Darth Rebellious
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Rebellious on Jun 11, 2023 19:49:29 GMT -8
Darth Rebellious crossed his arms and listened as his Barabel host spoke, although he soon lost his attention. He rambled on about various experiments that could possibly be presented to the Supreme One and the other Lords as pretense to return to Roon. The whats and hows of it didn't matter to the Dark Lord, only that his associate had agreed to facilitate the meeting and when it would take place. The reptilian proposed that it would take a few days to prepare and that the hospitality of Fort Ewok would be open to the Kiffar in that time, which he full well planned to spend expanding his understanding of the alchemical arts.
"If sentients are on the menu, I don't believe I'll be partaking in any feasts. I came to work, and work I shall."
The Darth said plainly as he ran his right hand over his face. As his features passed under his palm exposing his face once more, the olive tones had almost instantaneously returned to his previously grayed flesh and the burning orange hue of his irises softened once again to luminous yellow. With his more unobtrusive visage in place once more, Rebellious began pacing the deck. With his immediate goals in sight, it was all he could to to keep impatience from creeping in. He was eager to get back to port so that they could disembark and return to the fort to begin researching. Feasts and spectacle were pointless in his pursuit of greater knowledge and power.
"Decadence breeds complacency which is poison to progress. I don't plan on becoming stagnant in my pursuits."
The Dark Lord said, more to himself than to his host. If he was to achieve a greater degree of understanding, he would have to remain diligent.
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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 Jun 12, 2023 5:07:15 GMT -8
"Very well." He hissed in defeat. "You have impresssed upon me the seriousnesss of your commitment to higher learning. I shall tempt you no more. It iz sssimply my way." Like a serpent, his forked tongue flicked the air in a rattling hiss.
The waters of Dragusport were deep enough this time of day for the ship to come in to harbour for a few hours to resupply. As it pulled into dock, a gangplank was lowered over the side allowing the Sith and crew to disembark. Dragus' toe talons carved wooden splinters from the soft tropical Rishii wood the deck was constructed of. A far cry from iron hard Pzobian oak, but also far less expensive given the other lumber had to be imported. As they reached a set of steps carved into the cliff-face leading back up into Fort Ewok, the often scatter-brained saurian Sith seemed to become more focused on Rebellious' mission to deepen his personal knowledge.
"We might az well begin at once. Where do your interestz lie? Alchemy iz a varied field, requiring a lifetime of ssstudy to unravel itz greatessst mysteriez. Are you interesssted in altering the world around you at a molecular level, to sssculpt flesh az your mind envisionz and create monsterz to rival the ssstrongest war machine? Or are you more interesssted in elixirz and poisonz, brewing potion and producing bio-weaponz? Hmmm?" His tail spike glinted as the last few rays of the sinking red sun reflected off the oiled blades surface, his fifth appendage swaying behind him in displayed pleasure as he spoke about the greatest of arts. "Perhapz you ssseek knowledge of metallurgy, altering sssimple sssteel into unbreakable Sssith iron and imbuing objectz with intricately woven spellz? Iz it your wish to dominate the mindz of otherz usssing the alchemical propertiez of meltmasssif or nihil sssmokestone? We can ssstart with whatever area you wish."
That would also determine where in the fort they needed to go. Above the undercroft where the the sea dragons were housed was a recreation of the hell-forge in the Black Temple on blessed Pzob, a nefarious device capable of redirecting the currents of the malevolent fey. Rebellious had already seen the Dark Apothecary's alchemy lab, though there were other areas of the evil fortress where he was running biological experiments. The tallest tower of the dread fort was devoted to his scrying-oculory, a massive crystal assembly that allowed him to peer out into the starry heavens and study the secrets of the universe.
