Private The Cleansing of Pergitor

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Lord Dvasius | Darth Callidus


The Last time a Sith had set foot unto the doomed planet of Pergitor, it had ended up as a disaster. Clashes between some of the strongest Sith Lords the galaxy had ever seen, their madness on full display, had inevitably torn a wound in not just the force, but the very fabric of reality within the skies of Pergitor. While countless eldritch horrors and abominations had managed to find their way through the veil into the reality of this galaxy, this also prompted the Sith Order to put a quarantaine on Pergitor, banning it from any and all operations and access, but by doing so, they inevitably made the planet a powerful stronghold for those very horrors from beyond the veil, allowing the planet to become completely transformed and infested with all manner of being that should not exist within this reality and as such... this place was without question a veritable treasure trove for those who were all too keen on trying to uncover not just the secrets of this universe, but also the dimensions beyond.

Silently, several thousand miles above the planet's atmosphere, a handful of vessels emerged from hyperspace, each adorned with an emblem that would not be known as of yet, but would without question be known to those who once had been in league with the long collapsed and forgotten Zweihander Union, this was the emblem of the former chancellor of the Left, the one known as Credius Nargath; Lord of Hunger. Like a hungry black snake, the massive Usurper started to slowly position itself into an orbit around the scarred planet, while the other ships; sleeker and bright red in their coloring, spread out in a similar orbit, each positioning themselves as such that the group of vessels would form a large wing, a striking V within orbit, ready to unleash hell upon the quarantined husk of Pergitor.

Dozens of gunships, escorted by hundreds of starfighters began their descent into the planet's atmosphere, unaware of what they would encounter beyond the thick, smoggy veil that seemed to shield the planet from all interference. Thousands of droids, a veritable legion under the command of the Lord of Hunger, would find itself being dropped onto the poisoned well of Pergitor, not with the goal to get rid of the darkness that plagued the planet, but with the goal of harnessing it, of turning what was once seen as a problem into a boon.

Like flawlessly connected and eusocial ants, the droids erupted from the dropships, forming themselves into cohorts of formidable sizes and awaiting the arrival of those who would stand to gain with the exploration, classification and inevitable cleansing of the planet. This wait would not be long, for at the head of this sizeable army, a black fog started to swirl and shudder, allowing a massive, hulking monster dressed in strange black garments and a handful of terrifyingly tall and sleek looking droids to emerge, yet all of these who appeared out of the darkness of the fog could only bow in reverence when it was time for the Lord of Hunger himself to appear from the darkness; clad in a mighty red and golden armor, clean, smooth and glabborous, like a metal god, the abomination known as the Lord of Hunger revealed himself in all his unglory, with eerie crimson and golden eyes beholding his army of droids from behind his mask.

"This is a world devoured by otherworldly flesh, poisoned by the madness and overconfidence of those who came before us...You are metal and alloy, untouched by fear and regret," The Lord of Hunger's words rung through into each and every droid's sensory receptors. "You await the ardeous task of forming a proper foothold, to march upon the very soil which has been poisoned by the nether and to stomp out any possible resistance this planet can and WILL offer. Most of you will be scrapped, possibly never to be remade again...but what you do here today, will perhaps only grant you reprieve for another moment, but it will grant me insight for a whole new lifetime."

All the droids raised their weapon in a short, but succinct salute to their master, ready to start their operations. In the meantime, Credius turned to his enforcer Mr. Pollux and his Sceleratii. "Have the accompanying Ceres Droids set up a base camp, connect us to the Usurper on long range sensory and communication relays. I want a first perimeter to be set up around the basecamp... have the Jupiter droids take up defensive positions along this perimeter. As soon as we have set up our camp... this operation will begin."​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Pergitor | Umbral Claw
Tags: The Lord of Hunger

The Umbral Claw hung in orbit near the world of Pergitor. The ship was a recent acquisition for Darth Callidus, a surprise she had not been expecting. Evidently, there was a policy the Sith Emperor had enacted to grand such a powerful ship to new Lords of the Sith across the Sith Order space. A nice bribery, willingly accepted, and quickly utilized. While Callidus continued to try and expand her influence, the might of the newly named Umbral Claw would be a key factor to aid in her rise.

Part of that was expanding her connections to other rising powers within the Sith Order. Individuals seeking to claim worlds much as she had herself. Potential allies to call upon in the future, or individuals she might have to owe favors to herself. One of those possibilities was nicer than the other.

"The Lord of Hunger has begun his invasion," a deck officer called across the bridge of the warship. Callidus, reclined on a throne assembled in the center of the bridge, nodded her head. She had come to observe the invasion of Pergitor at the invitation of this Credius Nargath, a man with a certain history behind him, and clearly the resources to forge a powerful future for himself. As was the way of things though, there was potential for betrayal.

Callidus tapped a long, red tipped fingernail on the armrest of the throne, her eyes tracking the developing action on the viewscreens. "All it would take is the push of a single button..." she mused, her words almost a whisper as she imagined the decimation it would unfold. Oh so tempting it was.

Rising from the throne, Callidus made her way towards the doors of the bridge. Two Evocati Legion soldiers stood there, their gaze unwavering beneath their helmets as they fell into step beside their mistress. "Send word to the hangar," she called out as the bridge doors slid shut, "I wish to go meet this Lord of Hunger myself."

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Lord Dvasius | Darth Callidus

The first goal; to set up a base camp was well under way, with the Ceres droids slowly moving equipment and basic building materials from the cargoholds of each of the ships that had decended upon the planet's surface. It took them not more than half an hour to already set up a command post complete with communications' suite and holoprojectors. All the while the Jupiter Sentry droids managed to settle themselves quite nicely into their role, while the Arabesk Enforcer droids were being geared up for what would likely be the most important task of them all: hunt down specimens and map the surrounding area.

"How's the progress, Mr Pollux?" The masked monster calmly asked to the hulking mound of muscle dressed in a trench coat and fedora combo. "While I understand it won't be something we'll do overnight, I do want everything to be ready before tomorrow morning."

