Ardus Zail

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Ardus Zail
Military Information
Callsign:

Coldeye

Rank:

Captain

Position:

Captain

Ship:

Venator-Class Star Destroyer Blazing Crown

Fleet:

The NPC's fleet (if any)

Affiliation:

Vast Empire

Physical Description
Gender:

male

Skin color:

white

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

170lbs

Eyes:

blue

Scar(s):

None

Tattoo:

None

Biographical Information
Homeworld:

Alderaan

Species:

human

Age:

58

Family:

First son, Pherik Zail. Wife, Doctor Sillana Otsuka-Zail (deceased). Second son, Geaden Zail (deceased).


Current status of the NPC[edit]

Ardus Zail is currently the Captain of the Venator-Class Star Destroyer Blazing Crown, a vessel he has served on in various roles since its commissioning during the Clone Wars.


Bio[edit]

Appearance & Personality[edit]

Ardus is a man of hard, craggy features, a sign of both his age, and the terrible hardships he has endured in his life. However, at times his blue eyes still light up with brilliance, and the young man he used to be briefly shines through. Quiet and melancholy, he remains an effective though distant officer, a bit of an enigma to those he commands. Though he has long since come to terms with the destruction of his home world and the loss of most of his family, he is still prone to private sadness, which he hides from the crew.

History[edit]

Early Life[edit]

Ardus was born on Alderaan to the prominent Zail family. His grandfather, an Anaxi called Jadion 'Sunset' Zail, was a Commodore in the Republic Judiciary Forces. Ardus’ aunt, Elise ‘Darter’ Zail, was also in the RJF. Alas, Ardus’ father, Kenth Zail, was too much of a peaceful son of Alderaan, and did not approve of Ardus embracing the family naval tradition. Ardus married his high school sweetheart, Sillana Otsuka, just before he joined the military. They knew that a relationship with Ardus always off on assignment in space would be tough, but the two made it work.

Service to the Republic Judiciary Forces[edit]

Ardus Zail graduated from the Raithal Academy with the callsign ‘Coldeye’, and served as a gunner on the Dreadnaught Class Cruiser ‘Indigo Blade’. Within a year he had risen to the rank of Petty Officer and was considered a capable shot.

Service to the Republic Navy[edit]

Ardus continued to serve on the ‘Indigo Blade’ as the Clone Wars erupted and the RJF was re-organised into a true unified navy to fight the Confederacy of Independent Systems. A year into the conflict, however, the ‘Indigo Blade’ was destroyed, with Ardus among only a handful of survivors.

After recuperating on Eriadu, Ardus was transferred to one of the new ‘Venator’-Class Star Destroyers, named the ‘Blazing Crown’. Serving under Captain Var Jraan, and his first officer, Lieutenant Commander Alek de Maquel, Ardus was part of the famed Open Circle Armada. Their task force hunted a CIS commander called Legan Firone, engaging his force in the Battle of the Rainbow Bridge Nebula. Firone escaped, and in the battle, Ardus’ aunt Elise Zail, serving on another ship, was killed.

Ardus returned to Alderaan for the funeral, and there met his infant son Pherik Zail for the first time. He then served through the Clone Wars, and even participated in the Battle of Coruscant at its end. There, finally, the ‘Blazing Crown’ engaged and captured Firone. The CIS war criminal was brought to justice and executed by order of Chancellor Palpatine. Actions like this made Ardus respect Palpatine, and he enthusiastically pledged himself to the new Emperor.

Service to the Empire[edit]

After four years in the Empire, Ardus had risen to Gunnery Chief of the ‘Blazing Crown’. He came to the notice of the ship’s First Officer, Commander Alek de Maquel. Like Zail, de Maquel was a human from the Core Worlds (Brentaal) and had become committed to Palpatine’s vision of an Empire dominated by a human elite. After pushing their Kel Dor Captain into early retirement, de Maquel became Captain of the ‘Blazing Crown’ and sent Ardus for officer training on Prefsbelt IV.

Eight years later, aged thirty-eight, Ardus rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and replaced Lieutenant Commander Egrasl as Captain de Maquel’s First Officer. By the time of the Battle of Yavin, Ardus had reached the rank of Commander.

The Destruction of Alderaan devastated Ardus, as it killed his wife Sillana, and their second son Geaden (Pherik Zail was safe at the University of Corulag). At first he believed that the Rebels were responsible, until an Alliance agent on the ‘Blazing Crown’ told him the truth. However, de Maquel won Ardus over, and Commander Zail stayed loyal to the Empire. His surviving son did not understand, however, and Ardus and Pherik had a great falling out.

A few years later, after the Battle of Endor, Ardus struggled to deal with the death of the Emperor. Eventually, Captain de Maquel committed suicide, but as his final act he ordered the ‘Blazing Crown’ to follow Fleet Admiral Majere into the new Vast Empire. With de Maquel dead, Ardus became the new Captain.

Service to the Vast Empire[edit]

Ardus served the Vast Empire competently, though not with enough drive and enthusiasm to ever rise above the rank of Captain. However, seven years after the founding of the Vast Empire, he reunited and reconciled with his son, Pherik Zail, and sponsored his application to the Vast Empire Naval Academy.


Stories this NPC has been used in[edit]

Story Participation
Story Start Date End Date Type Post Count
Serpent’s Father: The Story of Ardus Zail 9/16/2011  ? Background Story 15
Total: 15