Faction The Eternal Question

[Darth Empyrean]

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Unlike many claims, Eternalism hadn't waned. It grew day by day as more Sith were given to the truth; and with such a philosophy in the Force, there came times of great education. Turmoil had swept more than a few remaining vestiges of the Order in further schism between what was once known and what is now know. Where the Rule of Two was bastardized and remade to fit the New Sith Order's needs, and the Rule of Order was twisted into a more pure worship of Kaine Zambrano, Eternalism was steadfast in its millennia long goal of evolution. Cultists still collided with the other sects in bloody rituals to appease dark gods - and Darth Carnifex had seen much of the brunt of this in what remained of loyal vestiges left in older Sith Space.​

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Ruled still by the guiding hand of the eldritch Worm Emperor, and to a lesser degree his apprentice Darth Empyrean , many had become entrenched in its teachings over the previous years. With all eyes pointing towards Maliphant has the successor and inheritor of the Worm's power in the years to come, he had continued to collect supporters and strength from the member base. Notably as Darth Vulcanus disappeared from the Galactic Eye, he had made a strong effort to assassinate and destroy anyone who threatened his position.​

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Now, he gathered a few more under the guise of a gentleman's discussion on Eternalism. Being an advanced form of the Sith Philosophy, there were a variety of people gathered - from lowly skilled acolytes to dangerous Sith Lords; Maliphant had brought them upon one another to test their knowledge, their conviction, and in hopes of garnering a semblance of sith loyalty in his bid for Emperorship from them all.​

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Food was brought out, drinks refilled when required - and soon they would have their fill. The discussion slowly turned towards the saints, the Sepulchral, and the Worm Emperor himself.​

 

[Darth Hellique II]

Darth Empyrean , a Dark Lord of the Sith and heir apparent to the throne of the Worm Emperor. He had Hellique's respect but the faith required of a supporter was far off. Hellique had his reasons for this. The only substantial one was a vision. A vision that had come to Hellique while he slept. In it he watched Maliphant climb atop a pile of bodies, lifeless corpses all corrupted by the dark side. Beings who Hellique considered friend and foe were all dead underneath the heel of Maliphant. But Hellique was alive and among others standing at the base of the pile, and the Worm Emperor was nowhere to be seen. With a torch in his hand, Hellique would light the bodies in defiance. Defiance of Maliphant, the deaths he caused, or the Sith Lord's empire? The answer eluded him. Maliphant stared at him and Hellique stared back. The vision ended there and Hellique awoke choking and gasping for air. The next day he received Maliphant's invitation. Curious. Hellique said to himself then. Quite curious, indeed. Darth Hellique II would not miss this meeting of Sith minds. So he aimed the Shift toward the gathering and put on his finest armor and cape.

Darth Hellique II, gave no impression of the concern his vision had caused, but in that moment among those that had gathered, he wondered if anybody else had experienced a similar vision. The force worked mysteriously, and many Eternalists didn't have as traditional a connection to it as Hellique did. He could only speculate and listen to the followers' words and especially those of Darth Maliphant. So with a plate filled with a plethora of meaty morsels and an enormous goblet of wine, Hellique engaged in acts to put the most paranoid at ease. His razor sharp teeth ripped into animal flesh while the wine stained his thin and scaly lips. He guffawed at some conversation and responded to other remarks with a look of contempt.

He didn't feign or experience any real interest in the conversation until he met the gaze of Darth Maliphant. The half-breed Darth Hellique II smiled a toothy grin. As if participating in a child's game, he did not blink nor would he be the first to look away. It was a friendly challenge that most Sith would not engage. It was also a testing ground, for in his vision Hellique choked when their eyes met. He wondered if the same would happen now, or if he would feel even the slightest bit of discomfort that the vision had provided.

 

[Darth Nito]

The general's chair squeeled under the strain of his weight. His armor was uncomfortably distant, his weapons his only solace. While others placated themselves to the heir apparent, and others debated the subtleties of Eternalism and the Saints - Darth Nito, Scourge of the Stars, Veteran of a Thousand Conquests, awkwardly poked his fork into a slab of ribeye.

It was tender, bloody, and despite being 16 ounces he took it down in only a handful of bites. He chased it with a full goblet of wine - and then another for good measure. He spent his life on the Battlefield, fought like hell for the glory of the Sith and himself - but enjoying the fruits of their labors was hard for him.

Wine, meats, it all felt like a sin. A way to dull a sharp blades edge on the comforts of life. Although they could not see it - the scars on his back from years of flaggelation kept him grounded and sharp. One couldn't be the sword of the Emperor without honing the blade once and a while.

