Scions of Cocytus

The Scions of Cocytus
General information
Founder(s):	Fias Zhan
Leader(s):	Fias Zhan
Headquarters:	Changes Frequently
Historical information
Formed from:	Subsect of the Order of the New Dawn
Founding:	~35 ABY
Other information
Notable members:	Lady Il-Kayd Bernard Leo Kelac Lasha General Millard (deceased) Lorand (deceased)
Affiliation:	The Order of the New Dawn
Era(s):	Dark Jedi Brotherhood Era
[ Source ]

The Scions of Cocytus is a known cult off shoot of The Order of the New Dawn. The Scions have taken it upon themselves to disrupt life within the Cocytus system for what they claim is the good of the Empire. The Scions are led by the radical Fias Zhan, who is a former member of Emperor Palpatine’s Emperor’s Guard. The Scions operate in the darkest shadows of the Cocytus system, and have been behind several major instances in the year 38 ABY. They know the nature of House Scholae Palatinae, and wish to overthrow its control so that Zhan may rule as Emperor. They are utterly ruthless, motivated, and devoted to their cause.

History

Origins

The exact origin date for the Scions of Cocytus founding is unknown, but it is believed to have started around the year 35 ABY, which is when the earliest confirmed sightings of Zhan in the Cocytus system are recorded. It is however known that the Scions operate as a specific subsect of The Order of the New Dawn, which has been in operation since the death of Emperor Palpatine. This order is a radical cult, which is rumored to be attempting to find a way to bring the Emperor back to life, and to power.

As a fairly radical fringe group, The Order of the New Dawn has never been seen to have strong bases of power anywhere in the known Galaxy. Their core leadership isunknown, outside of the mid-level leaders who organize efforts in individual systems. They have had strong footholds in systems with stronger Imperial leanings, but the Order has never been seen as a serious threat by the limited few who even acknowledge their existence.

Zhan himself fell off the grid following the death of Emperor Palpatine, and somewhere in the years following the destruction of the Second Death Star, he fell in with the New Dawn. With his appearance in the Coctyus system in 35 ABY, he was strongly established as one of the mid-level leaders within the Order. Zhan seemed to have a strong drive in his early days in the system, suggesting that even then he had some idea of the true nature of the system wide Empire holding fast there. Due to the fact that at the same time, there was growing hostility due to the Jedi of House Odan-Urr, the leaders of Scholae Palatinae did nothing to further investigate Zhan.

Since that time Zhan has continued to escalate conflict within the Cocytus system. He has been gathering all resources he can, and in some cases using Scholae Palatinae’s own facilities, to help give him an edge in an attempt to secure rule for himself. The Order of the New Dawn, while still apparently lacking a central foothold anywhere in the Galaxy has backed the efforts of the Scions with an astonishing amount of resources. An influx of New Dawn radicals, credits, and armaments has been arriving to bolster the Scions’ efforts in recent months. Zhan knows about the true nature of Scholae Palatinae, and the Empire of the Cocytus system, and is bringing everything he can to achieve his goal.

Efforts in the Cocytus system

The majority of 38 ABY has seen Zhan slowly executing his plan by both stabilizing the Empire he seeks to control, and preparing for his final assault to usurp the throne for himself. While the leaders and members of Scholae Palatinae were focused on resolving more urgent matters, Zhan was able to move unhindered in efforts of bringing more forces and weapons into the system.

Ptolomea

The Ptolomea Deposition occurred near the end of the Brotherhood’s year long Dark Crusade. While Scholae Palatinae was busy fighting One Sith forces across the Galaxy the leader of the planet Ptolomea, Lou Khebe, had grown strong willed and defiant against the orders of the Empire. He believed he was above even direct orders from the Emperor. Since the events of the Deposition, investigations have discovered that one of Khebe’s closest advisors was actually Fias Zhan himself.

Khebe was always power hungry and ambitious, but his actions in leading Ptolomea never interfered with the Empire’s plans. With the Empire distracted, Zhan saw this as the perfect place to begin putting his plan into motion. Seizing control of an Empire already in shambles was not his goal. A major power change at the top of a weak foundation would ensure he could never sit as Emperor for long. Khebe, far from a true blooded Imperial loyalist, was going to have to be replaced sooner or later.

Zhan worked his way into Khebe’s good graces and swiftly found himself as a close advisor. His whisperings to Khebe finally pushed Khebe into accelerating what was already borderline renegade behavior. Once Khebe’s actions on Ptolomea were passed the point of no return, Zhan vanished to continue his efforts of growing his own forces.

