Public Secrets of the Krath

[Ravenna Sarn]

Ravenna awoke with soft breath, which materialized as cloud of white vapor. Her room was always cold. Her night gown rustled on tye cold onyx stone floor, her pale bear feet and toes leaving prints as she headed to a table with a basin of rose water. She splashsd her face, and looked into the mirror that had a gnarled frame. Her grey eyes starred into the chrome window, and it cracked. She then exhaled, placing both her hands on the sides of the basin.

It was at this moment two handmaidens in hray robes entersd, their habits concealing all but their pale faces. They bowed to Ravenna.

“Mistress, shall we dress?”

Ravenna turned taking a black cloth and wiping the droplets of water from her face nodded. The Two Maidens opened an armwars of gray, removing a black dress and cloak, and a headress of golden medallions and a traingle. Raising her arms into air like a flower, Ravenna had her nightgown removed and the dress placed over her, snuggly over her bosom and neckline. Sitting in a chair, the two Maidens began to take her straight brown hair and braided locks in the Krath tradition. At the same time the other Maiden took the pieces of the headress, and placed them in her hair forming a crown.

Once finished Ravenna was escorted outside to the temple, where the High Priestess stood with a habit of jet black, and eyes burning lavender, a knife in her hand and a carcass on the altar. Ravenna approached.

“Finally on time your Highness. I am almost done with reading the entrails.”

Ravenna approached the altar.

“What do you see?”

The Priestess turned to The Princess.

“The time for me playing oracle is over. You must master The Sight.”

The Priestess took her fine and smooth hand adorned with golden rings and dug it into entrails and blood.

At the touch of the carcass, Ravenna felt her mind drift fo The Void, and then she was surrouhded by stars, great white lights moving as orbs around her, and then she saw ships, many with golden and red hauls. Then a face, a Man, riddled with scars and in armor of a warrior. His face haunted her. The vision subsided.

The High Priestess scoffed.

“So narrow are your thoughts, you saw very dimly.”

Ravenna raised her clean hand to her forehead. Her purple nails tapping the flesh as her head pounded.

“You must learn to caste wider your Sight if you ever wish fo be Priestess.”

Ravenna eyed The Reverend Mother with a coldness, her pupils like silver blades.

“I will do as the Shadow wills.”

The Priestess cleaning her hand with a basin of water turned as she wrang her hands.

“Your powers have grown your Highness. I have taught you to hone the dark power in our Art. To learn all that it can achieve for you and our people will require further instruction from those who master it.”

Ravenna spoke in a hushed tone, “The Sith..”

The Reverand Mother nodded.

“In time you will leave Teta to learn from them. Then you shall return, assume my mantel and raise The Krath to the heights of power!”

Ravenna blinked. She believed in her people, but learning from the Sith was dangerious. They had a reputation for recklessness and propensity for killing their students. Ravenna did not fear death, on certain nights she welcomed it. What she feared most was becoming a pawn of the Sith.

Having finished her lesson with the High Priestess, Ravenna retired to a Garden Grove, where she plucked a purple flower and held it in hand. It was here, that she found solace, withering the purple buds to black and dropping petals on the ground. As she held one rose, a man approached, his name was Arimeus, and his mind was broken, she had broken it. He approached The Princess and bowed, taking her left hand he kissed the smooth ivory skin.

“My Lady, My Love, what can I do for you?”

Ravenna rolled her eyes which flashed with black and purple light. She spoke into his mind, pulling the strings of his brain like lines of a puppet.

“Break your hand for me..”

Arimeus whose eyes were now in a fog of lavender, walked over to a rock wall and smashed his arm till there was popping sound.
She then release his mind and he began to cry out in agony.

“My Lady! My arm! My arm it hurts!”

Ravenna approached him as he fell on his knee, he lower teeth smerging from ruby lips.

“The penalty for touching my person without permission! Let it be a warning that Ravenna will not be dominated! Not even with charm!”

The man wallowed in pain as Ravenna dropped a rose beside him and walked away.