And so the giant took another slab of meat with the knowledge he would pay for it with a pound of flesh.

 

[Alina Tremiru]

A gathering of like minds.

Alina loathed such things. In her time as an apprentice she'd learned quickly just how dangerous a meeting like this was. They were an echo chamber to route out any dissidents. Even before her time in the Academy she'd seen her mother use the tactic for their families allies. The world of Sith Nobility was a terrifyingly cruel place. She refused food as it was offered. The pale woman crossed legs, lounged back in her chair.

As a servant came to offer a drink, she reached a hand up. Touched their cheek. A slight flash of her eyes, and the man opened his own throat without hesitation to fill her glass. She ignored the man as he collapsed, lifting the goblet of blood. No chance of poison in a meal so fresh.

"So when do you all start spouting how much you adore the Worm and Eternalism more than one another? Dinner could use a show."

Darth Empyrean | Darth Hellique II | Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

Darth Nito had been quiet thus far during the reception. Alina, young and full of Fire, spoke loudly - challenging the honor of every Sith who sat at the table. For those who heard her, they offered her equal gazes of contempt and curiosity - but for Nito it was an insult to his reputation, to the strength of his being. To so blatantly challenge the peace of this gathering and assume he would be cowed to accept it was tantamount to heresy.

"Repeat yourself.", he demanded before any other could challenge her.

He let his new slab of meat slam into the table as fork was planted in the durasteel. His gaze was sulphuric and bright - dangerous in its presence alone. Grey moddled skin twisted into a sneer as he looked down on her.

"You speak like your strength outweighs the Doctrine of Eternalism.", he growled.

But his voice would drop to a throttled, choking voice barely above a whisper.

"You speak like your strength outweighs mine. So speak, scum, tell me of your strength so that everyone here will know how little it means when your taste the dirt on my boot."

Alina Tremiru

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Alina look a long, long sip of her 'wine'. Letting the Lord speak his peace while she enjoyed her meal while it was still fresh. The air of arrogance, perhaps, but the deeper meaning was strength. For her, for all Sangnir, blood was strength. She knew full well what she invited with her words. The pawns of the Worm would step up to defend their idol. She set down the glass just as Nito issued his challenge. Her glowing eyes gazed coldly at the General.

She said nothing as she stood. Stepped over the now corpse of the servant she'd carelessly slaughtered to walk towards the door leading outside to the courtyard. There, however, she paused. Turned her cold eyes back up to the larger man.

"Actions speak louder than words, General. Perhaps that's why the war was lost? Too many words instead of displays of strength." She hummed, but not from amusement. Her head turned, fully exposing her back as she took another step, this time out the door.

"Shall we see what strength you truly have under that bravado? Without ruining dinner for the others, of course."

Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

Perfect. His heart felt fire, his limbs felt light - given purpose with an excuse to depart from this decadent display of wealth and appeasement. The Warlord of the Worm could not, would not stand its sycophantic stench any longer. When he stood, his height came to bear like a statue, davidian in size and power.

"Your ignorance grows with every breath, and your impudence has yet to show limits. Know that any of the Lords gathered could end your life - and it is a favor that they have not done so already, you arrogant swine."

He exhaled so heavy his nostrils flared - and with them his eyes seemed to smolder in greater regard.

"If you want to see the strength of Eternalism, of the Worm, of Nito - then you shall have it. Let there be a lesson and a show for those gathered."

With that, he motioned to a distant guard and snapped. The man nodded and departed - to fetch armor, to fetch weapons. The noble Nito would meet her on a field below the room - that which those on a balcony could look down upon the bout.

---

The Giant General stood with swords in the ground, arms crossed as he watched Alinas port hole. She would enter the arena soon, and the Red Lion of Odavessa could show her the truth of the matter. Great and furious fire flowed in his veins, heat who found genesis in the engine that was his heart. Thumping, loud and proud, the heat on his skin growing to a smolder.

When she would arrive, Darth Nito would speak, looking down upon her.

"Do you think Sith are nothing but cocky sycophants? Who know only cocky retorts and ego?", he said with a brow heavy frown.

"Either you prodded the Eternals for a goal, ill apparent, as it is, or you're simply an idiot. The former lacks strategy, purpose, any forethought. The latter seems the truth."

"So let me teach you a lesson, thou who holds little in knowledge and much in confidence."

With the Force, he ripped the swords from.the ground, sparking them off eachother. Resting them tight in his hands, they were dark and devilish - each the size of Alina herself. Likely weighing more at that.

