Diplomacy &nbsp; The Council of Nirauan - Gathering Storm [DE/SAO]

The Lord of Hunger |
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Marlon Sularen |

Dyans Keto | Allister McAuliffe |

Domaric Mordane |

Antipater | Open to Dark Empire |

Imperius Indomitus · Feb 7, 2025

The Council of Nirauan - Gathering Storm
Nirauan | Hand of Thrawn

Below him was the vast city of New Carannia with its various quarters and districts, with the circular Myrmidon Quarters around the Hand which once served as the garrison for the once-capital of the New Imperial Order. The city had lost a majority of its population through several invasions and raids but was never given up. Its citizens knowing hardship, having fought for their survival. Even Darth Imperius had fought for their survival on more than one occasion. A different time, a different life, a different name. All dead. All its heroes forgotten and buried. Just as heroes deserved.

The Dark Lord of the Ascendant Order stood on a balcony of the barely utilised Hand of Thrawn in its central spire. Behind him he would find a former command center, stripped of most of its tech but still a sight to behold. And now utilised by his agents to prepare for a summit that might change the surface of this world once more. But not for some false benevolent goal of freedom, or some occult madness, nor for the naive ideal of order. The future would be forged in fire, tempered in blood and sharpened through purpose.

Darth Imperius had arrived together with

Darth Callidus , his Shadow Hand, a valuable counter-part to his measured but direct nature, offering sharp insight and the angle that Imperius had never bothered to master, secrecy and deception. They were working extremely well together but their journey under the auspices of the Sith Order had been of limited success, their adherence to the Sith Code and efforts to forge a centralised Empire, meeting little appeal among the ranks of nepotism.

He though had no just arrived with her. Despite this being a first, diplomatic meeting and him knowing at least one of the counterparts, nobody was served by the proposals that could not be backed up. While not hanging in orbit above the world, the Dark Lord had brought elements of his powerbases. Ships of the Eternal Fleet stood silent guard at the edge of the system together with a group of spear-tip shaped Sith warships. Only the Dark King was above the world, its presence looming as the herald of who it brought and it could bring. He was fully aware that the invited would not appear unarmed either and that was entirely acceptable and intended. One could not be unarmed when one intended to be united in passion and united in conquest.

Now they waited. The Galaxy waited.

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The Lord of Hunger |
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Marlon Sularen | Open to Dark Empire |

Darth Callidus · Feb 8, 2025

Hand of Thrawn – Central Spire, Overlooking New Carannia

The air carried the weight of history, the echoes of past wars still clinging to the bones of New Carannia like a ghost that refused to be exorcised. Darth Callidus stood just behind and to the side of Darth Imperius, her presence a deliberate shadow cast by the towering figure of the Dark Lord. She did not need to take the balcony to feel the significance of this moment; she understood power best when it was unseen, operating beneath the surface where the unwary failed to look.

Below them, the remains of the city still pulsed with life, resilient despite all it had endured. In that resilience, she saw something of value. The Dark Imperials of the Dark Empire had been tested, hardened by attrition. Unlike their predecessors, they did not cling to illusions of moral superiority, nor were they slaves to reckless ambition. They were pragmatists, disciplined and tempered by necessity. That made them useful. Potential allies, perhaps. But even the strong could be blinded by duty, by a chain of command too rigid to adapt. That was where her concerns lay.

She ran a gloved hand along the stripped-down console before her, sharp eyes flicking toward the Dark Lord. He had always been the hammer, the force that shaped the battlefield. She was the scalpel, carving paths unseen. It was why they worked. Where he led, she ensured the way was clear. Where he saw enemies, she discerned which among them could be turned to serve their ends.

"They will come." Her voice was even, cool, yet edged with something else. "Not merely because they need this alliance, but because they recognize what we offer. They are not fools, and neither are we."

She stepped forward, gaze shifting to the warships beyond the skyline. "But we should not mistake strength for certainty. The Dark Imperials have spent too long fighting ghosts—enemies real and imagined. Their purpose has been survival. Ours is something more."

Her expression remained unreadable, but there was a calculated sharpness in her tone. "They have potential. Whether they are willing to see beyond their own past… that remains to be tested."

She folded her hands behind her back, inclining her head slightly toward Imperius. "I will listen when they speak. Not just to their words, but to what they withhold. Their leaders will come armored in more than just plate and protocol. If there is weakness, I will find it. And if there is strength—" A hint of a smile ghosted across her lips. "We will ensure it serves us."

The Lord of Hunger · Feb 8, 2025

LOCATION: Nirauan, aboard the Usurper

IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | The Usurper | The guards | The Enforcer

TAG: 
			 
		 Imperius Indomitus
 | 
			 
		 Darth Callidus
 | 
			 
		 Antipater
 | 
			 
		 Marlon Sularen
 | 
			 
		 Darth Moskvin
 | 
			 
		 Detritus Ren

​
It was to be expected for any and all who knew the Lord of Hunger, when out of the darkness of space a handful of ships managed to slip into realspace with an eerie silence; a massive black shadow surrounded by three bloodred daggers piercing the serenity of space. Sliding into the vicinity of the Dark King, the Usurper as the shadowy vessel was known as started to transmit the various codes through datanet and holonet transeivers in order to gain the clearance to approach the fleet of 
			 
		Imperius Indomitus
 present in orbit.

