Kaggath (OE Viewing)

[Nymeria (TL8)]

Imperial Palace, Korriban​

With the Dark Lord off to face the new child Empress Coruscant had put up, many a Sith had gathered at the Palace to view the Kaggath, the fight for supremacy between two who claimed to be the strongest the Sith Order had to offer. Drinks were flowing freely, as was the conversation, as people placed bets, made predictions on how long the fight would last, and in some far corners of the vast chamber whispered about the possibility of Darth Vrael losing.

A giant holo display had been set up in the middle of the chamber, which had been displaying inconsequential entertainment till not too long ago. But the moment the two shuttles had touched down on Medriaas, the display had changed to show the fight as it was played out. Conversation had died down, all eyes were on the holo-display, on the Kaggath.

Standing with a drink in her hand, Nymeria watched as girl who claimed to be Empress began the fight, starting off with a blaster of all things. Who brought a blaster to a Kaggath?

"Coward!" She spat out softly, the display confirming everything that had ever been said about the fools on Coruscant. They were not true Sith, not anymore. One way or another, this fight would be the end of them.

OOC: Open to all Old Empire characters.

 

[Breda Onn]

Breda wasn't often at these events, but wherever there was a chance for him to bask at someone from the Drast lineage who followed the right doctrine, he never missed his chance. Observing the giant holo display he was at first intrigued at the challenger, Empress Lyanna Drast, but soon found her lacking. She was too young for her position. There were too many more capable in the Drast lineage who he would've preferred to have challenge Darth Vrael. She was -however- recognized as Empress by most of the galaxy and as such a Kaggath had to be honored..

...or had it!?

A flare of outrage and despair shot through the Serenno-aristocrat when he saw Lyanna break ancient tradition by firing a blaster. "This is an-" a stammered, crushing the drink in his hand, causing it glass shards to cut open his hand, "-Gah!-" he quickly wrapped his sleeve around the wound, "-this is an outrage."

He may have his doubts about Darth Vrael, but she definitely did not deserve to leave that planet alive.

 

[Tarsus Drast]

Originally Tarsus had planned to get as close to Kaggath as possible, to stand aboard one of the accompanying ships just in case the duel of honour did not go as he believed it would. However an unexpected off-world assignment had interfered with his plans and drew him away from it all. In fact he’d barely returned to Korriban in time to get back to his quarters, changed from his battle armour into his typical clothing and down to the Palace where the viewing was going on.

The first thing Tarsus felt as he walked up to the holo display was disgust. Not at the display, it hadn’t even started yet, but rather his surroundings. The Kaggath was a time honoured tradition of the Sith, one of the most honourable and respectable ways to face a rival that the Sith had ever invented. Yet here stood a bunch of idiots twittering like morons, sipping at drinks as if at some sort of gala and making bets on the outcome of who would rule the Sith Order. It was disgusting, it was vile it was… Coruscanti.

Sneering at his surroundings it became obvious to the man that no matter who won Korriban had already begun to slide core-wards in their behaviour.

Tarsus clicked his communicator to message Doz and tell her to get to the Palace if she had not already. Moving forward he strode up to the holo-display and watched the two rivals step from their shuttles. It appeared the Kaggath had begun.

As the opening moves where made the Inquisitor clenched his fist with a mixture of anger and revulsion. The Empress… the child was using a blaster. Lightsaber definitely, force powers certainly and even some sorcery was to be expected. But a blaster? Had she no respect for their ways what so ever?

He heard a soft voice filled with venom to his side and glanced over at silver-haired Human who looked as angered as he felt.

Tarsus turned back to the match. The child was being an utter fool. Even if she won by approaching this test of strength with such obvious contempt for Sith customs then the Old Empire would never recognise her victory or strength. This duel would be pointless and a Drast would die for nothing.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Shizuo Aramusha]

There was a cry of confusion and surprise from within the crowd near the bar, followed by what could only be called the robotic chattering of translated laughter, a drink glass cracking on the table as the one armed bandit of a sith leaned back in his seat, glowing yellow Kyuzo eyes looking at the display as he reached up with his only hand to wipe away a bit of mirth from his face.

Shizuo Aramusha could not help but laugh as the Empress of the Old Republic decided to break the old traditions of the Kaggath and bring a Blaster to a Saber Duel. He had to admit that if he had 2 arms, he would be clapping at the audacity on display right now.

This, right here. This was what he called a Fight. This, was an expression of the Force, in its purity.

