Ka Tarvitz

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Ka Tarvitz
Biographical Information
Homeworld:	Susevfi, Alderaanian by blood
Date of Birth:	33 (Born 1 ABY)
Physical Description
Species:	Human
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.9M
Weight:	89 kg
Hair:	Dark grey, shoulder length
Eyes:	Blue
Cybernetics:	Left eye
Personal Information
Mother:	Kallista Tarvitz (adopted)
Father:	Raymus Tarvitz (adopted)
Lightsaber Color(s):	Green Armory Lightsaber
Lightsaber Form(s):	Form 0
Weapon(s):	Longsword, T-6 heavy blaster pistol, WESTAR-M5 blaster rifle
Fighting Style(s):	Wrruushi
Chronology & Political Information
Profession:	Jensaarai Defender
Position:	Padawan
Affiliation:	Clan Odan-Urr, Battle-team Zirael, Jensaarai
Known masters:	Savant Edgar Drachen
Dossier:	14751
[ Source ]

Ka Tarvitz is a Human male and a recent addition to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Sired by Alderaanian survivors, he was raised by the Jensaarai and taught their ways, serving first as an Apprentice and then a Defender. While devoted believer in its ways, he proved to be extremely reluctant to draw upon the raw aggression which balanced the Light against Dark. Eventually voicing his discontent with their insular role within the universe, Tarvitz and several like-minded Defenders set out to visit a number of distant worlds return with word of rumoured galactic events which could threaten them. This, combined with their self-appointed role of recovering lost Jedi relics, eventually brought them into conflict with Clan Odan-Urr and led to Tarvitz's capture. Despite his initial hostility to them, upon discovering the fate of New Tython and the threat which beset the Jedi, Tarvitz quickly pledged himself to their service. Shortly following this he began further honing his abilities under the guidance of Edgar Drachen.

Character History

Lost Heritage (1 ABY - 8 ABY)

The ruins of Alderaan

Like many of his comrades, Tarvitz was taken in by the Jensaarai at an early age. Unlike them, he was brought to their world in an act of desperation. Both of his parents had been freighter pilots operating a small scale shipping corporation centered upon Alderaan. Focusing primarily upon sprint-trades between a number of worlds across the Core, their activities had been all but crippled by the planet's destruction. Quickly robbed of their fortunes and driven away from more prosperous opportunities by old rivals, in a matter of mere months they had been left with little more than an aging bulk freighter to their name.

Becoming more desperate as the weeks past, they arrived on on Susevfi and sought out his grandparents' isolated home among the barren savannas, wishing to leave the infant Tarvitz in their care. Claiming that they had found a risky but profitable venture to restore their fortunes, the two convinced them to take him under their protection for a short time, promising to return within a few weeks. Unwilling or unable to divulge anything more than this, they departed soon afterwards, heading towards the furthest edges of the Outer Rim. No word came from them and as weeks turned into months, several fruitless attempts were made to track down their ship. Unable to locate them, his grandparents took full custody of Tarvitz, raising him as best they could.

Tarvitz's early years proved to be turbulent, thanks in no small part to his adventurous nature. Often told of Alderaan's lost beauty, and the supposedly shining beacon of the Core, he forever imagined that there was a better world far above him; that some verdant paradise lurked beyond the harsh wilderness of his home. While several dangerous encounters gradually curbed his innate curiosity, Tarvitz was nevertheless left with a a highly idealized view of the Core which never truly left him, and the constant idea of something better always lurking just beyond his reach. It was for perhaps this reason that any queries of his past never focused upon the mother and father he never met, and were instead about the home he had never seen.

However, Tarvitz's life proved to be neither quiet nor simple. Before even reaching his eighth year, he began to quickly show signs of a strong connection with the Force. Paired with an distinct lack of discipline, it became increasingly obvious that he was in desperate need of guidance to control his developing powers. Following several failed attempts by his guardians to handle this themselves, he was eventually given to the Jensaarai so he might be trained in their ways.

Apprentice (9 ABY - 18 ABY)

Tarvitz's formative years among the Jensaarai were far from easy. Old by the standards of their recruits, he lacked the innate focus and basic lessons which had been drilled into them from the days they could walk. Barely keeping up with those who should have been his equal, Tarvitz often found himself falling short of objectives time and time again during training seasons. Matters were made worse thanks to his distant demeanor and his distrust for his new tutors. While initially welcoming of their guidance their seemingly constant scrutiny of his abilities, and attempts to push him into the aggression core to their Jensaarai creed, made him increasingly reluctant to put his faith in their lessons.

