Dark Ascension

[Jenno]

(OOC: Okay this is pretty much just for the promotion of the Sith Apprentices and the short interaction will likely just be between them. However, if you want to have your character observe or some such, just to post at the temple or sum up their progression to this point then that’s fine with me, but please do not interrupt this little ‘ceremonial’ in anyway, otherwise Iniquitous wont be a happy bunny.)

Iniquitous stood upon the summit of the Temple, the flat surface that would be used for training many of the Initiates who were to be brought into the Sith Order. The view from this place was spectacular, it all to look over all that had once been but a senseless apparition to him. Although the ‘view’ was much more different for the Dark Overlord, it still had the same feel and effect, but with a strong sense of pride. A major step had been completed, this new Temple had been built, the Sith Empire was now under the control of the Order and a new Supreme Chancellor had declared the Republics intentions. Whilst the galaxy waited on the word of the Jedi’s possible involvement, Darth Iniquitous couldn’t help but feel as though things were going according to plan.

He couldn’t predict the actions of the Jedi. He hoped that they would avoid battle for now, in order to allow the Empire time to grow with less risk and also to give the Sith Order enough time to grow and expand. That was why he was here today, stood upon the top of this dark mammoth, to see to the growth and expansion of this Sith Order. He had stood alone on the sun stricken panels, calling out to four people with the Force as he did so. There he waited their arrival. They did not have far to travel, all were gathered now, either in the temple itself or in the nearby area. With the completion of their missions Iniquitous had kept them at their new home and had been teaching and instructing them rigorously, as he had been doing with many that had arrived.

But recently he had been investing a lot of his time in the four apprentices, the two who had been his own and, after Paxis had left in an attempt to gather more forces, the two who had seemingly become two new apprentices. Their skill was unique; they were more powerful that most who had join the Sith Order. It was to be expected though, each had already been powerful when he had first met them, all he had to do was unlock the potential within them and their powers grew exponentially. Each of them was truly gifted by the Force, chosen as containers of its wondrous powers.

Now it was time for them to set forth just as he had done, no longer as an apprentice to a master, though they would still be learning and likely turn to him many times in the future. They would have to take on their own apprentices, become teachers to Initiates at the temple. They would remain his closest servants and would form the part of his Inner Sanctum, the most powerful, respected and loyal servants to the Sith Order and its Overlords. The only way to gain a position on the Inner Sanctum would be through merit and these for had more than proved themselves over the last few months. They had nothing going for them, only their masters and the Force to believe in and they never relented. He was proud that they had reached this position and certain that they would not fail him.

They came. Separated by only a few minutes soon the four of them were gathered upon the peak of the Temple. Eurachis, Novus, Veratos and Renata, four names that would soon stretch across the stars and strike fear into the heart of the Republic. Iniquitous turned to face them now as they stood upon the precipice of uncertainty that lay anew before them. This moment was for them more than it was for him.

“Do you know why I have called you all here?” His voice beat out serenely before those who had become accustomed to it and the power why lurked beneath the surface of the words. “It has been many months since we first set out on our mission to return the Sith Order to the Galaxy. And whilst we are not known or feared by name, we have accomplished the first major step. We stand upon a monument, a testament to the power and ideals we all possess, but it was not dreams that put you where you are now. Hard work, loyalty and sacrifice have allowed you to make this Temple from ruins, to subdue corporate-bloated pretenders and to stick by the ideals of this Order when things seemed almost impossible.” He cupped his hands behind his back and stood tall before them during a brief pause. Behind him the setting sun seemed to almost engulf his black-clad form with a dim golden-orange burst.

“You have all achieved remarkable things; you have learned ancient ways and discovered yourselves on a level you never knew. I believe that each of you will be able to advance more if you take upon the roles of teachers instead of apprentices. You all possess the power and more than that, each of you has proven yourself to be worthy of the first positions on the Inner Sanctum.” He smiled with a proud joy, an emotion he rarely let escape from his lips. “I have called you all here on this day in order to promote you to full members of the Sith.” He finished calmly, he would wait for them to gather their thoughts, perhaps mutter a few words, until he declare them part of the Order.

[Meira]

She had been back for a short while since her last mission. The return to Korriban had been wondrous. Where once there only existed forgotten ruins and wastes, now stood the most glorious site the galaxy might ever behold. The Order was like a mist before she left, one that was growing into a deep fog. It was very real, but you couldn't grasp it. But now the Order stood proud and solid with a place to call its own. This temple was more than a mere building, it represented a firm foundation from which the most powerful beings in the galaxy would rise to take their rightful places. Though it was only the beginning, this temple would be the first of many statements to the galaxy that the Sith had returned and that their will would be done.

As had become standard, Renata's return meant more training. For her, it was about control. If the results of he last mission, the slight hiccup at the end in particular, were testament to anything, it was that she had a great power inside of her. But in order to use that power to its true potential, she must master her control. Her fight with her former master had been eye opening. And the conclusion had been deadly, almost as much for herself as for him. After her recovery, Renata spent hours in deep meditation, reigning in the fire that she had loosed. Not since her initial escape from the Jedi and would be slave traders had she allowed herself to lose control. This time, however, had been so much more than the first. Compared to this, her first fall into her dark power had been little more than a spark.

Veratos had told her once, on that frigid world, that she must not allow her power to take control of her. They had made a vow that day to protect each other from the monsters that they might become. Renata had seen the monster inside herself that day on Umgul. It was terrifying, yet beautiful. The rage, the power, had been so enticing, easily embraced. But like a wildfire it had spread, consumed her, and in letting it grow, she had nearly destroyed herself. Renata didn't know what saved her from her own destruction. Perhaps it was him, the man she felt so close to no matter how far apart they might be. Perhaps it was Iniquitous, the one who promised so much more than he had already given. Perhaps it was her own greed. She wanted more, she hungered for more.

In any case, she had come so very close to death that day. And even now she was still recovering. The physical exhaustion was nothing compared to the gaping void that the fire had left behind. It was as if she were an empty shell, lost and alone in the most suffocating darkness she had ever known. But she had clawed her way out, however slowly. Her meditations brought back her sense of control. Her training strengthened it. It was in such a meditation that Renata felt her master's call.