 

[Dyans Keto]

A shadow watched from afar as the young Ravenna Sarn walked away from the high priestess and had made her way to the garden. The shadow continued to watch as she interacted with her broken mind slave. Though the shadow had more interest in the old crone who called themselves a high priestess the young noble woman had drawn its interest in this moment. For some time now the shadow had been observing the goings on in this Palace and other places of importance across Empress Teta. How long had it been now thirty years, nearly since the Galactic Alliance destroyed the original royal Place of Empress Teta. Nearly thirty Years since the Tetan people had been free from the control of the Galactic Alliances dominance. Thirty years since the rightful heirs and the Krath last held true reign over their dominion.

The Jade eyes of the shadow watched as the young woman made the man bash his arm against a wall. As it just watched it tried to recount blood lines from the cousins Alars Keto, Nadja Keto, and countless others. It tried to figure out where Sarn fell in the bloodline or if it was just another usurper like House Du Couteau wanting to claim a throne and legacy that they did not deserve. The shadow tried to trace the lines as best it could, but its memory was foggy so it would have to search the old archives sometime to be sure.

It could just ask but the shadow had kept itself hidden since the Old Palace had crumbled under the bombardment of the Galactic Alliance. It had been careful not to reveal that one strand of Maw still yet remained the The Silver Queen, Voice of the Crusade, Voice of the Krath, and The Last Empress to rule over a free Teta.

Dyans the Shadow watched as the Young Sarn Woman walked away and she followed bouncing from one shadow to the next. Stopping for only a moment to look pitifully at the mind slave Arimeus, as she peered at him, she let him see her jade eyes and pale monstrous visage in the dark ghostly haze. She showed a toothy grin of razer sharp teeth as his whimpering stomped and he became petrified with fear of what he was seeing.

Dyans looked at the pitiful man, wondering how one could have use for in a groveling idiot that didn’t a strong enough will to fight the mind control he was clearly under. In the Krath She and her cousins had built this man would be nothing more then fodder and food. He was frozen in fear as he stared at the ghostly shadowy monster before him. He was about to squeak out words but before he could Dyans inhaled heavily as she pulled his life force and essence out of him and into herself. His body slumped to the ground completely a desiccated corpse that looked like it had aged hundreds of years in a moment and was mummified.

The shadow of Dyans felt the energy of the living being flow through it a cold spark igniting something deep inside of her. Somewhere deep beneath the ground of Empress Teta a hand twitched. Then the shadow turned its sights to the young Sarn woman continuing to follow as it returned fully to the shadows to keep it’s presence hidden.

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

The Princess Ravenna made her way to a great circle of towering rocks, they were massive and smooth. In the center was a elogated alatar, fine blocks and slabs of stone fashioned together by prized masons, upon it sat a lone laurel of lavender. Ravenna took up the crown and held it, her mind was fixated on The Reverand Mother’s words, “become the next Priestess..” and then the image of the Warrior in her vision came into clear focus. Who as he? Why had the stars revealed Him to her? Was he coming with a golden army to lay siege to Teta? The Lady Sarn laid back down the laurels, and began to caste the Kraft, a swirl of violet energy, a howlinf wind glowing around the great rocks like hour hands on a clock. She called to the Darkness to show her the answer, once more she was in the abyss and the minature globes of light danced around her. She heard laughter, and then saw herself holding hands with a Stranger, the Figure was similiar to the One she had seen before, He turned and looked at Ravenna, smiling. The look broke her concentration and she was back at the stone circle, her eyes of bright glowing amethyst returning to pale gray. Her heart raced as she placed her hand on the altar to steady herself as she drew in breaths.

Why would a mere Man cause her such distress? He wasn’t of the Krath, and yet she sensed in the vision that she was in a romantic tie with him. Surly the Darkness was only showing her a possibility, a phantom of reality? What she did notice was how happy she seemed. Long had if been since Ravenna had known joy, her seriousness of purpose, proving herself go be worthy of the Priesthood. Would she really caste that aside to be with this Man? It was unthinkable. The Reverand Mother had told her the dark pool of the future is a dim mirror, riddled with imperfections that can be distortions. So perhaps it was merely her restless heart playing a trick on her.

The Lady Sarn was so occupied by this train of thought she had failed to detect the Shadow Presence following her. Now coming out of the fog of her feelings, she heard something, it was faint in the howling wind. The Princess reached for her Krath knife, her eyes scanning the sides of the sentinel rocks.

