Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938 
Affiliation: Sith Order
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Post by Viox Savage on Jun 1, 2022 15:28:44 GMT -8
Demise of the Black Emperor*
- Principal Authors: Viox Savage , Natalia Zavesti , @supremeleader , Darth Akrak , Darth Wraak , Darth Verenhimo , Darth Xethuys , Darth Herboren , Geralt Klassen , Lizbeth Klassen , Arielle Klassen , Xander Savage , Mother Kalzaz , Captain Azkul Travillius , Other Blacgkuard members will be added as required
- 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: Various
Timeframe: Current
Everything that begins, must come to an end. While initially successful, the Blackguard Imperium succumbed to the very same rot and stagnation that plagued the empires previously. Stagnation and infighting, such was the way of the Sith, fractured the Imperium. Never fully healing from the fractures, the Imperium staved off its inevitable collapse for a number of years longer, though it still came just the same. As the Sith'ari, Viox Savage had foreseen. The Blackguard Imperium had been a tool, an instrument, of the Zabrak's schemes. And while it had been useful and served its purpose, the Imperium's time had come and gone. At least, under the leadership of the Sith'ari. Whether or not someone else was adept enough to hold the faction together, remained to be seen. The Sith'ari, however, had other plans. Plans that now called for him to abandon the great machines of war and leadership. The next step in his overall grand design was about to unfold, but not before he destroyed or at the very least, damaged everything he had built. The Imperium, since its conception, had never been intended to be ruled over by anyone other than the Sith'ari himself. Nowhere, had the infrastructure of the Imperium, ever been crafted to support anyone else to take the throne, save for one. And the one it had been intended for, betrayed his own and sparked a civil war in a vain attempt to seize control that was never his.
Now, the final stage of the Blackguard was being set. Its collapse was imminent. Whether or not Jen'ari Znalost would be able to maintain control to the same degree that Viox did, remained to be seen, but the Emperor and Empress both, were already set to step down, after enacting their final orders. Orders that would break the Sith-led faction down and leave it to its own devices, though the outcome of executing these orders could have unintended consequences that even the great Sith'ari had failed to predict...
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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 Jun 1, 2022 17:58:49 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Sith'ari's Personal Chambers.Sleep. A rare occurrence for the Zabrak Sith Lord at the best of times. And yet, he was lying in his bed, beside the beautiful Anzati, Natalia Zavesti, his lover and Empress of the Blackguard Imperium. While he may have physically been asleep, his troubled mind was wide awake. As the force ebbed and flowed through him, it cast visions within his mind. Curiously, this seemed to keep the incessant whispers of the Elders silent. The dreams and visions he was experiencing were seemingly a recap of his life, or at the very least, some of its darker moments. A heavy stone tablet meeting the already pulverized pulp that was a man's head. His mechanical left fingers curling around the slender, pale neck of his former lover, Larissa Novax. As his fingers tightened, her eyes widen in fear. She stares at him, her eyes begging and pleading to be spared. Being thrown away from his opponent by an explosion. A chartreuse colored blade severing his left hand at the wrist, and the shock that follows. And the dreams continue, detailing key moments in his life. The birth of his son, the manipulations of his father, the fall of his apprentices. But then a thick, opaque fog seemed to cloud his mind. Flashes of combat, blaster bolts, saber blades, it all appears before him, then vanishes. Pain, agony and a sense of loss course through him. And then a familiar looking Zabrak appears before him. Her cascading black hair, powerful turquoise eyes and tribal tattoos mirroring his own.It is time. The darkness calls. This chapter of your journey ends, while another shall begin...And then a painful sensation began to emanate from the stone embedded within his chest. A faint sizzle could be heard and the Zabrak sat bolt upright in bed, clutching his chest. The red-hued crystal, a focusing point that had been installed in the clone body by his Jen'ari, was what allowed the Zabrak to focus his power and energy and utilize the powers of those he had consumed with more negligible side effects. The crystal had began glowing, pulsing in time with his beating hearts. And it had began to heat up. To the point where it had burned the flesh around its edges. Breathing heavily and unsure of what to make of both the crystal's erratic behavior and the woman from the vision, the Zabrak's yellow eyes darted over to Natalia's sleeping form. Watching her for a few moments, the Zabrak shifted to the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over and placing his bare feet on the cold obsidian floor. Donning a loose fitting pair of synthcloth pants. Walking over to the viewport that granted panoramic view of Mustafar's fiery terrain, he leaned upon the glassine window. Breathing a heavy