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- "The Jedi fear what they do not understand. The Sith are not evil. People are evil. The Sith merely seek to understand the Force in all its forms—is perspective truly a crime?"
- ―Darth Vexatus
Darth Vexatus, born under the name of Xanos, was the son of a Falleen noble, Viscount Haxim of House Zorrixor, and a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge, Maziel. He became a Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order but fell to the dark side and joined the Shadow Academy on Eos to become a Sith acolyte. Xanos trained under many masters, including Astronicus Sadow, Manesh and Trevarus Caerick, and became a member of the Dlarit Corporation as a mask for his activities as a Dark Jedi.
After the peace treaty between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant, Xanos helped organise the Great Exodus with the Star Chamber. Following the exodus, he oversaw the establishment of the Dlarit Corporation's operations in the Orian system. Shortly after, Xanos became a Son of Sadow, an heir to the legacy of the Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow.
In 20 ABY, Xanos became a member of the Dark Council and oversaw the Invasion of Antares. Later that year, archaeologists uncovered the ancient Star Chamber and released Okemi from his imprisonment. In the war that followed Xanos was nearly killed by Kem-Shu Maeda. His injuries caused Xanos to question the path he was on and he left to seek answers.
During his exile, Xanos discovered the Holocron of Tulak Hord. With it, he hoped to achieve mastery. He returned to the Orian system and sought the aid of his fellow Sons of Sadow to unlock the secrets of the Holocron. In 23 ABY he was named a Sith Master. However, mastery did not bring answers. Instead, for the next year, Xanos became plagued with visions of the Dark Hall in ruins. After the council dismissed his concerns, Xanos began to use his remaining personal funds to reinforce the Orian system. Eventually, as the visions got worse, the Star Chamber turned its eye on the Sith Master and near the end of 24 ABY Xanos was chosen by Jac Cotelin as his Shadow Hand.
With reports of the Yuuzhan Vong the truth appeared obvious however the Star Chamber remained convinced Antei was safe within the Shroud. When Falleen was invaded Xanos felt betrayed by the Star Chamber's inability to foresee it. Turning his back on them he declared himself Darth Vexatus and abandoned Antei. When word reached him the brotherhood may finally have been beginning to take the threat seriously he returned, only to discover it was too late, the Yuuzhan Vong launching their incursion shortly after.
Biography
- "His future is clouded. I see a Jedi... but I also see great pain."
- ―A troubled Maziel, speaking about her son's future.
During the height of the Galactic Empire, Xanos was born to Maziel, a Jedi Knight and one of the few survivors from the Old Republic, and Haxim, a noble from one of the Falleen households. Even as an infant, Xanos exhibited a natural affinity for the Force. His parents feared what would become of their son should the Empire learn of his abilities, so they vowed to keep them hidden, even from Xanos himself.
While Maziel spent most of her time on Falleen, often being forced into hiding to avoid detection by the Inquisitorius, Haxim, as one of the few surviving nobles of House Zorrixor following the accident that left much of the planet's population dead, was frequently called away on business. As a result, instead of receiving an insular and isolated upbringing, as was the case with most of the Falleen aristocracy, Xanos came to regard Corellia, Coruscant and much of the rest of the Core as a second home. Though he still developed the superiority complex common to most Falleen, he also developed a degree of appreciation for outside cultures and attitudes.
File:Jediordericon2.gifXanos was nineteen when the Empire began its downward spiral. After the death of the Emperor and Darth Vader Maziel decided it was safe to tell Xanos the truth about her Jedi background. During the following years Maziel trained Xanos in the basics of the Jedi path, though it was an uphill struggle as Xanos found it difficult to embrace the humility of a Jedi lifestyle. Maziel clung to the belief that one day her son would become a Jedi.
- "He takes after you too much... I always said Jedi and nobility shouldn't mix."
- ―Maziel joking to her husband about Xanos having trouble letting go of attachments.
Four years after Maziel had begun training him Xanos already showed signs of promise. He completed the tasks set to him with ease, advancing far quicker than most Padawans Maziel could remember. But despite his raw power in the Force, Xanos lacked the understanding and self control of a Jedi. Maziel often joked about how her son took after his father too much, however behind the teasing she and Haxim both grew uncomfortable with their son's possible future. Maziel had already seen too many Jedi, many of them close friends, fall to the dark side.
Xanos's Jedi training was cut short in 8 ABY when Maziel and Haxim were killed when their ship was attacked by pirates. Xanos survived but he was not without scars, both physical and emotional. His right eye was permanently blinded and he suffered numerous cuts and burns across his body. With his life in ruins Xanos left Falleen determined to become a Jedi.
