Nightshade Squadron was the oldest Battleteam in House Caliburnus. Recent research has shed light on the history of the team, revealing that it was actually the second Battleteam in Caliburnus to be created. It is officially has been closed due to a reformation in the battletams of the House. One day, it might be restored again.
History
Birth of Nightshade
The year was 18 ABY when Desio Predator took over the mantle as Quaestor of House Caliburnus. The small Sith House had the need for only one Battleteam. Nightstalkers Squadron was sufficient to fulfill the needs of the whole house.
However, Caliburnus was growing and one Battleteam was not sufficient for long. Still under the command of Predator, Nightshade Squadron was implemented to fight alongside the Nightstalkers. The house would remain this way until sometime in late 18 ABY, when the house was under the command of Quaestor Darkmage, and Nightmare Squadron was opened to create a trio of units.
Death and Rebirth
There were no known major Battleteam changes from then until Clan Scholae Palatinae was destroyed by the Dark Council in 19 ABY. When House Caliburnus eventually rose from the ashes, the only teams that were re-instated were Nightmare and Nightshade Squadrons. As far as anyone knows, this dual-Battleteam structure remained until a House Feud with House Dorimad Sol in 24 ABY.
Following the war, the house was ravaged and confused. Victorious, the Sith House Caliburnus remained active, and the Obelisk of Dorimad Sol were forced into it. Further adding to complications, Quaestor Warhunter soon resigned and left for Clan Arcona, after disbanding all the Battleteams, and erasing any structure the House had left.
New and inexperienced Jedi Hunter Quaestor Impetus faced a mammoth task. With over a hundred members in Caliburnus alone, in her first days in the house she had to practically lead two separate houses.
To bring some structure to the house she brought back the house’s two most well-known Battleteams, Nightshade and Nightmare Squadrons.
Nightshade Squadron was re-formed with the role of housing the Obelisk members of House Dorimad Sol, Nightmare being the home to the traditional House Caliburnan Sith. As Impetus and Master Arania Lawakiro Palpatine were the only Krath in the house, there was no need for a third team.
As the house began to become more diverse in its membership, the Obelisk theme of Nightshade began to fade, and by mid-25 ABY it had transformed into a mixed-order Battleteam, although the house in general still suffered from a lack of Krath membership. It was approximately at this time that the Souls of Darkness and Spirits of the Night Battleteams were opened, bringing House Caliburnus to four Battleteams.
Second Dissolution
As the houses of Acclivis Draco and Caliburnus prepared for a war in the year 26 ABY, Consul Braecen Kaeth’s ordered that all Battleteams be closed in both houses for a major revamp of the structure of the clan in general. After the war, only one Battleteam was to be brought back per house, and it was to be a new team for the House's elite.
During the war, Caliburnus and Acclivis Draco were proven even for the first time in known history. Seeing no better time to leave on a good note, Impetus left her position and the house and returned to her home in Acclivis Draco. Her successor, Thran Occasus, chose to bring back the Souls of Darkness as the elite Battleteam and Nightshade Squadron faded into memory.
Second Rebirth
Nightshade Squadron remained dormant until mid-27 ABY when it reopened alongside Nightmare Squadron. They were reformed by Quaestor Rasilvenaira Kaeth StormRaven with the understanding that they would be open to the general membership of the House. At the time of its reopening, Nightshade Squadron was placed under the care of former-Quaestor Thran Occasus.
Although the Souls of Darkness were widely recognized as the elite Battleteam of the House, Thran placed this fact into open dispute and attempted to oust them from this position. As far as research shows, Thran never succeeded in this mission; as time went on, Nightshade and Nightmare experienced dramatic declines in their activity and Nightmare was merged into Nightshade.
In 28 ABY, Thran accepted the position of Aedile of House Dorimad Sol, which had recently been reopened. Unwilling to close Nightshade, the only team open to the general house population, Rasilvenaira placed Nightshade into the hands of her friend, Syphoc Rilkel Kaeth.
Rilkel lead the battleteam well for few months under his command until he left for Clan Plagueis to become Aedlie for House Exar Kun. The search for a new Commander had begun. At last, the Quasator decided that one Sith Guardian was best suited for the job. He was Elad Cirith.
Roll of Commanders
(Note: This is an incomplete list. Please contribute to this list if you have any information pertaining to the topic.)
See Also