Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Mar 10, 2024 6:22:53 GMT -8
Feint amusement graced the scaled expression of He-Who-Hungers as he watched Thrakk toss his lightsaber crystal into the boiling lake of fire, mismatched eyes following the glowing stone until it was swallowed up by the liquid magma, sinking into those burning viscus depths. Erratic smoke rings slipped from between his lips as his restrained cackle became a coughing fit, causing the drake lord to bang a closed claw against his chest, clearing the obstructing wisps from his lungs before chiding the Thyrsian. "A wissser massster might admonish you for disssarming yourssself." Reaching behind his back, the Dark Apothecary clasped his claws together, held at the wrist. Doing so caused the folds of his man-skin robe to slide back over his hips, exposing the silver hooked hilt of his own lightsaber, hanging from a belt of sinew. Given what he had seen of his ambitious apprentice's fighting style thus far, utilizing a lightsaber made sense, relying on agility and speed over strength and reach; however, a lightsaber had mechanical parts that could be interfered with, and there may come a day when he regretted not taking the opportunity to forge something less complicated. Yet that was not for Dragus to decide. A Sith must choose a weapon that resonates with their warrior spirit. If Thrakk's heart was set on a lightsaber, then a lightsaber he would have, properly tweaked of course. "Fortunately for you, dessspite my unrivaled brilliance, I have never been accusssed of being wissse." He hissed with a smirk.
What was that old saying? Genius and madness were two sides of the same coin. There were nuggets of wisdom to be mined from the wealth of knowledge contained within the lizard wizard's spice addled grey matter, but most of his good sense had been discarded to make space for his own scientific ambitions.
"Besidez, when the darkssside iz yourz to command, a Sssith iz never without a weapon." He unclasped his claws and used his right to remove the pipe hanging from the crook of his snout, appearing thoughtful as he brought his left under his snout and stroked his chin contemplatively. "Failing that, I sssuppose you could alwayz rely on your clawz or tail." Thrakk had those, right? He shrugged, already moving past that thought and into the next. Like a Sher Kar stalking the ash plains of Mustafar, the Hungering One walked the perimeter of the island, his reptilian head bobbing and turning as he performed a series of mental calculations, mumbling beneath his breath as he did so. After a moment he came to a stop, nodded resolutely, then slapping the ground with his tail to emphasize his certainty. Closing his left claw into a fist, he drove it into the palm of his right with a meaty thwack. "Ssso be it. If it iz a lightsssaber that speakz to you, then it iz a lightsssaber you shall have. While forging a cryssstal iz no meager feat, we already have everything we'll need to create one right here." He acknowledged, studying the Thyrsian with his red right eye. "Asssuming you have it in you to channel the currentz of the malevolent fey and concentrate them into a sssingular point."
They wouldn't know until they started. Nodding, Dragus motioned from his apprentice to the sooty sands at their feet. "Ssstrip to the waissst, then ssseat yourssself on the sssand and begin clearing your mind. I will guide you through the processs, but successs or failure will be entirely determined by your own ssstrength and ability."
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Aug 7, 2024 8:09:51 GMT -8
Continued from here.The Black Cells At the very lowest levels of the Fortress of Tawntoom, beneath even the flesh-pits of the Apothecarium, was a lightless prison where the Sith Eternal housed its worst offenders: Jedi, traitors, political dissidents, door-to-door salesmen, and any being the Supreme Leader wished to see caged and forgotten. Much like Fort Ewok on far off Draggle Rock, the walls of the prison were comprised of psi-dampening Pzobian blackstone, quarried in the shadow of Mt. Soulfyre in the Deep Woods region of the Eye's Cradle. A singular turbo-lift provided access to these depths from the rest of the Fortress above, accessible only by those with top level security clearance.A lone gaoler occupied a wooden desk at the centre of a long hall lined on either side with cell doors forged from near unbreakable Sith iron, occasionally turning the page of a book he was reading by the light of a purrgil oil lantern, his yellow eyes flicking back and forth as he absorbed each word. He took a sip of brackish water from a rusty metal cup and pushed aside a half eaten plate of maggoty bread that occupied the tables surface, the very same sustenance provided to the inmates, save that the gaoler had the benefit of eating it before it was soaked in his urine. Occasionally this hunchbacked creature would lift his balding head and reveal a putrid sneer replete with rotten teeth as the tormented shrieks of the inmates housed there echoed across the otherwise empty hall, revelling in their despair. THUMP! A noise caught his attention. It was likely just another prisoner trying to bash their brains out against their cell door, but still, it was his job to check. Though the Council members rarely visited this bleak dungeon, they still expected the indentured wretches that worked there to keep these criminals alive. Scowling bitterly, the gaoler pushed away from the desk and stood up, plucking the creaking lantern from the table as he shuffled up the hall. His lame left leg dragged behind him as he walked, each slow step forced to catch up to the next, while the ghoulish guard huffed and muttered beneath his rancid breath. THUMP! There it was again. Due to his affliction, the hunchback struggled to raise the lantern in his gnarled right hand, paying careful attention to keep from illuminating his own hideous pox scarred features.THUMP! This time the sound was even louder than before, seeming to originate from a bricked wall at the end of the hallway. As he shone the lantern against its surface, he could see bits of mortar on the ground, tiny pebbles that had crumbled from beneath the obsidian slabs. Ground quakes were not uncommon, as the Fortess and prison by extension were built into the rockface of Mt. Tawntoom's volcanic caldera, making the tectonics of this location far from stable. That said, that's not what this felt like to him. Coming closer to the wall, the gaoler placed one hairy ear against its cold surface, his jaundiced gaze widening in surprise as he thought he heard voices coming from the other side. "Put your back into it, Valefor!" Hissed a reptilian voice from behind the wall. That sounded like...no. Surely it couldn't be, right? Removing his ear from the wall, the gaoler placed a bloodshot orb to one of the cracks, attempting to peer through a tiny hole to see what exactly was happening on the other side. "Heave!"SMASH! The brick wall crumbled inwards towards the hall, flattening the nosy gaoler and burying his body in black brick rubble, leaving only his hand exposed which was still clutching the handle of the purrgil oil lantern. As the resulting cloud of choking dust seemed to dissipate, covering everything in its cloying layer of chalk, a monstrous horned swamp rancor was revealed in its wake. Accompanying her to the surface, or close to it, were the villains of our tale. The Acolyte, Witch, Warrior, Sorcerer, and last but certainly not least, the Alchemist. Dragus stepped out from behind the Lady of the Bog's backside and proceeded to prize the gaoler's dropped lantern from his dead hand with the end of his tail, holding it aloft in his fifth appendage to cast off of the creeping darkness of their current surroundings."What did I tell you?" Remarked the reprehensible reptile, turning in the direction of his comrades. Dragus looked up at the ceiling, then back down at the others. "Home sssweet home. We should be directly beneath the Apothecarium. Now, while I'm sssure you're all eager for a hot shower and a warm bed, pleassse humour thiz old drake for a moment and provide me one lassst ssscrap of your attention. You may feel a desssire to share what you have witnesssed in the realm of the vermin-kin with otherz, but I would asssk for your dissscretion in thiz matter. Should the greater galaxy ever discover the threat thossse arachnidz possse, well, it iz likely panic would ensssue, and not the sssort that'z helpful. As the expresssion goez, loossse lipz sssink Ssstar Destroyerz. In exchange for your confidence in thiz matter, I would persssonally like to reward each one of you in turn, which I asssure you extendz beyond sssimple gratitude."He was less concerned about Sirona and Elarinya letting the loth cat out of the bag. After all, who would believe them? But as for Valefor and Xitan, both had the ear of the Supreme Leader, who would likely believe every last word given His experience with Dragus thus far.
