Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Major NPCs involved in the Ziost story line.

The Emperor is the supreme master of the Sith Empire, or at least that is the case on paper and from the outside. Internally, the Emperor is far removed from the day to day operation of the Empire insulated by his Hands of the Emperor and the Imperial Guard. In the Early days of the Empire he was quite active but in this present time his presence is often more inferred than seen as the immortal Emperor is known to rest or seclude himself for decades at a time.

His latest awakening has been the most active he has been in years and it has the Dark Council on edge as they are not used to such a direct hand in their affairs. The Emperor rarely speaks in public relying on the Voice of the Emperor to speak on his behalf.

He looks human but there are stories that his physical body has changed over time, and some say that his essence is the truly immortal part and the body is just a transitory vessel the Emperor uses until his Dark Side energies burn it away requiring a new body.

Hooks

• He is the Emperor, you serve him or you are made an example of so that others know to serve the rightful ruler of the galaxy.

Returning from self-imposed exile the Sith known as Darth Hofu has gained a following of Sith and Imperials who buy into his nihilistic philosophy that the galaxy is headed towards a time of darkness and endings. It is this goal that drives him, to usher in this time of endings, end the false peace and ignite the galaxy in glorious war and destruction. From the ashes the Sith Empire will be reborn as a stronger and indomitable entity.

He professes that this time of endings and change will herald the return of the Dread Lords, and those who serve them now shall be rewarded when their dominance comes to control the fate of the galaxy.

For now he receives petitioners within the Dread Cathedral, a once abandoned office center now converted into his stronghold on Ziost and holds a twisted court of his own.

Hooks

• Do you believe in the end times, seek guidance then come to his court.
• Wish to serve a powerful up and coming Sith, then seek his favor.
• Seek to know the depths of dread and fear within the Dark Side.
• Want to be part of cult/movement, join the Children of Dread and hear the gospel of the Lords of Dread.

Darth Acina trained at the academy on Dromund Kaas which has been supplanted by the more prestigious Sith Academy on Korriban and exceled as a student. She turned her skills to archaeology and the study of Sith history, netting her a modicum of fame and success within the Sith. She seems an unlikely aspirant, but she has turned her meager ambition to trying to reform and guide the Empire towards strength.

Acina is a voice of reason one that has garnered the backing of Darth Marr and her longtime ally and friend, Darth Malgus giving her a great deal of support as she competes for a seat on the Dark Council.

She is recognized as a competent lightsaber duelist and powerful Sith with a sharp intellect, but not as well versed with the intrigues of the Sith. She tends to be straight forward, eschewing circuitous guile for precision and expediency. It makes her less than apt at the viper like settings of high society, a shortcoming she is trying to rectify.

Hooks

• Sith history and the history of the Empire is always a welcome topic.
• Acina believes that the Empire needs reform, or it will die, join her cause?
• Seeking a powerful patron who is a Sith patriot, then seek Acina.

A dark lord of the Sith, politician, and a mother to twins; Darth Tayana is a busy woman. She is also the wife of Darth Xevious, a member of the Dark Council which gives her a privileged if precarious position in the Empire. She is mindful of that role and is always working to strengthen the family especially the position of her children in Sith society.

Tayana will not allow herself to be defined as simply the wife of anyone and is the de facto queen of high society on Ziost, she can make or break someone’s status with a well times word or even a withering look. Nobility and Sith fight for her approval and favor and earning a personal invitation from her can change someone’s fortunes overnight.

She wields this power deftly to smooth over relations with her husband’s rivals and few allies, pushing his plots forward when needed or cleaning up his mistakes or gaffes. She loves her husband and family and threat to their well-being is met with fire, and she has many resources at her disposal to make it happen without ever dirtying her hands.

Hooks

• Want to a friend in a high place, seek out Darth Tayana.
• Wanting a social event to be a splash or promoting the latest trendy bistro, send her an invitation.
• Tayana knows the best gossip, she probably knows things you don’t want her to know.
• Looking to be judged, approach Darth Tayana.

Ensign Pierce is not a model soldier, but he Is a good soldier. He knows how to fight, he never gives up, and is a patriot of the Imperial cause. A natural athlete, Ensign Pierce is a large powerful looking human who maintains a strict regimen of physical training to stay in top fighting condition. Despite that discipline he has many disciplinary notices in his file and gets along poorly with his commanders.

He has no issue with leaders but those he feels are poor leaders or just appointees due to social position tend to rub him the wrong way. His current assignment with Bex Company is a perfect storm of awful for him, a lazy commander, a poorly organized unit, and service far from the action make him agitated, bored, and prone to taking unneeded risks to get the action he craves.

Pierce is busy though as the second in command of the unit the bulk of administration falls to him as his commander is too lazy to deal with the minute details of running the unit. This only angers him more as Ensign Pierce hates paperwork.

Hooks

• A fellow solider in the Emperor’s forces? You have a friend in Pierce.
• Know a great spot for a drink or to get into a fight, Pierce will gladly join you.
• Want to help Bex company succeed? Pierce will be glad for the help.
• Want to take a risky hunt for a Monitor? That will get his interest real quick.

Investigator Walber is a security officer living in New Adasta, a long time veteran of the force he wears plain clothes and is brought in usually to investigate homicides and violent crime. Outwardly he is a tall and thin human male and a rather typical looking Imperial but he is rather intelligent and very observant. He tries to avoid Sith as they tend to make his investigations more complicated than they need to be and likes to work alone but his current case has him working on something much higher profile than he used to, the Eagle.

A woman, noble scion, was found dead and the clues pointed towards her being an informant for the Eagle which immediately complicated his investigation and got him wrapped up with Imperial Intelligence and the Dark Council, though in both cases they both deny that there is anything to worry about but all the red tape and his own gut have him thinking otherwise.

Hooks

• Getting too old for this shit, so is Walber.
• Hunting the Eagle, you will probably cross paths, hinder him or help?
• Looking to see the less shiny side of New Adasta, take a ride with Walber.