Private Arise Ye Wretched Dead

[Darth Nefaron]

The boy has grown strong. His power is no longer restrained by simple morality.
​

From his shadowy corner, Nefaron watched with great pleasure as the horde of rushing Sith spawn was brought to heel, their minds twisted to the service of the Corpse Lord's Apprentice. It seemed Veradun was an eager student, for his use of Qâzoi Kyantuska was not suggested by the Dark Lord but employed through Veradun's own quick thinking. Though the creatures resisted at first, the will to dominate was not something that could be easily overcome, especially by these beasts whose minds had been degraded over centuries of inbreeding and cannibalism. In the end, the knelt before the Apprentice while the Master slipped from the shadows, pale and applauding the work of his most practiced student.

"Well done, my boy. See how our lesser beings bend to our will, eager to carry out our every command. In time, you will be able to control even the strongest of beings, but this rabble will suit our purpose for the time being."

Nefaron stood at his apprentice's side, admiring the horde of Sithspawn now in the service of the Sith once more. Though the Corpse Lord had his suspicions, he knew with some certainty that this tomb was the place they had been looking for.

"Tell me, my young Apprentice, what do you know of Darth Krayt and his Empire?'

A simple question of history, of course, but an important one. Darth Krayt's Empire was short-lived but key to the survival of the Sith as an order following the Death of Sidious. Some believed the true Sith to be annihilated with the end of Bane's line, but such a claim was hardly accurate. To be Sith is a commitment to certain ideals, not a single bloodline or lineage that one needs to adhere to. That being said, the link to past Sith had been used to great success by Masters who sought to renew an Apprentice's commitment to the Dark Side. Veradun did not require such simple things, but a touch of destiny would only lend more credence to the idea of Nefaron's omnipotent power and ensure the boy remained loyal for as long as the Terror Lord needed to carry out his grand design.

Nefaron pressed forward as Veradun spoke, the crowd of sithspawn parting as the pair walked further into the tomb. Great carving and statues remained, images of Sith Lords and events that had been long lost to history or were hardly worth remembering by current Sith. As they walked, Nefaron unleashed torrents of lightning to ignite braziers at the side of the tomb, providing light as they continued on.

"Though the One Sith failed, they were not wiped out as our Order often is following the consolidation of power by a single Dark Lord. Krayt had his loyalists, those who remained on Korriban and other important worlds, who fled into hiding. Of course, they also occasionally threaten the galaxy, but most were eliminated as the years went by. Yet a mystery remained concerning the most loyal of Krayt's servants, one who ensured the Sith survived to this very day."

As Nefaron finished, the pair arrived before a great door, etched with symbols and emblems dating back to the era of Darth Krayt. Most were unrecognizable, but a single name could be made out in the ancient script.

Darth Nihil
​

"Long have Sith historians sought the resting place of one who heralded in the rebirth of our Order. We are not the first to come to this place, but we will be the first to leave with its secrets and our lives. This door requires a blood sacrifice, but the blood of our corrupted servants will not do."

Nefaron drew a blade and held out his hand, palm up, looking expectantly to his Apprentice.

"Only the blood of a worthy heir to Nihil's legacy will do. Let us see if you pass the test, my Apprentice."

TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Veradun continued to pour his will into the silent command issued over the charging Sithspawn - if this didn’t work, then he would have to resort to using his blade, until he either killed them all or he was dragged under the depths. Fearlessly, the young Sith Apprentice stared down the charging horde…and then…they all froze in place. In an instant, he felt the spell connect him to their minds as it took hold and brought them all into his service.

Just like that…he had a small army of Sithspawn slaves to do his bidding. A cold and cruel smile slowly spread across his face as his hand lowered back to his side; a silent, mental command ordering them all to bow before him was sent across and he watched in dark glee and satisfaction as it was obeyed without question or argument.

Of course, it was at that moment that his Master stepped back out of the shadows, applauding with delight at the quick thinking of his Apprentice. A strange surge of satisfaction filled the Nagai youth when he heard those words from Darth Nefaron: well done by boy. He stood a little straighter and lifted his chin ever so slightly in pride as he turned his triumphant gaze back to the Dark Lord as Nefaron declared that, in time, he would wield enough power to have influence or control over even stronger beings than these meager Sithspawn.