"Base camp is a smooth progress, milord," The Hulking mass of muscle looked down at Credius, a cold, almost dead stare crossing with the Abomination's crimson and golden eyes. "The long range relays have been connected, we will be hearing from the Usurper and the rest of the fleet shortly."

"relay a message to the Usurper, have them maintain course and scan the planet from orbit," Looking at his own built-in datapad from his armor, the HUD in his mask and visors warning him, the Lord of Hunger let out a sigh. "If I am a betting man, I believe the best place to be looking at are the remains of the old cities. I've chosen a rather remote and open position to avoid initial confrontations to happen on 'their' terms."

"I understand," Mr Pollux nodded and started to move towards base camp, when one of the Arabesk droids suddenly ran up to the Abomination, saluting the Lord of Hunger as he gave the Sith Lord a coded marker.

"Milord, initial scans have revealed activity much further away from the rift than anticipated, in much larger numbers as well," The voice was unmistakably that of communications officer Webley, a veteran of the old days in the Zweihander union, one of the few to have lived this long, while being a mere human. "There is something else though, we have managed to pick up a signal in orbit around the planet, we have yet to identify this signal, but it is believed to be a Sith Vessel."

"Damn it," As the Lord of Hunger looked at his datapad, he pulled out the marker carrying the message and turned towards the Arabesk. "Ready the troops, I want three companies ready within the hour."
​

"What are they doing here? Credius pondered over this thought, wondering why any of the SIth would come here. Perhaps they were Darth Arcanix' people, Taeli Raaf was after all the one who had oversight on Pergitor, but not control or ownership, which was what Credius hoped to gain. If these were Darth Arcanix' people, he didn't mind...cooperating with the scientific sphere within the Order was a given...he just hoped he could have some work done before they'd meddle with his affairs...

One thing he wondered though, was who it could be, if these weren't Darth Arcanix' people...

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Pergitor | Lord of Hunger Encampment
Tags: The Lord of Hunger

The telltale whine of repulsors cut through the stillness as Darth Callidus's shuttle descended, its matte-black hull reflecting distorted silhouettes of the half-assembled base structures below. The world itself was bleak—low-hanging clouds, a silence broken only by the hum of droids and distant clanking of equipment, and a faint metallic tang in the air that suggested old industrial ruins slumbered just beneath the surface. As the ramp hissed open, the stench of dust and decay drifted into the ship's sterile interior like a half-forgotten whisper.

From within emerged Darth Callidus, her bootsteps echoing on the ramp in measured cadence. Her robes were a dramatic gradient of crimson and pitch black, ornate patterns of Sith runes shimmering at the edges as if alive with dark energy. Beneath the robes, glimpses of form-fitting armor suggested that, for all her elegance, she was no stranger to violence. Her face was masked by subtle shadows cast by her hood, save for intense eyes that glowed like coals banking in a furnace. Power simmered around her presence, palpable as static electricity dancing over the skin.

She took her time surveying the encampment—Ceres droids clattering about with crates of supplies, Jupiter Sentry units aligning into meticulous rows, Arabesk Enforcer droids bristling with weaponry. Communication towers jutted skyward, humming faintly with data transmissions, while the skeletal beginnings of prefab structures hinted at a larger project still in its infancy. Activity buzzed around her, but Callidus moved through it all as if passing through cobwebs—irritating, inconsequential strands that would not dare cling to her.

Then she saw him: The so-called Lord of Hunger, Credius, ringed by subordinates. His towering frame, his inhuman armor, the faint aura of suppressed hunger that gave him his moniker—all these would have intimidated most beings. But to Callidus, these things were merely another set of data points, another piece of an ever-shifting puzzle. She regarded him as a serpent might regard some curious rodent sniffing at its den—amused and assured that should he provoke her, destruction would be both swift and endlessly entertaining.

When she spoke, it was quiet—a dangerous hush, as though the Dark Side itself leaned in to listen. "Your industry is not without merit, Lord of Hunger," she began, voice slipping through the gloom like a poisoned stiletto. "Your droids labor tirelessly, your soldiers stand at attention. I can almost taste the anticipation in the air. But tell me," her lips curved into a razor-thin smile, "must everything you build be so… coarse? I expected something more sophisticated from one bearing your reputation."

A subtle gesture with her fingertips sent an idle spark of red-hued Force energy flickering near the ground—a tiny, harmless show of power, meant to remind everyone present that she needed no drawn blade to assert her authority. "I sensed your presence from orbit," she continued. "Your little encampment, these operations—they tugged at my curiosity. This planet's husk beckons you, does it not? Its ancient ruins and broken memories—perhaps there is something hidden that you crave, something you think will feed that hollow ache of yours."

Her tone was calm, measured, and as dismissive as a noble might be to a beggar at their gate. Yet beneath that calmness seethed the chaos of a Sith who would relish any excuse to unleash cruelty. "One does not choose a remote, barren world and erect crude command posts without motive. So enlighten me," she said, taking a single step closer, the droids and soldiers parting like reeds before her. "What prize do you seek here, Credius? Surely you know that discovery begets envy, and envy in the Sith Order often ends in blood."

For a moment, she let silence reign. The buzzing of holo-communicators, the click of droid limbs, the soft rustle of wind over dusty ground—all of it seemed to fade in her presence. When her voice came again, it was softer, yet each word struck like hammer-blows. "Consider me an unexpected overseer, come to ensure that whatever business you conduct here does not run contrary to my interests. Amuse me with an answer that doesn't bore me, Lord of Hunger—my patience, you will find, is infinitely brittle, and perhaps I shall aid you should you not shatter it."

Her head tilted slightly, a subtle challenge. The stage was set, and now she waited—like a predator that has spotted a weakness, biding the perfect moment to strike.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Lord Dvasius | Darth Callidus | Taeli Raaf


"Hmm..." The Lord of Hunger's voice was hollow and without emotion when he heard the Sith Lord whisper in the shadows, their force cloak strong enough and most expertly woven that even He could not truly perceive her location nor her activity until her voice reached him. If Darth Callidus made the mistake of viewing Credius as but a mere rodent to her serpent-like traits, she truly knew not of what she exactly had been trying to stir. The words cutting like veiled insults, disappointment coming from one who had yet to understand the Lord of Hunger's plans, his reach and more importantly: the capacity for death and despair held within him.

