Dominion The Heir of Ruins | (SO Dominion of Alvaria)

[Aspect of Resolve]

Alvaria
902 ABY

Since the start of the Ouroboros Crisis, the western portion of Sith space in the Outer Rim has been the main battleground for the fighting against the Tsis’Kaar. Their few yet elusive fleets have drawn many Sith fleets into deadly traps that have left them crippled or even outright destroyed, raids against even Jutrand itself have proven a constant threat to the war effort and the Sith Order government as a whole, and of course many archives and relic repositories being taken by the Lorekeepers and Assassins of Darth Ophidia.

Thus far the efforts to push into the Tsis’Kaar’s domain have had very mixed results and little in the way of true success despite several blockades being formed to keep the threat contained. As such when the eyes of the Sith Order began to look for paths around the Tsis’Kaar to strike at their heart and cut their dominion in half, Alvaria became a subject of interest.

However, it would seem as though the Tsis’Kaar have acted first in securing the world to some extent. But the will of Empyrean and his Sith will not be denied.

Objective 1: The Invasion of the Tattered​

No single government holds sway over all of Alvaria, with various nations vying for control of the world from their capital cities amidst the ruined landscape that bears the scars from their past and present struggles.​

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Yet many of these nations have temporarily agreed to a ceasefire in order to observe some sort of prophecy, presenting a solid yet disunited defense of the planet. Their armies, while working with limited and unfamiliar equipment, have received some weaponry and vehicles from the Tsis'Kaar in order to ensure their loyalty and as such will need to be dealt with. Destroying their greatest strongholds and armies will ensure that there is no great threat to our usage of the world as a staging ground to battle the Tsis’Kaar, even if it will not mean total control of the world.​

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Objective 2: Darkness Entombed​

Due to a history of violence and genocide, a Dark Side nexus has formed on the planet and a very potent one at that. We have identified several Tsis’Kaar defensive positions around one of the craters left behind by the ancient nuclear weapons that aided in creating the nexus in the first place.​

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It appears as though some obelisks and other artifacts have been brought to the crater, with sorcerers and Lorekeepers seeming to be working on some ritual that we have yet to ascertain the purpose of. Assassins and Inquisition forces have stationed defenses around the crater and have already decimated our initial scouting teams. The nexus may empower them, making them far more dangerous, yet it also empowers all Sith that set foot on the world and as such it is a prime target despite the risks. ​

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Stop the ritual at all costs before the Tsis'Kaar fulfill whatever goal they are working towards.​

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Objective 3: The Heir to the First One​

A prophecy exists among the locals that will supposedly bring the scarred and ruined world back to its former glory and prosperity once more, under one ruler that will restore their world. While the exact details are unclear, it seems as though they have found a potential candidate for their prophesied leader.​

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Malum of House Marr, guarded by both his Household Guard and some elite forces of the Tsis’Kaar, seems set to fulfill the prophecy and unite the nations under his banner. Their leaders have gathered in peace for the first time in ages in the old capital city of Gil Lodihr to meet with the youngest apprentice of the Pale Lady. ​

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If he can convince the nations to join him then Alvaria will require a full scale and costly invasion that we cannot afford with our western borders still threatened by the Tsis’Kaar raiding fleets. The prophecy cannot be fulfilled, and the Emperor himself is reportedly on his way to ensure that.​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Open!

Alvaria, a world of ruins and scars from the conflicts of the past. Scars and ruins that would seemingly never fade nor be forgotten. Such bloodshed and dread had naturally coalesced into a stifling nexus of the Dark Side, one that affected all that set foot on it. Apparently the locals would be given visions or even extended lifespans, albeit with a dire cost, and to those of the Sith it would boost their power to a notable degree.

The perfect place for crafting and enhancing relics and artifacts of the Sith.