Alina Tremiru

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Alina waited outside. She neither opted for armor or preparation. The most she'd done was had one of her guard retrieve her spear. The lightsaber edged weapon remained extinguished, imbedded in the ground beside her as she leaned against it. And waited. This had become more of a spectacle than she thought it would. Nito seemed arrogant at first, perhaps even fanatical. A Sith Lord, yes. But a General of a failed army.

There was no pride to be had there.

But he took his time. Brought all his armor and weaponry. Crush with all his might then? She reached out, plucking her spear from the solid earth as he made a show of his weaponry. Her eyes narrowed, staring at him. Focused on him. Her lips drew a thin line as she ignited the burning red blade of her weapon.

"Aren't you a little too excited to crush someone so beneath you?" She could see it. The pulse of his veins. His heartbeat resounded in her ears. She'd hoped to get someone too arrogant to realize her threat, but perhaps the General here was the definition of biting off more than she could chew.

"Or are you just out of shape from all the wars you didn't fight, like so many of these Lords." Well, prod the bear anyway. This fight would just show her her assumptions were wrong. And she certainly hoped she was. And, maybe, just maybe, she could die. Wouldn't that be a relief, in it's own twisted way. Not that she had any intention of dying. Her form lowered as she took hold of her weapon, bending her knees, relaxing. Readying.

"Just don't have a heart attack, dear general."

Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

"I am excited by battle, excited by blood.", he said without a smile.

"Were I to choose between crushing a world or drinking wine - I would always choose the former. No matter your skill, I shall enjoy this."

"You, however, might not.", he said simply.

The earth lifted like a wave as he squeezed his hands. Rocks, boulders, dust - a cyclone of death formed as the winds increased to the point of a storm that nearly blinded them both. As he took his first step forward, particles, rocks, anything that could be thrown began to rain down upon Alinas position like a machine gun. Each with the Force of a small air speeder - any single one could be lethal.

And for the effort he exerted, he simply walked towards her - sulphuric eyes never breaking contact with her, with her position, with her eyes. They bore deeper and deeper and the excitement, the rage, the unadulterated and unfiltered anger burned a hole in her retina, into her mind.

"Let me show you the strength of Eternalism."

Alina Tremiru

 

[Alina Tremiru]

The faint glow of her golden eyes narrowed further as she watched Nito step forward. Bear was an understatement, then. It was fitting though, seeing the show of power before her. She'd always told the others just how much of a monster Sith Lords were. The white of her eyes bled crimson as she tensed her body. She had nothing in the Force. No flashy powers, no lightning or overwhelming telekinesis. No dark sorcery or twisted alchemy despite the secrets her family once held.

But neither was she just human, anymore.

Her blade flashed as she shifted her grip, then took off in a run. A blur of movement, too fast for the normal eye to see. She went wide, circling around the monstrous Lord. Well, more avoiding the hail of earth that had been sent to crush her. Staying ahead of the storm as much as she could. Even super human as she was now, she wasn't like them. The Sith of Eternalism. The Sith in general. Jedi, any of them could use the Force to make themselves stronger. That's why she was here though, right? To use the power she did have.

Her wide sprint shifted as she instead darted right for the giant, crashing through the storm. Her flesh hardened, the blood she'd taken in already burning as fuel to protect her. The unholy durability her body had was enough for the smaller pieces of rubble. The larger, well. She cut through one with her blade as she leapt for the Sith Lord. No words left her mouth. She never liked talking in a fight.

But the sheer hate she had in her eyes spoke volumes.

Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

The rocks were a test - to get a sense of her reactions, to see if she were even worthy of his blades. When she dodged and cut through the barrage - he knew she was at least passable; a good sign for his own enjoyment. However, his control over Telekinesis was so tight, so controlled, those rocks were more than pebbles and attacks.

They were distance gauging jabs meant to prepare for his real strike. She lept, struck through the rock and spreading it - but she would only see the unflinching gaze of molten golden, and a grey sneer. The air pressure around her would magnify by ten fold as she was airborne - moving to throw her into the ground before him.

Still unmoving, giving her no chance to break free - the rocks she cut in half would move to slam into her from the rear, followed quickly by every piece of dust still in the air. To create a tomb of sand, a Korriban resting place far from their home world.

And only then would he speak, swords still at his sides.

"Sith strive for strength, for freedom, for power."

"Eternals strive for godhood - for destruction, for peace, to fight destiny's cruel hand itself. In this moment, I am a God over the Force in this arena - and so long as you are a slave to destiny, you can not begin to face me."

