Aran'hial

"There is precious little we know about Aran'hial. They say he cared not for our people... that he cast them aside for power when they needed him most. Endenomar and the people of Varkion trusted Aran'hial, and they were all of them betrayed. And Aran'hial sealed them away so they could never again walk among the stars."

 —From ancient records of Varkion V. 

Aran'hial the Merciless, one of the two ancient lords of the Varkion Hegemony, is also known as the Red Wolf, the Betrayer of Varkion, and Endenomar's Bane. He was known as one of the grand protectors of the Varkion Hegemony - a Guardian of Varkannias. His supposed betrayal of the people by using their life-force to bind a great Alkdûran beast, harnessing it to use as a method of conquest, is oftentimes explained as the reason for the extinction of the original people of Varkion V. In reality and unbeknownst to all, Aran'hial was framed for this action. Indeed, it was Endenomar who betrayed the people of Varkion by attempting to bind an ancient member of the Alkdûr. Aran'hial, in his attempt to thwart the betrayer, altered the binding ritual and unknowingly bound the Force-energy of all sentient beings to the Great Pillars. With Endenomar dead, those who lived pinned it all on Aran'hial, christening him the Red Wolf and betrayer of his people.

Styles of Address
No current string of titles given.

History: Origins
The origins of the ancient lord —

TBD

History: Guardians of Varkannias
The rise of the Red Wolf —

Prelude - Varkion V
A band of visitors guided by two mysterious lords arrived in Varkion system circa 1226 BTC | 4879 BBY. Records state that society on Varkion V quickly transformed from a desolate camp of tents upon a sheet of dismal grays and browns to a flourishing settlement, cropped by green trees and vast, shimmering lake. At the will of the two ancient lords, society was given a helping hand as the Force was used to alter the environment of the planet on a massive scale. Art depicts trees being born of nothingness; large swaths of emptiness were transformed into grasslands, and the rigid mounds of earth molded into rolling green hills.

Findings indicate that these mysterious lords lived separate from the community, and were known as Endenomar and Aran’hial - the Guardians of Varkannias. In reality, the two protectors would seldom appear except in times of need, turmoil, or fear to guide and advise their people.

Written was such an instance, where the pair came down from the golden palaces atop the mountains of the north, and were asked feverishly by the elders for assistance against a long-forgotten threat. From within the planet, a great darkness stirred, set off by impetuous mining operations and careless manipulation of the planet’s surface. A beast of flame and fury, mightier than all other foes. One of the Alkdûr, a denizen of the deep, rose from the massive chasms below the surface clad in unbreakable armor and a cloak of burning-hot fire.

The two ancient lords clashed, as they wished to address the issue in different ways. Endenomar argued that the great beast should be tamed, and used to dominate nearby systems - a means of conquest. Aran'hial held steadfast to the view that the beast should be destroyed, whatever the cost, so that the people of Varkion could be free of danger. After long hours of discussion, Endenomar finally caved - the beast would be destroyed, no matter the cost. The pair began to devise a ritual to destroy the Alkdûr monster. Four large pillars were erected upon the planet which would serve as foci, each as tall as the highest mountains. A sizable dais was built in the center of the four which was where the ritual was to be performed. When dawn came, Endenomar was nowhere to be seen. Aran'hial waited cautiously, thrown off by his ally's sudden disappearance. In reality, Endenomar had no intention of destroying the beast. The day before, he had set gears in motion to ensure the binding of the creature, as well as the preparation of another ritual that would capture instead of destroy. Aided by the Force, Aran'hial deduced Endenomar's malfeasance and rushed to disrupt him before it was too late. The ancient lord arrived at the golden palaces within the mountains to the north of the city - it was from there that the two had maintained a watchful eye on the civilization they had, for hundreds of years, nurtured.

Encountering Endenomar and finding him to be devoid of reason, Aran'hail attempted to use the Force to disrupt the ritual. He was successful in his endevour, but at enormous cost. Striking the distracted lord down, Aran'hial altered the intent behind the Force-ritual. In doing so, Aran'hial brought destruction down upon the Alkdûran beast, casting it back into the darkness from whence it came. However, unbeknownst to Aran'hial, the ritual had a secondary function - to extinguish all life on the planet and bind it to the Great Pillars. Discovering this secret too late, Aran'hial watched in horror as his people flickered out of existence, their life-force drawn to and contained within the large pillars. Falling to his knees, darkness consumed his vision. Then, nothingness.

Aftermath and New Beginnings
While the aim of the ritual was to destroy all sentient life on the planet, the endevour was not one-hundred percent successful. A handful of individuals survived, maintaining a small, primitive society. This basic civilization grew over the next few hundred years, as did the legends of what happened on that fateful day.

It is told that Aran'hial the Merciless struck down his best friend before bringing death upon all, and that he betrayed those he had sworn to protect in exchange for power. The legend tells that the power then consumed him, killing him, and ending his reign of tyranny. It is a cautionary tale told to those who hunger with ambition and strive to be above others.

Seven years before the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant (c. 3653 BBY), a group of colonizers from Alderaan arrived in orbit. Haling from House Imperior and led by Duke Valdarion II, they integrated into the existing society, hoping to take advantage of rich metals within the planet. Initial resistance was futile, and was finally crushed when the leader of the native tribes fought Valdarion II behind closed doors and lost. No one knows what transpired, but it resulted in House Imperior claiming the planet as a tributary and profitable resource.

Soon after assuming control, Valdarion II's Varkion V was approached by a neighboring power - the Sith Imperium. Arriving with a fleet of ships, the mysterious order of Sith began to bombard the surface, careful to target locations of low population. It was clear that their intentions were not to destroy, but to demonstrate. A ground assault led by Bahr've'ahz and Q'urrim, Hand of the Sith Imperium's leader, Lord Emperor Arestenax, brought resistance quickly to heel. Instead of fighting, Valdarion II conceded to peace talks. It was not worth the integrity of House Imperior to defend a planet with a meager supply of profitable resources. Valdarion II was then granted an audience with the Sith Imperium's Lord Emperor, and was therein convinced that it would be beneficial to join the Sith Imperium. Pledging his loyalty and leaving Varkion with his followers beside him, the planet and the tale of the Red Wolf were left to the sands of time... but not forgotten.