Open to 1 Death Eaters

[Kaldar]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled​

Korda Six had been absolutely decimated. The Jedi probably grieved, the Empire celebrated, and Kaldar... saw opportunity.

He had arrived on the planet's surface well after the bombardment was over and the Imperial Fleet had moved on, setting down on the surface before having Sarena take the ship and his commando droids from the surface, leaving him with just himself and ID-21.

He walked the smooth, glassy paths alone with his armor on and lightsaber in place and a small - or by kyber standards large - shard of kyber modified by Tiamat. Along with it was packed several small parchments that detailed a ritual he intended to perform here.

However, for that to work out, Kaldar still needed to find the right location, and that was difficult to pinpoint. He had to let the Dark Side guide him, and it was strong here. The death that still hung in the air was enough to be intoxicating to any Sith, perhaps even drawing others of the Sith Order in to investigate.

Kriff, the Empire still makes better Sith than half the Sith, he laughed quietly to himself.

 

[Nefid]

Sometimes, death was as fascinating as life.

Not often, of course, there was no replacement for the billowing thoughts and fears Nefid so liked to weigh on, but in this case, it was. Dead silence on a planetary scale commanded awe and respect.

The Twi’lek was all the opposite of Kaldar. Unarmored, no lightsaber in sight, in a light black dress like made for twirling as she leisurely paced the desolate paths. Taking in the dead.

She sensed the presence before she saw him. His mere existence ruined the quiet, but Nefid could hardly blame him. Hadn’t she felt compelled to come, herself?

You wanted to indulge, too, she called out to him, like he was an acquaintance rather than a stranger. Why else would anyone be here?

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

The buzz and whistle of ID told him of an approaching person before they were in range to be seen, and Kaldar initially prepared for the worst: disgruntled gorillas or lingering Imperials. What he didn't expect to see was a Twi'lek in a light dress strolling across the open, glassy terrain.

The echo of her voice in his mind caused him to momentarily jolt at the intrusion as it often did when he wasn't expecting it, but it took him only a moment to adjust.

Something like that, he said. He had to take it that this was another Sith. He supposed it could have been a Jedi who was just feigning, but she seemed way too chipper for that.

Sith, I take it? he asked. There wasn't really any mistaking Kaldar's alignment: his armor had Sith runes carved into the face mask.

Been here long? he asked.

@Volene

 

[Nefid]

They call me that, she replied. Sith? She took part in Sith gatherings, she went on Sith missions, it wasn’t a lie. Though she’d always seen herself as more of a drifter, constantly following wherever her power took her. Like here.

Nefid took a few steps towards the man and his droid, not showing fear. At the same time came brief flashes to confirm her claims. A memory of her and Lord Arcanos when he was still Azar, on a hellish trudge through the woods on Rutan. Witnessing acolytes dueling on Umbara.

You feel familiar, she remarked, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. He’d been on Zeltros, but he’d blended with the crowd.

When I heard the news. I had to see this. But like him, she’d had to wait for the Empire to leave. She could have slipped by a guard, unnoticed or unremembered. She couldn’t do the same with a ship.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Yup, she seemed sketchy enough to be a Sith. The evasive answers and darkness within her was notable, and perhaps in time would be fanned into a full dark flame.

It's quite something, isn't it? he asked. From the look of her, he guessed she was about his age or so.

Been to any of the other worlds that have been sacked? he asked. Firrerreo and to a lesser extent Kashyyyk had both been when they were quite young or outright before they were born, but Denon... well, that had been Kaldar's handiwork. Byblos, Coruscant, and Onderon had all seen their share of death as well, though not quite to this extent.

Just here to bask or you have a goal in coming here? he asked, opting for getting straight to the point rather than dragging things out.

He continued walking on for the time, heading up over a "hill" of glass, looking out at the pock marks that had torn into the scarred surface of the planet. He could feel the darkest parts of the planet were still ahead, almost as if it had concentrated itself below the surface of the planet.

It was... stunning.

