Children Of The Grave

[Jenno]

There was a great deal riding upon this trip. Iniquitous had told no one of his destination, or his intentions, but he had been preparing for this visit for quite some time now. How many texts had he studied when he found the chance? He could no longer recall. The more he read, the more obsessed he had become. This was to be but the first step, his first experiment, and it would take place on the near-lifeless world of Vjun.

This planet held a number of the Empire’s financial supporters, hiding away inside their lavishly constructed fortresses. But many years ago, when the Empire was still young, there had been another presence on this planet which had garnered a lot of attention. A Dark Jedi sect had made their base upon this world. They had become powerful; a rarity amongst such groups, and had evaded the Jedi for a great deal of time. In fact, rumours in a number of his texts had stated that the leader of this group, a fierce togorian by the name of Rogarr, had managed to capture some of the Jedi sent to hunt him down and twist their minds until they took orders from him.

Some of the texts even indicated that this financially secure group was perhaps an attempt by the Sith Empire to establish a power which would be able to counteract the Jedi. However, there was no solid evidence uncovered that had confirmed this, but Iniquitous would not put it past the power-hungry minds of the Sith Aristocracy. Regardless, there were but a few who, over the past centuries, had caused such difficulty for the Jedi. And so Iniquitous had selected this Rogarr to be his first subject.

Of course, Rogarr was dead, long dead, his body said to remain resting within the secret base which he had established upon Vjun. But that was a crucial factor in the Sith Overlord’s experiment. Iniquitous was going to restore life where there was death.

He had recovered a more specific idea of this base’s location through various contacts within the Empire. No doubt there would be a noticeable presence in the Force from someone who had been powerful enough to oppose the Jedi as Rogarr did, even if he was now a corpse.

Not long after he had broke atmo, Iniquitous entered the specific co-ordinates he had recovered and as the ship made its way through the dreary skies of Vjun, he let his mind expand, searching for the lingering dark aura of this deceased great warrior. It didn’t take long until he could feel a prickling in the Force. A small gathering of dark energy on the surface ahead, buried within the rocky caverns of a mountain. And so Iniquitous took his ship down onto the ground, not too far from a small entrance into the mountain.

Safely upon the ground, the Dark Overlord moved towards his cargo and laid his head upon the large metallic container. Within it was another piece of his creation, a test tube into which he would pour the liquid of life itself. He would have perhaps smiled to himself, if it weren’t for the irregularities he felt through the Force. He could feel life within the caverns, a small gathering of breathing dark energy; he could sense their movement throughout the caverns. It seemed that he was not the only one looking for Rogarr.

As he stepped down the ramp of his ship and made his way to the cavern’s entrance, he was met by two figures before he could enter. One of them raised their hand to him. Iniquitous could feel the dark side within them.

“Halt! What do you want?” The man asked.

Iniquitous lowered his hood, exposing the faceless mask he bore. “I have come to pay my respects to Rogarr.”

“Master Rogarr neither needs nor desires your respect” the man growled at him. “You would do best to leave this place before your presence angers the master; he would easily crush your puny form.”

Iniquitous raised an eyebrow. The man before him spoke like a devoted servant. But Rogarr had died many many years ago. Iniquitous examined the two of them. Extending his mind into theirs as discretely as he could, he could see the emptiness within them. Their minds were completely broken. He didn’t know if it was this place or if servants of Rogarr had continued with his hellish habit of breaking someone’s mind in order to make them serve him without question.

Whatever had affected these two, and probably the others within the caverns, there was nothing he could do to return them to reason. They were too far gone. But they were still in his way.

He stood there in silent contemplation for a moment. The man who had spoken to him stepped closer. “I told you to leave.” He threatened.

Iniquitous funnelled an explosion of power through his arms, blasting the man back into the cavern with the Force. The other disciple took a moment to respond; he gripped his lightsaber and ignited the viridian blade. But Iniquitous was already preparing to deal with him, as he began to move, Iniquitous raised his hands towards the disciple’s legs. He pulled the Force in tightly around his knees, and with two gruesome cracks, a cry of pain and a falling body, he crushed the disciple’s kneecaps. In the next instance he had lifted the disciple’s body into the air with the Force and catapulted him against the jagged rocks of the cavern’s entrance, the power of the blow killed Iniquitous’ victim.

