Matukai Chronicles

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Korvo

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THE
MATUKAI CHRONICLES

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A vast data collection of historical accounts, biographical experiences, philosophical creeds and literary records, the Matukai Chronicles serve as a reservoir of information for the curious and lore-driven, regardless of whether they are Proselytes or Elders. Located within the Hall of Elders, the Matukai Chronicles contain centuries upon centuries of information for seekers of knowledge, and is highly valued and protected by the Matukai Elders. Indeed, even many of the most trusted and respected Disciples, honorary members of the Order of the Matukai barring devotion to their philosophy, are restricted from accessing the Matukai Chronicles.

Unlike the Jedi Order of the Old Galactic Republic, information in the Matukai Chronicles are free for any and all Matukai to examine and derive wisdom from. The Matukai Elders all impart their knowledge and wisdom into the Chronicles for present and future generations alike, although Elder Juya Kaelen acts as the archivist and organizer for the vast records and information.

[fancybox4=http://oi61.tinypic.com/9gjxc4.jpg]The Legend of Vashti Matukai

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"Our order emerged as the fires were first set from the Great Hyperspace War, and as many know, the wanton destruction wrought about by the Sith caused some worlds to lose a great deal of their archival history. Unfortunately, as a planet of the Core Worlds, Karvoss was not spared the fires of Sith conquest. What transpired from that time is only marginally known, but what is clear is that our order―and the fate of Karvoss itself―owes its very existence to one woman; Vashti Matukai.

Vashti Matukai was a native of Karvoss, already a renowned warrior by the time of the Sith invasion. Her prowess was such that she was said to have mastered every weapon she'd ever touched―a true prodigy of the martial arts. Honed by generations of warring tribes and clans, the natives of Karvoss were considered to have been primitive, but full of potential as conscripts for the Sith Empire. While specific records of the occupation are sporadic at best, it was clearly that the Karvoss natives resisted the Sith invaders almost universally, even inspiring alliances among rival tribes to better combat the Sith. And of all the figures to have attained power during that time, none were as prominent as the young valkyrie, Vashti Matukai."


[fancybox4=http://oi61.tinypic.com/dnik5w.jpg]Eli Osiris

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"A legendary warrior considered to be the single most powerful Matukai in the Order and a true first among equals of our generation, Eli Osiris is the foremost of the Matukai Elders. Only he has been given the unofficial title as the 'Elder of Elders'.

Hardened by a long life of conflict, strife and hardships, Osiris resonates with hard-learned wisdom, which he incessantly passes on to younger generations so as to help them build a brighter future for the Matukai. Although often being seen as a taskmaster and difficult to satisfy, Osiris simply strove to aid those who will be the Order's future leaders to reach their fullest potential."


[fancybox4=http://oi61.tinypic.com/33ynhhy.jpg]The Witchmen of Vanqor

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"There was a time once, in our long existence, when the Matukai prided themselves on the peace we had with the galaxy. We were without ire against us, without enemies or dangers from Karvoss or beyond, and even the Vorevak had not yet had their dawn.

But this was a thing that would change in the century before the Clone Wars, the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire. In that time, the Matukai found their enemy... an enemy so vile and foul, that it unearthed the darkness within ourselves, within all those that would fight against them. The curse from Dathomir and the bringers of sacrilege. We call them all, the Witchmen of Vanqor."


[fancybox4=http://oi57.tinypic.com/2m7ga2x.jpg]Creed of the Matukai

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Restrict the Wandering Eye; Such breeds the Shadow of Avarice

Restrict the False Tongue; Such breeds the Shadow of Deception

Restrict the Indolent Heart; Such breeds the Shadow of Lethargy

Restrict the Roving Feet; Such breeds the Shadow of Effrontery

Restrict the Ravenous Mind; Such breeds the Shadow of Vitiate

Restrict the Lustful Flesh; Such breeds the Shadow of Debauchery

Restrict the Errant Spirit; Such breeds the Shadow of Damnation

Only those Forged in Light can stand against the Sea of Darkness

[fancybox4=http://i62.tinypic.com/2r591yb.jpg]The Twilight Schism

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"Of all the battles the Matukai have endured through the eons of our existence, no conflicts have been as bitter and defining as the ancient Twilight Schism. This spiritual war is not well known, to the galaxy or to the Matukai, and for good reason. It is a past many Matukai would sooner wish forgotten forever. However, this stems not from shame or pettiness, but of grief.

For many, the Matukai is more than a brotherhood of monks or warriors in arms, we are a surrogate family. Many of us form bonds stronger than blood, and for the overwhelming majority of our existence, this bond has kept the Matukai together and on the proper path. However, we did not begin that way. It is my purpose now to provide a record of what the Twilight Schism truly was, why it happened, and how knowledge of this terrible even can help keep all Matukai, young and old, Proselyte and Elder, on the proper path of Light."

[fancybox4=http://oi58.tinypic.com/2rgjp85.jpg]Light and Darkness

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"Light and Darkness. Good and Evil. Righteous and Wicked. Antithetical, and yet inseparable. What is the Light? The Darkness? These are questions often brought to us by outsiders of the Force. In many ways, our own views are parallel with that of countless other Force orders. However, it is our philosophy that marks our interpretation of these as different.

The Force is the primal energy of the universe. Life cannot exist without it, and without life, the primal energies cannot sustain itself. Both are dependent on one another. In many ways, these primal energies are intertwined in ways that are impossible to comprehend or divide. For instance, all who wield the primal energies have access to identical powers. The only difference appears in what fuels their powers. Light, or Darkness."

[fancybox4=http://oi57.tinypic.com/112911s.jpg]Kendov'vun

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"Kendov'vun, or 'the warrior's tongue', as it would be translated, is a language almost as old as the Matukai themselves. In the ancient days when Vashti Matukai walked Karvoss, the precursors to this dialect was one of the dozens of languages that warring Karvossi tribes used as a battle language. And as it did then, so too does Kendov'vun act as our battle language now.

Structurally, Kendov'vun had very similar standards of grammar as Basic, with the exception that it lacked an equivalent to Basic's possessive apostrophes. Kendov'vun tended to place prepositional phrases earlier in sentences than in Basic, and structured sentences did not carry tense, making adequate understanding of the language and the context of the others words being spoken in a given sentence vital in understanding exactly what was being said."

[fancybox4=http://oi61.tinypic.com/2j3pqw9.jpg]Zavtra the Pure

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"The bloodline of Vashti Matukai has always been held to unofficial sacredness to us. She was the first, after all. Our founder and our great teacher. Even now, over five millennia later, we still echo the things she taught us. Many powerful warriors have come from Vashti's blood.

Thassius the Unbroken, Kayla the Wise and Korren the Valiant are just a few produced by her line. Perhaps what many of us find most remarkable of her bloodline was that down to this day, there have been none who have ever strayed from the path of Light. And in our generation, Vashti's inheritor and heiress, the youngest Elder among us, is no different."

[fancybox4=http://i58.tinypic.com/14tlhk5.jpg]Tyrion the Awoken

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"All of the Redeemed Matukai are known in one way, shape, or form. Though, none have been able to garner the amount of attention that Tyrion the Awoken has in his lifetime. He is a Human male, born on the second moon of Hultomo in the year 997 ABY and raised within a society that dwelled beneath the crust of their planet.

Caim, his twin brother, was known for being the non-violent type wasn't to fond of the fact that violence was a necessity in order to survive. Which, in turn made Tyrion fight that much harder for himself and his brother. This conditioning was something that followed him, even after his departure from Hultomo and accumulated in being the cause of his fall from the Light.

Lagatha, a Human female Matukai, that had discovered brought him back to Karvoss with her to learn the ways of her people. She was sure that the young boy at the time would one day become a devout warrior of the Light and for some time, it appeared as though she was right. Oddly enough, Tyrion never showed interest in adapting the fabled weapon of the Order into his training regimen. Showing a preference for the Martial Arts and excelling exponentially in learning the various forms within the known galaxy."

[fancybox4=http://oi57.tinypic.com/2uhpd9j.jpg]Juya Kaelen

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"It has been a very long time since I have thought about the old days... the early days. It is a thing few know, and even fewer ever thing to ask, but I was not always a briinah, a sister of the Matukai. I came from another order, a darker order, and I owe my current life and path to the Elder of Elders.

At first, I was meant to be a Disciple-apparent, a conduit for my people to gather intelligence for future war against the Matukai. Eventually, I forsook my old ways, although it was only much later that I embraced the path I walk on now. My name is Juya Kaelen, archivist of the Matukai Chronicles. And my story begins with the Hundred-Day War.


