Bloodline

[Darth Prazutis]

Vain Hollow, Panatha
Lower Levels...

While all of Panatha might bathe in the worlds powerful sun it was the greatest citadel in the sector that resisted its powerful rays. Black stormy clouds hung over the tall spires blocking the shining rays from breaking through to its dark walls and high battlements. For a citadel nestled deep in the heart of the inhospitable Iron Mountains the area was filled with traffic. There were large roaming bands of elite Graug troops and their wicked warbeasts constantly moving through the surrounding territory while more elite troops and war droids alike manned the many walls and battlements that rose miles into the sky. The only known path to Vain Hollow for groups to make it safely was walled off the world by the massive Kaine's Wall, better known as Fort Zambrano. Fort Zambrano was the headquarters for the entire Blackblade Legion the families infamous Jedi killing, Mandalorian slaying warriors. No one made it to Vain Hollow without first passing through the intense screening process by these remorseless butchers. Anyone caught moving in the mountains restricted areas without going through Fort Zambrano and down its path was at the mercy of the hordes of roaming hunters with orders to kill or capture intruders, or from strikes by patrolling starfighter wings above.

This was the heart of House Zambrano's regime in the Pacanth Reach.

Deep within the structures hidden labyrinthine levels through halls in a section lit by archaic torches hanging on the walls and the presence of black iron braziers hanging from ceiling was an dark section stylized more in the fashion of the ancient Sith. A myriad of banners hung on the walls representing many of the ancient Sith Empires of old while artwork, busts and pieces crafted by the ancient Sith filled the halls that were lined by elite Crownguard all bearing the royal family's sigil, the Eye of Solomon emblazoned on their chestplates. It was within a circular meditation room that the Arch-Prince Braxus Zambrano sat cross legged clad the Death's Shroud. Even surrounded in the nexus of Vain Hollow the dark side swirled like a storm in this focused chamber the aura of the Dark Lord unleashed alongside the wails and cries of trapped, agonized souls allowed to scream out. If the guards around weren't of the epicanthix persuasion the radiant fear would've sent shivers down their spines. As busy as the monarch was ruling the family empire, conducting business on behalf of the Sith, as well as his own experiments sessions of meditation and focus were essential. It was Braxus's first session since the successful Essence Transfer that brought him into an improved body. He was an hour into his meditation when..:

An interruption.

The doors opened and sliding quietly in came the Shadow Hand Lazarus clad in his typical dark suit he knelt before his black and silver cane like a knight before his blade. Lazarus knew better than to speak before he was spoken to especially while the Dark Lord was meditating. Braxus felt his familiar presence in the force first but didn't bother to open his eyes or even turn to face him. "Rise and speak Lazarus." Braxus said his commanding voice and iron will silencing the wailing souls. "One [member="Venthis Zambrano"] has been brought here from Fort Zambrano my lord. He claims to be your son."
"Bring him to me."

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

The mysteries of time constantly flowed, with it several moments are lost and forgotten within the minds of the sentient. Alternate realities dwell through the mind of the living, wishing of what could have been. The question constantly in the mind of Venthis. What could have been if his father chose to stay with his mother, what if Venthis was with his father for the entirety of his life. How different would it have been?

Yet none of it mattered. Time had took it toll, and countless chances had passed. Though it was time, for it all to change.

The journey to find his beginnings was long and hard, various attempts at passing through the hardened defenses of Fort Zambrano. Though eventually he had made his way to where he had set off to go. The Vain Hollow. The entire scenery had changed, with creatures the size of starships stomped across the poisoned land. He made his way down the path, escorted by two armoured guards, keeping watch on Venthis' movements, not entirely buying his claim. Eventually finding himself passing beneath two monolith like statues, then enterring through a pair of large doors.

The Vain Hollow, was a sight to behold. The structure was built within the mountain, showing the innovation of it's creators. Though it was clear Venthis appreciated it. A soft exhale left the mouth of Venthis before he was quickly approached by a man shrouded in a set of dark clothing. "Who... are you?" He asked. Venthis turned his head in a slow manner before quickly replying. "Venthis..." a pause would stand before he continued "Zambrano." The man stood almost speechless, before quickly turning away and marching in another direction.