The flicker of red energy through the force perhaps might not have gotten the reaction the Sith Lord hoped to achieve, for rather than a show of strength, the combination of force cloak and a display of power in the vicinity of another such as herself could and would only be perceibed as one of two things: a threat or a challenge. Neither of which the Lord of Hunger thought the newly minted member of the Assembly would wish to continue on when she'd realize the error of her ways, the mistake in thinking herself above the monster.

"Before I indulge you or any questions you have, my dear child," A sudden stillness seemed to come over the Lord of Hunger, as the air grew thin and cold, as if all the life was being drawn out of the vicinity in a short moment, the Lord's crimson and golden eyes started to blaze from behind the red visors of his mask, the slit pupil visible within the vibrancy of those orbs, which seemed to turn clearly towards Darth Callidus herself. "Try to avoid raising my ire, I do not take kindly to those who think it a wise choice to threaten me."

Raising one hand ever so slightly upwards, the slow accumulation of darkness of the purest kind around his hand would become clear as day, or perhaps more accurately: night. "What I seek here is knowledge, a greater understanding of the place beyond the veil...the creatures that inhabit it, their strengths, their weaknesses and how to utilize it all to my own benefit and that of the greater empire. Make no mistake...this world had been discarded and quarantained by the others, I simply decided to show the foolishness of the fear towards the beyond."
​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Pergitor
Tags: The Lord of Hunger

The Sith Lord Darth Callidus emerged from the shadows, her voice weaving through the cold stillness like silk laced with poison. Despite her mastery over concealment, it was clear that her efforts to hide her presence were met with mixed results. The Lord of Hunger's words sliced through her dark veil, his tone hollow yet charged with the weight of authority. If she believed herself the apex predator, she was quickly discovering that Credius was no mere prey.

"Threaten?" Her voice came again, a low and icy whisper that carried the faintest hint of mockery. The shadows around her writhed in response, as though they themselves obeyed her command. "You mistake a warning for challenge, Lord of Hunger. I see no value in threats where precision will suffice. You yourself clearly see the distinction."

Her golden-amber eyes glinted as she stepped further into his awareness, the red energy that had flickered earlier now retreating into the ether. She observed his display, the gathering of darkness around his hand a demonstration of raw, unfiltered power. It was impressive, but Callidus's own gaze betrayed neither fear nor submission. Her mind was calculating, her intentions layered. To her, this was a delicate game of manipulation and testing boundaries.

"I came to learn what lies within this husk of a world," she continued, her tone measured and deliberate. "It is not merely the beyond that interests me but your place in it. Knowledge is the most potent weapon in our arsenal, and I would see the truth of your claims—not just hear them."

The stillness in the air deepened as the tension between them became palpable. Callidus allowed a thin smile to creep across her lips, though it held no warmth. "You misunderstand my intent if you believe I consider myself above you, Credius. Yet I must know: how can one who consumes so ravenously truly wield the subtlety required to master the beyond?"

Her words were sharp but framed as genuine inquiry. Callidus thrived in the game of subterfuge and insinuation, but she knew better than to provoke a confrontation she could not control. Still, she pushed, seeking to gauge his patience and his limits—not out of arrogance, but out of a cold, calculating need to understand the monster before her.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus

If he would not have been wearing his mask, the Sith who finally revealed herself would've seen a somewhat smug smile on the Lord of Hunger's face, but since he WAS wearing his mask, the best marker for his current demeanor was seen within his eyes, which slowly dulled again, losing the vibrancy they had but moments earlier. "It is a matter of perception...if you were dealing with anyone lesser than myself...you would've had one angry person to content with."

For a moment Credius' attention was drawn towards the three platoons of Arabesk Droids that were being prepped for their sortie, their weapons and systems being checked over by the Ceres Droids, who would act as the logistical element to his cohorts of droids currently on the planet. As the signal was given by the Ceres droids that the Arabesk droids were cleared, the three platoons moved out on the orders they had been given, with one platoon of arabesk droids remaining on the site. Should anything happen, they would be a useful addition to the temporary camp's defenses.

"The rift is of little consequence to me," The Lord of Hunger let out a soft sigh, ofcourse Callidus wouldn't know that in what is to be considered his actual base of operation, the monstrous man had access to a rift of his own, one he had thoroughly used and abused for the sake of expanding his power and connection to the force, yet in doing so he has come to be a burden upon his own body, which has begun to deteriorate more rapidly than he had expected and even the mutation which had made him become something akin to a force vampire could not stop the rampant decay. "If it is truly the place beyond the veil you wish to experience...this may come at a later time. For now my plan is to get a lay of the land, see how those beasts from the nether or the void have come to settle in this place and figure out how or if they can be of any use to me. Should there be nothing more to it, I will simply start with the reconstruction of the most useful locations on this planet and move my operations here. While I intend to close the Rift, thorough exploration may yet prove to be of great importance."

Tilting his head a bit, Credius suddenly chuckled though. "We'll be scanning the planet's surface soon... perhaps if we find something interesting, you're welcome to join the investigation."
​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Pergitor
Tags: The Lord of Hunger

Callidus inclined her head, a gesture of acknowledgement rather than subservience. "A prudent approach, Lord of Hunger. Assessing the lay of the land before committing fully is wise, even for one with your... appetites." She let the word hang in the air, a subtle barb laced with veiled respect.

"This 'reconstruction' you speak of," she continued, her voice smooth as obsidian, "it intrigues me. What vision do you have for this world, once the rift is sealed and the echoes of the beyond are silenced? Will it be a fortress, a sanctuary, or perhaps a breeding ground for further… acquisitions?"

Her amber eyes flickered towards the departing droids, a silent calculation of their capabilities. "I confess, the prospect of studying these 'beasts from the nether' holds a certain allure. To understand their nature, their strengths, their weaknesses... such knowledge could prove invaluable, should we ever need to wield them ourselves."

