- "I endure only the worst to achieve only the best."
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen
Ronovi Tavisaen is an Obelisk Templar in Clan Tarentum and the current Quaestor of House Cestus. She is an Epicanthix who hails from Yridia IX from a tightly knit family of mechanics. While Ronovi may appear to be a blunt, brutal, and slightly reckless character, she is very much devoted to her clan and exhibits impressive strength due to her heritage and her skill.
Character History
Origins
- "To settle is perhaps my final destination in life. What our children may do...well, that's for our blood to decide. "
- ―Zane Tavisaen
Ronovi's father, Zane Tavisaen, was a prominent spacer in the Outer Rim and had a strong affiliation with the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. However, he had never made an effort to become a Dark Jedi because he believed he was not strong enough to be one. After many years of working, he returned to his home planet, Panatha, where he met and fell in love with his future wife. The two married in Tree City before traveling to Yridia IX, where they temporarily resided in Eden, a burgeoning metropolis at the time. When his wife became pregnant, Zane decided that the best thing to do was move to the outskirts of the city, where Ronovi's mother gave birth to a son. She gave birth to Ronovi three years later, in 10 ABY.
Ronovi was raised on strong family values and taught to cherish being with her parents and her siblings as much as possible. Unlike the other Epicanthix, who were notorious for conquering other planets in the Outer Rim, Zane wished for a quieter life. He seemed happy enough as a mechanic busily repairing ships and freighters owned by Eden civilians. However, Ronovi's desire was to be a warrior like her Epicanthix ancestors, even though her brother began to follow in her father's footsteps while her sister began delving into science and literature. It wasn't until she was ten years old that her father took an interest in training her as a warrior, as he himself had practiced fighting techniques when he was young.
Zane told Ronovi to value her instincts in combat and instructed her to maintain perfect control over her reflexes. He also exposed her to a variety of fighting styles, teaching her how to use everything from a short staff to a dagger to her bare hands. While her mother disapproved of her daughter learning how to fight, Ronovi, being the black sheep of the family, wasn't looking back. When she was thirteen, her father decided that the family should return to one of the major districts in Eden so he could extend his business in ship maintenance. It was there that he first allowed Ronovi to dabble in darker arts, and she reveled in the power they gave her. She began to believe that the dark side was the true source of perfection and that it was responsible for her increasing notoriety as she grew older.
Noticed in the Night
Ronovi's decision to become a brawler was mainly due to the reputation of the city she lived in. While her family was strictly middle class, her residence was surrounded by darker influences. The young woman was introduced to underground fighting rings in a nearby district, where people would go as far to bet on who would get slaughtered in death matches. She quickly earned a name as a suitable challenge for many skilled combatants, becoming infamous for her agility and aggressive moves. However, every altercation would result in one battle scar or another, and soon Ronovi found herself hashing it out with angry rivals on the street as well as in what was considered the most violent part of the city's entertainment business.
Nonetheless, Ronovi was not particularly happy with her level of skill as a martial artist. Her father had stopped training her by the time she turned sixteen, saying that he had taught her everything he knew. Ronovi continued to affiliate herself as a fighter for the next two years, and it was one particular night that garnered the attention of a Brotherhood member who was scouting for new recruits. After several bouts with weaker adversaries, the Epicanthix was matched against one of the toughest brawlers in the underground ring. She began to gain the upper hand just before she noticed that her opponent was drawing a dagger from his sleeve. It was then that Ronovi first demonstrated that she was a Force-sensitive, displaying unnatural power as she threw her challenger halfway across the room before he could stab her.
The next morning, the Dark Jedi told Zane that he was interested in bringing the eighteen-year-old girl to the Brotherhood. Ronovi quickly agreed to the offer after her father told her of the encounter, and she packed her bags and was shipped to the Shadow Academy to begin her initiation into the Obelisk Order. She was then transported to the Sword's Sheath on the Itaana belt, where she became a full-fledged member of House Gladius within Clan Tarentum.