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Maliphant did not break from the Darth Hellique II gaze until the others began to speak. His attention fell from the Darth to the beginnings of a fight - and a smile grew on his face. With eyes of metal, he motioned the various Eternalists gathered to join him on the balcony just as the fight began. He'd position himself near Hellique and speak just over the sounds of battle.

"Have you ever seen a true eternalist duel, Lord Hellique?", Maliphant asked without breaking his attention from the battle.

"It's a thing of beauty, how much different it can be than traditional Sith. So many methods, powers, techniques one can learn through a simply change of philosophy. Of reality..."

 

[Alina Tremiru]

At one moment, she was in the air.

The next, she wasn't.

Alina would curse under her breath if she had the time to. A simple trap, and one she'd fallen into. Midair, she could do nothing to stop herself from slamming into the ground. Worse, the weight of it and the stone was too much for her to fight against. She was buried. Her flesh was hard enough to survive the crushing weight. And she didn't need to breath. She could survive.

But she couldn't fight like this. For a moment she was content with this. Being buried and helpless was a humiliation she could suffer through. But he kept speaking. Spouting about being a god. Anger flashed in her eyes. So it was the strong who got to choose who could live? Who would die? The image of Vulcanus's horde, the numerous acolytes that were supposed to be his allies slaughtered carelessly as he gave them no value. Of when she was still human, still weak.

That hate leached out. An invisible aura to the eye spread around her. Invisible to so many. But to these who believe themselves gods to the Force, it might as well be death itself. A void where the Force couldn't exist. Severed and cut by her hate. The weight around her dissipated all at once. She stood, breaking through the rocks that had entombed her. The bloody cuts on her skin already knitted themselves back together, slowly, unnaturally.

"You're mistaken, General." The void grew, reaching to the far ends of the arena. Halting the storms of swirling rock he'd made. Gravity returned, sending the rubble to the ground. She could cut the Force from her surroundings. But she didn't even try to cut it from Nito. She knew she couldn't sever him. Her spear emerged from the ground, the red blade igniting as she ripped the weapon free of the make shift tomb.

"I am a slave to no one."

Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

Nito stood, unphased as the Force began to struggle against her presence, her power. Unique as it was, he had faced similar threats - though different in their nature. Her abilities cut away the divine force, that which dominated the laymen user and all that connected the world. It was a pleasant experience to feel it's lack of sensation; but Nito would not let it hang idly in the air.

The moment Alina emerged from the tomb he had made for her, the great blade of the starscourge broke into her personal space before her feet were free. A great and terrible strength bore down on her - and despite her power she would feel the Force push its way into her aura. Not the Force she was used to - what she could kill in a moments notice, but something significantly unique. The Force she felt had a signature entirely of Nito - it felt alone, isolated, and abominable.

Behind the fury of his golden eyes, bearing down his great sword towards her shoulder, she would feel a new Force. Similar as it were, it was alien and heretical - the true power of the Eternals. When he spoke of being a God over the Force in this Arena, he did not claim to be a God over the Force- but rather that which he created himself.

"You are a slave to invisible chains, and I am the great chain breaker, Alina. Know me for not a man, nor a God, but a Sith.", and the Force would multiply.

Before her, around her, everything she could feel fighting against her mass consumption of the Force was Nitos energy, attempting to overwhelm, drive her further into darkness, into his darkness.

 

[Alina Tremiru]

She could never feel the Force. It was the great curse that accompanied her power. She could cut others from the Force, but in turn she would never feel it herself. Even as a Sangnir, which fed not on blood but Anima itself, the life of the Force, she couldn't feel it. Yet she felt something. She spun her staff around, catching the strike against her spear. The strain was visible, but she didn't crumble or fall.

Not this time.

Alina clenched her teeth. Bared her fangs. The hate that had been coldly simmering in her gaze only grew as he continued to spout his rhetoric. So he wasn't a god, but something above it all? That tracked with the vision she had in her mind. Sith were Monsters. And she had every intention of making them all kneel. She let herself dip, her spear angling to the side to let the crushing weight above glance to the side. She even abandoned her weapon, for the moment, skittering away from the monstrous Lord before her.

Then pulled free her saber. The cross guard of the red blade sprang into existence. And cut. Not the air, not Nito. But the Force itself. Cutting through the haze he tried to force down onto her.

"I am not what you think I am, General." Then forward. She burst across the ground, lifting her blade to strike out for him directly. Him. Him and all his glory and pride. She wanted to kill him. Gone was the thought of a duel or proving strength or might. She wanted him dead.

