The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 5, 2019 14:42:39 GMT -8
As the three fighters continued picking through the remains of Alderaan, Aderon flipped a switch on his dashboard, activating the long range scanners on the ship. Setting them to scan for Bondar Crystal, he turned his attention back to the asteroid field. By now the star of the system was at such an angle through the field that it was incredibly dark, making it extremely difficult to fly by visual as he had been doing.
As such, both he and his magnaguards activated the powerful floodlights on their ships, while Aderon began to reach into the Force for guidance through the asteroid field. Weaving through a particularly tricky section of the asteroid field, he sighed. Nothing so far. At this rate, they would never find what they had came here for, and that vexed Aderon more than anything.
"We may have to split up to independently scan the asteroid field. I don't like it, but it will probably take-"
Suddenly, his sensor began flashing blue. Looking down at the panel, he noticed a blue speck that seemed to be floating just off the starboard side of the front of his ship. "Finally," he thought to himself, before orienting his ship to face towards the blue ping on the map. As the three fighters swept the area with the enormous floodlights of their ships, the blue ping got closer, and closer.
And suddenly, it was right there.
As they crested over one particularly chunky rock, it suddenly appeared before Aderon. Bathed in light from three ships, the asteroid they had been searching for was illuminated before them. It appeared to be a normal asteroid, made of hard, grey rock, covered in pockmarks from the impacts of dozens of its smaller brethren, save for one exception. Shards of translucent crystal appeared to penetrate the surface of the rock, glimmering in the bright lights of the fighters. Aderon was certainly relieved to know that they haden't come out here for nothing.
"Ah good, there it is. Now all we have to do is recover it. I'll tell the Intrepid the good news."
Switching on the cloaked homing beacon of his fighter, he waited for the arrival of his Cruiser to collect the crystal. Thankfully, it wasn't too far away, and would soon arrive to harvest the crystal. Soon he would be able to continue with the next step of constructing his new lightsaber, one that would at least fit within the walls of the Dark Jedi Order.
All those thoughts, however, vanished from his mind in an instant when, with a flash and a roar, two X-Wings cut through the three fighters' formation.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 5, 2019 3:23:26 GMT -8
Subjugator-Class Heavy Destroyer (Annihilator Configuration)Ship Class: Heavy Star Destroyer (3,200 Metres) Ship Role: Capital Ship Agility (A): 1 Defensive (D): 4 Offensive (A): 5 Speed (S): 1 Special Gear: (3) (Hangar Space, Troop Carrying, Interdiction Field). Extra Stats: 875 km/h 1,400G 55 MGLT Hyperdrive Rating: 1 Backup: 12 25 Octuple Barbette Turbolasers 115 Heavy Turbolaser Batteries 100 Dual Turbolaser Batteries 80 Heavy Ion Cannons 35 Heavy Point Defense Batteries 15 Tractor Beams Description: The Subjugator Class Heavy Destroyer was originally intended as a Separatist project that was to replace the Resuscant-Class Dreadnought in open combat. As a result, it was contracted out to the Free Dac Volunteers, who designed this behemoth as a smaller version of the Subjugator Class Heavy Cruiser to contribute to the destruction of the Republic Fleets. However, it was never completed before the end of the war. Aderon Dooku later found it and brought it to the Dark Jedi Order, who refurbished the craft and made it spaceworthy. An intimidating vessel, the ship is designed to both terrify and impress. A true Titan, the craft was able to take a hit and give one out too. Boasting armor made of the highest grade of material short of extremely rare ones such as impervium, the ship is also equipped with powerful shields. However, its armament is truly revolutionary, as it is armed with 25 Octuple Barbette Turbolasers, 690 Heavy Turbolasers, 600 Dual Turbolasers, 80 Heavy Ion Cannons, and 210 Heavy Point Defense Lasers, making it truly lethal to any ship that crosses paths with it. In addition, it is capable of deploying 144 fighters and 16,000 troops with all their required equipment, making the ship capable of single handedly projecting force across a system. The large ring that would typically hold the Subjuagtor’s ion cannons is instead used as a housing for a large interdiction system.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 4, 2019 11:53:06 GMT -8
As the Phantom and her escorts skirted the debris field, Aderon flipped on the communications gear, talking with the Magnaguards in the other fighters. Thankfully, these three fighters had heavily encrypted and cloaked communications to one another, so they did not risk alerting any nearby foes to their presence. The cruiser was another matter, but he did not need to speak with them. And he wouldn't have to, if everything went to plan.
"Keep tight, and stay in close formation. I don't want to have either of you veering off into the asteroid field. If you do that, the entire operation is compromised, and you're on your own."
It was not long before he got a response, the deep, robotic voice of the magnaguard sounding even more cold and robotic over the fighter's communication system.
Yes, sir
Acknowledged. Maintaining formation.