[fancybox4=http://th01.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/144/9/c/black_dragon_tempest_by_peterprime-d66e1k2.png]Karvossi Dragon

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"In the beginning, before the Pantheon was constructed there were rumors throughout the land of a massive beast that migrated the vast landscape of Karvoss. While, the creature was frightening to behold and even more terrifying when viewed hunting. She was viewed as a good omen to the people that fell under her watchful eyes, seeming to help bring an aura of peace and prosperity to those lucky to reside within her domain. It were these stories that helped to guide Vashti and the others to lay claim to the prospective location of the Pantheon back in those times. The home of the Matukai was constructed beneath one of the many homes of the Queen of Karvoss. At first there were worries in regards to them intruding upon her dwelling, but over time those fears were forgotten. The rumors were true. She did bring good fortune to those within her domain and over time we learned.

While, there are many of her species. The Queen is by far that most dominant upon the surface of Karvoss and it is evident due to the fact that she is the only female with a brood. As the only mating female, she casts off the born females after only a few months of nurturing. While, the males are kept around essentially for breeding purposes for her and usually in the range of a dozen or two potential mates. The life of the species is a violent one, consisting of constant fighting in an effort to impress the female and gain their right to procreate. These mating duels often times result in the death of the loser and is likely the cause of the limited number of potential mates."

[fancybox4=https://cdn.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/471/569/large/kevin-hou-original-prbq-0dd600004dd5125f.jpg?1423809082]Karvossi Roar

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"The Matukai are the most visible legacy of Force wielders of the world of Karvoss, but we were not the first. Before the Great Hyperspace War, before Naga Sadow, before the Sith and their Empire, before Vashti Matukai, Karvoss was protected by a class of shamans and spellbinders that acted as the spiritual leaders of the Karvossi. These individuals were called the Druid Kings, or simply the druids. Unbound by any tribe or clan and unfettered by political aims or ambitions, the druids were an order of Force users respected by all of Karvoss, and feared just as much. No harm was ever permitted to come to them by a fellow Karvossi, and most tribes wound bow at their approach, should a druid have come to their village. Although called kings, priests and knights were more befitting titles of the druids. In many ways, they were not unlike the Order of the Jedi Knights.

To understand who the druids were, one had to understand how untamed Karvoss was, roughly eight thousand years ago. Humans did not rule the land of Karvoss, the beasts and monsters did. Snow Lions, Frost Wolves, Ice Raptors, and the most terrible of all these creatures, the Karvossi Dragon. Over time, however, a group of warriors and spiritualists formed a band together, and sought instruction from the spirits of the land to discover how the beasts of Karvoss attained their strength. What made these animals and monsters so powerful? Records of what truly happened are unknown from so far back into the past, but it was claimed that the band of men and women saw energy and vibrancy in the expressions of the beasts of the land. And from these expressions, the Karvossi wanderers meditated and contemplated which of these was the most terrible, the most powerful and the most majestic. In the end, none of them could deny there was nothing that approached the dominance of the roar of a Karvossi Dragon.

By the time the wanderers returned to villages around Karvoss, they took with them the fruits of their labors and knowledge. When precisely it happened, none can say, only that by the time their journey ended, these nomads were then called "druids". So loved were they, that most referred to these individuals as their lords, "kings" and "queens" among men and women. Sporadically traveling Karvoss, the Druid Kings sought out Karvossi that were under terror by the savage animals of the land, fending them off by imitating the call of the Karvossi Dragon... the "Karvossi Roar"."

[fancybox4=http://oi58.tinypic.com/15hbx9g.jpg]The Sigil

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"It is often asked of the Matukai where our seal comes from. It takes little scrutiny to realize the design is not Karvossi, and thus could not have originated with the Great Valkyrie, Vashti Matukai. And yet, its origins can be traced back over six thousand years.

Even within our order, there are many who know not where our seal, the Sigil, comes from. This entry is meant to enlighten those ones, as the Sigil comes not from Karvoss, nor from Vashti, but from another source altogether. And to understand the reason for our wielding the Sigil, we must go back to our beginnings.

It is commonly believed that the first disciples of Vashti Matukai were Karvossi. While most indeed were, this belief encompasses all of her inaugural students, the first ones. That is wrong; there were two men, two very specific men, who were off-worlders. Strangers to Karvoss, to Vashti, and even to the Force itself."


[fancybox4=http://oi59.tinypic.com/14njqsm.jpg]Raze Houser

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"Since time immemorial, there has always been a solemn pledge that came with strength... the strength to make a difference in behalf of those unable to do so themselves, and the willingness to do so. In the eyes of many, it is that quality that marks the measure of a man or woman—not their power, but how they use it. Why they wield it. Sages and scholars alike, the aged and the learned—they all spend their lives searching for the answer of how to be what they should be. Even among us, the Matukai, few find their answers before their years of youth had passed them by. But every few generations, there arises one among the young that has the will beyond their years.

This is the story of Raze Houser, the young Proselyte, the warrior, and the martyr. If a man is measured by the sacrifices he is willing to make, how much greater is that man... when he is but a boy? Raze Houser was an Echani, scarcely passed twenty years. Privileged as being among the few in our ranks that was 'born' into the Matukai way of life, Houser was a warrior from birth. For much of his childhood, Houser was considered to be 'foreordained'. His talent for fighting was nothing short of his birthright, and his tenacity, his prowess, was stellar for a Matukai of his inexperience. A perfectionist emboldened by his own drive for success, there were few that could not see him one day joining the ranks of the Elders, sharing exploits and experiences to teach those who would tread in the path he had already walked.


[fancybox4=http://www.artofmtg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Aegis-Angel-MtG-Art.jpg]Vydelle Nur [LOCKED][/fancybox4]
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[fancybox4=http://oi59.tinypic.com/wjbg4g.jpg]Artemis Esdeth[/fancybox4]
One of the greatest heroes of the order and was the warrior who rescued and inducted Xeus Qel-Droma into Matukai. Once even purported as the "second coming of Vashti", Artemis Esdeth was believed to have fallen in battle against the Sith Lord, Lord Tantalus, during the Incursion of Isola Station.

One of the greatest heroes of the order and was the warrior who rescued and inducted Xeus Qel-Droma into Matukai. Once even purported as the "second coming of Vashti", Artemis Esdeth was believed to have fallen in battle against the Sith Lord, Lord Tantalus, during the Incursion of Isola Station.

[fancybox4=http://www.kekaiart.com/uploads/5/4/7/6/5476798/4232941_orig.jpg]Sea of Spirits[/fancybox4]
One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

One of the two locations on Karvoss where the spirits of the dead manifest to the living

[fancybox4=https://cdn.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/848/644/large/marek-madej-gwent-yennefer-by-marekmadej.jpg?1434485547]Atalae the Betrayer [LOCKED][/fancybox4]

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[fancybox4=http://oi61.tinypic.com/1zz42o7.jpg]Terak Nur [LOCKED][/fancybox4]

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Korvo

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THE LEGEND
OF
VASHTI MATUKAI

"Of the many Force orders to rise onto the galactic scene, the history of the Order of Matukai is often considered to be among the least significant. There was no great exodus or convergence of many peoples, as it was for the ancient Order of the Dai Bendu. We were not forged through a great war of religious ideology, as was the Jedi Order in the Force Wars. And we've never had an advent of masters to pave our way for us, as the Sith did. Our history is of the subtle sort, of the meek origin. And it all began with the legend of a mighty warrior, fighting on the then war-torn world of Karvoss.

My name is Juya Kaelen, an Elder of the Matukai, and I have undergone the task of scribing within our Chronicles the information that led to our order's creation. And in doing so, I have found that what is perhaps most surprising of all, is what little is truly known of that time. Our order emerged as the fires were first set from the Great Hyperspace War, and as many know, the wanton destruction wrought about by the Sith caused some worlds to lose a great deal of their archival history. Unfortunately, as a planet of the Core Worlds, Karvoss was not spared the fires of Sith conquest. What transpired from that time is only marginally known, but what is clear is that our order―and the fate of Karvoss itself―owes its very existence to one woman; Vashti Matukai.

Vashti Matukai was a native of Karvoss, already a renowned warrior by the time of the Sith invasion. Her prowess was such that she was said to have mastered every weapon she'd ever touched―a true prodigy of the martial arts. Honed by generations of warring tribes and clans, the natives of Karvoss were considered to have been primitive, but full of potential as conscripts for the Sith Empire. While specific records of the occupation are sporadic at best, it was clearly that the Karvoss natives resisted the Sith invaders almost universally, even inspiring alliances among rival tribes to better combat the Sith. And of all the figures to have attained power during that time, none were as prominent as the young valkyrie, Vashti Matukai.

In spite of her youth, Vashti was said to have banded together over two thousand tribes and clans against the Sith Empire's occupation forces, leading them on multiple battles across the world's surface. Although technologically outmatched, outnumbered and effectively overpowered, the natives of Karvoss mounted several successful offensives. Nonetheless, by the time the Sith were pushed from the Core Worlds, nearly one third of Karvoss's population fell in death or were taken by the Sith. While the political climate of Karvoss was unknown after the invasion ended, it was known that Vashti relinquished her position as leader, and instead chose to live in seclusion on what was called the Black Mountain.

