My body, my soul, my spirit; embeded to the Dark Side for the many decades of chaos to come.
—Darth Crotallus
Darth Crotallus (born Digger Rourke), was a Jedi Knight and later, Sith Lord of the Later Sith Empire. Digger Rourke was born on Dxun in 40 BBY into an extremely wealthy family. As the only other Force Sensitive in his family than his father, Digger was immeadietly inducted into the Jedi Order under the guidance of the elderly Kreevaki master, Draeno-Bok Jiikan. After years of training in the ways of the Jedi, Digger was promoted to Jedi Knight and had a falling out with Jiikan. After a successful mission, tentions only grew between Jiikan and Digger and the two dueled.
After striking down his master in cold blood, Digger came under the wing, of a Sith Master known as Darth Akridoce and after his training was completed, Digger proclaimed himself Darth Crotallus, and took control of a small criminal ring, which was a front for his dark side operations. After years of quiet ruling, Crotallus and his apprentice Darth Danathil battled two Jedi on Vassek, in which Crotallus met his end.
During his reign, Crotallus was an icon to many a Sith, lords and apprentices alike. He had only one official apprentice, but his teachings were spread on to many of those under him. During his time as a Jedi, he was known as a tough young knight, with many aspirations, but this legacy was short lived. His Jedi instructor used to call know him a very aristocratic young man. His Sith instructor only knew him by the name of Digger. Though many credit him as a criminal, Crotallus was a genius scholar, and was said to have wrote his studies in a journal, and hidden it in one of the various ancient Sith Temples on the former Sith capital world of Korriban, where he was guided by the ancient Sith Lord and Alchemist Otaricon Otar, who proclaimed himself king of the Sith Empire in mid 6,900 BBY after being exiled, shortly after its establishment.
Biography[]
Birth and Early Life[]
Digger was born on Dxun in early 40 BBY. His parents, Gartho and Meisha, were deeply involved in oil trade, and supplied many companies on the Outer RIm. Almost immediately, Digger started to establish his connection with the Force. He began to lift, and throw random items in the house around from a distance, and his father started to notice. His father, having been a Jedi many years ago, taught him few things, and decided it would be best to take him to the Jedi Academy on Dxun. Digger's mother supported her husbands decision, and followed behind later while Gartho took him to the Academy. Upon arrival, the family was greeted by Kreevaki Jedi Master Draeno-Bok Jiikan. In the past, Jiikan's life was saved on countless occasions by Gartho on missions, as they were fellow Padawans under the same master and served on many missions together, now, it was time for the elderly Kreevaki to repay his old friend. The two advanced in conversation, and before too long, Gartho led the young Digger to his new master, and after parting ways with his parents, Digger entered the Academy.
Jiikan proudly showed the young boy around, and introduced him to fellow maters and their apprentices as his Padawan. Jiikan took Digger to the cafe' and the two chatted while enjoying a fresh meal. Digger told the Kreevaki all about his strange experiences and encounters during his time at home. The elderly master nodded as the young boy kept feeding him information. The boys master slowly waved his red hand in front of the boys face, indicating he had heard enough. Jiikan was suddenly approached by a large Wookiee, dressed in traditional Jedi Robes, whispering something in his ear which struck the boys interest. Jiikan rose and brought the boy along with him, dressing him in his robes, tying his long hair back in a ponytail with one braid hanging down, and sending him on his way, to the Force training area. Unknown to Digger's knowledge, Jiikan and the Wookies Jedi were observing him from a hidden platform within, and they watched in hopes to see the young boy grow into to a powerful Jedi master. However, their hopes of the future were not well set.
Padawanship and the Beginnings[]
Alright students, listen up! This is Digger, our newest student. You will treat him with respect as his destiny shall reflect on many of you today. Welcome Digger, to the Academy.
—Master Jiikan to various Padawans, introducing Digger
Digger progressed threw the Force training course with flying colors, gaining the respect and attention of several jedi Masters, many of them gave the Padawan and master Jiikan great admission. Jiikan, could only smile as his newest apprentces was inducted into the advanced learners of the Force, special group at the Dxun Academy. Moving on in his training, Digger was talented during his meditation, enabling the ability to focus all of his thinking to one subject. In Scholarship, he was at the top of his class, and credited as an extremely gifted junior scholar. He then moved on to lightsaber training. Digger was known after his defeat in a duel to a much larger foe, and more experienced student. He never lost a single duel after that day. Digger defeated many of the other students, some even returning to face him for redemption. Instead, they were struck with failure. As DIgger kept up his skills in everything, he was once again faced with the boy who defeated him. Digger's training saber was cut in half, and plunging towards his foe saberless, he managed to defeat him with a swift kick to the throat, but his opponents saber flew into the crowd, jammed and unable to shut off. In a blinded, heroic effort, Digger Force Pushed the crowd backwards, tumbling over one another, and his arm was cut off at his elbow. He needed immediate medical attention, and healed over the course of 3 months. Once he was healed, he hoped right back into action
Digger Rourke became well known after the incident. He gained a heroic reputation, which Jiikan to the boy's surprise, despised, only due to his Padawan's injury. The elderly Kreevaki Jedi Master negotiated with the Headmaster of the Academy, Master Odius Finlorf, the Wookiee that Jiikan had spoken with in the past, to make Digger the new assistant in the Scholarship class. The well-mannered, and extremely wise Wookie Headmaster accepted the Kreevaki's noble request, and Digger didn't hesitate to show up to his first class as soon as the news came to him. He was under the tutorage of Master Scholar, Indaria Kevonia, a very slick Human female. She taught him the ways of Scholarship, and instructed him to create an autobiography one day, always smiling down at the young Scholar.