The Inquisition Troopers under Alisteri's command were still erecting defenses even with most of the fortifications already done, still setting up blaster cannons and checking over artillery targeting and munitions stores. They weren't nearly as militarized as he would have liked but these past few months of combat had hardened and experienced many of their number. Not to mention the training as well of course, couldn't exactly have them misusing equipment in the heat of combat after all.

Sith Assassins flickered between the fortifications around the crater, many of them antsy and eager to see battle once more. The few scouting parties had been a decent warmup but the strength that the nexus gave them had many excited to test out their enhanced abilities on a more equal opponent. And they all knew that they would soon have plenty of them.

Already reports of a Sith fleet arriving in the system in force had reached the crater's defenders and as such the Lorekeepers and sorcerers had gotten to work while the defenders organized their resources and prepared their fortifications. As usual Alisteri himself was overseeing the defense and later extraction of the relics and artifacts, both newly crafted ones and the restored ones brought from the depths of the Tsis'Kaar stores littered across the Outer Rim.

His master wanted a slew of Sith relics to help in the battle against the wider Sith Order and she would indeed have them, no matter what was sent to disturb the rituals taking place in the crater. The grand ritual that the Lorekeepers were preparing for would go a long way in ensuring that once it went off.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Objective 3: The Heir to the First One

For all the ambition he had held just a year ago, having made such progress, it tasted all of such smouldering ash now.

Defeats had drawn him away from the centre of things, that had likely been a mistake, no, that certainly had been a mistake. Yet that was expectant of the petulant child he had once been... maybe still was. If he had the opportunity to turn back the clock, to scream at his younger self... he would have called him the fool, the one who had lost to Quintessa , and then was so eager to test blades against Darth Carnifex of all people.

Was it any surprise how that went?

No...

...Neither was it a surprise that it led him to flee the war. Well, officially he was only guarding the galactic west of the Imperium, but he knew what it was, from being on the frontlines of the war against the Kainites to self-imposed exile out in the wilderness. Custos nor Venerandus said anything, but they never would, would they? When he had lost to Quintessa, they had said nothing, but he had seen what they felt. Seen through the portals to their souls, that were so like his. He remembered a lesson from long ago, the Guard's duty was to serve, never to judge.

Yet he felt the silent judgement nonetheless.

He had spent months instead, with his Mistress, Darth Ophidia, training, learning, honing. Never again would he put himself in a position to lose as he had.

Or, at least that was what his mantra every day, and every night had been, be it himself fresh as a breeze, or sore from aching muscles and broken bones. He had learned much, such was the tutelage under one of the greatest Sith who lived. He could conceal his presence through the Force in ways he had not thought possible, that were far superior to what he could accomplish in the past. His studies in Sith Sorceries had only gone further, and further, and now the Spear of Midnight Black was at his beck and call. Then, of course, there was the basic, but again, perhaps the most important, glancing down to the lightsabers at his sides, he was better now, he knew.

He believed.

He hoped.

Of course, being an apprentice was not the only thing he was doing as the civil war winded down, as the man he called Emperor was victorious, and the fallen Emperor was exiled to the Old Sith Worlds. Instead, it was a discovery.

A discovery most peculiar, one which he could not explain in words, but in the most primal way he could imagine.

Called out to him.

He had felt the full effects of the Nexus when the Lochris and he had descended upon the planet, it fell upon him like some avalanche down a mountaintop, or a great tsunami, smashing down onto the land. Yet, he had felt it even before then, when he was orbiting the planet, when he had entered the system, when had first heard the call. It had been faint, growing stronger as he slowly grew closer.

Yet as he touched down upon a bomb crater, his hands grasping upon the dry ground. Nature having restored what radiation weapons had long since tried to eliminate, he found no explanation. This was a Force Nexus, that much was clear.

Yet who had heard of a Force Nexus having an effect on someone that much of a distance away?

It was as he pondered such a question that his eyes glazed over. Shorter now, the sky was dark, thundering clouds, and lightning struck the earth.

And the bombs fell.

A bright light was the last he saw.

As his sight returned to his body, falling to the ground and panting heavily. A vision, they never seemed to get easier. At least he was not being electrocuted this time.