DJB History
New Blood in the Brotherhood
- "Well, this is all rather overwhelming."
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen
Upon arriving at her house, Ronovi was welcomed by her Quaestor, Telona Murrage. She was inspired by Telona's incredible devotion to the welfare of Gladius as well as her interest in supervising the new member's exercises and activities. It was through this interaction that Ronovi also met Telona's apprentice, a strange young Krath by the name of Dralin Talismarr who soon became one of her allies and friends. As she began to communicate with other house members, Ronovi was advised to enroll in courses offered at the Shadow Academy, which served as a stepping stool for her when adapting to the ways of the Brotherhood.
Ronovi had been initiated into Clan Tarentum at a time of conflict within the Yridia system. With the recent war against the Yuuzhan Vong over, thousands of refugees were scattered on every civilized planet. The worst of the clan's troubles, however, lay with Deutta the Hutt, a crime lord who held dealings with the remaining Yuuzhan Vong in order to overthrow Tarentum's government. Therefore, Tarentum's Consul, Anshar Kahn Tarentae, arranged a strike team to intercept Deutta on Karideph and kill him. Ronovi became one member of said team, and it was on Karideph that she met Doni Tzu Tarentae, who had been captured by the Vong.
After inadvertently saving Doni Tzu's life, Ronovi became his apprentice as soon as she had recovered from her injuries. Doni Tzu was notorious for being ruthless to both his enemies and his peers, as well as for angering even the most prestigious members of the Dark Council. But with her master's reputation in the back of her mind, Ronovi learned much from his teaching, including being diplomatic, sharp in wit, and adept in meditation and basic methods in the Force. She would continue to learn from him until she reached the rank of Protector. Shortly after her promotion, she succumbed to lethargy and sickness after a house mission that left Telona incapable of leading Gladius, with Apollo becoming its new Quaestor.
More Details: Settling Home
Finding a Pedestal
- "I was above the flesh. Now I am in my chrysalis."
- ―Unknown
Ronovi recovered from a month long hiatus due to frailty and weakness just in time to learn that Doni Tzu was leaving the Yridia system. When she confronted her master about this, he told her that he was leaving Tarentum because he felt that he had no place in the clan's activities. With his departure, Ronovi worked to get herself into a leadership position while on missions. This especially was noticed during an entire Clan strike on Prakith, and her work and participation so impressed her house summit that they decided to appoint her the new Obelisk Sergeant of Arcano Signum after Dralin had stepped down from the position of Tetrarch. With her new position, she worked to make the team a training facility for newer house members, reintroducing the concept of the Praxeum as started by Windos Helkin Tarentae and continued by Dralin's twin brother, Kazarelth Talismarr.
While being a battle team leader pleased her, Ronovi's desire to partake in larger, grander battles was growing stronger, and she began studying military strategy and combat as part of her academics. At the same time, Maxamillian von Oberst-Tarentae, Marshal of the Armies of Tarentum, was re-formatting the structure of the Clan Tarentum Military. As he needed new officers for the Tarentum Army, he requested that Ronovi try out for open positions. Oberst was impressed with Ronovi's strategic knowledge and made her a Lieutenant Colonel of the Clan Tarentum I Corps, which gave her command over a brigade within the Second Division.
With new responsibilities being placed upon her, Ronovi embraced the fact that she would have to work diligently and diplomatically as a commander and a leader. She also furthered her communications with her higher-ups, being in close contact with Apollo and her new Aedile, Scion Altera. Both of them constantly reminded their newest battle team leader that if she continued her hard work and devotion to her house and clan, she would certainly be up for an even greater leadership position. It was only a matter of time, however, before Ronovi would truly be put to the test in the face of conflict.