It stirred her into consciousness. Her ice blue eyes fluttering open, a smile forming on her thin lips, she stood from the place she had occupied for so many hours. The sensation of it gripped her heart. Anticipation for her new orders drove her forward from her chambers. It mounted as she climbed higher through the temple to where she could feel her master waiting. She knew he had not called her alone. The other three had been summoned as well. The first of his apprentices, the select of his Order, they were all being called to assemble together. This would not be a small mission then.

Renata stepped forth out into the setting sun. Its rays caught her hair with the wind. Each strand mimicked the blaze. She took her place standing before her master and beside Veratos. This was her anchor. These two men, for different reasons, held Renata in a place she might call safe. Once the four had gathered, Iniquitous addressed them, asking if they knew why he had called them. Renata knew better than to speak now. He did not seek an actual answer to the question, but was merely bringing the consideration to their minds.

The words that followed caused her heart to beat faster, even as she tried to control it. This was the time she had waited for, as she was sure the others had as well. They had been tried, tested, and had been found worthy. They would stand above the rest, would be the faces of the Sith for the galaxy to fear. The monster she had so painstakingly tamed was licking it's lips and scratching at the bars of her ribcage, keen to be released and devour this power that was being laid before her. But Renata was not about to let it loose again, especially not now. She held it in tight, not allowing it to surface to her features.

But of course with more power would come more responsibility. Iniquitous was bringing them into his Inner Sanctum, but they would have to reach out to others. As he had taught them, so too would they teach. But who? Renata had watched many of the Dark Jedi that had flocked to their midst. She had even worked with a few of them. Surely with some meditation the force would guide her to the right one or two.

Iniquitous finished his short speech and paused. Renata had no words but of gratitude. Her eyes first sought out Veratos. She turned her head toward him and her expression conveyed her joy. She nodded to the others as well. She didn't know them as well as she did Veratos. But their loyalty to the Sith Order bound them all and she couldn't help but feel that bond. Finally, she turned back to Iniquitous. She looked him straight in the eye, knowing that foggy as they were, he could still see her. As she looked at him, she lowered herself down to her knees, not bowing her head until she had fully settled. She was ready for this, wanted it badly, but still knew her place and his. She would still serve him, even as others served her. But her humility before her master could not stop the thin smile from spreading on her lips.

[Foxfire]

With the grand temple complete, Cho Wroth Made his way to the top training ground where the induction for the first of many Sith was being held. He would probably get there near the end, but that mattered little to the noghri. His main concern was righting the Dark Will's flow of power that was imbued during the construction.

Day by day, as the construction went on Cho was there to correct the flow according to the place and need of Sith power. More for training and meditation. Less power for the stores of food and equipment. The building had to have the right Force coloring so as to flow like a proper place of gathering for the Dark Will. Many had wondered why he used so much energy just to correct or to heal the darkness being used to help build.

A strong place needs no weakness for the Jedi to use against us. If one is weak all will fall. Strength with out weakness, this is the Rakata way.

Cho repeated these words many times and now the temple was read to be used to train, teach, and be the what it was meant to be,........The seat of power for the new Sith Lord and nation.

As Cho neared the training area, he shut off his presences in the force and used his silent stalking so as to have a minimum effect on the event. Going so far as to use an old noghri hunt style of focusing on a preys heart, to clear the mind of all thought. The master was finishing his now doubt grand speech. Cho just quietly made his way to an out of the way corner of the area.

Now begins the time to see whether the newly chosen one would live up to their masters call or die with out honoring the ways of the Sith

[Apillis]

Time - time had passed, Acalya had begun acclimating herself within the Sith Temple, and as with anything it took some adjusting. There were aspects she simply did not understand very well at all, and others she perhaps knew a little too well. The ceremonial aspects of the Sith Order as a whole with its numerous seats of power, she did not see the need for so many layers. It was only natural, she had never been ingrained within such an environment, what she was taught was only to respect and cow to thy master, damn the rest who are weaker. While she did not necessarily prescribe to such an overtly aggressive mindset... that often... she did respected its simplicity.

All of this, however, far more formal, far more grandiose - she could not help but view it in a way as an unconscious herald to the past they loathe so much. A time of what they were before they touched upon the darkness, before the first corruption, before everything - a time of equanimity - a time of stagnation before a catastrophe for a new foundation. A symbol of the foundation of eras past of allegiances fueled by the singular unrelenting desire of what this temple serves for now, and their ceremonial methods to continue to pledge to that obsessive desire that has never died or wavered.

While within the halls of the Sith Temple where she now resided, Acalya often heard the boasts for power being that desire, but she believes she sees right through such boasts to the reality of it. The desire for power is merely a mask for the more true desire to murder what they hate most, the reflection of themselves that they cannot ever shake or truly ever rid themselves of - the Jedi. Acalya has plenty of reasons to see such mirrored reflects be shattered, it was a Jedi who started all of this for her. A Jedi who turned the one who would later be her father away from the darkness, and showed him the light, at which point he settled down - met a woman, and had two children - she being the youngest. Then the darkness he betrayed returned, and it was she that the darkness chose to be its burden bearer. It was all the start of the actions of singular Jedi who self-righteously thought like all Jedi do, that darkness must be purged, and thus do so without ever considering or attempt to bear the burden of such consequences; and leave it to those who lives they maladjusted to suffer for such decisions they are not qualified to make out of their blind piety to a singular path of the Force. Yes, she has plenty of reason to see the Jedi broken. But it was not necessarily out of hate she felt the desire to do this, her hate is actually placed elsewhere. Her reasoning for giving into the desire for the Jedi's destruction seeing it as a necessity.

Within the amount of time that has passed as the others from the meeting passed went about there business, she returned to her marathon levels of meditations, only from within the temple. It was different from the past times, much different - back then she was younger and did so in a barren wasteland filled with nothing but the lingering dead presence of those Sith Lords long past. It was at that time she reached the epiphany that the path of the dark side is a path of death - all things within the dark side end in death. But she begun to touch upon a new lesson within the temple during meditations, apathy. It was not a new disposition to her, but its appliance to the dark side - a path of death - certainly is a new concept to be digested and ruminated. The dark side is death - and death does not care how one dies, how one feels before death, it does not care when one dies, it does not care that one dies - all it knows and it cares for is that all will die. It is apathy.

During such meditations is when she stretched out and felt the presences of the many who clambered for the obvious power they perceived in the darkness. She could not slight them for it, she did the same only some time before, she was the second to answer its call for a new age after all. It was also during such times she would stretch out her perceptions and listen through the Force - through the veil of darkness to Iniquitous' lessons to the other Initiates. She wondered if there were those who took offense at being reduced to Initiate level, not that she did - all must learn to crawl before they can walk; and they were definitely learning a new stride to walk to now being part of the Sith Order.

