Post by Ysmir on Sept 24, 2019 20:35:13 GMT -5
  "The fury of the Sith is made manifest through my blade." - Darth Viren Full Name • Haven Nox Vadam Title • Darth Viren, Dark Lord of the Sith, Praetor Magnus of the Cult of Strife, Bronze Pillar of the Sith Empire, Breaker of Her Enemies, Grand Admiral of the Sith Fleet Race • Epicanthix Birthplace • Panatha Age • 49 (born 3641 BBY) Gender • Male Sexuality • Heterosexual Faction • Sith Order (Inner Sanctum), Sith Empire Concept • A mighty and stern Sith Warrior (Rank 3) and Prateor Magnus of the Cult of Strife in the Sith Order, a dedicated and stoic servant of Her Imperial Radiance, Dark Lady Renata. Born and raised a warrior on Panatha and shown the brutality and indifference of the Galaxy during his tenure as a slave fighter, Viren cut a bloody path to work his way to the top of the Imperial food chain. Languages • Basic, Epicant, & Sith (understands others through the Force) Assets •
Appearance Face Claim • Voiced by: Keith David Height & Weight • 6'11" (7'4" in armor), 331 lbs. (441 lbs. in armor) Overall Looks • Abnormally large for his heritage, Viren combines a number of Epicanthix-related traits with aspects consistently associated with those deeply embroiled in the Dark Side. First and foremost, he is of immense stature, standing head and shoulders above most human or near-human individuals, with a thickly muscled and well-developed physique to match. While most of this powerful build is natural, it is simultaneously the result of strenuous physical exercise and devoting almost all of his time to wearing his heavy armor as his official uniform, which he has become well-accustomed to. His almost superhuman height and weight are further exacerbated by his armor. His sheer size and mastery of the Force allows him to perform feats of physical strength far in excess of what is normally capable for his species, including lifting fully grown men off of the ground with a single hand and tossing them several meters with little effort. Despite his bulky physique, one should not presume that he is equally as slow. His astute reflexes have been honed from years of intense conflict, and his mastery of Juyo and physically-enhancing Force techniques allow him to wield his double-bladed lightsaber with frightening agility and speed, often accompanying his traditional training with unconventional flips, twirls, and ripostes. Although entering his fifties, the nature of an Epicanthix's long lifespan means Viren is just entering middle-age, and is thus in his physical prime. The smallest streaks of peppered gray mark his otherwise jet black hair at the temples, which is worn at medium length and swept back away from his face. His eyes were formerly a deep blue, but now constantly burn a fiery yellow-orange because of his immersion in the Dark Side of the Force. Besides his well-kept and full facial hair, the most notable aspect of his facial features are a series of branded scars that run along the right side of his face. The brands are script that identify him as a former slave of Orvax IV. While he could have simply had the scars surgically removed or healed through use of the Force, Viren chose to keep them as a reminder of his origins and what true inner strength can lead to. Similarly unlike Epicanthix, his skin is pale rather than dark, another side effect of his indulgence in the Dark Side. He has a broad jawline and chin, with bushy and full brows set in an inquisitive scowl at almost all times. Down his arms and covering most of his back are ceremonial tattoos of esoteric nature; most depict stylized predatory beasts rampant on fields and other hunting motifs, reflective of his ancestry and devotion to his identity as his own Apex Predator. When not in his armor, rare as it is, he takes to donning a long and flowing overcoat with black fur trim over onyx robes. Credit to Cher-Ro for image usage Personality Profile Exacting, taciturn, prudent, pragmatic, and, above all else, controlled, Darth Viren is the epitome of what one envisions when they think of the legendary warriors of the Sith Order. A classic example of the "strong silent type", Viren blends the traits inherent to his imposing stature with a steely gaze and sense of authority that seems to radiate off of his being like an aura. He is known for his demanding standards that he holds every subordinate beneath himself to -- and the even higher standards that he holds for himself. His first and only concern is power of himself and of the Sith Order. At the end of the day, so long as he is serving in the position most suited to his straightforward but undeniable talents, he cares little for anything else in life. As such, his driven mindset is one that is particularly difficult to stray from its set path. His beliefs are set in stone, and those wishing to drive him away from the truths he holds in his heart will be hard-pressed to do so. Despite his size and appearance, many are surprised to find that Viren is remarkably soft-spoken and quiet most times. He speaks with a vibrating baritone that commands the attention of all who hear it when he does choose to voice his opinions, but for the most part, his