Ask Home of the Dark One

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
marc-simonetti-darkcm.jpg
.

Fortress Vader, Mustafar
1400 local time

He looked up, glancing at the darkened skies. There were no clouds on Mustafar, no water to condense. The landscape was hellish--raging rivers of lava, black obsidian and smooth rock in between. Yet, the planet had had time to recover after Vader's demise. Irontrees had grown around the fortress, planted by the cultists slain by Kylo Ren. The lava had cooled, not that Cinere knew what it had looked like before. Still, there was a certain air to this planet. An air of peace, of finally being left alone after all this time. He almost scoffed. Wakey, wakey.

This was the culmination of his plans. It was hard to organize a campaign, that he had known, but he had succeeded nevertheless, even getting a Darth onboard with the program. A thought tugged at the back of his mind as they walked, silently, toward the fortress.

Is he here to steal my thunder? the doubt echoed in his head. Why would a Darth want to help a Marauder? Why would a Sith want to help anyone? It would be so, so easy for the Darth to simply take credit for the mission, to prove himself worthy, while tossing Cinere aside, maybe even disposing of him to ensure he doesn't talk.

He was wary, but he welcomed the help nevertheless. Cinere knew he could stand his ground.

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
It was a depressing thought to see what pain and suffering the Dark Side can do to planets it is so recklessly used upon. This was one of many worlds Darth Caelestis had walked upon and seen the suffering of its lands first hand, he had come to Mustafar from Exegol, the secret world only a few of the highest ranking Sith knew about and it to was desolate and destroyed by the Dark Side. Though unlike that world Mustafar was trying to fight back, life was returning to its once dead soil, trees now grew were once only dead things lay, the magma so identifiable to its being was slowing, becoming stronger masses of land. One day water would begin to flow upon these great mountains, animals will run through its valleys, seas will cease to boil and fish will return.

But he was not here to watch a planet re-make its self, no he was hear as always for selfish reasons. For upon this broken planet lay ruins of something once great and powerful and if anyone knew the newly minted Sith Lord it was his desire to look upon and experience things of times gone past. Artorigas moved away from Calesvol his fighter and transport for today and moved towards the Sith Marauder who had set up this little escapade into the dark and fiery world.

The ash and dried ground of the planet broke loudly underfoot as he approached giving the man ample time to hear him coming. "Cinere Autem, I presume?" He asked walking up along side the man who was gazing out at there destination. "I have a question. Do you intend to sit here once we are done?" He said pointing towards the damaged castle before them.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
"The one and only," he replied. "Welcome to Mustafar, Darth Caelestis." He nodded his head down in a short bow, aware that despite his personal qualms with being told what to do, there was still a hierarchy to be followed. Besides, his parents had taught him better. If his father even so much as heard a word that Cinere was not giving due respect to Sith Lords, he would flay him and use him as a rug.

The question surprised him a bit, not due to its bluntness, but due to something else Cin could not quite place. The Lord had thrown the question out so randomly and so quickly after their meeting that the Marauder had to stifle a chuckle.

"Oh, a man can only dream, Darth." He looked from the man in front of him to the upper levels of the Fortress and then back. "I would certainly not be opposed. Should this endeavor prove successful, I would daresay a Marauder who can conquer one of the most legendary worlds of the fallen Empire deserves to govern it."

A blast of lava erupted far behind them, yet the roar reached even their ears. "But I don't know how much I would enjoy governing a world of lava waste." Never mind the nexus below their feet that was so strong in the Dark side even Darth Sidious had set his eyes on it. Never mind that the locus was so powerful that Darth Vader himself had chosen it to serve as his home during the war. A Sith does not divulge his plans unless it is strategically constructive to do so.

"Let's walk, Darth. We can get to know each other a little better as we do. I doubt there will be much resistance in our way, assuming the scouting unit has done its job."

The heavy work was out of the way, ensuring no interruptions. Cinere and Caelestis were here to cement the rule of the Sith down onto the planet by claiming its nexus once more.