At times while wandering the halls crossing paths with with a few young Initiates, she would impart a small piece of insight in the dark side within them. It was more out of a curiosity to see what they would do it - watch them through her perceptions within the Force while she returned to her meditates. Would they use it for anger, use it for power, or use it to spite another? She was a Dark Jedi Master after all, such things were not beyond her ability, nor such manipulations devoid of her or beneath her. Some need to be shaped after all, while the unworthy weeded out, sometimes the worst thing you can give a person is precisely what they want when they have no mind to use it. Knowledge for greater power can always work against the one whom it was granted to just as much as it can possibly benefit them, it is after all up to the one whom it was granted to, to see fit how they would use it - to their unknowing demise or to their uplifting benefit. Some within the amount of time that had past she was able to see progressively destroy themselves already, while others it affected very little or not noticeably enough yet, or already just starting to show a dash more promise. Fun experimental manipulation to say the least.

Manipulation - a subject that often amuses her, not because of her using it, but because of others boasting of their ability with it. Even how she joined the Sith Order is an exclamation of her ability to manipulate. Here she joined the Order of the Sith without ever having to even give her name, show her power, or reveal anything tangible about herself. Meanwhile, others during that dawning of a new age showed off their power, exclaimed themselves, and revealed their lives to strangers. What did she reveal? Only that she had been to Korriban in the past and she knew a small bit of history. Acalya stepped into a whole new realm of darkness without so much a tiny bit of effort, not even having to give so much as a name to discover who she is and the great ship with a massive crew she bends to her will. She gave relatively nothing and gained relatively everything - that is manipulation. The only holder of her name during moments of the temple's construction she passed on to Iniquitous, after all, how can teacher teach a student properly without knowing a shred of their identity? But, the others, she only left them with their own ignorance about her.

She could not help but wonder from time to time if she were something of a pest to Iniquitous, when time allowed it she would ask him many questions. Always a curious sort craving for more understanding, and the Sith's method of darkness was still new to her as she had been so acclimated to her own methods.

However, now was not a time to pester Iniquitous with more questions, this was a time for observation. She watched in silence as the ceremony continued with the four before Iniquitous being exalted for greater mantles of power. She could only wonder where such a future lay for herself with time, and how far she will be able to go within the Sith Order - she has no past to serve as an indication to give insight to even know. Nevertheless, she stood quietly and observed the ceremony transpire as she stood idly by within the shadows avoiding being intrusive at all costs.

She stayed to watch the ceremony transpire till its end without so much as a word before she would leave briefly to carry out her own mission in the name of the Sith Order aboard the ship awaiting her - the Sensorium...

((Edit: Stupid typos...))

[sparrow]

A mile away from the new temple, Zarene Yin stepped off of the ship onto the surface of Korriban, newly returned from a trip to Corellia, and detour on Kuat. The mission itself had been quite successful. The King and Queen of Corellia were both feeding worms now, along with two of their sons. Before the trip, Zarene had wondered what it would have been like to kill a king. As it turned out, not much different from killing any other man.

Untying the ribbon in her hair, she let it fall loose, allowing the wind to whip it about. It felt good to be back. The place felt different from when she had last been here, however. She couldn't place her finger on what exactly it was, except that something big had happened during her absence there. She began to walk.

Reaching the top of a ridge, she gazed upon the newly-constructed temple for the first time. Something big, indeed. She had known that Lord Iniquitious was working on the construction of a new temple, but actually seeing it now, she couldn't help but stop and stare. A dark Temple to rival anything that the Jedi have built....

The Jedi,... they were why she was here in the first place. They were responsible for her current condition. All that talk of light and goodness, but in the end... Her master had been left to die. She had been left to die.

That had been almost three years ago, but the scars remained with her still. And then there was the Exchange, who had taken her and rebuilt her body, used her as a weapon against their enemies. But in a way Zarene had come to accept what had happened. She had had everything important in her life taken away from her, but she was still here. She had struggled and fought, scratched and clawed her way back up. And it had made her strong, strong enough to make a name for herself as an assassin and enforcer in the Outer Rim, strong enough to make the Exchange executives that had once ordered her about like a slave to become themselves the ones bowing and scraping to please.

The construction of the Temple marked a new chapter in the story of the Sith Order. It was also a new chapter for her. Since joining the new Order, and carrying out its will on Bakura and Corellia, she had grown in confidence. Zarene was slowly and steadily learning to conquer the doubt and self-pity that had plagued her before. Her fall had taught her much about the galaxy. It wasn't about light and compassion and all that sugary sweetness. What mattered was strength, power, and the ability to seize what you wanted, what was rightfully yours.

She had some small measure of power now, and there was nowhere to go but up.

From the ridge, she could see a single standing figure at the summit of the Temple. Waves of dark energy seemed to emanate from the entire Temple, but much of it was concentrated around that one man. Iniquitious. The one who had brought them all here. It had been Iniquitious, Paxis, and their reborn Sith Order that helped her rediscover herself. They saw her as something more than a tool or instrument to be used, gave her a place where she could belong, and in return she would serve with loyalty and devotion.

[Mara]

[...from Sticks and Stones]


The yellow Twi'lek named Looma Isana in Basic had been on Korriban for weeks now, her past at the agricrops facility on Bakura almost completely erased from her mind. So much had happened since then. Since the day the dark Jedi had come to rescue her and her best friend Cal from their dreaded life of manual labor. Most of the former younglings-turned-farmers had cowered in fear of the newcomers, but Looma was part of those eager for a new life. She had agreed to go with them, to wherever they would be taken, to join their Brotherhood.


* * *

She remembered the day of her arrival on Korriban; the temple had been a mere ruin then. All the new recruits form Bakura were sitting on a grand clearing that was in front of the ruins. Up on a rock had stood a dark figure, the man she know knew as her leader: the Dark Lord, Darth Iniquitous. He had spoke of their collective future as wielders of the dark side, and she had felt a rush of hope swell in her heart. All the promises made to them back on Bakura were going to come true.

