Approved NPC The Votariate | Sith Order

Darth Empyrean · Apr 5, 2025

		



	

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

Intent: To create another unit inside the greater First Legion, explaining its use of Force Powers on a large scale.
Image Credit: AI Generated through chatgpt.com
Role: 

The Votariate are a specialized auxiliary detachment within the First Legion, serving not as standard infantry, but as Force-bound doctrinal enforcers and ritual combatants. They are not bodyguards nor elite strike teams in the traditional sense—but rather, they fulfill a critical support and force-multiplier role embedded throughout the Legion.
Permissions: N/A
Links: N/A

GENERAL INFORMATION

Unit Name: The Votariate
Affiliation: 

The Votariate are fanatically loyal to Darth Empyrean and serve under the banner of the First Legion, the primary military arm of the Sith Eternalist Order within the larger Sith Empire.


They are bound by oaths both physical and spiritual to the Doctrine of Eternalism, which they interpret through constant prayer, whispered mantras, and ritualized behavior. To them, Darth Empyrean is not only their commander, but a messianic figure—the Flesh of the Sithari Spirit, the current embodiment of the dialectical will of the Dark Side.


Even above survival, Votaries prioritize:
The preservation of the Eternalist Dialectic.
The enforcement of Empyrean's Will as divine law.
The destruction or assimilation of heretical Force philosophies.
They will not break rank, even in death. When pushed beyond their limits, they will self-immolate or detonate in ritual overload rather than risk disobedience or surrender.

Classification: 
Arcane Support / Ritual Infantry / Force-Auxiliary Specialists


The Votariate do not fit neatly into traditional military classifications. They are a hybrid force, most accurately described as:
Ritual Infantry – deployed alongside standard Legion units to provide esoteric support, field rituals, and localized Force manipulation.
Arcane Artillery (limited) – capable of delivering area-effect attacks via alchemical fire, psychic bursts, or directed incantations.
Black Ops (theological) – occasionally used for sensitive operations where spiritual disruption, anti-Jedi warfare, or metaphysical suppression is needed.
Force-Auxiliary Specialists – enhancing conventional squads with access to low-level Force powers and Sith spellcasting.
Their battlefield role is flexible, but always high-risk. Due to their instability, they are never massed in formation—instead, they are embedded like ritual grenades with legs, each one capable of dramatically shifting a battle's tempo… or unraveling it entirely.

Description: 

The Votariate are an elite and arcane auxiliary within the First Legion, forged through Sith alchemy and Eternalist ritual to serve as artificial Force adepts. They are not born of the Force—but branded, bound, and broken until the Force bleeds through their flesh like steam through fractured stone.

Appearance:
Veiled in ashen-gray robes reinforced with ritual stitching and alchemized thread.
Their faces are obscured by veil-masks etched with prayer-seals, with runes that glow faintly when powers are invoked.
Their arms and torsos are covered in ritual tattoos, ever-shifting with whispers of latent Force energy.
Each carries a Ritual Token—bone beads, kyber shards, or ash-urns—used to stabilize their fragile connection to the Force.
Unit Emblem:


		



	
A closed eye wreathed in flame, set within a circle of Sith Eternalist runes. The eye represents knowledge seen through pain; the flame, power gained through suffering; the circle, the unending dialectic.

Mindset and Behavior:
Constantly whispering mantras or prayers under their breath—often fragments of Eternalist scripture or Empyrean's sermons.
Display ritualistic, repetitive behavior—rocking, clutching prayer cords, or drawing symbols in the air mid-combat to anchor their focus.
Speak rarely and in riddles or liturgical phrases.
Show fanatical devotion to Darth Empyrean, the First Legion, and the Doctrine of Eternalism.
In combat, they are unpredictable. Some burn bright and short, unleashing devastating psychic force before collapsing; others chant invocations that inspire nearby troops or unravel enemy morale.
Reputation:

Among the First Legion, they are both revered and feared—seen as necessary instruments of transcendence, but always watched for signs of collapse. To enemies, they are often mistaken for mad cultists—until the air turns black with burning sigils and blood sings with unnatural gravity.


They are the voice of ritual war—the chant beneath the roar of blasterfire, the omen whispered before the storm.

COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Small

Each Votariate unit is composed of a handful of individuals—typically 1 to 3 members per deployment, never exceeding a dozen even in ceremonial or ritual gatherings. Their unstable connection to the Force and the catastrophic potential of overload makes them too volatile to mass-deploy.


They are embedded as arcane specialists within larger First Legion formations, often accompanied by a Handler and a squad of protectors or observers, but the core ritual unit itself remains Small by design—intimate, controlled, and dangerously precise.

Unit Availability: Rare

The Votariate are Rare—painstaking to create, dangerously unstable, and requiring extensive ritual preparation, alchemical grafting, and constant psychological conditioning. Each Votary takes months—sometimes years—to forge through agony, devotion, and indoctrination.


Losses are difficult to replace, and while more initiates are always being prepared, only a fraction survive the process or maintain control of their powers. As such, Votaries are deployed sparingly, reserved for operations of strategic, doctrinal, or ritual significance.


