User:Idris Adenn/sandbox: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia of the Dark Brotherhood, an online Star Wars Club
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{{Character
{{Character
|type=Gray
|type=Gray
|image=[[File:XenHeadSITH.png|250px]]
|image=[[File:XenmordinbyXelandra.jpg|250px]]
|firstname= Xen’Mordin
|firstname= Xen’Mordin
|lastname= Palpatine
|lastname= Palpatine
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* [[Kell Dante]]
* [[Kell Dante]]
* [[Impetus_M%27Nar|Elincia Rei]]
* [[Impetus_M%27Nar|Elincia Rei]]
* [[Cyris_Oscura|Cyris Oscura]]
* Cyris Oscura
* [[Landon Cruise]]
* [[Landon Cruise]]
|enemies=
|enemies=
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|fightingstyle= [[Echani]]
|fightingstyle= [[Echani]]
|profession= * Emperor of the [[Cocytus System]]
|profession= * Emperor of the [[Cocytus System]]
* Founder and Chair of Vismorsus Industries
* Founder of Vismorsus Industries
* Chairman of Vismorsus Industries
|position= [[Consul]] of [[Scholae Palatinae|Scholae Palatinae]]
|position= [[Consul]] of [[Scholae Palatinae|Scholae Palatinae]]
|era= * [[Imperial era]]
|era= * [[Imperial era]]
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{{Quote|For the Empire!|Motto of Clan Scholae Palatinae}}
{{Quote|For the Empire!|Motto of Clan Scholae Palatinae}}


[[EL1|Adept]] '''Xen’Mordin Palpatine''' is the current sitting [[Consul]] of [[Scholae Palatinae|Clan Scholae Palatinae]], reigning Emperor of the [[Cocytus_System|Cocytus system]], and Chairman of the Board for Vismorsus Industries. Born as Kilan Khzon, he was trained in secret to become a [[Jedi_Order|Jedi]]. After falling from the light, and losing his beloved, he stripped himself of his identity and his connection to the Force. He became ''Xen’Mordin Vismorsus'', a broken husk of a man that that would become so much more than he could ever of expected.  
'''Xen’Mordin Palpatine''' is an [[EL1|Adept]] [[Elder]] and long standing leader within [[Scholae Palatinae|Clan Scholae Palatinae]]. He leads Scholae Palatinae as its [[Consul]], and sits as the current reigning Emperor of the [[Cocytus_System|Cocytus system]], in one of the longest lasting terms seen by the clan or the Empire. His long standing tenure and absolute dedication to the Empire has resulted in him being named one of the keepers of the [[Legacy of Palpatine]], leading him to taking the Great Emperor’s name as part of his own. He also is the founder and current Chairman of the Board for Vismorsus Industries, a leading scientific research company based in the Cocytus system.  


'''Xen’Mordin''' would go on to have his connection to the force restored in an ancient [[Sith]] Temple through an agonized and intense interaction with a dark side [[starwars:Force_nexus|Force nexus]]. This restoration gave him a renewed focus in life, that would ultimately lead him to the [[Dark Brotherhood]], and the Cocytus System, home of [[Scholae Palatinae|Clan Scholae Palatinae]], where he would eventually be named as keeper of the [[Legacy of Palpatine]].
'''Xen’Mordin''' was born as ''Kilan Khzon'', on the planet of Coruscant to wealthy parents. Displaying a strong [[starwars:Force|Force]] affinity, it was only as the Galactic Empire crumbled that his powers would be noticed, by the rogue Jedi, Tyler Reynolds, who wanted to teach Kilan the ways of the Force, and create a new [[Jedi_Order|Jedi Order]]. After years of intensive study, Kilan found himself deeply in love with Tyler’s other Padawan learner, Kara Venger. Her violent and brutal murder would cause Kilan to strip himself of his connection to the force, and his old life, becoming ''Xen’Mordin Vismorsus''.
 
Xen’Mordin’s force connection would be restored in an agonizing and intense interaction with a dark side [[starwars:Force_nexus|Force nexus]]. Finding a new focus in life, and embracing the power of the [[starwars:Dark_Side|dark side]], he let the force guide him to the [[Dark Brotherhood]], and to the rank and file of Scholae Palatinae. Fully embracing the Imperial ideology of the clan, Xen’Mordin spent years building his resources, and manipulating events within the system to seat himself as Emperor.
 
Xen’Mordin fully believes in the strength of the Cocytus Empire, and believes its destiny is to follow completely in the footsteps of the [[starwars:Galactic_Empire|Galactic Empire]]. He is unapologetically dedicated to this cause. Taking pride in his intelligence and ability to lead others, whether through manipulation or real loyalty, Xen’Mordin knows his greatest strength comes from the bonds with his fellow [[:Category:Scholae Palatinae members|Palatinaeans]].  


==Character History==
==Character History==
===Early Life (0 ABY - 5 ABY)===
===Early Life (0 ABY - 5 ABY)===
{{Quote|This is an opportunity to let our son make the galaxy a safer, better place.|Dalinar to Zaerys}}
{{Quote|He can do things we don’t even understand. How could he ever be safe without proper training?|Dalinar to Zaerys}}


''In these early years, found amid the great upheaval of rebellion against the Galactic Empire, a surprising amount of peace was found for the upper-middle class Khzon family. Yet even from an early age Kilan demonstrated obvious force sensitivity, placing his parents on a alert in the heart of the capitol of the Empire. But it was not the Empire that came knocking on their door, and that door, once opened, placed Kilan on the path to becoming Xen’Mordin.''
''The first years of Kilan’s life was peaceful and comfortable despite the upheaval and rebellion against the Galactic Empire. There was little his wealthy family was lacking, exposing Kilan to comforts that would be sorely missed at later points in his life. Even from his earliest days he showed signs of Force-sensitivity, which placed his parents on high alert, as they lived in the heart of the capital of the Empire. But it was not the Empire that came knocking on their door, and if it had, Kilan never would have been set on the path to becoming Xen’Mordin.''


[[File:Coruscant_kel.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kilan’s homeworld of Coruscant]]
====The Birth (0 ABY)====
====The Birth (0 ABY)====
Weeks following the hushed and rumored news of the [[starwars:Battle_of_Yavin|destruction of the Death Star]], the Khzon family celebrated the birth of Kilan. Living in the very heart of the Empire, [[starwars:Coruscant|Coruscant]], the Khzons had experienced little issues under Imperial rule. While far from being loyal Imperialists, the gossip of the Rebellion’s success against the Empire just weeks earlier went largely ignored by the family.
[[File:Coruscant_kel.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Kilan’s homeworld of Coruscant]]
 
It was in the weeks following the hushed and rumored news of the [[starwars:Battle_of_Yavin|destruction of the Death Star]] at [[starwars:Yavin_4|Yavin]] that the Khzon family celebrated the birth of Kilan. They lived in the very heart of the Empire, [[starwars:Coruscant|Coruscant]], and while the planet was quietly abuzz about the Empire’s set back at the hand of the Rebellion, the Khzon’s focus was turned inward. They were far from diehard Imperialists, but as [[starwars:Human|Human]] upper class family, their lives were only slightly inconvenienced by the [[starwars:Galactic_Empire|Galactic Empire]]. The gossip that swept the planet was largely ignored by the family.  
Dalinar Khzon, Kilan’s father, was the eldest son in a long family dynasty of merchants. Over the years the family trade had evolved from raw manufacturing materials to luxury living trade items, and on the capital planet, many were seeking to prove their high social standing. Dalinar himself was a tall and stocky man, with a quick tongue and a hearty laugh.  


Zaerys Khzon, Kilan’s mother, came from a family of a different kind of merchant, ones who sold reprieve from life's issues. Owning nightclubs, casinos, and dance halls scattered from the core to the rim, Zaerys’ family was even more known than Dalinar’s. A fiery and dominating personality had cooled from her partying days as she had her family grow.  
Dalinar Khzon, Kilan’s father, was the eldest son in a long family dynasty of merchants. Second only to his own father in the company, Dalinar had taken to business just like his ancestors had. The family trade had evolved over the decades, from providing raw manufacturing materials from one side of the galaxy or the other, into a luxury item business, full of rare and exotic goods. On the capital planet, these luxury items were in high demand by the high ranking Imperials, and other upper class wishing to show off their high social standing. Dalinar himself was a stocky man, with a quick tongue, sharp wit, and hearty laugh.  


At the time of Kilan’s birth, the Khzons already had three children. They had two boys, Kiith, age ten, and Clertan, age seven. Their daughter, Sairia, was age four. Kiith, even at 10, was showing signs that he would grow to be a strong and large man, loud and boisterous. Clertan however, was small for his age, quiet and reserved. Sairia was the mirror image of her mother, strong independent streak already showing.  
Zaerys Khzon, Kilan’s mother, came from a family that sold much different types of goods than Dalinar’s, that being reprieve from life’s issues. They owned nightclubs, casinos, dance halls, cantinas, bettings halls, and more, all scattered from the core to the rim. Zaerys’ family was even more well known and well off than Dalinar’s was. In her youth she enjoyed her family’s wealth and social status to party hard. As she matured however, her fiery and dominating personality had cooled only slightly, as she stepped in to help oversee the family business, and raise her growing family.  


While the family didn’t know how Kilan would change the dynamics of the household, one thing was certain, the Rebellion and Empire were a problem for someone else. Now was time for joyful family bonding.  
Kilan was Dalinar and Zaerys’ fourth child. Two boys, Kiith, age ten, and Clertan, age seven. They also had a daughter, Sairia, age four. Kiith, even at ten, showed signs he would be a strong and powerful man, much like Dalinar. Loud and boisterous, he was firmly content as both eldest child, and most apparently talented. Clertan was on the other end of the spectrum, small, quiet, and reserved. Astute and observant he lived each day trying to prove himself to his older brother. Sairia, although only four, was a near mirror image of Zaerys, wildly independent and unwaveringly fearless.  


====Gifted (2 ABY - 5 ABY)====
====Gifted (2 ABY - 5 ABY)====
The family remained on Coruscant, though both Dalinar’s and Zaerys’ positions led to frequent travel across the galaxy. Over the first few years of Kilan’s life, he had the opportunity to play in the waters of Naboo, get lost in one of the many starship factories of Corellia after wandering off from his parents, and run through the jungles of Felucia with his siblings.  
The family remained based on Coruscant. However, both Dalinar and Zaerys’ positions in their business led a frequent travel across the galaxy. Kilan’s toddler years were spent immersed in many cultures and environments. He played in the waters of Naboo, got lost in one of the many starships factories of Corellia after wandering off from his father, and ran in the jungles of Felucia with his siblings. These jaunts throughout the galaxy were always brief, and it was the bustling environment of Coruscant that became the foundation of Kilan’s early formative years.  


While these events would remain whispers of memories later in life, the strongest of these memories came from instances of clear force sensitivity from the toddler. For the first few years of Kilan’s life, his parents brushed off some of the strange occurrences as happenstance. All of their children has shown signs of weak force connection. But as Kilan continued to demonstrate a stronger connection, the more they worried.  
These flashes of events would become only whispers of memories later in Kilan’s life, subtle impressions of the familiar. The strongest impressions came from moments where Kilan demonstrated clear [[starwars:Force-sensitive|force sensitivity]]. The slight movement of objects, rapid learning and association skills, a deep empathy and concern for others. At first, his parents would brush off the strange and seemingly unexplainable occurrences as happenstance. All of their children had shown signs of unusual ability. But, as Kilan continued to demonstrate with greater regularity and affinity, the harder it became for his parents to ignore it, and the more they began to worry.  


They had money, but not even that would stop the wheel of the Empire from attempting to get its hands on a young force sensitive. Luckily, the Empire had turned its focus toward [[starwars:Luke_Skywalker|another]], and the family’s frequent galactic wide ventures prevented any official from noticing too much about their youngest child.  
Despite the family’s wealth, not even bribes would stop the wheel of the Empire from attempting to get their hands on a young force sensitive. They had all heard the stories of children being taken in the dead of night by military personnel, at the order of the Emperor, never to be seen or heard from again. Luckily, the Empire’s focus had been turned toward [[starwars:Luke_Skywalker|another]] and [[starwars:The_rebellion|the Rebellion]]. Coupled with the family’s frequent galactic wide ventures, there no officials spent enough time around Kilan to notice anything particular about the toddler. Neither Dalinar or Zaerys could forget their own youth, before the days of the Empire, and had happened to the legendary Jedi Order.


However, both parents also remembered their own youth, before the days of the Empire, and the stories of the Jedi.  
====Tyler Reynolds - The Jedi (5 ABY)====
[[File:TylerReynolds.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The grizzled Jedi survivor, Tyler Reynolds]]
The Emperor was [[starwars:Darth_Sidious#Death|dead]]. As hard as the Imperial officers attempted to squash the news, it was known. And from the moment of his death, the Galactic Empire began to [[starwars:Galactic_Empire#Fragmentation_of_the_Order|fragment]].Coruscant itself remained a mix of totalitarian leadership and willful defiance from the civilians. The future was as uncertain as it ever had been, but the Khzons could not help but feel for the first time years that their children’s lives were truly going to be free from the oppression of the Empire. And for the first time Kilan’s life, the burden of having his abilities was relaxed and less pressing.  


====Tyler Reynolds - The Jedi (5 ABY)====
However, Kilan’s abilities had been noticed, just not by the Imperials. Tyler Reynolds, former member of the Jedi Order and survivor of the Emperor’s [[starwars:Order_66|Order 66]], had sensed the five-year old’s strong force connection. The years had not be kind to the Jedi, whose paranoia had kept him alive through the Empire’s brutal crackdown against the Jedi. He was a weathered and gray old man, and it was only over the last few years of successes by the Rebellion that he had begun to feel truly alive again. And with the Emperor dead, it was time for him to act.  
[[File:TylerReynolds.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The grizzled Jedi survivor, Tyler Reynolds]]
The Emperor was [[starwars:Darth_Sidious#Death|dead]], and the Empire was already beginning to [[starwars:Galactic_Empire#Fragmentation_of_the_Order|fragment]]. While the Imperials of Coruscant had cracked down hard upon those who celebrated the Rebellion’s victory at Endor, the Khzons couldn’t help but feel relief that their children’s lives were to be free of the yolk of the Empire. Thoughts of hiding Kilan’s abilities hidden were less frantic, and urgent.  


But Kilan’s abilities had been noticed, just not by the Imperials. Tyler Reynolds, former Jedi Knight and survivor of the Emperor’s [[starwars:Order_66|Order 66]], had sensed the five-year old’s natural force connection. The years had not been kind to the Jedi, who’s paranoia had set in keeping him alive through the brutal crackdown of the Empire against the Jedi. Weathered and gray, it was only over the last year had he begun to feel truly alive again.  
The stories of Luke, the last Jedi, and great war hero were known even this deep in the core. But Tyler did not trust him, a boy, who had never once stepped foot within the Jedi Temple, or learned from the Jedi Council. And more than that, he was a '''Skywalker''', and for that reason alone Tyler wished to work to establish his own restoration of the Jedi Order. Tyler would accept only one formed on the foundation of the extinct Order of his youth.  


Even on in the core, stories of Luke, the last Jedi was known. Tyler, not trusting Luke, as the son of the man who had killed so many he knew and treated like family, was not about to let any force sensitives be taken to train under the new self-called Jedi. Tyler would see his own return of the Jedi, one founded squarely from what remained before the extinction of the order.  
It was to this end, that Tyler Reynolds came knocking on the Khzon’s door. With him, he brought a young girl, same age as Kilan, named Kara Venger. Dalinar and Zaerys were in the process on deadbolting the door against the grizzled old man when they saw the wide-eyed girl peering from behind the Jedi’s leg. Hearts softened, they let the pair into their home. Tyler presented a long and thought out proposal about why he needed to train Kilan, and the dangers that he would face against the dark side of the Force, should he not be given this chance to learn.  


Tyler brought with him a young girl, same age as Kilan, named Kara. Dalinar and Zaerys would have shut the door in Tyler’s face had they not seen the wide eyed girl peering from behind the Jedi’s leg. The discussion became a family wide matter, Dalinar and Zaerys uncertain, Kiith bitterly angry and demanding to be taken as well, Clertan fearful given the history of the Jedi, and Sairia not wishing to see her little brother leave.  
The discussion that followed became a family wide matter. Dalinar and Zaerys were torn over not wanting to lose their son, the risks he would face against the dark side, and the potential good he could provide as a trained Jedi. Kiith was bitterly angry and demanded to be given the same opportunity as his youngest brother. Clertan had read stories about the Jedi, and was fearful for his brother knowing that the Jedi were now gone. Sairia upset just for not wanting to see her brother leave. Kilan himself was unaware of the conversation going on, playing happily with Kara the whole time.  


In the end, Dalinar and Zaerys agreed to let Kilan go with the Jedi, believing the return of the Jedi would bring good back into a galaxy so broken from the rule of the Empire. While the family said their tearful farewells to the young and confused Kilan, Kiith stormed out, stories of the power and glory of the Jedi fueling his envy of his young brother.  
In the end, the risk of Kilan’s future without the training, and the potential good he could bring to the galaxy outweighed the the family’s desire to have Kilan stay. Kiith, refusing to accept the he too could not be trained, stormed off. A confused Kilan uncomprehending the good-byes given to him by the rest of his family was escorted out of the house by Tyler, who wanted to prevent a prolonged farewell that might trigger a change of heart from the Khzons.  


===Trials of a Jedi (5 ABY - 17 ABY)===
===Trials of a Jedi (5 ABY - 17 ABY)===
{{Quote|The future of the New Jedi Order begins with you two.|Tyler Reynolds}}
{{Quote|The future of the Jedi Order rests with you two.|Tyler Reynolds}}


''Tyler Reynolds proved to be a tough and rough individual to be mentored by. His years of proper training as a Jedi, coupled with his years of survival following the Jedi Order’s fall, would prove invaluable knowledge to the growing Kilan. But it was in the arms of Kara, Kilan found solace as he became a capable Jedi in his own right. And it was her death that destroyed him.''
''Tyler Reynolds proved to be a tough and demanding mentor. His years of dedication to the Jedi Order, coupled with the years he spent in hiding following the Order’s fall, had shaped him into unrelenting man. He was never cruel, but would push Kilan and Kara to their limits, and the comforts of Kilan’s life at home disappeared overnight. What comfort Kilan would find in life would be in the arms of Kara as he learned the invaluable lessons being taught by Tyler. And it was Kara’s death that would ultimately destroy him.''


====Jedi Younglings (6 ABY - 9 ABY)====
====Jedi Younglings (6 ABY - 9 ABY)====
At the time Kilan left his family, he was unaware of just what was happening to him. Gone was the comfort of wealth, and the support of family. For weeks he would cry himself to sleep as Tyler moved from hovel to hovel in the rotting slums of Coruscant. Kara, who’s time with Tyler already had killed and hope she had of returning home, was the one who sympathized with Kilan.
Kilan was too young to fully grasp the decision his parents had made for him. Overnight, gone was the comfort of wealth, and the freedom of uninhibited childhood. The first hours were some adventure to him, but then he was ready to go home. For weeks he would cry himself to sleep as they moved from hovel to hovel in the rotting slums of Coruscant’s lowest levels. Day by day Tyler chipped away at removing Kilan’s expectations of ever returning home. Kara, who had already spent several months with Tyler, was already so far removed from going home, it was all she could do to encourage Kilan to continue. More than once Tyler caught Kilan attempting to sneak away in the night.  
 
Tyler was relentless in his passion to shape the duo into the ultimate Jedi. They would wake at dawn, meditate, study, train. Concepts of play, rest, childhood had been wiped from his memory. In his youth as a Jedi Knight, Tyler has laughed easy, and knew balance of work and joy. But there would be no joy as a hunted man.  


The skills he learned from years of solitude he passed onto his two young students. Their joys would come in the form of games they made themselves, the few words of praise of a job well done, and satisfaction of mastery of a topic.  
Tyler was relentless in his passion to shape the two children into the ultimate Jedi. He was incredibly protective of them, and harsh at avoiding anything that would remotely resemble the dark side. He would wake Kilan and Kara up at dawn for morning meditation, study and training. Play took the form of furthering their skills, with Tyler inventing elaborate games for the two to work at. But anything that did not further their abilities, tested them, taught them was pushed away. In his youth, Tyler had laughed easily knowing the balance of work and joy, but there was no true joy left for him to have as a hunted man.  


Topics included the expected force study, lightsaber and martial art styles, history of the Jedi, philosophy, alien cultures and languages. However Tyler was insistent on branching out to cover further topics, he believed would be necessary to survive. These lessons quickly branched out from conceptual to practical, where Kilan and Kara would be abandoned in the wilderness, or heart of a city.  
The skills Tyler learned in his exile and seclusion, he passed onto his two young students, in addition to the more traditional Jedi sensibility he clung so tightly to. They trained in the ways of the Force, lightsaber combat, martial art styles, history of the Jedi, philosophy, languages. They branched out into salvage, repairing and bypassing mechanics, medicine, scavenging, animal studies, politics, and more. And within a few years of daily pushing toward perfection, these lessons became largely practical more than conceptual, with Kilan and Kara being abandoned in the wilderness or heart of a city, while Tyler watched and tested them from afar.  


[[File:Naboonational.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Tranquil World of Naboo]]
====The First Trial (10 ABY)====
====The First Trial (10 ABY)====
Near the middle of 10 ABY, Kilan and Kara face what was the first of their long journey through the [[starwars:Jedi_Trials|trials]] needed for Tyler to recognize them as Jedi Knights, and to be sent to continue to build his new Jedi Order.  
[[File:Naboonational.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Naboo]]
 
In the middle of [[10_ABY_to_19_ABY#10_ABY|10 ABY]], Kilan and Kara faced what was the first true test on their long journey through the [[starwars:Jedi_Trials|trials]] that would prove they were worthy of being Jedi Knights. It was only after demonstrating their skills and dedication could Tyler’s new Jedi Order begin in earnest. Tyler took the pair to the countryside of [[starwars:Naboo|Naboo]], not to learn of farming from those who called the area home, but to look into a corrupt local authority. Prazna Tuk, a former Imperial loyalist stationed on the planet during the height of the Empire, had sunk his own teeth into a large section of countryside, and piece by piece pushed the locals into near slave-labor conditions.  
Tyler took the pair to the grain fields of [[starwars:Naboo|Naboo]], not to learn of farming, but to look into the stories of a corrupt local authority in the peaceful fields near the equator. Prazna Tuk, a former Imperial loyalist, had sunk his teeth into the countryside, pushing the locals to near slave labor conditions.  


With a three-year drought not showing any sign of letting up, grain levels were low, and Tuk’s taxation demanding more and more grain, the locals were having a hard time producing enough to sell to support their families.  
Tuk was demanding an increased taxation, and grain tribute, on top of a three-year drought plaguing the area. The local farmers were having a hard time just producing enough to survive. What Tyler had not been expecting however, were the bribed police forces in Prazna’s pocket. They had been in region for all of a day and a half when Tyler was brought into custody, for disturbing the local peace. Luckily, Kilan and Kara were able to avoid arrest, in part due to their abilities to hide, in addition to  the police not thinking a pair of ten-year olds could be a threat.  


What Tyler had not been expecting however, were the many police forces happily given credit bonuses by Prazna. They had been in the area for all of a day and a half when Tyler was arrested. Outsiders were mistrusted, especially this far in the remote countryside of the planet.  
While Tyler attempted to free himself, Kilan and Kara went to work. They were going to do what none of the locals, or even Tyler himself, could do. Bring Prazna out into the open to be dealt with. Together they worked in tandem, distracting guards, accessing safe houses, sabotaging droids. They wreaked havoc with a wide array of childish and immature pranks and disruptions in only the way children could. This had the effect all childish behavior does on adults, it made Prazna angry. This anger culminated when they managed to release a hot steaming pile of [[starwars:Shaak|shaak]] droppings in the face of Tuk’s newest mistress as she arrived at Tuk’s residence.  


Luckily Kilan and Kara were overlooked simple due to their age. While Tyler attempted to escape from his holding cell, Kilan and Kara went to work. Dismissed by the adults of the area, they did what none of locals, or even Tyler could do, draw Prazna out into the open. Together they worked in tandem, distract guards, access safehouses. Between the two of them they wreaked havoc with childish and immature pranks and sabotage in only the way children could dream up. This culminated when they released a hot steaming pile of [[starwars:Shaak|shaak]] droppings in the face of Tuk’s newest mistress as she arrived at Tuk’s residence.  
This event, following three days of non-stop hindrances to his men, thrust Prazna into direct action. Backed by his most loyal and brutish followers, he made his way to the town center. By this time, the news of these disruptions had spread like wildfire over the populace, who had turned out in a massive crowd to see what would happen next to Tuk and his thugs and because Tuk had also promised anyone not in attendance would be labeled as co-conspirators.  


Their childish and immature methods of sabotage didn’t take long to seep under the skin of Prazna, who after three days of non-stop hindrances to his men, decided to take direct action. He backed by his most loyal, and brutish, followers went to the town center. By this time, news of the continued pranks had spread all round the populace. A massive crowd had gather partly out of curiosity, partly because Tuk had stated anyone not in attendance would be hunted and flogged as co-conspirators.
While Tuk and his men had been distracted by the many disruptions Kilan and Kara were able to bring about, Tyler was able to make his escape. When Tuk arrived to the town center, he arrived to a crowd that was riled up from Tyler’s passionate call to arms to seize back their lives. What Tyler had not anticipated was just how angry and down trodden the locals were, and just how much of a frenzy they flew into when Prazna finally appeared.  


The whole time Tuk and his men were distracted by the pranks, Tyler was able to escape his holding cell. As Tuk arrived in the town center to a group of angry and riled up civilians. For over 30 minutes Tyler had stood there convincing them to stand up for themselves. He had not anticipated to be so successful in convincing them however, and with Prazna’s appearance the crowd flew into a frenzy.
Prazna’s men turned and ran on the spot, not about to face off against the entire local population. Prazna himself was not so lucky, and was captured quickly by the mob before he could escape. The locals began to tear at his clothing, kicking, scratching, punching, all wanting a piece of retribution for the cruelty he had shown them. It was at this point Kilan stepped in between the horribly wronged civilians and the corrupt Tuk. This action of a child caused the crowd to instantly fall into silence. Kilan despised Prazna, and what he had done to the people here, but he couldn’t let the crowd kill Tuk. He would protect him because it was the right thing to do.  
 
Prazna’s men turned and ran on the spot. Prazna himself was not so lucky, captured quickly by the mob. With the locals screaming for his head, and nearly getting, it was Kilan who stepped between the horribly wronged civilians and the corrupt Tuk. The simple action of placing himself between the people and the bringer of their pain pushed the crowd instantly into silence. Kilan may have despised Prazna’s actions, but he would protect him, because it was the right thing to do.  


====The Second Trial (12 ABY)====
====The Second Trial (12 ABY)====
[[File:Kashyyyk.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Kashyyyk - Home of the Wookiees]]
[[File:Kashyyyk.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Kashyyyk]]
The second trial Kilan would face occurred early in the in the year of 12 ABY. Tyler had begun a more rigorous training schedule, and Kilan and Kara were delving deep into combat and tactics in addition to the rest of their studies. Nights were long, mornings came early, and the stress placed on the pair began to take its toll.
Kilan’s second trial took place early in the year of [[10_ABY_to_19_ABY#12_ABY|12 ABY]]. Tyler had begun a more rigorous training schedule as Kilan and Kara aged, throwing the pair deep into combat and tactics, which he hoped would help them survive in a galaxy that was constantly trying to kill Jedi. Their days ran late into the night, and their mornings started very early. The stress they were experiencing began to take its toll.  
 
Ignoring the physical and mental wounds of his wards, and took them to the forest planet of [[starwars:Kashyyyk|Kashyyyk]] home of the mighty, but often enslaved [[starwars:Wookiee|Wookiees]]. Neither Kilan nor Kara spoke a word of [[starwars:Shyriiwook|Shyriiwook]], but Tyler wished to teach them both about being strong honorable warriors, and how it is possible to learn even without the ability to communicate.  


The first few days were rather enjoyable for the pre-teens. The Wookiees were exceptionally welcoming of Kilan and Kara, and tolerated Tyler, based purely on the sacrifices previous Jedi had made on their behalf. But even the care of the Wookiees did little to stymie the wear and tear the two were feeling.  
Seemingly unaware, or underestimating the physical and mental weight his wards were experiencing, Tyler took them to the forest planet of [[starwars:Kashyyyk|Kashyyyk]]. The home of the mighty, and often wrongly enslaved [[starwars:Wookiee|Wookiees]], would teach Kilan and Kara two things. How to be honorable warriors, and that it is possible to learn without a clear ability to communicate, as neither of them knew a single word of [[starwars:Shyriiwook|Shyriiwook]].


A week after arriving on the planet, Kilan was traversing the forest floor with a Wookiee warrior, Nagkazza “''Heroic Spirit''”. The warrior had taken an immediate liking to the young boy, and had been showing him how to track. From shade of the tall trees they were attacked. Kilan, sensing moments before the bulking beast lunged forward, managed to shove the much larger Nagkazza out of the way. The beast’s mouth snapped shut in the space Nagkazza had been occupying just an instant before, already eyeing the much smaller prey that was Kilan, the monster turned abruptly, tail lashing out, striking the pair away from each other. Nagkazza slammed into a tree, head first, where he fell unconscious. Kilan landed in a bush, several ribs cracked. Before he could react the beast was upon him.
The first days were rather enjoyable for the preteens, who always loved being able to see new locations and distant worlds. The Wookiees of the village they stayed at were exceptionally welcoming of the two, and has a standing respect of Tyler, based on the previous sacrifices of Jedi on their behalf. But even the welcoming care of the Wookiees did little to stymie the continue wear on Kilan and Kara.  


Kilan drifted in and out of consciousness as he was dragged along the forest floor. Sharp fangs gripped his right leg tightly, and sent a powerful toxin through his bloodstream. He came to again as he heard a screech, and felt the grip on his leg stop. Blurred shadows of the beast that had been dragging him, and something even larger danced before his eyes. He fell back unconscious. Chased off by the larger predator, Kilan was left alone and completely defenseless on the dark forest floor.  
A week after arriving on the planet, Kilan was traversing the forest floor with a Wookiee warrior, Nagkazza, “''Heroic Spirit''”. The warrior had taken an immediate liking to the young boy, and had taken him away from the village to show him how to track prey for food. Kilan sensed something wrong, moments before they were attacked by a large and bulking beast from the shadows. He managed to shove Nagkazza out of the way moments before the beast’s mouth snapped shut around the space the Wookiee’s head had been. Eyes fixed on Kilan, the far smaller and weaker of the two, the beast thrashed out with its tail striking them away from each other. Nagkazza slammed into a nearby tree, head first where he fell unconscious. Kilan landed in a bush, several ribs cracked. Before he could react the beast was upon him.  


In his poisoned and injured state, he began to have visions. Whispers in his ears spoken by dark faces he felt were so familiar, Kara’s lifeless eyes frozen, in their reflection the silhouette of a laughing man, an exploding ball of fire that took the shape of a bird, a vacant throne. When aware of where he was, he was torn between wanting to silent, as not to attract other predators, and noisy so that he could be found. He was removed from awareness of time, each breath agonizing, each scream of pain sure to bring his final demise.  
Kilan fell in and out of consciousness as he was dragged along the forest floor. The beast had a vice like grip with its mouth on his right leg, and was sending a powerful toxin into Kilan’s bloodstream. He came back into consciousness at the sound of a loud screech. The beast let loose its hold of his leg, and turned to face something coming out of the shadows. Kilan made out the blurred movement of something even bigger attacking. The larger predator left Kilan alone, and dragged the remains of of the beast with him to feast on. Kilan was left alone and completely defenseless on the forest floor.  


When Nagkazza and Kilan didn’t return to the Wookiee village at dusk, Tyler and the Wookiee’s knew something had happened. They found Nagkazza with relative ease, the warrior was finally coming to back to consciousness. While still disoriented the Wookiee insisted on remaining to find Kilan.  
The poison and delirium from his injuries began to affect him on a larger scale. He began to have visions while whispers in his ears spoke of dark tidings. He saw Kara laying lifeless, eyes wide. Caught in their reflection was the silhouette of a laughing man. Then came an exploding ball of fire that turned into the shape of bird. There was a hall of blood, and Kilan could hear the crunching of bone as he progressed close to a vacant throne.  


It was nearing dawn by the time they finally found him, leg bleeding and motionless. He stirred slightly and they noticed he had found a large stick in his delirium. Corpses of several small animals surrounded him.  
When Nagkazza and Kilan didn’t return at dusk to the village, Tyler and the Wookiee’s knew something had happened. They found Nagkazza quickly, as the warrior was finally returning to consciousness. Disorientated he insisted on helping in the search to find Kilan, refusing to return to the village. It was nearing dawn by the time they were able to find Kilan, motionless in a pile of his own blood. He stirred slightly as they approached, and they noticed he had grabbed hold of a stick to ward off several smaller animals that had approached him in the night.  


It took 5 days for Kilan’s fever to break, visions and nightmares haunting him all the while. Even once the venom was flushed from his body, it took weeks for his other physical wounds to heal. Tyler lauded him as a hero, for acting on instinct and saving Nagkazza’s life.  
For five days Kilan was left in a fevered delirious state, visions and nightmares haunting him all the while. And even when the toxin had finally been cleared of his system, it took several more weeks before he was healthy and stable enough to be moved from the village. Tyler lauded him a true hero, acting on the will of the Force to save Nagkazza’s life.  


[[File:Corellia.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Great Starship making world of Corellia]]
====The Third Trial (14 ABY)====
====The Third Trial (14 ABY)====
It was on [[starwars:Corellia|Corellia]] that Kilan began to comprehend just why Tyler was so distrusting. Not just from the extinction of the Jedi following the Clone Wars, but of life’s darker natures.
[[File:Corellia.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Corellia]]
 
It was on the planet of [[starwars:Corellia|Corellia]] that Kilan learned why Tyler was so distrusting and paranoid. Not just from the extinction of the Jedi following the Clone Wars, but of people in general and their selfish natures. Tyler had been bringing Kilan and Kara off and on since he had taken them under his wing. Both had the correct assumption that the planet was in fact Tyler’s homeworld. It was here Tyler had taken them following Kilan’s injuries on Kashyyyk. They returned again in [[10_ABY_to_19_ABY#14_ABY|14 ABY]]  to stay for a period of six months. This time was spent at their host’s estate, and working on ships in one of the factories their host owned.  
Tyler had been bringing Kilan and Kara to Corellia off and on since he had first took them under his wing. Both had high suspicion that the planet, was in fact Tyler’s homeworld. It was here Tyler had taken the injured Kilan following the events on Kashyyyk, and it was here they returned in 14 ABY. For six months they stayed on the planet. The bulk of the time was spent at the estate of their host, and up inside the guts of the ships that were being built on the planet.  


Their hosts, the Bertoths, were a family dynasty of engineering masters. Steffen, the patriarch of the family had learned his skills from his father, and his father before him. Over the course of these six months, Steffen would impart some of this generational knowledge to Kilan. Steffan’s wife, Yllara, was an elegant and sophisticated woman who shared the finer points of high society with Kilan and Kara, knowledge Tyler never had, nor cared, to impart himself.  
The Bertoths were a family dynasty of engineering masters. Steffen, patriarch of the family,  was a 14th generation engineer. It was from him that Kilan and Kara learned much of about mechanical workings for both ships, and droids. Steffen’s wife, Yllara, was an elegant and sophisticated woman who taught the finer points of high society to the pair. They had a single son, the nineteen year old Calu, who quickly fell into the role of “older brother: Kilan had not had since leaving his own family.  


But most importantly, there was Calu, the Bertoths’ only son and heir. The 19-year old quickly fell into the role of “elder brother” for Kilan, which in part was due to his memories of his own brothers. Calu was quickly accepting of the young Kilan. For the first time in along time, Kilan was able to forget the strict rigor of his training. Calu taught Kilan how to pilot a ship, how to sneak out of the estate without being noticed, how to get a hold of alcohol, and the like.  
Calu was the definition of a cool older “brother”, teaching Kilan how to pilot, sneak out of the estate, where to get alcohol, how to make minor explosives, and many other activities. Kilan, in returning, wishing to impress Calu began showing off some of his force capabilities. Spurred on by the endless possibilities force abilities presented, Calu pushed Kilan even further down the road of rebellious behavior.  