But the first man had returned now, spying his comrade’s broken corpse upon the ground he had his blade, a traditional red colour, drawn and his guard up as he faced Iniquitous, edging slowly closer. “I warned you, even if you kill me here, Master Rogarr will have your head, you woke the dra-”

Not heeding the man’s empty words, Iniquitous had opted to wait for the man’s guard to drop slightly before he moved his previous victim’s lightsaber from his corpse and cut through the yapping disciple’s neck. Once the body had fallen to the ground, the Dark Overlord pulled the lightsabers of his opponents into his hands. There were still a few more within the caves. At this point he would assume they were all the same. If he approached them as a diplomat he may find himself with a saber in his gut. He would have to approach them as an executioner.

With the two lightsber hilts in his hands he headed into the caverns, looking for the heart of this darkness. He came across a handful of disciples as he made his descent through the pitch-black caves. He could see them all as clear as he could in daylight, their attempt at an ambush ended brutally for them.

But he could tell they were all weak. This was not the strong cult which had defied the Jedi for years; these members were no stronger than apprentices. As he cut a swath through the few remaining members, Iniquitous soon found himself within a much grander and well-lit cave. There was what looked like a throne at the end of this chamber, at its foot was a mound of dirt and bones, surrounded by fires and symbols. The Sith could feel the darkness within this ‘sacred’ mound. It seemed as though this was Rogarr’s burial ground.

Stepping towards the grave, Iniquitous could feel another presence approaching. This one was larger those of the disciples he had come across previously. As the figure entered the cave, Iniquitous observed that he was a relatively tall man. His face was young and free of age, but his eyes and aura spoke of a greater age. He wore what were once robes, probably numerous sets, now little more than rags draped together in an attempt to cover his body.

“Who are you to defile the resting place of Lord Rogarr?”

“I am Darth Iniquitous, Overlord of the Sith. I came to pay respect to the person who had the potential to bring the Jedi to their knees. Instead I find a cult of children protecting a failure’s pile of dirt.”

A moment of silence was shared between them. “I have heard of your Sith, an attempt to recreate the works of the Master, but it shall be he who conquers this galaxy. Not some faceless man and a gathering of selfish scum.”

“I doubt Lord Rogarr will be getting very far on his conquest in his current state, or with what seemed to be his ‘army’ now dead.”

“They were nothing more than sacrifices for the great Lord’s return. One day he shall overcome the bounds of death and claim this galaxy for himself.”

“He shall overcome death, but only at my bidding.”

The prophet of Rogarr removed a lightsaber from his hilt and from the smooth silver hilt erupted a powerful, pulsing, purple beam. “You will become the greatest sacrifice for Lord Rogarr’s resurrection.”

Iniquitous said nothing; he maintained his grip upon his two stolen lightsabers but didn’t ignite the blades. He waited for his opponent to make the first move. The prophet raised his free arm and pointed it above Iniquitous. Jagged rocks protruded from the cavern roof, sharp and heavy, enough to break a man’s body. The disciple called upon the Force to crush the rock’s support, allowing the jagged parts to crumble downwards upon Iniquitous.

He caught the first one, and then the second and then held them in place, guarding against other falling towers of rock. Dust filled the air as the attack came to a halt. Iniquitous cast the two pieces of rock to the side. “You won’t be able to scratch me with child’s play such as this. I was expecting more.”

The man rushed at Iniquitous, his saber ready to strike. The Overlord knew that straight combat would likely result in his demise. He released his grip, and directed the green blade to meet the enemy’s strike. He matched the man’s physical strength with the Force, but his lack of movement caught his enemy by surprise. Iniquitous didn’t wait for the next attack; he launched his own with the stolen green lightsaber. He launched large blows upon the prophet’s small guard. He forced the man back a few steps. Iniquitous sent the blade on a powerful downward strike, but the disciple met it with his own lightsaber. The Sith put more pressure onto the lightsaber, forcing the man into a battle of power.

“How, how are you able to do such things!?”

“I have a gift. Powers your master could never attain.”

Using the distraction to his advantage, Iniquitous had released the second lightsaber earlier in the fight; it now rested upon the floor behind the prophet. He used the opening and launched the blade off the floor, igniting it as it reached the man’s shoulder, cutting through the arm which held his purple blade. He was not prepared to react and as his arm fell to the floor, Iniquitous released the blades from the grip with his mind and instead wrapped his mind around the prophet’s throat. Iniquitous lifted his arm, strengthening his grip with the Force and steadily lifting the man a few inches off the ground. He walked steadily over to him, held his face close to that cold blank helmet and looked into his mind.

