Private Arise Ye Wretched Dead

[Darth Nefaron]

"Ensure the girl is contained in the central spire. She'll surely die if she makes it out to the open plains surrounding the fortress."
​

Nefaron had been busy since his return from his meeting with Tsis'Kaar leadership. While he was still very much an outsider, he'd already wormed his way to Malum's side, and he would continue to provide his counsel. Perhaps the boy would see some wisdom in his guidance one day, but there was still much to do. For too long, Nefaron had relied on torment and savagery to build his Apprentice's power, but there was more to the Dark Side than simple slaughter. The time had come to show his Apprentice the past, the past that the Academy on Jutrand would twist to their own ends. There was no room for half-truths when training an Apprentice, especially one as gifted as Veradun.

But there were a few final preparations to take care of, especially now that a new prospect had arrived on Anoat. Nefaron would attend to her, but for the time being, she would have to stew in the Darkness of the Corpse Lord's fortress.

"Lock the fortress down. Turn away any ships attempting to land, kill anyone who dares enter this place."

The beast to which Nefaron spoke said nothing. Since the loss of his vast population of slaves, the Dark Lord sought to conserve the number of Legionaries and instead rely on the horrific creations of his laboratory. Veradun had defeated one champion, and so Nefaron had recycled the armor and improved with his newest creation, a new master of the watch for the fortress. He did not speak, but this beast held command while the Dark Lord and his Apprentice were away.

While he watched the armored monstrosity depart, Nefaron activated his communicator to contact his Apprentice, no doubt familiarizing himself with his vast quarters and the well-stocked training suite that had been provided for him.

"Apprentice, meet me in the central hangar. You will not need your armor; black robes and a cloak will suffice."

They were to remain safely anonymous, even in Sith space. They thought they would travel to worlds that were deemed safe by Sith standards, but that did not mean there weren't knives hiding in the dark, and they were eager to strike the Corpse Lord and his young Apprentice. Even the Corpse Lord had donned fresh robes, black as night, and his ruined face safely hidden away from society. They would travel in a simple two-seater craft of his own design. This outing was to be its first official mission, and the Corpse Lord had no doubt that it would perform well in the coming days.

Perhaps his Apprentice would earn such a fine vessel for himself. If he proves himself in the coming days.


TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Conditions for Veradun had improved greatly since he had finally surrendered and proven his loyalty to his Master on that fateful day that he left the slave pits. He had been greeted with a feast, just as his Lord had promised him - and an entire section of the fortress, vast quarters with spectacular views out over the ravaged plains of Anoat - the domain of his Master, and now himself.

Upon proving his worth, he had made it a point to honor the oath he had made and Darth Nefaron rewarded Veradun by elevating him once more to the status as his Apprentice. He had made him second in command above the rest of the rabble that called the Fortress home, and as such the young Nagai was given what was owed to someone of his station.

But he didn’t take any of it for granted. All of this was permitted to him by his Master, and the Dark Lord could just as easily rip it away from him again if he so pleased. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t use his new quarters and the spacious training suite that had been provided to him. When Veradun wasn’t serving the Corpse Lord, he was here - training relentlessly. He had to strengthen himself, grow physically more powerful, and further hone his skill with various weapons. He had a combat training droid, programmed to push him to his limits and force him to adapt and overcome challenges. The droid was set to non-lethal actions, for now, but that would change in due time.

It was there in the dojo that Veradun received his summons from his Master.

“Yes, my Lord.” the gaunt Nagai responded, before he quickly put away the katana he’d been using and ordered the droid into rest mode. The boy stripped from his sweaty tunic and trousers and quickly bathed in his personal refresher, before grabbing a set of inky black robes from his resting quarters that he then wrapped around himself, finishing the outfit off with a plain black and hooded cloak, as his Master had instructed.

Within a handful of minutes, the young Sith was traversing the stony labyrinth of halls towards the main hangar, and soon he emerged and laid eyes upon a new ship - sleek and black and shaped like an arrowhead. Pale blue eyes looked over the vessel with admiration and there was a glimmer of want there.

Oh what he wouldn’t do to have a ship like that all to himself.

Veradun then turned his attention to the Corpse Lord and once he was near, he dropped to a knee and bowed his head. He hated kneeling, but he understood that as the Sith Lord’s apprentice, it was a gesture expected of him. Once due respect had been rendered, the boy rose back to his feet and stood straight and confidently there beside Darth Nefaron.

“What is your bidding this day, my Master? How shall I serve you?” he asked in a level tone of voice, though he was curious as to what the Dark Lord had planned. Clearly they were going out on an adventure, and he hoped Nefaron would clue him in as they departed his… no, their, domain.

Tag: Darth Nefaron ​

 

[Darth Nefaron]

"Today, my Apprentice, we are leaving Anoat for some time. It is time you learned the history of our Order, learned why we walk our current path."
​

It pleased Nefaon greatly to see Veradun become so subservient. He was no fool; he knew that the blood in his Apprentice veins boiled each time he had to bow and kneel, but such measures were necessary so long as the Corpse Lord wielded ultimate power. He was growing stronger, his cold rage only deepened his connection to the Dark Side, but it was not nearly enough to even hope to challenge Nefaron for the title of Master. But it was time to take that next step, to give Veradun a chance to develop his connection to the force further and unlock the power he so desperately sought. Yet even now, the Dark Lord sought to gain yet more control over the boy, to tighten the leash around his neck until he knew no other way of living. Soon, the only true family Veradun would have would be Darth Nefaron.

The poor boy.​

"I have readied a ship for us. We shall travel alone, no escort, no grandeur. Remember well, Apprentice, we face enemies within our own Order, and we must bide our time before confronting them. Together, we wield great power, but we cannot match the vast legions and armadas of ships they can turn against us. Not yet, in any case."

While Nefaron was certain that he held the one true vision for the Sith, he was not blind to the fact that his power meant nothing when a fleet of capital ships could turn his fortress into molten slag within a few hours. The Corpse Legion was strong; it numbered in the thousands after all, but Nefaron's fleet had yet to truly materialize. That problem would also be rectified soon enough, but for now, stealth was the greatest weapon the pair wielded. They would wield it well in the coming days, as they delved into the dark past of the Sith.

"Many worlds have been touched by the Dark Side, from the days of our split with the ancient Jedi to our modern era. It is these ancient worlds that I seek to bring you to, to stand in the shadow of long-dead Dark Lords and defy them, to learn their secrets while mocking them for their failure. Though we may survive our bodies' death, Apprentice, but once we lose our grip on the physical world, we are little more than footnotes. We shall be different, for we are the end of the cycle. The Sith that will forever snuff out the light and make the galaxy our own."

Nefaron keyed in a command to a device on his wrist, and the vessel's ramp lowered. The Corpse Lord wasted little time in boarding the sleek craft, but he did not take the pilot's chair. Instead, he sat in the co-pilot position and awaited his Apprentice to sit next to him.

"I will prepare our jumps to hyperspace, but it is time you adjusted to the more practical elements of being an Apprentice. You will be dispatched on missions alone and be required to evade danger at every turn. I will also expect you to lead fighter squadrons into battle in the coming years, so I see no reason that we don't begin practicing now."

Nefaron spun his chair to face out the viewport, watching as the blast door that separated the fortress from the ruined, storm-battered surface of Anoat.

"I offer you a unique opportunity, Apprentice. You are to speak freely during our travels, for you are to learn from me and from the experiences you undertake. I may provide guidance, or I may remain silent. You must decide how to employ my teachings."

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Darth Nefaron​

Veradun’s expression shifted to one of heightened curiosity when he heard that he and his Master would be leaving Anoat for a time, so that he could learn more about the history of the Sith Order in a more tangible way instead of through the Academy.

How exciting.

Of course, Veradun had been on several adventures with the Sith Lord already, and each had proven to be quite entertaining - so he had no doubt that this next outing would also have its share of entertaining moments.

Darth Nefaron mentioned that he had a ship prepared for them, and once more the icy eyes of the Nagai slid over to the sleek black vessel that awaited nearby. He dipped his chin in understanding that they were to travel alone and without fanfare, without the presence of the Corpse soldiers.

It would just be the two of them - Master and apprentice.

Veradun took note of what Nefaron told him; that their need for stealth and secrecy was paramount during these adventures. They had enemies everywhere, even within their own Order, and they needed to exercise caution before they were ready to confront such foes. The boy could only agree that if they were attacked right now, none of them would survive.

Well, Veradun might…if he could placate or convince whoever attacked to allow him to live.

Nefaron keyed something into the device upon his wrist as he continued to divulge a little further about the nature behind their upcoming adventure to his pale Apprentice, and Veradun watched as the ship’s ramp lowered to admit them aboard. He followed his Master’s lead, absorbing the information that he was being given. Beyond his cruel and sadistic nature, Darth Nefaron was actually a very good teacher - and Veradun, though he feared and hated the man, rather enjoyed learning from him.