But it had all been interrupted when a steady parade of other dark siders had appeared almost from thin air to speak to this self-proclaimed Dark Lord of the Sith. To do more than speak, to challenge him in words and in lightsaber combat. And so they had all watched as the man known as Darth Iniquitous battled this newcomer long and hard, but eventually succumbing to the dark lord's superior power and strength and wisdom. More dark Jedi had appeared, asking the Lord what his intentions were and to let their own be known. There were more appearing almost every few minutes, it had seemed to Looma. Even a strange reptilian being had arrived. One, after time had passed, she knew now as a Noghri.

Eventually, after lots of discussions and barbed words at each other, the newcomers all had pledged their allegiance to the Dark Lord. Looma had become increasingly impatient at this time. Darth Iniquitous had barely spoken to her and the rest of the recruits from Bakura. He had been interrupted by the appearance of the first dark masters. Yes, she had heard his words of the future and was excited for the time to come that that Sith would take over the galaxy, expunging the Jedi from their awareness. But where was their place in it all? Where was hers?

Finally she had somewhat of an answer when Darth Iniquitous had turned to all of them, including all the new recruits, speaking of the challenges ahead, of preparing themselves fully before catching the Jedi and the rest of the Republic unaware. Asking if they would join him. The Force surged within Looma's heart, and she could feel the swelling around her as the others also embodied the same emotions. There was no need for them to yell out "yes, my Lord," for it was obvious he could feel their answer through the Force. A part of her wanted to yell in excitement and joy anyway, but Looma held back, merely raising her fist in accompanyment with all the other dark Jedi, the members of the new Brotherhood, and their new Dark Lord.

The ruins came tumbling down with a roar, echoed with the power of the dark side of the Force, reverberating through the area.

* * *

Now she was out in front of the newly constructed Temple, the completion of which she and the other initiates, no longer recruits, had helped create with guidance from the older more experienced dark siders. Ever since the day weeks prior that she had pledged herself to the Sith cause, she had been waiting for a way to establish herself, to prove that she belonged here.

The yellow Twi'lek had felt a sense of pride throughout the previous weeks as she had helped finalize the first step in a grand scheme for the Sith to reclaim what was once theirs. Discovering her affinity with telekinesis, she had been placed in one of the core groups that was moving the blocks of stone that would, piece by piece, create their new Temple, a symbol of their power and of the future.

Since their arrival, she hadn't seem much of Cal. They ended up in different assembly groups for helping build the Temple, and, like back on Bakura, she was too tired by the end of the day to even think about talking to anyone, immediately falling asleep out under the stars, her temporary quarters until the Temple was completed. While she worked, she occasionally thought about the human who had been her close companion for the last two years, but she had to push him from the forefront of her mind in order to concentrate on what she was doing, lifting up large bricks of stone that others had constructed from rocks to better create the walls of the Temple.

She had had a few lessons during the Temple construction, others helping to hone her telekinetic skills, helping her to control them more deftly. Looma had taken to this immediately; one of the reasons she had been sent from the Jedi Temple was because she loved moving things with her mind, things she shouldn't be. And she had used her anger, another grounds for dismissal. But here, she was taught to embrace her anger, to let it help her work using the Force. The yellow Twi'lek was looking forward to when she would be able to do more than just construct a Temple on Korriban.

Hopefully her future would be revealed to her today, as all the initiates were gathered out in front of the Temple, waiting for what Darth Iniquitous had to say. The mass of them looked up to the Temple where four figures had joined the Dark Lord upon the peak of the Temple. A wave of hushed apprehension washed through the Force as Looma stood there. Caleb wasn't at her side; she actually had spoken to him in a few days, even after the Temple had been completed. She wasn't sure if he was engaged in training, or just was avoiding her. Hoping for the former, she turned her attention back to what was happening above her.

Darth Iniquitous was speaking to the four figures that had gathered near him. From their height, she couldn't recognize them, but from their presence in the Force, a couple of them were familiar. She had seen them around in the past few weeks during the Temple construction. As the Dark Lord spoke of their promotions, Looma couldn't help but want to be in their position someday. She craved the power of being one of the Dark Lord's trusted. Looma didn't want to remain an initiate, always training, never getting anywhere. It would just be a repeat of her life as a Jedi. No, she had to make sure she performed well, and she would be rising through the ranks in no time.

She waited to hear the responses of the four figures, wondering if one of them would be her future master, the one who would unlock her full potential in the dark side and help her on her way to becoming a master at what she did.



((blah, it sucks, but it's done))

[Karl the Unfettered]

Shard was also observing the ceremony, leaning casually against a pillar, not a thread or wrinkle out of place on his robes. The black glasses rested, as always, upon his face, concealing the empty maws beneath them. It was a solemn occasion, and even one such as he knew it would be ill to interrupt in any way; accordingly he had made himself small in the Force, insignificant, so as not to infringe upon anyone's concentration. He had not always been so before, of course.

During the construction he had helped, like everyone else, using not only the Force but his own physical might; he was no stranger to back-breaking labor, as he had proved. After that, though, the classes he'd attended had been so mundane, almost boring; very little of what he had expected, no ancient powers and deep secrets, just the Sith Code and all that it meant according to the new order. He had a quick and nimble mind, and such things were easily absorbed; after that he had felt it was wasting his time, and went on to better himself elsewhere.

Naturally he had gravitated to the training chambers and obstacle courses, where he fought the sparring droids and anyone who thought to match themselves against him. Noy many did, since he was a fierce duelist who didn't seem to know what restraint was; it was as much a part of who he was as his lack of eyes, though, and it was what kept him sane. It was what kept his true nature, the murderous bloodcrazed psycho, in check the rest of the time. He had meditated, as well, revelling in the flow of the Dark Side which the Temple was imbued with, adding his own chaotic flavor to it; sometimes he would meditate while using Art of the Small to conceal himself, and those passing near would feel a sourceless, inexplicable heat within the Force, as if a furnace was on the verge of exploding. And if anyone stood too long within this heat they felt the Miraluka's unsubtle madness filtering through them, as he meditated with the clamors of darkness, internal and external, assaulting his senses.

He represented a different facet of the Dark Side, one as opposed to shadowy manipulation and cold logic as you could get. He was madness, chaos, insanity given form; the very aura of power that surrounded him was enough to disrupt the local balance of Force energies wherever he went, when he chose not to hide his power. He kept himself beneath a leash of sarcasm and grandois gestures out of necessity, or else he'd have been slain long ago, surrounded by the countless bodies of those he had taken with him.

