Post by rilke on Jun 18, 2014 22:29:16 GMT -5
Name: Dassem Orfantal
Race: Human
Age: 29
Height: 5'11
Weight: 168 lbs.
Appearance:
Closeup of Dassem
The Jedi stands just under six feet and maintains an athletic build through constant training. He isn't the most physically imposing sight but seasoned fighters will know that he is hardly a pushover. Dassem holds himself as a man with confidence in his own abilities yet still cautious. One could say that there is a certain grace in his calculated movements. He is unlikely to stand out among a crowd of people. Dassem has relatively pale skin which is occasionally marred by small scar here and there adding a harshness to his visage. Even considering that, there are those that would consider him handsome. He prefers to keep his head shaved so as not to let his hair get in the way. The Knight generally sports some stubble but usually does not let his beard actually grow out. His dull hazel eyes do not give much away in regards to his thoughts. Dassem generally conservative views are reflected in his standard brown robes.
Personality:
Dassem is a man who is eternally grateful to the Order for picking him off the streets and giving him a purpose. He is driven by the ideals of the Code but his belief is tempered by the reality of his experiences. Therefore he isn’t prone to extreme reactions that might send him down the wrong path. Of course his loyalty to the Jedi Order is also something that could be taken advantage of. His gratitude is directed at the Order and not necessarily the Republic. He continuously strives to protect the innocent but he sees his fellow Jedi as the family he never had. Dassem believes in the need to take proactive action against the Darkside. He believes that his duties as a Shadow are paramount to protecting the Order and the people of the Republic.
He has a reserved demeanor but is not necessarily unfriendly. Dassem does not frequently engage in idle talk and some may view that as off-putting. He may not seem approachable but he is always willing to converse despite his demeanor. The Shadow isn’t a genius by any standard but he does possess a natural intellect. His years of fighting the Darkside also means that he has much to offer in the way of advice. He does not speak often but Dassem usually has something thoughtful to say. Dassem absolutely respects the hierarchy of the Order. He will almost always show deference to those above him and to many of his peers. The Knight does not view this as blind subservience but rather the respect that every Jedi should be accorded.
In combat, Dassem is much the same as he always is, quiet and focused. Yet there is a silent aggression in his style that reflects his dedication to the Order. He rarely, if ever, loses his composure. Dassem remembers when he was a Padawan and his lack of control almost got his master killed. More than a few life and death duels have taught him much about the art of fighting.
Birth place: Coruscant
Faction: Jedi
Rank: Knight - Shadow
Lightsaber: Double-bladed
Color: Yellow
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho - 5
Makashi
Soresu
Ataru - 2
Shien / Djem So
>>Sub-form Backhanded
Niman
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield
Juyo
Double Bladed Combat - 5
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic: 5
Telepathic: 4
Body: 7
Sense: 6
Protection: 5
Healing: 1
Destruction: 0
Specialized Skills:
Crucitorn
Force Valor
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 5
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 7
Leadership: 5
Unarmed: 3
Melee Weapons: 3
Ranged Weapons: 1
Bio:
Intro
Dassem grew up not too far from the Jedi Temple but to him the magnificent structure might as well have been on a different planet. Born to parents who saw him as nothing other than a burden, life did not start out pleasantly for young Dassem. His father, a simple factory worker, was hardly a model of fidelity. Dassem's mother had simply become indifferent to her surroundings which included her only child. The young child was sent to beg on the streets as soon as he was able. Dassem had to learn from a very young age how to fend for himself. It was hardly a lifestyle that any child should experience but it did end up challenging both Dassem's mind and body. If anyone had cared to notice, they would see that the young boy was anything but average. Unfortunately it looked as if Dassem was destined to spend his days in the slums.
The young boy's fortunes changed not long after he turned five. He had been decided to head to a slightly more upperscale section of the city. Dassem had found that begging here often proved to be much more fruitful than the usual area. It was here while attempting to find money for his next meal that Dassem first met a Jedi. The Jedi Knight, a Zabrak named Arkonys, had come to the area to investigate a series of unusual disappearances. It was mere happenstance that he stumbled upon Dassem who had never shown any overt indication of being Force-sensitive. Arkonys explained that Dassem was different from other children. Since the Jedi was on a mission, he asked where the young boy lived and promised to visit him within the next week. Dassem would normally not have given out that particular information but the Jedi seemed different. The boy may have been young but begging on the streets had taught him a great deal about people.