TAG: Dyans Keto

 

[Dyans Keto]

A slight breeze whistled through the rocks bringing with it a slight chill to the air as the young Sarn grabbed for her Krath Kris. Interesting the shadow of Dyans thought not of the woman's posturing or reaching for her blade but of the fact that she had been sensed. This young woman had some power in her, with ability to break the mind, sense unseen, and see into the undeterminable voids eye. Yet the question remained could she decipher all she could see and do.

The wind began whisk around the sentinel rocks, then began to tighten and form a whirl wind in front of Ravenna Sarn. The wind howled at first loudly like a freight train but as it tightened and came into place it started to quiet down as it hung there before Ravenna. The shadow formed into the whirl wind obscuring its ghostly monstrous image within it. Slowly the shadow's Jade eyes peered out from the whirl wind and stared back at Ravenna.

The whirl wind hung there for a few long moments with the Jade eyes just staring back at Ravenna almost like it was thinking what to speak or waiting for Ravenna to speak to it. Finally, though it broke the silence its words came out raspy like they hadn't spoken in a very long time yet feminine. "Tell me who you are and of the blood that flows in your veins?" The words spoken were demanding but not harsh. The answer would determine how much farther this interaction would go and in what direction.

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

TAG: Dyans Keto Keto

The Krath Princess felt the gust of wind and the powerful manifestation of Darkness. Then it took shape in a whirlwind coming to her, those haunting eyes of jade, like the Ichor of Dathomir only smoother and reflecting the pale face of Ravenna.

To the question of her bloodline The Lady Sarn felt compelled to respond, “I am Ravenna Sarn, House Sarn. My ancestors were part of the Krath who rose up against The Dark Lord Exar-Kun when he betrayed Aleema Keto and used his sorcery to bid her use the Supernova. Making a temporary alliance with Jedi we ensured Kun’s spirit was trapped on Yavin IV, which later The Apprentices of Skywalker and Vodo-Siosk Bass exercised and destroyed.”

The Lady Sarn paused, her heart beating rapidly. The presence of this Shade was strong and she had fo concentrate with her Krath Training. She could feel a probing of her mind, like wet tentacles swimming in her cranium to discern the truth of her words. The level of intrusion made her Ravenna question in her soul, could it be possible?

Getting enough fortitude the Lady Sarn asked bodly, “who are you? I sense..”

She was sure of it now, that unique signature in the darkness that was not Sith or Dark Jedi. She only needed confirmation, would she receive it? The Princess was not afraid, on the contrary this visitation had her intrigued. She lowered her knife, dropping it on the ground. This act of vulnerability was given the circumstances not a wise course of action, and yet Ravenna sensed no forged steel woukd be of any help. Instead The Princess would wait for this Whirlwind to decide.

 

[Dyans Keto]

The shadow listened as Ravenna explained her bloodline of Tetan nobility and lineage to the Krath. How her family united with the Jedi against Exar-Kun for his betrayal of Dyans ancestor Aleema Keto. Dyans knew the woman spoke the truth, but that truth did not speak of a direct blood tie to the Royal house of Empress Teta, Keto itself. Those who descended from Empress Teta herself that the world was renamed after. The House of Keto, that were the chosen of Freedon Nadd and the progenitors of the secret society with in Tetan royalty and Nobility named The Krath.

With that knowledge the apparition nearly turned away seeing yet another house of Empress Teta like House Du Couteau wanting to claim The Crown Jewel of the Deep Core Empress Teta as their own when they had no rightful claim to it. Dyan's would have to wait even longer for perhaps one of her daughters she had stowed away in hiding on Dathomir or Necropolis, perhaps for her brother or sister, or even one of her many cousins to come out of whatever holes they were hiding in to restore Empress Teta back to its rightful heirs.

Dyans however hesitated and continued to stare at the woman with her Jade eyes. It stayed in quiet contemplation as Ravenna Sarn asked who it was. She could feel the passion and determination in Ravenna's essence. A strength not yet fully realized, there was a spark of a crusader in heart that just needed to be molded. "Your senses do not deceive you Lady Sarn. My bloodline flows from Empress Teta herself and the rightful heirs of this world and The Krath, House Keto."