Xanos spent the next three years travelling the galaxy, hoping to piece his life back together. His desire for revenge gnawed away at the back of his mind along with the question: why wasn't he strong enough to prevent it? Xanos vowed he would do whatever necessary so nobody he cared about would die ever again.
- "How are we not hypocrites? We fear what we are simply too afraid to embrace ourselves. Is a lightsaber not a weapon as well?"
- ―Xanos, Jedi apprentice
When Luke Skywalker opened his Jedi Praxeum Xanos was quick to enrol, eager to complete his training. At the academy many of the other students found Xanos distant and self-absorbed. Even some of the instructors found his indifference to the dangers of the dark side disturbing. Most reluctantly accepted this as simply his cold blooded nature but some of the senior Jedi Knights were uncomfortable Xanos was still angry over the death of his parents. They feared this would invariably lead the Falleen down the path of the dark side. Despite the reservations Master Skywalker maintained his belief that anyone could be redeemed and allowed Xanos training to continue.
File:Xanosjedi.gifXanos as a Jedi KnightWhen the Chistori Jedi Dessan abandoned the Jedi Praxeum and turned to the dark side old uncertainties returned to trouble Xanos. Ever since his mother had first taught him the Jedi Code Xanos had struggled to understand why the Jedi feared the dark side and their reluctance to use the Force to its full potential. It was a question he raised frequently with the instructors. When Dessan returned in 13 ABY leading an army of warriors from the Empire Reborn Xanos experienced an enlightenment. He reasoned it was not the dark side that had turned Dessan evil but the very circumstance of the Chistori's life and upbringing. Dessan had been a bully at the academy long before he had fallen to the dark side.
The revelation complicated Xanos's training and he grew isolated after taking the issue up with the Masters only to have it dismissed. In his isolation he grew bitter and angry that the Masters refused to question the Jedi Code. During the following year he made a calculated effort to prove his views were right. The Falleen progressed quicker than most of the other students and was already more powerful than some of the Jedi Knights. Despite his abilities the Masters remained reluctant to declare him a Jedi Knight, believing he had not yet demonstrated the maturity or temperament of a Jedi.
The resurgence of the Empire Reborn in the form of the Disciples of Ragnos saw those Jedi fit for battle dispatched to Korriban to deal with the threat. There Xanos lost faith in the Jedi order. Having been told the dark side was wrong only to see Sith cultists killed simply for what they were Xanos decided the Jedi were nothing more than hypocrites.
- "It is not the dark side the Jedi fear; it is power. They fear the truth: the dark side is more powerful. The Jedi are merely too proud, too arrogant to admit they have been wrong all these years."
- ―Xanos
When the battle was over Xanos chose not to return to the Jedi Praxeum with the others. Instead, he remained behind hoping on Korriban he would find the answers that eluded him on Yavin IV. Palpatine and Vader may all have been misguided but he was certain the Sith teachings were not inherently evil.
Embracing the dark side (14 ABY–15 ABY)
- "Why do the Jedi say the Sith are evil? Do the Sith not seek order and justice the same as all of us? Anakin Skywalker was once a Jedi too... does that make all Jedi evil?"
- ―Vykan, Dark Jedi
Vykan in 14 ABY.The prodigal Jedi found his answers several weeks later when he met a man called Vykan. Coming across the lone Jedi the Umbaran agreed to take Xanos back to Yavin IV. After dropping him off at the Jedi Praxeum Vykan gave Xanos a datacard and told him if he truly wanted answers he use the navigation string on the card.
Upon his return to Yavin the Masters scolded Xanos for staying behind after the battle. Despite his lack of judgment recent events had cost the lives of too many Jedi and, unlike others, Xanos had at least returned to answer for what he had done. Though the Masters recognised how close he was to falling into the grip of the dark side they agreed to knight him, hoping it would bind his loyalty to the Jedi order. The Masters plan paid off. After being knighted Xanos changed his mind about following the instructions Vykan had given him and instead chose to give the Jedi another chance. But Vykan's words had a lasting effect and though the Jedi finally appeared willing to recognise Xanos's talents there were still questions he wanted answered. Most of all he wanted to find out what had become of the Sith and discover once and for all if the dark side was truly corrupting.
Xanos's quest for answers was put on hold when he was sent to mediate a conflict near Eriadu. It was to be a simple negotiation between the planetary authorities and local smugglers. When Xanos arrived things turned sour. The meeting had been a set up and the smugglers intended to assassinate the political representatives attending the meeting, many having been bought out by rival gangs. Xanos neutralised the situation by killing the smugglers.
- "How dare they lecture me about killing? They who devote their lives to the extermination of the Sith and anyone who disagrees with their teachings? Don't they always say fear leads to the dark side? So why is it okay for them to fear the dark side?"
