Quon-Shen]] |
| | * [[Suukou Bodai]] |
| | |saber=Silver |
| | |form=Shii-Cho, Makashi |
| | |fightingstyle=[[Broken Gate]], [[Wampa Do]], [[Carinor]] |
| |era=[[Dark Jedi Brotherhood Era]] | | |era=[[Dark Jedi Brotherhood Era]] |
| |dossier=3415
| | |affiliation=[[Clan Naga Sadow]], [[Keibatsu]], [[Sons of Sadow]] |
| |affiliation=[[Clan Naga Sadow]], [[Keibatsu]], [[Antei Combat Centre]], [[Grand Master's Royal Guard]] | | |dossier=[[dossier:3415|3415]] |
| }} | | }} |
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| Epis Nekura Manji Keibatsu is a member of Clan Naga Sadow, a Trainer in the Antei Combat Centre and a Guardsman of the Grand Master's Royal Guard.
| | {{Quote|I refuse to run! '''I refuse to die!'''|Nekura Manji Keibatsu, during the Seventh Great Jedi War}} |
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| | Pontifex Manji Keibatsu Sadow is a former Consul of [[Clan Naga Sadow]], and the current Professor of General History for the Shadow Academy. He was also made a [[Son of Sadow]] to reward his devotion to his Clan. Manji is the second eldest son of the [[Keibatsu]] family, and as such is considered a feudal lord on his homeworld of [[Kyataru]]. Manji is fiercely loyal to those he holds allegiance to; he will fight for [[Clan Naga Sadow]], the [[Keibatsu]] family and the Brotherhood until his death, and will risk his own life to ensure that no harm comes to any of the things he holds dear. However, this is balanced by his arrogant contempt for those he considers to be beneath him; he bears no love for the other Clans of the Brotherhood, and considers them to be vastly inferior to Naga Sadow and to himself. |
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| ==Physical Appearance== | | ==Physical Appearance== |
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| Manji is somewhat of an enigma physically- he does not appear to have huge, bulging muscles and yet possesses a curious inner strength which is usually more than enough to overpower those he faces. He has been described as "lean and wiry" and "scrawny", but only by those who have not faced him in combat. | | Manji is somewhat of an enigma physically- he does not appear to have huge, bulging muscles and yet possesses a curious inner strength which is usually more than enough to overpower those he faces. He has been described as "lean and wiry" and "scrawny", but only by those who have not faced him in combat- those who have battled him have described his physical prowess as "unnatural". |
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| One of Manji's most noticeable physical features is the eyepatch across his right eye. Beneath the patch, a long downward scar runs across his eyeball, rendering his right eye useless- the wound was gained during a battle with the current Combat Master and Supreme Champion of the Antei Combat Centre, Dalthid, which took place at the climax of the K'hamar'an incident. However, despite the wound, Manji emerged from the battle technically victorious once he was restored in the bacta tanks- possessed temporarily by dark spirits, the Combat Master plummeted to his death, before Manji killed himself in order to stop the spirits seizing him. | | One of Manji's most noticeable physical features is the eyepatch across his right eye. Beneath the patch, a long downward scar runs across his eyeball, rendering his right eye useless- the wound was gained during a battle with former Combat Master and Supreme Champion of the Antei Combat Centre, [[Dalthid]], which took place at the climax of the K'hamar'an incident. However, despite the wound, Manji emerged from the battle technically victorious once he was restored in the bacta tanks- possessed temporarily by dark spirits, the Combat Master plummeted to his death, before Manji killed himself in order to stop the spirits seizing him. |
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| Manji has been asked why he does not simply have the scar healed by medical technology, or why he does not heal it himself with the use of the Force. His response is as follows: | | Manji has been asked why he does not simply have the scar healed by medical technology, or why he does not heal it himself with the use of the Force. His response is as follows: |
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| "''I remember readin' somewhere that y'can't heal a scar which the owner feels a strong attraction to.''"
| | {{Quote|I remember readin' somewhere that y'can't heal a scar which the owner feels a strong attraction to, whatever that means... basically, I ain't getting rid of this since it reminds me of that victory, and of how close I came to succumbing to 'otherworldly forces'. And besides, it makes people overconfident. They think I'm helpless with only one eye, then I butcher 'em.|Nekura Manji Keibatsu, shortly after the conclusion of the K'hamar'an incident.}} |
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| "''Whatever that means... basically, I ain't getting rid of this since it reminds me of that victory, and of how close I came to succumbing to "otherworldly forces"''."
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| "''And besides, it makes people overconfident. They think I'm helpless with only one eye, then I butcher 'em.''"
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| The Epis' only other distinct physical feature is that of his clothing, an ancient silk dress-style garment from his homeworld of Kyataru called a ''kimono''. Manji has several ''kimono'', tailored for him on Kyataru- one is jet black with his personal crest on the back, one is also jet black but ornamented with silver cloth on the lapels, and the other is divided exactly between silver and black- one sleeve is silver, the other black, one side of the body black, the other side silver.
| | One of the Epis' other distinct physical features is that of his clothing, an ancient silk dress-style garment from his homeworld of Kyataru called a ''kimono''. Manji has several ''kimono'', tailored for him on Kyataru- one is jet black with his personal crest on the back, one is also jet black but ornamented with silver cloth on the lapels, and the other is divided exactly between silver and black- one sleeve is silver, the other black, one side of the body black, the other side silver. |
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| He wears the ''kimono'' almost constantly, only substituting it for his formal robes when decorum demands it. However, when exploring the frozen wastelands of his adopted home on Tarthos, Manji will often modify the ''kimono'' with some other traditional clothes of his homeworld- a pair of baggy, pleated trousers known as ''hakama'' that are lined with tauntaun fur and an overcoat known as a ''jinbaori'' which is also lined with fur to keep out the harsh arctic winds. | | He wears the ''kimono'' almost constantly, only substituting it for his formal robes when decorum demands it. However, when exploring the frozen wastelands of his adopted home on Tarthos, Manji will often modify the ''kimono'' with some other traditional clothes of his homeworld- a pair of baggy, pleated trousers known as ''hakama'' that are lined with tauntaun fur and an overcoat known as a ''jinbaori'' which is also lined with fur to keep out the harsh arctic winds. |
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| === Youth === | | === Youth === |
| | ==== Life on Kyataru ==== |
| | [[image:Young Manji.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Nekura Manji Keibatsu at age 16]] |
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| | {{Quote|That child... there is a dragon within him.|Motoyasu Yoshio, retainer to the Keibatsu in 12 ABY}} |
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| | Nekura Manji was born to Koji Masurao and Mariko Yukimitsu, the lord and lady of the powerful Keibatsu family on the backwater planet of Kyataru. The Keibatsu held dominion over the entire planet and reigned as warlords until the year 15 ABY, when they were ousted from power by the machinations of the warlord Nagahide and reduced to a small fiefdom far from the rightful seat of their power. As the second son of the Keibatsu family, Manji will ascend to the position of Patriarch and lord of the family after his elder brother Musashi Daraku (more commonly known as [[Muz Ashen]]). |
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| | Throughout his early years, Manji was trained in the ways of the warrior- he learnt how to fight with swords, spears and naginata as well as how to ride and shoot. As he grew older, the cocky and free-spirited Manji became infuriated with the structured, formal nature of his life as the son and heir of a powerful ''samurai'' (member of the Kyataran warrior class). Because Manji's elder brother Musashi had been taken away by [[Eojin Quon-Shen]] to train as a [[starwars:Jedi|Jedi]], Manji was in the process of being groomed to become the heir of the family once he reached the appropriate age. However, despite his noble birth, the young warrior was distinctly un-aristocratic; he much preferred exploring the landscape of Kyataru and practicing his martial skills to studying the politics, economy and social structure of Kyataru. Manji also did not care how those things would help him to one day rule his people once the Keibatsu had reclaimed their rightful dominion over Kyataru. |