Kilan in wishing to impress his ''cool'' older brother, began to show off some of his force abilities, much to the latter's amazement. Spurred on by the endless possibilities the force present, Calu pushed Kilan even further into his rebellious stage of life.
Six months into the stay, everything changed. Calu took Kilan cross continent under the pretext of wild party with other bored upper class teens. However, it was not the sand beaches of the coast that Calu took Kilan, It was to a remnant of the Galactic Empire, held high in a skyscraper under the guise of a corporation. Calu had sold Kilan’s abilities out for a hefty sum of credits.  


Six months in however, that all changed. Taking Kilan across continent under the the disguise of another wild adventure with the other upper class socialites they had embarked on a dozen times before. However, it was not the sandy beaches of the coast Calu took Kilan. It was to remnants of the Galactic Empire, hidden in plain sight, high in a skyscraper. Calu sold Kilan’s force abilities out for a hefty sum of credits. Kilan was a mixture of fear, rage, shock, and confused.  
The Imperials had no desire to part with their credits however, they shot Calu at point blank range right in the heart, killing him instantly. Kilan knew he would face a similar fate, or be taken to be turned into a weapon for these Imperial Loyalists. Giving himself over to the promptings of the force, he turned and ran as fast as he could. He threw himself one of the upper story windows and fell in a cascade of broken glass, landing with a thud on the roof of a passing transport. Clutching for his life, he held on as the transport put distance between him and the skyscraper. The instant it touched down in a landing port, Kilan was off into the shadows of the population before anyone could tell he had been there.  


But the Imperials had no desire to give away their money. They blasted Calu right in the heart, killing him instantly. While Calu fell to the floor, Kilan knew he would face a similar fate, or worse at the hands of the Imperials. With nothing else to lose, he let himself be taken over by the forces promptings and ran.
He was able to get a hold of Tyler, who came and found him at once. The trip back to the Bertoths’ estate was filled with a silence of three parts. There was the silent but concrete disappointment coming from Tyler over Kilan letting his guard down, and ignoring the caution he had been taught for years. There was the silence of the conversation to come, with the Bertoths, whose only son had just been murdered. Finally there was the silence of Kilan’s own outstanding guilt over allowing any of this to happen. Mercifully, Tyler spoke with the Bertoths without Kilan present. He had been sent to gather his belongings as rapidly as possible, along with Kara’s. Yllara’s scream could be heard from the other side of the estate. It was a long time before Kilan was able to look Tyler in the eyes.  
 
As fast as he possibly could run, he threw his shoulder out in front of him, striking one of the top floor windows, which shatters. Amid a cascade of broken window glass he fell from the tower, only to land with a thud on the top of a passing by transport. Clutching for dear life, he whizzed away from the tower, and the danger within. The transport realizing there was someone on top of it, sped toward a landing pad, where Kilan was off and into the crowds of the planet before they could get a look at him.
 
He was able to get a hold of Tyler, who came and retrieved him at once. The trip back to the Bertoths’ estate was filled with a silence of three parts. There was the silent but firmly noted disappointment stemming from Tyler over Kilan letting his guard down. Then there was the silence of the conversation to come with the Bertoths’, whose only son had just been murdered. Finally there was the silence of Xen’s own outstand guilt over allowing this to happen.  
 
Kilan was not present when Tyler broke the news of Calu’s death. He had been sent to quickly gather his things, and to instruct Kara to do the same. He heard Yllara’s scream from the other side of the estate. It was a very long time before he would say anything, let alone look Tyler in the eyes.  


====The Fourth Trial (16 ABY)====
====The Fourth Trial (16 ABY)====
It was on Coruscant, Kilan’s homeworld, that would see Kilan’s first real exposure to the power and seductive properties of the Dark side of the Force.  
[[File:CoruscantUnderworld.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Coruscant’s Underworld]]
 
Kilan experienced his first true taste of the power and seductive properties of the [[starwars:Dark_side_of_the_Force|dark side of the Force]] on his home planet of [[starwars:Coruscant|Coruscant]]. After over a decade of being each other's support under Tyler’s tutelage, it was impossible for Kilan and Kara not to develop a romantic connection. Through a willful ignorance, Tyler chose to overlook the increasingly obvious interest the two had in each other. Deep down he knew the harder he pushed to keep them apart, the closer they would become. And that would only lead to losing them both, and the decade of time he could never recover spent training them.  
After over a decade of relying on each other, it was impossible for Kilan and Kara to not develop a romantic connection. Tyler, through willful ignorance, chose to overlook the increasingly obvious interest the two had in each other. Deep down he knew trying to force them apart would only push them closer together, and in the process would lose him the decade of time he invested in training them.
 
It had been years since the trio had ventured back to the planet sized city. For all its shiny towers and high sophistication, Coruscant had its dark corners just as any other planet. In the crowded slummy streets far below the rising towers of the planet, Kara ended separated from Kilan and Tyler. It wasn’t uncommon for one of them to become wander off, but after several minutes of not being able to locate her, Kilan and Tyler grew worried. They knew the kind of men who lived in this part of the city all too well.
 
Kilan tried to remain calm, and focus his mind to find Kara, but as the minutes ticked by the harder that became. Just when he thought he couldn’t handle it any longer, they rounded a corner. The dark side-alley attracted no attention from those passing along the main street. Even among the smell of piss and shit and garbage, Kilan was able to pick up the fruity undertones of Kara’s shampoo.  


And then he saw her.  
It had been years since the trio had ventured back to the planet, and for all its shiny towers and power it had held in the galaxy for generations, it had its fair share of dark corners and downtrodden just as any other planet in the system. It was in the grimy, dank, dark [[starwars:Coruscant_underworld|underworld of Coruscant]]. While working to help the more honorable of the poor in the slums, Kara became separated from Kilan and Tyler. It wasn’t uncommon for one of them to end up wandering off as they ventured through the streets, but after several minutes of not being able to locate her, Kilan and Tyler grew worried. They knew the kind of men that called these levels home.  


She had been drugged, needle still stuck in her neck. Like a rag doll her limbs flopped about as the small gang of three men pawed and grabbed and ripped at her clothing. For the first time in his life Kilan experienced true anger. The rage crashed over him like a giant wave and before anyone noticed he had been standing there, he was already lunging forward toward the three men.  
Kilan tried to remain calm, and keep his mind attuned to the Force in his efforts to locate Kara, but as the minutes ticked by, the harder that became. When it reached the point Kilan thought he couldn’t handle it any longer, they rounded a corner onto a poorly lit side alley that attracted little attention from those walking on the main walkway. Even among the smell of piss, shit, and garbage, Kilan was able to pick up the fruity undertones of Kara’s shampoo. And that is when he saw her.  


A blur of fast striking limbs he took down two of the men with quick and surgical precision. The center man, clearly the leader of the trio, managed to turn and put his arms up before Kilan could strike. Surrendering to the rage Kilan wasn’t even aware of how he was moving, primal instinct taking over. The third man didn’t last long. Even after he fell, Kilan punched again and again. Blood, flesh, teeth, spit flew as he landed blow after blow on the man’s face. Then he stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Kara stir slightly. He lowered his fists and grabbed a small bacta pack from his pocket, spraying the salve on the man’s face.
She had been drugged, syringe still sticking out her neck. Limp like a ragdoll, her limbs flopped about as a small gang of three men pawed, grabbed, and ripped at her clothing. For the first time in his life, Kilan experienced true rage, and with it the crashing power of the dark side. As his rage rolled over his mind, he lunged forward toward the men. In a blur of fast movements he took down two of the men with a quick and surgical precision before they even noticed he was there. The center man, the clear leader of the trio, managed to turn to put his arms up in defense. In his rage Kilan wasn’t even aware of how he was moving, primal fury over taking his senses. The third man didn’t last long. Even after he fell, Kilan didn’t stop, punching him over and over. Blood, flesh, teeth, and spit flew as he landed blow after blow against the man’s face.  


Tyler came running up, and put a sympathetic hand on Kilan’s shoulder. He had seen the whole thing. Such an event was inevitable for a force sensitive. Sooner or later the Dark side always came knocking.  
But then he saw Kara stir slightly out of the corner of his eye, and he froze. He paused for just a moment as his mind caught up to the action he had taken. He lowered his fists and grabbed a small bacta pack from his pocket, spraying the salve on the man’s face. Tyler came running up, winded at trying to keep up with Kilan. He put a sympathetic hand on Kilan’s shoulder, understanding all too well the pull to the dark Kilan just experienced. It was an inevitable event for any Force-sensitive person. Kilan picked up Kara and they took her to recover in a safer location.  


====The Final Trial (16 ABY)====
====The Final Trial (16 ABY)====
[[File:Nexu.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Mighty Nexu]]
[[File:Nexu.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Nexu]]
The final trail Kilan would undertake took place on [[starwars:Cholganna|Cholganna]]. High above the planet’s surface they made their approach in a rickety old ship. As they broke the atmosphere, the engine blew. The bits that survived the explosion fell away from the rest of the shuttle. With only seconds to act, the trio jumped into their respective escape pods and ejected.
Kilan’s final trial, and days as an apprentice under Tyler, took place on the planet of [[starwars:Cholganna|Cholganna]]. High above the planet’s surface they made their approach in a rickety old ship, it was functional, but barely so. As they broke the atmosphere, the engine blew, sending the ship spiralling out of control in a freefall. With only seconds to spare in grabbing some belongings they trio jumped into their individual escape pods and ejected from the ship.  


Kilan awoke to a pod hanging by its emergency shoot in one of the many trees of the forest. It rocked slightly in the wind. He carefully opened the door to the pod, and was relieved to see he was only feet from the forest floor. He gathered what few supplies there were in the pod, and jumped gingerly out.  
Kilan awoke in his pod seated upside down, hanging by its emergency chute in one of the many tall trees of the forest. It swayed slightly in the wind. He carefully and slowly moved to position himself right way up. Head rushing from the blood flow, he slowly opened the escape pods door and was relieved to see it was only a few feet to the ground. He gathered what few supplies there were in the pod and jumped gingerly out of it. It was dusk, and light was fading fast. Kilan was aware of the dangers of the planet, none more-so than the [[starwars:Nexu|Nexu]] that originated from this planet. He had seen one up close when he was 12, as it ripped a man’s head off in the fighting pits of Skurrada IV. It was an experience he had not forgotten.  


It was dusk, and the dangerous forest planet was home to all manner of vicious predators. None more-so than the [[starwars:Nexu|Nexu]]. He had seen one swipe a man’s head off in the fighting pits of Skurrada IV when he was 12.  
Alone, small set of emergency supplies, his lightsaber, a [[starwars:glowrod|glowrod]], and his wits, Kilan had to act quickly if he was to survive the forest. He pulled the escape pod to the ground, and used its secure metal casing as his shelter for the cold night that was fast approaching. His attempts to use the pod’s communicator failed him, several key parts having been stripped from it years ago. He knew Tyler’s and Kara’s pods had launched out in similar directions as his own. Through the Force, the most he could sense was their presence to the North-East. Dawn came slowly in a night of unrestful poor attempts at sleeping. The distinct sounds of claws against metal had kept him awake several times throughout the night.  


Alone, armed with his lightsaber, a [[starwars:glowrod|glowrod]], and his wits, he pulled the escape pod down to the ground, and used it as a shelter for the night. His attempts to use the pod’s communicator failed him, parts having been stripped out of it years ago. Kara’s and Tyler’s pods had launched in a similar direction as his own, so while he lay there thinking, he tried to sense them through the force. North-East was the most detail he could pick up. Dawn came slowly after an unrestful attempt at sleeping. Kilan had heard the distinct sound of claws scratching down the metal exterior of the pod.  
Kilan examined the muddy footprints around the pod once he finally left it. There were at least three separate sets of nexu footprints that circled the pod. With a general bearing of where Tyler and Kara were, he set out into the trees, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Every snapping twig and crunching leaf made his adrenaline spike. Even with his lightsaber, a full pack of nexu could kill him apart with ease.


Kilan examined the muddy footprints around the pod once he finally came out. There were at least three distinct sets of nexu foot prints. Out of options Kilan took off into the trees. Alert as he could be, every snapping twig and crunching leaf sent him on edge. Even with a lightsaber a pack of nexu could easily rip him apart.  
Twice Kilan saw the slinking shadows out of the corners of his eyes. The third time he was alerted by a roar, and the searing pain of a clawed foot ripping through his back. He turned and struck down the beast with his lightsaber, as he did so another lashed out from the shadows, tearing at his back again. He sliced that nexu down as well. The third, smelling the seared flesh of its packmates, growled and retreated into the shadows. Bleeding profusely, and barely able to stand, Kilan broke into a run, mind focused on the force signature of Tyler and Kara, his only hope of surviving was finding them.  


Twice he saw the slinking shadows far in the trees. The third time he was alerted by a roar and the searing pain from a clawed foot ripping through his back. Lightsaber activated, he turned and struck down the beast, as he did so, another paw came and slashed his back, which he returned in kind. The third nexu, smelling the seared flesh of its packmates, turned and ran. Bleeding profusely, and barely able to stand, Kilan broke into a run, mind locked on the force signature of his master and his beloved Kara.  
Kilan stumbled from the trees into a clearing and right into the arms of kara. Tyler had found her the evening before, and they had set out South-West to find him at first light. While Tyler went to activate a functioning emergency beacon, Kara set to stitching Kilan’s back. Tyler himself, still shaken from the crash landing of his own escape pod, truly looked his age for the first time. He knew his days of widespread travel were at an end. The unkind years of his rough life had finally caught up to him. He knew there was little left he could provide to his proteges. Once they had been rescued, and wounds properly examined, he unceremoniously declared them at the end of their training, ready to live as Jedi Knights. The next morning when Kilan and Kara awoke, he was gone.  


He stumbled from the trees into a clearing and right into the arms of Kara. Tyler had already found her, and they had been heading South-West to find him. Activating a functional emergency beacon, they set to stitching Kilan’s back while waiting for rescue.
Tyler himself, injured from his own crash landing, knew his days of travel were coming to an end. His years of rough and extreme lifestyle were catching up on him. Rather than hold back his proteges, once safely away and wounds healing, he declared Kilan and Kara to be at the end of their training. The next morning when they woke, he was gone.
[[File:Xen-Kara.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kilan’s Great Love - Kara]]
====The Alleys of Nar Shaddaa (17 ABY)====
====The Alleys of Nar Shaddaa (17 ABY)====
Kilan and Kara knew they would have to eventually find students of their own. Tyler had stressed their importance in rebuilding what he saw as the correct and true Jedi Order. For months they had traveled from planet to planet, never lingering in any one place, helping where they could, but trying not to draw attention either. They existed in limbo without the guiding hand of Tyler to push them in the correct direction. The only consolation to this fact, was they no longer felt the guilt that accompanied their love for each other.  
[[File:Xen-Kara.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Kara Venger]]
While Kilan and Kara knew they would have to eventually find students of their own, they postponed it, unsure of how to proceed without Tyler’s guiding hand. He had strongly emphasised that they were key to restoring what he saw as the one true Jedi Order. For months they traveled from planet to planet, much as they had done with Tyler, helping people where they could, but avoiding drawing unwanted attention. They existed in a state of limbo without Tyler to direct them. There only consolation to no longer having Tyler to rely on, was they they no longer felt the overwhelming guilty the accompanied their love for each other.  


It was in this state of limbo, they found themselves on [[starwars:Nar_Shaddaa|Nar Shaddaa]]. The smuggler’s moon had always been home to the wretched and vile, but it was also home to those who had no way out. Several rival [[starwars:Hutt|Hutt]] Families had broken out into a turf war. Kilan and Kara arrived to help with the wounded, provide supplies and food, and help shelter the innocents as best they could. But the longer they stayed, the more attention they received. They decided for their own safety to leave the moon behind.  
It was in this state of no guidance, that they found themselves on [[starwars:Nar_Shaddaa|Nar Shaddaa]]. The Smuggler’s Moon had always been home to the wretched and vile, but it was also home to those who had no way out. With several rival [[starwars:Hutt|Hutt]] ruling the planet, several major conflicts had broken out on the streets of the moon. Turf war had little respect for the innocent, and it was for them, that Kilan and Kara arrived to do what they could in aid. But the longer they stayed, the more attention they received, so much so they decided to leave the moon immediately for their own safety.  


A dark and powerful storm was cutting through the smoggy haze of the moon as they attempted to make their way to the spaceport. The usually bustling outer walkway was nearly abandoned from the rain. They moved quickly, both feeling through the force that something was wrong. Believing it was just the storm, and the dour nature that was the smugglers’ moon, they shrugged it off. At a particularly strong burst of wind, Kilan felt something shove against his chest sending him flying down the long walkway with an unnatural power.  
A dark and powerful storm was cutting through the smog and haze of the moon as they attempted to make their way to a nearby spaceport. The usually bustling outside walkway was nearly abandoned from the heavy torrent of rain and wind. Both felt a queasy urge from the Force in the pits of their stomachs, a feeling they attributed to the general violent nature of the turf war they had placed themselves in. In a particularly strong burst of wind, a totally unnatural force slammed into Kilan’s chest sending him flying down the long wet walkway.


As Kilan got to his feet, a cloaked and hooded figure approached Kara. In a flash of lightning the figure activated a red lightsaber, and lashed out at Kara, driving the blade straight through her chest, vaporizing her heart. Kilan stumbled to his feet as the time slowed. Kara was falling, steam rising from the gaping hole in her chest.  
Kilan stumbled to his feet as quickly as he could, fully knowing only the Force could have hit him with such power. In a flash of lightning he saw a hooded figure quickly approaching Kara, who had her back turned to the figure, eyes locked on what happened to Kilan. The figure activated a red bladed lightsaber, and drove it through Kara’s chest, vaporizing her heart and killing her instantly. The blade shut off as quickly as it had turned on, and Kilan felt time slow as he slipped and slid in the wet. Kara was falling, steam rising from the gaping hole in her chest.  


The hooded figure jumped off the walkway as Kilan broke into a run. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an open top speeder fly away. He fell to his knees and slid the last few feet to Kara’s side. Kilan screamed until his throat went too raw to make any more noise, and then screamed some more. Cradling her head in his lap his mind fell into an abyss of pain and rage.  
The hooded figure jumped off the walkway, as Kilan finally got the traction he needed to run toward Kara. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a open top speeder fly away, roof closing as it sped into the darkness. Kilan fell to his knees and slid the last few feet to Kara’s side. He cradled her head in his lap hoping it was just a nightmare, and then he screamed in agony. He screamed until his throat got too raw to make any more noise, and then screamed some more. He fell into a daze, a mixture of despair, pain, and rage.


===Vismorsus Rising (17 ABY - 19 ABY)===
===Vismorsus Rising (17 ABY - 19 ABY)===
{{Quote|I have been pushing you toward this moment your whole life.|Mikal Yathik}}
{{Quote|I have been pushing you toward this moment, your whole life. It is your destiny.|Mikal Yathik}}


''Taking extreme measures for his shattered soul, Kilan would reject the Force and all he knew. Becoming Xen’Mordin Vismorsus he would come to learn the truth of his place in the universe and ultimately find his way to the Dark Brotherhood. But first he would have to endure new pains, and succumb to the seduction of the dark side of the Force. ''
''Unable to cope with this sudden loss of the woman he loved, Kilan died as well on the surface of Nar Shaddaa. Like a phoenix out of the ashes of his former life, Xen’Mordin Vismorsus would face his own trials and sufferings on the route to becoming the man he was meant to be. As hard as he tried, he could not shake the involvement of the Force in his life, and this would push him to the Dark Brotherhood, and to the place he would finally call home, the first he had since leaving his family at the age of five.''


====The Phoenix (17 ABY)====
====The Phoenix (17 ABY)====
[[File:XenBanner.gif|thumb|150px|right|Xen would adopt a stylized phoenix as his sigil, signifying the several rebirths he experienced in life.]]
[[File:XenBanner.gif|thumb|200px|right|Xen’s Sigil - A Stylized Phoenix]]
Kilan wandered aimlessly for days. He would ensured Kara’s body was sent back to her family, unable or willing to accompany it to tell him in person. His mind and will broken by the death of the only person he ever truly could rely on. He was crippled by the weight of existence.  
Kilan became unware of what was happening around him. He ensured Kara’s body was sent to her family, a mix of unwilling and unable to accompany it to speak with them in person. Every concrete memory he had in life had involved Kara in some way or another, and without her, he was broken, crippled by the weight of an existence without her support. Unable to continue, but lacking the strength to take his own life, he underwent a process far more lasting and dangerous.  


Kilan eventually found a seedy and grungy room to rent in one of the poorest areas of the moon. He didn’t leave it for several days. Taking his pain and sorrow to the most extreme he severed his connection to the force. He locked away all the years with Kara, the teachings of Tyler, everything that made him who he was.  
Using what little credits he had, found a dirty, and rank room to rent for a few days. It was bordering on needing to be condemned, but it was secure, and that is all Kilan needed. He locked himself in and for several days, the door remained sealed tight. He rejected his life, his memories, his connection to the force. Letting the agony and despair was over him, everything he that made him, him washed away in the tide. When it was finished, ''Kilan Khzon'' was truly dead. A man woke up on the rusty and sticky floor, dressed, and left, only taking a single photo of Kara as a final tether to his old life. A new name, a new history, a new life coming with him.  A man left as ''Xen’Mordin Vismorsus''.  


The man who left that room was ''Kilan Khzon'' no more. Kilan had died on that walkway alongside Kara. Taking only his practical knowledge of things such as medicine and mechanics, a single image of Kara, and the clothing on his back he emerged ''Xen’Mordin Vismorsus''.
Several days later, Xen’Mordin managed to convince a desperate ship captain that he was a skilled enough mechanic to handle an aging freighter, the ''Dauntless Traveler''. At least good enough to keep it flying to anywhere else. The previous mechanic on the ship had struck it rich in a casino three days prior, and the Hutt who ran the casino, saw to it that the man never received his winnings. Jumping at the opportunity to get off the toxic Smugglers’ Moon, Xen took it without hesitation.  
 
It took several further days to find a way off the planet. Xen’Mordin managed to convince a desperate ship captain he was a skilled enough mechanic to handle an aging freighter, the ''Dauntless Traveler''. The previous mechanic had struck it rich in a casino three days earlier, and the Hutt who ran it, saw the man never received his winnings. Such was the risk when dealing with the Hutts, they loved their credits. Xen left Nar Shaddaa behind, never wishing to be reminded of its existence.  


====The Mundane (17 ABY - 18 ABY)====
====The Mundane (17 ABY - 18 ABY)====
The ''Dauntless Traveler'' was a [[starwars:Smuggler|smugglers’]] ship first, [[starwars:Scavenger|scavenger]] freighter second, [[starwars:Freighter|cargo transport]] third. It was an older ship, prone to mechanical issues, which kept Xen’Mordin on his feet most of the time. What he didn’t know in ship mechanics he would stay up late at night studying. Within weeks his efforts no longer kept the ship in a permanent risk of explosion, and within months, he was competent enough that the crew was glad to have found him.  
The ''Dauntless Traveler'', was no mere freighter, which is what Xen’Mordin would come to call a secondary trait for the ship. It was first and foremost a [[starwars:Smuggler|smugglers’]] ship. This fact became apparent within hours of stepping on board. It was an older ship, prone to mechanical faults, which came to occupy most of Xen’s time. What knowledge he didn’t have from his rudimentary training, he stayed up late at night studying. Seeming competent enough, and proved to be trustworthy, he was kept on the ship as part of its full time crew.  


Those first few weeks were the hardest. His false history kept playing in his mind, and he was initially distrustful of the rest of the crew of the ship. But day by day he grew into his new life, his new identity. His photo of Kara went untouched in the bottom of the pile that was his small set of belongings.  
The first weeks were the hardest. Xen’Mordin was still adapting to being Xen and not Kilan. His own false history kept playing over and over in his mind, refusing to acknowledge the lies, and the truth of his fast. He was initially very distrustful of the crew. But they were kind enough, and didn’t ask too many questions, so day by day Xen came more comfortable in his own skin. He had no reason to remain on the ship, other than having no reason leave it. This was what fate had delivered to him, so it was a smuggler’s life for him. His single photo of Kara went untouched in the bottom of the pile that was his small trunk of belongings.  


In efforts to prove himself to the crew, in addition to his work as a mechanic, he would help cook, clean, move cargo, take extra watch duties, etc. Anything he could do to keep busy, and keep his crewmates liking him, he would do, no job was too demeaning or dangerous for him to take on. While some of the crew initially thought this was suspicious initially, Xen’s constant taking of the mucky, disgusting, and dangerous jobs left all on the crew increasingly fond of him.  
Xen’Mordin took great lengths to prove himself to the crew, taking on additional jobs to his constant work as a mechanic. He helped cook, clean, move cargo, took extra watch duties, presented ideas for possible new avenues for jobs, and more. Anything that he could do to keep busy, his mind focused, and his crewmates happy. No job was too demeaning or dangerous for him to be willing to do. Some of the crew initially thought this was suspicious, Xen’s constant and unrelenting willingness to take the most mucky and disgusting jobs left all of them increasingly fond of him. For Xen the more he lived and the more he did as this new man, the more Kilan became a distant memory.  


[[File:XenAncientTemple.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Ancient Sith Temple]]
====The Nexus (18 ABY)====
====The Nexus (18 ABY)====
After a year, Xen’Mordin had come accustomed to life without the Force. No one, not even Tyler Reynolds himself would have been able to point to Xen and say he was once the Jedi Kilan. More than just being Force free, he was an integral part of the crew of the ''Dauntless Traveler'', having made massive improvements to the quality of life aboard the aging vessel, and recently made second mate.  
[[File:XenAncientTemple.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Ancient Sith Temple]]
After a year, Xen’Mordin had become accustomed to life without the Force, and was fully beyond ever recognizing Kilan as part of his history. No one, not even Tyler Reynolds himself, would have been able to point to Xen and say he had once been the Jedi Kilan Khzon. Not only had he fully become Xen’Mordin, Force-free and everything, he was now making a life for himself. He was an integral part of the crew of the ''Dauntless Traveler''. He had made massive improvements to the overall quality of life onboard the ship, not only for safety and functionality, but creature comforts as well. His dedication to the ship and crew, alongside his soaring popularity with the crew had secured him a position as second-mate.


The captain, a rather eccentric man, was found of dropping the ship into remote systems, some never known to have been explored. If there were abandoned or forgotten treasures to be found, then there was money to be made. The crew never minded though, it brought cash, and took them to exotic places. But it was the planet they arrived at shortly after Xen’s one-year anniversary on the ship that changed everything.  
The rather eccentric captain of the ship, was fond of dropping the ship into remote systems in between jobs, some of which had no documented records of being visited according to their ship’s computer. If there was abandoned or forgotten treasures to be found, that was both an adventure to be had and money to be made. The crew by and large supported this, as long as there was a steady supply of regular work to be had. It took them to exotic places, and occasionally brought some good extra credits to spend or stories to tell. However, it was the planet they arrived at shortly after Xen’s one-year mark on the ship that changed everything.  


On uncharted planet, in a remote uncharted system, they found a [[starwars:Sith_temple|Temple]]. Ancient and sprawling it had weather millennia in solitude, ancient rock stubbornly rejecting the growth of plants around it. Life had tried to reclaim it, and life had failed. The instant they came across it, the ship came abuzz with excitement. Ancient relics of a long dead civilization would fetch more credits than they could imagine. They knew not of its true creation. Xen’Mordin, however, was the only crew member who remain quiet, eyes locked on the images of the temple. It felt familiar, almost like it was calling him home.  
On an undocumented planet, in a remote system in the [[starwars:Outer_Rim_Territories|Outer Rim]], they found a [[starwars:Sith_temple|Temple]]. It was ancient and sprawling, but still clearly standing despite the millennia it had spent in solitude. The forest of the planet had long attempted to fully reclaim the space, but the forest had failed. The instant they picked it up on their sensors, the entire crew became abuzz with excitement. Ancient relics of a long dead civilization would fetch more credits than they could make in a year's time. Xen’Mordin was the only crew member who remained silent, his eyes locked on the images of the temple. It felt familiar, almost like it was calling him home.  


The crew’s demeanor changed as they ventured by foot to find the main entrance of the temple. The air was cold, and each felt an unnatural chill up their spines. The chatter turned from excitement to apprehension to refusal. As more of the crew voiced their unease of the place, they ultimately decided to turn back. They had all heard the stories of evil corrupting a place, and there was no doubt in their minds, this place was evil. Xen, burning with an intense need to venture within, waved off the call to return to the ship and ventured forward alone.  
The crew’s demeanor changed as they ventured by foot to find the main entrance of the temple. Each felt an unnatural chill run up their spine, despite the lush warm of the surrounding tropical climate. The chatter turned from excitement, to caution, to refusal to proceed. More and more of the crew voiced concern, ultimately leading to them deciding to abandon their venture. They all had heard the stories of evil corrupting a location. There was no doubt in their minds that this place was indeed, evil. Xen’Mordin however was burning with an indescribable need to enter its halls. He waved off the call to return to the ship and ventured on alone.  


The temple entrance was open, the interior edges of the door worn far less than the exterior stone, someone had been there before, more recently that when the temple had been abandoned. Xen’Mordin stepped slowly, cautiously but was undeterred.
The temple entrance was open, the interior edges of the door frame worn far less than the exterior stone. It had been opened recently. Xen’Mordin stepped slowly, but undeterred. He entered the main chamber, a massive open area, with its ceiling stretching all the way to the top of the pyramid structure it resided within. Rays of sunlight fell through cracks and holes in the decaying roof, giving illumination to a faded but intricately designed mosaic on the floor of the room. Cast in directly in one of the largest rays of light, on the far side of the room, was an altar with something held up, resting carefully upon it.  


He entered the main chamber, a massive open area with its ceiling stretching all the way to the tip of the pyramid it resided within. Rays of sunlight fell through the cracks and holes in the slowly decaying roof, illuminating a faded but intricately designed tile mosaic on the floor. Cast directly in one of the largest rays of light, on the far side of the room was an altar, something resting carefully upon it.  
Xen’Mordin made his way forward, and as he crossed the middle of the chamber, he stepped right over the center of the mosaic on the floor of the room, the whole planet began to shake. Lightning from a cloudless sky sparked and arced all around the temple complex. In the central hall itself, Xen was struck again and again as he lay upon the seal on the floor, powerful bolts of pure dark side energy surging through him. This temple was resting above a [[starwars:Force_nexus|Force nexus]], one of incredible dark side energy.  


Xen’Mordin made his way forward, has he crossed the middle of the chamber, stepping right over the center of the carefully laid tile seal on the ground, the whole planet began to shake. Lightning from a cloudless sky sparked and arced all around the temple complex. In the chamber itself, Xen was struck again and again, powerful bolts of pure dark side energy surging through him. The temple rested above a natural [[starwars:Force_nexus|Force nexus]], one of incredible dark side energy.
That dark side energy surged through every cell in Xen’s body. He experienced a pain unlike any he had endured before. As the might of the force coursed through his body, his repressed memories, training, and life as Kilan came flooding back. After what felt like an eternity of pain wishing for death, it ended as suddenly as it had started. As he lay on the ground, gasping for breath, Xen’Mordin was able to comprehend the true nature of the temple, and that his connection with the Force had been completely restored to him.  
 
That energy surged through every cell in Xen’s body, He experienced a pain he couldn’t even fathom. As the might of the force coursed through his body, his repressed memories and training came flooding back. For what felt like an eternity he writhed on the floor wishing for the release of death. Then as suddenly as it started, it ended. As he gasped for breath, Xen was able to comprehend the true nature of the temple, and that his connection with the Force had been restored completely.  


====Tied Up in Strings (18 ABY)====
====Tied Up in Strings (18 ABY)====
[[File:3783-saber.jpg|thumb|100px|right|The now restored Lightsaber found in the Sith Temple]]
[[File:3783-saber.jpg|thumb|125px|right|The Ancient Sith Lightsaber]]
Xen’s mind was at war with itself. At one end was the friendly and innocent ship mechanic, the other a vortex of painful memories of a life he didn’t recognize anymore. Letting his mind battle it out, he moved based on instinct and the proddings of the Force. He approached the altar that was at the far end of the chamber. He was now able to recognize what it was. An ancient lightsaber, coated in dust, sitting unused and waiting for centuries. Xen’Mordin grabbed it and felt like he had just found something that had been missing his whole life, like it was made just for him.  
Xen’s mind became at war with itself. On one side was the friendly ship mechanic, Xen’Mordin, and on the other was the vortex of painful memories of a man he no longer was. He let his mind battle it out, unknowing which side would prevail. He moved based on instinct and the direction of the Force, a comforting connection now that it was back. He reached the altar that was resting on the far side of the hall, and was able to recognized what was resting upon it. It was an ancient lightsaber, coated in dust, unused and waiting for centuries for a new owner to claim it. Xen’Mordin grabbed it, and felt like he had just found something that had been missing from him his whole life. It was like it was made just for him.  


As he stared at it, absorbing its ancient lines, and still visible stains of blood in the metal, a hooded figure stepped out of the shadows, clapping. Without turning back Xen’Mordin knew this was the same man who had killed Kara the previous year.  
Xen’Mordin stared at it, absorbing its ancient construction, its brutality, and its still visible stains of blood in the metal work. His focus was interrupted by the sound of clapping, from a hooded figure who was stepping out of the shadows at last. Without turning back, Xen knew with certainty that this was the same man who had killed Kara the previous year.  


The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a vile and twisted face, etched with scars and burns and age. He introduced himself as Mikal Yathik. He explained he had been working all of Xen’s life for this moment, for Xen to truly fall to the dark side. He was the one who had supplied Prazna with connections on Naboo. He was the one who using powerful [[Force_Powers#Beast_Control|Beast Control]] had sent the predator of Kashyyyk after him. He who on Corellia had suggested to Calu to turn the dangerous force sensitive in for reward.  
Xen’Mordin turned to face the man, as the figure pulled back his hood, revealing a vile and twisted face. It was etched with scars and burns and age. The figure introduced himself as Mikal Yathik. With glee, Mikal explained that he had been the one manipulating Xen’s entire life to bring him to this moment in this temple, for Xen to embrace the dark side and take on his destiny. Mikal was the one who had supplied Prazna with the shady connections on Naboo to take power. He was the one, who using powerful [[Force_Powers#Beast_Control|Beast Control]] mastery, had sent the predator on Kashyyyk after Xen. He was the one on Corellia who had suggested to Calu that there was a big reward for anyone who turned in a dangerous force sensitive. And of course it was he who had killed Kara on that rainy walkway on Nar Shaddaa.  


And before Xen’Mordin could attempt to attack Mikal in vengeance, another man stepped out of the shadows, a man whose face was that from a old memory. It had grown older, darker, crueler, but Xen could not deny it, it was his eldest brother Kiith, who in his rage at being rejected by Tyler Reynolds had found his own master, in Mikal Yathik. Staring coldly at Xen, and never uttering a word, Kiith activated his own lightsaber.  
Before Xen’Mordin could attempt to lash out in vengeance against Mikal, another man stepped out of the shadows, a man whose face was familiar. It had grown older, more worn, crueler, but Xen knew that face, it belonged to his oldest brother Kiith. Kiith in his rage at being rejected by Tyler Reynolds, had found himself his own master in Mikal Yathik. Kiith’s eyes bore none of the warmed and affection he had shown as a child, they were now cold. Without uttering a word, Kiith activated his own lightsaber. Xen’Mordin was forced to defend himself with the only weapon he had at hand, the ancient lightsaber. Remarkably its warped blood red blade snapped to life even after all these years. Body still aching, and mind still at war with itself, Xen was forced to remember his training quickly as he defended himself against an onslaught of attacks from his own brother. Kiith’s style was aggressive on a level Xen had never experienced, simple, basic, and unyielding in form.  