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235 
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Aug 23, 2024 22:14:27 GMT -8
Xitan was finally breathing something other than fumes and swamp air. It was times, like this, that the Sith desired his mask, which seemed lost now to the depths below. For lack of a better word, the eventful past days were finally at a long and desired end. He now understood why the members of the Council were hardly on good terms with anyone more than Dragus. Garrax stood on his own, which was typical of his personality, same with Xazatar. Malebor and Vullorr were twin lieutenants and enforcers of the Supreme Leader's will. Only Astera seemed to be roughly good terms with Dragus. Hekat? Xitan wasn't exactly sure. Given what lurked below Roon's surface, if any on the Council knew, there would likely be a united effort in seeing Dragus removed.
Xitan glanced in the direction of the Saurian as he spoke, offering a reward as a sign of gratitude. It felt more like a bribe to keep their silence. The Acolyte recalled the last rewards granted to him by the Sith Apothecary: a black powdered pistol, a Sarlacc which ate its weight in food on Eriadu, and... the Sith swore there was a third item, but his mind was too focused on something else for him to clearly think. His eyes turned in the direction of where they came, still not seeing the grey figure from before who appeared just moments before he left to rejoin the group.
The Grey Sith... just who the kriff was that? There was a truly ominous presence felt to the point that Xitan recalled feeling a slight chill run down his spine. Looking once more towards Dragus, the Acolyte planned to speak with the Saurian and get some answers out of him. Something he did, must have done, caused not only him feeling Force sensations with Sirona but even must be causing hallucinations of a Grey Sith.
Simple gratitude huh?
Xitan remarks as he rises up to a better standing posture.
Considering what you got brewing down below, I think the word simple isn't the right word, Lord Apothecary...
However, Xitan didn't plan to report this. Dragus had been a benefit in the past after all. Ryloth, the abomination on Roon, and so forth. He wasn't officially aligned, but neither was he against the Saurian. Even if this recent adventure made him wary of remotely accepting requests from Dragus in the future.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Sirona on Aug 29, 2024 10:26:35 GMT -8
The Lady of the Bog seemed very interested in something underneath the rubble pile and once her riders were deposited on the floor and out of the way, began excavating to find the crushed remains of the jailor. Darth Sirona, meanwhile, nodded her reply to the Dark Apothecary, she knew no one else to report this to, nor was she, for the moment, a member of the Sith Eternal. She was simply a traveler who had happened upon this place and these people. Though the preexisting connections between herself and Dragus, and Elarinya and Valefor did lead her to imagine that it had been the Force that brought them here for a purpose. And now there was an unknown bond with Xitan that she couldn't very well explain... Perhaps it was the Will of the Force that she stick around. Besides, it could be nice to not have to sleep onboard a starship for awhile.
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Post by Elarinya on Aug 31, 2024 4:21:49 GMT -8
Elarinya was glad for the... relatively fresh air of the dungeons beneath the Fortress of Tawntoom as the wall had fallen and allowed them free. She kept one hand held upon her side whilst her other arm was wrapped around Sirona's shoulders. The pair keeping one another on their feet. The last thing she remembered was pressing the Ewok shaped talisman before the ring of explosions had started going off in the distance. She'd awoken with quite the fright to find herself tightly gripped in her father's arms, who was in turn being clutched by the Lady of the Bog as they ascended a dark stone staircase. They'd been about a third of the way up when she'd come to and had gathered enough strength to extricate herself from the proximity to Valefor by the time they reached the top. She glared over at Darth Dragus then as he spoke of keeping their lips tight about what had occurred and promised them bribes in exchange
Loathe as I am to admit it, I am in agreement with Lord Xitan. Your generosity had best be most gracious...
She didn't need to read Sirona's mind to know that the Librarian Witch wished to stay here with the Eternal. She'd brought them here to seek this group of Sith out, so walking away from them was not really an option. But Ela was not going to fall over herself delivering pleasantries. Sith like Dragus? Such cordialness was wasted on them. She would not hold herself back
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Aug 31, 2024 17:16:10 GMT -8
This would be easier if you also helped instead of just watching...
It had been quite the long adventure into the under-dark of Roon, they were all tired and exhausted from the experience and any sense of formality was gone. But at long last the wall gave way and they were stumbling into the Black Cells beneath the Fortress of Tawntoom. But even so, the air here was less stale than that of the thousand stair ascent up from the ruins that had once been Dragusblight. The Demon Lord took the Legionis Hastae in hand and tapped the butt of the spear against the ground whilst whispering
Solari lend us your light...