Callidus paused, allowing a moment of silence to stretch between them. "Your offer of collaboration is... appreciated, Credius. I accept, with the understanding that our interests may not always align perfectly. But perhaps," she added, a hint of a predatory smile playing on her lips, "that is where the true opportunity for growth lies."

She folded her arms, her posture relaxed yet alert. "Until then, I shall observe and learn. And should you require a… keen eye for detail, or a blade with a taste for the unusual, you need only ask."

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


It did not take long before the first attacks in the nearby forested areas started, the twisted foliage of the influenced and corrupted trees shaking as the cohorts of droids did their job, even though the expectation of the Lord of Hunger was that the droids would have a tougher time with these beings, it looked like he had either underestimated the droids he had brought with him or he had overestimated the beasts that had begun to call Pergitor home after the Sith Order had so carelessly brought the world into their domain.

"I believe you already know the answer to your own question," A dry, somewhat uninspiring chuckle escaped through the voicebox of Credius, as he turned towards his massive enforcer bringing him a datapad with the numbers of captured beasts and the progress of the cohorts sent out to further locations. "Have the cages set up for the first Cohort's arrival, continue monitoring the situation with Cohort two and three, they are nearing the ruins of the capital right underneath the rift."

With those orders given, Mister Pollux moved away again, though not without tipping his fedora to Darth Callidus as a sign of respect or simply because it was a customary thing to do for those lower in standing. The Lord of Hunger though pointed at the rift, clearly taking his time to explain his goal. "This world will serve as the first of many that will become my playthings, dear child. I will simply move all my assets from the Redoubt to this place, turn it into a scientific and industrial haven for those who seek power through knowledge and research, through the undivided attention to biology and physics."

Letting out a more vibrant, less dry and humorlous chuckle, the Lord of Hunger turned towards his unexpected and somewhat uninvited, yet not unwelcome guest in this ordeal of his. "Perhaps Denab may very well enjoy certain benefits if a possible collaboration would turn out to be a fruitful one. After all, what I will be making, what I will be creating will not be limited by morals or scrupules... If those who fear power deign to call me someone who meddles with things only gods should meddle with..."

Reaching upwards with his arm and visually closing his fist around the rift, Credius made it clear what he was attempting to do, showing that there were little limits to his arrogance, his ambition and more importantly: his will. "...I will just have to become a god."​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Pergitor
Tags: The Lord of Hunger

As his enforcer tipped his hat in her direction, a faint smirk tugged at her lips, though it held no warmth. She inclined her head just enough to acknowledge the gesture before turning her attention back to Credius. The rift loomed in the distance, a wound in the fabric of reality, pulsating with an energy that intrigued and repulsed in equal measure. His proclamations of godhood, his grand designs for Pergitor, and the sheer audacity of his aspirations might have impressed another. Callidus, however, had long learned the value of restraint—and the danger of overreach.

"Ambitious," she finally murmured, her voice soft but cutting through the air like a scalpel. "Your vision for this world is bold, Lord of Hunger. Few would dare to dream so grandly, let alone declare it aloud." She stepped closer, her black robes shifting with a serpentine grace as her amber eyes flickered toward the rift, studying it as if peeling back its secrets layer by layer. "And yet, ambition without precision can so easily become ruin."

Her tone was not dismissive but measured, carefully chosen to neither provoke nor diminish. She gestured toward the datapad in his enforcer's hands, her mechanical fingers flexing slightly under her black glove. "You are meticulous, to your credit. A careful foundation is a necessity if one is to build something that endures. But this... rift." Her eyes met his, unflinching. "It is not something that bends easily to mortal will, no matter how fervently one might wish it so."

Callidus clasped her hands behind her back, allowing her words to settle as she turned her gaze to the chaotic movements of the droids and corrupted creatures in the distance. "Perhaps collaboration would indeed prove fruitful, should your vision align with practicality. Pergitor may yet serve as a proving ground for your designs. But tread carefully, Credius." Her tone dropped to a whisper, though it carried the weight of a storm. "Gods fall just as mortals do. The difference lies in the height of their hubris."

With that, she fell silent, allowing him to continue his work, her expression neutral yet watchful. Though she said little more, her presence remained a quiet reminder that she was not simply an observer—she was a player in the game, waiting for the opportune moment to make her move.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Close the rift, establish a proper foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


Several teams of droids already returned from the forests neary, bringing with them a large number of small, yet still potent looking eldritch abominations from beyond the veil, it was clear that these Arabesk droids did not have much issues with these kinds of beasts, though again the Lord of Hunger did wonder if this would remain the case. After all, these were just small ones and he was fairly certain that there had to have been much larger beasts to come from the rift. The small beasts though, would have their own use and value, as they were being categorised, locked up in cages and sedated by the present Ceres droids if necessary.

"My will is not ambition, but calculated risk," It must have probably been a rather weird answer to hear coming from the Lord of Hunger, but he was quite adamant to make it clear that the notion of becoming a god was neither hard in all honesty, but also not even close to the goal. "Becoming a god is...subjective. For what is a god? Is something you would call a god something I would consider to be a god? Perception and perspective Lady Callidus... that's what matters. I will transcend beyond my current state, I will go beyond the limits this galaxy has set upon me... thus as I said, if those who would deny me this progress call it akin to meddling with things only a god should meddle... what else should I become than a god?"

It was in essence a phylosophical conundrum, especially among sith, because no sith would ever fully accept another as being a god, their ego would never allow it, their minds would not be able to process it. However, to accept other sith as being close to godhood was another thing in its entirety, for did not many SIth Call both Lord Carnifex and the Dead Emperor godlike beings drenched in unholy divinity?

"Taming a rift in itself is never the Issue, Darth Callidus ," The Lord of Hunger let out a sigh and tilted his head to the side as he motioned her to follow him to the cages holding the recently acquired batches of small creatures coming from beyond the veil, from beyond the rift. "Dominate what is beyond the veil, that's all that matters. The Nether, the void, they do not scare me... If I were to be unshackled from this decaying husk of meat and bone, I would more or less be capable of proclaim myself a god within the Nether... but as you can see...even within this armor, even when fed and maintaining my strength, the vessel in which I reside is ever dying, always faltering to decay and corruption..."

