Grypht Ocarsh
From TFC Galactopedia
Categories: Jedi | Triceratops
- Name: Grypht Ocarsh
- Alliance: The Jedi Order
- Rank: Jedi Knight
- Species: Druckenwell (Triceratops hatcheri)
- Sex: Male
- Assignment or Location: In hiding
- Born:
- Place of Birth: Druckenwell
- Parents: Marsho and Copi Ocarsh
- Education: Jedi Temple, Weapons Mastery
- Marital Status: Single
- Created By: Zerry Wergo
Background:
Grypht was born to Marsho and Copi Ocarsh at Nalmor University Hospital, on the planet of Druckenwell. The couple was delighted to hear that their infant son was in perfect health, and they took him home at the first opportunity. By sheer coincidence (or, the will of the Force) a Jedi named Yaros DaGavrille once lived on the very street the Ocarshes were now living on. And by sheer luck (or more of the Force's will), DaGavrille was currently visiting the area on business. He detected Grypht's Force-sensitivity, and promptly approached his parents. At first, Marsho and Copi were reluctant to part with their baby boy, but they eventually agreed to let Yaros take him. The ankylosaur wasted no time in whisking Grypht away to Coruscant.
Grypht spent the next five years of his life being raised in the Jedi Temple. He was but one of many Force-sensitive youngsters under the tutelage of the order's grand master. As soon as Grypht was old enough, Yaros took him as an apprentice. Being a Weapon Master, Yaros focused on developing Grypht's martial skills. However, he soon discovered that Grypht had an aptitude for the healing arts. This caused some contreversy, as several Jedi thought Grypht should be trained as a healer and not a warrior. Yaros decided to let Grypht choose his own path. After much thought, Grypht chose to continue his training in as a weapon master. DaGavrille nevertheless made sure to develop Grypht's healing abilities alongside his physical training. The knight enforced a strict regimen: jogs through the city streets at dawn, hours upon hours of studies and sword drills, and sitting on top of the Temple at sunset to meditate became daily occurences for Grypht. His knowledge of the Force grew, and so did his ability to function without it. For a lightsaber, Grypht wielded a dark green blade. It belonged to Yaros' master, an expert saber craftsmen, who decided to let Grypht borrow it. The triceratops developed his fighting style around Form II, with a bit of V mixed in. He felt Form III was too passive, VI too unfocused, and IV too difficult for someone of his size (by the time he was 14, Grypht was already 5'9"). Yaros also taught Grypht the basis for several martial arts, including teras kasi, but the Padawan did not study them further. Of course, Yaros maintained his apprentice's Force training, and once again surprised when he discovered Grypht was skilled in Blinding, a relatively rare cousin of Affect Mind and Illusion.
Throughout all this training, Grypht joined his Master on many missions for the good of the Republic. Together, they brought down a gunrunning ring in the Bestine system, served as the bodyguards for many important people (including a very annoying holovid star), and even recovered a suit of dark armor dating back to before the battle of Ruusan. The duo also defeated several darksiders, including the dual-wielding marauder Bok-Tar.
When Grypht was in his early twenties, his Master determined that he was ready to face the Trials. Though a little nervous, Grypht agreed. He easily passed the first two trials, which had him demonstrate his basic ability with the Force and his knowledge of Jedi lore, respectively. Grypht gladly tackled the third trial, which required Grypht to build his own lightsaber. Instead of using any of the parts the Temple kept in stock, Grypht built his saber from scratch, giving it a unique look. Midway through the trial, Grypht recieved a gift sent from his parents: a Druckenwellian carbon diamond, one that had been in the Ocarsh family for generations. Although the gem wasn't terribly valuable, it made for a fine saber focusing crystal. Grypht was especially pleased how the diamond made the blade pure white in color. Once the saber was complete, Grypht had an opportunity to test it in the fourth trial: a lightsaber duel. His opponent would be Kani Parze, a Lorrdian mouse and fellow Padawan. Although it seemed Grypht had an advantage over his much smaller opponent, he did not let himself grow overconfident. That decision proved to be wise: Kani was no slouch with a lightsaber, and her innate knowledge of body language let her predict Grypht's movements. The duel was long and intense, and Grypht was eventually victorious. Because it was decided that Kani also demonstrated superb swordsmanship, both Padawans passed the trial. The fifth trial had Grypht prove his ability in self-defence. He was placed on a rooftop, with two snipers set up well out of range of Grypht's saber or his Force powers. Although their rifles were on nonlethal settings, they nonetheless sent Grypht scrambling for cover. Grypht's mind was racing for a way to defeat these assailants, when he remembered a critical detail: this was a self-defense test. He wasn't supposed to defeat anything. Keeping that in mind, Grypht formed a strategy. He began dancing in and out of cover, swatting aside shots with his saber. Eventually, both snipers ran out of ammunition. Though a bit tired, Grypht was glad to have passed the trial. The sixth Trial was a test of judgement: Master DaGavrille asked Grypht several ethical questions, one after the other. Grypht was not only to answer the questions correctly, but in order of importance. Though it took him longer than he would have preferred, Grypht was able to answer the quiz properly. Finally, Grypht was ready to take on the last trial: a solo mission. The millenia-old tomb of a Jedi Master had been recently discovered, and it was up to Grypht to recover a rare Jedi Holocron from its main chamber. He was then to deliver it to Master DaGavrille, who would be waiting on a neighbouring planet. Grypht spent several days searching for the tomb in a cold mountain forest, braving hostile fauna and the elements. Upon finding the tomb, the Triceratops searched the main chamber... only to find no Holocron. Worried, he searched further, even venturing into several flooded passages, but still did not find it. Fearing the artifact had been stolen, Grypht was prepared to leave... until he decided he would not return empty-handed. He scoured the tomb again, and found several functioning reader tapes and the Master's lightsaber. Hoping that would be sufficient, Grypht hurried back to his fighter and rendevoused with his Master. He told DaGavrille that the Holocron had been taken... and indeed it had. Yaros had taken the Holocron before Grypht had even set foot on the planet. The test was to see if Grypht would quit early or stay and find something to show for his effort. Yaros commended his Padawan for his perseverance. When the pair returned to Coruscant, Grypht officially became a Jedi Knight.
