Mortis was a House connected to Clan Tarentum. Established in 33 ABY by Meleu Karthdo and his Aedile, Etah d'Tana under the new Consul Farrin Xies and his Proconsul, Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae. The creation of the House came about after disgraced Consul Raiju Kang was overthrown and drastic changes to Tarentum were brought about, these changes included the reintroduction of the legendary arts of Necromancy. Members of Mortis are trained specifically in the dark arts. Underneath Mortis are a team of specially trained acolytes of Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae himself known as the Deathsworn and a team of spies known as the Nekros Syndicate.
History
Formation
In 26 ABY, the Necromantic Order was ended and Necromancy was shunned by the reigning leadership of Clan Tarentum. Credible reports of manipulation by the Keepers resulted in the assassination of the True Keepers. Seven years later, in 33 ABY, Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae is the most publically visible user of the necromantic arts and whilst members have begun to acknowledge the legitimacy of the arts once more, Tarentum vows to never have ties with Necromancy again.
In the midst of the parliamentary rebellion of the same year, Consul Raiju Kang denounced Tarentum. Consequently, his Proconsul Farrin Xies took over his role and appointed Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae as his deputy. Seizing his chance to reinvigorate the people of Tarentum, the Dark Jedi Master officially approved the use Necromancy within the Tarentum ranks. To boost the awareness of these dark arts, he opened House Mortis as its sponsor.
Seekers of the Light
Shortly after Scion Tarentae assumed the role of Quaestor, the House was drawn into a conflict with a mercenary group led by Corvus Tanian. The group had set up a base camp on an archipelago near Castle Tarentum and began scouting the area. Concerned that they would discover the underwater stronghold, a team led by Tebbo Jensen and Solas Night-Thorn set out to learn more about the adversaries. The mission to discreetly remove the threat was later cut short by Darth Aeternus who single-handedly decimated the group and brought Corvus Tanian back to Scion for questioning. Learning that he may have ties to a larger organization, the mercenary leader was allowed to escape and return to his team so that his financial backers could be discovered covertly.
The backers turned out to be a religious group in Eden City called the Seekers of the Light. With the reluctant assistance of Clan Tarentum's agent Kadne Jax, a probe into the group's activities was launched. Unfortunately it resulted in Kadne's capture and torture. It wasn't until the Knight Thanadd Mawgath was able to break into their facility and rescue Kadne that the two discovered the Seekers' real agenda.
Necromancy
- Main article: Necromancy
House Mortis was heavily connected to the ritualistic and ceremonial practices of Necromancy. Despite Tarentum’s long history with these dark arts, many of the secrets had been lost since the abolition of Necromancy in 32 ABY. All documentation related to the practice was ordered destroyed, although much of it was simply cached in various secret places around Yridia. As a result, the Knights and Equites of the House spent their time seeking out the old texts, tomes and holocrons for these bygone rituals. Meanwhile, the Journeymen are now being introduced to these new powers, or at least the ones that they are capable of learning. Due to this, Necromancy will be cemented in the history of Tarentum forever, its secrets never lost.
Military Assignments
Naval Units
Ground Units
Factions
Deathsworn
The Deathsworn were trained in the arts of necromancy under the tutelage of Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae and his students. Their direct purpose was to create "wounds" in the Force through the most atrocious and vile acts thinkable by living beings. The members of the Deathsworn believed that these wounds would enhance the power of the Dark Side both in those locations and in themselves, contributing to an unbalancing of the Force toward the Dark Side.
Nekros Syndicate
The members of the Nekros Syndicate were spies and infiltration experts dedicated to facilitating House Mortis' connection to criminal enterprises around the galaxy. As devotees to the arts of necromancy, the House was often required to deal in activities that are taboo and items which are contraband. House Mortis was Tarentum's link to the world of the dead, while the Nekros Syndicate were House Mortis' link to the criminal underworld.
Locations
Castle Tarentum
- Main article: Castle Tarentum
Following the Yridian Revolt, Yridia II was lifeless. Covered with the spirits of those slain during the rebellion, Castle Tarentum became the perfect headquarters for House Mortis. Not only was it an almost impenetrable bunker, it also remained hidden from the knowledge of most. From their headquarters in this remote establishment, members of Mortis were able to utilise the Force power from the souls of those slain to vastly improve their necromantic abilities.
Leadership Chronology