The great red crystalline spear tip glowed a crimson red to shed light in tandem with the purrgil oil lantern. There were pockets of murmured whimpering as the handful of prisoners that Valefor had put here endured PTSD flashbacks from the glow of Solari. A few whispered and chattered out the name "Diabolus", their minds long gone but left only with the memory of the Crimson Lord and that single word. But Valefor's attention was pulled from the shouts of madness by the Dark Apothecary speaking, talking of discretion regarding what they had seen down below. He could well remember his own reaction and feelings upon seeing the Charon. If he was being honest, he was surprised Dragus was trying to keep this covered up.
Likely this was a problem that he created for himself at some point due to wanting something from the Charon and the only reason he had not destroyed the Gates is because he still wanted something. There were other Infinity Gates across the galaxy, a few of which were within the borders of the Sith Eternal territory and likely Dragus had tracked them all down. But perhaps there were gates Dragus had not yet found... Something for him to investigate at a later date and time. For now he focused his gaze upon Dragus
I suppose being owed a favour by a member of the Council will come in useful one day. But what in the more immediate future do you propose as reward?
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Sept 2, 2024 6:57:14 GMT -8
"Firssst of all..." Growled the gore speckled crocodile with a scowl, scrunching the scales of his snout in distaste, before then tapping a curved talon upon the centre of the Fabricator General's muscle swollen red chest. "...you showed up late, Valefor. Sssuch a lack of punctuality really ought to be punished." He-Who-Hungers hissed, turning his talon upon himself to scrape the scales of his chin ponderously. "But I sssuppose your presssence came in handy when we encountered that unusssually large dianoga, and I can't deny there iz sssomething of a sssize disssparity between the sssmoke demonz we can conjure." Dragus' smoke demon, Smokey, was the same size as the ewok whose spirit the mad Sith scientist had bound to the repository of alchemical lore chained to his person. "Though I ssstill contend he could have done jussst az good a job, if not better, of bringing down that Infinity Gate. However, I do not wish to appear ungrateful, ssso..." Slipping a claw into his alchemy satchel, the saurian Sith routed around for a few moments until his talons came into contact with the object he sought. When he extracted the appendage, there held in the centre of his palm was a ring of Sith spun gold with an oval shaped flame jewel at its heart, whose flicking orange depths occasionally coalesced into the leering iris of an eye. The object stank of imbued sorcery and blood magic. It stank of Pzob."For you, my crimssson colleague, a token of my trussst." Cooed the cruel hearted crocodilian, offering the magical device to Valefor, his words thick with compulsion as his voice reverberated both aloud and telepathically through the Force, the words overlapping as the black slash of his slit saurian pupil spiraled away from the centre in a mesmerizingly hypnotic display. "I have a feeling we will be working very closssely together in the near future towardz a...common outcome. Thiz trinket will aid in that endeavour, in time." Intentionally cryptic.Stepping away from the winged red warlord, the despicable draconian stalked over to where Sirona and Elarinya stood together, hobbled and humbled, but hardly defeated. He-Who-Hungers brought his claws together in front of his chest, intertwining his talons as he rested his mismatched gaze on the mismatched pair of archeologist and warrior. Dragus reached forwards and placed his left claw upon the Witch's right shoulder."Sssirona, you claimed to have come to Roon to ssstudy itz hissstory, and I hope our excursssion into the minez provided you with an opportunity to do jussst that. The Sssupreme Leader of our illustriouz sssecret empire would sssay that it waz He whossse dark presssence sssummoned you to thiz thrice cursssed world, and perhapz I might have agreed with that asssessment, were it not for the revelation of our clossse familial tiez. It waz wrong of my brother to deny you knowledge of the rich culture to which you belong, sssomething I will now remedy." Slipping his claw for a second time into his trusted alchemy satchel, the Great Devourer retrieved a sinister red tetrahedron shaped holocron, which he offered to the Neptis Mutatis. "I give you thiz, the Holocron of Dark Lady Trace, Dathomiri Witch and my dear sssister, whossse massstery of Herbology iz sssecond only to my own. Besidez a complete lissst of her favourite recipez, thiz holocron containz a comprehensssive hissstory of Pzob and the Order of the Eye, to whom you are inexorably bound." The corners of his lips twisted upwards and outwards in an impossible scaled smile. "The fatez, or perhapz my misssguided brother, sssought to keep uz apart...but the Eye seez all. I refussse to allow thiz injussstice to continue, thuz, I offer you citizenship within the borderz of the Sssith Eternal Empire, and I grant you the rank of Sssith Master, az is my right az a member of the governing Council of Ssseven."Releasing Sirona's shoulder, the wicked wizard lizard switched arms and rested his right claw on Elarinya's left shoulder next, turning his snout from his newly found niece to her protective red guardian."I extend the sssame to you, Val...elarinya." Rasped the reptile as he continue to struggle with the confusion sewn by his olfactory senses. "Citizenship and the rank of massster." He leaned in closely so that the forked tips of his slithering tongue flicked the air next to her ear, lowering his voice to a hushed tone. "I sssuspect your father would sssuffer nothing lesss." Then he leaned back and raised his vile and often vexing voice anew. "More ssso, it pleasez me to know my beloved niece haz sssuch a ssstalwart Sssith at her ssside ssserving az her devoted protector. With that in mind, I believe I have something that should aid in your dutiez." Thus, his talon tipped appendage slithered its way inside his satchel a cursed third time, an auspicious number on the planet they currently found themselves upon. When the serpentine Sith's claw came free, held in his grip was the handle of an ornate dagger sheathed in a scabbard of drexl scale. The handle was bounded tightly in strips of reek hide, and the blade... He pulled the scabbard a few inches away from the base of the pommel, exposing the face of the dagger, which appeared to have been forged from an extremely resilient type of glass. "It'z called the Headsssman, and for obviouz reassson, for the daggerz biting edge iz sharp enough to sssaw through the neck and ssspine of mossst living beingz without much resssistance. It haz ssserved me well over the yearz, and now, I give it to you."Lastly... Dragus stepped back and away from the two Dark Ladies of the Sith and stalked over to Xitan, his villains grin stretching into the realm of shit-eating. He shook his snout from side to side, tutting as he considered the scarred and battle worn Acolyte, who had endured much in the subterranean depths. "Ah Xitan, I know you were none to eager to come on thiz adventure, but jussst look at how much you've grown in the time we've ssspent underground. Not only have you tesssted the limitz of your endurance, but proven your resssilience beyond a shadow of a doubt. The Sssith Eternal iz better for your continued presssence, and I..." The saurian stifled a sniffle. "...am quite proud of the Sssith you have become." He leaned in, lowering his lisping lizard's voice to a barely audible whisper. "And don't think I haven't noticed the clossse connection you've developed with our pale ssskinned companion. A bond that will ssserve you well in the future, I have no doubt." He winked, then leaned back and raised his voice. "But what to give to the Sssith that haz everything? Hmmm? You do not ssseem to lack for much, and I already have given you giftz of sssteel and ssscale. So for you, my boy, I offer my boon. Asssk of me anything your heart desirez, and if it iz within my power to grant, it shall be yourz. A planet, a people, a potion, a particular perssson you'd like to sssee murdered. Anything, and it iz yourz. Do not feel you mussst make your decisssion right away. There may be a more sssuitable time to call in thiz debt. The offer will not expire."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Sept 4, 2024 19:49:47 GMT -8
A close connection developed with our pale skinned companion? A bond that will serve him well in the future? It's not Sirona or him had a choice in the matter. Neither of them could have anticipated the ritual that Dragus performed that not only awoke the dead Taung but collapsed the ground, knocked him out cold, and caused an even more wretched creature to appear and fight them. There was an obvious look upon Xitan's face, considering his mask was missing at this point, that looked upon Dragus deciding on whether he should be truly grateful or spiteful. Still, the Dark Apothecary was offering him a favor to which he could use for anything and at any time. That was certainly a better boon than anything specific.