Being a Knight brought about a change of pace for Grypht. Since his particular skills were rarely needed, he spent most of his time in and around the Temple, aiding Jedi Instructors with combat training. Eventually Grypht was assigned to a small task group of Jedi. As the Force would have it, Kani Parze, now a Jedi Investigator, was also part of that group. The team also included Milag Hurne, a Jedi Pilot from Ord Mantell, and Saiyi Moisen, a Jedi Healer from Alderran. Together they completed many objectives for the Order, not the least of which was the hunt for the mysterious, violent Bando Gora cult. Although Grypht and the others found the cult's base on one of the moons of Bogden, the cult's leader had already been slain by a bounty hunter... an extremely skilled bounty hunter. As they worked together, Grypht and Kani developed a mutual attraction for each other. Neither let it go beyond that, though: they both knew a romantic relationship would go against the Order's policies. But the feelings still remained... Shortly before the Clone Wars, the task group was dissolved, and Grypht went on to serve a small but important role in the conflict by hunting down several renegade darksiders that had sided with the Seperatists.
When the Galactic Empire was founded and the Jedi Purges began, Grypht sought shelter at a secret asteroid refuge. There, he was once again reunited with Kani. Two Padawans were also there, as was an ex-Jedi, a Carnotaurus named Kraal'Tish. Although Kraal'Tish had set up the refuge, neither Grypht or Kani trusted their host much. That distrust was justified: Kraal'Tish was working with the Empire, and was using the refuge as a trap. As the VSD Nosferatu appeared out of hyperspace about the false haven, Kraal'Tish slew the Padawans from behind, then fought with Kani. Grypht was on his way to his fighter when he heard Kani scream. He found her, mortally wounded and alone (Kraal'Tish, knowing he was no match for Grypht, had wisely fled). Grypht tried to help her, but Kani told him to run: the VSD would open fire any second. With her last breath, Kani told Grypht that she truly did love him. He tried to hold her close, but all he held were empty robes as she became one with the Force. Filled with greif, Grypht took Kani's saber with him as he ran for his fighter. As he blazed away from the doomed base, the few TIE fighters that dared get in his way met sudded ends. Once again on the run, Grypht decided to hide in one of the most unlikely of places: Nar Shaddaa.
While in orbit of the Smuggler's Moon, Grypht swore to avenge the Order and Kani. After finding an apartment and a place to stow his fighter, the Weapon Master set about acheiving this goal. He devoted all of his time to honing his skills for the day he would confront the Sith. There was no other explaination for how quickly and easily the Empire came to power. This mad obsession threatened to drive Grypht to the Dark Side, had he not met a young smuggler named Zerry Wergo. After a chance meeting at Grypht's favorite watering hole, the Drunken Drummer, the chameleon followed Grypht home, and eventually made him see reason. The Knight was grateful for Wergo's help, and the two became friends. Now, Grypht has taken up a new quest: rekindle the spirit of the Jedi. Instead of destroying, he will combat evil by creating. He travels with Zerry (and that cranky R5 of his) across space, searching for whatever could help him in his undertaking. Perhaps this new universe that has arisen has what he's looking for...
Physical Description:
Grypht is a dark blue triceratops. He towers over most people, making him rather intimidating looking. He keeps a grim look on his face most of the time- whether it's a grim smile or a grim frown, he just looks grim. He prefers to wear his heavily altered Jedi robe, though he normally wears simple, less descript clothing.
Current Sketch: Grypht is horrified at how the dark side has triumphed over the galaxy. He feel it is his sole responsiblity to destroy the Sith and end their threat to both realms. In the meantime before attaining this lofty goal, he hides out in his home on the lower levels or the Smuggler's Moon, maintaining his skills and waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
Character Notes:
Grypht is quite strong, and he uses it to his advantage when fighting. His ship, the Jedi's Revenge, is an old Jedi fighter modified to house his large frame. He keeps his white-bladed lightsaber hidden up his sleeve at all times, just in case. Since Grypht is rather distinct, he maintains a low profile, only leaving his apartment for food and the occasional mug of lum.
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