Once upon the ship, the Nagai watched as the seemingly frail Sith Lord took his seat in the co-pilot’s chair…leaving the pilot’s chair open, before making it clear and obvious to the boy that he would be the one flying their new ship. Veradun hesitated for a moment before he moved forward and took his seat at the helm, glancing over the myriad of buttons and levers and switches. To the untrained eye, it was all mind boggling. Thankfully, Veradun had begun to study up on the intricacies of flying a starship. He had never actually flown one before in person, but the layout of the various buttons and switches were roughly the same across the board for all ships.

His sharp and keen eyes began to pick out ones he recognized from his studies, and his quick mind recalled what their purposes were for.

“I understand, Master. It is a good thing I started doing my own study and research on just how to fly a vessel then, isn’t it? Of course, one learns better by doing, than reading…”

He leaned forward and began to flip a couple of switches, and as he did so the ship around them began to come to life. He took his time, ensuring that he activated the right systems, before initiating the start of the engines. Here, however, the nervous butterflies began to coil within his belly - an anxious excitement that came before one made a proverbial leap off the cliff to try something new.

Like flying a ship.

“Hope we don’t crash. That would be a terrible way to end our little adventure, wouldn’t it?” the boy quipped with a very rare show of humor in the presence of the Dark Lord, before he took hold of the control stick and began to guide the sleek vessel towards the gaping maw of the blast doors that would allow him to leave the fortress proper.

As one might expect for any first time driver or flyer, the initial take off was a bit rough. Veradun was momentarily overwhelmed with uncertainty as various lights and sensors flashed or beeped at him, but he forced himself through his brief freezes to address them all, one by one. Guiding the ship was a small challenge as he learned the feel of the vessel through the flight stick, but he demonstrated just how quick he was to pick up on things.

And suddenly, he was free.

The black ship circled around the fortress of Anoat as Veradun adjusted and became more comfortable with flying the craft, and a rare smile of near undiluted joy split his face. There was a unique sense of satisfaction and freedom with flying…the same that he had when he felt the weight of a blade in his hand.

"I offer you a unique opportunity, Apprentice. You are to speak freely during our travels, for you are to learn from me and from the experiences you undertake. I may provide guidance, or I may remain silent. You must decide how to employ my teachings."

Nefaron’s voice broke through the haze of joy and brought the young Nagai back to the present, sobering him almost immediately as he once more digested his Master’s words. He glanced at the robed Sith seated beside him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he did so. He was told he could speak freely…but he wasn’t entirely sure if he believed that.

“...am I truly free to speak though, Master?” Veradun questioned the Sith Lord. “Last time I spoke freely, you tortured me and reduced me to the status of a lowly slave for months.” he said in an even, albeit cold, voice. He fell silent for a few moments as his mind cycled through various thoughts, before his curiosity inevitably won over, compelling him to ask the Dark Lord the first of what would be many questions over the course of their journey.

“Where is it that we are going first, exactly?”

 

[Darth Nefaron]

Darth Nefaron chuckled.

It was not forced. It was not the result of cruel mockery.

He chuckled at his Apprentice's quip. This would be an interesting adventure indeed.
​

"Apprentice, we have survived a mere starship crash. I do expect you to attempt to usurp me, but do find another method other than crashing the vessel we are in."

Nefaron wasn't even trying to provide instruction, though, of course, this was a subtle reminder of what he expected of his Apprentice. Indeed, he would have to be more creative than attempting a simple crash, and Darth Nefaron had high expectations of the boy's ability to be clever. That being said, he would be foolish to attempt to eliminate him on this little adventure, for he would be stranded on the opposite side of the galaxy, and he would lose all the knowledge Nefaron may have provided.

As the boy became familiar with the ship, the Corpse Lord surveyed his little Empire. The vast fortress was alive, forges roared to life as the Corpse Legion readied itself for war once more. The assault on Woostri had been a success, but the Legion had to evolve from a mere rabble to a true conquering force, a force that would bring death to thousands of worlds. Nefaron moved his gaze to his Apprentice, watching the smile spread across his face. He was young, but a child, but one day he would lead the great Legion to conquer the stars and spread the word of his master. He would be different at the end of this trip, perhaps the boy would truly die, and the Apprentice would at last be allowed to flourish within Nefaron's shadow.

But, it seemed, the boy was not quite ready to bury his defiance.

"Speak freely? You failed to understand the most basic tenet of the Sith. I am your Master. Any connection to your previous life died that night on the Academy's landing pad. Though it seems your High Prophet still lives, we will remedy that in due time. But fear not, Apprentice, I shall be open with you, and you are not to hide your thoughts from me. Doing so might very well lead to your death, for my knowledge will see you safely through the trials ahead."

Nefaron turned his head toward the starship's viewport and watched as the ship rose through Anoat's thick atmosphere. From orbit, the storm-covered world concealed the Corpse Lord's great works, and he could not help but smirk. He had already made one world his own. How long before entire sectors fell under his shadow?

"We go to an old seat of Sith power. Dromund Kaas has been rebuilt by our rivals, those who serve Darth Carnifex. Heed my words, Apprentice, though the Kainate share some of our beliefs, they are but another corruption of our order. Still, it is best we not alert them to our presence. Once we leave hyperspace, I will activate this ship's extensive jamming suite and guide you in."

As Nefaron made the proper preparations for hyperspace, he pondered on the boy's education.

"Tell me, what do you know of the Kainate? The Tsis'Karr? Or the Asha'kurat?"

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Tag: Darth Nefaron​

Thankfully, Nefaron didn’t seem too irritated by Veradun’s attempt at humor, even chuckling at the boy’s statement about crashing. Despite the tension that the boy felt for the Sith Lord, he felt his smile widen ever so briefly with his Master’s mirth and response in turn.

“Oh fret not, my good Master.” he murmured with his smile still present, a touch of sarcasm coloring his voice. “You deserve a demise more grandiose than a mere crash.” And Veradun truly believed that; he wanted to savor his Master’s fall. And he was patient enough to wait for the right time to make his attempts.

Both he and Nefaron examined their realm, a world that Veradun had inherited with his ascension to Apprentice, and though it wasn’t much to look at compared to other worlds ruled by the Sith, the place was home - its denizens belonged to both of them. The notion filled the young Nagai’s heart with a dark and cruel sense of pride; how many of his age or status could say they owned a world, and those that tread upon it? So long as he walked and existed within his Master’s authority, he could do what he pleased here.

The Dark Lord turned his dead eyes upon the young Sith, and Veradun waited curiously and with some apprehension, to hear his Master’s response about being able to speak freely - and his remarks about the last time he had tried to. Of course, the boy listened when the Corpse Lord answered him. He reminded Veradun of the most basic law that any young Sith should learn and accept: Nefaron was his Master, and all other ties the boy had would not be accepted nor tolerated.

He then dropped a bombshell on the young Nagai, confirming that his former High Priest was indeed still alive. Veradun’s pale blue eyes snapped to the ruined face of the Dark Lord, his mind trying to understand and grasp this revelation. He turned his gaze back towards the viewport, disturbed by this news.

“But fear not, Apprentice, I shall be open with you, and you are not to hide your thoughts from me. Doing so might very well lead to your death, for my knowledge will see you safely through the trials ahead."

“Alive?” He finally remarked after a few moments of stunned silence. “But I saw him die with my own eyes…How…how is that possible?” He cast his gaze back to the robed figure, a deep frown etched upon his brow as his thoughts churned within. You said he was weak, not worth remembering. Only a powerful Sith Lord could defy death and come back from the dead. You underestimate him.

Of course, he said none of this aloud to the Dark Lord. Let him sit in his own beliefs on the matter, and believe that Darth Strosius could be defeated. If death couldn’t claim or keep the Sith Lord…then who could? Something else was at play there, and Veradun wanted to discover the truth…but he knew he would need to be subtle about it.

For now, though, he could plant the seeds of his loyalty in his Master’s mind. A gamble to take, but a game he would have to play nonetheless. “Why destroy him, Master? Clearly he was bested by another Sith, and if he somehow lives then his reputation is ruined. Why not press him into our service? It’s not like he could best us.” He glanced once more at Darth Nefaron, wanting to make sure his Master heard what he said next.

“If you are concerned that my loyalty will come into question now that I know he is alive…then I can assure you that won’t be the case. As you mentioned earlier, you are my Master…not him. I recognize his existence, but it means nothing to me now.”

He paused for several heartbeats, his expression serious. “Besides…why would I leave you and the path the power I currently walk, to go back to a failed and weakened Sith? It makes no sense.”