As they zipped past the clouds of debris, Aderon stared ahead, making sure to fly around any sort of incoming asteroids. Even out here, there were still various asteroids, and he would be damned if they would even scratch the bronzium plating on his fighter. The other two fighters followed closely behind, taking care not to hit one of the asteroids and spin out. If that happened, not only would any potential enemies would know their location, but the moving debris could cause a chain reaction, endangering the other two members of the formation. As such, they carefully moved through the debris field, making slow progress, but it was progress nonetheless.
Nearby in the asteroid field, an EF-76 Nebulon-B painted with the markings of the Alderaanian Guardians lazily hovered in space. Aboard the ship, things seemed to be going smoothly, and very few had stirred at this late hour of night. As such, the majority of the ships lights had been dimmed. However, on the bridge, a scene seemed to be unfolding, as several men argued around a holotable, seemingly preoccupied by three small specks moving through their sector of the asteroid field. One man, wearing a pilots uniform, stood up straight and pounded the table, surprising the two men in brown uniforms standing next to him.
"They're obviously pirates! Come to steal the gifts left behind by our people to honor the fallen who died in the original disaster! Why else would anyone come here in fighters?!"
One of the uniformed men shook his head, the stress of recent days clearly weighing on his face. The worn patch on his arm suggested he was likely a former member of the Galactic Alliance, possibly some sort of Lieutenant in the navy.
"We can't simply attack them. They might be here for a peaceful reason and...."
"No! That is not possible! They are here to desecrate our heritage."
The third man interjected, interrupting the other two in their debate.
"If I may be the sole voice of reason, perhaps we can reach a compromise! We can scramble fighters to intercept them, but also ask for what purpose they have come here...
No! I will not have this. You can do what you want, sitting here on your haunches. My men and I are going to go and take action.
With that, the man picked up his helmet and stormed off the bridge of the craft. Lieutenant Evian attempted to stop him from leaving, but the Captain held him back, shaking his head. Silently telling him to leave Voss to his own fate. The Guardians were in disarray following the destruction of the Galactic Alliance, and the chain of command had been seriously ruined by that event. As such, Voss could do whatever he liked without fear of any repercussion from the organization. However, the Lieutenant instead feared reprisal from whoever had sent those fighters. They were Rogue-Class. High end as well. They likely belonged to someone of importance, and they couldn't risk angering such a group, now more than ever.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 4, 2019 5:50:10 GMT -8
The Graveyard, Core Worlds
The asteroid field that marked all that remained of Alderaan was, indeed, a desolate place. Few dared to venture into the swirling clouds of asteroids and debris that remained following the planet's destruction by the Death Star. Aptly named the Graveyard, it only served as a reminder of the planet's past glory today. Aderon himself had always wanted to visit the world, but having been born after its destruction, he simply had no way of doing it.
However, this destruction had not prevented the Interdictor-Class Cruiser Intrepid from stationing itself just off the gravitational pull of the asteroid field, its laser cannons blasting any asteroid that wandered too close to the ship. Why anyone would come to such a desolate place may have seemed a mystery, but for Aderon, there was purpose in his visit here.
Having spent most of the journey here in his quarters, reading over various historical texts in the library he kept aboard the ship, the young Count Dooku had been studying the thing he had tracked to this remote system. After all, if one wanted to find something, they would have to understand it first. And so, for the most part, he had sequestered himself off, only pausing what he was doing to get something to eat or drink.
And so, when the clouds of hyperspace dissipated into streaks of white, which then dissipated into the blackness of hyperspace. Placing down the glass of water he had been drinking, he picked up his lightsaber from his desk, before extinguishing the small reading lamp he had in the room. Affixing the curved, silvery weapon to his person, he opened the doors of his quarters before making his way down to the hangar.
The hangar itself was in quite a bit of hustle and bustle, as three Rogue-Class Starfighters, including his Phantom, were prepared to takeoff from this admittedly smaller secondary hanger of the vessel. As he arrived, his two Magnaguard wingmen approached him, their electronic stares telling him everything he needed to know about their preparedness. As the three of them walked up to the craft, several pilots stood at standby in their Sith Interceptors, ready to intervene if any danger arose. Stepping onto the ladder that led up to the craft, he turned to the Magnaguards, who had already stepped into their fighters, the glass sliding back over their cockpits. Sitting down, he adjusted himself to the seat, as it was rather less comfortable than he was used to. Still, however, it was no matter. Before he pulled the cockpit lever, he turned to one of his aides, who was standing by the craft, awaiting some sort of instruction.
"Inform command that we have arrived at Alderaan, and that we will be going radio silent for a while. Do not break this silence unless an absolute emergency arises, and even then, ensure that you can not handle it yourself."
The aide nodded before running off to do what the Count had asked. As he pulled back the lever to close the cockpit, he began flipping the various switches on the cockpit dashboard, preparing the fighter for takeoff. Slightly adjusting the targeting reticle of the craft, he heard the sealing of the cockpit glass, as the protective dome slid over his head. His preflight checks complete, he signaled his wingmen to begin the takeoff procedures.