His thoughts were scattered, in ruin, not just from the pain Iniquitous had inflicted, but from the mental torment that Rogarr had used to make him submit.

“You are broken.” Iniquitous said.

With an increase of strength, the prophet’s neck snapped. Iniquitous tossed the body off to the side of the cavern. Finally he was alone. Once he had collected the prophet’s lightsaber, it was time to get to work.

Now that he would no longer be disrupted, Iniquitous returned to his ship and moved a large case down through the caverns until it reached Rogarr’s burial ground. There he removed the contents and set it next to the dead warrior’s grave. A large elaborate suit of armour, which he had crafted with alchemy, was now laid out. The mark already set within their neck of the armour.

Iniquitous had to stop at this point. What awaited him was territory unknown, he was about to step into a realm few could step back from. This would determine the worth of his trials, if he could do this, perhaps there would be hope in his life again. He sat down before the grave and before the armour, legs folded, datapads sprawled out before him. He began to meditate, and at the same time he began to quietly chant in an ancient tongue, words that meant nothing to the ears of the living.

He could feel the darkness and the cold chill that followed was greater than the winds of Rhen Var. He could feel so much more begin to surround him, as if another world was layered on top of the one he knew, a world not even he could see, but one that had been there. He could feel a strong presence wash over him, blacker than an empty night’s sky. He slowly became more attuned to it as Iniquitous channelled the Force through his body. Slowly he began to see a form, a large bestial form. He felt as though he might be able to talk to it if it weren’t for the chanting. But it was not his intention to talk.

The dark side was his way, he was here to control. The power, the figure, it had to be Rogarr, as the power in his words increased, he focused with all his might, envisioning the figure and the armour, moulding them into one, those symbols upon the neck holding them together. They would become one entity, one being, they would become real.

Iniquitous could feel a change in the air around him; the presence was more real that it had been before. His words slowed until eventually he slipped out from his trance. He felt tired, as though he had not rested for days, though it was said that all sense of time was lost during the process, he couldn’t know how long had passed. But he knew that he could still sense that presence in this world, his world.

He climbed to his feet and stood over the body of armour upon the floor, the Force surrounding it. It had to have worked, all those things he had seen, it was impossible to believe otherwise. There was only one way to find out.

“Rise, Rogarr.”

[Grawn]

"What is dead can never die, only rise again, harder and stronger"

...

Who am I?

What am I?

These questions echoed in his mind as the cold embrace of emptiness left it, the spirit realm no longer his home. His senses were still returning to him, his world was that of confusion as everything from his past began to seep back to him. Slowly, as if they came in little droplets from a leak in a water pipe, his minds former void was beginning to fill. His past was slowly painted on a once blank canvas and he wasn't sure what to make of it all.

He had been a Togorian, a tall creature of muscle and fur. He could recall the beating of his heart, the warmth of his flesh, fur, and the sharpness of his claws and teeth. The being began to remember feeling what it was to exist. Then the memories of his past began to come through, some of them were pleasant, however, most were shrouded in darkness. A darkness that gave way to the light.

Memories of being a child were played before his minds eye, a slideshow of learning. Of his first encounter of combat and conflict, the dark seed of curiousity that was planted as he laid beaten on the ground. Bullies had done this, left him bleeding on the ground. His first lesson with a spear, his first hunt, and the taste of the flesh of his first kill.

The memories came faster, his teenage years of conquest of his planets fauna. The prestige the fellow members of his tribe gave for his abilities and the pride he felt in the aftermath of such. As more and more came to him, he felt a massive pressure upon his mind that made him wince, but he continued to watch. They came in a impossible blur now, until it stopped at a single moment.

Darion.

The Darkener.

The Deceiver.

The Master.

The Betrayer.

The last two titles of the man that he recalled as Darion brought the emotion of disgust into his thoughts as he watched the black haired man twist him into something darker. The man had single handedly turned the champion of their tribe into a being that lusted for dark knowledge, knowledge the dark man promised to teach him. He killed his own people, slew people he had known since he was a child.He let the dark man even slay his own father to complete the trial.

