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Kiith Soban
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Founder
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Soban the Red
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Members
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On Hiigara?
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Yes
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Kiith Soban, also known as the Grey Brotherhood, was a mercenary kiith which eventually rose to become one of the six most powerful kiith in Hiigaran society.
History[]
Although Kiith Soban's symbol was found in Khar-Toba's ruins during Operation Khadiim alongside six other Kithiid symbols, it's highly unlikely it was theirs, as the kiith did not exist at the time. The most likely possibility is that the sigil originally belonged to Kiith Lehi, Soban the Red's original Kiith.
The modern incarnation of Kiith Soban's origins lie in a man called Soban Lehi, who led a small group of families after their home at the western shores of the Second Sea was invaded by Kiith Balel, a more powerful kiith that were allies of the Siidim. As a result of this, the Lehi homelands were conquered and Soban and his followers were among a small group of survivors. Soban brought his small band across the Sparkling Desert. When he brought news of his home's destruction to the Kiith-Sa of the Lehi, he offered his leadership to an army that would strike back at the Baleli. Perversely, the Lehi-Sa did not intend to attack this rival kiith - he intended to join them and the Siidim.
When he heard of this, Soban reportedly ripped the colours of the Lehi from his own body and left it behind forever, together with his followers, and declared that he would never belong to any kiith that would not listen to the blood of children crying from the ground and that the only kiith which deserved that title was a kiith of spirit. In 416 KDS, Kiith Soban was born from this Grey Brotherhood.
The first act of the newly formed Kiith Soban was an attack on Kiith Balel, which had driven them from their ancestral home. After this brutal attack was over, there was nothing left of the Sobani holdings, it was said that not a blade of grass was left green, as Soban ordered his followers to raze the land. From that day forward Kiith Soban has become known as a truly deadly warrior kiith. However, because of a lack of any holdings they became a purely mercenary kiith, like no other.
The Sobani took part in every major military conflict in Kharak's history, and were considered a very precious addition to any army. They were known for fighting any enemy with no regard given to the risk or the cost, yet at the very second their contract expired they would remove the colours of their client kiith and return home no matter the distance involved. The only way to renew service was through their Kiith-Sa, and therefore it was a common occurrence for Sobani warriors to leave a battlefield at inopportune moments.
During the Heresy Wars, Kiith Soban allied itself with Kiith Somtaaw and used Somtaaw steel to create far superior weapons. For a yearly tribute from the smelters at Hameln, the Sobani signed a one hundred-year contract with the Somtaaw to keep the Kasaar Road open.
Centuries later, during the Homeworld Era, the skills of the Sobani were still highly prized, and played a key part during the Desert Wars. Sobani military academies became open to the public, and most Kharakian admirals were trained by the Sobani. Many Sobani soldiers were the preferred choice of many rich kiithid as bodyguards, security officers or intelligence officers. There were still Kharakians who joined Kiith Soban - sometimes of their own free will, sometimes when expelled from their home kiith, however each of them had to repeat the ancient ritual of ripping their kiith colours apart, just as Soban the Red once had.
In 1074 KDS, two legions of Sobani mercenaries ensured the annihilation of Kiith Gaalsien forces attacking the construction of Project StormBreaker, in the Night of Fiery Daggers.
By 1110 KDS, the Sobani were a full member of the Coalition of Northern Kiithid and participated in the S'jet led expedition to discover the Khar-Toba, Operation Khadiim. Many defense vehicle pilots and military officers of that expedition were from Kiith Soban.
The Sobani was one of the Kiith which survived at the Kharakian Genocide onboard the Kushan Mothership. When the Kushan finally reached Hiigara, Soban was one of the six kiithid whose fleet patrolled Hiigaran space and secured it's first trade routes. When Kiith Naabal demanded Kiith Somtaaw join their ranks, the Sobani opposed them together with Kiith Paktu and eventually, thanks to this support, the Somtaaw managed to get access to the Kushan Mothership's production array.
During the Vaygr War, Kiith Soban was one of the few kiith who fought the guerilla war against the overwhelming forces of Makaan. The most notable commander of the Sobani fleet was Captain Soban, who aided the Pride of Hiigara in the shadow of Angel Moon, and later managed to get the coordinates of the Balcora Gate.
After the Vaygr war this Kiith alongside other Kiiths went to the Nimbus Galaxy. One named commander of this expedition was Vice Admiral Vashti Soban who joined the Task Force Ararat in command of a Tier 1 Carrier named the Khar-Kaalad. When she arrived in the Nimbus Galaxy unfourtanley her ship was destroyed by progenitor forces shortly after exiting Wiracoda gate, alongside Admiral Enoch.
Traditions[]
The Sobani were purely landless mercenaries on Kushan. They have no set homes or marriages, and any children born to the Sobani are left with other kiithid to raise, or the parents will leave Kiith Soban to raise them. The only way to join Kiith Soban is to pledge allegiance with them, forcibly ripping off all old kiith colors in reverence to the original ripping of clothes Soban the Red did when forming the kiith.
Sobani mercenaries also have a very exact contract: They will temporarily wear contracted kiith colors and serve you as long as their terms command. The moment the contract is over, down to the hour and minute, they will throw off the kiith colors, wear Sobani red, and go back to Kiith Soban. This will happen even during hard battles and long campaigns. Contract renewal only takes place through the kiith-sa, and never on the spot.
Even without war, Kiith Soban were prized as security and military experts, and many academies run by Kiith Soban allowed others to benefit from their training and discipline.
It is unknown how Hiigaran Landfall affected some traditions. With the Kushan population heavily depleted by the Kharakian Genocide, it's possible Sobani allowed for more marriages and raising of children. What was not changed was their position, with Kiith Soban being among the six most powerful kiithid on Hiigara.
Behind the scenes[]
- Sobani ships during the Homeworld 2 Era were painted black with red elements, like their vehicles during the Desert Wars.