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Darth Rebellious
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 132
Affiliation: Himself
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Post by Darth Rebellious on Jul 4, 2023 1:03:22 GMT -8
After Rebellious declined to partake in any festivities, the Famine Lord's demeanor seemed to change. The Kiffar could tell that his saurian host had taken on a more serious edge in regard to assisting in the Dark Lord's pursuit of knowledge, a switch in behavior that was a welcome sight to the Dark Lord. When asked where his interest lay in regard to the varying fields of the alchemical arts, the Sith let out a slight chuckle. With his lips offset and slightly curled into a noticeable smirk, he replied plainly."I want to learn it all."With a genuine nod acknowledging his statement, the Famine Lord replied with a simple, "very well." With their feet back on dry land, they pair made their way back into Fort Ewok. Rather than going to the alchemy lab that had previously been visited, they made their way through the winding corridors to another lab with it's own series of flesh pens containing beings of various species and with equally varying levels of augmentation. It seemed that they would be starting with life-crafting. In simplified terms, the art of monster-making was practically genetic manipulation and flesh-grafting, however rather than being a purely scientific endeavor performed with medical technology, it relied heavily on the use of the Dark Side to edit genetic markers on a molecular level. It also seemed to be performed based on an individual's personal preference and the needs of the creator.
Neurons could be rewired in the subjects brain to gear them toward aggression and subservience, their circulatory systems could be expanded to feed blood to newly attached appendages, their genetics could even be altered to make their bodies grow enhanced muscle, bone spurs, horns, venom glands, tougher skin or even scales and exoskeletons to make creatures more deadly and hard to kill. Dragus himself seemed to streamline the process by using a concoction of various toxins, drugs, herbs and modified microorganisms to target and re-sequence a specimen's DNA while also causing an immune response to kick-start the mutation process. Although he used a standardized version in some cases, he explained that in others he would specially tailor the elixir for specific beings, or resort to the so-called "classical" methods in special cases.
With various insights on the art being given, the first day proved to be enlightening to say the least. Day two and three were dedicated to learning the intricacies of a creature's biology. It was emphasized that a large portion of the time that went into performing alchemy, especially on a living creature, was research and prep work rather than the actual procedure. A good understanding of a creatures base capabilities, tolerances and behaviors had to be established. In addition, it's genetic makeup had to be understood to a fair degree in order to know how best to cultivate the desired augmentations. Starting off with something simple, the dread-lizard provided a gizka; a small bipedal reptilian whose species were considered pests by most sentients because of their high reproductive rate, as well as a delicacy in some circles when slaughtered and cooked. Practically a harmless creature, Darth Rebellious would seek to turn the creature into a predator. Along with the creature, he was also provided extensive anatomical, physiological and genetic data to study; which he did meticulously in preparation.
The fourth day served as the day of operation. Kept in a holding cell, the gizka was kept awake while being fed chemical compounds through an IV line targeting muscle and bone development as well to stimulate and mutate the growth of secondary secretion glands for venom production. Using his command of the Force, the Dark Lord focused intently on the microscopic level. Rearranging genetic markers, breaking and reforming the chemical bonds of the test subjects DNA through sheer will and forcibly attaching the new chemicals to it's genes. As the changes to it's atomic structure were made, the physical changes began manifesting. The non-sentient reptile writhed in pain as its muscle fibers ripped themselves apart and grew more powerful around bones that increased in size and density. The soft tissue of it's back and jaws filled out considerably due to the growth of venom sacks allowing it to secrete toxins from it's pores as well as inject into victims directly through newly grown quill-like spines that protruded from it's back or a combination of tainted saliva and sharp teeth comparable to saw blades. Adding to the other far more aggressive features of the creature, the small horns that lined the edges of it's enlarged head became more noticeably jagged and pronounced. It's toughened flesh continued to quiver until the alterations came to their completion.
Physically and mentally taxed from the intense concentration it took to complete the procedure, the Darth left it to the Ranats to test the subect. Pitted against smaller creatures it acted the part of an ambush predator rather than a hunter, while against larger specimens, it was quick to flee. However, when cornered it would attempt to gnaw on it's adversary or skewer them with the spines it would release from it's back or at the least cripple or kill them with it's toxins. Although the physical augmentations were successful, Rebellious found the gizka to be insufficiently aggressive and opted to terminate it, considering the specimen to be a failure; albeit one that provided invaluable experience. The little time left before the voyage to Roon, the Kifffar spent delving into tomes and scrolls focused on metallurgy. Although he hadn't gotten hands on experience with the practice, the basic principles seemed to be fairly similar to creating Sithspawn; the only real differences being the manipulation of elemental properties rather than genetic code. A theory he would have to test at a later date.