He waited anxiously over the following days for Arkonys to return and had almost given up hope when the Jedi finally arrived at their tiny apartment. His parents were completely baffled by the idea that their son had the potential to become a Jedi. Dassem was afraid that his father would not let him go with Arkonys but fortunately his father was a greedy man. He believed that if his son became a Jedi then he could benefit from their connection. The Zabrak didn't go out of his way to explain that Jedi did not have such connections. Whether through coincidence or fate, Dassem had managed to escape the dreary life which had seemed all too certain only a week ago.
Youngling
Like many Younglings before him, Dassem found himself overwhelmed upon arriving at the Jedi Temple. He had lived hand-to-mouth since the day he was born and the Order was very much the opposite. The Temple acted as the home the boy had never had and the Order gave structure to his life. Therefore it wasn't much of a surprise that it took Dassem some time to adjust. He soon learned that the Order took in all types. His peers ranged from street urchins like himself to scions of powerful families.
Dassem was quieter than most due to his previous living circumstances. He was eager to find his place within the Order but that fact was often difficult for others to see. His taciturn nature meant that he did not have any issues with his peers but also that he didn't interact much with the other Younglings. Dassem's teachers seemed to realize that the boy was not purposely alienating himself or withdrawing into something darker. If anything, the Youngling was silently ecstatic at finally finding a place he could belong. He enjoyed the company of others though he rarely expressed such sentiments openly. His existence wasn't so odd as there were other Younglings and full Jedi like him.
It became apparent from early on that Dassem possessed an affinity for lightsaber combat. Conversely, he struggled early on in understanding the heavier concepts regarding the Force. The Youngling was clever but his mind seemed more geared towards combat than theory. A fact that became readily clear in their frequent saber lessons and spars. Of course they were just training sabers but his prowess remained unquestioned. Six years of hard training and intense studying saw Dassem slowly being molded into the Jedi he would become. All that remained was for him to be chosen as a Padawan; a moment many Younlings fear might never come. The moment did come for Dassem with the return of a familiar face. Arkonys, the Jedi who had brought him to the Temple, was to be his master. The Zabrak explained that he had always known that Dassem would eventually be his Padawan since the day they first met.
Padawan
There were those who questioned the Zabrak's choice of Padawan. Arkonys had a vibrant personality and was known to be free with his words. He had spent many of his Knight years as a Jedi Investigator. Fortunately the Zabrak understood Dassem's inner desire to serve the Order with his every being. The two were an odd duo but in many ways they complimented each other. Their years together would lead to both of them learning much from each other. Arkonys was less of a father-figure and more of a surrogate brother to Dassem. A person that the Padawan could place his trust in but would not coddle him either. Their dynamic further cemented the boy's belief in the importance of the Jedi Order.
His early years as Arkony's Padawan were spent almost exclusively within the Temple. The Zabrak placed a great focus on expanding Dassem's understanding of the Force. Of course it went without saying that he also made his Padawan train rigorously in Shii-Cho. Arkony's open personality belied the presence of a strict teacher. Yet Dassem embraced the structure that the training brought him. He found an inner peace in knowing that he was no longer that child who had to beg for every meal. After a few years, the two began to go on simple missions so as to expose Dassem to the duties of the Jedi. The missions were relatively straightforward and often went on without incident. It proved to be a difficult learning experience since the tasks were usually outside the Padawan's better skills.
Around the time he was seventeen, the two stopped going on missions once again. Dassem once again began another period of studying and focused training. It was during this period that Arkonys noted that his Padawan possessed a certain flair in his fighting style. He consulted one of the Weaponmasters within the Temple who suggested that Dassem might be one of the few who was suited to the double-bladed lightsaber. Therefore while working on Shii-Cho with Arkonys, the Padawan also studied double-bladed combat under one of the Weaponmasters. It wasn't until a year later that Dassem would finally build his own lightsaber.