While he could have guessed that the two who steered the Ascended Order were to be found below on the planet's surface, Credius sat down in the throneroom he had installed within the massive battlecruiser, his hands gripping the Onyx edges of the throne's armrests, the men who stood within the elongated room decorated with electrum etchings, and aurodium reliefs by the greatest Sith artisans of the past, dared not look into the direction of the Lord of Hunger. They all knew that his arrival at this place, this place where once the restoration of the galactic empire had commenced under the leadership of the brilliant Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn, was of great significance to the man...or rather the absolute monster wearing the image of a man sitting on the Onyx throne.

Allowing his mind to sense the flow within the living force, the abomination of a thousand souls seemed to peer into the fog of lies, the mist of machinations, the depths of deception. He was trying to find someone, a strong darkness, a void within the living force comparable to himself, yet still different, marked and scarred, but relentless and driven by an ideology and a desire not unlike his own.

"There you are..." Slowly, the darkness enveloping the monster upon the onyx throne started to shift, revealing a golden mask, an armor of crimson and gold. Flamboyant, yet not without its intimidating aspects, with an aura of cold and dread further amplified by the very alchemy and sorcery woven within the metals and materials. behind the mask, a smirk appeared, for was it not that very being He had just found within the maelstrom of the living force that he had to thank for this magnificent armor, this protective shell which masked the very weakness the Lord of Hunger had to endure for now?

As the shadow and darkness shifted, conglomerating and concentrating within the palm of his hands, Credius slowly stood up, his eyes glowing vibrantly as he concentrated upon the strength within the force that he could feel, the connection to the very darkness, utilizing it as a beacon, an anchor for what he was about to do.

With the darkness surrounding his hands, the Lord of Hunger weaved his hands through the air, continuing to concentrate upon the beacon the Leader of the Ascended Order formed for this sorcery and magic, forming this shadow and darkness into a swirling portal crackling with energy, allowing himself to appear right within the central spire of Thrawn's hand. For within the time he created the portal within the Usurper, so too would his portal appear within the vicinity of Imperius, allowing the Lord of Hunger to traverse the great distance in what would only seem to be a mere instant...to those who werent initiated in these sorts of dangerous and unstable magicks.

"Lord Imperius, Lady Callidus," With a curt nod to each of the ones present, the Lord of Hunger tempered his aura, not because it could affect the two present for the moment, but because for now, there was simply no need to rely on intimidation, not with those who followed the same direction, the same path within the force. "I do hope to see 
			 
		 Marlon Sularen
 again...our last encounter was... rather violent...though I reckon he would not even reckognise me with this armor on...or this voice."

Antipater · Feb 8, 2025

Wherever a battlecruiser of hideous and overstated size traveled, one could be sure the rank stench of the Sith was not far behind. Antipater could not escape them. The empty throne of the Empire had once housed a Sith Lord and the twin Diarchs poised to seize Jaemus were similarly poisoned by that asocial creed. Now the ringleaders of this "ascendant" variation desired a meeting.

It had been Korvan's folly to trust these sorcerous warlords... A folly that had ended in his unceremonious disintegration. Yet few options had presented themselves. Either these Sith would betray them at earliest convenience and the Empire would perish, or nothing would change, and the Empire would perish anyway.

Begrudgingly, Antipater's shuttle descended into Nirauan's atmosphere.

---

The doors to the scavenged command center groaned open, and Antipater entered with little fanfare. There was only the soft whir of his servomotors as the droid walked, each step measured out with precision. A few of his own battle droids lingered in the hallway behind him. Their presence here was a perfunctory gesture. He knew there would be no salvaging this chassis if Imperius or his hangers-on elected to destroy it, but a Moff should never be seen to travel alone.

He reached the center of the room, and began to idly adjust the cuffs of his uniform. "Lord Imperius. I thank you for your... Invitation." Antipater's speech was a flat drone. He did not sound overtly thankful, but he did not sound like anything else either. When he was finished with his cuffs, he clasped his hands behind his back. "I do not believe I am familiar with your companions."

Imperius Indomitus |

The Lord of Hunger

Marlon Sularen · Feb 9, 2025

C O U N C I L_O F_N I R A U N - G A T H E R I N G_S T O R M

DARK EMPIRE
NIRAUAN, WILD SPACE

Nirauan. The birthplace of the New Imperial Order, a nation which Sularen had contributed to it's initial growth during the early stages of the Third Imperial Civil War before being unceremoniously discharged without honors on the eve of the reclamation of Bastion. He remember pledging himself to Irveric Tavlar in the hopes of finding newfound purpose after being exiled from the Core Worlds and betrayed by Credius Nargath. Yet in the end the New Imperials would also stab him in the back. While to many Imperials, Nirauan was as scared as Ilum or Tython was to the Jedi given it's significance to the Tavlar's Empire, to Sularen it was a reminder of the many times he had aligned himself with people to pursue his ambitions, only to get betrayed and cast aside by them.

Now, the Lord-Regent of the Empire was back on Nirauan, this time to meet with a Sith group known as the Sith Ascendant Order, led by the mysterious Darth Imperius at a summit within the very fortress where the New Imperial Order had been founded. From what little he knew about this new Sith group, there was a possibility they were seeking to establish a partnership with the Dark Empire, especially since the New Sith Order and Dark Side Elite had grown stale. While Sularen was interested in talking with them and hearing what they sought to discuss, he remained extremely wary of them, knowing so little about them which made them unpredictable and somewhat untrustworthy for the time being.

