Tauro Vi'Bani

Tauro, my boy, I have loved and raised you like a son.

There is only one way to usher the galaxy into a new age, and that is for the Flame to burn away all that taints our brethren. I believe that you, and only you, have the will to see the Flame burn bright enough to achieve such absolution.

— Draki Vi’Eni, before the Trial of the First Blaze

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

In terms of looks, Tauro echoes much of your typical Zarcantian. Average height, copper chitin of an average thickness, if not slightly more brittle than usual for someone of his age (but nothing that Zarcantian doctors have told him to worry about).

The only blemish is that one of his eyes - the lower right one - is partially clouded by a grey-green mist. This is due to an unfortunate accident during his youth where, quite embarrassingly, he fell asleep reading some Casteel texts and accidentally slammed his eye against the corner of the table he was sitting at. He can still see using the affected eye, but sight through that eye is partially blurry.

Physical quirks

Tauro is ambidextrous, but favours the use of his right hand (or foot, when instances call for it).

His posture compared to other Zarcantians is a little abnormal. Usually, Zarcantians will stand with a slight hunch of their back. Tauro however, has picked up a quirk from time spent trying to spread the teachings of the Casteel to Terrans. He will often try to stand straighter when talking to Terrans out of a show of respect.

When he is anxious or annoyed, Tauro will start to rub the thin gap between his chitin at the wrists. Doing so echoes the vulnerability of exposed skin, becoming a tell tale sign to anyone paying attention that, in that moment, Tauro feels extremely vulnerable.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

By the light of the fire, we lay. Forget your sorrows, forget your worries. Cast aside all doubt.

Be warmed by the Eternal Flame. The fire of our ancikor. Share their light, share their strength. Share the belief of the zikarn who came before you.

Do not fear the flame, my zikarn. Let it free you from your chains.

From birth, Tauro Vi’Bani was surrounded by the Casteel. With no parents - abandoned by a mother he would never know, his father already long since passed - he was left in the hands of a Casteel Riuj.

The Riuj, Draki Vi’Eni, looked after a young Tauro Vi’Bani - gave him food, shelter, clothes, all of the basic necessities. Draki also taught Tauro, not just about the world or common topics that all Zarcantian children learn, but about the Casteel of the Eternal Flame.

Fascinated by Draki’s stories, Tauro threw himself into studying the Casteel of the Eternal Flame. By the time he was 17 the Riuj were impressed. They allowed Tauro to attempt the Trial of the First Blaze. Upon passing the trial, Tauro was granted the title of Riuj and began his ascent through the Casteel.

It wasn’t the easiest journey to take. He encountered many hardships among the various trials and was the target of several assassination attempts - peers who were jealous of Tauro’s natural charisma and how quickly he was climbing above his station. Many believed that an orphan didn’t deserve to attempt anything past the Trial of the First Blaze, but Tauro persisted and the Reyvra at the time, Synthu Si’Arta, admired such a quality, allowing Tauro to continue on his path.

Eventually, Reyvra Si’Arta made Tauro his Light - the right hand and second only to the Reyvra. For 15 years, Tauro served as the Light of the Casteel, right up until Reyvra Si’Arta died. The Ceremony of the Blaze Eternal was carried out to honour Synthu Si’Arta. On the final day, Tauro Vi’Bani was named the new Casteel Reyvra.

OF - Galactic Intelligence Division

Counterintelligence Logs - People of Interest

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UGY 6965

T'Meni, OF S'icarda
Federation ID SI-GID-416689

CLASS 5: yn

---

[START TRANSMISSION]

Name: Tauro Vi’Bani
Age: 124
Species: Zarcant

Tauro Vi’Bani has been flagged as a person of interest by S’icarda ████████. As such, we have compiled all known information on the individual in question to this file. Upon request, we have also ██████████████████████████ to observe and assess.

Select one of the folders below to view the relevant information.

CHILDHOOD

Seemingly normal. Abandoned by his mother (not uncommon in Zarcantian circles, particularly those of the lower classes). Father dead before he was born. Handed off to the Casteel of the Eternal Flame, specifically a Riuj by the name of Draki Vi’Eni. You might recognise the name. Draki was apprehended in UGY 6860 for extremist actions against the Osiryx Federation in coalition with the Blazyyg.

It is worth noting that, despite how close Tauro and Draki were during the former’s childhood, as soon as Tauro was granted the Riuj title, their communications appear to have stopped completely. Cause for concern? Most likely.

THE LIGHT

Tauro was anointed as ‘The Light’ in UGY 6917. He served under Reyvra Si’Arta, made a number of public appearances, but in comparison to Si’Arta’s previous Light, the number of appearances was far smaller. Even if you account for the amount of time Tauro spent working for him.