The shadow let that answer hang there without giving specifics to exactly who she was. For now, that answer would suffice, more would come when it was needed. The shadow then went on. "I will give you more answers, even to those thoughts plaguing your mind." The shadow paused for a moment letting the but that was about to come sink into the Woman's mind. "I will even give you a gift that no one within the Krath has been offered in millennia. Yet, first I would like you to complete a task for me and it won't be as simple as corrupting the mind of a simpleton? Do you wish to proceed Lady Sarn?"

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

TAG: Dyans Keto

The Lady Sarn was stunned at the name reveal of Keto, was this truly a relative of the Great Sorceresss of Teta, Aleema Keto?! She had poured into the volumes of the past, and found House Sarn was a vassal of Keto. And now at last, had The Force drawn them back once more together?

Ravenna bowed her head and took off her crown, the thick round metal discs fell and rang like cymbals as they were caste before the feet of The Whirlwind that had at last come.

The Lady Keto offered to make clear her visions, and beyond that an offer of a gift if she did a task. Many would hesitate to offer service to someone on tue basis of their word. There were imposters, and many claimed Keto blood. But Ravenna felt it, a pulsing fire riddled in shadow, she had felt the same in the Tomb of Keto.

“Your Highness, forgive my imprudence.Those of us still loyal to the True Empress have awaited the return of House Keto. I shall do whatever you ask that I may serve the Krath.”

Ravenna knelt down, she even took her sandles off, for she was before The Living Blood of Aleema. She bowed her head to the ground, her long Krath tails of hair dancing on cobbled stones with earth and fresh greenery peaking through the gaps.

 

[Dyans Keto]

The Shadow of Dyans watched as Ravenna Sarn pulled the crown from her head and knelt before the whirlwind placing the crown at its feet. Behind the whirlwind the ghostly monstrous image smiled and bowed its head in respect. It took in the words Ravenna had spoken and she could sense loyalty to the true heirs of the crown. For thirty years the Keto Bloodline had hidden itself away secretly working from the shadows. They had many enemies across the Galaxy, they had betrayers that wanted to usurp them and take dominance over the Tetan Empire. They, like most darkside groups, had those within the Krath that thought they could lead better or knew the dark truths on some deeper level and vied to lead. Yet the Keto's were far from gone, but the moment they had rule from the throne of shadows.

"Inside the chambers of the one that declares themselves as a High Priestess of the Krath is a box with the thorned symbol of the Krath on it. It is locked by Krath Magic. The key to the lock is a sacrifice has to be made to open it." Those Jade yes looking down at Ravenna as she continued to kneel. For moment she had to wonder if the young Lady would be able to do what was asked of her. She clearly had the ability but what Dyans was about to ask might go against everything she had learned up to this point. The Krath had more civilized ways of dealing with traitors, but this task would go against that.

"Your High Priestess is to be the sacrifice, for she groomed you be the leader of Krath and Heir to a legacy she had no right to. Any priest or priestess within our order would know ways to contact us on the path the Krath should take." A tinge of anger vibrated through the shadows, voice coming out like a monstrous growl. Dyans despised false prophets, usurpers, and traitors. "She did not she designed a false path. That makes her a traitor, but this is not your fault, and she did teach well even though it was misguided. Her fate is death, normally the krath would level false charges against her and have her publicly executed for them but we don't have the time for that, and the alliance would not allow it. So, you will have to use your Krath Kris (Knife) in the center of her chamber. When this is done the box will open the lock lifted. When it is lifted, I will appear in the chamber and have its contents revealed to you. Then I will reveal all to you."

The shadows Jade eyes continued to look down at Lady Sarn for a moment longer. Dyans had to wonder if she was putting to much on this woman. Wonder if she was strong enough to take out the one calling themselves a high priestess. Dyans knew the old crone though falsely asserting her position was someone with a lot of power. Yet Dyans knew if Lady Sarn succeeded, she had made the right choice in revealing what she had thus far. "You may rise. This is the task I place before you."

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

The Lady Sarn listened as The Lady Keto ( Dyans Keto ) presented her task. The ain was to kill The High Priestess, a woman who had been a mentor and mother figure. And yet as in all things Ravenna had noticed that she was limited in her knowledge, even telling Ravenna to seek out The Sith to learn greater power and bring it back to Teta. In contrast The Lady Keto was offering her something more.

Bowing her head, Ravenna said, “It will be done your Highness.”

