Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Nov 8, 2022 20:25:37 GMT -8
And so, Lord Dragus stated the new objective of their actions and activity. From a simple Blood Tithe raid to the full occupation of the Ryloth system and, with that done, likely dominance of the whole Gaulus Sector. There were boons and consequences to such a change in their operation though. Xitan knew that the troops they had with them were no better than raiders, despite their Stormtrooper equipment. Only a small core were truly veterans and thus able to hold the land and command the morale. This would result in the consequence of pulling in a more capable unit, one or more, in order to occupy the planet.
With the capture of Ryloth, the Sith could, in turn, control the production of Spice, Ryll, Slaves, and two-thirds of the Spice Triangle. In addition, they'd have a foothold on a vital trade route, the Corellian Run. They'd be able to tax merchants, traders, and various companies who went this far into the Outer Rim with their goods. They'd be able to levy customs on all sorts of civilian traffic and thus begin to draw more into their coffers. Control of such before mentioned resources would also bring in pirates, criminals, and smugglers that could potentially expand their operations.
However, there was a key fault: the Twi'leks. All knew of their tenacious activity during the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War. They were fiercely proud, stubborn, and capable, despite the galaxy's outlook as preferred slaves on their species. The Sith Eternal would likely have to sink serious resources in ensuring they knew who were their betters and ensure they served the needs and economy for the future of the Sith Order. The question was... were they capable and ready for such a protracted campaign and investment?
We will need to call in additional forces, Lord Dragus. And communicate with Vullorr and Garrax the new objective here.
Xitan says as he looks at the Saurian, having taken some time to think on this new order. The Sith wasn't one to doubt what could potentially be done, but they'd need more men, soldiers that were capable at a protracted occupation. And what forces were able to perform this were limited after all. His Tenth Legion, likely those that served directly under the Council of Seven, and the soldiers that now followed Azrea Thrune. The rest were no better than mercenaries and thugs.
The Tenth was already put on standby before we departed. Say the word and I will call them and the Firebrand into the system, Lord Dragus.
Just as Lord Kaan made this place one of his fortresses, it seemed the Sith Eternal would do the same.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Nov 9, 2022 7:04:15 GMT -8
Across the planet a ripple effect could already be felt by those with a properly attuned connection to the fey. Fear and suffering sung a sad song upon the ethereal winds, carrying the mingled scents of death and decay. Dragus' nostril slits flared as he breathed deeply of that foul breeze, allowing the growing resonance of despair to imbue his corrupted black scales with insidious power. His presence seemed to swell in the face of it, projecting an uneasy aura that would have felt to those exposed to it as though they were caught in the cold shadow of something immense and terrible. Black smoke began to spill from the bottom of his shadowsilk robe, swallowing the saurian Sith as he manipulated the currents of the darkside to project the illusionary effect, obscuring his features as his body seemed to elongate and slither around the room, encircling Xitan in immaterial coils of expanding darkness. The hood of his robe melded with the scales of his head, reflecting in their obsidian surface the fires that raged across the city as their forces sacked Kala'uun. Those hateful glowing red eyes of the Great Devourer rose over the Acolyte's shoulder as he whispered in the acolyte's ear with a flickering forked tongue that rasped as it rattled between two long white fangs, dripping with venom. When he spoke, the words were not spoken aloud, but rather reverberated in the Force as Dragus projected his thoughts at Xitan.
<< Sometimez I forget how deeply thiz cult haz sssunk itz clawz into you, my dear sssweet Xitan. >> Even as an illusion, the carrion breath of the Hungering One was hot and foul, assailing all senses at once with its oppressive stench. << It was Vullorr who sssanctioned thiz raid. He thought it an alluring diversssion to keep me preoccupied az he continuez to fawn over the Sssupreme One and grovel at hiz feet, further sssecuring hiz own posssition. >> Hissed the shadow swathed serpent, slithering around from behind Xitan so that his snout might stare directly into the man's mask. Dragus' smoking red eyes began to spiral out from the iris, almost hypnotically as he continued to telepathically broadcast into the other Sith's mind. << I doubt he would approve of a deviation from the plan dessspite what we have learned. Ssso, we mussst take matterz into our own handz. We will bring thiz world to heel before he haz learned what we have done, when it iz already too late to dessscent to thiz courssse of action. >>
It galled him to admit it but Xitan did have a point. While they had brought enough of a force to strike anywhere and take anything on the planet they wanted, what they didn't have was enough man power to hold it indefinitely. Shock and awe were fleeting effects. Eventually the populace would recover and rally. Resistance had to be squashed before such sentiments were allowed to foment. For that, they would need more men.
Releasing his hold on the currents of the malevolent fey, the illusion began to evaporate until an otherwise ordinary saurian Sith in his plain shadowsilk robe stood before Xitan, blade capped tail swaying behind his hooded head. He held his claws in front of his chest, talons tips touching as he plotted aloud.
"Call in your Firebrand and unleash the Tenth Legion, little brother, but do not ssspeak a word of thiz to Vullor or Garrax. Not yet, not until it iz too late for them to ssseek any glory here. We will bring thiz world into the fold and thuz we will be among the firssst to reap the rewardz found in itz conquessst. Siss Siss Siss. His tail blade struck the ground with a clanging slap that elicited a shower of sparks as the reptilian hissed with coarsely grating laughter. "We will be az Revan and Malak of old." And then he planted the first poisoned seed he would offer Xitan. "They might even grant you a ssseat on the council for thiz..."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Nov 10, 2022 22:07:55 GMT -8
What Dragus was suggesting they do could easily be seen as a serious challenge to other members of the Seven. Xitan had long sought to milk his position, for its worth, as Acolyte, among the favored of the next generation, that had the personal eye of the Supreme Leader, and thus his interest, on their actions and education. Those of his group were granted special privileges, such as the ability to command a ship, lead a squadron, and/or leadership of a legion, such as his 'Fighting Tenth', the Malak Legion. To have such favor ensured a fast track after all, but wouldn't this be viewed as going against the Council's decisions? Could this not potentially focus attention on Xitan and lose momentum?
And yet, this was an opportunity that couldn't be simply wasted. Ryloth, once occupied, would serve as a means to monitor trade and gain revenues from the Corellian Run. It wasn't a prize, like Sullust or Eriadu, but it was still a means to an end. Not to mention, if memory served right, there was an ancient Sith academy from the days of Lord Kaan on this planet. One that could be used to expand Sith Eternal operations and the potential for recruits. There would certainly be Twi'leks that proved their worth and join the ranks of the cult. Not all would be given the everlasting fate of a slave.
Xitan took the moment to ponder, but in the end, there was only one way forward. The Sith drew out his comlink and keyed it. A holo-image of Jaa Harand, Captain of the Firebrand, appeared before his commander and Lord Dragus. Calmly, the figure bowed his head to the Sith.
