Ascend, Before His Very Eyes

[Vinny]

The Dark Lord of the Sith usually sat on his throne in the Dark Council chambers, especially when waiting for someone whom he had invited. Yet today was a very special occasion. It was a long time coming to be sure. So he found himself standing and wearing the appearance of Wake Olpierr. He would cast that aside later, when the time was right. He crossed his arms casually behind his back, letting out a clipped laugh when his friend made a remark of his own.

His friend, being the Emperor; Darth Malon.

Darth Cain had been a mentor to the Emperor, a friend, a student in his own right, a brother of sorts and a religious advisor. They were allies in ways that many sith could not even begin to fathom. Yet he had been cautious in revealing the true extent of his own corruption to his friend. The time to hide, however, had long since passed, and he had promised Malon that today he would see the extent of which the Dark Side had changed him over these past five years.

"...but then I said, 'Why bother, just set it ablaze.'" He laughed, delivering the punchline of his story.

There was a tremor in the force, Cain relaxed a bit, letting the youthful and powerful presence wash over him.

"Shere Cann has arrived." Cain muttered, running his fingers back through his hair and giving Malon a sideways look. "You are certain he is ready for this? The baptism ritual could kill him if he wavers." He was not questioning the strength of Malon's apprentice, or Malon's ability to teach. He was more concerned about the premature death of such a promising young Sith. It would be a terrible shame.

@Malon @Ecclessey

 

[Malon]

Malon had changed. His appearance had become far more unnerving over the past five years—dropping his signature armor in favor of a respirator that covered the lower half of his face, and a dark cloak worn by most Sith Emperors of time's past. Additionally, his skin had greyed and his eyes burned like embers. To Cain, Malon knew he was perfection: a being totally molded by the energies of the dark side. Cain always found beauty in such things. But whereas Cain had adopted a look of concern over Malon's decision, the Emperor wore a face of cold indifference. The time was right. He was certain.

"A teacher's job is never done," the Emperor explained, "and, indeed, he still has much to learn. But, for this, he is ready. I have forged him into a weapon of the dark side—the fist of our Empire, even as you are its spirit, and I the head that controls the parts. The baptismal ritual is the test that will prove if he knows he is ready, and if he can use that readiness to survive."

The Emperor paused and turned to Cain.

The Dark Lord of the Sith was the Emperor's most loyal servant—the closest thing he had to a friend, though it was still odd to think of him as such. Sith did not ever truly have friends the way a natural being had friends—bonds born out of loyalty and trust. His and Cain's bond, on the contrary, was formed out of a mutual love for the dark side of the Force. That and a mutual desire to see the Empire flourish, as it had for the past five years under their leadership.

"For that reason," Malon continued, "do not hold back at all whilst the ritual is underway. Unleash the furious power of the dark side; let him taste it. After all, it is not our approval that proves he is ready for this—its the dark side's. If he passes this, his final trial, then I will know the dark side's will. The result will be the same if he dies."

@Vinny @Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

The doors opened and a Cathar youth stepped in with a determined look in his eyes. Shere had been busy trying to consolidate his efforts creating an intelligence branch wherein he could grow in his role as Wrath of the Emperor. As apprentice to the Emperor he had learned from the best, yet as his enforcer in the Empire Shere had been forced to find very much his own way. His own claws had infiltrated many Imperial Legion divisions while he himself kept a close eye on the Inquisition and those Sith that would find it in their right to challenge him for the position of Malon's apprentice. The latter wasn't going to happen, that much Shere had promised himself. To ensure it he was about to set off towards Jedi-controlled space to finally earn the dreaded reputation that should accompany the Wrath.

As large strides took him across the Dark Lord's throne room it wasn't Darth Cain's presence that changed Shere's Force signature from angry and determined to submissive and livid. His brown eyes ignored the Dark Lord when he dropped to his left knee in front of the Emperor, "Master."

Over the years Shere had seen his master change and the Dark Lord flourish in his oddities while his daughter received a royal moniker. Shere viewed it has his master's greatest weakness that he allowed the odd Wake Olpierr claim so much of the Empire for his own. Mastery of the Force was one thing, but being an Emperor asked for a very different set of skills which his master seemed to lack. Shere was trying to compensate for his master's failures and part of him desired to set things right by overstepping the authority he held, but he was far from Malon's equal in the Force and feared him too much to step out of bounds.

Shere remained in a kneeling position until the Emperor would acknowledge his presence,
prompting him to rise up and nod towards the Dark Lord. "You summoned me, Darth Cain?" His hand almost went for the ancient lightsaber of Galak Daggoth as he said it, speaking volumes about his opinion of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

@Vinny @Malon

 

[Vinny]

The Dark Lord stared at Cann for a long moment. His eyes lingering on his face and features. His lips curled after the long pause and he let out a laugh. He appeared to have shown absolutely no notice of the minor slight that Cann had meted out. Instead, he tilted his head to the right, his gaze never leaving Cann's, never wavering for even a moment as he took a few steps forward.

"Your thoughts betray you, Sith. Your opinions, as well, are also duly noted. It is good to see that you are capable of thinking for yourself." Cain said, taking a few paces to the right before beginning to circle his old friend's apprentice. He looked him up and down carefully, examining every feature.

"I wonder though..." He paused and glanced over at Malon, quirking his lip. He decided against continuing his statement, chewing his lip and turning away, pointedly showing his back as he walked toward his throne. He glanced over his shoulder as he reached the dais.

"You have been summoned here, Shere Cann, to undertake an ancient and sacred sith rite that dates back to the time of Marka Ragnos." He said, twisting on his heel and standing in front of his throne. He knew better than to sit in front of his Emperor. He gave Malon a respectful nod before continuing. "A baptism, in the power of the Dark Side, I am going to mark you permanently with a force wound." He bore his teeth. "Such is the way the true Lords of the Sith were reborn."