Subjugation.
While there were still a few errant, unconquered minor tribes, the largest tribes on Paraklak II, those of the five Rivers and the two Daggers, had sworn fealty to the Dark Lord of the Sith. His singlehanded conquest of the Chrome Daggers, once the most powerful of the Seseli tribes on Paraklak II, had convinced the seven other major tribes to immediately surrender. After a council of tribal elders, each of the major tribes had either renounced their former allegiances to other Sith and dark side masters or made them secondary, in favor of submitting themselves first and foremost to the Black Iron Tyrant without further bloodshed.
Now, Paraklak II was laid bare before the will of the Sith’ari.
The warriors of the major tribes, teeming in number, would be contracted to fight for Him in large armies, while the strongest and most skilled among them would serve as personal minions to various Sith under the Tyrant’s command, if those Sith chose to have such impish, bloodthirsty creatures within their individual retinues.
Among these Sith, was the Dark Lord himself.
While the Tyrant likely had no true need of one, as He already had an abundance of loyal apprentices, servants, minions, and powerful armies under His command, the seven major tribes of Paraklak II had nevertheless gone far out of their way to prepare for the Exclusion. Each sought to curry favor with the Dark Lord by bringing their strongest of their young daughters for the ritual’s trials, where the weak and unfit would be gradually excluded until only one was left standing, who would then proceed to serve the Tyrant in a capacity as his personal eliminator. It went without saying that the tribe who produced this individual might see their status rise, a step towards building or solidifying a reputation for producing capable warriors and assassins.
On the eve of the first day of the week, 600 daughters arrived at the fortress of the Red River Tribe, one-hundred from each of the seven major tribes, save for the Red Rivers who had agreed not to participate, to ensure that the ritual was not corrupted by bias.
One among the 600, hailing from the Glass Dagger Tribe, was Azera, arriving with one-hundred of her sisters with naught but the sparse rags on her back and a short vibroblade in her hand.
For the next few days, it would be all that she needed.
If none managed to survive, her efforts might have all been for naught.
The Glass Dagger Tribe was the smallest of the seven major tribes, with only one Spawn Queen, where the next biggest had five. Lilith’s council had advised her against the Exclusion, saying that it would be a waste of resources and valuable manpower. She had initially agreed with them, but Lilith had ultimately reconsidered, knowing that opting out of presenting a delegation might be a sign of weakness that the other tribes could seek to exploit.
And so, Lilith had ensconced herself within the spawning pits, refusing to leave until her labor was complete.
Now, as she watched her daughters stand in formation, she listened to the words of the Great Seniaki, Salith, a wizened crone five millenia advanced who had seen the tribes fall under the authority of many dark masters throughout her years. Carefully gauging her reaction, Lilith felt an odd sensation emanating from the ancient Seseli, where otherwise she normally anxious at the arrival of a new Dark Lord, now she was seemingly content.
“600 is...still a lot, Salith.” One of the Black River Tribe’s chieftains spoke up.
“You say that 600 is too many, I say it might not be enough!” The crone declared in answer. “He should have asked for 3000. He had every right after what he did to the Chromes.” She croaked. “We’re lucky it was this low.”
“These are hundreds of potential warriors, all of who, save for maybe a few survivors...might be sacrificed to find just...one among them who is worthy. Is this all worth it for just some new Dark Lord? Another one might arrive next week, kill this one, then ask us for a thousand.”
“I don’t know, dung-for-brains.” Salith replied sarcastically. “Why don’t you take a look at him and decide for yourself?”
There, having seemingly appeared behind the Crone, was the towering, scarlet-eyed figure of the Black Iron Tyrant.
