- "I endure only the worst to achieve only the best."
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen
Ronovi Tavisaen was an Epicanthix hailing from Yridia IX, and an Obelisk Primarch in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Most recognized as the first female Headmaster of the Shadow Academy, she also served as Consul of Tarentum and was an honored Tarentae and vassal of Arcona. A brutal, cunning, and menacing character, Ronovi was a force to be reckoned with and exhibited impressive strength due to her heritage and her skill. She was poisoned and killed by Tra'an Reith in 37 ABY while serving as Quaestor of House Plagueis, her death shrouded in infamy.
Pre-DJB History
Origins
- "I did not fall to the dark side. I was not seduced by the dark side. Falling indicates passivity. Seduction indicates a lack of control. I chose the dark side. I chose power."
- ―Darth Sarin
A blindfolded Ronovi being trained in instinct by her father.
Ronovi's father, Zane Tavisaen, was a prominent spacer and pilot in the Outer Rim and had a strong affiliation with the Galactic Empire. After the emperor's death in 4 ABY, Zane returned to Panatha but was not afraid to show hostility toward the New Republic. On his home planet, he met and fell in love with his future wife, whose affection settled his bitterness at least partially. The two married in Tree City before traveling to Yridia IX, where they temporarily resided in Eden, a burgeoning metropolis at the time. When his wife became pregnant, Zane moved with her to the outskirts of the city where she gave birth to a son, Yaske. She then gave birth to Ronovi in 10 ABY and had a second daughter, Sarit, four years later.
Ronovi was raised on strong family values and taught to cherish being with her parents and her siblings as much as possible. Unlike the other Epicanthix, who were notorious for conquering other planets in the Pacanth Reach, Zane wished for a quieter life. He seemed happy enough to be a mechanic, busily repairing starships and freighters owned by Eden civilians. However, Ronovi desired to be a warrior like her ancestors, even though her brother began to follow in their father's footsteps while her sister delved into science and literature. It wasn't until she was ten years old that her father took an interest in teaching her martial arts, as he himself had practiced fighting techniques when he was young.
Zane instructed Ronovi to value her instincts in combat and maintain perfect control over her reflexes. He exposed her to a variety of fighting styles, teaching her how to use everything from a short staff to a dagger to her bare hands. While her mother disapproved of her daughter learning how to fight, Ronovi, the black sheep of the family, wasn't looking back. After the conclusion of the Yridian Revolt in 24 ABY, Zane decided that the family should return to one of the major districts in Eden so he could extend his business in ship maintenance. It was there that he first allowed and even encouraged Ronovi to dabble in darker arts, and she reveled in the power they gave her. She concluded without hesitation that the dark side was the true source of perfection, and that it was responsible for her increasing notoriety as she grew older.
Noticed in the Night
Ronovi circa 26 ABY.
Ronovi's decision to become a brawler was mainly due to her city's reputation. Although her parents were strictly middle class and law-abiding citizens, her residence in District III of Eden City was surrounded by darker influences. The young woman was introduced to underground fighting rings in District IV, where spectators would audaciously bet on who would get slaughtered in death matches. She quickly earned a name as a suitable challenge for many skilled combatants, becoming infamous for her agility and aggressive moves. However, every altercation would result in one battle scar or another, and soon Ronovi found herself duking it out not only with angry rivals on the street but also in what was considered to be the most violent part of the city's entertainment industry.
Nonetheless, Ronovi was not particularly happy with her level of skill as a martial artist. Her father stopped training her by the time she turned sixteen, telling her that he had taught her everything he knew. Ronovi continued to associate herself with the underground ring for the next two years, and it was during one evening's round of matches that she garnered the attention of a Tarenti named Dralin Fortea, who held the rank of Protector at the time. After several bouts with weaker adversaries, the Epicanthix was paired against one particularly infamous brawler and began to gain the upper hand just before she noticed that her opponent was drawing a dagger from his sleeve. It was then that Ronovi first demonstrated that she was a Force-sensitive, displaying unnatural power as she threw her challenger halfway across the room before he could stab her.
The next morning, Dralin spoke privately with Zane, telling him that he was interested in bringing the eighteen-year-old girl to the Brotherhood. Ronovi quickly agreed to the offer after her father told her of the encounter, and she was shipped to the Shadow Academy to begin her initiation into the Obelisk Order, leaving her meager belongings behind. She was then transported to the Sword's Sheath on the Itaana belt, where she became Dralin's first true friend and a full-fledged member of House Gladius within Clan Tarentum.
DJB: The Early Years
New Blood in the Brotherhood
Ronovi as a new member of Gladius, circa 28 ABY.
Ronovi was welcomed by her Quaestor, Telona Murrage, and fully inducted as a Gladian upon arriving at her house. She soon learned that she had been initiated into Tarentum at a time of conflict within the Yridia system. With the recent war against the Yuuzhan Vong over, the clan's new troubles lay with Deutta the Hutt, a crime lord who held dealings with the remaining Vong in order to overthrow Tarentum's government. Therefore, Consul Anshar Kahn Tarentae arranged a strike team to intercept and eliminate Deutta on Karideph. Ronovi became one member of said team, and it was during the mission that she encountered Doni Tzu, who had been captured by the Vong.
