Lecyllath Family

The Lecyllath Family
"We Will Not Be Chained"
Historical Information
Founder	Constarys Lecyllath
Established	4015 BCGT
General information
Members	Rannah Lecyllath
Affiliation	Serenno Confederacy of Independent Systems
Homeworld	Serenno
Species	Human

The Lecyllath family, a very old and well-respected lineage on the planet of Serenno in the Outer Rim, has a long and storied history that can be traced back for millennia. Despite their once noble standing in Serennian society, the family's fortunes have ebbed and flowed over the years, leaving them firmly entrenched in the upper echelons of the Serennian middle class. Today, they are known for their political savvy, with members of the family serving as advisors, stewards, and lobbyists in the local government.

Family History

According to publicly available family records, the Lecyllath family traces its lineage back to a wealthy Onderonian merchant named Constarys Lecyllath and his two children who had settled on the planet of Serenno during the days of the Old Republic, and who amassed great wealth and power through shrewd business dealings, and by ensuring his children became the advisors and confidantes of influential nobles and other figures of power. Over the generations, the family became embroiled in politics, and many of its members rose to prominence as advisors to the ruling nobility, political leaders and legislators, as well as prominents in the business world. The family's political influence was cemented during Serenno’s occupation by Vitiate’s Sith Empire, roughly four millennia ago, when the Lecyllaths were elevated to the ranking nobility in light of their collaboration with and support for the new Imperial administration at that time.

However, the Lecyllath family is not without controversy. Rumours abound that the family's true origins lie in the dark lore of the Sith. According to these rumours, a Sith Lord named Ryssius Lecyllath had risen from humble origins on Serenno to a position of power in the ancient Sith Empire around the year 3642 BCGT. As a Lord of the Sith, he was said to have sired children with a local Serennian noblewoman who was the last of her line. Supposedly, their children all bore the Lecyllath family name, and due to their father’s dark machinations they rose to positions of influence on Serenno, leading to their elevation to the planetary nobility. While any concrete evidence to support this theory seems to have been lost to time, the Lecyllaths themselves have always been fascinated by the Sith, with some family members having been known to delve into the lore and history of the Sith in their spare time.

Rannah Lecyllath.

Despite their sometimes shadowy and enigmatic nature, the Lecyllaths are perceived as respectable members of Serennian society, in no small part due to their political and economic power on a local level. The family has produced a number of notable figures throughout history, including scholars, political leaders, independent entrepreneurs, and artists. One of the most notable Lecyllaths was Darshan Lecyllath, a celebrated diplomat who helped broker a peace agreement between two warring factions on Serenno more than a millennium ago. His diplomatic skills earned him a position as a legislator within his homeworld’s governing body, where he advocated for the interests of the underprivileged on Serenno. Another notable member of the family was Rovan Lecyllath, a successful businessman who built a vast commercial empire spanning several star systems, roughly six centuries ago. He was renowned for his astute investments and his ability to turn failing businesses into profitable enterprises, as well as his philanthropy on both Serenno and the local interstellar neighbourhood.

Despite their impressive accomplishments, the Lecyllath family has had its share of scandal and controversy. One member of the family, the infamous Garstan Lecyllath, was implicated in a major corruption scandal in the decades after the Ruusan Reformations, which had led to his disgrace and exile from Serenno. Another family member closely related to Garstan was accused of murder a couple of years later, although she was ultimately acquitted after a long and contentious trial.

More recently, the Lecyllath family has been primarily focused on spreading their influence on a local level. Jennah Lecyllath is a notable example of this, who managed to become the political advisor of a noble of influence in the city of Carannia around 10 BCGT. Through her new position, Jennah managed to secure a marriage between herself and Romil Darju, a distant relative of the noblewoman she gave her counsel to, several years later. Their wholly political union eventually resulted in the birth of Rannah Lecyllath in 3 CGT, who became one of the first Lecyllaths in a long time to leave her homeworld of Serenno and seek to build her career and future in the wider galaxy, and by extension to spread the family's name and influence beyond the D'astan sector.

Family Motto and Crest

Family motto

The family words "We Will Not Be Chained" are a universal motto for the whole of the Lecyllath family, but the words also mean something personal and unique to each individual family member. Most Lecyllaths interpret the family words along the lines of each individual member having a strong sense of self-determination and independence, and use the motto to fuel their ambitions to achieve their personal goals, pursue their careers, or give shape to their life on their own terms without letting the expectations of others encroach upon their vision of their ideal future. However, a few scions of the Lecyllath family have taken the meanings of the words several steps further if not too far, where they believed they should not be chained by anything, not morality, not law, not their conscience. Garstan Lecyllath was a notable follower of this specific line of interpretation, but was generally regarded as an outcast by his family as a result, and remains in disgrace among his kin to this day.