Reaching towards one of the small beasts, Credius' hand lightly touched the cage in which it resided, allowing a whole bunch of runes to appear and be shattered through the force, a cold darkness surrounded the cage as the small creature's snarls and growls turned into squeals and squeaks, before finally ending with a dry gurgle. As the darkness vanished slowly, it revealed in stead a dried up, shriveled husk of the small creature. "These are but young, lowly pests compared to that which we are looking for. There are much more terrifying beasts nearby...of that I am certain."​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: The Lord of Hunger

Darth Callidus followed in measured silence, her amber eyes flickering with faint amusement at the philosophical musings of the Lord of Hunger. His attempt to frame his ambitions in the context of gods and transcendence was, she admitted, intriguing, but it also carried with it an air of self-indulgence. She did not challenge his words directly, though her expression betrayed her growing impatience with the endless discourse. Still, her interest in the rift and its abominations remained, and for now, she played the part of the attentive guest.

As Credius shattered the runes and drained the life from one of the small beasts, Callidus watched with an inscrutable expression. She stepped closer, the soft rustle of her robes the only sound from her. Her gloved hand rose to rest on the edge of another cage, her gaze piercing through the bars at the writhing creature within.

"Domination, yes," she said softly, her voice as cold and smooth as obsidian. "It is the essence of our order, is it not? To take what is wild, unbound, and make it ours. Yet your musings on godhood—on unshackling yourself from the confines of mortality—risk tethering you to the same limitations you claim to despise."

She tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes narrowing as she considered the husk of the slain creature. "You speak of perception and perspective, Lord of Hunger. That a god is only as divine as the belief of those who bow before it. But gods are not worshiped out of reverence alone—they are feared. Feared because their power is undeniable, their will immutable. Yet you rely on philosophy to justify your ascendancy. Tell me, how will that serve you when the rift spits out something beyond even your considerable strength?"

Her words were laced with an edge, though her tone remained even, almost conversational. Callidus turned her attention back to Credius, her expression unreadable. "These creatures are indeed pests, but they are only the beginning. If larger, more dangerous entities are to emerge, your current... vessel, as you call it, may be insufficient."

She stepped back from the cage, her posture composed but subtly dismissive. "Still, I will watch. Perhaps you will surprise me. Perhaps your plans will succeed where so many others have failed. But know this: even gods are not beyond reproach. And if you falter, there will be others—myself included—ready to take your place."

Callidus's tone was calm, almost indifferent, as if the prospect of his failure was a foregone conclusion. Yet beneath her words lay a subtle challenge, an invitation for him to prove her wrong—or to fall victim to his own hubris. She turned her gaze back to the rift, watching its ominous glow with the quiet detachment of a predator waiting for its moment to strike.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Catalogue the beasts, exterminate any threat, create a foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


"Hmm," It was perhaps a rather underwhelming reaction coming from the Lord of Hunger after he had heard the warnings from Darth Callidus on the idea and reality of Godhood. It was almost as if he had little care for these warnings and wise words, after all if the monster had one flaw, it was his arrogance, his unwavering belief in his own desires and the possibility of those desires coming to fruition. Now ofcourse, Credius was not wholly insane or mad as to think reaching the point of godhood would be an easy achievement without effort. Not at all, he knew that to deny his protractors and opponents the satisfaction of calling him out for any madness, he had to study, observe and understand everything he put his mind to, allowing not a single mistake to be made and not a single stone to be left unturned. "You make fair points in your words, but think carefully...do you truly think I have not made all the calculations myself? Do you really think I have not put in the utmost effort to minimize every possible risk?"

More and more beasts were being brought in by the first company, but there was yet any sign of anything bigger than a loth wolf, making the Lord of Hunger already anticipate that rather than clinging to the twisted forests, the things that have entered from beyond the veil were to be found elsewhere.

"Master, urgent news from the second company and third company," The Enforcer rushed in from the command center that had been set up in the camp, holding in his hand a communicator with a direct connection to the second company.

"Sealed city has been entered, lifeforms detected...no survivors found," The metallic, drone voice of the arabesk droid ressonated through the microphone of the communications device handed over to the Lord of Hunger. "Scans have indicated several mass graves of former humans... requesting permission to conduct wider search."

"You are permitted to expand your search, A-482," Credius calmly replied, pressing another button on the communications device to contact the third company, which had been sent to another nearby sealed city. "Third company, A-743 report."

"Sealed capital city breached...scans indicate no life signs of human nature," This was quite important, as it meant that even the Church of Infinite Perception had been struck hard by what Darth Empyrean and Darth Carnifex had done to the place, turning an already poisoned world into a dead world was perhaps not something that required much effort for any of those who had managed to transcend beyond the limitations of humanity, but it was still a rather important note for Credius' further investigations on the planet. "Company three will start scanning the lower levels of the capital once a command post has been set up. Permission to expand search grid?"

"You have my permission, A-743," Handing over the device back to his enforcer, the Lord of Hunger looked at Darth Callidus for a moment, tilting his head a bit to the left as if he was thinking about something. "Company two and three are lost...it seems my assumptions were correct. The sealed cities held the remaining survivors of the dwindling Pergitorian civilization, his majesty's incursion alongside the Twice crowned shadow have not been good for this place. A predator sticks to the locations where prey is or at least has been abundant. If anything larger than these small pests has emerged from the rift... it is most likely we will be finding these within the sealed cities."

Tapping the side of his mask with an outstretched index finger, the Lord of Hunger attempted to make it clear to his confrater that he had already thought about such hiccups in his plans towards cleansing the planet from its major issues from beyond the veil. "Perhaps it is time I no longer attempt to do this with half meassures and simply go for the main prize after all."​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: The Lord of Hunger

Darth Callidus observed the unfolding events with quiet intensity, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as the reports came in. She listened to Credius's measured responses, his commands to the droids efficient and deliberate. Despite his arrogance—or perhaps because of it—she found herself begrudgingly impressed by the meticulousness of his approach. It was not the mindless hubris of a madman, but the calculated ambition of one who had studied every angle, even if he had dismissed her earlier warnings with a wave of self-assured confidence.