After inadvertently saving Doni Tzu's life, Ronovi became his apprentice as soon as she recovered from her battle injuries. Doni Tzu was notorious for being ruthless to both his enemies and his peers, as well as for angering even the most prestigious members of the Dark Council. But with her master's reputation in the back of her mind, Ronovi learned much from him when it came to diplomacy, wit, meditation, and basic Force powers. She would continue to learn from him until she was told of his unexpected departure from the Yridia system after a crisis within Gladius that left Apollo, a veteran of the Emperor's Hammer, as the house's new Quaestor.
Ronovi participated in a clan strike on Prakith following her master's sudden exodus, helping to seize and plunder a facility containing various technologically advanced weapons and devices. Her work so impressed her house summit that she was appointed the new Sergeant of Arcano Signum, a battle team led by Dralin before he stepped down as its Tetrarch. Ronovi also began studying military tactics and combat as part of her academics, and Maxamillian von Oberst-Tarentae, pleased with the Obelisk's strategic knowledge, made her a Lieutenant Colonel of the I Corps in the newly reformed Tarentum Military.
Mayhem and Mantle
Ronovi seen for the first time with her eyepatch, circa 29 ABY.
After leaving Prakith, Ronovi began to conduct several small campaigns with her assigned troops. As she was still relatively new to fighting on battlefields, she did not take as much care to protect herself physically. Doni Tzu's absence did not help, as Ronovi's Force abilities were still raw and unhewn, making it difficult for her to concentrate while fighting. Ultimately, such carelessness brought about a dramatic injury during a siege against a planet still influenced by fragments of the Empire. Her unit, while surrounded by Imperial remnants, attempted to breach the lines of defense and caused a hurricane of blaster fire. One particularly aimed shot struck Ronovi in the face, and the result, though not fatal, was the loss of her left eye.
A cybernetic eyepatch brought back most if not all of Ronovi's vision, a design she chose over a more organic look for the purpose of intimidation. It was even rumored that Ronovi refused anesthesia when she underwent surgery, submitting herself to outrageous pain for the sake of her quest for power. While her dreams of being a physically perfect warrior vanished, this did not offset her long-term goal of ultimate strength and technique. She was recognized for her work as both Lieutenant Colonel and Sergeant of Arcano Signum and offered the available position of Aedile in House Cestus by Anshar. Ronovi accepted the job and traveled to Koros, where she settled into the Cestians' complex aboard the decommissioned VSD Corsair. She started working with Kazarelth Talismarr, the house's Quaestor, and found him to be a suitable ally and confidant.
Kazarelth and Ronovi, as Quaestor and Aedile, were both significantly younger and less experienced than many other members of Tarentum by the time they became the leaders of Cestus. However, with their youth came fresh ideas and proposals to increase recruitment rates and strengthen the house as a whole. As she drew up strategies for present and future objectives, Ronovi reminded herself that Gladius would not forget her contributions, even though her former colleagues were now her rivals. This rivalry blossomed when both Gladius and Cestus were sent to Samur to find shards of an artifact known as the Crystal of Tears, which allegedly enhanced its wielder's Force powers. During the operation, Ronovi took on Jaron Kai as her first student after she survived a scuffle with the Yuuzhan Vong, which cost several lives and forced the two houses to work together to fend them off.
The Ninth Great Jedi War
- "She is the only link I have remaining to everything I once cared for. You will not take her from me!"
- ―Doni Tzu
Ronovi during Antei, circa 30 ABY.
Ronovi was one of the many Tarenti who participated in the war campaign known as Unification. Brotherhood forces moved to reclaim Antei only to discover that the Vong were dying and the Dark Jedi's new target was a sect of Jedi led by Omancor Crask. While on the ground, the newly promoted Dark Jedi Knight and Colonel of the I Corps worked alongside her recently returned master, her apprentice, and members of both Gladius and Cestus in several operations to overtake droid forces as well as Jedi forces deployed to the north of Adas. Ronovi also was a victim of a near-conversion to the light side, being saved in the nick of time by Doni Tzu before the Jedi finished the job.
In the final days of the war, Ronovi aided Tarentum in seizing full control of Codei Prison and was a witness to the conspiracies and subsequent death of Sun Vail, sister of the exiled Dark Jedi Bane. However, the Epicanthix would remain mentally affected by her close encounter with the light side, and she swore to herself that she would eliminate her dependence on others for survival. By the time she returned to Yridia, Ronovi ended her apprenticeship with Doni Tzu, moving away from the role of student while still maintaining an alliance with her former master. Unfortunately, she no longer had an apprentice of her own to teach, as Jaron had disappeared during the reclamation.
Even though Tarentum suffered multiple casualties from the conflict, its leaders did not ignore Ronovi's major contributions to the war effort. She was given two field promotions, becoming an Equite as well as earning the rank of Brigadier General while still positioned on Antei. Subsequently, she was granted control of the Corps' First Division and further established her place in Tarentum history. Anshar and Oberst also decided to award Ronovi the prestigious Sapphire Blade for her service to the clan and the Brotherhood, and they offered her the open position of Quaestor of Cestus following Kazarelth's resignation. Ronovi agreed to lead with Vai Azexel as her second-in-command, and she made it her primary goal to continue to strengthen the house as the clan's battle wounds began to heal.
Traumatic Evolution
File:Ronovi.custom.muz.jpgRonovi circa 31 ABY.