A Zarcant matching Tauro’s description was identified attending several Blazyyg rallies, but we never managed to attain any evidence to prove that Tauro was the one in attendance. It is possible that Draki introduced Tauro to the Blazyyg at a young age, or perhaps that he discovered them as he was climbing through the Casteel’s ranks.

It is also possible that Tauro wasn’t in attendance at all, but the descriptions given were striking, and his potential connections to the Blazyyg are too high to be discredited as ‘imagining things’.

THE REYVRA

It is our understanding that becoming a Reyvra at the age of 76 is rather young for such a succession. How was it that Tauro became so close to Synthu Si’Arta when no one else could? What strings did he pull behind the scenes to achieve such a feat?

More interesting, perhaps, is his apparent open-mindedness. He is the first Reyvra to allow those from other species to join the Casteel of the Eternal Flame. His followers were furious at first, but he calmed them with practised ease. Now the Eternal Flame spreads across the galaxy.

There must be a reason for this. His appointment as Reyvra coincided with the Blazyyg going dark. Tauro hides secrets from the Osiryx Federation daily. His deceit knows no bounds. Why is he so eager to hide, if he would have the galaxy truly believe that there is nothing going on under their noses?

[END TRANSMISSION]

Education

As he grew up within the Casteel, Tauro did not receive a ‘formal’ education in the sense that he did not attend any schools or achieve any grades / certifications during his childhood. His lessons came from within the Casteel. They still taught him the basics, as they do with all orphans that come their way, but this means that Tauro has no official records of education.

It would certainly make it difficult to get a job, if it weren't for the fact that he is already in charge of the Casteel of the Eternal Flame.

Alongside that basic education, he was also given plenty of texts and oral lectures during his youth about life in the Casteel and worshipping the Eternal Flame, as well as interacting with outsiders - so Terrans, Ulmaatis, Dreggans, and L'Oris.

Social

Family Ties

The closest thing that Tauro has to a family is Draki Vi’Eni.

When he was a baby, Tauro’s mother gave him away to the Casteel, placing him directly into the outstretched arms of Draki. She never told Draki her name, only that Tauro would be better off with the Casteel than he ever would have been with her.

In those early days, Draki tried to track her down, if only to try and appease the curiosity of a young Tauro. But as time passed and Tauro grew older, they both came to realise that tracking the woman down seemed nigh impossible. Eventually, Tauro stopped asking, and Draki stopped searching.

Whilst not his actual father, Draki looked after Tauro like a son. Whilst not strictly in line with the rules of the Casteel - all orphaned children taken into the Casteel’s welcome arms are supposed to be treated equally, but Draki couldn’t get over the memory of holding a baby Tauro close to his chest. That memory drove him to look out for Tauro, even allowing the younger Zarcantian to adopt his family name.

//--- Incoming transmission ---//

//--- Saved ID: {PRIVATE} ---//

We’ve looked everywhere, Draki. Followed every lead, unturned every stone, asked every single person on Lerakmede willing to talk. No one has heard of or seen a woman matching the description you gave us. Not a single soul.

I’ll admit, it’s strange. But I can’t blame the woman for not wanting to be found. Whatever it was, it must have been something awful - I don’t see why else she would abandon her child and disappear immediately after, almost like she never existed at all.

There’s one last thing I can try. I’ll get in touch with my contact over at OMA - no promises though. If they were involved, they’re fully invested in keeping their patients safe, but at least we’ll know for sure whether the search is a lost cause.

Titles

Reyvra / Casteel Reyvra / Reyvra Vi'Bani

Riuj (formerly)

Casteel Light / The Light / Light Vi'Bani (formerly)

Species

Zarcant

Ethnicity

Trimorna

Year of Birth

6841 UGY 124 Years old

Gender

Male

Eyes

White -

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Copper -

Height

8'7"

Traits

Tauro has always had a natural charm about him. Even though his circumstances led a fair few to belittle him, most people he talked to would be swayed by his words and his dedication to the Casteel. As he rose through the ranks, his charisma improved. Public speaking, engaging with the masses, and even one to ones with individuals seeking guidance all meant that he continued to nurture his natural charisma, to the point now where even his greatest rivals would struggle to find something negative to say about him.

Another prominent trait of Tauro’s is his ambition. Said ambition led him to rise through the Casteel quickly, until he obtained the position of Reyvra that he holds today. Some admire the quality, others fear it, believing that one day Tauro will set his sights on obtaining power beyond that which he should reasonably hold.