Private Awakening

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

Voice Sample


Arising from amidst the broken, shattered and drained bodies of what was once the expeditionary team sent to investigate his crypt The Shaper sighed as the last vestiges of the Anzati's filthy weakness had been suitably.... corrected. Their features smoothed down to something more refined and appropriate, those unseemly tendrils shorn from his body and the absolutely appalling physical, chemical desire to feed on others had been quenched for good. Altogether, he supposed, this body would do. Though he considered to be much, much less than his original form a level, sidelong glance at his now beyond-desecrated corpse in it's sarcophagi told him that reclaiming that body would be much to effort for much too little a sense of familiar comfort.

Lifting an elegant, pale hand to smooth back his raven hair The Shaper lifted The Iron Crown in his hands, cradling it as if it were made of glass though that was far from the truth. He gave a small, almost fatherly smile at the glimmering light of the Whilstones within and sighed in contentment. Pleased beyond words that the great words of his artifice hadn't been mangled by the buffoon that had once held dominion over this body. Placing the crown upon his brow The Shaper closed his eyes and smile, simply reveling in the mortal, tactile sensation of once again wielding his creations. It had been so very, very long. A brief ripple of ecstatic emotion surged through his very being, the rush of raw emotions briefly making his eye switch from a dim silver to a bright, burning reddish amber, before one of his creations showed him a brief vision, a lost apprentice stumbling into his tomb. Alone.

The Shaper smiled a wry, amused smile at this and hummed to himself. His armor and weapons he would reclaim in a moment but for now he simply rested himself back down in the uncomfortable confines of the stone throne sat across the chamber from it's entrance, on the other side of his sarcophagi, wherein once a warrior of the Sith had been stationed to keep the various beasts and creatures of Korriban from disturbing this place. 'How amusing....' He thought. 'That the first being I should meet upon awakening should feel so fragile when I once sat amongst the Lords of the Sith.' Waiting until Dok approached the chamber The Shaper sat, waiting, as what was one more moment to the millennia he had already existed? Besides he hardly planned to simply greet this Apprentice. After all, he had still trespassed upon The Shaper's tomb, so a small lesson was in order.

Extending a hand and weaving a spell full of low, guttural noises and dark, black speech The Shaper infused the five corpses nearest to the entrance and sent them forth to greet Dok. Their eyes radiating a fiery crimson glow as their dead, gnarled hands grasped at him, The Shaper calling upon the Force to gaze upon this mock confrontation to see just how this trespasser responded to the living dead marching upon them.​

 

[Dok Varuut]

Dok had taken a wrong turn. The vast unmapped or lost tunnels that snaked through Korriban connected many locations within it. From lost vaults, to tombs, to training rooms. Many had already been looted of everything valuable, some were still sealed to tight for one like Dok to breach on his own. There was always something to find when he delved deep here though. Some new scrap of knowledge, a shard of some lost artifact. Rarely was it much more than a curiosity, occasionally he learned something he could use. Instead he had taken a wrong turn and found himself in a tomb, not a lost archive that may still contain a buried holocron. Tombs were perhaps the most dangerous areas to explore. Artifacts that still used their power, guardians laying in wait, and more could be found. Someone else had been here before him, and recently. They hadn't even bothered to hide their presence.

Disturbed dust, faint signs of passage, and even the quiet shuffling of something still moving in the tomb. While he lacked raw power compared to many of his contemporaries, darkness was where Dok worked best. It didn't slow or hinder him, he never had to fear the dark as so many others, so he carried no light. A shiver crawled his neck, not of fear, but of anticipation. Everything about this read a trap. His steps had been silent, whoever had made it here before him should still be speaking, still moving. Instead it was just quiet, moving closer shuffling. A pair of lightsabers found their way into Dok's pale hands even as his mind cleared and focused.

