Hieros Lokhos ton Taras

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The Hieros Lokhos ton Taras is the elite organization formed from House Cestus, directly answerable to Clan Tarentum. The Lokhos maintains a strict ideology of severe loyalty, unending training, and profound scholarship. They are based aboard the VSD Corsair and all members of Cestus are constituents of the Lokhos, regardless of whether they are Dark Jedi or non-Force users living aboard the Corsair. The group, subsequently, is comprised of elite warriors who serve the Tarentum clan summit.

Formation

The Hieros Lokhos ton Taras was formed by Quaestor Ronovi Tavisaen and Aedile Ji K'awiil shortly after the Reclamation of Antei and the generally large clan casualties during said military operation. The organization, more specifically, emerged as a direct result of the growing power of House Cestus during the crisis in the Yridia system. As Cestus' rival houses grew politically and socially distant after the Eden City Tragedy, Consul Anshar Kahn Tarentae and Proconsul Maxamillian von Oberst decided to turn to Cestus in order to enact and enforce their will, directly resulting in the imminent structural changes within the house. The minutes of the meeting between the Cestus house summit and Elders follow:

Members Present

• Pontifex Saitou Tarentae; Warlord Welshman Corsair Erinos Tarentae; Battlemaster Windos Helkin Tarentae; Templar Ronovi Tavisaen; Warrior Adien Corsair d'Tana; Dark Jedi Knight Ji K'awiil; Dark Jedi Knight Vai Azexel.

Proceedings

• Meeting called to order 2230 military time
• Templar Ronovi Tavisaen's Quaestor Report
  • Iterates the need for a reformation of House Cestus to better serve Clan Tarentum as well as to give Cestus a leg up against rival factions within the clan. After a brief discussion council agrees.
  • Vai Azexel insists that any reorganization of the house involve a preservation of the archive aboard the Corsair as well as a focus on study of warfare.
  • Ji K'awiil recommends the inclusion of non-Force using members of the House in order to bolster numbers and encourage cooperativeness; seconded and passed 6 in favor, 2 opposed.

• Pontifex Saitou Tarentae's Elder Report
  • Saitou explains the necessity that whatever reorganization is implemented, the overall objective must be to serve the interests of the clan summit both domestically in Yridia and abroad.
  • Presents a report on the malleability of Cestus' current organization, as well as the likely percentages of members willing to adhere to the new changes. Violent action against dissenters is recommended and, after a brief discussion, approved by the council.
  • A series of ranks and obligations is proposed by Saitou Tarentae. Discussion ensues and ranks are approved (with slight changes) 7 in favor, 1 opposed.

• Dark Jedi Knight Ji K'awiil's Aedile Report
  • Provides a schedule for the implementation of changes, already approved by the house summit.
  • Reviews the roles each rank will play within the Lokhos and recommends various changes. After a discussion the motion is voted down 3 in favor, 5 opposed.

• Meeting adjourned at 2:00 AM

Induction

While it is true that all members of Cestus are members of the the Lokhos (regardless of Force sensitivity) incoming members of the House must wait until they reach the rank of Acolyte before they perform the induction ceremony and are allowed to formally participate in the unit.

The induction ceremony typically takes place in a darkly lit chamber deep in the bowels of the Corsair. There, the inductee is supervised by the Lokhos' Eklektor in Heliaia. Under the gaze of Cestus' prized, and recently recovered, banner; the recruit is required to perform a blood-letting ritual, wherein (s)he uses a ceremonial dagger to open the veins of the forearm and allow his or her blood to fill a small clay vessel. Once the vase is filled it is plugged and stored by the Eklektor in Heliaia in the auditorium where the banner typically sits, alongside the vases filled with the blood of every other member of the Hieros Lokhos. The inductee is then awarded his rank-distinguishing sash and is promoted to the rank of Akolyth.

Honorary Titles

Honorary titles of the Hieros Lokhos are given to each member of the current house summit - they are known as the Ethnarc, Phylarch, and Eklektor. While they are not official positions or ranks, the titles symbolize the roles and duties that each house summit member carries out. Any current house summit member holds his or her title in Heliaia - any and all former house summit members, despite no longer running the house, retain their titles as an honor. As a mark of their positions, the Ethnarc, Phylarch, and Eklektor in Heliaia wear white sashes to signify their importance in Lokhos operations.

Ethnarc

The Ethnarc is the ceremonial name for the house's Quaestor. The current Ethnarc is referred to as the Ethnarc in Heliaia while past office-holders are simply referred to as 'Ethnarc'.

The Ethnarc oversees the administration of the entire Hieros Lokhos, ensuring that the Phylarch and Eklektor perform their tasks to the high standards demanded by the Hieros Lokhos. The Hippoti administrators throughout the Corsair report directly to the Ethnarc as well as to the Komturei. This signifies that the Ethnarc accepts and honors advice from the Komturei, as they have been regarded as enduring, wise members of House Cestus and subsequently Clan Tarentum. The Ethnarc, however, continually has the final say concerning missions and operations - the only ones who can counter that are the members of the clan summit.

As overseer of the Lokhos, the Ethnarc also takes on the judicial responsibilities. Laziness, idiocy, and betrayal of fellowship are all serious crimes against the Lokhos deserving severe punishment, according to the policies of the Komturei. As such, the Ethnarc takes on the role of Inquisitor when dealing with those who have failed to uphold the values of House Cestus and the Lokhos. She also manages all interrogation methods concerning prisoners held on the Corsair, the Phylarch being the only one to witness his or her treatment of each criminal.

Phylarch

The Phylarch is the ceremonial term for the Aedile. The current Phylarch is referred to as the Phylarch in Heliaia while past office-holders are simply referred to as 'Phylarch'.

Fulfilling the traditional duties of the Aedile, the Phylarch oversees the training the Phthians provide for the Hippoti and Akolyths. He sets forth the policies and methods used to drill the lower ranks. All Phthians are directly answerable to the Phylarch

Ranks

Ranks of the Hieros Lokhos are official positions with specific roles and duties. They consecutively change with Dark Jedi Brotherhood ranks; if a member is promoted to a specific rank in the Brotherhood, he or she may possibly change rank in the Lokhos. Each rank is responsible for certain tasks either on the Corsair or on Cestus missions, be it cleaning the kitchens as an Akolyth or working as a general to the Lokhos as a Komtur. Whether or not one is taught or one is the teacher all depends on the rank - and on the progress he or she makes within the Lokhos.