Only being obliterated.

Such it was that the curiosity had gotten the better of him, that he decided to explore this world, one with an air of mystery, one with a nexus, one that called out to him. Why did it call out to him? Why was there a nexus here? Why were there bombed-out craters made from nuclear warfare? Indeed, as he continued to explore the world, all those questions only grew in curiosity, as subquestions developed in the gaps.

He would find cities, modern cities as best as he could tell, but rusted out, collapsed, with shrubbery and greenery becoming the main life, smothering what should have been the dull greys. Cities without people. That the end proved the most interesting.

Now it was not that there were no people at all. There were many, each city seemed to have some hive, some small community, a core and nucleus of a population that existed either in the middle or from a long side. Yet that was all, it was evident their population could never inhabit the entire settlement. It seemed that though the nuclear fallout had long since burned out, the populace had never quite recovered back to reinhabit their once giant homes.

Malum would travel across the wide continent, every day and every night plagued with visions of what had come before, slowly putting together the pieces of what had once happened. He too would, after some weeks of his hermitic travel, even speak with the humans that inhabited these lands. He learned much, the world was called Alvaria, and it had once been ruled millennia ago, by the Holy Alvarian Empire, by Emperors with red eyes.

That had been when he had first encountered the Antonist Priests. The first time when he had heard about the prophecy.

They saw his eyes, and they questioned.

He had fled once again.

He had gone to other cities, those he had named the learns of later, Averdon, and its relative riches, its proto-capitalism, Altum Hortus, and its proud warriors, he had only left there by drawing blood himself, Solis Hastam proved to not be very impressive, a city greatened by a traitor, rather unimpressive now. Stella Cadera had been a surprising sight, a city of Sephi, a city where people looked to him as kin, Hal Darom... a city beneath the earth, a city... which was full, it had been Rex Portum where he had truly felt kinship, though... there were none to call kin, the land was dark, the nexus darkest, the city had long since been abandoned, where the other cities had people, where the cities had been overgrown green. There was nothing here, but darkness, ash and... comfort. The Elves had ruled these lands once, some treasure hunter had told him, when they went through looking for relics. Wielding red blades, and with magics and sorcery. Malum was not sure what to feel as he now knew the Sith had once been here.

It had been when he had gone to Gil Lodihr, that all finally came together. The old capital of that thousands years old empire, the Antonist priests had chased him there, he came with only questions, and few answers. It was as he went to the old palace, that he gained some answers.

Such it was now, that his hand remained still on the marble block, the one which depicted the First One.

The Guard stood behind him, just as back then, the priests had stood behind him.

"Should our dynasty fall, Ragathor... look to the skies and high heavens above..."

He breathed out softly, as his eyes glazed over yet again, now standing as a figure wearing plate and mail, and looking upon a figure... that looked so near to him.

"We shall see war... we shall see death... yet we are not the only ones who remain."

The words were like honey upon his ears, so familiar... and after all, he had heard it once before, had not he?

"Of reddened eyes, of darkened hairs, bearing the name of Marr, as my father did."

Superstition, religion, it had all so suddenly become his reality.

"The heir shall be drawn to Alvaria, and our legacy, shall be his."

The figure smiled softly towards him.

"Is that not right, Malum?"

The vision broke, as again, his breathing heaved. His hand left the marble, as he stood upright. He turned to face his trusted seconds, Custos and Venerandus, standing upright and still, as Malum's red eyes darkened, gazing up at the fleet that dared embark itself upon what was his.

Drawing his hand down to his side, feeling the cool air, and the chill of his hairs. He found his hands on one of his lightsabers.

They ignited with the familiar hiss, as he pointed to the skies and high heavens above. Those of his guard were not far behind.

When his Mistress had begun her war against the Emperors true and false, he had remained loyal to her.

Now, it was finally time to return to the Empire.

It was time to stop running.