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| | In time, the young Keibatsu became dissatisfied with the caste structure of his homeworld, which held him above those who were considered his social inferiors and meant that he was not allowed to socialise with anybody not born into the warrior class. This fact was emphasised by several of his father's retainers when Manji struck up a friendship (with romantic overtones) with a peasant girl from the village adjacent to the Keibatsu estates. Manji and the girl spent several weeks meeting secretly to go and explore the Kyataran landscape together, greatly enjoying each other's company, until one day a retainer of Koji Masurao caught the young Keibatsu meeting the girl. The girl was beaten and sent away in tears, while Manji swore loudly and with vitriol at the retainer, desperately trying to attack the older, more experienced ''samurai'' but failing. He never saw the girl again, and this event was enough to truly harden Manji's young heart against the formal society of his homeworld. |
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| | Upon reaching the age of 13, Manji decided that he'd had enough, and managed to steal a ship from the hangar of [[Kuroshin]] castle, obviously without the permission of his parents. Leaving Kyataru with a couple of thousand credits and his weapons, Manji set out to find his own way in the galaxy. |
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| | The young warrior quickly managed to get into trouble, engaging in various duels and bar room brawls fuelled by his impetuous temper and inbuilt sense of superiority, and amassing quite a few scars across his face and upper body. This led to many scrapes with local law enforcement agencies, and instilled a strong anti-authority streak in the young Keibatsu that would remain for some time. However, Manji eventually managed to find some purpose, finding employment on the notorious blockade runner ''Broken Wing'' under the command of the [[starwars:Nikto|Nikto]] bounty hunter Arctur Usan. He was pivotal in a number of illegal operations, even helping to run an illegal shipment of spice past a squadron of the Autocthonian Navy under the command of [[Muz Ashen Keibatsu]], although neither knew of the other's presence. |
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| | ==== Fall To The Dark Side ==== |
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| | {{Quote|You gotta have a home, kid. Somewhere to rest your head when every law enforcement group in the galaxy is after you.|Bounty Hunter Arctur Usan, 17 ABY.}} |
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| | Over time, a homesick longing began to take root in Manji's mind- he longed to see the beautiful scenery of Kyataru once more and return to the places he had left as an impetuous youth. During a period of downtime for the ''Broken Wing'', as the crew took refuge from the authorities on Nar Shaddaa, Manji was encouraged by Arctur to return home; the bounty hunter pointed out the importance of having a safe haven where nothing could touch you. His words swayed Manji's decision, and the young Keibatsu returned to Kyataru in a small one-man fighter borrowed from the bounty hunter. His parents greeted him with open arms, forgiving his unauthorised departure, and for several days the young Keibatsu knew inner peace. |
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| | Then tragedy struck. Manji was studying his swordsmanship up in the ruined courtyard of [[Kuroshin]] keep when a group of Jedi (including [[Tang'va Dynasty|Claudius Tang'va]] and the Nautolan Jedi [[Ayln'ohn]]) came to the Keibatsu estate to force Koji to sell a [[starwars:cortosis|cortosis]] mine that had been uncovered on the Keibatsu lands. Koji refused point-blank, and the young and foolhardy Jedi responded with violence, resulting in the massacre that made most Kyatarans believe that the [[Keibatsu]] bloodline had been completely extinguished. |
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| | Manji's arrival at the [[Keibatsu]] estate was too late to save his parents, but not late enough to miss the tragedy. The trauma of the event unlocked the latent Force potential within the young Keibatsu, leading him to brutally murder one Jedi in an explosion of rage and slice open the belly of another. Then Manji dived into the flames, hearing the cries of his youngest sister. The Jedi left, not knowing that the young warrior had found his sibling and dragged her into one of the secret chambers below the house, waiting for the flames to die down before emerging. A heavy rainstorm began to beat down the flames, allowing Manji to come back up to the surface. Filled with anger at the Jedi, Nekura Manji vowed revenge, unaware that even at this early stage he was embracing the Dark Side. |
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| | Leaving his youngest sister behind with some friends of the Keibatsu family, Manji went back to his ship and left Kyataru once again with the intention of finding out just what kind of power the tragedy had unlocked within him- and possibly slaughtering some more Jedi along the way to make them pay for his loss. |
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| | === The Brotherhood === |
| | ==== First Contact ==== |
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| | {{Quote|I sense the Dark Side in you, child.|Headmaster Kaiann Yetaru Entar, 18 ABY.}} |
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| | It took him two years, but at the age of 20, Manji eventually managed to locate some answers. In a grimy cantina on Nar Shaddaa, after being plied with enough credits, a hooded, robed figure told him about a mysterious group called 'The Dark Brotherhood'. However, the figure claimed that he didn't know where the Brotherhood was based, except that it was near a great concentration of Dark Side power. Manji could not squeeze any more information out of the figure, and so decided on a time-consuming course of action; using his basic, elementary Force powers, he would search known locations where there was a strong residue of the Dark Side in the hope of finding this 'Brotherhood'. |
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| | After several more months spent investigating sites of strong Dark Side power across the galaxy, Nekura Manji finally managed to find the entrance to the Antei system, the last location on his list. Before he could attempt to navigate the Shroud, which would probably have proven fatal due to his rudimentary piloting skills, Manji's small ship was intercepted by a huge cruiser on patrol duty. Stepping out of the shuttle as it came to rest in the hangar of the M/CRV [[Palantir]], Nekura Manji came face-to-face with an imposing figure in sweeping black robes- Kaiann Yetaru Entar, The Headmaster of the Shadow Academy. |
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| | ==== Rediscovering the Keibatsu ==== |
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| | {{Quote|Liar! You were one of them, weren’t you? You were there! You helped kill my family!|Manji to Muz Ashen, 19 ABY.}} |
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| | [[image:3415-saber.jpg|thumb|left|Manji's Lightsaber]]After passing the initial tests at the Shadow Academy, Nekura Manji was initiated into the Brotherhood and assigned to the Krath House Marka Ragnos of Naga Sadow. During the next eight months, the young Keibatsu worked hard at ascending the ranks, and became involved in the Antei Combat Centre as a combatant, honing his martial prowess. As he attained the rank of Jedi Hunter, however, his life was changed forever. |
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| | Manji and a companion and comrade of his in Marka Ragnos, Muz Ashen, were sent on a routine mission against a New Republic freighter. On board were three Jedi, including a student of [[Eojin Quon-Shen]] who recognized Muz. Shortly after Manji, Muz and their comrades Kali Desdemona and Keiran defeated the Jedi, Manji discovered that not every member of his family had been killed by the Jedi. Muz discovered the truth of his lineage in a datapad held by Eojin's student, which corroborated his possession of a ring that Manji remembered his father wearing. Manji and Muz Ashen were brothers. |
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| | Shortly after this Manji and Muz both faced their Knight Trials, becoming Dark Jedi Knights. In recognition of their achievements and their work for their House, they were appointed as Tetrarchs of the Avatars of Death and the Night Hawks respectively. |
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| | Soon another link in Manji's family chain was revealed- during an expedition to investigate an archaeological dig in the Shadowlands of Antei, Manji and Muz Ashen found a chamber filled with relics of their family-armor, swords, scrolls. The chamber also revealed the name of their ancestor, the mighty warlord Shinmen Nagahide Keibatsu. |
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| | ==== The Sixth Great Jedi War ==== |
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| | {{Quote|I'll never give up, old man. You'll have to shatter every bone in my body to stop me from fighting.|Manji to Dalthid during the Sixth Great Jedi War, 21 ABY.}} |
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| | The original Star Chamber was unearthed on Antei, leading to the reawakening of the ancient Sith Lord Okemi and the beginning of the Sixth Great Jedi War. As Tetrarch of the Avatars of Death Phyle, Manji fought bravely in the conflict as he led his phyle against the corrupted members of other Clans who sought to attack Naga Sadow under the influence of Okemi. As a reward for his services to his House and Clan, Nekura Manji Keibatsu was promoted to Krath Priest and elevated to the rank of Aedile of Marka Ragnos as his brother Muz Ashen was appointed to the position of Quaestor. This began a period of great prosperity for House Marka Ragnos; the two brothers worked together closely, and Marka Ragnos flourished under their command. |
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| | ==== The K'hamar'an Incident ==== |
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| | {{Quote|I am the son of Koji Masurao Keibatsu, you '''will... not... turn me!!'''|Manji during the culmination of the K'hamar'an Incident, 22 ABY.}} |
