Volnos Ryo

The father of Volnos Ryo held the position of ruler within the Ryo Syndicate, a prominent member of the Nine Houses governing Shikaakwa. However, as the second of three sons, he never anticipated becoming the leader. Despite his considerable wealth, he dedicated his time to traveling and studying across the settled worlds within the Tython system. He earned the moniker "Ox" and rose to prominence as a champion representing the Ryo Syndicate. Eventually, his younger brother, Hawk Ryo, introduced him to Kora, a fellow Je'daii. Ox and Kora entered into marriage and had a daughter, Tasha, who would spend much of her life balancing the expectations of her Je'daii Temple Master mother and her crimelord father.

Following the deaths of his father and older brother during the Despot War at the hands of Queen Hadiya, Ox inherited the title of Baron of Clan Ryo, a responsibility he felt unprepared to assume. One of his initial actions as the new Baron was to pledge allegiance to the Despot Queen, a decision made to avoid the fate that had befallen his father and brother, who had refused to do so. However, his apparent loyalty concealed his true motivation: seeking revenge for the death of his family members. To accomplish this, Ryo orchestrated Hadiya's assassination, carried out by the Je'daii Daegen Lok.

Over time, his marriage to Kora deteriorated, with Ox spending the majority of his free time with his mistresses at the Ryo Fortress, while his wife and daughter dedicated themselves to training in the Force on Tython. While Shikaakwan law still recognized their marriage, Je'daii customs led Kora to end their union, disgusted by the person her husband had become. Furthermore, they frequently argued about his desire for their daughter to join him, as Kora feared Tasha would become corrupted like her father. In her eyes, their daughter was a Je'daii, not a crime lord's heir.