The Daelaam, otherwise referred to as the Protoss Protectorate[1] or unified protoss,[2] is the unity government of the Khalai, Nerazim, Purifiers, and some Tal'darim.
History[]
- A protoss declaration(src)
Origins[]
Because of the Discord, protoss society came to be split into two—the Khalai of the Protoss Empire and the exiled Nerazim,[3] who came to settle on Shakuras. Due to the Great War and subsequent Brood War, the former body collapsed and both branches of protoss were forced to band together for mutual survival.[4] This included sharing and integrating technology.[5] In posterity, Matriarch Raszagal of the Nerazim was viewed as the one responsible for laying down the foundations of the Daelaam by welcoming the Khalai to Shakuras.[6] While the Nerazim were initially welcoming of the Khalai, their brethren's demand for resources soon stirred tensions.[7] It was eventually decided by the Khalai that both sides would manage their own resources, a decision that led the Khalai to accuse the Nerazim of hoarding and withholding resources from the greater Daelaam.[8]
By 2502, Hierarch Artanis was leading both the Khalai and Nerazim.[9] However, over time, the protoss began sliding into tribalism.[10] Artanis ordered the construction of the Golden Armada, with the explicit intention of someday using it to retake Aiur.[11] Shakuras was strip mined to fuel the Daelaam war machine, and multiple Nerazim began abandoning their traditions in favor of the Khalai.[6]
The Daelaam took part in several skirmishes against the Terran Dominion and Zerg Swarm in the time after the Brood War, fighting the terrans and zerg to claim a xel'naga temple on Artika in 2502,[1] and the destruction of the Terran Dominion's Project Gestalt facility in 2503.[12] Research was continued to improve their technology in the face of their race's dire straits, including bold strides made in facilities such as the Protoss Advance/Experimental Facility[13] and the Glacius facility.[14] Through both the acquisition of ancient technology[15] and the creation of new weapons, the Daelaam began to advance their arsenal in preparation for a new war.[16]
The Battle of Ehlna[]
The Daelaam faced early challenges in 2503 when it was discovered one of the last preservers named Zamara was trapped within the mind of a terran named Jacob Ramsey, who was being hunted by the renegade dark archon Ulrezaj (who the united protoss had fought before the foundation of the Daelaam), the Terran Dominion, and Zerg Swarm. This, along with the revelation of survivors upon Aiur and a secret mission to attempt to rescue them, caused discord among the Hierarchy. Upon listening to all sides, Hierarch Artanis authorized an expedition to rescue the preserver and save Ramsey. Prelate Mohandar revealed they may try to go to the secret Nerazim shrine of Alys'aril on the moon of Ehlna, and Artanis authorized a small expedition under Executor Selendis to aid them.
When Selendis arrived she found Ramsey, and helped protect him as he underwent the process to separate himself from Zamara. However, soon the Zerg Swarm under an infested terran named Ethan Stewart arrived, followed by Ulrezaj, and later the Terran Dominion. Ulrezaj was sealed within Zamara's khaydarin crystal, and Selendis retreated to Shakuras with Ulrezaj's prison a number of memory crystals as the Dominion cleared the remaining zerg forces and captured Alys'aril. They did not hold Ehlna for long, as the Daelaam returned with a large fleet, forcing the Terran Dominion to retreat and reclaiming the shrine world.[17]
The Second Great War[]
A Daelaam force led by Praetor Karass tracked the Queen of Blades to Ulaan and aided Dark Templar Prelate Zeratul in his quest to find fragments of an ancient prophecy, sacrificing themselves to cover his escape.[18]
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This article or section contains information from the optional Colonist Missions in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
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Raynor's Raiders battled against the Daelaam forces led by Executor Selendis to provide Doctor Ariel Hanson more time to discover a cure for the zerg hyper-evolutionary virus, which had infested the Agrian colonists. The Raiders defeated the protoss and Haven was saved.[19]