He accepted the ways his master, Scholarship instructor, and his fellow students taught him. He had his mind set on becoming Headmaster one day, or at least, becoming Master Scholar. One day, he had a private sit down to meet Headmaster Odius, and discuss his future. Headmaster Odius gave him plenty suggestions to keep his mind accurate, and his goals clear. Odius invited Digger to his private quarters to see all of the his awards. He saw the various sabers, stars, symbols, and crosses awarded to the great Headmaster over a course of time. A long period of time indeed. Odius explained the hard work, dedication, and overall loyalty to the Jedi Order that is required for such a collection of numerous marvels. After having seen these wonders, Digger was told to leave the headmasters chambers to keep up his training. After which, he returned to the lightsaber training chamber, where he was mysteriously greeted by Master Jiikan. Jiikan took Digger into the sacred chambers of the elders, in which Diggr new he had earned a title of which set him with deadly and cunning skill. He was going to be promoted to Jedi Knight, but first, he was awarded with the title of Jedi Guardian for his saber skills. His Kreevaki master patted him on the shoulder as he walked forward into he middle of the circle, surrounded by platforms ascending on both sides to the highest one. There stood Headmaster Odius.
Knighthood[]
Upon entering the light, Headmaster Odius walked in front of him, putting a blessed force field of pure force energy around the boy, and gave him a light hug. Cheers, and cheers went threw as the young man advanced quickly in his training, and became a hardened Jedi, following his maser into many battles. So far as participating in the Clone Wars, and the Battle of Geonosis. During Geonosis, Jiikan and Digger led a SpecOps strike force which attacked the enemy from behind, and they wiped out a large number of Separatists reinforcements. During the strike forces surprise attack, a Sith Acolyte arrived and dueled Digger after they separated from the larger forces. After being knocked to the ground, the Acolyte tempted Digger with tales of the dark side, and various treasures that it offers. Right before he intended to convert the jedi knight, master jiikan burst threw the window, and strikes down the Acolyte with a swift blow, cutting the Sith in two from the waist. The swift striking Kreevaki Jedi Master didn't hesitate to check on his pupil, ensuring he was okay, and refilling his mind with stories of the light side, and the path of the Jedi. Digger, stunned but calm, just nodded and says "Yeah" to his masters stories. It was apparent that something had happened to him earlier. Seemingly unfazed by the incident after recovering and rising, he walked along the dry, desert-like plains of Geonosis, reporting to Grand Master Yoda himself. Afterwards, jiikan and Digger were ordered to fall back to Dxun, to check up on the Academy. Little did they know, that when they arrived, there was no academy, just heaps of burnt brick and metal. Lying in a pile of bodies, scattered around the surrounding area, was that of Headmaster Odius, He was barely breathing when two of his best students stood up before him, one kneeling and resting his head on his leg, the other watching in disbelief. Digger held Odius close, and cradled his large, furry body in his arms as his Headmaster dies telling him not to lose hope.
Gripping his shoulder tightly, Jiikan forces his pupil to rise from cradling a dead hero. Jiikan and Digger returned to the ship to inform master Yoda and the Council, but realized they were too busy with the war. The two Jedi went off grid, and hid on the Wild Space world Rishi. Inhabiting an uninhabited estate, hidden on the far side of Rishi, the two established their own training facilities and archives for their studies. Both the master and the pupil decided it would be best to start over. They went on private missions on the usual, but eventually found their way back into the Jedi Order, and had their ranks and titles restored. Serving now as bodyguards to Jedi Master Mace Windu, Jiikan and Digger set out to strive their training to the maximum. Windu sent them out on missions when they were needed, and the two would up their skills on every one. Battling separatists, destroying factories, assaulting strongholds, and defending bases, the legendary pair had just become well known and feared force in the Confederacy ranks.
During an infiltration mission, Digger and Jiikan had a massive falling out. While capturing the last known Separatist, Digger was preparing to execute him. He was a known thief and terrorizer on Geonosis, but Jiikan pleaded with his apprentices to take him to trial. After a heated argument, the Geonosian prisoner took Digger's saber and struck his leg, but before he could finish him, he was killed by Jiikan. Digger and his master never spoke to one another as master and apprentice again, but rather as rivals. They were separated from each other by Master Windu, but, little to Master Windu's knowledge, it was inevitable to stop their final confrontation.
Betrayal and Instinct[]
Trian, homeworld of the Trianii species, full of life and tall tropical forests, but on a certain day, it would be flooded with death and deception. One morning, Digger traveled to the Wild Space world, and arrived at the hidden Academy. Headed by Trianii Jedi Master, Helno Zurati.
The Sith Empire[]
Lord Crotallus[]
Duel on the Final Night[]
In the Aftermath[]
Personality and traits[]
Powers and abillities[]
Behind the scenes[]
- Most pictures of the Darth Crotallus in this article are used from pictures of Grand Master Muz Ashen of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. a Star Wars club devoted to exploring the mystical nature of the Dark Side.
- The picture of the elderly Crotallus is also from a member of the Dark jedi Brotherhood, former Grand Master Jedgar Paladin.
- The name "Darth Crotallus" is derived from the word "Crotal."