Darth Wyyrlok (III)

"My Lord dreams in darkness and I wait&mdash;as did my mother before me, and her father before her. I am Wyyrlok. Always the first of his servants, the one closest to him, the one nearest to his thoughts. I wonder now if I shall be the last."

- Darth Wyyrlok

Darth Wyyrlok was a Sith Master in the New Sith Order, and was the most trusted servant of Darth Krayt himself. A Chagrian, Wyyrlok was the third to hold that title after his grandfather and his mother before him. He also had a daughter in training on Korriban, who he hoped would one day replace him. Following the Massacre on Ossus, Wyyrlok journeyed with Krayt to Coruscant. As the Sith-Imperial War was declared over by Grand Admiral Morlish Veed of the Fel Empire, Krayt installed himself as Emperor, and established his own Sith Empire.

Over seven years, Krayt continued to establish his empire with Wyyrlok at his side. Simultaneously, the new Emperor's body continued to deteriorate, due to the presence of Yorik-Kul in his body. Wyyrlok sought remedies to the ailment, but was unable to find a cure for his master. Krayt attempted to bring Cade Skywalker, who possessed unique healing abilities, into his Sith Order, but failed to do so. Although Krayt remained optimistic about his condition, Wyyrlok was not satisfied, and he set off on a perilous journey into the Deep Core to find a cure for his ailing master.

Servitude
The Chagrian Sith Lord known as Darth Wyyrlok was the third to be hold that title. The grandson of the first Darth Wyyrlok, and son of the second, his duty was to attend to Darth Krayt, leader of the New Sith Order, as a servant. Wyyrlok's grandfather, the first to hold the title, had cared for Krayt around the time of the Second Galactic Civil War. Just prior to the Yuuzhan Vong War, Krayt had been implanted with Yorik-Kul by the Yuuzhan Vong themselves. Over time Krayt had needed to spend years in stasis to allow his body to heal, as the Yorik-Kul was consuming his body. Even by the third Wyyrlok's time, he was not completely healed, and it was the Chagrian's duty to tend to his master's health.

Wyyrlok wielded dual lightsabers, and had Sith tattoos etched across his face. At some stage, he sired a daughter, who was sent to Korriban for training in the Sith ways. Wyyrlok was the most trusted lieutenant of Krayt, and was also the closest to the New Sith Order's leader, acting as the man's confidant. In addition to that, Wyyrlok was a master of Sith ritual, magic, and lore, as well as the ways of the dark side of the Force. In time, he came to serve Krayt not only as an attendant and servant, but as a spokesman, and a friend.

The coup
To begin his bid for galactic dominance, Krayt had his order side with the Fel Empire, who was at war with the Galactic Alliance. The Sith-Imperial War persisted for three years, until the decisive Battle of Caamas, which crippled the Alliance's naval power, and the Massacre at Ossus, during which the ranks of the New Jedi Order were thinned greatly. Shortly after the Massacre at Ossus, Wyyrlok accompanied his master, as well as Darth Nihl and Darth Talon to Coruscant, the new throneworld of the Fel Empire. While Grand Admiral Morlish Veed informed a man who appeared to be Emperor Roan Fel that the Sith-Imperial War was over following Ossus and Caamas, Krayt and his companions entered Fel's throne room.

Without hesitation, Krayt attacked and killed Fel's Imperial Knight bodyguards, before killing the apparent "Emperor" himself while Wyyrlok watched on. Krayt then sat himself on the throne, and cowed the present Moffs, making them swear loyalty to him. He then dismissed them, before openly stating that the "Fel" he had just killed was actually a double. After reprimanding his head of intelligence, Darth Maladi for failing to detect the ruse, he dismissed everyone but Wyyrlok. When he was alone with his trusted lieutenant, Krayt complained that his body was failing him due to his affliction, but Wyyrlok dismissed it as exhaustion. He suggested that Krayt, who was now Emperor, should go into a healing trance, or even back into stasis, but Krayt was reluctant.

