Tillandra Moraes

Tillandra Moraes (//) was a female Rebeyr Centurion of the Order of Keltrayu, the Order's first professional.

Training
Her egg laid on Sair in 106 ABY, Tillandra was hatched later that same year and raised in a small, outlying village. Her strength in the Force was not discovered until the Centurion Aquila Corcer sensed her presence while visiting Sair to pacify a local rebellion in 113 ABY. Her parents were persuaded to surrender her to the Order for training as a Centurion.

In her early training, Tillandra was somewhat uncomfortable around her fellow Novices, and they her; her predatory Rebeyr reflexes and instincts made her inclined to prey on those who were clearly injured, and the scent of blood automatically turned her mind to hunting. Several Centurions suggested she consult the Zyked Rajj-Yo for advice, as he too was of an innately predatory species, but even Tillandra found Rajj-Yo too disturbing to be around. Unlike Rajj-Yo, she was embarrassed by her instincts and felt awkward whenever she lurched toward a wounded fellow student, even when she checked the reflex.

Over time, however, senior Novices and some Centurions forced Tillandra to confront her instincts and use her mind and the Force to override them. The Qua Te'net Organi in particular would regularly inflict small cuts on himself while training with Tillandra, to force her to get used to the scent of blood. Sato Raltharan and Tariun Sakaros pursued the same exercise, especially when Tillandra was sparring or concentrating on something else, with the goal of making sure Tillandra could focus past distractions in time of need.

At some point during her training, when she had become able to stomach the sight and smell of injuries while keeping her hunting instincts, Tillandra found that she had an innate understanding of the process of injury and healing. Somewhat warily, a few of her injured classmates allowed her to examine their wounds and get a sense for them in the Force. Even seasoned Centurions had never seen anything like this, and did not know what to make of it, but Tariun Sakaros had, and took Tillandra straight to Rin.

Though somewhat startled, Rin was also seasoned enough to recognize a when she saw one, and began taking a far greater hand in Tillandra's tutelage. Rin was not a healer herself, but she knew enough of the basic theory and had access to enough holocrons that she was able to start Tillandra on the path. The Rebeyr took to her newfound skill eagerly, and it made her commit herself all the more to having discipline enough to think past her instincts. After a slow, careful start, she began to develop her skills more prominently, with Rin acting more as a mentor than a real teacher.

The Order's healer
Due to the need to carefully perfect her healing abilities while still developing all the combat abilities expecting of every Centurion, Tillandra was not commissioned as a full Centurion until the age of twenty-four in 130 ABY. Unlike most Centurions, she was never assigned to regular law enforcement duties, though she did sometimes accompany negotiating or diplomatic parties. Under such circumstances, however, she was always accompanied by at least two other Centurions for her own protection. Rin Sakaros knew how rare a naturally talented healer was, and was adamantly committed to not losing her Order's.

More often, Tillandra served about the Sith Star, treating injured Novices or Centurions. She would also accompany Rin or other Centurions to worlds which had experienced disasters or devastations, serving alongside medics and droids to help the injured or those who would otherwise die without her aid. She became widely beloved by her siblings for her kind, gentle manner, even earning the respect of the bloodthirsty warrior Rajj-Yo, who treated almost no one else with deference. Rajj-Yo once heard a Royal Navy spaceman mocking Tillandra and beat the man half to death before Tariun could pull him off. When she heard of the situation, Tillandra went to the Sith Star's medical suite and personally tended to the injured spaceman, leading him to tearfully ask her forgiveness.

At some point after becoming a Centurion, Tillandra attended a multi-species medical school to further her understanding of the basic humanoid body, which she felt would enable her to treat many Centurions more effectively (and, though she did not say it publicly, she also wanted the best chance to treat Rin Sakaros if the need ever arose). Rin approved this schooling and detailed two Centurions and a dozen Massassi to serve as Tillandra's bodyguards. Upon graduation, she was awarded a, but insisted that her siblings continue to call her "Tillandra". She qualified in both internal medicine and surgery. The Rebeyr also attended numerous lectures on the use and efficacy of on various species, and was permitted to study the regenerative properties of Qua blood.

In 140 ABY, Tillandra assisted Rin in healing Andromeda Keane of the, and also helped to heal Rin herself, who had contracted the sickness due to prolonged exposure to her cousin. After the experience, Rin formally made Tillandra her personal physician.

Tillandra remained aboard the Sith Star with Tariun and Eskol Kaartinen during the Vagaari War, and saw near-constant duty as she worked to heal her injured siblings. She also taught basic Force healing techniques to other Centurions, to enable them to heal themselves or at least keep themselves alive long enough for help to arrive in combat situations. A few of her students even developed sufficient skill to help their troops.

In 144 ABY, Tillandra accompanied Rin Sakaros to to help Nagarian Sakaros and Reiko Kaytana after they developed potentially-fatal reactions to Royal vaccines. She successfully helped their bodies absorb the vaccines and develop antibodies against the various diseases.

Seeg joined the Order of Keltrayu in 145 ABY. The Force-strong son of Rajj-Yo, he was liked by many of his peers for his happy and agreeable disposition, but shunned by his own father for his lack of a ruthless killing instinct. Dismayed by Seeg's obvious unhappiness at that situation, Tillandra spent time with him, allowing him to come to the medbay simply to tell her about his day, making sure he studied hard, and praising his accomplishments. When he grew old enough to take a second name in accordance with Zyked tradition, which saw Zykeds adding to their given names a part of the name of the crèche-mother they had valued the most, Seeg bypassed any of the crèche-mothers from Deshad and chose to honor Tillandra instead, becoming Seeg-Til.