The Raiders decided to help purify the world of Haven and took the protoss' place in destroying the infestation. After the job was done, the Daelaam gave Raynor a plaque honoring his effort.[20]
Some Daelaam dark templar were imprisoned by the Tal'darim on the xel'naga worldship in the Sigma quadrant. They requested assistance from Raynor's Raiders.[21]
Post-Second Great War[]
In the aftermath of the Second Great War, the Queen of Blades led the Zerg Swarm away from the Koprulu sector.[22] Furthermore, Valerian Mengsk, now emperor of the Terran Dominion, organized a cease-fire with Artanis, and the Dominion ceased all aggressive actions against the Daelaam.[9] Noting that the terrans were no longer a threat thanks to the destruction the conflict had wrought on them, Artanis declared that Aiur would be reclaimed.[23] A number of protoss within the Daelaam were pleased that the terrans would no longer be an issue.[7] Voices of dissension went unheard as preparations got underway.[23] Vorazun protested against the amount of resources being devoted to the Golden Armada, and the insurgent Taelus staged an insurrection by taking over the Citadel. It was Taelus's intention that his death spark civil strife between the two kindreds, but this was prevented through the actions of Vorazun. Now matriarch, Vorazun reaffirmed her people's commitment to the Daelaam, but would remain behind on Shakuras while the Armada struck at the zerg on Aiur.[6]
End War[]
New Beginnings[]
After years of preparing, the Daelaam finally moved to reclaim Aiur. Zeratul attempted to warn the protoss of Amon's return, but Artanis was set on his course.[24] He activated the warp conduits on the planet, allowing the Daelaam to funnel their forces to the surface, but found the hybrid were leading the zerg on the planet.[25] Troubled, Artanis met with Zeratul and told him he would prepare for the coming conflict.[26] However, Amon corrupted the Khala and all protoss under it, causing the Daelaam to splinter.[27] Artanis was freed by Zeratul's sacrifice,[28] and he gathered what freed Khalai and Nerazim he could to escape the planet.[29] Only a small group was able to escape the world in the arkship Spear of Adun,[30] while the rest of the Golden Armada was corrupted to Amon's will.
The Daelaam was plunged into war as Amon unleashed his forces against the galaxy. Shakuras was overrun when the warp gate was activated, but Artanis evacuated what Nerazim he could from Talematros to the Spear of Adun, despite the efforts of Amon's zerg forces and void thrashers.[31] They also lured as much as Amon's zerg and hybrid forces to Shakuras before overloading the xel'Naga temple there[32] and destroying the planet.[33] The Daelaam assisted in the defense of Korhal in order to retrieve the Keystone, and beat back Moebius Corps and their hybrid masters from Bennet Port.[34] The Daelaam also came into conflict with the Tal'darim, who attempted to purify Glacius, before the Daelaam could retrieve the reborn Purifier prototypes stored there.[14]
The Daelaam then used the Keystone to uncover the location of Ulnar, the resting place of the xel'naga. Fighting through Tal'darim, Moebius Corps, and hybrid, they opened the temple.[35] Artanis and Kerrigan both fought their way to the resting chamber,[36] only to find that the xel'naga were dead.[37] The Daelaam allied with First Ascendant Alarak of the Tal'darim, who showed the Daelaam under Matriarch Vorazun the way to Artanis, who was trapped by Amon. The Daelaam and Kerrigan's forces allied together to turn the tide against Amon, sealing his portal to the void.[38]
The return to Aiur
After Ulnar, the Daelaam began to push against Amon. Through Rak'Shir, Alarak deposed Highlord Ma'lash, bringing the Tal'darim into an alliance with the Daelaam.[39] The ancient Purifiers of the Protoss Empire at Endion were reactivated aboard their warship Cybros, the robotic warriors agreeing to fight alongside the Daelaam.[40] After the destruction of the Moebius Corps base of Revanscar, ending Amon's hybrid breeding operations, Artanis declared that the caste system of the old Empire had come to an end.[41] Now united, the four kindreds of the Daelaam returned to Aiur.