@Braden Drake
 
Last edited:

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Artorigas was not used to his new Darth title and often took a moment to respond to the name. When you had spent twenty five years responding to one name to hear and correctly respond to another was more difficult than one would expect. "Its Lord, or Mi'Lord not Darth, unless you use the full title, Darth Caelestis." He replied with a smile, he was a stickler for title and the correct way of things, well correct at least by the standards of Serenno and the House of Wessex.

He nodded as Cinere explained his potential desires for the planet. "Only remember that even if you lead this raid, you did not do it alone, and yes governing dead worlds is not fun." Artorigas had both Serenno and Exegol under his control and one was much more fun and interesting to control than the other. Though as time progressed he was spending less time on Serenno than he would like, the burgeoning desires of the Sith Lord meaning he needed to spend more and more time in the far west of the galaxy.

"So, how long have you been within the Order Cinere? And any interesting takes you have so far?" He smiled inside, this conversation a reflection of the first one he had with Darth Andruil so long ago, when he was just a lowly Acolyte on Makeem Tee.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
"Apologies," he replied, then bit his tongue. Concessions, Cin. You are a nobody for now. He gave Caelestis a sheepish grin. "This is, truthfully, the first time I interact with one higher in ranking than I. One needs to get used to the formalities."

They walked down the rock, their feet leaving light steps in the dust underfoot that had been collecting there since the last organic lifeforms had crossed the plains. The roar of the lava river drew more distant as they neared the Fortress, and it was easier to speak without raising one's voice now.

"I have been with the Order since I took shape in my mother's womb, Lord. I come from a family that has stood loyal to the Order, providing warriors since the days of the Empire, and even longer before. As long as there has been a group of Dark siders fighting in the name of power through the Galaxy, my family has stood, wielding the Force in honor of the cause." Cinere took great pride in his lineage, considering himself to be one of the purest Sith warriors in the Galaxy when it came to blood. But he knew that meant nothing until he proved himself.

"But I digress, because it would be cowardly of me to live based on my family's achievements. A true Sith is not chosen by blood, but by their capability. The title of Sith is one that has to be earned through strife, and a Sith that avoids conflict is no better than a Jedi--perhaps even worse, because it is in a Jedi's nature to be a coward. A Sith that spites their nature as a warrior is the lowest of the low."

A TIE fighter screeched overhead, lone like a vulture in the reddened skies. It was symbolic, in Cinere's mind, a sort of omen to signal what was to come. He was eager for the day that Imperial ships kept order above and on Mustafar, free to rule as they see fit.

"No, I have not yet conquered anything. I have only recently been able to join the ranks of the Order officially, because it was only recently that I left my home planet of Dathomir to seek out the Order. I have been planning this campaign for a few months, so today is perhaps one of the first important days of my career."

They reached the gates of the Fortress, which had been blown apart by forces unknown. Perhaps it had been the Knights of Ren, or perhaps it had been some massive apex predator. It did not matter. In a few weeks' time, the gates would stand proud and tall as they once have.

"And yes, my Lord, I am well aware that my achievement is not mine alone. However, I do believe the one who rises up and takes charge when no one else will deserves major credit for their accomplishment. Despite our territorial gains and our notoriety, this new Order is in a period of transition. A power struggle is occuring in some parts, as I'm sure anyone knows, but in others, in the lower ranks, there is a severe lack of accountability. And an army that is heavily concentrated only in the top is easy to topple over."

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Artorigas lightly rolled his eyes as the man began his love speech about the Sith, the Dark Side and all that was to be a 'True Sith'. He kept a pace or so behind the man though to keep his obvious distaste for the outwardly overreactive Sith from Cinere. "You are right to not live upon your families achievements, but do not discard them so easily. Build upon them, for blood is thicker than water and easily thicker than anything you will find within the Sith." Artorigas added to earliest comments made by the Sith Marauder.