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| | Many valuable texts and artifacts were stolen from the Brotherhood by members of the mysterious K'hamar'an cult, prompting the Krath High Priestess to lead many of the Krath order to the homeworld of the K'hamar'ans in order to retrieve the artifacts. During the conflict many in the Brotherhood came under the influence of the K'hamar'ans and began to fight their fellow Dark Jedi, leading to many vicious duels. Manji distinguished himself by defeating all who stood against him during the incident, including the then [[Combat Master]] [[Dalthid]], whom he defeated before the Stennes could be fully possessed by K'hamar'an spirits, but not before receiving a long slash across his right eye. This was one of many duels that Manji had fought against the Stennes, but only the second one from which he had emerged victorious, his struggles against the brutal fighting style of the Stennes instrumental in shaping him into an instrument of combat. |
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| | ==== The Rise ==== |
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| | [[File:3415-eq4warbanner.gif|thumb|right|Manji's Warbanner]] |
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| | {{Quote|Now, ''shishi suishou''... the beatings will commence.|Muz Ashen to the Crystal Lion, 23 ABY.}} |
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| | In the aftermath of the K'hamar'an attack, when the snows of [[Tarthos]] receded to reveal a tropical jungle, another life-changing event befell the two brothers. The Crystal Lion, symbol of their family, came to Tarthos to exterminate [[Muz Ashen]] as a traitor to the [[Keibatsu]] line. Confronting the beast in open battle, Muz defeated it and regained the honor to take up his birthright without shame. From that day onwards, the Archpriest and Quaestor of Marka Ragnos became known as Muz Ashen Keibatsu. Soon afterwards, Muz was called to Sepros to take up residence as the Proconsul of Naga Sadow, due to his excellent service to the Clan. |
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| | In his stead, Manji was appointed Quaestor of Marka Ragnos and vowed to take Marka Ragnos to new heights of glory and power. Under his leadership and with the guidance of his brother from the Clan Summit, the House continued to prosper for the ten months that Manji spent as Quaestor. |
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| | However, as time passed, Manji began to feel the pressures of leadership and eventually stepped down from the position of Quaestor, taking up the position of Aedile under the new Quaestor, Kat Pridemore. Once Kat was comfortable in her new position, the Epis once again joined the rank and file, deciding to concentrate on his other positions in the Brotherhood- Guardsman of the Grand Master's Royal Guard, Magistrate to the new Herald Muz Keibatsu Sadow and Trainer and Combatant in the Antei Combat Centre. |
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| | ==== Liberation ==== |
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| | {{Quote|The Keibatsu? Stupid fool. That name is illegal, and you know it.|Oshima, Kyataran swordsmith, 24 ABY.}} |
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| | Something was in the wind. Gathering their newly discovered family about them, Muz and Manji decided to lead an expedition to their home of Kyataru, with the intention of liberating it from those who had taken advantage of their long absence- most notably the warlord Nagahide, who had set himself up as the rightful ruler of the planet. Following a long, grueling campaign based out of the ruined fortress [[Kuroshin]], the Keibatsu regained control of their ancestral home- Nagahide was slain brutally by Musashi and the family ensured that he and his descendants would never trouble their line again. The dragon had come back from the dead, and the people of Kyataru rejoiced as the Keibatsu spread the wealth of Nagahide's vast coffers around to improve the infrastructure of the planet, building new highways and cities and implementing new programs that would modernise Kyataru and increase the wealth of the still semi-feudal world. However, before the family could truly set to ruling Kyataru, they were called back to the halls of Clan Naga Sadow after messages of the great tension between the six Clans of the Brotherhood reached them, tinged with something more sinister. |
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| | ==== The Seventh Great Jedi War ==== |
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| | {{Quote|Brothers... end this conflict.|Manji to Shimura and Macron, 25 ABY.}} |
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| | The Brotherhood was split between two opposing factions as the machinations of Jaac Cotelin, a clone of the Grand Master, spurred a full-blown civil war that merely built upon previous tensions between the Clans. Manji fought alongside the others of his Clan in the name of the 'Crimson' faction, which put him and Naga Sadow at odds with one of the Clan's most well-known members, [[Shadow Hand]] [[Xanos Zorrixor]]. Despite the confusion and the negativity of fighting his own sworn brothers, the Keibatsu fought proudly for his Clan, eager to display his strength in the name of Naga Sadow and to further his own honor through battle with the enemies of the Clan. As the smoke of the conflict cleared, once again, Manji stood undefeated in battle, his skills firmly honed by his time in the halls of the Combat Center. By this point, his name was being whispered by many in the halls of the Combat Center, his reputation as a demon of the sword and the saber firmly established. |
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| Nekura Manji was born to a powerful family on the backwater planet of Kyataru- the second son of the Keibatsu family, he will become lord of the family after his elder brother Musashi Daraku (more commonly known as Muz Ashen).
| | ==== The Alien Threat To the Brotherhood ==== |
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| Throughout his early years, Manji was trained in the ways of the warrior- he learnt how to fight with swords, spears and naginata as well as how to ride and shoot. As he grew older, the cocky and free-spirited Manji became angry with the structured, formal nature of his life as the son and heir of a powerful samurai.
| | {{Quote|Who the frack do these alien scrag-ends think they are?|Nekura Manji following the [[Alien invaders|Alien]] Incursion, 27 ABY.}} |
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| Upon reaching the age of 13, Nekura Manji decided that he'd had enough, and left the planet to find his own way in the galaxy.
| | Several years passed without incident as Manji busied himself with his work in the Antei Combat Centre and in his Clan, constantly striving to better himself as a warrior. However, what seemed to be a time of peace and progression would soon be rudely shattered. The growing threat of the Alien invaders finally manifested itself against the Brotherhood while all the Clans were clustered together on Antei for a Brotherhood-wide awards ceremony. The fleets of the Brotherhood were smashed and broken by the fury of the Alien assault. The conflict was particularly brutal for Manji, as news came through the communications network that his oldest ally and brother Muz had been on board the [[Vae Victus]], and had been either killed or captured by the Force-devoid Alien invaders. In addition, his nephew (and Muz's son) Sanjuro Keibatsu had also been listed as captured, presumed dead. The Clans retreated from Antei, and while it was later revealed that both Muz and Sanjuro were alive, the helpless fury that Manji had felt upon believing them dead did not go away completely. |
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| === Fall To The Dark Side === | | [[image:DyrraDetail.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Dyrra Skye, 30 ABY]] |
| | ==== Man of the Wave ==== |
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| [[image:Nekura26aby.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Krath Epis Nekura Manji Keibatsu]]Two years of wandering and one year spent on a blockade runner later, Nekura Manji returned home to find that his family castle and hometown had been destroyed and all of his family slaughtered, seemingly by a group of Jedi.
| | {{Quote|I've been in this place too long. I figure it's time to start wanderin' again.|Manji, 28 ABY.}} |
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| Later, Manji discovered that this had been due to his family finding a vein of cortosis in their silver mine. When several Knights arrived from Coruscant to obtain the rights to the cortosis, Manji's father refused to sell, and decided to defend the mine against 'intruders'. The trauma of this event awoke the latent Force power within Nekura Manji, bringing it out into the open. Filled with righteous anger at the Jedi, Nekura Manji vowed revenge, unaware that even at this early stage he was embracing the Dark Side.
| | Shortly after Naga Sadow had returned to the Orian system to lick it's wounds in the aftermath of the [[Alien invaders|Alien]] incursion, Manji felt something stirring within his breast; both a longing for his homeworld of Kyataru and a longing for the distant galaxies which he had not yet explored. After contacting his superiors in the Brotherhood to inform them of his desire to take a leave of absence, Manji spent several months at home on Kyataru before setting off into the Outer Rim for unknown worlds, to take a pilgrimage of training and to test his skills against every warrior he met. |
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| Amazed by his new 'magical' powers, Nekura Manji set out into the galaxy again to look for answers.