Despite Ronovi's attempts to become more self-reliant, she did not expect her past ties to be broken so suddenly. For her first official mission as Quaestor, Ronovi was instructed to return to her homeworld to discuss war recovery efforts and new taxation. Several Cestians continued to observe Eden City after the tense meeting between Yridian and Tarentum officials until a PCL 27 freighter abruptly crashed into Yridia IX's surface. While Ronovi and her sister survived, the two's parents were both killed from the impact and subsequent destruction. Later that evening, the Templar killed Sarit by beheading so that the latter would not tell Yridian officials that the crash was in fact an assassination attempt, and Tarentum the target.
The Eden City Tragedy left Ronovi with a very disturbed mindset. Her father's untimely death affected her the most, and she wished to avenge the man who had assisted her in her journey to the dark side. Her sister's hasty murder, however, left plenty of time for regret, and Ronovi turned to the Force as well as combat for comfort. At the same time, she focused on reforming House Cestus structurally into the Hieros Lokhos ton Taras, allowing it to operate like a sacred band. Seen as a vital asset to the clan, she was summoned to Castle Tarentum and selected as the new Proconsul after Anshar yielded the throne of Prince of Yridia to Oberst.
Ronovi led Tarentum forces to Yridia IV where they intercepted and killed Adamu, a powerful Dark Jedi responsible for several of the attacks that had plagued the Yridia system. As it turned out, four once trustworthy agents of the clan, known as the Keepers, had been secretly working with Adamu and others to bring about massive amounts of death and decay to the fiefdom. Ronovi grew even more aggressive and vengeful as a result of such betrayal and the death of most of her family, but because of this, her connection to the dark side was stronger than ever before. If she had ever doubted her decision to become a Dark Jedi, such thoughts were gone, permanently.
DJB: The Later Years
Prince of Yridia
Ronovi, PYRG, circa 32 ABY.
Ronovi saw and endured more than she ever bargained for during her tenure as Proconsul. Leading Tarentum in its efforts during the Sixth Rite of Supremacy, she fought valiantly alongside her fellow Tarenti for the dominion of the Killik-infested planet Salas V. However, the clan fell short of gaining the title of First Clan, although they were able to subdue and crush the opposition stemming from Scholae Palatinae and Plagueis. Independent House Revan, responsible for crippling several of Tarentum's forces, became the First House of the Brotherhood, besting Taldryan for the prized planet.
The Tarenti returned to the Yridia system with their heads lowered in disappointment, and soon tensions began to rise within the houses. Ronovi paid little attention to the impending turmoil at first, instead deciding to deal with two criminal families that were frustrating the governor of Yridia IX. It was in Eden that the Prelate found her brother Yaske, who had returned to the metropolis to avenge Sarit's death after disappearing from the Tarentum Navy. While Yaske had become a powerful warrior since his piloting days, Ronovi still outmatched him, digging her sapphire blade into his heart and relishing in his death. This event concluded the long overdue demise of Ronovi's entire family and made her the only surviving Tavisaen.
After literally and figuratively washing her brother's blood from her hands, Ronovi returned to Castle Tarentum only to learn that the houses had succumbed to inner conflict and direct disobedience to the clan summit. Examples of such disreputable behavior included a distrusting House Gladius's brutal attempts at self-sufficiency, as well as House Cestus' division into two warring factions when a priceless artifact was discovered deep below the VSD Corsair. Most of all, however, house loyalties were overshadowing the vows that the Tarenti had made to Lord Khyron, the Sith King. Oberst and Ronovi knew that they had no other option but to close all three houses, replacing them with the newly established House Kaerner and House Reinthaler. When the dust of the clan's rebirth had cleared, Ronovi emerged as the newest Tarentae and Consul of Tarentum, becoming only the second woman in the clan's history to assume the throne.
From the Throne to the Academy
- "There are things that even the Dark Lords fear hidden in the Dark Vault. We are the guardians of those secrets."
- ―Taigikori Aybara
Ronovi alongside Scion Altera and Dralin Fortea circa 33 ABY.
The future was not bright for Tarentum. Ronovi had much on her plate as Consul and as a newly promoted Major General, making instrumental changes to the clan's structure and hierarchy. Demanding another reformation of the Tarentum Military, she shut down the I Corps and introduced the Yridian Surface Command, headed by High General Sato Tarentae and Fleet Admiral Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae. When infrastructural development on Yridia IV went awry and anti-Tarentum sentiments began to spread among various dissidents, Ronovi declared a new state of government for the dark clan known as the Yridian Kratocracy, in which the name of the Sith King was glorified by all. Alongside Sashar Arconae, Consul of Clan Arcona, she helped institute the Estle-Eden Axis, based on the Treaty of Kessel signed by Tarenti and Arconan officials several years before. And through it all, she consistently worked and communicated with her two apprentices, Syrna Valkiss and Giovanni Palermo. However, in her bold attempt to stabilize the young kratocracy, Ronovi could not prevent the impending decimation within the clan’s dominion.
In 33 ABY, a cult known as the Church of Infinite Perception invaded Yridian space after the obliteration of Tarentum's entire naval fleet save for the Magnus Kaerner. It was soon discovered that the Church was working with four surviving Yuuzhan Vong, as well as a former servant of the Keepers, Lady Nilani. With Yridia IV seized, dozens of Tarenti and army troops were killed. Ronovi called on the Arconans to help the beleaguered clan and alerted Grand Master Muz Ashen of the threat, then confronted Lady Nilani in Castle Tarentum and killed her with the assistance of Ethnarc Stanson Rend. By the time the Dark Council's fleets arrived in Yridian space, Arcona and Tarentum had worked together to kill the Preceptor of the Church and destroy the cult’s control over Yridia IV. The costs of the attempted coup were dear, and Tarentum’s numbers suffered greatly due to the conflict. Shortly after the events in Yridia, the Grand Master declared the Brotherhood to be in disarray and downsized all six of the clans to houses, and Tarentum was forced to close Houses Kaerner and Reinthaler and reform its battle teams.
