Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Sub a cadre of elite guards. Also expand on the repercussions of Firemane's contact with and influence on the Qadiri.
Image Credit: Here. By Alien Tan on Deviant Art.
Role: Elite guard for Siobhan and House Kerrigan-Alcori.
Permission: ARGH gear available per this thread. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here and here. Permission to use Tricks of the Trade submissions here.
Links: Qadiri, Firemane, Qadiri Sepoys, The Sin of Pride, Tephrike, Into Darkness, After Darkness.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Cataphracts of the Ascending Phoenix
Affiliation: Siobhan Kerrigan, House Kerrigan-Alcori, Varkasa Jai Nasal.
Classification: Praetorian guard, warrior cult, knightly order.
Description: Their Cataphracts of the Ascending Phoenix are a martial order of Qadiri warriors in the service of Siobhan Kerrigan and House Kerrigan-Alcori. They are rooted in the traditions of Qadiri chivalry and faith. Religion had long been a powerful force in Qadiri society. This is similar to he Eldorai, but in a different way. The Qadiri there is no single unified women who embodies church and state. Their beliefs can be classed as henotheistic, for there is a single Goddess called Kashara, who is generally acknowledged to be supreme, but other deities exist under her rule. The head of the Kashari faith is the Saoshyant, but her temporal power has always varied. The Qadiri religion regards the Force (or Zari, as they call it, literally spirit or soul) as a gift from the goddesses.
Their faith also acknowledges the existence of demigods and demigoddesses. This is what the devotees of the Ascending Phoenix categorised their idol as. According to their theology, Siobhan is the daughter of Kashara and of a mortal man who received the rare honour of laying with the goddess. Of course, in actual fact Siobhan has no divine heritage of any sort and is a mortal human, but her powers and deeds have convinced these believers otherwise. That said, it is a reciprocal relationship, for they have certain expectations they expect their idol to meet. Naturally the members still honour the deities of their foremothers. Chief among them is Kashara, for she is the supreme goddess and sent her daughter to lead her people to salvation. It is pertinent to note that claiming to have some form of divine heritage is nothing new for Qadiri rulers. For instance, Daughter of Kashara is one of Shahbânu Semiramis' many titles. However, the Lady Kerrigan possesses a lot more power.
As the name implies, the Cataphracts are not just a religious cult, but also a martial order. Their members see themselves as templars, crusading in their benefactor's name and following the traditions of Qadiri knights. This is a reflection of the fact that the Qadiri are a warlike people with a strong martial ethos. War for the Qadiri has always been a daily part of life and politics. In short, the Cataphracts follow established Qadiri chivalric traditions rather than representing a radical break with them. Moreover, the image they have of their deity is that of a war goddess. Fire and phoenix iconography is much in evidence in their barracks, banners and often emblazoned upon their suits of armour, which are cared for meticulously. Likewise, the Cataphracts have a habit of naming their walkers.
Both male and female Qadiri belong to the warrior cult though females are the more numerous. This is how the Qadiri have traditionally fought and so it is not considered strange for them. That said, the Qadiri are more progressive in gender matters when compared to their Eldorai or Xioquo cousins, as their society follows enactic-cognatic succession instead of absolute enactic. Thus there are both male and female officers in the unit. Firemane has spared no expenses when it comes equipping these warriors and so they have access to some of the corporation's best gear. It helps that Siobhan is extremely protective of her family...or paranoid. Maybe both.
Many of the Cataphracts are members of the lower Qadiri gentry or hedge knights. More flexible than the upper nobility, they were quick to adapt. One of their most prominent leaders is a former sellsword and tourney knight called Varkasa Jai Nasal. After her mother was crippled in a tourney by a foe who cheated, Varkasa had to make money through participation in tourneys, as a sellsword and occasionally bandit. She managed to get her big break during Semiramis' rise to power and became one of the leaders of a sellsword company.
She was part of the Mirza of Lakish's ill-fated expedition to the Underealm, where she was saved by Firemane troops. This triggered a religious awakening in her. Varkasa is sincere in her faith...but also the type of crusader who is equally devoted to gold, glory and the goddess. She is a Yazgid racer for sport and has a gift for writing semi-fictitious accounts of her adventures.
The Cataphracts of the Ascending Phoenix have sworn an oath of fealty to Siobhan and her family. Elpsis is regarded as her blessed daughter, whose fire is a manifestation of the Lady's power. This can produce awkward and hilarious situations since Elpsis hates the idea of a mortal being venerated. Siobhan obviously enjoys being venerated, but treats her vassals well. Partly out of genuine affection, partly out of common sense and calculation. Incidentally, the Cataphracts have a rivalry with the Daughters of the Destroyer. This is an all-female Xioquo cult that also worships Siobhan. Its members postulate that Siobhan took Mystra's place by slaying her, for this act proved that she was the 'stronger goddess'. Both cults compete for their patron's affection. It both amuses and at times exasperates Siobhan.
