Private SAO - To infinity and beyond

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION:
OBJECTIVE:
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | The Usurper | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Imperius Indomitus | Darth Callidus

The Redoubt was an inhospitable place, its surface no more than a radioactive wasteland where most of the remnants of civilization were pockets of smugglers, bountyhunters and other unaffiliated rabble and ruffians huddling in small communities in caves, mountain tops and other among the few places where with a few modifications life was actually possible and bearable. Still, it was on the Redoubt, in the middle of its storm-ridden wasteland plains, where electrical, radioactive storms batter the surface and thickened the poisonous atmosphere, that the Zweihander Union had built a monument, a tomb to the one who was supposed to lead the collapsed faction to greatness. The Tomb of C was quite the creation, a massive pyramid looming over the surrounding wasteland, surrounded by four pairs of massive statues depicting the former leader of the Zweihander Union, the Chancellor of the Left.

It was from this place that a missive had been sent to the Sith Ascended Order, a request to pay the one who resided there a visit. While it was to be considered rather dangerous to be so close to the Galactic Alliance's territory, the Redoubt itself was of so little consequence and significance to the alliance, that it was most likely that no one would ever realize that it had become the place where a true monster had taken residence and where immorality and science walked hand in hand. For underneath the Tomb of C, burried deep within the underground, was an insanely elaborate labyrinth of underground laboratories, hangars, vaults and stockpiles of chemicals, materials, droids and more. In truth, what had been built as a tomb dedicated to one man, had in fact been a blacksite for a single company prior to it all, a place where the Chancellor of the Left had done unspeakable things, where beasts were created and monsters were woken from their slumber.

Those who were called upon would be greeted within the very tomb's main sanctuary above ground, by a small, unstable rift surrounded by the remains of the dead who did not understand the dangers of this place. It was here that those strong within the force could feel the presence of several entities lurking within the shadows, bound to servitude and loyalty by the one who ruled supreme within the unhallowed halls of the Tomb.​

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

The Redoubt | The Tomb of C
The Lord of Hunger | Darth Callidus

After his more than satisfying contributions to the talks on Nirauan, Imperius was starting to grow fond of the mind of Halcyon. He was smart, pragmatic and while playing multiple parties, potentially for profits, it was still a Sith that spoke, not a petty merchant that ought to sell their loved ones for minor profit. Credits were a means to leverage and that could be understood, even though it was one of the lowest forms of power the Dark Lord could imagine.

He steered the Vehemence towards the surface and towards the coordinates sent, curious to see a site more private than the likes of Eriadu. It was an interesting sight, certainly one that was uncommon but still offered a strongly Sith resembling structural identity. But there was more to it than mere architecture, he could feel it and even though it was not the Dark side, the Force had a strange presence here. Darth Imperius felt that this was more than a mere individual and as he walked through the interior towards what seemed to be the end of scanners and sensors that worked in tandem with his own senses.

The Dark Lord walked without hesitation in his steps, nor was he wary of any ambush, he was as battle ready as always, which meant that he was quite relaxed in fact. His heavy sabatons left an echo through the inside of the pyramid, the green hue melting with the red one his own armor emitted.

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

There was always something demanding her attention. Expanding her influence on Denab remained an unending ambition, a puzzle of power and persistence that never fully completed itself. Construction projects sprawled across her domain, shaping her vision into reality piece by piece, but there were always moments between—gaps where the physical labor paused, and she was left to her own devices. In those moments, she immersed herself in research, scouring ancient texts and esoteric holocrons within the Sepulcher's shadowed depths. Meditation, too, was a necessary ritual, though not one she particularly enjoyed. It was less about peace and more about control, a tenuous balance that she maintained to keep the encroaching madness at bay.

And when study and contemplation failed to hold her attention? There was always the pleasure of experimentation. The criminals and rebels who opposed her rule became unwilling subjects in her pursuit of knowledge, their suffering a small price to pay for enlightenment. Their screams echoed through the Sepulcher's halls, but she found them preferable to the whispers in her mind. Ever since she had first ventured into the abyssal depths of the Sepulcher, something had changed. The voices had grown stronger. More insistent. More... intrusive.

She knew better than to dwell on them.

The missive was simply another task to fulfill, another distraction to chase. She welcomed it, as she welcomed anything that kept the stagnation of boredom at bay. And the others—well, they demanded action as much as she did.

Her arrival was unceremonious, a simple shuttle slipping through the void before settling onto the landing platform. As the ramp descended, her gaze immediately flicked toward Darth Imperious's vessel, a masterpiece of war and technological artistry. It was a marvel, a sight that stirred the embers of desire in her mind—such a craft could serve her well, could amplify her reach, could become an extension of her will. But that was a thought for another time.

