Post by Hez on Mar 14, 2015 12:33:38 GMT -5
Lesson 0108: Galactic History--Ulic Qel-Droma
[WARNING: this one is very long.]
So this lesson was probably a snoozefest, because you see all that above? That's me cutting parts of the story out. This lesson counts as our second entry in Guild-accepted canon. I know, I know, I haven't updated that section at all yet, but I'll get around to it. In any case, this story comes directly from my favorite of the Dark Horse Tales of the Jedi series, collected in a trade paperback called "Tales of the Jedi: Redemption". My reasons for using this particular story were A) establishing the timeline in which our guild RP will be set B) acknowledge in character the rumors swirling around about Revan C) drop some knowledge on my boy Ulic, and D) shamelessly set up some backstory for one of my toons. Remember, print > Wookiepedia, always.
In trying to set the dates during the lecture I happened upon an AWESOME tool for RP. Check it out! This here Star Wars date calculator is damned amazing, very useful, and very commendable. We have Aurhia Seelund of the Seelund Trading Co to thank for this awesome tool. So thank her! And if you see these people in a cantina, RP with them. I promise, you won't be disappointed. This also establishes the current time in SWTOR as 14 ATC (or After the Treaty of Coruscant for you nubs), and that's what I'm sticking to. I'll still avoid spoiler alerts for story plots, but be warned that mine and official guild timeline occurs AFTER the events of the main game.
[WARNING: this one is very long.]
This week’s lecture yielded what I would describe as mixed results. On one hand, we had nearly a full class—only one or two seats were empty. On the other hand, however, I’m fairly certain I bored them to tears. I’m not entirely sure why—perhaps some students don’t feel an espionage academy needs history courses, or perhaps the subject matter seemed better suited for a Sith or Jedi Academy. In any case, I felt I was able to draw a few important lessons from the lesson as well as relate it to current events, which every good intelligence worker should try to stay on top of.
Anyone who hasn’t been living under a crystal formation for the past few months has heard a certain name being whispered. A name all of you should have at least heard by now. Some see him as a savior, some see him as a destroyer. Jedi champion of the Mandalorian wars, Dark Lord of the Sith, the name of course I refer to is Revan. But today’s lesson focuses on a fact you may not be aware of—he was NOT the first. Indeed, the actual subject of today’s lesson was a hero, a criminal, and according to some legends, eventually absolved. Today we tell the tale of Ulic Qel-Droma.
Ulic and his brother Cay Qel-Droma were Alderaanian humans trained as Jedi alongside the Twilek Tott Doneeta under the tutelage of Jedi Master Arca Jeth. These Jedi proved expert tacticians on and off the battlefield, helping bring about the end of the centuries-long ‘Beast Wars’ of Onderon by allying with the subjugated Beast Riders. Capturing the attention and affection of the Republic (including and especially fellow Jedi Nomi Sunrider), Ulic was a natural leader. His love for his brother was evident in his actions, having saved the younger Qel-Droma on numerous occasions. When the Krath cult began to cause duress in the Empress Teta systems, he was a clear choice to lead the charge. Understanding little about their adversaries, the Jedi chose to seek information on their mysterious opponents before engaging them in battle.
What followed was this galaxy’s most infamous failure in the history of infiltration attempts.
From a Force-sensitive perspective, one could say Ulic was seduced by the Dark side. As a secular academy, however, OUR analysis suggests he was seduced by power and a beautiful woman. Regardless of the reason, Ulic rose through their ranks, demonstrating great prowess as the leader of the Krath military forces. Eventually Ulic was challenged by another rogue Jedi, the now-infamous Exar Kun, first recorded wielder of a double-bladed lightsaber and an expert in its combat handling. Kun and Qel-Droma fought to a standstill when allegedly the spirit of an ancient Sith Lord appeared to the pair, commanding the two fallen Jedi to join forces and subjugate the Republic in the name of the long-forgotten Sith Empire. If Ulic was charismatic as a Jedi he was indomitable as a Sith warlord, taking his place at Kun’s side. Appropriate, then, that he bested the then-leader of the Mandalorian clans (now known as Mandalore the Indomitable) in single combat, sparing the latter’s life in exchange for his loyalty in the campaign against the Republic. The reemergent Sith wrought a war of terror, from shipyard raids to an attack on Coruscant itself led by Ulic himself. Eventually, however, Qel-Droma came to face his brother Cay, first in a starfighter battle, then in a lightsaber duel on the streets of Ossus. After severing cybernetic arm, Ulic struck his brother down in fury just as Tott Doneeta and Nomi Sunrider arrived on the scene. Reports indicate the warlord collapsed in grief and shame as his former lover Nomi imprisoned him in some sort of wall of light. According to rumor, she had severed his connection to the Force.