Nevertheless for the time being, the Lord-Regent was willing to entertain them, especially if it meant giving the Empire an advantage and end this painful period of stagnation. Thus, Sularen would soon head to Nirauan onboard his flagship, the INV Sularen's Revenge and make his way towards the restored Hand of Thrawn on the surface via his Command Shuttle, eager to see what this Sith Ascendant had to offer.

As Moff Antipater spoke to Darth Imperius, the Lord-Regent would soon make his arrival, flanked by a squad of SpecNav Commandos, wearing a Crimson Red Imperial Uniform with his unique rank insignia plaque denoting his previous rank of Warlord of the Empire. Upon entering he room, the Lord-Regent scanned the area, only recognizing Moff Antipater and Darth Imperius with the other Sith present still being unfamiliar to him. The rest of the Imperial delegation had yet to arrive too, with only Sularen and Antipater present, although Sularen expected them to arrive shortly so that they can begin the summit.

Soon, the Lord-Regent would approach both Darth Imperius and Moff Antipater proceeding to speak to both individuals. "Moff Antipater, a pleasure to see you once more. I presume everything on Jaemus is proceeding as planned, yes?" the Lord-Regent inquired, before turning to face Darth Imperius. "Darth Imperius, i presume? I'm Marlon Sularen, Lord-Regent of the Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to hear what you and your cohort of Sith are so eager to share with us." Sularen said, speaking in a cordial and professional tone.

Tags [DE] |

Domaric Mordane |

Onrai | Allister McAuliffe
Tags [SAO] |

Imperius Indomitus |

The Lord of Hunger |

Marlon Sularen Allister McAuliffe

Darth Callidus

Darth Moskvin · Feb 9, 2025

GATHERING STORM

"Horrors, I believe, should be original--the use of common myths and legends being a weakening influence."
- H.P. Lovecraft -
Loyalty - American Head Charge

There's nothing more than I hate more than gatherings engrossed in politics. Though, I have bore witness how just a few crafted words provided more results than physical interactions; through admission I prefer violence as the option of choice.

My arrival was later than expected, which I felt no feelings of remorse, in which I casually strolled through this spire toward where the others waited. I was positioned within the two groups summoned to duel words, offer promises, form pacts; a follower of both the Dark Empire and Sith Ascendency.

Partiality, or favoring one side over the other, was a lifeless concept; I serve no loyalties to anyone or any group, I simply indulge my many vices through manipulative greediness.

Entering the gathered arena, the faces of those I've aligned with stood about. "I would offer an apology for my untimely tardiness, but I'm far to old to change my ways." I greeted everyone by name and title, before standing next to the Sith. Loyalties dispersed, I'm still Sith.

Antipater

Onrai · Feb 9, 2025

Tags:

Imperius Indomitus

The Lord of Hunger

Darth Moskvin

Darth Callidus

The blonde and black-robed form of Vanessa Vantai stepped foot on the surface of Nirauan. Unlike others within the Imperial Council who had a history with this place and the world it represented, she had very little connection to it - at one point, when the New Imperial Order had splintered away from one of the Sith Empires past, Nirauan had been a world the fading Imperial entity would've been forced to conquer at some point down the line. But not now. There was no point, especially given the present situation was far more important.

The situation was growing more tenuous by the day. Despite the installation of Onrai's ally as the Imperial Regent, the Empire had yet to regain the momentum it had once possessed, the intimidatory threat it had posed to the Galactic Alliance. Thanks to fortuitous circumstance, Sith dominance within the Empire had nearly collapsed and alternative ideologies had begun to expand throughout the purview of the Dark Side Elite. Onrai herself retained a position of influence through the Imperial Council, which was how she had ended up on this diplomatic mission. However, her cursory investigation into the leader of this "Sith Ascendant Order" that the Council was yet reaching out to had revealed a very intriguing leader.

A leader who called himself the Heir of Tenebrae. The Tenebrae who had been but a tulpa for something far worse and far more monstrous. And a figure whose presence seemed... familiar from Onrai's past affiliations.

Perhaps it was the reason that Vanessa Vantai was the one attending, and not the false goddess herself. She smiled at the face, curious as to whether the abominable essence lurking beneath her fleshy facade would yet emerge or otherwise be sensed by the Sith as she introduced herself. "Vanessa Vantai, governor of Ord Mantell. A pleasure. This will be a most... fruitful meeting."

Domaric Mordane · Feb 9, 2025

The walk through the corridors of the once-mighty Citadel was an exercise in controlled distaste. The walls bore the scars of battles past, faded scorch marks and jagged rends where turbolasers and sabers had fought for dominance. This world had known war in ways few others had—the Maw's rabid destruction, the New Imperial Order's purges, and now the slow, creeping entropy of abandonment. War had not simply touched Nirauan—it had nested here, buried itself in the stone and steel, whispering its echoes into the very air.

Mordane strode forward, his boots clicking against the cold durasteel floor, the weight of his uniform—a crisp, perfectly tailored black coat bearing the silver sigil of the Dark Empire—settling across his shoulders like a mantle of quiet authority. He was no Sith, no believer in the mysticism that had led the galaxy to this perpetual ruin, but he knew the power of perception. To those waiting beyond the great doors ahead, he would portray himself as more than a man. He would either be the Iron Hand of the Empire, the embodiment of discipline and purpose where others had fallen to indulgence or he would be another broken husk, a boy whom the Sith could easily cast as woefully out of his depth. A failure.