"Both sides fighting to the Death, and one side forsakes honor for a chance at victory..." He said as he took a big drink of the Rodian Splice that he had ordered. "This aught to be interesting..." So many other Sith became so bogged down in the ideas of Tradition, that they began to see them as unbreakable tenants. Yet, was the dark side not about forging ones own path? Was it not to break the chains that the weak would use to shackle the strong?

Was it's goal not to be free? Freed from the Enslavement of what others wanted? Freedom to forge ones own path?

"Alright...Time to see if Darth Vrael can force the world to bend..." He said, eyes focusing on what the Dark Lord's next moves would be. Vrael had come into this fighting believing in a sense of Honor, and in treating this exactly as it was, a battle. He had the Kyuzo's respect with that alone, as he himself believed in it as well.

But honor didn't come from claiming others had none, when you were losing. Honor came from forcing the others to follow your own Code. Honor was for the Victor to see followed, not for the loser to cling to as a shield. If Vrael or any of these others siths wanted her to play "Fair", to play by their rules.

Well, they'd just have to make her obey them. That, was what it meant to have Honor, in the Kyuzo's eyes.

 

[Doz Noth]

The Zabrak woman stood at the back of the crowd gathered at the palace letting her eyes scan over the faces while the vid screen flickered beyond. Attired in her uniform, the dark cloak afixed at her shoulders, hung open to the floor. Her saber was fixed at her waist in plain sight, but certainly would not be cause for alarm. Without it she would have felt out of uniform. If tempers were going to flare during the event, then one armed Sith among many was the least of anyone’s worries.

Her comm went off and she grinned well versed in keeping a man waiting, as were many a woman before her time. She had to amend her thoughts however; it was not a matter of if tempers would flare, but when. Before the Kaggath? During? After? Safe creds passing hands today would have been put on all three eventualities. She could well imagine her partner’s mood in such a company as was gathered there today. Certain aspects of those gathered were more befitting of a sporting event rather than an event that would steer the course of the whole Empire.

It was the familiar sound of robotic laughter that drew her attention, her eyes readily finding Shizuo by the cut of his jib. Raising her hand to the man, she would not join him but rather turned to move through the crowd and take up a spot next to Tarsus. Acknowledging within herself the unusual position the Kaggath placed him, she found it hard to imagine being part of such a family as the Drast. Dynasty? Certainly that was more apt at better describing the gulf of difference between the two Sith’s families. Sometimes it was good to be anonymous.

Before she reached him, however, Lyanna pulled her blaster and cemented her place in history for...well a time limit that would only be determined by the end of this fight. If Darth Vrael won today, then the would be Empress would wind up being no more than a footnote in history. The crowd’s reaction became quite vocal and as she drew up behind Tarsus she could see him clenching his fist.

And if the little girl won?

Doz didn’t say anything as she moved to his side remaining silent as she stared at the screen. What was there to say? Anything meaningful could not be uttered in such company. Anything inane…she looked at his face and nodded her head. Well, clearly it would not have been appreciated. Preferring to let him breach the silence in his own time, she let the crispness of tension in the room wash over her form with her arms relaxed at her side. The only thing she knew for certain was that after today nothing would ever be the same.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Vian Windrider]

Vian joined the growing number of souls that decided to gather for the live viewing of the Kaggath. He was dressed in a casual black suit, the jacket of which was concealing a NEWDA and one of his lightsaber hilts on his left arm.

The human acolyte took a chilled glass of dark ale from one of the roaming service droids, and made his way to one of the larger holo displays. Taking a small drink from his glass, he heard the soft outburst of verbal discussed from a fellow Sith @Wit. A blond human female that he had seen around the academy but had never personally met.

He assumed she was commenting on the young Empress, bringing a blaster to a force fight. He couldn’t agree less really. Out of nowhere this young woman, calling herself Empress of an Empire, took control of an army and imposed herself as its leader and now brought that army to Korriban to challenge the Dark Lord for his throne and thus unit the followers of the dark side as one once again. This girl was perhaps history repeating itself.

“Smart perhaps.” he replied with a smile and then continued ,”It’s a little early to tell.”

