Vaena Askari
Lady Cadalthor
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Codify an Eldorai unit with a lot of history on the board.
Image Credit: Here.
Role: Shock troops, palace guards.
Permissions: Can use Firemane gear because I own the company. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here.
Links: Ashiranism, Eldorai, Eldorai Exodus from Kaeshana, Firemane, Qadiri, Xioquo, Four of a Kind, Shadow Knights, Denouement, Choir of Angels, Twin Exiles, Eldorai, From the Ice Inside Your Soul, Return of the Klaxxi, Casus Belli, Kaida.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Valora's Chosen Great Company.
Affiliation: Angelii, Vaena, Aeda, Ashiranism, Eldorai.
Classification: Force Infantry.
Description: Duty, Sacrifice, Fidelity, Sisterhood, Faith and Valour. These are the principles the Heavenly and Wrathful Angels of the Great Goddess Ashira, more commonly known as the Angelii for the sake of simplicity, swear by. They are not merely soldiers, but the avenging angels of the Supreme Goddess. In that regard, they are a cross between Warrior Priestess, Templar and Imperial Knight. They do whatever is necessary to protect the life of the Star Queen, who is Ashira's viceroy in this world, and defend the Eldorai Matriarchy. Their Force talents, or Sciia as the Eldorai call it, are a gift from the Goddess Ashira and they call upon their elemental powers to smite her enemies. On any battlefield, they're the first in and the last out.
Those who fall in battle are honoured as martyrs, for they've made the supreme sacrifice and will ascend to become angels. At least that is the theory. Every Angelii unit is expected to embody these virtues and be the first line of defence of the Matriarchy. The Valora's Chosen Great Company of the Angels of Wrath Legion is particularly adamant about being the most elite Angelii unit, though others would dispute that.This has caused some jealousy among other Angelii units.
In many ways, it is a traditional Angelii unit though, being composed exclusively of female elves. As the Great Company's name indicates, their patron deity is Valora, the Eldorai Goddess of War and Honour. Of course, they honour Ashira above all others since she is the supreme deity and head of the pantheon. But they are particularly deferential to the Battle Goddess. Thus every battle the Chosen fight is dedicated to her. It maintains regulation strength of ninety-six warriors plus four specialists. The Angelii are entirely Force-users, or as the Eldorai call them, Sciians. After the Exodus, they were forced to resort to conscription to replenish their ranks, though regulations have relaxed recently. Eldorai Force-users have a strong affinity for elemental powers.
A Valoran or Ashiran Priestess acts as Battlefield Chaplain. She is a warrior-priestess who ministers to the spiritual well-being of her battle sisters, instils in them the values and beliefs of the Angelii and the same time ensures purity of doctrine. The Chaplain is expected to be a charismatic individual, able to inspire her battle-sisters and drive them to hold the line and fight even when their faith in the cause wavers. In the past, the Chaplain had far-reaching powers, which included overriding an officer's orders, flogging or even executing an Angelii. However, this was abolished to prevent abuse of power.
So today the Chaplain is a politico-religious officer, but not a parallel source of authority. Their armour usually incorporates religious iconography and they bless the Angelii's weapons and armour before a battle. Religious indoctrination gives Angelii a morale boost, for the Church preaches that those who die in battle are martyrs and will enter Asur, a heavenly realm where they sit at the side of Ashira and are rewarded for their services. Religious fervour is less prevalent than it used to be, which is to a large degree due to the shocking experience that was the Exodus. However, officially all Angelii are still believers. Even those who are not still go to church.
Discipline is very tight and deviation from the battle plan is looked upon very poorly. However, the harshest forms of corporal punishment were abolished because, in the words of the Star Queen, they are not just unnecessary, but inefficient and self-defeating. Angelii are expected to act as a team, not succumb to rash bravado and charge off on their lonesome. Officers are expected to lead from the front and serve as an inspiration to their battle sisters. This probably provides a morale boost, but can also lead to unnecessarily high officer casualties.
