I'll be your almost (Almost), so close (So close), maybe (Maybe)
You're not mine but you're almost (Almost), so close (So close), baby (Baby)
I'm livin' for the tension, it's so hot then cold
It's not a question, I'd go down that road
Are we stuck in the almost (Almost), so close (So close), maybe (Maybe)?
Almost, So Close, Maybe - Mercer Henderson
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Had this song stuck in my head today... so I drew Derras and Risha to it ❤️
Tagged (via DM) by @sithwarblade and tagging @voiceofthetraveler (in case you haven't done it yet!)
Mostly under a readmore because oh my GOD i have so many blorbo thoughts. and all of them are completely self-indulgent
1) Who’s your Alliance Commander? What class are they? Alignment? Random other facts you wanna share?
My Jedi Knight, Corrain Gealai! Functionally, he leans Light Side, but by the time of Zakuul's attack he's far less unwilling to dabble with the Dark Side, and is remarkably skilled at throwing Force Lightning when he's angry.
2) What’s a reason or two you like that this character is your Commander?
Honestly? Corrain becoming the Alliance Commander actually - finally - allows him to grow past what Vitiate did to him aboard the Emperor's Fortress, and even though he leaves the Jedi Order in the process of choosing the Alliance, he becomes more of a true Jedi than ever before.
Corrain's biggest, most detrimental attachments weren't actually his relationships with others, as he feared - they were his attachments to concepts. Concepts of an idealized image of himself, the Republic, and the Jedi Order. He spends so much effort trying to be Perfect, to live up to this idealized version of himself that he believes is expected of him, even while his faith in the Republic (especially Saresh's government) is crumbling, that ironically he fails as a Jedi. He's attached to his failures - he refuses to process the pain he's felt, refuses to acknowledge the open wound that was his agency and free will being stripped away - and therefore, because he cannot let go, because he represses these emotions, he lashes out- at Saresh, at a Republic he believes is failing, and at Satele.
Becoming Alliance Commander - and leaving the Jedi Order, with Satele's blessing - essentially strips him of these self-imposed expectations. Satele is the one who eventually smacks him with that reality in the fic, but it's the distance he needs to come to terms with what he's suffered and who he's become outside of the hyper-strict framework he's created for himself.
But beyond Corrain's arc, the main reason I like him being the Alliance Commander is that, well - he's a Jedi at heart, and pretty much always will be. But unlike my consular Kalvonût, who's quieter and more bookish, devoted to healing others and being the conscience of the Senate and Jedi Order, Corrain is passionate and loud about it. He's an idealist who's had to re-center his ideals on something sustainable - who's had to rebuild his identity, ethics, and beliefs around something healthy after being broken down - and he will NOT sit around and wait for someone else to Fix Things. He challenges authority he thinks is illegitimate or self-serving, and is, generally speaking - a spark, waiting to burst into flame. He's all fire on the inside, he just has to figure out how to channel that fire constructively and not into some kind of cult of personality. looking at you, Sekulyn
3) What’s a reason or two you don’t like about them being Commander?
He's young, hurting, and trying to lead a rebellion against his tyrannical half-siblings in the midst of a self-identity crisis while the ghost of his own father is stuck inside his skull. He's well-past needing therapy. And on top of that entire mess of a sentence you just read - Corrain has still not told a soul about the fact that he's under Vitiate's Castellan mind control.
Therefore, the leader of the Alliance can be controlled - or forced into a life-threatening series of tonic-clonic seizures, depending on how hard Corrain fights it - with the revelation of a single phrase. (Valkorion - who's shown to be at least somewhat separate from Vitiate and Tenebrae - does eventually discover this keyword. It's bad.) This is a Massively Glaring Weakness and Corrain refuses to bring it up out of fear that acknowledging this weak point will lead to someone finding and using his keywords again.
Furthermore, his hatred and fear of Valkorion (while rational) makes him act irrationally. He lashes out more than once at Senya and Koth when they bring up Valkorion's generosity or benevolence, and it makes him sneer at Zakuul rather than try to understand Valkorion as anything more than the monster he'd been, rather than an individual with a complex agenda, preying off a complex society.