He hoped his words were enough to dissuade any questions about his loyalty, but Veradun knew that he would have to further prove it through actions.

To his question on where they were going first, Nefaron stated that they were headed to Dromund Kaas - an ancient world of the Sith, and currently held within the grasp of the Kainate. The Dark Lord mentioned further that while the Kainites held similar beliefs as the two of them, they were still just another corrupted part of the Sith Order.

"Tell me, what do you know of the Kainate? The Tsis'Karr? Or the Asha'kurat?"

Veradun hummed softly to himself as the ship broke the atmosphere of Anoat and they found themselves in the blackness of space that surrounded their home planet. The boy waited as his Master made the necessary inputs and preparations for their jump into hyperspace, while pondering his Master’s question.

“I know a little bit about the Kainate from when I lived with the Wonosans. I know it is ruled by two former Emperors of the Sith, and is a Sith Imperialist faction within the greater Order. For the Tsis’Kaar, all I know is one of my former sponsors runs the Tsis’Kaars. They are spies and infiltrators and assassins, built from the framework laid out by the late Pale Assassin, or so I’ve been told. The Inquisition, which belonged to my former High Priest, is a part of it. I have heard whispers that the Kainate has their hands in it, somewhere. As for the Asha’kurat…I know next to nothing.”

 

[Darth Nefaron]

“I appreciate your assessment, Apprentice. It is true we will need to gather useful beings to our side if we are to triumph. But there is something else you have failed to consider.”

Nefaron did not turn to look at his Apprentice, instead watching as the ship entered hyperspace

“Strosius, despite being humiliated, is still Sith. Unlike others of our Order, he is unpredictable. He may be sworn to serve another, but he will seek to regain his power and ascend to his previous position, perhaps even challenge the Emperor openly. He may have been useful to me once, but now he is little more than a nuisance that will be swept aside with time.”
​

Nefaron eased back into his chair, watching the tides of hyperspace swirl around the ship as they hurdled across the galaxy. Of course, this trip would take time, but in truth, such a thing was necessary to further his apprentice's knowledge. His skills as a warrior and servant would be tested on the worlds they would visit, but the boy must also learn to seek out knowledge when he can. In time, he would become a deceiver, an agent Nefaron coil inserted across the galaxy to manipulate and weaken the government, assassinate rivals, and collect objects that the Corpse Lord found valuable. But to do that, he must understand both the galaxy and the nature of the Sith Empire. True, he did grow up within the borders of the Empire, but he had yet to learn the true scope of what it meant to be Sith.

“A lesson, Apprentice. Logic can be irrelevant to beings of emotion at times. I do not doubt your commitment to serving the strong, but past connections can blur your thoughts. A mere insult on my part sent you into a furious rage; you challenged a Dark Lord openly. If you had been any less useful to me, I would have seen to it that your eyes and tongue were removed and have you cast into the deepest pits of my fortress. As much as emotion is what fuels us, it can be turned against us.”

Nefaron turned then, pale eyes just barely visible beneath his cloak.

“I will always doubt your loyalty. You must constantly seek to prove to me your devotion, at least until you believe yourself ready to take my mantle. You have much to learn before that day comes to pass. Perhaps you will be given the distinct honor of putting down your former Master? That would please me greatly.”

The Corpse Lord turned back to face the viewport, a cruel smile reaching his lipless face, all hidden beneath the shadow of his cloak. Since they had some time before they reached Dromund Kaas, Nefaron sought to fill his Apprentice in on the political factions within the Sith Empire. After punching in a few commands into the ship's computer, a holo-projection of the various leaders of the three factions was displayed before the boy.

“The Academy did a decent enough job, but allow me to fill in the gaps for you. Indeed, the Kainite represent the Sith of old, when we sought to simply overwhelm the Old Republic with numbers and sheer will. We have some allies in their ranks, but in the end, any Empire they build is doomed to devolve into the infighting and decay that all previous incarcerations that predated the leadership of Darth Bane. They will be most useful, but in the end, we will destroy their so-called Eternal Father and see his Kingdom reduced to dust.”

Nefaron eliminated the Kainite from the projection, moving onto the next faction.

“The Tsis’Kaar are indeed as you describe them, but they represent the rot within our Order. They prize loyalty and family, weaknesses that will see them brought low. Darth Malum is cunning and a warrior of some skill, but his moral code is something I would see decay. He seeks to rule the galaxy as a stern, fair Emperor, but in the end, I will see his bloodline extinguished. The House of Marr is a joke, the bloodline to that fool of a Sith is a black mark, not something to wear proudly.”

Once more, the Tsis’Kaar are removed from the board. Only the Worm Emperor remained.

“Ah, yes, our beloved Emperor's sycophants. In truth, the Asha'kurat represent the will of the Emperor; they seek to impose his law and rule onto an Empire that is held together by little more than self-interest. I do not know the Emperor’s endgame, but I will see him die in terror like the rest. Much like Malum, he and his pathetic dynasty are to perish at our hands, for in the end, our galaxy will be one of utter subservience, a place where the weak are ruled by those who do know better. Apprentice, we will purge hope from the galaxy, and those beings within the bounds of the Sith Empire itself.”

Nefaron, of course, had his own biases. But in the end, Veradun was his Apprentice and would obey his commands regardless of his personal feelings. If he did not, he would be punished. If he continued….

He would die. He is unique, but he can be replaced.​

“Now, Apprentice, I will ask you a question. When you were but a child on Tund, what drove you? Why did you continue to cling to life?”

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Darth Nefaron​

Veradun’s head tilted slightly in consideration as his Master revealed the reason behind why he wanted Strosius gone. Truthfully, the explanation was one that Veradun hadn’t truly considered and though he did not like agreeing with the Dark Lord’s assessment, he nonetheless found himself doing so.

The boy sat back in his pilot’s seat as the ship entered hyperspace; there wasn’t much for him to do now except wait for their journey’s end, and of course listen to and learn from his Master. The Nagai inhaled a deep breath and released it as he watched the swirling mass of colors beyond the viewport, maintaining his silence as the Sith Lord continued to speak, imparting a lesson about how logic could be brushed over by emotional beings, such as Sith. Nefaron admitted that while he didn’t doubt the boy’s commitment to serving the strong, he pointed out that Veradun’s past connections could skew his thoughts. He brought up an example: of when the boy had gone into a rage at a simple insult hurled against the former High Priest - a rage that had pushed the boy to challenge a Dark Lord directly, which resulted in the dire consequences he had suffered. Veradun felt his face pale slightly upon hearing that his Master would have discarded him, had he been any less useful to the Sith Lord.

Of course, Veradun had been given ample time to consider his faults, and learn the valuable lesson that was imparted to him, and his face became somewhat downcast when his Master pointed out that while their emotions were useful, they could also be used against them. The Corpse Lord then turned his pale, sightless eyes upon his Apprentice, and admitted that he would always doubt Veradun’s loyalty, and that the boy would need to constantly seek to prove his devotion - until the time came where Veradun could overcome his Master and claim the mantle of Dark Lord for himself, that was.

Veradun turned his pale eyes towards the Sith Lord, a somewhat somber and serious expression upon his pale face. “If you are referring to Darth Strosius, then you are mistaken. He was never my master, only a guide. I was still living under the authority of my parents, until I went to the Academy. The only master I have ever had is you. And thus, you are the only ‘master’ I will ever seek to destroy.”

Besides, he knew that his sister was the apprentice of Darth Strosius…and it was her right to destroy her own Master. If she ever did. He didn’t speak his thoughts aloud to Darth Nefaron, but he knew just how close his sister was to Strosius. Veradun had hoped for a bond similar to that…but that hope had died the moment Nefaron had revealed his cruel nature to the boy. It was yet another thing he was envious about when it came to Revna.

Veradun’s attention was drawn to the holo-projection that his Master brought up, revealing the holo-figures of three prominent figures within the Sith Order - two of whom Veradun knew quite well, and the third was one he had seen from a distance, but was not as familiar with. He remained quiet and studious to all that Nefaron stated about the Kainate, though the faintest flicker of doubt creased his brow when Nefaron so boldly claimed that they would ‘destroy’ the leader of the Kainites and reduce his realm to ash. Though he was not extremely familiar with Darth Carnifex, the young Nagai knew enough to know that whatever ideas Nefaron had about destroying him were but fantasies. How many Sith Lords had already tried, and failed, to destroy the so called ‘Eternal Father’? And Nefaron thought he could defeat him?

It was almost enough to make the boy laugh. But he was wise enough to keep his thoughts and laughter to himself; they had just begun their journey - no need to irk his Master yet.

