Are You Worthy? [ Knights of Ren ]

[Malok]

O B E L I S K
K R A Y I S S

In the beginning, there was Chaos.

Long before the greatest of the present were even a thought, the fires of war seared the known Galaxy. A titanic conflict waged between a congregation of rebellious souls, a Resistance, and the broken bastion of Galactic Order. The former had, in its nefarious assaults, managed to cut the head off of the metaphorical serpent. Over the forest moon of Endor did the Emperor and his fabled Champion fall, plunging their Empire into disarray. It was in these dire times that greatness rose...it was then that the original First Order came to be.

There were many souls within this momentous movement who sought to restore the days of Imperial glory...yet the means of how were lost in the ravages of war. Such was the dilemma that the famed Kylo Ren faced. He, a scion of the Knights of Ren, sought direction in the ways of the Force. He sought a means to grow his might to the titanic levels of the legendary Darth Vader and his Master. Yet for many moons did the method of this ascension elude him. It was by the sheer will of the Force that he stumbled upon ancient whispers that spoke of a place...a sanctuary for those deemed worthy.

Now, the Successors of Ren descend upon the world lost to the pages of history. Here, those aspiring to live up to the legacy of Kylo Ren gather in the hopes of tasting that sweet ascension and ushering in yet another era of Galactic dominance.

***​

Are all mountains destined to become sand?

Is it simply the natural order of things; for towering shards of creation to be laid so low? Is it to be expected that time will always humble the mighty? Look now upon the Obelisk! Revel in the contradiction to the wasteland it calls home. Although mighty, this tower is but a piece of something much greater. Although awesome, it is but a shadow of what time had buried underneath shifting sands. Is it simply the natural order of things...is it to be expected that all mountains are laid low? If so, is this the fate of all Men? Is this...my fate?

As the harsh winds whipped against the mask of the Sith Lord, his mind pondered the very nature of that which surrounded him. He and few others were a divine contrast to the sand-swept land they had diligently sought out. Texts of old had been deciphered, rumors had been investigated, all culminating in an expedition to Krayiss Two. It was said that the Knight of Ren had come here long ago. It was said that he had entered into the Obelisk a fledgling...but emerged something far greater.

For the Knights that followed, this voyage was practically a "holy" pilgrimage. They were to walk in the footsteps of their "ancestor" and hopefully live up to his name. Yet for the Sith Lord leading the way...this was an academic venture. If there was knowledge to be found underneath the Obelisk, then it would be his. If there was power to be had...then it would be taken. Of course, Darth Metus wasn't above sharing...much unlike most of his modern contemporaries.

For hours had the party moved along the sands, opting to approach on foot rather than by air. This was a smart choice, for the Force only knew what laid about the Obelisk. It would not do to be plucked out of the heavens by a wrathful spirit...or worse. So, the Knights hoofed it ever forward; halting only when the Sith Lord signalled their arrival. Now, there only laid the Obelisk itself between the descendants of Ren and the treasures beneath the sands.

Darth Metus calmly approached the ancient remnant and gave an initial assessment. The stone was intricate. Carved. Countless symbols and markings ran up and down its face. Even for one as well-versed in the past as he, there were some that he couldn't decipher. However, what the Sith could interpret were the ancient tongue of his ilk. A warning...a rather cryptic one...then danced underneath his gaze.

Only the Worthy May Enter.

Cute.

Continuing along, Darth Metus found the key that he was looking for. A command, scribed in the old tongue, that would potentially unlock the wonders of the Obelisk. At first, he parted his lips to utter the incantation...but a change of mind gripped him. Turning, he faced the eldest Knight of the expedition, one [member="Jaron Lesan"], and motioned him forward.

This honor belongs to you, Knight. he said, his voice a metallic hiss directly into the mind of the young man. Utter these words and the path will be opened.

The Sith then pronounced them. Slowly. And stood aside so that the Ren could truly begin the expedition.

[member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Shawn Withers"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The obelisk was all which stood. Everything else was not even a shell of what had once been. The Dark Jedi which carried the title of Ren looked at the desolation caused by time. While the Sith Lord mused about the future of mankind, Jaron found his thoughts on the matter to be the opposite. Everything around them was wasted, but here they stood as masters. The Knight could only see how they would rise above.

His apprentice was with him, @Shaen Withers went where he did. This would test her, test her beyond anything shed faced already. Jaron felt the same was true for him. Still, he took the key in hand and quoted the inscription. This Lord Metus which had been met on Endor was different, but Jaron gave it no otjer thought. He was better than most Sith, and saw the need for this form and face of the dark side.