sigh, Savage mulled over his thoughts, collecting himself. He knew. Deep down he knew what was to come. The time to move on with the next phase of his plan was rapidly approaching...which meant he needed to prepare himself for what came with that. Everything would change. In an instant. But, it needed to be done. If he truly wanted to become the dark side incarnate, it needed to be done. And he would be the one to do it. The Blackguard Imperium was of his design. It had become a successful tool in terms of might and influence, but in typical Sith fashion, those who followed began to grow impatient. Vying for power that they felt they were entitled to. Several lesser acolytes had dared stand against him, and paid the ultimate price for their defiance. Claims to his throne were becoming more common and more organized. Dissent and disobedience had spread through the Imperium like a festering disease, infecting the healthy tissue and rotting it away. While he could still maintain his position as Sith'ari, it was clear that the loyalty and fear he commanded and instilled respectively, had lost it's luster. It was clear that even with the fear that Natalia inspired, due to her nature and origins, while useful, did little to keep the ambitious, foolhardy and insolent at bay. No. The Blackguard had served its purpose. He had amassed armies, fleets, followers and a powerful economic base. Enough so that he could afford to do as he pleased for the rest of his unnaturally long life, if he so chose to. No more delaying the inevitable. Coming morning, he would meet with his council and issue the orders. The time had come for it all to end.
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Natalia Zavesti
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 35
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Natalia Zavesti on Jun 2, 2022 15:59:15 GMT -8
Weeks faded into months, and the Imperium had stalled out once again. Stagnation, its true enemy. Stubborn and entitled Sith waiting to pounce at the first scent of blood were the effect from the stagnation. Challenges to both my position and that of Viox's had become far more common than even I'd liked to have admitted. The occasional bout of dissent kept the troops sharp, and allowed for some spectacularly impressive displays of power and punishment. But this was getting out of hand. I trusted my husband and emperor, however. He had a scheme. That much I knew. He wasn't one to share them outright, though. That was rather irksome, but I merely accepted that particular quirk of his for the time being. Always a light sleeper, felt Viox squirm and shift around beside me. And then he sat bolt upright, gasping for air and clutching his chest. A red-hued glow emanating from between his fingers. I merely continued to pretend to sleep. The frequency of these abrupt outbursts were becoming much more common. Feeling his weight shift, then finally lift off the bed, I merely extended my perceptions outwards, feeling for him. He was deep in thought. If he had felt my attempt to gently reach out to him, he made no indication of it. Another mildly annoying quirk of his. Again, I merely let it go and continued to just listen. His breathing had evened out again and he had made his way over to the window, looking out across Mustafar's hellish landscape. He was fond of doing that when his mind was troubled, or overburdened from the Elders he contained within. For a few moments, his surface thoughts remained troubled and disorganized, but then they seemed to reorganize and fall into his normal thought pattern. And then a strong sense of determination crossed over him. He had made a decision on something very crucial to his grand design. And, knowing what I knew about his plans up until now, it was time for the next phase. The utter destruction of the Imperium was at hand. And Viox along with myself, would be the ones to crush it beneath our boots. A small smirk formed on my lips at the thought. Finally an opportunity to show the dissidents our true capabilities. Those loyal would be given the opportunity to leave, free and clear. Those attempting to usurp any power they could, would pay the price. And there would be prisoners. Perhaps even an unfortunate few that would become my next meal? That would depend if they would yield to Viox's might. If they did, more than likely, I would have a steady stream of prisoners to feed off of. If they didn't, they would be slain and sent to the Jen'ari for his experiments, provided he remained loyal to the throne until the end. Though there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. Something off about him that I couldn't quite place. He had his own plans, outside of the Imperium. That much I had managed to piece together. What it involved and for what purpose served, well, it was quite good at covering his tracks once outside of the Imperium's reach. While I mulled over the Jen'ari's potential goals, I felt Viox's side of the bed sink down under his weight again. Moments later, he laid down and wrapped his arm over me. Content, I was able to drift off once more... |
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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
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Post by Viox Savage on Jun 2, 2022 17:02:40 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard Navy FLEETCOM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM.