He grimaced at the thought. Failure was never an option.

The guards at the chamber entrance shifted uneasily. Whether it was his presence, his reputation, or simply the looming inevitability of what this meeting could bring, Mordane neither knew nor cared. His focus was inward, sharp as a blade honed before battle. The Ascendant Order—an ambitious sect of Sith who, unlike their brethren, had not let their philosophy rot into self-devouring chaos. Pragmatists, or so they claimed.

Would they prove different? Or was this yet another summit of deceit wrapped in the trappings of diplomacy?

The great doors hissed open. The chamber beyond was dimly lit, its occupants seated in deliberate arrangement—power and hierarchy defined in subtle shifts of positioning, in the way gazes met or did not. He stepped forward, expression unreadable, gaze sweeping across the gathering. His mind registered every detail—the architecture, the way the light caught the polished black stone of the table, the scent of incense attempting (and failing) to mask the underlying sterility of the space.

He reached his seat but did not sit. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back, feet planted shoulder-width apart, his posture radiating a controlled, deliberate authority. They had all seen the decay of the Dark Empire. They had all watched its inevitable decline into stagnation and pretense. But he had come not as a desperate emissary of a dying order—he had come as a man who understood what must be done to reclaim true purpose.

At last, he inclined his head—a measured acknowledgment, not submission.

"I am Allegiant General Domaric Mordane of the Empire," his voice was even, firm, carrying through the chamber with practiced ease. He paused to acknowledge

Antipater and

Onrai before offering a sharp salute to

Marlon Sularen , the Lord-Regent of the Empire. "I thank our hosts for this gathering. I suppose we haven't begun yet?"

Tags [DE] |@Antipater |

Onrai | Allister McAuliffe
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Dyans Keto · Feb 10, 2025

Location: Nirauan
Theme: Dark Ages
Tags:

Onrai |

Detritus Ren | Allister McAuliffe |

It had been sometime since Dyans had been on Nirauan over thirty years she would guess. A world once held by the Imperial Order it was strange the Dark Empire hadn't attempted yet to move in this direction of conquest. Musing to herself as she made her way to the meeting chambers on each side of her were armed guards in old silver Mandalorian crusader armor. The Empress of Teta and Reagent of the deep core did not trust sith in the slightest, well versed in their teaching as a naddist. Both faiths were similar, some may say exactly the same, but the Krath had always thought themselves far superior.

Dyans had been trying with all the effort she could to purge the sith stain from this Empire and its foul former emperor. Yet here they were allowing themselves to entertain the dark influence once again to stain their walls. At this point she was considering a coup maybe to reform this Empire. Though those were fanciful thoughts, not even she was sure if she could fix the rot in the empire.

As she approached the chambers, she could feel many inside. She took a deep breath and steady her thoughts as she motioned for her guards to stand at attention outside the room. Another man who was behind the guards surrounding her came up to her side. Dyans simply nodded to him and he moved on ahead into the chambers she walked six steps behind the man as they entered.

Then the man in front of Dyans spoke Dyans standing behind him in her black and silver dress with a silver crown upon her head. "The Empress of Teta and Regent of Deep core Empress Keto has arrived." The man heralded her and then stepped aside and motioned with his hand towards Empress Keto. This display was not for those of the Dark Empire, she had known many of them long enough that such a display was not necessary. This was just for the sith gathered her family name though not a prestigious as it once was did hold weight in certain circles that knew their history.

Dyans held her head high only giving a slight head bow to her fellow Imperials. Returning her gaze though to the sith that had gathered no expression on her face as she looked at them.

Imperius Indomitus · Feb 10, 2025

The Council of Nirauan - Gathering Storm
Nirauan | Hand of Thrawn

"Distrust and doubt sown by their history will be more of an opposition to us than if they would appear with blasters in their hands. A burnt child does not walk lightly into the fire."

Was all the response he would offer to his Shadow Hand before his HUD informed of the arrival of the Dark Empire. They were coming, good. It meant they were interested to listen and see. If they could reach an agreement here today, the stain of the New Sith, of their ridiculous church and the blatant weakness shown through idleness and complacency of all Banite Sith could be eradicated and replaced with a new Empire.

He turned and entered the former command center, the stripped interior had been replaced with a simple black prefab table and chairs that flanked it on two sides. It was not between the balcony and the entrance, as to offer everyone the chance to meet without obstacles before they could move together towards the table. There was no difference in their size or shape but their structural integrity was reinforced to make sure that the Zakuulan did not break one, despite being out of his armor. A strange choice but a choice made out of diplomatic reasons, there was no requirement for intimidation, no reason or benefit from it. Instead he had chosen his simple garment of a black robe.

The black eyes observed the arrivals one after the other, first Darth Halcyon joined them, followed by the Moff-Droid

Antipater . As someone who deployed droids for many labors and duties, Imperius was interested by the story of this one and looked forward to working with the ruler of Jaemus. The fact that

Marlon Sularen did not recognise him was intriguing but also posed no difference initially, for they had met on Zakuul many years ago.

Darth Moskvin could not arrive late, nor early, only precisely when she meant to and was greeted with a nod as she joined the current tetrarchy of the present Ascendant Order. The apparent governor of what had been turned into a leisure and pleasure world was appearing, the Dark Lord remarking it as a curious choice of representative before the Allegiant General

Domaric Mordane made his impressive entrance followed by

Dyans Keto , announced by pompous titles and fanfare.