At other times, more normal times, he was his usual self; the controlled, sarcastic fellow who had faced Iniquitous and the others so brazenly and openly. He was quite open and loud, prone to attracting other denizens and making speeches. Anyone could come up to the Miraluka and ask questions, and he'd answer as he could; he was by nature a loud person who loved crowds, and lead by action and example as opposed to quiet words and skulking, shadowy hatred. He had left contradictory impressions on everyone; some thought he was a crazy blowhard with too much power, others thought he had the right idea in what he said (though when pressed to recall they couldn't quite repeat it; something in his flourishing manner simply couldn't be passed on by the others), and others worried he wouldn't be loyal, that when push came to shove he would see to his own skin first and foremost.

Shard didn't much care for what they thought; he had told Iniquitous he would serve, and that was that. Anyone who doubted his loyalty was more than welcome to settle it over a good fight in the sparring rooms, a fact he made abundantly clear. Everyone knew who he was, and that was as he liked it.

Now, though, he was being innocuous, his cloak thrown back as he leaned against the pillar, the very picture of self-control. He had a plan, a grand scheme he wanted to present to Iniquitous; but it could wait until after the ceremony. It would bring power and recruits to their Empire, but at the same time it would need a great degree of independance, so he wanted to at least present the scheme before implementing it.

[Ä©ε]

Aerrik situated himself in the back of the crowd of those who had also gathered at the temple. It was an uncomfortable situation for him; he, unlike most others here, had only just arrived some 12 hours before. Everyone else had already come, gone off on a mission of some sort, and then comeback...or at least that was what he was told.

He had only come to Korriban for archaeological reasons, back on Dantooine he came upon the knowledge that Korrriabn was the world where many of the tombs of the Great Sith lie. Out of curiosity, he set out to the cold, dusty planet in search of these 'lost tombs'. He had been on the planet for nearly 3 months and all he had encountered were beasts....violent ones too.

He was about to give up hope on this 'treasure hunt' per say, when suddenly, suddenly he felt an overwhelming wave of dark side energy envelop him; he thought it to be nothing but hysteria at first, but when it continued....and continued... he knew he could ignore it no longer. He raced off to whatever it was, though this wasn't easy, whatever it was, it was very elusive. He spent nearly a week searching for the source and when he finally foun it, to his suprise, it wasn't the Valley of the Dark Lords as he had hoped, it was more.

He landed his ship in the grand valley an looked in wonder at the huge temple and the many old tombs that accompanied it. Suddenly he felt 3 months of his life weren't wasted. Upon exiting the ship, he saw a man and as he approached this man (with caution) the source of the energy he felt suddenly became clear to him. Learning that he was the orchestrator of this gathering and that he had hoped to restore the once fallen Sith Order to it's former greatness. Loving the idea, Aerrik eagerly wanted to join along.

Now it was later in the day and these apprentices were being promoted. He leaned up against a wall and waited and observed...

[Necro Stormborn]

(( i must first preface this post with a warning. This post will most likel be violent.. disturbing, perhaps dark. If you have a weak stomach, forgive me but i request you skip to where i place -----'s for seperation. On another note, i have posted a playlist that i have found increasingly successful and appropriate for when I'm trying to write. It lets words flow through me but can't muster them. Enjoy it, it' a gift from me to you, though i'm sure Nicole has already heard most of it...considering she started the idea.))

www.playlist.com/playlist/18107128075

* * *

The Darkness fell down before the man's eyes. His shadow grew long as the only source of light slowly vanished behind him...casting an uncomfortable shallow feeling of guilt and regret..... and most of all.... Loneliness set in.

The void this man sat in, far in the depths of oblivion, away from any source of life twisted and turned. It assaulted his mind, relentlessly laying siege to his sanity. The man's hands started to tremble..... a slow shake. His temperature began to rise, and his tongue went numb. His mouth slowly tried to open but the limp tongue seemed to droop and make it impossible, seconds later his lips felt as though they were starting to stitch together. Eyes scrunched up as pain set in. A burning sensation as though the flesh were being boile or charred over an open flame caused a track of tears to form from both scrunched eyes. The wincing pain slowly abated as the feeling of his ligaments teraing from his body and free floating away into the darkness never to be seen again set in on the person.

The cold feeling of death whispered in this man's ear then licked the sides of his face..... till finally his eyes flung open. Open staring blankly into a burning sun light. At least, that was what it appeared to be. This exrtremely bright luminescent light circling around him began to make his head shake and his vision blurry.

The light began to dim, and finally he could see clearly. There were people... people he had seen before. However, they were missing limbs. Missing Torsos, lacking heads.....some of them had charred or burned flesh, some even to the bone. Their eyes were black voids Looking straight at him. With his heart beginning to race, all he could do was try to crawl back away from them.... but his shaking muscles that had or were atrophying incredibly fast brought tears to his eyes once more...

Was he going to die in this hellish place that he had never seen before?

These dead bodies grabbed if not latched onto his arm.. and he felt his bones break beneath the clasping hands and biting teeth that were these dead and sickening figures.... figures he slowly started to understand from where they had come.

A soft voice curled into his ears and messaged his mind as the fear began to wash away... then a chilling word....

"NO!"

And with that, a stunned and wide awake Eurachis lay on the floor sweating profusely.

--------------

Eurachis, Dark Lord of the Sith had woken up the night before in a daze.... in disbelief as to what he had seen. All the people he had watched die, killed, or decided against helping had assaulted him, and he had been helpless. The fact hat he had been helpless was what had stirred him the most. Never before had Eurachis been in a position where he had utterly nothing he could do.... never had he been in a position where he would die, and have no say or ability to stop it.

He now stood in front of a plasteel wall overlooking the valley beow that winded its way down from the Temple doors. Coming back from muunilist with blood on his hands had perhaps changed him. He was slightly questiong things, but put those speculations and questions to rest as he remembered his loyalty and fealty to his masters, Paxis and Iniquitous. He recalled that even if Iniquitous had been the one ordering him around., Paxis had trusted this young boy and so too would Eurachis.

He ran his palm across his face slowly allowing the warmth in his hand to try and calm his mind as he slowly stepped forwards and in the direction of the exit to his room. He huffed slowly regaining his composure.... he could not show sign of weakness.. not show sign of fearing his inner demons. He had to continue the image he had built... he would, and could tear down and destroy anyone or anything.... and he would not allow anyone t stop him or his masters. Their ambition was his.... blindly loyal some would say... but he would leave them blind if he heard such things.