Sand began to quiver as the ground beneath their feet shook. The door was opening to them. Did this mean they were worthy, or foolish? The answer was yet to be seen. Without any thought Jaron passed inside. Would the others follow?

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Shawn Withers]

The winds ripped at my small cloak. The black was a poor choice to wear in the heat of the star above our heads. Looming in the sky and space. Even if we were the powerful individuals, we were still at the mercies of our bodies. Heat, cold, water, dryness, and even death could still rule who we were. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I held my vibroblade in my hand. A bow would be of no use here. Too close of quarters, and I needed to learn to use the force more than using a weapon I was almost perfect with. I turned around and watched our back sides. Making sure that all of us who were in the group was here. Well, not much to look for other than the Sith Lord and my own Master. I watched as the Lord stood and read the inscriptions on the stone. Transfixed with what happened, he spoke out loud the warning that sent a chill down my spine.

Darth Metus then handed the offer to Jaron. Telling him that he was to open the entrance to this Obelisk. Mysterious and yet filled with a power only known to it. I could feel the force flow as the sands moved. Shifting and changing to open the entry to the cavern. I looked up. The tower of power stood up and was filling me with worry, yet excitement. I wanted to explore, but as I walked in after my Master, being his living shadow, I suddenly realized that the walls were a little closer than I liked. The entrance was tall, but the walls were just... they were squeezing on my personal bubble I liked to keep. I closed my eyes and breathed in. Trying my best not to freak out. I was sweating even when the inside was cool, and the walls almost cold on my hands.

I continued after the Knight of Ren, and turned around to see Metus following with us. We would be sharing this new found knowledge, and even more so I was surprised that a Sith like himself was willing to share. I thought they were ungrateful bastards who shared to "Me, Myself, and I." Still, I was warry of him should he decide to turn. I didn't know his loyalties. Was he independent? The One Sith? The Knights of Ren? All of the above? I couldn't decide which to answer if it were a multiple choice quiz. Still I decided to learn more about this man.

"M'lord, Why is it that you decide to share this with us? I am a lowly apprentice who barely can use a training saber? I ask because I do not understand your motives. You... perplex me."

I wanted to see who he was. What he wanted, and maybe see if he would slip up and say something. Even then, I could be learning more like I was being trained to, from not just Jaron alone. Darth Metus was also well versed in the force according to his position of power. So easily a tip or two wouldn't hurt right?

[member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Darth Metus"],

 

[Malok]

The words of old slithered forth from the Knight, hissing with the might of the Force. At their utterance did the Obelisk respond: holding true to the promise of its inscriptions. The way forward had begun to reveal itself to the bold trio. The sand beneath their feet shifted and quaked ever so slightly: a reaction prompted by a spontaneous rumble. Once flat with no visible signs of entry, the Obelisk's surface shuddered and moved. The sound of stone grinding upon stone heralded the opening of a path: a narrow passage leading into the temple that awaited below.

But did this mean they were worthy? Of was this simply the First Test?

Ever the pessimist, the Sith Lord internally prepared for the latter. After all, if the ancients were as reclusive as history hailed them...then getting to their knowledge wouldn't be as simple as reading words on the door. Nevertheless, the trio had made it this far; and quite possibly here was further than the progress of others before them. Once the way before them was opened, the Knight of Ren straightway entered the darkness. His apprentice was not too far behind.

Darth Metus did not tarry at the entrance either, pausing only to pluck his saber from his belt. Only the Force knew what awaited them, but it never hurt to be fully on guard. His steps were only a hair away from those of the young apprentice, and for the time being he was perfectly comfortable with the silence. There, in that quiet, he could contemplate what possible pitfalls awaited them. However, the young one posed a rather interesting question. It was one that, honestly, she was perfectly justified in asking.

"I have a vision." he said simply. "Equipping you with these spoils will vastly help in making it reality."

With that said, the Sith Lord kept pace as the narrow path winded deeper into the earth. The group would come upon a winding set of stairs that ended with a room that dwarfed the entrance in its entirety. Here, the ceiling was enormously high and vaulted. Here, the ground was polished stone. Here...the way forward was obstructed by a literal wall of fire. "Hold." warned Metus as he briskly stepped before the Knight and his apprentice. An apprehensive step was taken closer to the wall of dancing flames...Only for them to intensify in response to his presence.

ARE YOU WORTHY?​

Suddenly, a cacophony of voices screamed into the very minds of the trio. Each voice repeating the same question over and over again. They had drawn the attention of entities unseen...spirits who guarded the treasures below. For several moments did the inquiry repeat: with each voice attempting to shatter the calm of the explorers. Then, just as the chaos seemed like it couldn't get any louder, the voices spoke again in flawless harmony.

