Arcann

"Destiny is a lie."

- Arcann

Arcann was a Force-sensitive male Human who was the son of Valkorion, the "Immortal Emperor" of the Eternal Empire.

Biography
Arcann and his twin brother Thexan were the sons of Valkorion, the "Immortal Emperor" of the Eternal Empire, and Senya Tirall, of the Knights of Zakuul. They were trained from childhood to be warriors, but Arcann gradually became resentful of their father's apparent lack of interest or affection towards them, even as they led the Empire's armies in driving back the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Arcann lost his arm and received heavy scarring to his face during an attack on a Sith world, and gained a cybernetic arm and mask covering the left half of his face. Arcann became furious when, after he and Thexan presented the lightsabers of the fallen Jedi and Sith as trophies from the battle to their father, Valkorion turned away in silence, and overcome by the dark side of the Force, Arcann attempted to attack the Emperor. Thexan, in an attempt to prevent his father's death, pulled his brother back. Arcann turned his attention to Thexan and struck out at him, but their brief duel ended when Arcann struck his brother down with a cut across the stomach, and the glint of the dark side faded from his eyes while he cradled Thexan. After his brother's passing, Valkorion instructed Arcann, his now only son, to come with him.

Arcann later attempted to inform his father of a joint Imperial-Republic fleet approaching their territory, but Valkorion was already aware, and sent the Eternal Fleet to intercept them. In the aftermath of the battle, Arcann recovered two survivors, Darth Marr and the Outlander, whom he brought directly to his father. But before they could enter the Eternal Throne room, Arcann was approached by the Scion Heskal, who reiterated his warning that the Outlander was dangerous, but was ignored. Arcann then brought the prisoners before Valkorion, who offered them a chance to kneel. Marr refused and was executed for his defiance. Vaylin then ordered everyone to clear the room, save for Arcann, Valkorion and the Outlander. As Valkorion extended his offer to share his Empire with the Outlander, he is seemingly killed and Arcann takes over the throne becoming Emperor and using his father's murder as an excuse to launch an attack on the Core Worlds. However, he sensed that Valkorion was inhabiting the Outlander and had the outsider frozen in carbonite.

Arcann's war was swift and brutal. Within months, he had forced the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire into submission. Both sides, represented by the Galactic Senate and the Minister of Logistics respectively, formed treaties with Zakuul, promising regular tribute, which was more than needed for the Eternal Empire, which Arcann had unspecified plans for. For all intents and purposes, Arcann held dominion over the galaxy. He ignored the animosity between Republic and Empire, who were more intent on fighting each other than uniting against Arcann.

Meanwhile, Arcann's rule over Zakuul had become corrupt and oppressive. He executed a great many Scions, who used to be partnered with Knights, driving the survivors into exile and allowed the heretically Heralds of Zildrog rule the Old World.

Five years later, Lana Beniko and Koth Vortena freed the Outlander and fled, to Arcann's displeasure. He sent forces after them into the Endless Swamp but the rebels managed to find the Gravestone, the legendary starship that once overpowered the Eternal Fleet, destroying more than two dozen ships in the process of their escape.

Vaylin later informed Arcann that the Outlander had returned to Zakuul and was spotted in the Old World. Arcann publicly informed the denizens of Old World to watch out for the Outlander. Later, when the Outlander flees Zakuul, Vaylin revealed that after questioning and executing three Knights, killing an additional three because she disliked odd numbers, that their mother Senya had allied herself with the Outlander.

Arcann later learned of the Outlander's hideout on Asylum from Heskal, who desired to fulfill the prophecy that the Outlander would be his downfall. When the Outlander arrived at the Scions' hideout, Heskal was standing over the bodies of five Scions, before Arcann critically impaled him. He then extended the Outlander an offer; in exchange for going back into carbonite until he finds a way to exorcise Valkorion and the surrender of the Gravestone, he would allow the Outlander's allies to leave. His terms were refused, resulting in an all out battle on Asylum. Arcann's fight was interrupted by a crashing shuttle, allowing the Outlander to flee the scene. He followed the Outlander to the docking port and engaged his foe again, destroying HK-55 in the process. But once again, the Outlander managed to escape aboard the Gravestone. He then reunited with Vaylin, informing her that Valkorion's power had diminished.

Behind the scenes
Arcann first appeared in Sacrifice, a cinematic trailer produced by Blur Studio for Star Wars: The Old Republic fifth digital expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire. The trailer was released at the Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 15, in 2015, and the official website's page for the new expansion, released on the same day, provided his name.

Gameplay alternatives
During Chapter I: The Hunt, when Valkorion requests the player's allegiance, two outcomes will occur:

If the player refuses to submit, Valkorion assigns Arcann to execute the player, only for Arcann to instead free the player before engaging his father. His distraction allows the player to attack Valkorion from behind.

If the player submits, Valkorion began to channel energy into the player, at which Arcann takes the opportunity to stab his father from behind.

Either way, Arcann labels the player as Valkorion's killer.

During Arcann's second duel with the Outlander in Chapter VIII: Taking Flight, the player has the choice of either accepting Valkorion's aid. Accepting grants dark side points and the player shoots Force lightning from their fingertips, which Arcann barely holds at bay with a Force shield. Ultimately, he is unable to withstand the ferocity of the attack and is thrown off the platform. Refusing grants light side points, but allows Arcann to impale the Outlander, though not fatally. Koth Vortena or Lana Beniko then show up and managed to throw Arcann off the platform.