Captain Harand, bring the Firebrand and the Tenth Legion to Ryloth.
=Captain Harand= By your will, Lord Xitan. What are our orders, Sir?
Commence military operations on the capital of Lessu. The Sith Eternal will be working towards the full occupation of the planet and its system.
The decision was made and the order was given. Captain Harand bowed his head once more.
=Captain Harand= I will see to those orders, Lord Xitan.
With that, the transmission ended. Xitan's mask now turned to Lord Dragus.
Lord Dragus, do you need any further assistance? Or shall I go and prepare for the capture of the Twi'leks traditional capital?
The Acolyte will commit to this venture now, Ryloth would fall under the occupation of the Sith.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Nov 14, 2022 9:57:17 GMT -8
Dragus paused for a moment, as though to consider the acolyte's query. Eventually he knelt down and ran the talons of his right claw through the carbon scored earth before scooping up a handful into his scaly palm, which he held before the dripping jaws of his toothy snout. He sniffed the pile of dirt in his palm, nostril slits flaring before exhaling steaming wisps of poison breath over it, watching the as the red soil melted into a desiccated black mulch that turned into dust in the wind. He let the ashes fall from between his fingers and stood once more, proud and erect but seemingly more aware of what was expected of him. He then scowled, for it became clear to him that the excess he so eagerly pursued would have to come to an end.
"Sssee to Lesssu." Hissed the drake lord as he faced Xitan, lips drooped in a knowing frown. "I shall remain here and focuz my effortz on ressstraining our forcez from overindulging in Kala'uun'z hossspitality. The vermin folk will have finished feasssting by now and will have ssstarted fornicating. Now that our objective haz changed, there would be little gained in ruling over a city of the dead whossse bonez are home to ratz."
Truthfully it was a terrible sight to behold, the pursuit of procreation by the ranat clans of Dragusblight. Their seed was unusually unstable, prone to mutation and hardy enough to survive the most inhospitable of environments. Meaning it could often take root in the womb of an alien species. A part of him was curious what the offspring between a twi'lek and one of his rodent warriors would look like, though he suspected the unwilling mothers would likely throw themselves from the edge of a cliff before their verminous offspring were allowed to mature. That was usually the case. He'd have to remember to recreate the experiment at a later time in a controlled environment.
Briefly his claws disappeared beneath the folds of his cloak, reappearing moments later with a ruby red flute held between them, crafted from rare meltmassif ore. Dragus brought the musical instrument to his lips and played a single note, high and piercing like being too close to an artillery shell going off. ♪ He lowered the flute, keeping his bloody eyes focused on the great central chamber that ran the entire vertical length of the city. His slit irises flicked towards Xitan.
"My champion Krell waz sssent to take the plasssma bridge with a hossst of night ewokz at hiz command, to prevent the inhabitantz of Lesssu from fleeing by ground. I imagine you may find the way open to you by now. He iz quite capable for mossstly being a machine, with a mechanical heart of pure cruelty to match a certain Commodore cousssin of mine. Itz what makez him sssuch an effective overssseer of our cortosiz minez on Roon."
Descending like a hurricane from above, the colossal winged form of Dragus' precious pet drexl Spite fell down upon them, its massive thirty meter across wingspan beating just before the moment of impact by its full weight. Duracrete pavement cracked and dust scattered, bathing Dragus and Xitan in an expanding cloud of aerosol dirt. As the dust began to clear, the twitching fanged snout of his ranat assistant Squeakers appeared over the neck of the great mutant beast, chittering in fast paced rat speech. Somehow the indecipherable squeaks made sense to the dark apothecary, who hummed and hawed as he appeared to listen to his underling. Whatever the conversation entailed, it was ended by a shrug from the barabel's scaly shoulders before he began to climb onto the repto-avians thorny back. He-Who-Hungers stood atop the saddle of the winged wyrm, his claws on his hips as his cloak flapped in the war scented breeze.
"If you happen to sssee Krell, well, bessst to avoid him. While unquessstionably loyal, he iz known to be...mmmm, temperamental, I sssuppose you could sssay." Then with a flourishing flash of his tail, Dragus brought the serrated spike capping its end to the crown of his head, then swept it forwards in a salute to Xitan. "Good luck, my boy." He may well need it if there are more Jedi hiding amongst the populace.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Nov 23, 2022 9:28:47 GMT -8
He awoke in a nest of bones and detritus. The events that followed in the days since Xitan's departure were mostly a blur to the depraved draconian. It wasn't to say that he didn't entirely remember what had happened, just that recalling those details was like trying to see underwater. Everything was fuzzy and blended together, a foul mix of violence and excess, pleasure and agony. Dragus let out a groan as he stretched his limbs, flexing his talons as his razor edged digits brushed aside his blanket of broken bones and carrion. Like a serpent, his overlong tail slithered through the rotten pile of tissue and yellowing skulls, coiling closer to his black scaled body as he slid out from beneath a comforter of cadaverous skin and sat up. He brought his claws up to his face and kneaded his scaly brow, attempting to clear some of the spice and alcohol induced fog from his weary brain.Restraining the excesses of the vermintide had been a simple matter. Well, on the face of it at least. The sight of his mutant drexl mount Spite inspired fear amongst the rat-kin and forced them underground, scattering the horde that had overrun this city and ravaged its people. They burrowed deeper into the hollow mountain, scratching away at ageless stone to carve out new burrows for themselves. Soon Kala'uun would be host to an emerging clan of rodent folk. He had seen it happen over and over again, on every world his forces brought fear and dismay to. Even if he wanted to deny them, it was impossible at this point. They bred and spread far too quickly to be contained, a physical manifestation of the hunger that consumed his own spirit.Rising from the bone nest, he blinked his bloody eyes and focused his red saurian orbs on his surroundings. It was dark, absent any form of light, as well as cold and dank. Both nostril slits on his snout flared and he sniffed the air, relying more on his incredible sense of smell than his limited thermal based vision. His jaws parted to reveal glistening rows of curved incisors as salivation overflowed from his mouth and dripped down his chin in long gooey ropes that formed steaming puddles on the floor. Running his claws over his bare scales, he quickly assessed that he was absent clothing. Uncertain where his robe had disappeared off to, he reached down and scooped up the stretched human hide he had been using as a blanket and threw it around his shoulders like a shawl. He then found the top half of a yellowed skull and slipped it over the crown of his head, sliding it down so that his smouldering coals for eyes stared out its empty