Now, there was a meeting to attend. With a final glance at the warship's gleaming hull, she turned her attention forward, stepping away from the shuttle and into the waiting darkness.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: The Redoubt, Tomb of C
OBJECTIVE: Reveal great works
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Imperius Indomitus | Darth Callidus

As soon as his guests arrived at the Tomb, the aboveground structure of the Lord of Hunger's most secret retreat near Galactic Alliance space, he motioned his Sceleratii to go and receive these guests in question. Utilizing the secret maintainance tunnels through which only the unliving could crawl, these assassin droids found themselves crawling out of the shafts spewing the green, unnatural smoke and smog. It was there that they'd find Imperius Indomitus in the inner sanctum, surrounded by the bodies and remains of those foolish enough to enter this place without the intentions and requirements necessary to remain alive.

The most powerful anchor within the inner sanctum, the great attractor, was without question the unstable rift, which tugged at the heartstrings of any who remained within its vicinity. The way the bodies and remains were arranged around this unstable rift which looked eerily similar to the portals the Lord of Hunger used, gave the impression that whatever lay beyond the rift or perhaps even the rift itself was to be blaimed for all this carnage.

Revealing themselves, the Scelerati reached for their massive ebony blades, raising them as if they were forming an honor salute to the leader of the Sith Ascendant Order.

"I believe Lady Callidus is arriving shortly," The voice could not be more familiar, it was indeed the Lord of Hunger, but he wore no armor, no protective gear like he had been doing for so long, no mask and no cloak. All he wore now, were the clothes and the appearance which matched the massive statues on the outside of the tomb, his hair slicked back, while he was adorned in a black armormesh shirt and trousers, with heavy black boots and overcoat, sunglasses obscuring his vibrant eyes. "Welcome to my tomb... Lord Imperius...ah, yes, the Eternal Doubt...she is magnificent, isn't she?"

Motioning towards the unstable rift, the Lord of Hunger chuckled ever so dry. "The culminary result of rage and hatred being concentrated within a single space and piercing the very veil of our own reality... but this one's special...for one can't pass it physically, only spiritually. Though for some reason that doesn't go for what comes from the other side...still, you'd have to admit that there is merrit in such a thing in one's own home."

Clapping his hand, the man chuckled again, hoping by this point, Darth Callidus would have found herself within the tomb's inner sanctum by now as well. "Now...I believe that it is time I show you a few things I have been working on and a few things that may interest you...unless if you have any more questions?"​

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

The Redoubt | The Tomb of C
The Lord of Hunger | Darth Callidus

"You have a rather morbid definition of home. A tomb is slightly foreshadowing, but I can appreciate the pragmatism." It was a rare occasion that Imperius offered a statement that could be seen as humor. Reserved for what he had considered his sons usually or those he considered equal, the occasion and individual present seemed to merit such joviality.

"Did you build your tomb around the rift or did the rift appear after your arrival?" The question clearly aimed towards the latter part and the explanation for what he had done that a rift appeared, as it made for a far more intriguing story to tell and a token of power that the Lord of Hunger held.

His hands were clasped on his back, his eyes wandered from the rift to the Lord of Hunger. It was a curious appearance he chose, sunglasses and shirt, but it was his home afterall, was it not? Yet even in his most intimate moments, Imperius would rather choose to wear nothing than run around like a tourist on Canto Bight. He was clad in his armor, though the helmet was clipped to his belt, the hilt of his sword was over his right shoulder as it was sheathed on his back.

"I assumed that my, rather, our presence here was for a purpose."

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

The tomb reeked of death and decay. The air itself was heavy, thick with the lingering echoes of suffering. The oppressive darkness that clung to the walls slithered like something alive, shifting as if in recognition of those who entered.

Darth Callidus strode into the sanctum with slow, deliberate steps, her faintly glowing red eyes gleaming beneath the hood of her robes. The rift at the center of the chamber pulsed with an unnatural energy, tugging at the very essence of those who neared it. The bodies scattered around it told a silent story—one of failure, agony, and a lesson learned too late.

She let her gaze flick toward Darth Imperius first, then to the Lord of Hunger, taking in his choice of attire with an arched brow and the barest flicker of amusement. Sunglasses. How quaint.

"I must say, Lord of Hunger," Callidus mused, stepping further into the chamber, "for a man who names his retreat a tomb, you seem rather… lively."

