Home and Hearth
Rhaegos
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To update, revise, and otherwise entirely rework a 5-year old submission. A companion, steed, and family protector for Mordecai and Carly Zambrano.
- Image Credit: Here
- Role: Companion, Warmount, Family Guardian
- Permissions: N/A
- Links:
- Age: 27 Standard Years
- Force Sensitivity: N/A
- Species: Sith Alchemically-modified Arkanian Dragon
- Appearance: As black as pitch, as large as a small starship, and as angry as a menacing Sith Lord. Rhaegos is a large, fully matured Arkanian dragon marred over the course of his life between war and general wear-and-tear. Across his obsidian scales are pockmarks of old scars: claw marks from bestial foes and darker specks of black, reminiscent of blaster cannon fire. An eternal snarl gleaming with hundreds of razor-sharp teeth, a burning glare, and smoke curling from his nostrils give off the impression that he wants to do nothing more than raze cities and sleep in peace. Rhaegos is not one to be fooled or toyed with - and every single piece of him was specifically crafted to reflect that sentiment.
- Name: Rhaegos
- Loyalties: Mordecai Zambrano and Carly Zambrano
- Notable Possessions: Lots and lots of raw Nerf meat.
- Personality: For starters, Rhaegos is not a very talkative companion (for reasons that are painfully obvious). However, he has matured into a wizened and battle-scarred steed that has served Mordecai and his wife for his entire life. Where he used to be eternally angry and aggressive in his youth, Rhaegos has settled down to focus on a few things, namely: ensuring the continued existence of his master and his family. With Mordecai and Carly, Rhaegos is often at peace and content with life - so long as he is fed periodically throughout the day. Numerous grunts, nudges, and roars depict his mood changes and desires. Over the years, Mordecai and his wife have learned to decipher what many of these mean: whether he wants to stretch his winds or is hungry once again. In battle, Rhaegos is a ferocious being to come across. He is aggressive and overprotective of his rider, steering him clear of harm's way before jutting out of the sky to burn foes to a crisp with a stream of liquid fire.
- Training: Rhaegos, being a semi-sentient creature, is able to understand many Galactic Standard Basic words. Often commands are short and to the point, such as: Dive, Climb, Dodge, Drop, Fire, and Mount and Dismount. For the most part, as long as his rider doesn't use long or complicated words, the intent is fully understood and translated into bestial ferocity. At home, Rhaegos is fully potty-trained and is woefully patient enough to "ask" for "walks in the park" rather than just leaving the Zambrano Estate. In most situations, he is a well-mannered and well-kept beast of war. Proud, honorable, and otherwise very obedient.
- Combat Function: Rhaegos is a fully trained and veteran war mount. His role in combat can serve a variety of things, though often only at the behest of his master: Mordecai Zambrano. Whether it be transporting him directly to the frontlines and departing, bellowing fire on unsuspecting infantry formations, or engaging in atmospheric combat. He is a tough and strong beast of war, with his alchemically enhanced biology shoring up many of his otherwise inherent weaknesses. Strong wings can propel him faster than many atmospheric craft (though not all), his hide can take quite a beating from blaster cannons and lightsabers. However, he is definitely not suited to receiving overwhelming amounts of firepower or determined lightsaber-wielders. His role is always to ensure that Mordecai lives to see another day, often acting as an extra pair of eyes in the sky to swoop in an rescue his charge from imminent death.
- [+] He's a literal Dragon: All of the perks that come with it. An extremely durable scaled hide, razor-sharp fangs and claws, powerful wings, and a breath of fire so hot that it can melt durasteel. While he is an apex predator with all of the tools and accouterments, he is definitely not unbeatable in any regard. Rhaegos is resistant to just about any form of trauma that may come his way but definitely not immune. Glancing blows from lightsabers and periodic cannon fire can be brushed aside, though not entire volleys of missiles or a lightsaber piercing a break in his scales.
- [+] Sith Alchemy: The alchemical process Rhaegos went through merely enhanced his already outstanding traits. It made his bones harder, his teeth and claws as strong as Mandalorian iron, his fire-breath hotter, and his wings throw him faster through the skies. He can take and dish out blows with the best of them - but sometimes he meets his match.
- [+] Force Bond: Rhaegos possesses a Force Bond with his master, Mordecai Zambrano. The two of them can communicate (albeit one-sided) across quite a long distance. This makes giving short and simple commands remotely a lot easier, as well as provides a sort of mental immunity to respective Force Powers. Rhaegos will is unshakable, as is his loyalty to his master.