Lady Sarn picked up the Kis Knofe and bear foot marches back to the Temple. Ravenna found The Reverend Mother was not there, but had retreated to her qaurters. Making her way through the City of Teta and its great through neglect buildings she came to a lone stone house with a spire, upon it a hexagram.

The door was open, Ravenna found the High Priestess sitting entroned in an ebony wood chair near a fire place, the flames flickering. The Old Crone raised her head, her white hair fsllen on her shouldees and her face riddled in wrinkles.

“Ravenna, I was expecting you..”

The Lady Sarn was trying to conceal her thoughtd and everything to do with Lady Keto lest The Reverend Mother stop The Sacrifice.

“Come… have some tea.”

Ravenna sat down in a matching wood chair as The High Priestess poured free water into a onyx cup, and then broke some tea leaves and root, dropping it in. The Lady Sarn took the cup, the liquid swirling and giving off a trail of steam. Holding it up to her lavender lips she began to sip.

“I hear you broke Arimeus’ hand. You know he loves you.”

Ravenna gave a sharp look, her eyes, nose, and lips conveying disdain.

“Of course his love had turned tp madness. Poor soul, perhaps it is best you end his misery with that Kris you are carrying.”

Ravenna tried not to react, The Reverand Mother was aware she was armed.

“Do you remember your first lesson? How I taught you that one way or another we are pawns of The Darkness? The question really is to whom will we submit, to what Master shall we learn from..”

Those last words indicated she knew. Time was of the essence, Ravenna leapt up, knocking the tea over, the water splashed against the stone around the crackling fire. The Hight Priestess extended her hands to throw Lady Sarn back.

“This is how you repay my years of service?! I helped you realize your potential! I was going to make House Sarn the new Royal Family of Teta and instead you pledge servitude to a dead line!”

Ravenna tried to rise up, her body pinned against the wall. She saw her Kris blade laying on the floor.

“Only through me will you ascend! Me! I am the vessel that will restore The Krath!”

Ravenna felt it rising in her, like a storm, she let out a scream as her eyes burned with lavender, a great bolts of amythest energy in the shape of a serpent struck The Reversnd Mother he flew baxk into the fire place, her habit catching fire as she shrieked. Ravenna dove to grab the Kros and taking the burning Mother Superior she threw her on the table and poised the blade to strike.

There was a click beneath the floor boards. Ravenna removed the boards of black wood to find a box of jade color, opening it ahe found The Thorn. Leaving the House which now was lapping with flames, ans collapsing, the Hex falling into the pyre and replaced with a cloud of smoke. The Lady Sarn returned to the Stone Circle.

“It is accomplished.”

She lowered her soot stained brow and held the object as an offering, waiting for Lady Keto to take it.

 

[Dyans Keto]

The shadow's eyes watched a followed as Lady Sarn and made her way to the Crones chambers. Watched and listened to the interaction then the violence that followed. The howl of the old crones as her cloak caught on fire and then the crunch of Kris cracking the sternum and piercing the heart. The shadow let it flow through them the pain and suffering of the vile so-called high priestess. Then the shadow watched as Ravenna Sarn felt the boards beneath her feet where the box with the thorn symbol etched into top of it was hidden away.

The Lady Sarn grabbed and ran off through the door as the shadow of Dyans looked on in confusion from the shadows she hid in. It mattered not for the moment as Dyans monstrous ghostly image crept from the shadows. Straggly long white hair, long obsidian claws, sharp white teeth, and pale white skin. Those Jade eyes stared down at the dying crown as Dyans placed a long ghostly clawed hand over the wound in the old woman's chest. Dyans felt the fading heart beats and heavy dying breaths of the old woman. She could feel the heat from the embers of fire eating away at the old priestess robes and the poison pumping through the veins of the woman from the poison from the dagger.

Dyans monstrous shadow form let a grin cross its face as it stared down with its Jade eyes into he old crones eyes. "You did well and served your purpose." It came out like a growling purr from the shadowy monsters' lips. As the priestess with her last gasped looked upon the image that had its clawed hand on her chest.

"Mmmy Que….ah…en?" The last gasp that breath as the monstrous shadow consumed the old crone's essence. The crones body began to turn to ash drift away beneath Dyan's hand. Somewhere far beneath Empress Teta the hand that twitched now clinched into a fist. The monstrous image of Dyan's shadow looked where the Crones body had been.

