The Griffin of Vandemar
A U R E L I A N
The Griffin of Vandemar
- Full Name: Aurelian Sigismund
- Homeworld: Zakuul
- Faction: Eternal Empire
- Ranks:
- Overlord of the Eternal Empire
- Champion of the Dragon Guard
- Hegemon of Vandemar and Zakuul
- High Imperator of the Eternal Legion
- Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
- Titles:
- The Griffin of Vandemar
- Immortal Master of Zakuul
- Former Titles:
- Exarch of Zakuul [Eternal Empire]
- Master Ecthelion Aiglos [Jedi Order]
- Darth Ultramar [Sith Empire]
- Character Alignment: Lawful Evil
- Species: Human
- Race: Zakuulan
- Gender: Male
- Age: Ancient [born 3,680 BBY]
- Height: 2,79 meters
- Weight: 498 kilograms
- Hair Color: White
- Eye Color: Grey
"Look around you. Zakuul is poised to become the greatest civilization in the history of the galaxy. I have forged this empire to surmount all of my previous works. To span eternity. The Eternal Throne commands a fleet more vast than any ever built. It has the power to reshape the galaxy into any image that I choose. That we choose. I will share all of this with you… if you will only kneel."
Aurelian grew up in a different era, his mind and heart shaped by the presence of no other than Valkorion himself. He saw the glory, the power of an Empire which truly deserved to be Eternal, ruled by a god and just through its absence of dogmatism. A fact he learned to appreciate even more once Aurelian dwelled among the petty souls of the Sith and Jedi for many centuries. But there was never anything in his heart but Zakuul and its Empire. No presence but the lost aura of the Immortal Emperor himself.
Through the millennia of his life, he understood that it is neither the Jedi, nor the Sith which deserve to strife, to rule or even to exist. They have forfeited their right to roam the Galaxy by adhering to a senseless clash of narrow-mindedness, posed to have no true victor. Led by councils of fools, corrupt politicians, cruel tyrants and succumbing to the same supernatural superstition called The Force.
The Force is a tool, an instrument to enact ones duty, to apply when one sees fit. But it resists this purpose, its sentience casting judgement and chaos upon the Galaxy, bringing forth the wars that harass and destroy what actual sentient beings build, undoing the achievements of the many by the radically random powers of the few. Aurelian wields the Force through pure domination of its will and utter despise of its potential, as a means to end all means. The Force, the Jedi, the Sith - all must be destroyed. The Force must be annihilated.
"A man that kills indiscriminately with the unshakable belief that his cause is just."
"Mercy is a sign of weakness. It has no place in war."
"Mercy is a sign of weakness. It has no place in war."
Aurelian is void of the false values of mercy and humility, his militaristic mind having the absolutes imprinted in them that his path is as just as his goal. Annihilating a world under the orders of Arcann in retaliation and provocation, executing prisoners of the Sith or Jedi, sacrificing worlds for the greater good or invading planets to claim lost artifacts which either serve him or be destroyed, the Griffin of Vandemar feeds on whatever he sees fit. And yet in his wake he does not leave destruction and scorched earth.
An incredible sense of justice combined with an exceptional talent for organisation, logistics and governing make his greater good not only appealing, but terrifyingly efficient. No war can be fought without resources, no soldier will die for a cause if it is not worth fighting for, no civilian will bend the knee to power alone. The promise of order, justice and even prosperity weighs heavy in the hearts of the undecided when the former Zakuulan Exarch appears.
Waging war has been his vocation for more than four and a half millennia now. He excels as warmaster and commander, it is where he finds his inner peace. Commanding from the frontline, leading special forces into clandestine operations or with armies and fleets at his command, it matters not to him, Aurelian will bring victory one way or another.
| APPEARANCE |
Aurelian Sigismund was a normal human of Zakuulan heritage, born in the Spire below the Palace of the Eternal Emperor to a family of minor nobility. A quiet child with the white hair of his fathers lineage and the grey eyes of his mother, stern and intense in their cold calmness, he grew up without being known to ever scream or cry. A stoic child which would under the Knight Schools be raised and eventually turn into a tall, well-built man which he would remain for the rest of his mortal life.
Once selected to undergo the transformation to an Exarch, Aurelian changed. Already tall and muscular, he grew beyond and through further augmentations of biological and cybernetical nature, into the transhuman he is to this day. A body of perfect proportions, muscled but athletic with sockets and connectors for his armor all over the skin, the medical staff of the Eternal Empire searched for its equals for what they perfected.
Today the Griffin of Vandemar is rarely seen without his suit of golden armor, rich with details and engravings of both his namesake animal as well as depictions of the ancient Eternal Empire. Having accepted and embraced his ascension, Aurelian has no intention to hide or be subtle. He is a force of nature, his appearance resembles that of a god of valor and justice. His aura is that of purifying light, resembling that of a star in the void, his purity of physicality is tremendous, his presence awe-inspiring.