He walked silently into the ceremony and bowed before iniquitous as he began to speak . His brow furrowed with a few more questions as iniquitous said what he was planning. However, throughout the entire ceremony there was one person who maintained an interest.. a person who Eurachis had never seen before .... a person Eurachis wanted to get to know.. someone who seemed to demand respect and seemed to get it, This man by the name of Shard. But that was something The dark robed man would look into later. He continued to listen without a response to iniquitous.

[Grawn]

With his mission complete and the data within his grasp, he had flown back to Korriban with little trouble. The local police of Yaga Minor had attempted to thwart his escape from the planet but he wasnt a novice at spaceflight and had been able to leave without engaging them. Apparently they didnt appreciate a number of their own men slaughtered in open streets along with a few civilians. This concerned him none though. With the Bothan blown out of the ships airlock and now dead, there was nothing to be concerned about pertaining to his mission. The data had been double checked and it had quite a bit of information regarding Dark Jedi movement, more then enough to tip off the Jedi to the little Korriban gathering and then some.

Landing his ship, the temple that now overtook the landscape was a marvel to behold. It filled him with a dark glee because if something this grand could be built, the creators could also bestow great destruction. And destruction was something that seemed to follow Grawn Ianie where he went. Before entering the temple however, he decided to take a little trip to a certain cliff. This cliff, while insignificant to some, was of great importance to him. He had nearly died at this location but it had only occured to him that he had lost an item of some meaning to him. It had been a pain but after an hour of searching the chasm, he had found it.

A Sith holocron belonging to his uncle, the very man who had trained him. Grawn was surprised to find the artifact intact because from where he had fallen, the light from Korribans sky nearly didnt reach. Using the Force he had gotten out of the dark chasm, leaving behind a memory of a battle fought with a hated foe behind and entered the Sith temple. He wasnt brought up in the greatest of conditions as he recalled, though his past before Ibapo was a blur so seeing the temples architectural design and furnishings didnt impress him as they would some. Comfort was comfort and unfortunately for him, it wasnt something he experienced often.

Not that he cared. There was far to much to do then sit on ones rump and contribute little to the far greater mission. Destruction of the Republic. He explored some, asked little but suddenly the Force seemed to shift slightly within the great place. A dark whisper told him to seek out the source or event that was taking place and thus the cloaked and masked man did. He followed the whisper till he found himself looking upon Lord Iniquitous and the other figures that made up the leadership of the newly reborn Sith. Here he found that the Force was swirling about them, just as it did when he had been here before his mission.

Silently he found a spot that was out of the way and folded his arm and cybernetic replacement together, leaning against the wall. He would delve into his uncles holocron later, right now he wished to observe and make mental notes. Sampson sat beside him, the black hound watching with his master for what the future of the Sith had in store.

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi had disembarked from the ship on Korriban with a feeling of exhilaration. The Bothan's information had been succesfully retrieved, and they had gotten back safely. Grawn Ianie had disappeared, but that didn't matter to her. Nothing mattered to her much anymore. The newly constructed temple loomed up among the hills, its magnificence amazing. What had once been a dark, forbidding, utterly desolate planet had been transformed into the center of a movement, a force, nay, a very army. A smile lurked at the corners of Nirisi's mouth. Yes, this was wonderful. She could feel what was to be, if they could only achieve it.

And they would. Under the leadership of the most powerful person in the galaxy, they would conquer. A 'they' she hoped to be a part of. She began to walk towards the temple. Something was going on, if the Force sense was anything to go by. She headed to the top of the temple, the flat surface where the stir was. Their leader was there, his four apprentices arrayed in front of him. They were apparently about to be brought into the Sith order, for real. They were going to be Sith, not just the glorified pupils of the Sith.

Nirisi glanced at the people about her, as was her wont. Not far away, she noted Grawn, standing out of the way, in the back, not bringing any attention to herself. The people about her were quiet, solemnly watching the spectacle before them. She turned her attention back to the Dark Lord and the others.

[Hotel]

Shandari awoke from slumber in her chambers. Rising from her meditative posture, she folded her wings against her body, placing her black robe over her slender figure. She raised her hood over her head and exited her room, heading towards the cockpit of the small ship. She had payed for transport from a smuggler a few days back. Upon entering the cockpit, the man turned to her. “Awake now Princess?” Shandari acted as if he wasn’t even there, checking the navigational computer. It told her all she wanted to know. They were nearing the place where it all ended, and it all began. The place the true Shandari had finally awoken and found her path. Korriban.Upon landing, the smuggler turned to her. “Alright dollface. Pay up the twenty thousand credits you promised me. The Rilan reached into her robe, but instead of retrieving her money, a hiss sounded and a teal beam appeared. Her lightsaber quickly found home in the smuggler’s chest. The man looked up at her, but all he could see were her black eyes before he collapsed on the controls for the cockpit, his own eyes now lifeless. With another hiss, the blade was deactivated and returned to her belt under her robes. Shandari then exited the ship, and left it there. She began the walk towards where she had lost her first master, and gained her second. She walked towards what remained of the Sith Tombs, and the Sith Academy. The place of her fall from grace and her rise into Darkness.

Shandari soon crested a nearby hill and saw the Valley of the Sith before her. The ruins that had once seen better days seemed to be in better condition. The place also seemed oddly full of life. It took only a moment before she sensed those strong in the force. She looked in the direction of the Academy. Only the Academy was gone. In it’s place stood a large temple, and some figures she could not make out from the distance ontop of it. It was there that she felt it coming from the strongest. Shandari began to make her way towards it, curious. She ignored the others around her as if they werent even there. They were weak compared with what she sensed ontop of the temple. What did they matter to her. Shandari finally got close enough to see what it was. Four figures stood kneeling before a fifth. She continued to watch them in silence as she drew ever nearer. Finally she stopped near the base of the temple, all the while concealing her nature of the force as best she could to hide her true strength n it. It was the easiest way for her to blend in with these weaker ones. Every once in a while, she would sense a stronger presence among them. They would hold her interest for only a moment before she looked back up at the five figures. She stood there, and continued to watch.

[Rugs]

Earlier...

Visari Netellus sat in his personal office on board The Ballestra, working on some last minute business that had to be taken care of. The great screen on the wall across from his desk lit up as the ship slid out of hyperspace, displaying the face of the captain. "Master Netellus, we have reached our destination."