"I welcome each one of you here. Words of pleasantries and empty platitudes shall not waste anyone's time here today. We have a proposal for your Empire that offers a vast mutual benefit for both sides and can secure the future of not only any Empire but the Empire."

With a simple gesture towards the table that had a row of chairs on each side, he invited everyone to take a seat. The large figure started moving and took the seat in the center of the window-side row, the chair nevertheless offering a sigh of protest in its structure.

"To begin, I will offer the remaining introductions.

Darth Callidus is my Shadow Hand,

The Lord of Hunger and

Darth Moskvin have joined our Order afterwards, while I believe Darth Halcyon is known to some of you as former member of the Zweihander Union - you are probably unaware of our general disposition and direction. Over the last decades the Sith which dwell in this Galaxy have succumbed to empty aspirations of imitating grand schemes of deception, amassing titles and embracing self-indulgence or succumbed to outright insanity and anarchic madness."

"We are removing any abundancy of titles, the ideals of the Banite, rejecting ideas of deification and religious worship. While our core tenets include that of passion and ambition, we pursue unity, tradition and rationality. It is the likes of Darth Marr and Darth Malgus that lead our path to not only create a Sith Order forged through the fires of passion and conflict, but to establish an Empire that is united in that passion so it may stand united in conquest."

"The Dark Empire has suffered under the empty throne and petty aspirations of deceptive followers of the Rule of Two and a church that defies not only rationality but purpose. But the true strength of your realm lies not in its failed religious body, but in its imperial order. Your embrace of militarism, Tarkinism and Neo-Imperialism is a source of unparalleled strength but has been held back by petty creatures who do not understand that if their ambitions are not the Empire's, they damage it."

"I offer you a pact to purge all remnants of this narrow-minded dogma and to reinforce your Empire at its core. To reforge the Dark Empire into and unprecedented tool of strength that will outlast the childish Diarchy, overcome the indecisiveness of the Lost and ultimately annihilate the ignorance of the Alliance. We will bolster your numbers, not by inflation, but through the power that is in and stands behind each of us. The duality of Ascendant Sith and Dark Imperial will reign supreme."

Detritus Ren · Feb 10, 2025

Location: Nirauan, Hand of Thrawn
Tags:

Darth Callidus

The door opened with a hiss as the Master of Ren emerged into the gathering space. He was obviously late given the attendance brought upon by most of the Imperial Ruling Council. He had been delayed by echoes of his former life as an Imperial Knight, only to break his oath and betray his order. Now he entered into the room with a stoic look. Black and orange robes would cover the parasitic armor, while the red visor of his helmet bore into the eyes of many that stood in the room. Most of all to catch his attention was the Sith that had made first contact with the Imperial Ruling Council.

When first received the message was Ren skeptical. Over time the Dark Empire quickly emerged as a dominant force in the galaxy, only for a slow decay to set in. The Imperials lacked an edge to counterbalance the might of the Jedi. Most of all the rule of two doctrine had brought stagnation to the rest of the Empire. Darth Solipsis disappeared, the Dark Side Elite gone silent. Detritus had no choice but to admit the gravity of the situation. The irony in Niruaun of all places was not lost on him in the slightest.

He entered the meeting, his steps were heavy and slow. Each step he took he could feel the dark side itself feed into him, he didn’t know if it was the orbalisks reacting, or if it was due to the Sith gathered here. Stopping in front of the one that called himself Darth Imperius, to the Sith the dark sider looked like a strange zealot, unholy weapon of the dark side used to cause destruction and chaos but wasn’t Sith unlike Imperius. Detritus would bow his head, his gloved hands clasped together as he muttered a silent prayer. “O please let this be your guiding will, O World Eater. Let your shadow reveal all.” He spoke as if it was a whisper. His head turned back up to face Imperius as he made his proclamation about the purpose of this gathering.

The Master of the Knights of Ren said nothing, his head slowly cocked to the side in curiosity as the man stated his intentions. These Sith were in a similar position to the Imperials. Both of them relying on the only thing one could sought after the most. Hope. Imperius made his cause known that Sith and Imperials would achieve strength, only strength that would allow the Dark Empire to become reborn as a force to be reckoned with. His yellow eyes narrowed through the visor of his helm, making sense of the ancient names the Sith Lord was talking about, harkening back to the days of an Ancient Sith Empire. One that relied on strength and survival of the fittest.

A gloved hand would clench before Detritus would finally speak up.

“This is a bold offer Lord Imperius. You wish to follow a very Sith method in going about this. First you tear down the structure, then you rebuild on the foundations that once was. A bold offer, indeed. Solipsis had promised us many times over, both in the Maw and the Empire. Victory often so close yet out of our very grasp. Now another has arisen to offer us a chance at rebirth.”

“Trust is needed first. Solipsis has never fulfilled his end of the bargain. If the Regent and the Imperial Council were to join in league with this… New Sith… Then you Lord Imperius, would have access to imperial assets and resources. I believe the Imperial Ruling Council may require more from you if you believe this Order of Sith can restore the Empire to greatness. Then through the might of the Imperial War Machine, and a new following of Sith… We could achieve what was thought unattainable under Solipsis.”