Satisfied that his Padawan was capable of defending himself to a certain extent, Arkonys decided to take Dassem on more challenging missions. The tasks that the duo undertook were very much in the vain of the Zabrak's old duties as an Investigator. They worked often with various agencies in an attempt to bring a variety of criminals to justice. A majority of these missions required a great deal of groundwork as opposed to blatant danger. Most of the potentially dangerous situations were defused by the Jedi's presence. At worst, Dassem was forced to deflect a blaster shot or two but nothing more serious than that. He didn't particularly want to be in such situations but he yearned to prove his worth to the Order. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Padawan would be given the chance nearly two years later.
Arkonys and Dassem had spent nearly a year tracking down a very powerful figure in the Republic's underworld. A lucky break and hours of lost sleep finally led them to the man's location. They had informed their counterparts within the Republic's security forces to prepare a raid. Politics and the need for recognition set things in motion before the Jedi arrived. Certain individuals did not want the Order to take the credit and assaulted the complex prematurely. The man they sought had hired a Dark Jedi to protect him. Dassem and his master arrived just in time to see the final moments of slaughter. The Padawan was struck with true fear in the face of such wanton destruction. Seeing Dassem in a daze, the Dark Jedi attacked in a hope to remove the Padawan from the fight.
Dassem's master was a skilled duelist but was disadvantaged trying to protect his Padawan. The Dark Jedi's relentless onslaught eventually broke through the Zabrak's defenses, using the Force to send the Jedi into a wall. Arkonys looked as if he had lost consciousness. Seeing his master injured broke Dassem out of his shocked state. He engaged the Dark Jedi so as to turn his attention away from Arkonys. Dassem fought with everything he had and was struck with a certain clarity as he did so. He knew he could not defeat his foe but he was determined to extend the fight as long as he could. The Padawan managed to score a shallow hit on his opponent's thigh and the Dark Jedi responded in kind by landing one across Dassem's chest. He was in a worse state by far but he had held out long enough for Arkonys to get back into the fight. The Zabrak fought with a renewed vigor clearly a result of a Force technique. Dassem's stalling had tired the Dark Jedi out and provided his master with the opportunity to defeat their opponent.
The harrowing experience marked an extremely important point in Dassem's life. Firstly, the Council would judge it as the completion of three of his trials but it would also lay the foundation for his Trial of Spirit. The battle had thrown into sharp relief the areas in which the Padawan was lacking. On the other hand, it had served to harden his resolve. Dassem had stood alongside his master but had also faced a more deadly opponent on his own. In the year following the incident, the two trained together for one last stretch. Arkonys taught Dassem the basics of Force Valor, the skill he had used to gain advantage of the Dark Jedi during the battle. The Padawan would use that teaching and eventually hone the ability during his years as a Knight. Therefore at the age of 22, having finally completed all of his trials, Dassem became a full Jedi Knight.
Knight
Dassem was summoned back to the Council chambers almost immediately after being promoted to the rank of Knight. The Council explained that they would like Dassem to serve as a Shadow, the Dark Jedi hunters. It may have seemed a rash decision but their logic was simple. There were few Jedi who had real combat experience against wielders of the Darkside regardless of how limited. Furthermore, he had been a Padawan under an accomplished Jedi Investigator; Dassem had learned much about tracking shady individuals from his master. Finally, the Knight truly understood the danger that the Dark Jedi presented. He was resolved more than the average Jedi in combating them. Dassem was the ideal tool in this case and he was more than happy to serve in such a function.
The Knight decided before he was to take on any specific duties that he would further train for a year. Dassem focused on mastering his understanding of the double-bladed style. Obviously he could not accomplish this is such a short span but he strove to increase his skill. He also began learning the basics of Ataru to supplement his abilities. Attempting to extend the duration and efficacy of Force Valor was another focus for him. He often spent days in a near-constant state of combat, training with his peers in the Temple. His staunch desire to better himself did create marked improvement but Dassem knew it was no substitute for real experience. He eventually decided it was time to undertake his duties as a Shadow and be the first line of defense against the Order's most dangerous enemy since the Sith disappeared.
