Dominion The Last Bastion | SO Dominion of Qi-Ko & Torrential

[Darth Empyrean]

Qi-Ko​

876 ABY​

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The last major planet unoccupied by the growing and conquesting Sith Order to their galactic south, and of which, will prove to be problematic if it is allowed to continue to function unobstructed.​

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Qi-Ko is home to the Jedi, the dreaded enemy of the Sith for all of their existence, the closest home of the Jedi this far out in space. When war comes again between the Sith and the Jedi, and no one doubts that it will come, this potential base of operations from which the Jedi could use to strike the very heart of the Order, cannot be allowed to stand. This worry was only expanded upon when considering that the Jedi who inhabited the planet were rarely the inexperienced sort, only masters would dare consider themselves home there.​

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Thus it was no wonder that from Jutrand a fleet was assembled from all three major Sith factions to bring Qi-Ko into the Order’s fold, despite the growing rivalry among them all, they could all agree to bind together against a centuries-old foe.​

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The reasoning for such a large invasion force became all the more apparent as other considerations for the invasion of the planet became more clear. Firstly, the existence of a Force Nexus on the planet, one which the Jedi would use in the defence of the planet, and one if corrupted by Sith to the dark could provide valuable insight into Sith magics. While the second was the vast untapped network of Kyber Crystals, in an Order that continually needed such, industrial mining of the Crystals would be a valuable enough incentive.​

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Thus the invasion was sent off, their goal to take the planet and destroy the Jedi presence.​

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Objective 1: Burning of Qi-Lan​

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Qi-Lan is the centre of the monastic community on the planet, thus the capital of the Jedi and the main base of operations for any opposition. It must be destroyed wholesale for the presence of the Jedi to ever truly be removed from the planet. The Jedi masters will fight hard, and to the death with no option for escape, expect stiff and heavy resistance, indeed, many on both sides will die.​

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Use whatever is at your disposal to carve through the Jedi, and ensure absolute victory at any cost.​

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Kill all the Jedi.​

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Objective 2: Securing the Caverns for Kyber Crystals​

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The planet seems to have vast subterranean complexes, which could be potentially used by the Jedi to indefinitely fight a guerilla campaign. This possibility must be eliminated out of hand, the caverns first likely contain vast deposits of Kyber Crystals that the Sith Order requires, but moreover second contains a rich and vast history and cultural heritage that Sith academics are very interested in keeping intact.​

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Thus the objective is to secure the caverns, destroying any hostile presence be they Jedi or native non-sentient life, much of said life has been undocumented and unstudied, thus Sith intelligence has very little idea of what is actually living down there. Moreover to procure Kyber Crystal deposits and artefacts or archaeological sites.​

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Secure the Caverns.​

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Objective 3: Corrupting the Force Nexus​

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With such inevitable death from darksider and lightsider alike, no doubt the Force Nexus shall experience instability, however with the Force Nexus’ power allowing an inhuman ability to understand life on the entire planet if it is successfully corrupted to the dark side such ability would be brought to the Sith, Which would no doubt be an important victory for the Sith, and a boon for sorcerer and researcher alike. Moreover, it shall end whatever advantage the Jedi hold upon the island, aiding in the conquest.​

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A ritual will thus be undertaken, requiring the presence of various Sith, meditating and drawing upon their presence within the dark side, collectively pushing their energy into the Nexus, killing off the presence of the Light Side fully, and corrupting it to the Dark.​

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Corrupt the Nexus.​

 

[Darth Atramentar]

Objektive 2 - Secure the Caverns/Secure Kyber Crystals

Entering the Caves​

The resistance on the outside has been tough, but not as tough as expected and there was only one reason for it: survival. They wanted to prolong the war and seek refuge in the complex cavern system and wage a guerilla war on the Sith invaders. Silly Jedi. Preaching peace and seeking conflict, seeking casualties to those they deem lesser than them. They were like children playing with blue lightsabers and claiming they are the good ones.

The faceless red legionaries of the Mordant Legion moved into the caves together with their founder and father. The Dark Lord heading one of the main formations going into one of the larger entrances, their pace slow as every now and then a nest of resistance appeared, a pathetic ambush or some cheap traps.

Darth Atramentar led the way, his crimson blade lighting up the caverns and it's reflections breaking into million facets of red in the crystals of the cave. It was very fitting, very suitable for the Sith. The inner of the cave pretty much resembling the pulsating heart of wrath and fury which was beating tightly controlled in the Sith.

