Khoro`ly`ooho`sh`lyhoo

"Khoro`ly`ooho`sh`lyhoo was a devoted Centurion, fiercely loyal to his friends and of absolute dedication to Queen and Empire. He encouraged those who were downhearted and befriended those who were alone. He was respected by all and the enemy of none, save those we exist to destroy."

- Eskol Kaartinen

Khoro`ly`ooho`sh`lyhoo (//, almost always shortened to just "Khoro") was a male Wooshlyhee Centurion and Royal Guard of the Golden Empire. He served the Order of Keltrayu until his death at the hands of Shalach Hal-Razab in 147 ABY.

Recruitment and training
Recruited on the Wooshlyhee homeworld of Klee`shlyoo`hshee at the age of six in 116 ABY, Khoro, like all Novices, was trained aboard the Sith Star by Rin and Tariun Sakaros. His unusual physiology initially gave him trouble with lightsaber combat; his upper two arms were too weak to effectively use a lightsaber each, and he found using two blades total (one with each pair of hands) to be ungainly, with each blade getting in the other's way.

Eventually, Tariun (himself a master of Jar'Kai) worked with Khoro to develop a style unique in the Empire. He carried a lightsaber in each of his powerful lower arms, then used a third with both his upper arms. As Khoro grew to master the three-blade approach, even the Empire's more seasoned duelists had to adapt their technique to compensate for the unorthodox style.

Early service
Commissioned as a full Centurion in 132 ABY, Khoro served in numerous law enforcement and protective assignments throughout the Empire before participating in the Second Battle of Csilla in 137 ABY. He was appointed to the Royal Guard the following year, usually serving as a protector to his former mentor Tariun. In this capacity, he was one of the first officers of the Empire (along with fellow Guards Jira Seezhli, Breek Zagrev, and Tamlok) to meet Nagarian Sakaros, baby brother of the queen, on Nar Shaddaa. He was also present on the Smuggler's Moon during a duel pitting the Centurions, Merquise Syndicate personnel, and eventually Rin herself against a possessed Reiko Kaytana, though Khoro himself did not fight in the engagement, ordered to remain behind and protect Nagarian as a last line of defense.

At the onset of the Vagaari War, Khoro was one of only eight Royal Guards kept in the unit when it was downsized from twenty-four so more Centurions could take the field for battle. He remained one of Tariun's two usual bodyguards until 143 ABY, when he was at last rotated out of the unit.

Last years and death
Khoro served in law enforcement assignments sporadically throughout the next four years, but was more often deployed as a protector for Royal Integration Corps or Ministry of Diplomacy teams conducting the long process of integrating former and  into the Golden Empire's fold. Though he was quiet and reserved, those under his protection commented positively on his professionalism and attentiveness to their security.

In 147 ABY, Rin sent Khoro and Vem to rescue two s, including her cousin Axelia Solios, from a system in the. While attempting to do so, the Centurions encountered the Knights' captor, the Shalach Hal-Razab. Hal-Razab's mastery of and  proved too much for even the two Centurions combined, and they attempted to retreat, but Khoro was struck by Hal-Razab's Force lightning and burned to death.

Legacy
"So I say to you, remember Khoro. Remember a good and noble brother and friend who dedicated his life to service and sacrificed his life for duty. And remember always that, wartime or peace, any Centurion may any day be called upon to make that same sacrifice.  Should your day come and your heart tremble at the test, remember those before you who have paved your way and whose embrace awaits you in the Force.  Remember who and what we are.  Remember Khoro."

- Eskol Kaartinen

Vem managed to escape and bring news of the incident to Rin Sakaros. Khoro's death was greeted with shock and dismay amongst many Centurions and Novices, who had respected and liked the quiet, friendly Wooshlyhee. Khoro's fellow former Royal Guards Breek Zagrev, Tamlok, and Jira Zaffrod were particularly despondent at the news, as they had served beside him and considered him a close friend.

Incensed, Rin Sakaros sent Vem and Aria Nikina back to rescue the Imperial Knights, and sent Te`net Organi with them, with the specific instruction to kill Shalach Hal-Razab through any means necessary. While Vem and Aria rescued the Knights, Organi and Hal-Razab engaged in a vicious duel of Force powers which tore down the entire castle and most of the mountain it was built on. Eventually, Organi crushed Hal-Razab to death.

The remains of Khoro's body were recovered from the castle and interred in Keltrayu's Tomb on Keliso.

Powers and abilities
Khoro employed a personalized variant of Ataru, often performing circular and disjointed attacks with his three blades to confuse and intimidate opponents and enemies. As such, his attacks sometimes unconsciously mimicked those of General Grievous. He would use his natural agility to make use of Force leaps as well.

Like all Centurions, Khoro was extensively trained in telepathy and telekinesis, and would sometimes fling objects at enemies with the Force while using his lightsabers to further distract and incapacitate his foes. His muscular lower arms and legs allowed him strong blows for use with Var Shek, though he usually only used his weaker upper arms for eye gouges, nerve strikes, or similarly delicate blows not requiring a great deal of force.

Appearance and personality
At 6'1" (1.85 meters), Khoro was of slightly more than average height for a Centurion, though well within the normal range of his own species. He had mottled black, brown, and white fur and the glassy black eyes common to Wooshlyhee.  He tended to dress in the normal uniforms of the Centurions or the Royal Guard, though modified to account for his extra pair of arms.  He also wore crossed leather bandoliers over his chest; the lightsabers for his lower hands hung at either side, while the third lightsaber he carried was buckled at the cross of the bandoliers over his heart.

Stoic and untalkative, Khoro rarely spoke unless necessary. Though he could speak both Orhyo and Sith fluently, his high-pitched, whistling voice made the former harder to understand without paying careful attention, and the guttural and harsh Sith tongue sounded even less natural. He preferred to communicate telepathically with most of his associates, though he spoke more among close friends.

Though hardly communicative, Khoro developed an interest in supporting people who did not quite fit in, given his own experiences trying and failing to conform himself to established lightsaber styles. When he interacted with Novices, he usually encouraged them to pursue hobbies that made them happy, showing them how being who they were would make them happier and serve the Empire better in the long run. Few Centurions or Novices knew him very well, but those who did were often very fond of him.