Detritus would then become silent, as he felt he was making the skeptical beliefs of the Council known to this Sith. The Imperial Ruling Council had been promised t before, this time Detritus felt a show of good faith was in order, though he was uncertain how? He stared into the gaze of Imperius, waiting to hear the minds of his fellow council members.

Domaric Mordane · Feb 10, 2025

Mordane listened without expression, his face set in the disciplined stillness that had unnerved rivals and subordinates alike. He remained silent, letting the words of Darth Imperius settle over the gathered assembly like a shroud. The Sith Lord spoke with purpose, his rhetoric laced with a calculated disdain for the failures of his predecessors. It was a compelling performance. Perhaps even a sincere one.

But sincerity did not equate to truth.

The irony of the name did not escape Mordane. "Darth Imperius." The word itself invoked authority, dominion, the very concept of an Empire embodied. A Sith Lord wearing the title of his own command ship—the INV Imperius, rumored to be the reforged corpse of a vessel that once served a fallen would-be Emperor eight centuries prior. The galaxy had seen many Imperius ships, many Imperius men. None had endured.

Would this one be different?

He exhaled through his nose, a quiet gesture of measured thought, before he finally spoke.

"Unity, tradition, rationality. Fine words." His voice was even, deliberate. It carried through the chamber not with the fiery zeal of the Sith but with the weight of tempered steel. "Yet I have spent my life watching men claim them and fail. In all their wisdom, in all their ambition, they have misunderstood one immutable truth: Empire is not forged in the fires of philosophy. It is built by those willing to sacrifice more than their predecessors. Those willing to endure in the name of order."

His gaze, cold and appraising, flickered across the assembled Sith. "You speak of purging the weak. I do not disagree. But what I will not do is trade one doctrine of decay for another. The Dark Empire cannot exist to validate the aspirations of Sith, not anymore. It cannot be a proving ground for your Order. We will not be a pawn in your ideological crusade, no matter how refined your words."

A pause to let them feel the weight of the statement before he offered the next.

"That being said, I did not come here to reject out of hand what you propose. I am no fool. I see the necessity of strength. And I have no patience for those who seek dominion only to squander it." He inclined his head slightly, an acknowledgment if not quite an agreement. "If you wish to align your interests with those of the Empire, then show us. Demonstrate, beyond rhetoric, that your vision is not just another mirage on the road to ruin. Give us something more than a promise."

He leaned forward slightly, the motion subtle but carrying with it an undercurrent of challenge. "The Dark Empire has no shortage of men who claim the mantle of strength. What it lacks are those who prove it through action."

Tags [DE] |

Marlon Sularen Allister McAuliffe

Onrai | Allister McAuliffe
Tags [SAO] |

Antipater · Feb 10, 2025

The Zweihander Union. That name was indeed present in some far reach of Antipater's databanks. It had been catalogued primarily due to its gaudy, witless absurdity.

Less absurd was Imperius' speech. Yes, littered with the same Sith cliches... But if these Ascendant-types were at least disinterested in pretending at deification, then they could be more easily steered towards useful aims. Unity, tradition, rationality were all encouraging words. Of course, any Sith worth their weight would say whatever they needed in order to produce their desired results.

And what did they desire? Antipater could hazard a guess: to make themselves a home in the Dark Empire; to grow there like a tumor until they were strong enough to subsume the host. And why not? Of all potential hosts, they had chosen the one most receptive to their ilk and the most sickly. If it wasn't the Ascendant Order, it would be the Diarchy.

In Antipater's unique case, it already was the Diarchy. These creatures were at least honest in what they were. Perhaps they could be outmaneuvered in the end. Perhaps not. The galaxy would spin on either way.

"Our prophet and our Allegiant-General are correct. If you wish for the Empire to be useful to you, then you will first need to make yourselves useful to the Empire." The droid's speech was a flat, drawn-out drone. "We do not need your assistance in recalibrating our internal affairs, but perhaps there is something more uniquely suited to your... Talents. You are familiar with the Diarchy. The strength of their so-called Brotherhood is an illusion that has yet to be disrupted."

His faceplate slowly scanned the Ascendant Order, reflecting each of the Sith Lords back at themselves.

"I suggest you confront and humiliate them in battle. If you can demonstrate that your order of Force Sensitives is an effective answer to theirs, I shall throw open the gates of Akar Tsis to you myself."

Blasphemy, of course, but the sentiment was surprisingly en vogue among the rest of the Empire these days.

Onrai · Feb 10, 2025

Tags:

Imperius Indomitus

The Lord of Hunger

Darth Moskvin

Darth Callidus

"I apologize if I'm not immediately convinced." Vanessa said to the enigmatic being, studying him studiously and perhaps making it somewhat known with the signature of the Anti-Force that something about her was very wrong. "I've been through this cycle many times before. Sith comes into a damaged Dark Side power, offers to tear down the old order and rebuild the new, and eventually fails to deliver. Apparatus. Moridin. Lussk. Vulcanus. Vornskr. Prazutis. Now Solipsis." She looked at her peers in the Council, particularly at the Lord-Regent himself.

"I concur with my fellow councilors that a tangible sign of good faith is needed to broker such an alliance. In particular, I must also concur with General Mordane that Sith doctrine, no matter how reconstituted or revivified it may be, cannot be an Imperial cornerstone - where it falls, the Empire falls, as has happened many times before, and such is intolerable to say the least. Lastly, I must concur - the issue of the Diarchy at hand needs to be broken with swiftness and rapidity. A warm welcome can yet be provided to your coterie should we yet shatter and defeat them."