Zhan was gone by the time Scholae Palatinae’s forces were able to overthrow Khebe’s rule on the planet. Khebe’s removal was met with great relief from the citizens of Ptolomea, and Scholae Palatinae had little reason at the time to worry about a single escaped advisor to the disposed despot.

Antenora

The events of the Antenora Rebellion quickly changed the opinions of Scholae Palatinae about the threat presented by the Scions of Coctyus. The blatant evidence found as the Rebellion began showed direct action by Zhan, who helped the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests to escape from their prison in the tower known as Hatza’s Needle.

This was also the first time that Zhan claimed responsibility for events in the Cocytus system, by directly messaging the Emperor of the System, Xen’Mordin Vismorsus. In the brief communication between the two men, Zhan claimed responsibility for Ptolomea, and the escape of the rebel leaders on Antenora. Zhan’s rationale was that as long as the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests lived on Antenora, the majority of the planet’s civilians would never have full loyalty to the Empire.

This direct conversation with the Emperor resulted in Fias Zhan being placed at the top of the Empire’s Most Wanted list. However, as hard as Imperial Scholae Intelligence looked, they couldn’t find Zhan or his people. Challenging the Emperor directly and making the Empire angry was part of Zhan’s plan, hoping the anger would make them more prone to mistakes. His knowledge of Imperial Intelligence protocol, and seeing the steps the Empire went about in investigating him, Zhan was able to keep his own forces out of the light.

Caina

The Cainian Strikes played a part of Zhan’s continuing diversion tactics against the Empire. Even with his own knowledge of Imperial protocol, he knew sooner or later the Empire would be directly on his tail. This occurred with the discovery of his forces using some of the abandoned training facilities on Caina. The Scions were forced into a rapid retreat from the facilities and the planet.

Using his connections within the mining unions of Caina, he was able to quickly divert system attention to a strike. While the Empire was forced to bring down the iron hammer of their will on the mining workers, Zhan was able to move his forces away and position them for the final phases of his plan. When attention was able to return to finding the Scions, Scholae Palatinae discovered a lab hidden in the icy wasteland of northern Caina. There Zhan had been using scientists to formulate terrible biological weapons of war. The information gathered from the lab, and its creations had already been taken by Zhan, ready to use it in his final plan to take the throne of the Empire.

Notable Members

Fias Zhan

• Gender: Male
• Species: Human
• Age: 58-62
• Homeworld: Corellia
• Height: 5’ 11”
• Weight: 170 pounds
• Hair Color: Grey
• Eye Color: Blue
• Position: Head of the Scions of Cocytus, System Leader for the Order of the New Dawn

History

Born on Corellia near the start of the Clone Wars, Zhan showed force sensitivity from an early age. His parents, both upper middle-class lived a comfortable life on the planet. However, they were also very much Republic loyalists, and as Corellia withdrew itself from the Galactic Republic over protest of the Militar Creation Act, the family relocated to Coruscant. There, Zhan’s force sensitivity was recorded by the Jedi, but before he was old enough to be taken in for training, Order 66 was executed in 19 BBY.

His name was on a list recovered from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant as a Force sensitive and stored in Imperial databanks. At the age of 16 he joined the Imperial Military. Flagged as a Force sensitive, he was pulled into a special training program. He was one of the youngest humans trained to be part of the Emperor’s Guard, and one of the last. The Emperor’s Guard was a secret group of Dark Jedi tasked with protecting Palpatine and his Sith archives. This same guard was the group that the Emperor’s Hammer would eventually discover information about, leading to the formation of House Scholae Palatinae in the first place. Zhan’s time in the Emperor’s Guard taught him much about the force, Imperial Intelligence Systems, and instilled an unwavering sense of loyalty to the Galactic Empire and Emperor Palpatine.

Following the fall of Palpatine, Zhan was one of the few members of the Emperor’s Guard who managed to survive. Feeling it was his duty to fight on behalf of the Empire, he fell off the grid in search of fellow loyalists. At some point in these years, he found The Order of the New Dawn, and was taken in by their teachings. His training and indoctrination continued for many years with the group.