- ―Xanos, Jedi Knight
Though the Eriaduans were satisfied the Jedi were furious. They accused the wayward Jedi Knight of allowing his personal hatred to consume him. They condemned his actions, questioning whether Xanos had already fallen and if they had just been too blind to see it. Despite calls for Xanos's expulsion Master Skywalker felt no good could come from allowing a fallen Jedi to be allowed to roam unchecked. He consigned Xanos to the Praxeum, believing it would be against the order's interests to send him on further missions until he let go of his anger.
Though he would never outwardly betray his emotions Xanos was furious. He believed he had done what was necessary and ensured the citizens of the Eriadu system would no longer need to feel threatened. Xanos was sure the Jedi were wrong. He decided it was time to go in search of answers alone and use the navigation string Vykan had given him several weeks earlier.
Induction into the Shadow Academy (15 ABY)
- "Those who think the Sith died at Endor are fools. Was Lumiya an illusion? Flint? Carnor Jax? The people who want to believe the Sith are gone forever are just too scared to accept the truth. We never left."
- ―Vykan, Sith warrior
File:Shadowacademyeos.gifThe Shadow Academy on Eos.The details provided by Vykan proved suitably cryptic. It took Xanos almost two months to follow the various leads and finally track down the answers the Umbaran had promised. The instructions eventually led Xanos to the hidden training center on Eos called the Shadow Academy. In the corridors of one of the last remaining bastions of the Sith Xanos discovered the truth that had so long eluded him: the Sith had survived. Like Lumiya before him, Kane, one of Palpatine's surviving Hands, had declared himself the Dark Lord of the Sith and founded a new Sith order, one not governed by the Rule of Two.
Xanos quickly demonstrated the power he already wielded. Within a few weeks the already experienced Jedi Knight, now Sith acolyte, caught the eye of envoys from the Disciples of Sadow. Soon after Xanos packed his bags and prepared for a new life as one of the students assigned to Sith warrior Manesh, one of the clan's leaders.
The Remnant and the dark side (15 ABY–19 ABY)
- "Perhaps it was fated the remnants of two empires should work together? But do not be fooled, my apprentice, we are the true power behind the throne, regardless of what we might tell our Imperial "masters"."
- ―Trevarus Caerick, Krath priest
File:Sadowpalacesmall.gifSadow Palace on SifHaving already been a gifted Jedi Knight when he enrolled at the Shadow Academy Xanos climbed the ranks of the brotherhood quicker than most. He was fortunate Astronicus Dlarit, officially governor of Sif but in truth a considerably gifted Sith warlord, had only assembled his clan a year earlier as a home for wayward souls such as the Falleen. To the public the clan was nothing more than a branch of the Dlarit Corporation.
Less than a year after Xanos joined Manesh took him as his protégé and shortly after he was formally inducted into the Sith order as a warrior. After years of being held back Xanos finally felt his abilities were being recognised. He even caught the eye of Trevarus Caerick, the clan's consul and its representative on the brotherhood's ruling body, the Dark Council. Trevarus was a gifted Krath priest and decided to take Xanos as his apprentice.
The following years saw the brotherhood's relationship with the Imperial Remnant brought under strain. What remained of the Empire was slowly unravelling, torn apart through internal power struggles, while in it's shadow the Sith rebuilt slowly. The relationship hit breaking point when Archibald Zoraan, then Dark Lord of the Sith, tried to declare war on the brotherhood's allies. The coup failed and was dismissed as madness by the clans but the damage was done.
During this time Astronicus Dlarit, viceroy of the Dlarit Corporation and overlord of the Disciples of Sadow, received a vision from the spirit of Naga Sadow who declared him Astronicus Sadow and his true heir. The revelation emboldened the clan and it began to thrive. By now Xanos had served both clan and corporation as a powerful ally and in 18 ABY he was chosen to serve as consul.
- "An alien? When did we start promoting your kind? It seems even the Empire has to make sacrifices."
- ―Unknown Imperial officer addressing Xanos
After becoming the clan's public face, officially the Dlarit Corporation's public face, Xanos began to take notice of the rot developing at the heart of the Imperial Remnant. The humanocentrism of the Galactic Empire was still apparent and many officers dismissed the Falleen as they would a Wookiee. Xanos's faith in the Empire began to falter. When he discovered he was not alone in his views Xanos joined forces with Trevarus Caerick to begin the search for a new base. Trevarus already had a place in mind: an isolated location the priest had discovered some years before called the Orian system. As they worked to position the clan to break away from the Empire others made similar preparations throughout the brotherhood at the behest of the Dark Lord himself, Lord Firefox. Pooling their resources Astronicus, Trevarus and Xanos secretly began to establish a city in the Orian system.
The Great Exodus (19 ABY)
- "We had the Galaxy in our grasp and still we let it slip through our fingers. To run away like cowards is no victory. We were not strong enough."