In response to Antipater's last comment regarding opening the gates of the Tython temple to people they had just met, she gave a glare. The temple was hers by action and deed, and letting total strangers have their way with it wasn't exactly on her to-do list.

The Lord of Hunger · Feb 11, 2025

LOCATION: Nirauan, aboard the Usurper

IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | The Usurper | The guards | The Enforcer

TAG: 
			 
		 Imperius Indomitus
 | 
			 
		 Darth Callidus
 | 
			 
		 Antipater
 | 
			 
		 Marlon Sularen
 | 
			 
		 Darth Moskvin
 | 
			 
		 Detritus Ren
 | 
			 
		 Onrai
 | 
			 
		 Dyans Keto
 | 
			 
		 Domaric Mordane
 
Tilting his head a bit, the Lord of Hunger let out a deep sigh after having heard the arguments given by these Imperials. He didn't sigh because of a disagreement, for he had no disagreements with their arguments and their points. However, he did think that they were shortsighted, while it had always been easy to point the blame towards those who were most visibly in charge, those who utilized religion and ideology over logical decisions, the ones serving them and never standing up to make changes were just as foolish, just as much to blame for the stagnation and downfall their very nation was exhibiting. 

"I thought we had to actually investigate the Empire's policies and systems in order to understand where its critical weaknesses lie..." A chuckle escaped the armored abomination's mouth, the voice box crackling and muddling his voice, making it deeper, lower and more menacing. His eyes, a mixture of golden and crimson surrounding an unnaturally, inhuman slit pupil seemed to flash with glee. "You have been without direct Sith guidance and doctrine for how long now? A few months...longer? In all that time, you could have made mindful changes, you might have overhauled your policies and edicts which were put in place mainly with the Sith dichotomy in mind...you didn't, the empire has been declining in part due to your own indecision."

Waving his hand in the air, he motioned those present to remain calm, as he was not done yet. Credius had aimed to give them insight in their own flaws as they were viewed by those outside of the system, a position none of those present could effectively occupy due to their deep ties to both the Dark Empire itself, its customs and ofcourse: eachother.

"It is easy to point fingers, to blame others and avoiding one's own part in the recession you are experiencing," Tapping with his sharp, metallic gauntlet's nails onto the table, the Lord of Hunger let out a soft, somewhat dry and hollow sounding chuckle. "BUT... you are not entirely without reason to do so. You have been under unstable leadership, guided by religion and zealous dogma rather than logic and the natural ambition of the sith. This has led to the alienation of your empire, you have no allies both militarily and financially, an empire built on a foundation of shifting sand walling off itself will only sink to their death. If you allow Lord Imperius to provide you with a show of force, a statement act to prove our strength... I can bring you something you need more than anything: financial stability."​

Darth Moskvin · Feb 11, 2025

GATHERING STORM

"Horrors, I believe, should be original--the use of common myths and legends being a weakening influence."
- H.P. Lovecraft -

Tags:

Antipater /

Onrai /

Dyans Keto /

Domaric Mordane

From my fingertips, I began feeding Archimedes tiny bits of raw fleshy bits whilst he remained perched atop my right shoulder, my ears following the lines of debating parties. It was no secret that both sides required one another, each one bringing a tasty tray to this picnic, but we needed to work together to keep those pesky ants from ruining the outing. I was not one for politics, I was a more of get-in-your-face and bite your nose off kinda girl; seriously, I would bite off the nose.

I began walking around the inner sanctum, allowing those to continue discussing finances, stability, and the traditionally boring topics, taking in the intricate designs and artworks, the colorful splashes of paint mingled with the gentle brushstrokes, a masterpiece from a very artistic mind, creativity at its finest. I wondered who had been commissioned to create such an elaborate display of beauty?

"It is entirely possible I stopped paying attention to this little soirée," I interrupted running an index finger across one of the creases formed from a mixture of air and humidity in the paint. "I wonder if one simple chip in the crease would set off a series of events, a domino effect let's say, that could cause such a massive reaction that all focus and attention fall on thwarting the spreading of ruination on the painted canvas?"

"It has been historically said that time is the most precious commodity that can't be bought. So, let's say, hypothetically, if someone wants to build something without drawing the inquisitiveness from prying eyes, put in motion a distraction to not buy time, but to steal it. One that can spread like chipped paint on a wall, a very important wall that requires immediate attention. Say, disrupting the ecosystem of a planet through a virus; leading to the destruction of food sources, to famine, to death on a genocidal scale."

"A domino effect."

Domaric Mordane · Feb 11, 2025

Allegiant General Mordane sat in stony silence, his face an unreadable mask as he listened to the Sith speak. His posture was rigid, his hands folded on the table before him with a military precision that spoke volumes. He had come to this meeting prepared to listen, but patience was not an infinite resource.

His cold, calculating eyes finally settled on the so-called Lord of Hunger, Credius Nargath. When he spoke, his voice was even, calm, but with the unmistakable undertone of a battlefield commander who had identified a weakness and was about to exploit it with ruthless efficiency.

"You speak of investigation, of diagnosing weakness. But you offer nothing that we did not already know, nor do you present anything resembling a solution. All I hear is the same self-aggrandizing rhetoric that has plagued the Sith for generations, a sermon on the failures of others while carefully avoiding any true stake in the matter. You criticize indecision, yet offer no direction. You mock stagnation, yet your grand proposal amounts to yet another demonstration of power—as if displays of force alone have ever built an empire worth sustaining."

