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Vykan was an Umbaran Sith Master with an unparalleled knowledge of the rituals and lore of the Sith. He was a member of the Prophets of the Dark Side and a strong believer in the Rule of the Strong. Vykan was killed by Xanos, his former apprentice, in 26 ABY.
Biography
- "Your son is strong in the Force.”
“Our answer remains the same. You can't take him."
- ―Unknown Jedi Knight talking to Vykan's father
Vykan was born on Umbara during the twilight years of the Old Republic. He was discovered as Force-sensitive early on but his parents refused to allow him to be taken by the Jedi, their views having been mired by the planet's history with the Sith empires. They never told Vykan the truth, however, and he grew up believing the Jedi had shunned him as not good enough to become a Jedi Knight.
After the Clone Wars Vykan was taken from his home by agents of the Inquisitorius as part of the Great Jedi Purge. Rather than be killed, Vykan was given over to the Prophets of the Dark Side on Dromund Kaas to be trained in the ways of the dark side of the Force.
Prophet of the Dark Side (18 BBY–4 ABY)
- "My loyalty is to the dark side. If Palpatine has failed then he does not deserve our allegiance."
- ―Vykan, Lesser Prophet, commenting on Kadann's decision to leave the Empire
For the next two decades Vykan trained with the Prophets in isolation from the rest of the galaxy. Despite his potential Vykan never went on to become an Inquisitor or an Emperor's Hand. He considered his loyalties first and foremost to the dark side, not the Emperor himself. After he completed his training and became a Lesser Prophet, Vykan chose to remain on Dromund Kaas continue his study of the dark side, spending his time teaching the new acolytes.
By the time the Galactic Civil War began Vykan was well versed in the history of the Sith Order. When Kadann, the Supreme Prophet, fled to Bosthirda after he foresaw the Emperor's death, Vykan was one of the Prophets who went with him, following his loyalty to the dark side above his loyalty to the Emperor.
- "Is the dark side evil? I prefer to think it is people who are evil."
- ―Vykan, speaking with Xanos
Vykan in 12 ABYVykan left Bosthirda soon after the formation of the New Republic, saving himself from the fate that befell most of the Prophets when they were massacred by Lumiya and her apprentice, Carnor Jax, some years later.
For the next few years Vykan wandered the galaxy alone, hoping to discover some sign the Sith had survived. During his travels he came across an aspiring Jedi apprentice called Xanos. Xanos had grown resentful of the Jedi, questioning their methods and ideals. The Falleen believed the Jedi were holding him back, fearful of his own ability. Xanos's plight struck a chord with Vykan decided to teach the Falleen the ways of the dark side. Though Xanos continued to train at the Jedi Praxeum, Vykan began training him in secret.
By 14 ABY Vykan had learned from his former contacts within the Empire of the formation of the Dark Brotherhood. The former Prophet of the Dark Side was encouraged by the rumoured attempt at reforming the Sith Order, particularly it's willingness to abandon the Rule of Two and train a new generation of Sith acolytes and warriors. Vykan decided to join, convincing his apprentice to follow him to Eos and continue his training at the Shadow Academy.
- "Survival is the way of the Sith, my apprentice. It is only right that the strong survive."
- ―Vykan, Sith acolyte
Upon joining the brotherhood, Vykan found himself in awe of the collection of artifacts this new Sith Order had already managed to recover. Many of the brotherhood's original founders had been members of Palpatine's circle of Dark Side Adepts and had made off with a number of artifacts from the late Emperor's private archives on Byss before the planet's destruction. Vykan found his love of lore sated and the Shadow Academy was the perfect environment for his apprentice to hone his own understanding of the dark side.
Vykan joined the Disciples of Sadow upon learning their leader, Astronicus Dlarit, professed to be a blood heir of the ancient Dark Lord. Vykan questioned the claim, naturally, but the prospect of studying a true heir to the original Sith Empire was too good to turn down. The dark side had led him here, as it had always led Vykan his entire life, and there was something about this clan which had sparked the old prophet's curiosity.
For the next three years Vykan continued his studies. He spent most of his time at the Shadow Academy researching. Vykan had always believed knowledge was power, a belief that had been encouraged by the Prophets of the Dark Side. His abilities as a seer had always been second only to his understanding, and Vykan sensed great things in his apprentice's future. While Vykan was becoming a Master of Sith lore, his apprentice was rapidly developing his own powers.
The Zoraan Uprising (17 ABY)
- "Will you really side with him, my apprentice? Caerick is a madman. The Sith were destroyed once before through infighting. He will bring ruin on us again!"