They are seen as weapons of necessity, not convenience.

Unit Experience: Veteran

The Votariate are forged, not trained—those who survive the transformation process emerge as Veteran operatives, having already endured the crucible of alchemical torment, spiritual binding, and ritual combat.


While not every Votary has seen war, every one has faced the edge of madness and lived. Their experience lies not just in battlefield tactics, but in resisting internal collapse, maintaining spiritual focus under duress, and wielding volatile Force-based powers with discipline born of fanaticism.


Each deployment further refines their control—but even newly fielded Votaries are too dangerous, too valuable, and too hardened by their creation to be considered mere Recruits.

Equipment: 
1. Ashen Vestments (Armor-Robe Hybrid)
Woven from alchemically treated ash-silk and threaded obsidian cord, these robes are resistant to fire, psychic backlash, and light kinetic damage.
Runes inscribed along the seams act as sigil-wards, helping to suppress catastrophic overload or spiritual possession.
While they offer limited protection from blasters, they are highly resistant to Force-based interference and sorcerous attacks.
2. Ritual Token
Every Votary carries a unique personal artifact that anchors their Force-connection. These tokens may include:Prayer beads made from petrified Sith bone.
A kyber shard cracked in a sacrificial rite.
A small urn of ash from their own pre-initiation body (burned in ritual death).
These tokens allow them to focus, invoke spells, or stabilize their power mid-combat. If destroyed, the Votary becomes vulnerable to loss of control.
3. Soulbrand Weapon (Optional)
Some advanced Votaries wield alchemically branded melee weapons, such as:A force-imbued ritual glaive, inscribed with chanting runes.
A short dagger used for blood rites or psychic focus.
A staff that doubles as a sigil-inscribed talisman, amplifying Force incantations.
These weapons act as conductive foci for spellcasting and can store incantations for delayed effect.
4. Seal-Stones and Binding Scrolls
Seal-Stones contain pre-inscribed Force scripts that can be shattered to unleash stored energy (e.g., firestorm, shield, suppression field).
Binding Scrolls are parchment runes soaked in Force-blood, activated by recitation mid-battle. Used to:Wreak psychic havoc
Reinforce allies
Ward against Force intrusion
5. Containment Gauntlets
Integrated into their armwear, these bracelets or gauntlets limit the intensity of their Force output.
Used by Handlers to remotely trigger shutdowns, or by the Votary to prevent catastrophic events when nearing the edge of overload.
6. Transport & Deployment
When not marching with the Legion, Votaries are carried in isolation capsules within transport ships or walkers—lined with obsidian, nullification talismans, and hymnal recorders.
Capsules open only when a Handler activates their ritual clearance code.

Combat Function: 

The Votariate function as Force-Auxiliary Ritualists—a rare but devastating asset on the battlefield. Their role is not to engage in direct frontline combat, but to alter the tempo, terrain, and metaphysical dynamics of a conflict through spells, incantations, and Force manipulation. They are support units, but only in the sense that artillery "supports" infantry: their presence can reshape the battlefield or utterly unmake it if left unchecked.

Tactics and Habits:



1. Embedded Support Cells
Deployed in micro-units (1–3 members), embedded within platoons or strike teams.
Votaries use ritual fieldcasting to shield allies, suppress enemies, or summon alchemical effects.
They require protection during invocations but can redirect the flow of battle once active.
2. Psychological Warfare
Their mere presence induces fear, confusion, and disarray among enemy forces.
Chanting, glowing runes, and spontaneous phenomena (cries from the void, blood rising from the ground) unsettle morale.
They often initiate rituals pre-battle, leaving lingering effects like corrupted ground, illusory terrain, or "haunted" zones.
3. Anchored Positioning
Once embedded, they anchor to a location, forming a ritual node that amplifies other Sith Forces or suppresses enemy Force use.
These nodes may act like beacons or energy wells for other sorcerers to tap into, or warded zones that enemy Jedi must dismantle before advancing.
4. Self-Destructive Offensives
If cornered or forced to exert too much power, Votaries may rupture—causing wild Force events:Spontaneous combustion
Telekinetic blasts
Psychic screams or terror fields
Implosive death-sigils
These are not controlled attacks, but consequences of exceeding their spiritual limits.
Interaction With the Larger Army:
Require Dedicated Handlers – Special First Legion officers trained in doctrine, Force-resistance, and Votary management.
Protected by Escort Troops – Usually flanked by bodyguards, shields, or mech-operators to keep them safe during invocation.
Field-Coordinated With Sith Commanders – Especially effective when paired with Sith Lords or Force-using commanders who can stabilize, focus, or amplify their power.
Do Not Operate Independently – Votaries are not scouts, saboteurs, or skirmishers. They must be embedded into larger operations.
Combat Goals:
Disrupt enemy formations through fear, force interference, or sorcerous attacks.
Create ritual terrain advantages (e.g., suppression zones, wards, Force storms).
Enhance allied cohesion by broadcasting Eternalist chants or empowering nearby Force-users.
Anchor major rituals during extended campaigns (e.g., planetary rituals, necro-engineering, warp gates).