Ronovi was left physically and emotionally wounded by the radical changes in Tarentum's structure, especially after Lord Khyron indirectly initiated a rampant Rakghoul plague in order to challenge her rule. She began to believe that she could not be the harbinger of victory for the Tarenti as once expected of her, realizing that she had overstayed her welcome as Prince of Yridia. The newly demoted Quaestor decided on a whim to travel to Lyspair, home of the Shadow Academy, and devoted much of her time to more scholarly studies. Taigikori Aybara, the Academy's Headmaster, took Ronovi under his wing and began to teach her the darker arts that the libraries and other facilities had to offer. As a result, the Exarch abdicated the throne of Yridia in 34 ABY in order to focus primarily on her work as Praetor. This allowed Sith Bloodfyre to become Prince for a third time and officially ended Ronovi's five years in consecutive leadership positions.
Displacement
- "You started out as some petty fighter, became the ruler of the entire system you called home, and then...became some petty fighter. Good job, Ronovi."
- ―Dralin Fortea
Ronovi the Arconan, circa 35 ABY.
Comfortable with her new position in the Shadow Academy, Ronovi went straight to work on various new courses and degrees while dividing her time between Lyspair and Yridia. The knowledge that she was imbibing enticed her more than she expected, especially when she had become so accustomed to combat and military operations. As she delved further into dark sciences and philosophy, she began to wonder if perhaps her true path for perfection lay in a different direction than she had first believed. Ronovi was later rewarded a Ruby Scepter for both her diligence in the Academy and her devotion to Tarentum as Quaestor and Tarentae.
As time went on, Ronovi grew more and more disillusioned by Tarentum proceedings. The Yridian Kratocracy had crumbled in exchange for fanatic religious sects, and the Tarentae had once again become withdrawn in their own politics. Ronovi truly believed that the house as a whole was top priority, and as the Independence Games began in 35 ABY, she noticed that the Tarenti were returning to a harmful state of isolation and ennui. Most of all, she was angered by the casting aside of various projects and objectives that she had undertaken as Quaestor in favor of the Tarentae's families and estates. Ronovi ultimately abandoned Castle Tarentum, returned to Eden City, and decided after weeks of contemplation that she would go somewhere else if her work was to be ignored and her presence not welcome. She sacrificed the Tarentae name in order to join the newly reclanned Arcona, where many of her allies and friends now resided. Her history in Tarentum, spanning nearly seven years, would become nothing more than a distant memory.
Accompanied by Stanson Rend and Giovanni Palermo, Ronovi traveled to the Dajorra system. She was welcomed by the Arconan summit in Estle City and invited to join the ranks of House Qel-Droma as a member of Shadow Gate, a team that operated along Port Ol'val. However, Taigikori demanded Ronovi's presence more and more frequently on Lyspair, and each duty that she subsequently undertook seemed to foreshadow her future endeavors within the frosty corridors of the Shadow Academy.
Crusades and Carnage
Ronovi and Taigikori Aybara, leaders of the Shadow Academy, circa 35 ABY.
Ronovi proved herself to be a worthy vassal of the Shadow Clan, becoming a stalwart Arconan vigilante on Ol'val and gaining favor with her summits. At the same time, the events surrounding Lyspair concerned her. Liu Van Dae, an enigmatic Jedi hellbent on killing the Grand Master, fought and mutilated Taigikori within the Dark Vault, spawning a vicious alertness deep in the Epicanthix's mind and stomach. She continually warned the Headmaster of being lax on security when the presence of the light side house Odan-Urr, along with the growing numbers of dead within the Brotherhood, struck an angry and carnal chord with all seven of the sovereign houses and clans.
She did not have to wait long for war. The Invasion of New Tython was imminent, and Muz Ashen ordered the Brotherhood to besiege the temples and fortifications of Odan-Urr. Ronovi fought within the legions of Qel-Droma, pleased with the idea that she could take vengeance on the Jedi who held fellowship with those who had attempted to convert her to the light side in years past. She proved to be not only one of the most valiant warriors of Arcona, but also of the entire Dark Jedi Brotherhood, winning twenty-five Jedi's lightsabers as bounty after she gleefully slaughtered them. Once again, Ronovi's power and presence garnered attention from her superiors, and Taigikori and Muz honored her with the title of Second Hero upon her return to Anteian space.
In the final days of her residence within the Dajorra dominion, Ronovi fought alongside the Entars to end the War of the Three Families. Her decision to side with the clan summit was due to her abhorrence of inner conflict, and she was determined to put a stop to Teroch Erinos, who had vowed revenge for the death of his father Sashar Arconae. Shortly after the chaos had subsided, Ronovi was unexpectedly called back to Antei and told to stay on Lyspair, as Kir Katarn had just resigned from his post as Justicar. She soon learned that Taigikori had been selected as Kir's successor, and that she, the first woman to ever be offered stewardship of the Shadow Academy, would be appointed Headmaster. In response to this news, Ronovi accepted the name of Dupar and for the first time, at only the rank of Primarch, entered the restricted areas of the Dark Vault where the malicious aura of its treasures, including yet to be studied holocrons, awaited her.