Aurelian's voice is remarkably clear and extraordinary in its way of delivering his determination and conviction, it is powerful and reaches everyone it is meant to. There is no doubt, no hesitation in his tone, there is no arrogance or hint of screaming.
| EQUIPMENT, POSSESSIONS, CREATIONS, FOLLOWERS |
- Possessions
- Weapons:
- Armour & Appearance:
- Starships:
- Residences
- Creations
- Followers
- Knights of Zakuul:
- Shield Hosts [x] [x]
- Scions of Zakuul
- Horizon Guard
- Companions
- Eternal Legion of Zakuul:
- Eternal Empire:
- 1st Armored Ultranaut Division
- 2nd Combined Guards Division
- Knights of Zakuul:
| STRENGTHS |
- Warmaster
- Aurelian has walked across battlefields for four millennia, his personal experience alone would put him at the top of the military minds of the time but it is not only down to having seen, felt and tasted everything the palettes of warcraft have to offer but it is his passion. The Griffin believes it is his calling, his design to wage war. Commanding vast armies, mighty fleets, leading his troops into the firestorm of a battlefield or inserting a specialist team behind enemy lines - his tactical, operational and strategic acumen range beyond mortal comprehension.
- Engineer
- While you will always find a conflict to join, no being can sustain itself by limiting their horizon to a singular occupation. The Griffin chose engineering. The most mortal and yet immortal contribution to history and progress is technology and the progression of science. Physics, biology or chemistry, mechanical or electrical engineering, roads or a blade, Aurelian over the long span of his time has acquired and advanced the knowledge of various fields of artificial creation, not to a small degree inspired by his own perfection.
- Logistician
- To handle an operation requires meticulous attention to detail, to execute a battle-plan requires planning and preparation, to raise an army needs capable oversight and supplies, to see a project progress within schedule and budget a balanced handling. Be it for war or civil matters, Aurelian handles streams of information with divine ease and directs them not only to run smoothly but improves them to surpass predictions.
- Swordmaster
- It comes with little surprise that someone who is passionate about warfare is particularly skilled in combat. For Aurelian it is his sword that has the last word in every fight, that he uses to bring down his foes with righteous fury and tremendous finesse. To watch this massive figure fight is to lay eyes on a magnificent display of speed, technique and strength paired with an instinct and natural understanding of combat that is more than mortal talent.
- Justice
- Raised as a Knight of Zakuul and ascending to their highest echelons, it is only natural that Aurelian has a sense of justice. But it does extend far beyond lawful and unlawful. Order and justice, prosperity and progress are as deeply connected to form a working society as the people living in it. He does not believe in giving and taking, but gives, each of them, willingly and in abundance once his conditions are met. There is no Galaxy without people and no progress without life.
| WEAKNESSES |
- Transhuman
- Having suffered not only centuries of loneliness but also a physical capacity which goes beyond mortal limits, Aurelian has grown beyond many ordinary needs and understandings. Social connections, etiquettes, cultural hospitality or warmth are matters he recognises for their pure influence on his calculations. He does not feel compassion, mercy, curiosity towards other beings, the need for integration or friendship. They are values on a spreadsheet to be handled accordingly when the need or demand arises, but not to be embraced.
- Arrogance
- A sin for many, a natural habit for others. Being above and beyond in knowledge, skill and experience is not unknown to Aurelian and he makes little effort to hide it. Not that he indeed recognises that it may be offending, but considering it a simple matter of fact, he will be direct and correcting at any opportunity to leverage his knowledge and supremacy.
- Subtlety
- While capable of planning, ordering or executing clandestine, covert operations and engage in the game of schemes and plots, Aurelian is not known to entertain or support it. Using deception in war is one matter, but for every other intent and purpose, it is despicable and he will not hesitate to confront and crush opposition where it arises, openly or concealed.
- Faith
- Conviction, determination and focus come easily for Aurelian. They are the foundations of his character and carry his success, his advances and victories since a long time. But they are not exclusively founded on the grounds of his being. Deeply devoted, Aurelian is probably the last living being to have laid eyes on and had his heart and mind embrace the presence of Valkorion, otherwise known as Darth Vitiate. This immortal ascending godhood is what he strives for, what he believes in, what he aspires. A root singularly rotten by the very presence it embraced.
- The Force
- Born as a Force sensitive and trained by a large variety of traditions, orders and brotherhoods, Aurelian has seen the Light and Dark sides respectively, witnessed their narrow-mindedness and dogmatic nonsense. He has seen that there is nothing but eternal war for as long as both sides ideas persist as viable alternatives. He has seen that the Force in itself is the evil which its benevolent interpreters claim it fights, hence why he does not embrace his connection and will hesitate to use it to its full extent.
Last edited: