The Dragon Seraphim dates back to approximately 3,996 BBY, when members of the Krath cult split away from the original teachings of Aleema and Satal Keto. The Battleteam is now closed.
Origins
Death Witch Veyala Dranok and a small group of Krath came to feel as though the Order was not to be trusted; betrayal was rife and the Krath came close to internal fighting on many occasions. The sect, originally made up of twelve members, settled on Samaria. Eventually, the Dragon Seraphim grew to around one hundred members. Whereas the Krath relied solely on the teachings of the Sith, the Dragon Seraphim also took the teachings of the Jedi. Such teachings, they twisted to fit a darker purpose. The sect developed their own mantra; a twisted hybrid of both the Jedi Code and the Code of the Sith:
“Peace exists in distant memories.
Power lies in others’ ignorance.
Knowledge is a subtle strength.
Chaos prevails in victory.”
The Dragon Seraphim never forgot their roots within the Krath Order, however, despite their distrust. The Dragon Seraphim continued to teach subtlety, many of the members becoming skilled assassins, akin to their Krath brothers. Also similar to the Krath, the Dragon Seraphim lusted for knowledge. Unlike the Krath, however, they were aware that knowledge could not win battles alone. They realized the power of the galaxy’s ignorance towards their cult, and strived to keep its existence a secret.
In 3,994 BBY, Dranok was killed when attempting to assassinate a Jedi. Her successor, Jallus Bo’ak, became paranoid that someone was trying to kill him. As such, the Dragon Seraphim became much more nomadic. Records were not kept during this time, and the Dragon Seraphim faded from existence. The date of dissolution is estimated as being around 3,989 BBY, when bodies of many members of the Dragon Seraphim, including Bo’ak, were found brutally murdered; it is presumed that the cult was destroyed through in-fighting.
Veyala Dranok
Dranok was born in 4,016 BBY on Grizmallt. She was a Force-sensitive and discovered by the Jedi shortly after her first birthday. She was taken to theJedi Temple on Coruscant where her powers were honed. In her late teen years, the Jedi sensed darkness in her and cautioned her against continuing down the path leading towards the Dark Side.
In 3,997 BBY, Dranok began hearing talk of a Sith cult calling themselves the Krath. Fleeing the Jedi Temple along with two other Padawans under the cover of night, the trio made their way to the Empress Teta system. They sought out the Krath and were inducted into the cult. Only a few short months after joining the Krath, Dranok began to notice betrayal was rife; there were few who could be trusted. She was not the only Krath to feel this way, however. Twelve members seceded from the original cult, establishing their own society: the Dragon Seraphim.
The Twelve traveled to Samaria where they established their small society. Over time, Dranok (now going by the title Veyala the Deserter) and the rest of the Twelve gathered around a hundred members to their sect. The Twelve trained their followers in a twisted hybrid of Sith, Krath, and Jedi techniques.
In 3,993 BBY, Veyala undertook an assassination of a Jedi: her former Master. Her Master attempted to turn her back to the Light. Having failed to do so, he was forced to kill her.
Dragon Seraphim and Acclivis Draco
In 26 ABY, upon the formation of the Order of the Dragon, mentions of the Dragon Seraphim and its split from the Krath were discovered in manuscripts within the Shadow Academy. It was decided by then-Quaestor RevengeX that Dragon Seraphim would be incorporated within the Order. It was decreed that, in honor of the original secession, the twelve newest members of the Order would first be inducted into the Dragon Seraphim, the lowest of the system of echelons.
Members of Acclivis Draco are watched at all times, whether they realize it or not. When a member is deemed worthy by the Quaestor, the potential recruit is ambushed by either the House Summit or members of the Order of the Dragon. If they successfully fend off their attackers, they are welcomed into the Dragon Seraphim with a secret ceremony.
Ceremony
The initiate of the Dragon Seraphim is surrounded by the twelve current members and the Quaestor. The Quaestor then steps forward with a small ceremonial blade – the Seraph’s Fang. The eldest member of the Dragon Seraphim is then summoned forth and the palm of his hand cut. The member then holds out their hand, palm down, until a single drop of blood falls to the ground; this symbolises the passing of old blood. The initiate’s palm is then cut and they hold it out, palm up, while reciting the Seraph’s Pledge:
“By Dranok’s honor,
I stand before my brothers and my sisters,
Reborn in the name of the Rising Dragon,
By Dranok’s honor.”
Upon completing the pledge, the member is officially welcomed into the Dragon Seraphim.
Trivia
While the Order of the Dragon is a purely fictional roster, the Dragon Seraphim was an official unit of Acclivis Draco, once functioning as the House’s only Battleteam. Conveniently, there are twelve available spots in a battleteam, and twelve months in a year. Anyone inducted into the Order will be placed in the Dragon Seraphim, and the oldest member of the team will be removed, but will unofficially remain in the Order.