To defend what was his.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Objective 3: Heir to the First One​

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr​

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This 'schism' was short lived, the Tsis'kaar forced into a position of leveraged assets by an odd circumstance - one Empyrean had taken full advantage of. In truth, he had expected far worse, he had great and terrible prophecy of the Pale Assassin's intent to kill his family, his empire, everything that he had fought tooth and nail for. Everything he had spilt his life blood for, and even died for.​

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And yet here he stood, unbowed, unbent, and unbroken - only dead and angry at the continued pointless arguments these sycophants and so called loyalists put up against his might and sword. Let them burn under his will, his fleets, his armies he had said, but the council had told him against it - their expansion, the Dark Tide as it was known, had become costly on their reserves. Treasurers were barren, assets heavily leveraged, and the focus of his fleets on controlling what was already conquered - not turning back inside to strike back at forces he had already conquered.​

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So he arrived, the Mors Mons in tow as he stood upon its bridge and looked down on the planet he was set to devastate in a moments notice. Instead he would hold his strength, hold back his assets and weapons of war for a time - so that he may speak, with the authority of the Emperor and the Dead God himself.​

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So he flashed, blinked from reality, and appeared before the apparent Heir, and his gaze was absolute.​

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"Heir of Marr. It is time we talk."​

 

[Kebos]

Objective I

The ruinous city of Averdon lied undisturbed and it's resources untapped. The locals were incapable of realizing the true potential that lies within. They needed the proper guidance in the form of Kebos and his crew so that they may see a better life through serving the growing crime lord and his needs. Riches free for the taking that he would use to further his ambitions. Several dropships dove down towards the mountains from the skies. Each one carries squads of Kebos' soldiers. The dropships landed in one of the city's ruined spaceports. Kebos hopped out of a dropship, followed by his soldiers.

"What? No welcoming party? Nothin?" Kebos questioned loudly. "Whatever. Maybe they scared of us? Maybe it's a trap? Either way, let's take this city."

Kebos made his way out and into the city. The ruins were quiet, but very obviously lived in. The populace that were there were nowhere to be found. Reports claimed Averdon was the most populous city, yet Kebos had seen no evidence of it yet.

"Let's get to the mines. Maybe we'll find something there."

 

[Darth Nwul]

Objective 3: Heir to the First One

The Dark Side was strong here, so beautifully strong. It was an aroma in the air, a chill on the flesh, and a warmth in the chest. There was pain and pleasure, joy and terror, hate and love, in this place. There were feelings beyond the mortal scope of comprehension as the ghosts of the past wrestled with atrocities and wonderments alike. This was a world so steeped in darkness that it had become a nexus of power, a place where the Dark Side could be used as both fuel and guide in the creation of artifacts of power.

Nwul had not planned on coming to this blasted world, despite it's value. As it stood his closest relationships among the Sith had been those he had come to know in the old Sith Worlds. He was aware of the animosity between the Kainites and those of the Empire beneath Empyrean. Yet Alisteri was his friend, and perhaps it was their connection that made the vision he had in his gardens that much more powerful. Images of a young man, a child of the Dark Side, who was in need. The Dark Side urged him to that blasted world, demanded him go to the side of the Sith Eternal. He could feel that a fateful meeting was approaching. He had no time to waste.

He arrived on Alvaria and left his daughters behind on the ship. His vision had showed him alone. He had stood with the young man and a dark shadow that he could not identify. The Steward of the Dark Side accepted the vision and left from the landing site in the middle of the blasted, dessicated wastes. He followed the will of the force, the dark side leading him even as he drew on its power and made it his own, sustaining him, driving him forward. He passed the craters, the destruction, and soon found himself in a city.

There he walked, the mind eater did, a smile on his face in the midst of corpse of a civilization. Such was the way of nature, and he reveled in it.

There, at the apex of the city, a palace, and within, a presence. His golden eyes, untainted by the red of sith hatred, gleamed as he stepped inside the structure. His jolly smile widening as something wrong twisted behing his eyes, eager to see what the Dark Side had in mind for him. Who was he here to meet?