A few moments later, the three small crafts zipped out of the hangar like quicksilver, before descending towards the asteroid field.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 4, 2019 5:13:38 GMT -8
1800 (Hey that's my member number)
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 3, 2019 15:39:41 GMT -8
The two of them passed by the various paintings, busts, and other precious artifacts that dotted the hallway, including artifacts from events of great galactic significance. All lost to time now, but it was through collections such as this that the history of the galaxy was preserved. The history of both the Republic and Empire could be traced back through his collection, and in many ways it inspired him to do what he did today. To follow his purpose with vigor.
"I can assure you, Fallen, that it will certainly have been worth the trip."
As they entered the Atrium of the castle, rays of light streaming into the room through the glass dome built into the roof, they made their way up the staircase, past the cherub and the large clock built into the wall overlooking the landing area. Making their way onto the right side of the upper level, a servant unlocked one of the lifts for them. The lift in question led to Aderon's office, where the access to the project he wished to show the Fallen was. As such he waved for Fallen to enter the elevator. Though he would likely not be able to see the artistry in the detail it had been intended, he would likely get the sense, simply from the Force, that this was a grand space indeed.
"It's located through this lift to my office."
As the two of them stepped into the elevator, it lifted effortlessly and smoothly off its base, before beginning to rise up the large shaft at quite a high speed, the inertial compensator preventing the occupants from feeling any negative effects from the high-speed ascent. As they did, Aderon looked out the glass window of the elevator, over the valley below. This was a wild world indeed, but peaks such as this made it ideal for projects like his. Plus, the scenery was beautiful in its own way, and reminded Aderon somewhat of the forests on his planet.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Sept 2, 2019 19:51:12 GMT -8
Aderon carefully watched Mariah, attempting to pick out more details on her face. Another smile seemed to flash across her features for a brief instant, before being swallowed again by the same unsettling gaze that she had fixed upon Aderon for the duration of their conversation. It was likely that this wasn’t the sort of challenge she would have normally given, as by now he had established well the fact that the crimson-haired Empress preferred far more direct methods to test the mettle of an individual, when she needed to. Perhaps that would be a future challenge she would impart upon him, when she felt the time had come for that to be tested as well. He would be ready for her, for as sure as he was honing his skills with his current craft, the arts of manipulation, deception, political engineering, he would further his skill in combat, and he would anticipate the day the next challenge would come. For now, though, there seemed to be another task, and one that was far more suited to what he was best at.
There was a spy in their midst.
Spycraft and betrayal were not new to Aderon; on the contrary, they were quite close subjects to him. Perhaps too close. It was, after all, by way of the betrayal of the Harch known as Krennel Gulch that he found himself onboard the Munificent Cruiser, the Expansionist. How he met Ifrit, and, indeed, how he had ended up in this room right now, discussing the very topic with Empress Shadows. It was ironically fitting, in a way. The Force certainly had an interesting way of going about things, and often times brought events into full circle in order to teach an individual a lesson. Perhaps this was the Force acting to try and teach the young Count a lesson, perhaps it was just a coincidence. However, knowing the Force, Aderon suspected it would likely be the former rather than the latter. After all, it certainly had a way of haunting you for your past mistakes.
But, to a point, all that was irrelevant. After all, it really didn’t matter what had granted him this opportunity, for now it had appeared. A chance to redeem himself in this field. To prove, once and for all, that he would not be betrayed again, in all his life. After all, he had made this mistake once, but never again. If he was a weaker individual, Mariah might have been able to pierce his mind to sense these thoughts. But not him.
“A spy, you say? How interesting that he managed to evade being caught all this time. And to infiltrate a faction so young... to what end?”
He paused for a moment, musing over his words, considering what to say. It only took him a moment, however.
“To defeat an enemy, you must know them. Their motivations, what drives them to do what they do, and this is not more true than in the business of spycraft.”
Motivation was everything. With someone’s motivations, you could figure out how to turn them from a liability to an asset. To turn someone from an enemy, into an ally. Mariah’s motivations, even, were something of a mystery to him. A mystery he intended to eventually dissect, and ascertain himself of. On the surface, her motivations seemed simple enough. To ensure the survival of the Dark Jedi Order. But he had been lied to before, and it had cost him everything. Rather than allowing it again, he would instead seek out the motivations of every individual he chose to deal with. This was, after all, the great conundrum of spycraft. To know when to talk, and to know when to kill. After all, a spy exposed is one of the most useful assets imaginable, second only to a double agent. To turn what an enemy believes to be their ultimate weapon, into the engineer of their own destruction. To allow them to construct their own downfall. Poetic, in a way. And of great use to whichever faction discovers the agent first. After all, in a war, intelligence is everything, and almost all battles are decided before a faction even spots their opponent. As he continued to observe Mariah’s features, he was still trying to gather intelligence, to, in a manner of speaking, feel her out. For as sure as he would like to trust the woman standing before him, implicit trust had not gotten him anything in the past but betrayal, hence this analysis.