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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 Jul 6, 2023 6:59:31 GMT -8
When Dragus inevitably came looking for Rebellious he found him in the library, seated at an oaken study table in one corner of the room, going over a soot stained tome that had to be a part of his smithy related collection. Like everywhere in the fortress the lighting was less than adequate, provided by torches or dim tallow candles. The Dark Apothecary had returned to wearing the same robe of dark rishii feathers he had on when the two monstrous men first met, including the yellowing skull plate with its jagged beak that curled over the end of the barabel's scaly snout. His right claw rested on a ruby red orb topping an ornate saber-cane, which the Famine Lord affectionately referred to as the Gorgon's Eye, essentially a fancy walking stick with a cortosis tip that tapped audibly on the stone floor as the saurian Sith leisurely approached. In his left claw he held a lit pipe that had been paw carved from a broken branch of the Witch Tree at the centre of Weeping Bark Village on holy Pzob, its bowl packed with an unhealthy amount of darkside infused spice from Ryloth, what the Sith students at Dragwarts Academy called Draggledore Dank. Wisps of narcotic smoke danced in front of his eyes, which strangely enough appeared different from the day before. An unusual amethyst gem was set in the mad alchemist's left eye, protruding through the socket of the half-mask of bird skull, eliciting a slight mechanical whirring as the Hungering One approached.
The days between subduing the Doomslither and their departure from Draggle Rock had not been spent idle. A full routine checkup of Umaroth was performed now that the Sith Wyrm was finally under control. He-Who-Hungers spent what time he could afford arranging the meeting with the Supreme Leader, which took a surprising turn. Usually the reclusive leader of the Sith Eternal was quite eager to have darksiders brought before him, but there had been a hesitation in his voice when the Dark Apothecary brought up the subject of bringing Rebellious to him, not true reluctance but the pause had been out of character enough to draw Dragus' notice. Even so, the Supreme Leader agreed to a meeting aboard the Nullus Beacon, the Sith Eternal's star fortress that was hidden within the cosmic dust cloud known as the Cloak of the Sith. The saurian Sith had already pointed out the unique astrological region to his kiffar guest after indulging one night in a considerable amount of Pzobian bloodwine.
As per usual, a carrion reek wafted off the Blood Wyrm's scales as he stalked over to Rebellious, his fragrant odor overpowering even the pleasant fumes rising from the end of his pipe. His lips curled up into their signature sinister smirk as he stood to one side of the table and leaned closer, mumbling a few sentences to himself as he read the words on the page, before taking another pleasant puff from his pipe. A smoke ring blew from his lips, expanding the further it went from his snout. Exhaling out his nostril slits, the Famine Lord sent two smoke TIE fighters through the dissipating ring, which dispersed a moment later.
"Thinking of fashioning a Sssith alchemized blade? They are ssstrong for certain, though they do tend to ssstand out like a sssore thumb." He admitted. "I've often found the mossst ussseful weaponz are the onez your victim doesssn't sssee coming." Always victims, never opponents. "Ssstill, I am confident you would prove az equally adept at crafting altered weaponz as you have at shaping beastz. I am quite pleasssed by your progresss over thessse lassst ssseveral dayz."
Rebellious' desire for knowledge was practically ravenous, at least equal to the Famine Lord's appetite for perversion and pleasure. The kiffar's intense focus was somewhat maddening to the serpentine sultan of sin, who attempted at every opportunity to ply his guest with all manner of temptation. He had to admit, this Sith's dedication and mental fortitude were shockingly impressive, having turned down numerous overtures by the furry pawed pleasure maidens of the Dark Apothecary's harem.
"Everything haz been arranged. The Sssupreme Leader haz agreed to a meeting on the Nulluz Beacon, the Sssith Eternal ssstar fortresss near Roon. All that'z left iz to discusss our travel arrangementz. We can take my ship if you wish. My chauffeur Lil'Havok iz the only blind ewok pilot in the galaxy to my knowledge." He scratched his chin. "I'm ssstill not sssure how he managez it. Or if you prefer we can take your ship, though I do have a bit of luggage I mussst insssist on bringing. Nothing too large, I asssure you, jussst a few bitz and baublez I sssimply can not do without."