- ―Xanos, Sith warlord
File:Newsadowpalace.gifThe New Sadow Palace on Sepros.Following the declaration of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty between the New Republic and Imperial Remnant the Star Chamber announced the brotherhood's secession. After months of preparations all that was left was to load up the remaining transports with whatever supplies and personnel were left and vacate the Minos Cluster before the Imperial forces could mount a defence. The Sith had secured their freedom.
However at the back of his mind Xanos felt something was missing. He had led his clan to salvation, sparing them from whatever fate would befall them as the Empire was assimilated into the New Republic, a fate he was all too familiar with from his experience on Korriban. He felt they had failed and that it should never have come to being forced to crawl away and hide in the dark corners of the galaxy.
Xanos's concerns reinforced his view that the Sith needed to become stronger. He felt the Jedi had failed to maintain order and now believed the Sith were equal in blame. During the following year the new governor-general of Orian oversaw the construction of the city of Seng Karash on Aeotheran. The city was to serve as the capital of the Dlarit Corporation and a source of personnel for the Dlarit Security Force.
Despite the work to reinforce the system Xanos knew the Empire had possessed more military might than any government in history and still failed to maintain order. Armies and warships were not important. The dark side had been spread too thin and Xanos believed it was time to consolidate it.
Heirs to the Sith Empire (20 ABY)
- "You of the future hear me well. You have chosen, now you are the chosen. You shall be my sons."
- ―Naga Sadow, Dark Lord of the Sith
File:Nagasadowspirit.gifThe spirit of Naga Sadow in 20 ABYAs the clan continued to rebuild following its relocation from Phare the Dlarit Corporation began to increase its hold on the Orian system. The ruins of Sepros were excavated, revealing a network of ancient tunnels connecting the temples. The clan leadership established a new Sadow Palace on the ruins of one of the destroyed Temples of Orian to serve as home for the overlord and the clan's principle training facility. The city of Seng Karash expanded with new mines being opened almost every week and on the shadowy world of Tarthos a new army of soldiers began their training.
In the midst of all the activity Astronicus Sadow received another vision. The spirit of Naga Sadow beckoned his heir to bring his strongest disciples to Korriban. Within the Valley of the Dark Lords the ancient Sith Lord bequeathed his legacy to three others: Raistlin Majerus, Trevarus Caerick and Xanos. Having embraced the clan as a second family Xanos became a Son of Sadow and took up the Sadow name as his own.
The Invasion of Antares (20 ABY–21 ABY)
The Falleen's devotion to the Sith cause had not gone unnoticed. In 20 ABY Lord Firefox called on the warlord to serve as high warrior of the Sith order and commander of the Anteian Navy. It was a difficult decision to leave his Sadow brothers behind, but Xanos knew his quest for mastery would not be complete without journeying to Antei. Furthermore, he knew all too well the dangers of choosing to only learn from one source, his experience first hand with the arrogance of the Jedi order had taught him that.
The next year saw Xanos directing the ongoing campaign to bring Antei's neighbours under the brotherhood's unified control. The action culminated in the Invasion of Antares and the attack on the Antaran shipyards. The Antaran pirates mounted a formidable resistance but it was no match for the combined might of the clans. After almost two years of fighting, all resistance throughout the Antei system had been quelled and the brotherhood's control was absolute. For his part in securing the fleet's victory, Xanos was elevated to the status of full Sith adept.
Okemi, Sith King of Antei, in 21 ABYThe brotherhood’s brief spout of order and stability was to be short lived. Unbeknownst to the council at the time, the war throughout the Shroud had awoken Okemi, an ancient Sith Lord who had been exiled from the Sith Empire millennia before. It was Okemi who had first formed the Star Chamber and founded the Sith civilisation on Antei. However in the closing days of the original Star Chamber Okemi had been driven mad by an ancient force leading Taimat to seal the Antei system off to prevent the corruption spreading. Under the cover of the recent war what remained of Okemi had secretly corrupted several members of the brotherhood leadership including Jac Cotelin who was filling in for the Grand Master while he was away on business in the Imperial Remnant.
The next six months saw Okemi’s influence spread throughout the brotherhood. Like a parasite, Okemi exerted his Force-presence over anybody his mind came into contact with, dominating them like puppets to further spread his influence. Jac Cotelin and the Dark Jedi Master, Kem-Shu Maeda, served as his primary hosts, corrupting whole swathes of the brotherhood.
Eventually, Xanos managed to get off Antei, having been stuck there since Jac Cotelin ordered the system’s closure, and managed to get word to Lord Firefox. Upon his return to brotherhood space, the Dark Lord assembled a force from the remaining loyalists, those who had not yet lost their minds to Okemi’s control, and launched an assault on Antei. Firefox squared off with Jac Cotelin, chasing him off before finally making his way to Okemi’s hidden chamber and putting an end to the ancient Sith Lord once and for all.