However, his heart briefly skipped a beat when Empress Shadows called him “Count Dooku”. While it was technically his title and last name, there was more to it than that. The name Count Dooku represented a man who had been dead for many years at this point. A legend among the galaxy’s political figures and Force Users alike. A year ago, Aderon would have been horrified to be compared to the Count by Mariah, even if it was an unintentional occurrence, having shunned his legacy. But now, he was met with a mixture of pride and awe. While he was certainly proud to be compared to such a great man, questions floated at the back of his head. Questions surrounding if he could live up to the legacy left behind by Darth Tyrannus. After all, the man reached a lofty position indeed, only being defeated, ironically, by the treachery of an ally. Not unlike what had happened to Aderon.
After a few seconds of these pontifications, he nodded to Mariah.
“Very well. I accept your task,”
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 13, 2019 17:24:29 GMT -8
Aderon gave a bit of a smile as they passed through the entrance hall, with a few servants who were there offering their recently arrived guest water, wine, and other refreshing items to recover after the flight. New starships, while interesting, could hold nothing to the technology of the past, if you asked Aderon.
"Indeed. I would hope so. Now, onto the reason, I asked for you to come here. I have a few things built here that you might be... interested in seeing."
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 13, 2019 15:27:37 GMT -8
Mustafar. Possibly one of the worst places imaginable to settle, yet at the same time containing a bounty of resources. At one point, Aderon's droid factories had dotted the surface, churning out droids to be used against the First Order. But that age was gone. This place was apparently now home of the headquarters of the Dark Jedi Order's parent organization, the Blackguard Reborn. And he supposed it was only fitting for him to pay a visit to his leader's leader.
And so, for the first time in five years, Aderon peered out of a starship's viewport to the planet Mustafar. This time, however, it was not the bubble cockpit of the Nexus, but instead the large, transparent forward viewport of the Munificent-Class Star Frigate.. Having recently taken delivery of his new fleet, he had ordered the rest of it to Onderon, but had kept this cruiser on hand to go and meet with the Sith'ari of the Blackguard and his right hand.
This is Star Frigate Annihalator of House Dooku requesting to meet with the Sith'ari of the Blackguard.
As the craft continued to slowly move forward, the forward mandibles of the ship partially obscuring the fiery ball in front of them, Aderon waited for a reply.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 13, 2019 15:11:27 GMT -8
I wouldn't mind such a system.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 13, 2019 12:55:47 GMT -8
Aderon lightly cocked his head to the side. This was an admittedly curious request, although not an unexpected one. From what he heard, for all the Jedi’s testing, dark side orders seemed just as if not more fond of the practice, though they certainly allowed for more... flexibility in how the task was completed. Flexibility that the Jedi lacked, and why they would ultimately fail in the long run. For all their preaching of control, they were unwilling to get their hands dirty when it really mattered, and that was the big problem Aderon saw. It was the Jedi teachings, preaching openness and respect for peers that got him betrayed; and he would not make the same mistake twice.
He could tell the slight strain on the Empress’ face as she attempted to keep herself in check, yet the acidic sub tones of her statement surrounding truth were unmistakable. She was clearly straining to not allow the veneer of patience to break, and for the more brutal side of her to show. Not that Aderon wanted that to happen. While he was a capable, and admittedly talented duelist, he was unsure if he would be able to hold back someone as clearly powerful with the force as Mariah was. He could surely predict her style of combat, likely preferring aggressive tactics favouring destruction over the precision Aderon so loved with his Form II fighting. In a way, it was a commentary on their personalities; the lilt of her voice, the posture in which she stood, the demeanour in which she carried herself, all suggested an aggressive personality.
“A test, you say? Very well.”
Part of Aderon wondered what this test might be. If the woman standing before him was brutish and rather bull headed, she would likely send him on some quest to recover some artifact from some ancient ruin. Yet, this pessimistic side of him was given cause to pause and hold back given by the fact she was very clearly attempting diplomacy combined with the fact that she recognized his talents as a valuable skill. If she was as intelligent as these actions would suggest, then she would likely assign something far more subtle. And by extension, far more suited to Aderon’s skills.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 11, 2019 6:24:40 GMT -8
“Yes, it took a bit of doing, but I managed to put something... nice together. It may lack the same sort of accessibility to the city that my home on Carannia had, but it does not lack for features.”
Even from the hangar alone, anyone who was not an idiot could tell that this was no humble home. Rows of shining, bronzium plated Geonosian Fighters covered the walls, their expert metalworking shining in the evening sun that poured in through the open side of the hangar. While the building itself was impressive, however, there were other things that would likely interest the fallen far more about this place, namely the Sith ruins and the areas beneath the castle’s supports...
“I trust you had a pleasant flight?”
He gestured to the door.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 10, 2019 7:24:32 GMT -8
After a few moments of Ifrit waiting, the large doors at the end of the room slid open, revealing Aderon and a small contingent of three guards, as well as two servants. While the entourage stayed behind at the door, Aderon stepped out across the black marble floor to greet the Fallen. The demonic creature was evidently extremely out of place here in the castle, contrasting very sharply against the elegant, clean lines that made up this part of the hangar. It was no matter, but it certainly presented an interesting contrast. As he reached the Fallen, he made a bow as a sign of respect.