silence is indicative of the general sense that he knows when it is important to share his thoughts and when it isn't. "Small talk" isn't even in his programming whatsoever, and the very idea of exchanging words with another being that have little to no point is abhorrent to him. Unsurprisingly, when he does speak, Viren is not one for mincing words; he will speak his mind and speak it freely, regardless of how others may react to his words. He is not at all above pointing out weakness in his subordinates or holes in plans that he sees clear as day. Viren vowed never to hold his tongue to any being, even those above him such as the Empress herself, no matter the danger associated with such an act. He believes whole-heartedly that the Sith Order is nothing without honor and dignity in the face of adversity, and finds such things as stealth and subterfuge to be utterly worthless. Still, this is not to say Viren is lacking for tact; despite his adversity to the ideas of subtlety, he will play the part when necessary if it is tactically advantageous or required of him. His loyalty to the Sith Empire and the Dark Side are unwavering, as is his loyalty to Her Imperial Radiance, Darth Renata. Bred and born to be a warrior on Panatha, his background as an Epicanthix is one of many reasons for his bleak and morally ambiguous outlook on life. Fighting is perhaps the closest Viren ever comes to true emotional expression, believing it, like the Echani, to be the purest form of communication between two individuals -- even if that communication just so happens to be a desire to end one another's lives. Such is his devotion to this belief that he prefers arguments to be settled through single combat to the death, as he feels this outcome to be undeniable; whoever wins is right, and that fact is inarguable. To him, if one does not possess the strength to back up their words and opinions, then those words and opinions are worthless. Personal might and strength in troubled times were lessons taught to him during his tenure as a gladiator on Orvax IV. Because he was rewarded with better food and accomodations for his performance, his view on the world was twisted into one where he considers the Galactic commune to be an extended food chain; the established pecking order is there, one simply needs to open their eyes to see it. As such, he has devoted his mindset and skills into becoming his own Apex Predator. His strength of will and natural resistance to mental intrusion because of his Epicanthix heritage means that he is almost impossible to break mentally, displaying tremendous resistance and often outright immunity to torture, be it physical or carried out through the Force. His fall to the Dark Side was a gradual one, but the traits inherent within him were there from the start; his love for combat in all its forms was evident from a young age and only tempered through his formal training and eventual capture and sale into slavery. With only one flimsy parental figure to speak of, Viren was forced to mature at a peculiarly early age and spent the majority of his younger life fending for himself. As such, Strife was the perfect Cult to groom his beliefs; conflict has been the core of his existence since it began, and will never cease to be. Although he feels anger and resentment at the circumstances of his life, Viren is mentally resilient in that he does not let these emotions rule him like some younger Sith tend to mistakenly do. Instead, through channeling the Dark Side, he controls his rage and focuses it as a most deadly weapon. When in combat, he is said to be the eye of the storm; calm and serene, while everything around him falls to pieces. He supplements his power through the fear and anxiety of his opponents, drawing strength, fortitude, and the will to push on by seeing the lack of these things in others. Despite his cold outlook and indifferent attitudes toward most things, Viren is known for his fair and just dealings with his subordinates. He rewards success and competence, and is not above public commendation for those who go above and beyond the call of duty; a rare trait for a Dark Lord of the Sith. However, his idea of punishing weakness or colossal failure differ drastically. Often, for a more minor shortcoming, Viren will simply have a soldier or officer publically lashed; for severe muck-ups, a public execution at the end of his lightsaber. Culling the weak and trimming the bad fruit, as it were, are his favored methods for ensuring the troops under his watch are the best of the best. As Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet, he has amassed considerable knowledge of war and strategy, and could be considered among the most tactically competent individuals the Galaxy over. Perfection is his cause, and Strength is his motivator. Indeed, beneath his stoney exterior lies a deceptively cunning mind, perceptive and sensitive to the weaknesses of others, especially in large-scale conflict. He has never suffered a personal loss in a naval battle and wears that achievement proudly. All in all, Viren is a cold, calculating, cynical, and prideful Sith Lord with impeccable grip over his emotions and the