Muz Ashen

Dark Jedi Master Muz Keibatsu Sadow is the current Deputy Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood.

Character History

Padawan Muz Ashen

The scion of the Keibatsu line, a deposed family from the backwater feudal planet of Kyataru, Musashi Daraku Keibatsu was taken by the Jedi Master Eojin Quon-Shen at the age of 6 as a padawan. Through his training by the survivor of Order 66, Musashi learned the ways of the Force and eventually forgot his true name, parsing it to 'Muz Ashen'. When Eojin merged his few students with the Jedi Praxium of Luke Skywalker, Muz expanded his training and eventually completed his studies.

Muz had ascended to the knighthood in the New Jedi Order, but not without concern from his master, nor without incident. Ashen seemed to be slipping closer and closer to the dark side, calling upon it to accomplish his goals when it seemed that all was lost. His eyes charred black by a Sith beast's death, Muz grew more and more imposing as his abilities grew.

Fall to Darkness

"We can't kill him, it is not the Jedi way...so we will hide him from the shadow we must fight."

―Eojin Quon-Shen, Jedi Master

Jedi Knight Muz Ashen

The final straw came when Muz's technological experiments crafted a synthetic cortosis-like fabric. The Jedi Council convened, remembering the events at the Keibatsu stronghold. They effectively banished him, sending him on an open-ended mission to protect a fabricated planet called Dearanor. When a dark Jedi by the name of Cor An-Jin showed up to destroy the planet and take the valuable resources, Muz was outmatched. Calling upon the dark side to defeat the darksider, Muz saved hundreds of thousands of citizens.

Upon reporting the incident to the council, he was derided for touching the dark side.

Muz's disrespect for the council grew exponentially, and he relinquished his sabre, quietly building a homestead on Dearanor. The local government honored Muz with a lavish ceremony and the gift of an ancient sword, the Nagamichi. The Jedi Council decided that they could not afford the liability of Muz falling to the dark side, and sent Knights to extinguish his threat. Facing their sabres, Muz expected to die. The sword he was given had other ideas, however. The sword had been treated alchemically to resist sabre blades and blaster bolts. Muz managed to survive the assault and left Dearanor, heading deep into uncharted places to avoid the New Jedi Order.

"Death smiles at you your whole life. All one can do is smile back."

―Koji Keibatsu

It was there that Muz first learned of the Dark Brotherhood, serving as a general in the Autocthonian Navy under the High Lord Darrow. Having saved the High Lord's life on more than one occasion, the highly decorated Ashen was gifted with one of the High Lord's own personal ships and an open invitation to return. Muz took his new ship, named it the 'Fallen Spear' in a silent nod to his fall from grace as a Jedi, and set out for Antei.

The Brotherhood

Dark Jedi Knight Muz Ashen

Antei marked a new beginning for Muz. Enlisting in the Dark Brotherhood, Muz quickly passed the Shadow Academy's coursework and was assigned to a Sith house, where his abysmal luck with smaller fighters made him more liability than asset. Manesh Sadow traded Muz to the Krath (for what some say was a six pack and a lap dance from Tissaya Argat, an attractive Chiss Quaestor of Marka Ragnos), where Muz flourished.

Assigned to missions with Kali Desdemona, Nekura Manji, Beowulf, and Korras, Muz quickly rose through the ranks of the Brotherhood, successes against all odds leading to his impending knight trials. Muz fought alongside the future Obelisk High Commander, even facing him as an ancient spirit possessed him, a fight that would claim Muz's left arm, but cemented him as a stalwart ally of the House. None of these experiences could have prepared Muz, as he never expected an old wound to be opened.

On a mission during the Independence Games, Manji and Muz fought against a small New Republic force, led by a Jedi. The jedi was one of Eojin Quon-Shen's students, and recognized Ashen as a fallen Knight. After slaying the knight, Muz discovered an encrypted datapad that belonged to his former master.

The datapad laid bare Ashen's lost history. Manji was his brother.

The Sixth Great Jedi War

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The sabers of Muz

The two fought alongside each other under the banners of Marka Ragnos, leading separate armies against the Antarrans. After an architectural expedition uncovered an ancient Keibatsu holding that revealed treasures as well as a generations old animosity for the Antarrans, the brothers rallied, winning battles left and right against the Antarrans in the Great Jedi War. It was for their services during this war that they were raised to the higher offices of Quaestor and Aedile.

