A Welcomed Return

[Darth Prazutis]

Palace of the Dark Lord
Ravelin, Bastion

​As busy as Ravelin was with its filled streets and crowded skies the epicenter of the Imperial Capital was practically devoid of the typical air traffic. This was due to the palace that stood taller than nearly every other building in the city reaching roughly three square kilometers into the sky and sprawling outwards for nearly two square kilometers. From every edifice the banners of the Empire fluttered and twisted in the breeze, and each courtyard was dominated by the statue of some ancient Sith Lord or Imperial Hero who now only existed in historical chronicles and the legends passed down through the generations.

This was a place where the glories of the past clashed with the promises of tomorrow, the many civilians who walked the public yards seemed to revel in the marvelous spectacle. They thought nothing of the many grim-faced guards who routinely patrolled the Palace, nor of the feeling of gut wrenching, black fear that seemed to exude from the citadel's very foundations.

But to [member="Venthis Zambrano"] who lived in the shadow of the legendary Vain Hollow back home this place simply felt like home. As soon as he entered the building the prince was met with a personal escort of Crownguard who ushered him through the lower levels where iconography seemed to cover nearly every surface. However when they moved through a checkpoint where one needed an actual security clearance the change was immediate and alarming.

The upp​er levels were done in the Imperial design motif of stark empty walls illuminated by white and red phosphorescent panels built directly into the walls themselves. The halls were noticeably more vacant as well, with only the occasional officer or soldier marching down the hall. These levels were both offices and living quarters alike as he climbed higher and higher. There was a security checkpoint manned by Crownguard alongside the Imperial Sentinels at the apparent end of this level.

Once again everything changed.

The very top levels were reserved for the personal suites of the Sith Emperor and the Shadow Hand. These levels were far more familiar to the young Zambrano they were done with black marble flooring and and grayish silver steel walls done with the iconic imperial panelinghttps://pre00.deviantart.net/c091/t...s_imperial_wall_panel_by_balsavor-d47rrju.jpg. These halls were filled with exquisite artwork depicting many ancient Sith Lord and historic battles of old, busts of various figures chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. It was a truly ornate design blended perfectly with the imperial motif. The Crownguard dominated these halls that were mostly empty of other personnel.

Until he was finally brought to an office where his escorts left him.

The first thing noticeable about this office was that its door was flanked on either side by a pair of guardsmen unlike anything ever seen throughout the structure. They were clad in crimson armor and each warrior carried a different wea in his hand. These were the Nerean Crownguard, the elite protectors of the Dark Lord and Shadow Hand that numbered exactly eight four for each. When he app​roached they remained silent as one opened the door to let him inside.

As he entered there were two more of these guardsman in the chamber of this large office where the far wall was dominated with a large desk and chair, the rooms walls held artwork and there was even a bookshelf in one corner of the room that held a variety of books, scrolls, tomes, etc. Darth Prazutis sat at the desk clad in a ornate red robe that held sith runes on the front. The Shadow Hand stood at the sight of his son his full attention focused on him through his molten eyes "Welcome my son to our new home. Hopefully the walk was not too arduous. It's good to see you again returned to us."






​

 

[Venthis Zambrano]

Some knowledge requires sacrifice to be gained.

Venthis seemingly appeared in front of the Palace. Existence seemingly folded, before it would tear allowing Venthis to step out of it. In his time away he had studied. New found power, and various abilities were under his arsenal. Though with this came... pain.

The young prince's face appeared scarred and almost completely drained of life. His eyes pure red, with obsidian black rings surrounding them. His face was shielded by a hood, though once the guards approached him he would gaze to each of them with an almost paralyzing stare. They were sure it was him, simply from that. Though they began to guide him through the facility. Each level changing, and changing. Almost like each was a facade to the next.

Eventually, they found there way to a level which Venthis seemingly disregarding most of the guards, not paying much attention to them. He weirdly arrived without his infamous Bloodsguards, which was rarely seen before Venthis went missing.

Though, alot has changed since then.

He entered the room, approaching his father. Being not far from the desk he rose from before Venthis would keep a stare onto him for a moment after he finished speaking. Then... he would bow his head.

"Greetings, Father. It's been too long, sadly I've been too busy with my studies. Though with such investment into them, I've made great progress." He almost stated, not breaking the apparent gaze between the two. "I like this place." He concluded with.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]​

 

[Darth Prazutis]

The boy's cold stare at his father amidst those brief moments of silence would speak volumes to [member="Venthis Zambrano"] at just how much had changed since he disappeared. Braxus Zambrano was an entirely different man both physically and otherwise. The most noticeable change would be the rune on his forehead much like [member="Darth Carnifex"], a rune that marked him as following in the footsteps of many great Dark Lords before them. The boy's stare met a black void of nothingness within the molten eyes of his father, it was like staring into the eyes of death itself in physical form. It was almost chilling to stare into even for Sith, for others to bear the full brunt of his stare without any of the facades he might put up it must be terrifying.

Venthis wasn't the only one who gave away more for the price of power in that time.

"Let me look at you." Prazutis said rounding the large desk to approach the younger boy. A simple gesture pulled the hood down revealing the scarred, lifeless face of his son and the boy's red and black eyes. When one devoted themselves entirely to the dark side and its teachings there were many prices to pay for the power that it could give them. Every successful Sith Lord consciously chose to pay the price along the way. While he could only teach his son so much the boy would eventually need to branch off on his own, he heeded his father's lessons on the price of power well.

"Let me see." Darth Prazutis said simply touching the boy's head with two fingers. Through the force he was able to enter the boy's mind and see just how far he had come, the lessons he had learned, and the prices he had paid. "You have done well my son and you have completed the first stages on your path to power. The willingness to pay the price you paid is one that separates servants." Prazutis said gesturing to the pair of Crownguard in the room "From rulers. Walk with me." The Shadow Hand began walking towards the door of the office waiting for him outside to stand beside him before slowly continuing their walk. The crimson armed guards silently responded with two walking a comfortable distance in front and two a comfortable distance behind.

"This is our home now. The Sith called for leadership and House Zambrano has answered. Where did you find yourself among the stars my son?"