The Meltdown
- "Leave. Your capabilities as Headmaster have been compromised."
- ―Muz Ashen
Ronovi during the events of Horizons, circa 36 ABY.
Following the positive recognition she had received during the war and her time in Arcona, Ronovi expected a long and prosperous reign as Headmaster. She took on her tasks with vigor, becoming involved in various inner modifications to the Shadow Academy in terms of its departments, practices, and archives. Her visits to the Dark Vault, however, grew more and more frequent, as she compulsively examined and re-examined holocrons for the sole purpose of extending her knowledge. She looked to various dark side artifacts to enhance her physical and mental capacities, and as a result, she became heavily influenced by lore and history that she could not fully fathom at her present rank. As a result, Ronovi became more and more difficult to work with, her attitude growing more sinister and her outbursts of violence gaining notice from the Dark Council.
The Horizons Crisis was detrimental to the Academy, as the Horizon plague first seemed to emerge from the initiate ranks on Lyspair. An attempt to quarantine the facilities partially failed, and soon afterward Ronovi felt her connection to the Force slip away, one of the initial symptoms of the plague. The loss of a major source of strength, coupled with the dramatic changes to her mood and personality, nearly resulted in the Headmaster's destruction of the Shadow Academy and everyone in it for the sake of eradicating a potential pandemic. When news spread that the plague had in fact not originated from Lyspair and inoculations were hastily administered to the infected, Ronovi's brash decisions were viewed with harsh skepticism, and she intended to compensate for her lapse in judgment and power by hoarding holocrons and artifacts so she could further study them. Such paranoia and obsession later frustrated Benevolent Taldrya Whiner, Tribune of the Holocrons, who demanded that the items be returned to him after what he viewed to be adequate analysis.
Refusing to release the holocrons in her possession to Benevolent, Ronovi continued her self-indulgent research. Benevolent, unbeknownst to her, reported her behavior to Muz, who traveled with him to Lyspair. Upon seeing Ronovi physically lash out at the Son of Taldryan in the Dark Vault, the Grand Master instructed Ronovi to depart from the Academy, thereby ending her short-lived dynasty as Headmaster. Wheeling an entire cabinet of Whyren's Reserve onto a prepared Starwind-class pleasure yacht, the ousted Epicanthix orbited Antei in a drunken despair before the Force suddenly seemed to call to her. A heavily intoxicated Ronovi keyed in the coordinates that appeared in her mind, jumped into hyperspace, and re-appeared within the Stygian Caldera, where the dark side pulsed within the perilous nebulae.
DJB: The Final Year
Ascendant
- "If you become my Wrath, you will be viewed as trustworthy. Perhaps our superiors will build the false assumption that you are apologetic for your past behavior."
- ―Tra'an Reith
Ronovi the Plagueian carrying enemy sabers, circa 36 ABY.
Having fallen unconscious shortly after the leap to the Stygian Caldera, Ronovi allowed her yacht to spin out of control, unintentionally sending out a distress call. The IFF was almost immediately picked up by the NSD Ascendancy, the flagship of the Ascendant Fleet of House Plagueis, and several members of the house were summoned to retrieve the deposed Headmaster. While Ronovi lost everything on the yacht, her stash of whiskey included, she made a steady recovery in the medical bay and was offered refuge by Tra'an Reith, the Dread Lord of Plagueis, and Solus Gar, his Aedile. Solus himself had served as Ronovi's Praetor before being stripped of the position after his superior's departure.
Ronovi had no desire to participate in any of the proceedings of Plagueis for some time, preferring to stay within her designated quarters and drink whatever alcohol was offered to her. She reluctantly returned to duty, however, when the Grand Master ordered all of the houses and clans to begin a conquest campaign known as the Dark Crusade. She first joined the newly established battle team Ajunta Pall and accepted the task of seizing Archibald Zoraan's flagship, the SSD Avenger II, which ultimately was sent off to be refitted and modified for Brotherhood purposes. Plagueis, however, was not willing to stand aside and let its sister units take the spoils so easily. The Ascendant House proved instrumental to the occupation of the Sith World Nfolgai, where Ronovi and Solus battled the forces of the One Sith and consequently murdered a Sith Lord by the name of Yobd Nan.
Harboring a potent bitterness and disdain for all those aligned with the Dark Council, Ronovi's only desire was to seek out revenge against those who had challenged her power within the Shadow Academy. Following the invasion of Nfolgai, she decided that Plagueis itself would be the weapon to utilize on her journey for vengeance, exploiting her previous relationship with Solus in order to force him into compliance with her machinations. Plagueis moved to conquer the planet Khar Delba, but Xander Drax, a former member of the Brotherhood and Yobd Nan's apprentice, captured and tortured Solus and Ronovi within Lord Naga Sadow's secret citadel on Khar Shian. The two Dark Jedi later attempted to kill Drax, but the Sith Lord escaped after Solus chose to save Ronovi from being crushed under a crumbling wall of the citadel. Ronovi reported the event to Tra'an, who, infuriated that Solus had sacrificed his mission for the sake of preserving his relationship with his ally, discharged his second-in-command and without hesitation offered the open position to the Epicanthix. She accepted and was named the Dread Lord's Wrath.
The Road to Hell
- "We are paltry meat scraps compared to your forces. We know now that the only way to destroy your Brotherhood Is to eat away at it from the inside out. We need insiders like you."