When he spoke of predators and prey, her lips curved into the faintest smirk. "A predator does not simply pursue prey—it anticipates it, understands its habits, and strikes where it is most vulnerable," she said, her voice low but sharp. "You are correct, Credius. These cities hold the key, and whatever larger threats linger will not stay hidden forever. But even predators must tread carefully, lest they overestimate their position in the food chain."

Her gaze shifted to the shriveled husk of one of the smaller creatures in its cage. The faint aura of darkness still clung to it, a testament to the Lord of Hunger's methods. Callidus raised a gloved hand, letting her mechanical fingers trace the air just above the bars of another cage. "Your precision is admirable," she admitted, though her tone was devoid of flattery. "I can see now that your talk of godhood is not empty bluster, but the calculated drive of one who understands the weight of such a pursuit."

She turned her attention back to him, her expression inscrutable. "But let us not confuse calculation with certainty. The rift is not a beast to be cornered or slain—it is a force of nature, chaotic and unyielding. Even the most meticulous plans can unravel when faced with the unknown. That is the nature of the veil, of what lies beyond."

Her gaze lingered on the communicator in his enforcer's hands, her voice softening slightly. "If you intend to go for the 'main prize,' as you say, I will not only refrain from hindering you—I will assist. Not out of loyalty or belief in your vision, but out of curiosity." Her lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "This path you walk intrigues me, and I wish to see where it leads. Consider it an experiment, if you will—a collaboration of sorts."

She stepped closer, her black robes brushing against the ground as her presence loomed just slightly nearer to his. Her voice dropped to a whisper, though it carried an undeniable edge of intrigue. "Do not fail, Credius. For if you succeed, the fruits of your ambition may very well be worth the risks. And if you falter..." She paused, her smile lingering as she inclined her head slightly. "Well, I will be here to pick up the pieces."

Callidus allowed the words to hang in the air before stepping back, her cold gaze fixed on him. She gave him a small nod, an acknowledgment of sorts. For all his arrogance, she could see the potential in his work, and though her motives were far from altruistic, her support—however temporary—was now his to use.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Catalogue the beasts, exterminate any threat, create a foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


Credius nod calmly towards Darth Callidus, finding himself to be rather inclined to at the very least taking a liking to this rapidly rising star within the Sith Order. Her stoic and calm nature, the well-chosen words she employed to avoid any misperceptions... it betrayed both her intelligence and cunning, which made her both a promising ally and a very dangerous opponent to have, even for the Lord of Hunger. Than again, the same applied for himself, and in this case he was quite certain that the younger Sith was fully aware of just how dangerous the Lord of Hunger could be when allowed to not be restricted by the logics and laws of the mortal realm.

"The rift is of no concern to me, as I said before...but let me at the very least educate you on these phenomena," The abomination within the Force tilted his head a bit and let out a soft chuckle, as if he found what he was going to say rather amusing ahead of time, ahead of the words even being spoken. "Whatever rift, whatever place beyond the veil it connects to, a rift is less of a chaotic mess in and of itself, the chaotic mess can be moreso found around it. Mindless beasts and the likes would trample one another to get through it, even the intelligent creatures from those other places might find themselves drawn in large droves to these rifts, trampling one another to go through. So too is the greed and unchecked curiosity on our side a point of contention and chaos when it comes to these phenomena. However, do not be mistaken... when this planet has been secured and tempered, that rift will be the next part of my operation."

Motioning the younger sith to follow him, the Lord of Hunger would bring her into the makeshift command center erected within the basecamp, pointing at a large table, displaying the already scanned surface of the planet by his Usurper and the three Keres-Class destroyers in orbit, giving a rather detailed look on the state of the planet's surface, which still showed the scars of the past where the atmosphere had grown thick and poisonous, eroding the planet's surface underneath. However, there were several visible locations which showed manmade structures, though most of these seemed to have been eroded as well, giving the idea of complete abandonment, Credius slowly pointed at one of these manmade structures and enhanced the image, allowing the hologram to include the already mapped parts by the droid companies sent on reconnaissance.

"Vast underground cities, delved straight into the planet's crust and mantle to avoid the poisonous air outside," Letting out a rather dry and eerie chuckle, the Lord of Hunger tilted his head again, followed by a dry coughing sound emanating from the voice box in his mask. "If beasts dug themselves into the sealed cities, those who lived there were trapped without any exit, forced to hide or die... the last count had been roughly a few million inhabitants left... and that was before the quaraintaine and the incursion...but let's say a few hundred thousand of these Pergitorians remained... Imagine the size of the beast or beasts that have managed to gorge themselves on such a feast without the Sith Order knowing or even caring about it?

Letting out a laugh, Credius was reminded about his youth on Eriadu, where he had gone through the trials, where he had hunted the largest of native beasts...all before he had even truly delved into the power of the Force. Clenching his hand in anticipation, the Lord of Hunger could feel the dust in his veins starting to liquify, to pump through his shrivelled heart with utter excitement. "I will give you a proposal, Darth Callidus. Join me in a hunt and I will be more than willing to support your own endeavours should they not interfere with my own."

The young Sith had mentioned it earlier, a collaboration of sorts this would be, but if the Lord of Denab could be counting on the Lord of Hunger's assistance in her own game, would such a prospect not seem much more enticing?​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: The Lord of Hunger

Darth Callidus followed the Lord of Hunger into the makeshift command center, her amber eyes flicking over the holographic map of the planet's surface with cool precision. She listened carefully, her mechanical fingers idly brushing the edge of the table as he spoke. His words, laced with amusement and the eerie detachment of one who viewed the chaos around him as both a tool and a challenge, piqued her interest.