Ashen remained ashamed of his memory loss, remained embarrassed at the weakness of his will that enabled him to be brainwashed out of such things that were so important to him. He refused to take up the Keibatsu name, believing that he had not yet earned the right to bear it again, that he was unworthy. Muz trained incessantly, building his strength as he prepared for the next inevitable conflict.

The Last Krath Rite of Supremacy

"What, did you want to live forever?"

―Muz Ashen, leading Ragnosian forces in the Defense of Sadow Palace.

When the ancient K'hamar'an threat resurfaced, the brothers were ready, rallying their house to greatness in what would be later called the Rite of Supremacy. The brothers led their house to unlikely victories, helping to make Clan Naga Sadow the second Clan of the Brotherhood.

symbol of the Lion of Tarthos

After the war had died down, and summer boiled the snow from Tarthos, the brothers were faced with ancient magics and old curses. The Stone Lion, a beast known to the Keibatsu family by myth, only showed up to claim dishonorable kin, to clean the family tree. Muz knew that his reluctance to take up the family name would haunt him, but no one saw this legend as true until it arrived in the flesh.

"A bloody foolish thing you did there Ashen. Brave as all frell, but foolish."

―Jak Ordo, Ragnosian Warrior

Muz hunted the beast outside the walls of the Marka Ragnos Cathedral, and the epic combat that followed would leave Muz with the nickname of 'the Lion of Tarthos'. Having lost his mechanical arm and saber to the beast, the day was still Muz's. His sense of honor fulfilled and destiny paid, Muz Ashen took back up the banner of the Keibatsu, reclaiming his heritage.

Rising Through the Ranks

Bottle of Sadow

Shortly afterwards, Muz was called upon to serve as Proconsul of Clan Naga Sadow, leaving his younger brother installed in his place as Quaestor. The Brotherhood called on his expertise and also gave him duties in the Chamber of Justice, as well as a position as praetor to the Herald, where he was tasked with the creation of lightsabers.

Helping Consul Xanos Sadow to garner success in the Obelisk war, Muz's sense of duty to clan grew, even as Antei called for more and more of his attentions.

Finding the Tulok Hord Holocron with Xanos, the pair studied the lightsaber master's teachings very well, creating their own Holocron for general use of the Brotherhood, The Lightsaber Combat Guide with research assistance from Macron. Muz and Xanos had used the ancient artifact to hone their skills to such points that it became difficult to avoid the endless stream of challenges that came from such skill.

Muz, shortly before being named as Herald

It was shortly after that when he was coerced into entering the Championship Tournament on Antei by his brother. Muz found himself victorious against great odds, having even been forced to fight the reigning Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood, Jac Cotelin, in a battle that would spin Muz's mind in new madness. Perilously close to losing control of himself and his demons, Muz fought on, managing to emerge triumphant, and named as a Champion of the Combat Centre.

Newly named as a Son of Sadow, news came from Antei that the Herald retired, leaving the Grand Master to appoint Muz as the new Herald.

Muz's action as Herald has been well-received, the Keibatsu having generated scores of new lightsabers as he had a new home built for him, deep withing his family's ancient territory on Kyataru.

"That line has been dead for nearly ten cycles, keep."

―Oshima, Kyataran Swordsmith

It was only a matter of time before Muz and his brothers raised an army to reclaim their ancestral homelands from those who had usurped them in their absence. After a long deployment of the Keibatsu and their allies, the Herald made use of clones bought from Kamino, the Nihilgenia, as they forced the usurpers of their family's holdings back out of the territories. The 'Reclamation of Kyataru' lasted nearly three months, the Family returning to their clans and other duties just before the onset of the Seventh Great Jedi War.

The Seventh Great Jedi War: The Enemy Within

Muz's custom robes

Muz's custom armor

As tensions mounted between the clans, it became obvious that there was some outside force was driving to divide the Brotherhood. Time proved that there were indeed two Jacs...a cloned Grand Master serving to divide the Brotherhood literally. Muz sided with the Master he believed to be the true one. This proved to be harder than was thought, as his former allies, Xanos Sadow and Kaiann Entar had sided with the other one.

Having been named the Commander of the 'red Jac's' Forces, Muz had to lead armies against brethren during the long conflict, to the eventual seige of the Dark Hall on Antei, where he would face Kaiann Entar in combat.

It was only by the grace of the Entar's armour that he survived the famous saberist's assault. A massive outpouring of rage and hatred enabled the Entar to temporarily incapacitate the Herald, only to be himself knocked into unconsciousness by one of the cloned Grand Masters before their epic duel. After the Cotelins resolved their division, the Entar had absconded with the 'Skin of Fire', a powerful artifact, and Muz was given special dispensation to retrieve the artifact, by any means necessary. It was only two and a half weeks later that a haggard Muz returned triumphant. Rumors abound as to the details of their meeting, but the truth of the matter is that Muz himself doesn't speak of it, and Kaiann has not been seen since.