soldiers beneath him, operating on a level of shadowy mental enlightenment seldom seen among most practicioners of the Dark Side. Background Father • Unknown Mother • Thuna Vadam, 20, (Deceased) Siblings • N/A Other Important Connections • Jo Mars, 90, Mentor & Father Figure (Deceased) Master Orrick Vash, ?, Force Instructor Kelso Morrin, 29, Pit Partner (Deceased) Gereld Vespero, 49, Slavemaster (Deceased) Darth Renata, Dark Lady of the Sith, Empress of the Sith Empire, 34, Master Overall History • Chapter 1: Early Life Born on Panatha to Thuna Vadam, Haven was shown from a young age that above all else, inner strength was paramount to success in life. With an unknown father and a mother perished in childbirth, his lonesome upbringing was softened only by the presence of an Epicanthix weaponsmith named Jo Mars. Jo had been close friends with Haven's father, though even he was uncertain what had become of the renowned warrior after Haven's birth. As a promise to his old friend, Jo took it upon himself to raise the young Haven in his parents' stead, teaching him the ways of the warrior and preparing him for life as he grew older. To this end, Haven's upbringing in many regards didn't venture greatly from that of the average Epicanthix on Panatha, besides a very important difference. Whilst training vigorously and tirelessly in combat in all its forms, he also spent a great deal of time studying art, history, tactics, and even music in some forms. Particularly driven as a child, Haven displayed a great deal of aptitude with his training, and began to develop physically at a rate far beyond his peers; by age seven, he was already over five feet tall. This superiority both physically and mentally caused Haven to develop a small degree of arrogance in his ability, something Jo -- no stranger to the quality -- consistently tried to warn the young warrior against to no avail. Still, Jo couldn't deny the child's progress, and would display his prowess proudly to other instructors when the opportunity arose, often in a bid to assert his dominance. It was at age eight that Haven discovered the first inklings of his Force sensitivity; a trait he would obsessively keep secret from all he knew. In private, he would work to hone and sharpen his abilities over time, having read stories of the fabled Jedi Knights and their capabilities. Although he experienced difficulty without any sort of formal training or master to oversee his development, Haven nonetheless managed to achieve a great deal of individual success through great effort alone. However, despite his best efforts to hide his newfound ability, the child was no more than a novice; thus, his connection to the Force was plain to see for those trained in its use. So it was for Master Orrick Vash, a defector of the Jedi Order and avid practitioner of the dark arts. A visitor to Panatha by happenstance, fleeing to the edges of the Galaxy to avoid persecution at the hands of the Jedi, he discovered the young Haven one afternoon during his daily training. A secret even to Jo, Vash would spend evenings and long nights after Haven's instruction honing the boy's grasp on the Force, sharing with him further and more intimate knowledge on the teachings of the Order... and why they were falsehoods. At the tail end of his adolescence, Haven had been acknowledged by his superiors and his peers as one of the finest warriors on the planet, something that was reflective of his own father's mythical story. Throughout most of his childhood, Haven would find himself plagued by violent and unruly dreams that would wake him throughout the night and fester during the day. During his nightly rendezvous with Master Vash, the fallen Jedi would prey upon these troubling visions and budding feelings of insecurity, teaching the young Haven to harbor them closely and mould them into weapons, rather than fear them as weaknesses as he furthered his development in the Dark Side. Chapter 2: The Pits At nineteen, Haven had begun to strike out on his own as a warrior and as an individual. Often ignoring advice and guidance at the behest of Jo, Haven struggled to come to terms with his own identity and legacy left behind in the shadow of his absentee father. Much of his teenaged years were spent contemplating the nature of his existence, training his budding Force potential under the dark guidance of Vash, and thinking greatly of his own future and where it might lead. His arrogant nature was belied by his reserved, calm, and even temperament, a far cry from his hot-blooded youth. Further, Jo had become privvy to Haven and Master Vash's nightly training sessions, questioning the young man at no end as to the nature of their meetings. Wishing to keep his Force sensitivity under wraps for as long as he could and from as many people as he could, Haven lied, confiding in Jo that he had felt stagnant with the aging Epicanthix as his instructor, and sought more lively training elsewhere. Jo took this deception personally, angrily stating that Haven would be nothing if not for his guidance. Jo, in drunken rage a few nights after their disagreement, confronted Haven and chewed him out for his perceived ungratefulness