Xen’Mordin went with the only weapon he had at hand, the ancient lightsaber. It’s red and warped blade snapped to life. With no time to reflect on his training in lightsaber combat, he was forced to defend himself against an onslaught of attacks from his brother. Kiith’s style was hyper aggressive, simple, basic and unyielding in form. Body and mind working against him, Xen once again turn to the force to guide him.  
Then it ended. It was either fate, luck, or the will of the Force, Xen’Mordin landed a blow against his brother’s left shoulder, cutting down toward his right hip. Before the blade completely cleaved Kiith in two, its power cell finally died. Kiith’s body landed unceremoniously on the floor with a dull thud. Xen felt no remorse, no pain, no loss at having just killed his own brother. All there was for him to feel was rage. He turned his focus back to Mikal, who was now laughing. Mikal turned to leave, congratulating Xen’Mordin on embracing the power of the dark side, and finally moving forward toward his destiny as a Sith.  


And then it ended. Xen’Mordin landed a blow against his brothers left shoulder, cutting down diagonally. Before the blade could completely cleave Kiith in two, it’s power cell died as well. Kiith’s body landed with a thud, and Xen felt no remorse, no pain, no loss. All there was, was his rage. He turned his focus on Mikal, who was laughing. Congratulating Xen for embracing the power of the dark side, and embracing his destiny as a Sith, he turned to leave. Xen stared down at the dead lightsaber in his hand.  
Xen’Mordin tightened his grip on the ancient lightsaber, and looked down at it. The hilt itself was a weapon, elegant and cruel, the pommel featured long sharp protrusions, clearing having been used to take lives, just as the red blade had. Xen leapt, augmented by the Force, and drove the hilt deep into Mikal’s back. Xen stabbed again and again, becoming drenched in the man’s blood in the process. Mikal screamed, but eventual fell silent. Even in the silence Xen’Mordin kept driving the blade into the man, relishing in his revenge.  
 
It itself was a weapon, elegant and cruel, the pommel featured long protrusions, sharp and lethal. There was no doubt it itself had been used to take lives, just as the blade of energy had. Xen’Mordin leapt, bounded by the Force, and his rage and drove it in Mikal’s back. He stabbed again and again, drenched in the man’s blood, as he relished in his revenge while Mikal breathed his last.  


====Antei Bound (18 ABY)====
====Antei Bound (18 ABY)====
Once back aboard the ''Dauntless Traveler'', Xen’Mordin cleaned himself up. To cover the blood on his person, he lied about being attacked by a wild beast in the temple. The crew, agreeing whatever might lie within the temple wasn’t worth the risk and left the planet.  
Back on the ''Dauntless Traveler'', Xen’Mordin cleaned himself up. He lied to the crew, saying he had been attacked by a pack of beasts in the temple, and that he had been forced to beat them back. The crew, stomachs still churning from being in proximity to the temple agreed to leave the planet immediately. Their own desire to leave clouded their judgment in pressing Xen about why there was just so much blood on his person.  


Xen’Mordin spent most of the following days resting. His body was weak from its ordeal, and his mind still waged war on itself. He wrestled with the two fragments of his personality as best he could, but despite his best efforts, he could not get the pieces to fit together. The crew of the ship, luckily gave him space, still believing that a wild animal had nearly killed him in the temple. But there was only one thing he trusted, the Force. It was the only thing that could fix him, make him stronger. So it was deep in meditation he felt the call. Something was out there, and all he had to do was find it.  
Xen’Mordin spent most of the following days resting. His body was weak from the events in the temple, and his mind was still attempting to reconcile the two sides of his personality. But despite his best efforts, he could not get them to fit together into a single mentality. So he was forced to learn how to deal with it enough to function. The crew of the ship, luckily gave him space, still believing he had nearly died at the hands of a violent creature in the temple. In between the periodic check-ins to establish he was still breathing, he was given the time he needed to formulate a plan. There was only one thing he trusted, the Force. He knew it was the only thing that could fix him, and make him stronger. Deep in meditation, he felt the call, the call from something out there across the galaxy just waiting for him.  


Xen’Mordin was eventually able to function as reasonable sentient being again, and put together a plan that would both help him find what was calling to him, and to further fuel his dark side powers. With free range of the ship, and in particular the engines, Xen was in the perfect position to disable the ship. They were in hyperspace when the engines were disabled. Xen made a good show of a panicked attempt diagnose the issues when the rest of the crew came running. Xen had used a old part he had previously replaced, and made it look extremely damaged, keeping the still working part hidden away. The ship was dead, deep in space, and far from any reasonable set of aid. Distress calls were made, but without a viable replacement, their hyperdrive was dead, and all they could do was wait for aid.  
Eventually being able to function as a presentable sentient being again, and armed with a plan, Xen’Mordin went to work to find what was calling to him. Being the primary mechanic, and with free range of access to the ship, and in particular the engines, Xen had no trouble disabling the ship. They had been in hyperspace when the engines died, and the ship was left adrift in deep space. Xen’Mordin made a good show of a urgent but focused attempt to diagnosis what was happening to the engines. He had swapped out a critical part with the an old spare he had from replacing it months prior. He had made it look extremely damaged, beyond repair, while the still working part was hidden away. The ship was officially dead in deep space, and Xen had no intention of repairing the ship any time soon. Distress calls were made, but without an apparent replacement part, all the crew could do was wait for aid.  


Stuck with nowhere to go, Xen’Mordin slowly isolated members of the crew, killing them. Some were merely sent out an airlock, others were bloodily carved apart. The fear started quickly, and as more of the crew were found murdered, that fear turned to terror, and eventually hysteria. Xen even faked his own death, so that he could move unhindered. The remaining crew turned on each other, each knowing only that they themself could not be the killer. Xen relished in the fear and terror that radiated within the ship. Eventually only one remained of the crew remained, the captain. Xen’Mordin took his time in dispatching him, enjoying the mind games he played on the man.  
Stuck with nowhere to go, Xen’Mordin slowly isolated members of the crew killing them. Some were killed quickly, flushed out an airlock, others were bloodily carved apart, corpse left on display for the remaining crew to see. The fear started quickly, and as members of the crew were slowly and unexpectedly murdered, that fear grew into hysteria. Xen faked his own death, and took the the shadows and crawl ways of the ship, he knew better than anyone else on the ship. The remaining crew turned on each other, each knowing that only that they themself could not be the killer on the ship. Eventually only one remained, the captain, locked up in his private quarters. Xen’Mordin took his time in finally luring the man out and killing him slowly.  


Finally alone on the ship, each of the crew carefully accounted for and removed, Xen repaired the hyperdrive. Enjoying the solitude, he took his time going through the crew's belongings and supplies before making his way to the bridge. There was a cryptic message awaiting him there, a single set of coordinates. When he arrived, he found himself in a remote system, where a second message was delivered, stating simply to land on a remote moon of one the system’s gas giants. The [[Dark_Brotherhood|Dark Brotherhood]] was awaiting him.
Finally alone on the ship, each of the crew carefully accounted for and removed, Xen’Mordin repaired the hyperdrive. Taking time to enjoy his solitude on the massive ship, Xen took his time going through the crew’s belongings and supplies before making his way to the bridge. When he finally did, there was a cryptic message waiting for him. It contained a single point of coordinates. What he was looking for had found him first. When he arrived at the isolated and sparsely populated system the coordinates pointed to, a second message was delivered, directing him to a remote moon of one of the system’s gas giants. The [[Dark_Brotherhood|Dark Brotherhood]] was waiting.  


[[File:XenPortrait.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Xen’Mordin at the time he joined the Brotherhood]]
====Imperial Indoctrination (18 ABY - 19 ABY)====
====Imperial Indoctrination (18 ABY - 19 ABY)====
Xen’Mordin was taken through the [[Shroud]] to the moon, [[Lyspair]] of the [[Antei_System|Antei system]] to be tested at the [[Shadow Academy]]. Still rusty with his connection to the Force, and combat skills lacking, those first few weeks were brutal and punishing. What wasn’t in question however, was Xen’s full and complete faith in the power of the dark side, or of the teachings of the [[Sith]]. Adequately impressing the professors and trainers of the Academy, Xen was issued an assignment to one of the great [[clans]] of the Brotherhood.  
[[File:XenPortrait.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Xen’Mordin at the time he joined the Brotherhood]]
Xen’Mordin was taken through the mysterious [[Shroud]] to the [[Antei_System|Antei system]] that hid within it. There he was sent to the [[Lyspair]], a moon in orbit around Antei to be tested at the [[Shadow Academy]]. Xen’s first several weeks there were brutally punishing. Rusty from his the regular practice he had under Tyler Reynolds, his force abilities and combat skills were lacking. More than that, he was still living in agony as his mind held together in a fragile and misshapen way. Xen became dedicated to the Force, and in the power of the dark side and the ways of the [[Sith]]. When he had adequately satisfied the professors and trainers of the Academy, Xen was issued placement in one of the great [[clans]] of the Brotherhood.  


Xen’Mordin was sent to the [[Cocytus_System|Cocytus system]], home of Clan [[Scholae Palatinae]], a small system near the borders of [[starwars:Hutt_Space/Legends|Hutt space]]. He joined the ranks of [[House_Caliburnus|House Caliburnus]], and was introduced to the ways of an Empire, and a ruling royal class. The clan believed to be founded based upon the powerful individuals who safeguarded Emperor Palapatine’s greatest artifacts, Xen quickly was exposed to heavy Imperial propaganda.
Xen’Mordin was sent to the [[Cocytus_System|Cocytus system]], the home system of Clan [[Scholae Palatinae]], a small isolated system near the borders of [[starwars:Hutt_Space/Legends|Hutt space]]. He joined the ranks of [[House_Caliburnus|House Caliburnus]], and begun to learn the ways of a system spanning Empire, and a ruling royal class. Scholae Palatinae itself believed its origin could be traced back to the Force-sensitives that guarded Emperor Palpatine’s greatest artifacts and secrets. From his first day there, Xen was exposed to the heavy Imperial propaganda that filtered everything experienced by the citizens of the system.  


He was placed under the care of a [[starwars:Nautolan|Nautolan]] referred to as [[Warhunter]]. Warhunter pushed Xen’Mordin hard, solidifying the young man’s skills and powers. Within months he was back to the level he had been under the teachings of Tyler Reynolds.  
He was placed under the tutelage of a [[starwars:Nautolan|Nautolan]] referred to as [[Warhunter]]. Warhunter pushed Xen’Mordin hard, forcing the young man to hone his skills he had learned under Tyler, and expand beyond what he thought possible. Within months Xen was on par with where he had been at the end of his time with Tyler Reynolds. At the forefront of every aspect of his training however, was the reminder of the greatest success the Sith had ever known. The might of the Galactic Empire, and Palpatine’s brilliant sweep to power and destruction of the Jedi Order. While the members of the clan demonstrated their own typical Sith tendencies, that quest for power was hardcoded to the set of ideals of serving one’s own desires, and the good of the Cocytus Empire.  


At the forefront of every action however, was the reminder of the greatest success the Sith had even known. The might of the Galactic Empire under rule of Palpatine. While Sith were selfish and power hungry, that power was frequently attached to a hardcoded set of ideals to serve both one’s own desires, and the for the good of the Empire.
For Xen’Mordin, the power hungry tactics and games fed the parts of his mind that were twisted by the might of the Force nexus. The higher calling of serving the Empire, however, spoke to the other parts. While his split mentalities made it hard for any member of Scholae Palatinae to get close to him, both pushed him forward in a constant effort to better himself. At the times he was exceeding his own expectations, the more at peace his mind was. And that was a comfort that he could not put a price on.
 
For Xen, the power hungry tactics and games fed the part of his mind that was twisted by the might of the force nexus. The higher calling and cause of the Empire, however, spoke to rational and personable part of his mind. While his split mentalities made it hard for any member of Scholae Palatinae to get close to him, it gave a twofold motivation to push beyond what he thought possible for himself.  


===The Manipulative (20 ABY - 28 ABY)===
===The Manipulative (20 ABY - 28 ABY)===
{{Quote|They will never see us coming.|Xen’Mordin to Impetus}}
{{Quote|We must do this, no one else has the capacity. And they will never see us coming.|Xen’Mordin to Impetus}}


''Taking both to the ideals of the Sith, and the dream of the Galactic Empire born anew, Xen’Mordin quickly took to work integrating himself into Clan Scholae Palatinae. Taking fervent study of Emperor Palpatine's life Xen, with help of some trusted allies, played a long game to seat himself upon the throne. It would take years of preparation and work, but this was the singular goal that unified nearly a decade of his life.''
''Xen’Mordin quickly went to work integrating himself into Clan Scholae Palatinae. Taking the power questing of the Sith, the glory of the Galactic Empire, and his own ambitions as his motivation, he would work ceaselessly to achieve his goals. He would take fervent study of Emperor Palpatine’s life and strategies. This study would push Xen, along with the help of some closely trusted allies, into playing a long game to seat himself upon the throne. Taking years of preparation and works, this singular goal dominated his actions for nearly a decade of his life.''


====A Leader (19 ABY)====
====A Leader (19 ABY)====
[[File:Impetus close up by impetuskorin.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Impetus M’Nar would become a close friend and ally]]
[[File:Impetus close up by impetuskorin.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Impetus M’Nar]]
Xen’Mordin had only a few months of preparation when the inevitable happened. A feud broke out between Caliburnus and a rival house, [[House_Dorimad_Sol|Dorimad Sol]], in the Clan. While Scholae Palatinae’s third house, Acclivis Draco withheld from the combat, the battle between the houses Caliburnus and Dorimad Sol was a bloody and violent affair. Xen emerged as a capable warrior and leader over the course of the conflict.  
Xen’Mordin had only been in the Brotherhood and a member of Scholae Palatinae when he received his first example of the treacherous nature of the Dark Jedi he now called his brothers and sisters. A rift had formed in Scholae Palatinae, with member turning against member. Caliburnus entered a standing feud with another house of the clan, [[House_Dorimad_Sol|Dorimad Sol]]. Scholae Palatinae’s third house, Acclivis Draco, withheld from the combat as war seeped through the entire system. After a bloody and violent conflict, Xen emerged in as a highlighted member, recognized clan wide as a capable warrior, and leader.  


This internal conflict started a snowball effect for Xen’Mordin, who already taking to the Imperial ideals to heart, knew it was a weak and faulty structure to allow such conflict within the ranks. The Clan may have been made up of selfish and power hungry Dark Jedi and Sith, but when there were bigger fish to fry, focusing against each other felt like a waste of time.  
This internal conflict within the clan, begun a snowball effect for Xen’Mordin. He was already taking the Imperial ideals to heart, and saw this conflict within the Empire itself as a show of poor leadership and drive from the top levels. While he himself knew all too well the lust for power, there were too many enemies outside of the clan to spend their time fighting amongst themselves.  


It was following this internal feud that Xen’Mordin was offered an opportunity to lead directly by then Emperor [[Timbal]]. He was made [[Aedile]] of House Caliburnus. This is where he met [[Impetus_M%27Nar|Impetus M’Nar]], a young [[starwars:Twi%27lek|Twi’lek]], who had been named [[Quaestor]] of the House. They were soon joined by a [[starwars:Neti|Neti]] named [[Ood Bnar]], who would serve as the House’s [[Rollmaster]].  
It was following this house feud, that Xen’Mordin was offered an opportunity to help shape the clan as a leader, directly offered by the sitting Emperor, [[Timbal]]. Xen was made [[Aedile]] of House Caliburnus. It was in this position that he met [[Impetus_M%27Nar|Impetus M’Nar]], a young [[starwars:Twi%27lek|Twi’lek]], who had been named as the Quaestor of the House. They were soon joined by a [[starwars:Neti|Neti]] named [[Ood Bnar]], who would serve as the House’s [[Rollmaster]].  


Both intelligent, young, and highly driven, Impetus and Xen’Mordin quickly orientated to the life of a leader in the clan and brought much needed stability to the wavering House. This even included a stunning victory over the consistently high skilled House Acclivis Draco during the events of [[Contention]]. However the stability and drive to lead the House only got them so far in truly becoming more powerful.  
Impetus and Xen’Mordin were both intelligent, young, and highly driven. They both quickly orientated to the life of a leader within Scholae Palatinae, and brought much needed stability to the stumbling Caliburnus. This included a shocking upset victory against the consistently praised House Acclivis Draco during the events of [[Contention]]. But Caliburnus occupied just a small corner of the Empire, located on the planet of [[Ptolomea]]. Whatever skills and powers they amassed on this planet, did little to truly demonstrate their capabilities.  


As the weeks turned into months, both leaders began to express frustrations from the shortcomings and weaknesses the clan was demonstrating in the system. Cocky and determined, the two began to formulate a plan. Taking inspiration from Emperor Palpatine’s brilliant manipulation of the Republic into giving him the power willingly, their plan took shape. Confident with their tactics in the matter, they began the long con of the entire Empire.  
The weeks turned into months, and both Impetus and Xen’Mordin began to quietly express frustrations from the shortcomings and glaring flaws weakening the clan’s hold in the system. Cocky, headstrong, and determined, the two began to formulate a plan. They took inspiration from Emperor Palpatine himself, and his brilliant manipulation of the Republic into giving him more and more power willingly, finally seating himself as Emperor by thunderous applause. Confident that their combined intellect and skills would allow them to adapt to roadblocks in their plan, they began their long con to take control of the entire Empire.  


[[File:Caliburnussides1.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The hilt of the legendary Caliburnus]]
====The Sword (20 ABY)====
====The Sword (20 ABY)====
House Caliburnus was named in founding after a mythical and ancient lightsaber. The validity of the myth surrounding the lightsaber had been in question for years, but the members of the House had always approached life as skilled warriors, for theirs was the sword contrasted against the dragon of Acclivis Draco and the sun of Dorimad Sol. What the members of House Caliburnus didn’t realize is that no one had attempted to properly piece together the story of the blade in full. Such an artifact would be an incredible find for the Empire. And those more well versed in the lore of the saber knew, attempting to wield it would bare a terrible price.  
[[File:Caliburnussides1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The hilt of the legendary Caliburnus]]
House Caliburnus was named so, after a mythical and ancient lightsaber, the permeate the legends of the native people of the Cocytus system. The members of House Caliburnus were regarded as the sword, skilled warriors, in comparison to the dragon of Acclivis Draco and the sun of Dorimad Sol. The validity of the myth surrounding the lightsaber had been in question for years. The stories were just that, stories used to bolster the members of the house in a shared belief. What the members of Scholae Palatinae didn’t realize, was that no one had ever attempted to properly piece together the history of the lightsaber in its entirety. An artifact such as that would be an incredible find for the Empire.  


It took around two months of researching, and actual study of what was known of about the saber for Xen’Mordin and Impetus to not only find it was real, but pinpoint its location deep in the jungles of [[Ptolomea]]. If it was found, it would surely be a sign of one’s right to command. They sought it not for themselves, but to allow another to claim it, and in the process further destabilize the entire System. It was time for the first phase of their plan.
It took a little more than two months of researching for Xen’Mordin and Impetus to not only validate that the lightsaber existed, but pinpoint its exact location. It was in a temple deep in the dark jungles of Ptolomea. If it was found, it would clearly be a sign of one’s right to command the House. However, Xen and Impetus did not wish to find it for themselves. Those well versed in the lore of the lightsaber knew it was always coupled with a terrible price upon those vain enough to try to wield it as their own. Xen and Impetus wished to allow another to claim it, and ultimately further destabilize the entire system. This would begin the first phase of their plan.  


News of the true existence of Caliburnus was leaked to the House, and all interested parties began to prepare, knowing if they could retrieve it, control of the House, and all of Ptolomea would be theirs. As planned, while starting the venture in the same small team Xen’Mordin would publically ''betray'' Impetus by going to help a vain and power hungry man, [[Thran_Occasus|Thran Occasus]], retrieve the blade.  
News of the true existence of the lightsaber was leaked to the House, through Ood Bnar, thinking it was his own work that validated its location. Multiple groups of interested parties began to prepare, knowing if they could retrieve the lightsaber, control of the house and all of Ptolomea would be theirs. According to plan, Xen’Mordin began the venture to find Caliburnus in the same party as Impetus, only to publically betray her, by going to help a vain and power-hungry man, [[Thran_Occasus|Thran Occasus]], retrieve the blade.  


Thran would come to trust Xen’Mordin largely from this singular act, believing falsely that he was a loyal and controllable tool. This betrayal also added further cover for their plan, as now no one would even remotely suspect the pair were working together the whole time. As Thran assumed mantle of Quaestor for House Caliburnus, Impetus and Xen’Mordin withdrew from leadership to focus on the next steps of their plan.
Thran came to trust Xen’Mordin largely thanks to this singular act, believing falsely that Xen was a loyal and controllable tool to be used in his own quest for power. This betrayal also added further cover to Xen’s and Impetus’s plan, for there would no way the two would be working together following such a public betrayal. Thran assumed the mantle of Quaestor for House Caliburnus, Impetus left the house to return to Acclivis Draco on Antenora, and Xen’Mordin turned his own efforts to the next steps of their plan.  


====Vismorsus Industries (21 ABY - 26 ABY)====
====Vismorsus Industries (21 ABY - 26 ABY)====
While the anonymity of no longer being a leader in the Clan allowed many opportunities for Xen’Mordin prove himself in combat and missions for the Clan and Brotherhood, his eye remained on the throne. While he patiently watched Thran shake House Caliburnus crazy, he turned his attention to establish himself as an exemplary citizen of the Cocytus system. That is, at least, when he wasn’t busy killing, torturing, and framing his way to a small horde of credits and business contacts or waging war on the Clan’s behalf against external threats. To the normal citizens of the Cocytus system, he was the very model of an upstanding citizen.
There was a comforting sense of anonymity in no longer having the burden of leadership. Xen’Mordin was free to pursue the foundation that he would take the throne of the Empire from. As he watched Thran shake House Caliburnus crazy, he was able to focus on establishing himself as a popular and exemplary citizen of the Cocytus system. That is, at least, the image he made public, as the citizens had no need to know about the framing, torture, and murdering that he took up to progress his goals. After amounting a small horde of credits and contacts in the system, he was ready.
 
Xen’Mordin founded his own company ''Vismorsus Industries''. Having proved himself to his clanmates on multiple occasions, and having pulled together his own resources, along with ones directed to him by Impetus, Vismorsus Industries took off like a wildfire. The core company established itself as a scientific research company, with branching ventures into manufacturing, trade goods, and every other service imaginable. Xen had inherited his parents affinity for the business world, and even without the bribes, blackmail, and blessing of the clan, it was quickly a viable company.  
 
While Xen’Mordin had bigger plans for both his company and the Empire itself, his new found wealth allowed him to appear overly generous with the civilians. Xen spent money out of his own pocket to provide more affordable housing, medical centers, feeding the hungry, and expanding the system’s education system. The later became a huge boon for Xen’s plans as he was able to directly recruit from the improving schools into his company. Improving his public image, and the continued wellbeing of the company came to occupy much of his time.


To further his reach in the system, and because liked the perks of having money, he founded his own company, ''Vismorsus Industries''. Having proved himself to his Clanmates on multiple occasions, had no issue using its own influence in the system to back Xen’s new companies efforts. Seemingly overnight the company had its hands in nearly every trade imaginable, trade goods, food, manufacturing supplies, medical equipment. The Clan’s backing meant business was always coming to him, whether they wanted to or not.  
The better his public image, the more he was able to push his company into the development of things that were of benefit to the clan, and the Empire’s control. Research ranged from mind control serums, fear toxins, advanced weaponry and machines, new droids, computing software, and more. As long as he supplied goods that improved the lives of the civilians, the less than reputable developments went overlooked by everyone.  


While Xen had bigger plans for both his company and the Empire itself, his new found wealth allowed him to appear overly generous with the people of the system, spending money out of his own pocket for affordable housing, medical centers, feeding the poor, and expanding the systems education system. The company and the lengths Xen went to maintain and improve his public image would grow more every year.  
Because of this, Xen’s biggest threats to his long term plans for the Empire and his company was not from any outside person or group, but from himself. While he had come to fully embrace the ''identity'' of Xen’Mordin as his own, and was a fully dedicated Sith and scholar of Emperor Palpatine, his painful past still left him with a fractured mind. Xen’Mordin was still a broken man, both Xen’Mordin and Kilan at all times, and those sides were in a constant struggle to end up on top. This threw him from one mood to another, a icon for the civilians to the cruel and power hungry Sith. Xen knew if he was going to continue to build his reputation in the Cocytus system, he would need to find a way to make peace with himself.  


Xen’s biggest threat in his goals with his company was not from any person or group, but himself. By the founding of his company he had fully committed himself to the teachings of the Sith, and study of the life of Emperor Palpatine. However he was still very much a broken man, both Xen’Mordin and Kilan, two sides that were always at war, throwing him from one mood to another. If he was to be able to continue fooling the general population of the system, he would need to make peace with himself.
====Secret Agent Man (22 ABY)====
====Secret Agent Man (22 ABY)====
[[File:Portrait3.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Xen'Mordin as he typically appeared while on Clan business]]
[[File:Portrait3.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Xen'Mordin in 22 ABY]]
While Xen’Mordin had his company to fill his time, life beyond the Cocytus system was just as important as life within. The [[Imperial Scholae Intelligence]] initiative had been founded by Impetus, and while many believed they despised each other, this powerful Intel agency proved to be invaluable to progressing their plans.  
Xen’Mordin spent most of his time developing and leading Vismorsus Industries, but he could not deny that life outside the Cocytus system was just as important as within, or that Scholae Palatinae had its own needs to be dealt with. The [[Imperial Scholae Intelligence]] initiative had been recently founded by Impetus, and while many believed the two despised each other, this powerful Intel agency proved to be invaluable to progressing their plans.  


Impetus would redirect intelligence to suit their needs. In secret she was able to provide Xen’Mordin would information on his competitors, weak points of the Imperial industry, and most importantly capable contacts of ill repute. Xen would take business trips away from the system, both to expand capabilities of his company, and to deal with missions handed out by the Clan summit. These visits would nearly always result in a spare evening away meeting contacts and individuals who had the skills sets and lust for credits needed for what Xen required.
ISI provided resources and information vital to their plan. Seated firmly within its upper ranks, Impetus could redirected intelligence to suit their needs. Information on competing companies, areas of strongest propaganda effect, contacts of ill repute, and more were passed in secret to Xen’Mordin. And when they needed a blind eye on their own dealings, ISI found itself largely preoccupied by other pressing matters. Xen would have to make many trips out into the galaxy at large. Expanding his company, dealing with threats to the clan, recruiting members, and more would occupy his time. These ventures would also always result in some spare time for Xen to disappear for an evening to meet with contacts outside of the system that had been identified as useful by Impetus within the ISI. These individuals with a wide set of skills, and a lust for the credits Xen could now bring them.  


These contacts and mercenaries would come to be utilized multiple times by Xen over the coming years. But as much as he relished advancing his plans, there was another reason he enjoyed this missions away from the system. Away from the eyes of a public who would recognize him, he was free to move unrestricted. He appreciated the twisted irony that the system he was seeking to give a new life to, was also the prison for which one half of his mind raged against on a daily bases.  
These contacts and mercenaries were utilized multiple times by Xen’Mordin over the following years. However, as useful and productive these missions were in advance his own plans, and establishing himself as a reliable face within Scholae Palatinae, there was another reason he came to relish these trips. They took him away from the Cocytus system, and away from the eyes of the public who would recognize him. He was free to move unrestricted. He came to appreciate the twisted irony in the fact that the system he was seeking to control, was a prison for what he was on the inside, and what one half of his mind raged for on a daily basis.  


[[File:Coruscant_Sunset.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Xen finally returned to his homeworld of Coruscant]]
====The Restoration (24 ABY)====
====The Restoration (24 ABY)====
Xen’Mordin was at the limit of his capabilities to function. The chasm that ran through his mind was too much to bear, so he spent his days locked away in his quarters cramming as work as he could in the few lucid moments he would experience in any given day. He barely slept, barely ate, and many in the clan began to suspect that his final days were arriving.  
[[File:Coruscant_Sunset.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The top levels of Coruscant]]
Xen’Mordin had finally reached the limit of his capabilities to function. The chasm that divided his mind had become too much to bear. His days were spent locked away in his quarters, cramming as much work as he could in the few moments of lucidity he would experience in any given day. He barely slept, barely ate, and by shutting himself away, many in the clan began to suspect that his body was finally giving away to the high pressure schedule he had been keeping.  


Fueled by his stubborn will to endure and powered by the Force, Xen’Mordin left the Cocytus system behind, and found his way back to his home planet of Coruscant. He was unsure why, it meant so little to him now, especially with how young he had been when he last was able to call it home. He found a cheap room in the slums and locked himself away, waiting for the Force to once again guide his actions.
Fueled by his refusal to die, and sustained solely by the power of the Force, Xen’Mordin left the Cocytus system behind, and returned to his home planet of Coruscant. The planet held little personal meaning to him now, having been almost two decades since he had ever called it home, but he couldn’t deny he felt drawn to return to the planet deep in the core. Xen found a cheap room to stay in, and locked himself away, waiting for the Force to guide his next actions. It was in one of his rare outings for food, in a moment of lucidity, that he was recognized.  


It was during one of Xen’s rare outings for food in a moment of lucidity, he was recognized. His elder sister, Sairia, called to him by his old name, ''Kilan''. He stared as blankly as he could back at her. She was not what he needed to heal, and he knew she would just bring him more pain. He had no way to begin to explain what had happened to him, what he had been through. He pushed his sister aside and vanished into the crowded walkway.  
It was his elder sister, Sairia, that called out to him by his old name, ''Kilan'', in the busy streets. He stared blankly back at her, she was older, eyes full of certainty that she had found her brother. Xen’s mind went back to his last family encounter, his brother’s body still decaying where it fell in the temple. Sairia was not what Xen’Mordin needed to heal, she only brought more confusion and pain. Xen also had no way to even begin what had happened to him or who he was now. He pushed Sairia aside and disappeared into the crowded walkway.  


Following a lengthy visit at a nearby cantina, Xen’Mordin returned to the hovel of a room he was staying at. He came to a stop just outside the door. He could sense someone was waiting for him inside, someone he had not seen for many years. Tyler Reynolds had found his student at last.  
Xen’Mordin spent the next few hours, drinking the afternoon away in a nearby cantina. Drunk, he stumbled back to the tiny place he was staying at. He came to a stop just outside of the door. Xen could sense clearly someone was inside the room, waiting. Someone he had not seen for many years. Tyler Reynolds found his student at last. He must have had some inkling of what had happened to Xen, sensing him when Xen returned to the planet at last.  


In a useless plea Tyler begged Xen’Mordin to return to the light. Xen refused, and turned the blame back on Tyler for leaving Kara and himself in the first place, for inadequate training, for taking them in the first place, and a million other things Xen blamed the old Jedi for. The more he yelled, pushed, and shoved at Tyler the better he felt. Ever the pragmatist, Tyler realized there was no reasoning with Xen, and that to spare them both the pain of a fallen Jedi, he would have to kill his own student.  
Tyler begged in a feeble and useless way for Xen’Mordin to return to the light. Instead of listening to the old man’s plea, he turned the argument around back at Tyler, blaming him for leaving them in the first place, for not preparing them adequately, for ripping them from their families in the first place, and a million other things. Kara never would have died if Tyler had not taken them both as padawans. Kilan never would have suffered and died. Xen’Mordin would never have been born, if it had not been for the old man. The more he yelled at Tyler, the better Xen felt.  


It was a cramped duel, brutal and relentless. Tyler showed his age and years of hard living, Xen’Mordin showed the weakness that his unstable mentality had reduced him to. In the end, Xen managed to slay his master and mentor. He collapsed to the floor from the effort and slept for three days.  
Tyler realized there was no more reasoning with Xen’Mordin. His apprentice Kilan was truly dead, and this Sith before him needed to be dealt with before bring destruction to the galaxy. Xen had been waiting for Tyler to come to this realization. It was a cramped duel, brutal, relentless. Tyler showed his age, while Xen showed his fatigued and weakened state that his unstable mind had reduced him to. But in the end, Tyler had no hope, Xen’Mordin was young and had years of honing his dark side capabilities. Xen slayed his former master and mentor. With Tyler dead as his feet, Xen collapsed into his bed and spelt for three days.  


Waking to the smell of rot setting in, Xen’Mordin composed himself and left. As he made his way to the spaceport he felt something he had not experienced since before the pain of the Force nexus that restored his Force connection. He felt whole. Finally accepting his grief, confronting his master, and stepping forward as his own man had healed his mind. Kilan was Xen’Mordin, and Xen’Mordin was Kilan, and nothing would prevent him from reaching his goals, not even himself.
Waking to the smell of rot setting into Tyler’s corpse, Xen’Mordin gathered his belongings and left. For the first time since his powers were restored by the Force nexus, Xen felt whole, complete, free of internal conflict. He was able to accept his grief, his rage, and in killing his former master, Xen’Mordin was able meld with Kilan, and fight no more. Kilan was Xen’Mordin, and Xen’Mordin was Kilan, and he would not let anything prevent him from reaching his goals, not even himself.  


====The Cause and The Usurper (24 ABY)====
====The Cause and The Usurper (24 ABY)====
Late in [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#24_ABY|24 ABY]], following the [[Ninth_Great_Jedi_War|retaking of Antei]], home of the Brotherhood, one of the most critical moments needed to fully destabilize the system occurred. The newly appointed Emperor, [[Lucien]] the Fearless, had a shaky grip on his control of the system. Xen’Mordin knew the moment had come to utilize many of the contacts he had made over the past several years.
Late in [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#24_ABY|24 ABY]],following the [[Ninth_Great_Jedi_War|retaking of Antei]], one of the most critical moments needed to fully destabilize the system occurred. The newly appointed Emperor, [[Lucien]] the Fearless had come into power with a shaky grip on the system. It was time to allow a more volatile individual take control to push the Empire to the boiling point. To do that, Xen’Mordin made use of the many contacts he had made over the past several years.  
 
Xen’Mordin had maintained a long standing relationship with Thran Occasus, who was still just as power hungry as he had been when searching for Caliburnus. Thran was now serving as the [[Proconsul]] for the clan under the new Emperor. This relationship was founded largely on Thran’s belief that Xen was subservient and easily malleable. This was a marked difference from Thran’s attitude toward Impetus, who to help ease Thran’s mind of potential threats, faked her own death in the system. She and Xen meet one last time to ensure he would place an ad to hire capable scientists in several years time once he had finally taken the throne.
 
Xen spent weeks planting the seeds of rebelling to usurp the throne. Before long Thran was certain the idea was his all along. To back Thran’s attempt to take the Empire, Xen provided information of a useable terrorist organization known as ''The Cause'', that would be capable of allowing Thran to take control.  


Xen’Mordin enjoyed the jest that Thran was unaware of the reasoning for this terrorist group’s name. They were there for a cause, the only cause Xen cared about, seating himself on the throne.  
Thran Occasus, just as power hungry as he had been on Ptolomea when searching for Caliburnus, had found himself sitting as Lucien’s right hand man, [[Proconsul]] of the clan. Xen’Mordin had maintained a long standing relationship with Thran over the last several years. The relationship existed from Thran’s belief that Xen’Mordin was subservient and easily malleable. Xen did whatever was required to fuel that belief. This was a radical difference than Thran’s attitude toward Impetus, who in order to ease Thran’s mind toward a coup to take the throne, faked her own death and disappeared from the system. She and Xen met one last time to ensure he would send a message, an ad looking to hire capable scientists, when he had succeeded in taking the throne, letting her know it was time to return.  


Thran used ''The Cause'' to sow terror in the system, and in the process broke Lucien’s frail grip on the system, Usurping the Throne for himself. Self assured of his right to rule, ''The Cause'' disappeared without a trace the instant Thran was able to secure the throne. Titling himself Thran the Usurper,
Xen’Mordin spent weeks planting various tidbits of information, and ideas in Thran’s head. But it did not take long before Thran was certain he had arrived at the conclusion himself, that it was time to go all in and take the system. To back Thran’s attempt to take the Empire, Xen provided further information of a terrorist organization known as ''The Cause'',, that would be capable of aiding Thran to usurp the throne. This organization was, of course, created by Xen’Mordin and Impetus over the last several years, paying its members a hefty fee to do as they were told. Xen also enjoyed the jest that Thran was totally unaware of the origin of the terrorist group’s name. They were there for a cause, the only cause Xen cared about, putting himself on the throne.