4) Why did this character of all your OCs become Commander?
Honest answer - Corrain is the only character I've completed the KOTXX expansions on, because he's the center of my hyperfixations on this game asjdhfkjsdfaksd. I've made five toons of him. help.
In-Legacy answer - 1) It's a Scion prophecy that Corrain ends up fitting into 2) Corrain hates Vitiate with a blazing passion and will do ANYTHING to destroy him once and for-all and 3) Corrain is the only one of my OCs who's disillusioned enough with their government AND selfless enough AND fiery enough to ignite a cross-faction joint rebellion and then work himself to the bone to keep that rebellion going in the form of an independent nation committed to galactic peace allied with Zakuul and the Sith Empire even though he's a former Jedi.
6) Are there any NPC’s from the class stories you’d like to see/HC join the Alliance? Ex: Master Timmns, Ardun Kothe, Watcher One, etc.
I'm assuming this doesn't involve companions, so - of the class-story NPCs, Lord Praven is the one I'd most like to see in the Alliance. Honestly, not many of the other NPCs stood out all that much to me in terms of making an impact, save Kothe - but my Imp Agent was too loyal to the Empire and too bitter about the mindfuckery to leave him alive.
7) How’s your OC feeling about the current Malgus situation?
Well, in the Moonrise legacy, the Onslaught expansion....doesn't really happen. I've repurposed Zildrog for something else entirely, and so there's a fairly strong canon divergence following the Nathema Conspiracy arc. But Malgus still does his Malgus Things - it's just smaller scale - and so Corrain is more irritated by his antics than anything, and lends Acina some Eternal Fleet support in her efforts to quash the Nuisance.
8) Are any of your other OC’s part of the Alliance? If yes what do they do for the Alliance? Do they get along with your Commander?
Eiri and Iomlan Greine (Corrain's mother and uncle) both end up joining the Alliance properly! Eiri is my Sith Warrior, and for the most part he actually ends up teaching in the Force Enclave as the Overseer of the Combat Division. He also acts as an Emissary of the Alliance to the Knights of Zakuul after Zakuul's reconstitution as a constitutional monarchy. Iomlan, who was once a Scion, acts as an aide to Sana-rae and assists in the Alliance's medical center as a healer.
As for the semi-affliated folks:
Kessin and their fleet of pirates and smugglers also do plenty of discount work for the Alliance - it's nice having reliable employers - and Kessin in turn keeps the worst of the Nasty Gangs out of Zakuulan and Alliance space where they can. The Exchange and Hutts get everywhere though.
Astayr and xir husband Torian are officially designated as Mandalorion Emissaries to the Alliance and Zakuulan Empire. Xey are one of Shae's top lieutenants, and after Mandalore the Vindicator's death, xey are a powerful voice in Clan Lok and end up allying with Clan Viszla.
Elennye, as a rogue agent only loosely affiliated with the Empire and still puppeting the strings of the remaining Star Cabal, often acts in concord with Alliance interests and is a known ally, but her loyalty falls more with Vaylin than anyone else. She's a permanent contact on Alliance intelligence reports.
(Jury's still out on Deitente - her class quest is the only one I haven't completely played through, but she's not likely to join permanently)
9) How does your OC feel about Odessen? (Bonus: how do you feel about it)
Corrain loves Odessen. It became home for him in a way that no other planet has, and he personally oversees the construction of non-military settlements on the planet (long after the galaxy settles into an uneasy peace)
Personally I like Odessen's design too, it's pretty, especially at night. It...feels kinda lonely, but peaceful, in a melancholy sort of way. I appreciate it.
10) How does your Commander feel about being the Commander?
He hates and loves it. He hates it because he doesn't like the fact that all this responsibility is on his shoulders, and he hates the whole Public Persona thing, but in the same breath he loves it. He loves leading his people, loves taking care of them and Odessen, loves negotiating and problem-solving and collaborating to come to solutions- he loves the fact that he's built a community that's spanned planets and star systems, and he'd give everything he has to keep that community safe and free.