He took a deep slow breath, and forced his signature in the force down and away. Of all the things Dok could do, his ability to mask his presence in the force, and his ability to move quietly were among his strongest. Sith guardians tended to use the force to find their prey, looters relied on their eyes, and fellow Sith often used both. Dok even went so far as to make the temperature of the air around him drop, masking the heat of his body so that it was closer to that of the once abandoned tomb. He was eager to see what prey he had found, a well done ambush could often bridge the gap of power he faced. And if whatever was coming for him still bore a master, it'd be safer not to expand his senses outward and risk assault or detection.

 

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

The Shaper watched with mild amusement as the newly animated corpses shambled off into the halls of his tomb. His senses casually extended to the structure beyond and, as he felt the Force signature of the apprentice fade to a low hum, he sighed in disappointment. Though he couldn't help but wonder if the Sith had become cowardly in the millennia since his interment here he could, begrudgingly at least, understand a sense of caution. After all the entire expedition already sent here had already perished so, why would one single apprentice not be wary of traipsing into this place all alone?

Despite the logic he supplied himself The Shaper could not resist the urge to morosely drum his fingers against the stone armrest of the throne he sat in. Leaning forward in this throne he drew in the influence of the Whilstone of Acuity and projected his thoughts into Dok Varuut 's mind. His voice chiding and unimpressed as he informed the bashful apprentice. 'I know you are there. Do not hide from me. If you are Sith come, face the obstacle lain before you. Whether victory or failure awaits you it is best to face one's problems with confidence and wait than sniveling deception.'

Mentally directing the reanimated corpses of the expedition toward Dok's location The Shaper would recline in the throne once more. Hoping that his intended lesson had sparked a bit of fight in the apprentice. If not then.... well..... he cast his eyes sidelong to his waiting equipment and once again began to drum his fingers along the armrest. There was always the more personal option after all.

​

 

[Dok Varuut]

Dok frowned as the voice of Arctus Silmar invaded his mind.

Who ever said anything about avoiding the fight, but it is a fools errand to fight in a battlefield prepared by another. I will win this fight, but I will do it my way!

Dok responded to the taunting simply. He was surprised by the projection, but not by it's words. Many Sith even in the modern day underestimated the power of shadows, as if it wasn't the shadows that had save the Sith from certain death many times over the millenia. His grip on his lightsabers tightened, eyes closed as he listened to the quiet shuffling, his own footsteps even quieter now that he was trying to purposefully be quiet. If the mind could find him, then just waiting would do nothing for the spawn headed his way.

Unlike many Sith, he did not rely solely on his lightsabers, but carried a blaster, and explosives, though he wouldn't use the latter. Bringing the tomb down this far underground could doom even uncareful Masters, let alone an Acolyte such as Dok. Instead he opted for the less dangerous option. Pocketing one saber, he set his pistol to overload. It was still an explosion, but much more localized, more constrained. He did not believe it would win the fight, but an attack out of hiding needed shock to be worth it. He counted silently to himself, and on the mark of three when the corpses were closer he threw the blaster after pulling it's trigger.

The distinctive whine of an overloading powerpack could be heard, before the thing detonated over the heads of the zombies, more focused on disorienting and separating them than actually killing any. With a yank in the force, he pulled the first of his targets into a gloom lit only by the angry red of his sabers. He had lost his blaster of course, so his options were lower now, but now he was where he was best. With saber in hand, against an isolated target. It would not last long, so the sabers flashed, aiming to bisect the animated corpse at hip, with his second saber aiming to remove it's head.

 

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

The Iron Crown|| Whilstone of Prowess|| Whilstone of Acuity
Whilstone of Power|| Acharn|| Urfael
Voice Sample

Dok Varuut

The Shaper found the apprentice's rebuttal amusing, if somewhat lacking in true conviction, but nonetheless he turned his attention to observing their progress through the Force. He admired the ingenuity of the young Sith, contentedly humming to themselves as their blaster erupted in a disorienting flare of an overloaded power pack. The shambling corpses becoming as lost in that bright, brief light as most souls would be in the tomb's ever present darkness. The undead that staggered close to Dok first would fall all too easily as it's rotted, grasping hands would never touch him, it's bisected and beheaded body collapsing to the stone with a dull thud.