True to his intentions from the night before, the Zabrak Sith'ari stood at the head of the long rectangular table in the war room of the Imperium's nerve center, High Command for the Army and Fleet Command for the Navy. Gathered before him was Jen'ari Znalost General Xethuys, his Overseers from their respective territories and all army personnel deemed important enough to be in attendance, and all of the Admiralty Board. It was an impressive gathering. One that hadn't taken place in the Obelisk, ever. The entirety of the Blackguard Imperium's leadership in one room, on one planet, at one time. Such an occurrence was unprecedented. But when the Sith'ari summons everyone, you generally didn't say no. At least, not if you wanted to keep living. Even through the countless struggles, battles, raids and attacks across the galaxy hadn't called for this show of unification. It would be the first and ultimately the last time the Sith'ari would see this assembly before him. Though he himself was unaware of that particular fact. Looking out over the room, all eyes were fixated on him. Natalia stood off to his left, behind him, arms crossed. Her expression was neutral, though he could feel the conflict within her. And honestly, he didn't blame her. What he was about to do would flip the Imperium up on its head. The ensuing chaos would serve to cover his tracks well enough and allow himself and Natalia to leave and focus on what was to happen next. It wasn't an easy decision, and even he was still conflicted about it. After all, he had amassed all of this and ruled over it for a number of years. This was his crowning achievement. A testament to his power and will. Even if it was now only a fraction of its former self, the Imperium had successfully united the Sith and most other darksiders, even if it had only been briefly. At one point in its history, the majority of the Sith and other darksiders had been unified under the Imperium. No small feat, considering the nature of the Sith as well as the Dark Jedi and other darksiders. All were mistrusting, all sought their own personal gain. Defying the very nature of the darkside, the Imperium had been briefly successful in its original core intent. But the stench of failure lingered. Due to his negligence, Malvus's betrayal and Vallius's coup, the Imperium failed not long after the proclamation of becoming the Imperium. Its success was short-lived and now it was irreparably and irrevocably broken. It's core tenants a confused mess. It's members idly biding their time until Viox was deemed unfit to lead. The only reason the Imperium still stood today was due to Viox and Natalia's strength, Znalost's morbid reputation and Xethuys's devout loyalty and adherence to the Sith Code. Take one of those away and the rest would crumble in short order. Not that it mattered at this point anymore. Realizing he was lost in thought, the Zabrak cleared his throat and began speaking. It was hard, however. He had to force the words out, but once they started, the found their own way and kept flowing.
"I have assemble all of you here today as my final command as your Sith'ari. Upon the completion of this convening, myself and the Empress will be abdicating the throne. Upon abdication, the Imperium will be left without a leader. It will be upon you to decide how to move forward from that point on. The loyalty and dedication you have shown me, is expected to be shown to whomever manages to claim the throne...if they can claim it...my heir was intended to be my son and as such, the Imperium was crafted with that in mind. Few, if any, possess the abilities to maintain control over the throne for long...those of you whom wish to remain loyal to myself and the Empress, reach out to me via my A.I and await further instructions..."
The collective gasp of shock at such an announcement was expected. Surprisingly, no one present made any move against himself or Natalia. Though most of these people gathered were unquestioningly loyal, therefore the thought of openly attacking their, until moments ago, Sith'ari, were unheard of. Knowing that he had just set a rapidly burning fuse on the situation, and placed targets on both himself and Natalia, he needed to wrap things up quickly. Fortunately, Rampant was still in control of the Obelisk's systems, which would grant him some time to finalize his preparations to leave. But once news of his abdication left this room, those seeking power and glory for themselves, would make their move. And he was certain there were at least a handful of such people within the Obelisk already, if not more. And what better way to gain power and glory then by slaying the former Sith'ari or the Empress? While he couldn't predict who would strike out, maintaining control of the Obelisk for the time being would prove to be his advantage. Soon, the Imperium's territories would become a free-for-all. The Sith formerly under his employ would grab what power they could. And the chaos and disorganization that followed would prove most useful. Of that, he was certain. So far, the meeting was still in session, and everyone in this room knew of his and Natalia's power. Until he adjourned the meeting, he was still the Sith'ari...so he allowed a moment for what had just been declared to properly sink in...if for nothing more that to grant him a moment or two of amusement.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2022 12:52:11 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard Navy FLEETCOM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM.