sockets. Garbed in his corpse cloak attire, he found a set of stairs and carefully ascended them to a door with a latch handle. He grabbed the gore stained handle and turned it, opening the door which swung open with a loud rusty creak. Placing one clawed foot forwards, he emerged into the light of a dimly lit spice den.The air was thick with narcotic fumes that left a warm purple haze over everything. Low burning tallow candles of congealed human fat bled greasy wafts of smoke, mingling with the incense burning braziers that hung from the ceiling. The walls were lined with old paintings and it appeared as though the establishment hadn't been refurnished in years. There was hardly an object that wasn't scratched or stained in some respect. Small adjoining rooms with thick velvet curtains were connected to the central room, which featured a bar on the far end manned by an emaciated male twi'lek with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, currently cleaning a dirty glass with an even filthier rag. There were ranats scattered throughout, some seated at the bar, others sipping drinks in one dark corner or another, though most were indulging in long stemmed pipes of ryll spice. There were a few ewoks as well. One approached the black scaled barabel, its charcoal coloured fur and beady red eyes exposing it for one of the night-kin from Pzob. The sulphur stinking bear offered the drake lord a filmy mug of murky liquid, spilling its bitter foam over the lip as he raised the drink receptacle towards the saurian Sith. He snatched it away from th bear's grip in one sweep of his claw and brought it before his snout, eyeing a sphere shape floating in the concoction. Upon closer inspection he could see that it was an eye, still connected to a scrap of torn nerve tissue. Parched, he widened his jaw and upturned the glass into his open maw, downing its contents with relish. As the last drops poured out, he smacked his lips and let out a filthy blech that scattered flecks of carrion across the bear's fur.Now he remembered. It was during his efforts to reign in the debaucheries of his minions when he had stumbled upon the spice den, which he had proceeded to claim for himself after sampling its vices. From there things were less clear. He did recall coming up with a new name for the establishment, the 'Drunken Ewok'. Perhaps not one of his more creative decisions, but it would suffice for now.Tossing the mug aside, he spun around to face the front entrance, his long tail turning to follow close behind. As he stalked through the parting portal and stepped out into the city, he recognized the streets as being from near the bottom of Kala'uun, where the vagrants and downtrodden of the city tended to eke out an existence. The streets were mostly cleared and much of the exposed surroundings still bore marks of the recent invasion. Everywhere he looked he could see mouldering bodies in various states of decay. Teams of ranats could be witnessed collecting the cadavers in cobbled together wagons, which they then carted away to some out of the way location. Dragus followed one of these corpse sleds, walking a few feet behind the stinking pile of decaying twi'leks while swarms of flies buzzed in the open air, eating their fill and spreading disease. Soon the insects found themselves drawn to the rotten shawl wrapped around his shoulders and then he two was surrounded by a buzzing hallow of botflies, which occasionally he cleared away with swats of his powerful tail.Eventually he came upon a pit that had been formed from a blast crater, where the bodies of the city's deceased were being disposed of in mass. A revolting reek rolled off the pit, intolerable to most sentients, though it didn't seem to bother Dragus or the rat folk. Tinker rats with thick ribbed hoses doused the corpse pile with liquid fuel, soaking clothes and organic tissue in highly flammable chemicals. A bent backed twi'lek female of middling years was corralled towards the pit by two storm vermin wielding long pronged shock prods, which they used to zap her with blistering electrical shocks when she didn't move fast enough. He-Who-Hungers watched with curiosity as she was led to the very edge of the pit, then her two jailors stepped aside so a third rat might approach. This one was covered head to toe in thick leather coated in oily fire-retardant chemicals. On its back was a large fuel canister connected to a hose which was then attached to the end of a heavy flamer held in the mouse's mitts. Igniting the pilot light, the ranat squeezed the trigger on his flamer, scouring the twi'lek with chemical fire. She didn't even have time to let out a scream before she was cooked through thoroughly, eye balls boiling in their sockets as her flesh was immolated. Her burning corpse fell from the edge of the pit down into its depths, where it ignited the fuel with a great rush of expanding fire and carcinogenic smoke. A massive pyre formed from the pit, spreading out to choke Kala'uun in toxic fumes and ash.Approaching the edge of the great bonfire, the Hungering One extended his claws and warmed his scales with the corpse blaze, allowing its heat to seep into his cold coursing blood. So much suffering had been committed in the past few days that the aether was thick with dark emotion, threatening to leave a permeant mark on the city, like a black stain on its soul that could never be properly exhumed. That darkness enriched his wealth of spiritual power, making it easier to call upon the malevolent fey and craft the flow of its currents. The question was, despite how disturbingly pleasant he himself might find this permeating aura of despair, whether it was right to allow it to take root in the city. Doing so would of course enhance his own abilities while making it more difficult for any light wielders to draw on their own gifts, but it would also make it clear that something had disturbed the balance here, something that perhaps still lingered. The last thing the Sith Eternal needed at the moment was the attention of the Jedi, who were known to snoop around at the most inconvenient of times. No, something would have to be done to squash the wound his servants of decay had ripped in the Force. Fortunately he already had an idea for how to accomplish this. Turning from the crackling blaze, he sent several of the scurrying corpse collectors in search of his night ewoks. A dozen of the dark furred bears answered the call, arriving shortly there after at the site of burning bodies."Come hither, my preciouz petz." Cooed the Ewok Shepherd, gathering his flock. "I have a tasssk for ye. Bring your mossst malevolent massster thessse materialz, and make it quick, for I've a forge to fashion before the firez of thiz corpssse furnace expire." He then handed them a scrap of torn parchment with instructions clawed in blood upon its tattered surface to one of the night ewoks, who then shared it with the rest as they all circled around. The task he had set before them was relatively simple, so soon they broke off and set out on their time limited scavenger hunt.Within an hour they had returned with the items he had requested, pilfered from shops and homes, further littering Kala'uun with a trail of cooling cadavers in their wake. They dragged forth an anvil, soot stained and sturdy so far as he could tell, along with a rudimentary hammer and tongs. Crimson puddles formed as they brought sloshing buckets of fresh drained blood, leaving them next to the forming smithy the Blood Wyrm was piecing together beside the burning