The third and final chapter of Ulic Qel-Droma’s story remains largely unrecorded, for whatever reason. Broken and defeated on Ossus, he led Republic forces to Kun’s base on the 4th moon of Yavin and later helped them disable a weapon of mass destruction. After that he effectively disappeared from the historical map until his death, around ten years after the war. The circumstances surrounding his death, however, are of the most interest. To summarize the circumstances and persons of interest: Nomi Sunrider was by then effectively the political equivalent of a modern Jedi Grandmaster, and had arranged a great Jedi convocation. Ulic himself sought exile, paying a spacer named Hoggon to locate a suitable world away from galactic attention. A Cathar Jedi named Sylvar tried to use the convocation as a platform for personal vengeance, calling the punishment of Qel-Droma as a war criminal the last step in undoing the damage inflicted by the Sith war. Meanwhile, Sunrider’s daughter Vima grew frustrated at her mother’s inability to train her in the Jedi ways, due to the elder’s many political obligations and lack of free time. The young Vima paid the same spacer to bring her to Qel-Droma, perhaps one of the few persons left at the time to view him still as the hero he once was. Hoggon, a bit of a Jedi fanatic himself, gladly obliged, and brought the young girl to the icy world of Rhen Var where he had previously dropped off Qel-Droma.
Allegedly cut off from the Force, Qel-Droma still somehow proved to be an effective teacher to the young Vima and could still wield a lightsaber with skill. Hoggon attempted to inform Nomi of her daughter’s whereabouts, expecting the Jedi to send a full battalion after the war criminal Qel-Droma. Unable to speak to the Jedi leader, he instead happened upon a still-hateful Sylvar and brought the Cathar female to her prey. Sunrider, finally aware of the urgency of the situation sought her daughter out herself, and all the players met on the planet slowly exiting its ice age. While mother and daughter reconciled, the Cathar and ex-Jedi dueled passionately as the eager spacer looked on. Qel-Droma’s greatest weapon, however, was his words—he pointed out how Sylvar’s anger had consumed her and pushed her to the verge of darkness. He deactivated his lightsaber, offering her the chance to strike him down. Sylvar relented, lowering her weapon just as two things happened: first, the Sunriders caught up with the others, and second, blaster bolts ripped through the torso of Ulic Qel-Droma. Seeing an opportunity, the spacer had shot him in the back, ending the life of the galaxy’s most infamous figure. Qel-Droma died in his former lover Nomi’s arms, having declared her daughter Vima a Jedi as one of his final act. Legend has it his body faded away, leaving behind only his robe, a sight only seen at the passing of great Jedi Masters.
Personally I’m not so sure about that last bit. I killed plenty a Jedi Master in my day, and I never saw any of them fade away into empty robes. But enough about that. If you’ve read this far, my congratulations. There were two takeaways from this historical lesson. One, during an infiltration, never underestimate your ability to be compromised. Even the strongest-willed soldier can be turned. And two, never underestimate the element of surprise. Even the most boring, powerless spacer can become a name for the history books with a well-placed cheap shot. Thank you and goodnight.
Anyone who hasn’t been living under a crystal formation for the past few months has heard a certain name being whispered. A name all of you should have at least heard by now. Some see him as a savior, some see him as a destroyer. Jedi champion of the Mandalorian wars, Dark Lord of the Sith, the name of course I refer to is Revan. But today’s lesson focuses on a fact you may not be aware of—he was NOT the first. Indeed, the actual subject of today’s lesson was a hero, a criminal, and according to some legends, eventually absolved. Today we tell the tale of Ulic Qel-Droma.
Ulic and his brother Cay Qel-Droma were Alderaanian humans trained as Jedi alongside the Twilek Tott Doneeta under the tutelage of Jedi Master Arca Jeth. These Jedi proved expert tacticians on and off the battlefield, helping bring about the end of the centuries-long ‘Beast Wars’ of Onderon by allying with the subjugated Beast Riders. Capturing the attention and affection of the Republic (including and especially fellow Jedi Nomi Sunrider), Ulic was a natural leader. His love for his brother was evident in his actions, having saved the younger Qel-Droma on numerous occasions. When the Krath cult began to cause duress in the Empress Teta systems, he was a clear choice to lead the charge. Understanding little about their adversaries, the Jedi chose to seek information on their mysterious opponents before engaging them in battle.
What followed was this galaxy’s most infamous failure in the history of infiltration attempts.
From a Force-sensitive perspective, one could say Ulic was seduced by the Dark side. As a secular academy, however, OUR analysis suggests he was seduced by power and a beautiful woman. Regardless of the reason, Ulic rose through their ranks, demonstrating great prowess as the leader of the Krath military forces. Eventually Ulic was challenged by another rogue Jedi, the now-infamous Exar Kun, first recorded wielder of a double-bladed lightsaber and an expert in its combat handling. Kun and Qel-Droma fought to a standstill when allegedly the spirit of an ancient Sith Lord appeared to the pair, commanding the two fallen Jedi to join forces and subjugate the Republic in the name of the long-forgotten Sith Empire. If Ulic was charismatic as a Jedi he was indomitable as a Sith warlord, taking his place at Kun’s side. Appropriate, then, that he bested the then-leader of the Mandalorian clans (now known as Mandalore the Indomitable) in single combat, sparing the latter’s life in exchange for his loyalty in the campaign against the Republic. The reemergent Sith wrought a war of terror, from shipyard raids to an attack on Coruscant itself led by Ulic himself. Eventually, however, Qel-Droma came to face his brother Cay, first in a starfighter battle, then in a lightsaber duel on the streets of Ossus. After severing cybernetic arm, Ulic struck his brother down in fury just as Tott Doneeta and Nomi Sunrider arrived on the scene. Reports indicate the warlord collapsed in grief and shame as his former lover Nomi imprisoned him in some sort of wall of light. According to rumor, she had severed his connection to the Force.