Few moments before the Sith'ari's announcement.
Znalost was the first one to enter the war and take his place at the long rectangular table, the seat to the right of the head. He was after all the Jen'ari of the Imperium, Znalost watched as General Xethuys, a devout man to both the Imperium and the Sith Code. Then the Overseers from the worlds that remained under the Imperium's control arrive one at a time, Znalost cared very little about them as they were nothing to him and his plans which lay outside of the Imperium. Then Army/Naval personnel entered at least those that were deemed worthy to attended such a meeting, Znalost at least respected them as opposed to the Overseers. Then the Black Emperor, himself entered from the opposite entrance near the back of the room, the Empress followed closely behind him. The Empress took her seat directly opposite of him, while the Sith'ari stood at the head of the table.
Once the Sith'ari spoke and announced that he and the Empress were abdicating the throne, there was a collected gasp at this shocking news. Znalost looked around at the other members in attendance and made note of those who were whispering among themselves like vultures circling a fresh corpse, he smirk at the thought since he more than anyone here would most likely be the one that would circle a corpse. Znalost's attention went back to the Sith'ari and the Empress, and became lost in thought. He at one time would have taken the opportunity to grab ahold of the throne and rule those who were beneath him, but now he had no ambition to lead the Imperium or what it will become following the abdication of the throne. Another thought entered his mind, the Sith'ari and the Empress would most likely become targets as would he, but his plans would remove the target before too long.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Jun 4, 2022 8:18:42 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard FLEETCOM/HIGHCOMM.
Xethuys listened, not entirely sure if he could believe what had just been said. The Sith'ari AND the Empress were abdicating the throne!?! Effectively abandoning the Imperium? While his personal loyalty was to the Sith'ari, whether or not he was in fact, the head of the Imperium, it was still a struggle to digest the information. He personally, would follow the Zabrak and Anzati to whatever depths they intended to traverse. It was clear they were going to leave the Imperium. One didn't just leave a position of power and prestige without ulterior motives in mind. Whatever those motives were, Xethuys was willing to follow. The other Overseers, however, he could not say the same. Increasingly distant and unusually silent in the past few months, he was almost certain they were planning something. What, he couldn't say, but it wasn't good. The collective murmurs across the room seemed to lessen. A ripple in the Force, however, alerted him to what was going to happen next.*
*Across the table from him, the monstrous Overseer and enforcer, Septimus, rose to his feet and drew his blades. The crimson sabers sprang to life.
"HERESY!"
The man bellowed, before lunged out of his seat towards the Zabrak still standing at the head of the table...
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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
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Post by Viox Savage on Jun 4, 2022 9:02:49 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard Navy FLEETCOM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM.
The shock and awe of his announcement seemed to fade slowly. Znalost seemed indifferent to the announcement, which he found odd. He had thought his Jen'ari would be eager to claim the throne for himself. If Znalost could still be trusted, he'd have to take a moment to speak with him and try to discover his motives and perhaps see if he could still potentially call him an ally. Xethuys, the devoted Armed Forces General, seemed surprised but determined. Loyalty ingrained from being a soldier, often conflicted with his Sith heritage, ensured he would remain loyal to him and Natalia. Sound, primarily if most Armed Forces remained faithful to their General. He couldn't get a read on the others present just yet...
...and there was the first of many feelings betrayed by Zabrak's announcement. Somewhat surprisingly, Septimus was the first to oppose Savage's decision. Septimus, while being a loyal Overseer, was nothing more than a blunt instrument of barely contained rage and physical prowess. Chosen with a singular purpose, he exceeded expectations when he successfully maintained his sector as Overseer. Not that it mattered now, as the worlds apart of the Imperium would be left to fend for themselves. Savage had no further interest in maintaining the Imperium or its worlds. But first, he needed to make an example of the challenging Overseer. Because, at this point, he was still the Sith'ari. And his power is what kept him at the top. As the large individual lunged forward, the corners of the Zabrak's mouth twitched upwards in a smirk. Septimus may have been a formidable opponent to all of the other members of the Imperium, but Viox's power far exceeded all but a very select few in the universe. And Septimus was about to discover this fact firsthand. As the Overseer moved, so too did Viox's left hand. Emerging from his cloak, his gloved hand formed a vise with his index finger and thumb. The Overseer came to a halt in mid-leap. Choking noises emitted from beneath his hood, and he hung several feet from the Zabrak.