He saw the young man from his vision ahead of him, not much further, he could shout but-

Another figure appeared, out of nowhere, and Nwul felt his power. His lips parted in a soundless gasp, his eyes widening.

"Truly, the Dark Side is Slave and God," Nwul breathed as he strode towards the pair, wondering on the wisdom of the Force.

Darth Empyrean Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius

Her senses growled with almost uncontrollable hunger, if she could manage to push into this nexus... Not only would the ritual be stopped, she would get to feast on not only on the defenders, but also the nexus itself.

Troops under her command started to make their way to this ritual spot, all the while the lead defender himself would... Get a call on his holocommunicator.

Once picked up, he would be greeted by the armored visage of Darth Keres.

"Ah, Darth Strosius. It is with a heavy heart that I humbly ask that you and your group leave that nexus, I would hate for us to come to blows. If our kind are to repopulate, the last thing we would want is killing one another yes?"

Adeline says with a fanged snicker hidden behind her helm, having no qualms with needed to resort to violence.

"Unless you crave violence?"

Within that moment, her 'children' would land in various spots around the area. Twisted little Sith spawn that looked like bats, making amazing scouts since Adeline could see through their eyes.
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[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

Alisteri was roused from his musings by a notification from his holocommunicator, a message was coming through. He didn't bother checking to see who it was before he clicked to accept the transmission, just in case it was something urgent, and was fairly surprised to be greeted by the sight of a familiar face. "Ah, dearest Adeline. How unfortunate that you should wish such a thing from me. Surely assisting you in your transformation so long ago is worth the favor of leaving me and mine to our work?" The masked man had no issues in matching her snide tone with one of his own.

Perhaps he would have been a bit more cautious about crossing his fellow Sangnir before but he had grown stronger in his own right since they last met, both in his own abilities and within the Force. Not to mention the fact that he could hardly abandon the crater, and by extension Alvaria itself, while the relic was still being empowered. He would need it far too much for what was to come.

"I'm unsure of what you mean by 'our kind' Adeline, my kin surround me already." He responded with a coy smirk before he looked up to regard the landings of several odd little creatures. One of the trooper leaders ran up to his position at the edge of the crater but Alisteri stopped his hurried report of the newcomers by a simple raise of his hand. "Leave now Adeline. You'll not get another chance to do so." With that he clicked off the communicator and turned to face the trooper with his arms crossed behind his back.

"Send the orders to the troopers and the assassins, nothing gets inside our perimeter. Am I clear?" The trooper saluted and ran off to spread the order, the defenders opening fire on the Sithspawn soon after as they occupied their positions and readied themselves for what was to come. Alisteri drew his sword in one hand and ignited his lightsaber in the other as he rolled his shoulders. "Let's see how nice she wants to play this time."

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius
His kind.. What a snarky little man he was, such attitude against the fresh Darth had already sent her into a state of boiling, crushing the device within the grip of her metalclad hand.

Meanwhile, the spawn were not made for combat... Just to scout or be her little pets, so it was rather easy to hit plenty of them as the swath of bats fluttered in a wild panic around the area, casting a shadow on the ground below as twisted chunks fell to the ground below.

During the flying frenzy, their defenses would be under attack by rival troopers taking defensive positions to fire back at the defenders, and behind these rival troopers was a smog of undeath. It was easy for Alisteri to smell the undead as their rot filled carcasses shambling in formation right in the open to be bullet sponges while the troops would maneuver from cover to cover behind the undead.

These undead being fallen troopers from both sides would be clad in war torn armor, each blasting at the defender's frontal position as well.

Still no sign of Keres... Yet her looming aura was drawing in, the ambitious leader was somewhere.

Out from the smog appeared an abomination, a mass grave of dead all fused together by black magic, clad in random chunks of armor around its foul being. This creature would charge right in after a few of Adeline's men tossed flash powder grenades at the defenders, allowing the hulk to breach right into the thick of it as the others in the back started to push up.

