Darth Exemplar

"You're insane!" "Possibly, but I was sane enough to outsmart you wasn't I?""

- Malik Lanmaw and the Rakatan Chieftain

Darth Exemplar (born Malik Lanmaw), was a human male born on Lehon into slavery of the ruthless Rakata. His family was one of the many to work on the immense Star Forge. Through his anger at the Rakata, and of his overly abusive father, he grew immensly strong in the Force, especially the Dark Side. Fate would give him the chance he ws looking for when his sister, Shizu, was chosen to be a servant of the leader of the Tahh tribe. Through this, he was able to uncover an ancient Rakatan tomb, and gain full control over his powers. However, history always dictates that with great power, comes great sacrifice. The more Malik used this dark power, the more it consumed his very soul...

He is also an ancestor of Epin Lanmaw.

Biography
Born as a slave, Malik was constantly beaten by the Rakata, who felt they had to prove their dominance over their slaves. Even as a young child, he was forced to do back breaking labor until he could no longer continue. This caused him to harbor extreme hatred toward the Rakata, but also at his father, who seemingly did nothing to help him. Though if it was out of fear of repurcussions from the Rakata, or just hatred of Malik himself is unknown. Malik's dark side grew and grew each day, until he snapped, lashing out at his enslavers. After witnessing such a display of power, the Rakata were hesitant to cross him again. However, Malik had tasted the dark side, tasted power, something he loved, possibly too much...

Early Life
Malik spent almost every day of his childhood working for the Rakata, having rest periods only to eat and to sleep. However, they did rotate the slaves, allowing time off occasionally to rest, so as to be able to work longer hours when they were rotated in. During his rest periods, he spent time with his older sister, Shizu.

The two were very close, and Shizu would often take the blame for things that Malik had done, causing her to receive the beating. However, at one point when the Rakata attempted to whip Shizu, Malik's anger got the better of him.

Loss Of Innocence
"What are you gonna do kid?!?! Kick me in the shins!?"

- Tiro Broxtin to Malik

When Shizu began to see one of the boys from their camp, Tiro Broxtin, romantically, Malik became somewhat weary of him. Seeing as how she usually came in late, and had numerous bruises on her body at different times, and even returned with a broken arm once. She told Malik it was the Rakata's punishment, but he knew better. This Tiro thought he was a tough guy. Malik decided to follow them one night, and it was here that he lost control for the first time.

An argument between Shizu and Tiro escalated and when he began to beat her, Malik went mad... Stepping out of his hiding spot, he challenged Tiro, who responded by making jokes and then spat on Malik. In a flash of anger, Malik's hair stood straight up and his pupils went blank. Not lifting a finger, Malik flung Tiro away from him, sending him to the ground hard. After getting back up, Tiro brushed himself off and laughed, proclaiming that he too had special abilities. Malik stood motionless, a blank stare on his face. Tiro made a shoving motion with his fingers and lightning flowed from it. It hit Malik, but was surprisingly ineffective against him. Still staring blankly, Malik's eye's flashed red, and Tiro dropped to the ground, convulsing.

Malik, who loved his sister very much, was hurt to see her crying when she thought of how she let herself get into that situation. Attempting to cheer her up, he made her a necklace of flowers from the gardens of the Rakata.

The Rakata, who were making their nightly rounds discovered Malik and Shizu with the necklace, and since she was in possession of it, Shizu was responsible. They then brought Shizu to the detention block, which was just a fancy word for their torture chambers. Malik, who had followed, made his way over to Shizu. As soon as he made it to her, he pushed her aside and snatched the whip just as it was about to strike. Try as he might, the Rakata could not get the whip from Malik's grasp. Pulling violently, Malik swung the whip to the side, sending the Rakata into the wall. Backup arrived, but was no match for the invigorated Malik, who cut down the Rakatan warriors with seemingly thoughts alone. After the last Rakata had fallen, Malik stood among their broken and dismembered corpses with a blank stare on his face, seemingly unaffected either positively or negatively.

Shizu grabbed her brother and the two made an escape through the underground tunnels that ran the length of the slave camp, a way for the Rakata to quickly travel the facility without wading through hordes of slaves. Against the odds, they managed to escape detection and make it back home.

The Last Straw
"If you miss mother so much, I will send you to her..."