“Greetings, Fallen.”
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 9, 2019 11:47:39 GMT -8
CARDINAL’S PERCHEXTERIOR The Cardinal’s Perch was built atop the ruins of an ancient fortress on the world of Onderon. The fortress itself was not where the castle stood, but instead originally stood camouflaged by the waterfall at the base of the twin peaks that suspend the Perch high above the clouds. Conceptualised by the Count shortly after his joining of the Dark Jedi Order, the massive castle was intended as a self-sustaining retreat for the man after discovering that communal living in the temple, nor the dark, heavy architectural style of the temple did not suit his extremely refined tastes. However, it’s design also allowed for a more clandestine purpose, for contained within the twin mountains that surrounded the building was a military complex of a massive scale, intended to house the military of both Aderon and other members of the Dark Jedi, and serve as a defendable fortress. As a result, the castle, while impressive from an exterior point of view, was actually much larger than it first appeared to any outsider who decided to venture into the vale which houses the castle. The exterior is mostly inaccessible, save for a few terrace gardens. MAIN HANGAR The Atrium of the castle is of a curious design, and rather out of the ordinary as far as fortress designs go. The approach is only possible by one direction, since mountains obscure the path from any other side. By this way, one will he presented with dramatic views of the mountains, as well as face the hangar dead on while entering, allowing the guidance lights to activate. Located at the top and center of the fort, one entire side of the hangar has been left open to the elements, with the floor having been constructed of black marble. Statues line the walls, which consist of large arches holding up a vaulted ceiling. Contained within this hangar was a docking area for the Nexus, alongside 3 other spaces for other shuttles, alongside racks for fighter escorts. However, the clandestine military base area contains a hangar for more ships. A single door at the end of the hangar farthest from the large open end leads down into the entrance hall. ENTRANCE HALL The entrance hall of the castle is a two story tall cylindrical room. Double staircases lead down from the top floor, where the exit from the main hangar is situated. A small dome, reminiscent of the one in the Grand Atrium of the castle. Three columns on the left and right sides hold up the upper floor, which is a balcony that loops around the main floor in a circle. Beneath the balcony on the side of the room across from the stairs was the arched entrance into the grand gallery leading to the atrium. The floor and stairs was made of an off-white marble color, with an emblem of House Dooku in the middle of the floor. The columns and the side paneling of the stairs were made of a black material, with gold enameling on all of them. Arches on the second level balcony were also in place around the edge of the balcony. Under the balcony behind the stairs were a number of seats and tables for guests who were waiting to meet with someone. A chandelier hung from the center of the dome, bathing the room in a brilliant light. GALLERY The long gallery room was rather simple in overarching scheme, yet very complex and detailed in its scheme. A number of columns went down the corridor, separating out the busts, statues, and paintings on either sides of the room. Wall sconces on either side of the paintings provided light, and the floor was made up of the same off-white marble as the entrance area, with the addition of black triangles that segmented the white into diamonds. These diamonds ended and began where the columns were. GRAND ATRIUM The Grand Atrium of the palace is a truly grand and imposing space, and could be considered the piece de resistance of the palace. Each staircase was built in solid Alderaanian oak, with each banister containing elaborate wrought iron grilles with ormolu swags. The surrounding entrance halls were appointed in the same polished oak paneling carved in the Neoclassical style. The panels of the newel posts were carved with high relief garlands, each one of unique design, and topped by pineapple finials. Just behind the staircase were three elevator shafts that provided people in the palace access from their rooms to the main level. The lifts were immaculately decorated with classical order. The floors were laid with cream-colored marble tiles interspersed with black medallions. Armchairs and sofas upholstered in blue were provided just off the staircase and potted palms in raised holders dotted each level. On the upper level was an upright piano allowing the palace’s orchestra to hold impromptu concerts in the atrium. The atrium also featured a large wrought iron and glass dome overhead that allowed natural light to enter the stairwell during the day. The dome was fringed with a delicately molded plaster entablature and rested on the housing surrounding the stairwell. It was covered by a protective box to protect the dome from the elements and which also contained the lighting to illuminate the dome from behind in the evening. In the center of the dome hung a large crystal and gilt chandelier. Small beaded crystal chandelier fixtures provided additional lighting to the space. OFFICE Aderon’s office, located in the West Wing of the castle, is yet another testament to the grandeur that the Count is fond of. Made nearly entirely of black and white marble, it is at the end of an intersection point of three other corridors. At the t-shaped junction where the three corridors meet, a golden seal on the floor, depicting the coat of arms of House Dooku, superimposed on a circle, is aligned so that the top of the chevron faces towards his desk. Above this seal is a dome that allows in natural light. Along the corners of this junction are four black columns, with flared caps, holding up the ceiling. The floor is made up of patterned marble in both straight and curved angles, meant to emphasize and draw attention to the seal at the center of the room. The desk itself, set further back into the room, is on a raised platform. The curved table has all of the curiosities that a Count would need, and behind it is a four paned bay window with thin strips of wrought iron separating each panel. At the top of the windows, the thin bars become an arched web. The windows themselves provide beautiful views of the vale, and are designed such that a directed strike at just the right point can break them. This would simultaneously deploy a hang glider from the ceiling, allowing the occupant to escape in the event of an attack.Red banners wearing the emblem of House Dooku hang in between the columns