House of Styke

"Smile, you're a warrior" - Grealish Styke, 1,490 BBY
"To be a Styke is more than just the blood that runs through your veins. It is the political, economic, cultural dominance of Abregado-Rae. It is to be a soldier in the greatest bloodlines, the advisor to skilled warriors, and the academic of war. Though men who serve in our court may not carry our blood, they are as much a Styke to me as any." - Pieter Styke, 20 BBY
The House of Styke was an unofficial noble family present on Abregado-Rae made up of five bloodlines who unified around 9,000 BBY, when Abregado-Rae was first colonized by humans. The Stykes are relatively unknown to the average galactic citizen, however, they have played a part in almost every major galactic conflict. 
== History ==
=== Unification ===
Like most far-flung colonies the early days of Abregado-Rae were plagued with near-constant pirate raids that stifled economic, cultural, and political development. Several times between 9,500 BBY and 9,000 BBY the colonists numbered fewer than two dozen due to these hardships. 
Out of this circumstance, five major colonial families: the Whites, Chopow, Bells, Callai, and Versom chose to unify into a single group - The Stykes. From the onset of their foundation, the Stykes were hyper militaristic, driving most raiding parties from their controlled territory by 8,651 BBY. After the Raider Wars, the Stykes spent time developing and settling their newly secured lands. Many Stykes would make names for themselves as private army officers, which only reinforced the Stykes obsession with creating generations of elite officers. 
=== Era of Nobility ===
From 8,650 to 3,976 the Stykes spent most of their time studying military theory, developing their colonial economy, and often representing the planet in the Galactic Senate. Through this period many Styke leaders, notably Carzach Styke voiced opposition to Republic rule. Many Stykes found the democratic values of the Republic clashed with the autocratic and collectivist nature of their society. Hatred of Republic Rule came to be a unifying trait amongst all Stykes. 
=== Mandalorian Wars ===
In 3,976 the Republic itself found itself plunged into a war with the unified Mandalorian clans, giving a Stykes a chance to put to practice their militaristic heritage on the Galactic stage. Styke Officers such as Zairras Styke proved themselves as highly competent fighters giving the Republic a section of their Officer Corps that could rival and in some cases surpass the Mandalorian Commanders. The Stykes fought with a level of zeal that amazed the general public, making many Styke Officers household names for their exploits against the Mandalorians. Alongside Revan, Styke Officers slaughtered the Mandalorian armies at the Battle of Althir in several savage infantry charges that overwhelmed the Mandalorian armies. Later at the Battle of Dxun, General Jonaarm Styke led several costly assaults that ultimately won the battle for the Republic.
Towards the end of the Mandalorian Wars, there was a general optimism in the ranks of Styke officers that the Republic would become far more militaristic in nature. However, when the Republic refused to intervene in the trial of the Revanchists in the Jedi Order, most Stykes felt an extreme sense of betrayal. 
=== The Sith Empire ===
A year after the Mandalorian Wars ended, the Sith Empire under Revan arose from the old Sith Capital at Dromund Kaas. Along with many other high profile officers the Stykes chose to align themselves and their world Abregado-Rae with the Sith Empire. The Stykes distinguished themselves as fierce and borderline insane leaders on the battlefield, "They are like rabid dogs which the Empire has let loose upon the Galaxy" - Unidentified Imperial ColonelThis was the height of the Styke's infamy across the Galaxy as stories of Styke officers razing cities became a common part of news coming back from the battlefront. From the perspective of the Stykes, the Second Sith War was the perfection of their way of life. "The holy crusade for which we were born" 
== Notable Figures ==
* Ach Atreidean Styke
* Malatche Atreidean Styke
* Ásta Atreidean Styke
* Finn Fremen Styke
== Mechanics of the House of Styke ==
While generally considered a family by most outside observers, the internal politics of the house are far more complicated. In the simplest sense, the Stykes are a clan much like the Mandalorians. All Stykes are considered related to one another and treat each other as such. Unlike the Mandalorians, the only way to become a Styke is through being born into the family, having your family absorbed, or marrying an existing Styke. Stykes do have direct families and bloodlines, represented through their middle names; for example, High General Ach Styke, an Atreidean Styke is referred amongst Stykes as Ach Atreidean Styke. 
== Legacy ==