The Eternal Alliance - and later, Zakuul too - are his people. He's found home there, and he will serve his people as long as he's able.
11) Favorite place in the Alliance base?
Hm...Corrain's favorite is the clearing where his personal ship sits. It's very quiet.
Mine? Definitely that little pool where Valkorion drags you off into the Ether to Learn a Lesson or whatever. (fucking valks) it's pretty
12) Favorite mission in KotFE?
Probably "Chapter 8: Taking Flight" - in my Moonrise Legacy, this is where Corrain and Arcann first confront the fact that they're half-brothers - and Corrain almost dies in the confrontation when Valkorion tries to wrest control away from him.
Ironically, it's the odd Force Bond with Vaylin - which developed while he was frozen in carbonite - that saves Corrain's life. Through this bond, Vaylin can sense that Corrain can hold Valkorion at bay, even dying from a lightsaber through the chest, and this concept of Valkorion being caged is DELIGHTFUL to her, so she. helps.
Gameplay-wise, I appreciate how the companions change - and how the companion that comes to save you from the final battle with Arcann changes depending on your relationships in the story.
13) Favorite mission in KotET?
This is tough. Either "Chapter 2: Run for the Shadows" or "Chapter 6: The Dragon's Maw." I love the mission with Acina - especially playing as Corrain - because it's so CRUNCHY to get into the politics. The Republic's former Chancellor - who Corrain's yelled at publicly at least twice - tries to assassinate him and Acina by hiring the amoral GenoHaradan? While he's having peace talks with the Sith Empress? Like this is precisely the shit he hates about the Republic AND Empire both, that some asshat somewhere wants revenge over resolution. Plus, I like Acina. She seems more sensible than some other Sith and I'm very gay for hot Sith ladies.
but then you contrast that against Sneaky Gameplay in the Dragon's Maw and- god. that mission was so fun to try and figure out. AND THE DOGS IN THE MINI MISSION! Perfect. Plus, in my Moonrise Legacy, Vaylin is a lot more stable by this point. Corrain's presence - which is lightside - and their bond has given her space to refamiliarize herself with some emotions, and it culminates here. She comes to the understanding about herself - on her own - that she's not actually holding on to the throne because she wants it, but because that power gives her freedom. Therefore, if Corrain can prove to her that he's strong enough to keep their asshole father from influencing her, she's more than happy to get rid of the responsibility that is the Eternal Throne. So, she challenges Corrain to a duel, as long as he's willing to wait for her to figure out how to unlock her full powers - if he wins, she abdicates and he can take the stupid chair.
14) Least favorite mission in either? Why?
The Iokath mission. Like, I get it? But I'm really not a fan. It annoyed me more than anything, and the whole Iokath arc felt underdeveloped. (hence why I'm repurposing Iokath, Zildrog, and etc for my last, canon-divergent arc of the Moonrise legacy)
15) Is your Commander successful because they’re skilled? Or are they perhaps just really lucky?
In battle, Corrain is successful because he's stupid powerful in the Force - which is a(n un)lucky accident of parentage and family issues - and because he is genuinely a master of lightsaber combat. It's a mix of innate talent and extreme hard work, and lots of practical application.
However, as a leader Corrain is successful because of whom he trusts and surrounds himself with. He's the spark for the flame of rebellion, but it's Lana and Theron and Senya, Koth, T7, Beywan, Oggurobb, Sana-rae, Hylo, etc that make him successful. It's his ability to trust the right people - and sometimes even to forgive the right people - that makes him a successful Commander. Sure - he does a lot of hard work himself, and does his utmost to inspire everyone who looks up to him. But ultimately he succeeds because he knows he can't do everything alone, and he chooses good people to help him. So...neither luck nor skill. Or maybe, his luck and others' skill?
16) From your OC’s point of view, SoR -> KotET wasn’t a fun experience, did they develop any fears as a result?