Remarkably few had been killed in the smoke and mirrors used to disrupt the system. The panic they had generated in the system was real enough however, and the memories of their unified front would play a hand several years later when Xen himself used them to finally become Emperor. They were paid well for their efforts and disappeared back into the galaxy as if they never had been there.  
Thran used ''The Cause'' to sow terror in the system, and in the process broke Lucien’s frail grip on the system. Lucien disappeared, and Thran had managed to take the throne for himself. ''The Cause'' disappeared without a trace the instant Thran was able to secure the throne. Self-assured of his right to rule, Thran titled himself ''The Usurper''. Most remarkable was the low number of soldiers and civilians killed in the smoke and mirrors that were used to disrupt the system. However, the panic that had generated was real enough, and the memories of a unified front against the horrendous terrorists would play a hand years later when Xen’Mordin himself used ''The Cause'' to become Emperor. He made sure they were paid well, on top of the money Thran had thrown at them, and they disappeared as if they had never been there.  


====Spoils of War (26 ABY)====
====Spoils of War (26 ABY)====
[[File:Salas_V_Map.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Landmap of Salas V]]
[[File:Salas_V_Map.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Landmap of Salas V]]
Thran’s rule had been more disrupted than either Xen’Mordin or Impetus could have predicted. The Emperor’s party hard lifestyle as put a sour taste in many of the members’ mouths. Those who stuck around were left attempting to patch the work of disarray that had befallen the Cocytus system.  
Thran’s rule had proved to be more disrupted than either Xen’Mordin or Impetus could have predicted. The Emperor’s party-hard lifestyle had put a sour taste in most of the members’ mouths, while doing little to curb his declining approval rates in the system. Many members left the clan just to get away from the vain Usurper. Those who stuck around were left attempting to patch the disarray that had taken over the Cocytus system.  


This reached a critical point when in the year [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#26_ABY|26 ABY]], when [[Grand Master]] [[Muz Ashen]] declared all of the Brotherhood’s clans were to venture to [[Salas V]] in a [[Spoils_of_War|Rite of Supremacy]]. With the opportunity to earn a new world in a new system to control, Thran ordered all of Scholae Palatinae’s force to the planet surface.  
This disarray reached a critical point when in [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#26_ABY|26 ABY]], the [[Grand Master]], [[Muz Ashen]] declared all of the Brotherhood were to venture to the distant planet of [[Salas V]] to participate in a mighty [[Spoils_of_War|Rite of Supremacy]], the planet’s control a shiny gem to be awarded to the victors. Thran ordered all of Scholae Palatinae’s forces to the planet surface, looking to be the first Emperor to expand the Empire outside of the Cocytus system.  


There many members of the clan fought bravely, but without focused central leadership to organize the war effort, their individual efforts gave way to little success. When the dust settled, and the violent [[starwars:Killik|Killiks]] of Salas V were destroyed, the Clan sat embarrassingly outclassed by the other units in the Brotherhood.
Many members of the clan fought hard, pushing themselves and the military to seize the planet. But Thran was nowhere to be seen, and his [[Proconsul]], Angelo Dante, had his hands full. In the end, without a fully focused central leadership to rally the clan, the individual efforts of a few proved to only be moderately successful. When the dust settled, and the violent [[starwars:Killik|Killiks]] of Salas V were destroyed, Scholae Palatinae sat embarrassingly outclassed by nearly every other clan in the Brotherhood.  


Witnessing this defeat first-hand brought even further dismay to the fracturing clan. Xen’Mordin was sad to see such a harrowing defeat, but at the same time knew his own performance and presence had been noted by all in the clan.  
Xen’Mordin witnessed this defeat first hand. He made a strong showing himself on Salas V, but kept himself cautiously out of major danger for the entire war. Dying at the hand of an insect would have been a horrible way to end when he had done so much to take the throne. A greater air of dismay took over the fracturing clan, and while it hurt to see the Empire in even a more broke state, Xen knew it ultimately would be for the greater good that this happened.  


[[File:Dragon-shield.gif|thumb|200px|left|The seal of House Acclivis Draco]]
====The Dragon (27 ABY)====
====The Dragon (27 ABY)====
The time had come for Xen’Mordin to position himself for the final stroke that would place him on the throne. To get there however, he would have to place himself back in unit leadership within the clan. He accepted the [[Aedile]] position of [[House_Acclivis_Draco|House Acclivis Draco]] alongside the newly appointed [[Quaestor]] [[Exodius]], a [[starwars:Trandoshan|Trandoshan]] who had long been a member of the Dragon House.  
[[File:Dragon-shield.gif|thumb|250px|right|The seal of House Acclivis Draco]]
Xen’Mordin knew it was time to begin to position himself within the clan for his final push to take the throne. He had spent years building up a solid reputation in clan, and within the system, but it would not be enough to take the throne. He had to prove himself as a leader for the rest of the clan to fully support him. He accepted the position of [[Aedile]] within the great [[House_Acclivis_Draco|House Acclivis Draco]] alongside the newly appointed [[Quaestor]] [[Exodius]]. Exodius, a [[starwars:Trandoshan|Trandoshan]], who had been a long standing member of the Dragon House, and a proud and fearsome individual, proved to be a lackluster Quaestor.  


Exodius, while a good and loyal leader, only remained Quaestor for a few short months. Control of the House was immediately offered to Xen’Mordin, who graciously accepted the position of Quaestor. Acclivis Draco had long been recognized as the most capable of Scholae Palatinae’s three historic houses. Based on the harsh desert planet of [[Antenora]], it was a widely different location than his estate back on the capitol planet of [[Judecca]].
Control of the House was immediately offered to Xen’Mordin, who graciously accepted the position of Quaestor. Acclivis Draco had been long recognized as the strongest and most capable of the clan’s three houses. It was based on the harsh desert planet of [[Antenora]], which was a wildly different climate than Xen’s estate back on the capital planet of [[Judecca]]. The planet was divided up under control of multiple warring tribes, which Xen immediately started to work with to unify the planet, establishing a plan that would later be executed brilliantly by [[Koryn Thraagus]].  


His own control of the house would prove to be just as brief as Exodius’s, resulting in him being the last Quaestor of the historic unit. While he sat as Quaestor, [[Angelo Dante]], long standing righthand man of Thran’s rule resigned from his position of Proconsul. Xen’s own plans to take this position for himself were thwarted by Thran, who picked a member from [[Clan_Plagueis|Clan Plagueis]], an old familiar face, Ood Bnar, who had once serviced as the Rollmaster in House Caliburnus years before.  
Xen’s own control of the house would prove to be just as brief as Exodius’s however. Just a few months after accepting the position of Quaestor, [[Angelo Dante]], resigned his position as Proconsul. Dante had been the one who had held together the fracturing clan under Thran’s rule, and his resignation put Xen’s final goals within grasp. However, his plans were thwarted by Thran picking a member from [[Clan_Plagueis|Clan Plagueis]] to succeed Dante’s position as Proconsul. Ood Bnar, the once dutiful Rollmaster who served in House Caliburnus with Xen’Mordin and Impetus years before had decided to return to the Empire.  


Xen was greatly offended by this slight, a grudge he would hold against Thran for years. However, unknown to him at the time, this worked out for the best, as he was able to create a more efficient move to the throne when the time came.  
This action offended Xen’Mordin greatly, who would hold this grudge against Thran for years. However, unknown to him at the time, this action worked out in his benefit, as it put the pieces in play for an even stronger claim to take the throne than he would have other wise. An edict from the Grand Master himself would see Xen’s time as Quaestor cut short.  


====Infection (27 ABY)====
====Infection (27 ABY)====
[[File:Csilla.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Freezing World of Csilla]]
[[File:Csilla.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Csilla]]
As part of his duties as the Quaestor of Acclivis Draco, Xen’Mordin would frequently leave Antenora to return to the capitol planet of Judecca. It was in [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#27_ABY|27 ABY]] during one of these trips to deal with clan matters that Xen arrived to a completely silent Imperial Palace. As Xen departed his ship and opened the hangar doors leading into the palace, a fine green mist poured from the now open doors. Xen jumped back and held his breath, certain it was a toxin, but it was too late, he had been infected by it.  
Xen’Mordin would frequently leave Antenora and return to Judecca as part of his duties as Quaestor. It was his job to represent his House to the Clan, and his job to ensure the planet of Antenora ran in harmony with the will of the Empire. It was in [[20_ABY_to_29_ABY#27_ABY|27 ABY]], during one of these ventures to the Capital, that Xen arrived to a completely silent and inactive Palace. As he departed his ship, and opened the doors leading from the hanger to the Palace, a fine green mist poured out of the doors. Xen jumped back and held his breath, certain it was a toxin, but it was too late. He was infected, just like everyone else in the palace.  


Unsure of how to proceed, he entered the palace and found members of the Clan and staff laying on the floor. He checked the first couple of bodies he came across. They were alive but in a coma-like state. Xen’Mordin rushed to the state of the art medical center in the palace. With aid of the medical droids he was able to learn he had a natural resistance to the toxin, but that he too would ultimately succumb to it. An anti-toxin was viable, but required compounds only found in snow flowers from the world of [[starwars:Csilla|Csilla]], homeworld of the [[starwars:Chiss|Chiss]].
He found staff and Clan members in the halls of the palace. Each unconscious, but alive in a coma-like state. Xen’Mordin rushed to the advanced medical center in the palace. With the aid of the medical droids he was able to isolate the toxin, and learned he had a natural resistance to its effects. He would ultimately succumb to it like the others, but he had hours with which he could attempt to generate an antitoxin. He learned there was a viable one to be created, but required compounds that were only found in the rare snow flowers from the homeworld of the [[starwars:Chiss|Chiss]], [[starwars:Csilla|Csilla]].


With the clock ticking until he too would succumb to the toxin, Xen’Mordin took the most direct route to the planet he could. Already feeling drowsy and lethargic as he arrived on Csilla, he forced himself from his ship to gather as many of the flowers as he could. He knew the instant he entered the system, the Chiss government would be tracking his ship, and he didn’t have the time to deal with the bureaucracy of an unauthorized visit to the planet’s surface. He left as quickly as he could.
Xen’Mordin took the most direct route to the planet he could, not caring to be noticed, or stopped by the Chiss military. He knew the instant he entered the system, he would be noticed. Already feeling the drowsy and lethargic symptoms of the toxin taking hold, he jumped intra-atmosphere from hyperspace, nearly crashing his ship. He gathered as many of the flowers as he could carry, and returned to his ship to get back to the Cocytus system before it was too late.  


As he broke through the atmosphere of the planet, he was flanked by fighter-ships of the Chiss military, demanding he stop and answer their questions. They opened fire, damaging Xen’s ship as he managed to make the jump to lightspeed. When Xen arrived back on Judecca, he was unable to land the damaged ship correctly, crashing and skidding to a halt within the hangar bay of the palace. He had to drag himself, and the flowers, off the ship. It was in the halls of the palace yards from the medical center that he finally succumbed to the toxin’s effects.  
As Xen’Mordin broke the atmosphere of the planet to jump away, he was flanked by many fighters ships of the Chiss, who were demanding he stop and be taken in for questioning. When Xen didn’t respond, they opened fire as he jumped to lightspeed, damaging his ship, but not enough to destroy it. Xen’Mordin was forced to crash the damaged vessel in the hangar bay of the Palace. He dragged himself and the flowers, off the ship and attempted to make it back to the medical center. He was just down the hall from it when he finally fully succumbed to the toxin’s effects.  


Xen awoke three days later in a bed in the medical bay. One of the medical droids was able to gather the flowers Xen had on his person when he finally collapsed outside and generate an anti-toxin. Everyone who had been affected had been restored, but the source of the toxin itself was never determined.  
Xen’Mordin awoke three days later in a bed in the medical center. One of the medical droids had gathered the flowers Xen had on him when he collapsed down the hall, and generated the antitoxin to begin treating the infected. All those who were affected had been returned to full health, but the source of the toxin self was never fully determined.  


[[File:Csp-logo.png|thumb|200px|left|Logo of Scholae Palatinae]]
====Grand Marshal of the Empire (27 ABY)====
====Grand Marshal of the Empire (27 ABY)====
Thran Occasus had vanished, and Ood Bnar held tightly to the top control of the Clan and Empire. Then came word direct from the [[Iron_Throne|Iron Throne]] itself. The power and backing of Clan status was being removed from all Clans in the Brotherhood. This meant the immediate closing of all Houses and termination of the leadership positions. Scholae Palatinae was forced to reorganize.  
[[File:Csp-logo.png|thumb|250px|right|Logo of Scholae Palatinae]]
Thran Occasus had vanished. In his wake he left a Clan and Empire broken and crippled. With his parting, Ood Bnar held tightly to the top levels of Clan and Empire resources allowing both to remain upright for the time being. But then came word directly from the [[Iron_Throne|Iron Throne]]. The resources allocated to the clans by the Council were being cut back, and all Clans were instructed to immediately restructure as independant houses, a humiliating drop in status for everyone. The long standing houses of Acclivis Draco, Dorimad Sol, and Caliburnus were immediately dissolved. Control of everything now would rest with the sitting summit of House Scholae Palatinae.  


This edict however also came with the direct replacement of Consul and Emperor, which was given directly to Ood by Muz Ashen. The Neti was faced with an impossible situation, a unit full of members outraged at the offense of losing their resources from Clan status, and a system full of people on the brink of revolt from the pain and suffering that came under Thran’s rule.  
The role of Quaestor and position of Emperor fell to Ood, by declaration from Muz Ashen. Believing he could right the ship, Ood was given an impossible situation. The members were outrage by the slights of the Dark Council, and while Ood had been a member in the past, he had been gone for years as a member of Clan Plagueis before returning as Thran’s Proconsul. Many were left seeing him as just a continuation of Thran’s chaos. As for the Empire itself, its people were on the brink of revolt against the Empire, Thran’s lavish and selfish lifestyle burdening the civilians heavily.  


Ood as the new Emperor was named Ood the Hardwood, and had to name his second in command, and [[Clan_Scholae_Palatinae#Appointed_Officers|Grand Marshal]] for the system. Xen’Mordin and Ood had worked together years before in House Caliburnus, and Ood recognized Xen’s natural talent as a leader. More than that however, the Grand Marshal was head of the entire military for the clan and system. Xen’s efforts in the many Brotherhood wide battles over the last years made him a recognized and respected face to all of the military personnel.  
As the new Emperor, Ood was dubbed “The Hardwood”, and had to find his second in command. Having worked with Xen’Mordin years before in House Caliburnus, and having seen Xen’s stint recently leading Acclivis Draco, he quickly named Xen’Mordin the Aedile for the house, and [[Clan_Scholae_Palatinae#Appointed_Officers|Grand Marshal]] for the system. This placed Xen’Mordin as the direct commander of the entire Imperial Military Force. Xen was recognized as a skilled warrior, and due to the many battles he had fought along with the military personnel, had an immediate support of the armed forces.  


Where Thran had been bold, brash, and brazen, Ood was quiet, quaint, and quiescent. Xen’Mordin came to realize Ood’s presence was more of a blessing than a hinderance of his master plan as the Neti’s leadership approach would allow Xen to seize control with the full backing and support of his clan, and the citizens of the Empire.  
Where Thran had been bold, brash, and brazen, Ood was quiet, quaint, and quiescent. Xen’Mordin realized this was to his benefit in his quest to finally take the throne. A weak leader, and a major threat would be all it took for him to seize control backed completely by his fellow brethren, and to the great aplomb of the citizens of the Empire. The time had come for him to enact the final act of the plan.  


====The Neutralization (28 ABY)====
====The Neutralization (28 ABY)====
[[File:Judecca.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Judecca - Capital planet of the Cocytus System]]
[[File:Judecca.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Judecca]]
''The Cause'' returned in a loud and stunning fashion. Hospitals, manufacturing plants, schools, town squares, military depositories, even some of Xen’s own company facilties and warehouses, all targeted in a series of highly planned out attacks. If the damaged and death caused from these terrorist attacks hadn’t whipped the entire system into a frenzy, some might have noticed the ease and consistency with which the terrorists were able to strike. The over the top and threatening holovids that followed immediately after every attack kept the eyes of the public away from how it happened, and focused who did it.  
''The Cause''returned with a shocking and abrupt series of rapid fire attacks throughout the system. Hospitals, schools, shopping centers, military locations, and in a deft move of illusion, some of Xen’s own company facilities were all target in a string of carefully planned out attacks. It was a numbers game, one that had been meticulously planned out. Just enough death, just enough horrifying locations to whip the system into a full on frenzy. If it wasn’t for the fear and panic the attacks caused, some might have noticed the incredible ease of the terrorists pulling off these attacks, seemingly out of thin air. But the over the top, bold and demeaning holovids that followed each attack, kept the focus on the who, not the how of the attacks.  


But fear held strong, and rage from within the clan at an old enemy returning to mock them once more. The time had come for Xen’Mordin to play his winning hand. He was paying the members of ''The Cause'' quite handsomely for their efforts, not that any would live to spend the credits by the time it was done.  
Xen’Mordin held all the cards, from the military response, to the Cause operatives that he was paying handsomely to attack his own system. Of course, none of them would live long enough to spend any of the credits, that too was planned, in the strong handed response Xen organized and had carried out by his own members of the clan. Ood was invisible, so much so he might not have existed at all. Xen took center stage as the strong leader that unified the system against such bold attacks. But first he had to let the entire system see how bad it could get with the non-response of Ood. Just as the Empire was ready to storm the grounds of the palace, Xen gave the green light to strike back.  


Ood was invisible, practically as if he wasn’t there at all. Xen’Mordin allowed this to be noticed by everyone in the system, letting the issue rise to a boiling point of a civil revolt before he himself led the charge of public appearances backed by the military personnel needed to route out these terrorists. The mighty arm of the Empire struck hard and fast. The clan members fueled by their anger at the terrorists ensured the victory was complete and absolute. Even as the terrorists being rounded up, and summarily executed, Xen was using his own resources to build up the damaged parts of the system. By the time the last of the terrorists had been rounded up, Xen was able to issue the order for the immediate imprisonment of Ood Bnar for failing his people and his clan in the terrorist attacks.  
While the members of Scholae Palatinae hunted down the terrorists with  information based on ISI created dossiers, Xen’Mordin was also using his own funds to build up the damaged parts of the system. He went in person to each of the families that lost loved ones, and got his hands dirty clearing the rubble left in the Cause’s wake. With the last of the Cause leaders rounded up and executed, Xen had the full backing of his clan as a strong leader, and the backing of an Empire in desperate need of a true leader. Xen’Mordin issued an immediate declaration of imprisonment for Ood Bnar for failing the Empire so egregiously.  


Xen’Mordin took the throne with an unprecedented backing and approval rate from the citizens of the Cocytus Empire. As he moved to the position of [[Quaestor]] for the House, his support there was near universal for his strong and swift hand at dealing with threats against the House’s well being. He took for himself the tyrant title of ''Xen’Mordin the Manipulative'', and turned his sight on establishing the Empire as a lasting force in the galaxy.  
Xen’Mordin took the throne with an unprecedented backing and approval of the citizens of the Cocytus Empire. And as he took the mantle of [[Quaestor]] for House Scholae Palatinae, his support was nearly universal as the clear successor to lead them forward. He took for himself the tyrant title of ''Xen’Mordin the Manipulative'', and turned his sight on establishing the Empire as a lasting force in the galaxy.


===The Emperor (28 ABY - Present)===
===The Emperor (28 ABY - Present)===
{{Quote|I dream of an Empire that eclipses even Palpatine’s.|Xen’Mordin upon taking the throne}}
{{Quote|Now the Empire can begin anew.|Xen’Mordin upon taking the throne}}


''Xen’Mordin wasted no time settling into his role of Emperor and leader of Scholae Palatinae. His rule marked one of the longest and most consistent periods of a ruler both the in the Cocytus system, and for Scholae Palatinae. Organizing a massive modernization to the Empire, and a demonstrating a continued unwavering loyalty to the Empire and Clan, few wished to depose him of his rule. This was a near unimaginable feat for a society and culture built upon the betrayals and backstabbing.''
''Xen’Mordin wasted no time in securing his hold over the Cocytus system. The years of planning and preparing had finally paid off, and now he was able to do as he saw fit. The Cocytus Empire was to become stronger than ever. His rule marked on of the longest and most heavily active periods of a ruler both for the Empire, and for Scholae Palatinae. Between his massive modernization of the Empire, and unwavering dedication, few would ever wish to depose him from the throne. This was a nearly unimaginable feat for a society and culture built upon betrayals and backstabbing.''


[[File:XenmordinMask1.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The mask worn by Xen in all his Brotherhood duties]]
====Imperialization (28 ABY)====
====Imperialization (28 ABY)====
By the time Xen’Mordin took the throne of the Cocytus Empire, he had spent years researching both Palpatine’s life, and the rising of the Galactic Empire. Palpatine had been able to hide his identity as Darth Sidious, and so too, must Xen. To the public he was the attractive and charismatic leader they needed and believed in. To the Brotherhood however he was the cold and calculating Sith, face shielded by by a mask bearing the sigil of Scholae Palatinae.  
[[File:XenmordinMask1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Xen’s Mask]]
Over the course of the years leading up to Xen’Mordin taking the mantle of Emperor, he had study over every aspect of Emperor Palpatine’s life he could find, along with his actions that led to the rise of the Galactic Empire. Palpatine, a master manipulator, had not only led the Galactic Republic to willingly form into the Empire, but had been able to completely hide his identity as Darth Sidious. This separation of Sith and politician was a factor Xen took very seriously in his first days leading the the Cocytus Empire. To the public he was an attractive, intelligent, and charismatic leader, one that the people could believe and rally behind. To the Brotherhood he was a cold and calculating Sith, face shielded by a mask bearing the sigil of Scholae Palatinae.  


This radical split between the public Emperor and the hidden Sith of the Brotherhood would dominate Xen’s lifestyle for years. But it was far from the most radical actions he would take. He ordered the immediate dissolvement of the high ''royal'' class that had plagued the Empire with unnecessary bureaucracy. Planetary rule was given instead to Planetary Governors. The Governors in turn reported to the System Moff, a position he gave for Scholae Palatinae’s [[Rollmaster]] to handle. The Imperial Senate, a venue for the populace to be heard was cut and gutted in several stages spread out over several years. Nearly every aspect of the Empire was rebranded and made uniform.  
This radical split between the public Emperor, and hidden Sith dominated Xen’s lifestyle for years. However, it was far from the only radical action he would start as Emperor. He ordered the immediate dissolvement of the high ''royal'' class that had plagued the Empire with unnecessary bureaucracy. Planetary rule was moved to Planetary Governors, who were either willing loyal puppets, or members of Scholae Palatinae itself. The Governors in turn reported to the System Moff, a position he had added to the chain of command, adding it to the active duties of Scholae Palatinae’s [[Rollmaster]]. The Imperial Senate, a venue for the populace to be heard, and feel like the had a place in the government was completely gutted in several stages. Nearly every single aspect of the Empire was rebranded, refined, and made uniform. The Empire needed to function as a well oiled machine.  


Xen’Mordin also took actions in the private sectors as well. He nationalized multiple large corporations that provided crucial goods and services throughout the system. Multiple educational and research facilities were taken in as part of a new government wide push for education, but with reinforcing Imperial ideals and loyalty. The banking and finance systems came under strict review and control. The entirety of the media was immediately restructured and restricted to fit a pro-Imperial agenda, and to direct any attention away from events that would negatively impact the view the citizens had on the Empire.  
Xen’Mordin also took major action in the private sectors as well, routing out hindrances of resources, and through some more untalked about actions against the corrupted portions of the economy. He nationalized multiple large corporations that provided crucial goods and services throughout the system. He was able to expand what he started with Vismorsus Industries into multiple new high level educational and research facilities. These were taken in as part of a government wide push for education the system to improve, while also promoting loyalty to the Empire. The banking and finance system came under a strict and regulated review. The entirety of the news media in the system was restructured to fit an absolute pro-Imperial agenda, as well as the ability to be used to direct attention away from events that would negatively impact the public’s view of the Empire.  


====Retaliation (29 ABY)====
====Retaliation (29 ABY)====
In what would be the first of many tense situations against rival Brotherhood unit [[Naga Sadow]], occurred early in Xen’s reign. Long standing Palatinaean, and one of the keepers of the [[Legacy of Palpatine]], [[Angelo Dante]], was tasked to accompany the sitting [[Fist of the Brotherhood|FIST]], [[Fremoc Pepoi]], on a mission to the Alsakan system. They were tasked with hunting down the Jedi [[Michael Halcyon]], who had on several occasions been a proud serving member and leader within Scholae Palatinae.  
[[File:XenByGeirahod.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Emperor Vismorsus]]
Early into Xen’s reign, a single event kick started a long run of tense situations between Scholae Palatinae, and rival Brotherhood unit [[Naga Sadow]]. Historically the two units were mostly ambivalent toward each other, but that was set to change. A long standing Palatinaean, and one of the keepers of the [[Legacy of Palpatine]], [[Angelo Dante]], was tasked to go with the sitting [[Fist of the Brotherhood|FIST]], [[Fremoc Pepoi]], on a mission to the Alsakan system. The pair were tasked with hunting down a rogue Jedi, [[Michael Halcyon]]. Michael Halcyon had on several occasions been a member and leader within Scholae Palatinae, so Xen’Mordin wished to task one of his best with bringing down the Jedi.  


While Angelo and Fremoc succeeded in locating the rogue Jedi, he was aware of their presence. Following a quick duel, and thanks largely to incompetent actions of Fremoc, Angelo was killed, and Michael escaped. Angelo’s body was returned home to the Cocytus system, where Xen’Mordin gave his burial every honor and status within the Empire, befitting a fallen hero. Xen’s mind however was focused on retaliation. Fremoc was a long standing member of Naga Sadow, and despite his position on the [[Dark Council]], Xen wanted revenge, a desire echoed by all in Scholae Palatinae who had served with Angelo.  
While Angelo and Fremoc succeeded in their mission of locating the Jedi, Michael was aware of their presence and fought the pair off. In the midst of a quick paced duel, thanks largely to the incompetent actions of Fremoc, Angelo was killed and Michael escaped capture. Angelo’s body was returned to the Cocytus system, where Xen’Mordin ordered a day of mourning to precede a burial given ever honor and status there was within the Empire, a burial befitting a fallen hero of the Empire. While ensuring his loyal friend and advisor was properly recognized, Xen’s mind was focused on one thing, retaliation. Fremoc was a long standing member of Naga Sadow, and at the time was even a Son of Sadow. Despite Fremoc’s position on the [[Dark Council]], Xen was willing to go to any lengths to avenge the death of Angelo, a sentiment echoed by all in Scholae Palatinae.


Attacking a member of the Council outright would have gotten himself killed, as Grand Master Muz Ashen was insightfully protective of his Council members, and especially of those who hailed from Naga Sadow, his own home unit. Knowledge of this didn’t stop some, as an estranged Scholae Palatinae member, [[Cado_H%27darr|Cado H’darr]], was killed trying to take revenge into his own hands.  
Xen’Mordin knew an outright attack on a member of the Council would have been suicide, as each member was protected by the Grand Master, Muz Ashen, Muz himself being from Naga Sadow. This knowledge and common sense didn’t stop some, as an estranged Scholae Palatinae member, [[Cado_H%27darr|Cado H’darr]], was killed while trying to take revenge into his own hands.  


It was following this a bomb was detonated in a hangar, sent clearly to kill Fremoc. However, Fremoc was spared from death, and was merely injured in the blast. His son, Thomas, however was killed. While it was impossible to directly link Xen’Mordin or anyone else in Scholae Palatinae for the attack, everyone knew the parties involved, and why it happened. Before any further escalation of the issue could arise, the Grand Master, Muz Ashen, called all of the Dark Council and unit leaders together to make it abundantly clear that any further acts of aggression would face immediate repercussions.  
In the days that followed, a bomb was detonated in a hangar, one clearly sent to kill Fremoc, who had just landed. Fremoc, however, was spared from death, merely being injured in the blast. Fremoc’s son, Thomas, was killed as the young boy had been running to greet his father. It was impossible for anyone to directly link Xen’Mordin, or anyone else in Scholae Palatinae, to the bomb. Yet, everyone knew full well the parties involved, and the message that was being sent. Before any further escalation of the issue could arise, the Grand Master, called the Council and all unit Leaders together to make it abundantly clear that any further acts of aggression would face immediate repercussions. Xen’s thirst for revenge would have to stay sated for the time being.  


====The Invasion of New Tython (29 ABY)====
====The Invasion of New Tython (29 ABY)====
[[File:NewTython.jpg|thumb|200px|right|New Tython is where the Jedi of Odan-Urr had taken refuge]]
The Grand Master had different plans for the boiling aggression that was festering between all the units of the Brotherhood. For months they had tolerated Lord Ashen’s unorthodox unit, [[Odan-Urr]], a band of Jedi who were tied to the Iron Throne. The time for tolerance had come to an end, as the dark side aligned units went to [[New Tython]], the refuge of the Jedi. The [[Tenth_Great_Jedi_War|Invasion of New Tython]], began and each of the long standing units of the Brotherhood left their systems behind looking to exterminate the Jedi.  
The Grand Master had different plans for the aggression that was boiling between all the units of the Brotherhood. For months the clans had tolerated Lord Ashen’s unorthodox unit, [[Odan-Urr]], a band of Jedi loyal to the Iron Throne. That tolerance was about to break out in war, as the dark side clans went to [[New Tython]], refuge of the Jedi. The [[Tenth_Great_Jedi_War|Invasion of New Tython]], began and each of the long standing units of the Brotherhood left their systems behind looking to exterminate the Jedi.  


For Xen’Mordin, and much of Scholae Palatinae, the fight was a more personal issue, for the traitor Michael Halcyon was among those leading the defenses of the Jedi on the planet. Xen led the foray for his people, placing the continued reconstruction of the Empire on hold. With the aid of his Grand Marshal [[Brent_"Archangel"_Ligur_Victae|Archangel]], and System Moff [[Rayne]], the massive progress made could wait for revenge to be had.  
For Xen’Mordin, and the rest of Scholae Palatinae, this fight was a personal one as well, for the traitor Michael Halcyon was among those leading the defenses of the Jedi on the planet. Xen placed the continued restriction and restoration of the Empire on hold, and personal led the foray for his people. With the aid of his Grand Marshal [[Brent_"Archangel"_Ligur_Victae|Archangel]], and System Moff [[Rayne]], the massive stride for progress could wait while Scholae Palatinae filled its blood lust.  


Unexpectedly however, the Jedi were not alone on New Tython, with an arsenal of [[starwars:Mandalorian|Mandalorians]] arriving as the invasion began, being paid heavily to defend the planet. Amongst the Mandalorians was [[Maximus_Raidoner_Mandalore|Maximus Raidoner]], yet another betrayer of the Empire and Scholae Palatinae. Xen’Mordin was robbed of issuing punishment for the traitors Michael and Raidoner, but was satisfied they met their violent end all the same.  
Unexpectedly however, the Jedi were not alone on New Tython, an arsenal of [[starwars:Mandalorian|Mandalorians]] arrived just as the invasion began, being paid heavily to defend the planet. Among the Mandolorians was [Maximus_Raidoner_Mandalore|Maximus Raidoner]], another betrayer to the Empire and Scholae Palatinae. In the field of battle, Xen’Mordin was robbed of being the one to issue punishment upon the two traitors Michael and Raidoner, but was present to witness their violent demise first hand.  


The spoils of the war were enough to squash any feelings Xen’Mordin had about not being the one to deliver the killing blows on the two traitors. Enough plunder was taken from the planet for Scholae Palatinae to purchase a new space station to replace their worn [[Dynasty_Station|Dynasty Station]]. The much larger and more capable [[Dynasty_II|Dynasty II]] was purchased and place in high orbit around the planet of [[Ptolomea]].
The spoils that followed the war were enough to squash the negative feelings Xen’Mordin had about not being the one to kill the two traitors. Enough plunder was taken from the planet for a new space station to be replace the old and worn out [[Dynasty_Station|Dynasty Station]]. The much larger and more capable ''Dynasty II'' was purchased and place in high orbit around the planet of [[Ptolomea]], a fitting trophy to remind them of the war.


[[File:Sepros assault.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Battle over Sepros]]
====The Orian Incursion (30 ABY)====
====The Orian Incursion (30 ABY)====
The war on New Tython helped breath a new energy into the members of Scholae Palatinae. The Palatinaeans’ strong showing had given a massive confidence boost, much needed after their faltering and weak attempts under the rule of Thran Occasus. And it was with this confidence in mind that Xen’Mordin knew they had to keep momentum forward, or risk plunging back into the abyss.  
[[File:Sepros assault.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Battle over Sepros]]
The members of Scholae Palatinae had a new surge of energy following the war on New Tython. Their strong showing in battle had given them a much needed confidence boost. After years of faltering and weak attempts, their surprisingly commanding presence in the war provided them with a surge of forward momentum. Xen’Mordin knew that momentum had to be sustained for them to survive.


It was at this point that Xen’Mordin was approached by [[Tra%27an_Reith|Tra’an Reith]], the leader of [[Clan_Plagueis|Plagueis]], one of the other units in the Brotherhood. Tra’an and Xen both wanted to maximize their units standing, and to do so, that meant weakening one of the others. They decided Naga Sadow was a prime target, weakened from a poor showing on New Tython. Xen, still stewing from the death of Angelo, wanted nothing more than a legitimate fight against the cowards of Naga Sadow. To invade Naga Sadow’s home, the [[Orian System]], was something he could not pass on. He also knew it would provide a great opportunity for Plagueis to be weakened by Naga Sadow, allowing him to strike both down.  
It was at this point that Xen’Mordin was approached by [[Tra%27an_Reith|Tra’an Reith]], the leader of [[Clan_Plagueis|Plagueis]], one of the other units in the Brotherhood. Both Tra’an and Xen wanted to maximize their units energy to fully secure their place as one of the dominant units within the Brotherhood. This of course meant showing another unit was weaker. They decided that Naga Sadow was a prime target for attack. They were recovering from a poor performance on New Tython, unexpected and ill prepared for an attack. For Xen, this was a personal matter. He was still enraged over the death of Angelo, and he wished to have a legitimate attack against the cowards of Naga Sadow. To invade Naga Sadow’s home, the [[Orian System]], was something he could not pass on. He also knew it would provide a great opportunity for Plagueis to be weakened by Naga Sadow, allowing him to strike both down.  


However, once the invasion began in earnest, Xen’s fellow leaders and advisors strongly urged to turn on Plagueis, allowing Naga Sadow and Plagueis to wear each other down before taking both out. While this had been Xen’s plan from the beginning, he put up a fight against it, solely to let his fellow members be sated with the belief they held some control over the direction they would take. Much like Palpatine had killed [[starwars:Darth_Plagueis|Darth Plagueis]], he desired to see Scholae Palatinae remove the stain of Plagueis’s legacy for good.  
As the invasion of the Orian system began, Xen’s most trusted advisors within Scholae Palatinae strongly urged him to turn on Plagueis, allowing Naga Sadow and Plagueis to weaken each other before picking them off. This had been Xen’s plan from the start, but he put up a fight against this idea. He fought it just long enough to convince the members of Scholae Palatinae that they had some control over the direct they would take moving forward.  


Palatinaean forces held back greatly during the initial assault in the Orian System, allowing Plagueis to spearhead the attack. Xen’Mordin didn’t even need to order this to happen, as Tra’an, confident in his own forces pressed the issue to be given the lead in the attack. As Sadowan forces pulled back to regroup, Xen issued his order 66, and the entirety of the Palatinaean Military force came in behind Plagueis.  
Palatinaean forces held back during the initial assault in the Orian System. Xen’Mordin didn’t even need to order this action, as Tra’an confident in his own forces, pressed the issue in being the leader of the attack. Scholae Palatinae was to arrive following the first barrage against the Naga Sadow forces. As the Sadowan forces pulled back to regroup, Xen issued a coded order, sending the entirety of the Palatinaean military to attack Plagueis’s rear.  