For a moment, Master and Apprentice stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing upon the kneeling servants that would do anything that Veradun told them to. Veradun mused that, not so very long ago, he was like them…a slave forced to kneel at the master’s feet. Forced to obey or face punishment…or even death.

And now look at him…an enslaver himself. Another bridge burned that separated him further from his beloved family and his morals.

"Tell me, my young Apprentice, what do you know of Darth Krayt and his Empire?”

The Nagai was thoughtful for a moment as his Master pressed onward, the Sithspawn parting ways to allow the Sith Lord to pass by them, sinking lower in subservice as Veradun followed alongside Nefaron. “Not much, I am afraid. I know that Darth Krayt founded what is known as the One Sith during the Vong invasion, and he fashioned himself to be the Dark Lord of the Sith, abolishing Darth Bane’s Rule of Two. He gathered others to serve him,though under his rule there could only be one Dark Lord at a time…though his Order allowed for other Sith to exist, unlike with Darth Bane’s philosophy.”

Deeper the two of them went into the structure, this tomb, the Sithspawn trailing behind them like obedient little pets. They were entirely under Veradun’s enthrallment now, the spell and his own will having ensured their total subjugation. He mused as they pressed further inward just how good it felt to have such control, such dominion, over others. He watched as his Master lit cold and dead braziers with crackling streams of lightning, which cast their glow over the tomb and provided light for them to see by.

As they continued, Nefaron shared a bit more history with Veradun about the One Sith, noting that despite their failure they were not wiped out entirely. In fact, one being alone was responsible for the preservation of the Sith Order…and this mysterious being was the very reason why the Sith Order still existed today, nearly a thousand years later.

Both Master and Apprentice came to a stop directly in front of a great door, and Veradun’s pale eyes traced over the structure. There were symbols and markings etched upon its surface, most of them unreadable from the ravages of time…but something, a name, did stand out amongst the rest of it. Veradun tilted his head slightly as he read it: Darth Nihl.

"Long have Sith historians sought the resting place of one who heralded in the rebirth of our Order. We are not the first to come to this place, but we will be the first to leave with its secrets and our lives. This door requires a blood sacrifice, but the blood of our corrupted servants will not do." Nefaron stated after a moment of silence, drawing a rather curious and suspicious gaze from Veradun.

The door required a blood sacrifice for entry…and yet the Sithspawn wouldn’t do? What was their purpose here then? How did Nefaron think they were going to succeed where others had failed in getting beyond this door?

Pale blue eyes fell towards the blade that Nefaron suddenly produced, his confusion only growing deeper as he heard what his Master said to him next: "Only the blood of a worthy heir to Nihl's legacy will do. Let us see if you pass the test, my Apprentice."

Did…did Darth Nefaron truly think that Veradun had any sort of relation or tie to this long dead Sith? Was the Corpse Lord crazy?!

Those white, dead eyes were staring at Veradun expectantly and so, despite his immense disbelief - he took the offered dagger into his own hand. For a while, the Nagai youth did nothing but stare at the door, then at the dagger in his hand. Was…was it possible? Could it be possible? He didn’t think so, but there was really only one way to find out the truth.

Without further ado and without so much as a flinch, he draw the blade across his other palm and watched as dark red blood immediately welled up from the cut and began to drip down from his hand and to the darkened floor. Then, as if guided by some unknown intuition, he smeared his blood directly over the etched name of Darth Nihl, painting it crimson with his own life essence.

Darth Nefaron ​

 

[Darth Nefaron]

As the Dark Lord suspected, the boy was drawn to the tomb.​

Nefaron watched quietly as Veradun’s blood became one with the stone, the dark ichor of his power filling the grooves that made up the long-dead Sith’s title. At first, the temple was silent, but soon the mechanisms of ancient machines sputtered to life and the great door began to open for the pair, though the process was slow and provided Nefaron a moment with his Apprentice to prepare him for what was to come.

“I despise bloodlines, Veradun. The idea that power need not be earned but instead passed down is inherently against the ideals of our order. But you carry in you the legacy of the Sith; our Order lives on due to the actions of your ancestor. He stayed true to the cause, even as his onetime allies chose to become warlords and petty bandits. It is my hope that you use this knowledge to guide you in the future, but one final test remains.”