The Valora's Chosen have a competitive rivalry with the Ashira's Blade Great Company. The exact reason has been lost to history. No one is quite sure why they dislike one another, just that both units hold a very old grudge and insist they are better Angelii. This can manifest in extreme competitiveness on the battlefield, but also produce awkward situations, especially since both belong to the Angels of Wrath Legion. In the past, both companies came to blows when the Matriarchy was wracked by civil wars. In more tranquil periods, their rivalry has also led to honour duels. These are still permitted among the Angelii since they have some rather archaic rules, though killing or maiming your battle sister is obviously prohibited.
Service in the Chosen, and the Angelii as a whole, is for twenty-five years. After than an Eldorai can elect to continue or return to normal life. Eldorai have a longer life span than the average human, so while twenty-five to thirty years is most of a human's working life, an Eldorai is just getting started then. Those who resign their commissions are eligible to emergency call-up though and undergo training each year to keep their abilities honed. In battle, the Chosen operate on the basis of a buddy system. Each Angelii is assigned a battle sister and both mutually support each other.
The Angelii started as a purely Eldorai unit. For a long time, only Eldorai could join and Tygaran elves were not recruited. However, this has changed. Manpower issues are one reason, as the Eldorai are rather scattered and fractured these days. Moreover, there is also a public relations angle, since some rogue Eldorai groups such as the Shadow Knights have opened the door to Tygarans. Thus today it is possible for Tygarans who have elected to join the Matriarchy to enter the Angelii corps. However, they swear an oath of fealty to the Star Queen and become her subjects. The first Tygaran elves have recently joined the Chosen. There is a preference for Qadiri, as their culture, religion and manner of fighting are quite similar to that of the Eldorai in many respects. However, as with all Angelii units, the Chosen are all-female. Force-Sensitive Eldorai males are restricted to less prestigious units in the regular army, such as the Eldorai Sciiac Reserve Battalions.
Today, the Chosen are commanded by Captain Eliana Salharen, age 86. She is a loyal Angelii to the Star Queen, but not without her doubts, specifically regarding religion and the Eldorai place in it. Eliana grew up as a poor girl in rural Kaeshana. She was brought to the Angelii early after her Sciia was revealed. After she had successfully completed her mandatory service, she ected to stay with the corps as they were her best chance for a job and livelihood. She served under Kaida's command as one of her Host Leaders, but the two were not close. Eliana specialises in aeromancy, which gives her power over air and lightning.
Her parents are still alive, though getting on. Her brother and sister were not Sciians but one works in the shipyards, the other is a merchant who trades with the Tygaran elves. The family was evacuated before the cataclysm and settled on Tygara. Personally she is a loyal, brave and reliable soldier. She does not have any special brilliance, but she is fair and 'by the numbers'. Her girls are always in top condition to fight and she has absolutely no time for rebels, whiners, cowards or humans who heap scorn upon her race. Eliana wants to redeem the name of the Chosen, whose reputation has suffered from the defection of their commander. However, she will not do so at the cost of throwing the lives of her soldiers away in a vain pursuit of glory. She is happily married to a male Eldorai named Lyran and they have a son named Tamaros.
Diyan Ankali serves as one of her Talons. She is quite young by Eldorai standards, as elves age and mature at a slower pace than humans due to their longer life span. Diyan played a role in the investigation of an attempt on Siobhan Kerrigan's life during the events leading up to the exodus. A cabal of Eldorai reactionaries, including the Queen's aunt Aelia, tried to assassinate Siobhan during a gala. The attempt failed, but she was severely injured by a sniper's bullet. With the blessing of the Queen, Mirien Valdier and Siobhan investigated the crime. Diyan acted as a guard for Siobhan and a liaison between her and the Grand Seraph.
Diyan is brave, stubborn and still idealistic despite the hardships her people have suffered. Despite the recent calamities, Diyan is still an Ashiran. She values oaths highly and has thus taken the many betrayals rather hard. This includes the defections from the Chosen. She used to look up to Kaida, and now feels strong resentment towards her. Diyan lacks the virulent racism of old school Eldorai and is quite friendly towards humans. Vaena Cadalthor, known to her friends as Vaena Askari, is no longer a member of the unit, as she was ennobled recently. However, she still holds the rank of Host Leader of the Reserve and participates in drills with her former battle sisters. There is a part of her that misses the old days, but she has a different duty now. The Chosen work closely with her.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Medium
Unit Availability: Unique
Unit Experience: Elite.