- ―Vykan, Sith adept, chastising Xanos for threatening to side with Trevarus Caerick
Trouble struck the brotherhood in 17 ABY when Archibald Zoraan attempted to subvert the power of the the Imperial Remnant as well as the Star Chamber and consolidate his own authority. Though many had grown displeased with the Remnant's growing interference, few were prepared to trade one misguided despot for another. Feelings within the brotherhood became polarised when the Trevarus Caerick declared open rebellion against Zoraan. The Krath sorcerer and current leader of the Disciples of Sadow recognised the brotherhood did not possess the military ability to openly challenge the Remnant. Faced with the decision of a near suicidal secession from the Remnant or rebellion against the reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, the rebels headed to on Eos to oust the Grand Master.
Vykan was not impressed by the actions of either side. He had no more love for the Remnant than anyone but he knew his history too well. The Sith had fought between themselves throughout history, almost destroying themselves a millennia ago. If the Sith were to survive, Vykan believed it would mean working as one. He refused to be drawn into the conflict. His apprentice, however, was not so apathetic. Xanos could see the threat a destabilised Sith Order would bring, believing Vykan's apathy potentially just as destructive. As Vykan sat on the sidelines, Xanos sided with Trevarus Caerick, joining the insurgency against the Dark Lord.
When the fighting was over, the Dark Hall lay in ruins and Archibald Zoraan was presumed dead. For now the brotherhood was secure and the Imperial Remnant willing to overlook the former Grand Master's attempted defection. But Vykan's faith in the brotherhood was shattered and the former Prophet decided it was doomed to the same self-destruction that befell the former Brotherhood of Darkness. Vykan turned his back on the brotherhood, leaving it and departing Imperial Space. The Umbaran left Xanos behind as well. Vykan's faith in his apprentice had been broken when Xanos had sided with Trevarus Caerick and his rebels.
- "There is now only one–the Sith Order itself."
- ―Unknown member of One Sith
What happened to Vykan after he left the brotherhood is unclear. He wandered the galaxy until such time as he was recruited by One Sith. Like the brotherhood, One Sith did not believe in the Rule of Two, instead choosing to adopt a program of widespread recruitment of Force-sensitives. However, unlike the brotherhood, One Sith did not believe in internal division. The teachings of One Sith were true to Vykan's own, Darth Bane had failed, the Sith before him had failed, what was needed was something different altogether. One Sith spoke of unity, of an end to infighting. Vykan joined One Sith, believing they were the key to the future of the Sith.
For the next year Vykan trained, mastering abilities he had long thought lost to the annals of time and others he had never even heard of. One Sith gew concerned with the speed of the Yuuzhan Vong advance, but chose not to reveal themselves. On Korriban, the ancient burial world of the original Sith Empire, they believed they were sufficiently isolated to avoid detection by the alien invaders.
Completing the circle (26 ABY)
- "We are only One Sith now."
- ―Vykan, Sith Master
One Sith were not ignorant of the brotherhood's existence. Korriban may have been secluded, but it was not uncommon for darksiders of various traditions to make a pilgrimage there, believing for whatever reason that the spirits of old would grant them power beyond imagination. It was of little consequence to One Sith, in the dark miasma of the Valley of the Dark Lords they were all but invisible, and the handful of strays that foolishly wandered through their doors quickly paid with their lives.
The past was to catch up with Vykan in 26 ABY when his old apprentice, Xanos, ventured to the planet. Though One Sith made no effort to contact the Falleen, his presence was unmistakable to his old Master. Vykan ventured out to hunt Xanos down. Upon tracking his old apprentice down, Vykan discovered he had turned his back on the brotherhood, just as Vykan had done the decade before. Vykan grew hopeful his old apprentice might have some prospect after all.
At first, Vykan was curious, learning his old apprentice's understanding of the Final Way closely paralleled the teachings of One Sith. Vykan could not understand how someone like Trevarus Caerick, who had clearly believed in creating division, could have trained Xanos to believe in the idea of One Sith. However, far too quickly, Vykan's hope turned to despair. Xanos believed in One Sith, this was true, but his understanding could not have been more different. Xanos believed in literally one Sith, only one Sith. Where Vykan had shunned the Rule of Two, his former apprentice had taken it even further and become as twisted as Palpatine in his final days.
- "The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the Master."
- ―Xanos, Sith Lord, speaking to Vykan shortly before their duel
Vykan was abhorred by what his apprentice had become. He represented a threat, not just to the brotherhood, but to the goals of One Sith. He had to be eliminated. Challenging him to a lightsaber duel, the two engaged one another. In spite of his superior training, Vykan was unable to hold his own against his old apprentice, and Xanos viciously struck him down. Vykan's death served to move Xanos one step closer to the abyss. Standing above his former Master's lifeless body, the Falleen declared himself Darth Vexatus, completing the circle and silencing the last traces of the being he had once been.
Personality and traits
To be completed.
Abilities
To be completed.
Behind the scenes
- Vykan is a non-player character created by Xanos.