Editing Crucible:StarGuard

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= Starguard =
{| class="codex-infobox codex-infobox--hero"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Starguard.jpg]]
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! Real Name
| R'li R'ka
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! Identity
| Public (interstellar)
|-
! Affiliation
| [[Crucible:The Liberators|The Liberators]]
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! Base of Operations
| Deep space; former Chiriac territories
|-
! Era
| Modern Age
|-
! Status
| Active
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! First Appearance
| ''THE LIBERATORS #20''
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! Creator
| Ed Messina
|}

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“The order is gone. The duty remains.”
<br>— '''Starguard'''
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'''Starguard''' is the mantle borne by '''R'li R'ka''', the last surviving knight of the Chiriac StarGuard, an ancient order of warrior-protectors once sworn to defend the starways of the [[Crucible:Karnak Empire|Karnak Empire]]. With the destruction of her order in a catastrophic battle, R'li carries forward its traditions alone, a solitary guardian whose allegiance is to the ideal rather than the institution that once embodied it.

== Background ==

The Chiriac StarGuard were an elite order of spacefaring knights, combining martial discipline, advanced technology, and innate psionic ability in service to the Karnak Empire. Their role extended beyond simple defense; they were symbols of stability, enforcing order across contested regions of space and standing as a deterrent to forces that would disrupt the fragile balance of interstellar power.

Their end came in the '''Battle of the Dark Nebula''', where they faced an overwhelming incursion by [[Crucible:The Spawn|the Spawn]], a hostile force whose numbers and ferocity outmatched even the StarGuard’s formidable capabilities. The battle was decisive and devastating.

The order was destroyed.

One warrior survived.

== The Last Knight ==

The sole survivor of the StarGuard was a veteran knight, left blinded and grievously wounded in the aftermath of the battle. Unable to continue in active service, she took on a final responsibility: the training of her apprentice, R'li R'ka.

Under her mentor’s guidance, R'li absorbed not only the techniques of combat, but the principles that defined the order—discipline, vigilance, and the obligation to protect those unable to protect themselves. The training was rigorous, shaped by the knowledge that there would be no one else to carry the legacy forward.

When her mentor died, the StarGuard became a title held by a single individual.

R'li did not inherit an order.

She became it.

== The Liberators ==

Recognizing that her mission extended beyond solitary patrol, R'li aligned herself with [[Crucible:The Liberators|the Liberators]], a group whose goals intersected with her own sense of duty. Within the team, Starguard serves as both combatant and moral anchor, bringing the discipline of her training into a more fluid and unconventional environment.

Her presence reinforces the idea that structure and independence are not mutually exclusive.

They are complementary.

== Powers ==

R'li possesses abilities inherent to her species.

* Telepathic perception, allowing her to read and interpret the thoughts of sentient beings  
* Mental discipline enabling resistance to external psionic influence  

Her abilities are subtle but effective.

== Skills ==

As the last of the StarGuard, R'li is a highly trained warrior.

* Mastery of hand-to-hand combat and close-quarters engagements  
* Tactical awareness shaped by formal knightly training  
* Ability to operate independently across hostile environments  

Her skill set reflects both tradition and necessity.

== Technology ==

Starguard employs the standard equipment of her order.

* Plasmonic sword capable of cutting through advanced materials  
* Reinforced body armor with integrated weapons and defensive systems  

These tools are extensions of her training.

== Personality ==

R'li R'ka is disciplined, reserved, and guided by a strong internal code. The loss of her order has not diminished her sense of purpose; it has intensified it. She approaches her role with a seriousness that reflects both the weight of her inheritance and the absence of peers who might otherwise share it.

She does not speak of legacy.

She enacts it.

== Reputation ==

Among those familiar with the history of the Karnak Empire, Starguard is recognized as the last representative of a once-great order. Her continued presence carries symbolic significance, demonstrating that the ideals of the StarGuard persist even in the absence of the institution itself.

To allies, she is a reliable and formidable partner.

To enemies, a reminder that some traditions do not end.

== Legacy ==

Starguard embodies continuity in the face of annihilation. Where the Chiriac StarGuard once stood as a collective force, R'li R'ka now carries that identity alone, maintaining a line that might otherwise have been broken.

She is not the last because she is all that remains.

She is the last because she continues.

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[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Modern Age]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Ed Messina]]