Equipment:
Armour:
- ACS-204 Immortal Battle Armour (limited to officers and select soldiers) or Cusaeris Mk3.
- Verpine Prototype Shield.
- Seraph Battle Shield
Rifles:
- Mark I Bolter
- Reaper Plasma Shotgun
- ACS-205 Blackblade Modular Assault Rifle
- ACS-202 Vanquisher Light Repeating Blaster
- Magnetic Repeater
- ACS-205 Dual Weapon System
Support Weapons:
- Lance Missile Launcher. Served by 2 crew; a gunner and a spotter/ammunition carrier.
- TL-50 Heavy Repeater
- Model MGL-1
- Firedrake
- When boarding a ship, station or facing a ground installation: Sapper Charge or a 53-R High Yield Thermite Explosive.
- Grenades, Sonic Imploders, Thermal Imploders.
- Sky Striker Miniature Jump Pack
- ACS-207 Aerosolblaster
- ACS-208 Wrist Charric
- ACS-208 Wrist Ion Beamer
- ZX Miniature Flame Projector
- Wrist Bolter
- The unit has ten Yazgid IFV, which are crewed by normal NFU soldiers.
- LAAT.
- Access to a few Firedancer Landspeeders and Bladesingers for recon, patrols etc.
These are named for the gems the Eldorai love so much: Ruby for the pyromancers, Diamond for the aeromancers, Emerald for the terramancers and Sapphire for the cryomancers. This reflects the fact that Angelii specialise in elemental powers, namely fire, air, earth, and water and ice. However, tactical organisation is fluid. These groups are not intended to fight separately, but in cooperation. Traditionally the battle sisters fight in a phalanx formation, using the Taegis shield in combination with melee weapons and a sidearm. If a battle is fought at range, they open it with a volley of elemental attacks. These can be roughly compared with those of the Shapers of Kro Var, though the proud Eldorai would probably deny such a similarity.
Pyromancers can unleash blasts of flame, aeromancers of lightning and powerful gusts of wind, cryomancers can water and ice to harm enemies and shape the battlefield, whilst the terramancers may cause cause rockslides and manipulate the earth. Elemental powers can also be used for defensive purposes. For instances, those with an affinity for the earth can block an enemy's advance with rocks, while pyromancers can block passages with fire. Typically each Chosen specialises in one element and can learn two others, but not the direct opposite of their focus. For instance, a pyromancer may have skill in earth and air in addition to fire, but would not use ice powers. They can also use the Force for the purpose of physical augmentation.
It should be noted that while potent, their Force attacks are limited to a specific set of abilities. Bottom line, they are trained as frontline soldiers. One does not find illusionists or mentalists of note in their ranks. It would go against their tactical doctrine, which emphasises working as a team. However, the soldiers receive thorough training to resist mental influences. Angelii healers receive their training from the Church and are able use the Force to heal the injuries of their wounded comrades and patch them up.
Generally, the Angelii will advance in a shield wall. Once the enemy position is reached, a more open fighting order develops, with two Angelii fighting in pairs. The basis of the unit is the six warriors squad. Angelii are quite rare and even the Great Company is seldom deployed at full strength unless in critical situations or pivotal battles, so the ability of the squads to act independently is key. Should the Chosen be put on the defensive, they will form a shield wall.
Typically, soldiers on the front line and in the rear rotate during the battle. Soldiers that are directly engaging the enemy are pulled back through the ranks when they receive a prearranged signal from their commander, and the next line seemlessly takes their place to fight the enemy. This continuous cycle means that each soldier only has to fight for a short while, then is able to rest in the rear, while the enemy faces rested soldiers. Not only does this keep soldiers fresh, it means that if enemy troops are able to pierce successive lines they will end up fighting the veterans. Of course, this assumes unexpected events do not throw a battle plan into disarray.
