Maxamillian von Oberst

== Character History ==

Oberst's Warbanner

Maxamillian von Oberst-Tarentae, Marshal of the Armies of Tarentum, Death Dealer of Clan Tarentum and Executor of the will of the Sith King, Justinian Arcanious Khyron. In the span of his life, Maxamillian has spilled enough blood to fill the oceans of Yridia II three times over. In defense of his Clan or upon the will of his Master, it matters little. His hands are stained as red as the blade of his lightsaber, and he revels in it.

Beginnings

Born into one of the older families of Chandrila, Maxamillian grew up balking at the democratic nature of the planet. Every citizen had a direct vote in government affairs. Such democracy destroyed the power of the old aristocratic houses, such as his. What he found worst was the way in which most of those families didn't care, believing fully in their Democracy. This outraged the young Oberst and led him to many extremes. Already seen as an outsider in Chandrilan political and social circles, Oberst distanced himself further from what were proscribed norms. As one of the old families, he was expected to act with decorum - instead Oberst entered into fiery diatribes. As an aspiring officer, he was expected to know the niceties of riding, shooting, hunting and swordplay, these were the only accepted forms of recreation in the Chandrilan Military Tradition. Oberst learned these, but also became a follower of smashball, shockball and limmie.

An advocate for force, Maxamillian was seen as an oddity. He had the same arrogant and argumentative nature as his fellow Chandrilans. His break from the norm shocked many in society, and even further in his acceptance to the Caridan Military Academy. Near outright fights erupted regularly between the senior and junior Oberst when the latter informed the former of his application. Never resolved, the matter was dropped and Maxamillian attended. Upon returning from the Imperial Academy on Caridia, gazzetted a Lieutenant in the Navy, Maxamillian quickly worked to bring the family's finances under his control. He contracted the murder of his brother, sisters, and personally saw to the deaths of his mother and father. Although the circumstances of their deaths were peculiar, the government was unable to find evidence against him and the Oberst family fortune was his.

Live By The Sword...

Three years after the death of his parents, already a Commander in the Imperial Navy, Oberst was charged with the torture, and subsequent deaths, of several members of the Oberst Household Staff – the oldest case dating back to when was only thirteen. With his options limited to imprisonment and running, he ran. Quickly moving large sums of money into numbered accounts, he fled Chandrila and the Imperial Navy. A marked man, he had few options and for the longest time flew between outback settlement to outback settlement in the Outer Rim.

Eight months into his flight, Maxamillian was approached by an acquaintance who knew vague details of his background: that he was an ex-Imperial Officer on the run. The man offered him a job, and a chance to flex his military muscle. Maxamillian joined the Rebel Alliance and became a fleet strategist. Quickly training and bringing the pilots of the Rebellion's Y and B-Wings into top shape, he became a strategist and planner in the Alliance for his ability to conduct bombing raids on installations and torpedo runs on convoys with marked success.

Following the Rebellion's victory at the Battle of Endor, Oberst found himself tied to the, newly christened, New Republic's Second Fleet, in charge of coordinating bomber and heavy assault units. His past, however, quickly caught up with him. Upon liberating the Core Worlds from Imperial control, Chandrillan authorities sought to arrest and imprison the man who was tried in absentia. Oberst ran once more. Leaving a bloody swath of dead Republic officers behind him.

Imperial Remnant & Infiltrator Wing

This time, his escape took him back towards the Outer Rim, and the border sectors between the nascent New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. The area was rife with engagements and skirmishes. It proved profitable for the young fugitive, who had escaped with a B-Wing Heavy Assault Fighter. Although not a fast ship, the armaments made it something to be sought after, and he found work as a mercenary. Flying for whatever pirate captain or private contractor needing that little extra firepower. It was in one of these engagements, serving as an escorting for a convoy carrying munitions to a Republic friendly station. The convoy was hit, and hit hard. The puzzling thing about the raid was that the raiders jumped in a MC80 Star Cruiser, which the convoy had mistaken for a Republic escort…until the X- and Y-Wings opened fire. Seeing that the convoy was outgunned and outclassed, Oberst prepared to make the jump only to get hit with several ion blasts. His ship disabled and floating dead in space, he could only watch as the Y-Wings disabled more craft, including some of the X- and Y-Wings that were also guarding the convoy. As the MC80 came closer, he felt his B-Wing snatched up by a tractor beam and pulled towards the metal behemoth.

Upon the MC80 he was offered a choice, die there or serve one of the many factions that the Empire had splintered into. He chose to join the Empire once more. This time, he would do so using the Republic's own ships against them. The faction used Rebel/Republic ships in an effort to sow confusion in the Outer Rim. Named "The Infiltrator Wing," the ships duties were to conduct the same commerce and supply raids that the Rebellion once conducted upon Imperial shipping. Only, in the process of their raids, many sectors in the Outer Rim became wary of Republic forces, thinking them to be little more than pirates.