Raising one of its fused arms, the undead would swing a long pole of durasteel at Darth Strosius with wicked brute force.


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[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

The bat-like spawn were fairly easy to gun down for the troopers as they assumed their positions and readied their mounted weaponry. Blaster cannons, both repeating and heavier ones, soon opened up on their opponents as the troopers made themselves known. Frag grenades and lines of blaster bolts were shot towards the shambling undead, occasionally veering off to try and hit a trooper as they dashed from cover to cover.

Even with their heavier blasters trained on the undead it still took far too long for one of the lumbering masses to be cut down, each seeming to draw the stench and smog of undeath closer to the defenders with each step they took until they fell from being torn apart by sheer amount of blaster fire. But they were getting too close for comfort.

Far too close.

Alisteri called out a command in ancient Sith as he approached the most besieged of the barricades and all at once Sith Assassins sprung from the defensive line to intercept the nearest undead and troopers alike. They were few in number but they carved into their foes with a deadly precision that made a single Assassin do the work of a whole squad of the Inquisition's troopers in but a few moments time.

Before the Knight himself could take to the field alongside the Assassins his stride paused just short of the barricade yet to be occupied by a Sith as he noticed something far larger than any of the troopers or their undead shields forming within the fog. "The feth is that?" Flashes of light blinded the troopers just long enough for the hulking undead to bust through the barricade as Alisteri adopted a defensive posture, just barely able to shake off the sudden flash himself before the beast was upon him.

The Sith leapt up into the air, the pole just barely missing him as he lashed out with his blades whilst in the air. A simple attempt to slash across the undead's chest before he hit the ground and rolled out of its way. "What sorcery has she found to conjure you?" His hands lit up with lightning as he took another step back before throwing his hands up and unleashing a torrent upon the undead before him.

 

[Kebos]

Objective I

The path to the mines was barren as Kebos made his way to them. The people of the city were very good at avoiding him and his entourage. Whether it was on purpose or not, remained to be seen. In the distance, the entrance of the mine could be seen. The sounds of industrial equipment could be heard from deep within. A smirk eased it's way onto Kebos' face.

"Ah, there they are. 'Bout time. Let's get in there and meet my future employees." Kebos said, rubbing his hands together slowly. The group makes it's way into the mines. The churning of machines only grew louder and louder the deeper they went. They kept walking until they came upon one of the workers. A lone man, carrying a sack of unknown items, likely a days worth of stones and precious materials. Kebos moved past him while the rest of the entourage blocked the path out.

As Kebos entered what appeared to be the center of the mines, it appeared none of the people acknowledged him. He looked around until he noticed a large machine, the one causing all the noise. He walked over to it and pressed a few buttons, causing the machine to shut off. As the machine noise died down, the workers stopped mining then turned their attention towards Kebos.

"Damn, I don't know how y'all work with that thing like that. Could barely hear myself think. Anyway, how y'all doing? My name is Kebos. I come to you as a friend and potential employer. On that note, I am here to offer you an amazing opportunity. I allow you to keep living your lives how you have been since before this very moment. In return, everything you dig up here and your entire economy runs through me and my organization. This city will be mine and all of your will be my workers. How does that sound?"

A brief silence was followed by one of the workers speaking up. "Yeah, alright."

A look of surprise flashed on Kebos' face followed by one of amusement. "Well, aight then. Uh, back to work, I guess." He reactivated the machine then walked to leave the mines, then heading for his next objective.

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius

The lumbering beast smashed its weapon against the ground, missing the target. As he slashed into the abomination, the lingering feeling of Adeline drawing in only grew stronger.

This creature, built of anguish and rage, would let out a pained cry as the tendrils of lightning surged across its hulking body. This shock would chain, sending wild sparks around the area as both friend and foe was shocked.

Pained grones escape from the beast as it lumbered in his direction, and with one last cry of pain a chunk of the creature would explode into a blood shower. A dark cloak and red saber jumping out of the dying creature, the feeling was no unmistakable, his hunter had hid within the beast.