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Darth Rebellious
The Sith Eternal
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Affiliation: Himself
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Post by Darth Rebellious on Jul 7, 2023 17:17:46 GMT -8
After spending the majority of the day in the library flicking through the pages a tome on Sith metallurgy, Darth Rebellious had finished his reading coincidentally as the Famine Lord approached. With a quick snap, he closed the book laying it down on the table as he looked up to his host. Once more the Barabel had swathed himself in his flamboyant robe of black Rishii feather and mask fashioned from one of the avian's skulls. Unlike their first encounter, rather than carrying the ornate serpentine staff which was used to control the Doomslither, he leisurely walked with an equally ornate sabercane topped with what appeared to be a ruby. In addition it seemed the terrorsaur had replaced his left eye with a prosthetic in the form of a purple gem. The reason for the replacement was unknown to the Sith Lord, as was it's function. However, he didn't really care.
"Not particularly. I was just doing some reading. I've taken my first steps into a much greater mystery that may take many years to truly unravel. I figured it best to equip myself with as much previously researched and recorded knowledge as possible to aid in my future labors. Surely you understand."
Instead of commenting on the oddity implanted in the reptilian's eye socket or the narcotic smoke wafting from his wooden pipe intermixing with the meaty stench that usually followed him, the Dark Lord simply followed the conversation. When Dragus spoke of Sith-crafted swords and his preference for more subtle weaponry, the Kiffar couldn't help but chuckle. Considering everything he had seen during his interactions with his fellow Sith, he knew that was false. From the ostentatious garments, the decor of his domicile, the garish trinkets he carried and down to his choice of lightsaber crystals, the Lord of the Eye was far from subtle. Wearing a smirk on his face, Rebellious slyly reached into the shaft of his right boot and pulled out a small dagger in a quick stroke. Holding it aloft by the handle between his index finger and thumb, he presented it with the tip pointed toward the ceiling. Ripples in the alloy of it's smoky black blade as well as an oily green sheen glinting off of it's unnaturally sharp edge would give it away as an alchemy-forged poison blade to a craftsman such as the terrorsaur. Before he could be questioned about the origin of the knife, the Darth continued.
"A gift from a former ally, presumed dead. I've kept it for decades. Not out of sentiment, but because of it's functionality. As you're aware, I do prefer to be inconspicuous."
Rebellious looked over the dagger for a moment, briefly reminiscing. Originally given to him as a student rising the ranks within the Sith Academy on Kashyyyk by Lord Ferinus, it had served him well then just as it had done over the years. Just as swiftly as it had been drawn, he placed the weapon back in it's sheath for safe keeping as one never truly knew when they would need a well-placed blade. Returning to the exchange at hand, the Sith listened as the mad alchemist discussed the logistics of their journey to Roon. Raising his index finger toward the roof and slightly thrusting it upward to indicate space above, he replied.
"Last I checked, there was a Star Destroyer in orbit. Why don't we just take that? I can dock my ship in it's hangar, as I don't plan on leaving it here, nor do I have much room aboard it for an entourage. Plus, if memory serves correctly you also need to transport one of your experiments to present to the Supreme One. We can metaphorically kill two birds with one stone. Besides, I don't personally want to entrust my safety to a blind Ewok."
Again he chuckled. However, the statement was serious.
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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 Jul 10, 2023 7:03:19 GMT -8
When Rebellious presented his poisoned blade, Dragus leaned in and inspected it in studious fashion, analyzing the object with a plethora of senses all at once. Nostril slits flared as his powerful olfactory senses determines chemical composition, while he probed at it with invisible claws, feeling the familiar touch of darkness on the alchemically created dagger. Such weapons were common among those that practiced the dark arts, but even the Dark Apothecary had to admire the craftsmanship that went into the tiny blade. He could be heard humming and hawing as he stepped back and listened to the Kiffar's suggestion about their travel arrangements.
"You mean the Covenant of Blood?" He waved a claw dismissively. "My hench-robot Krell iz currently usssing it gather more slavez for the cortosiz minez." The drake shook his snout, chuckling lightly. "You'd be amazed at how fast they expire down in thossse tunnelz. There are ssstill the two Vindicator cruiserz in orbit I sssuppose, they should sssuffice well enough for our needz. Very well, we'll take the Warlord to Roon. I'll call ahead and let them know to prepare a ssspot in the hangar for your ship." He tapped his cane on the floor twice in quick succession. "I'll meet you in the hangar in orbit in a few hourz. That should be more than enough time to prepare."
Without so much as a further word, the Dark Apothecary turned and departed, likely to attend to whatever preparations it was he spoke of. A short time later and a shuttle could be seen blasting off from the island on a course for orbit.