MANY HAVE TRIED, BUT NONE HAVE ENTERED. THEY WERE OF THE LIGHT, YET YOU...YOU SMELL OF THE DARK. BUT DOES THAT MAKE YOU WORTHY? NO...YOU MUST BE TESTED.​

Silence.

At the final, harmonious word did the voices cease to speak. What's more, the inferno completely extinguished in but an instant. It seemed as though the spirits were inviting them deeper; inviting them to accept their test. The Sith Lord turned to look upon the Knight and his apprentice as if to discern whether or not they wanted to continue. But before he could so much as ask, the now-darkened room was disturbed by a pronounced thud. And another. And another. Tremendous footsteps were coming...drawing closer from behind where the inferno once burned.

Snap. Hiss.

Darth Metus ignited his saber, casting a crimson glow about the room. And what was waiting for his sight sent a familiar chill down his spine. "Terentatek." he breathed. While it was true that he had worked around these creatures before, the key difference was domestication. Before him stood a mammoth creature, imbued with ancient might...and that far dwarfed those that were farmed by his mentor's company. There wasn't any turning tail and running from this beast. It was either kill or be killed.

"It's practically immune to the Force. It's venomous. It's strong beyond words. Knight. Young One. I hope you're ready."

With that said, the Sith Lord introduced the beast to wrath personified: an arc of vicious lightning that surged from his offhand. It wouldn't subdue the Terentatek by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a start.

[member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Shawn Withers"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Monsters, it was always monsters. Jaron sighed and activated his lightsaber. Not having the force would be difficult, but he could use it to aid his efforts, just not on the beast. Jaron focused his energy on making his movements faster. Rushing the beast, he slashed at its ankles. It groaned as he made contact, and turned to swipe at him. He would be the distracfion. His movements and slashes would let the others get the kill in fact, [member="Shawn Withers"] could get a clean shot at the eye. An arrow into the brain would kill anything.

"When you get a clean shot, take it," he commanded.

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Shawn Withers]

Are we worthy?

The question would be tested when we had followed down the path. Coming to the door that ignited. The flames hot enough I could feel the bun on my exposed skin. My vibroblade had been activated. The slight hum of the metal vibrating came as well as the two lightsabers that the Knight, and the Sith Lord wielded. They had more suitable weapons than myself. Mostly I was here along for the ride. I was here to learn, and to fight from the sidelines for now. Soon, oh so soon I would be in the thick of it. I knew it. And it seemed like that would have been now. With the door forcing us to face this new threat, we all turned around. The two red blades making the beast even more sinister than it already looked.

The Sith Lord Metus' lighting arced everywhere and then focused upon the beast. stumbling it from the sudden attack, as well as Jaron sliding under and slashing at it's legs. But what made me almost start laughing, was that Jaron told me to take my best shot. He expected me to take out my bow and an arrow, knock it, aim, and fire in dim light against a raging monster that could rip skin to shreds through armor? Including the fact that it's hide was fairly close to lightsaber resistant, a bow would do nothing but piss it off.

Instead, I used the force. I was good at throwing knives. Swords were no different. You had to adjust for the weight, size and how much tumbling it had to go through. However, it wouldn't even spin over end once with what I had for it. Rushing forward after my master, He slid behind the beast. Making it look away from me. Poor mistake number one. Over the hum of the blades, the sound of itself, and all the other lighting cracking, it wouldn't hear me rushing it. Mistake number two. My off hand threw out a force push at it's shoulder as it tried to turn around. Forcing it to look back at me. Which in it looking at me, I threw the sword like a spear. Reflex kicked in. The force aided me making all actions excluding my own seem significantly slower. Including the beast. it's mouth open to roar. It's claws ready to dice, and it's body ready to crush. Only, it didn't think about range.

My sword slung through the air with the aid of telekinesis sliding home through the eye. Enough to stick out of the sucker real good. However, it didn't go all the way. It reared it's head back. Trying to cover it's face. Bending down to let it's back become exposed. Still not good enough. I slid under the beasts head. Stopping under the shadow of the demon. Gathered the force between my hands, and pushed up upon the blade. Jarring the blade through his eye, into the skull, and into the brain. Going hilt deep into the creatures head, I let my body continue to slide out from beneath the beast as it fell face first onto the ground.

Hopefully I hit the right part of it's brain. You never know with creatures like this. Big in size, small brain.

[member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Darth Metus"],