Tarvitz was only saved from total failure after encouragement to embrace more unorthodox approaches to their lifestyle. Following an especially humiliating loss during a training duel with another trainee, the observing Defender offered him a few choice words of advice: "If you find yourself in a fair fight, it's because you played to your enemy's strengths." While largely made in jest, it was nevertheless enough to force Tarvitz to reevaluate his abilities. Unable to match the mastery of lightsabers or ballistakinesis displayed by other Apprentices, he instead pushed to serve the Jensaarai in other roles. While others of his age learned how to wield the weapons of their organisation, Tarvitz pushed to understand how they were forged and maintained. While other Apprentices were taught the finer points of hand to hand combat, Tarvitz studied the details behind piloting a gunship into battle. He was by no means a star prodigy in either role but, in taking to these subjects far earlier than others of his age, Tarvitz found he had enough of an edge to stand out among other Apprentices.

With this personal success, Tarvitz began to more openly ignore areas of their training he was lacking in, seeking to bolster those he had a natural affinity for, or could begin on an even footing with others. More often than not, he would even seek to use them to nullify the natural advantages of others, leveling the playing field as best he could. This was most evident during training duels, where he began using slight bursts of telekinesis to keep his opponents of balance or reversing their strikes, often timing pushes and pulls to work against key moves of the styles they practiced in. Going so far as to occasionally abandon his training lightsaber in favour of more commonplace weapons, by the time he was set to craft his personal armour Tarvitz was more often seen wielding a metal blade than the weapon of a Jensaarai. While this was viewed as a point of concern, and hardly mitigated his obvious shortcomings, his peers nevertheless did not hold him back. Eventually seconding him to the Ring Defenders, Tarvitz served as a ship mechanic and occasional pilot, assisting their starfighter corps with patrolling nearby space and defending the planet against potential pirate raids.

An example of Jensaarai Armour, design aesthetics of a reek

Tarvitz proved to be a capable asset to the corps, often managing to find ways to ensure their older fightercraft remained flying and enhancing their overall combat performance. Despite his lack of experience, his attention to detail and a surprising skill behind the controls of twin-seater craft often meant he found a place serving as a co-pilot among their heavier vehicles. Yet, those serving alongside him noted occasional bouts of discontent. Conversations with his superiors often turned to why the Jensaarai seemed to limit themselves to a single world rather than looking to expand their sphere of influence. The scattered records of their archives, lacking as they were, spoke of the great conflicts between the Jedi and Sith, and how empires had risen and fallen before them. Each had been a mighty force to be reckoned with, standing for thousands of years at a time and being reborn time and time again, while they hid on a barren rock, hoping to go unnoticed by the rest of the galaxy. Few answers if any would satisfy him, and he would often cite how the Empire was crumbling away, how their famed leaders had met their end at Endor, and how the Jedi were, at best, a rumoured shadow of their former selves. What little news passed through Susevfi by traders or visiting travelers rarely mentioned any standing Order of Force adepts, and in its fragile state the galaxy seemed ripe for their ascendance.

He had not been the first to ask this of course, Apprentices and Defenders alike had argued this many times over, but Tarvitz proved to be especially persistent. Still maintaining the same rose-tinted view of the Core Worlds, leaving Susevfi's atmosphere only to still find himself bound to the world frustrated him time and time again. He hungered to see them for himself, and longed to learn more of the wider galaxy, but so long as the Jensaarai remained determined to keep themselves hidden from sight this remained impossible. Much as he tried to suppress these feelings, as duty-bound and devoted as he was to those who had shaped his very life, his dissatisfaction became increasingly evident throughout his final few years as an Apprentice. By the time he was deemed ready to face the trials of becoming a Defender, he had developed something of an ill reputation for trying the patience of his superiors. Nevertheless, Tarvitz's skills proved to be adequate enough to overcome the obstacles put before him, and quickly justified his place among their number. Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, he began the painstaking task of forming and constructing his armour, building it plate by plate over the basic framework provided to him.