'Inelegant....' The Shaper thought 'But not completely inept....'

As the first undead fell the remaining four would approach Dok in a half-circle. All of them nearly equal distance from the Apprentice as they clambered toward the source of that hissing, buzzing red light that was his Lightsaber. Their fetid hands grasping, clawing and reaching for the fragile Apprentice as The Shaper maintained a modest but invested attentiveness on his progress. At least, with his senses. He now stood from his throne and, walking calmly to his sarcophagus, drew Acharn and Urfael from their resting place. Deciding he would test this Apprentice with one final measure.

Sheathing the blade Urfael at his hip he hefted the spear Acharn in his hand, a brief smile overtaking him lips as he felt the familiar weight of millennia in his creation. He could feel it all but hunger for use, to taste blood, and he was almost a bit sorrowful he could not oblige the spear it's hunger. At least, not this day, for now the spear would simply serve as the final test awaiting Dok as he traversed deeper into the tomb amongst the shambling dead and the amused Shaper.

 

[Dok Varuut]

Dok frowned at how easily the corpse went down. Shambling zombie or not, most Sith Spawn were far, far tougher. These were to weak to be intended for anything other than a distraction or massive numbers. Which meant they were a distraction, this was still a trap of some sort, ambush probably. Dok smiled and whirled his blades quickly, cutting two in half before using their bodies to knock over two more. The last standing he brought his blade up and stabbed, before using the flames sprouting from every wound to set the two still struggling back to their feet ablaze. He found fire distasteful, but rotted flesh often burned well, and fire was always abundant around active sabers.

He has wasted his blaster it seemed, but caution was ill advised with even the weakest looking Sith creations. Either these were rushed, a distraction, had a weak creator, or were drained from unknown ages in the tomb. Regardless, Dok favored treating them as a distraction. The quiet hum of his saber faded, replaced only by the crackling and stench of burning, fetid flesh. If he was to face an opponent, he must prepare the battlefield, and he had little time. He favored coating the floor in as much ice as he could. Caught unawares, or without the cryomancy to alter it, the floor would be a hindrance and distraction. Mayhap not enough to win whatever fight was coming, but enough of one that Dok may escape alive. He checked his remaining equipment, a grappling wire which might serve some use but unlikely to be much help. He had used his flash grenades before here to defeat some mutated animals, or perhaps guardians.

Last but most importantly, a Sonic Imploder, and Fragmentation Grenade. The grenade was much riskier in tight quarters like these, especially underground. On the other hand, the halls could amplify the Sonic Imploder, amplifying it's range. Thankfully it was only lethal up close, and just robbed people of their sight, hearing, and disoriented them. Well, lethal sometimes. Against a force user of any kind, one should never expect any single factor to win the day, and those that could use the magic needed to make Sith Spawn would be dangerous foes. He set the Sonic Imploder to impact, content that the battlefield was to his advantage, even if the fight would not be. He was hard to track in the force, the fires would fade and darkness prevail. The air was filled with smoke and rot, and the floor coated with ice. Only hearing was completely unchallenged by the preparations. It probably wouldn't be enough, but it gave Dok a chance, and in a fight, one slip was all you needed. Dok settled into the dark, his blue eyes watching for the first hint of movement from Arctus Silmar .

 

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

The Iron Crown|| Whilstone of Prowess|| Whilstone of Acuity
Whilstone of Power|| Acharn|| Urfael
Voice Sample

The Shaper was un-surprised to see the Apprentice deal with the rotted, fetid corpses he had animated as they did, despite their more measured and careful response than what The Shaper himself would have responded with. Nevertheless the darkness of the cave would be lit rather well by the three glowing Whilstones atop the Shaper's crown, casting an unusually bright, silver light over the stone that surrounded them. The Shaper, smiling at Dok as they readied themselves to face him, brought up his hand not clutching Acharn in it's grasp and, using pyrokinesis, lit an intricate series of ceremonial and long unused braziers here in the sepulcher of his tomb.