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Darth Rebellious
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Rebellious on Jul 11, 2023 18:36:25 GMT -8
Darth Rebellious rose from the chair that he was seated in and made his way to the exit. As he worked his way through the labyrinth of halls back to the courtyard, he held on to the sense of triumph he had worked for. In a few days he had learned more than he had in years, expanding his knowledge base substantially in a short time. Although he was no master of the alchemical arts, he was confident that he was now armed with enough information to continue his labors on his own so that he may hone his skills further.
Previously moved to the courtyard, the Dark Lord found the Onyx Arrow waiting for him with the boarding ramp lowered when he arrived. Heading straight for the cockpit, he brought the vessel online and proceeded with a series of systems checks before firing the engine. With everything running as it should, the Kiffar raised the ramp and sealed the ship as he engaged the repulsors, lifting the star courier off the ground and higher until it cleared the castle's battlements. From it's hover, the ship shot forward leaving Draggle Rock behind and ascending to break atmosphere.
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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 Oct 15, 2023 5:14:25 GMT -8
The Flight of the Dragenburg From atop a platform of yellowed bone scaffolding, the Dread Lizard of Draggle Rock supervised as teams of tinker-rats put the finishing touches on a ship plated in quadanium steel painstakingly manufactured in the Hell-Forge beneath Fort Ewok, which sat on the highest elevated point of the ill fabled isle. Each plate had been cooled in freshly spilt Galandan blood over the sacrificial black altar residing in the dark heart of the fort, imbuing a spicy touch of suffering that psychically resonated in the aether. Warlock Enginseers held blistering orange rivets with carbon scored pincers while massively muscled ranat-ogres pounded them into place with flat headed hammers. Lacking a coat of paint, the materials used to form the exterior of the forming landing craft gave the extensively modified C-9979 a gunmetal hue, in the same vein as most dreadnoughts had been constructed over the millennia. This was ostensibly Imperial in style, though the vessel would serve a much darker purpose than any warship of the line ever produced for Palpatine's former Empire. As an inheritor of said Empire, which is what every member of the notorious and Order of the Eye considered themselves to be, it felt appropriate. That didn't stop the night ewoks of the Fort from decorating the exterior of the ship in alchemically enhanced blood paint, depicting horrific scenes of tribal conflict and expressing a zealous devotion to the Witch Tree of Pzob. An ewok shepherd first before all things, Dragus allowed his precious flock their artistic license, for his interests lay more towards what was inside the nearly completed vessel.Springing from the top of the platform, the drake lord flipped tail over end as he dropped like a stone towards the sandy beach floor below. His knees bent the moment before his toe talons sank into the gritty ground, straightening within seconds to stand beneath the scorching mid-day sun overhead, whose rays seemed swallowed by the utter obsidian depths of the Famine Lord's scales. Nostril slits on the end of his crocodilian snout flared as he inhaled a warm breath of salty air breezing off the churning ocean waters surrounding Draggle Rock, his home away from blessed Pzob and thrice cursed Roon. Thinking of the latter attached a tone of bitterness to his otherwise pleasant mood, as he was still under the censure of exile due to a few unexpected but highly amusing results of his experiments aboard the Nullus Beacon. The Supreme One was far from forgiving. However, He was at least wise enough not to completely discard a tool as useful as the Great Devourer. He-Who-Hungers might be exiled, but his rank remained secure, for now at anyways. Even the enigmatic ruler of the Sith Eternal Empire was not so foolish as to deprive the Hungering One of the resources he required for his experiments. A war between Roon and Pzob could only end one way. The Eye was a far less forgiving master than even the Supreme Leader. Dragus sneered as he discarded that thought in favour of his current focus, which was of course on the landing craft he affectionately referred to as the Dragenburg.Stalking up the ramp of the altered C-9979 modular frigate, the Blood Wyrm passed teams of toiling rodents that relentlessly loaded the ship with supplies for its maiden voyage into the stars, spilling alchemical supplies from the sides of repulsor sleds much to the black scaled barabel's chagrin. As he strode up the ramp of the boot into the ship's interior, he witnessed charcoal hued night ewoks with demonic glowing red eyes securing hang-gliders of bone and tanned man-flesh to racks on the ceiling in the rear wings, each attached to a lift conveyor capable of maneuvering each in turn over a drop chute in the floor where they could be launched into the sky. A motley collection of mutant monstrosities were penned up in the fore-wings, ranging in all shapes and sizes from the smallest snickering kowakian monkey lizard to the largest alchemically altered arkanian dragon. Rather than vehicles, the Dragenburg housed a menagerie of the Dark Apothecary's sithspawned creations. It also sported a field lab, larger than what he maintained on the Bad Bantha, but smaller than his complete apothecarium on the Haemonculus Occulori. Beady eyed storm-vermin saluted the twisted terrorsaur as he entered the bridge, his cloak of sutured faces swaying slightly as he