There is no clear record of Zhan or of what happened in the following years of his life. Eventually he rose in rank within the Order, and discovered the Cocytus system, where a small Empire was holding firm. He quickly recognized similarities between this Empire and the Galactic Empire, similarities too strong to be a coincidence. Zhan, entrusted as a mid-level leader for the Order was able to travel to the Cocytus system with other members of the Order. It was there Zhan returned to the view of the Galaxy, older, wiser, and much more dangerous. He was fanatically driven to establish what he felt was a true successor to the Galactic Empire.

In 35 ABY, Zhan had divined the true nature of the Empire of the Cocytus system, and began planning for his own ascension to the throne. As the last of the Emperor’s Guard, he believed completely that he was the rightful Heir to Palpatine’s legacy. Backed by the Order, he formed the Scions of Cocytus, an even more radical subsect dedicated to achieving this goal. As Scholae Palatinae began to fight in the Dark Crusade, Zhan saw a window of opportunity to put his carefully laid plan into motion. Striking on each of the major worlds of the Cocytus system, he successfully distracted Scholae Palatinae, while securing the Empire’s control of each system. Only a strong, unified Empire could support his long term plans in expanding this successor of the Galactic Empire.

What exactly The Order of the New Dawn is hoping to accomplish with Zhan’s efforts in the system are unknown, but they have continued to greatly escalate funds and resources to Zhan as his plan continues to move forward. Given Zhan’s periodic cryptic communications to Scholae Palatinae, he has made it clear he will stop at nothing to achieve what he believes is his right.

Personality

A comprehensive personality report is difficult to construct for Zhan. His few and cryptic messages to the Empire has shown an obsessive and aggressive dedication to his ideals. He has a large ego, believing Palpatine would want him, and him alone to continue the legacy of the Galactic Empire. As such, he believes he cannot possibly fail in his attempts within the Cocytus system.

His communications directly with Emperor Xen’Mordin Vismorsus, indicates he believes he is of superior strength, skill and tactical advantage. These communications have been frequently compared as an adult talking to a child, a viewpoint that extends to the whole of Scholae Palatianae.

His actions to disrupt the Cocytus system have been ruthless and calculated for maximum chaos, while shielding his own operations in the system. Outside of the known major conflicts, Zhan and the Scions are believed to be behind nearly a hundred other instances of disruption in the system. His knowledge of Imperial protocol has given him an edge against the ISI, and there is a good chance he has embedded spies throughout the Empire’s infrastructure.

Each action he takes has been carefully planned, with the bearing of a man with a strict military background. The exact level of his force capabilities and combat skills are unknown, but expected to be advanced.

Appearance

Zhan does not stand out in a crowd. He is of average height and build for a man in his late 50s to early 60s. His hair, which was reportedly once a dark brown, has now fully greyed. It is kept short and crisp, an aspect instilled from his military background. He holds himself as a man still entrenched in a military mindset, thus in his few appearances to the forces of Scholae Palatinae, and in particular to the Emperor, he has come of as very rigid and in control.

Lady Il-Kayd

• Gender: Female
• Species: Cerean
• Age: Early 40s
• Birthplace: Cerea
• Height: 6’ 5”
• Weight: 190 pounds
• Hair Color: Black, Starting to Grey
• Eye Color: Brown
• Position: Top Lieutenant and Procurement

History

The earliest record of Lady Il-Kayd is from when she was in her early twenties. She purchased a YT-2000 ship and began trading along the Gamor Run. This trading quickly evolved into smuggling operations where Il-Kayd began demonstrating a great proficiency with piloting. Eventually she found herself in control of a piracy cartel, where she became renowned for her brutal and ruthless tactics.

Some time in the last ten years she was contacted by Zhan, who was intending for her only to run some smuggling operations for him. He realized she had some basic force sensitivity and offered her a position in his plans, alongside further force training. It is believed her cartel was folded into the ranks of Zhan’s Scions of Cocytus group.

Personality

Lady Il-Kayd is a ruthless enforcer of Zhan’s will. Her days as a smuggler have left her hardened to the darker natures of life in the Galaxy. She has displayed great skill both as a pilot and as a marksman. It is unknown if she has any skill with a lightsaber, but she has been trained by Zhan in moderate force abilities. In particular the skills of foresight and battle meditation.

Due to this, she has rarely been seen partaking in combat herself, only entering the fray as a last resort. There she has shown remarkable athletic prowess and agility along with excellent marksmanship. But, she would much rather plan and lead from the rear instead of getting involved.