Her voice was smooth, threaded with just enough sarcasm to show she was entertained, but not enough to be outright mocking. Her words lingered in the air like smoke, curling and dissipating into the vast, ancient halls.

She let the comment settle before turning her attention to the unstable rift. It radiated power, raw and untamed—a scar in reality, something both fascinating and grotesque. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she observed it, feeling the pull at her very essence. It was not a sensation she enjoyed.

"Charming," she finally remarked, watching the way the energy within the rift twisted and seethed. "A gateway through which only spirits may pass, but not the living? How fortunate for you that so many spirits have been made available."

Her tone was light, but her meaning was not lost.

She folded her hands neatly behind her back, the picture of poised confidence. This was not her stage to command—not yet. The game was theirs to lead for now, and she would watch, listen, and learn.

"But by all means," Callidus continued smoothly, "let's not waste this invitation. You did promise a show, after all."

She fell silent then, offering no further commentary, no wasted words. She had played her part for now. Let them proceed. She would watch.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: The Redoubt, Tomb of C
OBJECTIVE: Reveal great works
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Imperius Indomitus | Darth Callidus

A soft and dry chuckle escaped the man's throat when he heard The Imperator's quip, he wasn't entirely wrong though. However, there was a reason for the place where he had been hiding for fifty years had been a tomb, for it was where he would bury the foolishness and the blind ambition he had carried throughout his youth and his life as a human. There was no need for blind ambition in this era, nor did it suit the Lord of Hunger to remain unfocused and undecided on that which he desired to achieve. Plus...a tomb did tend to keep away those who were frightened by the idea of what horrors could be inside... most who believed in the force were after all rather superstitious.

"Neither, Lord Imperator...As the tomb was being built, the first vestiges of this rift started to form and as the tomb was completed, this rift began to exert itself, just as much as I did..." It was in essence a simple implication, if he; The Lord of Hunger had not been there...thezre would not have been a rift, but if the rift had not been there...he too might have been wholly different. "Lady Callidus... it is in truth a rather convenient way for those who are capable of traversing beyond the flesh to gain insight and power they would have otherwise not been able to grasp or understand. But yes...it was quite fortunate to attract so many foolish people and thus also foolish spirits and souls to feed my own."

When both Imperius and Callidus pointed out that there had to have been a reason beyond some mere sightseeing to the invitation he had given, the Lord of Hunger chuckled once more, his shades barely capable of concealing his vibrant, inhuman eyes as they flared up with amusement. Clapping his hands, Credius suddenly took a step back, as the tomb started to shudder, with dust twirling down the ceiling. A few of the skeletal and corporial remains on the ground began to tremble, when suddenly a large portion of the floor seemed to sink a few inches and opened up, with a robust impervium platform rising upwards, upon which the Lord of Hunger would stand, motioning his two guests to follow his lead.

When Imperius Indomitus and Darth Callidus would stand upon the platform, it too would shudder, before slowly letting out a hissing sound as it started to descend, the floor closing up above them again as they went down. "Tell me... how acquainted are you both with the essence transfer technique?"

As the platform continued to lower itself, the massive tunnel in which it descended showed several denotions with each level they seemed to pass, with letters and numbers denoting the main occupation of each level, ranging from barracks, to mess, to laboratories and testing area, it was at the Laboratories that the platform stopped with a metallic thud, followed by the sound of clamps clutching onto the platform, while a double sliding door opened and revealed the entrance to the heart of the Tomb of C; a multitude of droids and surprisingly even humans walking about, wearing deep red uniforms and badges carrying Credius' personal sigil. Not soàoner had they noticed the Lord of Hunger's arrival, or they all stopped in their tracks, with the humans bowing, the droids remaining silent and awaiting Credius' motion to continue. It was through these lines of servants, droids and researchers, that Credius would bring his two guests to a massive chamber containing dozens of bodies floating in thick liquids, each specimen a different race or a hybrid of several, and each and every one of them engineered in part with the Lord of Hunger's own blood.

"Welcome, to evolution...welcome to the future of the galaxy,"



​

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

The Lord of Hunger | Darth Callidus

Imperius followed, his eyes observing the present change in their environment as they started to descend. While he understood the pragmatism of combining a tomb with a hidden stronghold, there was some flaw in that thinking. Hidden it would only be if not searched for, naturally, tombs attracted people quite skilled in searching for things. He wondered if Halcyon had thought about this predicament or simply chose the pragmatism of the tomb and its rather discouraging factors.

The black eyes did not wander away from his companions as they moved lower and lower. He was content on being guided for once. His eternal quest for domination and supremacy, while eternal and never resting, required some meditation from time to time to recover focus and concentration in his mind. And while not at ease or trusting either of them with his life, he trusted either of them with his vision and therefore allowed himself to fade in focus ever so slightly.

