Ashura Isradia Sadow

Template:Featured Template:Sith charinfo Ashura Isradia is a Sith Battlemaster and a member of Clan Naga Sadow in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. He is the current Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos

His fictional character is a Dark Jedi that was born on Pelagon, and belonged to House Pelagia within the Star Wars universe. More recently, following the Eighth Great Jedi War, Ashura was made a Senior Commander in the Dlarit Special Operations Group. He was later assigned as Dlarit Corporation Commissar aboard the ISDII Harbinger due to his involvement defeating the True Brotherhood during the Invasion of Orian. He also replaced Trevarus Caerick as Governor of Tarthos.

Character History

The Seer’s Prophecy

"I have seen past the veil of time, and the future has been revealed to me. I have seen the horror of his tainted birth. The pain caused by the fatality of being born. Yet destined to live he will as he comes by death's invitation; a dreadful fate awaits the future upon his heels. I have seen his wrath and the misery it will cause. What mortal invitation to death, this harbinger will bring forth."

―Sage Master Nar’del Brakus

The history of Ashura Isradia began thousands of years before his birth; like the prophecies of the Chosen One, Sith’ari, and Prophecy of the Five, his was to be a dark tale of death and destruction that would travel in his wake. He was foreseen as a harbinger of these… a force to be reckoned with. There would be a sense of irony to all this, however. Ashura is the descendant of the Sage Master who prophesied his coming.

The prophecy told the coming of a demon wrapped in human flesh to walk among the sheep. It would be a creature of darkness brought upon the physical plane by dark life-giving magic. It would be limited by the restrictions of the human flesh; it could still be hurt, or worse, killed, and be tempted by desires of love, anger and hatred.

It was said that the demon had the dark sight: the makura na hiruma (the darkness at noon). The ability to see the future - although, the sight can be erratic. The demon would possess a metabolism is different than a normal human, he would be able to alter it so to slow down the aging process. The prophecy stated the demon would possess the ability to reach out with his mind and slow anothers heartbeat or raise it until they burst into flames.

Sith Origin

"Once you start down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

―Jedi Master Yoda

Ashura Isradia is the evolved form of the fallen Jedi Knight Ashura Konden. His family origin is a dark twisted tale that begins six hundred years ago when the Konden and Brakus noble families of House Pelagon joined together to create a new breed of warriors. The Konden family was a lie, however. They were actually part of a splinter fraction of the Mecrosa Order, Sith’s who wanted to use the strong force connection of the Brakus bloodline to create assassins and bodyguards; Jedi who would start on the Light Side but fall to the Darkness.

The Great Jedi Purge threatened to kill off the last of the Brakus bloodline. Baron Krous Brakus, Ashura’s grandfather, was killed by Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) during the attack on the Jedi Temple. His daughter Miya was on Pelagon where Jared Konden placed her into hiding. His younger sister Andrea, a prominent member of the Mecrosa Order, was able to arrange it. Miya would eventually fall in love with Jared and the two would marry; Jared’s feelings for her were never returned. Miya would never learn of her husband’s betrayal; her son however would in years to come learn the truth.

The boy was born on the Sixth of Helona in the eighth year Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY), for the early years of his life he would be unaware of his families Force heritage to prevent the Empire learning of him. It was only when he was old enough to bear the responsibility was he told the truth about his special gifts. His mother and father would tutor the young noble in the ways of the Force: Miya would pass on lesson her father taught her as a little girl while Jared would be harsh in his son’s education: purposely forcing Ashura to endure hardship to create a base for his eventual fall to the Dark Side.

Ashura achieved incredible prescience, enhanced physical and metaphysical perception during the early years of his life: this stage of his Force training could be described as the beginning of the larva stage. Years later the young man left Pelagon to join the newly established Jedi Academy as a Jedi Guardian. He was given a blue training saber to learn the art of lightsaber combat and it didn't take him long to master the training form. The Jedi proved to be highly trained and skilled and eventually was promoted to Jedi Knight for help defeating the Disciples of Ragnos. However Ashura had to rely on his fathers training to survive and this caused him to feel the power of the Dark Side. The next few years the Knight walked the fine line between the Light Side and Dark Side. The Dark Side finally won.