A moment of sadness crept over him, but he watched on. The cut upon his shoulder, made by a blade of blood red energy, he remembered the burning and the smell of his eradicated flesh and fur under its crimson fire. The word apprentice echoed, a word that meant learning under a being much greater than himself. The dark one taught him many things, things he had wanted to learn the moment he met the man in combat.

The memories flashed to a time when he learned in secret from the dark one, learning things he did not wish for his apprentice to learn. Things he eventually knew would lead to his downfall when him and his master clashed with others with swords of blue light. The Master sought to end him then, but did not expect the hidden knowledge he possessed and died.
The dark one fell and with it, all restraint.

The memories of his further conflict with the Jedi, he knew their name now, came to him. His first true challenge to a Jedi Master on Dantooine. The meeting with the dark men that funded his goals.

What were his goals?

Domination.

The acid rain of Vjun came to his mind as he worked underground to twist the Jedi and non-Force sensitives alike. Their minds bent to his will till they snapped under his great strength, his power unmatched. Except by one. A Jedi Master cloaked in power that he could not even make out his features. They came to take him and his followers down, managing to bring the fight to him in his throne room.

Two Masters, one far more powerful than the other. The weak one was simple to take care of, he only sought to kill the cloaked man. But he had failed. The greatest challenge of his life and he had lost, the feelings of disappoint burned bright into his very essence. His memories complete, but one.

The black phoneix. A vision of the Force that promised his rebirth, however one question still remained within the restored creature. His mind was full again, the experiences of his life had returned, all but one.

Who was he?

What was he?

"Rise, Rogarr" a voice called.

Rogarr. His name was Rogarr.

And he was darkness incarnate.

The metallic abomination, a soul blacker than nightfall infused into the shell of a suit of armor, stirred. Within the helmet, eyes of sanguine fire erupted into existence as he stared up into a cavern ceiling. The drip drop of water in the distance could be heard faintly to his senses. A massive power of darkness, one that rivaled his own, was in the area with him. The only being responsible for his rebirth, even capable of such a feat.

Rising his hand to be in view of his face, the gauntlet that greeted him did not come as a shock. The spiked segments of his knuckles and the sharpened end of his fingers were not something that he was disgusted by. However, it was quite clear, he no longer had a body. This armor was to be his body now.

After examining his hand, he decided it was time to rise, to see the creature responsible for this. Lifting his arm, his gauntlet clenched into a fist as he slammed it to the stone floor, rising shortly after. His eyes took in the sight of a humanoid shrouded in a cloak and a helmet, black power radiating from its body. Rogarr stood well over his height and if he felt the reason, could possibly snap the man in half. But he was not quick to take irrational action, all creatures could be of use to him, even one of his power.

There was a lot of rebuilding to do.

"Speak your name, dark one" a deathly rasp that sounded hollow and unworldly echoed within the confines of the cavern, "and your purpose."

[Jenno]

A shell of armour, infused with the spirit of a long-dead warrior, began to rise. The creature had answered his call. It was conscious, but Iniquitous had yet to know just how tame this once wild beast would be. It spoke to him, asked questions, ones which he was able to answer.

“My name is Darth Iniquitous, I am the Overlord of the Sith. You died a great many years ago, here on this planet, slain by the Jedi. I have used my power to bring you back to this world. However, your body is gone, lost to the passing of time, so I crafted this armour to act as your body.”

Iniquitous stood before what was now Rogarr, his body appeared even frailer and weak compared to the size, weight, and bulk of the armour. But he didn’t cower or back away, or even move from his position. He didn’t fear his creation, he was proud of its success.

He could feel his strength slowly begin to return, to his body at least, though there was a weariness that still lingered. He would have to meditate at some point, to restore his body and his mind. He wouldn’t be surprised if the process had taken him days, it had certainly felt as such. But there was much to be taken from what had transpired here, as it was the first step on a path to something truly amazing. All this time he had been researching, experimenting, and preparing himself for this moment. There would still be more to do, more tests to carry out, more ways to figure out the limits of this power and to push beyond that. He had to find a way to restore someone completely, mind body and soul. First was this warrior, a useful tool for the conquest of the Republic. He didn’t know what would be next just yet, but he knew what waited for him; the goal at the end of the road, no matter how long it may be.