As the Grand Master battled inside the ruins of the ancient Star Chamber, Xanos took up arms against Kem-Shu Maeda. However, despite all his power, the high warrior was bested and left for dead, leaving Maeda free to escape. The war was over, Okemi, the great King of Antei had fallen, but to Xanos it had all been for nothing. He had failed himself.
Near death and exile (22 ABY)
- "How could I not be strong enough? Has the dark side abandoned me?"
- ―Xanos, Sith adept
The fight with Maeda had left Xanos near death. The injuries he had sustained had kept Xanos confined to a bacta tank for several weeks and forced him to renounce his position to allow more time to heal. However, while bacta could heal the physical scars, nothing could erase the memories of failure.
The adept chose not to return to Orian, instead venturing to Korriban in hope that the spirits there would shed some light on his dilemma. However, the halls of the ancient tombs stayed silent and Xanos beheld no visions of Sith Lords or their kin. He feared the dark side had abandoned him, deserting him for his failure to defeat Maeda.
The following months saw Xanos touring the worlds of the old Sith Empire. Vjun, Dromund Kaas, Khar Shian; none yielded any answers. However, upon arriving at the planet Ziost, Xanos sensed something different. Unlike the other worlds, Ziost felt alive. The Sith may have long since died out, but still the planet pulsed with the dark side, the forest that spanned its surface alive with dark energies. The planet called to him, as if welcoming him home, one Sith to another.
File:Holocrontulakhord.gifThe Holocron of Tulak HordDespite all the trials he had faced, Xanos finally had made his way to Ziost, the Sith throneworld. There, in the ancient Sith citadel, seat of power of the Sith Empire for millennia, Xanos discovered the holocron of Tulak Hord. At long last, the Sith adept had found what he was searching for. The holocron, an ancient recording device used to store the maker’s thoughts and memories, contained a vast repository of knowledge detailing the lost lightsaber arts, techniques unused for centuries, and a wealth of other information. With the contents of the holocron of Tulak Hord his to master, Xanos was convinced he would never again suffer like he had at the hands of Kem-Shu Maeda.
The discovery marked a turning point for the Sith adept. Having come but an inch front death, Xanos vowed he would never again allow an opponent to come so close. His mission was to bring order, to achieve what the Jedi and the Republic could not, to fight the injustice that persecuted the galaxy. For that he had to survive, at any cost.
Xanos’s fall to the dark side was complete. Mastery was within his grasp, however, he recognised he could not unlock the secrets of the holocron alone. He would need help from the vast archives on Antei and for that he required the blessing of the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Favor of the Dark Lords (22 ABY–23 ABY)
- "I have seen the worlds of the Sith Empire; set foot in the halls of the citadel on Ziost. Who among you have done the same? Who among you has the right to challenge me?"
- ―Xanos, Sith adept, upon his re-ascension to consul
Upon his return to the Orian system, members of the clan noticed a distinct change in Xanos. The Sith adept had returned more powerful than ever. Those who still tried to hold his failure to defeat Maeda against him quickly learned the foolishness of doing so. Within a matter of months Xanos had reclaimed the favor of the overlord, becoming his chief advocate again. His goal was simple: to use the resources at his disposal as consul to achieve mastery.
The following year, with the aide of his proconsul, Muz Keibatsu, the two of them worked on unlocking the secrets of Tulak Hord’s holocron. With help from the documents stored in the clan’s extensive library, the academy on Lyspair, Kalekka Tower and the Dark Hall itself, the pair slowly reconstructed the teachings of the lost lightsaber arts. Mononoke Keibatsu assisted with his knowledge of crystals and alchemy. As each day passed, Xanos came closer and closer to achieving total mastery. His power grew with each new page that was written. Little by little, piece by piece, the knowledge of the ancient Dark Lord Tulak Hord became his.
After nearly a year of toil, Muz and Xanos had documented every passage of the holocron, providing a wealth of new information to be added to the brotherhood’s extensive compendium. For their efforts, they earned the attention of the Star Chamber itself, and after endless years of training and research, Xanos was named a Sith Master.
- "I have witnessed the end. I have seen the Dark Hall in ruins and the skies of Antei in flames."
- ―Xanos, Sith Master
File:Xanosdream.gifAn image from Xanos's nightmares.23 ABY was a tumultuous year for Xanos with the Sith Master plagued with visions of destruction of Antei. The council dismissed is visions outright, either as misinterpreted or as outright lies. Yet the visions did not go away and Xanos was left sleepless night after night. Motivated by what he had foreseen, throughout the coming year Xanos used the funds he had remaining from House Zorrixor to fund the completion of the development efforts in the Orian system. The preceding years had seen the establishment of the mining city of Seng Karash but Xanos realised if what he had seen in his visions were true they would need much more than this. The Sith Master commissioned the construction of a hidden baradium mine on Sepros, secret even from the council itself, to begin stockpiling arms and fund the fortification of Seng Karash.