pit. Several alchemical concoctions and materials were also taken from his personal stock and placed on a heavy granite table next to his growing workshop. Finally ready, the saurian took several scraps of broken metal and introduced it to the fire, heating it from black to orange. Extending his ethereal senses to the winds of the fey, he focused his will on binding the vortex of raw emotion that bled from Kala'uun and seeped into its very stone, drawing it from its earthly containment as he weaved his insidious spell. All that suffering, pain, rage, and fear were swallowed by the expanding force of his sorcery, pulled from the air before being bound into the metal he was expertly manipulating. Though the hammer he wielded was a pale comparison of the craft-hammer of the black temple, in his claws it still managed to work wonders as he banged it on the anvil, shaping the glowing materials sizzling atop its surface. Hours passed and the task went from simple to more complex. The night ewoks looked on as Dragus stained wood and cooled molded material in boiling buckets of virgins blood.Around the city, that suffused aura of dismay began to wither and rot away as the foul emotions that fed it were drawn into the Great Devourer's artifice. The wound in the Force wasn't so much mended as it was drained of the nightmare fuel which empowered it, which had been subverted for his own twisted need. When he was done the black scaled barabel found himself standing in front of two beautiful objects of expert craftsmanship. The first was a black-powder pistol with a single barrel, which along with its smaller and more intricate components was crafted from dark Sith forged iron, around a frame of steel hard Pzobian oak that he had lacquered with a dark stain. He lifted the pistol in his claw, turning it from side to side as he looked down the barrel, grinning ferally in approval as he was happy with the weight and balance. Using a special blend of alchemized powder, he loaded a single shot into the firearm. The bullet he had placed inside of it had been hand crafted with meltmassif ore, giving it a ruby red glow that shone sinisterly as it was packed into the cylinder. Each small sphere had been engraved by the saurian's talons with the emblem of the Eye. Thirteen of these special bullets were then secured in a man-hide satchel, along with a pouch of the alchemized powder. Sighting a ranat working nearby, the saurian Sith took aim with the pistol, cocked the hammer, and pulled the trigger. A furious bright flash of dragons flame and black smoke erupted from the end of the barrel, as though the pistol breathed fire, sending the singular shot into the skull of the worker ranat. It forcefully entered one side of its soft skull before erupting out the other in a spattering of sizzling gore and blistered grey matter. Dragus brought the pistol to his lips and blew away the smoke still bleeding from the barrel with one poisoned breath, then laid the pistol in an intricately designed case.Years ago, before the black crusade that saw him flung far beyond the sight of the Almighty Eye, he had traveled the galaxy with a like-minded companion. She had been a conjurer of illusion, a fascist Fallanassi if such was to be believed, with a very special rifle that never seemed to miss its mark. Over the course of their time together the dark apothecary had been able to examine her unique weapon, seeing beyond the physical to the web of spells writ around it. She had a name for it for sure, though to him it had always been known as 'Drachenfel', or Dragons Tooth, the Wyrd Ender. He had used the knowledge gained by studying the artifact to flesh out sections of his alchemical grimoires and enhance his own creations. Thus, the idea for Drachenfel's counterpart came to him, a pistol of the same quality that never missed its target. If whatever had the misfortune to be struck by one of its shots did not have the fortune to instantly die, they would be crippled by immense pain and have their mind besot by nightmares of the wielders creation, telepathically transmitted by the meltmassif directly into their tortured psyche. A weapon of pure terror.Next he examined the second object he had crafted. It was a thin bladed dagger of dark forged Sith iron with an incredibly sharp tip and serrated sides all the way down to its ornate guard of cortosis alloy, gilded in a thin layer of electrum that concealed the material and protected the wielders hand from contact with the dangerous substance, but melt away under the intensity of lightsaber in order to short out the blade upon contact with the guard. The handle was inscribed with ancient celestial script to form the runes for hate and rage. He hid them away beneath a binding of electrum wire, wrapping the handle tightly, before wrapping it further in a layer of black stained reek leather for added grip. The handle ended in a dragon-claw like pommel that held a lava crystal that Dragus had fished out of the crater of Tawntoom during the creation of his Exsanguinator. The jewel was perfectly smooth and seemed to be illuminated by the raging fires contained within, split at its center by an ever-watchful iris. He picked up the dagger and flipped it over in his claw, taking it through several sweeps and motions as he tested it. Like the black-powder pistol, it was expertly weighted for ease of use. Using a cloth, he coated the blade of the dagger in deadly rock worrt poison, before sliding it into a glossy purple sheath of drexl scale. He then placed the dagger into the ornate case beside the pistol and added a corked tincture of poison to the pouch with the powder and shot.Closing the ornate case, he picked it up off the table and turned to his verminous assistant Squeakers, who had finally arrived to join him. Dragus handed the case containing everything he had assembled and offered it to the ranat. "Sssee that thiz makez it into the handz of Xitan. While I am uncertain if he will appreciate the gesssture, he will find thessse itemz mossst ussseful in hiz future ascension through the rankz. Now go." He snarled, cracking the duracrete ground with a powerful stamp of his muscular tail. Squeakers jumped in fear and scurried off, taking the ornate case with him, presumably on his way to Lessu. He-Who-Hungers watched as the rat departed, then turned his attention back to the city. "Ssscurry-hurry, my minionz." He hissed under his breath, exhaling poison wisps between flicks of his forked tongue. "There iz much more work to be done..."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Nov 26, 2022 23:55:51 GMT -8
Dragus' comlink would go off as Xitan contacted the Saurian over holotransmission.
Lord Dragus, the Tenth have pacified Lessu. We will occupy the position here till additional reinforcements arrive to take over policing and garrison duties. A great number have been taken as slaves. I would like to also report on the Clan Council.
A directory of those sitting on the council appeared with a handful of faces greyed out.
Several resisted and defied the command to knee. Those that remain have been bent to the will of the Sith. There will need to be an elevation of more loyal clans and the election of a new Speaker to the Clan Council. I took necessary action in ensuring their defiance ended with them.
And then the last part.
I would also like to report that I received your gifts. I thank you for them, Lord Apothecary. I hope to use them properly in due time.
There was a formal bow given by the Acolyte when this was mentioned.
Any further orders, Lord Dragus?