 

[Darth Nito]

Nito stood a little taller then, and her blade would find its mark. Twisting beneath plates of golden armor twisted into lions, her Saber would stick into his flesh with the distinct smell of cooked flesh. His face, however, showed no signs of pain; and the blade would not longer move. Stuck between plates of armor, or held by his flesh Reinforced by his own force energies, he stood there simply staring down at her with barely contained rage.

"Then prove you aren't a waste of my time."

And his hand would come down towards her cheekbone - plated with a gauntlet, it'd rend flesh from bone. If she didn't let go or retreat - he'd simply do it again, and again, and again until a change was to be had, or she lost the test of strength.

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Her blade cut.

And stuck.

Disbelief. That was the only information on her face as the blade stuck inside him. Disbelief that was quickly crushed by a fist swinging into her face. Bone cracked as she was sent careening to the side. Her saber, extinguished, clattered to the ground. That hurt. A lot. She rose slowly, staggering a step as the world around her spun. Slowly the wound started to heal itself, but it wasn't a simple cut. She held the disfigured part of her face, grimacing as bone started to reset itself.

It hurt. More than the initial punch.

And yet, she was grinning. Couldn't help it. Disbelief had turned into confirmation. The Sith Lords were truly monsters. Something beyond normal peoples comprehension. That no matter how strong she might get, she'd never be able to comprehend what they were. But maybe she didn't have to. Maybe all she needed to do was kill enough of them the others simply bent the knee. That'd been her plan all along, right?

She lowered her hand as the last of her features cracked into place. Clenched her fists as her bloodied eyes glared at the Sith Lord. Then rushed forward. She wasn't going to beat him, she realized that. Her leg flicked out, a foot hooking her spear midcharge to flip it to her hands. All in a blur of speed as she ignited it's blade. Her spear, like her saber, could cut through the very Force.

Even if she couldn't beat him now, she could get stronger. Her power wasn't at it's cap. Chains, then? So she was still bound? Fine, let them weigh her down. Let all of them weigh her down. Her blade flicked around, the edge cutting out once more for the man before her. And with it, the dreaded aura she brought faded. Focused into her blade. If she couldn't beat him, she'd at least leave her mark. Arcing the blade forward, she planned solely to scar not just his flesh, but the very presence he fawned over the Force itself.

 

[Darth Nito]

Once more, Darth Nito would not stop her. Her leap, her swing - well placed and timed, but his movements were unflinching and methodical. His swords dropped from his hands and one massive armored arm blocked the strike from hitting his face. It cut through the Force, deep past armor and flesh until it was nearly stuck in his muscle burning hot under meat.

The other hand, however, moved to catch her by the throat. She would land the strike and scar him - but he would ensure it would be one of her last.

With a tight squeeze - he would speak;

"The Force retreats from you, and you are strong for that - but I am beyond strength.", he said through gritted teeth.

"The Sith are about freedom, about strength - but the Eternals are about so much more, child. To become strong, to achieve something beyond strength - you need to be educated. Let this be the first of your lessons."

And the squeeze would grow ever tighter.

Alina Tremiru

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Her throat was grabbed. Alina felt the weightless sensation of being lifted. And struggled, at first. She yanked at her blade, trying to pull it from Noti's arm to hack at the one holding her throat, but it mattered little didn't it? She sputtered, trying to speak. But words didn't leave her crushing throat. That was fine, though. She didn't need to breath. The threat was the lack of blood rushing to her head. And possibly a broken neck.

But all she had was a grin as she stopped her struggling. Grinning her fangs at the General. This was enough.

Darth Nito

 

[Darth Nito]

He didn't moved as she cut and struck, struck and cut at his arm. His gaze was equally as unmoving - his scowl growing as pain made his grip tighten. He stopped himself only just short of snapping her neck - but when she ceased her struggle, when she went limp and the weapon fell from her hands, he let her drop to the floor.

Blood dripped from the burns on his arm, breaking the cauterization by merely flexing his great muscles. He spit on the ground, glanced at his wounds and took a moment to take pride in new scars.

"You suffer from great ignorance and greater ego. You wish for death, but I will not be so charitable - I am a conqueror not a whore. I will give you nothing and demand everything."

He squated down near her, aware she was still awake - if only slightly.

"Now, I demand of you the simplest thing. Cease your petulant nature and learn Doctrine - not to become a slave to thought, but experiment and push your own truth. Dogmatic sith die a dogmatic death- and you're dogmatic to ego now. Break that habit, Alina, and slay me when you understand greater truths than what your meager weapons offer."

Alina Tremiru