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- "Your service will not be at an end until I allow it. You may be no dark acolyte, but you can still serve me."
- ―Lord Ashen
The Ashfallen, sometimes nicknamed the “Lion’s Pride” in reference to Muz Ashen who presided over the formation of the unit, were an elite clandestine military unit whose very existence was unknown to most and whose true origins were a closely guarded secret known only by a select few on the Dark Council itself. Starting out shortly after the Fall of Antei as an informal unit of failed Shadow Academy students who the then-Shadow Hand foresaw a better use for than simply helping to dust the library shelves on Lyspair, the Ashfallen were formally organised into a unit of the Army of the Iron Throne in 33 ABY.
While not Force-wielders themselves, the unit was outfitted with equipment that would make even the proudest Mandalorian blush with envy, and given advanced combat training in rare arts such as Echani and Teräs Käsi. Answerable only to the Iron Throne, the Ashfallen were the personal foot soldiers of the Grand Master and his answer to all who would dare to threaten his rule, be they Jedi, assassin, or enemies within the Brotherhood itself.
Unit History
Forerunners
- "Your connection to the Force is stronger than most... but not quite strong enough."
- ―Headmaster Kumba
The Avenger, along with her escort, the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer SubjugatorWhile not formed until 33 ABY, to understand the origins of the Ashfallen one must arguably look back to when the Shadow Academy first threw open its doors two decades earlier. Ever since the Brotherhood first sent Envoys out into the galaxy to scout for recruits, there were always those who later failed the tests when they stood before the Headmaster, with only the few being fortunate enough to succeed and be taken on by one of the Clans to train as an apprentice. Back in the days of the Emperor's Hammer, however, for those who were found wanting this was not the end of their story and they were routinely sent to enlist in the Imperial Navy, where they often served onboard the flagship of the Brotherhood, the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Avenger.
However, after the Exodus, when the Dark Council settled on Antei and established its own military academies to train the future officers and commanders of its fleets and armies, the former lifeblood of the Brotherhood fleet ceased to be as necessary and was largely forgotten. In place of the almost guaranteed naval career that most had previously taken up, the majority of academy drop outs now simply dissolved back into ordinary society, taking up whatever opportunities happened to come their way.
In defeat there is sometimes an opportunity
The Fall of Antei was the spark that led to the formation of the Lion's Pride
- "I can't trust anyone, Kaek. That’s one of the benefits of this job."
- ―Lord Ashen
The question of what to do with failed apprentices was forever changed by the Yuuzhan Vong War. The Fall of Antei in 27 ABY carved a hole in the Brotherhood which continued to echo well into the next decade after Muz Ashen took the throne. It had long since become clear to Lord Ashen that while the Clans may have once had the luxury to handpick the best of the Shadow Academy’s students, the practice of simply discarding failed candidates was no longer sustainable and a waste of valuable time and resources; indeed, during his time on the Dark Council, Ashen had for several years already been slowly accumulating his own cadre of loyal servants – the “Lion’s Pride” as some called them. Under the command of Dang Shi, Ashen’s so-called “Pride” first saw actual service during the Reclamation of Antei in 30 ABY, earning them much respect among the Dark Council for their courage during the battle against the self-declared Jedi Lord Omancor Crask.
With the Pride’s fast growing reputation, bolstered by their success during the Conquest of Salas V, and in particular, the resistance shown by Coryn Vance to the Killik hive mind, Ashen now saw an opportunity. As the Kyataran well knew from his time in the Autochthonian Navy, it took an army to maintain an empire, and as shown by the casualties the Clans suffered from the infighting on Salas V, this was a lesson the Brotherhood had largely forgotten. Moreover, with the constant threats to the Iron Throne – not least from Ashen’s rivals, but also, he believed, from his predecessor, who he knew had not died as the rumours said – the Grand Master saw a chance to shore up opposition to the Dark Council and silently deal with future challengers. For this reason, he realised it was time to make the Pride official and formally induct them into the Brotherhood's armed forces where they could serve as a true deterrent.
The fallen shall rise again
- "You are the Ashfallen - but you are not yet dead."
- ―Lord Ashen, greeting a new group of recruits
At the start of 33 ABY, Ashen instructed the Headmaster, Taigikori Aybara Dupar, to inform him of any candidates who had managed to impress one of the Brotherhood’s envoys but whose sensitivity to the Force the Headmaster had found not quite strong enough to warrant training in the ways of the dark side. Those who the Grand Master subsequently deemed suitable for his new project were to be sent to the grounds of the Spike, the recently constructed military facility which was also used by the Grand Master's Royal Guard. Lord Ashen’s new warriors – who he now formally christened the Ashfallen, in recognition of the fact that, while they may have failed, they were able to serve the Iron Throne still – received training at the hands of the Fist himself, learning the deadly arts of Echani and Teräs Käsi and many of the galaxy’s other forgotten forms of fighting. Ashen recognised the Ashfallen for what they were: his own private army, trained in the Jedi Arts in spite of the fact they themselves were not quite strong enough to become Dark Jedi Knights.
Instead of wasting potential, Ashen had in effect revived the legacy of the foot soldiers of the old Sith Empires, those spies and assassins who may not have been powerful enough to train as warriors and sorcerers, but who were nonetheless superior in every possible way to ordinary commandos, whether it was their resistance to psychic invasions or in their sheer sense of dumb luck. In addition to their training, Ashen had them kitted out with the very best that the Dark Council could acquire, calling in favours with the Verpines of the nearby Roche asteroids and the supercommandos of Mandalore in order to outfit a unit who were as ready to fight the Brotherhood’s battles with the Jedi as they were to protect the Grand Master from its own Clans.
