Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Nov 8, 2016 18:16:56 GMT -8
Old Man Harnan- Principal Authors: Harnan Ren
- Who can post on this thread: Harnan Ren
- I want to receive critical responses: N
- I will be using standard Universe rules here (e.g., canon-only, fleet limits, etc.): Y
Location: Geonosis Timeframe: The Future A look into the possible future...
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Nov 8, 2016 20:39:58 GMT -8
The shaggy figure stood in the back of the small hover chariot. He couldn't tell how many years had passed any more. 1 year. 5 years. 10 years. It really did not matter to him. For no matter how much time passed, he was still haunted by the ghosts of his past. The scars across his body were constant reminders of what he had been through, and what he had done. But his most significant scar, was one that no one could see. It existed within his mind.
It was the one memory he held onto most. Of how he had fallen in love. How the darkness had consumed him. And how the ultimate sacrifice had freed him of it. But what was left, was not the man he had once been. Where before had stood a proud warrior, now stood an aged man. His beard had grown out, and his hair had started to turn grey. No one would recognise him on his appearance alone.
The beast of burden let out a cry, before the chariot lurched forward. The man raised his gaze to the blinding light spilling in forth from the arch way. The muffled sounds of the cheering crowd soon became deafening as the chariot moved out into the arena. He raised his shackled hands to shield his eyes, as he looked out to the other chariots also entering the arena. His competitors. Perhaps one of them would give him the one thing he sought. Death.
The chariots did a lap of the arena floor, the crowd getting a good look at the fighters. But even so, many eyes were upon him, that much he knew as the chariots came to a stop and he stepped off of it. His shackles were removed, before the Geonosian retreated back far enough and tossed him a vibroblade. Their captors quickly exited the arena, as the competitors eyed one another. They were all quite young, perhaps even too young, he thought to himself.
The horn sounded then. The fight had begun. Several combatants had already charged at one another and were trading blows, whilst a couple unsuspecting fools had already been killed. Slowly he moved forward, taking his time as he worked his way through the early victors. His blade rending flesh from bone in a single strike. Some saw him coming, and put up a bit of a fight, but others were not so lucky. He fought with precision, each strike purposeful and calculated.
He did not fight wildly, like he once had. Not because he did not want to, but because he was incapable of doing so. He was at peace with what was about to happen. He did not fear death. He embraced it. Hoped that he would meet it. But whilst his mind hoped for death, his heart caused him to fight on, and gain victory. He could not so easily give up like he wished to. He had a promise to keep, an oath binding him to survive. Not that it stopped him from his current quest.
The horn sounded once more, causing him to drop his blade. Blood stained his chest and forearms as he stood there, breathing heavily. Bodies littered the floor all around him. He did not try to resist, as they placed the shackles upon him once more. He had resigned himself to his damnation, as they lead him back beneath the stands and to the cell that was his home. He stumbled slightly as they pushed him inside, even freed of his shackles as he was, before he lost his footing and fell down into the pile of hay that was his bed. He shifted around and sat upright as he heard the sound of the metal door closing and locking behind him
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2016 6:17:49 GMT -8
From almost out of the shadows themselves, Valance strode forth. His cloak hung down, covering the golden armour plates beneath, whilst the hood was drawn up to cover his head. He stopped just outside the door into the cell, before squatting down to get a better view of the man within. Sure enough, the man sitting in the pile of hay before him, was the man he sought. His force aura confirmed it, and although he had a beard, his identity was not hidden enough. At least not enough to hide from him. Especially now that he was up close, and not trying to watch from afar in the arena seating. Valance extended forth his hand, before grabbing a hold of one of the bars, whilst he removed his hood "So... this is where the once great Harad Vellanan has fallen to... or should I call you Harnan Ren? It's hard to figure out what name to call you any more... You've certainly seen better days, old friend. What happened to you? When first we met, you were sent to kill me... to wipe out the fledgling Knights of Zakuul. You stood with the First Order then... but now... now you're alone. And all that anger, all that rage, that darkness that consumed you. I sense it no longer..."
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Nov 9, 2016 7:04:39 GMT -8
As the cloaked figure strode forth from the shadows, he remained seated and unmoving. It wasn't until the man said his name, both old and new, that he stirred. No one had used either of those names to refer to him in years. The former in a lot longer time than the latter. But even so, those were his names, and his actions that Valance recounted. Time may have passed, but it seemed that you could not hide your identity from family. He remained seated upon the hay as he studied his descendant for a moment. His thoughts drifting to his time before the arena.
He found himself thinking once more about the same story that played in his memories over and over again. Flashes of memories appeared before his eyes, as a single tear began to form and roll down his cheek. He then clutched the side of his head, as he sought to rid himself of the pain he felt. His head falling forward briefly, before his grip slackened and he levelled his gaze upon Valance
A name is just a string of words that we use to identify ourselves. It makes no difference what you call me... Harad... Harnan... Murderer... Weak... Choose one you most prefer. It matters not to me, for I shall pay for what I have done... For what I failed to do... Why have you really come here? You know all too well what became of the First Order's war with the Alliance... What more use could I be there in a time of peace. I am a weapon of war... forged in battle... meant to bring about death. I am not some figure piece like the Imperial Knights. I am nothing without a war to fight... or a woman to love and give everything up for...