Ashura left the Jedi Order and joined the Dark Jedi Brotherhood as a Sith Initiate. He arrived at Antei where he attended the Shadow Academy. He achieved the rank of Sith Apprentice and transferred to Clan Satal Keto (which later merged with Clan Exar Kun to become Clan Plagueis). The Dark Jedi was promoted through the ranks. Ashura eventually became the apprentice to Dark Adept Jonaleth Isradia, and through his tutelage he grew more powerful. Jonaleth wasn't surprised when his Apprentice asked about joining House Isradia. Ashura’s was already the product of noble upbringing; this combined with his training made him an asset. Jonaleth agreed and made him Margrave and Panarch of Tol Mustanen. However the Iperion resisted Ashura ousting as the Grand Duke was unable to publicly make an appearance to ratify the proclamation. The previous Panarch went rogue in rebellion and formed an alliance with Isabelle Lutah for support, believing that Ashura had killed Jonaleth in a power play. However, Isabelle double crossed and killed him. House Lutah then took control of Tol Mustanen. Ashura confronted Isabelle in Tol Mustanen and her defeated. Instead of killing her, he tortured Isabelle in the city square and subdued the woman into renounce her title and leadership of House Lutah. To further humiliate her, Isabelle was forced to become a Bondsman in the Imperial House and assigned to Tol Mustanen. With his city once again under the control of the Imperial House Isradia, Ashura was rewarded by attaining the new title of Viscount and promoted to the rank of Dark Jedi Knight.

Awakening

"I am the Oncoming Storm... the Bringer of Darkness."

―Ashura Isradia

Ashura’s dark side metamorphosis had reached the point where he was beginning to have visions (which was hereditary of the Brakus bloodline): a male figure cloaked within a ring of fire in the darkness of the abyss. It was a symbol of death… of great chance… of the demon awakening. The Dark Jedi Knight had been told about his ancestor’s prophecy by his mother and believed it was up to him to stop the demon… the descendant of the Sage Master joined Clan Arcona where he believed that the Arconan Shadowcrafting ability would enable him to meet the demon in its level and defeat it.

He quickly learned the basic skill of Shadowcrafting and choice the path of Inner Darkness; the demon was darkness thus Ashura must understand the darkness within to match the demon. The Sith Knight slowly gained standing among his new Clan as he became Rollmaster of House Oriens Obscurum (and then later on Aedile), promoted into the Equite class with the rank of Sith Warrior. (Also see Sith Warrior)

However after a while the visions kept plaguing the Aedile who was unable to find an answer, this was until he foresaw his own death at the hands of his Master on the backwater world of Tatooine. Ashura couldn’t believe this and needed to find out the truth, so he transferred out of Arcona and traveled to the Outer Rim.

Ashura arrived at Tatooine and began searching for Master Isradia, but could not sense Jonaleth. He knew the vision had been false. He planned to leave the planet when he sensed a powerful Light Jedi: It turned out to be Light Adept Erickholm Isradia (Jonaleth’s twin brother). The two Jedi faced each other on the sands and just like in the Equite’s vision; Erickholm's lightsaber pierced his chest slaying the Darksider. Jonaleth also foresaw Ashura’s death at the hands of his twin brother, but the Dark Adept also knew that death was just the beginning.

Ashura’s body was taken to the Vaults of the Dead on Vardor, rumors of his death quickly spread and none knew of Jonaleth’s plans as the Vardorian Necromancer summoned all the other Necromancers of the Ninth Order to come forth in resurrecting the fallen Dark Jedi. Ashura’s body burned with life once again but tainted by the Necromancers dark magic.

In that moment of utter clarification Ashura realized his visions of the demon and his death was about him becoming the demon. The larval stage progressed on to the next life cycle: on that day it was destined for the Dark Jedi known as Ashura Konden to undergo a transformation into the pupa stage of the demon’s existence.

Ashura’s tanned skin faded away leaving it pale and almost unnatural. His dark blonde hair lost all pigmentation leaving it silvery white, and his once dark blue eye now lit up with almost supernatural brightness. The changes were certain demonic in nature. It would be years before he learned what the catalyst behind these events. He turned to the Etherites Tradition and Iperion of Vardor to fill the void felt behind by his old life.

Evolution

"Ascension cannot be achieved if we do not embrace all that which we are. All that makes us, defines us. We are a sum of all that we have done and that has made us: Embrace all that, and true power, power that cannot be defeated, can be yours."

―Jonaleth Isradia

"I understand, Master. Ascension is true evolution."

―Ashura Isradia

Initially after his metamorphosis, Ashura spent time in Tol Rothan the capital city of House Isradia as his body needed time to regain its strength and adjust to this new development. The Grand Duke realized Ashura needed time to get back on his feet and summoned the Viscounts Handmaiden to care for her master. Bondswoman Isabelle Lutah arrived at Tol Rothan and was shocked to find that Ashura alive as she heard the rumors that he had been killed.