A wild yet crushing blow would be sent at Alisteri, the woman within the heavy armor seeming to lack mobility... Yet made up for it by being a rage filled tanke.

Her own troops were doing what they could, trying their best to handle attacking assassins. What they lacked in elite troops they made up for in sheer number, enough to keep pushing against the defenses with brute force and mixed tactics.

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[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Objective 3: The Heir to the First One

"Indeed so, Your Imperial Majesty," Malum began, resisting the urge to take a step back at the sudden presence of perhaps the most dangerous individual in the galaxy, still there was no hiding the widening of his gaze, nor the immediate feeling of darkness falling before the clearing. Still, some instincts still came into play as his gaze flicked for but a moment to the presence of a foreign figure some distance away. He knew in but another moment the rest of the Guard would take note, but through just a glance, he saw no weapon, so for at least a short time, there would be no threat, "You shall have to forgive me for not bowing," His gaze returned to the spectre before him, "I shall admit, I did not expect my return to the Imperium to be heralded by the arrival of the Mors Mon, over what is mine."

His eyes returned to their normal shape, as his lightsaber hissed, returning to its hilt, drawing it back to his belt, as his arms folded.

"I am afforded an explanation I hope," Malum feigned ignorance, that he was certain would be caught, "But regardless, I am always open to dialogue, what is it you would wish to speak of?"

He hoped that Alisteri was having success in his mission, for neither of them could have planned for Empyrean's presence... nor truly be able to counter it.

Darth Empyrean Darth Nwul

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

Alisteri didn't let up the storm flowing forth from his fingertips even as the wounded monster lunged at him with its dying breath. The nexus was boosting his power and he couldn't help but relish in the strength that it offered, even if it resulted in him being caught a bit off guard as part of the creature burst open to reveal an armored figure leaping out at him.

He barely had enough time to bring his blades up to block the wild attack from carving into him, forcing him back a few steps from the surprise and forcefulness of it. He had never actually seen Adeline in action before but the armored first impression was certainly a lasting one. Now he just had to figure out how to bring her down. "You had your chance Adeline!"

He barely spared a glance to the defenders as they were forced into close combat, with grenades exploding dangerously close to the barricades as stun batons and lightsabers lashed out at the troopers and their undead allies. Instead he sprang forward to meet Adeline with two slashes from his blade, his sword gowing for her stomach as his lightsaber came down from above to attempt to rob her of her shoulder.

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius
As the battle kept going on around them, her ruby eyes pierced through the slits of her helm, it was easy to tell she was staring intensely at her target. The very man who had insulted her with a cheeky quip... Oh it made her boil with rage, she wanted to get her claws on him badly.

Shockingly, she didn't stray away from the attacks. Her heavily armored body easily stopping the sword from dealing any damage, with only his lightsaber finding some wiggling room as it cut her cloak a bit. The smell of burnt flesh could be caught by his nostrils as Adeline would go in to trade blows with the man, her own saber attempting to crush into his side like a mace while he tried to get her shoulder.

Her anger was quickly starting to boil over, soon she might enter a full blown rage.

The defenders and their assaulters were currently within a stalemate, with one regaining ground just as the other made progress. It was a battle of attrition, with one side having far more to use than the other. This bloodbath could only be stopped if one of its leaders either fell or fled, with none being able to watch the two Sith fight thanks to the tide of undead marching ever onward.


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[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

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As expected his sword found little purchase in its slash against her armored abdomen, which admittedly had been more to try and distract Adeline than anything else, but his lightsaber did manage to cut into her shoulder just enough to singe her flesh. Yet she didn't seem all that bothered by that fact. Rather, in a manner not unlike something that he himself would employ, she seemed to ignore the blade in her shoulder in order to instead slam her lightsaber into his side.

