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"A DARK PILGRIMAGE" RECORD 01: A DARK EXODUS

[BEGINNING PLAYBACK]

Dromund Kaas, New Kaas City Starport

04:25 PM
[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 867 ABY


The view of Kaas City from the nearby starport never ceased to amaze Alisteri. He breathed a small sigh through his mask, one of the many crates outside of the starport serving as his seat for the moment. Once the city was the closest largest place that he had ever had the distinction of calling home, yet now it served only as an awe-inspiring reminder of what he had lost. Despite his best efforts, and the best efforts of so many brave soldiers, Sith, diplomats, merchants and more, the fall had still come. Despite every fleet and soldier, it had come. No army, no fleet, no Sith could stop the inevitable in the end. It had come, the day that he had been dreading since he first entered the ranks of the Sith.

The Sith Empire had fallen.

What a bitter thought that is. He mused, his gaze flickering over the various buildings that he could make out and recognize at this distance. For now the planet was calm, eerily so. He had little doubt that the peace would last though, what with the government officially gone. The masked man shuddered to think about what would become of the dark city, of what the people of the planet would do to each other without any law or order to stop them. What he hated was the thought of what would happen to the planet though, in terms of the various nations that would be vying for the lands that the great Empire once occupied.

Vultures, murderers, and fething conquerors the lot of them.

The idea of any neighboring faction setting even a single boot on the surface of Dromund Kaas disgusted him to the core. Vile, treacherous and just as viscous as the Sith themselves, said neighbors had torn apart the Empire from all sides. Pecking and pecking until the surface broke and they could force their greedy beaks in to taste the glory of the Sith Empire. It was a terrible fate, to be carved up by vagabonds and Jedi alike, but it was one that Alisteri couldn't prevent. At this point, he doubted that anyone really could have. As much as he would prefer to fight and die to protect the worlds and people of the now-fallen Empire, the Acolyte couldn't do it. He would only be throwing his life away to buy minutes at best. Another sigh escaped him, this one full of frustration and malice as he slid off of his perch.

Thankfully though, there were some people that he could save.

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"...in line, everyone please stay in line. I understand that you're all shocked and eager to leave but we must be calm." Spoke one of the many priests overseeing the entrance into the ship Altorius. The vessel was meant for war and trade, to be used as a reliable cargo frigate during times of need in the Empire. Now though, it would be the source of salvation for the entirety of the Dark Wonosa Cult.

Well, and a few more stragglers and lucky evacuees.

Alisteri and the cult had secured the ship a few months before the fall, and he was glad to have it now. Most of the cult had already been forced to flee their home once before, many of them refugees from various planets throughout the war. They were all eager to get off Dromund Kaas before it shared a similar fate to their homeworlds. The crowd vying for entrance was fairly mixed. Whilst the majority were members of the cult, the cult being here as a whole, there were also plenty of other people that had heard of the ship and were eager for a ride off into somewhere safe. Under Alisteri's direct order, as well as their teachings, the Priests and Prelates of the cult wouldn't turn away a single soul wishing to board the Altorius. That proved to be a bit of a hinderance as well as a boon however, what with all sorts of citizens and some military personnel trying to get aboard as quickly as possible. Thankfully the small militia within the cult kept the peace by their presence alone, meaning that most of the issues only devolved into a bit of yelling at most.

Many of the voices were silenced or quieted though as the Sith Acolyte strode into the hangar. Even those not in the cult knew that Alisteri was their leader, he and the cult had gained a bit of a reputation on the planet after all. He raised his head slightly in acknowledgement of the assembled crowd as he walked past them towards the frigate. "My friends, my family, and my fellow denizens of the Empire..." His voice silenced all others as it echoed in the hangar, the only other noises being the movement of cargo to the ship. "Our mighty empire has fallen. This we all know, for we would not be here today if such was not the case. I can see that I am not the only one saddened by this news."

The Priests and Prelates gave the High Priest a bow as he passed by and stopped in front of them, right in front of the entrance to the ship. "However, it is with the death of the Empire that we must find kindling and embers in the ashes." A simple gesture to the closest person in the crowd later, and said boarder was walking up to the Sith and shaking his hand before passing him to enter the ship. "These are not pleasant times. These are the days that will make or break a people." One after another, in silence, people approached the Acolyte, shook his hand, and then boarded the ship.

"I for one, have not fought hard just to see the glories of the Sith crumble away. I have not watched brave comrades and soldiers sacrifice themselves to save this Empire just to let it all fade from memory." They kept coming, and he kept shaking their hands and speaking without missing a beat. "You have not lived your lives, served your Empire, and sought sanctuary from its collapse just to let it die. We are remnants now, my friends."

"The remnants of a now-dead empire, seeking refuge amongst the stars. And thankfully, we are not the only remnants of our empire..."

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:"...Across the stars and planets, across the vast stretches of the Empire there are more remnants. More worthy sons and daughters that called the Empire their home.": Alisteri's voice echoed slightly over the comms all throughout the Altorius as the refugees and cultists began settling into the ship and putting away the belongings that they carried with them. Some of them had only brought the clothes on their backs, others carried mementos and knickknacks that they valued, and others still brought all that they could carry. :"Take pride in that fact, my comrades. Take pride in what you are. We are the remnants of an Empire, the Sith Empire.":

:"We are the faithful, the desperate, the remnant, and the courageous, and most of all, we are heirs to the greatest nation of this age.":

Soon all that intended to leave the planet aboard the frigate were inside and settled. From crew to passenger, from cultist to citizen to soldier, all sat around the ship and waited for the final command of liftoff. :"Look at those around you, think of those that died valiantly so that you could be here now, think of those that are not here with us that should be. Think of your people, of our people. Think of your lives under the Sith Empire. That is what we are the remnants of, that is what we are the heirs to. Not to greedy and malicious Sith like those that would abandon us for their own selfish means and devices, not to the traitorous Sith that spout heretical beliefs and would seek to corrupt our Empire to the core, not even to the great fleets and armies that would fight and wage war across the galaxy, we are not beholden or responsible to any of them!":

:"The people around you, the Empire that we once lived in, even the very ship that you have embarked upon, all are products of people just like you. Loyal servants and citizens of the Empire, people of all species and creeds with hearts to rival Rancors!": Every eye in the bridge was upon Alisteri as he spoke into the comm-unit, a wave of his hand serving as the order for the engines to ignite and begin lifting the ship off of the ground of the hangar. "As we make this exodus, as we leave behind our homes in sadness, do not weep. Rejoice my comrades, my family. Rejoice, for now our destiny is our own! The Dark Side has gifted us with a chance at life, a chance at freedom. We will not squander that gift. Salvation awaits us all."

The Altorius rose out of the hangar, soon climbing up into the sky. The cities of Dromund Kaas began to grow smaller and smaller with each second, soon fading into the background entirely as the ship breached into the atmosphere. "Wipe away your tears, forget your regrets or hesitations, and accept your new opportunities for we are now aboard the Altorious. For those that do not know, that is the old Sith word for sanctuary. Our sanctuary. So please, rest now and be calm. And enjoy the ride to salvation, and to the other remnants just like us." Finally he stepped away from the comm-unit, quickly bringing his mask back to his face and donning it before offering the crew on the bridge a respectful nod and a small bow.

"Take us away my friends, I shall leave you to your duties."

Esstran Sector
07:50 PM (Dromund Kaas Time)

[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 867 ABY

[ENDING RECORD PLAYBACK]