The Cataphracts regard themselves as knights of Kashara and her Radiant Daughter. They seek to uphold a code of honour that is heavily based on Qadiri notions of chivalry. Martial values have always been a key component of Qadiri society and there is even a martial tradition that can be equated to knighthood. Of course, the lines between knight, mercenary and brigand have often been thin, depending on the political and economic situation. There have been plenty of warriors and rulers who were equal parts committed to the goddess, gold and glory. With Siobhan as their quasi-feudal overlord, the Cataphracts have found it surprisingly easy to fit in. The knights still use Qadiri terms for military ranks, though they have consented to a dual ranking system to make it more transparent for outsiders. For instance, Subedar is the Qadiri rank of Captain, while a Jemedar is a Sergeant and a Sargord is the equivalent of Major.
The guardians benefit from several advantages due to their close proximity to Firemane's autocratic leader, especially compared to regulars and common Sepoys. It is always a good idea to ensure that your bodyguards are well-cared for, so pay is very good. They also receive a generous benefits package. Naturally they are expected to constantly hone their combat skills through rigorous drill and training. The Qadiri knights have access to Firemane's Mag'ladroth walkers. These war engines have taken the place of the Yazgid mounts the warriors used to ride. It is not uncommon for a Cataphract to name their mechanical mount and emblazon the symbol of their house upon it.
All soldiers who belong to this unit are veterans and the selection process is very thorough, as the wheat is separated from the chaff, so to speak. A select group of the Cataphracts are permanently assigned to Siobhan and always accompany her. The members of this detachment are assigned on a rotational basis so that their skills remain sharp. Firemane employees have nicknamed them her Sacred Band and the unofficial moniker has stuck since the Karishzar turned out to be fond of it. The Cataphracts have a friendly rivalry with the Granite Guard, Siobhan's Kar'zun praetorians.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Medium
Unit Availability: Rare
Unit Experience: Elite.
Equipment:
Armour:
- Ironside Armour or ACS-004 Olympian Battle Armor. Commlink uses CD-X cryptologic key.
- Seraph Shield
- Sarix Mk2
- Ashira's Maul
- Sarzmigar Mk2
- Force Imbued Sword or Halberd
- Vibrodagger
- Shatter Pistol
- Magnetic Revolver
- Sonic Disruptor
- Renegade Model 557
- Cylix Bolt Pistol
- Hold-out Bolter
- Uproar Blaster
- RSIC-11 "Suncrusher" Blaster Pistol
- Reaper Plasma Shotgun
- Mk 1 Bolter
- Agneya Particle Rifle
- Bobcaster
- ACS-205 Advanced Dual Weapon System
- ACS-202 Vanquisher Light Repeating Blaster
- Magnetic Repeater
- ACS-205 Blackblade Modular Rifle.
- Headbanger (mission-specific).
- Equaliser
- RC-2
- Firestorm Multiple Missile Launcher (requires Ironside armour) or Lance Missile Launcher
- High Velocity Kinetic Shatter Boltgun
- Firebrand Thermite Grenade Launcher
- ARGH Flamer All variants.
- Heavy Bolter
- ACS-207 Aerosolblaster.
- Wrist Bolter
- ACS-208 Wrist Ion Beamer.
- ACS-208 Wrist Charric
- Under-Barrel Sonic Blaster
Misc:
- Neural Band
- Paragon-class Personal Energy Shield
- Sky-Strike Jetpack
- Electro Cestus
- ACS-301 YVH Probe Droids
- Access to ACS-602 High Explosive Specialty Ammunition for slugthrowers
- APE Boltgun Ammunition
Combat Function: The Cataphracts are an elite guard force and shock troopers. Their main strengths are their resilience, fanatical loyalty, firepower, skill and equipment. Those among them who wear the Ironside armour benefit from its excellent protective qualities and the enhanced strength it grants the wearer. Overall they are not very quick when using their power armour, and thus can be vulnerable to ambushes from light infantry and snipers. They also lack effective air defences beyond portable missile launchers, which is rather variable, and are vulnerable to long range bombardment. Furthermore, their numbers are rather low and so they are easily outnumbered.
