Kelad'den

"Kel always was a sucker for a pretty face. Always knew it would be the death of him."

- Paak

Kelad'den, known as Kel for short, was a Lethan Twi'lek who lived on the Outer Rim world of Serenno around 990 BBY. During the period of rebuilding the Galactic Republic following the New Sith Wars, Kelad'den was an elite warrior of the Anti-Republic Liberation Front, a radical if barely significant separatist movement. Under the influence of Darth Zannah, he was provoked into mobilizing his resistance cell into attempting to capture former Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, Tarsus Valorum, during an unofficial visit.

While attempting to kidnap the Ex-Chancellor, Kelad'den and his team came against Johun Othone, a Jedi Knight and Valorum's bodyguard. In the ensuing melee, the Twi'lek became the sole member of his team to face the Jedi. Kelad'den was killed when his opponent dragged both over the edge of the platform. Although the Twi'lek fell to his death, Othune was protected by the Force and survived.

Biography
"We are united in a single cause - the complete and utter destruction of the Republic."

- Kelad'den to members of the Anti-Republic Liberation Front

Kelad'den was a Lethan Twi'lek, born into the nobility of the warrior caste. From an early age he was made aware of this privilege, developing traits of superiority, pride and self-confidence to the point of arrogance. He received training that groomed him into an elite warrior.

Kelad'den lived on the Outer Rim world of Serenno, a place of civil unrest between 1,000 and 990 BBY - the period of the New Sith Wars. There were many seperatist factions, each rejecting the re-establish inter-planetary government of the Galactic Republic. It was during this time Kelad'den became involved with the Anti-Republic Liberation Front, a relatively well-funded resistance group led by a mysterious figure known only as Hetton.

The Anti-Republic Liberation Front was located by the last Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Bane. He decided to use the rebellious cell to draw the attention of the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Council, diverting resources that could be used to hunt him and the Sith artifacts he scoured the galaxy for. He sent his apprentice, Darth Zannah, to infiltrate the movement.

Using the alias 'Rainah', Zannah seduced Kelad'den to win his trust. Over several months he and Zannah became intimately close, and Zannah used Kelad'den's revolutionary principles to challenge him to aim higher than kidnapping local politicians as he had planned. Using information from her Master's contacts, Zannah revealed to Kelad'den an imminent secret visit from Tarsus Valorum, former Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, to the six Great Houses of Serenno. In return, the Twi'lek allowed her into his arm of the Anti-Republic Liberation Front. Kelad'den devised a plan to kidnap Valorum, which he proposed to his members. Using ideas and phrases subtly suggested by Zannah, he motivated his revolutionaries to support the attack.

With three Human accomplices, Kelad'den waited on the pad for Valorum to arrive, while Paak, a fourth human, and Cyndra, a Chiss female, waited with the escape speeder. However, they were unaware that the former Chancellor was protected by his friend Johun Othone, a Jedi Knight. As Valorum and Othune left their ship, the New Dawn, Cyndra used a remote detonator to destroy the ship. The three humans attacked the Jedi while Kelad'den watched.

Othune killed two of the attackers and the third fled. As he passed Kelad'den, the Twi'lek struck his ally in the throat with a sickle-shaped blade. Seeing him cut down their accomplice, Paak and Cyndra fled, and Kelad'den faced the Jedi alone. Wielding one of his sickle blades in each hand, he attacked Othune. The Jedi was unable to break the Twi'lek's defences, and Kelad'den began to injure his opponent, slashing several muscles. Realising he couldn't beat his opponent, Othune grabbed Kelad'den and pulled himself and his attacker over the edge of the platform. While the Jedi was protected by the Force, the Twi'lek's neck was broken as he hit the water below.

Personality and traits
"My name is Rainah. I am - I was - a friend of Kel's.''" "''Of course. Kelad'den had many female friends."

- Darth Zannah and Hetton

As a Lethan Twi'lek, Kelad'den had red skin. He was tall, muscular and physically attractive. However, he was very aware of this and knowing this, coupled with his high breeding, meant he had a hugely inflated ego. It was through this, as well as the Dark Side, that Darth Zannah used to manipulate him through challenges and flattery. He held much arrogance towards those of a 'lower class', believing them to be below his consideration. Kelad'den's self-confidence and disregard for others led him to become a serial womaniser, seducing his cohort Cyndra before turning his attentions to Zannah. He was also ruthless to anyone who btrayed his causes, as he showed when he cut down his ally in the attack on Valorum.

Skills and abilities
"Hetton doesn't need anyone's credits. He put me in charge because he was tired of dealing with oafish thugs like you."

- Kelad'den to Paak.

A highly passionate individual, Kelad'den was capable of using his confidence and belief to rouse those under his command. However, his ego and self importance meant he was quick to anger upon challenges to his abilities or leadership. This caused unrest amongst the other members of the Anti-Republic Liberation Front. Physically, Kelad'den had rapid reflexes and a toned body honed by years of physical training. He was unafraid of challenges, desiring ways to improve himself and hone his skills further. This training showed itself when Kelad'den showed himself to be faster and better trained than Johun Othune in combat, although he was defeated by the Jedi Knight.

Behind the scenes
Kelad'den was created by Drew Karpyshyn for Darth Bane: Rule of Two, his second novel in the Darth Bane trilogy.

Appearances

 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two