came to a stop before the main viewport overlooking the ocean.The scampering of gnarled paws across the filthy floors alerted the Hungering One to the arrival of his verminous assistant Squeakers, who hurry-scurried to his side upon entering the bridge. Casting his snout and mismatched gaze down at the rodent in soiled rags tattered at the edges, he waited impatiently for the parasite infested ranat to relay its report. A flurry of rapidly expressed rat-speech squeaked from the mouse-man's scabrous snout, indecipherable to almost anybody not born in the bowels of Dragusblight. The Feaster of Worlds, however, had no trouble understanding the vermin's squeaked and squealing dialect. The Children of Decay shared a very special relationship with the High Lord. They were bound to the Almighty Eye's avatar of Famine in ways more than their shared lack of general hygiene. Dragus nodded his snout, humming and hawing as he brought a claw beneath his chin and scratched at the scales there with a crooked talon until he drew blood. The sweet release of his own vitae excited his unequaled olfactory senses, which were capable of discerning the chemical composition of nearly anything they scented. "The ssslave mice have completed their work?" Queried the depraved draconian despot with a raised scaled brow over his bloody right eye. "Excellent. I sssee no sssense in delaying further." Black lips twisted at the corner of his terrible jaws, exposing a fanged forest of gleaming white incisors that seemed to stretch impossibly beyond the edges of his stretched snout. A forked tongue flicked from between his thicket of serrated daggers, misting the air before him with crimson flecks as he issued a command. "Take uz out."Ion drive thrusters at the rear of the Dragenburg lit with a smoke belching cough that blasted the tropical jungle behind the parked C-9979 with radioactive particulate, quickly changing from cold shadow to blistering cobalt blue as the ship's engines warmed up. Repulsors whined to life, gently raising the landing craft off the sandy beach and into the air, higher and higher until it was at even height with the blackstone fortress on the islands eastern edge. Inside the bridge, a tech-rat of Clan Rustrot pressed forwards on the accelerator, causing the modular frigate to lurch forwards as it picked up speed, rapidly ascending into the sky as it headed for the cold embrace of the airless void. The mobile alchemy lab left dark contrails of filthy grey smoke in its wake, the only sign of its passage until it disappeared into the deep black of space.
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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 Dec 20, 2023 10:26:26 GMT -8
Location: Rishi (Rishi Sytem) | Isle of Draggle Rock | Fort Ewok In the lower depths of a blackstone fortress that channeled the Force currents from around the planet like a sorcerous lode stone at the heart of a swirling magical vortex, was a hatchery seen to and cared for by the charcoal furred night ewoks of the castle. Eggs the size of ranats were meticulously observed, their temperatures closely monitored, every thing an exact science as much as the artistry of alchemy could be considered so. The blood eyed bears affectionately cuddled with the eggs, altered and warped by a number of applications of sorcery, the Dark Apothecary's spell-craft having changed them from their original form into something more sinister. Dragon eggs from Arkania, though the creatures growing inside could hardly be called Arkanian Dragons, not after the way they had been changed. A sliver of chaos had seeped into each and every one, giving rise to a new nightmarish form, creatures of black scale and crimson eye. The first of which, these Rishi War Dragons, was just in the process of being born. A crack formed across the otherwise smooth surface of an oval shaped egg as the serpent within forced its way out, butting and clawing until the shell began to flake away and a slime covered form took its first steps. It whimpered and shrieked, taking a lungful of the foul hatchery air, before exhaling sulphur and wisps of flame from nostril slits on either side of its long serpentine snout.Primitive drums of stretched man-hide over bases of light Rishi tropical wood were banged upon in a mesmerizing rhythm, felt in every furry chest in the chamber, seeming to electrify the very air around them. More eggs began the same process, as demonically inspired wyrms erupted from their birth prisons and tasted freedom, before their predatory senses turned towards a pressing need. Galadan captives from the mainland shrieked as they were forced towards the emerging winged serpents by cruel hearted night ewoks wielding obsidian tipped spears. Those that resisted found their flesh punctured by the sharpened dragon glass. The smell of freshly spilled blood incited the beasts into a frenzy. They leapt onto the screaming innocents and ripped them apart, limb by limb, sinking razor sharp fangs into sentient meat. It wasn't long before instinct instructed them how to use the flames in their throats to roast their victims alive. They tasted better that way, charred black, sizzling as they went down the gullet. The so recently spawned wyrms sated their hungry appetites on the slaves provided, swallowing mouthfuls of ash and drinking every last drop of blood, a well balanced diet by all accounts.The Sith Eternal had put in a request for the Dark Apothecary to produce mounts, and Dragus aimed to deliver. Even now his bestiaries spread across the empire would hard at work producing cold blooded creatures to serve the needs of the growing war machine. Not every warrior was worthy of a dragon, but the Great Devourer would ensure there were plenty on hands for those that had earned the honour.