He was being filled with hope, a hope he had not known of before. It was one which had not existed in his mind, but something that the powers of the Sith could make possible. But whilst there was this new chance to find the happiness that he wanted, that didn’t mean that the source of his problems and his troubles wouldn’t still be present should he succeed with his ideal resurrection. Regardless of the path he had now uncovered, the Republic would still need to fall, to be replaced by a greater structure with a much more solid system of rule. Nothing would stop Iniquitous from claiming all that he wanted.

“The history books spoke of you as a fierce and deadly warrior, one who harassed the Jedi for many years, killed some and turned even more than that. With more cunning and planning you might have even done much more than that, but it is the fabled strength of yours that I want for my Order. The Sith are at war with the Republic and the Jedi, and with your added power victory will be one step closer. I returned you to this world because I want your power for this war, I want you to do what you once did before, but for the success of the Sith.”

His tone was steady, his words and opinion blunt and honest. This creature was his creation, his experiment, his possession. His statement didn’t suggest any leeway. Iniquitous knew what he wanted, and he would have it.

[Grawn]

Such confidence filled words, undeniable and unwavering in purpose. No restraint or reconsideration flickered from within this so called Sith. What annoyed the metal juggernaut the most was a complete lack of fear. Fear was a useful tool, something to draw upon and twist to his advantage. Rogarr had used it many times to crush his foes on a level they could often time not resist. The mind was a delicate thing and those who were to weak to withstand him were brought beneath his iron fist as his slaves. But this man radiated nothing but the cold, black power of the dark side.

But did Rogarr have the power to do anything now? Did the darkness still come to his command as it had in life or did this robed man rob him of that? This sudden realization sent chills down his non-existent spine. He had to be sure, he needed to know.

"You have defiled the natural order of existence by summoning me. Ripped me from eternal blackness to ask me to fight YOUR war? Perhaps you are weaker than I first thought, 'Sith'" his words were stern, though the otherworldly echo that they rung with did not surprise him so much this time. It would take time to adjust to all of this.

Turning away from Iniquitous, Rogarr looked upon the burial mound which his spirit was pulled from. A mound which undoubtedly held his remains, something he needed to see to make sure he was not living in some twisted nightmare. Extending his gauntlet forward, the fingers spread and pointing to the ceiling, he beckoned the darkness from his soul to reveal to him the truth.

"We shall see who will be helping whom, little man," the metal titan assured as he felt power surging from within him. A power that had been begging to be released and do its Master's bidding as the burial mound began to tremble. The dark side seeped from the walls of the cavern and even deeper from the bowels of the complex as it recognized the will of its old Master, running to him like a lost child that had returned to its father at long last.

The dirt moved aside under the spell of his power and skeletal remains rose from the hole, the Force bringing it before him. His remains were aged, decayed and almost unrecognizable , save the fanged skull of a Togorian at the head. Rogarr's eyes narrowed and he felt the whispers of great anger welling inside of him.

Just as he had wanted.

With a roar, he summoned every ounce of strength with the Force and pressed on the bones. They began to crack and splinter immediately as they were condensed, his gaze never moving away from his skulls empty eye sockets. To see ones own body after they had perished was a punishment very few, if anyone, could ever claimed experienced. But to see it destroyed, to see it obliterated from existence was something else entirely. Rogarr needed that anger, that fury, that insurmountable anguish to unlock himself.

The skull caved in, exploding pieces of bone across the room as with one final push, the skeleton was crushed. Not a single part was left uncracked, unsplintered, or unmaimed as the former Togorian flung his arms wide thus scattering his former body and life across the cavern.

"I am Rogarr no more. But my plans will not change" he threatened, turning back to Iniquitous. His tone no longer held patience or any resemblance of civility. He summoned the dark side as a great wave behind him, his piercing red eyes upon this so called Sith Overlord, "the Republic will fall by my hands. Not yours. But your power and influence will jump start it significantly! You brought back a being who has broken the wills and minds of countless Jedi with no more than the break of a sweat! Foolish! What makes you any different?"

His gauntlet hands raised together now as he brought the massive amounts of dark side energy to his hands. With Iniquitous as his puppet, all those years dead would mean little. He would be back to where he was with a new identity and would break any of Iniquitous pawns who did not truly follow their Overlord. Finally as his entire metal shell was to the brim with the dark side, he thrusts his hand forward, its fingers spread and bent in his direction.