Force Abilities (Force User Units Only): 

The Votariate are artificially awakened Force users, infused with the Force through alchemy, ritual binding, and spiritual scarring. Their powers are unstable, limited in scope, but often amplified through incantation, pain, and faith. Unlike traditional Force users, they cannot call upon the Force reflexively—it requires focus, mantra, and risk.

Core Force Abilities:



1. Ritual Telekinesis (Unstable)
Can lift or hurl objects, but with strain. Overexertion may result in injury to the Votary (e.g., broken limbs or burst blood vessels).
Typically used to disrupt enemy formations or crush weakened targets.
2. Pyrokinetic Invocation
Can summon alchemical flame through Sith chants and sigil activation.
Flame is unnatural—dark-hued, sticky, and capable of clinging to Force presences (similar to Force Lightning, but slower and more volatile).
3. Battle Meditation (Fragmentary)
When several Votaries chant in unison, they can induce localized battlefield calm, bolstering allied focus and suppressing enemy clarity.
Not true wide-scale meditation—only affects nearby units.
4. Force Suppression Field (Ritual-Based)
Through a pre-marked sigil pattern and synchronized chanting, they can create zones where Force abilities are dampened.
Useful against Jedi or rival Sith, but requires time and protection to set up.
Rare or Unusual Abilities:



5. Echo Binding
Temporarily bind a lingering Force echo (residual presence, pain, or memory of a slain Force user).
Can replay traumatic memories in the minds of enemies or siphon emotion as fuel.
Dangerous—risk of possession or echo backlash.
6. Corpse-Warding / Necro-Focus
Can use fallen bodies as ritual anchors to channel Force power.
Often allows extension of spellcasting range or acts as circuit breakers to prevent overload (bodies die a second time, explosively).
7. Wyrm-Tongue (Forbidden)
A dangerous form of telepathic chanting, wherein the Votary channels a fragment of the Worm Emperor's voice to induce madness or spiritual erosion in others.
Use is rare and often results in the Votary's own unraveling—used only in last resorts or as martyrdom.

Strengths:
Arcane Force Multipliers: The Votariate serve as devastating ritual specialists capable of battlefield manipulation, psychic disruption, and metaphysical support, turning the tide of engagements when used strategically.
Doctrinal Zealots: Their unwavering loyalty to Darth Empyrean and the Doctrine of Eternalism makes them incorruptible by enemy influence and ideal for enforcement of ideological cohesion within the First Legion.
Weaknesses:
Volatile and Unstable: Their artificially induced Force sensitivity is highly unstable—overexertion can lead to catastrophic failure, including physical injury, psychic rupture, or uncontrolled area destruction.
Requires Constant Support: Votaries cannot operate independently; they need protection, supervision, and stabilization by Handlers or support squads, making them a logistical and tactical liability if isolated.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION


The Votariate were born not from tradition—but from doctrine, desperation, and the dark crucible of Eternalist theory. Their origins trace back to a secretive alchemical initiative launched by Darth Empyrean during the early years of his reign as Sith'ari. Seeking to extend the reach of the Dark Side beyond the limitations of bloodlines and natural sensitivity, Empyrean tasked his most devout magisters and war-priests with forging artificial conduits of the Force—warriors who could channel ritual power through faith, suffering, and structure.


The first subjects—referred to as the Ashborn Cohort—were condemned criminals, broken acolytes, and failed apprentices. Most perished or went mad, but a rare few survived the Binding Rites, emerging as vessels of chaotic Force resonance. These early Votaries became the template for what followed: warrior-mystics grafted with Sith runes, branded in pain, and taught to chant their way through psychic firestorms.

Notable Battles:
The Siege of Black Talon Crater

A small cell of Votaries, trapped behind enemy lines, performed a Blood Invocation of the Sixth Flame, immolating over a thousand enemy combatants—and themselves. The crater still burns at night, haunted by screams that never cease.
The Assault on Kathrad Station

During a Jedi infiltration of a First Legion archive-world, Votaries anchored a Force Suppression Web that neutralized lightsaber combat and disrupted meditation. The Jedi were overwhelmed, their morale shattered before a single blade met flesh.
The Fall of Revak-Tor

A Votary squad attempted a multi-phase Ascension Rite during a planetary invasion. The overload backfired, causing a chain reaction that annihilated several Legion squads and destabilized the local Force nexus for years. The failure led to a temporary ban on large-scale Votary deployment.
Deployment and Stationing:

Votaries are not stationed in typical garrisons. Instead, they are kept in isolation chambers aboard First Legion dreadnoughts, ritual monasteries, or sealed tomb-vaults scattered across Empyrean's dominion. When summoned, they are escorted by dedicated Handlers, often accompanied by doctrinal scribes and suppression guards.


Their numbers remain low, but each Votary is treated as a living relic of Eternalism, forged in the dialectic fires of Sith philosophy and pain.