Nefaron moved on to the next faction and its leader, and this individual Veradun knew quite well. It was Darth Malum, cousin to his sister, a Dark Councilor of the Sith Empire, and of course leader of the Tsis’Kaars. Nefaron went on to say how the Tsis’Kaar represented the supposed ‘rot’ within the Sith Order, decrying their support of loyalty and family, saying that such things were weaknesses that would eventually see them destroyed. Nefaron continued, saying how Malum was indeed a cunning Sith, but in the end the Corpse Lord wanted to see the nobleman’s bloodline extinguished, crueling stating how the House of Marr’s connection to their ancient ancestor was a joke, and not something to be proud of…

That brought a dark shadow across the boy’s face and in his eyes. His sister was a part of that bloodline…and clearly Nefaron had every intention of trying to destroy her too.

And what was worse, was that he would no doubt expect Veradun to follow along with that, perhaps even forcing him to participate in her destruction. Maybe even try to pit him against her and force him to betray her directly. A glimmer of anger shined through the boy, but he was quick to force it under and back into the shadows - hopefully before his Master could catch onto it. He wasn’t sure if he could hold back his temper if his Master turned his vitriol towards Revna…

Wisely, Veradun kept his mouth shut as the Dark Lord moved on to the final figurehead: the Sith Emperor himself. He listened intently as Nefaron shared details about the Asha’kurat, explaining how they imposed the Emperor’s will over the Empire. The Corpse Lord admitted further that he did not truly know the Emperor’s endgame, but he nonetheless arrogantly claimed that he would see the Emperor die in terror like everyone else. Yet another fantasy that Veradun internally scoffed at.

The boy had felt the Emperor’s power from a distance, and he doubted the man sitting beside him could even compare if the two Sith Lords were ever forced to fight one another. Sure, Nefaron’s power was great - but there was a reason why Empyrean was the Emperor, and not Nefaron.

“Now, Apprentice, I will ask you a question. When you were but a child on Tund, what drove you? Why did you continue to cling to life?”

The boy was quiet for several long moments, considering his Master’s question. His mind drifted over his past, and the memories that came along with it, trying to find the answer amongst them. When he responded, he did so while staring out the viewport in front of him.

“I…suppose it was the belief, the hope, that there was something better for me beyond my circumstances. And the base will to survive drove me as well.”

Pale eyes slid over to regard the Sith Lord, a cold gleam shining in their depths. “That was something I discovered in the pits as well, amongst the slaves. Even though their existence was hell, they fought for their lives. They didn’t want to persist in their suffering…but they were too afraid to die. So…a better answer to your question, I suppose, would be that I, like them, was driven by the fear of death.”

 

[Darth Nefaron]

Oh this poor boy.

He knew not the rot within him.

The poison left by Strosius

By his Parents. ​

Nefaron allowed him to believe that his High Priest was but a guide. He allowed him to believe that he would never be forced to destroy those who linger in his past. Much of the boy's past was surprisingly difficult to piece together without the boy's bias, but the Corpse Lord was slowly unraveling the mystery of his bloodline. He was part Nagai after all, a species that is surprisingly rare outside of the Unknown Regions. This boy was special, Nefaron had always been certain of that, but how far did his abilities truly extend? What powers could he call upon?

Many questions. A mystery that Nefaron would unravel in time.
​

"You are only partly right, Apprentice. Indeed, the slaves were driven by the fear of death, but I cannot include you in that category. No, you are driven by something entirely different."

Nefaron turned to match his Apprentice's gaze.

"You alluded to it already. But it is not hope that drove you on Tund or in the slave pits. You knew you were better; you were born to be more. Mere survival is not enough for beings like you or me, for we desire dominion over all. We are driven by power; that is the only thing that matters in the end. For with power comes the ability to reshape the world around you, from merely improving your current living conditions to becoming something akin to a God. Take our Emperor as an example."

The Corpse Lord stood from his seat and paced the small cabin, checking the supplies that had been carefully packed, eventually shuffling through various containers to locate an object that would become useful later. He continued to speak while he began his search.

"Empyrean is a being of unfathomable power. Why he bothers allowing factionalism in his Empire alludes me, but he is more than capable of wiping out any of them. Yet he does nothing with his power; in fact, he seemingly decided to bind himself to others. He has found what he believes to be love, and it's slowly killing him. You yourself have seen that your guide openly questioned the Emperor's authority during his Kaggath. Malum plans to take the throne for himself, and it isn't much of a secret. I also have no doubt that the Eternal Father has his own plans for dominion. The simple truth is that Empyrean is bleeding his power, and we will drink greedily of it."

Nefaron closed the container he was searching through, but he did not return to his chair. Instead, the hiss of a lightsaber's ignition filled the cockpit, a red hue illuminating the darkness as the blade hovered dangerously close to the boy's cheek.

"Right now, I hold power over you. In a second, I could end your life. I know you think my ego is my undoing, that it has become overblown in my isolation on Anoat. Perhaps you are right, but I need not prove my power over you on this little adventure. You are to prove you are worthy of the knowledge I choose to bestow upon you."

The lightsaber inched closer for a moment, but it deactivated before it touched his flesh. Nefaron returned to his seat, but not before he offered the hilt of the weapon to his Apprentice.

"I know you have a fondness for physical blades, but for our journey, you are to carry the weapon I created so long ago. You must learn to wield such a weapon if you are to face the greatest of Jedi and Sith, for you must master all weaponry to be a complete warrior, to remain useful to me."

Nefaron returned to watching the endless tunnel of hyperspace, and a silence fell over them for a time. Eventually, Nefaron spoke up again.

"Apprentice, have I told you where I come from? What even created the creature who sits next to you?"

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Tag: Darth Nefaron​

Once more, Veradun held his tongue when his Master spoke, seeming to read between the lines, so to speak, or bring illumination to insights that the boy hadn’t considered or thought of. Nefaron commented that he was only partially correct in his personal assessment of what truly drove him - Veradun felt for sure it had been the fear of death, and it was true.

But of course, the Sith Lord was able to see deeper into the matter, and perhaps in an attempt to stroke the boy’s ego, brought up the point that perhaps the boy fought to persist because he knew he was better, born for greatness, for more. Pale eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he didn’t refute the claim. Perhaps, at the time, he hadn’t seen it that way…but his Master was right, of course.

Veradun did believe he was destined for great things, and had been blessed with the ability to wield great power - power that would see him rule over others, his own domain even. And of course, Nefaron would help him get there. He would absorb the knowledge his Master saw fit to bestow upon him, and the rest he would take by force if necessary - when his decrepit Master had outlived his usefulness.

But that future was a long ways away, and Veradun knew it. He was still young, still inexperienced as a Sith - and whether he wanted to admit it or not, he needed Nefaron.

Veradun watched as the Sith Lord rose from his seat and disappeared somewhere behind the boy; there was a rise in tension through the Nagai’s body as he didn’t trust the Sith Lord at his back, but he stayed seated in the pilot’s chair. His attention was grabbed though when he heard the sound of rustling, as if the feeble bodied Sith Lord was searching for something. Nefaron continued to speak as he did so, revealing to his Apprentice how power could transform someone, using their Emperor as an example. Veradun couldn’t help but silently agree; Darth Empyrean was indeed a being of unimaginable power, someone who was basically a god amongst the Sith. He could utterly destroy anything and anyone without so much as lifting a finger if he wanted to, and yet he seemingly allowed the Sith around him to question his judgment, test his powers, ridicule his rule.

Nefaron stated what he believed was the reason behind the Emperor not doing “anything” with his power, and the boy resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew that the Dark Lord viewed emotions like love with much scorn, but the boy had seen first hand just what kind of power could be unlocked when a Sith’s loved ones came under threat - so he didn’t quite hold the same views as his Master in that regard, but he was wise enough not to question or challenge that view. Veradun was afraid that if he made a case for the power behind love…then he might be subjected to even more torture to rid him of such thoughts or “weaknesses”.

The boy was learning to pick his battles, and that was not a battle he felt was worth fighting for.

He continued to listen in his dutiful silence, even as it seemed that Nefaron had found whatever it was he had been looking for. Veradun expected the man to take his seat once more but instead the unmistakable sound of a lightsaber being activated filled the space between the two Sith, and the young man froze in place as a wash of cold fear flooded across his body. Crimson light flooded the space around them, and pale eyes flickered to the blade that now hovered dangerously close to the skin of his face - enough that he could feel the heat of it. Veradun swallowed hard as Darth Nefaron’s made it abundantly clear that he held control over the boy, and if he so wished to he could kill his Apprentice without a second thought - and of that, Veradun had no doubt.

“-I know you think my ego is my undoing, that it has become overblown in my isolation on Anoat. Perhaps you are right, but I need not prove my power over you on this little adventure. You are to prove you are worthy of the knowledge I choose to bestow upon you."

Veradun dipped his chin ever so slightly in understanding of his Master’s words, even as the blade was brought ever so closer - a very clear reminder of the power and rank gap between them.

