Trisstan

Trisstan was the Godking of Masterhome, supreme monarch of the Anointed People, from c. 39 BBY to at least 0 ABY. A shrewd ruler, he took his people to peace and prosperity and was also responsible for Abonshee joining the Alliance to Restore the Republic in their fight against the Galactic Empire.

Biography

Ruler of the Anointed People

Trisstan became the Godking of Abonshee around 39 BBY. He was a shrewd politician with enlightened tax policies, maintained good public relations and used guile and diplomacy to rule wisely. With this combination, Trisstan was responsible for a four decade-long golden age for his people like none other. Although they were a feudal society without much in the way of mechanization, including starships, Trisstan and some of the Anointed People were aware of the existence of alien civilizations, but not of their goals or powers.^[1]

Around the time of the Battle of Yavin, Abonshee was visited by a spacer named Captain Jayhawk. Jayhawk claimed to want the planet for the Alliance to Restore the Republic in their fight against the Galactic Empire. Jayhawk, a galactic con man, was only pretending to be a member of the Alliance. He obtained an audience with Trisstan and, for several days, both king and pilot discussed that possibility. Jayhawk tempted Trisstan offering him a supposed elixer of eternal life.^[1]

One night, Jayhawk killed two guards, stole hundreds of kilograms of gold and jewelry from the Royal treasury and left the planet. Trisstan understood that he had been tricked, and silenced all the subjects to secrecy to avoid a public relation disaster.^[1]

Rebel visitors

Some months later, real representatives of the Alliance visited Abonshee, wanting to establish diplomatic relations and to offer technology, except for weapons, and qualified personnel in exchange for food. The diplomats, members of Green squad, were directed to Trisstan, as he was the only one who could sign any valid treaty. Trisstan had all the reasons to mistrust the newcomers, after his past history with Jayhawk. He decided to test the moral values and the power of these self-proclaimed ambassadors: If they were as bad as Jayhawk had been, he would imprison them; if they were really who they claimed to be and they were strong to succeed, then Abonshee would join their cause and Trisstan would apologize and explain them about Jayhawk.^[1]

Trisstan met with these people pretending to be a lazy figurehead kept in power only by the strength of his guards and because his court could manipulate him. During the audience, he questioned the Rebels about the nature of the Empire's supposed evil, their own morality and the benefits of technology. He claimed he would think about it and invited the ambassadors to a banquet for dinner. During the banquet, Trisstan tested the Rebels's biology by flavoring their food with a midly toxic substance. He also tested their honesty asking Godling Satrank to pretend to be a claimant to the throne looking for allies to depose Trisstan. Trisstan tested their might by defying one of the guests to a wrestling match against the Godking himself. Lastly, he tested their greed by making a guard offer gold in exchange for a blaster.^[1]

That night, Trisstan hired one working-class Unwashed to secretly infiltrate in the rooms of visiting alien diplomats and steal their equipment to test their alertness. He promised the Unwashed some gold coins even if he got caught. In successive days, Trisstan asked the aliens to give proof of their technology, as he was unfamiliar with his limitations: He was afraid they could be telepaths, so he asked them to perform any feat he could be impressed at, from healing the injured to stopping the sun in the sky. He also tested them by going on a hunt of griffs with them and twenty-five friends, riding native likkas. The hunting was interrupted by a ferocious, gargantuan predator known as the eater.^[1]

Against the Empire

During the negotiations, a damaged Imperial shuttle approached Abonshee intending to land to perform unforeseen repairs. Seeing it coming, Green squad's ship, the Long Shot jumped to hyperspace to gather reinforcements. Green squad was cautioned to lay low until the Long Shot could return.^[1]

The Imperial Curich-class shuttle, Resurgence landed. Thirty stormtroopers left the ship and immediately surrounded it. Trisstan wanted to know what these newcomers wanted. Trisstan ordered Grissom, a Godling, to go there with a twenty five-person Honor Guard and question these people. Grissom obeyed and, en route, one stormtrooper ordered him to stop. Grissom then doubted, but he eventually kept walking, showing his hand. The trooper shouted again, and then the Imperials fired on Grissom, his Guard and any civilian in range.^[1]

Trisstan retreated to his castle with his entourage and the diplomats. He officially joined the Alliance in the name of Abonshee, if only to get rid of the murderers. He also prepared a less-than-optimal military strategy of full frontal attack with two hundred cavalrymen that could easily kill one hundred and seventy-five of those. Trisstan's followers were loyal to the point of supporting this numbers, but Trisstan himself tried to look for any alternative to reduce the bloodshed. Finally, with the help of the Rebel Alliance, the Empire was defeated. The Godking knighted the Green squad with two titles, "Assistant Demi-gods" and "Heroes of the Realm" and the Anointed People partied to celebrate their victory.^[1]

Personality and traits

Intelligent and crafty, Trisstan ruled his people to a golden age, giving the people what they wanted and manipulating any enemy against any other foe. At the same time, he tried to give an image of incompetence, complacency and slovenliness even during ceremonial events. All of this was a charade to hide his real knowledge, which went far beyond anyone suspected. Nevertheless, Trisstan could be deceived, as proofed by Jayhawk.^[1]

Although he was particularly short for a member of his species, probably no more than 150 centimeters, Trisstan was a great warrior, hunter and wrestler, among the strongest of his people.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Star Wars Miniatures Battles features an image of the Anointed People fighting stormtroopers "for the greater glory of the Godking." Which Godking they are fighting for has not been confirmed, but it might be for Trisstan.

Appearances

• "Tests of the Godking" — Star Wars Campaign Pack (reprinted in Classic Campaigns) (First appearance)

Notes and references