| | Coincidence brought the Epis back to Tarthos as the two houses of Clan Naga Sadow clashed in what became known as the [[Invasion of Orian|Orian Uprising]]. Shocked by the infighting between members of the Clan, Manji worked tirelessly with the rest of his House to restore peace to the Clan and to drive out those who had threatened Naga Sadow. He was successful, acting as a beacon of strength for the other members of the Clan to rally behind in fighting against those who had sought to attack Naga Sadow. His work done, the Epis retreated back to Kyataru to spend some more time at his home estates, still not fully willing or able to return to the Brotherhood and sickened by the infighting that he'd witnessed during the Orian Uprising. |
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| It took him 4 years, but Nekura Manji eventually managed to locate some answers. In a grimy cantina on Nar Shaddaa, a hooded, robed figure told him about a mysterious group called 'The Dark Brotherhood'. However, the figure claimed not to know where the Brotherhood was based- except that it was near a great concentration of Dark Side power. Using his basic, elementary Force powers, Nekura Manji tried to find such an area.
| | ==== The Return ==== |
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| After several more months spent investigating sites of strong Dark Side power across the galaxy, Nekura Manji finally managed to find the entrance to the Antei system, the last location on his list. Entering the system, he was intercepted by a huge cruiser on patrol duty that pulled his small shuttle onboard. Stepping out of the shuttle, Nekura Manji came face-to-face with an imposing figure in sweeping black and gold robes- Jac Ae-Sequiera Cotelin Taldrya-Cantor, Deputy Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood.
| | {{Quote|You're ugly and your breath smells like bantha farts, you nerf-herding son of a rancor!|Dyrra Skye, 30 ABY.}} |
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| === Rediscovering the Keibatsu ===
| | A year passed as Manji remained at home on Kyataru. Then, one day, a chance encounter with a brash, 21-year old girl in a tavern located in downtown Inazawa, the capital city of Kyataru, reminded the Epis of his own youth and his earliest experiences with the Brotherhood. Instantly, a flood of memories possessed him, taking him back to the time when he'd first joined the Brotherhood, arrogant and self-confident, and unaware of the depth of power that he would one day command. The experience filled the Epis with renewed vigour, and Manji felt a flood of happiness as he realized his purpose- to hone the latent Force power in this girl into a blade that she could wield against those who would prey on her. |
| [[image:3415-warbanner.gif|thumb|right|Manji's Warbanner]]
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| Shortly after, Nekura Manji was initiated into the Brotherhood, into House Marka Ragnos of Naga Sadow. 8 months passed... then Manji discovered that not every member of his family had been killed by the Jedi. Another member of his house, Jedi Hunter Muz Ashen owned a duplicate of the ring that Manji remembered his father wearing. With this realisation came the revelation that he and Muz Ashen were actually brothers.
| | Taking the girl with him, Manji flew back to Tarthos to resume active service in the name of Clan Naga Sadow and the Dark Brotherhood. Soon, the Epis discovered that he would have many chances to prove his loyalty and to showcase the fruits of his long 'warrior's pilgrimage' through the Outer Rim as the Brotherhood moved to reclaim their fortresses and holdings on [[Antei]], which had been taken by the Aliens in 27 ABY. |
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| Shortly after this Manji and Muz were both promoted to the rank of Dark Jedi Knight and appointed as Tetrarchs of the Avatars of Death and the Night Hawks respectively.
| | ==== Unification ==== |
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| Soon another link in Manjis family chain was revealed- during an expedition to investigate an archaelogical dig in the Shadowlands of Antei, Manji and Muz Ashen found a chamber filled with relics of their family-armour, swords, scrolls. The chamber also revealed the name of their ancestor, the mighty warlord Shinmen Nagahide Keibatsu.
| | {{Quote|Keibatsu..? Tell me, Keibatsu... do you know a man named Eojin Quon-Shen?|Jedi Master Ayln'ohn, 30 ABY.}} |
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| Not long after this discovery, the Brotherhood fell to warring amongst itself. As Tetrarch of the Avatars of Death Phyle, Manji was instrumental in battling against the enemy clans. As a reward for his services, Nekura Manji Keibatsu was promoted to Krath Priest and elevated to the rank of Aedile of Marka Ragnos, upon the ascension of his brother Muz Ashen to the position of Quaestor.
| | [[image:AylnOhn.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Jedi Master Ayln'ohn, 30 ABY]] |
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| === The Rise ===
| | The reclamation of Antei began more smoothly than had been expected; poised to face off against an overwhelming force of Force-devoid aliens, the Clans of the Brotherhood and the Dark Council were surprised to find the Aliens dead and an ancient Jedi Master occupying the Iron Throne, supported by vast armies of droids. Swiftly adapting to their opponent's forces, the Clans fought their way to the surface of Antei and began to lay beachheads, seeking to take the planet back piece by piece. Manji was among the first of Clan Naga Sadow to touch down on Antei, supporting the forces of the Iron Throne in securing their landing zone. To do this, the Epis and his apprentice Dyrra joined a small group of commandos led by [[Macron Sadow]] and [[Malisane de Ath]] in infiltrating a droid control bunker. By destroying the equipment in the bunker, they shut off the local signal for the droids attacking the landing zone, allowing the forces of the Iron Throne to secure the area. |
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| In the aftermath of the K'hamar'an attack, when the snows of Tarthos receded to reveal a tropical jungle, another life-changing event befell the two brothers. The Crystal Lion, symbol of their family, came to Tarthos to exterminate Muz Ashen as a traitor to the Keibatsu line. Confronting the beast in open battle, Muz defeated it and regained the honour to take up his birthright. From that day onwards, the Archpriest and Quaestor of Marka Ragnos became known as Muz Ashen Keibatsu.
| | Shortly afterwards, the group moved south to help defend Forward Operating Base Spear against an approaching column of droid armoured units. The battle was long and hard, but Naga Sadow prevailed, the droids finally destroyed with the arrival of forces from Clan Taldryan. As Manji and his apprentice accompanied Naga Sadow's forces to their rendezvous with forces from Clan Scholae Palatinae, the Epis agreed to head out into the Shadowlands with Dyrra to try and capture a Jedi, in order to obtain intelligence from the enemy. |
| Soon afterwards, Muz was called to Sepros to take up residence as the Proconsul of Naga Sadow, due to his excellent service to the Clan.
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| In his stead, Manji was appointed Quaestor of Marka Ragnos and vowed to take Marka Ragnos to new heights of glory and power.
| | Unfortunately, the Jedi that they encountered had played an integral part in the Keibatsu's history; the Nautolan, named [[Ayln'ohn]], had been one of the Jedi sent to assassinate Manji's parents by [[Eojin Quon-Shen]]. Driven wild with fury by the news, Manji attacked the Jedi- only to be defeated and humiliated by the saberwork of the Lightsider. Ayln'ohn disappeared into the darkness of the Shadowlands, full of remorse; it is presumed that he left the planet without incident. When he was healed from the serious injuries he sustained by Macron, Manji seemed completely unlike his usual self- his defeat at the hands of Ayln'ohn seemed to have broken him, his irrepressible spirit crushed. |
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| As time passed, Manji began to feel the pressures of leadership and eventually stepped down from the position of Quaestor, taking up the position of Aedile under the new Quaestor, Kat Pridemore. Once Kat was comfortable in her new position, the Epis once again joined the rank and file, deciding to concentrate on his other positions in the Brotherhood- Guardsman of the Grand Master's Royal Guard, Magistrate to the new Herald Muz Keibatsu Sadow and Trainer and Combatant in the Antei Combat Centre.
| | While the Epis slowly returned to his usual self as he and the other Dark Jedi of Naga Sadow headed south to defend the Hall of Immortals against the iconoclasm of the Jedi, and eventually defeated the revived spirit of [[Darth Vexatus]] and the Jedi that he had possessed, a lingering sense of his failure remained to haunt him as a constant blemish on his pride. |
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| === Liberation === | | ==== Return to Power ==== |
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| [[image:3415-saber.jpg|thumb|left|Manji's Lightsabre]]
| | {{Quote|On this day, I hereby anoint you, Manji Keibatsu Sadow, to the position of Consul of this Clan.|Grand Master Muz Ashen, 31 ABY.}} |
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| Something was in the wind. Gathering their newly discovered family about them, Muz and Manji decided to lead an expedition to their home of Kyataru, with the intention of liberating it from those who had taken advantage of the Keibatsu's absence. Following a long, grueling campaign, the Keibatsu regained control of their ancestral home.