Tradition required that Tarvitz construct its design with a basis upon another creature, reflecting its aesthetic and core traits. While not required, many Defenders selected those whose strengths they most appreciated or even reflected their own self-realized qualities. While unable to select a true choice at first, Tarvitz eventually settled upon the quite unusual choice of a Vorn tiger; a now extinct beast which had been native to Alderaan's open plains. Renowned for its territorial and solitary nature, he appreciated its ability to avoid unnecessary conflict but its sheer ferocity when combating those who crossed them, though the influence of his lost homeworld over this choice not be denied.

Defender (19 ABY - 24 ABY)

Despite his new rank, Tarvitz found little reason to celebrate his ascension to Defender. For so many years, it had been his sole focus above all else and with that seemingly distant objective now accomplished, he felt as if he had lost more than he had gained. Directionless and without a singular goal to strive towards, Tarvitz began burying himself in his work, actively requesting further duties and more arduous tasks. Hoping to find both a satisfying substitute for the relentless training which had dominated his life as an Apprentice, and a distraction from his frustration at what he saw as the Jensaarai limiting themselves, he soon fell into a singular routine. Rarely staying planetside for long, save for assisting with equipment repairs, he was found relentlessly prowling across the system, mapping and re-mapping his patrol routes. While a number of elder members of the order became concerned at his actions, coming to view it as some odd obsession or even a determined hunt for a fight, Tarvitz countered that it was no different than their efforts to patrol Yumfla's streets. He was merely taking a proactive role in an area he was best suited for, albeit with some sense of the freedom to explore he had craved.

Nevertheless, their criticisms did slowly influence Tarvitz as he first altered his duties to better align with those of other pilots, and then began to shift is focus towards other tasks which could more directly assist his the Jensaarai as a whole. Often favouring far more tangible problems over the philosophical arguments of younger Defenders or Apprentices about the Force, Tarvitz first took to repairing and reworking the equipment of his allies, then joining others as they enforced the law throughout Yumfla. Ironically, despite the insistence of his superiors that he partake in these activities, it only permitted his long standing doubts to flourish, then spread to others. He soon learned that he was far from the only one of their kind who felt that what was effectively self-imposed exile from the rest of the galaxy was a mistake, and an outdated decree which should have been abandoned long ago. While most of those who shared these views were younger Defenders, a number of veterans did not counter his arguments, even coming to share these same views. For all they had done to ensure justice was upheld on Susevfi, their limited military forces meant any determined pirate with a capital ship at their command could easily hold the world hostage, and a number of prior attacks could have easily been prevented by spreading their forces across a number of nearby systems.

The more Tarvitz spoke with them, the more he and several like-minded individuals came to question the policy still upheld by the Saarai-kaar. While they had no wish to directly overthrow their leader, nor risk splitting their number in a civil war, they began more openly voicing these issues. Too many of their number had been raised only on a single world, knowing little beyond the few surrounding systems, and far too few older converts were aware of the wider galaxy, or maintained contacts with nearby planets. They argued for changes to the Defender trials, for more off-world excursions, and at one point even went so far as to push for a role akin to the Jedi Sentinels, to maintain watch on the galaxy and bring back word of possible threats. Little headway was made in these arguments and, while the Saarai-kaar was far from unreceptive to their reasoning, she made it clear that the kind of change they requested was hardly something which could be accomplished in a mere day. Even if she agreed to accept their arguments, overturning an ages old policy would take time, and the consequences of their actions carefully considered. The Jensaarai had, after all, remained hidden to avoid possible violence or needless conflict across other worlds, and the Galactic Empire itself had risen thanks to a perceived need to enforce order and security.

While frustrated at their leader's inability to offer a decisive answer, Tarvitz gave his word that he would stand by their decision and agree with their judgement, but that did not stop him pressing home his points several more times over the years. Matters eventually came to a head with an assault by an alliance of pirates flying under the banner of the Confederated Suns. Posing as an arriving freighter to descend unseen upon their prey, they launched a raid against the nearby settlements, seeking to quickly take anything of value they could claim. While the attack itself was repelled with few casualties, and their ships seized as it attempted to flee the world, the Jensaarai had been caught flat footed. While they had sensed the impending attack, any premonitions led them to believe that it would originate from within Yumfla itself, rather than any outside influence. For Tarvitz, this was the final straw. After interrogations with the surviving pirates revealed that the Confederated Suns had been formed just beyond their sphere of influence, and prowling nearby systems for months, he stormed into the Saarai-kaar's chambers. Arguing vehemently that this was a failing on their part, and it could have easily been a disaster should the pirates have arrived with a far more powerful ship and attacked from orbit, he once again cited the same few points. This time the Saarai-kaar gave her definite answer.