Yet, there are those who recognise a clear reference to the Sith Code within their family words, which given the dark rumours and stories surrounding the family's rise to power give some possible credibility for the theory that the Lecyllath words may indeed be Sith in nature. The motto "We Will Not Be Chained" comes close to the final lines of the code of the Sith "Through Victory, My Chains Are Broken". The link becomes even greater if one considers the more ruthless interpretation of the family creed which was held by individuals like Garstan Lecyllath. According to the proponents of this theory, the family words were written down and passed along by Lord Ryssius himself, and instated as the formal creed of the Lecyllath family by his children.

Family crest

The emblem of the Lecyllath family is a medallion with a golden outer edge and a dark blue background on the inside of the medallion. The image of two intertwining Tirra'Takas - mythical dragon-like creatures that legends say had once roamed across Serenno - is placed within the middle of the dark blue circle, and represents the family's cohesion as strong but independent parts of a whole. Many members of the bloodline wear the family crest engraved on a ring, necklace, or other piece of jewellery. Similarly, many Lecyllath relatives choose their personal colours from the golden and cyan emblem that represents their lineage, with dark blue in combination with another colour such as black, silver, or white being the most commonly picked option.

According to the dark rumours surrounding the family's origins, the crest is said to have originated with Lord Ryssius, a powerful Sith Lord who lived centuries ago. As a devotee of the Dark Side of the Force, Ryssius had a fascination with the Tirra'Takas, the legendary dragon-like creatures that once roamed the planet Serenno. He saw them as symbols of his own power and strength, and he began to use their image as his personal emblem. Later, following the years of his death, Ryssius' offspring supposedly inherited his fascination with the Tirra'Takas, and they too began to use the emblem as a symbol of their own strength and independence. Over time, the emblem became associated with the Lecyllath family as a whole, and it was adopted as their formal crest.

Despite the crest's rumoured association with the Dark Side of the Force, the Lecyllath family has always valued individuality and freedom above all else. They see themselves as strong but independent parts of a greater whole, and the crest reflects this philosophy. To them, the Tirra'Takas represent the ability to break free from any metaphorical chains that might hold them back, and to achieve greatness on their own terms. As a result, in the minds of many Lecyllaths their family words and crest are inseparably connected to one another.

Family Ceremonies and Customs

Lecyllath Family Day - Every year on the agreed upon anniversary of the founding of the family, the Lecyllaths gather for a day of celebration and remembrance. They honor their ancestors with offerings of incense, flowers, and food, and share stories and memories about the family's history. This day also serves as an opportunity for family members to reconnect and strengthen their bonds, or forge new ones with younger members of the family who have come of age.

Initiation Ceremony - When a Lecyllath scion reaches the age of sixteen, they undergo an initiation ceremony to officially become a member of the family. The ceremony involves a series of tests and trials that challenge the child's physical and mental abilities, as well as their knowledge of the family's history and traditions. Once they have successfully completed the initiation, they are welcomed into the family with a special ritual and given a family crest to wear as a symbol of their membership.

Ancestral Offering - Throughout the year, the Lecyllaths make offerings to their ancestors in the form of incense, candles, and food. These offerings are meant to show respect and gratitude to those who came before them and paved the way for their success. During these ceremonies, family members may also offer prayers and ask for guidance or blessings from their ancestors. Many of its family members are raised within the Serennian faith of ancestor worship.

Inheritance Ceremony - When a Lecyllath family member passes away, their possessions and wealth are distributed among their heirs according to their will. The inheritance ceremony is a solemn event that takes place in the family's ancestral mausoleum in the mountains outside Carannia, where the will is read and the inheritance is divided. Family members may also offer eulogies and tributes to the deceased during this ceremony.

Marriage Ceremony - When a Lecyllath family member marries, they may have a special ceremony to celebrate their union with their chosen or assigned bride or groom. The ceremony often involves traditional rituals and customs, such as exchanging vows in the old Serennian tongue, exchanging rings, and performing a symbolic act, like lighting a candle together. Family members may also offer blessings and well-wishes to the couple during this ceremony, and a lavish feast follows thereafter.