I suppose that will do... at least, I know, that your promises are worth their weight in gold.
That was the simple answer given by Xitan as he feels his limbs falling asleep from numbness. Mainly because, once more, he had pushed himself in order to aid in their escape. A good Bacta bath did await him somewhere on Roon- no, on Nullus Beacon. Xitan wanted to get off this planet after what he witnessed and realizing how much Dragus had turned this planet into a swamp. But there was something he had to do first, considering the ritual done, and what other side effects it may have caused.
This isn't the favor calling, but I do need to speak with you after this.
The Acolyte hissed at Dragus, in a low voice, as he proceeds to move a bit, trying to get feeling to his limbs again. At least pacing should help.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 338
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Post by Darth Sirona on Sept 20, 2024 18:44:40 GMT -8
Sirona felt humbled as she listened to the saurian sith lord. The holocron in her hands felt heavy. It didn't weigh any more than the one she had made for herself, but it was steeped in history and the vast knowledge of a legacy she was not sure she was worthy to inherit. All the same, she graciously accepted her boons and gift. Finally, she was a master. In a position where she could finally get to work on her many projects without some other Master sniffing down her back, trying to take credit for or discredit her work. Now all that stood above her was a council, one that was occupied by her strangely affectionate, yet murdery uncle. I will do my best to live up to the Dark Lady's legacy.
She watched as the other two received their own gifts and boons, silently. Her fingers absentmindedly traced along the edges of the holocron now in her hands. But she couldn't help but feel, perhaps through the connections, or maybe simply reading Xitan's exposed handsome face, that he was not particularly thrilled with them being joined. Or perhaps it was confusion? Either way, it made Sirona blush and she turned her face downward to stair at the repository of knowledge in her hands. Why did she care what Xitan thought? Why did it bother her when he was curt or rude to her? Shaking her head, Sirona took a deep breath and awaited to see what the next move would be for the group.
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Post by Elarinya on Sept 23, 2024 21:26:33 GMT -8
Ela was tired, injured, and grumpy. When she had been snappy with Dragus, she had expected some acknowledgement that he had put them through a lot. But she could have never guess he would go this far. Alongside Sirona, she had also been granted Citizenship in the Sith Eternal's borders and the rank of Master. She was caught quite unawares and taken aback by being elevated from... Apprentice? Acolyte? She honestly wasn't sure where she had fallen upon the scale of ranks. But she definitely hadn't felt like a Master. There had been a time after she had defeated Maethoriel that she had felt on that level of power, but that confidence had been broken upon her Father's fists. He'd not once drawn a blade during their fight and barely seemed to struggle.
But despite that wound and not having felt like she had progressed much since then, Dragus seemed to be happy to grant her the title. Perhaps her anger at him had worked, but that seemed unlikely. She wasn't quite sure how to processes this elevation of rank other than with a nod of her head, even as Dragus whispered something about her Father suffering nothing less. She might have argued the point, certain he didn't feel she would be ready for such a title. But before she could speak up Dragus was speaking again and producing a sheathed dagger from within his satchel. Even before the blade had been revealed, she was already studying the weapon with an appraising eye, well versed in spotting a quality weapon where others would be fooled.
As soon as the blade was revealed though, her breath caught. She had heard of Wintrium during her days training with the Resurgent Sith, but she had only ever seen photos of it. Seeing it in person though... It was breathtaking especially the design of the blade she could see. She gripped the sheath with her free hand and wrapped her fingers around the guard to keep it in place
Thank you Lord Dragus... I shall put it to good use...
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Sept 30, 2024 4:33:02 GMT -8
A sorcerer is never late Dragus, nor is he early, he arrives exactly when he means to...
He grinned widely as he held out his bare palm and caught the ring that was offered forth. While it seemed a trifling thing to the untrained eye, Valefor was not untrained. Indeed he could sense the blood magic and alchemy that it was imbued with, along with a distinctive presence he had felt on many of the Mad Alchemists creations. What ever the Cursed Crocodilian was doing over on Pzob had created a unique presence. One that Valefor intended to keep far away from joining. But this ring might yet prove itself particularly useful. For now, he slipped the jewellery into a pocket within his belt and waited until the Dark Apothecary was done providing out boons to the three younger members of their party.