"SERVE"

That massive wave followed his hand, directed at the Sith Overlord.

[Jenno]

Power swelled within the hulking metal cask that stood before him. As the long-dead Master crushed the bones of his former body, Iniquitous did not flinch. It was quite amazing to watch as this spirit exercised his strength, something that had not existed for years until the Dark Overlord’s power had returned it to this world. The thought truly began to excite the Sith.

But of course, Iniquitous was dealing with someone who was not accustomed to following, a trait he had witnessed in many over the last year. He had encountered many Knights and Masters of the Force who thought themselves more powerful, more worthy than he, too great to bow their heads. But they followed him now, a greater collection of Sith had not existed for hundreds of years and it was all because of him. Rogarr had perhaps been the closest to his success during that time, but still he had not managed this much before he was killed. He was no better than the rest. He would have to learn.

The wave of dark power piled up behind the Dark Master, and at his will it crashed into Iniquitous, forcing its way into his mind. But the Sith would not fall here of all places, he would not be bested by this forgotten relic. He resisted the crashing wave of telepathic energy with the strength he had been given and the strength he had taken. It was no easy feat, for Rogarr was a master, but as the wave subsided, Iniquitous stood before him mind intact.

“Mine is not a will that can be broken. Many have tried, but there is a reason I stand at the top of the Sith Order, a reason that we have grown larger and more powerful than your band of broken Jedi ever did. I admired your work, Rogarr, but your death merely served as a lesson. I am giving you the opportunity for your power to be feared again, for you to enact revenge upon the Jedi, but only if you submit to me. I do not wish to damage such a wonderful creation of mine, but if you defy me, I will return you to that darkness.”

Iniquitous readied his mind. If it came to a battle of will, he would have to gather all of his resolve. But should this mighty warrior take up arms, there was no way Iniquitous could tackle such a behemoth head on.

[Grawn]

Failure was something he had tasted only once, a brief sampling that left him dead for over a hundred years. Feeling it again was something he had not expected, but somehow a nudge in the back of his mind was numbing any negative feelings. Rogarr would actually be disappointed if a powerful man like that which stood before him had fallen so easily, it would be unfitting. What Iniquitous had gained however, was the right to existence in the former Togorians eyes.

"I cannot say I was surprised, for even I cannot deny how powerful you are" the metal monster complimented and if was capable of a smile, it would be on his face. But only for a brief moment as any positive feelings were swept aside by the dark side coiling itself around him. "But I do not need you to give me a chance again, Iniquitous. My death and resurrection were known to me before you were even born."

Above his throne was a object that he now called, the dark side unraveling from his metallic form and taking hold of the instrument. It was a weapon of large mass, almost the same color as his armor and nearly as tall as him. A large shaft attached to a metal sphere, adorned in deadly spikes. The mace snapped to his grip and he gave it a squeeze, remembering well the damage the weapon could cause. Capable of crippling body armor like tin foil, it was homage to his past, almost identical to a mace he used when he hunted on the plains of Togoria. Every dark sin he had committed on his home world came to him, igniting the black fire in his soul, his other hand grabbing hold onto the handle.

Holding it in a spaced grip, evenly in case the Sith Overlord decided to strike, he pointed the massive spiked head at the man before him.

"Death was only a minor inconvenience, as are you," Rogarr started, pouring his hate into his weapon, using it as a conduit for his dark power. The weapon drank deeply of his strength as it anticipated the conflict its Master intended, "your purpose has been fulfilled. I will not be returned to the darkness, because I will send you in my place!"

To Rogarr, Iniquitous was just a challenge set before him by the dark side. To prove that he was worthy of this rebirth, to prove that he was destined for greatness. His massive strength, strength capable of bending durasteel, surged in his arms as he slid both hands down to the middle of the handle. His speed was unpredictable for his size, it often caught many unprepared as he pulled back and took a step forward. As he stepped, he swung with as much strength as he allowed, ensuring control enough to allow retreat in the case of a counterattack.

Despite his size, the Togorian was no fool. While he was on par with the wisest of scholars, he was not akin to a gundark, he did not underestimate his foes. But he was absolute in his purpose, his destiny. And if this Sith used a lightsaber and underestimated him, Iniquitous would fall into a pit like many Jedi that Rogarr had faced before.

No one thought to think that his mace was interwoven with cortosis.