The new Emperor considered the prospect of a healing trance, but thought stasis to be out of the question, since the citizens of the galaxy needed to see him and see that he was strong. Wyyrlok tried once more to reason with his master, but Krayt persisted, speculating that without treatment, he might succumb to the ailment within no more than two decades. He also told Wyyrlok that during the Massacre at Ossus, he had detected a murmur in the Force, that had drawn life back from death. The source had been a Jedi, and while Krayt confessed to his lieutenant that his vision for the galaxy was not complete, he insisted that it would be, in due course.

An alternative
Seven years later, with the Temple of the Sith fully established, Emperor Krayt was once again placed in stasis for preservation. Wyyrlok had come to the realization that his master was dying, and he began to fear for Krayt's life. The servant's knowledge of Sith lore did not help either; even the teachings of ancient Sith Lord XoXaan did not yield any answer to the problem. The captured Jedi healer Hosk Trey'lis proved inneffective in attempts to cure the Krayt, but Darth Talon reported that another man, Cade Skywalker, had extraordinary healing skills. Skywalker was in fact the source of the murmur in the Force that Krayt had detected seven years ago, but even so, the thought of the Skywalker bloodline still being alive concerned Wyyrlok.

In short order, Skywalker came to the temple to rescue the captive Trey'lis, but in doing so he was in turn apprehended by Talon and Nihl. After repeated torture, Krayt prepared to bring Skywalker into his personal quarters, in an attempt to break the former Jedi, and bend the captive to the Emperor's will. It was ultimately Krayt's hope that Skywalker's healing powers would be able to cure the Sith Lord's affliction. Skywalker was brought to the quarters by Nihl, Talon and Maladi, but Wyyrlok insisted that only Talon be allowed inside, since the other two were not born as Sith. Nihl took exception, insisting that as one of Krayt's Hands, he should be allowed admittance, and that his presence was necessary. Wyyrlok retorted by claiming that his barring of Nihl's entry was a direct order from Krayt himself, before taking Skywalker into the chambers.

While in Krayt's chambers, Skywalker was treated to a veritable banquet of food, before the Emperor revealed to the captive that in his past life, he had been known as "A'Sharad Hett," a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic who had served in the Clone Wars. As he told Skywalker of his survival of Order 66 and his humiliation at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Krayt inspired a brief confrontation between the young captive and Talon. Wyyrlok watched on as Skywalker wounded Talon, but was then forced by Krayt to heal her. Following that, Krayt offered to teach Skywalker the ways of the Sith, and the former Jedi seemed to accept.

Indoctrinating Skywalker
"FIND HIM!"

- Darth Krayt

Within a week Skywalker's training had begun. Wyyrlok did not strictly approve of Krayt's revelations to the newcomer, and talk began to circulate throughout the temple of the Emperor's near-obsession with Skywalker. While watching Talon and Skywalker train, Wyyrlok brought the issue up with his master, since one of the Chagrian's duties was to question Krayt's actions. The Emperor believed that he would be able to form a bond with Skywalker, and lure him into the order wholesale. Then, with a member of the Skywalker lineage in his order, Krayt would be able to demoralize his enemies. In addition to that, Krayt continued to hold the belief that Skywalker, with his unique talents, would be able to heal him. Wyyrlok was still reluctant, since their order had never before taught a man who did not fully embrace their ways, but Krayt was unfazed.

Wyylok stood by and watched as Krayt accelerating the newcomer's training by putting Skywalker into an Embrace of Pain, which was a Yuuzhan Vong torture device. After telling the story of his capture by the Yuuzhan Vong and his subsequent teaching at the hands of former Jedi and apparent Sith Vergere, Krayt revealed his intent to Skywalker by asking his captive to heal him. Wyyrlok helped Krayt remove his armor as he made the request, but Skywalker explained that he would not be able to perform the task properly in his present state. Krayt merely believed that Skywalker lacked focus, and so he left the man in the Embrace of Pain.

Krayt's plan to lure Skywalker into the Sith Order proved to be a failure when the captive tried to escape the temple. He was caught and brought before Krayt, and an elongated duel ensued. Both Nihl and Talon were wounded in the engagement, and Krayt suffered a blaster shot to the back from Morrigan Corde, who had arrived in Skywalker's ship, the Mynock, to rescue the captive from the clutches of the Sith. Skywalker made it out of the temple alive, and Krayt was livid. By the time Wyyrlok arrived on the scene, Krayt's orders were simply to find Skywalker. The Chagrian protested, claiming that if the Mynock had entered hyperspace, there would be no way of locating the fugitive. Krayt cared little, and began bellowing at his lieutenant, but Wyyrlok did not baulk at his master's anger. The Emperor then demanded that Skywalker be brought to him alive and in chains.