completing the look of the room. LIBRARY As an avid student of many schools of knowledge, particularly historical ones, the Perch includes a vast library, to serve as a repository for any knowledge that the Count or his subordinates come across. Built in a style similar to what you might expect of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, the room is of a long, rectangular shape, with a large half circle fitted at the end of it. A red carpet runs down the center of floor of the room, which itself is made of marble. The vaulted ceilings of the space are decorated with large frescoes, depicting various scenes from galactic history. These vaulted ceilings are supported by sweeping columns, with round bases and elaborately decorated pyramidal capitals. At the far end of the space, where it curves around into a half circle, a large staircase leads up to a landing area, with extremely large windows overlooking the valley the castle is situated in, along with stairs leading up to the second level. The lower floor itself is in something of a pit, surrounded by mahogany shelves covered in various physical materials. The second level, however, is where the vast majority of the information and space within the library are stored. At the center of the “pit” that makes up the lower floor, an armillary sphere depicting the galaxy sits atop a marble pedestal, and above this, from the ceiling a tri-tiered chandelier hangs. While there are vast shelves filled with physical records, many of which date to before the founding of the Galactic Republic, an advanced computerised system has also been set up, to store copies of the information, or information such as videos that cannot be kept in physical form. EAST PARLOR Modelled in the (real world) Louis XV style, it offered views onto the approach to the castle. Intricately carved wood panelling with intermittent motifs of musical instruments were the dominant feature of the room. Bronze sconces and large rounded mirrors were installed throughout. A 49-light opaque glass and ormolu chandelier with crystal embellishment occupied the central recess of the ceiling, which was itself elaborately molded with instrumental motifs. Adjoining the open seating area were cosy alcoves with inset mirrors and tall bay windows of leaded and stained glass. Groups of tables and chairs, sofas, and armchairs upholstered in plush velvet with green and gold floral patterns were scattered throughout. At the centre of the forward wall was a gracefully carved grey marble fireplace. A replica statue of Darth Tyrannus stood on the mantelpiece, with a large mirror above. At the opposite end the wall curved and contained a wide mahogany bookcase. WEST PARLOR This U-Shaped room was decorated with dark mahogany panelling inlaid with mother-of-pearl and richly carved. Numerous large stained-glass windows were installed in pedimented niches within the panelling, illuminated from behind. For increased height and the room was flanked by alcoves with bay windows, also in stained-glass. The floor was laid with white and black tiles and the plaster ceiling was moulded with plaster medallions. In the centre of the far-back wall was a painting of the Serenno Countryside, which hung over a fireplace in white marble. PRIMARY DINING HALL As the primary space for hosting guests, this space is one of the grandest in the entire castle. A rectangular room, this one complements the library in its shape, being an exact carbon copy in terms of the shape of the room. However, the layout is quite different. Upon entry into the room, one will be presented with a small reception area in front of a large staircase similar to the one in the atrium. The reception area, complete with small seating arrangements and various plants, is but a taste of what is to come. Upon proceeding up the stairs, one would find themselves in an enormous room, with a long table running down the center of the room. The floor, composed of the purest white marble interspersed with diamonds formed of the black marble, is expansive. Large columns run up the side of the room, breaking up giant windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. From the ceiling, enormous 5-tiered chandeliers hang, bathing the space in light. Atop the table, which is decorated with flawless white linen, sit several enormous ice sculptures. These ice sculptures are formed by pouring cold water into a mould that is custom made for each one, producing spiralling crystal shapes. They are specially made and put in place whenever the count has guests over. These ice sculptures are twice as tall as most people, but do not even come close to touching the ceiling. Around the edges of the room, trees have been put into place, and are manicured perfectly to provide a splash of color to the otherwise black-and-White room. SECONDARY DINING HALL A tastefully appointed space, this room is perhaps the most elaborate in its design scheme. Made to give the impression of being in a forest, this room’s decorative scheme is dominated by large columns that have been formed from actual trees, perfectly manicured and trimmed every day to ensure that they do not outgrow the design scheme. With bark fashioned into columns and a number of square lamps hanging from the ceiling, this room is perhaps the most out of theme with the rest of the castle, but was designed as a respite from the grandiose design seen elsewhere. The entire space, save for one side, is surrounded by windows, interspersed by very light wood panelling, giving the impression of being outdoors, while actually being inside the castle due to the harsh weather Onderon is known for. Small clusters of mahogany tables and chairs sit underneath the hanging lanterns, allowing for more informal events to be held inside this room. CHAMBERS OF THE SABLE COUNT This large, circular room was rather sparsely furnished compared to the rest of the castle. Decorated in shades of red and gold, this room had massive windows that went from floor to ceiling, but were inserted into the walls such that the large velvet curtains used to obscure the windows could be completely flush with the wall, giving the appearance that the room had no windows at all. The walls were a pale crimson color, with heavy use of worn gold trim in the Louis XVI style used to outline the walls, along with to provide heavy decoration at the lip of the ceiling., woven into floral patterns. The ceiling itself was a domed structure heavily gilded in similar shades of gold, and containing beautiful paintings of various plants. The floor was made of white marble and covered with a simple red velvet rug, which had gold edges before opening back up onto the floor. A golden two tiered chandelier, covered in crystalline lights, hung from the center of the dome, just