The relationship between Isabelle and Ashura before had been harsh and cruel on her, but that began to change as he acted like never before: Ashura began to show his Handmaiden that he was not the man she knew as he showed her passion and a gentle hand. This surprised Isabelle as one of the first things he had done after he was strong enough was to caress her swollen belly and say in Mardorin, “Son imtah itai porin, par, non quazan sak.” These words were enough to let Isabelle know the depths of Ashura’s feelings for her as she repeated them back to him. Ashura and Isabelle’s relationship had evolved into an epic romance which let to the couple getting married. He remained on Vardor until late 27 ABY upon his decision to return to active membership he learned an important lesson from his Master (see quotes).

Ashura returned to Brotherhood space and committed himself fully to the Sith Order; its traditions and its way of life. He was offered a home in House Ludo Kressh of Clan Naga Sadow and soon joined thier ranks. It wasn't long before he took on a leadership role of Knight Class Envoy of Naga Sadow. As Clan Envoy Ashura trained potential Journeymen as House Envoy's, established a Clan wide training program based on the one used in House Marka Ragnos, and advised the Summit on Envoy and training matters.

Things began to change when the Yuuzhan Vong attacked the combined forces of the six clans of the Brotherhood. None had been prepared for this and warnings of Antei's destruction from Darth Vexatus were ignored by the Star Chamber.

Ashura had been aboard the House Ludo Kressh flagship, the Wandering Soul, when the fighting started. The ship was boarded by enemy warriors who quickly eliminated the lesser Dark Jedi and crew. The Warrior argued with the Soul's commanding officer on how to deal with the vermin. He decided to take action and headed to engineering: there Ashura activated the fire suppression system and sent most of the Vong warriors into space along with half the crew and most of the House Journeymen. Quaestor Ashia Keibatsu was not happy when she found out and became Ashura's rival after that. The Wandering Soul still had to be abandoned.

Ashura watched as Grand Master Sarin called for a retreat; Antei was lost to the Vong; Ashura arrived at the decision the Star Chamber's own arrogance led to Vexatus vision being discarded. Their arrogance had been their weakness... The weak didn't deserve to live, let alone rule. Isradia saw stronger leadership required and determined he would be the one to lead the Brotherhood into a new era.

He saw the vacant Ravana Squadron Commander position as his opening. The cunning Sith manipulated the Clan Summit into letting him reestablish the training Battleteam. House Marka Ragnos Quaestor position opened up not long after Ashura became Battleteam Leader. The Sith applied for the position knowing his chance was slim; he was right as it went to the House Overlord; Dark Jedi Master Trevarus Caerick. However this wasn't such a drawback as Trevarus made Ashura his Aedile. He would get to learn from a Clan Elder; although Krath’s motive behind why Ashura had become his Aedile would remain a closely guarded secret.

The Clan Envoy was awarded the rank of Knight First Class within the Society of Envoys, as well as being promoted to a Sith Battlemaster due to his services and the changes he brought about. He secretly used his new status in the society to keep a track on all new members incoming into his rival’s House. The Battlemaster focused more on the Rule of Two; although he was only a lesser Sith Master, a mere Equite. The Sith’s plan’s nurtured as he was appointed Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos by the new Consul, the man whose job he replaced.

The Battlemaster slowly began to plant the seeds of deception into the minds of certain members: one being to “suggest” Ludo Kressh’s Envoy, Tsingtao Ming, into applying for the open Aedile spot, manipulating the Envoy to serve his purpose. His next move again his rival was to take Tsingtao’s replacement, Faeril Munlear, and make her Aedile of House Marka Ragnos. The Knight showed potential and Ashura wanted to use her in his plans. The Battlemaster incorporated the Rule of Two mythology into the House Summit; one to embody the power (Quaestor), and the other to crave it (Aedile).

Ashura knew he could only trust Faeril with Clan and House related issues; he could only manipulate her so far without the Knight starting to question his motives. Isradia decided to bring in his disciple, Sakura Haruno, to be his “eyes” and “ears”. The girl was not part of the Dark Brotherhood and her cover was maintained as a Subcommander in D-SOG.

The Sith Battlemaster sensed a greater deception then his at work within the Clan, his goal was insignificant to what was currently developing, although it could be said that his aims fitted into this. The Governor of Tarthos was not blinded by utter devotion to the Clan Overlord; this devotion was a chain, a chain that needed to be broken. Ashura viewed the clan as a tool, something to be exploited and not become emotional attached too.

Ashura established many working relationships with his Clansmen, making sure not to get too close, too attached to anyone although establishing the deception that he was a devoted Disciple of Sadow.