Visari put away the datapad and flimsi he had been working with into his desk and looked up at the screen. "Good. Prepare he shuttle. The Ballestra can remain in orbit, there's no need to land the whole ship. I will be going down alone, by the way."

"As you say, sir," the captain said, and the screen went blank once more.

The Epicanthix sighed as he stood. The time was nigh. Once on the ground, he would make his way to the Sith Temple, and from there, he didn't know what would happen. Not too long ago, he'd met with a man that called himself Shard, and it was there that he learned of the events that would happen today. A gathering of the Sith, Visari thought as he put on his long grey over coat. And those that would join them... He had known as soon as he learned of it that he would be there; his lot had already been tossed in with the deal that had been made with Shard.

He looked himself over before heading to the shuttle that would take him down to the surface. As a CEO, he knew that first appearances counted for a great many things, and he would not present a poor first image. His clothes were well fitting, and looked new. His white hair and goatee were orderly, if a bit odd looking on his younger looking face-Epicanthix aged slowly, and he looked like a man in his late thirties or early forties. With one final glance, he turned and headed to the shuttle, and descended to the surface.

Presently...

Visari came to the top of a rise on the surface of Korriban. And then he saw it. There, in the midst of a valley, was the Sith Temple. A light blew as he stood there, blowing the bottom of his coat about his legs. The wind was arid, and his coat thick, though he heat didn't bother him. He could feel the power coming from that hill, a dark power, calling out to him. "So there it is..." he said quietly, with an almost reverential awe to his voice. With that, he descended down into the valley. The sleek metal cane he carried kicked up small puffs of dust as he walked, though he didn't actually need it. Visari could walk just fine-the cane was to conceal his lightsaber.

He activated Force Concealment as he walked down amongst the others; he did not want to distract or to disturb what was going on. He spotted Shard leaning over on a pillar, though he didn't speak to him. There would be time for that later. For now, Visari simply stood near another pillar and watched.

[Neology]

Lidah returned to consciousness with her eyes still closed. Her head ached terribly, smoldering with the confused embers of some fiery dream, formless and fading even as memory and reason began to stir. Experimentally, the Arkanian began to take inventory of her condition. Her lithe body was stretched out flat, strapped to a surface and swathed in what felt like a thin foil med wrap. 'Wounded?' All limbs seemed to be present and accounted for. She was still wearing the soft bodysuit that had lined her now-missing combat armor. The complex scent of many-times-refiltered air, cool and dry, tickled her nostrils. The straps were not tight. 'Maybe not a prisoner, then.' She secretly snaked an arm free, careful not to rattle the wrap, and touched her bare face. No control leads, no sensors --- no blood.'If so, where are my armor, my weapons?'

The mission had gone smoothly – well, as smoothly as an assassination with half a dozen targets was ever likely to go. Getting into the compound had been easy enough; most of the trouble had been in finding the place, and later, avoiding the swarms of bewildered and trigger-happy armsmen. 'The shuttle was in sight, what am I missing here? What went wrong?' A low animal moan, softly audible over the bleep of equipment and the hiss of the atmosphere recycling, drew her attention. Lidah licked her lips, just to be sure the noise wasn't coming from herself. 'Somebody nearby's not in good shape.' A tangy whiff of antispetics escaped filtration. She slitted open her eyes, prepared to play unconscious again if she found herself in enemy hands.

But no, she was aboard her own combat shuttle, strapped to one of the four fold-down bucks toward the rear of the fuselage. The emergency medical station was a familiar sight, though she didn't usually see it from this angle of view. A bunk across the isle held another strapped-down form, the apparent source of the moan. Then memory and a flash of understanding hit her, causing the woman to groan and struggle out of the heat wrap and safety bindings, cursing under her breath.

”The extraction went poorly, yes,” she muttered to herself, shaky on legs that threatened to give out beneath her. A flash of dark spots before her eyes had the Arkanian sitting on her bunk, holding her head in one hand and glaring at the inert form before her. ”The gas grenade caught us as we were boarding. You must have got the brunt of it, though.” The migraine was likely an aftereffect of the toxin, suppressed easy enough by drawing upon the force. Recovered, the woman stood again, crossing the few steps to stare down at the unconscious man with a tight lipped frown. ”Kell Jesek. You have served me well these past months.” She leaned in close, her voice almost a whisper. Clawed finger tips moved over the mercenary's bare chest and down each arm, delicately peeling off medical sensors. ”You and your partner have been crude tools at best, but adequate. I do regret the waste in what I must now do.” Reaching beyond the unhearing Kell Jesek, the woman's pale fingers closed around a small bottle and a new hypo, drawing out and administering a lethal dose of the sedative. ”Ah, I'd best see to your partner now.” A quick search through the mercenary's belongings produced a knife – a crude weapon, but serviceable.


–

Lidah's combat shuttle made it back to Korriban in one piece and just in time, its single passenger disembarked and headed toward the temple summit. Her awareness was cast wide, searching for Paxis among those already gathered. Disappointment rankled bitterly, casting a pall on the Arkanian's mood. Instead she focused sharply on Iniquitous, bowing once to his title and then settling into a restive stance. His words, full of honor and ideals, buzzed in her ears like angry insects, only half understood. It was strange – the realization of years of ambition, suddenly stale on her lips. 'Is this what Everos had in mind when he pulled me screaming from death? What about Paxis? She went through the proper motions, regardless, head bowed slightly, waiting for this surrogate master to go on. 'I am being unfair. Beyond mission reports, I hardly know this man. Still, I wonder how Eurachis feels about this one. She glanced briefly and Paxis's other student though a curtain of milk-white hair, curious, but then, she did not know him well either.

[Jenno]

Initiates of the Order swarmed to open top of the Sith Temple so that they might witness the promotions as they took place. They gathered before the sweltering flames in the nexus of Dark Side energies where they could bask in their power. Many of their number had only recently returned from the missions they had been assigned and some members had so far received more training than the others, but soon they would grow, they would have masters to teach apprentices, more people to help instruct classes and hold sparring tournaments for the young and the old. All would be pushed mentally and physically, not just the learners but the teachers as well. It was a circle of ever-growing strength. One Iniquitous felt quite comfortable in.

Though his flank was exposed he seemed quite comfortable in his position before the apprentices. Paxis and himself were not dependent upon one another and he had not struggled without his ally nearby. Whilst Iniquitous was dealing with these issues at the Temple, Paxis was busying himself with rallying more planets to the Empire’s cause. Already there had been an influx after the recent battles; part of this was due to the absent Overlord’s efforts.