The soft crunch of the ash beneath there feet was in stark contrast to the screech of the TIE fighter, the dark fortress of the long dead Sith Lord rose up before them. Its giant black towers blocking out the small light the orbiting sun gave them. Now dressed in shadow deep glow of the moving magma backlit the fortress in an eerie red glow. "Struggle is the nature of the Sith, there will always be unless someone strong takes control and I hope that one takes that very soon." Artorigas was not one for that position, not yet anyway he had much of his own ideas and plans to accomplish first before he looked beyond his current station.

"Yet an army that relies to heavily upon the bottom is easy to turn upon its masters. Give every man too much power and every man will consider himself a King and no King wants to bow down to others." The doors to the fortress had been broken, though from the looks of the dust that had settled within the broken hinges it had been a long time since.

"At least we do not need to knock." He said with a smile before proceeding past the Sith and heading into the old building. As the darkness overtook him he held out his hand a small ball of flame conjured within his hand, for a moment it glowed red like the magma outside before the Sith Lord poured his true energy into it turning it bright blue. "Shall we." He said turning back to the man.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
"Yes. Right this way," he replied, his mind already set on which way to go.

Finding the plans for Fortress Vader had not been easy, and they were not whole. He had been forced to make do with bits and pieces, scraps that were so vague they were useless. Still, one thing was certain--the locus of the Dark side was below, so that would be where they were going. They had no fighting to do, hopefully, as everything had been cleared out, but that did not mean this would be easy. One could argue that the two Sith had gotten the hardest part of the process: tuning the monument below, forcing it to heel. It would be a demanding process, and Cinere was somewhat glad he had the Darth along; he'd need the company of a strong Force user to succeed.

They passed down a dark hall, its lights all shattered and machinery fallen to rust and disrepair. Once, the doors that adorned the walls would slide open and closed constantly all day, opened with access codes and special ID cards. Now, they lay broken, some blown in, others closed and welded shut.

Cinere closed his eyes as he walked, slowing his pace down and simply feeling out the world around him. A wave of darkness engulfed him as he slowly let the Force flow freely around him, like an ocean of black water. The Dark side was stifling here, like the heat inside an oven; unrelenting, brutal and unforgiving. Cinere liked this heat, though.

There were many things of interest in this ocean. Artifacts--minor and major--left forgotten throughout the Fortress, Force-sensitive creatures in the caves, pockets of energy left behind by the death of Force users, some the strange peace of a Jedi death, others the eternal scream of rage left behind by traitorous Sith. It was a fascinating place to meditate in, but that was not currently the task at hand. Cinere focused, observing and probing, until he found it--not that it had been hard.

The nexus was like a trench in the ocean, like a massive splotch of black ink on a pristine white canvas. It reeked of malice, whispering horrible things into the void, absorbing purity and turning it into an abomination. Cinere now knew the way exactly, and he surged forward. He did not even need light to see the ground in front of him, maneuvering the halls as if he had grown up here.

"So much darkness," he remarked to the Sith Lord, who was hopefully keeping up. "So much power."

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Darkness began to contract upon the pair, a weight of anger, pain and suffering concentrated through the architecture of the building towards the core deep below. Artorigas let out a smile as he sensed the movement of the dangerous energies flow through the angular cross beams, he could tell the flow of the energy without having to think. He had spent many an hour reading up on such things. The first artefact he had ever pulled from a tomb was dedicated to building such structures, Lord Andros' writings had given him a hundred ideas of what to do on both Serenno and Exegol though he had yet had the chance to do something on either.

The Marauder had seemingly wondered off without him, plunging himself into the darkness without Artorigas' light the Sith Lord just caught sight of him as he rounded a corner up ahead of him. Shaking his head he quickly caught up with the wondering Sith, just in time to hear him mutter about darkness and power. Wow this guy was really into this, did he get off at murder? "The strength would be better if that girder was not snapped in half and that wall was just a few degrees to the east." He said pointing out each item in turn. He done it one to point out that he his knowledge when it came to the structure but also to break the weird mumbling from the man. "Ever been to a nexus before?" He asked, slightly more light hearted than probably fit the occasion.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
The Sith Lord seemed to ignore his remark, which made Cinere cringe inwardly. He'd assumed that he was in the company of another Dark sider who appreciated the raw power of places like this, who, too was fascinated by the darkness. Different strokes for different folks I guess, he thought to himself. Still, it was a bit embarassing.