In his new "home," Maxamillian advanced once more. He came to command a bomber squadron, and his knack for taking down the big capital ships while avoiding the fast fighters became legendary within the Infiltrator Wing. In his time in the Infiltrator Wing, he came to train, serve with and serve under some of the finest that the Infiltrator Wing had to offer. Everyone from Fleet Admiral "Pappy" Renegade to War Marshal Stephan von Reinthaler, arguably the best Infiltrator Wing Commander. Oberst, too, would serve as IWCOM. The hallmark of his time in the IW was to make it leaner, and prepare it for Reinthaler's return.

During this time, too, Maxamillian was recruited into the Brotherhood. His talent for plotting bombing raids, and for picking an opening in the heat of a run stemmed from a connection to the Force. Here, his gains would be more moderate and modest in comparison with his IW career. Helping to found Clan Ar'Kell, the Clan that would defect from the Brotherhood. Serving as Aedile of House Tarentum under Zero, who would later become Deputy Grand Master, and helping to lead it to dominance in the first House Wars. Finally helping found House Ektrosis, which would later give birth to Clan Taldryan.

Exile & Return

Unfortunately, his steady rise did nothing to curb his more sadistic appetites. With mounting crimes of an ever increasingly perverse nature, the Imperial Remnant exiled him upon many charges. Little is known of his time in exile. All that is known is that he spent many years conducting operations for, and acting as an agent of, Grand Master Justinian Khyron. Upon the Brotherhood's Exodus, Oberst's presence was once more felt in the Brotherhood. Now standing as the Beast of Tarentum, his rage and his sadism has once more been unleashed, only now upon those who stand against Clan Tarentum.

Unique amongst the Brotherhood, Maxamillian is a minimalist when it comes to direct use of the Force. All who study under him learn to rely first upon their physical strength, dexterity and their wits before resorting to flashy displays of lightning. Members of House Tridens learned quickly to work on physical skills. Anyone attempting to rely upon the force during his training sessions were quickly dismantled and taken out – broken bones and concussions serving as reminders to not cross him. Upon his apprentices, an analytical mind is prized. Being a strategist, he imparts careful insight into both the movement of troops and the working of sentient minds. He has no problems losing, because he learns far more from a loss than he would from a win, and this is a trait his apprentices share with him.

Combat

Oberst IS an aristocrat. His style of fighting reflects this. He proves it with every thrust, every parry, every riposte and every strike. He became a competent duelist by utilizing every resource at his disposal : size, strength and intellect.

In addition to being a master fencer, Oberst has a background as a pit fighter from his underground days.

Oberst's Lightsaber

Lightsaber

Most notable about Oberst's lightsaber is the hilt. The hilt is part of his Field Marshal's baton. The elongated hilt allows Oberst to easily switch between one- and two-handed styles, allowing him to make full use of his strength. Even with the blade disengaged, the hilt is dangerous as a club - many opponents have been felled by a solid blow to the skull with the baton.

Oberst is a Master of Djem So.

Weapons

In addition to his baton and lightsaber, Oberst has access to a plethora of bladed weapons. A particular favorite in his collection is a lightly curved scimitar.

Oberst also carries several iron spikes on his person measuring from 6 to 9 inches in length. Driving an iron spike through the skull is his favored method of execution. Lord Vader choked people, Grand Admiral Thrawn had his pet Noghri, Oberst has the iron spikes. The heads usually hang from the spike afterwards as a display of his brutality.

Standard

Gules, a tower guarded on four sides by rampant wolves of sable, at the points of the saltire; upon the corners Death's Head and the crossed baton. The red represents Oberst's military fortitude. The four wolves represent "Captaincy" - command of Khyron's troops as well as the forces of Tarentum, the Infiltrator Wing and the Peerage. Placing the wolves, at the edges of the saltire, represent Oberst's willingness to endure any setback and hardship, to overcome and remain standing. The tower represents Oberst's unfailing loyalty to his King above all others. The Death's Head is the symbol of Tarentum's Death Dealers. The crossed batons his rank as Field Marshal.

DJB Facts

• Founder of Clan Ar'Kell
• Second Aedile of House Tarentum
• Founder of (then) Independant House Ektrosis
• First Aedile of House Ektrosis
• Former Editor of the Dark Voice - responsible for the shift to more journalistic style and approach.

Trivia

• Has a long history of turning down medals and promotions, much to the chagrin of many including, but not limited to Justinian Khyron, Dev, Yoni, Havok and Zero.
• Putting himself at the disposal of friends is what led to his transfer to Tarentum (Zero and Kaerner's asking for help in organization) and Ektrosis (Shaitan).
• Has refused office higher than Aedile.
• Has never taken a Shadow Academy exam and is extremely proud of this fact.
• Extensive and expansive knowledge of Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology and Chemistry.
• Owns Zekk, Rekio Corsair, Demos and Korras