The blade was disengaged, and darkness flooded back into the cockpit as relief filled every part of the young man, evident in the way his shoulders slightly slumped forward. He was quick to pull himself together, however, as Nefaron sat down beside him once more and, much to Veradun’s surprise…offered the hilt of the lightsaber to him.

The Nagai eyed the hilt for a moment, before glancing back into the hooded face of the Sith Lord, caution etched across his pale features. Darth Nefaron made it clear that though he understood the boy’s preference for actual bladed weapons - he nonetheless wanted his Apprentice armed for their journey. Only then did Veradun reach out to take the offered lightsaber hilt, noting that it was one that his Master had crafted himself, as well as taking note of the declaration that he would have to learn how to use such a weapon anyway, and indeed learn how to use many different kinds, so that he remained useful.

“Of course, Master. Yes…I like the feel of bladed weapons in my hand, I enjoy the feel of them slicing through flesh and bone - but I understand the wisdom behind mastering various weapons.” he said, finally choosing to speak after such a lengthy silence as his eyes traveled over the hilt now in his possession.

He idly wondered how easy it would be to plunge it into his Master’s chest, with how close they sat to one another. But he cast the thought away for the time being; he had much to learn, and killing the man would be a very foolish action, at least right now.

And now that the lightsaber was in Veradun’s possession and not directly threatening his life, he felt that perhaps he could respond to Nefaron’s other statements.

“We all have egos, Master. You…me…my former High Priest…Darth Malum…we are Sith, after all. It comes with being who and what we are.” The boy slipped the hilt inside his robes, attaching it to the utility belt that was wrapped around his waist, before he turned his attention back to the swirling colors beyond their viewport. “And I don’t question the power you hold over me.” A faint smirk tugged at his lips for a moment. “Though you sure do like to remind me of that fact. Maybe a little too much.”

He was taking a risk, being so forward with his comments, but he was hoping that Nefaron would understand or see the relative harmlessness behind his commentary. He was trying to ease tensions with comedy - though there was still the fear in the back of his mind that the Sith Lord would take offense to something, and strike him down.

"Apprentice, have I told you where I come from? What even created the creature who sits next to you?"

Memories flashed back to Veradun of his first day as the Dark Lord’s apprentice - that fateful flight to Anoat from the Academy. Nefaron had shared a bit of his past with the boy, revealing the scarred face to the boy.

“Yes, you did. On our first flight together, to Anoat.” he glanced at Nefaron, eyes guarded but cold. “You are from the Core World, Coruscant. You lived in the lower levels with your mother, who was butchered by a serial killer. You went looking for him, and instead you were attacked and left for dead by the nameless horrors that lurk under the Jedi’s concern. The same killer took you in, pieced you back together…or attempted to…and in your words became your first ‘master’, one whom you eventually killed.” Veradun finished, recalling plainly and bluntly the story he had been told. “...Unless that was all a lie, of course. If that was the case then, no.”

 

[Darth Nefaron]

Ah, so he does listen to me.
​

Nefaron's lipless maw formed a small smile at the thought. His Apprentice continued to unleash his quick wit, a tool that would earn him both praise and condemnation in the coming years. Perhaps Nefaron had laid it on a bit thick with his little lightsaber trick, but the boy must learn what it is to face certain death and overcome the base instinct to beg or to recoil in fear. A Sith should always be in control of his surroundings; he should always maintain that advantage in any conflict, be it a duel or a simple battle of words. Still, he would be shown a bit of relief until he suffered another failure, a failure he would endure and learn from if he wished to live.

"I did not lie to you, my Apprentice. Indeed, I was born in the heart of the Galactic Alliance, though it may not have carried that name at the time. It is rather astonishing that a world in the very heart of civilization houses such a rot. Travel a handful of levels beneath the surface, and you will begin to see how the dark lingers in the forgotten places of every world. It was here I found myself, my true self. I lived a normal life, a life as a nobody, until I was forced to take hold of my destiny. This is but one of many things my first master taught me, but do you know what the most important lesson was?"

The ship's computer began to beep, signaling that the vessel would soon return to real space in orbit above Dromund Kaas.

"He taught me there are things far more terrifying than a blade or the loss of flesh. Things that eat at your mind until you long for a dagger to cut your throat. Let's see if we can't find them today."

​

Once the ship was free of hyperspace, Nefaron was quick to guide his Apprentice on a specific path toward the planet's surface. The ship's vast array of jamming devices was activated as the Corpse Lord wished to avoid local authorities. This world was not hostile to him, but he wished to be unbothered by other Dark Lords and their schemes. Major settlements were avoided; instead, they proceeded to a continent dominated by death, Chwûq.

"Our Kainate cousins have allowed this continent to remain a bastion of death and ruin. They are right to do so, to provide a land for the weak to become strong or to perish, forgotten in the belly of a Sithspawn or a new addition to the frozen citadels of old. Let us see what we can discover in the ruins."

Nefaron had not bothered to go into the history of the various Sith Empires that had ruled Dromund Kaas, for that information was available to the boy in the citadel on Anoat. This was about discovering what was lost, knowledge or relics that Veradun might use to his advantage. But he must also learn that simple trinkets will not be enough to overthrow his Master, nor destroy their Jedi enemies. The Corpse Lord continued to guide the boy until they reached a small clearing, surrounded by dead trees and icy caverns. Outside, snow began to fall around the ship as two more slaves to darkness found their way to this accursed land. Nefaron was the first to step into the snow; the sensation was not unlike the chill that followed him no matter where he seemed to find himself.

It was comforting. An embrace from the Dark Side.

"Come, Veradun. We have quite the trek ahead of us. You'd do well not to get lost in the storm, for there are things that hunt even the most powerful of Dark Lords in these wastes."

The Dread Lord began to move, all but vanishing into the storm, waiting to see if his Apprentice could keep pace in these perilous conditions. The slave pits beneath Anoat had tested his willingness to survive; snow-ravaged ruins of Chwûq would assault his mind.

Hopefully, he could determine what was reality and what was fiction.

But if he died, there was another to take his place.

Nefaron was only losing time. But he was patient.

TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Darth Nefaron​

Veradun remained quiet as Nefaron revealed a little more about his past, where he came from. The boy learned that Coruscant had gone by another name, and it gave him a small idea as to the age of his Master - for as long as the boy had been alive, it had been known as Coruscant and nothing else. But clearly this Dark Lord had existed in time where it went by another name.

He also couldn’t help but agree just how truly shocking it was that such a place, with its heavy Jedi presence, could be so broken, so filled with darkness and they continued above the surface without any regard to those that suffered beneath their feet.

Suffered beneath their feet…

How many agonized under the Jedi’s purview, across the galaxy? He thought back to his own situation…how the Jedi hadn’t even bothered to show up until a Sith arrived, with the intention of cleansing the filth and taking the place for his own. Where had the Jedi been when Veradun and the orphans were murdering and eating each other, just to stay alive? Stay atop the heap?

The ship’s computing systems began to beep, pulling the Nagai from his darker thoughts as it indicated to the two Sith that they were about to drop out of hyperspace. He turned his attention back to the robed Sith Lord, who so casually revealed the purpose behind their little excursion - and it was enough to make the young Nagai’s blood run cold.

This…is going to be one hell of an adventure. If I live through this…or have my sanity still.

​

Darth Nefaron skillfully masked their ships presence and approach to the infamous Sith world of Dromund Kaas, and he guided Veradun towards the location he had selected for their little outing. Even through the ship’s hull, the boy could feel the penetrating, icy grip of the dark side. It saturated the planet, and the depth and magnitude of it was enough to fray the edges of the boy’s sanity. It was more than what he had ever felt before - even in his short time upon Jutrand.

The depth of darkness here even drowned the darkness that permeated Anoat.

As they prepared to land, Darth Nefaron shared a little bit more about the location he had selected - that the Kainites had apparently left the continent in ruin, to be a bastion of death where the weak could be tested and either devoured or forced to become stronger. Veradun remained silent throughout the entire exchange, landing in a small clearing surrounded by frozen and dead trees, just outside some icy caverns. Snow was falling around the sleek, black ship once they landed, and the boy marveled silently at the falling white flakes as he stepped behind his Master to leave the safety of the ship behind.

He’d never seen snow before.

"Come, Veradun. We have quite the trek ahead of us. You'd do well not to get lost in the storm, for there are things that hunt even the most powerful of Dark Lords in these wastes."

The boy paused for a moment and blinked at the back of his Master in surprise. Had…had Nefaron just referred to him by his first name? He had referred to the boy as Apprentice for so long that Veradun had almost forgotten what his name sounded like when spoken by others.

Then the rest of what the Sith Lord had said rolled through his mind, and he was quick to move to keep up with his Master. This was not a place where the Nagai could afford to get lost.