Briefly the Shaper considered using the flash of the flames springing into existence as an opening to throw Acharn at the Apprentice, but decided against such things. He sensed promise in them, if muted and horribly mangled, and he could do with a new apprentice in these unfamiliar times. As such the Shaper waited for Dok's eyes to adjust, not taking the cheap shot he could have, and noted the creeping ice now illuminated on the floor. This made hhim give a small, appreciative grin, before without a word he looked Dok in the eyes and hurled Acharn directly toward the Apprentice's chest.

The long, obsidian and gold spear as long enough to pin Dok's body to the wall if it struck him and thrown with enough force and speed to embed itself in the wall behind Dok should he dodge. Even so the Shaper had restrained himself with this attack as this was a test for Dok, as the Shaper had calmly seen his speed in combat when dispatching the undead, and had thrown Acharn with a precise speed meant to be just slow enough Dok could avoid it if he was on his toes.

 

[Dok Varuut]

Dok didn't have many choices of where to go as the spear thrown by Arctus Silmar at him. He didn't have time to think of where to go either, so he made his choice and jumped straight upward. Landing nimbly on the spear, he made the first of his prepared moves even as other prepared advantages disappeared. One hand pushed forward, using the force to launch rubble, severed pieces of the corpses, and most importantly, the Sonic Imploder at a wall at the Shaper. It was more annoying than anything else, but most critically the Imploder was mixed where it should fly harmlessly past the Shaper, and detonate on the wall behind him, where the Shaper would take far more of the blast than Dok himself. In all appearances it appeared to be a general wall of debris to buy Dok time, which he used as he pushed off the spear, using it to springboard towards the exit where he might, in theory, use the fragmentation grenade to seal the entrance.

Thankfully his eyes were used to sudden shifts of light, after all compared to total darkness a blaster or lightsaber was rather bright, and brazier flames were nothing compared to modern lights. The ice on the floor proved no problem for him, the same skill that let him create it kept him from slipping on it. The sabers, burning bodies, and braziers would warm the room, but this far underground it would take time for it to really start melting the ice. Given the strength of that spear throw, only luck and cunning could see Dok survive, let alone win this. He aimed for survival, but any opening that would let him win would be taken advantage of. He was cautious, but every blow he struck was without restraint, and had a purpose.

 

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

The Iron Crown|| Whilstone of Prowess|| Whilstone of Acuity
Whilstone of Power|| Acharn|| Urfael
Voice Sample

As Dok Varuut cast forth his hail of debris, rubble and the hidden Sonic Imploder the Shaper had no desire nor need to contend with the Apprentice's show of force. As their own plan was already set in motion to deal with this quite nicely. As the debris and Imploder sailed viciously through the air toward the Shaper his body simply dissipated into a mass of shadowy tendrils, the rubble flying through where he had once stood as he re-appeared not a second later grasping Acharn in his left hand. Idly watching as Dok had just leapt from his weapon not a moment ago. He was resourceful, but he was too set in his ways, an inventive solution is impressive to implement but a Sith should not be afraid to avoid direct, visceral confrontation.

The Shaper reached out as Dok nearly landed back on the stone surface of the tomb and grasped him out of the air with a firm, commanding telekinetic grip. The Sonic Imploder then detonating back in the tomb and sending rubble flying in every direction. The Shaper felt the concussive waves down to his bones vibrate and chunks of rubble nicked and cut his flawless skin as he pulled Dok back to himself. Keeping the Apprentice suspended in the air and in his grasp as the small cuts on the Shaper began to steadily close in a matter of moments.