As he enhanced the hologram, highlighting the eroded remnants of civilization and the vast underground cities, Callidus tilted her head slightly. The image of millions trapped beneath the surface, their numbers dwindling as they fell prey to the beasts born of the rift, painted a grim and tantalizing picture. Credius's deductions were sharp, his insights disturbingly vivid, and his excitement for the hunt infectious. It was clear to her that the Lord of Hunger's ambition, while steeped in arrogance, was rooted in a methodical and calculating mind.

When his proposal came, she allowed a faint smile to grace her lips, though it carried the cold detachment she was known for. "A hunt," she murmured, her tone contemplative. "An interesting proposition, Credius. These creatures, born of the veil, are as much a mystery to me as they are a challenge to you. And I must admit, the prospect of uncovering the depths of this world and its secrets is... enticing."

She turned her gaze to him, her expression as inscrutable as ever, but there was a glimmer of curiosity—and perhaps respect—in her eyes. "Your insights into the rift, its chaotic allure, and the consequences of unchecked curiosity are not lost on me. I can see now that your goals are not merely lofty ideals, but the calculated steps of one who understands the game far better than most."

Callidus stepped closer to the hologram, her gloved hand gesturing to the enhanced image of the underground cities. "If beasts of that magnitude have grown unchecked in such an environment, they will not only test the strength of our will but the ingenuity of our methods. I am curious to see how your approach will handle a challenge of this scale—and what knowledge we might glean from it."

Her gaze shifted back to him, her voice softening slightly, though it retained its sharp edge. "Very well, Lord of Hunger. I accept your proposal. I will join you in this hunt—not out of obligation, but out of curiosity. I wish to see where this path leads and what fruits it may bear. In return, I will expect your support, as you have offered, in pursuits that benefit us both."

Her lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Perhaps we will uncover more than just beasts. Perhaps the secrets of this place will hold answers to questions neither of us have yet thought to ask. And should this collaboration prove fruitful... who knows what other ventures might follow?"

She inclined her head slightly, a rare gesture of acknowledgment. "Lead on, Credius. Let us see what lies beneath this poisoned surface. Let us hunt."

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Catalogue the beasts, exterminate any threat, create a foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


The Lord of Hunger scoffed, listening to the Sith's words and nodding calmly in agreement, but the thought of having to show his ways was a bit funny to him. Usually, the ones who had asked that either ended up being scared away or they ended up as all who annoyed the Lord of Hunger did...as part of his ever growing trail of corpses. However, Darth Callidus had so far not only shown herself to be amusing, but also showed she was quite knowledgeable, curious and thus useful as well. Still, with all that in mind, Credius found it relatively entertaining to hear just how interested she was in partaking in a hunt.

"Have patience young Darth," The Lord of Hunger looked down at the holographic map, following the trackers on the Droid cohorts he had sent out, with one searching through and mapping out a sealed city each. Holding up a hand, the abomination enlarged the holographic map as his eyes started to become more vibrant, more feverish in their crimson and golden hues, the slit pupils narrowing and looking down upon the map when suddenly the communication lines opened.

"Lifesigns detected..."

"Breaching second seal..."

"Hostiles encountered..."

"engaging enemy..."

"Experiencing heavy losses..."

"Losses exceeding parameters..."
​

"And then there were...zero," The Lord of Hunger chuckled, sure he had lost an entire cohort of expensive droids, but the thought, the very idea of the prize he could find there were the droids had fallen, was tantalizing enough not to ignore it. "Track their last position, ready the Sceleratii...Lady Callidus...if you please."

The sceleratii that had been with the Lord of Hunger before, a handful of tall, intimidating droids started to line up outside of the command center, they each slowly followed the abomination's footsteps into the open, his long, exquisite cape billowing behind him, fluttering in the wind like a silken scarf drenched in blood and gold. "I believe this will be your first time..."

If Darth Callidus would follow Credius, she'd find herself slowly being envelopped into a dark, thick fog, which started to swirl and converge into a sort of portal which looked eerily similar to a rift in its own right. Credius would motion her to hurry, for though he could traverse great distances, the technique was unstable and highly erratic. Walking through the aforementioned portal he and the Sceleratii vanished into nothingness and if Callidus would follow, she'd feel as if she had been thrown into a black hole, her insides would be burning, freezing, feel like they were pulled apart and pressed together with great force, and all that in what was essentially a split second stretched to an eternity...or perhaps an eternity compressed into a split second.

However, when she would reach the other side, Callidus would see herself standing amidst a massacre of droids, with parts scattered, cores crushed or laid bare. "Look at these clawmarks...these are certainly bigger than those things from the forests... I believe there are more mature beasts hidden within this sealed city..."

The Scelerati started to scan the immediate vicinity, spreading out as the Lord of Hunger breathed in deeply, his aura of cold and despair being unleashed, the black fog which had sprouted forth the protal before, now spreading like a mist throughout the area in which they were standing. "We don't want to be dealing with the grunts... can you feel it, Darth Callidus, can you feel the presence that slumbers deep beneath us?"

If the Lord of Hunger's aura was that of despair and cold, what could be sensed from deep beneath their feet, was a cold and strange feeling, as if being stalked by an unseen predator, lurked at through every crack in the floor, the walls of the ruins, every hole and slit. "Are you ready to hunt or be hunted...my dear Callidus?"

​

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Catalogue the beasts, exterminate any threat, create a foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus


The sealed undercity was pitch black, with no signs of life to be detected, not even through the force, not in the immediate vicinity at least. Of the cohort of droids sent to this location, only scattered remains were to be seen, broken chassis, crushed limbs and a handful of gnawed on heads. While it was clear that the droids were not wholly useless due to the number of dead creatures lying about and the multitude of black blood trails scattered from the location, it was still evident that while these droids were built to fight beings of equal intelligence and within the confines of a society of laws and rules, they lacked the capacity to deal with creatures who undoubtedly followed a hierarchy in a hivemind system.

Kneeling down next to one of the corpses of the beasts, the Lord of Hunger let out a somewhat elated sigh, a humm of glee and intrigue escaping his voicebox, his voice exasperated and filled with the strange tones of understanding and respect as he slowly turned over the beast. At first glance it had something canine, its build fairly similar to a lothwolf, though without any fur, instead boasting a thick, leathery skin with chitinous growths near the joints and the back, a large tail covered in the same material pertruding from the back end and six rather than four legs. The beast's maw had something reptilian, with mainly serrated teeth jutting through the jawbone and improperly lined up in a chaotic mess.