It did not go unnoticed by him that Dragus had raised up both Sirona and Elarinya to the title of Master, whilst Xitan was passed over. As mad as the Barabel was, it seemed even he knew the limitations of his own power and position where it concerned one of the Supreme Leader's Favoured. But the boy did not walk away empty handed, for Dragus offered the boy an unspecified favour, a powerful thing where Dragus was concerned. With the bribes given out, Valefor moved over closer to his Daughter and her friend. One hand unsheathed the Cortosis dagger from Ela's belt, whilst the other collected up the crystal pendent necklace that Sirona had kept held of. Elarinya glared back at him
Give that back!
Not quite yet. In celebration of your recent promotions, I feel it only fair I provide our newest Sith Ladies with a gift each. As Master of the Forge, allow me to attend to these keepsakes and ensure they can remain keepsakes for years to come without poisoning you both to an early grave. I promise to return them both expediently.
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Oct 1, 2024 5:51:53 GMT -8
"Indeed." Remarked the rasping reptile, blinking once in surprise. The Demon Lord's explanation sounded exactly like the sort of excuse that the ruinous reptilian would have used. As Dragus caught on, the scales of his cheeks cracked liked snapped kindling as he forced his frightful grin a further few inches wide. "Well sssaid."
Following the exchange between Valefor and the two new Sith citizens, the Dark Apothecary approached the turbolift and activated it with a sweep of his claw, then stepped aside as the doors to the lift swished open. "Sssadly, my sssweet Sssith spelunkerz, thiz iz where we mussst part wayz. Valefor, be a dear and ssset up our two newessst memberz with a pair of guessst passez until I can have Squeakerz sssort out the appropriate paperwork. He'll visssit you two in due time to go over everything you need to sssign. Insssurance, group benefitz, pensssion...that sssort of thing. One caveat I should probably mention." From somewhere beneath the filthy remains of the deranged draconian's feathered robe he manifested his favourite smoking pipe, preloaded with a pinch of spice, which he placed in the crook of his grinning villain's visage. Each inhalation was proceeded by little purple puffs of smoke exuded from his flaring nostril slits. Then the crooked crocodilian calmly continued. "If you wish to declare your place of resssidency on a planet or territory outssside Sssith Eternal ssspace, you'll be legally required to conquer it. I know it might sssound a bit sssilly, but it'z necesssary for tax filing purposez. I'm sssure you underssstand."
Dragus bade each one of them goodbye with a blood speckled peck on the cheek, save for Xitan who remained behind with questions on his lips, his desire for knowledge so desperate and demanding that the Famine Lord found it more intoxicating than the spice tingling in his brain. When the lift door finally closed and it was just the two of them, the venomous velociraptor rounded on the Acolyte, slowly stalking a circle around with his tail trailing far behind.
"What'z on your mind, Xitan? Wait, don't tell me. Let me guesss." The black scaled barabel closed his blood red right eye and pressed two talons to his skull, pursing his lips to hum audibly. A few seconds later his scaled lip snapped open and his lips peeled apart in a twisted toothy expression of certainty. "You wish another ssscrying? That'z it! Isssn't it? I told you that Darth Nebulouz waz a charlatan. He doesssn't even read the entrailz!" Truthfully, Darth Nebulous' prophetic abilities were considerable and nearly as reliable as the Famine Lord's brother's own future sight, the Dread Seer of the Eye. Unlike Havok, however, Nebulous' talents didn't come accompanied by the brain cell bursting seizures that so afflicted the saurian Sith's sibling. If he kept on rising through the ranks at the rate he already was, there was every chance that Pau'an would one day join him on the Council of Seven as the Weaver of Fates. No, wait. That was Orvus' title, wasn't it? It would have to be something else. Either way it wasn't a problem as long as it wasn't listed in his publicly accessible bio. "I can have Squeakerz here in two minutez. After all your help underground I'd be more than happy to disssembowel him for you, unlesss you'd prefer that honour for yourssself, and we can ssstart figuring out our lottery numberz for thiz week."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Oct 4, 2024 20:57:46 GMT -8
Dragus The Sith waited till the rest had departed. For now, Xitan simply let the Saurian talk as he usually did, but none of his words were truly anywhere close to what the Acolyte planned to discuss about. Only when he knew they were far away enough did the unmasked Sith gaze his orange eyes upon the Apothecary. There was an itch to practically grab him by the scruff of his collar, yet the Acolyte restrained himself. Nonetheless, there was an anger and irritation in his voice when he did speak.What... THE HELL did you do?!Likely meant the ritual, considering Xitan had never seen what he saw just moments ago elsewhere nor any other time.Your damned ritual is making me see things, Saurian! I am fracking seeing things I have never seen before!His gloved hand pointed behind where they had emerged, recalling the strange human that had been among the chaos of the fight. The ominous aura still resonating through his very core. The voices he had heard even in the midst of delirium that made Xitan even wonder if Sirona helping him had been real or just a figment of his imagination.I am hearing voices now! I saw... a thing that I know none of you even witnessed!Xitan was on the verge a rather potent outburst. The Sith was practically annoyed beyond belief that, ever since this ritual had occurred, things were happening beyond his control. Hearing voices in his head, the sensation of a dark presence lurking in his own shadow, the grey-skinned human that walked into plain view and watched as Xitan escaped while the Bog Queen went on her rampage.I saw this grey-skinned human! Whose one eye was milky white, whose fresh was decaying yet looked at hard as stone. He just came from nowhere and gazed at me as I fought for our combined survival in that cesspit below! I heard three voices speak down there. A man, a woman, and something whose language sounded like inaudible whispers.Finally, the Acolyte lashed out, sending the Force against the wall just off to his left. Deeply did he inhale and exhale.WHAT... THE FRACKING HELL... DID YOU DO?!
