Prophet of Bogan
- Intent: Flesh out my cult's ambassadors and diplomats.
- Image Credit: Made using Midjourney
- Role: The Marrist Clerics serve primarily as the ambassadors and diplomats of the Order of Wonosa, although they can also be found as civil authorities and in bureaucratic roles.
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Group Name: Clerics of Marr
- Affiliation: Order of Wonosa, House of Marr, Ostensibly Sith Order
- Classification: Statespersons, Diplomats, Civil Leaders
- Description: Typically wearing grey robes, the Marrist Clerics initially appear as rather dour and solemn at first glance but in truth are professional and calculating individuals. They hold themselves to a high standard and take their duties and missions as nothing short of divinely appointed tasks, choosing to wield diplomacy as their weapon of choice. They are also more than competent when it comes to administration and as such boast determined demeanors which often earn them respect from those they work with.
- Unit Size: Small
- Unit Availability: Rare
- Unit Experience: Expert
- Equipment:
- Code Cylinder
- Spycam
- Holorecorder
- Encrypted Long-Range Comlink
- Zeyd-Weave Robes
- Specialization Function: The Clerics of Marr are trained and excel in three realms above all others: diplomacy, administration, and civil discourse. They are scholars of law and order, within the Sith Order and beyond, and use such knowledge to forge agreements and understanding with any who they are sent to parley with. This study also allows them to better understand and perform administrative duties, making them ideal and efficient bureaucrats that can turn even the newest colony or fringe world into a steadily growing economy within a few months. Unusually for Sith they focus less on power and domination and more on subversion and persuasion, being fluid yet intent in all their dealings so as to gain the best possible outcome for themselves and their patrons.
- Force Abilities (Force User Units Only): Telepathy, Force Suppression, Mind Trick
- Silver Tongues: The Marrist teachings highlight the art of persuasion as one of the chief disciplines that one of their Clerics must master and perfect, making each one a skilled negotiator that can turn a rioting mob into a peaceful protest with but a few choice words and one speech. Or do the exact opposite, should the situation call for such. Additionally they are trained in a variety of cultures and practices so that no matter whom they deal with they always present themselves as respectful and even charming.
- Statecraft Extraordinaire: As part of their education and training the more mundane bureaucratic and administrative facets of governments and systems ranging from local scales to galaxy spanning endeavors are comfortable and familiar tools for them. This not only allows them to more effectively sway negotiations with precise promises of improvements and efficient suggestions but also makes them ideal civil authorities in their own right.
- Sworn to Words: As part of their training and personal codes in order to promote themselves as ideal diplomats, the Marrist sect will never raise up arms against an opponent. The most "offensive" actions that they are allowed to perform are Force Suppression or Mind Trick in order to prevent harm from coming to themselves. Additionally they cannot order their escorts to attack someone, they can only act in defense of the Cleric. This hampering not only leaves them open to attack but also has made them an easy source of critique by more bellicose parties.
- Obvious Bias: Despite their intention of aiding in Sith politics and ambassadorial services in general, even the most obtuse of individuals would quickly realize that above all else the Clerics of Marr are loyal to the Order of Wonosa and the House of Marr. If there is a path for their negotiations to swing more power or influence towards their cult or patron saint's heirs then they will pursue it, even if it means a detriment to the wider Sith Order as a result.
Diplomacy had never been a particular strong suit of the Order of Wonosa throughout its history, preferring to keep an isolated policy that only really interacted with the local communities of whatever worlds they established outposts upon. Their typical interactions with other groups mainly consisted of their little war on slavery and piracy in the Outer Rim, leaving little room for ambassadorial needs. Civil administration would become a need over the years but by and large was left to Non-Force Sensitive members of the cult so as to keep the Sith free to wage their holy wars without distraction.
Everything changed when Darth Strosius seemingly died at the hands of Darth Malum however. The Order of Wonosa would effectively divide itself into two subgroups in the aftermath, the contingent held out on Faldos which retracted within themselves and began preparing to defend their world from the backlash following their leader's death and the Rimward Wonosan forces which would continue to undertake their blessed crusade against criminals. Within both divisions however there would be the inevitable need for diplomats and ambassadors now that Darth Strosius was gone, and thus the seeds of the Clerics of Marr were laid.
There was actually a third subdivision within the two main factions of Wonosa that would largely hide themselves due to their unorthodox beliefs, that being that Darth Malum of House Marr did indeed have their allegiance. The terms of the Kaggath made it so. The vast majority of the cult disagreed of course but these few nagging voices would hold on to that belief and would turn to revering the ancient Sith Darth Marr as a means to exercise it without arousing suspicion of their loyalties from their siblings in faith. Darth Strosius's unexpected yet welcomed return would restore unity from the divisions which threatened to take route in His cult and would find some more diplomatically minded individuals as well as the small sect of Marrists during said restoration.
As a show of good will to His "brother" and the Tsis'Kaar, Darth Strosius would formalize the creation of a sect based on Darth Marr which focused not only on the arts of diplomacy but also on administration. These Sith would not conquer and carve through armies but would instead be the ones to build the Sith into a mighty empire worthy of their grand legacy. A task which the newly established Clerics of Marr would undertake with gusto and fervor, to some extreme degrees even.