"Chitinous growth...canine appearance...how fascinating," Standing up again, the abomination within the force started to chuckle, his eyes practically burning through the visors of his mask, his very aura itself began to leak out, as his arms raised ever slightly upwards, his fingers wriggling and tensing as if he was trying to grab a hold of something. "Magnificent, utterly magnificent...I have no idea what these are...but I want them, I want to dissect these beasts, figure out what makes them tick...packhunters of such a magnitude, This is most interesting..."

Leaning forward, clenching his fists, for the first time perhaps, Darth Callidus could see the utter madness within the brilliance of the Lord of Hunger, his inquisitive nature, his desire to know it all fully wisible within his actions, it was quite clear that whatever age the man had, whatever he had gone through the past five decades he had been absent from the galactic stage,his mind had twisted, his moralities had gone out the window and were replaced with a dangerous obsession.

"AH...right, my apologies," Snapping out of the feverish trance he had found himself in, the Sith lord regained his composure, his calm as he turned his attention towards his colleague. "These beasts must come from the lower levels, I am afraid though that the only way to reach the undercity's belly, would be through the sealed gates... I may need some assistance in taking down those gates...let's just say that I am a bit rusty these days."
​

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: The Lord of Hunger

The silence of the undercity seemed almost reverent as Darth Callidus stepped forward, her twin lightsabers hanging dormant at her hips like slumbering predators. The faint sound of her boots on the ancient durasteel floor was the only noise accompanying her, yet her presence in the Force was anything but subtle. A storm brewed within her—cold, calculating, and brimming with restrained power. She paused, amber eyes glowing faintly beneath her hood, and surveyed the scene with detached curiosity.

She tilted her head slightly, observing the Lord of Hunger with a mixture of disdain and amusement as his obsessive ramblings filled the void. Her voice, smooth as silk yet sharp as a vibroblade, cut through the air.

"Magnificent, yes... in the way a vermin infestation is magnificent when viewed under a magnifying lens," she began, her tone laced with icy sarcasm. "Your fascination with these creatures borders on... unseemly. Though I suppose it's no surprise, considering the nature of your appetites."

She stepped closer to the mutilated corpse, her gloved hand reaching out as if to touch the leathery surface of the beast's hide, but she stopped short. A faint grimace flickered across her face, barely perceptible, before she withdrew her hand.

"Primitive. But efficient," she murmured, more to herself than to her companion. "A natural hierarchy. An instinctual hunger. How quaint."

Her gaze snapped back to the Lord of Hunger, her expression a mask of mild contempt. "As much as your vivisectionist whims may entertain you, we have more pressing matters than indulging your... curiosities. The sealed gates, as you so conveniently pointed out, require our attention."

Darth Callidus turned her back to him, her cape billowing slightly as she began to pace toward the gates in question. "After all, rust can only be polished away with friction. Or... it can crumble entirely."

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Pergitor
OBJECTIVE: Catalogue the beasts, exterminate any threat, create a foothold
TAG: Darth Callidus

Letting out a sigh as he regained his bearings, the madness ebbing away, the Lord of Hunger's attention momentarily turned towards the Sith Lord in his presence, her words were harsh, but not incorrect. His desires, his interests had to be contained for the moment. There was time for such pleasantries, such exhillerating discoveries later on. Nodding rather meekly, a somewhat surprising gesture, the Lord of Hunger turned away from the corpse of the strange beast and moved on with silence towards the gates he had mentioned, for the first time following Darth Callidus rather than leading her.

"It can be forced by our will, Lady Callidus," Standing still besides the Sith Lord, the monster within the Force raised his hand and tilted his head slightly forwards. The ground started to shake, dust and debris which had been collecting for over several decades had begun to fall and cover the surrounding area. Slowly, the Lord of Hunger's own presence within the force seemed to diminish, the intensity which his aura seemed to have been holding earlier becoming much less pronounced, much less terrifying. yet as it did so, so too did the gates crack and shake, slowly being dragged, nay forced open into obedience to the Lord of Hunger's will. "Here they come..."

As if right on cue, from the shadows dozens of pairs of eyes could be seen, with not one or two, but a whole dozen of those beasts suddenly emerging from the shadows, beasts with chitinous armor, six powerfull legs and serrated teeth lined up in a salivated maw, each a deadly instrument to whatever being was in control of them and all bent on taking a bite out of the two uninvited visitors within the undercity.

"Ugh..." Still weakened from the force he had expended and the strength he had exerted, Credius' reactions seemed to be slower, when one of the beasts had already been able to sink its teeth into the Lord of Hunger's left leg, with another keeping hold of his right arm, its teeth slowly jamming themselves into his armor. While being beset upon by those two, a third one seemed to take the hint and rushed forwards with blinding speed towards the abomination, jumping with the clear intent to go straight for the Lord's throat. "Enough!!"

His left arm shot forwards, grabbing the jumping beast by the throat, with his own eyes blazing with immense vibrancy and intensity, the beast stuck within his iron grip struggled and wriggled, as slowly the color of its leathery skin faded, its entire appearance turning into something shrivelled, something mummified in but a few instants. It did not take long for the same thing to happen to the other two beasts which had grabbed a hold of him as well, their bodies dropping to the ground as dead, completely withered husks, while the Lord of Hunger's own presence seemed to have intensified once again.

"Now...where is it?" Whatever Beasts were left and which Darth Callidus had not yet taken down would cower, seemingly torn between an inate fear for something within their very mind and the being which slowly walked over towards them. Raising his right arm, the remaining beasts would be lifted into the air, squirming as they were suspended through the use of the force and drained of their mind, their memories and their lifeforce alltogether. "There you are..."

A massively loud roar could be heard from beyond the gates, from beyond the darkness that seemed to have the undercity in its grasp. "I believe that whichever has been turning this place into its feeding ground...has just been challenged. I think I called it a... coward."
​