Finally, none of the members of the unit are Force-Sensitive. They are trained to resist mental manipulation and have weapons that are very effective against Force-users, but while they are good at fighting space mages they lack preternatural powers themselves. Moreover, their religious zeal and code of honour could be used against them. Pride and zeal can make them loathe to quit a fight or retreat, even when it might be in their best interests to do so. The lightsabre resistance of their suits of armour is minor in both cases. Better than what common Stormtrooper armour could provide, but inferior in comparison to a truly lightsabre-resistant suit made of Beskar or Phrik. Qadiri are used to humid or hot temperatures, as they grew up in desert lands and tropics. Thus outside of their sealed armour they are uncomfortable in cold environments.
The Cataphracts have access to Mag'ladroth walkers. These are powerful infantry support platforms. Their heavy firepower makes them ideal infantry shredders and they are designed to combat Sithspawn and hostile Force-users. However, they are extremely slow and cannot compete with a tank. The warriors regard them as mechanical steeds, akin to the lizards they used to mount. Their Yazgid Infantry Fighting Vehicles are fast and good infantry shredders, but cannot stand up to a tank.
The Cataphracts are charged with protecting Firemane's first family, but can also be used on the battlefield. Their heavy armour, powerful weapons, tenacity and martial prowess make them heavy infantry assault troops. They are best backed up by light infantry though, which can complement their strengths and weaknesses. They can crack enemy strong points and are strong in defence. They often make use of jet packs to enhance their mobility. Use of weapons such as the Firestorm and the Boltgun gives them a lot of firepower.
Strengths:
- Crack unit. The Catapharacts are elite infantry, characterised by bravery, skill, zeal and tenacity.
- Power armour makes them extremely resilient and grants enhanced strength. Walkers are tough and have a lot of firepower.
- The same power armour also makes them slow and reduces agility. Certain types of terrain can be difficult to traverse while wearing it. Their walkers are extremely slow and thus at a disadvantage against faster craft. They are also vulnerable to long range bombardment and air strikes.
- They are knights and close assault troopers, not special forces, assassins or spies. They would be a poor fit for missions that require stealth and subterfuge. Their warrior code could also get in the way.
It is an interesting what if to debate what would happen if seemingly benign aliens with highly advanced spaceships and preternatural powers suddenly appeared on our little blue planet, ended all wars, solved several of our social problems and took us to space. Undoubtedly a good number of us would suspect sinister motivations. However, it is likely that many humans would worship such beings. Firemane's arrival on Tygara came as a profound shock to the native cultures there. No matter whether Vashyada, Xioquo or Qadiri, all indigenous peoples were affected in some way.
Some saw - understandably - saw threats to their way of life, others opportunities when the star people descended from the stars. Some experienced what can only be described as a religious awakening. The warlike, martial Qadiri had a long tradition that there were other people living out amongst the stars. However, their image of benevolent solar deities was challenged when slavers descended from the stars to pillage and murder. Shahbânu Semiramis, ruled of the largest state on Tygara, managed to defeat the first incursion. But the slavers returned, this time in superior numbers. Lacking advanced tech or knowledge of spaceflight, the Qadiri were at a disadvantage.
Firemane and the Eldorai happened to intervene, destroying the corsair fleet. As it turned out they were here to stay. Firemane's leader, Siobhan Kerrigan, would go on to lead a coalition of races against the Xioquo, long the archenemy of the Qadiri. Their subterranean lair was finally stormed. The Xioquo's 'Demigoddess' Myrou was slain by Siobhan and her allies. Among Qadiri and Xioquo alike, she became known as the Karishzar, which is the Xioquo word for Destroyer. Some Qadiri pledged allegiance to the alien conqueror, seeking a patron to shield them from her enemies. Some even whispered her name in prayer, though these remained a minority. Many of them were former slaves that had been emancipated at her behest.
Then, many years later, she promulgated the abolition of slavery. Of course, the road would be an arduous one and even after this declaration, slaveowners tried to hold on to their property and perpetuate slavery in secret, but an important step had been made. Those who had been freed from bondage were supposed to receive an education, land and tools to ensure that they would not be left destitute. Furthermore, she would bring the Qadiri to the stars. The most zealous of her Qadiri devotees organised themselves into the Cataphracts of the Ascending Phoenix.
The cult acquired its first followers among Qadiri from the state of Lakish. Its soldiers were saved by a Firemane army led by Siobhan after their Mirza led them on an ill-fated, premature assault to conquer the Underealm. Moreover, after removing the cruel ruler from the throne, Siobhan used this land as a testing bed for her progressive ideas, namely gradual abolition of slavery, provision of education and of machines that would both improve the economy and make slavery outdated. From here Firemane also recruited Sepoys to swell the ranks of its army.
