The Stormurai

[Aurius]

Ancient Armor Praetorian Era Protector Era

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THE STORMURAI

The Stormurai (Commonly known as Praetorian Guards or Sovereign Protectors) are a secondary infantry unit mainly utilized by the Sith Empire. Founded in ancient times, during the Era of the First Sith, the Stormurai were the first Soldiers of the Sith. Servants of the Dark Side from all corners of the Galaxy that claimed the title of Sith even without the force as their ally. Though at the time they simply were referred to as Stormtroopers, due to their preference for utilizing melee weapons and the unit's fanatical devotion to Sith Leadership garnering them such a title.


Unit History

"Fall seven times, and rise eight" - The Stormurai Unit Motto

Stormurai do not surrender.

This is the first and only known fact of the unit. Throughout the Galaxy, they are NOT known as exceptional warriors. Rather, their sheer suicidal combat strategies make them a force to be reckoned with. There is no instance in the unit's history where a Stormurai battalion returned defeated. It was much more common for the entire unit to fight until death, taking as many opponents as could be with them.

Sourced from races naturally attuned to the Dark Side, and raised to follow the tenants of the Sith proper with zealous fervor, the Stormurai do not consider themselves part of the larger Sith military. They consider themselves separate, as it is not uncommon for them to serve as Royal Guards, or shock-troopers utilized to break an enemy's frontline. The casualty rate for this unit sits at 72%, with 60% falling in battle and an additional 12% from a second source. Stormurai commonly took their own lives when they believed they failed in their duty. Even victory is sometimes not enough to satiate their pride - if the unit did not accomplish it's mission, the victory was pyrrhic and their lives forfeit.

The deaths were sometimes politicized, and often done in the presence of a Sith Lord. The leader of the unit is commonly assigned to their unit commander as a personal guard, with the Stormurai adopting the role of Deathtroopers among the remnants of Sidious' Empire.

They lived on through the First Order as Praetorian Guards, though abandoned the motif for a reborn Sidious, who had enlisted them as cultists. Usually, Stormurai are not Force-Sensitive, but come from races that are traditionally born with the Force. This allows non force-sensitive zealots an opportunity to fight in the manner of the object of their devotion, despite being viewed (rightfully so) as wholly lesser to the mystic order.

They are alike in doctrine and beliefs, as it is not uncommon for Stormurai to duel among themselves, defending the honor of their commanders and furthering their combat prowess. A rite of passage for prospective Stormurai was to duel each member of their entire unit, sometimes ending in the death of several combatants.

Unit Formation
Alone, and outnumbered, 500 Stormurai charged the breach of Alzoc against overwhelming numbers with superior firepower. None survived. It is said they charged into the blaster fire without hesitation, absorbing the blasts with their bodies.

Millenia ago, the Stormurai came to be under the Ancient Sith Empires of Old. Since that time, they have maintained a loose rank structure. By default, due to their beliefs, any who utilize the Dark Side outrank a Stormurai, no matter their current position in the Empire.

It is important to note that Stormurai do not follow regular military hierarchy. Regular Sith Soldiers do not have any sway over Stormurai units unless directly assigned, with them traditionally falling under the command of a Champion or greater. Regular Sith Warriors must request a unit from their respective Lord if they wish to be accompanied by a unit of Stormurai.

RANK STRUCTURE

Emperor / Empress of the Sith - Commander in Chief

Dark Lord of the Sith - General

Sith Lord - Commander

Champion - Lieutenant

--- Note that the ranks above cannot be achieved by non Force-Sensitive Stormurai, these ranks automatically apply to the ones commanding them, respective to this unit's hierarchy only. ---

Hyoho - Warrant Officer

Niten - Sergeant

Kenin - Corporal

Ronin - Private/Recruit​

Intent

Please Note that Stormurai Characters, as in Player Characters, will suffer In Character repurcussions if you decide to use this as a basis for disobeying Sith Leadership. The reason the casualty rate is at 60% is because many Stormurai are executed for refusing to follow orders.

It's so common, that it's a public spectacle.

Keep that in mind.

To add some backstory to the god awful Praetorians, and make them something more, and to give a little flavor for optional NPC/PC royal guards. I feel the Sith Empire has come far enough that such a unit's resurgence would actually have come long ago during the initial expansion of the Sith. This is also based off of a comic plot point I would like to introduce. I'm not entirely sure what other parts I should add, please let me know so that I can add them as necessary.

Note: Format by @Mockingjay

 

[Wit]

Was this discussed with Sith leadership? You’re basically making significant assumptions about their current role in the Empire and their place in the imperial chain of command.

Also, maybe stick with calling them Praetorian if you wanna play around with the canon concept, because that’s the name everyone will know.