- ―Xander Drax
Ronovi's plan to seize full control of Plagueis ensued swiftly and effectively, following the disappearance of Eiko from Ch'hodos as planned by Tra'an in order to boost morale with the beleaguered and exhausted Plagueian ranks. Inebriating the mindsets of the Force-sensitive and non-Force sensitive troops with negative thoughts regarding the current leadership, she threatened to kill Tra'an if he did not immediately resign as Dread Lord and leave the Ascendancy to her. Tra'an, prepared to leave his Quaestorship anyway, conceded without a fight, while Alaris Jinn, who had relied on Tra'an for power and influence in the house, departed from Plagueis and became a member of House Taldryan.
Successfully launching a mighty naval campaign toward Athiss, Ronovi encountered Xander Drax once again above the Sith World's surface. While Drax had been placed as Admiral of One Sith ships, Plagueis and Naga Sadow easily overcame the initial assault, with Plagueis retrieving the most spoils on the planet itself. While Ronovi received accolades for her work, her erratic moods, despite her power and return to the Dark Council, did not improve. She hastily removed Ka'Hava'Ve as her Aedile shortly after the Athiss campaign and replaced him with Arden Karn, who had proven himself to be a formidable ally.
Upon traveling to Kalsunor to prove herself against Arconan forces, Ronovi found herself awaking each morning from strange dreams in which Drax seemed to communicate with her. The messages she received during her sleep coaxed her to turn to the One Sith, as her work as Dread Lord had not brought her any closer to her goal of killing Muz Ashen and Benevolent Whiner Taldryan. Fearing that in the Brotherhood, she would become paralyzed and subservient to the Grand Master once again, Ronovi willingly began secretive talks with Drax to strengthen the One Sith. What she did not know was that Tra'an, with some tips from Arden, was listening to the transmissions, which he was now capable of hacking into.
Last Stand
- "Out of all the times I could have died - by lightsaber, by explosion, by martyrdom - this is the 'kind death' you offer me?"
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen, her last words
Plagueis's campaign on Kalsunor was well-fought, but Arcona, being true to its reputation as a leviathan, snatched most of the spoils and gained the most praise from the Dark Council. Throughout the house's time on the planet, Ronovi had begun to formalize plans with Drax to attack Brotherhood units from the inside under the guise of rivalry. The first house to be confronted would be Taldryan, by Ronovi's request, because Alaris and Benevolent were members.
Catching on to her scheme, Alaris demanded that he be the one to kill Ronovi, since he blamed her for his downfall in Plagueis. Muz Ashen seemed willing to allow the Twi'lek to commit the deed, accusing the Quaestor of treason, and Tra'an, feeling sympathy for his broken friend, knew he would have to act faster. He asked Ronovi if she would join him for a drink at the bar on the Ascendancy, in order to celebrate her so far successful reign as Dread Lord.
Ronovi was of course suspicious, deciding to take her personal flask of whiskey with her in order to avoid fatal consequences. She met Tra'an at the bar and heard firsthand how much he and Muz knew of her plan to align with the One Sith. Warning her that Brotherhood forces would soon come to capture and execute her, Tra'an told her that he had planned a kinder death for his comrade. He pointed to Ronovi's flask, where the whiskey, in fact, had been poisoned by a Plagueian slave who had infiltrated her quarters under the pretense of cleaning it. Bemoaning her anticlimactic demise, Ronovi toppled from her stool, paralyzed by a tasteless toxin, and died from self-asphyxiation caused by her own tongue. To those witnessing the death, it appeared that the Epicanthix had simply succumbed to alcohol poisoning.
Legacy
Ronovi was labeled a traitor by both Muz Ashen and Taigikori Aybara shortly after her death, but Tra'an insisted that her body be burned and her ashes stored as a warning to those who would dare walk the same path. He left Plagueis for some time, only to return to it later to finish the Crusade campaign. While no one would ever know that he was the one responsible for Ronovi's death, the environment of the Brotherhood would lead him to rethink his allegiance and set out for new opportunities deeper in the galaxy.
Some in the Brotherhood claimed that Ronovi was a victim of an oppressive system, her thirst for knowledge and power compromised by the Lion of Tarthos who did not wish to see others rival him. Others pointed out that the woman deserved her fate, her being emotionally unstable, prone to drinking, and half-crazed with glory holding responsibility for her seemingly inevitable disgrace.
Ronovi Tavisaen left behind no living relatives, and many who had once called her a friend distanced themselves from her reputation. It was clear that her death would be cloaked in a shade of notoriety. However, it is said that she left behind several secret lovers, and if the galaxy would ordain it, one could potentially have the courage to avenge her.
Characteristics
Ronovi's battle armor and coat.
Physical Appearance
From a first look, Ronovi was looming and intimidating. As is typical of an Epicanthix, she stood over an impressive two meters in height, with a long torso and strongly built legs so that she would tower over allies and opponents. Her weight gave her a more slender look, but in truth she was built very much like a brick, being tough, sturdy, and battered. She was very well-toned, with broad shoulders and a chest that seemed to belong more to a man than to a woman. Her right ear was slightly mangled, the lobe having been removed by a blaster bolt.
Despite her build being very appropriate to that of a soldier, Ronovi did maintain some feminine features. Her slender and slightly pointed nose, her high cheekbones, and her thin eyebrows complemented her darker, sharper looks. Her face held a refined, almost noble aura about it despite some small, white scars that lined her chin, lips, and forehead. She kept her naturally black hair long, usually tied back with a few strands falling across the nape of her neck and her collarbone.