"Indeed, forgotten perhaps but our crusade is far from done." The monstrous image reformed itself into the fully restored image of Empress Dyan's Keto.

She could sense the Girl returning to the place where they had first met. "I see." Said Dyans to herself as she began jumping through the shadows to return to that place. It wasn't long and she could see Lady Sarn placing the box with the thorn symbol etched in it in the middle of the circle.

Instead of appearing as whirlwind this time she came out of the shadows in her humanoid form appearing as a short haired blonde woman wearing Black and silver battle dress. At her side hung a Krath Sword with a black and silver scabbard. Upon her head was the silver crown of Empress Teta and around her neck a silver chain with ruby pendant. Then there were those Jade unforgettable eyes same as the monster that had hid behind the whirlwind as before.

"Not exactly as asked but it will do." The ghostly apparition of the humanoid form of Dyans spoke. Her Jade eyes looked to the box and with the slightest moment of her hand through the will of the Krath she opened the box as the sacrifice of the crone unlocked it.

Inside the box there were several items. The same silver crown the apparition was wearing, the same silver pendant, and the Krath sword in its scabbard. As well as a child's playing card with the evil magician-god Krath depicted on it. Then finally there was a vial of blood next to the Card.

"Set each item out in the center of this place. Crown, then pendant, then sword. Then place the Card of Krath inside the crown face up. Then keep hold of the vial of blood and kneel before the crown." The apparition said as it placed its arms behind its back and began circling around the Lady Sarn. Watching wondering if the girl would listen to her.

"Then cut the palm of your right hand with your Kris and let your blood spill upon the card of our God Krath. Then open the vial and let only a drop of the vial's blood fall on the card, then drink the rest of the vial. Remain kneeling until I tell you to stand." It was clear this was some sort of ritual, but one only known to the Keto family. "You will feel cold like all the heat in your body has been zapped from you and darkness will try to rip you apart from the inside. You will feel like you want to die but you must fight the urge to die. If you survive the truth will be revealed to you, then when I command you to stand you will be born anew. This is your last chance to turn away if you wish, everything will change for you if you proceed and there is no guarantee you will live through this. I barely did but had the advantage of going through it at a very young age. It is a ritual of turning and you will be forever changed by it. You will be the first not of House Keto to go through this ritual in over a millennia."

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

TAG: Dyans Keto

Ravenna follow the steps of Lady Keto, she drank from vial and then felt herself become warm, then it felt microscopic teeth testing through every artery and bein, she cried out as she beside the altar. Her nose had drops of blood that fell like the rain, and her eyes became foggy as she siezed, her body shaking and jerking as if wrestling with a python.

Her heart beat like a drum in The Netherworld, and she felt her soul beginning to blow away in the wind, her hand reaching out to a translucent white figure.

Had this all been a trick? Was the High Priestess right? All that Ravenna knew was now she would either live or die. She let out a gasp, as her body went still and her skin became cold.

 

[Dyans Keto]

As Sarn's blood spilled on the card and a drop from the vile touched it the blood began to mingle and boil burning away the face of the Magician God Krath. Then the blood began shape itself into the Thorned symbol of the Krath. It burned itself into the card as Ravenna Sarn drank the rest of the contents of the vial sealing the pact that of the ritual of turning. As the contract was signed in blood Dyans stepped forward towards the kneeling Lady Sarn.

Dyans could feel the fleeting life in the young lady as she placed a ghostly hand on the young lady's head. Jade eyes looked down at the girl, she knew the turmoil the girl was fighting for. Dyans had the same so long ago at the age of Eleven. Fighting to live, fighting to want to see another day over nine hundred years ago. The darkness was comforting in some ways, and you wanted to let its embrace sweep you away but there was still a flicker that wanted to struggle to live. Those without a strong will would parish in the darkness embrace, but those who lived and fought would come out the other side with newfound truth transformed.

"My blood is now your blood." She spoke down towards Lady Sarn hoping she could hear her and that she had not perished. "I am Dyans Keto the last Empress to rule over a free Empress Teta, the Silver Queen. By drink of my blood our blood has mingled, I am the sire of your knew life and you are one of my childer."