Mordane leaned forward slightly, his presence an iron weight pressing into the discussion.

"Let me tell you what I see, Lord of Hunger. I see a man who mistakes critique for command, who believes that pointing out the obvious is an act of strategic brilliance. You decry that we have not acted to cleanse the rot from our Empire, yet you conveniently ignore that such a task cannot be accomplished overnight, nor without calculated precision. Would you have us burn down the house in order to rebuild it? Foolishness. True power is not in destruction for its own sake—it is in mastery, in the ability to refine and wield the existing apparatus rather than start from a smoldering ruin."

He let the words settle for a moment before delivering the final, calculated strike.

"You claim to offer financial stability, as if wealth alone will cement the foundation of an Empire. Have you not learned from history? No empire—Sith, Imperial, or otherwise—has endured through mere economic maneuvering or raw militarism alone. It is discipline that sustains a state. It is order. These are the virtues that the Sith so often reject, yet are the only things that can ever ensure their survival. If you wish to lecture us on our faults, then you had best be prepared to demonstrate that you understand the burden of governance. Otherwise, you are no different than the charlatans and pretenders that you claim to despise."

Then came the caveat.

He leaned forward slightly, and relaxed his posture. “Despite this misjudgment, you are not wrong about everything. Isolation is a death sentence. Strength, alone, is not enough to sustain an empire. A blade needs an arm to wield it, just as war machines need fuel, logistics, and strategy to win a campaign. That is where opportunity exists.”

Mordane then turned his head slightly toward Darth Moskvin, his expression hardening once more as he absorbed her musings. A different kind of beast than Nargath, but one no less in need of being reined in.

"Distraction and misdirection have their place in war, but they are the tools of saboteurs and assassins, not statesmen. Famine, plague, and economic sabotage may serve to weaken an enemy, but they do not build the foundations of an empire. If your only vision is one of chaos and decay, then you will find no ally in me. The Dark Empire cannot just survive—it must truly rule. That requires stability, not just destruction."

Mordane leaned back, his presence still heavy in the room. "So tell me, what do you truly offer? Strength is not in how loudly one proclaims their hunger, nor in how much suffering they can inflict. It is endurance. It is in discipline. It is in knowing when to destroy and when to build. If you cannot grasp that, then you are not our equals—you are simply another group of Sith chasing an empire that you will never be fit to command."

"You did not call us here for this. We are not here to engage in ideological battles, we are here to help one another. You wish to help us discard the dogma that that weakened our "Empire" and I wholeheartedly agree. I've been the forefront of a great number of changes within the Empire already, starting with ridding us of that repugnant and constant reminder of mediocrity that used to be the standard white of the Imperial Stormtrooper."

He paused and looked directly at

Imperius Indomitus , seemingly ignoring his previous demands and casting aside the wishes of his fellow Council Members in an aim directly for the head of the snake. "What do you really want?"

Direct Tags:

The Lord of Hunger |

Imperius Indomitus

Marlon Sularen · Feb 12, 2025

C O U N C I L_O F_N I R A U N - G A T H E R I N G_S T O R M

DARK EMPIRE
NIRAUAN, WILD SPACE

Sularen clasped his hands on the conference table, carefully listening as his fellow council members gave their thoughts on Imperius's offer. To the Lord-Regent it was what the Empire needed, the bolstering of it's Dark Side Sect to counter the ever growing strength of the New Jedi Order and to reinforce the Empire in general. However, the Master of Ren, Moff Antipater and Allegient-General Mordane were also correct in stating that if the Ascendant Sith sought to join ranks with the Empire, they would first have to prove their value to the Imperial cause.

However Credius's response caught Sularen's interest the most. It had been decades since the two men had met in the same room, and they hadn't left on the best of terms. The Eriaduan Sith Lord spoke about how the Empire had been under unstable leadership due to religious and zealous dogma and how the Empire had grown isolated as a result. Then he proceeded to offer the Empire the prospect of financial stability, most likely alluding to potentially inserting the N&Z Umbrella Corporation within the Imperial Economy as they had done with the Diarchy and the Empire of the Lost beforehand.

While some could call Sularen's fixation and grudge against Credius a distraction, his betrayal still cut deep in the Lord-Regent's mind especially after suffering numerous betrayals afterwards from various individuals and groups. If it wasn't for the bigger picture at hand, Sularen would have rejected the Sith Ascendant right there on the spot due to their association with Credius, but he was better then that, the Empire was better then that. While still distrustful of Nargath, Sularen would still have to tolerate him for now until he could regain his trust, although what the Lord-Regent knew for sure was that he was certainly not letting the Sith Lord near the Empire's finances.

Back to the Summit, as Credius Nargath finished speaking, he was followed by Darth Moskvin and then eventually the Allegiant General Mordane who rebutted both Nargath and Moskvin's statements before asking the real question the Lord-Regent wanted answers from since the start of this summit : What did Darth Imperius really want from the Dark Empire. Eager to hear how the leader of the Sith Ascendant, the Lord-Regent would remain silent waiting for Imperius to respond as all eyes were on him, his next words having the potential to decide whether the Dark Imperials and Ascendant Sith could truely cooperate with one another or not.

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Domaric Mordane |

Onrai
Tags [SAO] |

Imperius Indomitus |

The Lord of Hunger |