[Jenno]

Iniquitous almost scoffed at the Dark Jedi’s words. “Do not delude yourself Rogarr. Without me and my unique ability, you would still be nothing more than a pile of bones. You are a forgotten relic. Ask the people of the Republic, or the Jedi Order, about Rogarr the Dark Jedi and they won’t know who you are talking about. Your time has passed, you have failed. This is my time, it is the era of the Sith. And you will bow to me.”

He carried on his body the blades of some of those he had slain in this lost shrine. Whilst he observed Rogarr take his mace, which seemed to have much more weight to it that the history books had ever mentioned, Iniquitous wrapped his mind around two of the blades that he carried. He did not wish to cut the armour which he had made, as that would mean more work for him later when he needed to repair it. As Rogarr pointed the weapon at him, Iniquitous knew that even with the Force he would not be able to engage his opponent in a test of physical strength. He would have to move fast, sense out his opponent’s movements and use the Force to bring about victory.

At the first instant of movement from the metallic monster, Iniquitous was aware of it. He channelled the force into his legs and jumped backwards. The floor he’d been standing on cracked under the strength of Rogarr’s attack. It would have easily crushed his body. Iniquitous ignited one of the blades he carried and threw it at the mace, aiming for the handle. The blade bounced off, no sign of damage left upon the handle. He hadn’t constructed the mace; it was one of the few factors Iniquitous had not been fully aware of. It was resistant to lightsabers, that would perhaps make things a little more challenging.

“I suggest you back down, Rogarr. You cannot win. You know nothing about your new body, its strengths, its weaknesses. I made it, I summoned you, I know everything. I don’t wish to waste my breath fighting you so please,” using his mind Iniquitous picked up two large rocks that the Prophet from earlier had thrown at him and hold them floating at his sides, “stop this pointless affair.”

[Grawn]

His teeth would be grit if capable as Rogarr listened to the dog before him bark. All he had seen of his all-powerful Overlord was a penchant for talk, a black aura and the ability to fling a lightsaber. His words rang truth, for Rogarr certainly had no idea what he was capable of in this metallic prison. But he would be damned if he did not test it for himself before giving himself over to the man.

"Then let us see, Overlord, just exactly what my strengths are. Weaknesses, if they aren't bluffs, will be yours to expose," rumbled the metal beast. Closing his eyes, the red orbs of light that represented his vision fading into the darkness of his helmet, Rogarr remembered his final battle. The technique he had honed and used to make him far more deadly then some would perceive.

Among his followers, Rogarr had several names. Ferrodeus, the Steel Prince, Metal God. All of them originating for his ability to cloud himself in a whirling steel tornado of shrapnel, churning endlessly and ALMOST effortlessly around his person as he went into combat. It made him incredibly lethal outside of his obvious physical strength to engage and now he would try it once more. Eyes still closed, he focused on the dark side seeping throughout his domain. This place was a nest of dark atrocities, much negative energy found its home here.

Recalling the haunted sound of the torture chambers hidden below, his darkness spread onto the nearby metal supports and walls. The cries of the people he had tortured came to his thoughts, urging the darkness to penetrate the steel, call it to him. With a low growl, he began the process of pulling and splintering it, the effects visible as they began to tremble. Piece by piece, they began to come to him and begin a orbit like pattern as Rogarr slung the mace upon his shoulder and made a clenched hand. More and more the steel around him ripped from place, coming loose from the walls in medium to small pieces.

All it took was a minute and Rogarr opened his eyes. The blazing red orbs came to fiery life to see shards of metal swirling about him and he stared at the Overlord with murderous intent. The sharpnel tornado around him took a fair bit of concentration to hold, but he remembered when he would meditate while having it about him. It would remain for as long as he needed it. Bringing his mace in both of his hands, his gauntlets wrapping tightly around the handle, he advanced.

"Breaking the beast is the first step to taming it, Iniquitous. Prove you are my equal and I will lend you my strength. As you can see," the metal titan jerking his head in a quick notion to the support beams he had just severely weakened, "Your test has a time limit. My defeat will need to be swift if you intend to leave his cavern alive. They were designed specifically to support enough to allow a cave-in if damaged to a certain point."

The advance turned into a bull rush as Rogarr let out a tremendous roar, infused with his fury as he struck forward. His blows were strong, but still balanced, even with the effort of maintaining his shield.