Aftermath of a War

Muz Ashen, circa 26 ABY

Shortly after the end of the war, Jac had left the Iron Throne to his student, Lord Dantes. Haggard from the years of almost constant warfare, Muz seemed to grow more and more reclusive, spending more time away from court affairs when possible. Still, the regular shipments of sabers and warbanners were delivered by his ship, but fewer and fewer people actually had come into contact with him in person. Rumours flowed that the Herald was not as close to the Iron Throne as he once was.

The more perceptive members noticed the truth. The Herald was rarely aboard the ship when it made its deliveries, and stories began to filter back from the core worlds. Stories of young Jedi being slain in groups, their limbs sabered off and their chests caved in during the times in between the shipments.

"Some say he's unnatural, I believe that he's everything that we could become."

―Shin'ichi Keibatsu

The rumours grew even louder when the Keibatsu disappeared from Brotherhood space, all seeming to vanish into the mists of their homeworld to deal with some insurrection there. When they returned, Shin'Ichi, Muz's most trusted lieutenant, was horribly disfigured, and several more Keibatsu bore visible scars. None spoke of their experience, but all were visibly shaken.

Summoned rather publicly to the Star Chamber by Lord Dantes, Muz spent a full day with the Dread Lord, for whatever reason, neither would say. Three days later, Dantes made his speech to the clans over the Antei Holonet, drawing the clans outside the shroud to prove their supremacy in a training exercise that would become known as the Second Darkness.

The Rite of Supremacy was a brief and bloody affair, the clans frantically maneuvering to gain the upper hand and be called the First clan of the Brotherhood. During this conflict, many of the Dark Council found themselves strained to keep up with the pace set by the aggressions. In the hours following the training exercise, Halcyon Rokir resigned his position as Shadow Hand and left Brotherhood space. In his place, Muz was appointed the new Shadow Hand.

Calling upon his old mentor, Muz convinced the Dark Prophet Kaine Mandaala to resume his reign as Herald, freeing up his time to administer to the Brotherhood more fully, learning under the Dark Lord of the Sith. But it was only a matter of hours before the warning klaxons rang out the unforeseen ambush that was the beginning of the Eighth Great Jedi War.

The Eighth Great Jedi War : Incursion

Melkor's Saber, used by Muz against the Vong

The Yuuzhan Vong struck unerringly, their timing impeccable as they marauded the assembled Brotherhood fleet outside of the Shroud of Antei. Immediately assuming command of the Vae Victus, Muz discovered that the Vong had also attacked several clan homeworlds simultaneously, with the bulk of their biological fleet running toward them at full steam. Arraying the ships to help beat back the assault was of no use, and Sarin ordered the newly appointed Shadow Hand to cover the clan's jumps to hyperspace.

The Vong had thought of that. Interdictor mines laced throughout the are ripped ships that attempted the jumps back into realspace, tearing them apart. The VSD Dark Prophet, flagship of Taldryan was crippled and then destroyed, the image enough to make the Bortherhood order a full retreat, running blindly into the shroud.

Muz and the others aboard the Vae Victus were not so lucky. Their shields devastated by the unorthodox weaponry of the Vong, their flagship deployed some sort of proboscis that tore open the hull of the bridge, breaching the ship and killing almost all of the people on board. Muz himself was captured and placed in the Embrace of Pain, a creature designed by the Vong Shapers to create vast suffering.

Half mad, naked and bleeding, Muz could not understand how the creatures knew so much about the Brotherhood, about him. The Torturing Ahm Crod called him by his titles in mocking tones as they ripped his prosthetic arm from him, spoke of how they would destroy all of the clans, exposing the Force as Heresy to their cruel gods.

As they prepared to sacrifice the Kyataran to their Gods of War, Muz pressed an advantage. Melkor Corsair's saber, carefully shielded by his mind from the exploding TIE that the martyr crashed into the Analog's side, ripped through membrane and muscle, shredding through Ahm Crod's head and into his waiting hand. Freedom from the Embrace was cold, and the revenge he would take from the Vong would keep him warm, even if he never lived to escape it.