- Malik to his father

Malik's father, Vin, being drunk, saw it necessary one night to beat his children, as he saw them a burden, and the reason his wife was dead. She had died while giving birth to Malik, and Vin resented him for it. He beat on his children for quite some time by throwing them into walls, punching them and finally stomping them as they lay on the ground. Finally, Vin pinned Shizu down and was ready to end it, taking out a sharp weapon from his cloak and running it slowly across her neck to toy with her. He then pointed it directly toward her chest. As he brought it down, Malik interrupted by grabbing hold of his arm. Vin warned Malik to release him, or else he would feel it's wrath first. Squeezing, Malik broke his father's wrist with a series of crunches, snaps, and pops. Screaming in pain, Vin dropped the weapon and fell to the ground clutching his wrist.

Taking up the weapon, Malik raised it over his head to finish his father. Vin then attempted to strike his son from a sitting position, but Malik dodged, and as his father fell forward he drove the weapon into his shoulder. Vin yelled in agony as he fell to the ground, now clutching his shoulder. As Vin then moved to sit against the wall, Malik made his way over. Like a true coward, his father begged Malik to spare him, but Malik gave no response, only his blank stare. He then made a pushing motion with his hand that caused his father's skull to slam into the wall. With a squishing sound, Vin's head smacked the wall, and slumped forward. Malik had killed his father.

Malik began a soft, almost cackle-like laugh, his upper lip twitching as used his powers to cause his father's corpse to stab itself with the loose blade. Shizu gasped and sobbed softly as she witnessed the horrid sight.

Stroke Of Luck
When his sister Shizu was "chosen" by the Rakatan Chieftain to be his personal servant, Malik was chosen as her assistant. He, along with Shizu, was brought into the Rakatan encampment, to be Chieftain Tahh's personal servants.

Malik used this new position to gain access to the Rakatan library underneath the compound. In it he learned of a tomb somwhere under the planet's surface, that contained the knowledge of the Rakata's first leader. A being who could, supposedly use something called Force. His teachings had been passed down to other higher-ups within the Rakatan ranks, but the full extent of his knowledge was buried with him in his tomb. Malik suspected the location of the tomb was unknown to any living Rakata, as they would have found it by now, and utilized this power against their enemies, to establish one dominant tribe.

There were suggestions within the texts of the location, however, they were dismissed as just that, merely suggestions.

Discovery
"I feel the anger, the hatred, the power within you. Perhaps you will be the one to restore my family to it's former glory by ridding this planet of my pathetic descendant."

- The Rakatan hologram to Malik

On one of his off days Malik went in search of the supposed tomb. On the very outside of the camp, close to the forbidden lands, he found what he was searching for.

A large cave stood before him, the opening looming in front of him like a hungry beast ready to swallow up anyone foolish enough to venture inside.

Malik began his journey inside, several hours passed, and he endured many traps including, but not limited to, falling ceilings, trap doors, and spiked walls. Arriving in the main chamber, he was presented with not a grand throne room, or massive burial plot as he had expected, but instead a small floating staff, with the shape of an eye atop it, and what appeared to be wings attached to the side.



He approached the object and picked it up from it's resting place. Upon being removed, the object glowed a soft red, and opened, revealing a holo of a Rakata. The Rakata identified himself as the ancestor of Tahh, the current ruler of the Tahh tribe, and added that he himself was also named Tahh.

After some dialouge, the hologram disappeared and Malik wondered what had happened, then suddenly, he felt a wave of dark energy rush over him. He began to feel incredibly ill, and felt as if his skull itself would explode.

Fighting the urge to just give up and pass out, Malik exploded in dark energy that shook the cave, causing the walls to buckle and begin to crumble. Back in control, Malik felt invigorated, he noticed a purple cloak was lying on the floor, under where the staff floated. He put the cloak on, and with the ancient Rakatan's approval, took the staff as his own.

Bad Blood
"I know nothing of the one you call Malik woman, now stand down."

- Malik to Shizu

As Malik exited the cave, he was confronted by Shizu, who sensed the darkness within him. He would have none of her bleeding heart and demanded she step aside, when she would not, he grew angry and released a wave of pure energy, sending her to the ground. He then warned her not to interfere, lest she join their parents.

Confrontation
Malik confronted the Tahh chieftain in an attempt to overthrow him. But Malik was met with extreme resistance from his followers, who, despite Tahh's ruthlessness, were still 100% loyal to him. Amidst his best effort, Malik was unable to make it past the seemingly endless numbers of Rakatan warriors.

The warriors stopped attacking for a moment as Tahh made his way to the battlefield. He approached Malik and commended his fighting capabilities, offering him a position within his inner-circle, as general. Seeing the potential for a betrayal down the road, Malik accepted. Malik figured Tahh did this out of fear of him, that would buy him some time to formulate his next move.

Tahh's Choice
"It is time for me to take a wife. And I have the perfect woman in mind..."