He was the designed bodies with some interest, the scientific achievement appealing to his own mind for it. He walked closer to the next container, his hands clasped on his back as he observed what was inside and read any readings and markers there were. Curious.

"A challenging ritual. Mastered by a few. I have acquired the details of Hord's ritual in Darth Nox' library some centuries ago." Leaving the other source he knew about unspoken.

"You are choosing bodies based on their biological merit. I see a lot of variety in your choice of origins. How do your bodies handle prolonged exposure to the Force?"

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

Darth Callidus allowed herself a small, contemplative smirk as she observed the displayed bodies, stepping closer with measured curiosity. Her gaze lingered briefly on each subject, assessing their physical compositions with clinical detachment. The implications of such mastery intrigued her—not merely the scientific achievement, but the power inherent in bending flesh and spirit to one's will.

"The ritual of essence transfer is as demanding on the vessel as it is upon the practitioner," she interjected smoothly, answering Imperius's question while directing her attention to Credius. "Even the strongest body can fracture beneath the weight of a Force presence it was not born to bear. Biological merit alone won't suffice."

Her amber eyes flashed in quiet appraisal, the faintest hint of challenge glinting within them. She moved closer to one of the containers, tracing a fingertip lightly against the translucent surface, feeling the subtle tremor of life within.

"Have you managed to imbue these creations with the necessary resilience of spirit, Lord of Hunger?" she asked, voice carefully neutral yet tinged with a cold curiosity. "Or are they merely vessels awaiting the agony of being torn asunder?"

Callidus withdrew her hand, flexing her fingers slightly as if testing the air around her.

"And perhaps more interestingly," she continued, glancing back at Imperius with a sly, knowing smile, "how do you ensure these vessels remain loyal, when your essence so profoundly reshapes their very essence?"

Her lips curled gently into a thin smile, her eyes returning to Credius.

"Control is ever the key, is it not?"

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: The Redoubt, Tomb of C
OBJECTIVE: Reveal great works
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Imperius Indomitus | Darth Callidus

Imperius Indomitus would find himself able to read the plaque which designated the specimen which he was checking with the categorization as "Specimen 67" with the electronic datapanel built into the base of the containment tube listing it as a gendai and Masassi hybrid. the closer the Lord Imperator would come to the see-through containment device, the being contained within would twitch and shudder, as if it were reacting to Imperius' presence within the force.

"Beautiful are they not," The lord of Hunger smiled wickedly, placing his hand against the container the Lord Imperator was standing in front of, all the while utilizing his free hand to tap a few buttons on the controlpanel, which resulted in a hissing sound, followed by a small metallic canister with a transparisteel core rising out of a hole within the control panel. Within it, a black, yet iridescent liquid could be seen, a liquid which seemed to move on its own accord, reacting to the presence of Imperius and Callidus. "Compound B76/32009... the 76th iteration of the manipulation of my own blood and cells which had been used to create the Mobius Tyranicus, of which you can see an example in that pod over there..."

Credius couldn't help but smile when hearing Darth Callidus ' comments, amused with the fact she managed to surprise him with her considerable intellect. He'd have expected Imperius to be in the know, but Callidus...that was a welcome surprise, after all...if one were to truly understand the works he was doing, they'd be more appreciative of what he was attempting to achieve.

"Bodies that should not have the force within them from the beginning are...not the best choice for these sort of experiments to begin with," Raising the cannister containing the strangely active liquid, Credius let out a sigh and turned back towards the displayed tubes. "Each and every one of these have been handpicked, grown from host cells and introduced to my own compound 76 to stimulate growth, strength and ofcourse force sensitivity in the early stages of the embryotic development. They are all me, they are all the Lord of Hunger, but where I possess the power, the essence to be awake, they are all but shells, waiting to mature, to be tested and eventually discarded for further study and improvement...and because they are all me...I have control, Lady Callidus...long before my essence even transfers in full, they are already part of my being."
​

Clapping his hands and letting out a somewhat gleeful chuckle, the lord of Hunger motioned his guests to follow him towards a seperate room, where there were also containers present, but in these were only Mobius Tyranicus, a species of force sensitive brutes which had its origin in the tests conducted by the Zweihander Union in its hayday. "I was thinking to have you each be granted one of these... but we might need to make sure you'd get one with at least some semblance of self, Like my Pollux. They can be a hassle to deal with when they are truly intelligent, but they are loyal and very strong... they would make quite the good enforcers if I say so myself."