Fighting until he waded in the black blood of the Vong, Muz donned the Crab Armor of the slain to help disguise himself and defend against their blows. Finding himself in the centre of their ship, Muz confronted their yammosk war coordinator. As his mind struggled to defend itself from the mental emanations, Muz found many of his own barriers removed, allowing his viciousness to shine through, the raw power of the one that called itself Ashen helping him to survive.

As the commander readied to scuttle his own ship, the Vong priest Volnagh appeared, ushering Muz to a coralskipper to save the Krath from the death of the No Peace. Rumours of Vong Heretics who accepted the Force Sensitives as representatives of their gods were used to justify the priest's actions, but as Volnagh had disappeared after Muz was loaded into the Coralskipper, it is unsure if this was the case.

Barely conscious, Sarin and Kaine retrieved the coralskipper, running him to medical where he spent several weeks in a Bacta tank, unaware of the devastating loss of the Brotherhood against the Vong, including the fact that his own son was missing and presumed dead. Even unconscious, Sarin would visit the Shadow hand, using the Force to gleam bits of information from him, and the realization was rather sudden, with Sarin having felt the trauma unlocking the floodgates of power within the Keibatsu. He was no longer a mere master. Muz was a Sith Lord.

Recovery

(in progress)

Properties and Holdings

•Kuroshin Castle - The ancestral ruins of the Keibatsu family were retrofit, a great deal of underground construction utilized to make this ancient and seemingly abandoned keep a completely modernized fortress. Including many rooms for the various Keibatsu family members as well as training facilities and barracks for the Nihilgenia, Kuroshin often serves as Muz's primary residence, and it is here where his trophy room of fallen foes' sabers is kept.

• Amahara Castle - As Lord of the Keibatsu, the ruling family of Kyataru, Muz has control of Amahara Castle in Inazawa, the capital building for Shuuyoujo. The Castle grounds is a large estate in the middle of a rapidly modernizing city, with private shipyards and a large training facility. Having been fortified over the years, the Keibatsu have modernized the castle itself using less obtrusive technologies, even going so far as to redesign the defense batteries to look like more traditional Kyataran cannon.

•The Fallen Spear - This Autochthonian prototype pocket carrier was gifted to Muz for services rendered to one of their dignitaries. Muz often is aboard the ship, and spends more nights in his luxurious quarters here than not, due to his duties keep him in motion a great deal of the time. A number of Autoch innovations keep this ship uniquely ideal for Muz's uses.

•Ebon Flame - Over the years since joining the Brotherhood, Muz has taken steps to increase his contacts and wealth. Having capitalized on many of unique circumstances has led him to control a corporation named the 'Ebon Flame'. This parent corporation is directly responsible for many sub-companies, which generally act independently. The overarching corporation is rather small, having only a few dozen employees, largely accountants and clerical staff. Offices are maintained in Coruscant, Demilla City on Ralltiir, and a new building is under construction in Inazawa on Kyataru.

• EbonArms - The largest of the companies that fall under the banner of Ebon Flame is EbonArms. Having been started during Muz's time in the Autochthonian Navy as a black market smuggling operation, the company went more legitimate with time. Having used Autoch and Core World Weapons designers to create more effective weaponry, the company became known for high-end equipment. While much of the EbonArms products sit in the gun cases of wealthy sportsmen, several private security forces are outfitted with the very expensive and exclusive weapons. The Keibatsu's armed force, the Nihilgenia have been known to be equipped with EbonArms material. Headquartered near Demilla City on Ralltiir, with offices in Darrow on Autoch and in Inazawa on Kyataru.

• Gilmarin Jewelers - Having access to many Adegan Mines is a necessity for any Herald. However, only the finest and purest crystals are usable as focusing crystals in lightsabers. The crystals that do not make this cut are heavily prized for jewelry by high society and the elite. Selling the chaff gems to certain discreet dealers, Muz did a great deal of business with this company. Gilmarin Jewelry was purchased by Muz from Rog Gilmarin's widow, after her husband had died of old age. The Company had two stores, their original storefront and gem cutting estate on Ralltiir, and a more high-end showroom in a Coruscanti high-rise penthouse, which also included two additional floors of living space, which Muz had secured and retains as private apartments for himself and his agents on Coruscant.

DJB Facts

Muz has served in many posts throughout the Brotherhood and in his home clan, Naga Sadow. His influence in guiding new policies and helping the clan to grow can be seen still, the result of a dynamic teaming with Xanos Zorrixor, with whom he works quite well. Serving as Proconsul of Naga Sadow, Left Hand of Justice as well as Praetor to the Herald, Muz was instrumental in many projects, including the implementation of the Warbanner Project. Throughout his consequential reign as Herald, Muz has been responsible for many of the improvements that are used by the membership. Most notable were the use of new Robes, the Lightsaber Combat Guide and creation of better options with an all-new Lightsaber Creation Interface. From Herald, Muz was named as Deputy Grand Master, where he continues to work to enhance the Brotherhood.