- Tahh to Malik

When Tahh decided it was time for him to take on a wife, he chose his current servant, Shizu Lanmaw. Malik did not approve of this and expressed it to Tahh, who dismissed his warnings as empty threats. Tahh would try his best to see that these threats didn't come to fruition.

As Malik was returning from meditation, he was attacked by two of Tahh's assassins. Malik inquired if they knew what they were getting into, and without answer, was attacked. Malik engaged them in combat, they were quick reflexed and difficult to strike. However, Malik's inherit Force powers strengthened his muscles, and hightened his senses. The battle drew on for quite a long time with neither able to claim a hold of the battle. Though as it did, the assassins grew winded, tired from the near endless physical exertion. Sensing an opening, Malik drove his fist square into ones temple, fracturing the skull, killing him instantly.

The second one paused at seeing his partner downed, whixh was all Malik needed to drive both fists clenched together, up under the Rakata's chin, breaking his neck from the abrupt upward force.

That was Tahh's final mistake...

A Mutual Agreement
Malik knew there wasn't any way he was going to defeat the Tahh clan on his own, and thus, he set up a meeting with the ruler of the Hidden Rakata to discuss the problem that the two shared. They made the necessary arrangements, and parted ways.

Battle Of Lehon
When the day arrived, and the wedding commenced, Malik was nowhere to be found. Tahh assumed his warriors had done their duty in killing Malik.

Though, just before Tahh and Shizu would have been declared joined, the Hidden Rakata, led by Malik, burst into ceremony hall. Taken off guard by the abruptness of the attack, the Tahh were powerless against the Hidden Rakata's merciless onslaught. However, Malik had forgotten all about the Star Forge, which was semi-operational at this point, and had begun to release small fighter craft to strafe the planet in bombing runs. Tahh would rather his entire clan perish in the onslaught, than risk defeat at the hands of another tribe. To Malik's surprise, it was at this point that the Rakata all unleashed their Force powers upon one another. The battle escalated to a whole new level, each tribe using their powers to gain control over the Star Forge, that itself, feeding off the Force energy, became incredibly corrupt, it's fighters simply bombing randomly.

Amidst the heavy concentration of dark Force energy, the sky itself changed from a tranquil blue, to a sinister shade of purple.

Fueled in turn by the Star Forge's immense dark energy, both Rakatan tribes became overly aggressive, attacking not only enemy forces, but their own allies.

Losing Control
"NO!!! What's, happening...to me!!??"

- Malik

As the Rakatan's slaughtered each other, Malik pushed his way toward a final fight with Tahh. When he arrived, Shizu was shocked to see her brother alive, and attempted to run to him, but was grabbed by Tahh, who threatened to kill her if Malik stepped closer. Simply laughing, Malik slowly moved closer...

Tahh, true to his cowardice, struck Shizu from behind with a weapon and took a fighting stance. Malik, grabbing a weapon from the ground, faced him, the two then engaged in combat. Tahh, with his greater experience, quickly overcame Malik, knocking him to the ground.

Demanding he give up, Tahh held his weapon to Shizu's throat. When Malik would not surrender, Tahh stabbed her in the midsection, then focusing it back to it's original spot, he pressed harder. Shizu cried out for her brother.

Disgusted with his apparent failure, and faced with the death of his sister, Malik's anger grew, and he underwent a horrific transformation. Screaming, and grasping his head, he fought against the dark energy that began to consume him...

The Darkness Comes
"St...Stop laughing!"

- Tahh

As Malik screamed and clawed at his skull, the Star Forge glowed a dark purple, apparently feeding off of the dark energy being emitted from Malik and the the Force powers of the Rakata battling each other. Or, perhaps it was the Rakata that were drawing upon the Star Forge, as they went seemingly insane, even more so than before, attacking anything in sight with extreme ferocity.

In a dazzling flash, Malik erupted with dark side energy, sending shockwaves through the planet and splitting the ground itself.

After the dust settled, Malik began laughing as he hung his head. As he slowly raised his head, the symbol of an eye that seemed to be embedded on his forehead, glowed with power.

Tahh commanded Malik stop laughing, and when he did not, Tahh attacked with Force Lightning. Holding his hand out, Malik absorbed the attack, and redirected it back at his foe. Tahh deflected it away from him, and laughed, commenting that nobody was as strong as he. Malik stood motionless, a grin on his face.

Behind the scenes

 * Exemplar means Original or Model.
 * Exemplar is portrayed by Marik Ishtar
 * Marik, is sometimes spelled Malik, which is where the character's name derives from.
 * The Hidden Rakata appear courtesy of Jango Fett.