and selfishness. During this spat, Jo dug beneath the boy's skin, stating he would never become half the warrior his missing father was. These words cut Haven deep, and soon, the incident turned physical; Haven had shoved him back against a wall. Yet, before Jo could even lay a finger on the boy, he was struck from behind by a lightsaber. Haven watched as his angered and jealous childhood mentor fell before his feet, the smell of burnt flesh in the air. Vash stood behind him and warned Haven of those who would try to put him down and keep him from growing, individuals such as Jo. Despite every fiber of his being wishing to lash out at the nearest living thing in his anger and confusion, Haven stood resolute and clenched his fists; such was Vash's hold over the young man's mind. Bored with constant sparring against adversaries he knew he could easily best and disillusioned with the death of his only friend, Haven sought stronger and more worthy opponents to remind him of his own worth as a person. This lust for adventure and greater challenge eventually lead to him seeking charter off world to the dismay of Vash, who warned that his training had made him strong, but still inexperienced; Epicanthix were notoriously naive of the intricacies of Galactic politic. However, Haven cared not for Vash's grievances. Haven would embark on a journey through the Outer Rim on a whim, telling no one of his intent and leaving the shattered life he once had behind. Making a name and a living as a mercenary for hire, Haven would blaze a trail throughout the Outer Rim territories. His prowess in the Force and in combat ensured that the credits flowed, and for a time, the multitude of strong and varied adversaries would quench Haven's burning desire to find a truly worthy challenge. Inevitably, however, the magic wore off as a year passed in this profession. Soon, Haven found his heart was no longer in his work, and he felt empty and misguided once again. Prepared to turn back to Panatha and figure out what to do with his next steps, perhaps under further tutelage with Vash, fate had other plans. His modest transport intercepted by a pirate ship just outside of Polis Massa, Haven found himself surrounded and outnumbered by the crew of a slaver named Gereld Vespero. The charismatic man demanded a ransom for the boy to escape with his life, though his amassed wealth was apparently not enough to satisfy the pirate's desires. Seeing no other way out and refusing to acquiesce to the desires of this lowlife, Haven elected to fight his way through Vespero and his cadre of thugs. Striking two down with his vibro-ax before they could even draw weapons, even a rapid display of his adept prowess in the Force was insufficient to overwhelm the sheer numbers. Although it took nearly four direct hits from a stun blaster to pacify him in his rage, Haven fell nonetheless. The unconscious warrior was taken onto the pirate's starship as a human ransom. The starship made its way to Orvax IV, a notorious slave planet on the edge of Galactic civilization. When Haven next awoke, he found himself in the clutches of the pirates he had fallen victim to, bound and gagged as traders bid over the bodies of other hapless prisoners such as himself like they were property, not people. Wondering how he had ever gotten to this place, how it ever came this far, his ruminations were cut short when his own captor decided to take him off the bid; his skills and strengths were simply too valuable to just sell. Branded with markings on the right side of his face that he would bear the rest of his life, Haven was taken to Vespero's personal estate to be groomed as his Champion; a slave fighter in the Halcyon Pits. At first, Haven was reluctant to participate in these bloodthirsty affairs; his honor remained true as was instilled within him by his upbringing, but upon reflecting on the circumstances of his capture and his musings on the reason for his existence, he decided then to create a new image for himself; one of ruthless and efficient destruction, something Vash could be proud of if he could see. So it was that he began his career as a pit fighter on Orvax IV, cutting down new recruits like himself as he worked himself up the rungs of the pit's hierarchy, all the while keeping his master Vespero's purse overflowing with credits. Upon failure, he'd find himself branded further and beaten. Success bore no reward other than finer food and drink after a match. Still, the motivation was enough to ensure that every waking moment not spent fighting to the death against other poor souls like his was spent training, meditating, and honing his inner rage into a tool to be used for his benefit. A decade of this treatment began to instill within Haven feelings of spite, cynicism, and hatred for the Galaxy around him. He came to view all sentient life, including himself, as inherently selfish; to him, this was simply a fact. No act, no matter how great or small, was something done out of altruism. There was always something to be gained, such as through his victories in the pits. By this point in time, Haven had come to be hailed as the greatest fighter Orvax IV had to offer. Vespero