The Mayhem and the Mantle
After the strike on Prakith, Tarentum immediately moved to inspect the Renegade, a former ship from Oberst's days in the Emperor's Hammer. As it had suddenly appeared in front of the Doomsday, a group of Tarenti, including Ronovi, volunteered to board the decommissioned ship and inspect it. This resulted in a battle between the clan and several angry spirits from the ship's former crew. With these spirits also came the ghosts of seven Dark Jedi once sealed in the Crystal of Tears, and they moved to possess several Tarenti as well as strip the Consul from his body. While the clan was ultimately able to defeat the spirits with the help of the Keepers, including the strange Talitha, the mission came with consequences. In Ronovi's case, she dueled a possessed Kazarelth only to lose her left eye when he removed it with his lightsaber.
The use of a cybernetic eyepatch brought back most of Ronovi's vision, and while her dreams of being a physically perfect warrior vanished, her quest to become a perfect warrior in every other way came into full circle. She was recognized for her work on the Renegade and eventually offered the available position of Aedile in House Cestus. Ronovi stepped down as Sergeant of Arcano Signum and agreed that Balia Donos should lead the battle team as its new Sith Commander. She was then transported to Koros and settled into the VSD Corsair, which served as the Cestians' complex.
Kazarelth and Ronovi, as Quaestor and Aedile, were both significantly younger and less experienced than many others by the time they became the leaders of Cestus. However, with their youth came fresh ideas and proposals to increase recruitment rates and strengthen the house as a whole. As she drew up strategies for present and future objectives, Ronovi reminded herself that Gladius would not forget her contributions, even though her former colleagues were now her rivals. This rivalry blossomed when both Gladius and Cestus were sent to Samur to find shards of the Crystal of Tears, which apparently granted their wielders power. Ronovi became a holder of one such shard after she survived a scuffle with the Yuuzhan Vong, which cost several lives but eventually got the two houses working together to fend them off.
More Details: Of the Past
& Shattered Tears
In Shining Armor
- "I know an apprentice normally doesn’t run after the master. But we’re a Brotherhood, aren’t we? So I’ll go after my brother."
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen, to Anshar Kahn Tarentae
It seemed that Ronovi could finally relax with the joint mission finished and the trophies collected. However, she was suddenly distracted in her duties and assignments when she received a precognition of her master traveling to the planet Corulag. The Jedi Hunter received permission from the clan summit to leave Yridia, borrowed her father's freighter, and traveled to Curamelle in hopes of finding Doni Tzu. Sure enough, Ronovi's master was there, though he had changed drastically in appearance since his departure and now concealed his ethereal face behind a mask. When he was intercepted by guards at the Sienar Advanced Research Division, Ronovi helped him escape before insisting that he return to Tarentum and become a member of Cestus so they could work together more efficiently. While at first Doni Tzu refused, claiming that he had a more important mission to deal with, he finally agreed to his apprentice's request.
With Ronovi's return to the Yridia system came the end of her second year in the Brotherhood, and she was awarded the rank of Dark Jedi Knight by Consul Anshar and Proconsul Dranik Tarentae in response to her latest accomplishments. It was an impressive day for the Epicanthix who had once believed she would never get this far, and it was certainly a triumph for Tarentum. As a result, Ronovi became one of the few females in the clan's history to earn such a promotion as well as one of the first Tarenti to be appointed Knight since the Incursion.
Of course, Ronovi did not gloat for long. War was approaching, and Cestus had to be prepared for it. While she resumed her house duties, she also helped to train new troops in the Tarentum I Corps as a newly promoted Colonel. She continued lessons with her master, even though he now worked beside her rather than taught her. Doni Tzu reminded his student that now that she was a Knight, he would treat her as an equal. With that in mind, Ronovi happily took on her own apprentice, Jaron Kai, whose strength had impressed the Obelisk while they were on Samur. It was during this time that Ronovi was also beginning to be recognized outside of the clan, given awards of loyalty and merit by the Dark Council. Ronovi could not help but feel eager to prove herself in the Brotherhood's efforts to reclaim Antei, which they had lost to the Vong in the previous war.