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Nov 27, 2022 7:42:53 GMT -8
Upon a grisly throne crafted from twi'lek bone and sinew, the drake lord rested his scaled form, still swathed in a shawl of man flesh with half a skull resting over his weary cranium. He lifted the skull cap and kneaded the scaly ridges of his brow, inhaling the narcotic perfume that was heavy in the air within the dimly lit spice den known as the 'Drunken Ewok', then exhaling hallucigenic fumes intermingled with his own poison breath. Lowering his claw, he wrapped two finger talons around the stem of a dirty goblet and brought it to the lips of his snout, tilting the glass to empty its contents into his parted maw. The dark hued wine sloshed down his gullet and washed the sour taste of rotten meat from his pallet. It had been much this way since his latest expenditure of awesome power in crafting sorcerous weapons for the acolyte. There was always a price to be paid after, a temporary weakening that could only be remedied by an overindulgence in vice, allowing the blackhole where the Blood Wyrm's soul should be time to leach life energy from those around him. He calculated it would be several days before he was properly restored to his usual terrible self. A chirp from his comlink broke the mad draconian from his current thoughts and excesses. He removed the device from his belt and turned it over in his palm as the holo-emitter projected a miniature light image of Xitan. His scaled brow furrowed as he considered the acolyte's words.More slaves was good; there was always a need for cheap labour in their growing empire of shadows. The cortosis mines on thrice cursed Roon require a steady flow of bodies to toil in their darkened carcinogen thickened depths, and the flesh pits of his Apothecarium were always in desperate need of fresh materials. Some of the slaves could even be put to work producing and harvesting ryll spice to further shore up the Sith Eternal's coffers. The more physically attractive males and females would be sold to brothels and private purchasers, or perhaps might even work in establishments directly controlled by the Sith. He felt a stirring in his serpentine loins as his bloody gaze lingered on a pair of writhing bodies in one darkened booth across the incense obscured room. It seemed insane to him that the men found the twi'lek species attractive when their was a perfectly suitable harem of ewoks so close at hand, but he supposed his own tastes were perhaps a bit exotic by the standards of most sentients. Even so, he would induct a few into his service for future seductions. The rest could be sold in bulk at the flesh markets on Nar Shaddaa or sent to Draggle Rock to sate the appetites of the Doomslither."You've done well." He hissed at the hologram, his forked tongue flicking the air between syllables and showering the emitter in bloody flecks to the point where the projection was crimson hued. "Leave the Hymn of Ragnoz in place for now. We will need to repair or replace the planetz defensez with our own before it departz. I'm thinking perhapz a Golan platform a piece over Lesssu and Kala'uun, then a raisssed militia drawn from the thossse clanz whossse loyalty haz been asssured to protect Lesssu, reinforced by stormtrooperz az a conssstant disssplay of the Greater Roon Remnantz military dominance over thiz world. Az for Kala'uun, in my obssservance the City-Beneath-The-Mountain iz a different sssort of animal from the traditional capital and will require a more nuanced approach. Here I shall raissse the disssenfranchised of the city; murdererz, rapistz, thievez, even the dessstitute who yearn to be elevated from their current sssqualor. I shall take thossse servantz of sssin who would sssell their own into ssslavery for a few clinking coinz or glittering gemz, and induct them az the firssst memberz of our cult native to thiz world."Rebellion was written into the very DNA of the people of Ryloth, but even a genetic predisposition to resist any form of occupation could be overcome by a strong enough disparaging of the populace and public display of hopelessness. Seeing their own turn on them would help to create that environment. Failing that, he'd set the night ewoks or vermintide to stoking the appropriate level of terror amongst the populace under the cover of night."Sssimilar to humanz and zabrak, twi'lekz have a higher propensssity for Force sensitivez among their population than other common speciez. It makez Ryloth a sssuitable breeding ground for future Sssith." His lips twisted upwards as he focused on the hologram, snout splitting to expose his terrible toothy grin. He looked...hungry. "Return the Force sssensitive children we recovered here and I shall raissse a temple devoted to our malign practicez. Ryloth may not be sssituated at a confluence of Force currentz sssuch az holy Pzob..." He hissed, hinting at his origin. "...or shadow cloaked Roon, but I believe there iz sssomething here to be harnesssed. Sssomething yet undissscovered, perhapz." Dragus stroked the chin of his snout as he rasped at the hologram in his reptilian way. He reiterated his command and continued. "Bring me the children. I have a sssuitable minion presssent who can sssee to their...education."He was thinking of Zarda, a night ewok shaman from Weeping Bark Village where the Witch Tree of Pzob was located. The primitive conjurer had traveled with the small force of night ewoks that had helped take the plasma bridge at Lessu. A master of the mysteries of ancient ewok magic, he was suitably steeped in darkness to serve as a tutor to future servants of the malevolent fey. There was also the fact that he was deeply versed in Pzob customs and culture, bound by the Eye. Not only could he teach them a few secrets unknown to Sith aspirants on Roon, but it would also present an opportunity to implant in them...alternative loyalties, should the moment arise to dispose of their current overlord.This he did not discuss with Xitan. While he had developed a liking of the acolyte, Xitan had practically been raised by the Cult of the Eternal. If Dragus attempted to enlist him into any potential future coup, well, he was uncertain which way the young Sith's loyalties would swing. Besides, the calculations he had already run assured him that even with the other Sith's help, it would not be enough to overcome the sheer might of the current Supreme Leader. He had thought perhaps to enlist the aid of his brother, the Dread Seer of the Eye, but Havok's strengths unfortunately did not lie in combat. Still, his brother's prophetic abilities had already proven themselves useful. During their reunion on Draggle Rock, Havok had shared a vision that had given Dragus an optimistic outlook of the future. The Seer had prophesized that a Sith, unbound by the Eye or the Eternal, would seek him out at an opportune moment. A Sith just powerful enough to perhaps turn the tide in his favour...
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Jun 11, 2023 4:49:19 GMT -8
Cursed Kala'uun, the City Beneath the Mountain, once a proud beacon of twi'lek fortitude and resilience, now descended into a state of wretched barbarity. Ranat packs scurried through the ryll smoke choked streets, preying on any inhabitants too foolish to abide by the curfew set by the cruel haemonculus that occupied the Dragwarts Sith Academy, sating their ravenous appetites on sentient flesh. It was still some manner of debate which colour of twi'lek flesh possessed the best flavour, though blue was currently in the lead based on the latest polling data. A carrion wreak wafted from the lowest levels of the city, where a great serpent nested among the bones of the former poor and impoverished. A sister to Umaroth the Doomslither, this Sith Wyrm was almost as large as the guardian of Draggle Rock, and twice as foul tempered. It had taken Professor Draggledore and contingent of night ewoks riding battle hydra to reign to serpent in after its last feeding frenzy, no modest feat when considering the size of the scaled monstrosity.
Despite its quirks, the spice still flowed from Kala'uun, filling the coffers of the Sith Eternal and the Shadow Council that maintained its ruse as an Imperial faction. None of those living in this den of depravity were fooled. One need only look at the corpses strung up on display in the town square to come to that conclusion. Transports belonging to the Black Fang came and went from the singular passage into the dark heart of the mountain, destined for distribution along the Spice Triangle.
All the combined horrors inflicted in those foul depths affected the flow of the aether, permeating the rust red stone with a prevailing sense of wrongness that weakened the barrier of reality. The concentrated sins of the Famine Lords wretched followers was quite literally gouging open a wound in the fey, birthing the beginning of an awakening nexus.
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Jul 25, 2023 6:44:10 GMT -8
The Shellfire pressed forward, descending from the atmosphere towards the planet's surface, its destination Kala'uun. Approaching, they saw their landing zone, indeed large enough for his vessel to fit through. Slowly to a crawl, the vessel lowered itself towards the base of the mountain and pressed forward past the starport portcullis. They secure landing zone came into view and the Acclamator made its final approach, the legs extending from its body before landing with a slight jolt.
Shortly after, the cargo bay lowered, Viggo, his daughters, men, and a collection of droids began to descend. Their formation was spread, the desired cargo moving within the barrier, chained and bound. Guns and stun rods were primed as the Fishers and Corpse-leeches gave into the demands of the captors. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, the droids moved out and set up a perimeter around them, blasters raised. Blasters were also at the ready for those not in charge of keeping the captives under control.
