¶ Kashk
Kashk
¶ Overview
- Full Name: Kashk
- Species: NorAellian
- Born: ~1500 (approximately 1200 years old)
- Gender: Male
- Sex: Male
- Faction: NorAellian Confederacy (publicly), Monarchy in Exile (secretly)
Kashk is the NorAellian Ambassador to the League, known publicly for his legendary rivalry with the Lyndri Ambassador Jirael. What the galaxy doesn't know is that this rivalry is an elaborate masquerade—the two are secretly married. For over a millennium, Kashk has dedicated his life to fighting the Sooni and protecting the galaxy from their machinations, even when it means sacrificing his reputation and the truth.
¶ Physical Description
Kashk is an imposing figure even among NorAellians. At approximately twelve feet tall, his ancient, powerful frame ripples with muscles built over centuries. His hide is thick enough that younger NorAellians can barely make him bleed. He has a dignified bearing, though he often adopts a friendly slouch when not in formal settings. His left eye is gray and lifeless—a scar from his confrontation with Jirael in the ISC chambers that he wears as a badge of honor.
¶ Personality
Kashk embodies the NorAellian dedication to consensus while maintaining his own strong convictions. He is patient, measured, and willing to play the long game—traits that have served him well in his centuries-long fight against the Sooni. He struggles to express affection in ways other races understand, a trait he passed on to his daughter Velraan. He views sacrifice as a necessary part of protecting those he loves, sometimes to an infuriating degree—such as his refusal to let Velraan fix his injured eye.
Despite his ancient wisdom, he can be stubborn about accepting help, and his NorAellian perspective sometimes makes it difficult for him to understand the more individualistic motivations of other races.
¶ History
¶ Early Life
Kashk was born into a NorAellian society already aware of the Sooni threat. From a young age, he dedicated himself to fighting the "ancient enemy," as his people call them. His mother, Ostalyn, was a prominent ambassador who played a pivotal role in giving humanity access to subspace technology. Though her decision led to centuries of human civil war, she stood by her choices and eventually left diplomacy to become an Acolyte among the enigmatic Keepers.
¶ Diplomatic Career
Kashk rose through the ranks of NorAellian diplomacy, eventually becoming Chief Ambassador and Head of the Council of Allies—one of the most prestigious positions in the League. His long career has seen him become one of the most influential diplomats in the galaxy, with deep ties to powerful allies across all factions.
¶ Mentoring McKenzie
During Alastair McKenzie's senior year at the League Naval Academy (2652-2654), the young officer was assigned to Kashk as a diplomatic attaché. Under Kashk's mentorship, McKenzie gained exposure to inter-species diplomacy and learned NorAellian diplomatic philosophy, including their emphasis on collective decision-making and ethical negotiation.
The circumstances of how the two first met is considered "too personal a tale" by Kashk, and he refuses to discuss it—suggesting their relationship began under unusual circumstances. What is known is that their bond grew into something far deeper than a typical mentor-student relationship. Today, they view each other as brothers, and the difference in species doesn't even occur to them most of the time.
Midway through his assignment, McKenzie was forcibly transferred to Jirael, who wanted him for more challenging diplomatic work. This transfer inadvertently placed McKenzie at the center of the rivalry between Kashk and Jirael—and, ironically, McKenzie became the reason the two rivals eventually met and fell in love.
¶ Meeting Jirael
Kashk first encountered Jirael when she was a junior ambassador—introduced through their mutual connection to McKenzie. He made the mistake of confusing her for an aide—a slight she did not take lightly. She immediately moved for a motion of censure, citing specist behavior. For the first time in League history, the Head of the Council of Allies was officially censured. It was a blow that many believed ruined his bid for reelection.
From that moment, the two became bitter rivals—or so the galaxy believed. Over the decades, their animosity transformed into something unexpected: genuine love. They have been secretly married for years, though they must maintain their public rivalry to protect their greater mission against the Sooni.
