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 200 military time

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.

File:Ronovi.custom.muz.jpg

Ronovi Tavisaen, the first Ethnarc.

Ethnarc

The Ethnarc is the ceremonial term 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'.

Fulfilling the traditional duties of the Quaestor, 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. He 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.

File:Huldrychubese.jpg

Ji K'awiil, the first Phylarch.

Phylarch

The Phylarch is the ceremonial term for the house's 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 that the Phthians provide for the Hippoti and Akolyths. He sets forth the policies and methods used to drill the lower ranks, as well as carry out any restrictions or modifications to said methods if necessary. All Phthians are directly answerable to the Phylarch, as he is their commander and oversees all of the missions that they participate in. Subsequently, he also can be considered the head of Cestus security, supervising all Hippoti who have been assigned to guard or officer positions around the Corsair.

Although the Phylarch can be considered a more hands-on leader than his higher-ups are, every action he observes and commits to must be reported directly to the Ethnarc. Should the Ethnarc no longer be suited for the Quaestor position - whether or not he or she realizes it - the Phylarch is obligated to take on the Ethnarc's duties until a more direct form of action can be taken. In the event that the Ethnarc must be forcibly removed from the position, the Phylarch will act as an ambassador and is responsible for alerting the clan summit as well as the Komturei about the situation.

Eklektor

The Eklektor is the ceremonial term for the house's Rollmaster. The current Eklektor is referred to as the Eklektor in Heliaia while past office-holders are simply referred to as 'Eklektor.'

Fulfilling the traditional duties of the Rollmaster, the Eklektor monitors inductions as well as ensures that Hippoti are keeping the Akolyths busy. At the same time, he is responsible for mentoring newcomers in Cestus so that they may adapt to the environment of the house until they reach the rank of Acolyte. The Eklektor is also in charge of archiving and maintaining Cestus's library, updating all files whether through the Holonet or through hand-written documents. He continually keeps track of artifacts, meetings, and past missions for reference and safekeeping.

The Eklektor has many assistants in his service, both Jedi and non-Jedi. They are the librarians of House Cestus, maintaining hardcopy files as well as helping the Eklektor protect and improve the house archives. They also serve the Eklektor as advisors as well as messengers, taking care of many newcomers' questions and complaints without having to pester the Eklektor with too much consulting. While these assistants are casually called 'Assistant Eklektors,' normally only one assistant at a time officially holds the title, if any hold it at all.

Ranks

Ranks of the Hieros Lokhos are official positions with specific roles and duties. If the Lokhos member in question is part of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood, he or she may possibly change rank in the Lokhos when he or she is promoted to a specific rank in the Brotherhood. Non-Jedi members, on the other hand, normally stay in a specific rank permanently, unless they show an unnatural amount of valor or devotion to the Hieros 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.

Akolyth

The Akolyths are any and all members of the Hieros Lokhos who are ranked Acolyte or Protector.

Basically, Akolyths are the grunts of the Lokhos. They are responsible for carrying out basic tasks around the Corsair, which include cleaning, cooking, and maintaining the armory. For their training, Akolyths are placed in groups, each overseen by one Hippotis, in order for them to progress more quickly and efficiently in rank. As a mark of their position, Akolyths wear green sashes to signify their beginning steps in Lokhos operations.

Hippotis

The Hippoti are any and all members of the Hieros Lokhos who are ranked Guardian, Jedi Hunter, or Dark Jedi Knight.

The defensive part of the unit, Hippoti are the main security forces around the Corsair. They are known as the guards or protectors of Cestus, even acting as a police force should the need for one arise. At the same time, Hippoti are responsible for supervising Akolyths until they, too, become Hippoti. As a mark of their position, Hippoti wear bronze sashes to signify their duty to defend the Lokhos throughout all of its operations.

Phthian

The Phthians are any and all members of the Hieros Lokhos who are ranked Equite 1 or Equite 2.

Phthians are the aristocrats as well as the shock troopers of the Lokhos. The Phthians get to be pampered by the Akolyths, but despite receiving luxurious comfort, they must lead by example, as they are in charge of all training and combat exercises as ordered by the Phylarch. The Phthians are also the primary offensive troops of the Lokhos, participating in combat operations if needed. The Phthians train themselves physically and mentally to an almost zealous degree, demanding a similar performance from the lower ranked Hippoti and Akolyths under their charge. As a mark of their position, Phthians wear orange sashes to signify their dedication to carrying out all of the Lokhos' operations.

Komtur

The Komturei are any and all members of the Hieros Lokhos who are ranked Equite 3 and above.

Komturei have distinguished themselves in the Lokhos as the most qualified mentors, scholars, and generals that House Cestus has to offer. They are responsible for dictating military policies as well as micromanaging various operations, but they also are busied with organizing logistics and leading during warfare. The Komturei, however, are not as hands-on or as close in contact as those in other ranks of the Lokhos. Still, they play a vital role behind the scenes - teaching, leading, and remaining reclusive in their own private studies. Komturei typically spend a great deal of time in the library and their drive to study is matched only by the religious training regimen of the Phthians. The Komturei are subsequently the only ranked members who are directly in communication with the house summit, contributing to the various meetings and discussions of house development.

As a mark of their position, Komturei wear amber sashes to signify their many years of service to the Lokhos, to Cestus, to Tarentum, and to the Brotherhood as a whole.

Nightwraiths

The Nightwraiths, while technically a part of the Hieros Lokhos, perform as if they were a separate unit. Only the strongest and most killed of the Lokhos are assigned to the elite battle team, and as a result, all members are Dark Jedi. The Nightwraiths work as the primary espionage/commando unit of the Lokhos, and their involvement with the Clan Tarentum I Corps division has given them experience as an intelligence unit as well. They are normally the first members to be included in Lokhos operations, with Phthians being deployed if the Nightwraiths require back-up support and artillery.

Leaders

The Ethnarc in Heliaia is Ronovi Tavisaen. The Phylarch in Heliaia is Ji K'awiil. The Eklektor in Heliaia is Adien d'Tana.