Viggo himself stood at the front, arms clasped behind his back with a daughter on each side, axes drawn. There they waited for Bib and their escort.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Jul 25, 2023 17:10:04 GMT -8
The black hearted Bib Syndulla didn't so much arrive as appear, manifesting from a rising plume of smoke belonging to a garbage fire ascending off the slum below the landing platform, his shadowsilken form emerging from the gutter haze to stand bowed. He was soon joined by a dozen other twi'leks, garbed in the shrouded wrappings of desert marauders with only their feral red eyes exposed. Bone spurs protruded from their silk bindings, each clearly altered by the Dark Apothecary's secret mutagenic elixir, the Urcinis-Helix. They carried curved vibro-sabres and crackling electro-whips on their narrow hips. Thirteen in number, a sacred number among the Pzobian cults, they didn't so much as walk as glide towards Viggo and his men.Among them only Bib's face was exposed, a sinister visage if every one existed, outlined in dark tattoos. His nose was far too pointed and his teeth were far too white, but other then those less than remarkable things he appeared very much unchanged as the others were. There was another difference far more subtle. Where each of his merciless mutant marauders reeked of the malevolent fey due to having their very DNA rewritten by alchemy, its currents flowed through him like a scorpions venom. When the Famine Lord had come to Ryloth, Bib had been among the first to turn on his kin. Even before Kala'uun had been transformed into a cesspit of darkness, he was no stranger to slaving and banditry. He had seen the coming of these villains for the blessing it was. When power had been offered, he grasped it like a drowning man gasps for air, greedily and without hesitation. Bib's brand of ruthlessness had appealed to the Hungering One, thus he elevated the former cutthroat to the station of Chancellor and bestowed on him unnatural gifts.A wrought Sith iron chain hung from his neck, descending behind his light swallowing silks where it attached to a dark amulet whose very presence seemed at odds with nature, containing an oval shaped Roon flame jewel that glowed with an inner fire."Mr. Grimborn, a pleasure." He crossed an arm over his chest as he bowed, unwilling or perhaps unable to conceal the cruelty in his voice. "And my, what fine mistresses you have." He admired Viggo's two daughters with clear amorous lust. "They wouldn't happen to be for sale, would they? My harem is in sore need of new talent. Oh, and your credits of course."He snapped the steel tips of his gloved fingers, resulting in two of his marauders stepping forwards and presenting two password coded boxes. The marauders entered the password: E W O K L O V E R. Both cases simultaneously flipped open, exposing hard credit currency in the agreed upon amount.More often than not the Hungering One honoured his arrangements. Good help was hard to find after all.
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Jul 26, 2023 8:10:51 GMT -8
Viggo watched as the Chancellor and his escorts appeared from the shadows. Certainly a fascinating trick to be sure. Such theatrics no doubt served them well in intimidation and even combat against an enemy. Such a shame that while it would be interesting to learn, it wouldn't serve him the best as a hunter. It'd grant too great of an advantage and detract from the sport of it all.
Unmoving at this display, those around him were less calm in their appearance. His daughters and a few of his men stepped forward, weapons raising should things appear to go hostile. VIggo, however, was at ease, a smile faintly plaster across his face. That was, until he spoke of his daughters in such a manner. The smirk then faded though he remained quiet. Only his presence began to swell a bit, though in comparison to most, it wasn't anything spectacular.
Stepping forward to the now open cases, he lifted a hand and reached in, taking a few credits and picking them up. With a single hand he inspected them, the movement resembling someone manipulating cards at a casino. Setting them back inside, he nodded. "Yes, these will do nicely." He snapped his fingers with a couple of his men stepping forward to take the credits. "And not to sour our business arrangement, but it would be wise to not speak of my daughters in such a way again. I tolerate many things, but among those I don't is harm to my men and any form disrespect towards my family. Just so we are clear moving forward." Suddenly, his demeanor changed, returning to its regular tone. "With such boundaries set, let us not dwell on them further. We have also brought extra for your lord. A dozen of each was the agreed amount, but things went so well, we have chosen to offer the excess free of charge. Fifteen Corpse-leeches and twelve Fishers, all live with five dead Fishers. Preserved, off course. They not serve for what experiments you have in store, but I would believe they could still be something worth studying if for nothing more than to not waste the regular stock."
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Jul 26, 2023 19:01:01 GMT -8
"Your daughters?" He asked with feigned shame. "My sincerest apologies. I have many daughters myself, given to me by many wives. They sleep in the stables to calm the blurrgs at night." A villainous smirk caused one corner of his black rimmed lips to curl upwards. "If you should ever happen to visit my manse in the upper levels of Kala'uun, you are welcome to your pick of whichever you like. Wife or daughter. My gift to you for this unintended slight." It was clear the two men had entirely different family values.
It started first as a slight tremble, barely noticeable at first save to the bestial corpe-leeches and fischers bound in chains waiting to be taken custody by the mutant marauders. Bib snapped his fingers a second time and the other silk shrouded bandits stepped forwards to do just that, uncoiling electro-whips, sliding gloved thumbs over ignition studs to bring them to crackling electrical life. The Chancellor seemed to wish to proceed with some haste as the ground next shook and rumbled underfoot with small tectonic disturbances.
"We should not tarry long. The guardian of Kala'uun has been roused by whatever black magics are being worked in the Sith Academy inside the heart of the mountain. It will not be long before it notices us should we remain in the open." The desert cutthroat turned Chancellor narrowed his brow as he fixed Viggo with a misers stare. "Are you prepared for another private contract? I have been instructed to extend to you a business offer by my Master if you made good on this first contract. You more than delivered. I can offer even more pay this time, but the risk will be greater than before."
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Jul 27, 2023 2:10:59 GMT -8
Viggo gave no response regarding the slight against his daughters nor the mention off taking one of Bob’s wives or daughter for his own choosing. It did make him wonder as to the fascination these men had with such things. It was far from uncommon for even his own men to indulge themselves in whatever woman they desired at the time and some may as well as had a harem. But there was something between Dragus and Bib that stood out. Was it how they viewed the matter? Perhaps their choices? Whatever it was, it was quickly dismissed from his mind as it fell no importance for the current situation. All that mattered was his point was made clear regarding the lines none would be allowed to cross.
What seemed to start as a mere transfer of cargo quickly became a situation of haste as Bib spoke of the guardian that laid beneath. Those around him looked around with slight concern as Viggo gave a nod.
"All things consider, I agree we shouldn’t waste time. We are certainly ready for the next job. The danger means little other than a new level of excitement for my men. Let us hear the details."
