Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938 
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on Dec 28, 2021 11:39:17 GMT -8
Tales From the Blackguard #2: Authority Challenged
- Principal Authors: Viox Savage , Natalia Zavesti , Arielle Klassen
- Who can post on this thread: Those listed above
- I want to receive critical responses: Yes
- I will be using standard Universe rules here (e.g., canon-only, fleet limits, etc.): Yes
Location: Throne of the Sith'ari
Timeframe: Previously undocumented event
While the primary focus of the Blackguard has been on the Black Emperor and his grand schemes for the rest of the galaxy and his ultimate ascension to power, these are a collection of tales from other members of the Blackguard Imperium. Tales and stories meant to string everything together or fill in the blanks of dropped or failed SL attempts.
*Prior to the Sith'ari's revival on Iridonia, his grip on the Blackguard was slipping. Many thought the Imperium was growing stagnant and complacent. Focusing on petty rivalry rather than uniting the Sith and other dakrsiders of the galaxy is all that seemed important to the ever reclusive Zabrak Emperor. Rumors of the Sith'ari's failing health run rampant through the ranks of the Imperium and there is no shortage of doubt in his continued ability to lead. But one question persists: Is the Sith'ari capable of ruling the Blackguard Imperium or is it time he was removed from his throne? Most in the Imperium don't feel the need to act upon such questions, given that the Empress rules in the Sith'ari's stead, but some even question the legitimacy of her position as well. One such person decides to force an answer to the questions swirling about and find out exactly what is going on with the Sith'ari... |
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Arielle Klassen
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 8
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
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Post by Arielle Klassen on Dec 28, 2021 12:02:49 GMT -8
Having been kidnapped from her family and forced into the Blackguard as an infant, Arielle Klassen had dutifully trained and honed her skills as instructed at the Sith Academy on Iridonia. As the years progressed, the youngest of the Klassen siblings began to fester rage and hatred towards the Black Emperor, which only grew when it had been revealed that both her parents had been murdered by the Zabrak's hands. Intended to join the Sith Knights and serve loyally as both of her older siblings currently were doing, Arielle's hatred towards the Sith'ari prevented her from doing so. Then Jen'ari Malvus left, alongside many other notable members of the Imperium. Which started the rumors and questions about the Zabrak's ability to command the Blackguard as he had previously done. Then the Sith'ari's own son rebelled. Anobis and Iridonia were engulfed in a civil war which resulted in them seceding from the Blackguard. Many expected the righteous fury of the Sith'ari to strike against those that had wronged him, yet nothing came, further fueling the doubts about him. With no reaction from the Emperor himself and not so much as an explanation as to where he was or what he was doing during his increasing absences, Arielle decided to take matters into her own hands. Having transferred from Iridonia when the Blackguard had retreated, Arielle ended up on Mustafar with the rest of the displaced soldiers and acolytes. Rather than blindly follow orders, Arielle would bring the matters directly to the Sith'ari and ask the questions that no one else seemed to want to ask.
Reaching the Throne room within the Dark Obelisk was fairly straight forward. It wasn't like the Zabrak hid his lair from the rest of the Imperium. Pushing through the double doors, the Sith'ari was seated upon his throne, as usual. Though he looked frail and weak. The Empress was standing beside him, removing an oxygen mask. Upon noticing her entrance, both the Zabrak and the Anzati turned to face her. "Sith'ari! Your leadership is lacking and now that I see if for my own eyes, you are incapable of leading the Imperium as you have claimed! You have much to answer for!" Arielle spat the words at him, angrily. The rage within her was barely contained. She could barely think straight. All she knew was the Sith'ari needed to pay for his crimes. And she would make him pay. The Praetorian Shadowtroopers that were placed around the room hadn't reacted to her entrance, neither did the crimson armored Sith Troopers positioned near the entrance. But it didn't matter. They would all pay the price. Every last one of them. Curling her fingers around her lightsaber hilt, the young woman plucked the hilt from her belt and thumbed the activation stud. The yellow blade sprang to life and she bent her knees in preparation to strike...
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Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on Dec 28, 2021 12:19:29 GMT -8
As Natalia removed the oxygen mask, the doors to the throne room burst open. Arielle Klassen, youngest of the three Klassen siblings he had kidnapped from Jabiim, stood before him and Natalia. As he spat venom laced words at him, Natalia made a motion to have the guards deal with her as she drew her blade. Raising a trembling hand to belay that, the Zabrak rose to his feet as Natalia stepped aside. The frail and sickly visage of the Zabrak was mostly hidden by the loose and baggy looking robes that clung to his body. But his sunken eyes revealed enough to indicate that he was not well, not in the slightest. Leaning heavily on his cane, the Sith'ari addressed the young woman with a forced smirk.
"I am a monster, I have no illusions of that...I have done things that are...beyond redemption..."
The Zabrak wheezed, his hoarse voice just audible enough for the hum of Arielle's lit saber.
"One day, I will answer for all that I have done...but I WILL not be judged by the likes of you."
A mechanical finger pointed towards the young woman from his prosthetic left hand. A cough escaped his lips as he continued.
"You do not possess the knowledge or....or the strength and abilities to stand against me...even as I am..."
A red glow began to emanate from the gap in the Zabrak's robes across his chest.
"I possess power that is beyond your comprehension!"
As frail and as decrepit as he appeared, all traces of his wheezing, hoarse voice were disappearing quickly as the power of the Zabrak elders began to course through him. He would pay the consequences for tapping into their power but not before he made an example of the young Klassen woman.