The man seemed to move pretty slowly for someone who could actually see the path ahead, so Cin slowed down just in time for Caelestis to catch up. He slowed down after that, ensuring that they were walking side by side. The man made a remark about the architecture of the place, and Cinere could not say he disagreed with the statement, but had to bite his tongue to avoid saying "Yeah, and the strength would certainly be better if this place had gotten some maintenance work done in the past 100 years." Instead, he just nodded.

They turned a corner into a staircase, and so began their descent into the catacombs. The path and the place around them slowly went from durasteel walls and light panels to carved-out black rock and mining lamps, which signaled they were nearing the place.

"Yes, I grew up on one," he replied. "Dathomir. Born and raised. It isn't for everyone, but if you do get used to the dark presence, it makes training easier and you eventually grow to find it peaceful. Have you?"

Obviously, the Lord had probably been to plenty Force nexuses, but Cinere was just making conversation. Many Sith seemed to avoid speaking, but that only made them seem like insufferable assholes without a personality. Cinere may be an insufferable asshole, but saying he has no personality is one of the worst ways one can insult him.

The darkness grew stronger and stronger as they descended, making the mining lights flicker. He could feel it prodding at his mind, injecting horrific visions of burning villages and slaughtered masses, but that didn't faze Cinere at all. Having grown up on a Force nexus, he had developed quite the affinity for channeling and interacting with the Force, and rendered him very skilled at dodging the general trickery of the Dark side of the Force in places like these. It simply felt like home to him, truth be told.

The stairs stopped, and they were in a small tunnel, dimly light by the mining lights who inexplicably were still running after all this time. As they walked down, they would come to a large cavern. In its center were several massive rocks, runes carved into them. There was a certain tension in the room, as if the air itself was electric.

"I believe we have arrived."

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Artorigas gave the man a rather impressed look when he mentioned his home world. Dathomir was a harsh world and it took one of tough nature to not only survive upon its surface but to flourish. "I have been to a few, Dathomir, Korriban, Moraband to name some." He would of course fail to mention Exegol a land as dark as any head mentioned perhaps more so for its lack of existence as anything other than darkness incarnate and corrupted and twisted all that lived upon its surface. It tested his internal walls every time he took the throne within The Citadel, the weight of the darkness pushing down upon his soul.

The cavern before them was beautiful to the eyes of those devout to the Dark Side, the ebb and flow of the Darkness was like a beautiful ballet. The air was thick with anger, pain, suffering, glee, wrath it was pure Sith, he took a breath of the thick air letting it flow into his lungs and the smell, the taste awoke what was hidden inside. "It has been a while." Artorigas gritted his teeth as he heard the voice deep down inside him speak for the first time in weeks. "This tastes good, what is it." The Sith Noble had learned the best way to deal with this voice was to ignore, after a time it would give way to the clarity of his mind.

He stepped forward into the cave moving to the left of the cavern giving Cinere the righthand side. "He looks rather interesting, maybe you should kill him. Soak this air with the scent of his blood." Artorigas rolled his neck trying to concentrate on the motion rather than the darkness inside. "So, what's your plan now Cinere?"

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
"Korriban, where it all started? Always wanted to visit," he replied, as if the two men were discussing vacation spots on resort worlds. Any Sith would like to go to Korriban, obviously, and not to witness the wastes of red sand or to interact with its fierce locals who had a penchant for bloodshed. There probably were a few people who traveled there just for that, but Cinere would love to go there because of its history. Sith history had always fascinated him, especially considering how closely linked it was to his family. Visiting the former seat of Andraste would perhaps even shed some light on his ancestors.

Cin did not notice how Caelestis gritted his teeth, how his internal monologue was a clash between two natures, or the man's distraught. It was all very subtle, though he did, for a very brief second feel the slightest tinge of something in the air around the Sith Lord, a sort of aura of ill-intent. It was not surprising to the Marauder, and he had been half-expecting to be cut down from behind the whole way down. If it had not happened until now, it might still happen, and he would not rest easy until he was back on his ship, alone, the mission a success. The best he could do for now was stay vigilant and be ready to put up a hell of a fight if push came to shove and the Lord chose to betray him.