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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 Jan 18, 2024 11:02:48 GMT -8
Waves rolled in off the stormy tropical sea of Rishi, crashing against the Pzobian oaken planks of the docks on the eastern side of the island, where a number of ocean going vessels were harboured just inside the Bay of Dragus. The small coastal settlement was known as Dragusport, home to many a sea-rat and sea-wok that called the ill fabled isle of Draggle Rock home. It was here that the old Rishi Man-of-War could be found, anchored visibly in deeper waters just outside the harbour. Rum drinking vermin lashed larger ranat-ogres and gamorrean swine as they loaded launch boats with casks of Pzobian bloodwine meant for the Tracyn Island, where the Rishilings and their war-beasts were currently encamped.
Warped by the Famine Lord's sorcery and the mutagenic properties of the Urcinis-Helix, those former Galandans had their hearts turned to evil, now barely recognizable as the former peaceful religious practitioners they once were. Maybe of the Rishiling tribe had already left the planet to serve aboard the Dark Apothecary's terrifying dreadnought, the Maw, which would soon be on route to Eriadu for the destined meeting between the Sith Eternal's new Fist and the despot that ruled in secret over that world, Xitan the Witch-King of Raven's Peak. The Rishilings were a military force under the Pater Mutatis' banner, riding into battle atop armoured Shamunaar and Sith War Behemoths that towered over the battlefield, raining down destruction from mounted blaster cannons and with obsidian tipped arrows. Those that marched on the ground was just as fearsome, garbed in bronze Sith scale armour and wielding long vibro-pikes coated in hydra venom. Where the Rishilings tread, death was always sure to follow.
They also drank heavily, which was why the rodent dock workers laboured to load so many barrels of bloodwine onto launches destined for the Lady of Pzob. The ancient sea-going vessel would risk the turbulent waters to make its delivery on time, unafraid of the foul weather brought about by another of Umaroth's many tantrums. Even after its submission, the Doomslither was still causing all manner of problems for the islands inhabitants. Without the Great Devourer present to wield the control rod, there wasn't anyone with a strong enough will to dominate and enslave the mind of the wyrm. Sea-dragons hissed as long whips cracked across their scales, causing the long necked drakes to pull the smaller boats behind them, swimming out to man-of-war to load the last of the supplies. As lightning crackled overhead, a sinister scaled figure appeared near the railing of the ship, garbed in a man-hide long coat and a tricorn hat atop its scaled crown.
Ol'Cap'n Long-Drags perhaps? Another pearl of lightning flashed, blistering bright, and as it faded the figure was gone.
