Sarin

Aristan Dantes is a calculating leader determined to dominate the galaxy.

Character History

Aristan Dantes was born on the second day of the eleventh standard month, in the year 2 BBY. His birthplace was the industrial planet of Deralia, located in a remote system in the Outer Rim Territories. His family estate was located on the banks of the Revaeb River flowing just outside of the capital city of Notrad. The Dantes family held the title of Daimyo, serving for three hundred generations on the ruling council of Deralia.

Early Education

4 ABY to 10 ABY

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Statues of two of the Four Sages of Dwartii from the Yokendo Institute

The training of high-ranking children of the Dantes family began systematically and officially when the child reached the age of eight years old. Before that, as was customary, children would be prepared through preliminary indoctrination in martial and political etiquette. The idea of noblesse oblige (obligation of the Nobility) was, holding to tradition, instilled at a young age. Aristan's philosophical instructors explained that with wealth, power, and prestige come social responsibilities.

After receiving his preliminary training, Aristan joined other children of equal social status and began his formal schooling at the Yokendo Institute. The Yokendo Institute was one of the oldest and most widely revered learning institutions in the galaxy. Other martial universities on other planets have adopted similar models, but have never matched the success of Yokendo. The University was founded by the ruling Daimyo class long ago, one of the first major structures erected on the planet. It was originally established as a school of military arts. Later it added courses in political science and philosophy based on the teachings of the controversial philosophers and lawgivers known as the Four Sages of Dwartii.

Under the strict surveillance of his instructors Aristan memorized the literay texts of martial, philosophical, and political instruction. One such instructor, Thomas Grandar passionately tutored the young Aristan in the lessons of the Four Sages of Dwartii (Sistros, Faya, Yanjon and Braata). Aristan was particularly interested and fond of the lessons on Sistros who believed "The true sense of wrath is nothing but a passionate desire for retribution of an injustice that has been suffered" and that "Wrath is more effective when anger ministers at her side." It was here that Aristan began to understand that emotions such as wrath, anger, and hatred were not only healthy, but essential in upholding justice.

The Call to Purpose

11 ABY to 13 ABY

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Master Grandar

At the age of 13 Aristan was accepted into the department of Philosophy and Law at the Yokendo Institute. It was here that he was placed in the full time care of Thomas Grandar and the two entered the formal academic relationship of Master and Apprentice.

Over the course of the next two years Aristan trained in metaphysical aspects of philosophy and the practical aspects of ethics and law. The fatherly Master Grandar used examples of Sith lore to teach Aristan about meritocracy, a system of rule where wealth, position, and social status are assigned through competition or demonstrated talent and competence. It was the Sith Lords who employed this very system to select those who would carry on their legacy.

Meritocracy and the logical use of emotions in making ethical decisions fueled Aristan’s interest in the Sith Lords and he tirelessly quizzed his Master for information on the secret cult of Dark Siders. It was as if a key had unlocked Aristan’s mind and he burned with a desire to know all there was of Sith Lore.

It was at this critical juncture in Aristan's life that Master Grandar saved him from the imprisonment of an ordinary life. On a cold starless night, Grandar revealed his secret, he was a Sith trainee in the line of those who would never achieve mastery, but could keep the order alive. Years earlier Grandar had sensed the latent power within Aristan and he had spent every moment after that day training his young apprentice in the philosophy of the Sith Order. Grandar opened his hand to his young apprentice and called him to a new life, a life of purpose.