While she was unwilling to wholly back their suggestions, she agreed they required a greater level of awareness when it came to galactic events. Permitting Tarvitz and those who had sided with him to depart from Susevfi, she tasked them with carrying out the tasks they argued were so desperately needed. From tracking potentially hostile organisations such as the Confederated Suns to investigating the ascendance of a supposed pro-Imperial splinter group opposing the New Republic, they were to return and report on anything which might threaten them. Whether or not such a role would be implemented on a wider scale would be judged upon their findings.Whether or not, as some suggested, this was simply to placate the more radical elements among their number or rid herself of a potentially dangerous element without bloodshed, they quickly accepted the Saarai-kaar's terms.

Reclaimer (25 ABY - 33 ABY)

Within days after the assault, Tarvitz and sixteen other Defenders took to the air, soon leaving Susevfi behind them. While half of their number set out to investigate the nearby worlds for signs of further threats, and to judge the capabilities of any further pirate groups, the rest set a course for a number of distant stars. Before departing however, the Saarai-kaar laid down several decrees that each was required to pledge himself to before undertaking their missions. Foremost among these was that they would be required to maintain secrecy. At no point were they to speak of the Jensaarai, their ways, or their homeworld's location, and that their armour was to never be worn save for the most dangerous of conflicts. In addition to this, they were to focus their efforts on the Mid and Outer Rims, whilst avoiding the Core entirely. This was merely to gather initial information, and she did not wish to risk their discovery by flying into the very heartland of the New Republic. While Tarvitz balked at that last choice, he saw the wisdom in her words. No matter how much he yearned for it, he was not about to put the rest of his kind in danger purely to satisfy his personal curiosities.

Initially focusing their efforts on the more developed worlds along the major hyperspace lanes, the Defenders began to gradually spread out. Gathering anything from recent news to vague rumours from passing spacers, each group began compiling and closely examining their findings, slowly building a broader picture of events. While many word-of-mouth statements were proved to be either inaccurate or offered no more insight than a cursory HoloNet search, others proved to be surprisingly insightful. Supplied with enough drink or credits, certain smugglers proved to be quite capable of passing on valuable information, from First Order sightings to the power plays of the Hutts. In other cases, deep space freighter captains could be provoked into giving information on the prominent New Republic worlds they had recently visited, giving a better impression of their status and capabilities from firsthand experiences. While each statement naturally required extensive investigation, more often than not it was enough to at least point them in the right direction. However, as the first year of these expeditions drew to a close, Tarvitz's group began to creatively interpenetrate their orders to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity.

The flights to and from Susevfi were far from direct. Making seemingly erratic and random jumps from system to system, each vessel was required to leave a scattered, mess mess of a trail to shake off any unwanted attention they might have gained during their travels. Picked at random via a list of prerecorded destinations in the ship's astrogation computer, these journeys could take days at a time to complete, and no one could fully predict just where they would end up. In Tarvitz's case, one return journey took them far from their intended destination, right into the very heart of the Elrood sector. Emerging in the very fringes of the Kuras Asteroid Belt, the Defenders were met with a starting array of warships floating about them, from capital vessels to smaller frigates. Initially believing that they had stumbled upon a vast armada of potentially hostile warships, the Jensaarai soon realized that no vessel had been left intact. Many were crater strewn shadows of the proud vessels they had once been, while others had been completely torn asunder, and still bore the telltale blast marks of turbolaser-fire. They had not emerged among a fleet, but a forgotten graveyard.