- "It is my pleasure to say that Ronovi is one of those who have made it, and however far she goes from here will be of her own choice."
- ―Anshar Kahn Tarentae
Ronovi was one of the many Tarenti who traveled to Antei only to discover that the Vong were dying and the Brotherhood's new target was a sect of Jedi. While on the ground, the Knight worked alongside her master and members of both Gladius and Cestus on several operations to overtake droid forces as well as Jedi forces deployed to the north of Adas. Ronovi also was a victim of a near-conversion to the light side, being saved in the nick of time by Doni Tzu before the Jedi had a chance to finish the job. At the same time, she had to deal with amending her friendship with Quaestor Apollo, who was displeased not only by Ronovi's abrupt transfer to Cestus, but also by how quickly she was progressing in military rank.
In the final days of the war, Ronovi aided Tarentum in seizing full control of Codei Prison and was a witness to the conspiracies and subsequent death of Sun Vail, sister of the exiled Dark Jedi Bane. However, the Epicanthix would remain mentally affected by her close contact to the light side, and she swore to herself that she would eliminate her dependence on others for survival. By the time she returned to Yridia, Ronovi ended her apprenticeship with Doni Tzu, moving away from the role of student while still maintaining an alliance with her former master. She would also have to deal with the loss of her apprentice, as Jaron had disappeared during the reclamation.
Even when Tarentum had suffered multiple casualties from the conflict, its leaders would not ignore Ronovi's major contributions to the war effort. She was given two field promotions, becoming one of the Equites as well as earning the rank of Brigadier General while still positioned on Antei. Anshar and Oberst also decided to award Ronovi the prestigious Sapphire Blade for her service to the clan and the Brotherhood, and they offered her the now open position of Quaestor following Kazarelth's resignation. Ronovi agreed to lead the house with Vai Azexel as her second-in-command as well as Ji K'awiil as the house's Rollmaster, and she made it her primary goal to continue to strengthen Cestus as the clan's battle wounds slowly began to heal.
Characteristics
- "It is never the way of the Dark Jedi to do what is easy."
- ―Ronovi Tavisaen
Physical Appearance
Ronovi holds the typical Epicanthix appearance, being tall, muscular, and dark-haired. She is slightly over an impressive two meters in height, which is actually the average height among Epicanthix, and enjoys it due to the fact that she appears intimidating. Her most distinctive feature is her cybernetic left eye, an electric patch that works as a vision replacement. Ronovi also bears several scars from the many battles that she has fought as well as from her days as an underground fighter.
She is not a person of fashion, mainly wearing her military uniform or civilian attire when she's out and about. For a while, one of her favorite articles of clothing was her hooded cloak, which she wore practically wherever she went. However, the cloak has become increasingly tattered and frayed, and she now occasionally dons a long black coat decorated with her officer insignia. Ronovi is also seen consistently with a flask at her side, which she usually keeps filled with Corellian whiskey.
Combat
Ronovi is a frequent wielder of heavy blaster pistols, normally carrying two within her robes during strikes or battles. While she prefers using blasters in the style of the SSK-7 model, she sometimes resorts to using hold-out blasters as back-up. Although she is not a sniper, Ronovi has occasionally been equipped with a blaster rifle, and at least once she has specifically used a disruptor rifle in combat.
Ronovi's preferred weapon, of course, is her lightsaber, and she is currently perfecting her techniques in both Shii-Cho and Makashi. She has occasionally been equipped with her sapphire blade, carrying it with her as a back-up in case she is disarmed of her primary weapon. Also, she is quick to use aggressive martial arts forms such as Stava or grappling during hand to hand combat rather than the assassin-like movements of Close Quarters Battle, though she is trained in all three and more.