| | Manji's time back on Kyataru being treated as the second scion of the powerful Keibatsu family had affected his outlook, and on his return to Tarthos after the conclusion of the Unification, he felt a desire to obtain more power in his Clan in order to better increase his own standing. With lightning speed, the Epis regained his position as an Operator of the Antei Combat Centre under the new Combat Master, [[Seraine "Erinyes" Ténama|Erinyes]]. When the Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos was chosen as the new Shadow Hand of the Brotherhood, and following the ensuing leadership shuffle, Manji was chosen as Rollmaster for his House, and then the entire Clan. For a while, Manji was comfortable in this position, easily dealing with the responsibilities of the position as well as continuing to show off his own powers through his work in the Combat Center. |
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| However, before they could set to ruling Kyataru, they were called back to Clan Naga Sadow to defend against the increasing tension between the Clans.
| | Then a dramatic communications failure and the disappearance of the Consul of Naga Sadow presented him with an even greater opportunity. Manji went for the position of Consul of Naga Sadow, and to his surprise was chosen to lead the Clan to glory. This was a validation of all the years he had spent serving Naga Sadow, and the Epis vowed to do everything he could to improve the Clan and to establish himself as a truly historic leader. |
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| == DJB Facts == | | == DJB Facts == |
| Manji has served as a Tetrarch, Aedile and Quaestor within House [[Marka Ragnos]] of [[Clan Naga Sadow]], and has been a long-serving staff member in the [[Antei Combat Centre]] as Operator, Judge and Trainer. He is also currently a Guardsman in the [[Grand Master's Royal Guard]] under [[Commander of the Guard]] [[Khobai Wrathraven]]. | | Manji has served as a Tetrarch, Aedile and Quaestor within [[House Marka Ragnos]] of [[Clan Naga Sadow]], and has been a long-serving staff member in the [[Antei Combat Centre]] as Operator, Judge and Trainer. He has also served as a Guardsman in the [[Grand Master's Royal Guard]], and was made a Guard Captain under [[Commander of the Guard]] [[Khobai Wrathraven]], helping to revitalise the image of the Grand Master's Royal Guard. Manji also briefly served as a Magistrate to [[Herald]] [[Muz Ashen]]. |
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| == Weaponry == | | === Weaponry === |
| *Custom lightsabre styled after a katana, created by Muz Ashen Keibatsu. | | *Custom lightsaber styled after a katana, created by Muz Ashen Keibatsu- one of the very first sabers that the Herald created. |
| *A set of swords (''daisho'') created by the renowned Kyataran swordsmith Kunisada. | | *A set of swords (''daisho'') created by the renowned Kyataran swordsmith Kunisada. |
| *A strange circular blade named ''Mito-no-Kami'' shaped liked a handcuff, designed to snap shut around people's necks and sever them cleanly. | | *A strange circular blade named ''Mito-no-Kami'' shaped liked a handcuff, designed to snap shut around people's necks and sever them cleanly. |
| *''Ryuujin'' and ''Tora'', two curved short swords with extra blades curving outwards near the hilt, designed to halt an opponent's sword then snap it. | | *''Ryuujin'' and ''Tora'', two curved short swords with extra blades curving outwards near the hilt, designed to halt an opponent's sword then snap it. |
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| == Trivia == | | === Trivia === |
| *Manji was the intellectual founder of the Keibatsu family, along with Muz Ashen Keibatsu. | | *Manji was the intellectual founder of the highly esteemed Keibatsu family, along with Muz Ashen Keibatsu. |
| *He has also documented a series of techniques for the sword style used by the family, entitled Kuroshin Ryu. | | *He has also documented a series of techniques for the sword style used by the family, entitled Kuroshin Ryu. |
| *Nekura Manji means, loosely translated from Japanese, 'Dark Sauvastika'- the sauvastika is a symbol used widely in Buddhism, which generally stands for night or magical practices. | | *Nekura Manji means, loosely translated from Japanese, 'Dark Sauvastika'- the sauvastika is a symbol used widely in Buddhism, which generally stands for night or magical practices. |
| *The inspiration for the character came from the graphic novel series 'Blade of the Immortal'- much of Manji's personality is also inspired by the 'street punk' attitude of the main character in that series, named Manji. | | *The inspiration for the character came from the graphic novel series 'Blade of the Immortal'- much of Manji's personality is also inspired by the 'street punk' attitude of the main character in that series, named Manji. |
| *One of the bladed weapons Manji uses is also taken from the series- the ''Mito-no-Kami'' blade is originally used by the character Giichi. | | *Some of the bladed weapons Manji uses are also taken from the series- the ''Mito-no-Kami'' blade is originally used by the character Giichi, and the ''Ryuujin'' and ''Tora'' blades are used by the main character. |
| *Recently Manji has begun to show signs of slight schizophrenia- although his condition is nowhere near as serious as that of his brother Muz, it does mean that he will switch between a cheerful, optimismic mindset, a brooding, depressed mindset and a murderously violent mindset swiftly and suddenly. | | *Recently Manji has begun to show signs of slight schizophrenia- although his condition is nowhere near as serious as that of his brother Muz, it does mean that he will switch between a cheerful, optimismic mindset, a brooding, depressed mindset and a murderously violent mindset swiftly and suddenly. |
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| [[Category: DJB Characters]] | | === Positions Held === |
| [[Category:Clan Naga Sadow]] | | {{Positions}} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = [[Aedile]] of [[House Marka Ragnos]] |
| | | years = [[20 ABY to 25 ABY|21 ABY]]–[[20 ABY to 25 ABY|23 ABY]] |
| | | before = [[Korras]] |
| | | after = Xizor |
| | }} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = [[Quaestor]] of [[House Marka Ragnos]] |
| | | years = [[20 ABY to 25 ABY|23 ABY]]–[[20 ABY to 25 ABY|24 ABY]] |
| | | before = [[Muz Ashen Keibatsu]] |
| | | after = [[Kat Pridemore]] |
| | }} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = [[Aedile]] of [[House Marka Ragnos]] (second term) |
| | | years = [[20 ABY to 25 ABY|25 ABY]]–[[26 ABY to Present#|27 ABY]] |
| | | before = Ylith Atema |
| | | after = [[Ashura Isradia]] |
| | }} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = [[Rollmaster]] of [[Clan Naga Sadow]] |
| | | years = [[26 ABY to Present#|31 ABY]] |
| | | before = N/A |
| | | after = TBC |
| | }} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = [[Consul]] of [[Clan Naga Sadow]] |
| | | years = [[26 ABY to Present#|31 ABY]] |
| | | before = [[Robert Sadow]] |
| | | after = N/A |
| | }} |
| | {{Succession box |
| | | title = Trainer/Operator of the [[Antei Combat Centre]] |
| | | years = [[20 ABY to 25 ABY|23 ABY]]–[[26 ABY to Present#|26 ABY]], [[26 ABY to Present#|31 ABY]] |
| | | before = N/A |
| | | after = N/A |
| | }} |
| | {{End box}} |
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| | [[Category:Sons & Daughters of Sadow]] |
- "I refuse to run! I refuse to die!"
- ―Nekura Manji Keibatsu, during the Seventh Great Jedi War
Pontifex Manji Keibatsu Sadow is a former Consul of Clan Naga Sadow, and the current Professor of General History for the Shadow Academy. He was also made a Son of Sadow to reward his devotion to his Clan. Manji is the second eldest son of the Keibatsu family, and as such is considered a feudal lord on his homeworld of Kyataru. Manji is fiercely loyal to those he holds allegiance to; he will fight for Clan Naga Sadow, the Keibatsu family and the Brotherhood until his death, and will risk his own life to ensure that no harm comes to any of the things he holds dear. However, this is balanced by his arrogant contempt for those he considers to be beneath him; he bears no love for the other Clans of the Brotherhood, and considers them to be vastly inferior to Naga Sadow and to himself.