The hands of the Iron Throne
- "You were selected to guard the Overclan. You were the lucky ones."
- ―Lord Ashen
The unit once again saw action during the disorder that broke out on Antei at the end of 33 ABY. Whereas the rest of the Army of the Iron Throne broke apart, uncertainty causing them to side with the various self-declared generals who had been driven mad by the Order Discipline Holocrons that had been corrupted by the traitor Michael Halcyon, the Ashfallen remained ever loyal to the Dark Lord, helping defend him from the army rallied against him by the Deputy Grand Master, Lord Halcyon. During this battle, the up-and-coming Coryn Vance proved himself yet again, single-handedly holding off a Sith spy who had infiltrated the Krath ranks in an attempt to assassinate Darth Ashen.
While the Ashfallen might have remained little more than a rumour outside the Dark Council, stories inevitably still managed to filter down through the ranks. However, some have speculated that this was in fact exactly what Lord Ashen wanted and that the small snapshots that the Clans managed to hear about the battle efficiency of the Dark Council's trained Jedi-killers had been leaked by the Grand Master himself. Indeed, many argued that the legend of the Ashfallen was as much a weapon as the Ashfallen themselves, with the uncertainties surrounding their origins and exactly what they were trained in being one of the reasons why the Clans no longer felt as confident about rising up to challenge the Iron Throne.
Commanders
Du'val, Cassandra
Rank: Sergeant
A fierce warrior serving as second in command to Dang Shi during the Retaking of Antei, Cassandra has long since been serving the Brotherhood following her failed acceptance into the Shadow Academy. A former trooper with the Imperial Remnant, Du'val had heard murmers of an organization that had broken away from the Warlords of the Emperor's Hammer. Following up on the rumours, she encountered the Brotherhood, though her aptitude with the Force was far less than satisfactory for her acceptance. Catching the eye of the Headmaster, Cassandra was recruited into the beginnings of the Lion's Pride.
Since her mentor's death, Cassandra was promoted for her duties to the Dark Council and appointed the commander of the elite unit. Since the Reclaimation, she has participated in numerous Black Ops missions for the Grand Master alongside some highly classified action during major conflicts.
Shi, Dang (deceased)
Rank: Sergeant
Hailing from Dorin and dissatisfied with the relaxed, calm life of his family homestead, Dang Shi left on the first available freighter and drifted through the galaxy before coming to the Brotherhood. He took the Shadow Academy's tests on Lyspair, but was unsuccessful, his aptitude for the Force just too low to grant him acceptance into the Brotherhood. The Headmaster, however, felt Dang Shi would be useful, and recruited him into the Lion's Pride to serve the Dark Council.
Dang Shi rose through the ranks to become a Sergeant, known for his ferocious skill in battle and his determination never to retreat from the foe. He was posthumously honoured after standing his ground against a Jedi Master and her Apprentice during the Retaking of Antei and wounding both before being killed himself.
Notable Members
REDACTED - Membership of the Unit outside of the Commanders
Vance, Coryn
Rank: Corporal
Coryn Vance was a member of a non-Foxtrot Uniform security team recruited by the Brotherhood during the events on Salas V. His skill as a warrior and knowledge had allowed him to become a member of the forces typically reserved for the defense of Antei, however the deaths of several members of the Lion's Pride resulted in his selection for the elite team. Since joining the Pride, Coryn worked hard to get promoted to the rank of Corporal after the event at the Temple Bonya.
While Coryn is a rough and tumble solider of the Brotherhood, he is also a brilliant strategist often called upon by his commanding officer to assist with the cordination for the unit's missions. His brilliant mind has been known to rival that of a typical Krath or Sith's commander when he's at the top of his game.
Williams, Jonathan
Rank: Private
An aspiring musician, Jonathan Williams had his life of fame and glamour taken from him when he lost a bet on Nar Shadaa which resulted in his sale into slavery. On a mission upon the moon, a member of the Brotherhood unwittingly won the man's loyalty from an unfortunately card-shark. With no-where to go, Williams was pressed into service with the defense services on Antei. With an above average aptitude at the Shadow Academy, Headmaster Taigikori Aybara Dupar enlisted the unwilling slave into service with the Lion's Pride.
In league with Jonathan's unique aptitude and aspirations as a musician, he is often utilized as a communications officer. A talented and brilliant man, he is often one of the most level-headed individuals of the Pride, despite his vices.
Alters, Vikun (deceased)
Rank: Private
A Corellian, Vikun Alters found his way to Lyspair on an Imperial freighter and after passing the Shadow Academy's tests, became an Initiate of the Dark Brotherhood. He rose through the ranks swiftly, but this rapid rise in prominence came with an impetuosity that doomed him. Jedi Hunter Alters was found stealing supplies and weaponry from his Clan's armoury and selling them on to off-world traders. The Chamber of Justice found him guilty, with the sentence of his rank being removed and banishment from the Brotherhood, but the Headmaster intervened and requested leniency on the condition that Alters served in the Lion's Pride.
Private Alters later distinguished himself in several skirmishes with Barabel space pirates on the fringes of the Antei system, and was posthumously awarded a Steel Cross for his decision to sacrifice his own life blowing up the pirate flagship.
Trivia
- Unit was created by membership of Clan Naga Sadow for the Tenth Great Jedi War
- The Lion's Pride maintains a residence within Sub-level 3 of the Spike to maintain their anonymity in addition to swift access to the Grand Master should it be required