"Darth Vader chose this spot to build his fortress due to this monument we are currently standing in front of, this monolith of darkness. It is even said that he once opened a portal here, which he used to travel through time. That is not why we're here today, but this information begs the question: how did he live above a locus of darkness for so long without any issues? Why did it not try to bring harm to him?" He looked up at the rocks as he approached them, resting his hand on one slowly as he finished speaking. The stone seemed to hum below his fingers, a sort of heat emanating from it, and not because of Mustafar's fiery atmosphere. "It is my theory that he tempered the monolith, laid claim to it by exerting his power and forcing it to heed his will. That, my Lord, is why we are here today. To exert our will over this nexus, to declare that it will serve us and our Order, and open itself to us so that we may share its power."

And as he finished, the runes all lit up, turning blood red. A massive burst of energy erupted from them, passing through both men like the shockwave of a bomb. The energy was like a wind of darkness, a push of cold and heat at the same time, a feeling of dread and one of power at the same time. The cave rumbled around them as if during an earthquake, dust and rocks falling from the ceiling, then stopped.

And from the center, between the stones, the ground began to shift. The seemingly immovable obsidian turned to a liquid-like texture, and a shape began to emerge. First, a blackened head, thin and frail-looking, connected to a neck and shoulders, as well as a torso, and finally legs. Before their very eyes, the humanoid's body seemed to develop; two pits caved in on its face, turning to two eyes as red as burning coal, and shadows seemed to materialize out of nowhere, shrouding the figure. A gray mist fell across the ground at their feet, cold to the touch and moving slowly.

"Then, prove yourselves, Sith warriors! Prove your worthiness, and your power, and the immortality of your legacy! Prove why the Force should yield itself to you!" a voice boomed around them, and the figure lifted its hands up as it spoke.

And then they were no longer there. Both men would be transported, in their mind, to a dark, dark place, where they would be tested. Their visions would be different and they would be separated, but the vision would test their willpower and force them into positions that may prove torturous to their psyche. In order to suceed, they had to push through.

For Cinere, he was transported to a battlefield in a dark forest, a blade of red in his hand, screaming and shouting around him. He could feel the humidity on his skin, the insects pestering him, and the heat of the battle around him. He saw soldiers fight each other with lightsabers, clashes of blue and red, and he surged forward, not knowing what he was supposed to do, but willing to prove himself.

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
"Its not all that, way to much sand and too hot for my liking." He replied to his comment about Korriban. He looked over at the man as he spoke, he had a rough idea of what the man wanted to do before Artorigas had even arrived. But to hear it outright pushed the Sith Lord into thought, though he was a strong master of The Force he was not devoted to the Dark Side, he had never truly plunged into its depths as his brethren had. The voice in the back of his head was a reminder of this, an edged dark voice speaking to him in times of need to let himself go to the temptations and power of the Dark Side. Could Artorigas actually do what Cinere asked, he had the power, but did he have the intense connection that was needed to bend this place to the Dark Side once again.

Artorigas watched in horror as the creature formed itself out of the stone, the burning coals that formed its eyes seemed to bore into his very soul as the room began to fill with an unnatural darkness. As an instinct the blue flame that he still carried within his palm was injected with power, the flame exploding across his hand and forearm, creating a gauntlet of ethereal blue flames, the darkness was pushed back but for a second before the darkness truly took hold.

The blackness faded away to the vision of Castle Wessex, before him stood its great hall untouched by the designs and work he had paid for, no this was the Castle of his fathers, broken and poor. The room was bare, much of its furnishings removed, he was under the great archway, turning to look behind him, he could see only grey fog. Looking back he spotted his father sat upon the throne, Artorigas' throne, beside him was his brother Malendor, Corneilla was there as was his mother. What vision was this.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
He was charging through the jungle, blade slashing at the odd outlier that passed by him, until Cinere ran into one directly and their lightsabers clashed with a loud scream as plasma hit plasma and locked. He pulled back, then tried to jab the tip into the opponent's liver, only to be parried and met with another slice.