Physical Appearance
Manji is somewhat of an enigma physically- he does not appear to have huge, bulging muscles and yet possesses a curious inner strength which is usually more than enough to overpower those he faces. He has been described as "lean and wiry" and "scrawny", but only by those who have not faced him in combat- those who have battled him have described his physical prowess as "unnatural".
One of Manji's most noticeable physical features is the eyepatch across his right eye. Beneath the patch, a long downward scar runs across his eyeball, rendering his right eye useless- the wound was gained during a battle with former Combat Master and Supreme Champion of the Antei Combat Centre, Dalthid, which took place at the climax of the K'hamar'an incident. However, despite the wound, Manji emerged from the battle technically victorious once he was restored in the bacta tanks- possessed temporarily by dark spirits, the Combat Master plummeted to his death, before Manji killed himself in order to stop the spirits seizing him.
Manji has been asked why he does not simply have the scar healed by medical technology, or why he does not heal it himself with the use of the Force. His response is as follows:
- "I remember readin' somewhere that y'can't heal a scar which the owner feels a strong attraction to, whatever that means... basically, I ain't getting rid of this since it reminds me of that victory, and of how close I came to succumbing to 'otherworldly forces'. And besides, it makes people overconfident. They think I'm helpless with only one eye, then I butcher 'em."
- ―Nekura Manji Keibatsu, shortly after the conclusion of the K'hamar'an incident.
One of the Epis' other distinct physical features is that of his clothing, an ancient silk dress-style garment from his homeworld of Kyataru called a kimono. Manji has several kimono, tailored for him on Kyataru- one is jet black with his personal crest on the back, one is also jet black but ornamented with silver cloth on the lapels, and the other is divided exactly between silver and black- one sleeve is silver, the other black, one side of the body black, the other side silver.
He wears the kimono almost constantly, only substituting it for his formal robes when decorum demands it. However, when exploring the frozen wastelands of his adopted home on Tarthos, Manji will often modify the kimono with some other traditional clothes of his homeworld- a pair of baggy, pleated trousers known as hakama that are lined with tauntaun fur and an overcoat known as a jinbaori which is also lined with fur to keep out the harsh arctic winds.
Character History
Youth
Life on Kyataru
- "That child... there is a dragon within him."
- ―Motoyasu Yoshio, retainer to the Keibatsu in 12 ABY
Nekura Manji was born to Koji Masurao and Mariko Yukimitsu, the lord and lady of the powerful Keibatsu family on the backwater planet of Kyataru. The Keibatsu held dominion over the entire planet and reigned as warlords until the year 15 ABY, when they were ousted from power by the machinations of the warlord Nagahide and reduced to a small fiefdom far from the rightful seat of their power. As the second son of the Keibatsu family, Manji will ascend to the position of Patriarch and lord of the family after his elder brother Musashi Daraku (more commonly known as Muz Ashen).
Throughout his early years, Manji was trained in the ways of the warrior- he learnt how to fight with swords, spears and naginata as well as how to ride and shoot. As he grew older, the cocky and free-spirited Manji became infuriated with the structured, formal nature of his life as the son and heir of a powerful samurai (member of the Kyataran warrior class). Because Manji's elder brother Musashi had been taken away by Eojin Quon-Shen to train as a Jedi, Manji was in the process of being groomed to become the heir of the family once he reached the appropriate age. However, despite his noble birth, the young warrior was distinctly un-aristocratic; he much preferred exploring the landscape of Kyataru and practicing his martial skills to studying the politics, economy and social structure of Kyataru. Manji also did not care how those things would help him to one day rule his people once the Keibatsu had reclaimed their rightful dominion over Kyataru.
In time, the young Keibatsu became dissatisfied with the caste structure of his homeworld, which held him above those who were considered his social inferiors and meant that he was not allowed to socialise with anybody not born into the warrior class. This fact was emphasised by several of his father's retainers when Manji struck up a friendship (with romantic overtones) with a peasant girl from the village adjacent to the Keibatsu estates. Manji and the girl spent several weeks meeting secretly to go and explore the Kyataran landscape together, greatly enjoying each other's company, until one day a retainer of Koji Masurao caught the young Keibatsu meeting the girl. The girl was beaten and sent away in tears, while Manji swore loudly and with vitriol at the retainer, desperately trying to attack the older, more experienced samurai but failing. He never saw the girl again, and this event was enough to truly harden Manji's young heart against the formal society of his homeworld.
Upon reaching the age of 13, Manji decided that he'd had enough, and managed to steal a ship from the hangar of Kuroshin castle, obviously without the permission of his parents. Leaving Kyataru with a couple of thousand credits and his weapons, Manji set out to find his own way in the galaxy.
The young warrior quickly managed to get into trouble, engaging in various duels and bar room brawls fuelled by his impetuous temper and inbuilt sense of superiority, and amassing quite a few scars across his face and upper body. This led to many scrapes with local law enforcement agencies, and instilled a strong anti-authority streak in the young Keibatsu that would remain for some time. However, Manji eventually managed to find some purpose, finding employment on the notorious blockade runner Broken Wing under the command of the Nikto bounty hunter Arctur Usan. He was pivotal in a number of illegal operations, even helping to run an illegal shipment of spice past a squadron of the Autocthonian Navy under the command of Muz Ashen Keibatsu, although neither knew of the other's presence.
Fall To The Dark Side
- "You gotta have a home, kid. Somewhere to rest your head when every law enforcement group in the galaxy is after you."
- ―Bounty Hunter Arctur Usan, 17 ABY.
Over time, a homesick longing began to take root in Manji's mind- he longed to see the beautiful scenery of Kyataru once more and return to the places he had left as an impetuous youth. During a period of downtime for the Broken Wing, as the crew took refuge from the authorities on Nar Shaddaa, Manji was encouraged by Arctur to return home; the bounty hunter pointed out the importance of having a safe haven where nothing could touch you. His words swayed Manji's decision, and the young Keibatsu returned to Kyataru in a small one-man fighter borrowed from the bounty hunter. His parents greeted him with open arms, forgiving his unauthorised departure, and for several days the young Keibatsu knew inner peace.
Then tragedy struck. Manji was studying his swordsmanship up in the ruined courtyard of Kuroshin keep when a group of Jedi (including Claudius Tang'va and the Nautolan Jedi Ayln'ohn) came to the Keibatsu estate to force Koji to sell a cortosis mine that had been uncovered on the Keibatsu lands. Koji refused point-blank, and the young and foolhardy Jedi responded with violence, resulting in the massacre that made most Kyatarans believe that the Keibatsu bloodline had been completely extinguished.
Manji's arrival at the Keibatsu estate was too late to save his parents, but not late enough to miss the tragedy. The trauma of the event unlocked the latent Force potential within the young Keibatsu, leading him to brutally murder one Jedi in an explosion of rage and slice open the belly of another. Then Manji dived into the flames, hearing the cries of his youngest sister. The Jedi left, not knowing that the young warrior had found his sibling and dragged her into one of the secret chambers below the house, waiting for the flames to die down before emerging. A heavy rainstorm began to beat down the flames, allowing Manji to come back up to the surface. Filled with anger at the Jedi, Nekura Manji vowed revenge, unaware that even at this early stage he was embracing the Dark Side.
Leaving his youngest sister behind with some friends of the Keibatsu family, Manji went back to his ship and left Kyataru once again with the intention of finding out just what kind of power the tragedy had unlocked within him- and possibly slaughtering some more Jedi along the way to make them pay for his loss.
The Brotherhood
First Contact
- "I sense the Dark Side in you, child."
- ―Headmaster Kaiann Yetaru Entar, 18 ABY.
It took him two years, but at the age of 20, Manji eventually managed to locate some answers. In a grimy cantina on Nar Shaddaa, after being plied with enough credits, a hooded, robed figure told him about a mysterious group called 'The Dark Brotherhood'. However, the figure claimed that he didn't know where the Brotherhood was based, except that it was near a great concentration of Dark Side power. Manji could not squeeze any more information out of the figure, and so decided on a time-consuming course of action; using his basic, elementary Force powers, he would search known locations where there was a strong residue of the Dark Side in the hope of finding this 'Brotherhood'.