- [-] Underbelly: As with almost all flying reptiles, his scales are far less durable on his soft underbelly. Though the Sith alchemy strengthened these somewhat, Rhaegos' underside is definitely his largest weak point on his form. Many anti-air gunners and groundside troops will no doubt already be aiming at this if he is in flight.
- [-] Missiles: Many common aircraft have countermeasures to dissuade and prevent lock-ons from heat-seeking and tracking projectiles. However, Rhaegos does not. He has no infrared flares to deploy, no electronic countermeasures, and only has to rely on superb flying and dodging to avoid tracking projectiles. A common threat such as this often forces a retreat, as most modern militaries field weaponry such as this.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
As a young and newly-christened Sith Lord, Mordecai Zambrano and Sith Knight Nickolas Imura developed a friendship over their shared interest of Sith alchemy. While both of the young men were fairly new to the field, they were both determined to seek out some of the greatest beasts in the galaxy, turning shaping them from already renowned predators into the strongest, most powerful creations in the One Sith arsenal. And so, the pair and their small Imperial-Yuuzhan Vong contingent set off to the world of Arkania in search of the famed Arkanian dragons.
The duo landed on the world's frozen wastes with little more than their wits about them. Their journey began here, searching for days in the deep caverns of the snow-speckled and ice-covered land until they found a single cavern that housed nearly half a dozen of the dragons. They, however, were not prone to enjoying company and set themselves upon the pair. Skilled lightsaber duelists aided by the Force and some Pyrokinesis saw them survive - albeit both wounded from the ensuing battle. While their hopes for finding and capturing one of them were shot, further inspection revealed a trio of eggs that had been left unscathed by the skirmish. Luck was on their side on this great day, with Mordecai taking a second one as payment for alchemical assistance.
Mordecai took his to Grimhold on Panatha, nursing and eagerly awaiting the dragon's birth among the searing-hot forgeworks of the hold. It here where the tiny whelp of a dragon was birthed in a ritual performed by Mordecai and Sith Knight Vrag. One of the eggs was to be given to her upon completion of the ritual and his dragon's alchemical enhancement. The shrieking baby reptiles were soon born into this world without a helping hand, forced to make their way into this cruel reality by their masters. It was here where they forged blood-tithes with the dragons, exchanging blood for blood (among other things), to fully complete the ritual. Bonds were created and their futures as great, alchemical beasts were set in stone. Now all they had to do was wait, train them, and then wreck havoc across the stars.
Over the years, Mordecai trained his newly-named Rhaegos astutely and left nothing for want. Remote missions to world such as Kashyyyk and Felucia saw the adolescent whelp facing the first of many battles with his master. They battled the most ferocious creatures they could possibly find, earning a newfound respect for one another and learning to trust. Ferocity, patience, wisdom, and cunning were instilled in the creature's mind. With each battle came lessons learned and scars earned from proper, honorable combat among creatures of the stars.
At home, Carly was ecstatic to find their family growing by one. Rhaegos and Carly quickly developed a mutual love for one another, as if he was the child she always wanted. Carly took great pleasure in fawning over and spoiling the dragon with treats, soothing rubs, and helped sate his ever-growing hunger as he quickly neared maturity. In this regard, Rhaegos quickly transformed from the fabled war beast of the Sith Empire into the family pet, hellbent on serving the Zambrano name until the day he died. Between the three of them, the house was never quiet and something was always going on. From flights through the Imperial city, trips to the market to order large quantities of raw meat, and extensive research on how to take care of such an exotic beast.
However, war quickly disturbed their peaceful home life. Mordecai and Rhaegos were deployed to many fronts across the galaxy under the Empire's name. Kashyyyk, Sev Tok, Bastion, countless worlds fell beneath the banner of the Empire as the Sky Kaiser and his steed brought entire populations to their knees. Fire rained down from above, claws and fangs tore through defending infantry, and starcraft were pulled from the skies as a flying reptile grappled with it. For as many deployments the two have shared, their goals have always been the same: to keep each other alive, so they could return home.
For all the joy and thrill that came with fast, brutal combat, going home was always their dream. To go back home to Carly, enjoy a peaceful and largely sedentary life. For that dream, Rhaegos and Mordecai still fight to this day.
They'll make it home eventually. Here's hoping.
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