Arcantha "Arca" Syr was a female Maki Centurion of the Order of Keltrayu who served as a lightsaber combat instructor. She was a close friend and a protégé of Kieran Sapphire and succeeded him as the Order's Praetor-Blademaster.
Biography[]
Arcantha was born on Makreal in 115 ABY. She was recruited by the Order of Keltrayu just before her eighth birthday in 123 ABY and taken to the Sith Star for training. As a Novice, it took her some time to accept the Order's "family" mentality; she was used to the introverted and isolationist society of Makreal. Though she eventually embraced the concept, she remained much closer with a small handful of Centurions than the vast majority of others.
Arcantha excelled at lightsaber combat, and then-Prefect Tariun Sakaros considered her the most promising adept since Kieran Sapphire, apart from his own apprentice, Breek Zagrev. Sapphire was already a Praetor-Instructor himself by 131 ABY and, Arcantha having caught his eye, he began to give her extra coaching on swordplay; Kieran escorted Arcantha to his own homeworld, Irimor, to obtain a crystal for her lightsaber.
Arcantha was commissioned in 138 ABY. Like most new Centurions, Arcantha spent her first years in law enforcement, and her combat skills enabled her to be deployed against large numbers of criminals without backup. When the Tribulation began in 141 ABY, Arca was able to truly demonstrate her skill, fighting successfully in both the Vagaari War and the Ssi-ruuvi Incursion. Arca spent the following years helping restore order in the battered Empire.
In 147 ABY, in light of her talents, Arcantha was made a Praetor-Instructor at the Citadel, assisting Blademaster Sapphire in teaching lightsaber technique. She continued to refine her own skills under Kieran's tutelage, and the two became friends, Arca even meeting Kieran's long-term fiancée Elith Curazo. She remained in the Citadel during the Nightmare War, but fought aboard the Sith Star in the battle there.
In the wake of the war, Kieran began feeling the limitations of age and consciously training Arca to succeed him. The two were among the participants in Operation Broken Chain in 156 ABY; after a battle on a slaver landing platform, Arca brought down a fleeing ship with a precise saber throw. Kieran, who had been injured in the crash protecting young Nizenya Salaam, took the young Twi'lek as a ward, and eventually adopted her, resigning his Centurion's commission and retiring from the Order. On his recommendation, Prefect Aria Nikina appointed Arcantha the new Praetor-Blademaster.
Arcantha continued to develop her own skills as she guided the Citadel's lightsaber instruction, constantly testing herself against the deadliest Centurions to push her limits. She served as Kieran's principal attendant when he finally married Elith in 158 ABY.
Powers and Abilities[]
Like all Centurions, Arcantha was trained in a variety of Force powers with a special emphasis on telekinesis and telepathy. However, her foremost area of emphasis in both training and field application was lightsaber combat. A combination of her species' reflexes, consistent practice, and a natural gift for swordplay led her to excel, and by the time she became Praetor-Blademaster Kieran Sapphire, Aria Nikina, and Rin Sakaros all considered her both fully proficient in all five forms of lightsaber combat (and Form VI by default) and a master lightsaber combatant overall. At that same time she was on par with Jira Zaffrod, the Order's Makashi master, and approaching the skill of Vem.
Appearance and Personality[]
Arcantha had scales in dull green and blue shades, but with vivid yellow eyes. She often wore her Centurion's uniform, which complemented her scale tones, even as a Praetor. She stood 1.70 meters (5'7") tall and a fit, athletic build. Though capable of fighting in numerous lightsaber styles, she carried a single, straight-hilt lightsaber with a pale green blade.
Arcantha, like most Maki, relished solitude and enjoyed few close relationships, the most prominent of which was her friendship with Kieran Sapphire. Despite her aggressive appearance and lethal skill, however, she could be both a supportive instructor and a reassuring presence; she consistently tried to put the deeply traumatized Nizenya at ease, albeit with mixed success. Though they did not know her well, many of the Order's finest swordbeings thought very highly of Arcantha's skill.
Behind the Scenes[]
Much of Arcantha's appearance (and, by extension, the appearance of all Maki) was inspired by Madame Vastra from Doctor Who.