Teamwork, unity and comradeship are of vital importance to the Angelii. This is reflected by the traditional formation, the shield wall. The front ranks use their shields and melee weapons to protect themselves and their battle sister. Those behind use ranged weapons and Force powers to hit the enemy. Either of them can take the front or rear rank and both switch a lot during combat. Angelii fight in pairs close-up. One warrior usually carries a shield and melee weapon such as a Sarix or Sarzmigar, the other covers her with a ranged weapon and/or Force abilities. Sometimes both sisters will carry a shield. If the situation warrants it, the battle sister of the squad's Host Leader (Lieutenant) carries a heavy weapon such as a portable missile launcher or heavy repeating blaster. The Chosen have access to a small number of Yazgid Infantry Fighting Vehicles, allowing them to operate as motorised infantry. This enhances their mobility and firepower. Moreover, they possess a few land and airspeeders. These are used for recon, patrolling and rapid strikes.
Strengths:
- Elite Force soldiers. The Chosen are composed of Force-sensitive Eldorai, who specialise in elemental powers, but have also been trained to fight as a military unit of shock infantry.
- Their training emphasies discipline, teamwork and precision. In battle they operate on the basis of a buddy system. Lone wolf actions are looked upon poorly. Very skilled in close combat and shock warfare.
- While they train extensively while exposed to ysalamiri, losing the Force means losing their greatest advantage. This puts them at a disadvantage against enemies who use ysalamiri or Voidstone tech.
- They have few heavy weapons and their heaviest vehicle is an infantry fighting vehicle. As a result, they suffer against heavy armoured vehicles and heavy fortifications. It also has implications in protracted combat. Being infantry, they are vulnerable to long range bombardment. Missile launchers and elemental air abilities can help against bombers, fighters etc. but this is variable.
Like most Angelii units, the Valora's Chosen boast an ancient, illustrious lineage, even though the modern-day unit probably has very little in common with its ancestors. However, they still remember their long-dead battle sisters and carry the old battle flags. To be precise, they claim descent from an Angelii Great Company that earned itself a place of honour in the annals of the order when they fought a numerically superior Kar'zun army at the pass of Thermiscyra. The Angelii were vastly outnumbered and outgunned, but fought to the last drop of blood until they'd been annihilated. Only two Angelii survived the battle and lived to tell the tale to their brethren. Every Angelii who perished in battle was posthumously awarded the Star of Ashira and declared a martyr. The legendary Talon Jain Zar was credited with destroying half a dozen Kar'zun with her terramancy and Sarix before succumbing to her injuries. She was honoured as a Defender of the Faith. Captain Alenia Yelvaris was canonised as a Living Saint and held up as an example of self-sacrificing patriotism.
Eldorai historians have used the Battle of Thermiscyra as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its homeland. The performance of the defenders is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and the good use of terrain as force multipliers. When Ariane the Great led the Eldorai army against the hated foe, 'remember Thermiscyra' became a rallying cry. However, modern, revisionist historians have cast doubt on the significance of the battle. While the Kar'zun suffered heavy casualties, they were not particularly impeded. Sharia Vamaris caused a storm of controversy when she called the battle a senseless sacrifice and attacked Captain Yelvaris for needlessly squandering the lives of her battle sisters because of Queen Ariane the Great's infamous 'not a step back' order. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between. Angelii command continues to stick with the traditional interpretation.
Whatever the case may be, the Valora's Chosen were reconstituted after the battle and distinguished themselves during the final subjugation of the Kar'zun, when the stone people were brought to heel. They became an occupation force, fought renegades, pirates and, more often than not, other Eldorai since the Space Elves loved intrigue so much and Angelii often acted like the praetorian guards. As the Eldorai Matriarchy changed and began to open itself to the outside world during the reign of Silaqui III and, after she was murdered by traitorous Angelii, her sister Tirathana VII, the Valora's Chosen changed as well. The Company was reformed and modernised after Kaida Taldir, who had ironically lived as a exile for a while after being accused of treason, took command. Equipped with modern weapons produced by Firemane and the Abregado-Rae Guild of Hammers and trained to combine with the traditional tactics and arsenal of their forebears, the Chosen fought on battlefields as far-flung as Gehenna, Sullust, Arkas, Saleucami and Tygara.
