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 House Cestus are constituents of the Lokhos, regardless of whether they are Dark Jedi or non force users living aboard the Corsair. They are the elite warriors serving 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 poor performance of the clan during said military operation. The organization was formed 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 during the Eden City Emergency from the Clan Summit, Consul Anshar Kahn Tarentae and Proconsul Maxamillian von Oberst chose to turn to Cestus to enact and enforce their will, directly resulting in the imminent structural changes within the House. The minutes of the meeting between the Cestus 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 11:30 PM
• Templar Ronovi Tavisaen's Quaestor Report
  • Iterates the need for a reformation of House Cestus to better serve Clan Tarentum as well as to give Cestus a leg up against rival factions within the Clan. After a brief discussion council agrees.
  • Vai Azexel insists that any reorganization of the house involve a preservation of the archive aboard the Corsair as well as a focus on study of warfare.
  • Ji K'awiil recommends the inclusion of non-force using members of the House in order to bolster numbers and encourage cooperativeness; seconded and passed 6 in favor, 2 opposed.

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

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

• Meeting adjourned at 2:00 AM

Induction

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

The induction ceremony typically takes place in a darkly lit chamber deep in the bowels of the corsair. There the inductee is supervised by the Lokhos' Eklektor in Heliaia. Under the gaze of Cestus' prized, and recently recovered, banner the recruit is required to perform a blood-letting ritual, wherein (s)he uses a ceremonial dagger to open the veins of the forearm and allow his or her blood to fill a small clay vessel. Once the vase is filled it is plugged and stored by the Eklektor in Heliaia in the hall 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.

Ranks

Ethnarc

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

The Ethnarc oversees the administration of the entire Hieros Lokhos, ensuring that the Phylarch and Eklektor properly perform their tasks. The Hippoti administrators throughout the Corsair report directly to the Ethnarc and