Judicator Caste

The Judicator Caste was a collection of protoss tribes that acted as the leaders and statesmen of their people. It was one of the three castes of protoss society, alongside the warriors of the Templar Caste and the workers of the Khalai Caste. Descended from the first tribes to join the Khala at the end of the Aeon of Strife, the Judicators were selected by Khas and his students to act as leaders, and they governed protoss society through the Judicator Assembly and the Conclave until their authority was broken in the Great War and the caste was finally dissolved during the End War. (StarCraft; StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void)

Role and abilities#

The Judicators were descended from the first tribes to join the Khala at the end of the Aeon of Strife and were selected by Khas and his students to act as leaders. They were able to subtly influence others through the use of psionics. With few exceptions, members of the caste avoided fighting, as they were more concerned with leadership, religion, and organization. Even so, members of the Ara Tribe formed the Conclave's guard, and during the Great War Judicators crewed arbiter support vessels. (StarCraft; StarCraft: Brood War)

Before the advent of the Khala, each protoss tribe had a definite proclivity or strength, and the dictates of the Khala advised a three-caste system into which each tribe fit easily. The Judicator Caste banned all xel'naga teachings but continued to allow the Shelak Tribe to access the archives. (StarCraft; StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Shadow Hunters)

Organization#

The Judicator Caste was controlled by the Judicator Assembly, which was in turn governed by a body called the Conclave. The Conclave were a group of elders, chosen for their wisdom, their knowledge of the Khala, and their adherence to its rules. The Ara Tribe dominated the assembly and, through it, the Conclave. The known Judicator tribes were the Ara Tribe and the Shelak Tribe, and notable Judicators included Aldaris, Amdor, Kortanul, and Nahaan. (StarCraft; StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Shadow Hunters; StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Twilight)

The Great War and the shattering of the caste#

During the Great War, the Judicator Caste condemned Executor Tassadar for refusing to burn the terran worlds and for consorting with the dark templar. Tassadar declared that for too long the Judicators had dictated the will of the Templar Caste, and a brief civil war broke out between the Conclave and Tassadar's followers. The resulting conflict destroyed the Conclave and shattered the Judicator Caste, though Tassadar surrendered once he had seen the bloodshed his conflict had caused. After a rescue by Zeratul and his dark templar, the remaining Judicators gave Tassadar the chance to destroy the Overmind on Aiur. (StarCraft; StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Twilight)

After the death of the Overmind, much of the remaining Judicator Caste was destroyed by the rampaging zerg, and many of the survivors fled to Shakuras with the rest of the Khalai. (StarCraft: Brood War)

Decline and dissolution#

After the Brood War, the remaining Judicators chose Artanis to represent the Hierarchy. The caste never regained its old authority, though several Judicators remained and were integrated into Daelaam society. (StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void)

During the End War, arbiters were redeployed to the frontlines, with protoss of the Judicator Caste assigned to their command. Because of their past actions the Judicators were deeply distrusted by the Templar, yet they remained committed to the Daelaam. The Judicator Caste ceased to exist by order of Hierarch Artanis, who dismantled the caste system during the conflict. After the war, phoenixes in the style of Judicator escort ships were commissioned by the Shelak Tribe, though this remained a controversial symbol among many protoss. (StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void)