This was more than a mere eradication deployment. There were crystals here, kyber crystals who were needed and Atramentar would not waste them on someone else or give someone else the opportunity to steal them from under his nose. He had some freighters ready to pick them up, acting as medical transports for his soldiers. Plus who knows what you could find in the dark, what assets or secrets remained to be revealed.

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[Raphael Gallustrade]

OBJECTIVE THREE: DEFEND THE NEXUS
Qi-ko. As with all the planets that he ever arrived at, Raphael had been drawn to this world like a moth to the flame. This time a bit more literally, however. Still, he had Khusrasol staying out of range of the Sith and, if he needed to retreat, then such a thing would be possible. Yet he knew that someone would be coming here. Someone would have to come here, if they truly wanted to break the Jedi's hold on the world. The Force Nexus on this planet would be antithesis to the sith and so, with his connection to the Force, Raphael had come here, to meditate. Did he have any true hope of stopping those that came? Oh, Force no. But he could serve as something of a deterrent.

There would be no traps, no horrible battle to this place. The sith would approach, no doubt on foot and no doubt with a great deal of power at their back, and they would find him. He didn't know if he would be alone, in this fight as far as other jedi were concerned, but he knew also that he wouldn't be alone. The Force was here and the Force was with him. Even as he meditated on it now, his energy fed it and it fed him, the two of them in a superconducting loop of the Force. He allowed it to permeate and wash through and over him. He was locked now, in the ocean.

His recent induction into the Order was a boon, to him. He could help on many worlds, but this one. This was one where his very essence was tied. To not stand in defense of this place would've not only been wrong but also fruitless. If any other jedi arrived, then that was fine. If no others arrived then Raphael would defend this place with the entirety of his being. This was him. He was this. He was in the Force.

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Objective 2​

"Have they been deployed?"

"They should be landing as we speak."

"Good. Deploy the rest."

Alina gazed down towards the mines below, her golden gaze burning with an unspoken emotion. Memories of a time long since lost flashed in her mind. Black nails rapped against the railing she leaned against. Watching the beads of black that were launched from her vessel. Escape pods, all of them. Launched right for the surface of the caverns. They'd land with a crash, not bothering to even slow the descent through enemy fire.

The corpses that crawled their way free from within were never alive to begin with. Undead, twisted by the Dark, spread quickly throughout the defenses. To overwhelm and devour. At least those without the Jedi to defend them. Already reports were coming in about the Jedi easily dispatching the living dead, horde or not. Unsurprising.

"Gather the Knights. We leave to secure the caves. We'll be taking this world for ourselves."

She turned from the railing to walk towards her own vessel, snatching her lightpike along the way. The cloaked figure beside her dipped their head as they wandered off to get the Knights in question prepared for their own landings. The Knight found a spot within her lander to sit, letting her eyes close. Breathing an unnecessary breath. This time around she wasn't the weak Acolyte.

This planet was going to be hers.

Darth Atramentar

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Objective III​

Tag: Darth Ophidia | Darth Malum of House Marr​

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He knew where he'd find them.​

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This world was a target - and all who took it would struggle to keep it. The kyber crystal deposits were too valuable to ignore, but Darth Empyrean was no fool. He could magnify their worth simply by buying them at a bargain while another of the various factions suffered to hold the ever tightening rope of greed. If things looked grim, then he'd simply switch allegiances - it was how the Sith operated.​

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For now, however, he knew who his dog in the race was. He'd meet with the Snake Queen and her apprentice, offer them his support. The combined strength of two triumvirates would very likely hold this world - he just needed to make the deal. So he took off in his true corpse body towards the center of the nexus.​

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The click of his staff was the only noise that left him, marking his arrival amidst the great force energies.​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Corrupt the Nexus
Equipment: Lightsaber, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Raphael Gallustrade / Darth Ophidia / Darth Malum of House Marr / Darth Empyrean

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"Is this what a 'light' Nexus feels like? It makes my skin crawl." There was no familiar and thrilling chill in the air, no sense of dread but potential in equal measure. No hints of the Dark Side except for their presence, but that was what the were here to correct anyway. And Alisteri couldn't wait to be bathed in true power once more. He could hardly recall the last time he felt the presence of a real Nexus, probably back on Korriban if he had to guess.