Appearance

Lady Il-Kayd appears typical of the Cerean race, tall and with a pinkish color skin. Her black hair, normally bound in steel rings, has started to grey with age. Despite her aging body, she is still very athletic and seen as a threat in physical combat. She has a blue tattoo over her right eye and cheek, which is a symbol from her days as a smuggler.

Bernard Leo

• Gender: Male
• Species: Human
• Age: Early 40s
• Birthplace: Kuat
• Height: 5’ 4”
• Weight: 182 pounds
• Hair Color: Changes Frequently
• Eye Color: Changes Frequently
• Cybernetics: Cranial Implants, Major Joint Replacement
• Position: Top Lieutenant and Tactician

History

There is very little known about Bernard Leo or how he came into contact with Zhan. He appears to have been working with Zhan for a number of years, and is particularly fond of the money Zhan supplies him with.

Bernard is known to have completed two doctorates, one medical, one xenobiological. Bernard has undergone many cosmetic and dangerous cybernetic enhancements. He is often called crazy and a psychopath, but behind the madness is a master tactician. Much of the attacks by the Ognerate Emperor and his loyalists on Antenora were straight from Bernard’s playbook.

Personality

Bernard is a crazy, sadistic, narcissist. He has been nicknamed “The Doctor” by fellow members of Scions due to his over the top cruel natured experiments. He has been known to corrupt bacta shipments to children’s hospitals just to see how the children fester. He has also become obsessed with the torture and experimentation on force sensitive individuals in an attempt to figure out how to absorb their force capabilities.

Bernard is under the impression he is second in command for the Scions, but Zhan actively attempts to keep Bernard isolated from other aspects of the groups efforts. Zhan recognizes that Bernard is a monster, but a useful monster. As long as he continues to bring excellent tactical plans, he will continue to stay on as one of the senior members in the Scions’ organization.

Appearance

Bernard is of middle age, but has had many reconstructive surgeries. Both cosmetic and physical, it has now become nearly impossible to get a positive identification on the man. His hair, eyes, and facial features change constantly in an attempt to throw off people who might be looking to stop his sadistic nature.

It is known that he is below average height, narrow build with lanky arms.

Kelac Lasha

• Gender: Male
• Species: Human
• Age: Mid Thirties
• Birthplace: Nar Shadaa
• Height: 6’
• Weight: 195 pounds
• Hair Color: Blond
• Eye Color: Blue
• Position: Top Lieutenant and Military Trainer

History

Kelac was raised by Imperial Loyalists on Coruscant. He ran away from home at the age of 14 to escape his abusive father. For the next 5 years he ran with one of the street gangs of the smuggler’s moon. At the age of 19 he signed up with a band of mercenaries who taught him the hard skills needed to survive in the galaxy. He became devoted to physical fitness and weapon proficiency in his years of running with this band of mercs.

Sometime in his late twenties he came in contact with Zhan. As much as Kelac despised his parents, their teachings of Imperial loyalty stuck with him, alongside a sizeable paycheck, Kelac was in to train Zhan’s forces to their peak physical fitness. These days he is the rough and tough trainer for all of Zhan’s forces ensuring they are primed and ready for the coming war against Scholae Palatinae.

Personality

Kelac is perhaps the most personable of Zhan’s top lieutenants. He is easygoing, loud, rambunctious, and a heavy drinker. From his men he expects nothing but the best, but has instilled a deep sense of loyalty. If anything the soldiers in Zhan’s army are more willing to lay down their lives for Kelac than they are for Zhan.

There have been numerous attempts by Scholae Palatinae to contact Kelac and buy out a change of allegiance from him, but all attempts have failed. He is a man who delivers on what he promises and in this case, it is a prime fighting army for Zhan’s attempt to take over the Cocytus system.

Appearance

Kelac is strong and fit with shoulder length blond hair. He has numerous tattoos all over his body from his time on the street gangs of Nar Shadaa and his years as a mercenary. He is typically seen wearing heavy armor when not in training sessions.

Trivia

• Fias Zhan was created by Koryn Thraagus.
• Lady Il-Kayd was created by Kor Vaal in the Loyal Lieutenants competition for the Caina Looking Home Campaign and was modified to work into use here.
• Bernard Leo was created by Archangel in the Loyal Lieutenants competition for the Caina Looking Home Campaign and was modified to work into use here.
• Kelac Lasha was created by Xen’Mordin Vismorsus.
• Scions Symbol was created by Kor Vaal in the Symbol of Devotion competition for the Caina Looking Home Campaign, as seen [1].