There are many theories as to the purpose behind her actions that day. Some believe that she was scarred by the severity of war brought about by the Sith Empire. Others claim she simply had her fill of war, and sought solace. Still others believed that she left out of fear of what she'd discovered herself, at some point during the conflict, which I reference later. Whether any of these theories are true can never be ascertained, but by the time Vashti had left her isolation, she was a Force Adept in her own right. It was not known if there were any significant Force-sensitives on Karvoss prior to Vashti, and some believed that her awakening power caused her to fear she was the same as the Sith. However, the actions she'd taken during her lifetime suggest the opposite, that she had instead embraced what she was.

According to what was recovered from that time, Vashti herself claimed that she had continued her fight, only against herself. Living in the harshest cold of Karvoss while continuing to devote herself to the arts of combat and extreme physical exertion, Vashti discovered her own Force-sensitivity and learned to harness it in a way unlike the Jedi or the Sith. And in time, others sought to follow her. Whether by happenstance, the will of the Force or by destiny, of the two hundred that followed Vashti back up to the Black Mountain, only five could bear the excruciating demands of her way of life. They were her first disciples, her heirs, and the original Elders. But perhaps both the most defining and insignificant moment was Vashti's contact with the Jedi, who had investigated Vashti to make sure she was not again a resurgent Sith.

In the end, Vashti was found not only to have not been a threat, but was seen as a servant of Ashla in her heart. And while the Jedi did not often tolerate the existence of other Force orders, Vashti was allowed to continue on unmolested by them, for the threat of the Sith was still fresh within the minds of the Galactic Republic's champions. In the end, Vashti trained many apprentices in her lifetime of two hundred and thirty three years. And like her, all continued to pass down what they had learned from their sagacious teacher. And upon the day of her death, the nameless followers of Vashti took her name as their own, forever honoring her as the Order of the Matukai; the progeny of the legendary woman who had shown them all the way."[/fancybox2]
 

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ELI OSIRIS
ELDERS OF ELDERS


"A legendary warrior considered to be the single most powerful Matukai in the Order and a true first among equals of our generation, Eli Osiris is the foremost of the Matukai Elders. Only he has been given the unofficial title as the "Elder of Elders". Hardened by a long life of conflict, strife and hardships, Osiris resonates with hard-learned wisdom, which he incessantly passes on to younger generations so as to help them build a brighter future for the Matukai. Although often being seen as a taskmaster and difficult to satisfy, Osiris simply strove to aid those who will be the Order's future leaders to reach their fullest potential.

Osiris was discovered on an uncharted world of the Deep Core region some three centuries ago, although he has seldom spoken of his past, nor has he scribed his coming into the Order. However, since the time of his youth, Osiris has been described as a living weapon of the Light, and has seen more battles and conflicts in the first two decades of his Matukai career than most of the entire Matukai Order combined. However, his ways greatly changed after the Matukai came under attack by the Shapers of Kro Var. I will elaborate the details of this conflict in a future report, but suffice to say the results were disastrous, ultimately stemming from our ancient enemies, the Witchmen of Vanqor.

A skilled diplomat and teacher, Osiris was said to have personally taught over one hundred apprentices over his lifetime. Although scarred with blindness from battle wounds suffered during the Hundred-Day War, Orisis' most remarkable ability has been said to be his regenerative capabilities. Whether blaster wounds, blade lacerations, blunt trauma, or other damaging effects, Osiris has been said to be able to rapidly regenerate from whatever forces do him harm. Considering himself to be a living shield against all that would seek an enemy in the Matukai, Osiris has proved to be a living deterrent from future attacks upon the Matukai for decades."
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THE
WITCHMEN
OF
VANQOR

"There was a time once, in our long existence, when the Matukai prided themselves on the peace we had with the galaxy. We were without ire against us, without enemies or dangers from Karvoss or beyond, and even the Vorevak had not yet had their dawn. But this was a thing that would change in the century before the Clone Wars, the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire. In that time, the Matukai found their enemy... an enemy so vile and foul, that it unearthed the darkness within ourselves, within all those that would fight against them. The curse from Dathomir and the bringers of sacrilege. We call them all, the Witchmen of Vanqor.

The question that had long been neglected was the one of their very identities. Who were the Witchmen of Vanqor? Marauders of the Force? A cult of savage killers? Esoteric archers and warlocks? Perhaps all these things, but perhaps too much more. What we did not know so long ago was that the Witchmen were originally of Dathomir. Whether of the witches following the Light or those of the Nightsisters, males born on Dathomir were often subjected to slavery and servitude. Those sensitive to the Force were often executed or sacrificed, or at best were utterly neglected. We are aware that rebellions and uprisings by male slaves on Dathomir were less-than-unheard of; in fact, there were at least two significant events of such nature during the Empire's reign and that of the New Republic, prior to its reorganization into the Galactic Federation.

How the Witchmen originally came to Vanqor is still a mystery to us, although we have recently discovered that exile was not an unheard of punishment, at least among the Nightsisters. In addition, it was known that there were at least some male-centric clans on Dathomir at one point, after the Empire's end, but mysteriously faded into non-existence. It was often assumed these clans had either died out or were exterminated by the more powerful and numerous female clans, specifically the Nightsister clans. My research and theory, however, suggests a much different conclusion. These male Dathomiri, either by exile or exodus, were the progenitors of the people that would become the Witchmen.

The Witchmen were a savage people, ruthless and... unusually cruel. As if striking against a past perhaps they wish forgotten, the Witchmen were male-dominant. Females were often abused, treated as livestock and currency, and held almost no power or influence among them. In fact, there is even the question of whether the Witchmen even marry women at all, and instead simply 'use' them as their 'needs' occur. The Witchmen represent a terrifyingly similar mirror image of who the Nightsisters are, although in contrast with them, Witchmen greatly prize Force-sensitive women. The Witchmen of Vanqor believe that children born of two Force-wielders ultimately produce more powerful sons and future Witchmen.

However, for woman, Force-sensitivity is a curse beyond their wildest imaginings, as such woman are essentially treated as less-than-Human, simply incubators for bearing sons. It is likewise believed that this is the reason for their selective cannibalism, as feasting on Force-rich blood and flesh is believed to strengthen the Witchmen and their power to the Darkness. The Darkness runs deeply in the Witchmen, as strongly as the Light if forged into the Matukai. It is because of this stark difference witnessed that inevitably led to conflict between our two peoples. Between their cruelties to their savagery, the Matukai of then could not stand by while knowing of the Witchmen's atrocities. It was the first time the Matukai initiated battle against another, and in hindsight, it could be said that this was a mistake on our part that still affects us to this day, over a thousand years later.

Declaring war was not something the Matukai had ever done before, and in contrast, we quickly found that the Witchmen were all too familiar with the concept and practice. Nearly fifty Matukai warriors fell in battle that day, with a hundred more grievously wounded in battle. It was believed that the Matukai had to learn and understand the art of war. What we were careless to understand, however, was the danger of war allowing Darkness to take root into our hearts. Our war against the Witchmen lasted for years, and over time, war heroes among the Matukai began to emerge. But these heroes were ones that were unbalanced, ones that had begun feeding on the Darkness over the Light in order to give them added strength. And worse still, far too many of us were too blinded to notice at the time.

By the time the conflict with Witchmen had dragged on into its first decade, the Matukai withdrew as nearly a tenth of our warriors, warriors that had been entrenched on Vanqor in battle, were found committing atrocities against the Witchmen - the very same we had been appalled by the Witchmen committing against their own. These were the first Vorevak, the first ones since the Twilight Schism that had become dessacrators of our ways. Seventy of them, and all scattered across the scars once their falls had become known to all. Our crusade against the Witchmen ended back then, with our focus being toward healing or ending the Vorevak that had been unleashed on the galaxy. However, conflict between the Matukai and Witchmen continued on, sporadically, for centuries since then.

In many ways, the Witchmen of Vanqor are a dark reflection of the Order of Matukai. Much like the Witches of Dathomir from which they came, the Witchmen were arcanists and warlocks, shamans and spellcasters, although to an extent, they too used the Force - the Darkness in their case - to empower their bodies. Like us, their were masters of combat and fighting, but where our weapons of choice were the wan-shens, theirs' were energy bows, like those of the Nightsister Hunters. And with their energy bows, the Witchmen have warred against us, using them with an uncanny accuracy I have seen from no others. I have seen a Witchman strike the eye of a rodent of the fields, and pierce the heart of a fellow Matukai while in seclusion over a kilometer away. They were fearsome opponents, but not ones we were ever meant to overcome by martial might - a fact we had come to learn all too late.