had afforded his finest Champion all the luxuries a slave could hope to have, including his own boardroom rather than a cell, and three square meals a day to accompany his rigorous training regime. In a sense, Gladitorial combat had become more of a profession than a curse, and the warrior who once fought for nothing but his own amusement now thought, in his own twisted sense, that he fought for a purpose greater than himself. This was reflected in his near-single minded pursuit of victory, though curiously, Haven never forgot his honor, something Vespero truly despised. Such was his conviction that Haven did not hesitate to murder Kelso Morrin in cold blood; the closest thing the warrior had to a friend. Haven had discovered his partner participating in match fixing and illicit cheating, something the stoic Haven could not abide by. In his mind, the only rightful punishment was at the end of his own blade. At thirty-seven, his skill with the Force had grown considerably as he utilized Vash's teachings to hone his progress on his own, and was still a close-guarded secret to all who knew him. This would change on a fateful night during a match that seemed well in hand. When his opponent had thrown down his weapon and begged for mercy, Haven had considered the weight of his next action; his duty was to kill his adversary, but honor demanded that a surrender be taken seriously. So, he turned his back, only for the opponent to attempt to strike with a hidden vibroknife. In a moment of panic, Haven released the Force in an omnidirectional burst around his body to repel the attacker. Enraged by his leniency being taken advantage of, Haven drove his blade into the heart of the opponent and won the match. However, he had also won the attention of a particular individual. Approached in his boardroom by a hooded individual later that night, Haven was shocked to discover that the man was an envoy of the rekindling Sith Order; the man had noted Haven's prominence in the Force, and had watched the Gladiator in his fights for several weeks. He offered him a place in the servitude of the Sith, granting that his talents would be far more worthwhile and well-regarded put into use for the Order. His price? Haven had to murder his Master. Leaving the door unlocked, the hooded individual let Haven decide his own fate. And so the warrior drove his thumbs into the skull of the man who had dictated his life for nearly twenty years. Bearing the scars of servitude on his face and the blood of the one who once held dominion over him on his hands, Haven escaped the clutches of Orvax IV and was brought to the Sith homeworld of Korriban, where his official training would begin. Chapter 3: Apprenticeship & Rise to Lordship The further teachings of the Dark Side and the Sith philosophy were something Haven took to like a moth to flame. His own idealizations of the nature of the world around him were only compounded and built upon, and thus his performance under the tutelage of the instructors reflected that of his early years; in almost every facet imagineable, Haven consistently outperformed his peers. His knowledge of combat ensured that his strength with a lightsaber was evident early on, mastering the first form in a matter of months after first lifting that most iconic of weapons. His studious and inquistive nature caused him to research deeply into the history of the Sith as a whole; he often sifted through numerous holorecords of military victories and losses, deeply analyzing and absorbing the qualities that lead to each outcome to better understand war and how it is fought. His naturally strategic mind coalesced this information with everything he had been taught by his instructors, and this in turn developed into an extremely adaptive and deep intellect when it came to war theory. As astute as his mind and body were, his channeling of the Dark Side of the Force was just as powerful. As noted by his trainers, Haven had a particular penchant for using the anger and resentment he felt during combat as fuel for his proverbial inner fire. Said to resemble a "quiet fury" during combat, Haven showed no outward change in his emotions, but felt every betrayal and every injury he'd ever sustained like it was fresh. This determination to drive forward and survive against all odds allowed him to power through ordeals that reduced other students to gibbering wrecks. When faced with the opportunity to heal his facial scarring through advanced medicine, Haven declined; he had come to regard his time as a slave almost fondly, considering it a turning point in his otherwise meaningless existence. He chose to keep the brands as a constant reminder of where he had come from, and would wear them proudly. The Sith Order would continue to grow its numbers in secret over the course of several years, keeping its warriors at the ready when the time to strike presented itself. That opportunity would arise on Rhen Var. Trained over the course of two decades by the fallen Jedi Vash, his body, mind, and skills honed for another nineteen years in the Pits, deprived of his most basic desires for open and honorable combat against worthy foes, the freshly