Verdan Mordock

**Verdan Mordock** was a Human Force-user from the Galactic Republic era who survived well into the Galactic Empire. Verdan's parents were Razel and Lorena Ardes; Verdan had three uncles Syler and Malborn Mordock, from his mother's side and Santo Ardes, from his father's. He wielded both a lightsaber and a customized blaster pistol, both with trained skill. One of Verdan's most valuable possessions was the Mordock Family Ring. He was also a practitioner of the lightsaber form called Shien.

## Early Adventures

Verdan grew up on Zorja, where he was taught the Jedi ways by Norla Tor'ryl. After his people were murdered in the Zorja Massacre by the neighboring Navaras natives, Verdan became addicted to deathsticks.

### Living on the Run

In a chance encounter with criminal opposition on a remote space station, two civilians aided Verdan: Cane Garrow and his niece Sallena Garrow, who had been traveling to Coruscant. Verdan defeated a bounty hunter named Remend. Due to the unusual circumstances the trio escaped Imperial pursuit on a stolen starship, and experienced a variety of adventures together. On Aargau, Verdan and company purchased a new ship, which he ironically named *Cursed Sojourner*. He also met an investigator named Kleman D'uri, who provided information on the man responsible for the Zorja Massacre: Servaros Murne. Verdan subsequently set his sights on tracking Servaros to Coruscant and killing him. They never made it, as their starship was intercepted and destroyed by Kaveri Noriko's flagship *Immortal Zealot*.

### The Great Rescue

Verdan and his companions were later rescued from captivity by Santo Ardes, Drake Mullan, Harper Ruune, and two squads of Nerf Men. Drake and Harper both gave their lives in that daring feat. Of the two squads of Nerf Men, only three survived.

## Years Later

Verdan took up residence at the Khendo Compound. Most everyone working at the Compound did not particularly like Verdan. Despite this conflict, Verdan began to turn his life around by kicking his deathstick habit. It was somewhere around this time that Verdan hunted down and executed the bounty hunter, Horus Falco, in revenge for the death of his uncle, Malborn. Verdan took the big bird's legendary black sword, and would later give it to his friend, Gavril. Later, he found an Aggressor Assault Fighter, after two failed attempts at naming it, he settled on *Doomcharger*.

### Bounty Hunter

He became a bounty hunter working for the Khendo Hunters Guild. Verdan helped capture the following targets: Taruchukk, Oge Kwain, Iglev, Myth Ragga, Aserr Nui, Fluggrian Outlaw Brewers, Sato Brazz and Yool's Lads. While he never felt bad about most of the bounties he helped bring in, Taruchukk would leave him haunted and filled with regret.

### Echani Grandmaster

Verdan participated in a tournament at the Echani School of Martial Arts on Khendo. He defeated twelve combatants across three tiers of difficulty. After he beat Grandmaster Tai Lomar, Verdan was named as the new leader of the Echani School. While he mostly considered himself just a figurehead, there would be times when he would be more hands on, such as having two of his students executed for joining a local stormtrooper regiment or have another student scrub the whole school and meditate for his drunken disorderly behavior.

### Hunters of the Outer Rim

Verdan participated in the Hunters of the Outer Rim tournament at the Arena on Vespaara. Alongside allies like Arbacca, Mordin Garan, Gavril Constantin, and Vilkus Sarjek, battled in several team matches. Once, Verdan fought against Amiphus Chrome, Guuk, and Woda Pawar. In another match, he fought Q'Auri Sevir, Karg'a and Stak Doog. He also battled the Houk twins Otus and Effis. Likewise, he battled Uroj Mot, as well as both Marokh and Hissh. The latter two were both left humiliated and traumatized.

### The Black Crystal

Before his uncle Santo departed from Khendo with his family (c. 13BBY), Verdan was gifted a datapad. On it, Verdan discovered three books written by Santo, including "The Life and Legend of Jon Kash" and "The Flaw in All Things". There was also a simple message from Santo that read, "Find the Black Crystal." Around 10BBY, Verdan traveled to Ascerez to learn more about the crystal; while there he nearly died after fighting off seventeen stormtroopers single-handedly. He was rescued by Norla Tor'ryll. She warned that looking for the Black Crystal would only bring him pain, but Verdan knew there was no other choice, he would find the crystal.

### The Heist

In 10BBY, Verdan was recruited by Calhan Draco in recovering a criminal's vast treasure on Xa Fel. Together with Bekhli-Teppe and Gavril Constantin, they found passage from Khendo with a space captain named Tychon. While attempting to infiltrate Kuat Drive Yards, Verdan applied for a company job opening as a security guard, he had planned on using the alias Kane Lucan, but had accidentally sent his application under his real name.