Knowing that his armor would only provide a precious few seconds of resistance to the blade of her lightsaber the only option was to move before he was cut in half. He wasn't exactly sure that he could regenerate from a wound that grievous after all. So he sidestepped and simply had to hiss through the pain as the swinging blade dug into his side for a brief moment before he could pull himself out of its path and dislodge his lightsaber from her shoulder. Far from a clean maneuver but he was at least still in one piece. For now.

With only moments to spare at her side rather than her front he wasted no time in kicking out at her knee while he thrusted his lightsaber towards her underarm in order to try and get underneath her armor to get a proper strike in. His sword was pulled back to guard himself in case her swing continued to chase after him as he made his simple riposte.

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius
The blade would find a bit of an in, yet it didn't hit anything as the heavily armored woman would tightly latch her metal clad hand around his wrist. His kick though would get results, with an audible crack being heard from the woman's leg, her gel under the armor helping absorb the blow.

Keres embraced the pain, her training had resulted in broken or torn off limbs... It wasn't enough, this man had insulted her and so far it wasn't bloody enough.

Her tight grip on his wrist turns into a brutal twist as she had finally entered a force rage, her cursed blood leaking out of the damaged section of her leg. Dark blood mixed with some inky substance seeped out from behind the plate, the flesh steadily trying to heal as Keres would try to use her raw strength boosted by the force rage to get him onto the ground.

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[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

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Again his blade managed to dig into her armor but this time there was little in the way of injury on her part. Instead seemingly all it did was allow Adeline to grab hold of his hand that was wielding the weapon, locking him in place before he could draw back from his stab. Alisteri's kick did actually cause some damage but with him unable to pull away from his opponent it hardly mattered. All his little attempt at a quick and disabling strike had left him right where she needed him.

The sudden twist and subsequent crack from his wrist in her grasp rivaled the one his kick had caused, the masked man letting out a growl between clenched teeth as he felt himself being pulled down. Her extra and sudden bout of strength from the Force was more than enough to throw Alisteri to the ground beneath her, but he wasn't going down alone.

His lightsaber may have been clutched in a very wounded hand but it had been ripped free as he was thrown down, allowing him to swing it towards her collar and shoulder as he threw another kickaimed at her core. All he needed was for her to give him just enough room and time to hop back to his feet.

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Objective: II
Tag: Darth Strosius
As they went down, in order to protect her neck area from the blade, the madwoman actually moved her head down so that her blood red helm took the slashing blow. Making a scar across the face of the helm as the metal held against the blade, keeping her neck safe against the blow.

Her hand raised, several metal claws were about to be punched right into him if it wasn't for his kick. Knocking off the rage filled Keres for now as she tumbled back a bit, quickly trying to scramble onto her feet as her armor limited her more dexterous capability.

She would grunt while trying to get onto her feet, the wound on her leg still healing only making it more tedious. Though while seeming to be in the process of getting herself up, she kept a firm eye on her target.


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[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Darkness Entombed
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Adeline Noctua

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His slash did little against Adeline's helmet, something that he was silently jealous about, but his kick was enough to throw her off before she could descend upon him. As both Sith attempted to get back onto their feet to prepare to pounce on one another, Alisteri thought of his options. Her armor was tough to cut into even with his lightsaber and his sword was seemingly unable to make any progress at all. So the solution came down to a rather simple, if brutal, path.

The masked man hauled himself onto his feet and deactivated his lightsaber before clipping it back onto his belt and sheathing his sword, having some difficulty with the former task due to his wrist still being very broken. He chose to ignore the pain as he rolled his shoulders and met her hate filled gaze with his visor's own. "You had to choose the hard way, didn't you Adeline?"

He summoned more strength from the nexus that they fought over, allowing it to fill his body to the brim as his uninjured hand clenched into a fist. With his strength further enhance by the Force he stepped closer to the struggling Sangnir and chose to eliminate her claws first. His hand lashed out to try and grasp her throat, or at least her helmet to keep her still, while one of his feet shot down to try and slam down on her elbow.