Nefaron entered the chamber first, torches of blue fire greeting them as they leaped to life after a millennium of silence. The chamber itself was vast, murals of the One Sith and the achievements of Darth Nihl loomed over them as the Corpse Lord approached a decorated sarcophagus, one that had not been disturbed since its occupant was entombed within. Nefaron’s hand rested atop its stone surface as he allowed himself to sink into the Dark Side once more.

“This is a rare sight, Veradun. The tomb of a Dark Lord that has not been disturbed by the living. Until now, at least.”

Yet the Terror Lord made not move to open the sarcophagus; instead, he seemed to toy with his gauntlet for a moment.

“As I said, Apprentice. Power must be earned.”

In a sudden motion, Nefaron wheeled on his Apprentice and from his wrist dispensed a gas, an orange cloud that now filled the air and filled the boys' lungs by any means possible.

“Long have you been haunted by legacy, now it is time to prove that you will become the greatest Sith this galaxy has ever known. That, or you die forgotten in this chamber.”

Nefaron vanished, once more consumed by shadow as the world fell apart around the boy, leaving him alone with the stone sarcophagus of his ancestor. For a long moment, silence was the only sensation available to young Veradun, until the stone lid of the sarcophagus exploded with a truly terrible force. From the darkness of the sarcophagus rose a Nagi warrior, renewed with fresh life as his bones were once more given flesh. It was as if he had leaped from one of the many murals on the walls and sought to claim ancient vengeance. His armor restored, his strength returned, the Dark Lord took up his massive lightsaber once more and ignited its crimson blade. Nihl looked upon his descendant with disdain and disgust, as if the boy were little more than an insect, entirely unworthy of the power that had been granted to him by the Dark Side.

"Pathetic."

The Sith Lord raised his weapon and swung down at the boy, a single killing blow to dispose of the boy and his dreams of power once and for all. Either he would fight and triumph or his bones would join his ancestors.

TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

To Veradun’s utter shock…the ritually sealed door seemed to accept his blood offering - and his mouth dropped open as the mechanism sealing the door whirled to life, opening to reveal a chamber beyond for the two Sith. The Nagai youth let the silence hang for a moment as his mind processed this revelation. If what Nefaron had said was true, then only the blood of Nihl’s heir could have worked.

That meant that Veradun had an ancient Sith ancestor, and he was trespassing into his tomb.

Though still in a state of wonder and shock, the boy was quick to listen to his Master’s words. He knew the Sith Lord hated bloodlines, that power was inherited instead of earned as it should have been. His Master’s views were flawed, for the Nagai had seen personal experience that even if someone carried a powerful bloodline, they still had to earn their place. His sister was one such example; in her veins ran the blood of the great Darth Marr - but she wasn’t handed her power through her blood. She had to take it and make it her own.

But Veradun wasn’t about to argue with the Dark Lord beside him - not when he’d come this far already without provoking his Master’s terrible ire.

Veradun cast a somewhat wary gaze at Darth Nefaron when he heard that one final test yet remained; he had a sick and twisted feeling in his gut that whatever this next test would be, would be the greatest challenge he’d faced yet. It made him nervous, but there was no turning back now.

The Dark Lord stepped into the chamber first, and sconces on the walls leapt to life with blue flame as if becoming aware of the intruders. Veradun stepped in behind his Master, despite his growing apprehension, and beheld a vast chamber filled with murals of an ancient Sith culture long since lost to time. In the chamber rested a massive sarcophagus, and Veradun knew that entombed within was his late ancestor. Something about that knowledge and this moment felt…strangely sacred to him. Like he wasn’t supposed to be here, disturbing the dead. His…family.

The boy shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of the thought and the sentiment. This individual was not truly family - and Veradun knew that if Nefaron had his way, he’d never know what it meant to have family ever again.

The boy’s pale eyes watched as his Master rested a hand atop the sarcophagus, and he felt the shift in the dark side take place. His Master was drawing on the dark web of the Force…but for what reason?

“This is a rare sight, Veradun. The tomb of a Dark Lord that has not been disturbed by the living. Until now, at least.”