Harnan clenched his fist then, the pain within his chest returning, before he hit the floor. The dull ache within his fist did little to distract himself from his heart ache. He breathed heavily as he looked at the ground once more, trying to compose himself. He looked back up at Valance, meeting the younger man's gaze
Much and more has happened since I was sent to destroy you... When I spared you and your Knights. I had a plan back then... I was going to free her... I was going to free all of us... I was going to kill the Master of the Ren, and allow her to be with me... But it was a fools plan. She had already pushed me away... already chosen another to love and bear the offspring of...
He leant his head back against the wall then, focusing upon a small crack in the roof above, through which the smallest glimmer of light could be glimpsed. A smile cross his face then, as he thought upon his stupidity. His naivety. Of how he had fooled himself into believing there was a chance they could be happy together
Even in my darkest hour, she still proclaimed her love for me... Still saw the light within me. She knew what was happening to me... She always did. She'd seen it happen long before it had manifested itself... She had hoped it would consume me to the point that I would kill her...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2016 3:34:09 GMT -8
Valance smiled as Harad spoke. It was clear his ancestor was pained by what had happened to her. He knew full well what the plan had been, after all, he had held one of the artefacts that Harad had required. But to access and use that treasure vault, would have required Harad to follow a much darker path than he could have ever tread. It was even darker than Valance ever dare think about. They were devices designed by one of the most powerful Sith in all of history. The Knights of Zakuul could never wield them. For they were trained only to ever use the force to deal justice. True, the Knights of Ren were more darksided in their approach, Harad was and always would be a Knight of Zakuul at heart "So what? you sit here and rot away now? fighting as a slave? Has these really sated that blood lust of yours? You're no murderer Harad. That is why your quest was doomed to fail from the beginning. Valkorion? he was a murderer, a destroyer of worlds... a Dark Lord of the Sith. You might have found his toy box, but you could never wield what his toys. She saw the real you. The light that will always live within you. She was a fool to ever think that you could be that corrupted to kill her. You loved that woman more than you loved yourself... It was quite tragic really. You both fought so hard to save the life of the other. All the while, denying what you both knew you should have had. But do you really think she had chosen Nicademus over you willingly? With time, yes she did love him. But you and that fate of yours, was what drove her to him. For a seer, she was a fool to believe that she could ever change the future. After all, you knew she had tried before. Yet she attempted it all the same... Our fates are written in stone. Determined by the force. We are destined to die at the time of its choosing, one way or another. There is no changing that. That's why you're really here, isn't it? You're hoping to die. To be killed by one of these weaklings... But that isn't your destiny Harad. She told you of what was coming, didn't she? Of what you needed to prepare her children for? Or are you going to hide here and let them be killed, like you let her be killed?"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 30, 2016 5:51:34 GMT -8
Harnan lowered his gaze to look at Valance as he spoke. His descendant was right. He had not felt any kind of relief for each man he had killed. Only a growing sense of sorrow for those who were sent against him to die. He was a butcher and they were lambs being lead to the slaughter. But was it any worse than what awaited him back at the First Order. Working alongside the man that had fathered children with the woman he loved. Knowing that the very same man was part of the reason that she had died. But did these slaves deserve to suffer his rage and self imposed exile.
Perhaps they did, after all, he had no idea whether they were criminals or not. He knew nothing of the people he was fighting. Just that he was meant to fight them. He could risk reading them in the force. But he knew that if he did that, then the Master of the Ren would send one of his brothers to find him. Or worse still even, one of his sisters.
He returned his attention to Valance as the man kept speaking. He had been so close to locating the last artefact he had required just before she had died. He had just needed some more time to locate it and unlock the treasures that Valkorion had left behind. In fact, after her death, he had found the final piece and gotten to the very precipice of the vault. But that was as far as he had gotten. He had assembled the key and placed it within its lock. But the door would not open for him.
Try as he might, he could not summon the darkness he needed to work the key. She had taken even that capability from him. But even if she had not, and he had managed to enter the vault. Valance was right. Even with the darkness that had consumed him, he would not have been able to master what was within. His oath to her would have stopped him. She knew what he would do and had made him promise not to do it. And as much as he had wanted to say no, he could not deny her.
Harnan hung his head forward then, as he had done that day in defeat. Every point Valance made struck home with precision. His failures exacerbated by the running commentary of what had been done. He suddenly pushed himself forth from the bed then. He crossed the cell in a blink of an eye, his arm stretching out through the cell bars before his hand clutched at empty air as he collided with them
ARGH!!
He searched from left to right, looking for where Valance had been in vain. He drew his arm back within the cage then, leaning his back against the bars. Whilst he may not be consumed by darkness, he could still feel anger and frustration
What would you even now?! You speak to me of destiny, but what do you know of it?! She was right there... And then she wasn't. I tried to save her! But... but I couldn't... And now I can't even avenge her death. I am oath bound, to her, to still serve him... Her children don't need me or any training I could give them...
Harnan looked to his left then, to find Valance calmly sitting next to him inside the cell. He looked back up at the roof then and laughed
Of course... What sort of real answers could you even give me. You're not even alive!
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