In all honesty he was starting to feel the beginnings of a headache coming on from the moment they set foot on the planet, accompanying his master and his fellow apprentice to the world both to assist in protecting the ritual that was to come and to see it first hand. If there was something that could reverse the perversion of the Light Side at its very core then he had to see it with his own eyes.

If it worked, and he knew how it worked, then it would be invaluable in the battles to come.

His stride paused though as he felt something, his gaze shifting around as his hand slowly pulled the lightsaber from his belt. The Nexus had been somewhat smothering his senses, and combined with the Jedi presence he almost couldn't tell any presence within the Light at all, but he could certainly feel another powerful Sith aside from his master when they appeared. And this one was far too close by to be a coincidence.

The masked man ignited his lightsaber and illuminated the cave that they had been walking through, one of the many tunnels leading to the Nexus buried within the Kyber crystals. "We have company."

 

[Ishani Dinn]

Objective 2: Securing Searching the Caverns for Kyber Crystals
Tags: Arcturus Dinn (interacting) | Alina Tremiru Darth Atramentar

"Okay, master..." Rhi muttered as she ascended a particularly steep slope within the caves. "So should I find a spot to meditate, and wait for it to come to me? Or do the Sith just pick one at random and bleed it into submission?"

Yes, she had never made it to this point before in her training. Part of it was her own fault. While she was a student at the Academy, she had been afraid to use a lightsaber, believing it was as much a danger to herself as to others. Her lack of a master and reliance on her Force-imbued blade had allowed her to put it off until Korriban fell to the Ashlans.

But now she could no longer delay making a lightsaber of her own. It was something she simply had to have, even if she continued to prefer another weapon.

Upon reaching the precipice, she paused, eyes wide. The caverns ahead of her were filled to the brim with kyber crystals, like glittering stalactites. Surely only with the Force could she find one crystal among so many...

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Objective 2​

With: Ishani Dinn ​

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Master... Yeah, that was going to take some getting used to wasn't it? Especially where Rhiannon was concerned. So long as she didn't try to use it outside of teachable moments and specific lessons though he reckoned he could handle it. Definitely helped to set a line in the sand between intimate moments, and those more pertaining to their new found Apprenticeship. They could do both, keep it separate, right? Arcturus had every faith.​

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"I daresay that depends on what you're hoping to get out of this venture," he stated, pausing to glance over the cavern in all its splendor. "Do you seek loyalty from your crystal? A perfect match? Or are you looking to dominate it?" ​

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Arcturus had manufactured his own, but then he was an artificer at heart. The art of synthetically forming a crystal and making from it what he needed had been alluring, and he'd continued the practice long after securing his own saber. "If you're hoping for it to strengthen your connection to the Force, I'd argue that meditation and listening to the Force would be the way to go." Some saw themselves as above that though, they'd rather corrupt and desecrate. Take whatever they could and spin it to work for them.​

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Were he forced to gather a crystal in this way, what would Arcturus have done..?​

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"A lightsaber requires more than one crystal" he added, humming in thought, "You could always try to procure them both ways."​

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Frankly, Arcturus didn't mind how she acquired the crystals... just that she did.​

 

[Omon Kaa / Darth Diem]

Objective 2
Tags: Alina Tremiru Ishani Dinn Arcturus Dinn Darth Atramentar (interecting)

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The slick shadow of a Mailoc gunship crept through the dark clouds of the night. Color of orange and red from the fires below danced on its hull. Aboard it, Darth Diem(Omon) and 5 of his commandos enjoyed at the sight of the Jedi settlement burning.
He would join in gladly, but his task was of a different nature. Securing, and taking some, of the cyber crystals from one of the caverns below.
They noticed another Sith ship, firing life-pods in to the village. It was unclear with what purpose. Once done, it seemed they were going in to the same direction as Omon.

Gunship made a turn mid air, some 10 meters above the cave entrance, and pilot opened the side door for his commander to jump out first. Omon donned his Mando helm, and leapt feet forward as his head passed inches from the door. Young Sith made a inward flip, slowing down his body before landing silently.
Several seconds later, four zip lines dropped, and each had a commando sliding over it. Securing Omon's back.

Black Inquisitors robe danced in the wind as the gunship turned and took off on to a safe distance. Omon, striding forward in to the darkness, reached with his Force Sensitivity, to probe the great natural structure. He picked up several life forms right away, and one of them emitted the energy that was not foreign to him.