After several more months spent investigating sites of strong Dark Side power across the galaxy, Nekura Manji finally managed to find the entrance to the Antei system, the last location on his list. Before he could attempt to navigate the Shroud, which would probably have proven fatal due to his rudimentary piloting skills, Manji's small ship was intercepted by a huge cruiser on patrol duty. Stepping out of the shuttle as it came to rest in the hangar of the M/CRV Palantir, Nekura Manji came face-to-face with an imposing figure in sweeping black robes- Kaiann Yetaru Entar, The Headmaster of the Shadow Academy.
Rediscovering the Keibatsu
- "Liar! You were one of them, weren’t you? You were there! You helped kill my family!"
- ―Manji to Muz Ashen, 19 ABY.
After passing the initial tests at the Shadow Academy, Nekura Manji was initiated into the Brotherhood and assigned to the Krath House Marka Ragnos of Naga Sadow. During the next eight months, the young Keibatsu worked hard at ascending the ranks, and became involved in the Antei Combat Centre as a combatant, honing his martial prowess. As he attained the rank of Jedi Hunter, however, his life was changed forever.
Manji and a companion and comrade of his in Marka Ragnos, Muz Ashen, were sent on a routine mission against a New Republic freighter. On board were three Jedi, including a student of Eojin Quon-Shen who recognized Muz. Shortly after Manji, Muz and their comrades Kali Desdemona and Keiran defeated the Jedi, Manji discovered that not every member of his family had been killed by the Jedi. Muz discovered the truth of his lineage in a datapad held by Eojin's student, which corroborated his possession of a ring that Manji remembered his father wearing. Manji and Muz Ashen were brothers.
Shortly after this Manji and Muz both faced their Knight Trials, becoming Dark Jedi Knights. In recognition of their achievements and their work for their House, they were appointed as Tetrarchs of the Avatars of Death and the Night Hawks respectively.
Soon another link in Manji's family chain was revealed- during an expedition to investigate an archaeological dig in the Shadowlands of Antei, Manji and Muz Ashen found a chamber filled with relics of their family-armor, swords, scrolls. The chamber also revealed the name of their ancestor, the mighty warlord Shinmen Nagahide Keibatsu.
The Sixth Great Jedi War
- "I'll never give up, old man. You'll have to shatter every bone in my body to stop me from fighting."
- ―Manji to Dalthid during the Sixth Great Jedi War, 21 ABY.
The original Star Chamber was unearthed on Antei, leading to the reawakening of the ancient Sith Lord Okemi and the beginning of the Sixth Great Jedi War. As Tetrarch of the Avatars of Death Phyle, Manji fought bravely in the conflict as he led his phyle against the corrupted members of other Clans who sought to attack Naga Sadow under the influence of Okemi. As a reward for his services to his House and Clan, Nekura Manji Keibatsu was promoted to Krath Priest and elevated to the rank of Aedile of Marka Ragnos as his brother Muz Ashen was appointed to the position of Quaestor. This began a period of great prosperity for House Marka Ragnos; the two brothers worked together closely, and Marka Ragnos flourished under their command.
The K'hamar'an Incident
- "I am the son of Koji Masurao Keibatsu, you will... not... turn me!!"
- ―Manji during the culmination of the K'hamar'an Incident, 22 ABY.
Many valuable texts and artifacts were stolen from the Brotherhood by members of the mysterious K'hamar'an cult, prompting the Krath High Priestess to lead many of the Krath order to the homeworld of the K'hamar'ans in order to retrieve the artifacts. During the conflict many in the Brotherhood came under the influence of the K'hamar'ans and began to fight their fellow Dark Jedi, leading to many vicious duels. Manji distinguished himself by defeating all who stood against him during the incident, including the then Combat Master Dalthid, whom he defeated before the Stennes could be fully possessed by K'hamar'an spirits, but not before receiving a long slash across his right eye. This was one of many duels that Manji had fought against the Stennes, but only the second one from which he had emerged victorious, his struggles against the brutal fighting style of the Stennes instrumental in shaping him into an instrument of combat.
The Rise
- "Now, shishi suishou... the beatings will commence."
- ―Muz Ashen to the Crystal Lion, 23 ABY.
In the aftermath of the K'hamar'an attack, when the snows of Tarthos receded to reveal a tropical jungle, another life-changing event befell the two brothers. The Crystal Lion, symbol of their family, came to Tarthos to exterminate Muz Ashen as a traitor to the Keibatsu line. Confronting the beast in open battle, Muz defeated it and regained the honor to take up his birthright without shame. From that day onwards, the Archpriest and Quaestor of Marka Ragnos became known as Muz Ashen Keibatsu. Soon afterwards, Muz was called to Sepros to take up residence as the Proconsul of Naga Sadow, due to his excellent service to the Clan.
In his stead, Manji was appointed Quaestor of Marka Ragnos and vowed to take Marka Ragnos to new heights of glory and power. Under his leadership and with the guidance of his brother from the Clan Summit, the House continued to prosper for the ten months that Manji spent as Quaestor.
However, as time passed, Manji began to feel the pressures of leadership and eventually stepped down from the position of Quaestor, taking up the position of Aedile under the new Quaestor, Kat Pridemore. Once Kat was comfortable in her new position, the Epis once again joined the rank and file, deciding to concentrate on his other positions in the Brotherhood- Guardsman of the Grand Master's Royal Guard, Magistrate to the new Herald Muz Keibatsu Sadow and Trainer and Combatant in the Antei Combat Centre.
Liberation
- "The Keibatsu? Stupid fool. That name is illegal, and you know it."
- ―Oshima, Kyataran swordsmith, 24 ABY.
Something was in the wind. Gathering their newly discovered family about them, Muz and Manji decided to lead an expedition to their home of Kyataru, with the intention of liberating it from those who had taken advantage of their long absence- most notably the warlord Nagahide, who had set himself up as the rightful ruler of the planet. Following a long, grueling campaign based out of the ruined fortress Kuroshin, the Keibatsu regained control of their ancestral home- Nagahide was slain brutally by Musashi and the family ensured that he and his descendants would never trouble their line again. The dragon had come back from the dead, and the people of Kyataru rejoiced as the Keibatsu spread the wealth of Nagahide's vast coffers around to improve the infrastructure of the planet, building new highways and cities and implementing new programs that would modernise Kyataru and increase the wealth of the still semi-feudal world. However, before the family could truly set to ruling Kyataru, they were called back to the halls of Clan Naga Sadow after messages of the great tension between the six Clans of the Brotherhood reached them, tinged with something more sinister.
The Seventh Great Jedi War
- "Brothers... end this conflict."
- ―Manji to Shimura and Macron, 25 ABY.
The Brotherhood was split between two opposing factions as the machinations of Jaac Cotelin, a clone of the Grand Master, spurred a full-blown civil war that merely built upon previous tensions between the Clans. Manji fought alongside the others of his Clan in the name of the 'Crimson' faction, which put him and Naga Sadow at odds with one of the Clan's most well-known members, Shadow Hand Xanos Zorrixor. Despite the confusion and the negativity of fighting his own sworn brothers, the Keibatsu fought proudly for his Clan, eager to display his strength in the name of Naga Sadow and to further his own honor through battle with the enemies of the Clan. As the smoke of the conflict cleared, once again, Manji stood undefeated in battle, his skills firmly honed by his time in the halls of the Combat Center. By this point, his name was being whispered by many in the halls of the Combat Center, his reputation as a demon of the sword and the saber firmly established.
The Alien Threat To the Brotherhood
- "Who the frack do these alien scrag-ends think they are?"
- ―Nekura Manji following the Alien Incursion, 27 ABY.
Several years passed without incident as Manji busied himself with his work in the Antei Combat Centre and in his Clan, constantly striving to better himself as a warrior. However, what seemed to be a time of peace and progression would soon be rudely shattered. The growing threat of the Alien invaders finally manifested itself against the Brotherhood while all the Clans were clustered together on Antei for a Brotherhood-wide awards ceremony. The fleets of the Brotherhood were smashed and broken by the fury of the Alien assault. The conflict was particularly brutal for Manji, as news came through the communications network that his oldest ally and brother Muz had been on board the Vae Victus, and had been either killed or captured by the Force-devoid Alien invaders. In addition, his nephew (and Muz's son) Sanjuro Keibatsu had also been listed as captured, presumed dead. The Clans retreated from Antei, and while it was later revealed that both Muz and Sanjuro were alive, the helpless fury that Manji had felt upon believing them dead did not go away completely.