Massacre at Dac
When the Advanced Star Destroyer Imperious had been stolen from the Mon Calamari Shipyards over Dac, Krayt was not pleased. Former Senator Gial Gahan had been implicated in aiding the Galactic Alliance with the theft, and so Krayt had him arrested. Wyyrlok accompanied Krayt and several other Sith Lords, including Darth Azard, to Dac, where the captive Gahan was presented before the Mon Calamari Council. With a Holovid of the events on Dac being recorded for later broadcast, Krayt declared that ten percent of the Mon Calamari population would be executed, starting with the Mon Calamari Council. Krayt's Sith and stormtroopers took their lightsabers and blasters to the councilmen that were present, and did not even distinguish between the Mon Calamari and the Quarren who were there as well.

To further his demonstration, Krayt declared that all surviving Mon Calamri would be placed into work camps, and those who tried to evade the Sith would be hunted down and destroyed. Gahan protested, prompting the Emperor to strike down the former senator there and then. As a final proclamation, Krayt ordered that all sympathetic to the Galactic Alliance that were taking refuge on Dac were to be killed as well. Wyyrlok was concerned that with the loss of so many Mon Calamari, Dac's shipyards would be rendered useless, but Krayt argued that the loss of a shipyard was easier to endure than the loss of control over a galaxy. Wyyrlok was, as usual, concerned for his master's health, especially after the loss of Skywalker and the demonstration he had just performed on the Mon Calamari. He suggested another period in stasis, but Krayt was feeding off the fear he had just struck into the hearts and minds of the galaxy's denziens. He then swore that he would find a way to overcome his ailment until his vision for the galaxy was complete.

The secret of Lord Andeddu
Krayt's optimism, however, was offset by the fact that his health continued to deteriorate. In the hopes of finding a new way to save his master, Wyyrlok journeyed into the Deep Core, to search for the birthplace of Darth Andeddu. There, he sought ancient Sith secrets that might help Krayt. The journey was an exceptionally hazardous one, and it tested Wyyrlok's skills to their limits.

Personality and traits
"I have no concern for myself."

- Darth Wyyrlok

Wyyrlok was a cautious man, and constantly feared for the wellbeing of his master. He was quick to suggest methods through which Krayt could prolong his life even further, and he respected his master's determination. Wyyrlok did not care for his own life, made his master's health his prime concern. He understood his duty and dedicated himself to it. Wyyrlok also had high hopes for his daughter, and believed that one day she would succeed him and take the title of "Darth Wyyrlok" for herself. Having been born a Sith, he was allowed privileges that others were not, such as admittance to Krayt's private chambers. He also upheld his master's orders to the letter, and would allow no exceptions in that regard. Being somewhat of a realist, Wyyrlok often questioned his master's decisions and dictates without directly opposing them, as that was one of his duties as Krayt had defined them.

Behind the scenes
Darth Wyyrlok was introduced in the Star Wars: Legacy preview issue, Star Wars Legacy 0. He was then shown as a supporting character in Star Wars Legacy 1: Broken, Part 1, written by John Ostrander. Wyylok's supporting role continued through the next major Legacy arc, Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon. Up to the end of Claws of the Dragon, Wyyrlok had been drawn exclusively by Jan Duursema, but for his next appearance, in Star Wars Legacy 22: The Wrath of the Dragon, he was illustrated by Alan Robinson. Wyyrlok will be drawn by Omar Francia for Star Wars Legacy 27, which is set to feature a larger role for the character.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Legacy 8: Allies
 * Star Wars Legacy 1: Broken, Part 1
 * Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon
 * Star Wars Legacy 22: The Wrath of the Dragon
 * Star Wars Legacy 27

Notes and references
Darth Wyyrlok III. Darth Wyyrlok (III) Darth Wyyrlok (III)