They battled pirates and slavers, Bando Gora Reavers, the giant Klaxxi spiders and their own people when Kaeshana descended into chaos during the tumultous days of the Great Exodus. The Valora's Chosen assumed a peacekeeping role during these dark days, protecting transports. Harsh decisions had to be made, as not every Eldorai could be saved. Some Angelii turned traitor and the Company had to fight against radicalised Ashiran cultists, who believed the Goddess would save Kaeshana from its imminent doom if they purged all unbelievers. It was a difficult time for the Chosen, but they pulled through.
Until the defeat of the Xioquo, the Chosen were based in a fort on the precarious frontier. During a training exercise, the Chosen came across a mass grave. The people inside it had been massacred by the Xioquo. Disgusted by this, Kaida had her soldiers give the dead a proper burial. found themselves engaged in a fight when the Xioquo attacked a supply convoy. Kaida led a force of Chosen to relieve the beleaguered convoy. However, the attack was a trap, for the Xioquo were not mere skirmishers, but had steam-powered tanks and sorceresses. The Chosen were able to prevail through teamwork, using jetpacks and elemental Force abilities as force multipliers.
One their greatest battle in modern days was the Tygaran Alliance's assault on the Underealm, when they were tasked with breaching the Xioquo's fortresses and fighting their warbeasts. Kaida and Vaena Askari led the Chosen in an airborne assault on one of the citadels that guarded access to the Underealm. Later they pushed into the subterranean lair itself. Some of this unit's Angelii were part of Lady Kerrigan's task force when she confronted Mystra, the Xioquo's self-proclaimed goddess.
After having played their part in the campaign to unite Tygara and pacify it, things calmned down for the Valora's Chosen, though it was doubtful that things will stay that way forever. As the Silver Sanctum Coalition dissolved, the Eldorai began to look more to their own defences. They also commissioned massive arkships from Firemane and started launching expeditions to explore and set up colonies. Thus, constant vigilance, drill and discipline were highly valued, as they were in all Angelii units.
The Exodus, the Xioquo war and skirmishes with pirates had led to high casualties and forced the unit to spend time replenishing its ranks. Morale was boosted by the Xioquo's defeat, but the Exodus left scars, especially since the civil war had pitted Angelii against Angelii. When the Star Queen dispatched her trusted advisor Countess Selene Tarai to establish diplomatic relations with the Qadiri of distant Khajwar, a squad of the Chosen went along as an escort. They were led by Kaida and Vaena Askari.
The mission was a success, but things took an unpleasant turn. The Valora's Chosen participated in the Battle of Kaeshana. What started as a humanitarian mission to aid their fellow Eldorai and make amends for abandoning them, turned into a military campaign as the Tygaran Alliance and the Galactic Alliance clashed with the First Order. Led by Grand Seraph Aeda Shaytari and High Captain Kaida Taldir, the bulk of the Valora's Chosen helped secure a good portion of the ruins of Santaissa. In order to mitigate the enemy's air power, Kaida and a group of cryomancers from the Company as well as Eldorai rebels who had teamed up with their estranged cousins summoned a blizzard.
This proved useful when the First Order carried out in air strike. While moving in to secure the capital, the Angelii also came across the bodies of those who had been crucified by a Sith Lord serving the First Order. Part of the Valora's Chosen participated in the joint assault of the Citadel of Dawn, which was being held by the First Order. They fought by side with the Galactic Alliance and Firemane. A squad of them aided Siobhan Kerrigan in her duel with Kaine Zambrano. They did not intervene directly in the duel between the two Dark Masters, but battled the Sith Lord's Crownguard.
The Citadel was seized by the allied forces, but ultimately they were forced to retreat. Back home, the Chosen were once again forced to spill the blood of Eldorai, for riots had broken out in New Santaissa. Tarissa Cadalthor, an ambitious and unscrupulous noblewoman, was using the public outcry to her advantage. She sought to seize the throne for herself. To this end she scapegoated foreigners and 'infidels' as the ones responsible for the defeat. When Firemane troops came under attack by militia, Kaida and a detachment of Chosen came to their and relieved them. Both groups worked together to storm the Cadalthor mansion, uncovering evidence of Tarissa's treason. Shortly thereafter the Duchess was executed by Siobhan in front of the Council of Nobles.