The Force
As she is more physically skilled than mentally, Ronovi can be considered a minimalist of the Force. For a while, this was partially due to her Force powers being much feebler than those of other clan members, and she did not feel confident using them. Now, though she is keen on using basic Force powers from time to time, she has gotten used to counting on her senses and instincts rather than on her Force control. Ronovi does have a sharp use of Force senses, as she is able to easily detect and observe various occurrences within a large square area. While occasionally she is overwhelmed by the information that she subsequently receives, she is able to channel such readings into proper use more and more easily as she progresses in rank.
Necromancy
Ronovi is one of Tarentum's Death Dealers, learning the combative powers of life and death. As a member of the Mace division, she began her lessons in these darker arts as a Journeyman and has been practicing them ever since.
Personality
- "Ronovi is the rare member who gets those who hate working with others to work. She elevates those around her, and makes them feel important so that they're willing to work. But, make no mistake, she is not some sycophant out to appease those around her. She is just as capable of popping an overly inflated ego as she is working to inflate a terribly deprived one."
- ―Maxamillian von Oberst
Generally, Ronovi is an aggressive, impatient character. She lets her gut lead most of the time, especially when she is fighting, and tends to get intensely involved with each conflict she is faced with. At the same time, Ronovi has a true brawler's personality and therefore can occasionally become reckless yet ruthless in battle. This can result in potential harm to herself or her comrades if she is not careful. However, Ronovi's ability to cooperate grants her respect from other members.
Ronovi is also frequently blunt, sharp-tongued, and cynical. When other clan members say or do something that she disapproves of, she will first make note of it courteously, then downright bombast them if they do it again. Ronovi is also the target of teasing from her fellow Tarenti, which she handles with her usual wit and sarcasm. On several occasions, she is quite rambunctious, as she has taken up drinking as a hobby since the loss of her eye.
Although she is a fighter at heart, Ronovi prefers that conflict stay on the battlefield rather than within the clan. However, when she sees a situation that requires a specific active role, she tends to play different parts when necessary. One minute she could be arguing as the devil's advocate, and the next she could be working as a mediator or a diplomat in debates. In the end, Ronovi maintains steadfast alliances with several clan leaders and leaders emeritus, and she harbors strong loyalty to the Keepers as well as to Lord Khyron. Also, due to her constant aid to older and newer clan members, she is seen as a well-rounded mentor, advisor, and leader.
DJB Facts
Positions
Outstanding Achievements
- Ronovi was the lowest-ranked member of the fifteen-member strike team that raided Karideph, participating at the rank of Novice.
- Ronovi worked alongside her house summit to remake Arcano Signum into a training team in order to teach and empower their newer house members.
- Ronovi received two merit medals, an Anteian Cross and a Steel Cross, in a time span of three weeks for her work and dedication to Clan Tarentum.
Apprentices
Jaron Kai
29 ABY - 30 ABY
Jaron Kai was Ronovi's first apprentice, beginning her training under the then Dark Jedi Knight after the joint mission with Gladius on Samur. As she was ranked Protector at the time, Jaron had already proven to Ronovi that she was a capable fighter as well as a reliable member of Cestus. The two were also on friendly rather than merely cordial terms, and their master and student relationship was sided with a shared wit and perspective. Unfortunately, Jaron disappeared from Tarentum's set up base during the Reclamation of Antei and has not been seen since. She last held the rank of Jedi Hunter.
Trivia
- Despite the fact that she is not incredibly academic, Ronovi is very well read in biology, and her information on Droch aided Gladius against the parasites.
- Ronovi's unofficial title, according to Frey Gallandro, is the "Sister of Doom," pertaining to his belief that she and Kazarelth will lead Tarentum "to damnation and total doom."
- Ronovi has a large variety of nicknames, including but not limited to: "Ron," "Ronnie," "Rovi," "Ro Ro," "Ravioli," "Ron-Ron," "Runofi," "Ronovermi," and "Ronobi"; all coined by Odin Vaaj, Maxamillian von Oberst, Tlaloc Elols, Kazarelth Talismarr, Ji K'awiil, and Dralin Fortea, respectively.