Adun

**Adun** was an Executor of the Khalai Templar Caste, who achieved an exalted status among both the Khalai and the Nerazim. He was known to be a brilliant strategist, but was also physically very large and very strong. Despite his great size, he was said to be an incredibly graceful warrior.

## History

Adun began his illustrious career fighting alongside Taldarin, and later alongside Executor Zoranis. He fought beside Zoranis for roughly eighty cycles, the last fifty of which many believed he was the driving force behind the Executor. In their last battle together, Zoranis was slain -- but Adun carried the battle to victory. Adun was soon promoted to the role of Executor.

As Executor, with the aid of his advisor Vetraas, Adun oversaw the settlement of several colonies. Whenever conflict arose with neighboring alien species, the conflicts were settled with minimal loss of life for the protoss. His inventive tactics earned him great renown.

When the first arkship was launched, Adun was given the honor of feeding the first piece of solarite into its solar core. The ship was named the *Spear of Adun* in his honor.

### Adun and the Nerazim

In 2100 CE, the Conclave sent for Adun to meet them at *Khor-shakal*. Though Adun was ordered to go alone, he brought Vertraas with him. In order to ascertain their loyalty, the leader of the Conclave -- Elder Kortanul -- mentally melded with each of them. Convinced, Kortanul offered to either speak to Adun about the secret information of his next mission, or to show him psionically. Then Kortanul explained that a number of protoss had reject the Khala. Adun was shocked -- like the Conclave, he believed this could usher in a new Aeon of Strife. Kortanul permitted Adun to speak with a captured member of the Rogue Tribes, a young female named Raszagal.

Kortanul explained the need for secrecy, but ordered Adun to hunt down members of the Rogue Tribes one by one and execute them. He provided Adun with a surprisingly lengthy list of members of the Rogue Tribes. Vertraas, for his part, worried that protoss killing other protoss might do more to bring about a new Aeon of Strife than anything else. Kortanul, meanwhile, insisted Adun begin by quickly executing Raszagal.

Concerned about killing other protoss, Adun brought Raszagal to the Citadel of the Executor so that he could explain his reasons for killing her to the other Templar.

Adun was able to track down the other members of the Rogue Tribes with the information the Conclave had provided him. However, he was disturbed to find that none of them seemed irrational or insane, none of them wished to hurt other protoss. He refused to execute any of them, despite mounting pressure from the Conclave. To appease them, he recorded a fake execution of Raszagal -- who grievously insulted the Conclave in order to distract them from examining her wounds.

The protoss of the Rogue Tribes learned of this and came to respect Adun. He continued hunting them -- in order to teach them how to cloak. This ability was unknown to most Templar, but the rogues learned it surprisingly quickly -- faster than Adun could teach it. Without the Khala to temper their psionic capabilities, several of the rogues across both Aiur and Khyrador accidentally unleashed devastating psionic storms.

The Conclave tracked these storms -- shocked to discover the sources were rogues who had supposedly been executed. Though they were enraged, there was little they could do to punish Adun and the Templar without publicly admitting to the existence of the Rogue Tribes. Their hands tied, but desperate to salvage the situation, the Conclave began capturing any rogues they could find -- intent on banishing them. The rogues were loaded onto a still-functioning xel'naga ship.

However, before the ship could launch, Adun arrived. Enraged at his presence, Kortanul began to psychically attack the rogues. The rogues defended themselves. Adun, fearing that more psionic storms might be created, combined the power of the Khala with Void energies and hid the rogues in a blue mist until the ship was able to launch. The effort, however, caused Adun to burn up -- nothing was left of his body, and he could not be sensed within the Khala.

### Legacy

The Conclave claimed that, after banishing the rogues, Adun mystically departed mortal life in order to prevent further corruption among the protoss.

As such, Adun became a revered figure in protoss culture -- both amongst the Khalai and the Nerazim (who descended from the Rogue Tribes). His name worked its way into their languages, much as a deity's would. Among the Khalai, and especially the Templar, "*En Taro Adun**!*" was both a greeting and a battle cry. Khalai protoss might also be heard to say, "May Adun be with you" or "May Adun forgive us."

The Citadel of Adun bears his name, and Immortals were sanctified in Adun's name. High Templar swear the Oath of Adun, vowing to sacrifice themselves for Aiur. So great is the reverence for Adun that during the Great War, the zerg initially called the protoss "the Sons of Adun."

The Nerazim hold Adun at a similar level of reverence. They frequently use the phrase "*Adun toridas*" and also "*Korshala Adun*." The Nerazim also have a prophecy, known as the Anakh Su'n which states that Adun did not die but was transported to another plane of existence, and foretells that he will one day return.