The Witchmen of Vanqor are as rare a sight as we are, in the galaxy, allegedly slaying others for the promise of wealth, although our fear is that they simply kill to hone their skills, deepen their connection to the Darkness, and snuff out the Light wherever it can be found. And now, I fear, that the day will come where the Witchmen will seek their vengeance against the Matukai. I fear, that all too soon, the day will come when war will once again be thrust upon the Matukai, in a division between the Light, and of the Darkness."
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CREED

OF THE
MATUKAI


"The Creed of the Matukai. Our most important text and most sacred mantra, the ancient predecessors of our order once called them the Strictures of Light. We do not habitually speak them aloud, as is often known to occur among the Jedi Knights or Sith Lords, but the Strictures guide and govern our actions, nonetheless. These doctrines shape the moral compass and ethics that direct our paths, both as individuals and as an order. The Matukai Creed a collection of words passed down by Vashti Matukai herself, several strictures that all Matukai place upon themselves so as to keep their paths pure, untainted and always in the Light.

Seven strictures, one code, one creed. One belief. The first of these was the Wandering Eye. After it came the False Tongue, the Indolent Heart, the Roving Feet, the Ravenous Mind and the Lustful Flesh. The final of these was the Errant Mind. In this entry, I will attempt to adequately explain the Strictures of Light for the sake of the younger and more inexperienced among us. The entire Matukai Creed is as follows;



[fancybox2]Restrict the Wandering Eye; Such breeds the Shadow of Avarice
Restrict the False Tongue; Such breeds the Shadow of Deception
Restrict the Indolent Heart; Such breeds the Shadow of Lethargy
Restrict the Roving Feet; Such breeds the Shadow of Effrontery
Restrict the Ravenous Mind; Such breeds the Shadow of Vitiate
Restrict the Lustful Flesh; Such breeds the Shadow of Debauchery
Restrict the Errant Spirit; Such breeds the Shadow of
Damnation
Only those Forged in Light can stand against the Sea of Darkness[/fancybox2]


Simple words, but very easily misunderstood, overgeneralized or overanalyzed. What does the Matukai Creed mean? In itself, for us, for the way we should live our lives? For every mantra, there lies meaning for all, and in discovering that meaning, a Matukai - any Matukai - can learn to achieve their fullest potential. For it is only when one fully follows the Creed that they can truly become "Forged in Light".

Restrict the Wandering Eye; Such breeds the Shadow of Avarice

——THE FIRST STRICTURE
The first mantra of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Matukai protecting themselves from the illusion of avarice, greed and material desires. The destiny of all life was the Force, and nothing of the physical plane could traverse into the higher plane of where the Force resided. Thus, in the end, all material things, luxuries and wealth were ultimately vanity and worthless once a Matukai's destiny was achieved, being death and unity in the embrace of the Light. Strong attachments with objects of any kind were a distraction that could jeopardize a Matukai's fate with the Light. Those who have come to know what was required of them and willingly ignored them for the sake of greed, were often consumed - either then or in an eventuality - by the Darkness.

Restrict the False Tongue; Such breeds the Shadow of Deception

——THE SECOND STRICTURE
The second mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai restricting themselves from expelling falsehoods from their mouths, even unto their enemies. Outright lies, lies of omission and crafty deceptions such as tailored words, false implications and improper exaggerations, were all considered unbecoming for the morality of a Matukai in servitude of the Light. A Savant's mission was one that involved freeing all life to the truth of the universe, in which all life was to be in union with the Light. Lies and falsehoods were considered to be both destructive and self-destructive, and once a Matukai engaged in the practice, it was almost impossible to fully stop.

Restrict the Indolent Heart; Such breeds the Shadow of Lethargy

——THE THIRD STRICTURE

The third mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai preventing themselves from becoming inert or idle. The duties of the Matukai were not fit for the torpid, the dilatory or the lethargic, nor was it for the stupid, uneducated and the unintelligent. Vigilance, acuity and attentiveness coupled with strength of mind and will, cleverness, discernment and wisdom were what all Matukai subscribed to and aspired to ever-improve within themselves. Laziness was the bane of productivity, and no Matukai was to become guilty of such indolence.

Restrict the Roving Feet; Such breeds the Shadow of Effrontery

——THE FOURTH STRICTURE

The fourth mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai restricting themselves from the danger of forgetting their place or overstepping their boundaries and authority. Authority is a not birthright of the Matukai - or any born of the Force, and none are as entitled to such. We are not judges, not kings or rulers. We do not decide laws or governance. We protect ourselves, we strive to protect others, and we seek to protect the galaxy. All Matukai must be wary to never assume greater importance or authority than they are due or entitled to. Such has proved to become a source of strife, contention, discord and a breakdown of the unity that binds all Matukai in purpose.

Restrict the Ravenous Mind; Such breeds the Shadow of Vitiate

——THE FIFTH STRICTURE

The fifth mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai learning to beware the danger of unbridled curiosity, whether involving matters of the Force beyond their concern and responsibility, heretical doctrine such as the tenants of the Darkness, or the philosophies outside those passed down by Vashti Matukai. The outlook and perspectives, particularly those of the Darkness, were limited, self-destructive and corruptible, a mere reflection of those that lacked the depth and understanding that came with bondage to the Light. A Matukai must never delve into the poisonous waters of the Dark Side's teachings. While Matukai were to learn about the nature, powers and dangers of the Darkness, even that was to be carried out in cautious restraint, lest the foreign values and belief structure taint the unwary mind. Intuitiveness was a valuable characteristic, but strong curiosity could set a Matukai on the path to becoming a dark warrior; a Vorevak.

Restrict the Lustful Flesh; Such breeds the Shadow of Debauchery

——THE SIXTH STRICTURE

The sixth mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai exercising self-discipline and mastering control over the strong desires one would inevitably develop through their lives. The body often craved things outside one's purpose, such as the imaginings of leading another life, which could become strong enough to lead a Matukai to act upon their desires. Romance and cardinal impulses were not considered dangerous so long as they did not fester into desires that became rival to a Matukai's forsworn devotion. The attachment to a mate, a child, a lover or a friend was always to be subordinate to ones devotion to the Light. Other lusts that could influence a Matukai were greed, hatred, rage, arrogance, fear, and any other fleshly thing that could lead a Matukai to vanity and selfishness.

Restrict the Errant Spirit; Such breeds the Shadow of Damnation

——THE SEVENTH STRICTURE

The seventh mantra of the Matukai Creed dealt with a Matukai preventing themselves from becoming distracted, indecisive or otherwise sidetracked from their higher calling and purpose to the Light. Even outside that which was covered from the first six, there would always be matters that could rob a Matukai of their conviction, from which a Matukai must always be on guard. Such was personified in the 'spirit', the entire sum of a Matukai's essence through their actions, intent, desires and faith, which a Matukai had to do their utmost to prevent from becoming divided. A Matukai without clear purpose and clarity of thought would, inevitably, fall. And from a fall, only the Darkness remained for them. And for any soul, Matukai or otherwise, becoming enthralled by the Dark Side was the most terrible fate that could be suffered.

Only those Forged in Light can stand against the Sea of Darkness
——THE MATUKAI OATH

Although not a stricture, the final mantra of the Matukai Creed is less of a rule, and more of a promise passed down from generation after generation. When one fully follows and devotes themselves to the teachings of the Creed of the Matukai, they become "Forged in Light", a spear and aegis that can stand against the "Sea of Darkness". One needs only to examine the history of the galaxy to understand that the Darkness has always been more vast than the Light. More widespread, tainting countless beings across the stars. It truly is as a sea, but such vastness does not constitute power or strength. A being created in the Light Side of the Force, no matter the obstacles and dangers, shall always overcome the evils in the galaxy. And as the age-old promise spoke, so too do I say that there is no terror, no brutality, no wrath, no hatreds, no dangers, no impossibilities that the Light cannot, and will not, overcome. And when Darkness is found, it is the responsibility of beings Forged in Light to expunge it. Preserving a life does not take precedence over preserving the Light, and one who has willfully embraced the Darkness without redemption will thus only find it through Chaos. This is our way. And this is what it means to be a Matukai.
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THE
TWILIGHT SCHISM

"Of all the battles the Matukai have endured through the eons of our existence, no conflicts have been as bitter and defining as the ancient Twilight Schism. This spiritual war is not well known, to the galaxy or to the Matukai, and for good reason. It is a past many Matukai would sooner wish forgotten forever. However, this stems not from shame or pettiness, but of grief. For many, the Matukai is more than a brotherhood of monks or warriors in arms, we are a surrogate family. Many of us form bonds stronger than blood, and for the overwhelming majority of our existence, this bond has kept the Matukai together and on the proper path. However, we did not begin that way. It is my purpose now to provide a record of what the Twilight Schism truly was, why it happened, and how knowledge of this terrible even can help keep all Matukai, young and old, Proselyte and Elder, on the proper path of Light.

