Private The Bat and the Cat [Adeline / Neyana]

[Darth Carnifex]

"Power requires form, substance. Without, it is nothing."

The Dark Lord's rumbling intonations carried through the vast expanse, the endless horizon towering spires and gilded ziggurats. The sky was the same, stalactites of metal and stone glistening with lights. At His back was a great monolith that bridged earth and sky, rumbling with power. It was the Imperius Spire, the beating heart of the great worldcraft Malsheem. It was here that the Dark Lord and His innumerable followers carried out their nefarious works in secret from all the galaxy, hidden behind rigid battlements and bristling fortifications.

Before the Spire was arranged a great terrace of interlocking stone, upon which was erected a forest of statuaries and obelisks etched with words venerating the Dark Lords and Ladies who had come before. Many notable figures from ancient history were recorded thus, Sidious, Vader, Vitiate, Malgus, Krayt, Naga Sadow, Exar Kun, the list was too numerous to detail. All of the engravings were written in the runic language of the Sith, ur-Kittât, which was reserved only for the priveleged to write, let alone speak aloud.

It was among these monuments to the dead that the Dark Lord leisurely walked. Aside Him were many acolytes, ten in total, the progeny of a new generation of Sith. They followed in silence, sometimes marveling at the grandeur around them, but more preoccupied with listening to their teacher's words. Rare was it for the Dark Lord to instruct so many simultaneously, for it was known throughout the Order that the Dark Lord was not inclined to seek our new apprentices. This, however, would prove to be a most unorthodox occasion.

They reached a circular clearing amongst the statues, the ground slightly depressed towards the center. Obsidian laced through with gold seams demarcated the circle's edge, the Dark Lord coming to a stop right before His boots touched this point. He turned, a curt pivot of both legs. "To heed my words is not enough to be called Sith, you must put such teachings to practice. You all have been instructed at some fundamental level before coming to me. We shall put that skill to the test." Outstretching His right hand, the Dark Lord summoned forth a serrated blade in a gust of green flame. Then, He flung the sword down into the center of the circle so that the blade sunk into the stone, becoming lodged there.

"One blade, ten disciples. Only one shall remain. Do not hesitate."

There was no hesitation, many had suspected that this was to come. They rushed forward, clawing and punching, fighting over the blade. Blood would soon be spilled, and the Dark Lord looked on with an apathetic expression. Their deaths mattered little more than their lives, He would only show interest in the one that emerged victorious.

As they happened, two others moved to join the Dark Lord. They had both been called separately, but had arrived at the same time. Without looking at them, the Dark Lord spoke.

"Apprentices."

Adeline Noctua | Neyana ​

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | The Spire, Malsheem
Tag | Darth Carnifex Neyana

Oh my, it was beautiful! At first she had been confused as to why she had been pulled from the library that had become her little nest this past week, bundled up tightly within stacks of books and scrolls as if it were her own little bunker of knowledge away from the prying eyes of the world. Though despite this lovely display of bloodshed by test of strength... She couldn't help but wonder who this other person was, their features were rather feline, and the occultist could smell the alchemical augmentation on them. It gave her ideas of course, but those would have to wait, her master had called for her attention.

"You called? Is there something you require of me my lord?"

Glancing back over to those who were fighting, she couldn't help but be enthralled by the display. It fit her view of life, the apex stand among the top. Such was the unbreakable rule of nature, a cruel but true dogma that everyone obeyed. And this, their test... It was all to see who really was the apex out of their number. Flesh and raw muscle being sliced by steel, once brothers connected by strife now clawing and kicking at one another in order to please their god and master.

One day she wanted to have such acts performed in her honor, the faithful rending the flesh of one another in to please her and be granted an ounce of divinity.

Perhaps others could not tell thanks to the woman's standard calm and soft expression, even being able to hide the excitement in her eyes, yet, he could feel it easily. Carnifex knew already how excited stuff such as this made his apprentice, the tyrant was one of few people she could not hide such feelings away from, his eyes able to pierce through that cold veil of calmness that surrounded the petite and pale woman.

 

[Neyana]

Neyana smiles as a summon was called forth to gather her. Finally, she is once again out of her little chamber, her den of solitude and safety. Safe for her. Not safe for anyone else who came across her. The messenger who was sent to gather her wasn't heard from again, yet the smell of fresh blood is upon this woman's hands, her robes, and perhaps her boots even. Neyana didn't care that she had blood over her. Irony. Tasty. Wonderful. Perhaps she should've kept the man alive and use them as some torture doll, or a scratching post. A girls got to keep her claws in top shape.

As she wanders towards the Dark Lord, she licks one of her bloodied claws, and doesn't seem to keep her eyes away from her hand. It wasn't until the first disciple screamed and blood was spilled that an ear twitched, and her head finally gazes up towards the scene at play, then her Master. Her voice sparked with excitement, and she ultimately blurts out.