Man of the Wave
- "I've been in this place too long. I figure it's time to start wanderin' again."
- ―Manji, 28 ABY.
Shortly after Naga Sadow had returned to the Orian system to lick it's wounds in the aftermath of the Alien incursion, Manji felt something stirring within his breast; both a longing for his homeworld of Kyataru and a longing for the distant galaxies which he had not yet explored. After contacting his superiors in the Brotherhood to inform them of his desire to take a leave of absence, Manji spent several months at home on Kyataru before setting off into the Outer Rim for unknown worlds, to take a pilgrimage of training and to test his skills against every warrior he met.
Coincidence brought the Epis back to Tarthos as the two houses of Clan Naga Sadow clashed in what became known as the Orian Uprising. Shocked by the infighting between members of the Clan, Manji worked tirelessly with the rest of his House to restore peace to the Clan and to drive out those who had threatened Naga Sadow. He was successful, acting as a beacon of strength for the other members of the Clan to rally behind in fighting against those who had sought to attack Naga Sadow. His work done, the Epis retreated back to Kyataru to spend some more time at his home estates, still not fully willing or able to return to the Brotherhood and sickened by the infighting that he'd witnessed during the Orian Uprising.
The Return
- "You're ugly and your breath smells like bantha farts, you nerf-herding son of a rancor!"
- ―Dyrra Skye, 30 ABY.
A year passed as Manji remained at home on Kyataru. Then, one day, a chance encounter with a brash, 21-year old girl in a tavern located in downtown Inazawa, the capital city of Kyataru, reminded the Epis of his own youth and his earliest experiences with the Brotherhood. Instantly, a flood of memories possessed him, taking him back to the time when he'd first joined the Brotherhood, arrogant and self-confident, and unaware of the depth of power that he would one day command. The experience filled the Epis with renewed vigour, and Manji felt a flood of happiness as he realized his purpose- to hone the latent Force power in this girl into a blade that she could wield against those who would prey on her.
Taking the girl with him, Manji flew back to Tarthos to resume active service in the name of Clan Naga Sadow and the Dark Brotherhood. Soon, the Epis discovered that he would have many chances to prove his loyalty and to showcase the fruits of his long 'warrior's pilgrimage' through the Outer Rim as the Brotherhood moved to reclaim their fortresses and holdings on Antei, which had been taken by the Aliens in 27 ABY.
Unification
- "Keibatsu..? Tell me, Keibatsu... do you know a man named Eojin Quon-Shen?"
- ―Jedi Master Ayln'ohn, 30 ABY.
The reclamation of Antei began more smoothly than had been expected; poised to face off against an overwhelming force of Force-devoid aliens, the Clans of the Brotherhood and the Dark Council were surprised to find the Aliens dead and an ancient Jedi Master occupying the Iron Throne, supported by vast armies of droids. Swiftly adapting to their opponent's forces, the Clans fought their way to the surface of Antei and began to lay beachheads, seeking to take the planet back piece by piece. Manji was among the first of Clan Naga Sadow to touch down on Antei, supporting the forces of the Iron Throne in securing their landing zone. To do this, the Epis and his apprentice Dyrra joined a small group of commandos led by Macron Sadow and Malisane de Ath in infiltrating a droid control bunker. By destroying the equipment in the bunker, they shut off the local signal for the droids attacking the landing zone, allowing the forces of the Iron Throne to secure the area.
Shortly afterwards, the group moved south to help defend Forward Operating Base Spear against an approaching column of droid armoured units. The battle was long and hard, but Naga Sadow prevailed, the droids finally destroyed with the arrival of forces from Clan Taldryan. As Manji and his apprentice accompanied Naga Sadow's forces to their rendezvous with forces from Clan Scholae Palatinae, the Epis agreed to head out into the Shadowlands with Dyrra to try and capture a Jedi, in order to obtain intelligence from the enemy.
Unfortunately, the Jedi that they encountered had played an integral part in the Keibatsu's history; the Nautolan, named Ayln'ohn, had been one of the Jedi sent to assassinate Manji's parents by Eojin Quon-Shen. Driven wild with fury by the news, Manji attacked the Jedi- only to be defeated and humiliated by the saberwork of the Lightsider. Ayln'ohn disappeared into the darkness of the Shadowlands, full of remorse; it is presumed that he left the planet without incident. When he was healed from the serious injuries he sustained by Macron, Manji seemed completely unlike his usual self- his defeat at the hands of Ayln'ohn seemed to have broken him, his irrepressible spirit crushed.
While the Epis slowly returned to his usual self as he and the other Dark Jedi of Naga Sadow headed south to defend the Hall of Immortals against the iconoclasm of the Jedi, and eventually defeated the revived spirit of Darth Vexatus and the Jedi that he had possessed, a lingering sense of his failure remained to haunt him as a constant blemish on his pride.
Return to Power
- "On this day, I hereby anoint you, Manji Keibatsu Sadow, to the position of Consul of this Clan."
- ―Grand Master Muz Ashen, 31 ABY.
Manji's time back on Kyataru being treated as the second scion of the powerful Keibatsu family had affected his outlook, and on his return to Tarthos after the conclusion of the Unification, he felt a desire to obtain more power in his Clan in order to better increase his own standing. With lightning speed, the Epis regained his position as an Operator of the Antei Combat Centre under the new Combat Master, Erinyes. When the Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos was chosen as the new Shadow Hand of the Brotherhood, and following the ensuing leadership shuffle, Manji was chosen as Rollmaster for his House, and then the entire Clan. For a while, Manji was comfortable in this position, easily dealing with the responsibilities of the position as well as continuing to show off his own powers through his work in the Combat Center.
Then a dramatic communications failure and the disappearance of the Consul of Naga Sadow presented him with an even greater opportunity. Manji went for the position of Consul of Naga Sadow, and to his surprise was chosen to lead the Clan to glory. This was a validation of all the years he had spent serving Naga Sadow, and the Epis vowed to do everything he could to improve the Clan and to establish himself as a truly historic leader.
DJB Facts
Manji has served as a Tetrarch, Aedile and Quaestor within House Marka Ragnos of Clan Naga Sadow, and has been a long-serving staff member in the Antei Combat Centre as Operator, Judge and Trainer. He has also served as a Guardsman in the Grand Master's Royal Guard, and was made a Guard Captain under Commander of the Guard Khobai Wrathraven, helping to revitalise the image of the Grand Master's Royal Guard. Manji also briefly served as a Magistrate to Herald Muz Ashen.
Weaponry
- Custom lightsaber styled after a katana, created by Muz Ashen Keibatsu- one of the very first sabers that the Herald created.
- A set of swords (daisho) created by the renowned Kyataran swordsmith Kunisada.
- A strange circular blade named Mito-no-Kami shaped liked a handcuff, designed to snap shut around people's necks and sever them cleanly.
- Ryuujin and Tora, two curved short swords with extra blades curving outwards near the hilt, designed to halt an opponent's sword then snap it.
Trivia
- Manji was the intellectual founder of the highly esteemed Keibatsu family, along with Muz Ashen Keibatsu.
- He has also documented a series of techniques for the sword style used by the family, entitled Kuroshin Ryu.
- Nekura Manji means, loosely translated from Japanese, 'Dark Sauvastika'- the sauvastika is a symbol used widely in Buddhism, which generally stands for night or magical practices.
- The inspiration for the character came from the graphic novel series 'Blade of the Immortal'- much of Manji's personality is also inspired by the 'street punk' attitude of the main character in that series, named Manji.
- Some of the bladed weapons Manji uses are also taken from the series- the Mito-no-Kami blade is originally used by the character Giichi, and the Ryuujin and Tora blades are used by the main character.
- Recently Manji has begun to show signs of slight schizophrenia- although his condition is nowhere near as serious as that of his brother Muz, it does mean that he will switch between a cheerful, optimismic mindset, a brooding, depressed mindset and a murderously violent mindset swiftly and suddenly.
Positions Held