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Jul 31, 2023 8:55:31 GMT -8
Another trembling quake from the rock beneath the former bandit king's black moccasin sheathed feet encouraged Bib to greater haste as he shared with Viggo the details of this next contract. "Of course. As you may be aware my Master has a...mmmm, preference, for creatures that share certain physical attributes with his own magnificent scaled form. He likes dragons, of all varieties, as you may have surmised from his previous purchase. There are few species that have alluded the beast pens of his menageries but one rare breed in particular has thus far proven particularly elusive." Slipping a silk swathed hand in into pocket, the Chancellor withdrew a miniature disc shaped holo-projector that he held in his palm. Giving the dim circle a squeeze, the projector winked to life, creating a luminous three-dimensional representation of a long serpentine beast covered in glimmering crystalline scales as it writhed aggressively in a lake of molten fire. "The Fireworm of Eol Sha, also known as a lava dragon. It is to be the crowning jewel of Lord Dragus' collection. Which he would like delivered to the very heart of...""SSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHRRRREEEEEAAAAAA!!!!!" Bib and the desert marauders under his command instantly turned as they heard an all too familiar bestial shriek, disturbed by the ground quakes that shook the mountain around them. The blood red orbs of every altered twi'lek appeared focused on the impoverished gutters beneath the risen landing platform, where large fissures and cracks could be witnessed, rent open by the recent tectonic activity. As one of the shadowsilk desert marauders peered over the side, a long green tentacle speared up from below and encircled the warrior in an instant, raising him into the air as an large green insectile predator climbed up onto the landing pad. Standing atop six spiked pincers, a massive specimen of Ryloth's lylek population appeared, holding the marauder aloft in one of its two animate tentacles which it used to bring the unlucky twi'lek up to its powerful mandibles. Clamping rock hard teeth around the mutant warrior's torso, the lylek pulled the screaming twi'leks lower half still held in its tentacle and ripped the man in half, spilling blood and entrails across the landing pads dusty surface."Palpatine's black bones!" Cursed the Chancellor, before explaining to Viggo. "Lyleks. Deadly local predators." He pointed a finger towards his butchered marauder. "Others of its kind will be drawn by the scent of...""SSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHRRRREEEEEAAAAAA!!!!!" At the platforms edge, another of the creatures appeared, followed by a another after that. Judging by the appearance of so many, it was possible the ground quakes had awoken a hibernating nest of the insectoid beasts unknowingly buried beneath the landing pad.
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Jul 31, 2023 23:44:24 GMT -8
Viggo could feel the tension growing within Bib as he desired to hasten their exchange. Whatever lurked beneath must have been quite a beast. But that only made him wonder as to why this was the chosen point of contact. It certainly encouraged things to go wrong, mainly in either lost cargo or his men or ship being damaged. The latter was something he wasn’t thrilled of. Still, he allowed himself to remain unaffected by the quaking as the Chancellor discussed the particulars of his next contract.
He listened as the cutthroat spoke of his master’s interest. It was a fact he had not caught on to considering alongside the Krayt he also purchased a Sher Kar, not owing to the Draconian breed. But he certainly understood the appeal dragons always held an aura of power about them, be it in reality or fantasy. As the specific target was mentioned, Viggo raised an eyebrow. He knew of these creatures, but the dangers inherent in their capture always pushed him to the side of caution, opting to claim a different prize. But it seemed the time would come for their first hunt. Unlike the previous contract, this one would have to be carefully planned out.
Yet, while the target and location had been disclosed, the delivery point had been interrupted by yet another quake, one that was accompanied by a beastial scream. Turning his gaze towards the edge of the landing pad, he watched as a tentacle appeared, claiming on of Bib’s men. Shortly after the creature itself arose. His head lifted as he took in its appearance, feeling that they would make for a solid prize for the auctions.
Lylek’s they were called. And it had just tore the mutated Twi’lek in twain between its mandible and tentacle. A ghastly sight, to be sure as he didn’t wish the same fate for his own men. And just as Bib figured would happen, two more appeared. Seemingly unphased by the arrival, he stepped forward, lift a single hand up to his shoulder.
"Gentlemen, if you would please. Firing line, stun blast at full power. All others, cover them with regular blaster fire, but ensure not to do any serious damage."
As Viggo commanded, his men fell into position and began firing at the creatures. Unfortunately the bolts bounced off and the stun shots did nothing but irritate the Lyleks. This was a creature he knew nothing about. The galaxy was a large place, after all, with many beasts within it. Knowing them all was impossible. The again, the unknown made things more exciting.
Not even a few moments after the first shot were fired, Viggo’s arm moved out the side, signaling his men to stop.
"Enough." His eyes rested upon the creatures as a grin spread across his face. "Fascinating. To be immune to blaster fire, it certainly changes the games. Prepare tranquilizers and stand by. Astrid, Karen’s, focus now and let’s us see if these beasts can be tamed."
Stepping up beside their father, all three lifted a hand toward a beast each. They began to reach out with the Force, seeking to infiltrate, seize, and influence the mind the creatures to bring them under control. Some were easy to take hold off, others were tougher. Finally, there were those that were simply immune to such control. It was time to see what they could do with a Lylek.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Aug 3, 2023 5:33:25 GMT -8
Bib Syndulla was no stranger to lyleks, having spent the majority of his life as a bandit on the fringes of civilized society. It was not uncommon to encounter the terrifying creatures when scavenging in the sun baked Bright Lands of Ryloth, though rarely had he witnessed the insectoid beasts in such great number. His hand went to the handle of the curved saber hanging from his hip, wrapping gloved fingers around the doashim hide bindings for a secure grip before drawing the terrible blade from its jeweled scabbard with a metallic scrape of steel. SHINK! Curved for use in blurrg calvary charges the desert bandits so often engaged in, the curling length of crystalline ostrine alloy hissed with steam as the heat absorbing material reacted to the dry air of Kala'uun. A rime of frost coated the surface of the baleful saber, bleeding shimmering ice crystals as the Chancellor took the sword through a number of practised motions, warming up his arm.There was little need. It was clear why the Famine Lord had hired a character of Viggo Grimborn's calibre. The huntsman appeared cool under pressure, calmly giving instruction to his men as they quickly fell into formation. The marauders under the Chancellor's command tended to display less discipline, fighting more individually than as a unified force. As such the results were rather telling.Three of the altered twi'leks he had brought with him had already been butchered, the first ripped right in half and the next two falling to spiked fore-pincers. Lessons were quickly learned and his marauders backed away, taking in hand the coils of the their electro-whips as they used the long crackling flexible strands to keep a measure of distance between their silk swathed forms and the incited beasts.Holding his saber down at his side, Bib pointed a steel tipped finger at the creatures as the blaster fire stopped and the family of beast tamers attempted to use their unnatural talents to subdue the lyleks feral minds. "Their chiton is weakest at the joints." He explained to the Viggo's men as they loaded tranquilizer darts into their weapons. "It is your best chance for penetration."Then he stepped forwards, entering the fray personally as he swept towards one of the lyleks showing greater resistance to the attempts at beast control. Whores Kiss practically hummed in the bandit king's hands as he expertly dragged the frigid edge of his frost blade across a lashing tentacle of the creature, severing thick hide like a vibro-cleaver in a butchers shop, depositing a wriggling appendage on the blood stained landing pad before diving forwards into a roll. He came up between the spiked pincers the beast possessed for legs and slashed left and then right, separating the middle set of legs in two expert strokes, before leaping into another roll that saw him free lashing pincers and clacking mandible jaws.Now laughing as the thrill of the hunt consumed him, Bib turned his villainous visage towards Viggo, his tattooed expression speckled with lylek blood."I see now what drives men to your line of work. It is...exhilarating."