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Oct 5, 2024 5:24:02 GMT -8
Closing his red right eye, Dragus slowly inhaled a deep breath through his flaring nostrils, holding it inside his chest for the breadth of a few seconds. When it became time to exhale, he released that breath out his bladed mouth, extending simultaneously his own etheric senses to encompass the room. The amethyst gem set in the Dark Apothecary's left eye socket crackled with a discharge of arcane power as he focused the rakatan ocular implants multi-faceted lens, studying the Acolyte as though he were a specimen in his laboratory, humming and hawing as he considered the possibilities and what they represented. Maneuvering around from his backside, the black scaled barabel's overlong tail slid across the floor, slithering behind Xitan to begin encircling his lower half like a constricting snake. All the while the vile reptile leaned in closer, his dagger filled maw spreading into a hungry grin, scaled lips trembling and taste buds salivating. "Calm yourssself, my boy." Cooed the conniving crocodilian calmly, his words laced with compulsion and expressed both by tongue and through the Force, delivered with twice the weight. "Thessse thingz happen." He offered by way of explanation, as though that accounted for everything. His rasping tone became ominous when next he spoke. "When one reachez deep into the aether, sometimez thingz of the aether reach back, and we plunged further into the Force than mossst. I warned you, chronomancy iz not without itz riskz." Had he warned them? "I asssume basssed on your explanation that thiz phenomenon began during the time of the ritual. Mossst fassscinating." The cogs inside his implant could be heard spinning while the neural fibres parasitically worming their way through his brain tissue fired his synapses, stoking the saurian Sith's sinister intellect.
"It would ssseem you picked up a passsenger, a trio even perhapz basssed on your dessscription, bound to you through sssome meanz. The mossst concerning quessstion iz whether it or they are bound to your physssical body through sssome anchor in the material world, or if they have attached themselvez to your immortal sssoul. Pray it iz the former." The Dread Wyrm cautioned with a knowing hiss. "Spiritz bound to objectz can usssually be banished back to chaoz by dessstroying the object they have attached themselvez to, but spiritz attached to a sssoul are far harder to untangle, the etheric energy from which they are comprisssed becomez enmeshed. With the passsage of enough time, it may become imposssible to ssseparate the two, and the ssstronger will among them dominatez the other. Then the posssesssion iz permanent." Reaching out, Dragus rested his left claw on Xitan's right shoulder, gently squeezing it in a reassuring manner. "There iz no reassson to asssume the worssst, little brother. The latter type of posssesssion iz far lesss common and would only be posssible by the spiritz of Sssith of exceptional quality, sssay thossse of the Sssith Triumvirate from the dayz following the Jedi Civil War." A clue or coincidence? Hard to tell with the old crocodile. Completing his inspection, Dragus unwound his tail from around the Acolyte's lower half and took a step back, lowering his snout until the slit saurian pupil of his red right eye was laser focused on an object tucked away in Xitan's belt.
"Ah, you sssee." Rasped the reprehensible reptilian, extended a claw and tapping the mask Xitan had taken from the Taung Cairn with his index talon. "Thiz iz likely the sssource of your troublez. Thiz may be nothing more than a sssimple curssse, unlesss of courssse the curssse haz jumped from the object over to your perssson, my boy. Hmmm." Dragus stroked his scaled chin until molting scales began to flake away. "There are wayz of determining which, mossst requiring a certain degree of preparation, though the easssiest way to know for sssure would be to dessstroy the masssk." Dragus held up a claw, gesturing for the Acolye to hold. "I would advissse againssst that. Whether it waz sheer coincidence or dessstiny, Xitan, thessse spiritz chossse you. Thiz...Grey Man. Consssider the potential and what might be gained from thiz experience." The Hungering One's wet lips spread apart, allowing his forked tongue to slither out past the rows of razor blades filling his jaws, then flick the air between them with red flecks. "I sssaw you fight back there againssst the enemy General, while I waz ssswinging through the air high above, hanging by the foot from charon intessstine. You've already taken sssomething they offered, haven't you? That'z how it workz. A little bit here or there, jussst enough tassste of power to give them what they want, which I asssure you...iz not to help you. A powerful young Sssith body sssuch as yourz, scarz assside, would be a fetching prize for a incorporeal Sssith ssspirit without a body."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Oct 20, 2024 11:02:52 GMT -8
There was.. a bit more to this though. A few times before had Xitan sensed something, or rather someone, watching him. The Sith recalled the times being once before on Roon and another on Ryloth. Even upon Mustafar, he felt something, other than Sirona, watching and observing, yet never had he faced that which he did. His actions, it seemed, had attracted the attention of Sith ghosts. In particular, the Grey Man as Dragus identified him as. Yet, there was a mention of the Sith Triumvirate of the Jedi Civil War. Now, he wasn't anything of a historian, but the Acolyte had heard of this term used before in Melabor's instructions.
The Sith Triumvirate were the inheritors of Darth Revan's crumbling empire. They had done what he had failed to achieve and forced the Jedi to near extinction in a Dark Age of space where Sith fought against Sith, a Republic was licking its deep wounds, the Mandalorian crusade was all but destroyed, and a darkness permeated through the galaxy after over two decades of constant warfare. Pain, Betrayal, Hunger. Betrayal trained the other two when, in turn, the two turned against Betrayal and overcame their former master. Maybe Xitan needed to pay better attention to such information as he only remembered the essence of the lesson of Sith history.
Lord Dragus, it is not the first time I have encountered this though.
Xitan explains to the Saurian.
When I fought your abomination on patrol, that sound-weapon Ithorian, I felt the presence of someone augmenting me.
The desperate energy to defeat such a foe came from him, but was guided by an unseen hand and unlocked further in order to capitalize upon such a enemy. Back then, Xitan wondered if he would have ever survived that encounter without the aid of whatever had assisted him, ever so slightly.
The second time was on Ryloth. I merely heard whispers from the beyond. As if they were trying to make me know I was being watched.
Xitan concludes on that before listening to the words of the Saurian master. His eyes look down upon the Taung battlehelm he had taken. Maybe there was a link between this Gray Man and the warrior, considering the visage he had seen. A fierce battle, blasters flying left and right, the warrior coming upon a Sith with a brilliant red saber that he fought hard against before losing his life to it. The Gray Man had lived a long life likely.
He did... unlock a new level of rage when I fought the undead. I was forced to accept it in order to achieve life, at the detriment of my body.
The Sith still felt the aches in his bones and muscles.
I should do what I can to keep the Sith spirit at bay then, Lord Dragus? Is that your advice?