- "I have shown you the path of visions. Do you doubt the Final Way, my apprentice?"
- ―Trevarus Caerick, Krath Master
Many of the brotherhood’s senior elders began doubting the Sith Master’s sanity. He had returned from Ziost changed, that much was certain, but now he was obsessing over things most could not even begin to comprehend. What had he seen? What was he afraid of? These were things few could answer. Trevarus Caerick encouraged his obsessions, causing further alienation between Xanos and the rest of the council.
Despite widespread public denunciation and whispered rumours of the Sith Master’s madness, the Star Chamber turned its eye on the Falleen. Something had roused the hidden council’s interest and they were not prepared to ignore Xanos’s visions of disaster. Toward the end of 24 ABY he was summoned by Jac Cotelin, the reigning Grand Master, to serve as the Dark Lord’s Shadow Hand.
After becoming Deputy Grand Master, Xanos set about using the knowledge at the Star Chamber’s disposal to unlock the meaning behind his visions and find a way to prevent them from coming to pass. He had seen the Dark Hall destroyed and, though they would never admit it, the Star Chamber was worried.
The brotherhood soon received preliminary reports intercepted from the New Republic HoloNet that Helska had fallen to an unknown alien force. Usually the brotherhood would have dispatched agents to investigate such a report but it was too preoccupied with border conflicts breaking out between several of the clans. By the middle of the year internal relations within the brotherhood broke down entirely. Many of the clans accused others of sabotage and unsanctioned infiltration. Within weeks the situation escalated with several clans openly declaring war on the others. Into the chaos stepped Jaac Cotelin, a clone of the Grand Master, declaring himself to be the rightful Dark Lord of the Sith. Having been on the brink of conflict for several months, the brotherhood descended into all out civil war.
Jac Cotelin gathered his forces to Antei as the clone assembled an army and prepared to launch a direct assault. Unable to distinguish one from the other, the clans ended up taking sides. After several months of preparation, Jaac Cotelin launched his assault on Antei, his fleet descending on the ships amassed to defend the brotherhood’s homeworld. After breaking through to the surface, the impostor’s army descended on the Dark Hall, taking the battle right to the steps of the Star Chamber itself. Jac Cotelin eventually slew the usurper, restoring order to the brotherhood, but the damage was done regardless. Much of the Dark Hall stood in ruins.
Xanos’s visions appeared to have come to pass. The brotherhood had survived the civil war and the Star Chamber praised the Shadow Hand for having foreseen what they had not, declaring him a Sith Lord and their equal.
- "I fear it was not the clone I foresaw but these... outsiders."
- ―Lord Xanos, speaking before the Star Chamber
File:Shimrra.gifThe Yuuzhan Vong: the truth behind Xanos's nightmares.Reports of the Yuuzhan Vong had been flooding in for over a year but few among the brotherhood had paid them much attention while caught up in their own civil war on Antei. However with news of a ceasefire between the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong in 26 ABY in exchange for the heads of the Jedi Knights the Star Chamber finally began to take notice. They welcomed the news, seeing it as an answer to their problems; the Vong would withdraw to the Outer Rim and the Jedi order would be dealt with once and for all.
Xanos, however, remained restless. The death of the clone had not brought an end to his nightmares and instead they were getting worse with each passing day. The Star Chamber dismissed them, telling Xanos they were nothing more than lingering currents in the Force and that they would go in time. Xanos remained unconvinced and began to grow disillusioned, feeling his elevation to Sith Lord had been a hollow victory if Antei was still to fall.
The invasion of Falleen by the Yuuzhan Vong tore through Xanos in a way he had not felt since the death of his parents. Finally believing he had seen the danger for what it was, the Sith Lord went before the Star Chamber to outline his fears regarding the Yuuzhan Vong and his belief that if they did not act soon Antei would be the next system to fall. The Star Chamber cast his fears aside, claiming the Dark Hall was secure within the confines of the Shroud. Xanos felt betrayed, unable to accept the Star Chamber could be so blind. With his faith in their vision broken he turned his back on the Iron Throne and departed for Korriban. If the living Lords of the Sith could not provide guidance, Xanos hoped he would find answers among the dead instead.
- "One there should be; no more, no less. I am that One. My name is Vexatus."
- ―Darth Vexatus, Lord of the Sith
Xanos remained in exile for most of the following year. In the sanctity of the birthplace of the Sith he was able to meditate on what he had seen and search for what he may have missed. He refused to believe the galaxy could end with the death of the Force itself and spent the year communing with the dark side in isolation.