The Shaper then smiled and lowered Dok down before him, not allowing the Apprentice to land on his feet, and gazing down at him as the Whilstones glowed with imperious light. The Shaper's lip beginning to move as his words echoed and came a moment or two behind the motion of his lips. "Well done, you are quite brave to come into such a place alone." The Shaper tilted their head as they began to wash their senses over Dok, studying and delving into him where the Shaper sensed something.... amiss. The Shaper's next words came slow and thoughtful, as if measuring Dok in a new light. "You are..... conflicted. We can remedy this, if you like. Together we can unlock the potential inside you."

The Shaper's smile became more twisted and interested, now seeing Dok as puzzle to be unlocked, something to be mastered, as hhe gazed down at him. "Should you wish it, I can lead you to powers many consider to be unnatural, terrifying, but such that you will become whole again. As you were always meant to be."

 

[Dok Varuut]

"Masters before you have tried, and failed. What is missing can only be restored from within, not without. To do so I need knowledge, and from that knowledge power. I am already Sith, I have already delved into the unnatural. it did not work. Now I search for the last, the hidden instead. What many Sith cannot acknowledge, or will not study because it does not give them power now. I found you on accident, took a wrong turn searching for a buried library, rumors of a holocron had reached my ears."

Dok did not shy from a fight, from speaking frankly to those stronger than himself such as Arctus Silmar . It was true, he feared the power of the Sith before him, but he did not let his fear direct his actions. It was his fury, honed to scalpel and frozen in place that fueled him. He had modeled himself on Sith of the past, fallen Jedi that knew the power of the Dark, and the power of the Light. He had delved into unorthodox, oft dismissed knowledge before. He had no talent for alchemy or magic, mayhap because of the selfsame block of which he spoke, but he did have a keen mind. He knew that whatever blocked his power could not be fixed by anyone but himself, but he had yet to find how. It had led him to even knowledge usually kept by Light siders, by Jedi. Techniques that, while not cemented in any aspect of the force, was most commonly used by the followers of the Light. He had found texts of the Jensaarai, and even a scrap of the Aing-Tii, though he did not know how to read it. Perhaps this would be the next step to unlocking whatever secret he needed, whatever turmoil kept him blocked.

"You are Sith, yes, but I serve the current Sith Empire. If you wish to have me, you must must embrace the Rule of Order, for I'd rather die than be hunted by them."

 

[Arctus Silmar]

The Shaper

The Iron Crown|| Whilstone of Prowess|| Whilstone of Acuity
Whilstone of Power|| Acharn|| Urfael|| Mithralian
Voice Sample

As Dok Varuut retorted to him the Shaper couldn't help but be exasperated by the undue pride and haughtiness Dok showcased. His grip on Dok was now a more casual thing as he tilted his head, before giving a long sigh that made him think that maybe, just maybe, he was better off crawling back into his sarcophagus. With a small shake of his head he released Dok and stared at him, his eyes harsh and judging, before he stated simply "You speak an awful lot of your condition for one still subjected to it. If you ARE in fact so learned then you are a weakling to still be held back such constraints. For one who thinks themselves a successor to myself and my kin you are sorely lacking."

The Shaper didn't know what to make of Dok's final statement. As it asserted something the Shaper had not even commented on. A response to a statement not even made. "Foolish child. I am Sith. Whatever this new Order is I shall ascend in it just as I have before." With that said the Shaper turned and donned his armor, pieces clasping into place as he did not anticipate Dok attacking him again. Even if he did, it would be met with swift and retaliatory punishment. Once this was done the Shaper turned back to Dokand looked down at him.

"Come, if it is forbidden knowledge you seek then we shall solve this together, you and I. But know this. I will not show you mercy, I will not allow you to grow complacent and I will break you. You will be broken, destroyed and reforged into something greater than you are now. You may come to hate me, to despise me, but one day you will possess the power to free yourself." A tight smile stretched the Shaper's lips behind his mask as he murmured. "As my beloved Sorzus once said 'The Force shall set me Free'."