 

[Boudicca Drast]

Leaning against a pillar in the Great Hall of the Emperor's palace with a glass of Corellian whisky in hand, Boudicca ran her amber eyes over the crowd in contemplative silence. Had she been on Coruscant, she knew, the conversation filling the room would have been carefully phrased words of support for their Empress that all could hear and quiet murmurs of Sith Lords jockeying for power in the event that she lost. Here on Korriban the drinks flowed, wagers were made, and most seemed to believe that Vrael's victory was a forgone conclusion - though some still whispered of his potential defeat. Boudicca smirked behind the rim of her glass and took a drink; unless her dear high-strung cousin had changed significantly in the years since they'd last met, or the old man conveniently broke his hip, she was confident Vrael would be walking away with Lyanna's crown - and the head attached to it.

Moving out of the shadows with a predatory grace, Boudicca sauntered through the crowd of Sith and loyal Imperials until she was at the front of the crowd watching as the ships land on the glassed surface of Medriaas and the Dark Lord and would-be Empress stepped out to meet the other. Wearing a tattered black cloak over her armor Boudicca looked no different than any number of Sith present in the Hall, but as always the derisive whispers followed her; such was the fate of a Drast outside the Core. Turning her head to regard the woman she knew - if only by reputation - as Nymeria, she raised her glass to toast the occasion.

"Settle in for an entertaining fight; I'll bet 10cr on little "Lady Lya" losing a limb in under five minutes. I know it's terribly crude to bet against your own cousin in a Deathmatch, but when they're both family..."

The sound of blasterfire cut her playfully spiteful tone off immediately as amber eyes whipped around toward the holo-display only to see Lyanna holding a blaster in one hand and a saber in the other. Boudicca growled under her breath and grit her teeth, nostrils flaring in outrage and disgust. She didn't realize she was clenching her fist until the glass she held burst, but she ignored the stinging pain where the glass cut and whisky doused the wound.

"I do not care if she somehow wins this Kaggath. That... thing is unworthy of being Sith or a Drast!"

 

[Hera Byrne]

Hera couldn't remember this much excitement in a long time. Well, maybe in a year or so, which drew the attention of the Old Empire just like this because of a world that the Kaggath took place on currently. The crowd of Sith and officers alike had gathered in the palace hall to view and Hera didn't think that were even enough Sith to fill a hall in this part of the galaxy, but surprises were nice and she was happily taking in the event as she watched the holocams project at several angles in order to bring a full view of the show for all to watch. She had found herself a rather fruity but loaded drink and tried her best to push herself as close as she could in order to see what was happening, hisses and some cheers erupted from the crowd as the young Empress opened with the first move.

Hera was curious to how the young Empress would do, she seemed like a woman of inaction, but with the coup that overthrew her brother, she has so far proven she is more menacing than appearances projected. Her techniques were unconventional, their Emperor's more traditional, and it drew in the woman's attention; she sipped her drink as she watched intentionally. She continued to push her way to the front for a better view, would have been nice if they could have been there in person to watch, but knowing the tempers of most on both sides, as well as the unpredictability of terrorist clans in the area....the woman backpeddled on her thoughts, the idea of some of these egotistic fools being blasted into star dust made her smirk.

However, her thoughts were interrupted when a woman beside mumbled something about the child empress, shattering her glass in her agitation (@Rom) and Hera glanced at her with a raised eyebrow along with some other onlookers who were more annoyed they were distracted by the Sith in front of them than the Kaggath.

"I do like her naive determination though, pretty classic Drast." she told the woman who just broke her glass.

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna had originally wished to accompany Darth Vrael aboard one of the warships that went out to meet at the duel, in case the Kaggath did not end up as intended. She was visibly upset at the Emperor's decision to keep her here and assign her to other responsibilities and missions, including overseeing a raiding venture on Tanaab. Regardless, this was important, much more so than the outcome of a single planet. The Sith Crusader was dressed in her famed ebony armor, darkened cloaks wrapped tightly around the lithe figure while hood was lowered to reveal the crimson locks and piercing green eyes. She didn't seem to be in an overtly joyous mood, a look of concern for her Dark Lord's safety while simultaneously anger over the visible disregard Lyanna Drast had demonstrated to their culture and traditions.

She moved towards the greater viewing party at a location near Vian and the Silver haired SIth she had met earlier in the week. Her attention however was elsewhere, intently focused on observing the Kaggath as it played out.

@Taz @Wit

 

[Vian Windrider]

The silver haired young woman seemed to be to busy with the show to bother answering the half breed sith. Vian just shrugged and took another drink of his dark ale as the another female approached them. This woman was oddly out of place as the red head was dress more for combat then she was casual viewing of the fight. As if she expected to be taking part in it or something. Perhaps she expected to be among those the Dark Lord took to the Kaggath.