To understand the heart of the Twilight Schism, I will give background to what led to its events. No one can pin the exact date the Twilight Schism truly began, although its foundation was laid during the era of the early Old Sith Wars. Roughly a century after the death of our matriarch, Vashti Matukai, her disciples and successors faced what many believe was the earliest trial our order truly faced. Never having been without a strong leader, few Matukai warriors felt any suitable candidates existed to take up Vashti Matukai's mantle, and even fewer felt any should even have attempted to replace her. With the focus being on the person instead of the Light, a division began forming between Matukai brethren. Initially, this division began by way of a difference in opinion on what path the Matukai should take. A leader, or a council? Would Vashti's children become our monarchs, or would merit elect our leaders? In time, these differences evolved.

The Matukai bear no differentiation between the physical and the spiritual. They are the same facet, interacted with via two different methods. A philosophy will affect a person's beliefs, their ethics, the actions of a person and people, and so forth.. In time, some Matukai felt that what Vashti Matukai passed down was only the beginning of what they were meant to expand on, while others felt the need to adhere solely to what she had passed down to them. Those seeking to expand Vashti's teachings were known as the Novus. Those against the change were called the Purists.

It is at this time that I feel it is important to note what developed next was much more complex than a conflict of a division between sides of the Force. The Novus believed that the "old Force", as the Light was called then, was the initial concept meant to be evolved into the "new Force", what we now call the Darkness. They believed that without that progression, the Matukai would become stagnant and ineffective. That said, the Novus did not subscribe to the Darkness fully, but delved into both sides to their advantage. In contrast, the Purists believed that this new Force was a corrupting influence that would inevitably spell the downfall of all Matukai, not the Novus alone. To them, the Darkness was a deviation of all Vashti stood for when she passed down her teachings. And as is so often the case with stark differences, both sides pushed further and further into extremes. The Novus began using the Darkness exclusively, and the Purists shunned it in its entirety.

It was less than a decade after this that conflict finally broke out between both sides, during what was meant to be a peaceful meeting between both sides. Instead, by the base of a mountain in the Treysan Tundra, violence finally began between the Purists and the Novus. It was the site of this battle at the base of a mountain that would eventually be called the Tears of Vashti. The Twilight Schism lasted for nearly one hundred years, and was a series of light skirmishes between both sides across the surface of the entire world of Karvoss. The battles remained relatively minor, until the Novus were rallied by the Matukai warrior, Lisya Niaak, and the Purists by Jo'ac Typhoons. The two sides brought the full force of their sides against one another in the Realm of the Spirits. It was recorded as the most terrible and massive battle of the Twilight Schism to have been fought. Nearly six hundred Matukai warriors fell in battle, and many more were injured. Scarred. Maimed.

But such battles would continue until nearly seventy years later. Over time, the supporters for the Novus dwindled, both by conversion and by death, until they were pursued to the Black Mountain. It was there that the Novus made their final stand against the Purists. Their battle and conviction shall never be forgotten, nor should it. Their path was the wrong one - Darkness cannot be tamed, nor controlled, nor made pure by intentions. But there was honor in that they took a stance for what they believed in. The Battle of the Black Mountain was the most memorable moment and the finest hour of the Purists. All that could be saved, were. All that were not were given burials and stones on our sacred mountain. The Twilight Schism ended with their deaths, but the lessons learned from their examples and lives will live on and last for as long as a Matukai warrior may read of them.

Never again had such a time come where so many Matukai had deviated from the path of purity. Eventually, the rise of the "Vorevaks" came about, through the conflict with the Witchmen of Vanqor, but these were very few. Drops of blood from the flow within the body. And keep in mind too, that while the Novus had been ones who embraced the Darkness, they were not Vorevaks, nor should they be remembered as such. The wrong path, wrong power and wrong actions cannot be made pure by intentions or end results. Acts of evil can never be reconciled with compassion, nor can wicked means and intent be festered for the greater good. Only the Light can purify, make whole and mend what is broken and shattered by the Darkness. And as Matukai―warriors of the Light―this is a tragic tale that we must never forget."
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LIGHT
AND
DARKNESS

"Light and Darkness. Good and Evil. Righteous and Wicked. Antithetical, and yet inseparable. What is the Light? The Darkness? These are questions often brought to us by outsiders of the Force. In many ways, our own views are parallel with that of countless other Force orders. However, it is our philosophy that marks our interpretation of these as different.

The Force is the primal energy of the universe. In fact, the Force itself, during the earliest era of the Druid Kings, was known as the Primal—the energy produced by the creatures of the world. Life cannot exist without it, and without life, the primal energies cannot sustain itself. Both are dependent on one another. In many ways, these primal energies are intertwined in ways that are impossible to comprehend or divide. For instance, all who wield the primal energies have access to identical powers. The only difference appears in what fuels their powers. Light, or Darkness.

To the Matukai, the Light is the life-giving aspects of the primal energies, that is the Force. The Light ushers vibrancy, vitality, health, strength of mind, strength of will, vigor and above all, life itself. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that the Light is manifested energies of all life in the universe. The biotic energies of life are at their strongest when bound in sacrifice for others, giving, compassion, love and mercies. With proper training, an individual can make such energies stronger within themselves, and once manifesting such traits, can feed on the biotic life energies within their own bodies. This act of "feeding on the Light" is where all Matukai draw their strength. In contrast with some, such as the Jedi Knights, our strength is not directly fed by the Force around us, but the Force within ourselves.

In contrast to this, Darkness is the primal energies that are manifested from broken and corrupted life. Born from hatred, agony, despair, malevolence, grief and other things that negatively impact life, both mentally and physically, Darkness is the twisted essence of what life could be. While the Darkness is empowered by life, it is not weakened by the mass of death, as Light is. Death is condemned to Darkness, even when such deaths occur on a massive scale. And when individuals strongly bonded to the primal energies give in to Darkness, the change and alterations affect them on the physical level, the Force level and the psychological level. The body begins decaying, the mind shatters and the primal energies become warped and sinister. When bound to the Darkness, one feeds not only on their own misery, but also that which they spread to others. It is simply the dark reflection of the Light.

Combating the Darkness is the duty and destiny of the Light, but it is not a conflict taken up lightly, nor in imbalance. And it can take many forms. At times, combating the Darkness may call upon one to fight against the spirit of Darkness. This means manifestations of mercy, kindness, forgiveness or compassion where others have had none. Self-sacrificing for the sake of others, protecting those unable to help themselves, helping other to see the Light, and know that there is more to the galaxy than just Darkness. At other times, it may be required of one to fight against the force of Darkness. This means defeating and destroying sources of evil, cruelty and wickedness. Whether stopping a wielder of the Dark Side of the Force or neutralizing a force of slave traders, a Matukai must be willing to do whatever it takes of them to stand firm against those who have chosen to take up the Darkness as their ally.

This is what it means to fight for the Light, to defy the Darkness, and to be a Matukai."
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KENDOV'VUN

"Kendov'vun, or 'the warrior's tongue', as it would be translated, is a language almost as old as the Matukai themselves. In the ancient days when Vashti Matukai walked Karvoss, the precursors to this dialect was one of the dozens of languages that warring Karvossi tribes used as a battle language. And as it did then, so too does Kendov'vun act as our battle language now.

Structurally, Kendov'vun had very similar standards of grammar as Basic, with the exception that it lacked an equivalent to Basic's possessive apostrophes. Kendov'vun tended to place prepositional phrases earlier in sentences than in Basic, and structured sentences did not carry tense, making adequate understanding of the language and the context of the others words being spoken in a given sentence vital in understanding exactly what was being said. The pluralization of a word in Kendov'vun was accomplished by repeating the final letter of the word, thereafter adding an 'e'.For instance, 'brodaan', which meant tribe, would become 'brodaanne' for tribes.

Perhaps the most difficult and exotic aspect of Kendov'vun was that it ideally required physical contact between individuals to be optimally understood. Due to the Echani influence as well as the nature of it being an old battle language, adequate comprehension of body language and nuances was necessary that most Humanoids either do not notice or comprehend. Without learning to observe such subtleties, it was widely believed that most non-Matukai were incapable of becoming truly fluent in Kendov'vun. Taking in minute microexpressions, scarce gestures and the faintest of minuscule motions, Kendov'vun was almost as much a physical language as it was verbal. However, Kendov'vun was still capable of being clearly spoken and understood in the absence of eye contact between individuals, as Matukai often freely spoke to one another while wearing their warskins.