Pale eyes, barely darker than the snow that fell around them, shifted to the frozen landscape around them. His gaze lingered on the bent and dead trees, before sliding towards the caverns that drew ever closer. The boy spread his senses out beyond him - the Force spreading from him like mycelium in order to test and feel the environment around him. It could possibly be the only thing that warned him of incoming danger…if it could be sensed at all.

For the first time in his young life, Veradun was thankful he had a lightsaber resting at his hip, and his hand hovered near to it…just in case.

 

[Darth Nefaron]

"You walk atop nearly five millennia of history. Thousands of years of Sith power, and what you see?"

The question was, of course, one easily answered. Nefaron spoke before his Apprentice could offer his own observation.

"Nothing. endless, cold, nothingness. There is no prize for being a dead Sith Lord. You are simply... forgotten."
​

The Corpse Lord came to a sudden stop, arms slowly rising as power gathered within him. In a flash, the great tide of snow that covered the land before them was sent away, a vast wave traveling before the two Sith to reveal what lay beneath. Dead frozen earth, but also the remains of countless corpses, many brought low in the endless conflicts between rival Sith factions or failed expeditions to this frozen continent. Snow was already piling back up on the corpses as the storm that raged around them reacted to the use of the Dark Side.

"Do you think anyone mourns these unfortunate souls? Does anyone remember their names? How about those buried even deeper, from the days of Lord Kaan and the Brotherhood of Darkness? Or those who served the failed Emperor Vitiate?"

This is a point Nefaron has gone over many times with his Apprentice, but this was to be his final reminder, his test of understanding that there is no honor in death. If Veradun died, it would be as if he never existed at all. He very well could have remained an orphan scavengeing on the streets of Tund for all the galaxy and more importantly, Nefaron cared. But this was the time to broach a new subject, a new topic that the Corpse Lord had yet to address.

"Your... Sister... believes that her bloodline grants her power, that it makes her unique. Malum as well. But what is the House of Marr compared to the great tide of the Dark Side? To the Dark Lords who forged for themselves a legacy that we continue to fight over to this day? Darth Bane arose from a poor mining world. Vitiate was the bastard son of a Sith Lord of little note. Palpatine was indeed of noble blood, but he rejected the name of his birth and instead embraced his true life as Darth Sidious."

The Corpse Lord had contempt for the very idea of family. Veradun and now Eurydice were as close to children as Nefaron would ever have, and they were not to be treated as such. They were servants, powerful ones, but in the end, they would obey his will or suffer. The fact that Veradun had a sister, one not of the same blood but a sister all the same, was a threat to the Dark Lord's control over the boy. He would closely guard knowledge of Revna until he was certain that Veradun would sooner put a blade into her heart than dare disobey his Master. Simply knowing that she lived should suffice for the time being.

"I have been doing a great deal of research into your past, Veradun. Mysterious as you are, there is always a trail to follow if one knows the right places to look. I shall reveal a secret that has been lost to time-"

In a flash, Nefaron seemingly vanished. Snow had swept in and obscured the boy's vision and left him alone. Yet the Corpse Lord was near; his iron grip on the boy's heart was enough of a reminder of that. This was to be the first of many tests to prove Veradun was ready for greater power.

"-But you must earn that knowledge. Rarely does the Dark Side give up its secrets for free."​

Soon, ice began to crack. Snow began to shift. The creaking of old bones and ancient armor was carried to the Nagai by the terrible winds.

The dead were rising. They sought to add yet another corpse to their ranks.

TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

​

Tag: Darth Nefaron ​

Veradun stayed close to his Master’s shadow, eyes ever shifting as he took in his surroundings, studying everything he could. The Dark Side saturated this place, this world…and soon the Nagai was learning why that was. Nearly five thousand years of Sith history…of Sith involvement and power.

And yet, there was little to nothing on the surface to show it. At least, not at first.

The young Sith came to an abrupt stop when Nefaron did, and he felt the churning of power; a moment later, an invisible wind seemed to forcibly push the snow away from beneath their feet and around them…and Veradun’s expression shifted from curiosity to frozen shock and horror.

He was standing on thousands of frozen bodies, stuck to the frozen ground, encased in ice in some cases. Some were fresh, some were mummified through time, and others were nothing but skeletons with bits of frozen flesh and cloth still clinging to them. But what really stood out to Veradun were their faces - their dying expressions frozen for eternity.

Who were these people? Were they slaves? Servants of the Sith? Perhaps Sith themselves?

Soon, however, the frozen screams of the dead were covered over by a fresh layer of snow as the storm around Master and Apprentice continued to rage. There was a lesson here, for certain - and Veradun waited to hear what his Master had to say on what he had revealed to him.

"Do you think anyone mourns these unfortunate souls? Does anyone remember their names? How about those buried even deeper, from the days of Lord Kaan and the Brotherhood of Darkness? Or those who served the failed Emperor Vitiate?"

Veradun’s glacial blue eyes flickered from the disappearing faces to the shadowed cowl that hid his own Master’s face. It was words that the boy had heard many times before, but there was still a lesson each time Neferon reminded him about it. It was in that moment that the lesson became oh so sharp and clear in Veradun’s mind, and he understood.

No, no one would remember those who died. He didn’t know who any of these dead souls were…and for all he knew, there could have been Sith Emperors, or great Lords of the Sith, buried under his feet. They lay here now, forgotten. The great feats they did, the wars they waged, the worlds they conquered…gone to history.

Eventually…this would happen to Darth Nefaron…and to Veradun too. What was the point in anything that they were doing then, if it was all going to be forgotten in the end?

Veradun was about to speak up about that burning question, when Nefaron continued. Except this time, the man had the audacity to mention the Nagai’s adopted older sister, Revna. The boy’s eyes narrowed, but he wisely kept his mouth shut as Nefaron continued to speak, revealing to the boy that he didn’t know much about his sister at all.

Do I dare tell him? Do I dare undermine what he thinks he knows? Or should I let him persist in this? He’ll learn the truth…eventually.

In the end, Veradun chose to keep his knowledge about his sister to himself; no need to correct the Sith Lord, and be punished for it…again. Veradun knew the truth, and that was enough for him…for now.

However, his thoughts about this were quickly shifted off course, upon hearing what the Dark Lord had to say next - that he had been doing some digging into Veradun’s past, into who he was. And he knew a secret about the boy…one he seemed eager to keep to himself as the Sith Lord seemingly vanished into thin air.

Instantly, Veradun was on high alert, sharp and cold eyes flicking this way and that - as he opened himself to the currents of the Force to see further beyond himself. He still couldn’t sense his Master anywhere…but that quickly became the least of his worries.

Around him, the ground began to shift and move. Ice cracked, its sharp sounds ripping through the air, only to be swallowed by the howling of the storm that continued to rage around Veradun. His eyes spied the first of them - animated dead - and a heartbeat later the lightsaber he’d been given was in his hand, though he didn’t ignite it yet.

The boy went still - he closed his eyes, calmed his racing heart, focused his mind, and used his other senses. The dead had truly risen up all around him, a dozen or so bodies. All sought to drag him into the depths alongside them…where he would be forgotten.

No.

Just before the nearest shambling corpse could touch him, Veradun erupted into a series of precise and defined movements - each lethal as they were graceful. The first corpse dropped to the ground, its partially caved in skull severed clean from its shoulders - the stump left sizzling in the snowy, icy air. Two more were right on him, pressing him, but he shifted his body with the elegance of a dancer to flit behind them. He reached out with the crushing weight of the Force and watched their skulls shatter into bits of bone and crystalized brain pieces.

The boy shifted with focused and lethal intention between the various dead bodies, felling one after another - though several came too close for comfort. They received a Force blast that propelled them away, sending them careening head over heels…but they still rose to try and attack him again. More came still, and Veradun continued to dance and display a decent set of skills with his borrowed lightsaber, mostly utilizing Forms I and II. Seconds ticked by into minutes, and the storm still raged furiously around him.

Veradun continued to make his moves, trying to conserve his energy, though his use of the Force so early on had already somewhat drained him. He didn’t know how much longer this would persist, but he faced the challenge anyway.

If he needed to slay a hundred or a thousand undead, he would…just so he could learn the secrets his Master seemed to carry about his past.

 

[Darth Nefaron]

The march of the dead was endless.
​

For every reanimated corpse that Veradun cut down, another was rising from the snow to try and rip flesh from bone. If this were merely a test of skill, the young Nagi would have passed with flying colors, but there was a deeper lesson in the horde that Nefaron sent his Apprentices way.

Can every threat be defeated in battle?