His initial years were mostly spent tracking down potential threats and doing much of the same that he had done under Arkonys. He would then pass off what he learned to more experienced Shadows who would then follow up whatever leads that Dassem had uncovered. It was a sensible approach as opposed to sending a relatively inexperienced Jedi into a den of serpents. Shadows, while primarily Dark Jedi hunters, occasionally took on other missions as well. They were similar to that of Jedi Investigators but involving the more extreme elements that threatened the Republic. These missions often necessitated that Dassem go undercover for weeks or months at a time. The experiences prepared him well for the missions to come.
He soon began to take on the sort of missions that had come to define what a Jedi Shadow did. Dassem hunted darkside elements from the most crowded cities to nearly unpopulated planets. The Knight learned just how pervasive a threat the Darkside represented. Dassem proved to be a wise choice as a Shadow as he completed many missions successfully. The cost of his dedication was that he was rarely ever at the Temple which saw him ostracized from many of his fellow Jedi. He did however occasionally return to Coruscant to train or consult with other Jedi. One such instance was when he returned to learn the ability Crucitorn. A Shadow was almost always alone on their mission and could only rely on themselves. There was a high chance that they would be fighting unfavorable odds in less than ideal conditions. The ability to adapt to extreme amounts of pain would allow him to fight longer and harder.
Dassem continued to hone his skills over the years, including mastering the double-bladed form. He also became relatively proficient in both Force Valor and Crucitorn. The Shadow knows that his abilities will prove vital in the coming months. He is determined to do whatever is necessary to protect the Order as well as combat the Sith. Dassem is still unsure whether he will find himself on the battlefield or fighting the Darkside on a different front.
RP Sample:
The halls of the Jedi Temple always served as a welcome reminder of the place that Dassem considered his home. They remained unchanging unlike those who walked the halls. The Jedi Knight did not think too much on it and only took comfort in knowing that some things in the Order remained certain. Dassem often spent extended periods of time away from the Temple that he was surprised to find it the same as always when he returned. He thought it unlikely that it would remain so. A dark thought to be sure but one that was difficult to avoid considering the current state of the galaxy.
He thought it naive to believe that the war would remain outside the Core Worlds. Dassem had spent too many years fighting Dark Jedi to think the Temple would remain untouched. The Sith had returned not as a ragged group of believers but rather an organized force. Deception and destruction were the hallmarks of the Darkside. It would only be so long before they became bold enough to strike at the heart of the Republic. Dassem hoped he was wrong but the war did not look like it would be ending any time soon. He silently prayed for those who were fighting on the frontlines.
Dassem had not as of yet actually taken part in any of the major battles. His orders came straight from the High Council and he would do his duty as a Jedi Shadow. There was a part of him that desired to fight alongside his fellow Jedi. He knew it was a ridiculous notion but how many members of the Order would be left standing when this war was done. Dassem quickly tossed that thought aside and instead focused on the present. He had his own responsibilities and they were no less important than those fighting on the battlefield. The chaos of the war had made the Republic vulnerable to a multitude of threats. Enemies who had remained latent were now increasingly active. There would be no point in winning the war if there was nothing left of the Republic when they were done.
It was for this very reason that he had come back to the Temple. Dassem had just returned from Balosar where he had tracked down a rather dangerous Dark Jedi. A former member of the Order who had been desperate for power. It was these particular individuals who posed the greatest threat to the Jedi. People who knew how the Order functioned and knew where to deal the most damage. Dassem had done his job by stopping the man before anything bad had happened but he wasn't the only Dark Jedi in the galaxy. The Order was spread as thin as they had ever been. Dassem himself had for the first time, felt himself being pushed to exhaustion despite his continued desire to serve.
Whether the Council has realized this or is simply assigning me another task remains to be seen, thought the Jedi Shadow with a hint of trepidation.
Regardless, Dassem would do what was asked of him. The thought of resting while many of Jedi potentially perished on the battlefield touched him with shame. Yet the Knight was a pragmatic man and knew that even he needed rest. The price of failure was far too high at this juncture. No longer were the days when another Jedi would rise up to take his place should he fall. Dassem did not afford himself a great deal of importance to the Order but rather it was simple logistics. He ponder on such things if time allowed but for now he needed to maintain a clear mind. The elevator to the Council chambers slid to a stop followed by the telltale hiss of the door parting. Dassem stepped into the room which held some of the wisest and most powerful Jedi in the galaxy.
"I have come to make my report," he stated with a bow.