The adoption or adaptation of words from other languages was extremely rare; Kendov'vun words were constructed in such a way that, when combined, they form new words to relay new meanings, however the necessity arose. One such construction was 'kahliirokaaz', which meant '[the] celestial sea'.'Kahliir' was the Kendov'vun word for something that was astral or heavenly, while 'okaaz' meant a massive body of water, notably a sea or ocean. However, once combined, the two words created the Kendov'vun word for 'galaxy'—a word that did not naturally exist in the Kendov'vun language.

In a further example, due to the long primitive state of the Karvossi, most native dialects and languages never developed words for 'blaster' or 'starship'. Yet, words did exist that served the foundation for new words to be created to take on ownership of such terms.

For instance, 'viingaal', which meant 'winged', and 'vaad', which meant 'boat', were words that when conjoined into 'viingaalvaad', formed the Kendov'vun word for 'spaceship' or 'starship'. Similarly, 'gosvernemund', which meant 'space station' through the words 'gosverne', which meant 'heaven's', and 'mund', which meant 'hall'. Likewise, 'yol', meaning 'fire', and 'haal', meaning 'hand', translated to 'fire [of the] hand', which formed the Kendov'vun word for 'blaster'.

In addition, the meaning of any word in Kendov'vun that was constructed was based on which of the words came first, as the first word was considered the most prominent in defining what was being spoken. Consequently, while some conjoined words may appear to carry interchangeable meanings when translated into Basic, in Kendov'vun, they mean create entirely different words.

If an individual were to have said 'krienvul', for example, the prominent word would be 'krien' or 'sun', while the secondary is 'vul' or 'dark', thus creating an archaic and poetic way to refer to the moon, translating as '[the] sun [of the] dark'. However, when reversed into "vulkrien", with 'vul' or 'dark' being the prominent word and 'krien' or 'sun' becoming secondary, the speaker would have spoken the Kendov'vun word for 'eclipse', translating as '[the] dark sun'.

Hence, those unfamiliar with the emphasis placed in creating Kendov'vun words frequently misplaced the order of words to relay meaning. For instance, 'kahliirokaaz' meant '[the] celestial sea', but if one were to have written or spoken the word as 'okaazkahliir', it would confusingly translate equivalently as 'sea astral' or 'ocean-heavenly', which would simply not make any contextual sense in Kendov'vun.

Occasionally, particularly when speaking in speeches or before audiences, the more proper 'se' was used as a conjunction between words that combined them together, such as 'krienvul' becoming 'kriensevul', or 'kahliirokaaz' becoming 'kahliirseokaaz', but such practices were considered overly formal, and words were just as easily understood without its inclusion.

In the galaxy, Kendov'vun is a rarely spoken language, as was designed and intended. We do not teach it those not of our kind, not even our Disciples. And while we are not obligated to speak it except in times where it is deemed necessary, many choose to do so to honor the Matukai legacy. And Kendov'vun is as much a legacy to be honored as any other custom passed down by our progenitor, Vashti Matukai."
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ZAVTRA
THE
PURE


"The bloodline of Vashti Matukai has always been held to unofficial sacredness to us. She was the first, after all. Our founder and our great teacher. Even now, over five millennia later, we still echo the things she taught us. Many powerful warriors have come from Vashti's blood. Thassius the Unbroken, Kayla the Wise and Korren the Valiant are just a few produced by her line. Perhaps what many of us find most remarkable of her bloodline was that down to this day, there have been none who have ever strayed from the path of Light. And in our generation, Vashti's inheritor and heiress, the youngest Elder among us, is no different.


Zavtra Matukai, known to many as Zavtra the Pure, is one of the last carrying the blood of Vashti herself. The tale of Zavtra Matukai's life is a difficult one, but telling nonetheless. It was often heard and spoken that talent alone does not create a Matukai, but few have had the difficulty of being forced to live through a struggle such as hers. The Force has always run strongly in Vashti's line, almost blazing with the Light. Zavtra, firstborn of Evor, was a maverick, however. The Force ran through her, but it was weak, like the glittering glow of a half-lit candle as opposed to the burning brilliance of a fiery star.


For much of her youth, Zavtra cursed her own life. She hated who she was, her legacy, feeling that the Force and the Light had forsaken her. In time, she even came to believe that she was robbed of the strength of her ancestors by fate, believing that perhaps she would be that would become tainted by the Darkness—the first of her entire family line—and thus had been robbed of her Light to prevent it. Still, Zavtra persisted to live up to her legacy, the same legacy her ancestress passed down to her. Many encouraged her to seek a different life, assuring her that she would always be welcome among them and never forsaken, but Zavtra could never bring herself to abandon her heritage.


Without the strength of the Force to empower her, the training that Zavtra had to endure was many times the severity of her peers. Many days, she would return from the Realm of the Spirits, training until her bones would crack, her skin would split, and her vision would grow dark from strain. She would push herself until she would collapse from exhaustion, until her body began failing from dehydration and malnutrtion. And all the while, Zavtra never saw any reward, no result or fruitage from her labors and struggles. It was as if the Force within her refused to be strengthened. And when Zavtra herself had begun to concede that the Force would never truly be with her, a Matukai Elder among us, Artemis Qel-Teran, came to her side. Having witnessed the child's will, her determination and desire to become a Matukai, Artemis took Zavtra under her wing, training her across the stars as she departed, from world to world.


The true scope of their adventures are such that only the spirits would know, but over time, out there among the stars, Zavtra developed something that she simply could not here. Hope, and faith. Hope that she could make a difference, even with her lot in life. And faith, faith the the Light would show her the way, regardless of what power she held, or didn't hold, with it. When this change began to occur, no one can say for certain. But by the time Zavtra had returned to Karvoss to be examined, her strength in the Force had magnified a thousand fold. It was as if her soul was the eye of a storm, the flare of a star, and the epicenter of a tectonic quake. Zavtra had made a vow to the Light, devoted herself to it, and the Light answered her call.


Zavtra became more powerful than her own father, and her father's father before him. And within her, there was no Darkness, no shadows, no hatreds nor any malice. She was at one with what the Light had made her to be. Unlike most of our order, Zavtra wields powers she's learned from her travels in the galaxy, powers such as telekinesis, telepathy, Force visions, and beyond, although she does not often use them. She also wields a katana, instead of the more traditional wan-shen, but believes she wields the unorthodox because she had been born with an unorthodox connection to the Light. However, her heart has time and again proved to be as true a Matukai's as Osiris himself.


Zavtra's tale not only tells us, but shows us that even those with the weakest connection to the Force can be made powerful when Forged in Light. Her story is not the first, and Force-willing it shall not be the last. All born in the Force are its children, however strong or slight the Force is in them. And with vigilance, with strength of will and with an indomitable heart, the Light will make powerful all who give themselves to it."
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TYRION
THE
AWOKEN

"All of the Redeemed Matukai are known in one way, shape, or form. Though, none have been able to garner the amount of attention that Tyrion the Awoken has in his lifetime. He is a Human male, born on the second moon of Hultomo in the year 997 ABY and raised within a society that dwelled beneath the crust of their planet. Caim, his twin brother, was known for being the non-violent type wasn't to fond of the fact that violence was a necessity in order to survive. Which, in turn made Tyrion fight that much harder for himself and his brother. This conditioning was something that followed him, even after his departure from Hultomo and accumulated in being the cause of his fall from the Light.

Lagatha, a Human female Matukai, that had discovered brought him back to Karvoss with her to learn the ways of her people. She was sure that the young boy at the time would one day become a devout warrior of the Light and for some time, it appeared as though she was right. Oddly enough, Tyrion never showed interest in adapting the fabled weapon of the Order into his training regimen. Showing a preference for the Martial Arts and excelling exponentially in learning the various forms within the known galaxy.

There were times when the Elders worried that Tyrion would take things a step to far during training, but wrote it off as him merely being an over zealous Proselyte that expected perfection. That is until the Light was put out within him. The trial by combat was something that all Proselytes must endure and even though the Templar Guardians were on hand, nothing could be done to stop that lethal blow. The battle between brothers was a sight to behold, both wise beyond their years in terms of Martial Combat and the match was steadily drawing to a close. Caim, the apparent soon-to-be victor until that fatal blow was delivered.

That was the moment that started Tyrion's descent into Darkness. Unable to face the Elders, the adolescent fled from Karvoss into the night and wasn't heard from for sometime. Every now and then, word of a Vorevak would reach the Elders and capable warriors would be dispatched to put an end to their fallen brethren's wrath. Each one of them failing to return and slain at hands of Tyrion. They knew who the accused was based solely upon the description of his capabilities and after so many deaths, Osiris opted to send Lagatha his surrogate mother in hopes of rekindling the Light within him. Which, she was able to do. Though, at the cost of her own life.