Corrain didn't develop any new fears - only worsened existing ones, really. Namely - his crippling fear of Vitiate and his own powerlessness in the face of his keyword. It comes back to bite him in the ass HARD later.
Instead SoR -> KOTET was actually more a time of personal healing for him, oddly enough. SoR is where Corrain started shedding his unhealthy expectations of himself as a Jedi, and grew close with Lana and Theron, allowing himself an emotional outlet he'd never had before. Sure - both Lana and Theron had heard of him, but they hadn't met and known him *before* he was under Vitiate's thrall, which meant he felt a lot better about just...being himself around them.
17) AU time! If your Commander wasn’t Commander, which of your other OCs would have likely taken their place?
If Corrain wasn't my Commander, it more than likely would've been Eiri and Kalvonut who took his place, working in tandem. Kalvonut would've handled the administrative back-end, and Eiri would be the face of their operation.
18) Who’s someone your Commander hopes they never have to deal with again?
Besides Vitiate/Valkorion? Saresh. Corrain's got a spiteful streak, to be honest, and he's more than willing to keep her in jail until the Republic grovels enough - not that they're particularly keen on having Saresh back.
19) Does your Commander hold on to/still use any titles they earned before KotET?
No. Corrain will still allow Kira to call him "Master" because he knows it's a tough habit to break, but he officially drops all titles related to the Jedi Order after he leaves and becomes the Alliance Commander. He knows that being a Jedi is a commitment - it's a paramount commitment - and it's not a commitment he can make anymore, not after finding a home in the Alliance and Zakuul, and leading them. He has obligations to them now, and he does choose the Alliance and Zakuul, and his family over the Jedi. He still gets invited to all the Jedi Parties though :P
20) Share something, anything at all, you want about your Commander that you’ve not really gotten the chance to share before but really want to.
Corrain's affinity with Force Lightning is in part due to his constant torture-by-electrocution on board the Emperor's Fortress. He has an extremely tactile connection to the Force for some reason, with physical sensation nearly always accompanying his perception of it, and therefore after suffering electrocution in pretty much every way, shape or form, he's extremely familiar with the physical sensation of lightning, and forcing that lightning into a constricted conduit. Therefore, he's also particularly good at recreating it.
This Force Lightning affinity is, however, a Dark Side ability. It's not one he can conjure with the Light side of the Force. What happens instead, when he finally is at peace enough with himself to find out, is that he manages to ignite a 'Force Flame.' This particular expression of the Force isn't an offensive ability in any way and it doesn't burn or harm others - it's just what happens when the Light side of the Force, like Force Lightning, presses a lot of power into a small conduit, i.e. his body.
He figures out later that this specific power is meant to destroy? heal? Force voids (such as Nathema). So this weird little made-up Force ability I invented that is certainly Not how the Force Actually Works but fuck canon my city now is meant to burn away nothingness by- existing, setting Nathema alight in the Force again.
After all, a void ceases to exist the moment something appears inside it - because then it is no longer nothingness. There's something there. And Corrain is the little light that the Force put in place to destroy the void - Valkorion.
Was also messing around with the graphics settings on my laptop to improve the visuals, it looks a little crisper and less clay-like in my previous uploads.
"You want them dead, I'll make them dead," – Zairdenn shrugs with a cocked eyebrow. What's a dozen lives against the integrity of the operation? Nothing at all, much less than the infamous Eradication day incident for sure. He doesn't regret it, the means justify the ends after all. But still. At night, not often, but perhaps because of that more eery, at night he can just faintly hear the distressed calls coming in. They're crying for help. They don't know he's to blame. Thousands. Millions. All in flame. It feels like falling. The thought of losing control again frightens him, but Morgo had reclaimed it once, so he could do it again. He doesn't want to, though. He went too far on Eradication day, perhaps loss of control was his price for it. Now it haunts him. The Agent wonders how much that decision has informed his future behaviour as he sabotages the air supply on the ship. A dozen lives. Hardly compares to a million. And so their deaths seem lesser.