"Is it heresy to forego my claim to the Imperium throne in pursuit of greater power? No. Is it heresy to abandon false beliefs in pursuing the Sith Code? No. In the eyes of the Sith Code, Septimus, none of my actions would be considered heresy. Rather, anyone who still believes and follows the Rule of Unity, established during Malvus' tenure as Jen'ari, would be labeled a heretic. The Rule of Unity was established only to effectively curb the brutality and ambitious nature of the Sith in an attempt to create something better. I have since abandoned my belief in the rule, as it does not benefit me or the Sith Code."
At this point, Savage began squeezing his fingers together. This caused Septimus to drop his sabers. The blades extinguished, and the hilts clattered to the obsidian floor. Pulling the Overseer closer, Viox grinned.
"I welcome a challenge, as all Sith do. However, the impotent nature of your attempt is insulting, at the very least. Until this meeting is adjourned, I am STILL THE SITH'ARI!"
Roared the Zabrak in annoyance.
"None of you here possess the power to remove me from power physically! Vain attempts to do so will result in a swift death as an example for all who intend to stand against me! If I so choose to destroy the very thing I helped create, none will stand in my way to try and stop me! My will is absolute! I. Am. INEVITABLE!"
With a flick of his wrist, the massive enforcer's neck snapped instantly. With a wave of his hand, the lifeless body was then hurled across the room hard. Now angry, Savage plucked the sizeable rectangular table up off the floor with his right hand and launched it towards the Overseer's corpse across the room, causing several members that had been seated at the table to shove their chairs back and jump to their feet, or topple over backward. The table smashed into the wall and snapped apart in several pieces. Aside from a few people righting themselves, no one else moved. Even though several skilled and capable duelists and warriors were in the room, in such confined spaces with the now angry Zabrak, their chances of survival were slim.
"OUT!"
Bellowed the Zabrak loudly. The military personnel were the first to hurry out of the room, followed by the Overseers and a reluctant General Xethuys. Only he, Natalia, and Znalost remained. Breathing deeply, the Zabrak exhaled slowly before turning to the former Jen'ari.
"I suggest you consider your next actions carefully, Znalost...I may have spared you once, long ago. You may not find yourself so fortunate a second time..."
Savage knew Znalost was no idiot. He was brilliant, calculating, and devious in his methods. Standing against an enraged Sith Lord who possessed the power Viox currently did would most likely result in the death of his former ally and Jen'ari. And despite his anger slowly subsiding, he had no genuine desire to slay Znalost. He had been loyal and supportive since he had been spared on Iridonia all those years ago. He also had worked tirelessly to help Viox keep the Elders contained, prolonging his insanity and death. Such loyalty and help had earned him respect. Respect enough to be honored, allowing the hybrid to speak his piece or leave without incident. Undoubtedly, Znalost's abilities had grown in strength since their first duel, but even still, Znalost preferred life over death...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2022 11:28:03 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard Navy FLEETCOM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM.
Znalost watched the worm that was formerly Overseer Septimus attack the Sith'ari and in the process enraged the Black Emperor, now Septimus was truly only worm food now. Znalost listened to enraged Viox speak at the other 'worms' present at the meeting, then Viox turned and spoke to him. He smirked when told to consider his next actions carefully, the smirk faded once Viox brought up how they meet and how he had spared his life, then the smirk returned at the open ended threat. Znalost closed his eyes and let out a sigh before standing up and facing his Emperor then Znalost spoke.
"Your threats mean very little to me now, my Emperor. For you see for the last few months, I've been plagued by a singular vision granted to me by the force." Znalost paused for a brief moment before continuing. "My very own death. I've tried everything to prevent it from happening, but every night I see my own death caused by my......Past actions. Znalost had briefly paused to choose his words carefully as to not reveal anything major. He then turned away from the Sith'ari and walked a few steps away before speaking again. "I have also seen that you, my lord will play a part in the aftermath."