This was the breaking point that drove Tyrion back to Karvoss and before the Elders to seek judgment. He was expecting a swift death and instead being granted the right to redemption. Something that wasn't accepted throughout the Order for many years. Since then however, Tyrion has achieved the status of an Elder himself and has developed quite the reputation. Often looked upon as quick to disappoint and difficult to please, Tyrion is hard on those that seek his guidance. Though, for a good reason.

He knows how easily one can fall from the Light and be swallowed up by the Darkness. While, he does prefer a life of solitude and generally avoids the Pantheon unless called upon. Tyrion will not hesitate to guide those in need."
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JUYA KAELEN

"It has been a very long time since I have thought about the old days... the early days. It is a thing few know, and even fewer ever thing to ask, but I was not always a briinah, a sister of the Matukai. I came from another order, a darker order, and I owe my current life and path to the Elder of Elders. At first, I was meant to be a Disciple-apparent, a conduit for my people to gather intelligence for future war against the Matukai. Eventually, I forsook my old ways, although it was only much later that I embraced the path I walk on now. My name is Juya Kaelen, archivist of the Matukai Chronicles. And my story begins with the Hundred-Day War.

My homeworld was that of Kro Var, a wondrously beautiful world of luscious forests, towering mountains, volatile regions of volcanoes and boundless oceans. And my people, the Shapers, were its masters. Or, so we had thought and come to believe. We were a Force order unlike any other, even the Matukai. Our strength lied in the elements of the worlds around us. Some of us wielded the power of the ground beneath us, commanding the soil, stones and sands. Others grasped the currents of the air, the flowing waters or the lightning of the skies. My own clan controlled the raging fires, a power that even today, I cannot forsake.

My contact with the Matukai came at the expense of tragedy, what we now call the Mu'the'sah Massacre. In one night, thirteen clans of the Kro Var were set upon in ambush and slaughtered. Small clans they were, but nearly two thousand lives were lost, with all evidence pointing to the Matukai as our aggressors. We had never been in contact with the Matukai before, but they were known to us. Crusaders and zealots, we believed, and inflexibly against any who used the Dark Side... like we did. In retrospect, I suppose the attack pointed a little too obviously to them, but ration often left us when in the thrall of emotion. It was not long before we answered in kind to what we believed was an unprovoked attack. I can still remember the smell of charred ground and fresh mud, as we launched our attack on the monastery of Karvoss months later.

Thus began the Hundred-Day War, a series of attritional battles and skirmishes, from the Core Worlds to the Unknown Regions. And short as it was, I can still remember them. There were so many battles, so much loss of life. The Battle of Hemei, the Assault on Thebeon, the Sestria Blitz, the Ten-Worlds Campaign... so much violence in such a short period of time. And I was there, a child soldier ready for war. When the war had finally come to Kro Var, I was on the front line. I can still remember the fever and chaos of the battle, when all I saw were whirring blades and blood. I know not if I had fell any Matukai that day, but the fighting was bitter, with both sides bleeding the other. I had not realized it at the time, but the battle had been led by Eli Osiris himself, and with him there, the Matukai were victorious. However, and for reasons I still cannot understand, he rescued me. I was still alive, but unable to fight. Honor of the Strictures would have dictated I was to be allowed to live, and I could have made it back on my own. But he helped me, healed me.

Only days later, the fighting had come to an abrupt end. It had been discovered that the Mu'the'sah Massacre had been orchestrated by the Witchmen of Vanqor, a society of deviant sadists. They had long clashed with the Matukai, and it was believed that they had attempted to use the Shapers to weaken the Matukai to the point that the Witchmen could overwhelm them almost without a fight. Relations had remained cool, we had shed one another's blood, after all, but they were no longer openly hostile. As a sign of good-will, I was offered to the Matukai as a Disciple, in an effort to mend relations between us. I already had a kind of bond with their most acclaimed leader, Osiris, so I was the optimal choice. What the Matukai were never meant to know, was that I was meant to be a spy for the Shapers, taking what information I could on the Matukai to better equip us for finishing the fight we started with them. And for a time, I had fully intended to follow through on my purpose. But... things changed. I changed.

My reasons are my own, and they are private, but I slowly realized that I could no longer be a Shaper, not after tasting what the Matukai... no, what the Light, had to offer me. I never forgot the... sensation, the fervor that the Darkness left on my spirit, but I can suppress it. I chose to suppress it for another strength. It was not an easy transition, nor an unchallenged one, once my former loyalties had come to light, but from a Disciple, I became a Proselyte, a true convert. I lost my father in the Hundred-Day War, and my family forsook me when I abandoned the Shapers, but I gained a new family, a new father. And this, all these things? I would not give them up for anything in the galaxy. Because this is who I am now. This is what I am. Archivist, historian, teacher, scholar... and above all these things, I am Juya Kaelen. I am Elder of the Matukai."
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Hopeless Wanderer

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KARVOSSI DRAGONS​

“In the beginning, before the Pantheon was constructed there were rumors throughout the land of a massive beast that migrated the vast landscape of Karvoss. While, the creature was frightening to behold and even more terrifying when viewed hunting. She was viewed as a good omen to the people that fell under her watchful eyes, seeming to help bring an aura of peace and prosperity to those lucky to reside within her domain. It were these stories that helped to guide Vashti and the others to lay claim to the prospective location of the Pantheon back in those times. The home of the Matukai was constructed beneath one of the many homes of the Queen of Karvoss. At first there were worries in regards to them intruding upon her dwelling, but over time those fears were forgotten. The rumors were true. She did bring good fortune to those within her domain and over time we learned.

While, there are many of her species. The Queen is by far that most dominant upon the surface of Karvoss and it is evident due to the fact that she is the only female with a brood. As the only mating female, she casts off the born females after only a few months of nurturing. While, the males are kept around essentially for breeding purposes for her and usually in the range of a dozen or two potential mates. The life of the species is a violent one, consisting of constant fighting in an effort to impress the female and gain their right to procreate. These mating duels often times result in the death of the loser and is likely the cause of the limited number of potential mates.

There are stark differences between the males and the females of the species. With the female being larger by nearly double the size of the males who grew to a maximum of twelve meters from snout to tail. Unlike the males, the Females had wings that could reach in excess of thirty meters. Though, they were incapable of flight and could only be used for gliding purposes. With the aide of their “hot lungs” they could expel heated air beneath the surface of their wings in order to provide lift, allowing them to remain airborne for several hundred miles at a time. They have an arsenal of weapons at their disposal and like the Matukai rely upon only their form to fight or hunt. Five razor sharp claws line each foot and several of their scales along the ridge of their spine and tail are also impressively deadly. They have no means of breathing fire, though one could easily be burned to an excessive degree from the gills beneath the wings that vent from the set of "Hot Lungs".

While, powerful and capable of dealing death with a relative ease. The Karvossi Dragons have proven to be faithful companions and fairly docile creatures that are capable of being tamed. So long as they are looked after from birth and fed on a proper schedule, one shouldn’t expect any harm to fall to come to them. Though, they are fiercely loyal and willing to defend its owner if the need arises. They seem to be relatable in terms of temperament, as the Queen acts as a protector of sorts over the mountains that the Matukai reside in. So does the males and often times act as mounts or even companions for the members of the Order. Though, as of yet none have left the atmosphere of Karvoss to this date that we’re aware of.

Occasionally, the Pantheon will be bathed in the shrieks of combat when a female challenger rises to claim the right to breed. The battles are fierce and it is during these times that the populace of the Matukai must be weary of their Karvossi Dragon friends, as they are all on alert and jumpy when such an event is happening.

It is a great honor, that the Queen has allowed our presence and offered her protection. Therefore, it is our duty to honor and respect her."
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THE
KARVOSSI ROAR
OF THE
DRUID KINGS

"The Matukai are the most visible legacy of Force wielders of the world of Karvoss, but we were not the first. Before the Great Hyperspace War, before Naga Sadow, before the Sith and their Empire, before Vashti Matukai, Karvoss was protected by a class of shamans and spellbinders that acted as the spiritual leaders of the Karvossi. These individuals were called the Druid Kings, or simply the druids. Unbound by any tribe or clan and unfettered by political aims or ambitions, the druids were an order of Force users respected by all of Karvoss, and feared just as much. No harm was ever permitted to come to them by a fellow Karvossi, and most tribes wound bow at their approach, should a druid have come to their village. Although called kings, priests and knights were more befitting titles of the druids. In many ways, they were not unlike the Order of the Jedi Knights.

To understand who the druids were, one had to understand how untamed Karvoss was, roughly eight thousand years ago. Humans did not rule the land of Karvoss, the beasts and monsters did. Snow Lions, Frost Wolves, Ice Raptors, and the most terrible of all these creatures, the Karvossi Dragon. Over time, however, a group of warriors and spiritualists formed a band together, and sought instruction from the spirits of the land to discover how the beasts of Karvoss attained their strength. What made these animals and monsters so powerful?