Small shards of beautiful crystals started to sparkle right as his foot stepped in to the moist and dark cavern. Kyber crystals were pulsating with beautiful lights of blue, purple, and red.. Red was of the crimson blade, wielded by a man in front of him.

"Master Antramentar" young Sith bowed his head, with a slow nod "I followed the instructions, it seems there is indeed a pathway toward your flank. Good thing I'm not late.." he smiled in jest, then abruptly extended his arm in to the darkness in front of them, force pulling someone with a rifle and impaling him on to his red blade.

"Another ship is approaching. I could be wrong, but I think it is of Alina Tremiru , they will arrive shortly." Omon said to his master, before flinging his blade in to the darkness, that seconds later echoed with a death rattle, followed by the swirling light of crimson, as his hilt returned in to his hand.

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[Ishani Dinn]

Objective 2
Tags: Arcturus Dinn

Rhi rested her hands on her hips. "Domination won't strengthen my connection to the Force, then?" she asked quietly. She supposed it made sense, but... Did that mean that the gentler, more merciful method was better? Or at least, it would make her stronger?

She looked at him, watching his face for a reaction. The experience of watching other acolytes had taught her that being able to question one's master was a rare gift among the Sith. Of course, she knew she could ask him anything without fear, but she wondered what he had been taught.

"Oh, I can have it both ways?" Rhi blinked. "Sweet."

She carefully stepped over a clutch of kyber, intending to wade out to the center of the cavern, only to pause, hissing in pain. Her hand had touched a crystal sprouting from the wall without her realizing it, and when she went to put her weight on her hand it had cut open her palm. Scowling, she plucked the crystal out by the roots as if it were a weed.

"I'll make this one bleed the way it made me bleed," she muttered. "But first, I'll meditate. Find a loyal one that won't prick me." Would it be like finding a rose without a thorn? Kyber possessed a consciousness, after all. They rebelled against the Dark. And Rhi most certainly was of the Dark now...

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Objective 2​

With: Ishani Dinn ​

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"It may strengthen your abilities in the Force" he explained in regards to domination, "But a crystal that's bonded will make your connection that much easier to form. What do you draw upon most, Rhiannon? What emotion do you claw at in order to make use of the Force? What's your driving force..?"​

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Questions were good, so long as they had a purpose. Being willfully defiant was where matters became a little more... tense. The Sith weren't known for being particularly loyal, and treachery was ever expected between a Master and their Apprentice. It had once been the case that one must kill the other, after all. Not so now, at least not for the majority, but those past traditions did tend to initiate paranoia among their ranks.​

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"You need a primary crystal, as well as a focusing crystal" he explained, "Some even see fit to add another into the mix, but that's usually when they're meddling with the rarer varieties of crystals out there in the Galaxy. Seeking more.. unique results." Arcturus shrugged his shoulders. "I created mine, synthetically formed them." That was an option too, but when in a crystal cave you might as well make the most of it.​

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Her hiss of pain drew his attention away from the vast cavern, a very slight frown marring his expression. He could smell the blood before he saw it. She took it in her stride though, prying the cluster from the wall and declaring it the one she'd be subjugating. Arcturus had to admit, that was certainly a good way to decide.​

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"There are many ways to find a bonded crystal" he stated, remaining where he was despite the gap between them. He was here to observe more so than participate, after all. "To some they're said to sing, or hum. Others feel drawn to it through the Force. You can meditate, if you feel that will help. It's what the Jedi do..." But they were not Jedi, and it was a darkness which lay within them not a radiance.​

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"We could try another route..." Now he stepped closer, eyes drifting down to the cut in her palm. "See where the blood leads..." He'd always been reluctant to teach her anything pertaining to matters of blood, though. It was a dangerous art, one which could readily backfire.​

 

[Ishani Dinn]

Objective 2
Tags: Arcturus Dinn

"What do you draw upon most, Rhiannon? What emotion do you claw at in order to make use of the Force? What's your driving force..?"

"I would say it's love," she said dryly. "But that sounds kind of goofy coming from a Sith, doesn't it?"

She thought of a rainy afternoon spent with a certain Alderaanian, trying to explain what the Force felt like to her...