Znalost then started to walk towards the exit. He almost felt guilty for not informing Viox of his future plans, but he knew that this was the only way that he could break free of the shackles that binds him to the past. As he reached the door and before leaving the war room, he turned his face to say one last thing before he left and waited in the throne room for Uhtred to arrive.
"I'll see you again, my Emperor. One last time, this I am sure of."
With that he left the Blackguard Navy FLEETCOM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM. Leaving only the Sith'ari and the now former Empress by themselves.
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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 Jun 4, 2022 20:47:13 GMT -8
Mustafar - Dark Obelisk of the Blackguard. Blackguard Navy FLEETCOMM/Blackguard Armed Forces HIGHCOMM.
The Zabrak eyed his former Jen'ari with amusement. Znalost may have been good at subverting science for the Imperium, but his loyalty had always been unquestioning. Not once had the young man overreached for his gain. Not once had he challenged the Sith'ari's authority or even that of the Empress. Practically an ideal partner in terms of ruling over the Imperium. He is ambitious, but more is needed to threaten his position. Perhaps in another life, Znalost could have been his apprentice. The mere thought of what they could have accomplished was enticing. But there were other priorities. Even if the entirety of the Obelisk remained loyal, the rest of the Imperium would begin crumbling in short order. And all of the rogue elements and dissidents would surface to take their shot at the vacant throne. And those that disagreed with him would take this opportunity to hunt him down. Once he and Natalia left Mustafar, their safety was no longer guaranteed. Not that it genuinely ever had been, given the nature of the Sith, but at least during his reign as Sith'ari, he had the loyalty of the armed forces and the navy. Now? All the rogue Sith would take whatever power they could and attempt to assert their dominance on the crumbling Imperium throne. Hopefully, using the vacant throne as bait would divert all but the most stubborn from pursuing him and Natalia. Hopefully, turning to Natalia, the Zabrak spoke.
"Phase One is now in effect. There's no turning back now. I will reach out to Xethuys and get everything ready for our departure. I need you to seek out the Sith Knights and prepare them. Their skills will be required if we intend to draw off some of the more...ambitious of our pursuers."
Xethuys' loyalty was second only to Znalost. He wouldn't abandon his leader, even if his leader no longer led the nation. And the Sith Knights had been trained straight out of the Academy to be devoutly and unquestioningly loyal to Viox. Whether the Imperium existed or not, they would follow him regardless. After all, this whole move had been planned out. Originally intended to be carried out much later than now, but this was all part of his plan. The timeframe had merely been accelerated.
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Natalia Zavesti
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 35
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Natalia Zavesti on Aug 22, 2022 9:39:50 GMT -8
Everything was transpiring rather quickly, I felt. Upon Viox's announcement, the murmurs and whispers were substantial within the War Room. As I scanned the gathered, I didn't notice any immediate threats to either myself of Viox. My gaze rested briefly upon Znalost. There appeared a moment of what...? Surprise? Amusement? I wasn't quite sure on what I saw. But it vanished rather quickly. He was still an enigma to me, thought at this point in time, I highly doubted I'd get the opportunity to figure him out. Lost in thought for a few moments, I didn't noticed Septimus rise until he was already lunging towards Viox. Before I could react, he already had. Plucking the physically imposing Overseer from mid air, he Zabrak roared at him in anger, then proceeded to snap his neck and fling his corpse across the room. A heavy and wet sounding THUD reverberated through the room, when the Overseer's corpse hit the wall. Even I cringed at the sound of the impact. Had the Overseer still been alive, that most likely would have killed him...but Viox didn't stop there. Picking up the table and telekinetically hurling it across the room, he ranted about none of those in the room being capable of physically removing him, and then bellowed for them to vacate the room. He certainly was intimidating when he was pissed off, I mused to myself. As the room emptied, Znalost merely rose, but remained. With a brief interaction between the Viox and Znalost, I was now even more confused as to what his true purpose was. Moments later, after Znalost's departure, which left me even more perplexed than I was, Viox broke me out of my reverie. "Of course, mi'lord. My apprentice was already informed and instructed to prepare them..." I trailed off. I knew full well that Viox disliked