The core of the Cataphracts was drawn from a Qadiri sellsword company called the Steel Phoenix Company. One of their captains, Varkasa Jai Nansal, was a knight and sellsword. Having fought in several conflicts on Tygara and proved her mettle as a warrior, she was part of the Mirza of Lakish's ill-fated attack on the Underealm. When their forces were being overwhelmed by the Xioquo, she saw Firemane aircraft fly overhead and lay the enemy's troops to waste. She also witnessed Siobhan Kerrigan rain destruction upon the enemy. At first she was afraid and interpreted this event as a sign from the heavens.
Later she concluded that the 'Skyqueen' was fulfilling the will of the Goddess and pledged her sword to her. Members were also drawn from other Qadiri war bands as well as freed slaves. Qadiri knights eager for a chance to gain honour, glory and booty joined the group. After they had proved themselves in engagements with Rogue Sith, Kraal raiders and rebels, Siobhan promoted them as a force of shock troopers and allowed them to wear Firemane's power armour. It was to these warriors Siobhan turned to when she desired to create a praetorian guard for House Kerrigan-Alcori.
They were a natural fit for this task. Being outsiders, they owed everything to the Lady. In some cases they also owed her their freedom, or at least the chance to leave the confinement of their origins and see the stars. Moreover, they were zealous and idolised her. Discipline was tight and brazen lone wolf actios were frowned upon. Their training emphasised precise marksmanship over blazing away. However, the Cataphracts were not merely ceremonial guards, but a crack military unit. This enabled them to accompany their leader on campaigns and fight her enemies. They did so during the Krolis War, fighting alongside Siobhan when she battled the forces of the League of Krolis, especially their powerful fire mages from the Sistren of the Eternal Flame.
When Tegaea Alcori embarked on an expedition to explore unknown worlds, Firemane happened upon a world called Tephrike, which had been isolated from the rest of the Galaxy since the outbreak of the Gulag Virus. Unfortunately, the expedition turned out to be anything but a peaceful first contact, as the explorers stumbled upon a post-apocalyptic hellhole inhabited by Jedi zealots, slave-driving, chaotic Sith and rebels with a radical anti-Forcer-user agenda. The last of the three was the most sympathetic. Firemane attempted diplomacy with the Jedi-led Dominion of Light, a totalitarian theocracy. However, extremists within the Dominion's government assaulted the Firemane delegation with the approval of the Grandmaster, who opposed a group of moderates led by his own Battlemaster. Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori held off Dominion militia and Jedi warriors to ensure the escape of the delegation, but was captured by the Inquisition.
In response Firemane declared war. The Dominion's capital was bombed and Firemane deployed ground troops, entering an alliance of convenience with the Republican Guard, an anti-Force-User insurgency. Two large task forces were assembled; one to launch a strike against a Dominion fortress and punish the Jedi, the other to find and rescue or avenge Elpsis. Cataphracts were dispatched to join both groups. The assault on Fortress Purity was a bloody one. The Dominion's tech was primitive, but they used kamikaze fighters and a weather control machine to negate Firemane's air power.
Firemane lost several transports and gunships to the storm caused by the machine. Moreover, they utilised suicide bombers, sharpshooters and large numbers of Force-Users. Fierce fighting took place in the forest, tunnels and on a hill that formed a cornerstone of the Dominion's defences. There the enemy used Jedi who specialised in sharpshooting and Sense abilities to snipe Firemane and Republican Guard. Some fanatics pretended to be dead by hiding among the bodies, only to detonate explosives when Firemane troops got close. Many of the Dominion troops fought to the death and did their best to take as many enemies as possible with them.
Firemane utilised the Celestial Dragons, a sect of Qadiri elementalists, to turn the raging storm against the enemy. Qadiri pilots from Mirage Squadron were among the few who could fly in the hazardous weather conditions. The Cataphracts were a key component of the Firemane assault force. Working with Firemane regulars and the Silencers, a unit of Force-Users who specialised in negating the Force abilities of other adepts, they fought relentlessly. They acted as tanks and shock troopers. Their heavy armour came in handy, as most Dominion soldiers used slugthrowers. Nonetheless, they suffered casualties. When the Firemane troops and their allies attacked the hill after weathering a suicide bombers' charge and a mental attack from Dominion mentalists, a Xioquo warrior called Karrigan'Xalda summoned a heavy mist to help conceal them. Because their heavy armour made it difficult to be stealthy or traverse the mud, the Cataphracts used their jet packs to close in on the enemy while unloading their weapons. Meanwhile, the Silencers sniped enemies.