"I've heard people use very poetic, flowery metaphors for how it feels. Like a storm, or the breath of life, or colors, or a song. Well, I've got a cliché to top them all: it's love. Divine love, unconditional love, infinite and all-enveloping." Her gaze grew distant. "It's made me long for things not found in this life. The more I bask in it, the more I feel as if I were meant for another world, another state of being beyond all this crude matter. Maybe that's why I don't feel like I belong anywhere, except maybe with the ones I love best..."

But thinking of that day proved painful, so she quickly shoved it out of her mind. "Survival, maybe. Anger and bitterness from wanting things I can't have. A protective instinct toward the things I do have..." The latter was relatively close to love, at least.

She listened to Arc. A primary crystal and a focusing crystal. "Of course you made yours," she muttered with a smile. "Arcturus the Artificer."

"We could try another route... See where the blood leads..."

Something in his demeanor seemed to change even as he made the suggestion, as though he were reluctant. Rhi glanced up at him, her brow furrowing. "Show me," she said, holding up the bloodstained gem in her cut hand.

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

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Objective: Burn Qi-Lan
In Tow: Forn Company, Sixth Praetorian Guard

It was a breathtaking sight. The heavensward stretch of gnarled limbs and branches that were dozens of miles long. Leaves and foliage larger than airspeeders; all teeming with life as miniscule critters scampered about on bark-gripping palms. Masssive and unpredictable roots provided the elder tree its foundation, a patchwork of oaken spirals that tunneled deep into Qi-Ko's nutrient rich soil. Even miles beneath the lush canopy of such an ancient and verdant tree, the detail in its grandeur was readily apparent. It was the sort of image that would stick with a being throughout their entire life, a simple image of peace and serenity that stilled a turbulent soul in just a glance.

Mordecai felt sick to his stomach.

He'd had a difficult time in gauging what caused the reaction. The wizened warrior had battled with such thoughts during his planetside flight. Everything had called out to him the very moment Mordecai had crossed into the upper atmosphere, as if the world itself didn't want him there. A dull, deadened sensation made bile rise to the back of his throat despite the welcoming lushness of the mountain forests surrounding the Heart-Tree's base. It worsened when his boots met loamy earth, summoning a deep ache that coursed from knee-joints to the base of his skull.

Itching. Scratching.

"Captain Derlin," the Sith Lord blurted out, as if wanting for fresh air, "Deploy your men."

The Praetorian offered the slightest of nods. "You heard the Lord Commander, Forn Company! First platoon, secure the assembly area and standby. Second and third, push forward in tactical columns."

A flurry of motion tore Mordecai's gaze from the gargantuan tree, just a glimpse downwards to observe his crimson-plated Praetorians fall out in orderly fashion. Dozens of men and women that carried the Empire's strength of arms, bristling from head to toe in weaponry ranging from heavy blaster rifles and grenades to the signature vibrosword that adorned every hip. Winged shadows danced overhead as war droid repulsors rocketed forward, disturbing the peace of a once quiet canopy.

"Sir?" Captain Derlin's helmeted visage came into view. Behind her the Praetorians were meters ahead, already trekking towards their objective.

Mordecai realized he'd still been staring upwards. He blinked and swallowed, a vain attempt to quell the pounding of a headache.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Objective 3: Corrupting the Force Nexus

To Malum, the world existed in hierarchies, the powerful lay at the top, the weak at the bottom. Where was he within that hierarchy? Doubtless within the bottom third somewhere, he was but an apprentice, where above him there were knights and lords and those greater still. Yet one aspect which he prided himself on, was that he saw himself as one of the best apprentices, no, the best apprentice. Perhaps a low bar, but that was what was left to one of the lowest ranks, and it would doubtless place him above some knights who were too weak for their station. He had prided himself in this position, apprentice to one of the Triumvirs as well, no doubt he would one day become a knight, and then after that become a lord, carrying alongside rising competency, rising ambition. Who knew where he would go after that, perhaps to greater things still.

One could dream.

The problem with such confident beliefs was that they were far from sacrosanct, as he found firsthand when news arrived from Binaros. His friend, Omon had been granted governorship of it. An apprentice, governor, it burned sorely. Where perhaps a good friend would have been happy for his friend's accomplishment, he had instead burned with envy, burned with anger, burned with rage. A show to all then who was of the greatest of apprentices. It was to be of him, it should have been him, the fame and accolades of being the first apprentice to rule.