Muz's warbanner

Lightsabers

In addition to creating many Custom Lightsabers for various members, Muz created graphics for a new Lightsaber Creation Interface to be used by any member ranked DJK or higher. The Creation tool also unlocks additional saber designs with ranks gained beyond Dark Jedi Knight. At the rank of SBL, OE, or KE, members are allowed to select certain Saber-staff and dual lightsaber designs. Hundreds of options are available through the use of this tool, which is expanded regularly.

Lightsaber Combat Guide

As a supplement to a member's character sheet for the Antei Combat Centre, Muz (along with others) created a guide to understanding the many specific styles of lightsaber combat, providing a in-depth resource for members more interested in the ways of combat.

Robes

When the existing robes of the brotherhood had to be replaced, Muz began work on a previously unprecedented project to replace them. He created a variety of Robes, drastically expanding on the planned project of the previous Herald, Cyris. With different levels of customization available depending on your Rank, over 200 different robes available for members. Custom Robes were made available to any member serving on the Dark Council as well.

Other Work

Muz has also been known for his work with logos, having designed several clan, house and battleteam logos. A prize few have also been able to get custom character images from Muz, for general use and the wikipedia.

Hand To Hand Combat Guide

Further helping the membership of the Brotherhood refine it's martial prowess, Muz and his trusted lieutenant Shin'ichi worked to create another Holocron for the combat styles that peppered the universe. This holocron, called the Hand to Hand Combat Guide, has a great deal of information for the budding warriors of the Brotherhood.

Work in Progress

There are several projects that Muz has been working on in recent weeks, but word on these projects has been slow coming. He has been seen talking to high-level corporate executives at Seinar fleet systems, Incom, and Corellian Engineering. No one is really certain as to why, but time will surely tell.

Trivia

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Muz's Prosthetic Arm

• The name 'Muz Ashen' is an obvious corruption of Musashi, the famed samurai and author of the 'Book of Five Rings'. The famed samurai was known for his use of two katana at once, much as Muz uses two lightsabers.
• The Character of Muz Ashen was developed as a character for a Fanfilm project that never saw production. The character was at that time frame, still a member of the New Jedi Order.
• Muz is said to reside in Kuroshin Castle on Kyataru. The name means 'Dark Heart' in Japanese.
• Muz's eyes were purple before being charred black by the Enhanced Tu'Kata he fought. On rare occasions, one can see the purple in Muz's eyes, even now, but only when he uses healing powers.
• Muz is the only person to have beaten a reigning Grand Master, Jac Cotelin, in the Antei Combat Centre.
• Korras served as Muz's mentor for a few weeks as he finished his Knight Trials, but there are only four people that Muz has ever called 'Master': Eojin Quon-Shen, Jac Cotelin, Sarin, and Kaine Mandaala.
• Like many Krath, Muz was once considered one of the Marked of the Wanderer, but has moved away from those teachings under the tutelage of Grand Master Sarin.
• Muz, following Kaine's lead, signs his notes with

Positions

• Former Tetrarch of the Night Hawks
• Former Aedile and Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos
• Former Left Hand of Justice
• Former Proconsul of Clan Naga Sadow
• Former Praetor to Kaine Mandaala
• Former Praetor to Cyris Oscura
• Current Champion of the Antei Combat Centre.
• Seventeenth Herald of the Dark Brotherhood.
• Current Shadow Hand and Deputy Grand Master.

Students

• Sanjuro Sledge Keibatsu, Missing in Action, presumed dead (Yuuzhan Vong).
• Kat Pridemore, Missing in Action, presumed dead.
• Rand Soru Keto, Missing in Action, presumed dead.
• Ashia Kagan Keibatsu
• Dace Kusan, Confirmed Killed in Action {Yuuzhan Vong).
• Shikyo Rurouni Keibatsu
• Verigo

Halcyon Rokir	Deputy Grand Master 27 ABY–Present	None
Cyris Oscura	Herald 24 ABY - 27 ABY	Kaine Mandaala
Darth Vexatus	Proconsul of Clan Naga Sadow 22 ABY-24 ABY	Manesh Sadow
Korras	Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos 20 ABY–22 ABY	Nekura Manji Keibatsu