Venthis followed in the direction, finding himself in a vast garden. Completely different from the surrounding harsh terrain of the vast mountains surrounding the Citadel. He wandered for some time around it, admiring it. Before he was approached yet again by the figure. "He is ready for you, come along." He muttered, with Venthis quickly following leading him through various halls and passages, the young Zambrano glaring at the various pieces of art and craftsmanship, his eyes seeming to linger on one of the guards sigil across their chest. Before a set of doors lay before them, the man swung the doors open. The crownsguard escorting Venthis would seemingly turn and remain outside, guarding the door. Though Venthis and the Shadow Hand, would enter.

"I present, Venthis Zambrano." Lazarus annoucned, in a somewhat bitter tone.

Venthis stood with his arms clinched behind his back, taking a proper posture. First impressions, were everything.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​An eerie silence filled the room following the presenting of [member="Venthis Zambrano"].

​The Lord of the Sith simply remained on the floor his legs crossed, not even the sound of his breathing could be heard from within the meditation chamber. But quite suddenly the man stirred standing from his comfortable position, he turned to face the Forgotten Wraith who stood before him. Venthis was the byproduct of a fling long ago, a moment in time when he was a different person serving as a hired killer for others. A beautiful woman met during his travels and a hookup before he simply took off for another job. For decades after he didn't think about the woman, she wasn't so much a thought until Lazarus announced the presence of his son. It certainly wasn't his Solomon coming down those halls, it was someone else. Some would've considered the idea of letting some stranger in preposterous, it could've easily been a con man trying to earn power and wealth at the feet of the royal house.

But he could feel it.

Braxus could feel the blood pumping through Venthis's veins through the force, he could sense the dark side power that came from House Zambrano flowing through his veins. Most of all he could see his own shadow cast across the floor from a man who held such a striking resemblance to his father. When the Dark Titan finally turned towards Venthis only his sulfuric molten eyes could be seen from beneath that dark cowl even as his massive frame approached the Princeling. "My son." ​Braxus said almost with a cold, apathetic tone in his voice while he circled the man like a shark inspecting his form. By all accounts Venthis looked good from the outside appearances were everything to first impressions after all. But what he couldn't perceive was the type of man he was. There was little room for weakness, failure, or disloyalty within the Zambrano family. After all the strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must was their family's words.

​"You may hold our family's name and you may look like us, do not think for a moment that makes you one of us. Do not think that you are entitled to anything within our vast empire." ​Braxus said stopping in front of him. "I will decide what your worth is. I will tear your layers down and see what potential lies beneath the surface. There is no room for the kind of weakness that your mother held in our family."​Braxus added. If he wasn't worthy?

Then he'd have him tossed from the cliffs.

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

As his father spoke, Venthis didn't flinch. He stood staring forwards, listening to his words. His arms still clasped behind back, interlocked as he faced onwards to what was his creator. He had grown up, dreaming of his father being a powerful man who would save the entire of Panatha. Though, he could never imagine what he really was. Though it was his father, and it inspired him. Though he hadn't come for wealth, property or even a right to the throne. He had come for his father, to learn of him, understand him. It was the only thing that was rushing through his skull, who is this man? Venthis intended to find out.

Once the Lord of Death had finished, the young Zambrano would purse his lips, speaking in response. "I haven't come for wealth. None of your belongings, or the Empire's belongings at that." He left a moments silence in between. "But, you know that. I've come for you, to find the truth." He was genuinely honest, about his statement. He wanted to know his father, it was all he had wanted since he was young. "Father." He finished with. He kept his emerald eyes glancing forwards at the now standing man, his long black hair flowing over his shoulders. Though, he stood with pride upon his shoulders. This was all Venthis had, with his mother gone. Nowhere else to run to or hide, this was his future. His only remaining family, with most of it yet to be discovered.

Venthis kept his eyes directly locked onto the Titan's, not moving simply standing with an entirely straight posture.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​The Truth.

​Long ago the Sith Lord made his choice by choosing the path of power over everything else and it was one that required a great deal of sacrifice. In sessions of training and lecture with [member="Darth Carnifex"] in the past they spoke of what one had to give up to achieve true power. The dark path completely transformed the monster into something unrecognizable from the wicked being who had encountered [member="Venthis Zambrano"]'s mother all those years ago. The familiar sensations of cold, of warmth, once integral bodily sensations faded away when the corruption of the dark side pulled at his previous failing body.

​But the changes due to this path were also mental. In truth the attachment and care of family with the exception of a rare few chosen had already been damaged. Where once Braxus might've seen the arrival of his wayward son as a fortunate day, instead his response was different. The cogs working the great machine of his ever thinking mind searched for what advantage he might've had, what cunning plots he might be trying to weave by coming here. While his eyes scrutinized and critiqued what he saw was wrong or flawed. Braxus didn't know how the boy was raised or if his upbringing meant he was too far gone. But there was one undeniable truth of the matter at hand.

​He was a Zambrano.

​It meant he still had potential he had divine power coursing through his veins the same dark energy that pumped akin to the Sith species. A gift from their accursed ancestor Solomon the Black. If Venthis was flawed then he would have to break the boy and forge him anew. "The blood that flows through your veins, my blood. It is royal blood, divine blood of the Zambrano family. We are gods among men there is no room for weakness in our family. Heed our words: 'The strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must'." ​Braxus said his molten gaze piercing through Venthis's eyes and into his very being. "Your foundation is weak created by a weak mother. If you seek the truth you must be broken and reforged into something of worth. Then we will see if you are worthy to stand before me."

​In a flash the Destroyer called upon the force pulling a hidden dagger from the boot of the young boy snapping right into his hand, before he tossed it across the room behind him. The Destroyer delivered a crushing palm strike to the boys chest with the intent on sending him soaring back to the wall. It was then that Braxus thrusted both hands forward as crimson lightning burst from his very fingertips arching in a violent storm to ravage the boys body. This wasn't meant to char and kill but to inflict blinding, searing pain all over his body.

​After what felt like an eternity the Arch-Prince stopped the crimson lightning that bathed the room in its crimson glow dissipating, replaced only by the orange glow of torches from the now open door that two Crownguard emerged from alongside a man, a reliable and faithful servant of the Zambrano Monarchs. "Break him Odo. He is to be rebuilt." ​Braxus simply said as the man pulled a vial from a pouch on his belt, drawing the liquid out and into a retractable syringe on one of his gauntlets. While the pair of guards moved to flank the Forgotten Wraith Odo drove the syringe into his neck, injecting a powerful sedative to put him to sleep.

​It was sometime later that Venthis would wake his body malnourished and cold. He was locked in a cell with only enough room to stand in place bathed in darkness. Sounds played at irregular intervals to keep the boy from sleeping.

​This was hell.

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

If anything, Venthis was anxious to venture to find his father. He had heard stories of the man, he had come to meet. Though, he dismissed these stories as a child, believing them to be merely be tales. Though little did he know at the time, was the person who these tales were about was his... father. He listened to his father again. Taking in his somewhat deepened voice, though one line caught the attention of Venthis greatly.

'The strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must'.

He dropped his head, glancing to the floor for a few moments eventually taking in the phrase and glancing up, though as he did. The Dark Titan would speak of Venthis' mother. Something that Venthis, couldn't resist speaking up about. "I understand wh-" As he began, the dagger would slowly rise from out of his boot and guide itself into Braxus' hand. His eyes would appear seemingly shocked. "What- wha-" Though again, before he could even muster his words. He would be met with a strike of immense power to his chest, releasing a quiet exhale of pain through his mouth flying through the air, smashing his back against the wall, causing a crack.

The only sound he could release was a wheezing cough, as he attempted to gasp for air after being winded from the initial strike. Barely being able to breathe. Though struggling to his feet, he would still stand facing his father. Though a flash of bright crimson sparks flew in the direction of the young Zambrano, causing him to shriek in pain. His body filling entirely with pain. Completely stunned. He would release yelps of pain in short intervals. Though he would open his eyelids slightly noticing a man wearing a Mandalorian Crusader helmet hovering over his body before a slight pinch would be felt in his neck. Liquid poured into his neck, before he dozed off into his unconciousness.

He would awaken in the darkness. Loud noises appearing every so often. His body still in shock from the pain, aching and various scars. He would be unsure to where he was. Was this the afterlife? Is this... hell? He began to shout out, frightened. "Help- where? Is anyone there?" He began to stand his head hitting the ceiling instantly. "Help!" he continued. Smacking his hands off the ceiling in frustration, he would notice the pain he felt in his stomach. He was starving. Though most of all, he was unsure of what had happened. Death awaited him.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​It was hell.

​For what felt like days the boy was starved, dehydrated, and deprived of virtually all of his five senses as well as being deprived of sleep. In the darkness it felt as if this Destroyer who was his father left him in this cell to die in the cold blackness. Over time [member="Venthis Zambrano"] would feel a tug at the sanity of his mind whispers of voices in the dark. Vain Hollow was a swirling nexus of dark side energy and suffering in the eye of this storm could equally empower some and drive others mad. These ravenous voices like hellhounds sought to claim the young prince's sanity at the will of his father, yet another way he would be broken.

​Until everything happened all at once.

​Lights so bright and strong suddenly burst on blinding the boy who spent days in the dark momentarily while he could hear the cell door open. Immediately two mysterious dark armored torturers tossed him up against a wall one restraining his hands with binding cuffs while the other covered his head with a black sack. Venthis was carried through the halls by these dark men until finally he was set down on the floor. Just as the bindings came off he was restrained spread-eagled on a large torturous table.

​The cowl came off.

​It was a rather large room with dark ash colored walls that were relatively Spartan with the exception of a variety of restraints and torturous devices locked on these walls. A great long table ran the length of the wall to Venthis's right and parallel to his slab covered with a variety of torturous devices, chemicals, etc. It was here that the man his father had called 'Odo' stood alongside a medical droid the sickening sound of this man sharpening knives. As if some otherworldly power had notified him Odo immediately spoke "Now that I've got your attention we can begin! I will get to know you quite well in the time to come Princeling. We have a lot of work to do!" Odo said almost joyfully turning towards him. Once more a needle emerged from his gauntlet and he drove it into the boys neck. This time it was filled with adrenaline to ensure he remained awake through the pain.

​Then came the knife.

​Odo first began by slicing and dicing into the boys skin through the use of an agonizing blade. It was a small dagger crafted from devaronian blood poison causing far more agony than it should normally. A mere touch with the blade was enough to cause horrifying, sense dulling pain. As Odo cut the pain spread throughout Venthis's blood stream causing complete bodily agony. Odo cut deep runes into the boy's body.

It was only the beginning.

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

A soft buzz filled his mind, constantly moving and swirling. A painful sound. At first, he thought it was put there by his father. Though later he started to realize it was actually his sanity tearing apart. His mind was shattering almost. He couldn't take much more. It was his breaking point.

The lights flashed on, blinding the young Zambrano. Stunning him momentarily. Before he was thrown up against the wall, too weak to even think of retaliating against the two. Few sounds left his mouth, all unrecognizable. His hands bound, and his head covered. He was unsure of what was going to happen to him. Though there was one good thing, he knew he wasn't dead and this wasn't the afterlife. "Wh-- Why-" He barely managed. Before receiving a seemingly relatively soft nudge, though to him in his current state it was far worse.

A brief "Oof" would leave his mouth as he was placed on the table. He would be able to briefly open his eyes to glance to the various devices on the wall with a panicked expression he would struggle with little success.

The man finally spoke, with a set of words that terrified Venthis. Though before he could even process them, the knife cut through The Forgotten Wraith's skin. His body turned into a canvas for the Butcher's work. His father had put him subject to this. No one else to blame. Though, it was needed - he didn't realize it. Though this would only make him stronger. The various cuts, going into his skin caused screams, yelps of extreme pain. He was unsure what was being cut into him, but he understood that it was the worst pain he had ever felt.

This is what had to be done.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Hours they spent together.

[member="Venthis Zambrano"] was the canvas and Odo was the artist, the Butcher's Nail they called him and he earned every bit of his name. Odo cut and sliced into the gashes and runes that were cut into the boy's flesh only to dip his gauntlet into a simple large jar of salt to pack it into the wounds, the very presence festering in these gashes caused prolonged, agonizing pain. Chemical injections into his body threw him into terrible seizures lasting a long time.

All the while the dark presence of the Destroyer loomed over him, pulling at the sanity of his mind to break him down. Brick by brick he'd be torn down until he was made new.

Finally when the session of pain was over he was knocked unconscious through chemical injection where the young boy's wounds were treated in bacta he was injected with a cocktail of water and nutrients all just enough to keep the boy alive before he would wake back up locked in that cell cold in the dark deprived of all his senses. Just when he thought it was over...

It repeated.

The process repeated day in day out first starved and dehydrated then hours or days of pain. A vicious and brutal cycle while a dark presence hidden within the swirling nexus of black energy that was Vain Hollow broke him down mentally brick by brick. Months went by until finally the routine was broken.

Instead of the cowl coming off at the torturers table it was pulled off in moderately sized empty chamber. The walls in this room were dark steel as was the floor shadows swirling all about through the dim lights. Venthis could see that the floor was slightly slanted in the entire room towards the center, so any blood or liquids spilled would drain effectively. A disturbing feeling brewed in the pit of his stomach as he felt the unspeakable horrors that might've happened in this room...

Until he came.

The lights suddenly blazed blindingly bright while the doors opened and the Destroyer swept in clad in the same dark robes. Behind him a pair of Crownguard carried in a woman in tattered rags similar to his own, she was weak and malnourished just like he was. Braxus approached his son handing him the same dagger that was being used on him during the many torturous sessions. "The strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must these are our words. Carve up this canvas make her scream before a slow end." Braxus said his molten eyes bore through the Forgotten Wraith. "We are wolves and they are the sheep. Wolf or Sheep. Decide where you stand."

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

Torture, pain, loss. Venthis had taken the punishment given, for what? Being raised outside of the Zambrano culture. It was for good reason. Venthis at this stage was weak. Yet his father saw potential. Zambrano blood coursed through his veins. Potential. Scars, torn tissue, bruises all of which covered the entirety of his body excluding his face. Various symbols etched into his torso.

For weeks this was his life. It got to the point where he wanted to end his life, though there was no possible way. The pain was excruciating. Eventually, there was nothing left. He was almost completely broken, his sanity clawing to the end of the cliff about to fall into the abyss of non-existence. Barely alive, Venthis had made it through the torture. His life force, at an all time low. He wanted to end it. His father wouldn't allow it, as he had done this for a bigger purpose one Venthis would not yet understand.

Though the insanity of the same process repeated, day in and day out changed. He was faced in a new environment. The lights flashed on, blinding him momentarily. Before the door opened, revealing not only his father the man who put him under this pain but two crownguard carrying a woman in a similar state to himself. Pushing her forwards towards him, causing her to cower in the corner of the room as Venthis stood facing his father, barely able to stand. Taking the dagger from his father.

"Wolf or Sheep. Decide where you stand."

Venthis, completely unphased held the dagger by his side. Glaring into his father's eyes. It would almost look as if Venthis would strike at his father for a moment but he would turn to their surprise making his way to the woman. She stood leaned against the wall in the corner of the room. Venthis would grab her tossing her into the center of the room, punching her with no regret. Completely beating her, to a point where blood ran from her face. Then he dug the blade, which inflicted pain to an unexplainable extent, into her arm. Dragging it from her upper arm through her muscle and bone before removing it. "Wolf... I am the wolf!" He called out, continuing to cut her across her stomach, blood running from her wounds. Then moving to her left arm and doing the same that he did to her right. She screamed out, in pain. To the point where venthis would punch her again in the mouth. "No longer, will I be the sheep!" He shouted. Stabbing the blade through her throat.

Tossing the blade to the side, he would stand, drenched in blood. Turning to his father, expectantly.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

While the scene of pain and suffering unfolded the Destroyer watched with his keenly observant eyes, utter apathy towards the plight of the shackled prisoner. Every decision made from [member="Venthis Zambrano"]'s torture to the exact choice of prisoner he brought in was carefully calculated. Any soldier on the battlefield is willing to kill those men set before him, but someone such as a woman and one civilian in appearance would give pause.

There was no hesitation.

The inner darkness brewing within his son was unleashed in one storm as he proudly proclaimed himself the wolf, his choice made with the copper smell of freshly spilt blood in the air. When his son turned to face him Braxus stepped forward towards his son "Excellent my child. You are one step closer to unlocking your true potential. We have broken your very being down to its foundation. You will no longer be locked away in the dungeons. Through my teachings you will rise to stand as a proper Zambrano, above all others." Braxus said taking the dagger from his son's grip. It only got harder from this point forward if Venthis could pass through all of his teachings, every test and trial the world would be open to him.

The King gestured for his son to follow and led him out of the dungeon and past a group of black robed followers of Odo who came in to take care of the body. In the time Venthis had spent locked away in Vain Hollow he had only been privy to seeing a scant few of its rooms. Now that he was being led through this massive fortress it was extremely overwhelming. A great labyrinth of halls, tunnels some masterfully carved out of the mountainous stone while others containing dark steel and metal walls. The citadel was filled with Crownguard, graug, and others in a myriad of uniforms who worked and maintained the ancestral home of the Zambranos.

After a short period of time traveling followed by a turbolift ride or two the entire appearance of the citadel changed. The hallways changed into an ornate black marble. These halls were filled with statues, sculptures, busts, art, chandeliers and others displaying many infamous Dark Lords of the Sith throughout history. No expense was spared in these halls. Braxus led his son into a great hall where a table filled with a myriad of exotic foods, spices, and drinks a true feast. There were others who gathered with them, nobles, lieutenants and others pining for the crowns favor. "You will need your strength for the training to come. It will be extensive."

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

His eyes glaring forwards, his left eye twitching slightly. He glanced down to the corpse that remained of the woman he had slaughtered, quickly turning back to his father and following him out of the room, hesitantly watching the guards that accompanied him. He was afraid, it was just another part of the torture. He thought it was a trick to break his hope down even more, but they eventually walked through various twisting halls all decorated in the finest of furniture and completely filled to the brim with guards and various creatures. It was truly the heart of Panatha. They made their way into a turbolift, his eyes still locked onto his father. Analysing him.

The doors opened to reveal the black marble clad walls, the quality struck Venthis. He noticed the change in atmosphere instantly, it was less cluttered and more luxurious. He squinted for a moment in thought. Though, with little time to even think they were brought into a grand hall. Food filled the tables along with drinks. Various important individuals sat around the table, causing Venthis to course his eyes over each of them. His father spoke again.

"You will need your strength for the training to come. It will be extensive."

He simply returned with a nod, turning to the tables. "Yes, father." He said, making his way over and sliding the chair out from the table and sitting down. Where you might imagine someone who had been deprived of food for days would instantly fill their face. Venthis was different, he sat down and ate elegantly. While still eating a reasonable amount more than the rest of the guests, he didn't want to embarrass himself or more importantly his heritage. His clothes, barely covered his scars causing them to appear through to the rest of the attendees, some whispering to one another while looking to at Venthis. He could hear the whispers. "Who is he?" They muttered to themselves. He continued to eat, paying no attention.

He had survived, for now.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]