Can a lightsaber truly decide the fate of the galaxy?
​

The boy was young and prone to outbursts, useful as far as apprentices go, but Nefaron was going to mold him into far more than a simple sword, especially if he intended to throw him against the greatest of both the Jedi and the Sith alike. Take the High Priest, he once served as an example, he was a warrior of some renown and deadly in single combat, but why choose an honorable duel when all that mattered in the end was who was still standing? He would learn, through pain and suffering, what power the Dark Side truly had to offer him. Nefaron allowed him to cut down a score of corpses before he intervened once more.

In a moment, the wave of corpses halted in place, standing utterly still as the Sith Lord appeared from a wall of snow, hands folded behind his back as he admired his Apprentice, the Dark Side practically embracing the boy.

"How long do you think you could keep this up? This world has an endless supply of corpses, endless puppets that serve until they are nothing but dust."

The Corpse Lord turned his head to examine the horde of the dead that now surrounded them, eyes empty, and bones straining as they attempted to keep up with Nefaron's commands.

"Many of our Order, particularly those on Korriban, employ legions of the dead and would happily unleash that horde on their enemies should the need arise. Admirable, but in the end it is far too... stale. Like the Light, the Dark Side cannot exist without life."

To illustrate his point, Nefaron unleashed his power once more to lift one of the undead into the air and twist its limbs far past their natural limit. It was entirely morbid, and yet the corpse did not react at all.

"I know what I am called, Veradun. Corpse Lord is both an insult and a misguided understanding of what I desire. In truth, I thrive on life rather than death, but not in the way our Jedi cousins do. When our universe was born, when life first developed true sentience, fear was the first emotion to be born. That is the root of the Dark Side, that is the emotion you must learn to wield if you ever hope to become more than you are."

Nefaron allowed the Corpse to fall, returning to its lifeless state as the others did as well. One by one, the animated piles of bones and armor returned to slumber, the snow covering them once more as they were again forgotten by the galaxy.

"Death is a release from fear. The dead cannot understand what it means to be afraid."

Once all the corpses had fallen, the Dark Lord turned to his apprentice once again.

"There is still much to show you. A temple lay but a few more kilometers ahead of us. It is here that I will reveal to you a secret that has been kept from you, a secret that may provide you with some... motivation."

Without another word, Nefaron began to walk again, once more slipping into the storm with the expectation that his Apprentice would follow along. He had cast his line, so to speak, and tempted the boy with knowledge that was seemingly lost to time. But Nefaron was good at digging up the secrets of the dead, and the history behind Veradun was grand indeed.

He just had to survive long enough to learn it.

TAGS: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

​

Tag: Darth Nefaron ​

The stream of rising undead never seemed to end; for each that Veradun’s crimson saber cut down, another or more would replace it. He continued onward, effortlessly at first…but over time, the sweat that built up on his skin froze and chilled him, and began to sap his strength. It was in these moments that the boy realized that - this wouldn’t be enough.

Eventually, he would be overwhelmed, and then he would join these undead souls.

Panic, desperation even, began to invade his strikes - though he fought to keep his composure for as long as possible. He knew that his Master was watching him, from somewhere. Force forbid he failed here, of all places. But just when the odds seemed too far stacked against him - the frozen corpses halted in their place, and stepping from the raging snow storm was a black blight on existence itself.

Darth Nefaron reappeared, like the wraith that he was, his hands pulled behind his back as he seemed to study, perhaps even admire, his young Apprentice.

His spoken words echoed the fear that had begun to invade the Nagai’s mind; how long did he feel he could keep going, in a world that was filled with corpses? Veradun huffed in his place, breathing heavily from the exertion, the humming saber in his hand casting a vibrant red glow against the white snow. He knew the futility of his actions against the horde; fighting them like this, was not the way.

The Dark Lord touched upon the fact that others in their Order used legions of undead - but that he found their use to be stale. As if to prove his point, Nefaron used his own power to lift one of the undead up into the air, contorting it into grotesque shapes, the frozen joints and tendons and bones popping and cracking in a manner that made the boy’s lip curl with disgust. Still, the corpse didn’t react to the unnatural angles its limbs were forced into - didn’t even utter a cry of pain or a grunt of acknowledgment to what was happening to it. A faint frown creased Veradun’s brow when he heard his Master explain that the Dark side, like the Light side, could not exist without life.

Though he didn’t dare let down his guard yet, the boy listened as Nefaron spoke further. Revealed that he knew why he was referred to as the ‘Corpse Lord’...an insult and a ‘misguided’ understanding of who or what he was. A title that he seemed to embrace, despite that fact. His comments about how he thrived rather on life instead of death made the boy’s frown deepen further - Veradun wasn’t sure he quite believed that - but he was wise enough to keep any quips to himself for the time being.

Nefaron, once again, drove home that it was fear that was first birthed into the new universe - that fear was the very heart of the Dark Side. Veradun couldn’t argue against that; he knew just how powerful the emotion of fear was.

Pale eyes dipped in understanding of the Dark Lord’s words as Nefaron let the corpse drop back to the ground. Soon, other corpses began to follow suit, dropping back into their ceaseless, frozen repose. It was only then, that Veradun disengaged the lightsaber’s ignition, and the fiery blade snapped out of existence. The handle of it was warm in his hand, warding off the chill that threatened to creep further into his very bones. Quietly, the he absorbed and acknowledged the lesson passed to him, his attention diverted only when Nefaron turned to him once more and explained that their desired location was a few kilometers further, a temple…where the Dark Lord said he would reveal the secret that had been kept from Veradun, one that could prove him with some motivation.

As Nefaron began to walk onward, the Nagai was quick to fall in step with his Master - not wishing to get left behind in the frigid storm. Silence reigned between them for a while, before the boy felt the desire to perhaps share what he had learned thus far.

“I…believe I understand the lesson, Master. A blade can’t solve every problem. Anger and aggression are tools…but so is fear and manipulation. All have their proper places and uses, but I must learn which tool is best for whatever situation I find myself in.”

He continued onward beside the Sith Lord in silence for several more moments, before adding his final thoughts: “I could have controlled all of them - used them to do my bidding - if I had set the sword aside and learned how to take control using a different tool at my disposal. This isn't just for the corpses either...but for anyone or anything."

 

[Darth Nefaron]

At last, he understands.
​

The Dark Lord was pleased by the boy's revelation, though he did not show it. To think Veradun was once a mere child in the Academy, still swayed by the teachings of Darth Strosius and committed to ideals inherently foreign to the Sith. Indeed, Veradun would be a dangerous opponent in time; he would wield a blade in the service of his Master and slay many challengers, but he was to be more than a humble assassin. He would lead legions, he would call forth the hordes of darkness, and lead them to extinguish the last bit of hope in the galaxy. The future was far too obscure to glimpse with any certainty, but Veradun very well may be the last being to sit on the throne of the Sith before the Corpse Lord did away with the concept of Empire.

In the end, the need for an organized state was fleeting. When all beings knew terror, when they understood the vast power of the Dark Side, what need was there for an Empire to oppress them? They would oppress themselves, bathing in fear and resentment and wrath until the end of all things. Then Nefaron might see the universe die and be reborn, a universe in which a new god would arise to ensure a never-ending cycle of sorrow.

He was the ceaseless wheel.

Nefaron would become the Dark Side.

All in due time.​

“You begin to understand your true nature, Veradun. Ambition such as yours would have been stifled at the Academy; they would have made you a cog in the Emperor's endless machine of war. I would see you cast that old fool down and laugh as his Empire is consumed by terror.”

They were entering a new phase now, Veradun and Nefaron. Yes, the boy would remain an Apprentice and would be treated as a servant, but now he was to be privy to plans and schemes decades in the making. Soon enough, he would be a confidant of the Dark Lord instead of a mere student. He still had much to learn, but the path he walked now was firmly in place. He could no longer step off it, for fear of death was no longer necessary to ensure Veradun’s commitment.

His desire for dominance, for power, was enough.

“You have impressed me these past months, my Apprentice. Even when faced by whatever is left of your High Prophet, you remained faithful to me. But I will always ask more of you, for a Sith will never truly be content with their abilities, especially an Apprentice.”

They walked for a time, snow continuing to engulf their cloaks. It seemed they were going nowhere, as if the endless tundra was all there was to this wretched continent. Yet Darth Nefaron had a destination in mind, a place where the roots of the Dark Side ran deep and where Veradun might prove he is ready to know the great secret that the Corpse Lord has withheld since they arrived. Suddenly, Nefaron stopped and took in a breath before once again unleashing his power to clear away the storm, revealing charred ruins built into a mountain. The stone was black, ice clung to every surface, and scars of past battles were abundant.

“Within these walls lay an ancient evil, long buried and forgotten. We are going to wake it up.”