Naga Sadow launched their counterattack, and Plagueis took heavy losses, including their Star Destroyer, the [[VSDII_Ballista|Ballista]], which was left to defend their hasty retreat from the system. Xen’Mordin attempted to block the retreat of the Plagueians, they managed to escape, though severely wounded. With the Plagueis fleet withdrawing from the conflict, Xen’Mordin ordered his own forces to retreat without further escalation against the Sadowans.  
Plagueis scrambled to form a defensive pattern against Scholae Palatinae. As they attempted this, Naga Sadow launched their counterattack. The Plagueians took heavy losses in a hasty retreat from the system, including losing their Star Destroyer, the [[VSDII_Ballista|Ballista]]. As they escaped Xen’Mordin ordered his own forces to retreat home without further escalation against the Sadowans.  


====Horizons (30 ABY)====
====Horizons (30 ABY)====
Horizons Plague
[[File:XenHeadSITH.png|thumb|250px|right|Xen'Mordin during Horizons]]
Shortly after Orian Incursion another crisis arose, one that brought Scholae Palatinae, and the Empire, to near extinction. This time however the threat came from an old face wielding an impossibly dangerous weapon. [[Zoraan]], a former Grand Master, had returned having escaped the death so many had believed he had fallen to. With him, came the powerful and infectious disease, Lysu Thren’s [[Horizon Plague]]. This plague had been believed lost millennia ago, shortly after it was developed. 
 
The [[Horizons|plague spread]] like an unstoppable wildfire, infecting all Brotherhood systems simultaneously. It was subtle at first, symptoms slow to develop. Lowly ranked Journeymen began to demonstrate skills and abilities that even an Elder would struggle to accomplish. By the time enough Journeymen had displayed this capability, it was too late to stop it. The Journeymen turned mad and depraved. They turned on each others, and the more powerful members that over saw them. Many were cut down by the [[Equite|Equites]] and [[Elder|Elders]] of their clans, in effort to stop what was happening. But everyone was already infected.
 
Within the capital city of [[Judecca#Ohmen|Ohmen]] on [[Judecca]], riots erupted in the streets, and Xen’Mordin was forced to order an immediate system wide lockdown. This failed to stabilize the issue, with the Horizon plague having been perfected into the ultimate weapon against the Dark Jedi of the Brotherhood, stripping them of all their powers. Xen’Mordin could do nothing but watch the plague tear apart his Empire. With the plague taking full grip, Xen succumbed to its effects just as Zoraan, backed by [[starwars:One_Sith|One Sith]] forces, attacked.
 
Luckily, Xen’Mordin had first hand experience with living without the connection to the Force. While he was better prepared than his fellow Palatinaeans, it was still a blinding and crippling experience. It brought with it a reminder of the darkest moments of his life, and the pain associated with it. Ultimately when it seemed that Zoraan had succeeded in killing the Brotherhood, a cure was discovered. As leader of Scholae Palatinae, Xen was one of the first to receive it, and tasked with ensuring his members received it as well. He needed to restore order immediately.
 
====Always Two (30 ABY)====
Xen’Mordin came to realize he could not restore order alone, not after such a violent conflict that turned the civilians of the system against each other. Luckily for Xen, a new member of Scholae Palatinae had been showing tremendous potential in the months prior to the Horizons plague. [[Evant Taelyan]], who had studied political science, and had a practiced hand at the art of propaganda, had already taken up residence as a key member of the now smaller and more focused battleteam, [[Caliburnus_(Battleteam)|Caliburnus]].
 
Evant’s ambition, skill, and force affinity was apparent, but it was his skills at propaganda and understanding of how to play the political game that brought him to Xen’s attention. Xen’Mordin assessed Evant from afar, but following the chaos of Horizons, Xen was forced to take action. Evant quickly tackled any and every obstacle Xen’Mordin placed in front of him. Under Xen’s tutelage, Evant rose quickly to obtain the rank of Knight, and was placed as the head of Caliburnus, with direct access to the resources the Imperial Scholae Intelligence provided.
 
The ambitions of the two men, alongside their very compatible personalities led to a smooth and easy relationship. Where many master and apprentice pairings ended with bitter animosity and hatred, Evant and Xen’Mordin were able to avoid it, becoming very close friends. The tiered power status between the two faded over the years as they embarked on the long quest for ultimate power, no longer the Master and the Apprentice, but colleagues and equals.
 
====The Dark Crusade (30 ABY - 32 ABY)====
[[File:XenHeadMask.png|thumb|250px|right|Xen'Mordin during the Dark Crusade]]
With Zoraan finally dead, and the threat of the One Sith that followed him still present in the galaxy, Grand Master Muz Ashen declared it was time to go on the offensive. The Brotherhood was to leave their home systems, and strike out against the One Sith. The galaxy was wide, and over the millennia, the Sith had ventured to many planets, and now the One Sith had taken up hold on several of great power and historical importance. They sought the Sith history, lore, knowledge, and mighty artifacts that were scattered about the galaxy.
 
This offensive to destroy the One Sith, and recover the ancient Sith teachings and artifacts turned into a two year long endeavour, the [[Dark Crusade]]. It was an unprecedented level of conflict and commitment for the members of the Brotherhood, and their militaries. Xen’Mordin would lead Scholae Palatinae through the long and bitter campaign against the One Sith, venturing to many planets in the quest for vengeance, and great power. But this campaign came at a cost, as with the members and military gone from the Empire of the [[Cocytus_System|Cocytus system]] was forced to languish with marginal and periodic oversight. The dreams of a mighty Empire were once again placed on hold for the strength the power of the Force would bring.
 
=====Nfolgai (30 ABY)=====
The first planet of the crusade that Scholae Palatinae attacked was [[Nfolgai]]. The planet had been suspected to be the resting place of [[starwars:Sorzus_Syn|Sorzus Syn]], a famous Sith alchemist. Syn was the one credited for the creation of the first [[starwars:Sithspawn|Sithspawn]]. Xen’Mordin was among the first on the surface, leading from the front lines against the planetary One Sith leader, Yobd Nan.  Following assaults at the Temple of Sorzus Syn, and the frozen crashed ship the ''Render'', the planet ultimately fell into Brotherhood control.
 
=====Rhelg (30 ABY)=====
Scholae Palatinae ventured to the planet of [[Rhelg]] following their successful assault on Nfolgai. The planet was home to a well known but poorly studied fortress built by [starwars:Ludo_Kressh|Ludo Kressh]], the Sith Lord who ruled during the [[starwars:Great_Hyperspace_War|Great Hyperspace War]]. Xen’Mordin helped identify a bizarre Force anomaly on the surface, an anomaly that had gone undocumented until the Brotherhood touched down on the planet to raid the great fortress.
 
=====Bhargebba (30 ABY)=====
[[File:Bhargebba_battle.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Preparing on Bhargebba]]
Xen’Mordin then led Scholae Palatinae to the planet of [[Bhargebba]]. The great weapon forge of Loka Dan had been discovered by the One Sith on the planet. The forge itself, in addition to being able to create weapons and armor of great power, was already full of artifacts ranging from [[starwars:Sith_sword|Sith swords]] to [[starwars:Sith_amulet|Sith amulets]], all created under the watchful and knowledgeable eye of Loka Dan himself. Xen knew these artifiacts would help them greatly in their quest to establish a new Galactic Empire. However, the forge itself was protected by hired [[starwars:Mecrosa_Order|Mecrosa Order Assassins]] in addition to the One Sith forces stationed there. In the end, after a violent and bloody battle, the forge was captured and vaults pillaged.
 
=====Ashas Ree (30 ABY)=====
[[Ashas Ree]] was the next planet on Scholae Palatinae’s war path. Home to a lavish temple built by [[starwars:Garu|Sith Lord Garu]]. But it was not for the valuable art or artifacts from the temple that Xen’Mordin chose this planet as the next stage of Scholae Palatinae’s war. It had been established that Ashas Ree was the first planet that Sith Lord [[starwars:Freedon_Nadd|Freedon Nadd]] had visited following his fall to the dark side of the Force. It was here that Freedon Nadd found an incredibly powerful nexus of the Force. Xen having first hand experience of the power that surged through a Force nexus, wished to study it, and allow easier access to the enhanced powers it provided to the Dark Jedi.
 
=====Korriz (30 ABY)=====
Scholae Palatinae’s personal greatest victory in the Crusade came on the planet [[Korriz]]. Whereas previous planets had seen strong efforts from several units of the Brotherhood, it was on Korriz that Scholae Palatinae stood largely unaided in battle against the One Sith. Korriz was a frequent stepping stone for the Sith Empires of old. It happened to be home of the workshop of the skilled alchemist and magic weaver [[starwars:Tritos_Nal|Tritos Nal]]. Tritos’ knowledge fell to Scholae Palatinae. Xen’Mordin had greater plans than just the Crusade, and hoped to use this information to help demonstrate the full might of the Empire.
 
=====Dromund Kaas (30 ABY)=====
[[File:Dromund_Kaas_TOR_new.png|thumb|200px|right|Dromund Kaas]]
Xen’Mordin has to make a critical decision. The Brotherhood was to attack two planets of incredible importance simultaneously. First there was the holy planet of [[Ziost]], and then there was the seat of the ancient [[starwars:Sith_Empire_(Post–Great_Hyperspace_War)|Sith Empire]], [[Dromund Kaas]]. Feeling there was more to learn about having a strong empire, Xen’Mordin elected to send his forces to Dromund Kaas. It was here that Scholae Palatinae had their first real chance to experience the power of, and fight against, the mysterious One Sith Lord [[Dromund_Kaas#Esoteric|Esoteric]].
 
=====Bosthirda (31 ABY)=====
Following the end of 30 ABY, and the battle on Dromund Kaas, the Crusade slowed in pace, allowing Xen’Mordin to begin to correct the Empire back home in the Cocytus system. The Brotherhood had pushed the One Sith back to a small number of planets, but with the One Sith digging in deep, the Brotherhood had a longer and slower battle ahead of them. The first part of this new phase of battle was on the planet [[Bosthirda]]. It was here that the ancient lightsaber once wielded by [[Ferran]] himself had come to rest. As founder of the [[Obelisk ideology, ''Revelation'' was an artifact of incredible and intimate importance of the Brotherhood. However, recovery of the lightsaber would not be completed by Xen and Scholae Palatinae, being recovered by the forces of [[Taldryan]].
 
=====Begeren (31 ABY)=====
Next came battle on the planet [[Begeren]]. The planet was noted for the many monuments that dotted its surface. These monuments in typical Sith fashion were stock piled with great treasures. It was said over a hundred thousand slaves had died in creating the great monuments, and Xen’Mordin was blown away by their scope and scale when seeing them with his own eyes. He couldn’t help but feel miniscule compared to what the full might of the Sith had once been able to accomplish.
 
=====Nicht Ka (31 ABY)=====
[[Nicht Ka]], while uninhabitable outside of constructed structures, was the last outpost of One Sith forces that would prevent the Brotherhood from reaching the Sith homeworld of [[starwars:Korriban|Korriban]]. While the planet was inhospitable, cultists who worshiped Freedon Nadd managed to create a hexagonal fortress as the sole refuge on the planet from the dangerous environment of the planet. It was here [[starwars:Warb_Null|Warb Null’s]] mythic armor and unconventional lightsaber had been sent following Warb’s death at the hands of [[starwars:Ulic_Qel-Droma|Ulic Qel-Droma]]. Tired and pushed to his limits during the crusade, it was finally coming to an end. The long push was over and the final battle against the One Sith was ready to begin. 
 
====For a Better Tomorrow (31 ABY)====
The Empire was being bled dry from the continuous march of war dictated by the Council. They needed doctors, scientists, and engineers to develop new medical supplies, toxins, and serums to be used on the field of battle against the One Sith. It was at this time, Xen’Mordin made good on his promise to Impetus so many years prior. He placed out the call for the brightest and best, drawing in anyone he could to the Cocytus system. However, much to his ire, not a single one of the individuals he hired was a Twi’lek. Xen and Impetus had zero contact in the years since he helped her fake her death, and now for him, the obvious reason was that Impetus had met some other end in her ventures.
 
No one in the clan paid these new recruits any attention. Xen’Mordin had been diverting the best of the scientific minds from the Imperial Academy on [[Judecca]] since before he took the throne from Ood Bnar. And while these were outsiders, any advantage to be gained in the crusade was a worthy one. Among these outsiders was a [[starwars:Togruta|Togruta]], named Elincia Rei. None realized, not even Xen himself, that this Torgruta was none other than Impetus M’Nar, hiding her identity with prosthetics and a strong force illusion. She had returned home at long last.


[[File:XenHeadMask.png|thumb|200px|left|Xen'Mordin cloaked and masked]]
====The Crusade (30 ABY - 31 ABY)====
Crusade shit
====Looking Home Campaign (31 ABY - 32 ABY)====
====Looking Home Campaign (31 ABY - 32 ABY)====
Looking Home Campaign
The relentless pacing of the Dark Crusade slowed following the siege of Dromund Kaas. While there were still many battles to be fought on Bosthirda, Begren, and Nicht Ka before any member of the Brotherhood would finally step foot on Korriban, it was in this time that the clans were allowed time regroup and refocus. Thus in [[30_ABY_to_39_ABY#31_ABY|31ABY]] Xen’Mordin was once again able to divert his attention to the might of his Empire. In the year he and the rest of Scholae Palatinae had been absent, the civilians had forgotten much of why they should stay inline with the Empire’s wishes. The civilian leaders who had been expected to keep the system running had grown bold. Without the military forces to keep them inline, they became greedy and independant. It was over the course of 31 ABY that a group known as the [[Scions of Cocytus]], an extremist organization backed by a religious cult ''The Order of the New Dawn'', began to infiltrate the system.
 
The Scions were led by a fanatic, [[Scions_of_Cocytus#Fias_Zhan|Fias Zhan]], a man who believed it was his right to rule the Cocytus Empire. He had spent years studying the Empire, and knew the truth of those who controlled the system. He was there to wage war on Scholae Palatinae, and to enact his own personal vengeance against Xen’Mordin, whom he viewed as an imposter.
 
=====The Ptolomea Deposition (31 ABY)=====
[[File:Ptolomea2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Ptolomea]]
The planet of [[Ptolomea]] was home to many of Scholae Palatinae’s biggest military training grounds, and was the launching point from which all supplies and reinforcements would be sent while the Empire was on the warpath. As the Crusade progressed on, these critical shipments of supplies dwindled. The conflict that arose from Scholae Palatinae’s investigation into these dwindling supplies became known as [[Ptolomea Deposition]], and marked the first of several major offensive moments Scholae Palatinae had to undergo to restore order to their home.
 
Ptolomea had been under the rule of a man named Lou Khebe. Vain and power hungry, but cowardly, Lou had not once attempted to act outside of Scholae Palatinae’s demands in the years he presided over Ptolomea. But now he had been assured that the holdings of the system were of a ''false'' Empire had no real authority over him. Evant Taelyan, knowledgeable about the planet’s workings from his recent time leading Caliburnus, organized an offensive to return to the Cocytus system and remove Khebe from power.
 
Xen’Mordin gave a singular order that Khebe must die. Rebellion could not be tolerated, and if it spread, he would lose what he had spent years fighting to gain. In the end it was the unassuming scientist Elincia Rei who managed to kill Khebe. Khebe’s rebellion against the Empire fizzled out with his death, and in his place, Xen picked a suitable loyal leader to manage the planet, Jaran Pendragon. What intrigued Xen’Mordin most was Elincia’s methods of poisoning Khebe. He placed a high level order with the Imperial Scholae Intelligence to begin a continuous monitoring of her. He knew there was more to her than met the eye.
 
In the weeks that followed, Xen’Mordin poured over intelligence gathered from Caliburnus around Khebe’s failed rebellion. It became clear that Khebe never would have acted in such a manner of his own accord. Someone had pushed him to it. At the time, Xen’Mordin had no idea that Khebe’s rebellion was the first move in a long game being played by Fias Zhan in his bid to claim the system, and the Empire, as his own.
 
=====The Antenora Rebellion (32 ABY)=====
[[File:Antenora.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Antenora]]
In the days prior to the Cocytus Empire unifying the entire system, the desert planet of [[Antenora]] was ruled by multiple warring tribes. The most powerful of these tribes was known as the Pacre Datship, who followed their Ognerate Emperor, and his religious council, the High Glyph Priests. When the system was unified, and Scholae Palatinae took control of the entire [[Cocytus System]], the leaders of the Pacre Datship were imprisoned. Following the failed uprising by Khebe on Ptolomea, Fias Zhan freed the Pacre Datship Emperor and his Glyph Priests, with the promise of a free Antenora. They would go on to rally the people of the planet into [[Antenora_Rebellion|Rebellion]].
 
Xen’Mordin remained at the Imperial Palace on Judecca, while the majority of his clan and military went to Antenora to quickly put an end to the rebellion. He was confident that they could handle capturing and executing the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests. It was in solitude he received the first of many taunting holovid conversations with Fias Zhan.
 
While the forces of Scholae Palatinae ventured to Antenora to put an end to the rebellion, and bring the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests to justice, Xen’Mordin remained at the Imperial Palace on Judecca. It was there he received the first of many taunting and brief holovid conversations with Fias Zhan. Zhan took credit for the events on Antenora and Ptolomea, and made the personal promise that he would see Xen’s head on a spike.
 
Not all of the tribes unified behind the Pacre Datship on Antenora. With their aid, Scholae Palatinae quickly quelled the rebellion. The Ognerate Emperor was killed in combat, however, several of the High Glyph Priests escaped into the vast deserts of the planet. Xen’Mordin ordered the sitting system Moff, [[Koryn Thraagus]], to remain on the planet to coordinate a unified planet under the oversight of the Hoka Dachu tribe.
 
=====The Cainian Strikes (32 ABY)=====
[[File:Caina.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Caina]]
At first, the [[Cainian_Strikes|strikes]] on [[Caina]] seemed to be no more than a typical labor dispute, by the hard working industrial people of the frozen planet. Such strikes gave Xen’Mordin little reason to worry, especially over the looming threat of the Scions of Coctyus. Xen spent his days organizing and heading a system wide manhunt for Fias Zhan. But as the days went on the strikes grew, escalating riots. Xen’Mordin ordered the military to the planet to restore order with a strong swift show of force, reasserting the Empire’s image of control and safety within the system.
 
When the military arrived they discovered it was far more than a labor dispute. Fias Zhan had set up shop on the planet, putting his Scions to hard work right under the nose of the Empire. There were dozens of abandoned labs, warehouses, and training facilities hidden in the ice plains of the planet. To add to Xen’s frustration that this had been missed, these were locations built and paid for directly by Scholae Palatinae over the years. For one reason or another each had been abandoned as new leadership pushed the clan in different directions.
 
Zhan and his followers had discovered these abandoned facilities and put them to work. For months they had been operating in the discarded remains of the Empire’s ventures. In their utilization of these facilities, the Scions embedded themselves with the blue collar workers of the planet. They knew it was a matter of time before they would be discovered, and with their need of the facilities finished, Zhan organized the strikes to cover their retreat from the planet.
 
The stragglers of the Scions were were either killed in the conflict, or taken as prisoners for aggressive questioning. Xen’Mordin was furious that ISI had failed to notice these closed facilities were back in use and ordered an even more intrusive surveillance in the system. He then replaced the director of ISI with one who would take the charge of intelligence gathering more seriously. The failed and disgraced former director was left to starve to death in the deepest cells beneath the Imperial Palace. Luckily the captured Scions, and bits of scrap left in the Scions’ retreat from Caina provided a wide set of new intelligence.
 
=====The Wrath of Zhan (32 ABY)=====
[[File:ScionsofCocytus.jpeg|thumb|200px|right|Sigil of the Scions of Cocytus]]
Xen’Mordin devoted all the resources he had available to find Fias Zhan. He knew without Zhan, the Scions would falter enough to be crushed. It was Zhan’s drive and brilliance that had kept the Scions succeeding in the system. Xen felt he had finally discovered a worthy opponent to challenge him, and he was not about to lose. Through a series of public escalations and broadcasts, Zhan made his presence known to the entire system. Quick attacks, propaganda, hacked news broadcasts were all used to make one thing clear. The Scions were here to play for keeps.
 
An large scale attack was imminent. Zhan and the Scions were ghosts, any leads found turned out to not bring the Empire closer to securing Zhan. Xen’Mordin decided to take more drastic action and ordered an immediate blockage of Judecca, and had all able bodied members of Scholae Palatinae report to the capital city of Ohmen, home of the seat of the government and the Imperial Palace itself. If Zhan wanted to usurp the throne, he would have to come there and pry it from Xen’s cold dead grip.
 
Then [[Wrath_of_Zhan|Zhan attacked]], dropping ships from orbit, full of his men, while others made kamikaze runs against the Empire’s ships. Scions already on the surface of the planet laid siege to Ohmen. Zhan then crashed a heavily modified freighter straight into the main entrance of the Imperial Palace. His forces flooded into the palace, quickly overwhelming Xen’Mordin and his [[Praetorian Guard]]. Xen was forced to retreat to the sublevels of the Palace, the levels utilized only by Scholae Palatinae and unlisted on all schematics of the palace. Xen activated the emergency lockdown, preventing the Scions from accessing him, but also securely stopping himself from returning to the upper levels easily.
 
Up on the surface the streets of Ohmen were in chaos. Members of Scholae Palatinae, backed by the Imperial Military made its strong push back toward the palace. In their way were augmented Scion soldiers, corrupted into mutated berserkers, immune to pain, fast, strong, and very difficult to kill. As they got closer to the palace, Zhan released a fear toxin throughout the city. Luckily this toxin was recovered on Caina, and Elincia Rei had been working on an anti-toxin. She was able to create enough to get their forces to the palace. With the military storming the gate, Xen’Mordin was able to make the long climb up and return to the fight.
 
In the throne room Xen’Mordin faced Zhan in a one versus one lightsaber duel, room filled with the fighting forces of their respective sides. The duel was periodically interrupted by falling chunks of the ornate ceiling. One such chunk of roofing fell upon Zhan, injuring the man and pinning him under the heavy rubble. Xen’Mordin had managed to jump out of the way just in time. Injured and enraged, Xen took one of the smaller chunks of ceiling and used it to bash Zhan’s head in until all that remained was a bloody pulp of flesh and broken bone. The Scions were defeated, and for the time being, peace and order returned to the Empire.
====A Brotherhood Divided (32 ABY)====
====A Brotherhood Divided (32 ABY)====
GJW Civil War Shit.  
[[File:Korriban.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Korriban]]
====The Clanening (32 ABY)====
While the units of the Brotherhood stood united in cause of the length of the Dark Crusade, it was a fragile peace wrapped around a time bomb. The clans had been deceived, and the true reason for their long and arduous war came to light. It was more than merely revenge against the One Sith, more than expanding the Brotherhood’s influence on the galaxy, it was for the selfish gain of one man. [[Muz Ashen]] had been using the Crusade to more easily gather the information and artifacts he required to complete the Rite of [[Obscuration]]. He sought to make himself an immortal Lord of the Sith. As he finally tried to enact its power, it was put to a halt thanks to quick action from former Grand Master [[Jac Cotelin]], but in the process rendered the home of the Brotherhood, [[Antei]], ruined and desolate.
Clan restored
 
In order to complete it, Muz and the units most loyal to him ventured to the Sith Homeworld of [[starwars:Korriban|Korriban]]. This planet was now the last refuge of the One Sith, who had been slowly pushed back over the course of the Dark Cruade. Those who did not side with Muz Ashen, including Scholae Palatinae, followed the former Grand Master Cotelin to the planet, to stop the rite. They knew the costs for immortality were high, and Xen’Mordin was firmly against anyone but himself achieving it, least of Lord Ashen. The Brotherhood erupted into a true and full on civil war on the surface of the Korriban. It was a battle of three sides, The One Sith supported by Plagueis, The loyalists of Muz, and the rebels of Jac.
 
Xen’Mordin was among the first boots on the ground, and led the charge for Scholae Palatinae. He ventured deep into the ancient [[starwars:Sith_Academy_(Korriban)|Sith Academy]] and eventually into the [[starwars:Valley_of_the_Dark_Lords/Legends|Valley of the Dark Lords]]. The battle waged on for weeks and weeks. As the bodies of the dead piled, Xen’Mordin became more and more ruthless. It was a fight to survive, not to win honor and awards. When the dust finally settled, and the last drop of blood spilled, [[Darth Pravus]] rose to replace Muz Ashen as the Grand Master. The rite had been stopped, and Korriban was left with many more lives claimed.
 
====Keeper of the Legacy (32 ABY)====
[[File:Palpatine_ROTJ.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Emperor Palpatine]]
Within hours of taking the Iron Throne, Darth Pravus reinstated all of the former clans back to their full set of supplies and resources. Those resources were needed, and no longer going to be held out as an unobtainable reward based on the whims of the Grand Master. With the full backing of the Dark Council, Scholae Palatinae was able to return home, once again a clan, and stronger than ever. With the Crusade officially over, and no immediate threats to the clan and Empire, Xen’Mordin was able to quickly push the Cocytus system back into a state of advancement and Imperialization.
 
Xen’Mordin has not only managed to restore the clan to its full potential, but did so leading from the front. Now regarded as the longest serving leading in the history of the clan, and one of the most radically loyal to the Empire, it was time for Xen to be properly recognized as one of the keepers. For years those few known as the keepers of the [[Legacy of Palpatine]], had functioned in secret, isolated, remote from the clan that they had help shape. This was the first new addition to the illusive group in years.
 
This was in part due to new guidance from [[Kell Dante]], who had been awarded the title as a continuation from his father, Angelo. He recognized the shut off nature of the group did little to truly protect the legacy of the great Emperor.  It was time for them to take an active role in shaping the clan they called home. To this end, Xen’Mordin and [[Brent_"Archangel"_Ligur_Victae|Archangel]] were named the newest keepers of the legacy of Palpatine. Xen adopted the surname ''Palpatine'' in his Brotherhood functions, his right as a keeper to do so.
 
====Forgotten (33 ABY)====
====Forgotten (33 ABY)====
Forgotten Campaign
Thousands of years before Scholae Palatinae would take control of the Cocytus system, it was the [[starwars:Infinite_Empire|Infinite Empire]] who ruled. The creative and powerful Infinite Empire had turned the Cocytus system into a living laboratory, rich with resources, and a wide spectrum of habitable planets. While little was truly known about the Infinite Empire, it was a common research subject within Scholae Palatinae. To further study what the Infinite Empire had done in the system, Xen’Mordin founded the Cocytus Historical Society, with his good friend Polis Jones as the head.
====Nobody Expects the Inquisition! (33 ABY)====
 
Formation of the Inquisitorius links to Evant as VOICE
What Xen’Mordin couldn’t expect was that there were those in the system who already knew a great deal of the Infinite Empire, and that the clan’s past failures would be quickly coming to haunt them. The Evanescent, backed by the last surviving High Glyph Priest, would see the might of the Infinite Empire rip Scholae Palatinae from the system in the modern day.
 
=====Entanglement (33 ABY)=====
[[File:XenbyKa.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Xen’Mordin using his telekinetic abilities]]
Xen’Mordin had not forgotten the threat of the surviving High Glyph Priest on Antenora posed. For months he had devoted resources to locating the last remnant of Fias Zhan’s destabilization of the Empire. But the High Glyph Priest, Vanis, had vanished along with what remained of the Pacre Datship. Xen was ready to lower the priority on trying to find Vanis and his followers when ISI finally found information. The Pacre Datship had named Vanis their new Emperor, and were working with a group known as the Evanescent, headed by a man known as Lord Onasi.
 
It was in a meeting of the full summit and advisory board of the clan, that Polis Jones came storming in, disheveled with the information the clan needed. The Infinite Empire had used the system as a biological playground, looking to master life and death, as well as breed powerful and terrifying monsters for war. They had succeeded in creating these monsters, and they still lay slumbering in hibernation across the planets of the system.
 
Xen’Mordin organized a [[Entanglement|rapid deployment]] of top Scholae Palatinae members to further investigate on these ''Old Gods'', as the natives referred to them, before taking off to Antenora to inspect Polis’s findings in person. Members of the clan infiltrated multiple meetings and parties throughout the system, working their way into contact with those who wished to topple the Empire, before disrupting final plans from being made. Dozens were arrested, more killed, and a pile of intel recovered.
 
Xen’Mordin and the clan thought they had disrupted the plans of Emperor Vanis and the Evanescent, however these meetings were just a mere distraction.  Deep in the jungles of [[Ptolomea#Tetralibros|Tetralibros]] on Ptolomea, Vanis and Onasi ran a trial run of the awakening ritual, causing thousands of beasts to appear. The beast appeared as if they were pure shadow all over the planet, creating a wide spread panic among the population. Xen had drastically underestimated the scope of the threat before them.
 
=====Deception (33 ABY)=====
Xen’Mordin put Ptolomea on an immediate [[Deception|lockdown]]. He issued immediate evacuations from the countryside to the more defendable cities that dotted the planet’s surface. He gave command of oversight on the defense of these cities to Kell Dante. Unknown to his fellow Palatinaeans, Xen had stacked the deck in their favor of restoring order. He had put two of his top ISI operatives into play. Ashlyn Neka was posing as Mira Spar, and had become a close associate of Lord Onasi. Silus Cherroa was known as Chaz Carlton, and was among those in direct contact with Emperor Vanis.
 
Xen’Mordin spent most of his time coordinating supplies and military personnel to Ptolomea. He spent his days publicly spurring the civilians of the system into action, and providing personal, and very publicized, aid to those affected by the beasts. His nights were spent poring over reports and artifacts being sent to him by Polis Jones. To stop the monsters, and put an end to this threat he needed to understand the ways of the Old Gods.
 
Eventually he was able to piece together enough of the awakening ritual to know where the complete ceremony would have to take place, a long lost and forgotten temple on Antenora. More importantly, he was able to find information that killing the individual who had awoken the monsters of Ptolomea would cause them to return to slumber. Believing these beasts to be the Old Gods mentioned, and not wanting more to spawn on the other planets of the system, Xen ordered a strike on the temple while sending word to his two ISI operatives.
 
Ashlyn successfully killed Lord Onasi as he was in the middle of the full awakening ritual, just as the military of the Empire stormed into the complex. Silus managed to wound Emperor Vanis prior to being injured by falling rubble in the temple. Xen’Mordin arrived just in time to prevent his men from killing the two operatives, identifying them as friendly. While Vanis had escaped yet again, Xen felt there that Vanis was no longer a real threat, and that the Old Gods would never be able to be awoken.
 
=====Monstrosity (33 ABY)=====
[[File:JudeccaAbyssal.png|thumb|250px|right|The Judecca Abyssal]]
Xen’Mordin has been very wrong about underestimating the resourcefulness of Vanis. The leader of the Pacre Datship underwent an older and more radical ritual, sacrificing his own people to the Old Gods, turning them into deformed and lumbering monsters, before setting out alone into the mountains of Judecca. His transformed followers swarmed the capital city of Ohmen. While Xen scrambled to organize a counter offensive against these monstrous Pacre Datship, Vanis was able to complete his ritual.
 
On the core habitable planets of Antenora, Judecca, Ptolomea and Caina, four different sets of monsters [[Monstrosity|awoke]]. The system went into lockdown as Scholae Palatinae had to split their forces to stop the terrifying Old Gods from destroying everything. Vanis was eventually caught. He was uncooperative, disoriented from the ordeal the awakening ritual had put him through. Frustrated, Xen’Mordin killed him in a brutal display of telekinetic power. However, unlike the earlier ritual, the death of Vanis did nothing to hinder the fearsome Old Gods, who continued to rampage on their respective planets.
 
It was thanks to a small strike team, making a desperate last ditch attempt to find information on how to reverse the ritual, that a solution presented itself. The found a still hibernating [[starwars:Rataka|Rataka]] scientist buried deep in a hidden ancient facility on Judecca. The brought him to Xen’Mordin who was able to telepathically torture the ancient being into reversing the ritual. The Empire was saved, but barely, and the damaged left by the Old Gods would be left a permanent scar on the planets they ravaged.
 
It was during Xen’s attempt to clean up the Empire from this nightmare attack, that Polis Jones once again barged into his office. This time he brought with him a Sith Holocron, one found deep in the forgotten Temple of Antenora. It had been placed there sometime within the last thirty to fifty years. Believing there could only be [[starwars:Darth_Sidious|one person]] who could have placed it there, Xen’Mordin gave explicit orders that Polis never breath a word of this discovery to anyone.
 
====Red Fury (33 ABY)====
In need of trade goods, Xen’Mordin made a surprising move. He approached the clan’s long standing enemy, Naga Sadow, and brokered a trade. They would meet in neutral space, without any of their warships. During the exchange, [[starwars:Red_Fury_Brotherhood|Red Fury pirates]] attacked. Both clans had their fleets standing by to jump in, and thoroughly destroyed the pirate attack force. With the trade complete, both clans went on their way.
 
But news of the destruction of the pirates spread, and their fellow Red Fury brothers came to both the Cocytus system, and the Orian system for revenge. They had no idea that they had just kicked a krayt dragon in the balls. Xen’Mordin and [[Locke Sonjie]], the Naga Sadow Consul, agreed to a temporary alliance to [[Red_Fury|eradicate]] the pirate filth in revenge, and to split the horde of their treasures and goods. Together they attacked the Red Fury’s mighty Atlas base, and in a quick show of power, cleared out the pirate threat.
 
It was a short standing massacre. However, the two clans managed to get through it without trying to murder each other. The concept of a common enemy had once again proved its usefulness, and both sides left feeling an uneasy alliance was warranted.
 
====Inquisitorius (33 ABY)====
[[File:Inquisitorius_logo.gif|thumb|200px|right|The Logo of the Inquisitorius]]
Xen’Mordin was hard pressed to admit it, but losing his friend and student Evant Taelyan, was a hard blow in his visions of the future. The harder blow was watching Evant step up into the position of Voice on the Dark Council, where Evant was forced to put the needs of the Empire behind the needs of the Brotherhood. Luckily, after only months prior Xen had pulled apart the mystery surrounding Dr. Elincia Rei, and identified her as Impetus. He was now armed with a old friend back in his plans, he is planned successor moving on beyond the Empire. It was only for a few short months he was able to have the three of them together plotting for the future.
 
But Evant had not totally forsaken the Empire. Evant used his experience from ISI, to finalize a program that had been in the making for years, the [[Inquisitorius]], a secret society of agents trusted with the most dangerous secrets in the Brotherhood. Xen’Mordin was quickly brought into the fold as the society formed, and due to his own skills, was granted the rank of Grand Inquisitor. The Inquisitorius was quickly brought in as an augmentation to ISI, boosting the capabilities of all Scholae Palatinae members who entered the intelligence agency.
 
====Subterfuge (34 ABY)====
Xen’Mordin was a man obsessed. The holocron that had been found by Polis Jones was the sole object of his attention in his spare hours. He was certain it was left for him, which it was, just not by who he thought it was. It spoke to him, called to him. And in the late hours of the day, he would lose track of time.
 
Xen’Mordin became colder, crueler, and sporadic in his moods. He was losing himself to the voice of the holocron, an addition he couldn’t quit. The more time went on, the more the eyes staring back at him in the mirror didn’t seem to be his own. In one of his moments of lucidity, he was given files he didn’t recall requesting. Files that outlined a test that would prove who among his clan were both loyal, and deserving of serving the Empire. He used faked but convincing evidence to turn the two houses, [[Imperium]] and [[House_Excidium|Excidium]], against [[Subterfuge|each other]]. Then he sat back and watched as the two houses tried to destroy the other, believing fully that they had been betrayed. As the violence reached a crescendo, Xen’Mordin called his two houses together.
 
Flanked by his newly appointed Proconsul Cyris Oscura, Xen’Mordin admitted the conflict was fabricated. The clear victors of the conflict, House Imperium, were spared further embarrassment. However, House Excidium did not fare so well. He dragged its Quaestor, [[Lucyeth]] in the middle of the hall using the Force. He then gave a lecture on how they had to be stronger, better, all while torturing Lucyeth with Force lightning. When he felt his point had been made clearly, he left the room, and let the members of his clan question what they had just been apart of.
 
