Arkad was a Jaffa who became a follower of Origin and leader of the Illac Renin. Arkad was once a pupil of Bra'tac, who always felt there was "something wrong" with Arkad. Eventually, he became the First Prime of Atum. The System Lord Apophis later sent Teal'c to attack a world called Co'rak, and Teal'c directed the Ha'taks to bombard the planet from orbit, killing Arkad's parents and sister. Arkad later arranged for Teal'c's mother to be murdered in reprisal. Over the next several years, Teal'c and Bra'tac would engage his forces, defeating him, yet Arkad would always escape. After the fall of the Goa'uld Empire, Arkad was relegated to the fringes of the various Jaffa who emerged. When the Ori crusade began, Arkad pledged himself to the Ori.