The expression on the red head's face as she watched the display confirmed his assumptions, at least in his own mind. By now the young empress had done away with blaster and looked to be taking the fight directly at the old man. Vian did not share the concern for the old Sith. The rule of the strong was not the rule of the fair and honorable. Honor and compassion were the ways of the long dead order of light.

"So which Drast you got ?" Vian asked the red head playfully (@Faded Truth )

 

[Cail Keona]

Cail was tired, bruised, and not a bit drunk after the fight he had been in earlier today. The robes of his Sith Marauder armor were open, hanging over his shoulders, revealing a simple tank top underneath. It was stained red with blood, and the stains had seemed to be most frequent around the collar. It was this sense of exhaustion that saw Cail just reclining in a booth while the others were gathered around. It was one of his few breaks from training, study and his other duties, so he was damned if he wasn't going to enjoy this. With a yawn, he kicked his feet up onto the table and let his head rest on the back of his seat while he observed the others as they came and went. Slowly, his eyes slipped closed, only for a moment, though. The sound of blaster fire echoed from the projection and Cail started, his legs falling off of the table and his body jerking upright. The uproar was growing, and Cail couldn't help but smile. He wasn't of the mind to get upset about these things. Sometimes you had to fight a little dirty to win, after all.

Cail made his way over to Boudicca, seeing the tension and rage building within her over this, he couldn't help but smile. She was a bit more personally invested in this situation so it would definitely provide him with an interesting point of view on the fight. As he pushed through the group of sith and over to her, he offered faint nods to those he recognized. Eventually he arrived beside her and laughed heartily.

"Well, Boudicca, you can't deny it is an effective strategy, and certainly one typical of the Imperial Republicans. Either way, its still early to make a decision. More importantly..." He allowed himself to pause for a moment, before continuing. "How ARE you?! It has been far too long since we last spoke. I trust you have been working away like always?" He smiled warmly at her. "Come, I have a booth, we should talk, catch up, enjoy watching this fight with a fine bottle."

((@Boudicca Drast))

 

[Shizuo Aramusha]

Shizuo leaned back in his seat as he saw the two combatants, leaning an elbow on the counter as he watched the two. Vrael igniting his two sabers, Lyanna igniting her Saber and Shoto. The kyuzo nodded, impressed moreso by the younger empress's choice of weapon. A shorter blade in close quarters allowed for a higher amount of maneuverability, and reduced the risk of the two blades blocking eachother's paths.

There were tales from his homeland of those few swordmasters, whose Clovac members could wield fully sized swords with grace and ease. And he did not doubt that Vrael himself was likely a master of his own form of saber combat, the use of 2 full sabers would require a higher level of concentration and coordination. Even worse, despite the slight distance advantage 2 full sabers might offer, if an opponent were swift enough to close the distance, those weapons size could end up becoming a liability.

One had practicality in their choices of weaponry. The other had experience to compensate their weaknesses.

"Now the fight actually begins..." He said, less bemused now as his golden eyes stared up at the displays, an intense silence as he took in both fighters stances, their demeanor, studying all he could of the two. The tiniest slip up from either side, would spell utter doom for that person.

 

[Tarsus Drast]

The cybernetic Drast folded his hands behind his back, under his cloak, as he watched the progress of the fight. The young Empress finally abandoned her blaster and withdrew a short lightsaber, a shoto, which ignited as the challenger made her say closer to the Dark Lord of the Sith. Tarsus didn’t think much of the Jar’Kai method. He had used it once, used it quite extensively, in much the same fashion as Lyanna appeared to be doing. However it had too many inherent flaws and he was certain it was to blame for the maiming he’d suffered all those years ago on Umbara. He had seen many Sith adopting this style lately and had heard a few of the young upstarts call it “cool”. It was, in Tarsus’ opinion, a fad. One that would pass. True it suited some but most picked it simply because it was flashy.

Glancing at the Zabrak next to him he nodded. “Acolyte Noth.” he greeted placing a mechanical hand on her shoulder. As he did so the Sith let his mind slip towards hers. Telepathy was not his strongest suit but through physical contact he could do it effectively enough with the added bonus of ensuring it was completely private while also maintaining his mental shielding.