Dyans brought the crown with the force to her hand along with the pendant. She then removed her hand from Lady Sarn's head and brought the sword to her other ghostly appendage. "If you are of strong will, rise Childe of Keto be reborn into your new family." Dyans had not lied or tricked the girl, she offered a gift that very few in history had ever been allowed. A gift of a new life in the family of Keto, though unlike one truly born into the family like Dyans was, Dyans could sever it from Ravenna if she saw fit. Dyans turning when she was Eleven was to bound her to her ancestors and transforming her into a force vampire. Ravenna now too, if she survived the process with time would be able to feed on the life essence of others. "I have given you new life, everlasting."

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

TAG: Dyans Keto

At the words, “I have given you new life, everlasting,” Ravenna gasped and came back from the Shadow of Death. Her eyes darted around till they fixed on Dyans. She had heard all that Lady Keto said in The Intermediate State, how she was now a Keto by Dynas’s blood. Rising up Ravenna took the hand of Empress and kissed it.

“My Empress, my Blood, I shall serve you in all things.”

She then repeatedly kissed the hand of her new Clan. The Lady Sarn-Keto was reborn. He former state and life burned down like the house of the High Priestess. At last House Sarn and Keto were one. Ravenna reveled in this adoption, she could feel her self much altered, as if her senses perceived things in another realm she had not in all her incantations and ritual experianced. She could feel the people in Teta, hear their heart beats. At her cheek some black liquid like blood ran down, her eyed flickering with flashes of jade light.

 

[Dyans Keto]

Dyans let a slight smile cross her face as Lady Sarn, now Lady Keto rose to her feet. Pride was the emotion she felt, one she had not felt in a long time. She then brought forth the silver chained ruby pendant. Sweeping the hair of Ravenna back with a small gust of wind as she placed the pendant around the girl’s neck.

“This pendant will allow you to connect with me anywhere you go, to call me forth for guidance or protection. It will also help you enter secret sanctums of the Krath unharmed. Its only limitation is that it will not work if disconnected from the force or your life force it is bound to you and the force with out even one of those things it will not work.” Next Dyans went to the Krath sword and looked at the etchings of house Keto along its scabbard longingly. The history of the sword was ancient even from before her time. What a tale of history it could tell if it could speak aloud.

After looking at it for a moment she attached it to Ravenna’s waist. “This sword has been passed down for generations of my Branch of the Keto family. Your Kris has and will continue to serve you well but a true Krath member needs a Krath Sword. One forged and folded in the alchemical ways of old passed down to us by Freedon Nadd. It will protect you from all manner of attack.” A Krath sword was the same as any traditional sith sword but had the pride of the Krath name behind it. “A weapon meant to slay your enemies and anoint the strong that serve you.”

Next Dyan’s went to the crown again the one she had once wore upon her own head. Her Jade eyes scanned every line of silver melded into its design. She stopped on every incrusted diamond and ruby wishing she could feel it with her real hands one more time. That time had not yet come though in time she would be free from the tomb that held her captive. Yet the cogs in that machine were just starting to turn.

“This my crown, the crown of Empress Teta herself and many of her chosen before me.” With that Dyans placed the crown on Ravenna’s head. “I proclaim you it’s protector until the day I am free or if you should fail or parish and I must declare a new protector.” There were a few other stipulations, like one of her other relatives coming along to try to claim it but Dyans at the moment didn’t suspect that to happen. “Now as my daughter of the Blood rite, you have questions you wish answered?”

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

The Reborn Ravenna was adjusting to her new state, bound to Dyans Keto , her adopted kin and Empress. She felt the locket slung around her neck, the golden chain rustling against her skin. Then ThecLady Keto offered her a sword, which she fastened to her side, and the crown which Ravenna held like Globus Krathiger. There was a warning about should she stray from the Blood pact, another Protector would be summoned. To this Lady Sarn-Keto was not alarmed, she had sworn fealty and would remain loyal to the True Empress, little did she know at what cost.

Ravenna was curious about this Freedon Nadd, she had stumbled on his name in forbidden texts in the Temple, his association with a fallen Jedi Knight named Qel Droma.

“I have many questions Blood Mother. Chief among them is how will I know your hour is near? That this crown’s days of being idle are over?”