He had done nothing at Eliad, done nothing but seize riches and plunder from the Grand Museum as others had plotted and negotiated the creation of a new ruler. Darth Xyrah, if his memory recalled. Mayhaps that had been the best move, he was in no position to have taken on a Darth and come out on top. But it stung, it stung greatly, of all planets which he had been fond of, Eliad had ranked highly, he had wanted it, and he had not fought for it. Now, he burned, burned away in emotionless toil.

Malum had stood atop the highest peak of the grassy plain, surveying the rolling hills and verdant valleys stretched out before him. He had never been to Qi-Ko before and even found the planet's name rather odd, and indeed the planet's Nexus made him feel even more troubled as the Light buzzing around him continually combated the Darkness within, but he could see quite plainly that the planet was beautiful, untouched by human hands, allowed to bloom as nature came victorious. in his mind's eyes, he held a vision for what the future could hold, his mind worked plans within plans in his mind of what he could accomplish if only the planet would come under his rule. There was no native population on this land, apparently having long since disappeared long ago, he would bring in colonists across the Sith worlds, colonists from the city worlds of Terminus and Jutrand, one recovering from a brutal occupation, the other from martial law, he could call upon disaffected nobles from Eliad to bring wealth. With a steady stream of people, he could grow settlements across the planet, and begin the establishment of agriculture, woodworking, mining, of both minerals and other materials, and too of the kyber crystals of the caverns below. Perhaps he could begin an academy on the planet, the Nexus and the kyber crystal mining would make it a natural place for it. He could lead expeditions within the caverns, see how deep they went, perhaps even establish settlements there, or perhaps make use of them for transportation to link towns through the earth rather than on the surface. The industry would bloom, with the natural resources exploited allowing the creation of more furnished goods, steel, electronics, clothes, fabrics, electronics, furniture, and paper. Once the markets of the planet could not compete with the demand of the population, or to better allow for the importation of other needed goods, could they look earnestly towards space. Begin the construction of structures to establish control of the system, and begin the creation of a fleet that could defend what they had all built. Perhaps they could extend their influence towards Torrential, and see what they could build there. Looking up at the blue skies, he could already dream of concentric rings, creating the fist of the new Sith Empire.

The conflict was clearly evident on his face, for he did not bother to hide it, as he walked behind his Mistress, and beside her graduated apprentice of Alisteri, not reacting at all as he ignited his blade, his words went ignored as he continued to brood in silence. If he had allowed his heart to guide him, he would have called upon what favours he held to be calling upon soldiers and would be venturing down into the caverns or assaulting Qi-Lan to make the planet his, battling ardently all those that dared try to keep him from his destiny. He could have perhaps done it too, calling upon his father to give him the Marr Household Guard, asking his Mistress to take command of Tsis'Kaar forces, perhaps conferring with other apprentices like Quintessa and Omon for aid, imploring Vita and Trayze to aid him in taking the planet. Instead, he had done none of that, the memories of Eliad bubbled up again before he forcefully suppressed them. He was not doing nothing this time, he was negotiating while others fought, gaining the support of another Triumvir for his ambitions. If the Tsis'Kaar and Eternalists would support him... then... then he would have victory.

"It's mine," he whispered to himself, a determined look on his face, morphing out of the conflict. "I will stop at nothing to ensure that no one else can lay claim to it." Another whisper, doubtless though both Alisteri and his Mistress could hear him. Perhaps it was the Nexus, perhaps it was the pain self-inflicted or not, but there was only one thing that mattered, that by the end this planet was his.

And if it was not?

If someone attempted to steal what he had laid claim to, what was his?

Let it be war.

Let the blood flow from the caverns below to the skies above.

Let the seas boil.

Let the stars fall.

If he would not have this planet.

No one would.

Darth Ophidia Darth Strosius Darth Empyrean

 

[Lirka Ka]

Objective 1: Burning of Qi-Lan
Tags: Mordecai Zambrano

Qi-Lan was beautiful. A masterwork of nature, a natural artistry that even Lirka’s cold heart could appreciate as though she was a girl gazing upon the forests of Thustra once more. Mighty roots that predated any of them here, branches that reached high to the sky. Truly, a majestic wonder of the Galaxy that any would be honored to gaze upon.

It disgusted her.