Recognizing many vessels as warships used in the Clone Wars, and unwilling to let such a curiosity pass them by without investigation, Tarvitz boarded the largest relatively intact Republic warship they could find. Gradually making his way towards the bridge whilst relaying his findings to the others, Tarvitz eventually uncovered the history of the battle - Both fleets had encountered one another unexpectedly and had fought to the bitter end, with neither willing to give ground despite horrendous losses. Curious that each fleet would fight to the bitter end over a seemingly insignificant corner of the galaxy, and of the curiously defensive flight logs listed in the ship's telemetry, the Jensaarai began an extensive search of the vessel for anything which might shed light on the conflict. It did not take them long to uncover exactly why. Rather than engines of war or battalions of soliders, the hold retained a number of historical texts, documents and items belonging to the now extinct Jedi Order. While there was not a holocron among them, and still relatively few in number, it was more valuable than anything they had expected to find.

A fortunate haul

Physical Description

Tall, heavily built and with his fair share of old wounds, Tarvitz is an imposing figure at the best of times. Sporting a determined if world weary stare, his weather-beaten skin reflects a hard life of having traveled under countless alien suns, and is matched by his fading shoulder length hair. It is obvious from a glance that Tarvitz has led a hard life, but a seasoned warrior can quickly tell that he lacks the innate combat experience of a veteran soldier. Adorning the upper left of his brow and encompassing his eye socket, the pale green glow of a dark metal cybernetic sensor clashes against his dark blue organic right eye. Around its edges, the old scars of shrapnel wounds and burned tissue can still be seen, clashing against his proud features.

It is rare to see Tarvitz out of his armour, even during passive moments such as personal meditation or social meetings. Preferring its bulk and weight over standard clothing, he only discards it during ceremonial duties or formal gatherings, and even then favours a practical attire over more stylised robes. This has the unfortunate, if understandable, side effect of making him stand out from crowds or drawing undue attention in otherwise peaceful environments.

Equipment

Much of Tarvitz’s current gear and equipment has been salvaged from past wrecks or bartered from traders on the Outer Rim. While often well-used, each has proven to be extremely reliable, and served him well during a multitude of boarding actions against derelict vessels. While many retain basic improvements from reworked casings to reworking the grips of his blasters, Tarvitz has often taken great care to ensure that no Jensaarai iconography or identifiable brands remain visible on his equipment.

Weapons

The sword Tarvitz keeps at his side was one retrieved during a particularly notable salvage run, and taken from an ancient vessel bereft of any name. Despite its ornate design, Tarvitz found that its length and angular head was perfect for combating a foe in the tight confines of warship. While the blade has been reforged several times thanks to battle damage, Tarvitz has always taken great care to replicate its ability to be easily slid between the armoured plates of a foe or the reinforced shell of a battle droid. Paired with the sheer stopping power of his T-6 pistol, Tarvitz has found the combination to be simple but quite effective. For addition ranged firepower and flexibility, he also frequently carries a WESTAR-M5, but freely admits that he favours single-handed weapons over it.

The lightsaber he carries at his belt is one of a student, as befitting his current training under Master Drachen. As his original weapon was destroyed during his initial conflict with the Jedi, Tarvitz has opted to carry this one until a replacement has been forged, or he feels capable of truly holding his own in battle against others of the Order.

Armour

While often opting to travel light, and retaining few personal possessions, Tarvitz nevertheless owns two sets of warplate.

The first of these was a recent acquisition - A heavily modified and stylised set of Phase II clone paratrooper armour taken from a Rebublic warship. Reserved for situations where the Jensaarai were required to disguise their true allegiance, it is a stark contrast with his more regal uniform. While stripped of its more heavily damaged or high maintenance systems - notably its jetpack - it has been upgraded several times, both to reinforce the plasteel chestplate and for space combat. While the helmet and several key features mean it can be easily identified, the dark purple colours and ivory trim disguise its practical build, and many mistake it as ceremonial armour at first glance. Several pouches at its belt store a datapad, com-link, and a small medpac among other items.

The second, his personal Jensaarai armour, is rarely seen nor worn even among Clan Odan-Urr's strongholds. Patterned after the Vorn tiger, it consists of several cobalt blue interlocking plates across vulnerable points of his body, bridged by a mesh of hardened white metal scales. The horned helm vaguely resembles that of the feline beast, with intricate patterns of its plating giving the impression of a exaggerated non-human musculature structure. While it ranks among Tarvitz's most valuble possessions, he has taken great lengths to keep it hidden from sight, and few even know of its existence. While he might be pledged to serve Odan-Urr in their war against the Sith, he is hardly willing to let his sole choice drag the rest of his kindred into the war as well.