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Aug 9, 2023 7:00:43 GMT -8
Despite their efforts, bringing the Lyleks under their control was less than satisfactory, even on Viggo's front. Perhaps they couldn't be tamed in such a way. Maybe it was their frenzy that kept them from falling under their sway. However, the act wasn't entirely useless as the creatures began to slow a bit, they approach stagnating a touch. It allowed Bib to inform his men of where to aim. That was good. It would allow them the chance to bring them down.
Viggo gave but a smirk as the Twi'lek rushed in, making his attacks to further slow the Lylek that gave the most resistance. It was always a delightful experience to see others understanding the thrill they felt. But for now, that was a discussion when the threat of being eaten wasn't the current focus. Looking over to Astrid, he gave her nod as he removed his lightsaber. As faced the pommel outwards, she took hold of Bib with the Force, pulling him in a stable fashion as the green, explosive gas began to emerge from the small holes around the end. As the gas created a solid wall and ran itself dry, Viggo then waved a hand, causing the cloud to rise and push towards the Lyleks. Growing close enough, He then motioned forward with his saber hand, a singular blaster bolt zipping by and passing through the cloud, causing the gas to ignite.
It wasn't anything terrible, unless caught up in it, but it created a momentary break as the flames threatened to consume creatures. They screeched and roared before the flames vanished, but it was all the time needed for his men to fire their tranquillizers at the area specified.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Aug 13, 2023 8:13:38 GMT -8
Bloodshot orbs bulged in dark tattooed sockets, widened in surprise as a sense of weightlessness settled over the bandit chief, his body carried backwards and away from an expanding green cloud of highly flammable gas. His booted heels scraped the ground in time to see the wall of vapour surge forwards and ignite, erupting across his vision in a tide of scorching flame that swept the hideous insectile visage of many a vicious lylek. The carnivorous creatures scurried away on all six pincers, giving in to base animal instincts, a beasts fear of flame as immutable a fact as a hutts love of food. As quickly as the swarm had come upon them, most of the beasts retreated back the way they had come, fleeing into holes in the cracked surface of the earth. Several collapsed short of that, pin pricked by a dozen darts at the joints as instructed, succumbing to drug induced sedation.
"Well done." Exclaimed the Chancellor, lowering his blade as he fixed his villain's stare on Viggo. "I can see why Lord Dragus requested your services. Your men are well trained and faired well." He looked around, noting the three of his own marauders that were now decaying carrion for the flies. They might as well have let the lyleks make off with their dismembered corpses. Oh well, surely there was some stew pot in an impoverished part of the city that could use the meat. "Certainly better than my own."
Then the Chancellor flashed the beast tamer a wicked smirk more accustomed to being delivered from behind the flickering orange flames of a camp fire on the outskirts of the Nightlands. "I think perhaps that you are a wise man. There is much to be gleaned from your custom and the way you do business. I shall endeavour to treat my daughters with more respect." He gave his blade a flourish to free it of any clinging particles, then slid it back into its scabbard on his hip, before offering Viggo and his daughters a wink. "But never my wives. Now where was I? Oh yes, Eol Sha, have your heard of it?"
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Viggo Grimborn
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Post by Viggo Grimborn on Aug 16, 2023 6:50:11 GMT -8
Viggo watched as the creatures began to flee at the explosion that was unleashed before them. He couldn't deny he felt that it would have little in the scheme of things, causing them to merely hesitate, which would have been enough for his men. But instead, they fled, primal instincts of survival coursing through their beings. However, though a few escaped, they didn't go empty handed. A few fell to the tranquillizers launched by his men. Overall, a successful hunt, if one could call it that.
As the Chancellor spoke, Viggo opened the pommel of his lightsaber, a cartridge ejected as it did so. "Well, what can I say? I don't take just anyone who seeks employment with me. Only the best will do. Those with skill and drive are worthy of joining me in my hunts. It is for this reason I tend to be sought after such high value beasts." He then removed a new cartridge from a pouch on his belt, placing it in the hilt before closing the pommel and hooking in back in place.
As the Chancellor continued, Viggo turned to him once more, hands resting behind his back. "Whatever you chose to do is , of course, you right. There is no point in living if one does not pursue their own desires and beliefs. No one has to agree. Wouldn't you say? But, Eol Sha, I have indeed heard of it. Up until now, now have asked for such a creature and considering the dangers, I've avoided hunting one simply for a typical auction. But with such a request and the price offered, I dare say it is time to give a try."
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Aug 20, 2023 7:29:55 GMT -8
"Ah, a man who enjoys a challenge." The Chancellor's lips curled further into their envenomed grin. "A hunter after my own heart. Indeed, this is to serve as the crown jewel of his collection. Lord Dragus is prepared to offer twenty-five million credits for an intact male specimen, thirty million for a female, and five million a piece for any incubating eggs. Navigating the hostile world of Eol Sha will be difficult enough, as will gathering these specimens, but perhaps the even more daunting challenge is where he would like you to deliver this mechanize."
Turning over his hand, Bib held in his gloved palm the same holo-projecting disc from earlier and gave it a sharp squeeze, reawakening the three-dimensional rendering of the lava worm. He gave the disc a second squeeze, changing the image to that of a star map of the Abrion sector of space, centered on the cosmic dust cloud more commonly referred to as the Cloak of the Sith. A treacherous region of space to travel to, where void sailors spoke of seeing things in the dust, things not of this material realm. It also happened to be the heart of the Sith Eternal Empire.
"I'm providing you with the coordinates for a navigational beacon at the edge of the Cloak of the Sith. Reach that first beacon and transmit the password I provide you..." He held out his other hand and offered Viggo a data-crystal. "...and it will guide you to the next beacon, and the next after that, and so on and so forth until you reach the world at the centre of those rough seas. Roon, a tidal locked planet surrounded by a lethal ring of asteroids, and home...to the Sith. There is a volcano in the Tawntoom province of the planet, on the night side, where a dark fort stands sentinel over the molten caldera. His lordship wishes you to deliver these creature there. You will of course be provided with the appropriate clearance, and you still possess His mark, yes? A token of my master's?"
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