Other than the apprentices there was little else on his mind right now, the other members of the Order, the future of the Empire, these were thoughts that would trail to mind only after the promotions had taken place. With a deep mental breath, he prepared himself and reached for his lightsaber as he stepped towards the first of the four kneeling Sith apprentices.

He felt odd gripping his lightsaber, he had yet to use it in any form of combat and, in truth, yet to use it in any real capacity. This would serve as its first function and somewhere deep within that swarming mass of darkness he was a little bit happy that it wasn’t being used to cut, stab or slice. It lasted only a moment. He stood as tall as years of growth would allow, his back almost painfully straight as he remained as composed as he always was. Now he moved specifically to one of them, Veratos. He looked down upon the man who had been one of his original apprentices, he had gained much certainty from when they first met, and he now knew the truth about the Galaxy.

From the intricately designed lightsaber hilt ruptured a blade that glowed with a hellish intensity. The thick blood red lightsaber was not Iniquitous’ own blade, that weapon still rested upon his hip and would not be drawn unless there was blood to be spilled. This weapon was something of a ceremonial weapon that he had been working on for some time. It was not something he had made for combat, but something he had put together for the celebration of success, something he felt should not, in this Sith Order, be linked with death.

“As a man once clouded in judgement and thought, you have developed a unique gift. In your time as my apprentice you have learned to cut through that shroud of uncertainty, your eyes have sharpened and now you have gained direction. Not only that but you have helped many who were in a similar position to yourself. You can see the truth and what needs to be done. And you have proven your ability to see those acts through. Rise Darth Veratos, Dark Lord of the Sith.” After cleanly stroking the dark red blade over Veratos’ shoulders the Overlord stepped back, allowed the man room to rise. He would nod to the man before moving to his right and addressing the next person in the line.

“You were once broken and cast aside by those you thought cared for you. Whilst your potential in the Force knew no bounds you were quick to follow your emotions, often to disastrous ends. It is a struggle that we all must face and once that never truly ends, even for the oldest and wisest of Masters. But you have shown your aptitude for growth and control, they often come hand in hand. Once an apprentice of the Jedi you managed to kill your own Master, a man who was strong and carried much experience with him. Such a feat is unattainable for most, but for you this was just one of the first steps in the direction of power. Rise Darth Renata, Dark Lady of the Sith.” Once again there were a few swift swipes with the lightsaber and a firm nod before he moved on.

“Raw strength is your greatest skill. Even the combined efforts of many of the spectators here today would do well just to survive a confrontation with you. But there is still room for growth as there is in all of us. Whilst we are small, there are many members of the Jedi Order and some at a level that might very well be considered above your own. You will have you chance to prove to them, to yourself and to us all that you have an uncontested strength in the upcoming war. You have already proved your dedication to assignments and your loyalty to this Order. You are a firm example for the Initiates to look toward. Rise Darth Eurachis, Dark Lord of the Sith.” Once again he would follow the same procedure, even though he had not trained Eurachis as long as Veratos and Renata, he had still been an apprentice to him for a little while and so he had been able to gain some knowledge about the man, but he didn’t know a whole lot about him or the other original apprentice of Paxis and the person he was next to speak to, Novus.

“There are some who might question your position in the Sith Order. You do not originally strike one’s vision with an imposing sense of power. However if anyone were to question you it would likely be the last thing they did. Whilst you do no possess domineering strength you are by no means as skilled as those you have trained with. Your control of the Force and unmatched stealth ability give you a special edge in the missions that are required of you. Sometimes subtlety is needed and when that is the case, your careful planning and deadly precision become a necessary and crucial part to the success of this Order. Rise Darth Novus, Dark Lady of the Sith.” He moved through the procedure for a final time. When he had stepped back and nodded, Iniquitous allowed the crimson blade to slowly draw back into its shell until it would next be needed.

He took a few steps away in order to address them all again. “Congratulations on your promotions to the Inner Sanctum. Each of you will be required to seek out apprentices of your own in order to further your own understanding of the Force and also to help the Order expand its numbers in these early days. Whilst you have all achieved so much this far, there is still so much more ahead of us all.” With a brief pause and a bow he said one final word to complete the ceremony, “dismissed.”

[Mara]

While waiting for Iniquitous to begin speaking again, for him to formerly announce these four as Dark Lords and Ladies, Looma had allowed her gaze to wander around those gathered around her, also watching the ceremony. Her eyes were assisted with like prickles of the Force as she looked for anyone familiar, but mostly she was looking for a certain young human. Caleb.

They had arrived together on Korriban, both deciding to take a leap to change their destiny, their future together. But they had gotten separated in the confusion as they and others were arriving to hear the new Dark Lord commit all of them to his grand cause. And then all the reconstruction had begun. During the weeks it had taken, Looma had taken any chance she got to glance around at the other workers, looking for his familiar face. But it was to no avail.

The yellow Twi'lek had made other acquaintances, though, during the construction, including one of those four standing up in front of her wanting to be promoted to the next level. Eurachis. She had also spoke briefly to a Noghri who had seemed a bit crazed, immersed in the dark side, moreso than anyone she had met before, more than even what she felt in Iniquitous. And there had been Shard, where they had shared a brief but deep conversation. A conversation that still left her a little shaken about her own beliefs concerning the Force, the light and the dark, the Jedi and the Sith.

Still, there had been something else unsettling about the Miraluka. Looma couldn't put a finger on it exactly. She thought perhaps it had to do with his overpoliteness, almost gentlemanly approach. Or the strange interest he had held in her. Or his powerful presence in the Force that she had briefly felt. Or even a mixture of all of those, or none at all.

She turned her attention back to the ceremony, deciding to think about it all later. Iniquitous was turning to the first of the four figures standing before him. Looma pulled the Force back into her, no longer needing to look for Cal in the crowd. Veratos. Renata. Eurachis. Novus. They were all dubbed Darths in the Order, all now Dark Lord and Ladies. The position that Looma aspired to someday achieve. A sense of pride welled up in her. Though she did not know them, not well, at least, she still felt a sense of belonging in the collective of the Sith Order. The first of many steps to bring about their change, and the yellow Twi'lek wanted to be there right in the middle of it all.


[to Keeping the Blade...]