==Profile==
==Profile==
[[File:XenbyKa.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Xen using his telekentic abiltiies]]
===Appearance===
===Appearance===
===Attire===
===Attire===

Latest revision as of 00:31, 20 October 2021

Imperial eraRise of the Brotherhood eraExodus era.New Order era.
Xen’Mordin Palpatine
Biographical Information
Homeworld:

Coruscant

Date of Birth:

0 ABY (age 42)

Physical Description
Species:

Human

Gender:

Male

Height:

6’1” / 1.85 m

Weight:

190 lbs / 86.2 kg

Hair:

Brown

Eyes:

Green

Personal Information
Mother:

Zaerys Khzon

Father:

Dalinar Khzon

Allies:
Lightsaber Color(s):
  • Silver
  • Purple
Lightsaber Form(s):

Jar’Kai Niman

Fighting Style(s):

Echani

Chronology & Political Information
Profession:
  • Emperor of the Cocytus System
  • Founder of Vismorsus Industries
  • Chairman of Vismorsus Industries
Position:

Consul of Scholae Palatinae

Era(s):
Affiliation:
Known masters:
Known apprentices:
Dossier:

3783

[ Source ]




"For the Empire!"
―Motto of Clan Scholae Palatinae

Xen’Mordin Palpatine is an Adept Elder and long standing leader within Clan Scholae Palatinae. He leads Scholae Palatinae as its Consul, and sits as the current reigning Emperor of the Cocytus system, in one of the longest lasting terms seen by the clan or the Empire. His long standing tenure and absolute dedication to the Empire has resulted in him being named one of the keepers of the Legacy of Palpatine, leading him to taking the Great Emperor’s name as part of his own. He also is the founder and current Chairman of the Board for Vismorsus Industries, a leading scientific research company based in the Cocytus system.

Xen’Mordin was born as Kilan Khzon, on the planet of Coruscant to wealthy parents. Displaying a strong Force affinity, it was only as the Galactic Empire crumbled that his powers would be noticed, by the rogue Jedi, Tyler Reynolds, who wanted to teach Kilan the ways of the Force, and create a new Jedi Order. After years of intensive study, Kilan found himself deeply in love with Tyler’s other Padawan learner, Kara Venger. Her violent and brutal murder would cause Kilan to strip himself of his connection to the force, and his old life, becoming Xen’Mordin Vismorsus.

Xen’Mordin’s force connection would be restored in an agonizing and intense interaction with a dark side Force nexus. Finding a new focus in life, and embracing the power of the dark side, he let the force guide him to the Dark Brotherhood, and to the rank and file of Scholae Palatinae. Fully embracing the Imperial ideology of the clan, Xen’Mordin spent years building his resources, and manipulating events within the system to seat himself as Emperor.

Xen’Mordin fully believes in the strength of the Cocytus Empire, and believes its destiny is to follow completely in the footsteps of the Galactic Empire. He is unapologetically dedicated to this cause. Taking pride in his intelligence and ability to lead others, whether through manipulation or real loyalty, Xen’Mordin knows his greatest strength comes from the bonds with his fellow Palatinaeans.

Character History

Early Life (0 ABY - 5 ABY)


"He can do things we don’t even understand. How could he ever be safe without proper training?"
―Dalinar to Zaerys

The first years of Kilan’s life was peaceful and comfortable despite the upheaval and rebellion against the Galactic Empire. There was little his wealthy family was lacking, exposing Kilan to comforts that would be sorely missed at later points in his life. Even from his earliest days he showed signs of Force-sensitivity, which placed his parents on high alert, as they lived in the heart of the capital of the Empire. But it was not the Empire that came knocking on their door, and if it had, Kilan never would have been set on the path to becoming Xen’Mordin.

The Birth (0 ABY)

Kilan’s homeworld of Coruscant

It was in the weeks following the hushed and rumored news of the destruction of the Death Star at Yavin that the Khzon family celebrated the birth of Kilan. They lived in the very heart of the Empire, Coruscant, and while the planet was quietly abuzz about the Empire’s set back at the hand of the Rebellion, the Khzon’s focus was turned inward. They were far from diehard Imperialists, but as Human upper class family, their lives were only slightly inconvenienced by the Galactic Empire. The gossip that swept the planet was largely ignored by the family.

Dalinar Khzon, Kilan’s father, was the eldest son in a long family dynasty of merchants. Second only to his own father in the company, Dalinar had taken to business just like his ancestors had. The family trade had evolved over the decades, from providing raw manufacturing materials from one side of the galaxy or the other, into a luxury item business, full of rare and exotic goods. On the capital planet, these luxury items were in high demand by the high ranking Imperials, and other upper class wishing to show off their high social standing. Dalinar himself was a stocky man, with a quick tongue, sharp wit, and hearty laugh.

Zaerys Khzon, Kilan’s mother, came from a family that sold much different types of goods than Dalinar’s, that being reprieve from life’s issues. They owned nightclubs, casinos, dance halls, cantinas, bettings halls, and more, all scattered from the core to the rim. Zaerys’ family was even more well known and well off than Dalinar’s was. In her youth she enjoyed her family’s wealth and social status to party hard. As she matured however, her fiery and dominating personality had cooled only slightly, as she stepped in to help oversee the family business, and raise her growing family.

Kilan was Dalinar and Zaerys’ fourth child. Two boys, Kiith, age ten, and Clertan, age seven. They also had a daughter, Sairia, age four. Kiith, even at ten, showed signs he would be a strong and powerful man, much like Dalinar. Loud and boisterous, he was firmly content as both eldest child, and most apparently talented. Clertan was on the other end of the spectrum, small, quiet, and reserved. Astute and observant he lived each day trying to prove himself to his older brother. Sairia, although only four, was a near mirror image of Zaerys, wildly independent and unwaveringly fearless.

Gifted (2 ABY - 5 ABY)

The family remained based on Coruscant. However, both Dalinar and Zaerys’ positions in their business led a frequent travel across the galaxy. Kilan’s toddler years were spent immersed in many cultures and environments. He played in the waters of Naboo, got lost in one of the many starships factories of Corellia after wandering off from his father, and ran in the jungles of Felucia with his siblings. These jaunts throughout the galaxy were always brief, and it was the bustling environment of Coruscant that became the foundation of Kilan’s early formative years.

These flashes of events would become only whispers of memories later in Kilan’s life, subtle impressions of the familiar. The strongest impressions came from moments where Kilan demonstrated clear force sensitivity. The slight movement of objects, rapid learning and association skills, a deep empathy and concern for others. At first, his parents would brush off the strange and seemingly unexplainable occurrences as happenstance. All of their children had shown signs of unusual ability. But, as Kilan continued to demonstrate with greater regularity and affinity, the harder it became for his parents to ignore it, and the more they began to worry.

Despite the family’s wealth, not even bribes would stop the wheel of the Empire from attempting to get their hands on a young force sensitive. They had all heard the stories of children being taken in the dead of night by military personnel, at the order of the Emperor, never to be seen or heard from again. Luckily, the Empire’s focus had been turned toward another and the Rebellion. Coupled with the family’s frequent galactic wide ventures, there no officials spent enough time around Kilan to notice anything particular about the toddler. Neither Dalinar or Zaerys could forget their own youth, before the days of the Empire, and had happened to the legendary Jedi Order.

Tyler Reynolds - The Jedi (5 ABY)

The grizzled Jedi survivor, Tyler Reynolds

The Emperor was dead. As hard as the Imperial officers attempted to squash the news, it was known. And from the moment of his death, the Galactic Empire began to fragment.Coruscant itself remained a mix of totalitarian leadership and willful defiance from the civilians. The future was as uncertain as it ever had been, but the Khzons could not help but feel for the first time years that their children’s lives were truly going to be free from the oppression of the Empire. And for the first time Kilan’s life, the burden of having his abilities was relaxed and less pressing.

However, Kilan’s abilities had been noticed, just not by the Imperials. Tyler Reynolds, former member of the Jedi Order and survivor of the Emperor’s Order 66, had sensed the five-year old’s strong force connection. The years had not be kind to the Jedi, whose paranoia had kept him alive through the Empire’s brutal crackdown against the Jedi. He was a weathered and gray old man, and it was only over the last few years of successes by the Rebellion that he had begun to feel truly alive again. And with the Emperor dead, it was time for him to act.

The stories of Luke, the last Jedi, and great war hero were known even this deep in the core. But Tyler did not trust him, a boy, who had never once stepped foot within the Jedi Temple, or learned from the Jedi Council. And more than that, he was a Skywalker, and for that reason alone Tyler wished to work to establish his own restoration of the Jedi Order. Tyler would accept only one formed on the foundation of the extinct Order of his youth.

It was to this end, that Tyler Reynolds came knocking on the Khzon’s door. With him, he brought a young girl, same age as Kilan, named Kara Venger. Dalinar and Zaerys were in the process on deadbolting the door against the grizzled old man when they saw the wide-eyed girl peering from behind the Jedi’s leg. Hearts softened, they let the pair into their home. Tyler presented a long and thought out proposal about why he needed to train Kilan, and the dangers that he would face against the dark side of the Force, should he not be given this chance to learn.

The discussion that followed became a family wide matter. Dalinar and Zaerys were torn over not wanting to lose their son, the risks he would face against the dark side, and the potential good he could provide as a trained Jedi. Kiith was bitterly angry and demanded to be given the same opportunity as his youngest brother. Clertan had read stories about the Jedi, and was fearful for his brother knowing that the Jedi were now gone. Sairia upset just for not wanting to see her brother leave. Kilan himself was unaware of the conversation going on, playing happily with Kara the whole time.

In the end, the risk of Kilan’s future without the training, and the potential good he could bring to the galaxy outweighed the the family’s desire to have Kilan stay. Kiith, refusing to accept the he too could not be trained, stormed off. A confused Kilan uncomprehending the good-byes given to him by the rest of his family was escorted out of the house by Tyler, who wanted to prevent a prolonged farewell that might trigger a change of heart from the Khzons.

Trials of a Jedi (5 ABY - 17 ABY)


"The future of the Jedi Order rests with you two."
―Tyler Reynolds

Tyler Reynolds proved to be a tough and demanding mentor. His years of dedication to the Jedi Order, coupled with the years he spent in hiding following the Order’s fall, had shaped him into unrelenting man. He was never cruel, but would push Kilan and Kara to their limits, and the comforts of Kilan’s life at home disappeared overnight. What comfort Kilan would find in life would be in the arms of Kara as he learned the invaluable lessons being taught by Tyler. And it was Kara’s death that would ultimately destroy him.

Jedi Younglings (6 ABY - 9 ABY)

Kilan was too young to fully grasp the decision his parents had made for him. Overnight, gone was the comfort of wealth, and the freedom of uninhibited childhood. The first hours were some adventure to him, but then he was ready to go home. For weeks he would cry himself to sleep as they moved from hovel to hovel in the rotting slums of Coruscant’s lowest levels. Day by day Tyler chipped away at removing Kilan’s expectations of ever returning home. Kara, who had already spent several months with Tyler, was already so far removed from going home, it was all she could do to encourage Kilan to continue. More than once Tyler caught Kilan attempting to sneak away in the night.

Tyler was relentless in his passion to shape the two children into the ultimate Jedi. He was incredibly protective of them, and harsh at avoiding anything that would remotely resemble the dark side. He would wake Kilan and Kara up at dawn for morning meditation, study and training. Play took the form of furthering their skills, with Tyler inventing elaborate games for the two to work at. But anything that did not further their abilities, tested them, taught them was pushed away. In his youth, Tyler had laughed easily knowing the balance of work and joy, but there was no true joy left for him to have as a hunted man.

The skills Tyler learned in his exile and seclusion, he passed onto his two young students, in addition to the more traditional Jedi sensibility he clung so tightly to. They trained in the ways of the Force, lightsaber combat, martial art styles, history of the Jedi, philosophy, languages. They branched out into salvage, repairing and bypassing mechanics, medicine, scavenging, animal studies, politics, and more. And within a few years of daily pushing toward perfection, these lessons became largely practical more than conceptual, with Kilan and Kara being abandoned in the wilderness or heart of a city, while Tyler watched and tested them from afar.

The First Trial (10 ABY)

Naboo

In the middle of 10 ABY, Kilan and Kara faced what was the first true test on their long journey through the trials that would prove they were worthy of being Jedi Knights. It was only after demonstrating their skills and dedication could Tyler’s new Jedi Order begin in earnest. Tyler took the pair to the countryside of Naboo, not to learn of farming from those who called the area home, but to look into a corrupt local authority. Prazna Tuk, a former Imperial loyalist stationed on the planet during the height of the Empire, had sunk his own teeth into a large section of countryside, and piece by piece pushed the locals into near slave-labor conditions.

Tuk was demanding an increased taxation, and grain tribute, on top of a three-year drought plaguing the area. The local farmers were having a hard time just producing enough to survive. What Tyler had not been expecting however, were the bribed police forces in Prazna’s pocket. They had been in region for all of a day and a half when Tyler was brought into custody, for disturbing the local peace. Luckily, Kilan and Kara were able to avoid arrest, in part due to their abilities to hide, in addition to the police not thinking a pair of ten-year olds could be a threat.

While Tyler attempted to free himself, Kilan and Kara went to work. They were going to do what none of the locals, or even Tyler himself, could do. Bring Prazna out into the open to be dealt with. Together they worked in tandem, distracting guards, accessing safe houses, sabotaging droids. They wreaked havoc with a wide array of childish and immature pranks and disruptions in only the way children could. This had the effect all childish behavior does on adults, it made Prazna angry. This anger culminated when they managed to release a hot steaming pile of shaak droppings in the face of Tuk’s newest mistress as she arrived at Tuk’s residence.

This event, following three days of non-stop hindrances to his men, thrust Prazna into direct action. Backed by his most loyal and brutish followers, he made his way to the town center. By this time, the news of these disruptions had spread like wildfire over the populace, who had turned out in a massive crowd to see what would happen next to Tuk and his thugs and because Tuk had also promised anyone not in attendance would be labeled as co-conspirators.

While Tuk and his men had been distracted by the many disruptions Kilan and Kara were able to bring about, Tyler was able to make his escape. When Tuk arrived to the town center, he arrived to a crowd that was riled up from Tyler’s passionate call to arms to seize back their lives. What Tyler had not anticipated was just how angry and down trodden the locals were, and just how much of a frenzy they flew into when Prazna finally appeared.

Prazna’s men turned and ran on the spot, not about to face off against the entire local population. Prazna himself was not so lucky, and was captured quickly by the mob before he could escape. The locals began to tear at his clothing, kicking, scratching, punching, all wanting a piece of retribution for the cruelty he had shown them. It was at this point Kilan stepped in between the horribly wronged civilians and the corrupt Tuk. This action of a child caused the crowd to instantly fall into silence. Kilan despised Prazna, and what he had done to the people here, but he couldn’t let the crowd kill Tuk. He would protect him because it was the right thing to do.

The Second Trial (12 ABY)

Kashyyyk

Kilan’s second trial took place early in the year of 12 ABY. Tyler had begun a more rigorous training schedule as Kilan and Kara aged, throwing the pair deep into combat and tactics, which he hoped would help them survive in a galaxy that was constantly trying to kill Jedi. Their days ran late into the night, and their mornings started very early. The stress they were experiencing began to take its toll.

Seemingly unaware, or underestimating the physical and mental weight his wards were experiencing, Tyler took them to the forest planet of Kashyyyk. The home of the mighty, and often wrongly enslaved Wookiees, would teach Kilan and Kara two things. How to be honorable warriors, and that it is possible to learn without a clear ability to communicate, as neither of them knew a single word of Shyriiwook.

The first days were rather enjoyable for the preteens, who always loved being able to see new locations and distant worlds. The Wookiees of the village they stayed at were exceptionally welcoming of the two, and has a standing respect of Tyler, based on the previous sacrifices of Jedi on their behalf. But even the welcoming care of the Wookiees did little to stymie the continue wear on Kilan and Kara.

A week after arriving on the planet, Kilan was traversing the forest floor with a Wookiee warrior, Nagkazza, “Heroic Spirit”. The warrior had taken an immediate liking to the young boy, and had taken him away from the village to show him how to track prey for food. Kilan sensed something wrong, moments before they were attacked by a large and bulking beast from the shadows. He managed to shove Nagkazza out of the way moments before the beast’s mouth snapped shut around the space the Wookiee’s head had been. Eyes fixed on Kilan, the far smaller and weaker of the two, the beast thrashed out with its tail striking them away from each other. Nagkazza slammed into a nearby tree, head first where he fell unconscious. Kilan landed in a bush, several ribs cracked. Before he could react the beast was upon him.

Kilan fell in and out of consciousness as he was dragged along the forest floor. The beast had a vice like grip with its mouth on his right leg, and was sending a powerful toxin into Kilan’s bloodstream. He came back into consciousness at the sound of a loud screech. The beast let loose its hold of his leg, and turned to face something coming out of the shadows. Kilan made out the blurred movement of something even bigger attacking. The larger predator left Kilan alone, and dragged the remains of of the beast with him to feast on. Kilan was left alone and completely defenseless on the forest floor.

The poison and delirium from his injuries began to affect him on a larger scale. He began to have visions while whispers in his ears spoke of dark tidings. He saw Kara laying lifeless, eyes wide. Caught in their reflection was the silhouette of a laughing man. Then came an exploding ball of fire that turned into the shape of bird. There was a hall of blood, and Kilan could hear the crunching of bone as he progressed close to a vacant throne.

When Nagkazza and Kilan didn’t return at dusk to the village, Tyler and the Wookiee’s knew something had happened. They found Nagkazza quickly, as the warrior was finally returning to consciousness. Disorientated he insisted on helping in the search to find Kilan, refusing to return to the village. It was nearing dawn by the time they were able to find Kilan, motionless in a pile of his own blood. He stirred slightly as they approached, and they noticed he had grabbed hold of a stick to ward off several smaller animals that had approached him in the night.

For five days Kilan was left in a fevered delirious state, visions and nightmares haunting him all the while. And even when the toxin had finally been cleared of his system, it took several more weeks before he was healthy and stable enough to be moved from the village. Tyler lauded him a true hero, acting on the will of the Force to save Nagkazza’s life.

The Third Trial (14 ABY)

Corellia

It was on the planet of Corellia that Kilan learned why Tyler was so distrusting and paranoid. Not just from the extinction of the Jedi following the Clone Wars, but of people in general and their selfish natures. Tyler had been bringing Kilan and Kara off and on since he had taken them under his wing. Both had the correct assumption that the planet was in fact Tyler’s homeworld. It was here Tyler had taken them following Kilan’s injuries on Kashyyyk. They returned again in 14 ABY to stay for a period of six months. This time was spent at their host’s estate, and working on ships in one of the factories their host owned.

The Bertoths were a family dynasty of engineering masters. Steffen, patriarch of the family, was a 14th generation engineer. It was from him that Kilan and Kara learned much of about mechanical workings for both ships, and droids. Steffen’s wife, Yllara, was an elegant and sophisticated woman who taught the finer points of high society to the pair. They had a single son, the nineteen year old Calu, who quickly fell into the role of “older brother: Kilan had not had since leaving his own family.

Calu was the definition of a cool older “brother”, teaching Kilan how to pilot, sneak out of the estate, where to get alcohol, how to make minor explosives, and many other activities. Kilan, in returning, wishing to impress Calu began showing off some of his force capabilities. Spurred on by the endless possibilities force abilities presented, Calu pushed Kilan even further down the road of rebellious behavior.

Six months into the stay, everything changed. Calu took Kilan cross continent under the pretext of wild party with other bored upper class teens. However, it was not the sand beaches of the coast that Calu took Kilan, It was to a remnant of the Galactic Empire, held high in a skyscraper under the guise of a corporation. Calu had sold Kilan’s abilities out for a hefty sum of credits.

The Imperials had no desire to part with their credits however, they shot Calu at point blank range right in the heart, killing him instantly. Kilan knew he would face a similar fate, or be taken to be turned into a weapon for these Imperial Loyalists. Giving himself over to the promptings of the force, he turned and ran as fast as he could. He threw himself one of the upper story windows and fell in a cascade of broken glass, landing with a thud on the roof of a passing transport. Clutching for his life, he held on as the transport put distance between him and the skyscraper. The instant it touched down in a landing port, Kilan was off into the shadows of the population before anyone could tell he had been there.

He was able to get a hold of Tyler, who came and found him at once. The trip back to the Bertoths’ estate was filled with a silence of three parts. There was the silent but concrete disappointment coming from Tyler over Kilan letting his guard down, and ignoring the caution he had been taught for years. There was the silence of the conversation to come, with the Bertoths, whose only son had just been murdered. Finally there was the silence of Kilan’s own outstanding guilt over allowing any of this to happen. Mercifully, Tyler spoke with the Bertoths without Kilan present. He had been sent to gather his belongings as rapidly as possible, along with Kara’s. Yllara’s scream could be heard from the other side of the estate. It was a long time before Kilan was able to look Tyler in the eyes.

The Fourth Trial (16 ABY)

Coruscant’s Underworld

Kilan experienced his first true taste of the power and seductive properties of the dark side of the Force on his home planet of Coruscant. After over a decade of being each other's support under Tyler’s tutelage, it was impossible for Kilan and Kara not to develop a romantic connection. Through a willful ignorance, Tyler chose to overlook the increasingly obvious interest the two had in each other. Deep down he knew the harder he pushed to keep them apart, the closer they would become. And that would only lead to losing them both, and the decade of time he could never recover spent training them.

It had been years since the trio had ventured back to the planet, and for all its shiny towers and power it had held in the galaxy for generations, it had its fair share of dark corners and downtrodden just as any other planet in the system. It was in the grimy, dank, dark underworld of Coruscant. While working to help the more honorable of the poor in the slums, Kara became separated from Kilan and Tyler. It wasn’t uncommon for one of them to end up wandering off as they ventured through the streets, but after several minutes of not being able to locate her, Kilan and Tyler grew worried. They knew the kind of men that called these levels home.

Kilan tried to remain calm, and keep his mind attuned to the Force in his efforts to locate Kara, but as the minutes ticked by, the harder that became. When it reached the point Kilan thought he couldn’t handle it any longer, they rounded a corner onto a poorly lit side alley that attracted little attention from those walking on the main walkway. Even among the smell of piss, shit, and garbage, Kilan was able to pick up the fruity undertones of Kara’s shampoo. And that is when he saw her.

She had been drugged, syringe still sticking out her neck. Limp like a ragdoll, her limbs flopped about as a small gang of three men pawed, grabbed, and ripped at her clothing. For the first time in his life, Kilan experienced true rage, and with it the crashing power of the dark side. As his rage rolled over his mind, he lunged forward toward the men. In a blur of fast movements he took down two of the men with a quick and surgical precision before they even noticed he was there. The center man, the clear leader of the trio, managed to turn to put his arms up in defense. In his rage Kilan wasn’t even aware of how he was moving, primal fury over taking his senses. The third man didn’t last long. Even after he fell, Kilan didn’t stop, punching him over and over. Blood, flesh, teeth, and spit flew as he landed blow after blow against the man’s face.

But then he saw Kara stir slightly out of the corner of his eye, and he froze. He paused for just a moment as his mind caught up to the action he had taken. He lowered his fists and grabbed a small bacta pack from his pocket, spraying the salve on the man’s face. Tyler came running up, winded at trying to keep up with Kilan. He put a sympathetic hand on Kilan’s shoulder, understanding all too well the pull to the dark Kilan just experienced. It was an inevitable event for any Force-sensitive person. Kilan picked up Kara and they took her to recover in a safer location.

The Final Trial (16 ABY)

A Nexu

Kilan’s final trial, and days as an apprentice under Tyler, took place on the planet of Cholganna. High above the planet’s surface they made their approach in a rickety old ship, it was functional, but barely so. As they broke the atmosphere, the engine blew, sending the ship spiralling out of control in a freefall. With only seconds to spare in grabbing some belongings they trio jumped into their individual escape pods and ejected from the ship.

Kilan awoke in his pod seated upside down, hanging by its emergency chute in one of the many tall trees of the forest. It swayed slightly in the wind. He carefully and slowly moved to position himself right way up. Head rushing from the blood flow, he slowly opened the escape pods door and was relieved to see it was only a few feet to the ground. He gathered what few supplies there were in the pod and jumped gingerly out of it. It was dusk, and light was fading fast. Kilan was aware of the dangers of the planet, none more-so than the Nexu that originated from this planet. He had seen one up close when he was 12, as it ripped a man’s head off in the fighting pits of Skurrada IV. It was an experience he had not forgotten.

Alone, small set of emergency supplies, his lightsaber, a glowrod, and his wits, Kilan had to act quickly if he was to survive the forest. He pulled the escape pod to the ground, and used its secure metal casing as his shelter for the cold night that was fast approaching. His attempts to use the pod’s communicator failed him, several key parts having been stripped from it years ago. He knew Tyler’s and Kara’s pods had launched out in similar directions as his own. Through the Force, the most he could sense was their presence to the North-East. Dawn came slowly in a night of unrestful poor attempts at sleeping. The distinct sounds of claws against metal had kept him awake several times throughout the night.

Kilan examined the muddy footprints around the pod once he finally left it. There were at least three separate sets of nexu footprints that circled the pod. With a general bearing of where Tyler and Kara were, he set out into the trees, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Every snapping twig and crunching leaf made his adrenaline spike. Even with his lightsaber, a full pack of nexu could kill him apart with ease.

Twice Kilan saw the slinking shadows out of the corners of his eyes. The third time he was alerted by a roar, and the searing pain of a clawed foot ripping through his back. He turned and struck down the beast with his lightsaber, as he did so another lashed out from the shadows, tearing at his back again. He sliced that nexu down as well. The third, smelling the seared flesh of its packmates, growled and retreated into the shadows. Bleeding profusely, and barely able to stand, Kilan broke into a run, mind focused on the force signature of Tyler and Kara, his only hope of surviving was finding them.

Kilan stumbled from the trees into a clearing and right into the arms of kara. Tyler had found her the evening before, and they had set out South-West to find him at first light. While Tyler went to activate a functioning emergency beacon, Kara set to stitching Kilan’s back. Tyler himself, still shaken from the crash landing of his own escape pod, truly looked his age for the first time. He knew his days of widespread travel were at an end. The unkind years of his rough life had finally caught up to him. He knew there was little left he could provide to his proteges. Once they had been rescued, and wounds properly examined, he unceremoniously declared them at the end of their training, ready to live as Jedi Knights. The next morning when Kilan and Kara awoke, he was gone.

The Alleys of Nar Shaddaa (17 ABY)

Kara Venger

While Kilan and Kara knew they would have to eventually find students of their own, they postponed it, unsure of how to proceed without Tyler’s guiding hand. He had strongly emphasised that they were key to restoring what he saw as the one true Jedi Order. For months they traveled from planet to planet, much as they had done with Tyler, helping people where they could, but avoiding drawing unwanted attention. They existed in a state of limbo without Tyler to direct them. There only consolation to no longer having Tyler to rely on, was they they no longer felt the overwhelming guilty the accompanied their love for each other.

It was in this state of no guidance, that they found themselves on Nar Shaddaa. The Smuggler’s Moon had always been home to the wretched and vile, but it was also home to those who had no way out. With several rival Hutt ruling the planet, several major conflicts had broken out on the streets of the moon. Turf war had little respect for the innocent, and it was for them, that Kilan and Kara arrived to do what they could in aid. But the longer they stayed, the more attention they received, so much so they decided to leave the moon immediately for their own safety.

A dark and powerful storm was cutting through the smog and haze of the moon as they attempted to make their way to a nearby spaceport. The usually bustling outside walkway was nearly abandoned from the heavy torrent of rain and wind. Both felt a queasy urge from the Force in the pits of their stomachs, a feeling they attributed to the general violent nature of the turf war they had placed themselves in. In a particularly strong burst of wind, a totally unnatural force slammed into Kilan’s chest sending him flying down the long wet walkway.

Kilan stumbled to his feet as quickly as he could, fully knowing only the Force could have hit him with such power. In a flash of lightning he saw a hooded figure quickly approaching Kara, who had her back turned to the figure, eyes locked on what happened to Kilan. The figure activated a red bladed lightsaber, and drove it through Kara’s chest, vaporizing her heart and killing her instantly. The blade shut off as quickly as it had turned on, and Kilan felt time slow as he slipped and slid in the wet. Kara was falling, steam rising from the gaping hole in her chest.

The hooded figure jumped off the walkway, as Kilan finally got the traction he needed to run toward Kara. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a open top speeder fly away, roof closing as it sped into the darkness. Kilan fell to his knees and slid the last few feet to Kara’s side. He cradled her head in his lap hoping it was just a nightmare, and then he screamed in agony. He screamed until his throat got too raw to make any more noise, and then screamed some more. He fell into a daze, a mixture of despair, pain, and rage.

Vismorsus Rising (17 ABY - 19 ABY)


"I have been pushing you toward this moment, your whole life. It is your destiny."
―Mikal Yathik

Unable to cope with this sudden loss of the woman he loved, Kilan died as well on the surface of Nar Shaddaa. Like a phoenix out of the ashes of his former life, Xen’Mordin Vismorsus would face his own trials and sufferings on the route to becoming the man he was meant to be. As hard as he tried, he could not shake the involvement of the Force in his life, and this would push him to the Dark Brotherhood, and to the place he would finally call home, the first he had since leaving his family at the age of five.

The Phoenix (17 ABY)

Xen’s Sigil - A Stylized Phoenix

Kilan became unware of what was happening around him. He ensured Kara’s body was sent to her family, a mix of unwilling and unable to accompany it to speak with them in person. Every concrete memory he had in life had involved Kara in some way or another, and without her, he was broken, crippled by the weight of an existence without her support. Unable to continue, but lacking the strength to take his own life, he underwent a process far more lasting and dangerous.

Using what little credits he had, found a dirty, and rank room to rent for a few days. It was bordering on needing to be condemned, but it was secure, and that is all Kilan needed. He locked himself in and for several days, the door remained sealed tight. He rejected his life, his memories, his connection to the force. Letting the agony and despair was over him, everything he that made him, him washed away in the tide. When it was finished, Kilan Khzon was truly dead. A man woke up on the rusty and sticky floor, dressed, and left, only taking a single photo of Kara as a final tether to his old life. A new name, a new history, a new life coming with him. A man left as Xen’Mordin Vismorsus.

Several days later, Xen’Mordin managed to convince a desperate ship captain that he was a skilled enough mechanic to handle an aging freighter, the Dauntless Traveler. At least good enough to keep it flying to anywhere else. The previous mechanic on the ship had struck it rich in a casino three days prior, and the Hutt who ran the casino, saw to it that the man never received his winnings. Jumping at the opportunity to get off the toxic Smugglers’ Moon, Xen took it without hesitation.

The Mundane (17 ABY - 18 ABY)

The Dauntless Traveler, was no mere freighter, which is what Xen’Mordin would come to call a secondary trait for the ship. It was first and foremost a smugglers’ ship. This fact became apparent within hours of stepping on board. It was an older ship, prone to mechanical faults, which came to occupy most of Xen’s time. What knowledge he didn’t have from his rudimentary training, he stayed up late at night studying. Seeming competent enough, and proved to be trustworthy, he was kept on the ship as part of its full time crew.

The first weeks were the hardest. Xen’Mordin was still adapting to being Xen and not Kilan. His own false history kept playing over and over in his mind, refusing to acknowledge the lies, and the truth of his fast. He was initially very distrustful of the crew. But they were kind enough, and didn’t ask too many questions, so day by day Xen came more comfortable in his own skin. He had no reason to remain on the ship, other than having no reason leave it. This was what fate had delivered to him, so it was a smuggler’s life for him. His single photo of Kara went untouched in the bottom of the pile that was his small trunk of belongings.

Xen’Mordin took great lengths to prove himself to the crew, taking on additional jobs to his constant work as a mechanic. He helped cook, clean, move cargo, took extra watch duties, presented ideas for possible new avenues for jobs, and more. Anything that he could do to keep busy, his mind focused, and his crewmates happy. No job was too demeaning or dangerous for him to be willing to do. Some of the crew initially thought this was suspicious, Xen’s constant and unrelenting willingness to take the most mucky and disgusting jobs left all of them increasingly fond of him. For Xen the more he lived and the more he did as this new man, the more Kilan became a distant memory.

The Nexus (18 ABY)

The Ancient Sith Temple

After a year, Xen’Mordin had become accustomed to life without the Force, and was fully beyond ever recognizing Kilan as part of his history. No one, not even Tyler Reynolds himself, would have been able to point to Xen and say he had once been the Jedi Kilan Khzon. Not only had he fully become Xen’Mordin, Force-free and everything, he was now making a life for himself. He was an integral part of the crew of the Dauntless Traveler. He had made massive improvements to the overall quality of life onboard the ship, not only for safety and functionality, but creature comforts as well. His dedication to the ship and crew, alongside his soaring popularity with the crew had secured him a position as second-mate.

The rather eccentric captain of the ship, was fond of dropping the ship into remote systems in between jobs, some of which had no documented records of being visited according to their ship’s computer. If there was abandoned or forgotten treasures to be found, that was both an adventure to be had and money to be made. The crew by and large supported this, as long as there was a steady supply of regular work to be had. It took them to exotic places, and occasionally brought some good extra credits to spend or stories to tell. However, it was the planet they arrived at shortly after Xen’s one-year mark on the ship that changed everything.

On an undocumented planet, in a remote system in the Outer Rim, they found a Temple. It was ancient and sprawling, but still clearly standing despite the millennia it had spent in solitude. The forest of the planet had long attempted to fully reclaim the space, but the forest had failed. The instant they picked it up on their sensors, the entire crew became abuzz with excitement. Ancient relics of a long dead civilization would fetch more credits than they could make in a year's time. Xen’Mordin was the only crew member who remained silent, his eyes locked on the images of the temple. It felt familiar, almost like it was calling him home.

The crew’s demeanor changed as they ventured by foot to find the main entrance of the temple. Each felt an unnatural chill run up their spine, despite the lush warm of the surrounding tropical climate. The chatter turned from excitement, to caution, to refusal to proceed. More and more of the crew voiced concern, ultimately leading to them deciding to abandon their venture. They all had heard the stories of evil corrupting a location. There was no doubt in their minds that this place was indeed, evil. Xen’Mordin however was burning with an indescribable need to enter its halls. He waved off the call to return to the ship and ventured on alone.

The temple entrance was open, the interior edges of the door frame worn far less than the exterior stone. It had been opened recently. Xen’Mordin stepped slowly, but undeterred. He entered the main chamber, a massive open area, with its ceiling stretching all the way to the top of the pyramid structure it resided within. Rays of sunlight fell through cracks and holes in the decaying roof, giving illumination to a faded but intricately designed mosaic on the floor of the room. Cast in directly in one of the largest rays of light, on the far side of the room, was an altar with something held up, resting carefully upon it.

Xen’Mordin made his way forward, and as he crossed the middle of the chamber, he stepped right over the center of the mosaic on the floor of the room, the whole planet began to shake. Lightning from a cloudless sky sparked and arced all around the temple complex. In the central hall itself, Xen was struck again and again as he lay upon the seal on the floor, powerful bolts of pure dark side energy surging through him. This temple was resting above a Force nexus, one of incredible dark side energy.

That dark side energy surged through every cell in Xen’s body. He experienced a pain unlike any he had endured before. As the might of the force coursed through his body, his repressed memories, training, and life as Kilan came flooding back. After what felt like an eternity of pain wishing for death, it ended as suddenly as it had started. As he lay on the ground, gasping for breath, Xen’Mordin was able to comprehend the true nature of the temple, and that his connection with the Force had been completely restored to him.