above the enormous red silken bed. The head of the bed was covered in plush silk upholstery, and the entire thing was framed in the same dulled gold that could be seen throughout the rest of the room. The head of the bed was made entirely of this dulled gold formed into a spade, two and a half times taller than the average human. Onto this spade various motifs of plants were imposed, and three large portraits were arranged in a triangle on it. The two bottom points of the triangle were the portraits of Aderon’s mother and father, and the portrait that was front and center was of Aderon himself. A red chaise sat at the foot of the bed, and the rest of the room had a few dressers, tables, and chairs in it. RUINS The ruins, now seriously fallen into decay, were at one point an ancient nexus of the Force created by the Sith. However, the Dark energy of the temple was at some point cleansed by the Jedi, making it a force neutral space. Most of the fortress is made up of impressive corridors, with high pillars and massive windows looking out over the waterfall. Vines and other invasive plants have spread throughout the structure, and the roots of the trees that sprout around the base of the mountain have broken in, twisting around the columns, statues, fountains, and other impressive architecture the ruins house. At the center of the temple stands a large colosseum, five stories high and surrounded by columns. The stone brick floors of the circular space house mysterious channels that make up a star on the floor, and lead to a strange, patterned circle in the exact middle of the room. The purpose of this is still unknown, as Aderon has tried numerous times to pour various ancient substances into the channels, albeit to no effect. An investigation into this is ongoing, and he may consider inviting experts from the Dark Jedi Order to help him decipher this.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on Aug 1, 2019 9:12:35 GMT -8
A smile from the Count, there and gone in the blink of an eye. However, in its own way, it marked something of a victory in Mariah's mind. True enough, she would have preferred remaining in her chambers, but Eris had a goal for her, a goal she believed to have met with the resolution of that faint expression. At the very least, there was a stark difference between the way this interaction progressed and the other newcomer she had attempted to welcome. Where Aderon much preferred the duels of wordplay, the woman he spoke with had different opinions. At least this time, she kept that fact better buried beneath the surface of this façade. At least up until this point."It was not a mark against your intentions, Count Dooku, you misunderstand," she corrected with a faint tilt of her head and attempted, quiet smile. "It is simply a disclosure I believe all should be given as we welcome them into our ranks. Although we are growing quickly, we are still as fragile as a newborn babe. All it takes is one, and that which we've built could come crumbling. I want you to understand that I will personally cut down any who attempts to harm us from the inside, as you are not the only one who, as you put it, is 'well acquainted with the miasma known as betrayal'." That flicker of a faint smile seemed to brighten, but only by some strange sense of joyous maliciousness that lurked beneath the surface. The mask beginning to peel away, Mariah breathed in deep, turning her gaze away as she pondered Eris, who had remained quiet throughout this encounter. However, Mariah knew that she was here, like a teacher watching over her student. Thus, she would probably remain silent during the rest of this encounter. Exhaling that breath, she returned her focus back upon Aderon with a controlled gentleness in her expression and focus."You are as correct as ever that time will be the ultimate judge, but call it a premonition," Mariah continued, attempting a lighthearted jest. "You said it yourself that you haven't much luck with either the Jedi or Sith. You and I are very much alike in that way. I have a feeling you'll find your place here." Her eyes fixed upon his. There was something he was waiting for, from her. A confirmation for this meeting, for the reason she called him here. Although her original objective was simple enough in nature -- to simply welcome a member without inching closer to bloodshed -- the more she spoke with him, the more complicated an alternative objective became. As he had said, however, time would be the ultimate judge, if this intriguing new thought would even find fruition. She could at least attempt to nudge it in the right direction, though, and see what came of it."You come here seeking to discover your own truth, in which I am sure the Dark Jedi can aid you, but tell me Count Dooku... what assets do you believe you possess? Those that might naturally benefit the order during your time here?" Another smile played upon her lips, her eyes narrowing just slightly as if to examine Aderon deeper than the surface of his nature. “Although I have my own beliefs, if there's anything I've learned over the years, it's that you can’t always judge a book by its cover." "Indeed, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that taking things at face value is an excellent way to get yourself into an... unfavorable situation." He stopped to consider how to respond for a moment. The veneer of civility she wore was beginning to come off, and he could see the malice that lurked underneath her smile. This was his true skill; breaking down the mask of other people, exposing them for who they truly are. That was the great mystery of speechcraft, and that was what he truly excelled at. As such, he knew he would have to approach the encounter with some degree of finesse, in order to not leave himself vulnerable, or appear to be a sap."My skills? Well, a great deal should be obvious to you by now, as you likely have the ability to judge the skills someone has based on a single interaction. He remained motionless, knowing that the slightest movement would give away a sense of discomfort "you could consider me to be something of an... investigator. At the end of the day, getting to the truths of someone's motives is the greatest puzzle in an interaction, after all." At one point, he had been considered by his compatriots to be just another upstanding noble, and that was where the great deception lay. People who believed themselves in the presence of honest, upstanding characters tended to be far more susceptible to revealing... information. The information which could prove extremely useful to someone who had the resources to act on it."The order in this galaxy is built on lies. Lies that you can either be burdened by, or harness to your own endeavour. I choose to do the latter... what about you?"