:So who do you think will come out victorious?: he asked telepathically before adding. :If things go poorly and the Empress comes out on top then we may need to make ourselves scare. I have one or two… contingencies in place. Korriban will not be safe.:

Keeping his hand on her shoulder the Drast’s gaze remained on the Holo-Feed. He knew who he wanted to win, who he hoped would win but it was best to remain open-minded. If Vrael fell then the Old Empire would be undergoing changes and Tarsus was going to make sure he survived such as transition.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna was focused on the battle projected in front of her, her future as well as the well-being of the Empire at stake on a tournament. She had full faith in her Dark Lord, she trusted he would be able to complete this mission and deep down frustrated that she could not be present at his side in case assistance was needed. Green eyes flicked to the side as they caught notice of Vian and his comment. A light smirk came to her lips as she stated, "The true empire believes in no drast but the one true Lord himself. Darth Vrael will punish this scoundrel and send a message to the Republic." A statement that was perhaps a little too serious for the question asked but yet said with such conviction that would led those who heard it, momentarily just raise their morals. The crusader was woefully loyal to the true Empire, and even when in leisure, her actions would reflect such devotion.

Turning towards him, she moved past, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder as she invited him to follow. "Let's get a table and some wine.."

@Taz

 

[Doz Noth]

Upon feeling the weight of his prosthesis upon her shoulder, she turned her head to the left and looked up at the man who stood nearly a hand in height over her own. Her eyes widened slightly while hearing the first brush of his thoughts touching her mind though she did not resist the intrusion. Of all the Sith she had encountered, he was one she knew she could rely upon. She set her eyes back on the view screen before replying verbally, ”Acolyte Drast”.

It didn’t surprise her that he was taking this moment in time, running through the possible results, and formulating strategies to meet each one in a manner that would ensure the best possible outcome for his prosperity. It was what any rational thinking person would be doing. She just knew him to be more capable at plotting out a course than others. Opening her mind to him she was not as adept at formulating true communication, language per say, but rather a melange of images and emotion that would carry with it her intent. With his presence in her thoughts it was not something she had to broadcast, merely open for him to sift through.

:Doz walked alongside Tarsus geared for travel and carrying a bag. The two of them fighting side by side. Their ships flying in formation then entering hyperspace:

There were more than enough emotional undertones to indicate that she thought things would indeed end badly and require their flight. That he intended on the future he envisioned including herself was assumed and with this she was in agreement. Otherwise he would have kept hint of his plans completely to himself. Then she realized he had said ‘we’, and smiled.

”We could be Immortals”, she replied softly. And that was about all she had to say about that.

@Lazy Swordsman

 

[Vian Windrider]

Vian did not share the Crusader's devout loyalty to their Dark Lord, but then he had also never met the most powerful Sith in the Old Empire either. The young half breed's loyalty was to the code of the order. To strength, power, and control. If the old man could not display these things and destroy this challenger then he was not what the Empire to lead them out of this "civil war."

"By our own rules, culture and tradition. Is that not the one who proves the be the strongest of the Kaggath. That only the strongest can hold the title of Dark Lord of the Sith? Thus sending a message not only to the Republic but our Empire as well ?" He replied to the redhead. (@Faded Truth )

Vian had not been witness to such loyalty to the Lord more so to the Empire and it's traditions. His mother and his former Master were both strong believers in the rule of the strong. That a Sith was only powerful by constant testing and struggle, by surviving each challenge and and coming out stronger for the challenge. Faith and loyalty before strength and power was a strange concept.
So when the Crusader asked him to accompany her to a table, he had only one thing to say. "Lead the way."

 

[Sabrina K]

She came to watch the biggest joke in the galaxy, the imperial republica attempt to change the sith. The joke was real, as even if she won, she lost. As she would be it, and as soon as someone was strong enough to kill her they would, thus the cycle of renewal of sith strength would begin again. As the weak will be pushed out wayside, and forced to make room for the strong. That was the way of things, and the way things should be. Sure the was nowt wrong with ambition, but to withhold it from others, was sacrilege of highest order. So this and this alone, she hoped Drast would die, and lose badly.

She came dressed as was proper for a noble woman of her status, though she was not high noble. That was her ambition, something the likes of Drast, would withhold that from her. Her dress red at sides, black in the middle. She choose red as it was her favourite colour, and black went well with it.

She went to a place she could get a good view point, she wanted to see Drast die. She wanted to see her bleed, and if she did not, she hoped the crowd would rip her apart anyway. Sure there would be chaos if they did that, but that is what sith thrive off. She looked around, and hoped someone would notice her. This was the first of these thing she ever been too.