Ronovi wore both civilian garb and military as well as ceremonial uniforms. However, her battle attire included standard military black boots and breeches, a bronze-hued breastplate and gauntlets, and a sleeveless black coat with silver accents, which replaces the standard Dark Jedi cloak or robe. Under the coat, she kept a small flask at her side that was normally filled with Whyren's Reserve, a rare and expensive brand of Corellian whiskey. Her left eye was a cybernetic implant, an electric patch that worked as a vision replacement. Her organic eye, once a deep brown, became amber due to the dark side's physiological effects on her body. From a distance, Ronovi did appear to be carved from a block of cold marble, but once closer, one could see the intricate details of her appearance, allowing her the threatening persona of a warrior.
Lightsabers
Ronovi's single-handed lightsaber.
File:MalevolentObeliskLBlue.pngRonovi's double-bladed lightsaber.
Ronovi's primary weapon was her lightsaber. Her first personalized lightsaber was crafted by Shikyo Keibatsu, Herald of the Brotherhood. Equipped with a bronze plasma blade, this single-handed saber boasted a long handle with a wooden texture and a brass-like tang guard carved around the emitter, easy to grip and beautifully constructed. It is safe to assume that Ronovi purposefully had the hilt resemble that of an ancient war sword, given that she had adapted to her identity as an Obelisk and a general. In order to better accommodate her developing saber skills, Ronovi later wielded a simplistically constructed double bladed lightsaber with cerulean blades and a bare-boned silver hilt. She hoped to have a saberstaff personally constructed for her before her death.
Ronovi's preferred lightsaber form was the brutal Juyo, which she had begun to master and perfect. When using Juyo, she fully demonstrated her caliber as a brawler and warrior, unleashing a primal monster from within as she battered against her enemies with pure, unfiltered strength and power. Because of her aggressive and almost dance-like attacks, her Force senses were amplified, as well as her capability to more efficiently unleash powers such as Force Rage in order to channel her emotions into formidable weapons against her opponents.
When not enforcing Juyo, however, Ronovi could lapse into the habit of utliziing Vapaad, which she learned while wielding a single-handed lightsaber. Rather than expelling her emotions outward in one big tornado of movement, Vapaad allowed her to concentrate more adequately on the mindset and potential fury of her opponent, becoming more mentally stable and withdrawn as she fought. This also proved beneficial if she wished to trick or belittle her enemies, luring them into a false sense of security with Vapaad before displaying her true caliber as a Juyo adept.
Combat
File:Com-Ronovi4-1.jpgRonovi armed with her lightsaber, sapphire blade, and ruby scepter.
- "If I had to choose between fighting a Rancor, or Ronovi...I'd take the Rancor."
- ―Marick Arconae
Besides her lightsaber, Ronovi utilized various other weapons throughout her fighting career. She was a frequent wielder of heavy blaster pistols, normally carrying at least one on her person during battles. While she preferred using blasters in the style of the SSK-7 model, she sometimes resorted to using hold-out blasters due to their size and sleekness. Although she was not a sniper, Ronovi occasionally was equipped with a blaster rifle, and she specifically handled a disruptor rifle during various assignments.
Having dabbled in swordsmanship in the years before and during her time in the Brotherhood, Ronovi also deployed swords, daggers, and knives in combat. She occasionally toted her sapphire blade, relying on it as a back-up in case she was disarmed of her primary weapon. On select missions, Ronovi carried a vibroshiv as well as vibroknucklers, which allowed her close and almost intimate contact with her opponent before slitting his or her throat. Vibroknucklers also gave her an excuse to go straight into hand to hand combat, since she could use the vibroblades for defense and bring the enemy to a bloody death. When Ronovi wished to enact a slower demise, she chose her ruby scepter as a blunt weapon.
Ronovi practiced several hand to hand disciplines, but she had an particular inclination toward using K'tara and Stava. Her preference for offensive and agile moves may have left her open to attack, but in exchange she was able to deliver strong and precise blows against her foes. She would sometimes train with a quarterstaff in exercises, but ultimately what Ronovi loved to fight with most was her bare fists. Her past as an underground fighter emphasized her passion for unadulterated brawling, making her somewhat of an adrenaline junkie.
The Force
Due to her emphasis in physical power, Ronovi could be considered a minimalist of the Force in terms of actual Force attacks. This was once due to her Force powers being feebler than those of her allies, and she did not feel confident using them. Although she later mastered several powerful Force abilities, she got used to counting on her physical senses and instincts rather than on her Force control. This was also because Ronovi's Force reflex was still particularly lackluster at the time of death, and it took her far more effort to utilize certain elements of the Force compared to many others equal to her in rank. However, Ronovi was very efficient at using Force senses, which included psychometry, and could detect and observe various occurrences within a large square area. As a direct result of this, she was occasionally overwhelmed by the information that she subsequently received. Also, due to her deep immersion in dark side lore, Ronovi became far more resistant to Force attacks, capable of shrugging off or deflecting Force assaults directed by all but the most powerful Equites and Elders in the Brotherhood.
Because she was an Epicanthix, Ronovi possessed an interesting and rare genetic immunity to Force-assisted mental tricks and influences. As such, it was near impossible for even the masters of the Force to accurately read her mind or attempt to control her. This served as a tremendous aid to her during times in which she was incarcerated or questioned, as her captors could never clearly comprehend her true intentions. Of course, sometimes she was far too vocal, especially when inebriated, and in those cases, mind tricks were not even necessary.