When Vem agreed to get a replacement for his mangled left leg, Tillandra oversaw the surgery. The Fyaar initially had difficulty adapting to the limb and was stressed and irritable, but Tillandra braved his temper to patiently help him with exercises. When he finally got used to the replacement, he joined Tillandra's ever-growing list of admirers.

Apprentice
In 146 ABY, Rin's niece Rayne Turgachia became a Novice of the Order. Te`net Organi had discovered that Rayne had the gift of healing, and Rayne became Tillandra's informal apprentice. The Rebeyr and the Qua hybrid spent time together nearly every day, developing a very close relationship.

Upon the outbreak of the Nightmare War, Tillandra and Rayne saw regulary duty healing those injured in battle. Tillandra helped Rayne accept the responsibility of intuiting who would live and who would die based on injuries, and prioritizing care based on her judgment. At the Defense of Rykar, Tillandra and Rayne were attacked by a trio of Anzat clones; they were defended by Rajj-Yo and Vem, but Tillandra used her unusual lightsaber style to briefly hold them at bay, and succeeded in crippling one of her attackers by slicing through his spine. Rajj-Yo finished the clone off by stabbing his lightsaber through its mouth and splitting apart its head.

Tillandra treated Malyri and Kylaea Porén when they returned from the Mission to Awpierh badly wounded, and attempted to console them as they grieved for the death of their sister Nairasho.

Toward the end of the war, Te`net Organi was infected with a version of the Sickness weaponized by Desha Marad, and accidentally infected Rayne before he realized what was wrong with him. Rin Sakaros tried to enter the medbay to help, and Tillandra tried to dissuade her; she respected Organi and loved Rayne like a daughter, but she knew that if Rin was infected too, she would have to save her master, and the others would die. Eventually Tarzg Sav'lir and Jadian Star got through to Rin by planting themselves in her path and refusing to move; Rin saw sense, and Tillandra had great respect for both Jade and Tarzg thereafter.

Tillandra set all her powers to healing both Rayne and Te`net, though she intended to obey Rin's command that, if only one could be saved, she should let Te`net die and save Rayne. Nevertheless, Tillandra managed to steer both of them back to recovery, though the effort exhausted her. When the Sith Star was boarded during the Battle of Dolomir, Tillandra stayed in the Citadel to protect Rayne. She attempted to dissuade a half-recovered Te`net from fighting without effect; when he came back half-dead from new injuries and lingering sickness, Tillandra placed him in a bacta tank without preamble. She also treated Eskol Kaartinen for the stab wound to his shoulder received fighting Voara Culee

"She has, for decades, been a model of humility, sacrifice, and service to which the entire Order should aspire. Many of you here live only because of her. Every Centurion should serve without thought of reward or praise, because it is your duty.  But we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge and honor the work of our greatest servants, without whom the Empire would be lost.  And so we thank you and honor you....Master Moraes"

- Rin Sakaros praising Tillandra

After the war concluded, in recognition for her many efforts and especially her healing of Rayne and Te`net, at a gathering of the Order Rin addressed Tillandra as "Master Moraes", making her the first Centurion ever honored with the style "Master". Rin further acknowledged Tillandra's special role in the Order's heart by bowing to her slightly, prompting the rest of the Order to get down on their hands and knees. Tillandra was stunned by the acknowledgment, and her siblings continued to call her "Master" thereafter.

Tillandra and Rayne journeyed to, where they healed Selina Quinn's injuries to her hands.

Powers and abilities
Like all Centurions, Tillandra received extensive training in and. Due to her close and regular contact with patients, she developed a particular ability to read the emotions of those around her and an almost unconscious use of the Force to put others at ease—all the more useful given her own appearance, which was frightening to many humanoids.

Tillandra's best-known and best-developed power, however, was Force healing. Alone among the Order of Keltrayu's hundreds of Centurions for decades, she had a natural gift for the discipline, and could thus perform healing actions beyond any of her colleagues, and even outside the comfort zone of Rin Sakaros herself. Many times she was able to snatch someone back from the brink of death in a way that even bacta could not have managed. Her study of medicine only compounded her knowledge of the body and helped her channel her powers to where they would be most useful.

Tillandra studied, but due to her physiology, she had a unique style. Using a single tentacle, she would use her lightsaber in whip-like strikes. While these blows were not very powerful, they were much quicker than most opponents were used to and highly unpredictable. Rin Sakaros likened it to fighting a lightwhip, although both Sakaros siblings made Tillandra practice so she could prevent an agile enemy from cutting apart her lightsaber—or her tentacle.

Appearance and personality
Like all Rebeyr, Tillandra's total length was more than twice her normal height. She usually rested at a height of 1.55 meters, but was 3.2 meters long from the tip of her tale to the top of her head. Her hide was dark green, though she observed it slowly lightening with age every few shed skins. She had yellow eyes and the double rows of sharp, uneven teeth common to all Rebeyr. She wore a modified version of a Centurion's uniform, with the sleeves removed from her tunic and a short black skirt instead of pants. She wore her single lightsaber on her belt, though its position changed depending on whatever work she was doing. The lightsaber itself had a jade green blade.

In stark contrast to her vicious appearance and predatory nature, Tillandra had a calm, soothing presence, and was extremely gentle with her patients. Through long effort, she was able to think past her instinctive reaction to the scent of blood or signs of weakness in other beings and help them instead of harming them. She was loved by many of her fellow Centurions and respected by all of them; combat masters like Breek Zagrev, Sato Raltharan, and Vem held her in particularly high regard, and even Rajj-Yo never spoke ill or disrespectfully of her (and was violently intolerant of anyone who did).

Tillandra had a very close relationship with Rayne Turgachia, who became all but an apprentice to her.