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The Disciples of Ragnos Castes are purely a fictional device for members of House Marka Ragnos to use for character development.
An Initiate of Ragnos may choose between one of the three castes which suits their character best. The three castes are known as Dremora, Defender and Keeper (which gets it name from being the first caste an Initiate can use). As a member advances to Disciple of Ragnos and Vizier of Ragnos, so does the caste they are affiliated with. Avatars of Ragnos and Progeny of Ragnos are seen as masters of these fictional castes.
The Castes
Vizier of Ragnos Hegemon Cleric Warder
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Disciple of Ragnos Zealot Advocate Custodian
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Initiate of Ragnos Dremora Defender Keeper
Dremora's Caste
From the dawn of time, the Dark Side has subjugated its own devotees, warping their thoughts with promises of unending power, undying life, transcending all. Its siren call has moved entire star systems and lifted its most diligent adepts from relative obscurity to the heights of galactic power and authority. The Disciples of Ragnos base their claims to eminence as first amongst equals on their inherited legacy of apostolic succession from Naga Sadow and Marka Ragnos himself – but more importantly, on the their unique outlook and approach to the adepthood of the Dark Side.
The wise Disciples understand that 'power at any cost' implies power gained, but possibly to the detriment of its seeker on the whole. 'From learning, comes wisdom and from wisdom, springs power.' These words have long been the motto of those who seek harmony with the Dark Side, neither ruling it nor being ruled by it.
The Epistle of Marka Ragnos and more recent works such as the Chronicle of Dark Souls are regarded as the ultimate authority in matters, spiritual and esoteric. Comprehensive and detailed in much of the dark mysticism of the Force, these tomes explicitly detail a brutal, cruel, but simple vision of the Final Way, and those who find themselves on the path of the Dremora are charged with the holy duty of seeing this dark vision realized.
Their lot is that of the purging soldier, riding forth at the head of the dread host with cleansing flame one one hand to sear the flesh of the unenlightened and with dark sorcery on the other, to flay the souls of ignorant, erasing all undesirables from the Galaxy in preparation for a new age.
Where the mighty Hand of Ragnos points and the Sword of Ragnos slashes with razor precision, the followers of the Dremora discipline follow and wage war like only a religious fanatic can. They belong to a militant order of soldiers unique for their utter devotion to the Dark Doctrine. These dark knights endure entire seasons of intensive training under the watchful eye of the Patriarch and his Sword in the various arenas of warfare, learning to maximize their destructive output through facility with the Dark Side and mundane instruments of violence alike. Where most of the Disciples' approach is thoughtful and favors the mental prowess over all else, the priority of purpose of these paladins is open combat first; they are trained to be spectacular engines of slaughter foremost.
These fearsome warmongers are universally recognized by their distinctive blood-red waist sash, which is in fact a stole from the shoulders of the Dark Patriarch, granted to the initiate from the time of their dedication rite on the road many refer to as the path of the Scourge of Ragnos. This stole is stitched with fine gold bouillon in intricate weave with the crest of Marka Ragnos displayed prominently on each end of the stole's fine silk, marking the wearer as a righteous crusader of the Ragnosian legacy.
As the first step on the path the Dremora dedicates his efforts to excellence in the field; the new paladin is expected to serve in no fewer than three major campaigns or conflicts, proving first and foremost their mettle in the theaters of war. As their prowess sharpens and they ascend to the Zealot caste, his indoctrination begins in earnest, and the knight of vengeance is recalled for long weeks of solitary contemplation and martial practice in the confines of the chapter house on Tarthos. Once this done and the Zealot has proven his unswerving devotion to the cause, they are elevated to the lofty plateau of the Hegemon caste, whereupon they are pledged into the service of a senior aide of the Sword of Ragnos, becoming a trusted lieutenant and leading the Disciples' into open warfare when the need arises.
War being their domain this extends to the rite of the Krath Holy Crusade; however, as with many other elements of the cult, this practice has evolved over the centuries; the Disciples know that the 'secret society' that was the origin of the contemporary Krath had many complexities and facets of meaning, often veiled in esoteric allegory. One being the very meaning of the phrase 'secret society'. Not only does this imply that the organization and its actions are hidden from the galaxy as a whole, but also that that selfsame society is one dedicated to the pursuit of secrets, of lore, of the learning of the hidden things.
The ingenuity of obfuscation was seen as early as ascendancy of Darth Revan, who would impart the understanding of the unseen upon the Sith that followed him, leading eventually to Darth Bane's implementation of The Rule of Two. In even this we see that the Krath have developed their own unique traditions and practices in the Dark Side; theirs are not merely a bastardization of Sith principles, as some ignorant bigots would insist.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the modern Krath Holy Crusade. The Dremora is the faceless tourist who passes you on the street moments before explosions rock the municipal district. She is the smiling dancer on the arm of the passing politician moments before he is found dead in an his office with all of his sensitive documents missing. The Dremora are trained to follow the intricacies of every method of warfare, subtle and overt, and once directed to a target they are relentless in their efforts to subjugate and neutralize it.
Defender's Caste
"Oh Dark Child of Ragnos what are you willing to give for your house? What is your life compared to the life of the very pillar of your meaning? Are you willing to give that life for the Great Spirit of Ragnos? The Defender's caste is not for the self important. It is a path of total service. It is your charge to assure that the great secrets and the Keepers of those secrets are made secure."
In the hours of greatest despair, in the void of the unknown, in the fires of deepest fears will stand the shields of our hope. The Defender's path will charge only the bravest and most confident of disciples, for their charge is of the most critical to support. Led by the mighty Hand of Ragnos, the Defenders of the Dark Doctrine of Ragnos are set to give their very life to assure that the House lives on even if they themselves should not.