@Volene

 

[Nefid]

She took to walking alongside him, figuring his lack of objection meant she was welcome to. She didn’t sense negative feelings from him, and he’d been cordial enough.

The view was grandiose over the hill, almost cinematic. The impacts from orbit were fresh and visible and so much larger than a layperson like herself could ever expect, like a single shot could obliterate a thousand lives if it fell in the right spot. But Nefid hadn’t come for the panorama.

There was a village here, she remarked. I feel them still. Troubled. Horrified. A whisper.

Then she turned to him. But basking is the goal. Like she didn’t understand the question. Basking, pushing the frontiers of her power, what else was there?

You have a goal?

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

She seemed caught up in the destruction of this world for her own ends, and he couldn't blame her. The Dark Side was strong here, but it was in a way that was nowhere near as satisfying as knowing that you were the cause. Denon had left him with a feeling of empowerment, while this just felt like a memory of what could have been.

But he wasn't here just for his own personal interests.

He pulled out his lightsaber and lit the blade, drawing a symbol into the ground where they stood.

Yeah. Their last moments almost linger still, don't they? he said. Mercifully for them, it had been quick.

I do, he said. To trap some of this power, he said, holding out the kyber that he intended to use to store it. Of course, there was always the risk she could try to take it from him, but he felt confident in his ability to defend himself.

And these runes will help me do it, he said.

 

[Nefid]

Their thoughts of them, she confirmed. But... they’re gone. It’s strange. Arcanos thinks I could speak with them.

For a moment Nefid stood awkwardly there as Kaldar began the work. Something told her she should probably help, but she’d left her own lightsaber with the ship. And besides, even if she hadn’t, she didn’t know these runes. This was where the difference between her and true Sith became undeniable.

Mentally she shared the feeling of her hesitation, like to show her good faith. Then the idea dawned.

I could draw them, Nefid suggested before wondering if really she could. Not the runes. The people. Draw them here. Concentrate them. I think I could do it.

It would be a test. But wasn’t that why she came?

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar finished carving the first of the runes when she offered to help, which was... perhaps "puzzling" wasn't the right word, but surprising was. Although he really shouldn't be surprised. Sith were always interested in learning new skills to expand their own knowledge even if it was a dangerous cost.

Okay, do it, he said with a nod, as he moved on to the next symbol. In total, he carved three before the two of them sat down at the center of the triangle they created.

He plucked the kyber crystal from his belt and set it in the center of it all, between the two of them.

You draw them in and I'll trap them, he said, keeping his saber hilt in hand as he began to focus on the ritual.

Acı çeken hepiniz bana gelin! Acı çeken hepiniz bana gelin! Acı çeken hepiniz bana gelin! he began to chant, and as he did, he could feel the darkness around them almost being sucked toward them, drawn in by the power of the chant and the power of the summoning.

The Twi'lek, too, would begin to feel that the power of this place grew and seemed to cling to her, crawling over her skin as she sat there across from him and focused her power.

@Volene

 

[Nefid]

So it was ordered. In motion. Nefid felt the power rise, not her power, almost a distraction. She had her challenge. Her dark grey eyes made the subtle shift to black, and she was alone.

Nefid no longer felt Kaldar beside her. His unmistakable mark, the strength that called to her, like a beacon snuffed out. But there was nothing like silence to lend an ear for echoes.

Hello?

Stupid. Did she expect an answer from the void? She dealt in minds. This was death. The end of it. Traces of the dark lingered, but there was nothing left.

Traces. The dark. Anger. Revenge.

You aren’t really gone.

Whispers, louder. Hostile. Nefid felt them. Lingering. Unwilling? No. Clinging onto hope. Hope for vengeance against a foe they never knew.

We are vengeance. I am vengeance. Come.

There was no answer, but there was stirring. Movement. More than Nefid knew. No one spoke, no one existed, but shards of consciousness longed for power. They were power. And they listened.

Come.

Nefid opened her eyes gasping, and the crystal was brimming full.

@Phoenix