Isradia's plans deepened after Jade Atema was wounded by her husband and sent to him by her brother-in-law for him to keep safe. The Battlemaster was enraged that Draken 'Ylith' Atema had broken his oath to honor, love and protect his wife; an oath he made them both swear. Ashura saw a chance to use Jade's anger and need for revenge to unlock her dark nature.

He promised to teach the Knight the ways of the Sith and took her on as his Sith Apprentice: the methodology of Darth Bane's rule of two twisted to serve Ashura's need. He started her training immediately took Jade to various locations throughout the Galaxy with strong the Force. The Sith made the Krath endure hardship on each of the planets the visited; bringing the darkness within her to the surface. They eventually arrived on Vardor, the homeworld of Jonaleth Isradia. It was here that Ashura made her face her own inner demons whether she conquered them. The pair then traveled back to the Orian system where the Battlemaster told her it was the journey that mattered and not the final destination. Ashura helped Jade unlock her potential; she had reached Equite level in her abilities but not yet in name.

The One Path

"Grow in all things, grow beyond the petty confines of what you thought you knew, see beyond to the greater truth of all things. Be no longer blinded by the limited teachings of those who think you their servant. Know the path. Know who and what you are, and gain strength in that knowledge. Awaken, and see the Glory I put before you. Be One."

―Jonaleth Isradia

There have been few moments in Ashura’s life when he faced life changing moments; one had been his death and resurrection, and the other happened in the middle of 28 ABY. He began having dreams, or were they visions? He wasn’t completely sure?

These dreams were about the first encounter he ever had with Jonaleth Isradia, the man (or monster) the Envoy’s had sent to train him. He was watching himself as he once had been years before as Ashura Konden (or rather Ashura Megos, a name he used during the time he joined the Brotherhood). Ashura had dropped his family name for a name that echoed what he believed himself to be at the time – great and powerful. How Jonaleth tore down those walls of illusion to reveal how weak-minded the Dark Jedi Journeyman really was.

The dreams continued like this every night until one night it changed; the dream started as normal until Jonaleth revealed his face, it was not the face Ashura knew when he first became the Dark Adept’s apprentice, but the face of his Master as he knows him today. The Elder asked Ashura what he had learned and if he knew of the Path. The Battlemaster couldn’t speak for his mind was a blank and Isradia answered his students’ mute reply. The dream reminded Ashura of where he started and where he was going and what it was leading too. He now looked into the very embodiment of what his Master had always taught him. The unity of One, the Path to Ascension.

Ashura planed to take an indefinite leave of absence from the Dark Jedi Brotherhood and return to Vardor due to his Master’s return. He began to understand even more where this One Path was leading too when Jonaleth revealed the truth behind it. With the death of Erin Isradia at the hands of his oldest friend; Ashura was elevated to Exarch of the Imperial House Isradia with the rank of Duke; his sister would once again retain what once was hers. The newly Exarch would take what he learned as Clan Envoy, Aedile and Quaestor, and reinforce it with the teachings of his Order and the One Path. He would continue to focus on his weaknesses and eliminate them.

Betrayal and Revelation

"The power when it is manifested is like a shadow, a living presence that can be sensed, even perhaps seen by some in the corners of their vision. And, in this highly-charged state, the power can do many things. It can, for instance, project itself like an unseen fist, causing inanimate objects to move; it can cause pain and even death in others."

―Unknown

Ashura decided to hold off his departure to allow his son to settle into Clan life. The Quaestor was rather annoyed that Ashia didn’t want Alector to be apart of Mark Ragnos; the young Knight ended up joining Ludo Kressh.

It was sometime after the Dystopia Incident that Ashura was abducted by his ”biological” father and replaced with a clone; the clone itself was unaware of its true identity to allow it to function as Ashura would. While the clone would be killed months later on the Harbinger, Ashura himself would be half across the galaxy undergoing vicious genetic testing. His body was weaken by regular carbon freezing and defrosting; being placed in carbonite was the ultimate prison for the Sith.

Jared revealed the ago old betrayal of the Konden bloodline and how after six hundred years Ashura had become the perfect template for Mecrosa Order Clone Super Troopers, as they would possess Force abilities due to the Konden/Brakus bloodlines. Andrea Konden was the only one interested in Ashura’s current biology; the continuing metamorphosis going on between the Brakus bloodline and this so-called Isradia Factor.

His body weakened but his mind and spirit were stronger than ever. Isradia consciously killed off the last remnants of Ashura Konden (including the name); his birth had taken place in the Vaults of the Dead inside the remnant body he possessed. Ashura was placed in carbonite once more but this time to be held in cold storage in a secret location. This would be Jared Konden’s greatest mistake, however.