¶ The ISC Confrontation
When the time came to stage the "Lyndri-NorAellian War" as a trap for the Sooni, Kashk and Jirael had to make their conflict believable. In a dramatic confrontation at the Intergalactic Security Council, Jirael attacked him, raking her claws across his face and destroying his left eye. Though the attack was part of their plan to deceive the Sooni, neither had coordinated the specifics—Jirael acted to protect the masquerade, and Kashk played his role despite the cost.
The injury cost him his eye, but he considers it a badge of honor—proof of how far he and his mate will go to protect what matters most.
¶ The Fake War
The current "war" between the Lyndri and NorAellians is an elaborate ruse. Kashk coordinates with Jirael and others to make it appear genuine while actually working together to bait the Sooni into revealing themselves. He has arranged for NorAellian "losses" at battles against the Lyndri—sacrifices his people make willingly to protect the secret of Tel'Erani and the Monarchy in Exile.
¶ Fatherhood
(See main article: Velraan)
Kashk is the father of Velraan, the first Lyndri-NorAellian hybrid. Though the idea of a child with Jirael seemed biologically impossible, years of research by the Queen's Scientists made it possible. He feels fierce pride in his daughter, though he struggles with how quickly she matured—reaching adulthood at twelve due to her Lyndri biology, which left him little time to experience traditional fatherhood.
Velraan inherited his stubborn, duty-bound nature and his difficulty expressing affection. As Jirael observes: "She does love you. She just inherited your inability to express it properly." A point of contention between them is Kashk's refusal to let Velraan fix his injured eye—she has the scientific capability to help him, but he stubbornly refuses.
¶ Raelth
To maintain appearances after the ISC confrontation, Kashk has taken a "fake mate" named Raelth—a NorAellian woman who publicly represents his supposed return to NorAellian values after being "reformed" from his pro-alien sentiments. Raelth is actually a close friend and ally who suggested the arrangement herself. She is described as a "firebrand" and one of the most outspoken critics of Kashk's former positions—making their public reconciliation a compelling narrative for NorAellian society.
Jirael hates seeing them together, even knowing it's a necessary deception.
¶ Major Associations
¶ Jirael
- Relation: Wife (secret)
The galaxy knows Kashk and Jirael as bitter rivals. In truth, they are secretly married—their love story began as genuine animosity, transformed over the decades into something neither expected. He struggles with the necessary deception, particularly when he must maintain his relationship with Raelth for public appearances.
The only source of contention between Kashk and McKenzie is Jirael. Kashk insists that NorAellians do not get jealous, and McKenzie politely ignores any evidence to the contrary. Kashk has insisted that whatever may or may not exist between Jirael and McKenzie is her business—though everyone knows he's not being entirely honest about his feelings on the matter.
¶ Velraan
- Relation: Daughter
Velraan is the product of years of genetic research to bridge the gap between Lyndri and NorAellian biology. Kashk feels fierce pride in his daughter but struggles with how quickly she matured. He refuses to let her fix his injured eye, which frustrates her to no end.
¶ Alastair McKenzie
- Relation: Brother (in all but blood)
Kashk and McKenzie view each other as brothers. The difference in species doesn't even occur to them half the time. Kashk is one of the few people McKenzie trusts implicitly, and Kashk has entrusted his life to McKenzie more than once. Their bond began when McKenzie served as Kashk's diplomatic attaché, though the specific circumstances of their first meeting are considered "too personal a tale" by Kashk.
Despite their closeness, Kashk and Jirael keep McKenzie in the dark about certain secrets—including the true nature of their marriage and the details of the Sooni threat—believing it protects him.
¶ Ostalyn
- Relation: Mother
Kashk's mother was a prominent NorAellian ambassador who played a pivotal role in giving humanity access to subspace technology. After the consequences of that decision—centuries of human civil war—she left diplomacy to become an Acolyte among the Keepers. She remains active even in her advanced age, serving as one of the chief strategists in the current war. She claims to have at least another millennium in her, and Kashk believes she's stubborn enough to do it simply out of spite for conventional wisdom.
¶ The Queen
- Relation: Ally
Kashk is one of the keepers of the Monarchy in Exile's greatest secrets. He coordinates with the Queen to protect Tel'Erani and ensure the survival of true Lyndri culture. His marriage to Jirael makes him uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between NorAellian and Lyndri interests.