Their blades locked once more, and his eyes met his opponent's. The Jedi was wearing a hood, but it fell down slowly, revealing their face.

But this was no Jedi. This was his father. Then, the face shifted and it was his mother. He gritted his teeth and swiped his blade again toward his opponent's head, rage growing. What sort of trickery is this?

The blade made contact, beheading the Jedi. The last thing he saw was the head of his mother clatter to the floor of the jungle, and then darkness.

He awoke in a dark forest, a blood red sky hanging over him. Dathomir. He rose to his feet and stopped in his tracks as shapes broke the treeline. He was surrounded by rancors, but there looked bigger than any other he'd seen in his life.

They slowly walked around him in a circle, and his eyes went toward the bushes, waiting for that other familiar silhouette. But none came, and he was surged with primal fear. He reached for his lightsaber, only to find that he had none. Instead, the Sith channeled the Force into his right hand, and then toward the closest approaching rancor.

A burst of lightning erupted from his fingers and made contact with the beast, zapping it until he could smell the burned flesh in the air. Rage and fear flowed out of him and into the lightning, his emotions welcomed by the dark side.

But suddenly he was stumbling forward. A rancor had headbutted him from behind and now it was fast approaching. He rose to his feet, only to be hit again from his left side, thrown through the red mud like a toy. The Sith roared and threw his hands out in front of him, letting the dark side take over completely, tapping into its power.

Flames burst from his palms and covered his field of view, a curtain of fire between him and the creatures. He spun around, engulfing everything around him in flames. As he slowly lowered his hands, he fell to his knees, drained by the display. He looked up to a field of ash and burning trees.

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
His father stared at him across the hall, his eyes filled with the disgust he always saw when Artorigas had excelled where his older brother had not. Be it arts, science, maths, speeder piloting, you name it whenever he succeeded his father hated, but his brother loathed him for it. If his fathers eyes made him hesitate the look his brothers made him flinch.

"Come here Artorigas." His father called from the other side of the room, though unlike before Artorigas was no longer afraid, he was not only a Sith but a Sith Lord, Master of his own Kingdom. So he stepped forward but as he did the image looked different, he was not looking down upon his siblings but up, his hands has shrunk, his feet look so small and when he spoke the deeper voice of a man was met by the squeak of a boy.

Artorigas reached the bottom of the dais and all those around him glared down at the Sith Lord that was now a child, he tried to stand tall and proud but something about his new size and old feelings made him want to cower away from the people before him. "Apologies to your brother!" His father commanded, Artorigas looked over to the older Wessex an angry look on both of their faces. "For what?" He squeaked back.

"For killing me." Malendor screamed back, Artorigas' eyes jolted towards his brother and gone was the angry look in his eyes, his red angry face, replaced with cold black sockets his skin ashen white. Artorigas screamed.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
Cinere blinked and he was back on Mustafar. He turned toward his companion and found him deep in the trance that he had just snapped out of. The entity was still there, watching silently until Cinere stood.

"CONGRATULATIONS," its deep voice boomed. "YOU HAVE WON THE INTERNAL STRUGGLE. IT IS TIME FOR THE FINAL STRUGGLE. SLAY YOUR COMPATRIOT."

And suddenly, Caelestis was right next to him, as if he had teleported. The Sith Lord lunged at him and wrapped his hands around Cinere's throat before he could react. He found himself down on the rocky floor on his back, desperately fighting off the man, who was physically stronger than him.

Cinere gave up trying to resist, and instead closed his eyes and channeled the Force around him, feeling the darkness weave through his body. He could feel his breathing getting shorter, more choked and winded, adrenaline rising as he felt his airpipe constricting. And then his eyes snapped open, and he threw one last punch at Caelestis' face, with the Force augmenting his blow.