During his exile Xanos arrived at what he believed was an epiphany. Long had the Star Chamber spoken of the rule of one order, the Order of the Sith Lords, and proclaimed it an improvement on teachings of Darth Bane. Builing on his own Master's teachings, Xanos came to the understanding the Star Chamber were wrong and that it was not one order, but one lord, One Sith, that was necessary. Abandoning the Star Chamber's teachings he took up the mantle of Darth Vexatus, feeling who he was, his name, his history, had died with the rest of the Falleen.
Despite his new epiphany, with news the new Dark Lord of the Sith, Aristan Dantes, was mobilising the brotherhood's forces for a military exercise outside the Shroud, Vexatus decided to return to the brotherhood hopeful that perhaps it was not too late for the Star Chamber after all.
The fall of Antei (27 ABY)
- "Bear witness to the truth; bear witness to your lies; bear witness to chaos."
- ―Lord Vexatus
Vexatus returned to the Orian system to take part in the military exercise. While the exercise itself did not concern him, he saw it as a chance to try and finally force the Star Chamber to see reason. However, he was to discover it was too little, too late. The operations had barely concluded when the forces of the Yuuzhan Vong arrived in their thousands forcing the brotherhood forces to fall back inside the Shroud for cover.
Despite feeling wounded by his failure to prevent the attack, Vexatus conspired with Trevarus Caerick to take advantage of the situation. Determined to recover the relics stored in Kalekka Tower, together they manipulated Astronicus Sadow into leading his forces to Antei. During the battle Vexatus was severely disfigured when he was forced to draw heavily on the dark side several times to ensure their survival. Following the evacuation of Kalekka Tower the clan was able to withdraw in the shadow of the main fleet after the Dark Lord had initiated the Baraata Option to retreat.
After the battle the Sith Lord realised it had been Xanos, not Vexatus, who had wanted to return and try to prevent the attack. The loss of Antei was the final sacrifice he had needed to make. With no attachments left to hold him back it marked the death of the final vestiges of Xanos and the true emergence of Vexatus.
Vision of the future (27 ABY)
- "The brotherhood lies in ruin and I have foreseen the future. One Sith there shall be. The only question is which of us..."
- ―Vexatus, speaking with Trevarus Caerick
With his mind free of the nightmares that had haunted him for years, Vexatus had a different vision, this time of a future ruled by One Sith. With Xanos completely gone, Vexatus became convinced his epiphany the year before had been correct.
The future became clear for Vexatus. Though his loyalty to the Star Chamber and to the clan had been shattered, he was wiser than to cast them completely aside. Like his Master, he understood they served a purpose and could be made to continue to do so. The Sith Empire no longer held any secrets from Vexatus. Despite strained relations with Astronicus Sadow following his deception during the invasion of Antei, the Sith Lord chose to return to the Orian system.
Vexatus believed he finally understood why the Force had drawn him to Trevarus Caerick years before. With his former Master's help he believed he could unlock the way to immortality, finally becoming strong enough to become the One Sith from his visions and bring order to the galaxy.
Heretics (27 ABY)–Present
- "Is failure what you seek to copy? You are more ignorant than even they are."
- ―Vexatus, during the invasion of Orian
When the clan returned to the Orian system after the fall of Antei they discovered it had been invaded in their absence by the True Brotherhood.
Personality
File:Xanosimage.gifXanos in 14 ABY.
Growing up on Falleen Xanos was raised to think he was better than other people. As a child he was introverted and selfish, though like all Falleen he kept his feelings masked. When his mother began to train him as a Jedi she questioned his emotions and his arrogance.
Trouble began when Xanos's parents died. He grew angry and vengeful. He found life as an apprentice at the Jedi academy difficult and several of the Jedi Masters believed him too full of anger to train. Nonetheless his perseverance earned him the rank of Jedi Knight. Xanos's faith in the Jedi was ruined as he watched them deal with various Dark Jedi threats. He considered it hypocrisy they could claim the dark side was wrong while hunting down all those who used the dark side. It confirmed his feelings the Jedi sought to covet their own power, so he left to pursue greater powers alone.
Xanos found a second home in the brotherhood. Unlike most of his contemporaries, however, he sought what he believed to be enlightenment. He pitied the Jedi and their Republic more than he hated them. He had many masters, believing it important to understand the Force from more than one angle, but Trevarus Caerick shaped his views more than any other.
His near death at the hands of Kem-Shu Maeda caused him to question his path. In the end it only strengthened his beliefs and he resolved himself to bring order from the chaos. It was during this time Trevarus heavily influenced his views toward the Final Way.