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on May 31, 2019 15:01:27 GMT -8
After a few months, the castle's exterior was finally complete. The soaring spires, towers, and parapets provided beautiful vistas of the valley. Now, work was in the home stretch, and the workers were working harder than ever. Floors, walls, and fixtures were being installed at a breakneck pace. Furniture and fixtures were imported to the planet from across the galaxy, while the Count's military began to occupy the secret section of the building. In short, Cardinal's Perch would be completed soon, and the Count could not have been happier about it.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on May 31, 2019 11:34:43 GMT -8
By this point, the castle was coming along rather well. The areas beneath the pylon had been all but completed, and the structure atop it was progressing rather nicely. At the same time, artisans from across the galaxy had been contracted to produce the fixtures that would adorn the structure. Chevrons, eagles, cherubs, paintings, handmade clocks, wood paneling, and more would adorn the elaborate structure. These fixtures would be installed at a later date, once the structure of the castle was completed.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on May 31, 2019 11:08:32 GMT -8
After a week or so of this contruction, the pylon had been fastened to its respective spot. Things were now progressing smoothly, with the worker droids now beginning construction on the castle's structure. At the same time, the secret facility, which had been covered up by now, was to remain a secret by melting down the droids that had worked on it in order to prevent any sort of memory retrieval operation. As such, the castle was now in a position to control the entire vale, in spite of the fact that work on the structure itself had only just begun.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on May 31, 2019 10:18:39 GMT -8
In the mountains of Onderon, a new structure was taking form. A large castle, suspended between two mountains, was taking form. The castle, named Cardinal's Perch, was to be the personal keep of Aderon Dooku following the unfortunate events on Serenno. As the first blocks of stone, artisans, and sheets of metal were brought onto the planet, some work was being on the mountains themselves to prepare for the massive axial spine that would hold the castle to be created. A large hole was drilled in either side, and bracers were put in place. In addition, and also in secret, a facility was constructed inside of the mountain, housing concealed proton cannons, hangars, training facilities, communications offices, anti-personnel and anti-tank weapons, a few turbolasers, quite a few quad laser cannons, and a handful of ion cannons. This section was constructed in a more utilitarian, Imperial style, and would serve as a secret Dark Jedi enclave on the planet.
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The Sable Count
The Dark Jedi Order
You may think me evil. But I am not. I am efficient,
Posts: 344
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by The Sable Count on May 31, 2019 6:21:57 GMT -8
Gavin gave a nod, though easily picked up on the hesitation of divulging the full reality of what he sought. Perhaps it was simple caution at being within the home of a new order. Maybe it was because he wasn't fully certain himself. There was also the chance that Aderon felt he'd be critized for what he sought, or even, the most likely truth, Gavin didn't yet appear as someone he could trust.
No matter the reason, it was his duty as a member of the Dark Jedi to aid newer arrivals and at least help them on the path they sought. "When it comes to knowledge, there is much to be found here. From the arts of Alchemy and Magic, to the practices of combat, of which I am a....versatily knowledgeable." He was a master of many forms of combat and weapons, but he preferred to not address himself as such. He didn't want anyone feeling hisas arrogant, not to mention there was always something new to learn, even for him. "Even mastery of emotion and self can be learned here. Anything that binds you, we can be the guides that help you break them and find true freedom for yourself and the path you seek." Aderon nodded his head. That was the answer he had hoped for. After all, the members of the order likely knew more about the day-to-day of things, rather than the groups leaders, and so it was reassuring to the Count to hear that even members of the order believed there was knowledge to be found here."Well, that is certainly good to here. I would not like to be trapped in the same destructive cycle I had with the Jedi all over again..." In truth, Aderon sought none of those fields of knowledge. He wanted to know what effects the Force could have on the minds of individuals. And, more importantly, how those effects could be harnessed to achieve his own political ends. However, he stayed quiet about this, as the last thing he needed was for the man standing before him to understand his goals. He was unsure of whether or not Gavin was trustworthy, and it was never a good idea to assume somebody had good intentions.
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