Ravenna then paused. She knew Dyans could read her thoughts, perhaps even more than that since they are Blood of Blood and flesh of flesh.

“My visions.. there is a man, he is coming. What am I to do?”

Her mind seemed to float, leaping into cosmic plane where she saw white light and dark faces.

“The Sith.. I see myself among them.”

Lady Sarn-Keto found her powers of foresight enhanced by the Blood Bond. She coukd peer into the far future with ease, and make sense of things.

“My Empress, I see it.. Teta, restored to her glory.. you enthroned and.. an army.”

 

[Dyans Keto]

Many things were already in motion, there were many other moving parts and people playing their parts. If even one of them fell behind or missed a step it could delay things considerably. So, there wasn't an exact timetable on how and when things would play out. Dyans herself was patient though and had slowly over many years been putting pieces together. So the first question posed wasn't an easy one to answer definitively.

"My time of resurrection will be felt when it comes to be, waves will be made. As for when that is that is not as clear there are a great many things that still have to fall into place." Dyans couldn't tell her of all the pieces that needed to fall, not yet anyway. They involved to many critical but fragile parts, though there was a couple of things she could give away. "The Krath has many spies and agents across the galaxy and in many of the galactic government. Some of whom aren't even aware, yet they are agents and others who have long been secret members of the Krath. One of those agents' jobs is a position to fix one of the wrongs of the past and reinstate the crowns authority on Empress Teta one of the more critical parts to my return."

It was the best answer Dyans could give at this time, but she would reveal more in time.

"As for the man in your visions, make of him what you will lover or pawn, maybe both. He is ultimately someone we as the Krath can use for our own gain. Remember sometimes the best weapon isn't one that kills but one that loves. Love can be the most destructive weapon in the universe if used correctly and appropriately. Use the man to get you places, and closer to people of power. He is someone who is useful, that is why your visions have shown him to you. If you find love in him then so be it but remember also the krath comes first. Who knows, maybe he will be a good candidate to be brought into the fold in the future. For now, though don't be afraid of what he might mean, find him and use him to get places."

Dyans could feel Ravenna Sarn Keto hesitation and worry over the vision. Dyans could have delved deeper into the heart mind and pulled out a name but cautiously decided not to dive that deep into Ravenna's psyche. It was enough for Dyans that this man could play part and that he could get Ravenna to the right places to meet the right people that would be useful in the future.

"Yes, go to the sith…." Dyans hesitated for a bit and hung on that word. A bit of bitter bite on that word though the Krath were heirs of the Naddist Beliefs that descended from the sith she never had much love for them. Especially the current lot which were once almost completely destroyed the Maw and the true sith order that they tried to copy. Yet Dyans held her tongue on her thoughts. "Go to them and learn their secrets, take the power they give you. They too will be useful in the future towards The Krath's end game."

A smile cracked across Dyans ghostly face as she called forth the vision of the crown, throne, and army.

"Yes, my dear daughter, a grand army of crusaders. In standing in lines of the thousands, dressed in their black and silver Beskar. Death Witchses and warlocks leading the battalions. The Dawn of the silver Crusade is starting."

​

 

[Ravenna Sarn]

TAG: Dyans Keto

Her Empress was benevolent, offering answers where she could. In regards to her return to absolute rule, that required many details that Ravenna understood were contingent on the pieces falling into place.

What caught her attention most was Dynas’ words regarding the Man in her visions. One who she could puppet through ardent affection. She had not known love had anything to do with this phantom she kept seeing. The Empress was using her craft at a level Ravenna had not mastered to gleam that from the shadows. She wanted to ask more, but knew that the revelations would come in time.

Then came the dispensation to join The Sith and harness their power for The Krath. This had been The High Priestess’ vision as well. Ravenna confessed the prospect of leaving Teta to join the Cult of the Dark Side made her feel uneasy. She had heard of their propensity to slay hopefuls out of envy and spite. There was also the Betrayal of Kun that she had already mentioned earlier.

“I will go to the Sith, and learn what I can.”

She was relieved to know that many agents of the Krath were placed across the galaxy. Perhaps some even among the ranks of the Sith. People she could depend upon.

“My Empress, I pledge to use my resources, my charms, and my strength to serve you and The Krath. I will let no man or cause stand in our way, this I swear on my House Sarn, and as an adopted Keto!”