Having struggled with the loss of his parents, the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of Falleen crushed what remained of Xanos. When he calls for the Star Chamber to take action went unheeded he turned his back not just on the Sith throne but his very being. He took up the name Darth Vexatus and came to see the brotherhood as an ineffective vessel through which to channel the dark side. Vexatus believed there should only be one Sith Lord.
- "Xanos died on Korriban. I am Darth Vexatus."
- ―Lord Vexatus, after returning to the New Sadow Palace
Despite taking up a new mantle Vexatus found himself still drawn by Xanos's lingering doubts. They were what drew him to Antei shortly before its invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong. The loss of the planet served to silence Xanos once and for all, allowing Vexatus to emerge completely.
In time he came to view the entire galaxy as one giant dejarik board with himself as its master, slowly arranging the pieces until the time he achieved his destiny as the sole lord. Vexatus believed only through there being One Sith and no more could there be order. Together with Trevarus Caerick he worked on unlocking the secrets of immortality to become that One Sith and master of the Force. Despite their mutual goals the pair both knew their quest could only lead to one day one striking down the other.
Abilities and traits
- "I have not seen one with his raw potential in some time. He is destined for something far greater."
- ―Trevarus Caerick, shortly before taking Xanos as his apprentice.
File:Xanosface.gifDarth VexatusVexatus earned the title of Sith Lord and should be regarded as such. He was no mere acolyte nor even an ordinary master. His abilities came to rival the Dark Lords themselves and few outside the most powerful Jedi Masters could face him alone.
His parentage and upbringing had given him the gift of the silver tongue. He was an exceptionally powerful Sith but he was equally as good at avoiding a fight altogether. Vexatus understood the need to keep the existence of the Sith a secret and perfected the art of politics alongside his knowledge of the Force.
Vexatus should be considered one of the great lightsaber masters of the new Sith order. Together with Muz Keibatsu he unlocked the secrets of the Holocron of Tulak Hord. He became a master of the Trakata form of lightsaber combat, one of the riskiest and deadliest to perfect.
It should be said that despite all this Vexatus was no martial artist to rival the likes of Lord Chi-Long. Vexatus was a Sith and like many of his order he chose to perfect the arts that were deadly, not those which were necessarily the most physically demanding. His knowledge of Dun Moch complimented his mastery of the Force and his martial training in styles such as Verdanaian reflected his belief in mind and Force over muscle.
By virtue of his apprenticeship Vexatus was also a gifted seer. He could not control it the same way as Trevarus Caerick but his visions were no less intense. He interpreted this ability as a sign the Force had chosen him for a higher purpose, others saw it as the dark side slowly driving the Sith Lord insane.
Master, apprentice, Hands and minions
- "One there should be; no more, no less. I am that One."
- ―Lord Vexatus, regarding his lack of an apprentice
Master
Xanos was the apprentice of the Krath sorcerer Trevarus Caerick, though he had various other teachers including Maziel, Astronicus Sadow, Manesh and Jac Cotelin. Trevarus Caerick was his main influence, shaping his interpretation of the Rule of One and the Final Way. In later life, despite coming to view himself as his former Master's superior, the Krath Master remained one of the few the Sith Lord respected. Even so, the rivalry between the two was always present for they both knew their beliefs would inevitably lead to one striking down the other.
Apprentice
Vexatus's interpretation of the Rule of One led him to shun the training of an apprentice. Believing himself the One spoken of in legend he felt no need to train another for he did not see failure as an option. Instead he trained a variety of Hands and other minions. Unlike an apprentice, he had no desire to teach his students everything. He preferred to keep them nipping at his heels, only ever offering them enough power to keep wanting more.
Hands
Vexatus chose his Hands carefully. They were his most able servants, trained and manipulated into carrying out his will. They were the closest who came to being considered formal apprentices. Even Vexatus's Hands saw only what he wanted them to see, never offering them more than but a taste of the Mastery he so coveted.
Minions
Vexatus's minions were those he used from time to time. They were rarely his formal servants, many never even realising they were being manipulated to his ends. He would sometimes train them but only to help them achieve some goal of his. To some extent, Vexatus saw the whole brotherhood as his minions, considering them nothing but dejarik pieces to use as he saw fit.
Styles of address
- His Eminence Viscount Xanos of House Zorrixor
- Darth Vexatus, Lord of the Sith or Lord Vexatus
Vexatus also holds the following titles:
Ships
File:JewelofFalleen.gifJewel of Falleen
DJB Facts
Trivia
- The name Xanos was a corruption of the name Xanatos.
- The name Zorrixor was derived from the name Xizor.
- The name Vexatus is derived from the word vexation meaning to annoy or a state of irritation.
- Xanos spent a collective total of 791 days as Consul.
- Xanos joined the Dark Brotherhood on 12th August 1999.
- Xanos originally used the name "Goatham", his surname from real life, but eventually changed it in favour of something more appropriate.