Order had been restored, but it would have significant repercussions for the Chosen. The unit experienced two departures. One was Vaena Askari, one of the Host Leaders of the Chosen. Vaena had been raised by the Church before being inducted into the Angelii Corps. However, in truth she was a Cadalthor bastard. Her cousin Tarissa had been executed for treason and her relatives were deemed untrustworthy. When the Queen offered Vaena a chance to reclaim her birthright, she was conflicted. She was a soldier and the corps was her home. In the end a sense of duty compelled her to accept.
She parted with her comrades, but remained on good terms. However, the other depature was less pleasant. Kaida had grown disillusioned with the Matriarchy. She had long been an internal reformist, but now reached the conclusion that the system itself was to blame. For a while she continued to served the Matriarchy loyally. She led a mixed detachment of Chosen and Shadow Angelii during the Battle of Skor, where she successfully duelled a Master of Ren, participated in the Galactic Alliance attack on Bespin and later fought at Thyferra. There she defeated a Sith Lord, though she was seriously injured by an amphistaff. However, she broke her oath after the Serenade incident on Arkas.
Serenade was one of the planet's many islands, and the location of a mixed race settlement inhabited by humans, aliens and Eldorai exiles. Officially she was there as a trainer for the militia, unofficially she also acted as a recruiter for the Shadow Knights. Alas, she ended up being caught in a zombie outbreak. A zombie pathogen spread out, quickly infecting most of the inhabitants. Unfortunately, the major installations, including the dome that housed the communications gear, were taken over by the strangely cunning undead. As Arkas was under Firemane protection, the corporation dispatched soldiers to investigate after losing contact with the island settlement.
Kaida and a company of the Chosen happened to be at the Friemane base at the time. They had been participating in a training manoeuvre with Firemane and Alderaanian Rangers. Unwilling to stand by while her fellow Eldorai were in danger, Kaida decided that she and her soldiers would go to Serenade as well instead of waiting for orders from above. However, the undead creatures were intelligent and guided by a hive mind. In an ironic twist of fate, the zombies utilised the settlement's own defence guns. The Firemane and Angelii soldiers had to disembark their gunships when they came under fire. They were soon swarmed by the undead. Moreover, the hive-mind attacked them mentally. It sought to trap them inside an utopian illusion in order to leave them vulnerable.
Ultimately, the two goups retreated after knocking out Serenade's AA guns. This enabled Firemane bombers to level the town. Kaida and her battle sisters managed to escape in time, but casualties were heavy. Upon her arrival at the Firemane base, Kaida was greeted by a welcoming committee from Angelii high command. They brought her back to the Citadel. There she was placed under house arrest. Lady Valriya, the Crown's representative to the Angelii, insisted that an inquiry take place. Valriya held a grudge against Kaida and was an arch-reactionary, who secretly abused her position. Realising that a politically charged trial might not produce a just outcome, Aeda gave her protege a choice between facing the music or going into exile.
Kaida chose to fake her own death and sneak out. On the way, she tossed Valriya into the sea and ruined her career by releasing evidence of her crimes. Kaida later resurfaced as a member of the Shadow Knights, a group of Eldorai renegades that had originally formed to protect the elves who had been left behind on Kaeshana. However, the Shadows also contained several former Dark Eldorai rebels who had fought against the Matriarchy and even committed terrorist attacks.
This made Kaida an oathbreaker. Her defection has left a stain on the good name of the Chosen. While Kaida was never beloved, she was respected. Conservative forces have cast aspersions on the devotion of the Chosen. This has caused their members to double down on their behaviour, as they seek to redeem their name. This has also led to a degree of historical revisionism. Because it would not be politic to give credit to a turncoat, Kaida's role has been deemphasised in the official unit history. The Chosen continue to serve the Eldorai Matriarchy faithfully. In the aftermath of a great summit on the future of the elf races, their role has expanded towards protecting the Eldorai's arkships.
Last edited:
