Work In Progress DARK COURT WORKSHOP

[Darth Virelia]

THE THRONE HALL

"To stand before the Throne is to forget yourself."

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To create a detailed Codex submission for The Throne Hall, the central ceremonial and political chamber of The Spire on Malachor V. This hall serves as the seat of Darth Virelia and the Dark Court's governing center—where decrees are spoken, judgments are delivered, and oaths are bound in blood and power. It is the physical manifestation of the Dark Court's philosophy: that power is not inherited or begged for—it is taken, maintained, and made inevitable.
• Image Credit: [X]
• Canon: N/A.
• Permissions: N/A.
• Links: The Dark Court [X], Darth Virelia

SETTING INFORMATION

• Structure Name: The Throne Hall
• Classification: Throne Room / Grand Hall / Ritual Chamber
• Location: The Spire, uppermost tier, City of Vhal'ara, Malachor V
• Affiliation: The Dark Court
• Accessibility: Strictly restricted. Only members of the Dark Court hierarchy (Exarchs, Dukes, Counts, Knights) or those summoned directly by the Queen may enter. Outsiders are permitted entry only for ceremony or interrogation—and always under escort. The approach to the Hall is guarded by twin obsidian gates known as the Gates of Silence, with the Queen's Guard and Blackguard Phalanx stationed at all times. Entry routes include secure anti-grav platforms and shielded ascension lifts—each with layered biometric, Force, and symbolic-key verification.

DESCRIPTION

A vast circular chamber of seamless black obsidian, 300 meters across, it rises into a vaulted dome etched with countless Sith runes that pulse faintly like veins of molten blood. The light within is cold and indirect, drawn from lightning filtered through crystal windows that overlook Malachor's scarred wasteland. The architecture blends the divine and the mechanical—sharp vertical lines of carved stone interwoven with alchemical circuitry and photoreactive veins that shimmer when the Force stirs within.

The acoustics are engineered to perfection. The Queen's voice can be heard clearly from any point in the Hall, while all other sound is subtly diminished. The result is psychological mastery: no word spoken by Darth Virelia can ever be ignored, and no interruption can ever dominate.

The floor is formed of polished black glass overlaid with a sigil inlaid with violet kyber, a geometric mandala of control, representing the hierarchy of the Dark Court. When rituals are performed, the sigil glows with living energy, amplifying Force resonance and aligning emotion into tangible power.

At its center rises the throne, forged from fused phrik, glasssteel, and crystallized kyber. It is both a command nexus and a metaphysical conduit—designed to draw upon the planet's magnetic scars and redirect their power through the Queen herself. When she sits, the air trembles; when she rises, it holds its breath.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• The Throne — A towering seat of black phrik and violet crystal that dominates the room. More than furniture, it is a control system—connected to hidden conduits that feed through the Spire's entire network. The Throne amplifies the Queen's Force signature and allows her to interface directly with ICHNAEA, the Spire's semi-sentient AI overseer. It also functions as an energy reservoir, capable of discharging devastating arcane pulses if the Hall is attacked.
• The Sigil — An intricate circle of molten kyber channels carved into the obsidian floor. The Sigil is the metaphysical anchor of the Hall, attuned to Malachor's wounded core. It amplifies emotions, transmits psychic resonance, and can be activated during ceremony or judgment to project illusions, reinforce wards, or strip Force power from the condemned. The Sigil's shifting patterns also serve as the seating map of the Dark Court—inner rings for Dukes and Counts, outer rings for Knights and supplicants.
• The Galleries — Three balconies curve high along the walls, accessible by guarded staircases. They host nobles, scholars, and distant envoys who observe the Court's proceedings. The balconies are protected by polarized energy fields and recorders that capture every event for archival in the Aurelian Archives. It is tradition that no one speaks from the Galleries; only the Queen and her chosen are heard here.
• The Path of Petition — A 50-meter walkway of black glass leading from the Gates of Silence to the foot of the Throne. Every footstep echoes unnaturally loud, magnified by embedded acoustic runes. It is meant to strip the petitioner of illusion—every heartbeat exposed, every breath audible. To walk the Path is to stand naked before power.
• The Choir — Hidden alcoves encircle the upper vault, where hooded acolytes chant harmonic tones to sustain the Hall's resonance field. The voices are never seen—only heard. According to rumor, the Choir are not living beings but preserved souls, bound to the Hall through dark alchemy. Their whispers maintain the Force balance and can paralyze intruders with a single unified cry.
• The Execution Wells — Twin depressions to either side of the throne dais, sealed beneath transparent black crystal. When opened, they reveal gravitational wells that drop into the Crucible below. Used for executions and sacrifices, they feed energy directly into the Spire's alchemical core. Their glow is faintly violet when satiated… and blood-red when hungry.

SECURITY

Security Rating: Maximum

Security Assets:

• The Queen's Guard: A dozen elite warriors personally sworn to Darth Virelia. Clad in black and violet beskar-phrik armor and bearing alchemized pikes, they act as both honor guard and executioners. Each is highly trained and brutal. They are known for their absolute devotion—lethal, deadly and rumoured to be incredibly sadistic.
• Blackguard Phalanx: ~300 elite soldiers stationed throughout The Spire, with 50 permanently assigned to the Hall's perimeter. Their armor is matte black duraplate, etched with violet circuitry that pulses in sync with the Spire's systems.
• Planetary-class shielding integrated into the Spire's upper layers.
• Biometric, Force-signature, and codekey authentication for all entry points.
• Null-field generators that suppress unauthorized Force activity.
• Concealed defense turrets within the columns and balconies.
• Emergency isolation shields and atmosphere locks.
• Drone-linked surveillance system tied to ICHNAEA, ensuring omnipresent monitoring.
• Alchemical wards and psychic lattice seals designed by Virelia herself—capable of detecting emotion spikes, deception, or psychic interference.

Together, the Queen's Guard and the Hall's automated systems create an environment where violence is impossible without consequence—and silence itself can be weaponized.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

The Throne Hall was the first chamber envisioned when construction began on The Spire. It was not designed as architecture but as the heart of an idea: a place where control could be made visible, where order would have weight, and where all who entered would understand that power was not transient—it was inevitable.

Darth Virelia personally oversaw its construction. The materials were harvested from Malachor's glassed crust and reforged through Sith alchemy.The Throne itself was cast from molten phrik, cooled in the blood of alchemists, and engraved by Virelia's own hand.

Over the months, the Hall has witnessed coronations, executions, trials, and visions. The Queen's Guard was formed as a personal retinue for Virelia. Since then, the Guard's visors have reflected every fate decided here.

Now, when the Hall comes alive—when the sigil glows and the chants begin—it is said that even the storm pauses outside to listen. Every word spoken beneath that dome carries the weight of law, history, and ruin.