Ronovi was not a follower of any specific Force doctrines or teachings, despite the fact that she had grown familiar with several Force philosophies. This was because she simply thought of the Force as a tool rather than a mystical entity. She maintained a down-to-earth, no-nonsense perspective of the dark side, practicing its arts with the idea that it assists her toward a greater end goal. To her, the Force was a manual, not a spiritual guide or almighty deity. What was most crucial was the individual power garnered from the Force and the end result of its teachings and its history. While many would compare such a mindset to Obelisk ideologies, Ronovi claimed that it was merely common sense.
Personality
- "If she wants you to be her student, you'll know. You'd do better to apprentice yourself to a hurricane - less temperamental, less dangerous, and simpler. And drier."
- ―Eiko
Ronovi and Dralin enjoying drinks at The Mirage, circa 33 ABY.
Ronovi's personality rapidly evolved throughout the years. She was a hot-headed, power-hungry child and adolescent, a true fighter at heart and more brawn than brain. As she progressed through the ranks, however, she assumed more of a military mind, both crafty and calculating as a Master Centurion and a general. The Shadow Academy later allowed her to sharpen her senses and her understanding of the galaxy, as she was capable of studying the archives and artifacts of the Dark Vault before she even became an Elder. Because of this, she became so steeped in arcane dark side knowledge that, without realizing, she cultivated the sort of ruthlessness that could lead her to break a man's neck for the slightest offense. As a result, she could be called a dark scholarly warrior: Powerful, malevolent, and remarkably intelligent.
Ronovi the drunk, circa Horizons, 36 ABY.
However, Ronovi's continually growing prowess and intimidating demeanor did not mean that her old habits faded away. She was still a blunt, sharp-tongued, and cynical character. Despite her strategic abilities, she could become quite spastic on and off the battlefield. Her rambunctiousness, unhindered honesty, and affinity for drinking contributed to her occasionally belligerent behavior. It was commonly known that Ronovi enjoyed inflicting pain, treating it like a form of entertainment and emphasizing her more sadistic nature. Fortunately, she was able to keep some of her brutal mannerisms under control, instead handling situations with sarcasm, wit, and a casual air. Basically, Ronovi could easily punch a man in the jaw and then tell a joke about it later, and rumor has it that she also had an abusive history with other women.
Ronovi had few friends, seldom trusting others outside her small circle of allies. Besides knowing Basic as well as Epicant, her fluency in Bocce allowed her to communicate with a large variety of species in the galaxy on a militant as well as economic level. She was almost compulsive regarding her equipment and combative techniques, and she could not tolerate romantic feelings of any kind. Ronovi was recognized by some as a strong mentor, but many others considered her far too dangerous, obsessive, and temperamental to be relied on.
Apprentices
Jaron Kai
29 ABY - 30 ABY
Jaron Kai was Ronovi's first apprentice, beginning her training under the then Dark Jedi Knight after House Cestus and House Gladius's joint mission on Samur. As she was ranked Protector at the time, Jaron had already proven to Ronovi that she was a capable fighter as well as a reliable member of Cestus. The two were also on friendly rather than merely cordial terms, and their master and student relationship was sided with a shared wit and perspective. Unfortunately, Jaron disappeared from Tarentum's set up base during the Reclamation of Antei and has not been seen since. She last held the rank of Jedi Hunter.
Syrna Valkiss
32 ABY - 35 ABY
Syrna Valkiss was Ronovi's second apprentice, beginning her training under the then Obelisk Prelate shortly after she earned the rank of Novice. Unlike Jaron Kai, Syrna harbored a much more reserved attitude toward her given tasks and assignments within Tarentum. As Ronovi was once on good terms with Syrna's brother, Severon Vercingetorix, she was aware of the woman's turbulent past and hoped to use it in order to submit her fully to the power of the dark side. Only then could Syrna's full potential and skill be unlocked and utilized. When Ronovi left Yridian space in order to join Arcona's ranks, Syrna decided to stay behind and was later killed during the Siege of Eden. She last held the rank of Guardian.
Giovanni Palermo
33 ABY - 35 ABY
Giovanni Palermo was Ronovi's third apprentice, having held the rank of Jedi Hunter for quite some time before becoming the then Obelisk Prelate's student. After becoming disenchanted with his former master, he was encouraged to seek assistance from Archean Erinos Tarentae only to discover that the situation would not improve his already stagnant progress. Ronovi, feeling that the long-term Tarenti needed a strong and persistent mentor, placed Giovanni under a strict training regimen, hoping to push him over the last remaining hurdles on his long path to knighthood. It took two more years, but Giovanni was at last elevated to Dark Jedi Knight while serving in Arcona alongside his master, becoming the first of Ronovi's apprentices to obtain the prized rank. He has since served in the courts of Estle City as a lawyer.
Trivia
- Ronovi was based on a previously written Sith character named Darth Desov, which was used by her creator for less formal roleplaying sessions.
- Ronovi had a large variety of nicknames, including but not limited to: "Ron," "Ronnie," "Rovi," "Ro Ro," "Ravioli," "Ron-Ron," "Runofi," "Ronovermi," and "Ronobi."
- Ronovi emerged as Champion of the Independence Games in 35 ABY, taking first place in five events.
- Ronovi was recognized as the Second Hero of the Tenth Great Jedi War, upstaged only by Benevolent Taldrya Whiner.