indoctrinated and idealistic Haven Nox Vadam took to the battlefield alongside his other allies against the very same Jedi Order he had studied in his adolescence, the Order that Vash had fed him numerous warnings about. Unprepared for an ancient foe that they had long since believed destroyed, the Sith Order claimed victories over the Jedi in a span of days on both Rhen Var and Yaga Minor. Present on the frontlines for all ordeals, Haven gained a reputation for ruthlessness and pure passion in the cause of the Sith. For the first time in his life, he had discovered a feeling of belonging in his heart and soul, a feeling that his existence had meaning in serving a cause greater than himself. Believing he had found where he truly belonged, his priorities shifted from his own selfish desires to serving the Empire as a whole. From the point of his first glorious victory on, every action he took would be to further the agenda of the Sith; to him, nothing else mattered, so long as his individual might stood up to the task of serving that most important of ideals. Haven would continue serving viciously and proudly throughout the years as the war raged on. Throughout his personal campaigns, the landscape of Galactic politic continued to change; the Sith allianced with the budding Mandalorian people had secured a powerful new ally in the struggle to control the Galaxy. Haven often fought alongside these warriors on the field of battle, marvelling at their superior technology and primitive, yet highly effective tactics. Haven would take care to make note of their ferocity in battle, adapting an idealogy similar to that of a Mandalorian's pride into his feelings toward the Empire at large, the organization he felt saved his life. All the while, Haven became further deeply embroiled in the Dark Side. The lives he took on the field of battle in the name of his cause weighed not an ounce on his conscience as he continued to justify his actions. It would be during this period of his life that his most important philosophy came about: self-reliance. Although the Sith had lifted him up, gave him a purpose, it was he who had survived long enough to begin to see that purpose through. In his eyes, only the weak deserved to pity themselves or others, and so he decided then and there to never feel such an emotion ever again. Chapter 4: The War's End & Current Events Tireless fighting over the course of almost seven years had taken its toll on the warrior and all who participated in these battles. The Death of Taris saw the removal of Darth Novus from office, and the rise of Darth Renata as the new Sith Empress. During her restructuring of the Sith Order, Haven was named a Lord of the Sith, Praetor of the Cult of Strife, and reborn anew as Viren. Under new leadership and renewed vigor to further their cause, the Sith saw fit to put an end to the constant game of cat and mouse by mounting and unprecdented offense deep into the Republic Core. Sadly, unbeknownst to them, this would be their undoing. The Battle of Coruscant was meant to be the war's end, and in many ways it was. However, rather than crumple under overwhelming force, the Republic rallied its defenses and allies and stood strong on their homeworld in what amounted to the greatest show of defiance the Galaxy had yet seen. Beating back the combined Sith forces, the Republic delivered a decisive and devastating blow to the exhausted armies. Viren was amongst the fleet forces pushed back into the Inner Rim by the Republic's vicious counterattack. He and his comrades may have even been counted among the casualties of their roaring comeback, were it not for the ceasefire that came into effect shortly after the Battle. Despite wishing nothing more than to fight to his dying breath, Viren -- ever loyal -- acquiesced to the desires of his superiors and laid down his arms as the Republic did. Thus would begin a two-year long silence, a period of reformation where neither side dared provoke the other where Viren and the Order at large worked on restructuring themselves from within, as the Sith dealt with juggling their hold on several new worlds. But, as the Code states, peace is a lie. A disturbance in the Force woke Viren from one of his many failed nights of sleep. The Archeri Chorus, a new and mysterious enemy, had made itself known in the Galaxy. Prepared to fight, as he always was, Viren was blindsided after months of information gathering by talks of a new treaty; a coalition of the Republic and the Sith. After all, "the enemy of my enemy"... This in mind, Viren took up his saber once again in the name of the Empire, the Order, and her Imperial Radiance against this new threat. Serving on the front lines as before, the former Gladiator fought as viciously as ever, even despite the Chorus' unprecedented harmony, all up until a fateful conflict in the skies above Nar Shaddaa as he served alongside his Dark Lord, the Praetor Magnus. Now, with the Chorus seemingly defeated and the former Praetor Magnus perished in the skies over Nar Shaddaa, Viren has taken the mantle of Darth Viren, Dark Lord of the Sith, with the intent of serving his Empress Renata more dutifully than ever before. |