This beacon of culture, of light, it had no place in the Dark’s Grand Design, it would stem the tide of suffering not let it flow. So she would destroy it, she would become the Dark’s Iconoclast this day and burn every leaf, cut every root, smash every twig till it was nothing but cinder and ash. For that is what the light deserved, the Sithlings would deal with the matters of the force in this place: such things were foreign to a creature like her, a void in the living force. All she sought was destruction today, and with the Kainate alongside her, she would bring this great wonder low.

She exited one of the many dropships setting down towards the base of the tree, stepping out as a monolith of dark metal and curved, jagged horns. Immediately, her blade kicked to life as plasma roared across its edge. She was eager, bloodthirsty, motivated in the way only a true zealot could be. This was a truly holy occasion, and letting out a distorted roar in her strange, alien, tongue, she let the Galaxy know it.

A cry of devotion to the Dark, and a promise to bring down this affront.

And with that, Lirka was off. Bolting ahead as the servos of her power suit churned and whirred: she was like a missile, seeking out whatever she could to destroy. She saw Great War Droids take to the sky and warriors in red plate align themselves, the tools of the Sith. In her lust for destruction she had almost forgotten this was just another play in the great conflict between the Sith and Jedi, such ignorant fools: blinded to the true grandiose nature of such an act. One day she would enlighten the worthy few, but today. She would forsake enlightenment, and embrace the killing fields.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

"Whole worlds have burned in the name of love" he stated, "Some might argue it's one of the strongest driving forces..." There was a reason Jedi of yore forbid such attachments, love could sink its claws in and make you do crazy things. "Don't worry about how Sithly things seem, I'm looking for honesty here Rhiannon not the answer you think I want to hear."​

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Love... Then there was a chance that meditating would work in her favour, for as passionate as it could make one there was a gentler edge to it too. A humble tranquility that could be focused upon.​

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None of that seemed to matter though, not when he made his suggestion.​

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"Arcturus the Artificer... Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" He smirked, enjoying the moment of levity despite this being a more teacherly venture. It reminded him of his time with Tamiko, they'd managed to balance their roles well. Maybe that was due to the fact that she wasn't technically a Sith, he'd offered to help her but there was no... formality.​

​

"I thought you might choose that" he said, as she held aloft her bloodied hand and asked to be shown the darker art. Light caught on the ruddy crystal in her hand, refracting across the cavern brilliantly. "Set that away" he instructed with a nod, expecting she had a pocket or pouch within which to set it, "Then hold your hand out to me again like this."​

​

With all that done, he reached out and gently grasped the wrist of her bloody hand. "Before you can do anything else with it, you need to learn how to feel the blood coursing through your veins. Through my veins. To sense it intimately... It's not a quick lesson to learn, Rhi, one we'll work on together. For now..."​

​

He squeezed her wrist lightly, watching as blood pooled upon her palm, then dipped the index finger of his free hand into the puddle. As he focused, his icy eyes seemed to darken slightly, taking on a more amberish hue, and then slowly but surely the blood began to mist and rise into the air. "I need you to focus, Rhiannon," he instructed, "Let the Force flow intentionally through your vitae."​

​

Intent was key, after all. Intent was always key.​

​

Ishani Dinn ​

 

[Ishani Dinn]

“... Point taken,” she admitted. There was at least one famous Sith she could think of who had done it all (supposedly) for love, although it didn’t turn out well for Vader in the end. “I do try to be honest. Thanks for taking me seriously, master.”

For a moment she opened her mouth, about to tell him all about the artificer’s gift she had planned for him, only to quickly close it. That was supposed to be a secret. She was bad at keeping secrets, though.

Slipping the crystal into her pocket, she held out her hand as instructed. The cut was relatively mild, a small puncture wound just deep enough to draw blood. But the pressure Arc exerted tore it open further, pooling blood in the center of her palm. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out in pain, breathing hard through her nose.

Focus. She looked at him, watching his eyes change color as he channeled the Dark Side. Her blood became red mist within his power. She had never felt so acutely vulnerable before him, her very lifeblood under his control. But she wasn’t afraid.

Should she be?

Her concentration deepened until she entered into an almost trancelike state, feeling her heartbeat, the flow of blood pumping. Then she stretched her awareness to encompass his body. A subject she thought she knew well, but not like this. With blood magic, she could map out the network of veins spider-webbing through him, sense any disruption in the rhythm of his pulse—cause a disruption, if she so desired.