Records of what truly happened are unknown from so far back into the past, but it was claimed that the band of men and women saw energy and vibrancy in the expressions of the beasts of the land. And from these expressions, the Karvossi wanderers meditated and contemplated which of these was the most terrible, the most powerful and the most majestic. In the end, none of them could deny there was nothing that approached the dominance of the roar of a Karvossi Dragon.

By the time the wanderers returned to villages around Karvoss, they took with them the fruits of their labors and knowledge. When precisely it happened, none can say, only that by the time their journey ended, these nomads were then called "druids". So loved were they, that most referred to these individuals as their lords, "kings" and "queens" among men and women. Sporadically traveling Karvoss, the Druid Kings sought out Karvossi that were under terror by the savage animals of the land, fending them off by imitating the call of the Karvossi Dragon... the "Karvossi Roar".

The Karvossi Roar, or the Dragon's Roar, was a Force ability mastered by these Druid Kings. Using the Force to agitate, amplify and project their voices at grandiose proportions, the druids were capable of using their own voices as weapons. And when they roared, it was as if the sounds of the Karvossi Dragon's roar had been perfectly emulated. These roars were fairly similar to the Force Screams practiced by the Sith, but without the expressions of Darkness trifling through them. Druid Kings had been known to shatter trees of the Great Wilderness, start avalanches and even pulverize creatures subjected to a full blast at point-blank range.

Whatever became of the Druid Kings is unknown. They had no bloodlines, no formal order or organization, and they seldom passed on their knowledge out of fear of the Roar's misuse. And by the time of Naga Sadow's invasion during the Great Hyperspace War, they druids were thought to have been all but extinct. However, the Matukai has become, in a sense, the spiritual successors of the legacy of the druids. The Karvossi Roar was one of the first techniques relearned by Vashti Matukai during her self-imposed isolation.

While not all were taught the art of Roaring, the technique has survived among those deemed to have the aptitude for it. Zavtra the Pure, the last living descendant of Vashti Matukai, is considered to possess the greatest skill with Roaring among the Matukai, and is the only one among the Elders with the true aptitude for it. Nonetheless, the ancient Karvossi art has survived and endured, and has bonded and tied the Matukai with the Karvossi people all the more."
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THE

SIGIL

"Mark of the Strangers"

"It is often asked of the Matukai where our seal comes from. It takes little scrutiny to realize the design is not Karvossi, and thus could not have originated with the Great Valkyrie, Vashti Matukai. And yet, its origins can be traced back over six thousand years. Even within our order, there are many who know not where our seal, the Sigil, comes from. This entry is meant to enlighten those ones, as the Sigil comes not from Karvoss, nor from Vashti, but from another source altogether. And to understand the reason for our wielding the Sigil, we must go back to our beginnings.

It is commonly believed that the first disciples of Vashti Matukai were Karvossi. While most indeed were, this belief encompasses all of her inaugural students, the first ones. That is wrong; there were two men, two very specific men, who were off-worlders. Strangers to Karvoss, to Vashti, and even to the Force itself. Unfortunately, even after so much time past, their names have been forever lost to the sands of history. Some believe the two men were brothers, and ancient texts do indeed allude to their arrival together and a brotherly relationship. However, it was also very possible that the two men were "brothers-in-arms". We simply call them, 'the Strangers'.

What many often forget, was that the great conflicts between the Galactic Republic and Naga Sadow's Sith Empire had reached their fever pitch. Before his ultimate defeat, there was constant battle between both sides. It was speculated by some archivists that the two men who arrived were not truly related, but stumbled upon Karvoss in the aftermath of battle from afar, and became stranded. It would also explain why the records show the men remained here so long, instead of returning to the war front.

Few fully grasp the fact that for most of galactic history, Karvoss was either unknown or ignored by the galactic community. Most likely didn't even know civilization thrived on the planet's surface, and of those that did, most still did not care. Our world was primitive to their standards, cold, bitter and harsh, and with little attraction in the way of natural resources. And when the Strangers arrived, through one circumstance or another, they found Vashti Matukai... or else, she found them. It was said that the First Ones were destined, guided to Vashti by the Light of the Primal Force. And if true, perhaps all that matters is that their meeting was inevitable.

Little was known of the Strangers, particularly how some that could touch the Force went untaken by the Jedi Knights to aid in the offensive against the Sith onslaught. Perhaps they were discovered too advanced in years, perhaps their natures or personalities were incompatible. It is also fully possible that they were of age to reject Jedi membership, or even that they were simply not desired by the Jedi Order. Unlike our own order, the Jedi habitually refuse tutelage to the Force-attuned in favor of the Force-sensitives; those with weaker connections to the Force were ineligible to be taught. But teaching them was precisely what Vashti Matukai set out to do, and to offer them.

It was said the Strangers initially refused her, stating they held former vows to honor and that she had nothing of worth to offer to teach them. However, they were stranded, and made a promise to Vashti. If they could defeat her in combat, she would wield what influence she had to aid them. If they were defeated, then on their honor, they would be bound to her, and be taught what she sought to teach them. The battle waged for hours, from the sun hovering in the skies above to its setting toward the horizon. And while the Strangers struggled, Vashti had toyed with them as if with children. Defeated, the Strangers knelt to the dirt and pledged a vow to the calling of Vashti.

In symbol of their new dedication, the Strangers reached for a sash by their wastes, and from the cloth, tore a symbol of their old allegiance, giving it to Vashti. In this moment, the Strangers symbolically stated that she, Vashti, was their new devotion, held their loyalty and that they would honor their words to her. Today, the origin for this symbol is still unknown, and the entity it belonged to was possibly destroyed in Naga Sadow's war, or one of the successive galactic wars that followed. But the meaning of the Sigil still holds today. The Sigil means devotion, dedication, servitude and loyalty. Loyalty to the Matukai, loyalty to Vashti's legacy, and loyalty to our calling. To the Force, and to the Light."

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Raze Houser

"A man is only as much as he is willing to sacrifice for the sake of others"


"Since time immemorial, there has always been a solemn pledge that came with strength... the strength to make a difference in behalf of those unable to do so themselves, and the willingness to do so. In the eyes of many, it is that quality that marks the measure of a man or woman—not their power, but how they use it. Why they wield it. Sages and scholars alike, the aged and the learned—they all spend their lives searching for the answer of how to be what they should be. Even among us, the Matukai, few find their answers before their years of youth had passed them by. But every few generations, there arises one among the young that has the will beyond their years. This is the story of Raze Houser, the young Proselyte, the warrior, and the martyr. If a man is measured by the sacrifices he is willing to make, how much greater is that man... when he is but a boy?

Raze Houser was an Echani, scarcely passed twenty years. Privileged as being among the few in our ranks that was 'born' into the Matukai way of life, Houser was a warrior from birth. For much of his childhood, Houser was considered to be 'foreordained'. His talent for fighting was nothing short of his birthright, and his tenacity, his prowess, was stellar for a Matukai of his inexperience. A perfectionist emboldened by his own drive for success, there were few that could not see him one day joining the ranks of the Elders, sharing exploits and experiences to teach those who would tread in the path he had already walked.

A prodigy of the Matukai arts as he was of combat, Houser was like many young Matukai in that he sought to test himself in battle; to protect the weak, to test his abilities, to stimulate his own growth. However, it would be the repercussions of the war between the Galactic Federation, the Knights of the Jedi Order and the Lords of the New Sith Imperium that would seal his fate. With Coruscant's fall, anarchy spread across the Core Worlds like wildfire... and Karvoss was of no exception. In the aftermath of the chaos wrought by Empress Andraste, Karvoss was at the mercy of a massive invasion of pirates, pillagers and slavers. Over a hundred Karvossi settlements were attacked, with many of them being razed completely before the Matukai could even be contacted on the Black Mountain. And when the outcries came, Houser was among the first to answer its call.

In the Siege of Karvoss, Raze Houser, along with a fellow Proselyte by the name of Triton Octave, battled across the tundras, beginning at Coveheart. However, with the pirate forces seeking to flee before the full might of the Matukai could reach them, time became thinned considerably to save the innocents. Separated from his mentor, Houser and Octave were dispatched by themselves to Brinstar. With the Karvossi there already enslaved and boarded and his brother-warrior mortally wounded in the battle, Raze Houser made the ultimate sacrifice... transferring his own life force to Triton Octave so that he could live on and survive. He sacrificed himself so that another could live to see the victory. Karvoss survived, as did the Karvossi, and our young brother, Octave.

Houser's life, the story of the decisive sacrifice he made for his fellow Matukai, teaches us all that it does not take a man with great tales to be a great man. Raze Houser was scarcely out of his boyhood, but displayed heroism of a warrior well beyond his stature. He was bold, courageous, and above all, valiant. This was the story of the promising life, and the heroic death, of Raze Houser... Raze the Valiant."
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