"Can I play with the victor? Can I? CanIcanIcanI?" That tail of hers flickers with excitement.

Darth Carnifex Adeline Noctua

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord was aware of their arrival, though He did not turn to face them as they approached. His gaze was firmly transfixed on the spectacle before Him, the raw desperation and murderous instinct given form. First blood had already been spilled, running across the stone in intricate rivers before pooling at the center of the circle; where the ground sloped down into a shallow basin.

One of the acolytes had managed to pull the sword from the stone, and was using it to hack at the others that surrounded him. Strategy had long abandoned them, reaction ruled. They were all covered in various injuries, mostly cuts and scrapes from nails and knuckles. A few had more serious wounds, flesh hewn by serrated blade, but they were not enough to kill. Even those who were more injured stubbornly clung to life, even as the ground beneath their feet grew slick with their own vitae.

"In due time," answered the Dark Lord to Neyana, whose bloodthirst could not be slaked in such a paltry manner. "I have assembled you both here to begin the next stage of your education, instruction that I surmise will be of great interest to the both of you." As the brawl continued, and the blood flowed thusly, the ground beneath their feet started to grow hotter and hotter by the minute. Runes, previously hidden amidst the monotonous gray, became more distinct, burning with an unnatural glow. Some of the blood even began to sizzle and smoke.

"How would you like to learn true alchemy?"

Adeline Noctua | Neyana
Darth Malum of House Marr | Darth Moskvin ​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Was this what the Alliance to Restore the Republic saw at Endor and Yavin? Malum could not quite say, it had been centuries ago, after all, indeed nearly a millennia, history had been told and retold, and written and rewritten so many a times, that it was almost impossible to truly know what had occurred in the past, indeed, one might say that one could not even be certain of events within one's lifetime, much less an hour ago, a minute ago, perhaps even a second ago was too far for memory to know for sure. A true pity for those historians like him, those who looked to the past for insight into the future, or indeed those who looked to the past for knowledge's sake, to have recorded those seminal events that had changed the fates and destinies of so many, or indeed, to look at the small things, and see how they radiated further out to impact the galaxy.

Those were the thoughts of Malum as he entered one of the many hangers of the Malsheem, truly one of the greatest structures within the Galaxy, one which both filled him with awe and dread and a slight ponder at how much it cost, perhaps it would be better if he did not think of that.

The summon of the last Triumvir had been rather unexpected, but in retrospect, should it have been? After being taken upon as an apprentice by Darth Ophidia, it had only taken Darth Empyrean hours to have reached out to summon him, so quickly that Malum had expected the summons from Darth Carnifex to have followed shortly after, yet indeed, he had received naught. He had worried for days afterward, then less worried by weeks afterward, by the time the months rolled by, it was a tingle at the back of his mind until summons arrived after Kal'Shebbol, he was to meet the last Triumvir.

Malum landed the Lochris at one of the vacant landing platforms, parking it securely as he stood from the seat and stretched his arms, an audible crack eliciting an audible sigh. It had only been a few days since Kal'Shebbol, everyone had thankfully been safe... well rather everyone important, some soldiers had been killed and injured, some dignitaries as well, seemingly some had escaped too, along with all the assailants. Yet he could not complain too much, Lady Tremiru was unscathed, alongside Trayze, his Mistress, and the stranger he had met... Adeline Noctua, Lady Noctua. His stomach did a set of summersaults at the mere mention of the name, as did his heart begin to beat noticeably faster. It seemed to the young Malum, that he had developed something of an infatuation for the Sangnir, and the fact that she could turn into some bat dragon warform had not quickly ended such feelings.

Still, as much as their initial encounter had been rather awkward, him not even getting a word in before the Mandalorians had struck, their latter meeting had gone rather well.

They had fought.

Wait maybe it had not gone too well...

No, it was but a duel, one which had ended in a draw, one which they had agreed to have a rematch over someday soon. It had been a struggle tying two words next to each over and over to speak to her, but somehow, it seemed every moment had been worth it.

He naively hoped that he would see her again, someday soon indeed, but perhaps not too soon, his heart likely could not beat any faster without causing him a heart attack.

The temptation to whistle came over him as he walked along the hanger towards an entrance as instructed, the hustle and bustle of starships were close around him, alongside those who tended towards them the mechanics and engineers, accompanied by those who flew them, the pilots, and then of course guarding it all, soldiers, intimidating and disciplined, some carrying blasters, others lightsabers. A well-oiled machine the Malsheem was, no wonder the Kainites were one of the three factions that fought for supremacy within the Order. With such resources, it was no wonder that they could be a threat to the Eternalists and Tsis'Kaar.