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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 Mar 24, 2024 8:51:09 GMT -8
"Somehow Palpatine returned." - Poe Dameron The above phrase spoken by a former spice runner turned simple minded Rebel general resonated within the saurian skull of the Dark Apothecary as he stood above a bubbling pit in the cold cavernous depths beneath Fort Ewok. Dark red waters reminiscent of blood steamed from a naturally formed crevice in the cavern floor where a strange alchemical substance had forced its way up from deep beneath the surface of the planet, possibly drawn to the ill fabled isle of Draggle Rock by the vortex of sorcerous energy that encircled its mystical storm wracked shores. Placing his weight upon a rigid length of Pzobian oak capped by a leering horned skull, the black scaled barabel watched a clash of warriors in the damp bowels of his island fortress. Two of his Nu-Jakes of the most costly NJX variety were currently engaged in ritual combat, equipped in the regalia and arms of the Elite Praetorian Guard, with one wielding a viscous vibro-voulge and the other an electro-bisento. They exchanged blows faster than most species eyes could follow, their strikes a blur of rapid movement that electrified the air and filled the subterranean cavity with the stench of burning ozone. Their DNA twisted with elements of the rabid tuk'ata hound, they still fought with a rigid yet flowing martial grace that spoke of great skill and even greater gene forging. Even over the pop of bubbles releasing alchemical vapours from the pool of glowing red liquid, the dastardly draconian could hear the hum generated by the overworked mag-coils contained within their crimson onion-skin plate, which were beginning to show wear and tear as the duo engaged in their eleventh match of that morning.Dragus called this pool before him...The Palpatine Pit. It had been discovered a short time after the construction of Fort Ewok, during one of the dreadful ground-quakes generated by Umaroth, the Doomslither. Intrigued by this discovery, the mad alchemist had experimented with the strange substance only to discover it contained restorative properties quite unlike anything he had seen before. Those red waters could turn back the sands of time, rejuvenating the elderly and healing horrific wounds. Much like the late Emperor's ability to return from death, the Famine Lord determined that complete submersion of a corpse in the pit could indeed return its husk to life, though often with a truly terrible awakening. Storm vermin serving as the saurian Sith's personal guard had been forced to put down the first few slaves returned to life during the wizard lizard's study of the pit, as they returned to life in a feral and most violent state of mind. Eventually he had one restrained, bound and carried off to the black cells in the lower levels of the Fort, where they inevitably regained a sense of sanity after a few days time. The longer the body had been dead, the worse the reaction, as though the restored vessels were absent the spark of a soul, reacting as beasts until their spirits were dredged up from the underworld and returned to their former mortal coil. Interestingly enough, he found that same reaction absent if the resurrected body belonged to one of his Nu-Jakes.Perhaps due to the fact that they were created artificially in a cold cloning lab as opposed to being bred by a loving mother and father, or that they shared their genetics with a countless army of millions, thus fragmenting their soul into an already starved sliver of spectral sense. It warranted further experimentation, which was why he found himself here, at the Pit. Already each of these warriors had died a handful of times only to be restored whole by the strange vapours of the pit. Well, maybe whole wasn't exactly accurate. Each time his gene-bred warriors had been returned to him, they lost the smallest trace of self, of which to most observers there would have seemed little to begin with. Dragus knew better. He had designed this nightmares of perfection after all; he understood how their incredible minds worked because he had sculpted them with his own two claws. They felt, perhaps more keenly even than baseline humans, though they concealed it well behind a cold stoic exterior. Repeated reincarnation by this darkside wellspring he had found was stripping them of their individuality, transforming them in something akin to an Imperial sentinel. The Blood Wyrm genuinely wondered if Emperor Palpatine had created his own in the same way.A crunch of steel and explosion of sparks signalled the death of another praetorian as the NJX with the voulge had driven the blade of his polearm up to the haft in the other NJX's plated chest. As the voulge was retracted, the impaled warrior dropped to his knees and collapsed helmet first into the slick stone floor, dark blood pooling beneath his cooling corpse. Dragus turned his snout towards a pair of albino furred vermin carrying spears with rusted tips, and nodded, signalling them to drag the freshly made cadaver into the spring. A trail of blood was left in the praetorian's wake as his body was tossed in and sank beneath the steaming red waters. Then they waited, but not for very long. A full twenty seconds later, the recently dead warrior emerged from beneath the surface of the pool, his armour dripping the rejuvenating alchemical liquid. A green mist hissed out of the rent in his armour where he had taken the mortal wound that ended his life, offering a brief glimpse of the fleeting gash as flesh knitted back together. Luminous vapour steamed from beneath the gaps in his onion-skin plate as the NJX climbed out of the pit and picked his weapon off the floor. Giving the electro-besento a quick twirl, the praetorian resumed a fighting stance and began to engage his voulge wielding twin."Again."
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