my use of the youngest Klassen sibling, especially after she so brazenly challenged the both of us, but the girl was fiery and determined to prove herself. And her raw and unadulterated rage towards Viox was easily molded and redirected towards directives of my own choosing. She respected me and knew what I was capable of. Ultimately, she was a tool, but a very useful tool. And I intended to use her until either I saw no use left in her, or she got smart enough to figure things out and leave of her own accord. Inclining my head slightly, I looked into Viox's fierce yellow gaze. "You've just riled up a nest of gundarks...watch your back, my love..." I said, with a modicum of concern in my voice. Even with him being in a fresh cloned body, he wasn't infallible. And transferring his essence took time that we didn't have, if we wanted to leave Mustafar with everything we required, intact. Hopefully the loyalty he inspired in those few followers of his would pay off... |
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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 Aug 22, 2022 10:25:39 GMT -8
Savage smirked at that comment. He knew that Natalia cared about his well being. But right now, he was still in control of this situation. Rampant, his A.I, was still in control of the Obelisk's systems, and most of the Sith operatives of the Blackguard were off planet, or doing their own thing. Znalost made it perfectly clear, he was not interested in the throne, which is somewhat disappointing, as it would have been interesting seeing just how capable he was. Xethuys would keep most of the rank and file in line, as well as some of the higher officials. For now, Mustafar was still probably one of the safer places for him to be, for the time being. Once he made his move and left Mustafar, all bets were off. For now though, it was time to execute the next stage of his plan. Gathering what resources he needed to pursue his next stage of the plan. Though that was getting ahead of himself. Once off Mustafar, with the appropriate resources and personnel in tow, then he could focus on the next stage.
"I'm just getting started..."
The Zabrak grinned, malevolently. The coming storm was going to be interesting. And he had no doubt it was going to challenge his abilities without the Elders' assistance. For that was part of the goal. His enhanced abilities, he could do nothing about. But actively calling on the Elders, he could avoid doing that. Because until he set roots down elsewhere, most of his behind-the-scenes back up plans and schemes would be inaccessible or unavailable. And he didn't want to over extend himself, if it could be avoided. Looking to Natalia one more time, he merely inclined his head and spun on his heel, moving to the exit. It was time to go gather up those he required...
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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 Aug 22, 2022 10:31:45 GMT -8
As the former Sith'ari and Empress began to execute the next phase of his plan, news of the Zabrak and Anzati's abdication of the throne spread like wildfire through the ranks of the Blackguard Imperium. Most of the rank and file soldiers already stationed on Mustafar, were indifferent to the announcement, as they were loyal to the man, not the title, and if their general followed the Zabrak, then they would continue to do their duties.
But, there were a few rogue elements already moving around, in system. Groups of soldiers, tired of the stagnation and complacency. A navy Captain or Commodore here and there tired of the Zabrak's failed leadership and the Empress's silence on the matter. Even some of the acolytes stationed in system, saw the opportunity to grab some power and elevate their status. Thus far, the news was contained within the Mustafar system, though once someone leaked the information off world, the rest of the Sith would surely come running, as they were all hungry for a chance to either capture the throne for themselves, or take a shot at challenging the former Sith'ari themselves...
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Darth Akrak
Blackguard Imperium
Preparing for a raid.
Posts: 85
Affiliation: Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Akrak on Aug 22, 2022 12:48:25 GMT -8
Exocron - Vault of the Black Emperor.Having since grown tired of doing whatever the Imperium requested of him, Akrak had taken his ships, his followers and his troops and disappeared. The weakness of the Blackguard's leadership irritated him greatly. They were Sith! They were meant to be challenged and pushed to their limits! But nothing more than stagnation emanated from the so-called leaders of the Imperium, content to do nothing, while their empire crumbled and rotted around them. Rather than sit idly by and wait for the inevitable, Akrak had taken it upon himself to access sealed Imperium records and start searching for ways to increase his power and his influence, biding his time for when the Sith'ari slipped up and could no longer remain on the throne.