A Defender gladly pays the ultimate sacrifice for the Doctrine to spread and live on. It is with their blood that the greatest Legacy in the Galaxy shall survive. Often given missions of delivery of special artifacts or even people they are also the visible arm of defense of the inner sanctum of Ragnos Cathedral.
Where a Defender of Ragnos stands none shall pass. There has never been a single recording of a Defender of Ragnos failing to keep their charge safe. Their determination and fortitude are the stuff of legends and to enter onto the path is to willingly accept the life of suffering and pain only to be released upon your death. Yet even then it is said that a Defender will still hold his post long after his physical self has turned to ash.
A Defender who becomes an Advocate will be trusted with the safe keeping of the most closely guarded secrets the Disciples keep. As such they also help to spread the influence of the Doctrine by assuring that it is well received by those select few who deserve it. Should it be found that the word has fallen onto those who do not deserve it, it is an Advocate who will be sent to correct that and to assure that the Doctrine remains pure.
The highest level on the Path of the Defender is the great Cleric. A Cleric is one who is most trusted by the Hand of Ragnos and is often sought as an advisor and is given the Hand's leave to see that proper Doctrinal practice is kept. The Cleric is a true zealot in the name of Ragnos and their loyalty is beyond reproach or question.
The caste of the Defender is not one for the vain or self glorifying. It is a path for one who is willing to serve something greater than themselves so that they may themselves become greater. One must be willing to fight beyond what their physical body can endure to keep the Doctrine and those who practice it safe. It is the ultimate sacrifice for the ultimate glory.
Keeper's Caste
In the vastness of the Universe there is mostly darkness. Weaving in between the stars, floating our great ships, pushing our planetary systems about as if children's toys. It is here in which the greatest secrets can be found. Darkness does not always reveal its knowledge however and indeed it often will guard its secrets from those who seek them.
Since the dawn of time creatures have sought to understand the Universe and once understood, bend it to their will. The Universe speaks its own language and keeps its own council as to how it will manifest its greatness however. Naturally this makes finding and then understanding the great secrets perilous and even fatal. The Universe sees fit to give its powers to select few but distorts the gift. Creates races who have difficulty communicating with one another. Histories are twisted to the point of lies. Civilizations war with one another and destroy each other and with them the very secrets that made them great.
It is rare to find a being that can see past the shrouded veil and see true knowledge and wisdom. It is rare to find a creature who can interpret the mysterious language that speaks in stars dying, wars raging, ecosystems changing, lies spreading, and the various ways the Universe sees fit to operate itself. It is rare to find one who willing walks between the systematic chaos in the pursuit of ultimate knowledge. Yet the Great Ragnos has placed his hand upon a few gifted enough to understand the mysterious weavings and dark whisperings which hide true power and greatest potential.
The Keepers are the agents of the Scholar of Ragnos. They are the most keen of mind, the most subtle of wisdom. The gatherers of knowledge and the interpreters of the that knowledge. They are the creators of truth, and the weavers of mystery.
Their training begins with puzzles of the mind. Looking for patterns in the waves of water and explaining what they mean is one of the first of many such tests and as the new Keeper progresses his skills are often pitted against tests which his very survival depends on his successfully solving the puzzle.
The tasks of the Keeper will stretch from the mundane to the transcendent. One day the Keeper might be diving through a trash bin seeking a discarded letter and the next performing a ritual at a mountain top shrine which could twist the fabric of reality. Such is the Path of the Keeper. Part scientist, part archaeologist, part mystic, part spy, all wrapped into a brilliant Disciple, writer of doctrine, and ultimately a Keeper of secrets.
The Keeper begins his duties by assisting others in their educational endeavors in the Force, field work at archaeological sites, research on particular histories, items, people, or events and experimentation. As the Keeper proves himself worthy he may ascend to the position of Custodian where his duties will shift to the more subtle and clandestine. The Custodian is one who is skilled in the arts of subterfuge, intelligence gathering, and counterintelligence. While the mission remains to obtain knowledge and discover truth, the Custodian is able to twist truth to thwart the enemies of Ragnos. A Custodian is also the seeker and protector of various powerful artifacts. Often a Custodian will be sent to retrieve an item which has fallen into the wrong hands be it a private collector, a museum, or the ignorant. The methods used range from peaceful negotiation to complete erasure from existence. Not death... but never existed.
When the Custodian has proven himself in all areas and is superior, he will ascend to the place of Warder who are the most trusted of the Dark Scholar. The Warder's mind is the most keen able to see the vague connections of all things. The first initiation of a new Warder is the glimpse at the Epistle of Ragnos, the surviving document thought to have been penned by Ragnos himself. He will then give his interpretation from that point on it is the duty of the Warder to ensure that knowledge and wisdom within the Epistle is not only passed on correctly but also added to if necessary to ensure that ultimate understanding of the Universe is achieved. The Warder is one who can see a moon pass overhead and tell you what color shoes you are wearing in the next system over. He can hold an item and tell you its detailed history, he can be your friend and your enemy at the same moment and you will not know him in the next.
The Keepers are the makers of knowledge, the shadowy whisper that guides the Disciples and points them towards their greatest self. It was a Keeper who discovered the lost Epistle of Ragnos. It was a Keeper who set down the original Doctrine that would be taught. It was a Keeper who improved the design of the modern lightsaber and it will be a Keeper who will ensure that your Legacy as a Disciple will never die.
Trivia