Tied Up in Strings (18 ABY)

The Ancient Sith Lightsaber

Xen’s mind became at war with itself. On one side was the friendly ship mechanic, Xen’Mordin, and on the other was the vortex of painful memories of a man he no longer was. He let his mind battle it out, unknowing which side would prevail. He moved based on instinct and the direction of the Force, a comforting connection now that it was back. He reached the altar that was resting on the far side of the hall, and was able to recognized what was resting upon it. It was an ancient lightsaber, coated in dust, unused and waiting for centuries for a new owner to claim it. Xen’Mordin grabbed it, and felt like he had just found something that had been missing from him his whole life. It was like it was made just for him.

Xen’Mordin stared at it, absorbing its ancient construction, its brutality, and its still visible stains of blood in the metal work. His focus was interrupted by the sound of clapping, from a hooded figure who was stepping out of the shadows at last. Without turning back, Xen knew with certainty that this was the same man who had killed Kara the previous year.

Xen’Mordin turned to face the man, as the figure pulled back his hood, revealing a vile and twisted face. It was etched with scars and burns and age. The figure introduced himself as Mikal Yathik. With glee, Mikal explained that he had been the one manipulating Xen’s entire life to bring him to this moment in this temple, for Xen to embrace the dark side and take on his destiny. Mikal was the one who had supplied Prazna with the shady connections on Naboo to take power. He was the one, who using powerful Beast Control mastery, had sent the predator on Kashyyyk after Xen. He was the one on Corellia who had suggested to Calu that there was a big reward for anyone who turned in a dangerous force sensitive. And of course it was he who had killed Kara on that rainy walkway on Nar Shaddaa.

Before Xen’Mordin could attempt to lash out in vengeance against Mikal, another man stepped out of the shadows, a man whose face was familiar. It had grown older, more worn, crueler, but Xen knew that face, it belonged to his oldest brother Kiith. Kiith in his rage at being rejected by Tyler Reynolds, had found himself his own master in Mikal Yathik. Kiith’s eyes bore none of the warmed and affection he had shown as a child, they were now cold. Without uttering a word, Kiith activated his own lightsaber. Xen’Mordin was forced to defend himself with the only weapon he had at hand, the ancient lightsaber. Remarkably its warped blood red blade snapped to life even after all these years. Body still aching, and mind still at war with itself, Xen was forced to remember his training quickly as he defended himself against an onslaught of attacks from his own brother. Kiith’s style was aggressive on a level Xen had never experienced, simple, basic, and unyielding in form.

Then it ended. It was either fate, luck, or the will of the Force, Xen’Mordin landed a blow against his brother’s left shoulder, cutting down toward his right hip. Before the blade completely cleaved Kiith in two, its power cell finally died. Kiith’s body landed unceremoniously on the floor with a dull thud. Xen felt no remorse, no pain, no loss at having just killed his own brother. All there was for him to feel was rage. He turned his focus back to Mikal, who was now laughing. Mikal turned to leave, congratulating Xen’Mordin on embracing the power of the dark side, and finally moving forward toward his destiny as a Sith.

Xen’Mordin tightened his grip on the ancient lightsaber, and looked down at it. The hilt itself was a weapon, elegant and cruel, the pommel featured long sharp protrusions, clearing having been used to take lives, just as the red blade had. Xen leapt, augmented by the Force, and drove the hilt deep into Mikal’s back. Xen stabbed again and again, becoming drenched in the man’s blood in the process. Mikal screamed, but eventual fell silent. Even in the silence Xen’Mordin kept driving the blade into the man, relishing in his revenge.

Antei Bound (18 ABY)

Back on the Dauntless Traveler, Xen’Mordin cleaned himself up. He lied to the crew, saying he had been attacked by a pack of beasts in the temple, and that he had been forced to beat them back. The crew, stomachs still churning from being in proximity to the temple agreed to leave the planet immediately. Their own desire to leave clouded their judgment in pressing Xen about why there was just so much blood on his person.

Xen’Mordin spent most of the following days resting. His body was weak from the events in the temple, and his mind was still attempting to reconcile the two sides of his personality. But despite his best efforts, he could not get them to fit together into a single mentality. So he was forced to learn how to deal with it enough to function. The crew of the ship, luckily gave him space, still believing he had nearly died at the hands of a violent creature in the temple. In between the periodic check-ins to establish he was still breathing, he was given the time he needed to formulate a plan. There was only one thing he trusted, the Force. He knew it was the only thing that could fix him, and make him stronger. Deep in meditation, he felt the call, the call from something out there across the galaxy just waiting for him.

Eventually being able to function as a presentable sentient being again, and armed with a plan, Xen’Mordin went to work to find what was calling to him. Being the primary mechanic, and with free range of access to the ship, and in particular the engines, Xen had no trouble disabling the ship. They had been in hyperspace when the engines died, and the ship was left adrift in deep space. Xen’Mordin made a good show of a urgent but focused attempt to diagnosis what was happening to the engines. He had swapped out a critical part with the an old spare he had from replacing it months prior. He had made it look extremely damaged, beyond repair, while the still working part was hidden away. The ship was officially dead in deep space, and Xen had no intention of repairing the ship any time soon. Distress calls were made, but without an apparent replacement part, all the crew could do was wait for aid.

Stuck with nowhere to go, Xen’Mordin slowly isolated members of the crew killing them. Some were killed quickly, flushed out an airlock, others were bloodily carved apart, corpse left on display for the remaining crew to see. The fear started quickly, and as members of the crew were slowly and unexpectedly murdered, that fear grew into hysteria. Xen faked his own death, and took the the shadows and crawl ways of the ship, he knew better than anyone else on the ship. The remaining crew turned on each other, each knowing that only that they themself could not be the killer on the ship. Eventually only one remained, the captain, locked up in his private quarters. Xen’Mordin took his time in finally luring the man out and killing him slowly.

Finally alone on the ship, each of the crew carefully accounted for and removed, Xen’Mordin repaired the hyperdrive. Taking time to enjoy his solitude on the massive ship, Xen took his time going through the crew’s belongings and supplies before making his way to the bridge. When he finally did, there was a cryptic message waiting for him. It contained a single point of coordinates. What he was looking for had found him first. When he arrived at the isolated and sparsely populated system the coordinates pointed to, a second message was delivered, directing him to a remote moon of one of the system’s gas giants. The Dark Brotherhood was waiting.

Imperial Indoctrination (18 ABY - 19 ABY)

Xen’Mordin at the time he joined the Brotherhood

Xen’Mordin was taken through the mysterious Shroud to the Antei system that hid within it. There he was sent to the Lyspair, a moon in orbit around Antei to be tested at the Shadow Academy. Xen’s first several weeks there were brutally punishing. Rusty from his the regular practice he had under Tyler Reynolds, his force abilities and combat skills were lacking. More than that, he was still living in agony as his mind held together in a fragile and misshapen way. Xen became dedicated to the Force, and in the power of the dark side and the ways of the Sith. When he had adequately satisfied the professors and trainers of the Academy, Xen was issued placement in one of the great clans of the Brotherhood.

Xen’Mordin was sent to the Cocytus system, the home system of Clan Scholae Palatinae, a small isolated system near the borders of Hutt space. He joined the ranks of House Caliburnus, and begun to learn the ways of a system spanning Empire, and a ruling royal class. Scholae Palatinae itself believed its origin could be traced back to the Force-sensitives that guarded Emperor Palpatine’s greatest artifacts and secrets. From his first day there, Xen was exposed to the heavy Imperial propaganda that filtered everything experienced by the citizens of the system.

He was placed under the tutelage of a Nautolan referred to as Warhunter. Warhunter pushed Xen’Mordin hard, forcing the young man to hone his skills he had learned under Tyler, and expand beyond what he thought possible. Within months Xen was on par with where he had been at the end of his time with Tyler Reynolds. At the forefront of every aspect of his training however, was the reminder of the greatest success the Sith had ever known. The might of the Galactic Empire, and Palpatine’s brilliant sweep to power and destruction of the Jedi Order. While the members of the clan demonstrated their own typical Sith tendencies, that quest for power was hardcoded to the set of ideals of serving one’s own desires, and the good of the Cocytus Empire.

For Xen’Mordin, the power hungry tactics and games fed the parts of his mind that were twisted by the might of the Force nexus. The higher calling of serving the Empire, however, spoke to the other parts. While his split mentalities made it hard for any member of Scholae Palatinae to get close to him, both pushed him forward in a constant effort to better himself. At the times he was exceeding his own expectations, the more at peace his mind was. And that was a comfort that he could not put a price on.

The Manipulative (20 ABY - 28 ABY)


"We must do this, no one else has the capacity. And they will never see us coming."
―Xen’Mordin to Impetus

Xen’Mordin quickly went to work integrating himself into Clan Scholae Palatinae. Taking the power questing of the Sith, the glory of the Galactic Empire, and his own ambitions as his motivation, he would work ceaselessly to achieve his goals. He would take fervent study of Emperor Palpatine’s life and strategies. This study would push Xen, along with the help of some closely trusted allies, into playing a long game to seat himself upon the throne. Taking years of preparation and works, this singular goal dominated his actions for nearly a decade of his life.

A Leader (19 ABY)

Impetus M’Nar

Xen’Mordin had only been in the Brotherhood and a member of Scholae Palatinae when he received his first example of the treacherous nature of the Dark Jedi he now called his brothers and sisters. A rift had formed in Scholae Palatinae, with member turning against member. Caliburnus entered a standing feud with another house of the clan, Dorimad Sol. Scholae Palatinae’s third house, Acclivis Draco, withheld from the combat as war seeped through the entire system. After a bloody and violent conflict, Xen emerged in as a highlighted member, recognized clan wide as a capable warrior, and leader.

This internal conflict within the clan, begun a snowball effect for Xen’Mordin. He was already taking the Imperial ideals to heart, and saw this conflict within the Empire itself as a show of poor leadership and drive from the top levels. While he himself knew all too well the lust for power, there were too many enemies outside of the clan to spend their time fighting amongst themselves.

It was following this house feud, that Xen’Mordin was offered an opportunity to help shape the clan as a leader, directly offered by the sitting Emperor, Timbal. Xen was made Aedile of House Caliburnus. It was in this position that he met Impetus M’Nar, a young Twi’lek, who had been named as the Quaestor of the House. They were soon joined by a Neti named Ood Bnar, who would serve as the House’s Rollmaster.

Impetus and Xen’Mordin were both intelligent, young, and highly driven. They both quickly orientated to the life of a leader within Scholae Palatinae, and brought much needed stability to the stumbling Caliburnus. This included a shocking upset victory against the consistently praised House Acclivis Draco during the events of Contention. But Caliburnus occupied just a small corner of the Empire, located on the planet of Ptolomea. Whatever skills and powers they amassed on this planet, did little to truly demonstrate their capabilities.

The weeks turned into months, and both Impetus and Xen’Mordin began to quietly express frustrations from the shortcomings and glaring flaws weakening the clan’s hold in the system. Cocky, headstrong, and determined, the two began to formulate a plan. They took inspiration from Emperor Palpatine himself, and his brilliant manipulation of the Republic into giving him more and more power willingly, finally seating himself as Emperor by thunderous applause. Confident that their combined intellect and skills would allow them to adapt to roadblocks in their plan, they began their long con to take control of the entire Empire.

The Sword (20 ABY)

The hilt of the legendary Caliburnus

House Caliburnus was named so, after a mythical and ancient lightsaber, the permeate the legends of the native people of the Cocytus system. The members of House Caliburnus were regarded as the sword, skilled warriors, in comparison to the dragon of Acclivis Draco and the sun of Dorimad Sol. The validity of the myth surrounding the lightsaber had been in question for years. The stories were just that, stories used to bolster the members of the house in a shared belief. What the members of Scholae Palatinae didn’t realize, was that no one had ever attempted to properly piece together the history of the lightsaber in its entirety. An artifact such as that would be an incredible find for the Empire.

It took a little more than two months of researching for Xen’Mordin and Impetus to not only validate that the lightsaber existed, but pinpoint its exact location. It was in a temple deep in the dark jungles of Ptolomea. If it was found, it would clearly be a sign of one’s right to command the House. However, Xen and Impetus did not wish to find it for themselves. Those well versed in the lore of the lightsaber knew it was always coupled with a terrible price upon those vain enough to try to wield it as their own. Xen and Impetus wished to allow another to claim it, and ultimately further destabilize the entire system. This would begin the first phase of their plan.

News of the true existence of the lightsaber was leaked to the House, through Ood Bnar, thinking it was his own work that validated its location. Multiple groups of interested parties began to prepare, knowing if they could retrieve the lightsaber, control of the house and all of Ptolomea would be theirs. According to plan, Xen’Mordin began the venture to find Caliburnus in the same party as Impetus, only to publically betray her, by going to help a vain and power-hungry man, Thran Occasus, retrieve the blade.

Thran came to trust Xen’Mordin largely thanks to this singular act, believing falsely that Xen was a loyal and controllable tool to be used in his own quest for power. This betrayal also added further cover to Xen’s and Impetus’s plan, for there would no way the two would be working together following such a public betrayal. Thran assumed the mantle of Quaestor for House Caliburnus, Impetus left the house to return to Acclivis Draco on Antenora, and Xen’Mordin turned his own efforts to the next steps of their plan.

Vismorsus Industries (21 ABY - 26 ABY)

There was a comforting sense of anonymity in no longer having the burden of leadership. Xen’Mordin was free to pursue the foundation that he would take the throne of the Empire from. As he watched Thran shake House Caliburnus crazy, he was able to focus on establishing himself as a popular and exemplary citizen of the Cocytus system. That is, at least, the image he made public, as the citizens had no need to know about the framing, torture, and murdering that he took up to progress his goals. After amounting a small horde of credits and contacts in the system, he was ready.

Xen’Mordin founded his own company Vismorsus Industries. Having proved himself to his clanmates on multiple occasions, and having pulled together his own resources, along with ones directed to him by Impetus, Vismorsus Industries took off like a wildfire. The core company established itself as a scientific research company, with branching ventures into manufacturing, trade goods, and every other service imaginable. Xen had inherited his parents affinity for the business world, and even without the bribes, blackmail, and blessing of the clan, it was quickly a viable company.

While Xen’Mordin had bigger plans for both his company and the Empire itself, his new found wealth allowed him to appear overly generous with the civilians. Xen spent money out of his own pocket to provide more affordable housing, medical centers, feeding the hungry, and expanding the system’s education system. The later became a huge boon for Xen’s plans as he was able to directly recruit from the improving schools into his company. Improving his public image, and the continued wellbeing of the company came to occupy much of his time.

The better his public image, the more he was able to push his company into the development of things that were of benefit to the clan, and the Empire’s control. Research ranged from mind control serums, fear toxins, advanced weaponry and machines, new droids, computing software, and more. As long as he supplied goods that improved the lives of the civilians, the less than reputable developments went overlooked by everyone.

Because of this, Xen’s biggest threats to his long term plans for the Empire and his company was not from any outside person or group, but from himself. While he had come to fully embrace the identity of Xen’Mordin as his own, and was a fully dedicated Sith and scholar of Emperor Palpatine, his painful past still left him with a fractured mind. Xen’Mordin was still a broken man, both Xen’Mordin and Kilan at all times, and those sides were in a constant struggle to end up on top. This threw him from one mood to another, a icon for the civilians to the cruel and power hungry Sith. Xen knew if he was going to continue to build his reputation in the Cocytus system, he would need to find a way to make peace with himself.

Secret Agent Man (22 ABY)

Xen'Mordin in 22 ABY

Xen’Mordin spent most of his time developing and leading Vismorsus Industries, but he could not deny that life outside the Cocytus system was just as important as within, or that Scholae Palatinae had its own needs to be dealt with. The Imperial Scholae Intelligence initiative had been recently founded by Impetus, and while many believed the two despised each other, this powerful Intel agency proved to be invaluable to progressing their plans.

ISI provided resources and information vital to their plan. Seated firmly within its upper ranks, Impetus could redirected intelligence to suit their needs. Information on competing companies, areas of strongest propaganda effect, contacts of ill repute, and more were passed in secret to Xen’Mordin. And when they needed a blind eye on their own dealings, ISI found itself largely preoccupied by other pressing matters. Xen would have to make many trips out into the galaxy at large. Expanding his company, dealing with threats to the clan, recruiting members, and more would occupy his time. These ventures would also always result in some spare time for Xen to disappear for an evening to meet with contacts outside of the system that had been identified as useful by Impetus within the ISI. These individuals with a wide set of skills, and a lust for the credits Xen could now bring them.

These contacts and mercenaries were utilized multiple times by Xen’Mordin over the following years. However, as useful and productive these missions were in advance his own plans, and establishing himself as a reliable face within Scholae Palatinae, there was another reason he came to relish these trips. They took him away from the Cocytus system, and away from the eyes of the public who would recognize him. He was free to move unrestricted. He came to appreciate the twisted irony in the fact that the system he was seeking to control, was a prison for what he was on the inside, and what one half of his mind raged for on a daily basis.

The Restoration (24 ABY)

The top levels of Coruscant

Xen’Mordin had finally reached the limit of his capabilities to function. The chasm that divided his mind had become too much to bear. His days were spent locked away in his quarters, cramming as much work as he could in the few moments of lucidity he would experience in any given day. He barely slept, barely ate, and by shutting himself away, many in the clan began to suspect that his body was finally giving away to the high pressure schedule he had been keeping.

Fueled by his refusal to die, and sustained solely by the power of the Force, Xen’Mordin left the Cocytus system behind, and returned to his home planet of Coruscant. The planet held little personal meaning to him now, having been almost two decades since he had ever called it home, but he couldn’t deny he felt drawn to return to the planet deep in the core. Xen found a cheap room to stay in, and locked himself away, waiting for the Force to guide his next actions. It was in one of his rare outings for food, in a moment of lucidity, that he was recognized.

It was his elder sister, Sairia, that called out to him by his old name, Kilan, in the busy streets. He stared blankly back at her, she was older, eyes full of certainty that she had found her brother. Xen’s mind went back to his last family encounter, his brother’s body still decaying where it fell in the temple. Sairia was not what Xen’Mordin needed to heal, she only brought more confusion and pain. Xen also had no way to even begin what had happened to him or who he was now. He pushed Sairia aside and disappeared into the crowded walkway.

Xen’Mordin spent the next few hours, drinking the afternoon away in a nearby cantina. Drunk, he stumbled back to the tiny place he was staying at. He came to a stop just outside of the door. Xen could sense clearly someone was inside the room, waiting. Someone he had not seen for many years. Tyler Reynolds found his student at last. He must have had some inkling of what had happened to Xen, sensing him when Xen returned to the planet at last.

Tyler begged in a feeble and useless way for Xen’Mordin to return to the light. Instead of listening to the old man’s plea, he turned the argument around back at Tyler, blaming him for leaving them in the first place, for not preparing them adequately, for ripping them from their families in the first place, and a million other things. Kara never would have died if Tyler had not taken them both as padawans. Kilan never would have suffered and died. Xen’Mordin would never have been born, if it had not been for the old man. The more he yelled at Tyler, the better Xen felt.

Tyler realized there was no more reasoning with Xen’Mordin. His apprentice Kilan was truly dead, and this Sith before him needed to be dealt with before bring destruction to the galaxy. Xen had been waiting for Tyler to come to this realization. It was a cramped duel, brutal, relentless. Tyler showed his age, while Xen showed his fatigued and weakened state that his unstable mind had reduced him to. But in the end, Tyler had no hope, Xen’Mordin was young and had years of honing his dark side capabilities. Xen slayed his former master and mentor. With Tyler dead as his feet, Xen collapsed into his bed and spelt for three days.

Waking to the smell of rot setting into Tyler’s corpse, Xen’Mordin gathered his belongings and left. For the first time since his powers were restored by the Force nexus, Xen felt whole, complete, free of internal conflict. He was able to accept his grief, his rage, and in killing his former master, Xen’Mordin was able meld with Kilan, and fight no more. Kilan was Xen’Mordin, and Xen’Mordin was Kilan, and he would not let anything prevent him from reaching his goals, not even himself.

The Cause and The Usurper (24 ABY)

Late in 24 ABY,following the retaking of Antei, one of the most critical moments needed to fully destabilize the system occurred. The newly appointed Emperor, Lucien the Fearless had come into power with a shaky grip on the system. It was time to allow a more volatile individual take control to push the Empire to the boiling point. To do that, Xen’Mordin made use of the many contacts he had made over the past several years.

Thran Occasus, just as power hungry as he had been on Ptolomea when searching for Caliburnus, had found himself sitting as Lucien’s right hand man, Proconsul of the clan. Xen’Mordin had maintained a long standing relationship with Thran over the last several years. The relationship existed from Thran’s belief that Xen’Mordin was subservient and easily malleable. Xen did whatever was required to fuel that belief. This was a radical difference than Thran’s attitude toward Impetus, who in order to ease Thran’s mind toward a coup to take the throne, faked her own death and disappeared from the system. She and Xen met one last time to ensure he would send a message, an ad looking to hire capable scientists, when he had succeeded in taking the throne, letting her know it was time to return.

Xen’Mordin spent weeks planting various tidbits of information, and ideas in Thran’s head. But it did not take long before Thran was certain he had arrived at the conclusion himself, that it was time to go all in and take the system. To back Thran’s attempt to take the Empire, Xen provided further information of a terrorist organization known as The Cause,, that would be capable of aiding Thran to usurp the throne. This organization was, of course, created by Xen’Mordin and Impetus over the last several years, paying its members a hefty fee to do as they were told. Xen also enjoyed the jest that Thran was totally unaware of the origin of the terrorist group’s name. They were there for a cause, the only cause Xen cared about, putting himself on the throne.

Thran used The Cause to sow terror in the system, and in the process broke Lucien’s frail grip on the system. Lucien disappeared, and Thran had managed to take the throne for himself. The Cause disappeared without a trace the instant Thran was able to secure the throne. Self-assured of his right to rule, Thran titled himself The Usurper. Most remarkable was the low number of soldiers and civilians killed in the smoke and mirrors that were used to disrupt the system. However, the panic that had generated was real enough, and the memories of a unified front against the horrendous terrorists would play a hand years later when Xen’Mordin himself used The Cause to become Emperor. He made sure they were paid well, on top of the money Thran had thrown at them, and they disappeared as if they had never been there.

Spoils of War (26 ABY)

Landmap of Salas V

Thran’s rule had proved to be more disrupted than either Xen’Mordin or Impetus could have predicted. The Emperor’s party-hard lifestyle had put a sour taste in most of the members’ mouths, while doing little to curb his declining approval rates in the system. Many members left the clan just to get away from the vain Usurper. Those who stuck around were left attempting to patch the disarray that had taken over the Cocytus system.

This disarray reached a critical point when in 26 ABY, the Grand Master, Muz Ashen declared all of the Brotherhood were to venture to the distant planet of Salas V to participate in a mighty Rite of Supremacy, the planet’s control a shiny gem to be awarded to the victors. Thran ordered all of Scholae Palatinae’s forces to the planet surface, looking to be the first Emperor to expand the Empire outside of the Cocytus system.

Many members of the clan fought hard, pushing themselves and the military to seize the planet. But Thran was nowhere to be seen, and his Proconsul, Angelo Dante, had his hands full. In the end, without a fully focused central leadership to rally the clan, the individual efforts of a few proved to only be moderately successful. When the dust settled, and the violent Killiks of Salas V were destroyed, Scholae Palatinae sat embarrassingly outclassed by nearly every other clan in the Brotherhood.

Xen’Mordin witnessed this defeat first hand. He made a strong showing himself on Salas V, but kept himself cautiously out of major danger for the entire war. Dying at the hand of an insect would have been a horrible way to end when he had done so much to take the throne. A greater air of dismay took over the fracturing clan, and while it hurt to see the Empire in even a more broke state, Xen knew it ultimately would be for the greater good that this happened.

The Dragon (27 ABY)

The seal of House Acclivis Draco

Xen’Mordin knew it was time to begin to position himself within the clan for his final push to take the throne. He had spent years building up a solid reputation in clan, and within the system, but it would not be enough to take the throne. He had to prove himself as a leader for the rest of the clan to fully support him. He accepted the position of Aedile within the great House Acclivis Draco alongside the newly appointed Quaestor Exodius. Exodius, a Trandoshan, who had been a long standing member of the Dragon House, and a proud and fearsome individual, proved to be a lackluster Quaestor.

Control of the House was immediately offered to Xen’Mordin, who graciously accepted the position of Quaestor. Acclivis Draco had been long recognized as the strongest and most capable of the clan’s three houses. It was based on the harsh desert planet of Antenora, which was a wildly different climate than Xen’s estate back on the capital planet of Judecca. The planet was divided up under control of multiple warring tribes, which Xen immediately started to work with to unify the planet, establishing a plan that would later be executed brilliantly by Koryn Thraagus.

Xen’s own control of the house would prove to be just as brief as Exodius’s however. Just a few months after accepting the position of Quaestor, Angelo Dante, resigned his position as Proconsul. Dante had been the one who had held together the fracturing clan under Thran’s rule, and his resignation put Xen’s final goals within grasp. However, his plans were thwarted by Thran picking a member from Clan Plagueis to succeed Dante’s position as Proconsul. Ood Bnar, the once dutiful Rollmaster who served in House Caliburnus with Xen’Mordin and Impetus years before had decided to return to the Empire.

This action offended Xen’Mordin greatly, who would hold this grudge against Thran for years. However, unknown to him at the time, this action worked out in his benefit, as it put the pieces in play for an even stronger claim to take the throne than he would have other wise. An edict from the Grand Master himself would see Xen’s time as Quaestor cut short.

Infection (27 ABY)

Csilla

Xen’Mordin would frequently leave Antenora and return to Judecca as part of his duties as Quaestor. It was his job to represent his House to the Clan, and his job to ensure the planet of Antenora ran in harmony with the will of the Empire. It was in 27 ABY, during one of these ventures to the Capital, that Xen arrived to a completely silent and inactive Palace. As he departed his ship, and opened the doors leading from the hanger to the Palace, a fine green mist poured out of the doors. Xen jumped back and held his breath, certain it was a toxin, but it was too late. He was infected, just like everyone else in the palace.

He found staff and Clan members in the halls of the palace. Each unconscious, but alive in a coma-like state. Xen’Mordin rushed to the advanced medical center in the palace. With the aid of the medical droids he was able to isolate the toxin, and learned he had a natural resistance to its effects. He would ultimately succumb to it like the others, but he had hours with which he could attempt to generate an antitoxin. He learned there was a viable one to be created, but required compounds that were only found in the rare snow flowers from the homeworld of the Chiss, Csilla.

Xen’Mordin took the most direct route to the planet he could, not caring to be noticed, or stopped by the Chiss military. He knew the instant he entered the system, he would be noticed. Already feeling the drowsy and lethargic symptoms of the toxin taking hold, he jumped intra-atmosphere from hyperspace, nearly crashing his ship. He gathered as many of the flowers as he could carry, and returned to his ship to get back to the Cocytus system before it was too late.

As Xen’Mordin broke the atmosphere of the planet to jump away, he was flanked by many fighters ships of the Chiss, who were demanding he stop and be taken in for questioning. When Xen didn’t respond, they opened fire as he jumped to lightspeed, damaging his ship, but not enough to destroy it. Xen’Mordin was forced to crash the damaged vessel in the hangar bay of the Palace. He dragged himself and the flowers, off the ship and attempted to make it back to the medical center. He was just down the hall from it when he finally fully succumbed to the toxin’s effects.

Xen’Mordin awoke three days later in a bed in the medical center. One of the medical droids had gathered the flowers Xen had on him when he collapsed down the hall, and generated the antitoxin to begin treating the infected. All those who were affected had been returned to full health, but the source of the toxin self was never fully determined.

Grand Marshal of the Empire (27 ABY)

Logo of Scholae Palatinae

Thran Occasus had vanished. In his wake he left a Clan and Empire broken and crippled. With his parting, Ood Bnar held tightly to the top levels of Clan and Empire resources allowing both to remain upright for the time being. But then came word directly from the Iron Throne. The resources allocated to the clans by the Council were being cut back, and all Clans were instructed to immediately restructure as independant houses, a humiliating drop in status for everyone. The long standing houses of Acclivis Draco, Dorimad Sol, and Caliburnus were immediately dissolved. Control of everything now would rest with the sitting summit of House Scholae Palatinae.

The role of Quaestor and position of Emperor fell to Ood, by declaration from Muz Ashen. Believing he could right the ship, Ood was given an impossible situation. The members were outrage by the slights of the Dark Council, and while Ood had been a member in the past, he had been gone for years as a member of Clan Plagueis before returning as Thran’s Proconsul. Many were left seeing him as just a continuation of Thran’s chaos. As for the Empire itself, its people were on the brink of revolt against the Empire, Thran’s lavish and selfish lifestyle burdening the civilians heavily.

As the new Emperor, Ood was dubbed “The Hardwood”, and had to find his second in command. Having worked with Xen’Mordin years before in House Caliburnus, and having seen Xen’s stint recently leading Acclivis Draco, he quickly named Xen’Mordin the Aedile for the house, and Grand Marshal for the system. This placed Xen’Mordin as the direct commander of the entire Imperial Military Force. Xen was recognized as a skilled warrior, and due to the many battles he had fought along with the military personnel, had an immediate support of the armed forces.

Where Thran had been bold, brash, and brazen, Ood was quiet, quaint, and quiescent. Xen’Mordin realized this was to his benefit in his quest to finally take the throne. A weak leader, and a major threat would be all it took for him to seize control backed completely by his fellow brethren, and to the great aplomb of the citizens of the Empire. The time had come for him to enact the final act of the plan.

The Neutralization (28 ABY)

Judecca

The Causereturned with a shocking and abrupt series of rapid fire attacks throughout the system. Hospitals, schools, shopping centers, military locations, and in a deft move of illusion, some of Xen’s own company facilities were all target in a string of carefully planned out attacks. It was a numbers game, one that had been meticulously planned out. Just enough death, just enough horrifying locations to whip the system into a full on frenzy. If it wasn’t for the fear and panic the attacks caused, some might have noticed the incredible ease of the terrorists pulling off these attacks, seemingly out of thin air. But the over the top, bold and demeaning holovids that followed each attack, kept the focus on the who, not the how of the attacks.

Xen’Mordin held all the cards, from the military response, to the Cause operatives that he was paying handsomely to attack his own system. Of course, none of them would live long enough to spend any of the credits, that too was planned, in the strong handed response Xen organized and had carried out by his own members of the clan. Ood was invisible, so much so he might not have existed at all. Xen took center stage as the strong leader that unified the system against such bold attacks. But first he had to let the entire system see how bad it could get with the non-response of Ood. Just as the Empire was ready to storm the grounds of the palace, Xen gave the green light to strike back.

While the members of Scholae Palatinae hunted down the terrorists with information based on ISI created dossiers, Xen’Mordin was also using his own funds to build up the damaged parts of the system. He went in person to each of the families that lost loved ones, and got his hands dirty clearing the rubble left in the Cause’s wake. With the last of the Cause leaders rounded up and executed, Xen had the full backing of his clan as a strong leader, and the backing of an Empire in desperate need of a true leader. Xen’Mordin issued an immediate declaration of imprisonment for Ood Bnar for failing the Empire so egregiously.

Xen’Mordin took the throne with an unprecedented backing and approval of the citizens of the Cocytus Empire. And as he took the mantle of Quaestor for House Scholae Palatinae, his support was nearly universal as the clear successor to lead them forward. He took for himself the tyrant title of Xen’Mordin the Manipulative, and turned his sight on establishing the Empire as a lasting force in the galaxy.

The Emperor (28 ABY - Present)


"Now the Empire can begin anew."
―Xen’Mordin upon taking the throne

Xen’Mordin wasted no time in securing his hold over the Cocytus system. The years of planning and preparing had finally paid off, and now he was able to do as he saw fit. The Cocytus Empire was to become stronger than ever. His rule marked on of the longest and most heavily active periods of a ruler both for the Empire, and for Scholae Palatinae. Between his massive modernization of the Empire, and unwavering dedication, few would ever wish to depose him from the throne. This was a nearly unimaginable feat for a society and culture built upon betrayals and backstabbing.

Imperialization (28 ABY)

Xen’s Mask

Over the course of the years leading up to Xen’Mordin taking the mantle of Emperor, he had study over every aspect of Emperor Palpatine’s life he could find, along with his actions that led to the rise of the Galactic Empire. Palpatine, a master manipulator, had not only led the Galactic Republic to willingly form into the Empire, but had been able to completely hide his identity as Darth Sidious. This separation of Sith and politician was a factor Xen took very seriously in his first days leading the the Cocytus Empire. To the public he was an attractive, intelligent, and charismatic leader, one that the people could believe and rally behind. To the Brotherhood he was a cold and calculating Sith, face shielded by a mask bearing the sigil of Scholae Palatinae.

This radical split between the public Emperor, and hidden Sith dominated Xen’s lifestyle for years. However, it was far from the only radical action he would start as Emperor. He ordered the immediate dissolvement of the high royal class that had plagued the Empire with unnecessary bureaucracy. Planetary rule was moved to Planetary Governors, who were either willing loyal puppets, or members of Scholae Palatinae itself. The Governors in turn reported to the System Moff, a position he had added to the chain of command, adding it to the active duties of Scholae Palatinae’s Rollmaster. The Imperial Senate, a venue for the populace to be heard, and feel like the had a place in the government was completely gutted in several stages. Nearly every single aspect of the Empire was rebranded, refined, and made uniform. The Empire needed to function as a well oiled machine.

Xen’Mordin also took major action in the private sectors as well, routing out hindrances of resources, and through some more untalked about actions against the corrupted portions of the economy. He nationalized multiple large corporations that provided crucial goods and services throughout the system. He was able to expand what he started with Vismorsus Industries into multiple new high level educational and research facilities. These were taken in as part of a government wide push for education the system to improve, while also promoting loyalty to the Empire. The banking and finance system came under a strict and regulated review. The entirety of the news media in the system was restructured to fit an absolute pro-Imperial agenda, as well as the ability to be used to direct attention away from events that would negatively impact the public’s view of the Empire.

Retaliation (29 ABY)

Emperor Vismorsus

Early into Xen’s reign, a single event kick started a long run of tense situations between Scholae Palatinae, and rival Brotherhood unit Naga Sadow. Historically the two units were mostly ambivalent toward each other, but that was set to change. A long standing Palatinaean, and one of the keepers of the Legacy of Palpatine, Angelo Dante, was tasked to go with the sitting FIST, Fremoc Pepoi, on a mission to the Alsakan system. The pair were tasked with hunting down a rogue Jedi, Michael Halcyon. Michael Halcyon had on several occasions been a member and leader within Scholae Palatinae, so Xen’Mordin wished to task one of his best with bringing down the Jedi.

While Angelo and Fremoc succeeded in their mission of locating the Jedi, Michael was aware of their presence and fought the pair off. In the midst of a quick paced duel, thanks largely to the incompetent actions of Fremoc, Angelo was killed and Michael escaped capture. Angelo’s body was returned to the Cocytus system, where Xen’Mordin ordered a day of mourning to precede a burial given ever honor and status there was within the Empire, a burial befitting a fallen hero of the Empire. While ensuring his loyal friend and advisor was properly recognized, Xen’s mind was focused on one thing, retaliation. Fremoc was a long standing member of Naga Sadow, and at the time was even a Son of Sadow. Despite Fremoc’s position on the Dark Council, Xen was willing to go to any lengths to avenge the death of Angelo, a sentiment echoed by all in Scholae Palatinae.

Xen’Mordin knew an outright attack on a member of the Council would have been suicide, as each member was protected by the Grand Master, Muz Ashen, Muz himself being from Naga Sadow. This knowledge and common sense didn’t stop some, as an estranged Scholae Palatinae member, Cado H’darr, was killed while trying to take revenge into his own hands.

In the days that followed, a bomb was detonated in a hangar, one clearly sent to kill Fremoc, who had just landed. Fremoc, however, was spared from death, merely being injured in the blast. Fremoc’s son, Thomas, was killed as the young boy had been running to greet his father. It was impossible for anyone to directly link Xen’Mordin, or anyone else in Scholae Palatinae, to the bomb. Yet, everyone knew full well the parties involved, and the message that was being sent. Before any further escalation of the issue could arise, the Grand Master, called the Council and all unit Leaders together to make it abundantly clear that any further acts of aggression would face immediate repercussions. Xen’s thirst for revenge would have to stay sated for the time being.