Daelaam fleet in orbit over Aiur
On and above the planet, battle was joined—the Daelaam destroyed the planet's psionic matrix[42] and Amon's host body in a combined assault,[43] and withstood the counterattack of the Golden Armada (still under Amon's control) long enough for the Keystone to temporarily draw him out of the Khala.[44] The remaining Khalai severed their nerve cords, bringing the Khala to an end and banishing Amon back into the Void as he broke free of the Keystone. Yet, it was the start of a new beginning as well, as for the first time in six years, the protoss were able to walk freely on Aiur. Upon Zeratul's grave, Artanis attributed their victory to the Dark Prelate. The Daelaam began rebuilding their cities, with both Khalai and Nerazim architecture constituting the structures.[45]
Amon's End[]
During the reconstruction of Aiur, Phase-smith Karax received a transmission from Ulnar. It was from Kerrigan, who gathered the Daelaam and Dominion in order to move for a final offensive on Amon in the Void itself. Artanis and Selendis met with Raynor and Kerrigan aboard the Spear of Adun, and the group agreed that Amon had to be defeated before he could gather power and rise again. Ulnar's void portal was activated, and the Daelaam sent a unified fleet commanded by the Spear of Adun into the Void.[46]
The fleet was assaulted by shadows of the Void that began to tear apart their ships, but the allied force continued to follow a benevolent voice from inside the void. They eventually discovered it was a voice similar to that of Tassadar, the old templar hero, who was being imprisoned by Emil Narud, one of Amon's followers who had merely returned to the Void after being defeated by Kerrigan at Skygeirr. The Daelaam lead the assault against Narud, pushing against shadows and void thrashers until Narud was weakened enough to allow the zerg commander Alexei Stukov to finish him off.[47] It was then revealed that the voice was not Tassadar, but the xel'naga Ouros, who needed to uplift Kerrigan to give her a chance at beating Amon.[48]
Ouros channeled his energy into Kerrigan, and the Daelaam took up the southern approach while Raynor and Broodmother Zagara defended the other approaches. They were again sieged by shadows and void thrashers, but the Daelaam and their allies held for long enough for Kerrigan to ascend into a xel'naga.[49] Kerrigan went to face Amon, and the Daelaam and Dominion following behind to support her. Though Amon began destroying the Daelaam's nexuses, the group destroyed the void crystals shielding Amon in time for Kerrigan to defeat him once and for all.[50]
Forging Peace[]
The Daelaam returned to Aiur after the end of the conflict. Alarak refused to Artanis's offer for the Tal'darim to permanently join the Daelaam, and left to search for a new world to colonize. However, he did allow his warriors one chance to stay with the Daelaam.[2] The Daelaam began to focus on reconstruction efforts, including forging a new psionic matrix.[51]
By 2508, the Daelaam had entered peace negotiations with the Dominion.[2] A ceasefire was declared between the Daelaam, Dominion, and Zerg Swarm. However, when the Swarm forcibly claimed Char and the surrounding systems, the ceasefire was called into question.[52] A DMZ was established between the Terran Dominion and Daelaam territory.[53]
Within the Daelaam, the Templar Caste began to take inspiration from the Golden Age of Expansion in their designs and artistic works, as nostalgic sentiment for the Golden Age began to grow as the protoss faced an uncertain future. While some Khalai eagerly embraced this movement, it sparked tensions with the Nerazim, as some of their technology was appropriated, redesigned in Golden Age styles. Vorazun refused to comment on the issue, and the movement received no formal acknowledgement from the Daelaam's leadership.[51]
Old Scars[]
The Daelaam struggled to rebuild from the devastation of the wars of the previous decade. While they had made great progress technologically, the loss of the Khala hampered their reconstruction efforts, and deep cultural scars still existed in their society. Many did not know how to function without the existence of a Khala or a caste, and some turned to extreme measures in order to recreate the Khala, often villainizing Artanis for his part in destroying it. Tensions and distrust ran deep between the Khalai and Nerazim, and the Purifiers largely kept to themselves in their data web.[54] As such, the Daelaam could not provide aid to their terran neighbors, in spite of the great famine in the Terran Dominion and the Umojan Protectorate relying on the protoss to secure their southern border.