Their leader left much to be desired, however.

Malum's features darkened as he reached the entrance and continued to the Imperius Spire, the centre of the Malsheem, and where his summons had instructed him to go.

Darth Carnifex, the man he held singularly responsible for the downfall of the Sith Empire. The man whom Malum would have been loyally and dutifully serving right now if the Empire still lived. Yet what loyalty could Malum give towards a man who had failed so? None.

Rationally Malum knew that not all the blame could be laid at the man's feet, indeed the actual fall had commenced under the reign of his daughter, Empress Jocelyn, and his uncle, Darth Prazutis, but what could be truly said of an Emperor who forwent his responsibility as the Empire cracked at its seams? He darkly remembered the visage of Tenebrae. Perhaps it only spoke of the failure of the entire Zambrano family to rule. That indeed, it would take a Marr too. He chuckled darkly at the cold reminder of the fate of his famous ancestor.

There were other factors too, others of which he was well aware of, the Imperial Rebellion, the attacks from all sides from the burgeoning Ashlan Crusade, to the Silver Jedi Concord and Galactic Alliance, the breaking of the alliance with the Eternal Empire, the Sith Empire stood alone, and it fell alone.

Yet emotionality had such easy sway to make rationality moot.

The darkness and emotion swirled around him simply as he found himself at the great doors leading to the Imperius Spire. He breathed in, and then breathed out, he had to calm himself, yet working himself into such a frenzy had meant that no amount of calming down would rid himself of the emotions that swirled about. Indeed, only a fight would do that, and as much as he felt conflicted about Darth Carnifex, he was not about to pick a fight with him under any circumstance, especially not at the centre of his base of operations.

He breathed in and out again, as he opened the doors to the Imperius Spire... to be greeted by... blood.

Between the receptions he had received from the other Triumvirs, he was not sure where this ranked.

Especially considering that in front of him a fight seemed to be concluding between almost a dozen acolytes, it was a grisly thing, much less a battle, and even less a duel, indeed this seemed to be a massacre, many groans and screams went about in unison, as it seemed one of them carried around a sword to bring down the swordless.

Malum blinked a few times to process the sheer mutilation and barbarity in front of him. Was this the power of the Kainites?

Yet then, his eyes drew across to rest upon the three other figures in the room, much more encased within their own conversation than the bloodbath near them.

The first and shortest of them, he had evidently never met before, though he felt a rather uncomfortable sensation in his chest, as he looked above her head and spotted a pair of organs rather peculiar.

Cat ears.

That could not be natural.

Passing toward the other figure, Malum rather than blinking, had his eyes widen. Platinum hair, red eyes, aristocratic features, and a curious expression, even from this distance, Malum realised who it was, and thus almost reflexively had renewed struggle with his breathing. Why was... why was Adeline here? Was she aligned with the Kainites? That was... he did not exactly know what to do with that information, what could he even do with that information?

He put those thoughts aside as he considered the last figure in the room, a giant of a man with a looming presence. It was not hard to place who he was. Standing upon blood, as below him, the ground began to glow.

Malum found himself on his knees, his eyes staring directly at the former Emperor of the Sith Empire. To think, in another life, in another time, he would have bent the knee so easily without a moment's hesistation, his eyes looking down upon the ground in absolute obedience.

But this was not that life, not that time. Instead, that Empire was gone, and this was no Emperor, indeed, Malum was not certain if he was even alive.

"Malum, of House Marr, at your service," Malum said solemnly, red eyes meeting red, as silence loomed.

Darth Moskvin Adeline Noctua Neyana Darth Carnifex

 

[Neyana]

Neyana could only continue to stare at the spectacle that is before them. would be devotees fighting to the death to earn His favor. Something she might wish to achieve herself one day. Only to play and possibly kill the victor. Her bloodlust knows no bounds. She switches hands to lick the second bloodied hand she has, enjoying the flavor that messenger had given her. Tasty. Delicious. Life juice. It wasn't until the light show began that one of those ears twitch. Her attention focuses on the runes down below, and her head tilts with curiosity. Her tail flickers and gives a light sway, and she briefly stops licking to move a hand towards the light show, but she dares to not enter it as much as her cat-like instincts wants her to investigate. The Dark Lord speaks. Her response?

"What... Is... that?" A simple question. One that she should know the answer to, knowing just what she is and what had occurred to make her this way.

Then the newcomer approached, and Neyana shifted and turned to look at him. A grin appears and she steps closer towards the man in question, and squats down to the side of him. One of her 'clean' fingers moves to poke and, gives his cheek a slight scratch. Not enough for him to bleed, mind you. Just enough to give pain. Some form of attention to be drawn towards her. Another question escapes her lips.

"Can I have this one then?"

Darth Carnifex Adeline Noctua Darth Malum of House Marr