The man's skull cracked in like an egg, his face a bloody mess, but only for a short second before he disappeared. Cinere opened his eyes once again, and he was now back in the chamber with Caelestis and the entity, but the man was still entranced.

And then the Sith Lord woke up, unaware of Cinere's vision.

@Braden Drake
 
Last edited:

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Artorigas' mind was a complete wreck at that moment, gone all the strength and courage of a Sith Lord his mind as well as his body had retreated back into the confines of a child, to be scolded and second best at every turn. Of course he should apologise to his brother, he had killed him. Had it been an accident, well kind of, when Artorigas entered the great hall of Castle Wessex so many moons ago he had no intention of harming any of his family. It had all been a misunderstanding, Malendor had gone for a blaster and Artorigas just reacted.

He had never meant to remove his head from his shoulders, to watch his lifeless skull roll along the floor. He shed many a tear that evening for the death of his brother and for what it meant of him, his mother had never looked at him the same, nor his older sisters. Cornelia still loved him for she had seen the cruel wicked boy Malendor had become to Artorigas, gloating constantly about being the heir to the Wessex line, that Artorigas was nothing but spare parts for his brother and father.

As he cried that night away those tears turned from ones of despair and sadness to anger and rage, for why should he feel so down and negative for killing one of the only people who had made him feel useless in life, that death had freed him of twenty years of being second best. His mind had rocked then with confusion over what was right and wrong, so he had chosen to ignore it, this memory these faces placed far into the back of his mind away from conscious thought.

But now, that face, those dead black eyes, that white pale skin began to reignite the tears within Artorigas. He grit his teeth, biting down so hard his jaw hurt, clenched his hands until blood began to pour from his palms. No he would not apologise, for what he had become since that day was greater than anything his father or brother could ever be. He was a Sith Lord, a King, a prior of the Dark Side, a friend to Councillors a confidant of the Empress. No.

The child Artorigas, grew, no longer a child but the full grown man that he truly was. His bloody hands produced a lightsaber, its blade the colour of his blood. "No Father and I would do it for I have become far greater than any Wessex before." With that he rose his saber and as it came down to strike both his brother and father it all turned to black.

His eyes opened full of determination and rage as he glared across at Cinere on the other side of the room.

@vamp
 

Veles

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Champion

Character Profile
Link
OOC
vamp
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
The Sith had both proven themselves worthy, and as Caelestis opened his eyes, the dim lighting of the cave flared up as if to signify his awakening. The entity said nothing, instead approaching them slowly, its feet clouded in shadow as it seemed to almost float over the ground. It came to a halt a few meters away from them, its eyes betraying nothing. And then, it slowly kneeled.

It extended two forearms forward and put its arms on the ground and then bowed its upper body until it, too, touched the floor. This was its primitive, primordial way of showing submission in the face of those worthy. This was a piece of history right here, a glimpse into the past for the two lucky Sith present.

And then, after a few moments where it held its position, the entity began melting down into the floor, disappearing through mist and rock, until the only thing left was the mist. The obelisk's carved-in writing continued to glow red, and likely would until the Sith Order collapsed, if it ever would.

Cinere turned to Caelestis. "Thank you for your help," he said. "The fortress is ours. Mustafar is once again a Sith world."

@Braden Drake
 

Darth Caelestis

Character
Sith Order
Rank
Imperial Council

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Braden Drake
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
545
Reaction score
288
Fire and Anger continued to burn in the eyes of the Sith Lord as the Dark Side entity began to move. Artorigas pulled his eyes away from the man and poured his fury into the creature that walked before them. Slowly he watched as the creature began to move itself onto the ground, limb by limb it lay itself before him. A bow fit for a servant, Artorigas was pleased.

It slowly began to melt into the floor, its form seeping through the rock beneath. Slowly the darkness removed itself from the room, only the two of them were left in the room. He turned towards the Sith as he spoke, there was still a smouldering hate behind Artorigas' eyes but it had dimmed since he broke free from the trance. Giving the man a nod, Artorigas turned and left without a word, for his mind still reeled from the vision, his heart still conflicted by his decision.

@vamp
 
Top