The Invasion of New Tython (29 ABY)

The Grand Master had different plans for the boiling aggression that was festering between all the units of the Brotherhood. For months they had tolerated Lord Ashen’s unorthodox unit, Odan-Urr, a band of Jedi who were tied to the Iron Throne. The time for tolerance had come to an end, as the dark side aligned units went to New Tython, the refuge of the Jedi. The Invasion of New Tython, began and each of the long standing units of the Brotherhood left their systems behind looking to exterminate the Jedi.

For Xen’Mordin, and the rest of Scholae Palatinae, this fight was a personal one as well, for the traitor Michael Halcyon was among those leading the defenses of the Jedi on the planet. Xen placed the continued restriction and restoration of the Empire on hold, and personal led the foray for his people. With the aid of his Grand Marshal Archangel, and System Moff Rayne, the massive stride for progress could wait while Scholae Palatinae filled its blood lust.

Unexpectedly however, the Jedi were not alone on New Tython, an arsenal of Mandalorians arrived just as the invasion began, being paid heavily to defend the planet. Among the Mandolorians was [Maximus_Raidoner_Mandalore|Maximus Raidoner]], another betrayer to the Empire and Scholae Palatinae. In the field of battle, Xen’Mordin was robbed of being the one to issue punishment upon the two traitors Michael and Raidoner, but was present to witness their violent demise first hand.

The spoils that followed the war were enough to squash the negative feelings Xen’Mordin had about not being the one to kill the two traitors. Enough plunder was taken from the planet for a new space station to be replace the old and worn out Dynasty Station. The much larger and more capable Dynasty II was purchased and place in high orbit around the planet of Ptolomea, a fitting trophy to remind them of the war.

The Orian Incursion (30 ABY)

Battle over Sepros

The members of Scholae Palatinae had a new surge of energy following the war on New Tython. Their strong showing in battle had given them a much needed confidence boost. After years of faltering and weak attempts, their surprisingly commanding presence in the war provided them with a surge of forward momentum. Xen’Mordin knew that momentum had to be sustained for them to survive.

It was at this point that Xen’Mordin was approached by Tra’an Reith, the leader of Plagueis, one of the other units in the Brotherhood. Both Tra’an and Xen wanted to maximize their units energy to fully secure their place as one of the dominant units within the Brotherhood. This of course meant showing another unit was weaker. They decided that Naga Sadow was a prime target for attack. They were recovering from a poor performance on New Tython, unexpected and ill prepared for an attack. For Xen, this was a personal matter. He was still enraged over the death of Angelo, and he wished to have a legitimate attack against the cowards of Naga Sadow. To invade Naga Sadow’s home, the Orian System, was something he could not pass on. He also knew it would provide a great opportunity for Plagueis to be weakened by Naga Sadow, allowing him to strike both down.

As the invasion of the Orian system began, Xen’s most trusted advisors within Scholae Palatinae strongly urged him to turn on Plagueis, allowing Naga Sadow and Plagueis to weaken each other before picking them off. This had been Xen’s plan from the start, but he put up a fight against this idea. He fought it just long enough to convince the members of Scholae Palatinae that they had some control over the direct they would take moving forward.

Palatinaean forces held back during the initial assault in the Orian System. Xen’Mordin didn’t even need to order this action, as Tra’an confident in his own forces, pressed the issue in being the leader of the attack. Scholae Palatinae was to arrive following the first barrage against the Naga Sadow forces. As the Sadowan forces pulled back to regroup, Xen issued a coded order, sending the entirety of the Palatinaean military to attack Plagueis’s rear.

Plagueis scrambled to form a defensive pattern against Scholae Palatinae. As they attempted this, Naga Sadow launched their counterattack. The Plagueians took heavy losses in a hasty retreat from the system, including losing their Star Destroyer, the Ballista. As they escaped Xen’Mordin ordered his own forces to retreat home without further escalation against the Sadowans.

Horizons (30 ABY)

Xen'Mordin during Horizons

Shortly after Orian Incursion another crisis arose, one that brought Scholae Palatinae, and the Empire, to near extinction. This time however the threat came from an old face wielding an impossibly dangerous weapon. Zoraan, a former Grand Master, had returned having escaped the death so many had believed he had fallen to. With him, came the powerful and infectious disease, Lysu Thren’s Horizon Plague. This plague had been believed lost millennia ago, shortly after it was developed.

The plague spread like an unstoppable wildfire, infecting all Brotherhood systems simultaneously. It was subtle at first, symptoms slow to develop. Lowly ranked Journeymen began to demonstrate skills and abilities that even an Elder would struggle to accomplish. By the time enough Journeymen had displayed this capability, it was too late to stop it. The Journeymen turned mad and depraved. They turned on each others, and the more powerful members that over saw them. Many were cut down by the Equites and Elders of their clans, in effort to stop what was happening. But everyone was already infected.

Within the capital city of Ohmen on Judecca, riots erupted in the streets, and Xen’Mordin was forced to order an immediate system wide lockdown. This failed to stabilize the issue, with the Horizon plague having been perfected into the ultimate weapon against the Dark Jedi of the Brotherhood, stripping them of all their powers. Xen’Mordin could do nothing but watch the plague tear apart his Empire. With the plague taking full grip, Xen succumbed to its effects just as Zoraan, backed by One Sith forces, attacked.

Luckily, Xen’Mordin had first hand experience with living without the connection to the Force. While he was better prepared than his fellow Palatinaeans, it was still a blinding and crippling experience. It brought with it a reminder of the darkest moments of his life, and the pain associated with it. Ultimately when it seemed that Zoraan had succeeded in killing the Brotherhood, a cure was discovered. As leader of Scholae Palatinae, Xen was one of the first to receive it, and tasked with ensuring his members received it as well. He needed to restore order immediately.

Always Two (30 ABY)

Xen’Mordin came to realize he could not restore order alone, not after such a violent conflict that turned the civilians of the system against each other. Luckily for Xen, a new member of Scholae Palatinae had been showing tremendous potential in the months prior to the Horizons plague. Evant Taelyan, who had studied political science, and had a practiced hand at the art of propaganda, had already taken up residence as a key member of the now smaller and more focused battleteam, Caliburnus.

Evant’s ambition, skill, and force affinity was apparent, but it was his skills at propaganda and understanding of how to play the political game that brought him to Xen’s attention. Xen’Mordin assessed Evant from afar, but following the chaos of Horizons, Xen was forced to take action. Evant quickly tackled any and every obstacle Xen’Mordin placed in front of him. Under Xen’s tutelage, Evant rose quickly to obtain the rank of Knight, and was placed as the head of Caliburnus, with direct access to the resources the Imperial Scholae Intelligence provided.

The ambitions of the two men, alongside their very compatible personalities led to a smooth and easy relationship. Where many master and apprentice pairings ended with bitter animosity and hatred, Evant and Xen’Mordin were able to avoid it, becoming very close friends. The tiered power status between the two faded over the years as they embarked on the long quest for ultimate power, no longer the Master and the Apprentice, but colleagues and equals.

The Dark Crusade (30 ABY - 32 ABY)

Xen'Mordin during the Dark Crusade

With Zoraan finally dead, and the threat of the One Sith that followed him still present in the galaxy, Grand Master Muz Ashen declared it was time to go on the offensive. The Brotherhood was to leave their home systems, and strike out against the One Sith. The galaxy was wide, and over the millennia, the Sith had ventured to many planets, and now the One Sith had taken up hold on several of great power and historical importance. They sought the Sith history, lore, knowledge, and mighty artifacts that were scattered about the galaxy.

This offensive to destroy the One Sith, and recover the ancient Sith teachings and artifacts turned into a two year long endeavour, the Dark Crusade. It was an unprecedented level of conflict and commitment for the members of the Brotherhood, and their militaries. Xen’Mordin would lead Scholae Palatinae through the long and bitter campaign against the One Sith, venturing to many planets in the quest for vengeance, and great power. But this campaign came at a cost, as with the members and military gone from the Empire of the Cocytus system was forced to languish with marginal and periodic oversight. The dreams of a mighty Empire were once again placed on hold for the strength the power of the Force would bring.

Nfolgai (30 ABY)

The first planet of the crusade that Scholae Palatinae attacked was Nfolgai. The planet had been suspected to be the resting place of Sorzus Syn, a famous Sith alchemist. Syn was the one credited for the creation of the first Sithspawn. Xen’Mordin was among the first on the surface, leading from the front lines against the planetary One Sith leader, Yobd Nan. Following assaults at the Temple of Sorzus Syn, and the frozen crashed ship the Render, the planet ultimately fell into Brotherhood control.

Rhelg (30 ABY)

Scholae Palatinae ventured to the planet of Rhelg following their successful assault on Nfolgai. The planet was home to a well known but poorly studied fortress built by [starwars:Ludo_Kressh|Ludo Kressh]], the Sith Lord who ruled during the Great Hyperspace War. Xen’Mordin helped identify a bizarre Force anomaly on the surface, an anomaly that had gone undocumented until the Brotherhood touched down on the planet to raid the great fortress.

Bhargebba (30 ABY)
Preparing on Bhargebba

Xen’Mordin then led Scholae Palatinae to the planet of Bhargebba. The great weapon forge of Loka Dan had been discovered by the One Sith on the planet. The forge itself, in addition to being able to create weapons and armor of great power, was already full of artifacts ranging from Sith swords to Sith amulets, all created under the watchful and knowledgeable eye of Loka Dan himself. Xen knew these artifiacts would help them greatly in their quest to establish a new Galactic Empire. However, the forge itself was protected by hired Mecrosa Order Assassins in addition to the One Sith forces stationed there. In the end, after a violent and bloody battle, the forge was captured and vaults pillaged.

Ashas Ree (30 ABY)

Ashas Ree was the next planet on Scholae Palatinae’s war path. Home to a lavish temple built by Sith Lord Garu. But it was not for the valuable art or artifacts from the temple that Xen’Mordin chose this planet as the next stage of Scholae Palatinae’s war. It had been established that Ashas Ree was the first planet that Sith Lord Freedon Nadd had visited following his fall to the dark side of the Force. It was here that Freedon Nadd found an incredibly powerful nexus of the Force. Xen having first hand experience of the power that surged through a Force nexus, wished to study it, and allow easier access to the enhanced powers it provided to the Dark Jedi.

Korriz (30 ABY)

Scholae Palatinae’s personal greatest victory in the Crusade came on the planet Korriz. Whereas previous planets had seen strong efforts from several units of the Brotherhood, it was on Korriz that Scholae Palatinae stood largely unaided in battle against the One Sith. Korriz was a frequent stepping stone for the Sith Empires of old. It happened to be home of the workshop of the skilled alchemist and magic weaver Tritos Nal. Tritos’ knowledge fell to Scholae Palatinae. Xen’Mordin had greater plans than just the Crusade, and hoped to use this information to help demonstrate the full might of the Empire.

Dromund Kaas (30 ABY)
Dromund Kaas

Xen’Mordin has to make a critical decision. The Brotherhood was to attack two planets of incredible importance simultaneously. First there was the holy planet of Ziost, and then there was the seat of the ancient Sith Empire, Dromund Kaas. Feeling there was more to learn about having a strong empire, Xen’Mordin elected to send his forces to Dromund Kaas. It was here that Scholae Palatinae had their first real chance to experience the power of, and fight against, the mysterious One Sith Lord Esoteric.

Bosthirda (31 ABY)

Following the end of 30 ABY, and the battle on Dromund Kaas, the Crusade slowed in pace, allowing Xen’Mordin to begin to correct the Empire back home in the Cocytus system. The Brotherhood had pushed the One Sith back to a small number of planets, but with the One Sith digging in deep, the Brotherhood had a longer and slower battle ahead of them. The first part of this new phase of battle was on the planet Bosthirda. It was here that the ancient lightsaber once wielded by Ferran himself had come to rest. As founder of the [[Obelisk ideology, Revelation was an artifact of incredible and intimate importance of the Brotherhood. However, recovery of the lightsaber would not be completed by Xen and Scholae Palatinae, being recovered by the forces of Taldryan.

Begeren (31 ABY)

Next came battle on the planet Begeren. The planet was noted for the many monuments that dotted its surface. These monuments in typical Sith fashion were stock piled with great treasures. It was said over a hundred thousand slaves had died in creating the great monuments, and Xen’Mordin was blown away by their scope and scale when seeing them with his own eyes. He couldn’t help but feel miniscule compared to what the full might of the Sith had once been able to accomplish.

Nicht Ka (31 ABY)

Nicht Ka, while uninhabitable outside of constructed structures, was the last outpost of One Sith forces that would prevent the Brotherhood from reaching the Sith homeworld of Korriban. While the planet was inhospitable, cultists who worshiped Freedon Nadd managed to create a hexagonal fortress as the sole refuge on the planet from the dangerous environment of the planet. It was here Warb Null’s mythic armor and unconventional lightsaber had been sent following Warb’s death at the hands of Ulic Qel-Droma. Tired and pushed to his limits during the crusade, it was finally coming to an end. The long push was over and the final battle against the One Sith was ready to begin.

For a Better Tomorrow (31 ABY)

The Empire was being bled dry from the continuous march of war dictated by the Council. They needed doctors, scientists, and engineers to develop new medical supplies, toxins, and serums to be used on the field of battle against the One Sith. It was at this time, Xen’Mordin made good on his promise to Impetus so many years prior. He placed out the call for the brightest and best, drawing in anyone he could to the Cocytus system. However, much to his ire, not a single one of the individuals he hired was a Twi’lek. Xen and Impetus had zero contact in the years since he helped her fake her death, and now for him, the obvious reason was that Impetus had met some other end in her ventures.

No one in the clan paid these new recruits any attention. Xen’Mordin had been diverting the best of the scientific minds from the Imperial Academy on Judecca since before he took the throne from Ood Bnar. And while these were outsiders, any advantage to be gained in the crusade was a worthy one. Among these outsiders was a Togruta, named Elincia Rei. None realized, not even Xen himself, that this Torgruta was none other than Impetus M’Nar, hiding her identity with prosthetics and a strong force illusion. She had returned home at long last.

Looking Home Campaign (31 ABY - 32 ABY)

The relentless pacing of the Dark Crusade slowed following the siege of Dromund Kaas. While there were still many battles to be fought on Bosthirda, Begren, and Nicht Ka before any member of the Brotherhood would finally step foot on Korriban, it was in this time that the clans were allowed time regroup and refocus. Thus in 31ABY Xen’Mordin was once again able to divert his attention to the might of his Empire. In the year he and the rest of Scholae Palatinae had been absent, the civilians had forgotten much of why they should stay inline with the Empire’s wishes. The civilian leaders who had been expected to keep the system running had grown bold. Without the military forces to keep them inline, they became greedy and independant. It was over the course of 31 ABY that a group known as the Scions of Cocytus, an extremist organization backed by a religious cult The Order of the New Dawn, began to infiltrate the system.

The Scions were led by a fanatic, Fias Zhan, a man who believed it was his right to rule the Cocytus Empire. He had spent years studying the Empire, and knew the truth of those who controlled the system. He was there to wage war on Scholae Palatinae, and to enact his own personal vengeance against Xen’Mordin, whom he viewed as an imposter.

The Ptolomea Deposition (31 ABY)
Ptolomea

The planet of Ptolomea was home to many of Scholae Palatinae’s biggest military training grounds, and was the launching point from which all supplies and reinforcements would be sent while the Empire was on the warpath. As the Crusade progressed on, these critical shipments of supplies dwindled. The conflict that arose from Scholae Palatinae’s investigation into these dwindling supplies became known as Ptolomea Deposition, and marked the first of several major offensive moments Scholae Palatinae had to undergo to restore order to their home.

Ptolomea had been under the rule of a man named Lou Khebe. Vain and power hungry, but cowardly, Lou had not once attempted to act outside of Scholae Palatinae’s demands in the years he presided over Ptolomea. But now he had been assured that the holdings of the system were of a false Empire had no real authority over him. Evant Taelyan, knowledgeable about the planet’s workings from his recent time leading Caliburnus, organized an offensive to return to the Cocytus system and remove Khebe from power.

Xen’Mordin gave a singular order that Khebe must die. Rebellion could not be tolerated, and if it spread, he would lose what he had spent years fighting to gain. In the end it was the unassuming scientist Elincia Rei who managed to kill Khebe. Khebe’s rebellion against the Empire fizzled out with his death, and in his place, Xen picked a suitable loyal leader to manage the planet, Jaran Pendragon. What intrigued Xen’Mordin most was Elincia’s methods of poisoning Khebe. He placed a high level order with the Imperial Scholae Intelligence to begin a continuous monitoring of her. He knew there was more to her than met the eye.

In the weeks that followed, Xen’Mordin poured over intelligence gathered from Caliburnus around Khebe’s failed rebellion. It became clear that Khebe never would have acted in such a manner of his own accord. Someone had pushed him to it. At the time, Xen’Mordin had no idea that Khebe’s rebellion was the first move in a long game being played by Fias Zhan in his bid to claim the system, and the Empire, as his own.

The Antenora Rebellion (32 ABY)
Antenora

In the days prior to the Cocytus Empire unifying the entire system, the desert planet of Antenora was ruled by multiple warring tribes. The most powerful of these tribes was known as the Pacre Datship, who followed their Ognerate Emperor, and his religious council, the High Glyph Priests. When the system was unified, and Scholae Palatinae took control of the entire Cocytus System, the leaders of the Pacre Datship were imprisoned. Following the failed uprising by Khebe on Ptolomea, Fias Zhan freed the Pacre Datship Emperor and his Glyph Priests, with the promise of a free Antenora. They would go on to rally the people of the planet into Rebellion.

Xen’Mordin remained at the Imperial Palace on Judecca, while the majority of his clan and military went to Antenora to quickly put an end to the rebellion. He was confident that they could handle capturing and executing the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests. It was in solitude he received the first of many taunting holovid conversations with Fias Zhan.

While the forces of Scholae Palatinae ventured to Antenora to put an end to the rebellion, and bring the Ognerate Emperor and Glyph Priests to justice, Xen’Mordin remained at the Imperial Palace on Judecca. It was there he received the first of many taunting and brief holovid conversations with Fias Zhan. Zhan took credit for the events on Antenora and Ptolomea, and made the personal promise that he would see Xen’s head on a spike.

Not all of the tribes unified behind the Pacre Datship on Antenora. With their aid, Scholae Palatinae quickly quelled the rebellion. The Ognerate Emperor was killed in combat, however, several of the High Glyph Priests escaped into the vast deserts of the planet. Xen’Mordin ordered the sitting system Moff, Koryn Thraagus, to remain on the planet to coordinate a unified planet under the oversight of the Hoka Dachu tribe.

The Cainian Strikes (32 ABY)
Caina

At first, the strikes on Caina seemed to be no more than a typical labor dispute, by the hard working industrial people of the frozen planet. Such strikes gave Xen’Mordin little reason to worry, especially over the looming threat of the Scions of Coctyus. Xen spent his days organizing and heading a system wide manhunt for Fias Zhan. But as the days went on the strikes grew, escalating riots. Xen’Mordin ordered the military to the planet to restore order with a strong swift show of force, reasserting the Empire’s image of control and safety within the system.

When the military arrived they discovered it was far more than a labor dispute. Fias Zhan had set up shop on the planet, putting his Scions to hard work right under the nose of the Empire. There were dozens of abandoned labs, warehouses, and training facilities hidden in the ice plains of the planet. To add to Xen’s frustration that this had been missed, these were locations built and paid for directly by Scholae Palatinae over the years. For one reason or another each had been abandoned as new leadership pushed the clan in different directions.

Zhan and his followers had discovered these abandoned facilities and put them to work. For months they had been operating in the discarded remains of the Empire’s ventures. In their utilization of these facilities, the Scions embedded themselves with the blue collar workers of the planet. They knew it was a matter of time before they would be discovered, and with their need of the facilities finished, Zhan organized the strikes to cover their retreat from the planet.

The stragglers of the Scions were were either killed in the conflict, or taken as prisoners for aggressive questioning. Xen’Mordin was furious that ISI had failed to notice these closed facilities were back in use and ordered an even more intrusive surveillance in the system. He then replaced the director of ISI with one who would take the charge of intelligence gathering more seriously. The failed and disgraced former director was left to starve to death in the deepest cells beneath the Imperial Palace. Luckily the captured Scions, and bits of scrap left in the Scions’ retreat from Caina provided a wide set of new intelligence.

The Wrath of Zhan (32 ABY)
Sigil of the Scions of Cocytus

Xen’Mordin devoted all the resources he had available to find Fias Zhan. He knew without Zhan, the Scions would falter enough to be crushed. It was Zhan’s drive and brilliance that had kept the Scions succeeding in the system. Xen felt he had finally discovered a worthy opponent to challenge him, and he was not about to lose. Through a series of public escalations and broadcasts, Zhan made his presence known to the entire system. Quick attacks, propaganda, hacked news broadcasts were all used to make one thing clear. The Scions were here to play for keeps.

An large scale attack was imminent. Zhan and the Scions were ghosts, any leads found turned out to not bring the Empire closer to securing Zhan. Xen’Mordin decided to take more drastic action and ordered an immediate blockage of Judecca, and had all able bodied members of Scholae Palatinae report to the capital city of Ohmen, home of the seat of the government and the Imperial Palace itself. If Zhan wanted to usurp the throne, he would have to come there and pry it from Xen’s cold dead grip.

Then Zhan attacked, dropping ships from orbit, full of his men, while others made kamikaze runs against the Empire’s ships. Scions already on the surface of the planet laid siege to Ohmen. Zhan then crashed a heavily modified freighter straight into the main entrance of the Imperial Palace. His forces flooded into the palace, quickly overwhelming Xen’Mordin and his Praetorian Guard. Xen was forced to retreat to the sublevels of the Palace, the levels utilized only by Scholae Palatinae and unlisted on all schematics of the palace. Xen activated the emergency lockdown, preventing the Scions from accessing him, but also securely stopping himself from returning to the upper levels easily.

Up on the surface the streets of Ohmen were in chaos. Members of Scholae Palatinae, backed by the Imperial Military made its strong push back toward the palace. In their way were augmented Scion soldiers, corrupted into mutated berserkers, immune to pain, fast, strong, and very difficult to kill. As they got closer to the palace, Zhan released a fear toxin throughout the city. Luckily this toxin was recovered on Caina, and Elincia Rei had been working on an anti-toxin. She was able to create enough to get their forces to the palace. With the military storming the gate, Xen’Mordin was able to make the long climb up and return to the fight.

In the throne room Xen’Mordin faced Zhan in a one versus one lightsaber duel, room filled with the fighting forces of their respective sides. The duel was periodically interrupted by falling chunks of the ornate ceiling. One such chunk of roofing fell upon Zhan, injuring the man and pinning him under the heavy rubble. Xen’Mordin had managed to jump out of the way just in time. Injured and enraged, Xen took one of the smaller chunks of ceiling and used it to bash Zhan’s head in until all that remained was a bloody pulp of flesh and broken bone. The Scions were defeated, and for the time being, peace and order returned to the Empire.

A Brotherhood Divided (32 ABY)

Korriban

While the units of the Brotherhood stood united in cause of the length of the Dark Crusade, it was a fragile peace wrapped around a time bomb. The clans had been deceived, and the true reason for their long and arduous war came to light. It was more than merely revenge against the One Sith, more than expanding the Brotherhood’s influence on the galaxy, it was for the selfish gain of one man. Muz Ashen had been using the Crusade to more easily gather the information and artifacts he required to complete the Rite of Obscuration. He sought to make himself an immortal Lord of the Sith. As he finally tried to enact its power, it was put to a halt thanks to quick action from former Grand Master Jac Cotelin, but in the process rendered the home of the Brotherhood, Antei, ruined and desolate.

In order to complete it, Muz and the units most loyal to him ventured to the Sith Homeworld of Korriban. This planet was now the last refuge of the One Sith, who had been slowly pushed back over the course of the Dark Cruade. Those who did not side with Muz Ashen, including Scholae Palatinae, followed the former Grand Master Cotelin to the planet, to stop the rite. They knew the costs for immortality were high, and Xen’Mordin was firmly against anyone but himself achieving it, least of Lord Ashen. The Brotherhood erupted into a true and full on civil war on the surface of the Korriban. It was a battle of three sides, The One Sith supported by Plagueis, The loyalists of Muz, and the rebels of Jac.

Xen’Mordin was among the first boots on the ground, and led the charge for Scholae Palatinae. He ventured deep into the ancient Sith Academy and eventually into the Valley of the Dark Lords. The battle waged on for weeks and weeks. As the bodies of the dead piled, Xen’Mordin became more and more ruthless. It was a fight to survive, not to win honor and awards. When the dust finally settled, and the last drop of blood spilled, Darth Pravus rose to replace Muz Ashen as the Grand Master. The rite had been stopped, and Korriban was left with many more lives claimed.

Keeper of the Legacy (32 ABY)

Emperor Palpatine

Within hours of taking the Iron Throne, Darth Pravus reinstated all of the former clans back to their full set of supplies and resources. Those resources were needed, and no longer going to be held out as an unobtainable reward based on the whims of the Grand Master. With the full backing of the Dark Council, Scholae Palatinae was able to return home, once again a clan, and stronger than ever. With the Crusade officially over, and no immediate threats to the clan and Empire, Xen’Mordin was able to quickly push the Cocytus system back into a state of advancement and Imperialization.

Xen’Mordin has not only managed to restore the clan to its full potential, but did so leading from the front. Now regarded as the longest serving leading in the history of the clan, and one of the most radically loyal to the Empire, it was time for Xen to be properly recognized as one of the keepers. For years those few known as the keepers of the Legacy of Palpatine, had functioned in secret, isolated, remote from the clan that they had help shape. This was the first new addition to the illusive group in years.

This was in part due to new guidance from Kell Dante, who had been awarded the title as a continuation from his father, Angelo. He recognized the shut off nature of the group did little to truly protect the legacy of the great Emperor. It was time for them to take an active role in shaping the clan they called home. To this end, Xen’Mordin and Archangel were named the newest keepers of the legacy of Palpatine. Xen adopted the surname Palpatine in his Brotherhood functions, his right as a keeper to do so.

Forgotten (33 ABY)

Thousands of years before Scholae Palatinae would take control of the Cocytus system, it was the Infinite Empire who ruled. The creative and powerful Infinite Empire had turned the Cocytus system into a living laboratory, rich with resources, and a wide spectrum of habitable planets. While little was truly known about the Infinite Empire, it was a common research subject within Scholae Palatinae. To further study what the Infinite Empire had done in the system, Xen’Mordin founded the Cocytus Historical Society, with his good friend Polis Jones as the head.

What Xen’Mordin couldn’t expect was that there were those in the system who already knew a great deal of the Infinite Empire, and that the clan’s past failures would be quickly coming to haunt them. The Evanescent, backed by the last surviving High Glyph Priest, would see the might of the Infinite Empire rip Scholae Palatinae from the system in the modern day.

Entanglement (33 ABY)
Xen’Mordin using his telekinetic abilities

Xen’Mordin had not forgotten the threat of the surviving High Glyph Priest on Antenora posed. For months he had devoted resources to locating the last remnant of Fias Zhan’s destabilization of the Empire. But the High Glyph Priest, Vanis, had vanished along with what remained of the Pacre Datship. Xen was ready to lower the priority on trying to find Vanis and his followers when ISI finally found information. The Pacre Datship had named Vanis their new Emperor, and were working with a group known as the Evanescent, headed by a man known as Lord Onasi.

It was in a meeting of the full summit and advisory board of the clan, that Polis Jones came storming in, disheveled with the information the clan needed. The Infinite Empire had used the system as a biological playground, looking to master life and death, as well as breed powerful and terrifying monsters for war. They had succeeded in creating these monsters, and they still lay slumbering in hibernation across the planets of the system.

Xen’Mordin organized a rapid deployment of top Scholae Palatinae members to further investigate on these Old Gods, as the natives referred to them, before taking off to Antenora to inspect Polis’s findings in person. Members of the clan infiltrated multiple meetings and parties throughout the system, working their way into contact with those who wished to topple the Empire, before disrupting final plans from being made. Dozens were arrested, more killed, and a pile of intel recovered.

Xen’Mordin and the clan thought they had disrupted the plans of Emperor Vanis and the Evanescent, however these meetings were just a mere distraction. Deep in the jungles of Tetralibros on Ptolomea, Vanis and Onasi ran a trial run of the awakening ritual, causing thousands of beasts to appear. The beast appeared as if they were pure shadow all over the planet, creating a wide spread panic among the population. Xen had drastically underestimated the scope of the threat before them.

Deception (33 ABY)

Xen’Mordin put Ptolomea on an immediate lockdown. He issued immediate evacuations from the countryside to the more defendable cities that dotted the planet’s surface. He gave command of oversight on the defense of these cities to Kell Dante. Unknown to his fellow Palatinaeans, Xen had stacked the deck in their favor of restoring order. He had put two of his top ISI operatives into play. Ashlyn Neka was posing as Mira Spar, and had become a close associate of Lord Onasi. Silus Cherroa was known as Chaz Carlton, and was among those in direct contact with Emperor Vanis.

Xen’Mordin spent most of his time coordinating supplies and military personnel to Ptolomea. He spent his days publicly spurring the civilians of the system into action, and providing personal, and very publicized, aid to those affected by the beasts. His nights were spent poring over reports and artifacts being sent to him by Polis Jones. To stop the monsters, and put an end to this threat he needed to understand the ways of the Old Gods.

Eventually he was able to piece together enough of the awakening ritual to know where the complete ceremony would have to take place, a long lost and forgotten temple on Antenora. More importantly, he was able to find information that killing the individual who had awoken the monsters of Ptolomea would cause them to return to slumber. Believing these beasts to be the Old Gods mentioned, and not wanting more to spawn on the other planets of the system, Xen ordered a strike on the temple while sending word to his two ISI operatives.

Ashlyn successfully killed Lord Onasi as he was in the middle of the full awakening ritual, just as the military of the Empire stormed into the complex. Silus managed to wound Emperor Vanis prior to being injured by falling rubble in the temple. Xen’Mordin arrived just in time to prevent his men from killing the two operatives, identifying them as friendly. While Vanis had escaped yet again, Xen felt there that Vanis was no longer a real threat, and that the Old Gods would never be able to be awoken.

Monstrosity (33 ABY)
The Judecca Abyssal

Xen’Mordin has been very wrong about underestimating the resourcefulness of Vanis. The leader of the Pacre Datship underwent an older and more radical ritual, sacrificing his own people to the Old Gods, turning them into deformed and lumbering monsters, before setting out alone into the mountains of Judecca. His transformed followers swarmed the capital city of Ohmen. While Xen scrambled to organize a counter offensive against these monstrous Pacre Datship, Vanis was able to complete his ritual.

On the core habitable planets of Antenora, Judecca, Ptolomea and Caina, four different sets of monsters awoke. The system went into lockdown as Scholae Palatinae had to split their forces to stop the terrifying Old Gods from destroying everything. Vanis was eventually caught. He was uncooperative, disoriented from the ordeal the awakening ritual had put him through. Frustrated, Xen’Mordin killed him in a brutal display of telekinetic power. However, unlike the earlier ritual, the death of Vanis did nothing to hinder the fearsome Old Gods, who continued to rampage on their respective planets.

It was thanks to a small strike team, making a desperate last ditch attempt to find information on how to reverse the ritual, that a solution presented itself. The found a still hibernating Rataka scientist buried deep in a hidden ancient facility on Judecca. The brought him to Xen’Mordin who was able to telepathically torture the ancient being into reversing the ritual. The Empire was saved, but barely, and the damaged left by the Old Gods would be left a permanent scar on the planets they ravaged.

It was during Xen’s attempt to clean up the Empire from this nightmare attack, that Polis Jones once again barged into his office. This time he brought with him a Sith Holocron, one found deep in the forgotten Temple of Antenora. It had been placed there sometime within the last thirty to fifty years. Believing there could only be one person who could have placed it there, Xen’Mordin gave explicit orders that Polis never breath a word of this discovery to anyone.

Red Fury (33 ABY)

In need of trade goods, Xen’Mordin made a surprising move. He approached the clan’s long standing enemy, Naga Sadow, and brokered a trade. They would meet in neutral space, without any of their warships. During the exchange, Red Fury pirates attacked. Both clans had their fleets standing by to jump in, and thoroughly destroyed the pirate attack force. With the trade complete, both clans went on their way.

But news of the destruction of the pirates spread, and their fellow Red Fury brothers came to both the Cocytus system, and the Orian system for revenge. They had no idea that they had just kicked a krayt dragon in the balls. Xen’Mordin and Locke Sonjie, the Naga Sadow Consul, agreed to a temporary alliance to eradicate the pirate filth in revenge, and to split the horde of their treasures and goods. Together they attacked the Red Fury’s mighty Atlas base, and in a quick show of power, cleared out the pirate threat.

It was a short standing massacre. However, the two clans managed to get through it without trying to murder each other. The concept of a common enemy had once again proved its usefulness, and both sides left feeling an uneasy alliance was warranted.

Inquisitorius (33 ABY)

The Logo of the Inquisitorius

Xen’Mordin was hard pressed to admit it, but losing his friend and student Evant Taelyan, was a hard blow in his visions of the future. The harder blow was watching Evant step up into the position of Voice on the Dark Council, where Evant was forced to put the needs of the Empire behind the needs of the Brotherhood. Luckily, after only months prior Xen had pulled apart the mystery surrounding Dr. Elincia Rei, and identified her as Impetus. He was now armed with a old friend back in his plans, he is planned successor moving on beyond the Empire. It was only for a few short months he was able to have the three of them together plotting for the future.

But Evant had not totally forsaken the Empire. Evant used his experience from ISI, to finalize a program that had been in the making for years, the Inquisitorius, a secret society of agents trusted with the most dangerous secrets in the Brotherhood. Xen’Mordin was quickly brought into the fold as the society formed, and due to his own skills, was granted the rank of Grand Inquisitor. The Inquisitorius was quickly brought in as an augmentation to ISI, boosting the capabilities of all Scholae Palatinae members who entered the intelligence agency.

Subterfuge (34 ABY)

Xen’Mordin was a man obsessed. The holocron that had been found by Polis Jones was the sole object of his attention in his spare hours. He was certain it was left for him, which it was, just not by who he thought it was. It spoke to him, called to him. And in the late hours of the day, he would lose track of time.

Xen’Mordin became colder, crueler, and sporadic in his moods. He was losing himself to the voice of the holocron, an addition he couldn’t quit. The more time went on, the more the eyes staring back at him in the mirror didn’t seem to be his own. In one of his moments of lucidity, he was given files he didn’t recall requesting. Files that outlined a test that would prove who among his clan were both loyal, and deserving of serving the Empire. He used faked but convincing evidence to turn the two houses, Imperium and Excidium, against each other. Then he sat back and watched as the two houses tried to destroy the other, believing fully that they had been betrayed. As the violence reached a crescendo, Xen’Mordin called his two houses together.

Flanked by his newly appointed Proconsul Cyris Oscura, Xen’Mordin admitted the conflict was fabricated. The clear victors of the conflict, House Imperium, were spared further embarrassment. However, House Excidium did not fare so well. He dragged its Quaestor, Lucyeth in the middle of the hall using the Force. He then gave a lecture on how they had to be stronger, better, all while torturing Lucyeth with Force lightning. When he felt his point had been made clearly, he left the room, and let the members of his clan question what they had just been apart of.

Profile

Xen using his telekentic abiltiies

Appearance

Attire

Personality

Beliefs

Skills/Abilities/Powers

Positions Held

Positions Held
Before Position After
Position Created Consul of Clan Scholae Palatinae
32 ABY - Present
Incumbent
Ood Bnar Quaestor of House Scholae Palatinae
28 ABY - 32 ABY
Position Removed
Position Created Aedile of House Scholae Palatinae
27 ABY - 28 ABY
Archangel
Exodius Quaestor of House Acclivis Draco
27 ABY
Position Removed
Exodius Aedile of House Acclivis Draco
26 ABY - 27 ABY
Draco Maligo
Warhunter Aedile of House Caliburnus
19 ABY
Thran Occasus