 

[Aurius]

Was this discussed with Sith leadership? You’re basically making significant assumptions about their current role in the Empire and their place in the imperial chain of command.

Also, maybe stick with calling them Praetorian if you wanna play around with the canon concept, because that’s the name everyone will know.

This was mainly made as a fun tidbit, I can remove the Praetorians entirely as necessary.

As for whether I contacted Sith Leadership - this isn't expected to be a huge, site spanning organization change. Nothing I have done since Venatus' time has been that. This is just a funny little infographic about a unit that people can use in a PvE for flavor if they wanted to, or to create a character based around it, that won't in any way affect players who don't want to bother with it.

The Sith have multiple Lords, and Samurai concepts have been introduced long ago with the Jedi and Sith proper, plus the resurgence of japanese terminology thanks to the Book of Boba Fett. Perhaps under one Sith Lord, Stormurai serve, but under another there is no such units. Perhaps a Lord has decided to recreate the Redguards, then the Stormurai would be IE; Darth Veles' Redguards. Maybe someone wants Praetorians? Well, then the Stormurai are called Darth Ysgramor's Praetorian Guard. So on, so forth.

I'm essentially giving Andraste's supposed Royal Guards the nickname of Stormurai. And unless Sreeya isn't okay with that, I don't see the problem.

You comment on every single post I make that's unrelated to the Story. Every single one.

Why?

 

[Wit]

This was mainly made as a fun tidbit, I can remove the Praetorians entirely as necessary.

As for whether I contacted Sith Leadership - this isn't expected to be a huge, site spanning organization change. Nothing I have done since Venatus' time has been that. This is just a funny little infographic about a unit that people can use in a PvE for flavor if they wanted to, or to create a character based around it, that won't in any way affect players who don't want to bother with it.

The Sith have multiple Lords, and Samurai concepts have been introduced long ago with the Jedi and Sith proper, plus the resurgence of japanese terminology thanks to the Book of Boba Fett. Perhaps under one Sith Lord, Stormurai serve, but under another there is no such units. Perhaps a Lord has decided to recreate the Redguards, then the Stormurai would be IE; Darth Veles' Redguards. Maybe someone wants Praetorians? Well, then the Stormurai are called Darth Ysgramor's Praetorian Guard. So on, so forth.

I'm essentially giving Andraste's supposed Royal Guards the nickname of Stormurai. And unless Sreeya isn't okay with that, I don't see the problem.

You comment on every single post I make that's unrelated to the Story. Every single one.

Why?

It was just this bit, "It is important to note that Stormurai do not follow regular military hierarchy", that's hinting that they don't need to follow Sith hierarchy. That's why I asked. I'm just asking questions, I normally just sate my curiosity about lore and tech on discord, but don't think you're on the server so I ask here.

 

[Aurius]

It was just this bit, "It is important to note that Stormurai do not follow regular military hierarchy", that's hinting that they don't need to follow Sith hierarchy. That's why I asked. I'm just asking questions, I normally just sate my curiosity about lore and tech on discord, but don't think you're on the server so I ask here.

I expected something like that :) Thank goodness I'm not being an issue!

I can reword it, but it mainly means that Stormurai only serve their Lord or Commander. So some random Sith can't just walk up to a unit and say "I AM A WARRIOR, YOU ARE NOW UNDER MY COMMAND" while a Champion or Lord is leading the campaign. They'd completely ignore the Warrior/Soldier and keep doing exactly what they had been commanded to do.

IC they wouldn't listen to a Sith Major, for instance, unless he was Force Sensitive or told to by a force sensitive. Yes, they'd be executed. Hence the casualty rates. They are very much in the vain of Pride and Honor at All Costs sort of deal.

 

[Wit]

I expected something like that :) Thank goodness I'm not being an issue!

I can reword it, but it mainly means that Stormurai only serve their Lord or Commander. So some random Sith can't just walk up to a unit and say "I AM A WARRIOR, YOU ARE NOW UNDER MY COMMAND" while a Champion or Lord is leading the campaign. They'd completely ignore the Warrior/Soldier and keep doing exactly what they had been commanded to do.

IC they wouldn't listen to a Sith Major, for instance, unless he was Force Sensitive or told to by a force sensitive. Yes, they'd be executed. Hence the casualty rates. They are very much in the vain of Pride and Honor at All Costs sort of deal.

mhm, that should clear it up more. Would avoid anyone trying to use the phrasing as a loophole.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Sorry for the long wait, this got lost in the shuffle a bit.

After discussion and overview, the Stormurai group as a whole feels notably out of place in Star Wars and in the Sith Empire in general. Aside from this, the First Order's Praetorian Guard is canon.

I'm archiving this submission.

@Aurius