As fortune would have it, within the sealed records, Akrak had stumbled upon, albeit completely by accident, a list of worlds that Viox had intended to seed with vaults, containing relics, artifacts and holocrons. Part of some sort of contingency plan he must have wanted to implement. As much as Akrak despised the Zabrak at this point, he had to hand it to him, he was just paranoid enough to have ensured his survival. Several of the worlds were wild bantha chases, with one or two showing signs of potential construction sites that had started, but never saw completion. Two more had nearly fully completed vaults, though they sat empty. And finally, upon arriving at Exocron, and heading to the coordinates on the surface, as indicated, there was a fully constructed Vault. And this one, while not full of artifacts and relics, contained enough to have made the trek worth it. Which was surprising, considering both the difficulty to locate and the isolated nature of the planet. However, if Viox was as clever as he was paranoid, it was probably why this location had been chosen and the Vault had actually been completed. Surprisingly, the Vault had been easy to gain access to, as if the Sith'ari had never actually intended for anyone to find it. Though ,given how the Imperium was structured, there probably wouldn't have been any records left of this place, had Viox been taken out at any point in time. Regardless, this suited Akrak just fine. Walking through the Vault, he had come across several useful relics. Several Sith Scrolls he hadn't seen on Iridonia or Mustafar, a few lesser holocrons and one of the Seeds of Rage that the Sith'ari's enforcer had been tasked with tracking down. Apparently he had been successful, at least somewhat. An ornate urn, with the tag Ashes of Malachor was also seated neatly upon one of the shelves, with a scroll beside it. The Vault also possessed several Sith Jedi Statues, though they hadn't attacked upon Akrak's arrival. And after the removal of several artifacts, they still remained inert. Either these statues didn't perceive Akrak and his troops as a threat, or whatever the statues required to function hadn't been finished. Either way, the fact that they remained motionless and silent, it was a good thing. Motioning to the urn, his troops would remove the artifact momentarily. Something had caught his eye. Pinned to the wall of the vault, behind several dusty tomes, were several scrolls that had been unfurled. At first glance, they appeared useless, but as Akrak continued to analyze them, he cackled to himself, startling the nearby troopers. The scrolls depicted several locations where cloning materials had been taken. This did two things for Akrak. One, it proved that the mighty Zabrak wasn't nearly as immortal as he liked to believe he was, and two, if perhaps Akrak could get his hands on one of the Zabrak's clones, perhaps he could utilize it against the Sith'ari in some way....? He wasn't sure of the latter, but he was definitely willing to test that theory. And these had been hand written on scrolls, meaning they weren't in the Blackguard's official databanks. This must have been part of the Sith'ari's contingency plan...please with himself, Akrak tore the scrolls from the wall and rolled them up. He had exactly what he needed. The Vault held no more use to him. Within the hour, he had returned to his ship and his forces had vacated the vault. And then they jumped to hyperspace...
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Darth Akrak
Blackguard Imperium
Preparing for a raid.
Posts: 85
Affiliation: Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Akrak on Jan 19, 2024 21:27:31 GMT -8
DemonsgateThe Necrosis emerged from hyperspace, followed by the ships that had formerly been for a raiding fleet. Having replaced his losses after the failed raid, Akrak had been sent on an assignment for the Sith'ari. An assignment to which he had decidedly not pursued. Rather than continue to be the Zabrak's errand boy, Akrak stole some encrypted files. Most of them had been useless. But one of them had indicated locations of several vaults that the Sith'ari had intended to build. While most had been abandoned before they had even begun construction, one Vault had been completed. On Exocron, Akrak had raided the Sith'ari's vault, stealing relics, artifacts and holocrons. Nothing overly special. But a scroll containing the location of one of the Sith'ari's hidden cloning facilities had been recovered. Which presented Akrak with an opportunity. Either cripple the Sith'ari's plans for the clones, or utilize them and turn them against him. He hadn't decided which idea was better. Upon arriving in orbit over a world known as Demonsgate, Akrak issued orders."Commander, bring us close. Var Attrah, you have the helm in my absence. Mitra, come. It's time to see what the Sith'ari has planned for his clones..."Beneath his helm, he grinned. If he turned these clones to suit his needs, he'd be able to challenge the Sith'ari and potentially claim the throne of the Imperium. Which was a very tempting prospect. Very tempting indeed...but nothing was set in stone until he and his soon to be apprentice explored the facility and discovered the fate of these clones...with Mitra in tow, Akrak departed the bridge and the two made their way down to the hangar bay. Not long after, the two Sith would be riding in a shuttle down to the planet's surface... |
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