During the assault on a hill, they clashed with the Ever Loyal Vanguard, a force of elite Jedi guardians. Both units fought with courage and zealotry, but the Cataphracts refused to give way even when regulars were driven back. Their commander rallied them and they fought with religious fervour. Their anti-Force-User combat training and equipment proved vital. Eventually the Firemane troops were able to prevail through use of combined arms tactics. The Cataphracts fought their way through to the fortress. In a last ditch effort, Jedi General Kennobi ordered a brigade of Younglings and Padawans to perform a suicidal death charge to allow Dominion officers to retreat. After giving the order he committed seppuku. Their suicidal charge turned into a slaughter. Fortress Purity fell to the combined forces of Firemane and the Republican Guard, but victory had come at a cost. In the aftermath of the battle, Cataphracts and some regulars buried the bodies of the dead Younglings who had been so cruelly sent to die by their masters.
Meanwhile a group of Cataphracts led Varkasa Jai Nasal was part of Tempest's task force, which was responsible for finding Elpsis and enacting retribution against the Inquisition. They did not know where Elpsis was being held, so their first stop was a brainwashing camp called the Liberation Education Centre. This was not where Elpsis was being held, but it was the biggest Dominion re-education centre with a lot of records, a lot of people to question and a good chance of finding people high up. In short, it was a follow the dots game. The principal assault team consisted of Dahomians solldiers and Varkasa's Qadiri. They attacked the camp's two entrances in the north and south. Meanwhile, an operative called Natalie used the mayhem to stealthily approach the camp from the west and lay explosive charges, so that Tempest and her team could enter.
Varkasa led her warriors into the fight, inspiring them with a short speech. They came in hot, using their jetpacks to traverse the terrain. Once the camp entrance came in sight, they unloaded their weapons, bombarding it with a hail of missiles, explosive microgrenades and high-velocity slugs. They were few in number, but had the element of surprise, firepower and heavy armour. Many Dominion soldiers used primitive slugthrowers, which had difficulty penetrating their armour. Still, the fighting was intense, for the Dominion troops were fanatical and had Jedi among them. Varkasa engaged one such warrior in combat. The Jedi was able to bring her down with telekinesis and launch a mental attack, but Varkasa injured him with a bolter and then took him down in melee, using her augmented strength to overpower him.
Their allies penetrated the camp's defences and the Cataphracts pushed through, storming the facility while they chanted their hymns. Varkasa took out a Dominion heavy machine gun nest. However, some Dominion officials escaped. Nonetheless, Firemane was able to take prisoners and seize valuable data. This revealed to them that an offworlder matching Elpsis' description was being held in a camp called Serene Springs. After a brief recuperation, the task force was deployed there. However, they faced an intense fight, for the Grand Inquisitor of the Dominion had come for a visit and brought his personal guard. A battle was fought on land and the sea.
Firemane deployed tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The Cataphracts hitched a ride on one and provided fire support, but the Dominion deployed barges. Some were filled with soldiers and Jedi warriors, others explosives. Rammed Firemane tanks went up in flames. The Qadiri knights unloaded their heavy firepower on the barges and speeder boats. Mirage Squadron, a unit of crack Qadiri starfighter pilots, provided close air support by strafing Dominion troops. As the battle turned into Firemane's favour, Varkasa and her comrades waded through the shallow water and stormed the dock. The guns on their suits and the blades they held cut down any in their path. Following behind the regular infantry took cover behind their advancing forces and provided a galling fire.
By the time they entered the camp, smoke was rising from the central complex. Fires raged and the buildings were engulfed by flames. Elpsis had managed to overcome her brainwashing and slain the Grand Inquisitor. Prisoners were in revolt, avenging themselves on their tormentors. The Cataphracts and the other Firemane forces clashed with remaining Dominion troops, putting them to the sword. A force consisting of rogue Dominion forces in opposition to the present leadership surrendered and was spared. Elpsis and the other freed prisoners were evacuated. The Cataphracts were commended for their actions in both missions. Tygaran and especially Qadiri troops had fought in the Tephrike campaign in significant numbers.
Recently, the Qadiri of Suqua offered Siobhan the crown of their land. Their Mirza had died without an heir and her subjects wanted to prevent Shahbânu Semiramis from annexing their land. It was only a small fiefdom, but it flattered her ego and she took an actual interest in improving her new subjects' lives. Because Siobhan could not spend a lot of time actually ruling the place in person due to her many titles, she assigned Jazmaria Jai Saobana, a former slave and one of Siobhan's favourite Qadiri 'daughters', to govern as her viceroy. A detachment of the Ascended and Cataphracts accompanied her to the city.
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