The third and final chapter of Ulic Qel-Droma’s story remains largely unrecorded, for whatever reason. Broken and defeated on Ossus, he led Republic forces to Kun’s base on the 4th moon of Yavin and later helped them disable a weapon of mass destruction. After that he effectively disappeared from the historical map until his death, around ten years after the war. The circumstances surrounding his death, however, are of the most interest. To summarize the circumstances and persons of interest: Nomi Sunrider was by then effectively the political equivalent of a modern Jedi Grandmaster, and had arranged a great Jedi convocation. Ulic himself sought exile, paying a spacer named Hoggon to locate a suitable world away from galactic attention. A Cathar Jedi named Sylvar tried to use the convocation as a platform for personal vengeance, calling the punishment of Qel-Droma as a war criminal the last step in undoing the damage inflicted by the Sith war. Meanwhile, Sunrider’s daughter Vima grew frustrated at her mother’s inability to train her in the Jedi ways, due to the elder’s many political obligations and lack of free time. The young Vima paid the same spacer to bring her to Qel-Droma, perhaps one of the few persons left at the time to view him still as the hero he once was. Hoggon, a bit of a Jedi fanatic himself, gladly obliged, and brought the young girl to the icy world of Rhen Var where he had previously dropped off Qel-Droma.
Allegedly cut off from the Force, Qel-Droma still somehow proved to be an effective teacher to the young Vima and could still wield a lightsaber with skill. Hoggon attempted to inform Nomi of her daughter’s whereabouts, expecting the Jedi to send a full battalion after the war criminal Qel-Droma. Unable to speak to the Jedi leader, he instead happened upon a still-hateful Sylvar and brought the Cathar female to her prey. Sunrider, finally aware of the urgency of the situation sought her daughter out herself, and all the players met on the planet slowly exiting its ice age. While mother and daughter reconciled, the Cathar and ex-Jedi dueled passionately as the eager spacer looked on. Qel-Droma’s greatest weapon, however, was his words—he pointed out how Sylvar’s anger had consumed her and pushed her to the verge of darkness. He deactivated his lightsaber, offering her the chance to strike him down. Sylvar relented, lowering her weapon just as two things happened: first, the Sunriders caught up with the others, and second, blaster bolts ripped through the torso of Ulic Qel-Droma. Seeing an opportunity, the spacer had shot him in the back, ending the life of the galaxy’s most infamous figure. Qel-Droma died in his former lover Nomi’s arms, having declared her daughter Vima a Jedi as one of his final act. Legend has it his body faded away, leaving behind only his robe, a sight only seen at the passing of great Jedi Masters.
Personally I’m not so sure about that last bit. I killed plenty a Jedi Master in my day, and I never saw any of them fade away into empty robes. But enough about that. If you’ve read this far, my congratulations. There were two takeaways from this historical lesson. One, during an infiltration, never underestimate your ability to be compromised. Even the strongest-willed soldier can be turned. And two, never underestimate the element of surprise. Even the most boring, powerless spacer can become a name for the history books with a well-placed cheap shot. Thank you and goodnight.
So this lesson was probably a snoozefest, because you see all that above? That's me cutting parts of the story out. This lesson counts as our second entry in Guild-accepted canon. I know, I know, I haven't updated that section at all yet, but I'll get around to it. In any case, this story comes directly from my favorite of the Dark Horse Tales of the Jedi series, collected in a trade paperback called "Tales of the Jedi: Redemption". My reasons for using this particular story were A) establishing the timeline in which our guild RP will be set B) acknowledge in character the rumors swirling around about Revan C) drop some knowledge on my boy Ulic, and D) shamelessly set up some backstory for one of my toons. Remember, print > Wookiepedia, always.
In trying to set the dates during the lecture I happened upon an AWESOME tool for RP. Check it out! This here Star Wars date calculator is damned amazing, very useful, and very commendable. We have Aurhia Seelund of the Seelund Trading Co to thank for this awesome tool. So thank her! And if you see these people in a cantina, RP with them. I promise, you won't be disappointed. This also establishes the current time in SWTOR as 14 ATC (or After the Treaty of Coruscant for you nubs), and that's what I'm sticking to. I'll still avoid spoiler alerts for story plots, but be warned that mine and official guild timeline occurs AFTER the events of the main game.