Abyssal Blacksmith

TBA

Psychological Profile

Like all those who follow the quasi-religious belief system known as the One Path: Ashura seeks to eliminate himself of all weaknesses and to bring mind, body and spirit into one. Surprising this is something he has been doing for years, but the teachings of his Master are what has enabled him to bring it all together.

During his youth he was trained under a tough regime by Jared Konden, this helped to strengthen his body. Today, Ashura continues to strenghen his body to get it back into the prime condition he once had it in.

Without realizing his own choice of actions, he had set himself on the One Path even before he knew about it. The Etherite Tradition on the planet Vardor would enable him to bring mind, body and spirit together. Beneath all things there lies a single, unify, omnipotent force, a framework upon which all reality is built, and from which all things come and are made. This was the core teaching of the Etherites; ordered, instinctive, collected and precise. Elements Ashura adapted in his training to help control the chaos within him… just another step along the One Path.

The man no longer seeks to limit himself to one teaching; to become a slave to it. His true weakness had always been that of his mind, weakness he sought to eliminate through the teachings of the Sith and the understanding of leadership. It was through the teachings of Darth Bane did Ashura adapt tools of his Order to his own purpose when seeking to rule among the Dark Brotherhood; patience, cunning and secrecy were tools that would help him to strengthen his mind.

He is a warrior noble: a man of honor and duty taught to him as a boy, but fortified through his oath of loyalty and position within the Imperial House Isradia. Ashura may be a family man, but he is also dedicated to the Sith Order and the coming about of the Final Way.

DJB Facts

Goals

Dark Jedi Brotherhood

• To have earned the rank of Sith Warlord
• To have become a Knight First Class Envoy within the Society of Envoys
• To have made a difference to the Dark Brotherhood as a whole

House Marka Ragnos

• To complete the Disciples of Ragnos project as QUA
• To complete the House Marka Ragnos Prospectus as QUA

Notable Positions of Leadership

Alex d'Tana	Rollmaster and Envoy of House Oriens Obscurum 26 ABY	Drodik Va'lence al'Tor
Odin Vaaj	Aedile of House Oriens Obscurum 26 ABY - 27 ABY	Drodik Va'lence al'Tor
Jade Imperial	Sith Commander of Ravana Squadron 27 ABY	Tyren Atema
Nekura Manji Keibatsu	Aedile of House Marka Ragnos 27 ABY - 28 ABY	Faeril Munlear
Trevarus Caerick	Quaestor of House Marka Ragnos 28 ABY	None
Unknown	Envoy of Clan Naga Sadow 27 ABY - 28 ABY	Starrett

Noteable Awards

Official Letter of Reprimand
Grand Cross of the Dark Side
Seal of Loyalty
Gold Nova
Seal of Retribution x 2
Seal of Alliances x 7
Seal of Conquest x 5
Seal of Pain x 11
Dark Maven of Service
Dark Maven of Leadership

Trivia

• Ashura was on a three month probation period, but that time has now been served. Please see Official Letter of Reprimand (above) for more infomation.
• Ashura was originally meant to be a half-breed Tusken Raider, but it seems that is against Star Wars canon, as Humans and Tuskens cant breed. So there was no point in being a Human Tusken and the character was changed to this version.
• Ashura holds the Isradia Prophetic Title - The Abyssal Blacksmith.
• Ashura is a Duke within the Iperion of Vardor. He is also the Exarch of House Isradia.
• Ashura Jared Konden was his original name before becoming a member of the Imperial House Isradia. He also holds the title of Baronet within House Pelagia.
• Ashura has a son, Alector Isradia, who was born in 25 ABY. Alector's mother is Isabelle Lutah, who is Ashura's beloved wife.
• Ashura's appearance is based on Dante Sparda from Devil May Cry 2. I have not attempt to copyright the character of Dante, and all pictures used in this article are for Fairuse purposes only. Other character influences include 300, the Chronicles of Riddick, and the Devil May Cry series.
• Ashura Isradia would be played by Mads Mikkelsen if he appeared in a Star Wars movie.
• Ashura's name also belongs to an older version of Ash Ketchum from Pokemon MASTER, a dark Pokemon fanfiction by Ace Sanchez, which is a damn good read. This is where I first picked up the name for my character.
• Ashura is also known as the One Arm Bandit in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. This is because I was born without a left hand. This does make it kind of hard for me to play computer games, but doesnt stop me from enjoying them still.
• The makura na hiruma (the darkness at noon) is based of the Eric Lustbander novel, Black Blade