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Oct 20, 2024 14:16:46 GMT -8
Now that was interesting. Dragus raised a claw beneath his chin and stroked his scales with talons as sharp as vibro-scalpels. The Dark Apothecary had been on site for both those incidents, perhaps not exactly at the moment of the phenomenon, but within a reasonable period of time thereafter. He hadn't detected any unusual paranormal activity himself, but he did recall a lot of powerful dark emotions resonating across the etheric plane, strong feelings of pain and suffering. Most people had no idea that when they experienced dark emotions such as anger or hate, it resulted in a psychic emanation detectable to Force sensitives and empathic species. The more powerful the emotion, the greater the impression, with the largest disturbances creating what can only be described as echoes in the Force. Project Banshee's pain, the citizens of Kala'uun's fear, it had been enough to spark one of these temporal events, weakening the barrier between planes of existence. That this was not a one time event was all the more concerning, especially if the first occurrence had occurred such a long time ago. This spirit had been stalking Xitan for a while. Who knew how deep it had sunk its hooks into the boy? A mechanical whirr and click sounded from the internal components of the Great Devourer's rakatan ocular implant as the vile crocodile used the arcane device to study his Sith comrade. Through its sorcerous lens, the Acolyte's soul was laid bare to his lecherous inspection, which eased his concerns as he detected no trace of psychic parasites latched onto the lad's soul.
"No, nor do I think that'z even an option. Any meanz to ward yourssself would undoubtedly be a temporary sssolution at bessst. You have been marked, Xitan. Thiz additional information confirmz it. We could lock you in a fortresss comprisssed of psssycho-dampening material, creating a void in which the ssspirit can't crosss over, but the sssecond you ssstepped outssside you would once more be sssubject to itz attention. I could fashion you a talisssman to masssk your ssspiritual aura. That would shield you from itz attention for a time, though any sssuch device would undoubtedly inhibit your sensez, which a Sssith in your posssition will need. The moment you took it off, itz the sssame ssstory az the fort." He did not envy Xitan's position. There were no good options. "Ordinarily I would sssuggest attempting to bind thiz ssspiritual ssstalker, but given that it haz appeared to you multiple timez on different planetz, and the fact that you have experienced the price of itz bargain once already, I sssuspect thiz malevolent entity iz too powerful to be contained by anything we have immediate accesss to." Trapping a sinister Sith spirit of this level of strength would take a sorcerous designed and stellar aligned pyramid crafted with great suffering and comprised of all manner of arcane material. They could do it, but it would take time and no shortage of credits to facilitate.
Slipping a claw into his alchemy satchel, the crooked old crocodile popped the cork stopper on a bottle of bubbling green liquid and dumped its contents on the floor at their feet, causing a ghastly veil of dark spectral green smoke to envelope the two of them. Even in the murk the vulturous velociraptor's artificial left eye shone like the bulb of a lighthouse, piercing the the alchemical fog he had just created. Dredging up feelings of loathing and avarice, the Pater Mutatis drank deeply from the wellspring of infinite hatred that was the darkside of the Force, using those corrupting currents to remake the world around him. The dramatic drake lord manipulated the smoke with his mind, forming it into a wispy mimicry of the vision contained within his thoughts, a vision he shared with Xitan through telepathic impression. Dragus laid his mind bare before the Acolyte, sharing with him a picture of Pzob, transforming the changing image flickering before them into the ruined streets of the once great City of the Eye. A set of steps rose from the cobblestone streets to a height of three stories, ending in a great black temple that seemed to swallow the light of the sun, only it wasn't really the sun at all. Upon closer inspection, a great Eye leered down on the temple and its ruins, burning a hateful orange even through the green smoke the illusion was comprised of.
"There are...other meanz, of making your posssesssion unpalatable to thiz ssspirit. The Nightsisterz spiritz are bound by their magikz to Dathomir, returning their upon death. You may lack the necesssary organz to join their rankz, but the witchez have been known to make bargainz, and you've had plenty of practice charming Sssirona and Elarinya. If you can give the witchez sssomething they want, their spellz could shield you from thiz ssspectral pursssuer. Failing that..." Spreading his jaws wide, sulphuric steam spilled from his open maw as he positioned himself behind the Acolyte, hovering over his shoulder. Leaning forwards, the Dark Apothecary's forked tongue flicked the air next to Xitan's head, hissing slow and seductively. "...you could come with me to Pzob, walk the sssacred stepz of the Black Temple, and ssswear yourssself to the Eye." His words were weighed with compulsion and if it wasn't clear already, there might have been something in that smoke he had spilled all over the place. "The Eye demandz sssacrifice, but in exchange it offerz ssstrength. Imbued with itz holy fire, thiz entity would turn from your presssence, blinded by the light of faith." And all it would cost Xitan is his freedom. A small matter.
Just as swiftly as he had summoned it, Dragus banished the smoke with a wave of his claw, blowing it away with a telekinetic nudge. As the hall around them came back into view, the Dark Apothecary seemed to shrink, appearing much more ancient and frail than he had moments ago.
"That sssaid, we might be getting a bit ahead of ourselvez. There iz no sssense making a rash decisssion until we have a better idea what we are dealing with. We don't know who thiz ssspirit iz or what exactly it wantz. For all we know your body iz but a meanz to an end for it. The easssiest way to find out for sssure would be to asssk the ssspirit directly. I'll need time to prepare and there are sssome asssociated riskz, but if you're willing, I believe I can lead uz through a Sssith exorcisssm and sssummon the ssspirit haunting you. With the proper materialz on hand it should be posssible to contain the ssspirit in a binding circle long enough to asssk it a few questionz."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Oct 28, 2024 16:32:42 GMT -8
Fealty to the Eye was not on Xitan's agenda. He was aware of this cult that was tolerated by both Supreme Leaders, popular among the adherents and followers of the Dark Apothecary, but vilified by those who followed the teachings of the Three Emperors. The Sith had grown tired of dogmas however, finding his own faith being drawn to the lightsaber which he wielded. A means to carve his own destiny and path through the stars, one opponent at a time. It could cleave their metal and flesh, ending all by a swift slash by the red plasma which illuminated death and rage in battle. A tool that the Sith put his faith in, just like many others before.
Dragus' suggestions were many. Dathomiri rituals, Eye allegiance, and perhaps many more if the Saurian gave a list. However, the Acolyte wondered if this was a seeking of possession. For now a handful of years, this Sith spirit had lingered, on and off, tapping into the potential of Xitan during the rising of the dead Taung warriors. Was it trying to unlock something rather than possessing him? Was it seek a protege instead? In truth, Exar Kun may have been targeted by Freedon Nadd just as Dragus described... perhaps there was still the possibility that this Sith spirit sought a means to regain life. Xitan would have to be on his guard.