“I could have this much power over people?...” she murmured, her speech slightly slurred as if intoxicated. “Hmm… But we want to use it to find a crystal…”

Warm blood trickled between her fingers and down the back of her hand, droplets pooling on the cave floor. At least, until the blood began to move on its own, running deeper into the caverns…

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

A firm nod was the only answer to her thanks, and then they were on to more pressing endeavors. "Pace yourself" he instructed, "There's only so much blood you can stand to lose before it's detrimental to your health. Make the most of every drop, Rhiannon."​

​

As she focused and drew upon the Force he waited patiently, feeling for himself the way in which her blood coursed with every thump of her heart, platelets working to try and stem the flow of blood. Ordinarily that would be a good thing, something that a mindful blood wielder might make use of to expedite their healing process, but in this regard it was detrimental. They needed the blood to flow, at least for a little while longer.​

​

Still at its ordinary rate of repair it wasn't as though the cut was going to scab over immediately, so he said nothing on it. Teaching her to manipulate such things could come later.​

​

It seemed as though she'd grasped at sensing her own, and soon was reaching out to try and feel for it within him too. "It's difficult at first, you have to strain and focus and it keeps you preoccupied from everything else. Impractical to use in a real scrape." Most forms of occultish arts were though, rituals and spellcraft required reagents and muttered words, specific conditions and times of day. They were powerful, could cause frightful results, but they were so finnicky few relied upon them.​

​

Blood magic would be similar for her, unless she really delved into it and made it a key part of her arsenal. Unless she practiced with great frequency, and on a manner of different beings and things. Some had two hearts, others had a different type of blood, etc. It was a long road.​

​

Her slurred query told him that she'd successfully found his pulse, the life force flowing through his veins. "With time, yes." She refocused herself on the task at hand before he had to make her, he watched as the blood dripped and formed first a puddle and then a trackable trail in the dirt. "Good, Rhiannon. Now, open your eyes and keep your focus. Remain close to the trail, and you'll have no need for more of your precious blood to be spilled."​

​

Ishani Dinn ​

 

[Lady Venge]

Objective 3: Corrupting the Force Nexus

Whispers had reached Venge on Eliad, while helping Malum Of House Marr secure artifacts in the Grand Museum, that the Sith Order was converging on Qi-Ko in order to purge it of the Jedi presence there and corrupt a Force Nexus. The corruption of a Force Nexus greatly intrigued Venge, being a practitioner of Sith sorcery and alchemy, and it would also present a chance to make her presence known to the larger hierarchy of the Sith Order.

After concluding what business she had on Eliad, Venge boarded The Dark Embrace and made her way to Qi-Ko. The journey was largely without incident, but as soon as The Dark Embrace landed, she could sense the Light radiating from the Force Nexus. It literally made Venge feel nauseous, as she departed her ship and took in the view around her. It was far too pristine, far too natural for her tastes. Not one sign of a proper, industrialized civilization, as far as she could tell.

"Repulsive," she growled to herself. "The Light here....MUST DIE!"

Silently seething at the Light Side's radiance, Venge made her way towards an opening to a cavern. The closer she approached, the more the she felt the Light's presence. The Force nexus was in there, no question about it. As she descended into the cavern, Venge practically felt her skin crawling from the radiance of the Light, but somewhere in the midst of it all, she could faintly feel several other dark presenses. Ah, of course...those would be the other Sith. Time to make herself known. Striding forward, she at last came within sight of the other Sith and bowed formally from the waist, with her right fist over her heart.

"Lady Venge, Sith sorcerer and alchemist, at your service."

Darth Malum of House Marr
Darth Ophidia
Darth Strosius
Darth Empyrean

 

[Ishani Dinn]

“No kidding. Making yourself bleed in a fight seems a little counterintuitive.” Her speech was no longer so slurred, but she was still deep in concentration. She turned away from him to follow the trail of her blood, though her wrist remained in his grip, unless he saw fit to release her.

Progress was slow, mainly because she had to pick her way carefully through the uneven ground of the caves. Her ichor fled down winding pathways, eventually disappearing into a dead-end section too small even for her to fit through.

But she saw where it had ended up, steaming around a gem as green as her eyes. She stretched out her hand, and with a little help from the Force, she yanked the emerald free and floated it straight into her palm. Her fingers unfurled like the petals of a white flower as she held it out for Arc to see.

“Precious blood for precious stones,” she said with a grin. Then, wobbling a little, she asked, “Do you have any bandages, master?”

Arcturus Dinn​