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Natalia Zavesti
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 35
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Natalia Zavesti on Dec 28, 2021 12:40:34 GMT -8
Assisting Viox with his oxygen mask, I turned the moment the doors to the throne room opened. A young woman, bristling with anger and barely controlled rage entered and screamed threats towards Viox. Standing up straight I was about to motioned for the Praetorian Shadowtroopers placed around the room to deal with her, but Viox rose to his feet and belayed my command. Normally, I would have been annoyed at this, but something told me to let it slide. As Viox rose to his feet and spoke, I could feel the shift in his power. It felt as though his presence was becoming stronger and the gnawing emptiness that accompanied his aura grew stronger as well. The power of the Zabrak Elders that he had bound to himself. He was utilizing his power. Which from my point of view, was a bad idea, considering I was more than capable of handling this insolent woman myself. As Viox finished speaking and before anyone could react, I stepped forward, right hand outstretched towards the young woman. Thanks to the ritual alter assembled behind the throne, I was able to conjure Fiery Energy and direct it towards the young woman. "You dare stand against us? You will face my wrath!" I bellowed at her. Now I was mad. And now everyone here would see the true extend of my power. While I didn't agree with my husband's decisions in the past, for dealing with those that would rebel against him, I respected him enough to not question it. Now? Now he wasn't going to get the chance to make a decision. With the title and responsibility of Empress came certain privileges, and I fully intended to exploit them. |
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Arielle Klassen
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 8
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
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Post by Arielle Klassen on Dec 28, 2021 19:14:59 GMT -8
Listening to the Zabrak speak only fueled her rage more. Not judged by her? No, he would be judged. For everything. The murder of her parents, her and her siblings' abduction, the lack of direction for the Imperium as a whole and his absence through all of it. Spouting that she didn't have the strength or abilities to best him was laughable. He was barely able to stand up right. Though the slight amusement from that faded when she noticed a red glow on his chest. And then she felt it. The gnawing, empty sensation that accompanied the Zabrak's presence. An empty void. It was becoming stronger, almost like it was threatening to swallow her whole. It was unpleasant and she needed to be careful of it, though what happened next was unexpected. Arielle had come here to confront the Sith'ari and any who stood in her way to do so. But even with that in mind, she hadn't counted on the Empress stepping in. The next thing she knew, there was a fiery blue rope-like tendril launching towards her. Extinguishing her blade as she vaulted backwards and did several backflips to keep out of reach of the tendril as it pursued her, she landed near the doors and brought her saber to bear against the tendril. The yellow blade sliced through the end of the tendril, causing it to recoil and the Anzati to shriek in surprise and pain. So, it could be stopped with a blade? Perfect. She was ready for a renewed attack now.
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Natalia Zavesti
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 35
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Natalia Zavesti on Dec 29, 2021 13:01:29 GMT -8
As I attacked, I was impressed with the young woman's ability to keep ahead of the blue fiery tendril. She certainly had managed to hone herself into quite the skilled little Sith. But then she stopped and sliced off the end of the tendril. I gasped in surprise and shrieked in pain. That little bitch! I clenched my jaw. Now I was pissed. This little wench would learn just who she was dealing with. Bringing up my left hand, I conjured a second blue fiery tendril and sent both of them after her. If she managed to thwart my attack this time, I was already prepared to change up my tactics, unless Viox had managed to join the fray by then. I personally was hoping he wouldn't, but he was the Sith'ari, after all. And he was the prideful sort. No one could challenge his authority without some sort of repercussions. I knew him well enough to know that. |
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Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on Feb 4, 2022 12:52:25 GMT -8
As Natalia launched an attach at the young woman before Savage could react, he merely began cackling and returned to seat himself upon the throne. There would be time to intervene later. Right now, it was time for the youngest Klassen sibling to be taught a lesson. And Natalia seemed to be more than willing to demonstrate her abilities, which were formidable. Without the power of the elders, even he'd be hard pressed to keep up with her, let alone best her in one on one combat. Still cackling to himself the Zabrak merely continued to observe the interaction, biding his time to intervene and take control of the situation. For now, he'd let Natalia have her fun.
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Arielle Klassen
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 8
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
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Post by Arielle Klassen on Feb 10, 2024 12:16:27 GMT -8
As the decrepit Emperor cackled and returned to his Throne, Arielle know this would have been the ideal time to strike at him. However, she'd have to find or make an opening. Right now, with the fiery blue tendrils of energy bearing down on her, she needed to deal with the Empress first. Maintaining a defensive posture, she readied for the tendrils to strike. Moving to parry where one would strike, it would recoil rapidly, and the second would, instead, attack. Moving her saber to block the tendrils from striking her directly, they seemed to avoid her blade directly, trying to create a crack in her defenses. None came, but she did have to move, soon. Having backed herself against the doors, she couldn't defend herself properly with her back against the wall. Though the advantage of having her back against the wall, it kept the tendrils from creeping up behind her. Deciding to press the attack, as she knew she'd never get anywhere on the defensive, Arielle sliced at one of the tendrils, catching it with her blade. Another shriek came from the Empress, but the tendril recoiled once more. Evading the other one, then spinning about and lopping off the end of that one, the Empress howled in agony from across the room and dropped to her knees. This gave Arielle the opening she needed. Vaulting forward, she was dead set on reaching the throne. The Sith Troopers positioned around the room, however, had other ideas about that. Blaster fire peppered her location, causing her to evade and deflect it back, while moving to find cover behind the ornate obsidian pillars adoring the room...
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