The Dark Lord could not help but quietly laugh to himself, ever ominous as was his way. He passed through the ruined gate and entered the fortress without so much as looking for traps or ancient guardians. He was overconfident and full of a great ego, and yet he had the power to back up these feelings of superiority.

It was time to see if Veradun would truly guard his master's life as he swore to do.

“Apprentice, ignite your weapon. One day I shall teach you to wrap darkness around yourself and peer into shadow, but today we shall rely on a lightsaber to see us through.”

Nefaron folded his hands behind his back as if he were on a casual stroll through a park. It was clear that the old fortress was not welcoming to the pair; dead whispers and the scurrying of feet signaled that they were not alone. But it was no guard or ancient war machine that struck first; instead, a large stone attached to a chain came swinging in from somewhere in the darkness.

Its target?

Darth Nefaron.

He didn’t seem particularly bothered.

He didn’t even try to move out of the way.

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Tag: Darth Nefaron
​

Veradun felt a touch of pride upon hearing his Master affirm what he had said, the observations and truths he had come to grasp, to understand. However, upon hearing Nefaron declare his intentions…for him to see Veradun cast down the current Sith Emperor, the Nagai blinked in shocked surprise. Did his Master actually think he could face Darth Empyrean and defeat him? Despite his surprise, the young man was quick to replace the expression with his usual blank one, especially as Nefaron continued to speak. He told the Nagai how he was impressed with him; how, when faced with his former High Priest, that he had remained loyal to Nefaron.

“-But I will always ask more of you, for a Sith will never truly be content with their abilities, especially an Apprentice.”

This, Veradun knew to be true. How could he grow, rise in his power, step into all that he was meant to become, if he was content with where he was at right now? He wasn’t content…he wanted more. Always more. It was why he stayed with Darth Nefaron, despite the growing hatred that festered in his heart for the mutilated Sith Lord. His thirst for power, for knowledge, was greater than his need for revenge…at least for now.

Silence fell between them for a while as they continued onward, trekking through the storm, until they finally reached their destination - revealed when Darth Nefaron used the Force to push away the ice and snow that had enshrouded blackened ruins. The place seemed ancient, scarred by battles long since passed, and quietly Veradun wondered just what sort of history this place possessed.

“Within these walls lay an ancient evil, long buried and forgotten. We are going to wake it up.” The Dark Lord said with a low and ominous laugh, one that caused a chill to race up and down the Nagai’s spine. He eyed his Master warily, before his pale eyes turned back to regard the ruins in question. He was both dreading, and wanting to know, what this ‘ancient evil’ was. Despite his sudden misgivings, he followed along with the Sith Lord, staying close, as they passed through the weathered and frozen gates.

As they went further in, Nefaron bid his Apprentice to ignite his saber, to use it as a source of light for them both to see by. He mentioned teaching the Nagai how to ‘wrap darkness’ around himself, and to peer into shadows without needing light…but that was a lesson for another time. The Nagai did as he was directed, igniting the crimson blade and holding it aloft - even as his ears picked up faint ghostly whispers and the scurrying of feet off in the distant shadows.

But it wasn’t this that truly alarmed him - it was the sudden boulder that appeared from the darkness and was headed straight for Nefaron that did. Veradun reacted on pure instinct over thought - his free hand coming up as he reached deep in the Force to arrest the giant stone’s movement, attempting to freeze it in place as his face contorted into a grimace with the effort that such a task demanded of him.

 

[Darth Nefaron]

For a moment, just a moment, Nefaron believed that Veradun may not intervene.

But he should know not to doubt himself.

All was as he willed it.
​

The rock, about the size of Nefaron's upper torso, hovered just before the Dark Lord. As the boy strained to hold it back, his Master laughed quietly.

"Well done. Soon this will be but child's play to you."

As if to demonstrate his point, the Corpse Lord reached up and gently flicked the boulder with two of his withered fingers. Instead of sending it flying backwards, the rock shattered as if it were but glass. Chunks fell to the floor before the pair, much to the shagrin of the creatures who had hurled it at the intruders.

"We intrude upon another's home. Servants of a master long since banished to the void."

The Dark Lord extended his grasp as if reaching for something in the darkness around them. In an instant, a creature that was about half of Veradun's height came flying out toward the pair, its tiny neck clasped in Nefaron's hand as it recoiled in terror, sharp teeth and nashing claws attempting without much success to rip the Corpse Lord apart.

"Sithspawn creations of an ancient Dark Lord. Whatever they might have been before, they have grown weak over the centuries, feeding on scraps and blending themselves into the darkness of this tomb. Like all servants, they must be taught to obey their masters once more."

In a single swift motion, Nefaron broke the creature's neck. Its corpse fell to the floor, but that did not last for long, as soon enough it began to twist and writhe under the silent command of the Dark Lord. When it rose, its head fell to one side, and its lifeless eyes found Veradun. This time, the creature did not attempt to attack the boy but instead appeared to be in his service, awaiting his command.

Its former comrades were not amused. They were coming.

"You must triumph, Veradun. I will not save you should you become overwhelmed."

This was the final command of Nefaron before he seemed to glide backward into the darkness behind the boy, leaving him with his weapon and the undead servant that his master had gifted him. Meanwhile, a horde of the sithspawn was approaching, crude spears and daggers at the ready to carve Veradun's flesh and turn him into their next meal.

TAG: Veradun Sharr ​

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Darth Nefaron
​

It appeared that his willingness to stop the boulder from smashing into the Dark Lord pleased his Master. An amused chuckle filled the darkened space they occupied as Nefaron told the Nagai that soon, such Force skills would be but child’s play for him - and the pale youth watched as his Master flung the rock away with such force that it shattered down the hall upon impact. Whatever lay beyond was not amused, and the darkness shifted as if angered and disturbed.

Nefaron warned Veradun that they intruded upon another’s space and the Sithspawn servants of a long gone ‘master’ still remained, and as if to prove this the Dark Lord extended a hand and a creature came flying into his grasp, hell bent on trying to rip the Sith Lord apart with sharp teeth and claws. Veradun had not the faintest clue as to what this creature was but he had a feeling he was about to be seeing a lot more of them. He eyed the disgusting creature warily, though he hardly flinched when Nefaron snapped its neck then dropped the body…only to watch it rise again as a reanimated corpse, still and quiet as it turned milky eyes upon Veradun.

Like it was waiting for him to give it commands.

"You must triumph, Veradun. I will not save you should you become overwhelmed."

It was the only warning that Darth Nefaron would give to the pale Nagai boy, before the Sith Lord seemed to vanish into the darkness itself…leaving Veradun alone to face the horde of starving Sithspawn that were clawing their way towards him even now.

He remembered the lesson from the storm, from the horde of shambling corpses. A blade would not be enough to cut these down…that was not the lesson he was to learn. No…the lesson was about control, domination, subjugation. If Veradun was to rule or command his Master’s forces, then these were things he needed to learn and embody.

Luckily for the Nagai, he wasn’t just a student of war and the blade, but of Force and Sorcery techniques. Such would need to be employed here, or so it would seem. He hoped he had enough strength and presence in the Dark side to impose his will upon these creatures. Surely, whatever hold their former master had on them would have diminished over time? There was only one way to find out.

One particular skill, a Sith spell that he had been practicing upon the Corpse Legion, was that of Qâzoi Kyantuska. It did not require him to speak aloud any words or incantations, nor did it require gestures like other Sith spells did. He just needed to be in the presence of those he wished to control. He could control one or more individuals, but as he slipped into the currents of the Force he could sense that there were more Sithspawn than he imagined. More than what he had ever learned to control at one time.

What was growth, if he wasn’t challenged in it?

Saber in hand, just in case, the Nagai Sith apprentice reached deep into the Force, into the dark side and let it fill him. For this, he would need to be a vessel for the dark, so that he could utilize it for his purposes. His pale blue eyes bled golden as he drew upon the raw dark energy that filled the crumbling temple, that saturated the planet. He drank it in, glutenous for the power. Perhaps his Master would be pleased to know that Veradun had been studying on his own, growing in his might and power beyond the teachings of the Dark Lord. This certainly was a spell that Nefaron had not taught the boy.

His free hand lifted and extended to face the oncoming horde of Sithspawn rabble - he could feel them through the currents of the Force, their minds and thoughts and desires so simple and so one directional: to kill him, to feast. He drank in their hatred, their vileness and a cold and cruel smile, one that would make Nefaron proud, formed on his pale face. He waited just a little longer, until they were much closer, almost too close…before he unleashed his will upon them, casting the spell in a wide net to catch as many of them as he could. The sheer force of his desire to utterly control them was powerful, a lust that went beyond the mind and to the soul. Power flared, dark and vibrant, and Veradun stood at the very apex of it all, his presence undeniable.

-You will all belong to me. You will do my bidding, and serve me how and where I see fit.-

As all things will serve me in time.