By 2511, the Daelaam received word that their satellites around the planet Gystt had stopped transmitting. Gystt was purified by the Protoss Empire early in the Great War, and Hierarch Artanis sent a small detachment of the Great Fleet to examine the situation. He found that Gystt had been completely regrown, and was now a thriving jungle world thanks to the zerg presence there. The Daelaam prepared to annihilate the planet, when the Dominion Fleet arrived under Emperor Valerian Mengsk. The two were contacted by Overqueen Zagara, new ruler of the swarm, who stated that she wished to make an offering of peace to the two factions and help their reconstruction efforts. Artanis was resistant to any offer the zerg would make, but agreed to come down to negotiate.
However, the diplomatic meeting was disrupted by Abathur, who sought to spark a war between the powers of the sector and the Zerg Swarm as well as remove the adostra which generated the world, who were created from xel'naga essence. To do so he created a breed of zerg known as the chitha, which could weaken protoss psionics and break their focus in battle. Using these he tricked the Dominion into destroying one of the adostra nests, and used the Daelaam ground forces to destroy the other. However, the Daelaam were able to rally long enough to prevent the third nest's destruction, and the survey team sent to the planet discovered Abathur's betrayal before the protoss fleet above purified the planet. Abathur was defeated and his chitha destroyed, and peace talks began between the Daelaam, Zerg Swarm and Dominion regarding how to use the adostra to reconstruct their worlds.[55]
Border Wars[]
Artanis after the Battle of Adena
In the demilitarized zone, tensions rose as a renegade Terran Dominion group attempted to illegally loot a jorium cache on the planet Adena. Admiral Urun and his forces watched the terrans closely, soon seeing them spring a trap set by the Niadra Brood. The ensuing Battle of Adena left many protoss, including Urun, and terrans dead, with the survivors aboard Saalok's Eye reporting back to Hierarch Artanis that the terrans had violated their treaty and opened fire on them, and many of the Auriga Tribe calling for action against the terrans. In response, Hierarch Artanis cancelled peace talks with the Dominion.[56]
A Daelaam force under Matriarch Vorazun briefly assisted former terran ghost Nova Terra in hunting down a group of renegade spectres still loyal to the late Dominion emperor Arcturus Mengsk, knowing their efforts would eventually spill over into protoss space. Though they risked a diplomatic incident, Vorazun and Nova were able to subdue the spectres, and take them back to Aiur to help heal them psychologically and physically.[57]
In Utter Darkness[]
In a possible future glimpsed at by a select few, the protoss and their civilization came to an end at the hands of Amon.[58]
Known Territories[]
- Aiur (current capital world)
- Artika
- Ash'Arak
- Cantar (potentially formerly)
- Ehlna
- Endion (formerly)
- Glacius
- Kaldir (formerly)
- Nelyth (potentially formerly)
- Shakuras (former capital world)
- Zhakul
Notable Members[]
Administrative[]
Hierarchy[]
- Hierarch Artanis (head of state, position retained post-End War)
- Matriarch Vorazun (de facto Nerazim representative post-End War)
- Prelate Mohandar (also a military commander, deceased)
- Admiral Urun (military commander, position retained post-End War, deceased)
- Nahaan
- Tabrenus
- Zekrath
End War Hierarchy[]
- Highlord Alarak (de facto Tal'darim representative, formerly)
- Grand Preserver Rohana (adviser to Artanis)
- Phase-smith Karax (adviser to Artanis)
- Talandar (de facto Purifier representative)
Military[]
Executor Selendis
- High Executor Selendis
- Executor Clolarion (Purifier commander)
- First Ascendant Ji'nara (Tal'darim Ascendant, formerly)
- Praetor Karass (deceased)
- Praetor Talis (deceased)
Notes[]
The Daelaam decal is available in multiplayer as a reward for winning 1000 1v1 games as protoss.[59]
References[]
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| Dominant Protoss faction | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded By | Duration | Succeeded By |
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Incumbent | ||