The spirit appears randomly. It could be days, weeks, months, even years before it returns.
Sith were taught to be patient, but Xitan had plans and ambitions and it didn't include having to watch out for some Sith spirit.
Instead of an exorcism, mayhap a ritual that can force its summoning instead? Determine what it wants and why me.
The Acolyte suggests to Dragus as he turns upon the Saurian once more. Xitan wanted answers and he wasn't going to wait for years before speaking with the Sith spirit in the heat and chaos of a battle. For so far, it only appeared in the most dire of situations when the Acolyte needed all the power he could muster to prevail and be victorious.
A ritual that will force its appearance and allow me to speak to it without the din of combat around me.
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Oct 29, 2024 5:22:32 GMT -8
"I know of sssuch a ritual." Confirmed the conniving crocodilian with a bob of his snout, before retrieving the Ewokinomicon from its place concealed beneath his robe, and then perusing the pages of the fur lined volume. About midway through the fuzzy repository of alchemical lore, the Dark Apothecary found what he was looking for, marking the page before snapping his beloved book closed. "It shouldn't take me more than about a month to gather and prepare the necesssary ingredientz." The rasping reptilian then rested a reassuring claw on the Acolyte's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Take what time you require to recover from our ordeal underground, but I have a bit of homework for you to complete before we undertake thiz ritual." Always the teacher, even in situations as serious as the sanctity of Xitan's very soul, Dragus simply couldn't turn that part of his personality off. "You have honed your body and your combat abilitiez to sssuch an extent, none sssave perhapz Karnac who iz exceptional az well, can ssstand againssst you in a tessst of martial prowesss and hope to prevail. Yet thiz entity that pursuez you iz not a foe you can bessst with a blade or banish with a bolt of lightning flung from your fingertipz." Removing his claw from the Acolyte's shoulder, he tapped his Sithly comrade on the crown of his head with the tip of one talon. "Now you mussst hone your mind."
Black lips split to reveal rows of serrated stakes spread in a villainous grin. "Relax, my boy. I'm not calling you dull witted. The Eye knowz you're much sharper than many a Sssith that fill our rankz, but even you mussst admit your training repertoire iz a bit lopsssided. You excel in the arena of war, ssso think of thiz az jussst another battle, and your mind az a fortresss whossse defensez you mussst shore up to break thiz ssspiritual sssiege. Leave no avenue of entry, sssave that which you have lined with your own mental barbz and bladez."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 235
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Nov 2, 2024 23:15:47 GMT -8
A month of waiting. Not exactly a patient Sith, but surely the Eternal had other things that Xitan could do. Not to mention his position as Despot of Eriadu, a self-proclaimed title that made members of the Council itch at the thought of it. It was a planet that held strong loyalties to both Sith and Imperial nations, but it was still a world that needed a reordering and an understanding of its place in the galaxy. Perhaps he would go there for a time after this... a chance to be by himself. Xitan glanced in the direction of where the others went for a moment before turning back to Dragus.
Once you are ready, Dark Apothecary, come to Eriadu. I will have my agents scout out an ideal location for where the ritual may happen.
Dragus would gather the resources and means, Xitan would scout out a location. Seemed only fair, in his views, since this was to be a ritual that would determine many things and get much needed answers. Besides, the Acolyte needed to flex his resources, considering his rule over his own sector for the Sith Eternal. It was time to utilize what he had at his disposal and see to it that he learned how to be... a governor? Best not say ruler.
Listening to the words of Dragus did make Xitan's eyebrow arch. And, for once, this was visible. Mental strengthening was the advice of the Saurian. A means to make his mind a fortress that would prove to be unassailable by the strongest of Force users. Challenges were growing now and the Acolyte would need to improve upon his skills in order to continue to rise, above his peers among the Favored.
I will take your advice then, Lord Dragus. There will be a time, after all, where I must prepare for this ritual.
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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: 1,406
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Nov 3, 2024 6:04:52 GMT -8
"Goooood." Cooed the crooked crocodilian, ushering Xitan towards the turbolift with a gentle claw on his back. "Consssider thessse clawz of mine at your ssservice, my boy. In the interim, should you find yourssself faced with any more otherworldly encounterz, I would refrain from accepting anything the ssspirit might offer you. These spectrez think themselvez sssly, yet they rely on the oldessst trick in the book to gain entry into a hostz body." He shook his snout. "That'z why I added Darth Revenant'z 'Force Ssspectrology for Dummiez' to the courssse syllabuz for our Sssith Knightz. Itz a bit of light reading every Sssith should be familiar with." There was perhaps no better expert on the subject of Force Ghosts than Dragus' deeply detested brother Mortale, the Almighty Eye's chosen avatar of Death, and the greatest Sith Necromancer of the modern age. Of course, the cranky carnosaur would rather slice off his own scales before he'd ask the Death Lord for help, not that it was even an option at the moment. During the events of the Sundering, Death had shed his mortal shell and ascended to the next plane of existence. Performing a risky ritual of his own, the Famine Lord had plumbed the shores of Chaos in search of Mortale, but ultimately his attempt turned up nothing and had exposed the Great Devourer to a malevolent entity that now dogged the saurian Sith's serpentine psychic projection every time he cast his mind into the astral plane. That was why he said he needed a month to prepare. Technically speaking, the Dark Apothecary already possessed all the items required for the ritual. What he needed was time to prepare for the possibility of coming into conflict with his own spectral adversary, a creature he had taken to referring to as the Roon Wolf. A skilled practitioner of the psychic arts, there were few etheric entities that the Hungering One was incapable of contending with on his own, but sure enough that wolf had proved to be one of them."Now off with you, lad." Hissed the scaled scourge as he shooed Xitan into the turbolift. "I need to tidy up a few thingz down here, but you should get some ressst. Ressst asssured, a month from now I shall grace your door. Look to my coming on the firssst dark of the fifth night." Typically cryptic, but knowing the Dark Apothecary there was likely a superstitious reason regarding arriving at that specific time.
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