Blue eyes fell to the gauntlet that always rested on the Dark Lord’s arm, and he felt a stab of icy cold dread fill him. His experiences with that thing were never pleasant and he never knew what was to come next when Nefaron used it. He hoped his Master wouldn’t use it here, of all places, but that hope faded as quickly as it came when he heard the next words out of his Master’s lipless mouth.

Power must be earned.

The Dark Lord whirled on his Apprentice and released an orange gas that quickly filled the space and wrapped around the boy before he could really react. He turned away and shut his eyes, trying to hold his breath against whatever nightmare his Master had just unleashed on him - but it was in vain. The orange gas had already been inhaled to some degree and he couldn’t hold his breath forever.

Another deep prickle of hatred for the decrepit corpse of a man crept over the young Sith as the Dark Lord vanished once again, leaving Veradun to face his last test alone.

The gas’s effects went to work almost immediately, once inhaled. Veradun experienced wild sensations at first that were completely disorienting and panic inducing. His heart rate accelerated to a point where he thought for sure his heart would leap from his chest, but that soon became the least of his worries.

The lid of the sarcophagus exploded outward with great force, and Veradun was forced to stumble backwards and shield his face from the bits of stone that exploded outwards. From its depths rose a figure that chilled the young Nagai to his very bones - the gas seemed to have awakened the undead, which also just happened to be Veradun’s ancestor, Darth Nihl.

Who was now bearing down on the boy, his massive lightsaber igniting in lethal fashion. Veradun faced the figure, eyes locked with a Sith Lord who had been long dead, now seemingly returned to life. Nihl was an imposing figure, eyes of burning crimson staring holes through the youth as he leered at his descendant, the Sith Lord’s face tattooed to resemble that of a skull. His armor gave the same impression as well, and Veradun knew he was going to be in for the fight of his life here.

But that was the point, wasn’t it? Nefaron wanted a capable and powerful Apprentice - how better to prove that then pit the boy against a powerful foe?

With an uttered word in disdain, Darth Nihl made his first move - swinging his great lightsaber down at Veradun in hopes of killing him quickly. But Veradun was Nagai too, and fighting was in his blood. His training kicked in and as he dodged to avoid the heavy blow, his own saber ignited with an angry hiss and he lunged forward with a vicious stab towards the flank of the risen Sith Lord, his own pale face contorting with his violent intentions.

Family or not - Veradun was determined that he would not die here this day, and certainly not at the hands of some undead Sith Lord.

Darth Nefaron
​

 

[Darth Nefaron]

Darth Nihl said nothing to the boy. It was as if he were a statue come to life.
​

Still, this statue did wield a lightsaber, and though Veradun had managed to dodge the blade and sought to strike back, he was facing a Dark Lord of legend. Nihl deflected the blade with ease and, with a powerful kick, sent the boy flying backwards. With his newfound freedom, Nihl stepped free from the ruins of his sarcophagus and admired the chamber he had been placed in, inspecting the murals of his past deeds and his service to the great Darth Krayt. Perhaps he was distracted, maybe he missed the glory of past days, but the Dark Lord appeared to give in to melancholy.

"You come here, blood of my blood, for nothing. The Dark Side is oblivion, nothing more."

Nihl turned to face the boy, this descendant of his supposedly great blood. Though his eyes held great sadness, it was clear he was not here to warn the boy away from a dark path.

"If you wish to die, then so be it. I'll extinguish our acursed bloodline."

The Dark Lord advanced on the young Nagai, his lightsaber at his side as he picked up speed, coming in to strike at him with another overhead blow. Yet that blow never came down, for the Dark Lord's attention was pulled away by a horde of approaching sithspawn, the very same who had been entrusted to guard his tomb, but now they served a new master, a boy who now challenged their risen Lord to a duel to the death. The creatures rushed Nihl, but the Sith Lord showed little concern for his servant's betrayal. Instead, he turned his blade upon them, cutting through them with little effort.

"See how the Dark Side turns on itself. Just as you will one day turn on your master. What point is there?"

Nihl continued to cut through them, but his blood-soaked rampage began to slow, as if the renewed power in his bones could not keep up this kind of assault. So, he let the little spawn poke and stab at him; instead, he turned upon his descendant and pushed toward him again.

"We can return to the void together. Let us leave this galaxy to its well-deserved fate."

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​